orderly with Gods Word which must be the ground and rule of all preaching praying and Christian conversation Now such a Reformation is directed to us that wee know not where we are or what to expect but that the longest liver shall never be acquainted by this new method in our Church Service with the whole counsel of God Acts 20.27 and if the Minister please not the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament and Lords Prayer in the New shall never bee known to the simple people But concerning the divers uses and applications of the Psalmes in private that notable Treatise of an ancient Father placed before our Psalmes in Meter may bee a profitable Directory wherein 99. Cases are set down what Psalmes wee may distinctly use for our greatest comfort For you my Daughters it may be sufficient to take into your particular Devotions those seven Psalms termed by the Ancients Penitentials which are the 6 32 38. 51 102 130 143. and were usually repeated weekly each on its set day which was a pious course But if this may bee thought to be otherwise supplyed in the Family Confessions before mentioned in your daily Morning and Evening Prayer it may bee worth your private Observation to consider the several works of the six dayes in the Creation as they are registred in Genesis with the celebration of the Sabbath chap. 1. and then to select seven Psalmes which may serve as a most sweet and pertinent explanation of each of them In this accommodation for Light the first dayes work you have the 27 Psalm The Lord is my light and my salvation whom then shall I fear c. For the second dayes work which were the Heavens the 19. Psalm The heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work For the Earth with the Sea of the third dayes framing how consonant is the 14 Psalm The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compasse of the world and they that dwell therein for he hath founded it upon the sea and prepared it upon the flouds c. In the same order the Sun and Moon and Stars which were created and set in the Firmament the fourth day are taken into especial consideration in the 8. Psalm When I consider the heavens the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained Behold what an excellent use hee makes of it for a patterne to direct us what we should do in contemplating all the rest of the Creatures Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him The like use is made upon the consideration of the fishes of the Sea and of the fowls of the air which were the work of the fifth day in the 104. Psalm Ver. â—5 And for the sixth day wherein Man was created with the beast and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Earth to serve him how fit is the 139 Psalme to bee thought upon O God Ver. â—5 thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thoughts long before c. My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book were all thy Members written And last of all the 92 Psalm bears this Title A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath Day conformable to which we have the seventh and Lords day wherein we may observe that which an unwise man doth not well consider Ver. 6. and a fool doth not understand 1. What is to be done in celebrating of it Ver. 1. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto the name of the Most Highest 2. At what set times especially Ver. 2. Morning and Evening To tell of thy loving kindnesse early in the Morning and of thy truth in the night season 3. With what solemnity Upon an Instrument of ten strings and upon the Lute upon a loud Instrument any that may consort with or quicken our praises Prayers or Thanksgivings 4. Upon what ground Because God hath made us glad through his works and therefore this day should be especially set apart for to rejoyce in giving praise for the operations of his hands which is intimated in the fourth Commaudment it self In six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is What should this mean but that especially upon this day with all Praise and Thanksgiving all these things were to be considered in pious meditations and distinct Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings to be inferred thereupon according to every mans private Devotions and capacities besides the publick Service 5. In what manner must this be done Our Psalmist also here furnisheth us with a Gloria Patri O Lord how glorious are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep And 6. Tells us that those that pass this over as a slight business are but unwise men and fools who prick up as the green grasse quickly to be mowen down and made fodder for beasts whereas the truly religious and due observers of the Lords Day according to his own holy Ordinance 1 Shal have their strength exalted as the horn of an Unicorn 2. Be annointed with the fresh oyl of Gods blessed Spirit 3. Flourish like a Palm tree that prospereth under pressures and 4. Spread abroad like a Cedar in Libanus in spite of winds and tempests 5. Shall see their enemies danted and put to confusion according to their desire Whereas 6. They themselves shall be firmly fixed and flourish in Gods house and bring forth more fruit in their age then the vigour of their former dayes hath yeilded There be that apply the 150 Psalmes in this manner That the first fifty should especially stir us up to hearty repentance The second to the consideration of Gods Mercy and Justice The third to the contemplation of Eternal happinesse to bee intertained with Hallelujahs and Thanksgivings But if you answer to this Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent Psal 139.5 we cannot attain unto it Take then in a shorter way those three Psalms which may well bee called the Sermons of David In the first of which which is the 37th you have a plaister against fretting at the prosperity of the wicked and perplexed estate of those that in all mens judgements deserve better In the second being the forty ninth a purge for swelling up-starts whose state is held no better then that of the beasts that perish this is set forth more at large in the seventy third to beat us off from all worldly vanities and to bring us to hold fast by God Psal 73.27 37.38 for that will only bring us true peace at the last These Sermons will not over-burden your memories with tediousnesse but be easily learned by you and taught your children And seeing you have the
hath a special prescription Lev 7.12 to be tempered with plenty of oyl of gladness that maketh the face to shine Ps 24.25 In this behalf the Psalmist is so copious that it is hard to pitch upon any passage wherein he seemeth more expressive then other In that ninety second Psalm which carries the Title for the Sabbath day no entrance is found but by the door of Thanksgiving It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O thou most high To tell of thy loving kindnesse early in the morning and of thy truth in the night season Upon an Instrument of ten strings and upon the Lute upon a loud Instrument and upon the Harp Church-musick then in those dayes was not held Superstitious but taken in for an help to set forth Praise and Thanksgiving For performance of which duty so many ties are upon us that the Prophet cryes out as destitute of expressions Psa 116.11 What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me and can resolve no otherwise for himselfe but Psal 145.1 Every day will I give thanks to thee and praise thy name for ever and ever And for stirring up of others to the same duty O praise the Lord saith he for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God yea Psal 147.1 a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful But what need we go further where we have the practice of our Saviour to lead us I thank thee O Father Mat. 11.25 Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight According with this we have that large form of Thankgiving besides many others to stirre up our selves and others of the Kingly Prophet Psal 136. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever O give thanks unto the God of all gods for his mercy endureth for ever O thank the Lord of all Lords for his mercy endureth for ever and so going on in numbring up Gods blessings for which thanks were due with a repetition from whence they proceeded from Gods mercy not our deserts for his mercy endureth for ever He ends as he began as though in his acknowledgment he had never said enough O give thanks unto the Lord of heaven for his mercy endureth for ever O give thanks unto the Lord of Lords for his mercy endureth for ever Upon this ground proceed the four and twenty Elders representing the whole Church of the Faithful falling upon their faces and worshipping We give thee thanks Rev. 12.17 O Lord God Almighty which art and which wa st and which art to come because thou hast taken unto thee thy great power and hast reigned From these and the like patterns our Leiturgies forms are derived A Thanksgiving for raine in time of drought O God our heavenly Father who by thy gracious providence dost cause the former and the latter rain to descend upon the earth c. For fair weather O Lord God who hast justly humbled us by the late plague of immoderate rain and waters c. For Plenty O most merciful Father which of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of the Church c. For Peace and Victory Almighty God who art a strong Tower of Defence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies c. For Deliverance from the Plague O Lord God which hast wounded us for our sins c. After receiving of the Lords Supper Almighty and everlasting God wee most heartily thank thee for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us which have duly received these holy Mysteries c. And last of all under the Title of Prayers most commonly set in the end of the Church-Book what a complete form of Thanksgiving have we that thus begins Honour and Praise be given to thee O Lord God Almighty most dear Father of heaven for all thy mercies and loving kindness shewed unto us c. Which ends with this most pious and necessary petition to be used at all times and on all occasions Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arm O Lord be still our defence c. For your Sexe also my Daughters is not to be omitted the Thanksgiving of women after Child-birth commonly called the Churching of Women though latter times have held it superfluous if not superstitious wherein Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodnesse to give you safe deliverance and preserved you in the great danger of Child-birth You are called upon to be thankful heartily and to pray with the words of the Psalmist Psal 121. I have lifted up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my salvation my help cometh from the Lord which hath made heaven and earth And that which followes The Sun shall not burn thee by day nor the Moon by night c. is not impertinent as some will have it in as much as it ascribes all preservation to God at all times and in all places in our greatest extremities When more punctual devout and judicious Thanksgiving upon surer grounds and authority shall bee tendred to you my Daughters you may satisfie your consciences in making use of them In the meane time you and yours may feed on the milk which your Mother the Church so plentifully affords you and not cast about for change of Nurses who will scarce prove so natural CHAP. VI. Of Praises PRaise is a due acknowledgment of Gods infinite excellency expressed in his works of Power Mercy and Justice It hath such affinity with Thanksgiving that most commonly they go together and usually are taken one for the other Psa 145.11 As in that Psalm All thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints give thanks unto thee I will magnifie thee Ver. 1 2. O Lord my King and will praise thy Name for ever and ever Every day will I give thanks to thee and praise thy Name for ever and ever Notwithstanding howsoever Magnifying Praising Blessing and giving of Thanks to God are used to the same purpose yet praise may belong to Excellency which we are not bound to thank whereas Thanks includeth Praise for affording us a Blessing by which wee are obliged to magnifie the Donor In the Old Testament those that will seek for forms in this behalf shall find all the Psalmes of David in the Original to come under the title of The Book of Praises Not that all Psalmes therein may be so termed but because the most part are so that gives the nomination to the whole And Samplers for Praises to you my Daughters may be as pertinent that of Miriam registred to all posterity for imitation in these words Exo. 15.20 And Miriam the Prophetesse the sister of Aaron took a Timbrel in her hands and
head to be a fountain of tears Jer. 9.11 St. Peters bitter tears Luk. 7.38 and Marie's bath of tears for our Saviours feet and towel of her locks to wipe them must acknowledge that tears with prayer make a happy mixture to procure pity from him who shed tears over Jerusalem and wept in compassion with the sisters Luk. 19.41 Joh. 11.35 that lamented their dead brother Lazarus For bowing the knees and body that humble posture of the afflicted Israelites when they received the hopefull message of their deliverance may be a lending case to bee imitated when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he had looked upon their affliction Then they bowed their heads saith the Text and worshiped Exod. 4.31 And what can be the meaning of that prohibition from falling down and worshiping images or any other similitudes in the second commandment but that God hath retained unto himself such a religious worship of the body Those that make scruple of such kneeling in prayer must needs set themselves against that solemne proclamation of the King of heaven I have sworn by my selfe the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse Isa 45.23 and shall not return That unto mee every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear The same posture when we find allowed to our Saviour incarnate that at Phil. 2.10 or in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things inheaven and things on the earth and things under the earth confirmeth the Onenesse of the Son with the Father which novellists now question and make it their glory to cavil at where confutation is impossible 1 King 8.54 Solomon with these now masters for kneeling on his knees and spreading of his hands toward heaven in his dedication prayer of the Temple Dan. 6.10 shall be held unwise Daniel for praying on his knees three times a day shall be scarce thought worthy to be beloved And Saint Paul might save his labour for bowing his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Ephes 3.14 Christ in the behalfe of the Ephesians because sitting as many doe at Sermons with their heads covered would be farre more easie and in those mens discipline doe as well And last of all when I find my Saviour falling on his face Matth. 26.39 and praying O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt I should hold him far from superstition that in time and place and where it may be fitly performed shall prostrate his whole body or doe more if it were possible put his face between his knees as Elias did on mount Carmel in adoring him in whose book are all our members written 1 King 18.24 and day by day were fashioned when there was yet none of them Psal 139.16 With great judgment therfore is the 95 Psalm set in the fore front of our leiturgy as a preface to the ensuing devotions wherein that passage O come let us worship fal down and kneel before the Lord our maker consorting with that in the 132. we will go into his Tabernacle we will fall low before his footstoole should shame the irreverent behaviour of too many in the house of prayer which Turks and Infidels would hold abominable to be used in their Idoll Temples Moreover wherein women most offend Gods house is not a place for the displaying of plaited hair 3 Pet. 3.3 or wearing of gold or putting on of apparel or out-vying one another in more then the 24 fashions of the daughters of Sion taxed particularly by the prophet but for meek and quiet spirits Isai 3.16 to humble themselves before God to set forth his most worthy praise to hear his most holy word and to aske those things that be requisite as well for the body as the soule And that is not to be slighted 1 Cor. 11. which the Apostle reproves in the Corinthian Assemblies that men presumed to pray with their heads covered and women with their heads uncovered I would have you my daughters so to look to your feet when you enter into the hous of God that your devotions through irreverent unseemlinesse prove not the sacrifice of fools It was the modesty humility of some of your fore-mothers not to seat themselves in the Church before they had performed a reverent respect to the Minister then officiating which howsoever the high spirits of these times hold derogatory to their greatnesse yet the Son of God will take it as done to himself if it be done to the meanest of his Matth. 10.41 for his sake And the B. Virgin his mother will informe the stateliest that God will exalt the meek and humble when the mighty shall be put down from their seat Luk. 1.52 and the rich sent empty away This submisse and religious deportment of the body in Gods worship hath been too shamefully neglected amongst us surely such that slight Gods Ministers so much would hardly be induced to wash their Masters feet with their tears Luk 7.38 and wipe them with their curled locks but those that have ears to hear will hear 1. Bowing of the head And 2. The body to the earth Gen. 24.26 52 Psal 9 6. 3. Kneeling 4. Prostration or falling on the face 5. Lifting up of the eyes to heaven 6. And spreading forth the hands to the same place Mat. 26.39 Jo. 17.1 as also 7. Smiting of the brest with the penitent publican are postures of the body warranted to be used by precept and practice 1 King 8.22 out of the word of God which if they were seasonably and devoutly frequented more of us Luk. 18.13 in our private and publick prayers according to the example of our religious predecessors Mat. 23.6 would better then any Jewish phylacteries or fringes put us in mind of the weight of the business we are about set an edge on our dulnesse Deut. 6.8 and stirre up others to offer violence as it were and take by force the kingdome of heaven Jam. 5.16 Mat. 11.12 but this sacred fervency will meet with many Impediments to be considered in the next place CHAP. V. Of Impediments that disturb or frustrate our Prayers PRayer is so effectual against Satan and all his drifts and depths that he sets his utmost plots and stratagems to frustrate or hinder it and therefore he that seriously composeth himself to prayer shall bee sure to meet with a world of Impediments Amongst which these especially may be taken notice of to be carefully opposed 1. Wandring thoughts 2. Presumption 3. Ostentation 4. Superstition 5. Bosom sins retained 6. Irreconciliation 7. Despair 1. Concerning wandring thoughts we should eespecially attend that caveat of the Apostle Jam. 1.5 If any man ask wisdom let him as kit not by by Intercession of Saints or Angels but of God himselfe that giveth
Songs of Miriam and Deborah with that of Hannah in the Old Testament and the Magnificat of the most blessed Virgin in the New so canonically recorded Such Patternes should stir you up to Practice my Daughters and to part with your chiefest worldly delights as the Hebrew women did with their Looking glasses to make a laver for the Sanctuary for the setting forth Gods praises and Worship Exod. 38.8 to the utmost of your abilities O clap your hands together all ye people O sing unto God with the voice of melody O sing praises sing praises unto our God O sing praises sing praises unto our King For God is the King of all the earth sing ye praises to him with understanding And if not at all times in continued Psalmes yet on all occasions in pious Ejaculations the subject of the next Chapter CHAP. V. Of occasional Ejaculations BY Ejaculations are understood such private Prayers as when upon seeing hearing or thinking on any thing of extraordinary concernment we turne our selves immediately to God and in short petitions Praises Wishes or Thanksgivings express our hearty devotions In such no set form can be prescribed but the occasion it self will so frame the suit that it will be prevalent as it is piercing and the defect of words made up with hearty affections Into such an Ejaculatory confession the Israelites brake out at the sight of fire from heaven to consume the Sacrifice of Elijah which all the Baalites raving and lancing had failed to procure from their Idol The Lord he is the God 1 Ki. 18.39 The Lord he is the God falling upon their faces at the utterance of it So David upon report that politick Achitophel was turned Traytor against him O Lord saith he I pray thee turn the counsel of Achitophel into foolishness And what foolishness could bee more palpable then in the wise ording of his family to reserve a halter to hang himself King Asa had no time when Zerah the Ethiopian fell upon him with a Million of men but to betake himself only to this Ejaculation 2 Sa. 17.23 O Lord it is nothing with thee to help 2 Chr. 14.11 12 whether with many or with them that have no power Help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy name go we against this multitude Lord thou art our God let not man prevail against thee And was not the successe as speedy in its kind as the petition was pithy For the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah to their utter overthrow Upon the short addresse of the Disciples to our Saviour in a storm Master Mark 4.38 carest thou not that we perish He arose and rebuked the winds and said to the sea Peace and bee still and the wind ceased and there was a great calm Sudden dangers must have correspondent remedies And whence may they be hoped for but from him that is alwayes present every where and expects but our calling on him that he may relieve us As you provide therefore my Daughters to have Hot-waters in a readinesse or remedies appliable to sudden occasions lest in the interim before they can bee gotten the party whom you wish best unto wanting them perish much more should you have at hand and by heart such passages of sacred Scriptures whereon to ground good wishes and pious Ejaculations which in infinite unexpected occurrences you shal occasion to make use of such our Leiturgy hath so prick'd out for you that you need go no further To instance in a few of the most obvious particulars For raising up of a dejected or drooping soul what may prove more animating then that we first meet with at the threshold of our Service Ezek. 46.2 At what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sinnes from the bottom of his heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance Ezek. 8.21 saith the Lord What more effectual to remove Gods judgments for our manifold transgressions then that of the lamenting Prophet Correct us O Lord Jer. 10.24 and yet in thy judgment not in thy fury lest we should be consumed brought to nothing A plainer direction cannot be thought upon for a straying sinner then that of the hunger starved Prodigal I will go to my Father and say to him Father I have sinned against heaven and against thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son Your children and your rudest servants are acquainted from the Leiturgy with these piercing Petitions O Lord open thou our Lips and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise O God make speed to save us O Lord make haste to help us O Lord shew thy mercy upon us and grant us thy Salvation O Lord deale not with us after our sins neither reward us after our iniquities From our enemies defend us O Christ graciously look upon our affliction with the like These are made familiar to them by often repetition which those that term shreds and porrage little think upon the short Ejaculation of David I have sinned against the Lord 2 Sa. 12.13 that had presently this return The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dy Or that of the simple Publican God be merciful to me a sinner and the sequel of it that he went down to his house rather justified then the vaunting Pharisee for all his eloquence And this is an advantage in such short Ejaculations that they are not so liable to distractions as longer Prayers and are more easie to be remembred of all and ready to be used when space and place may not be had for longer prayers To give a touch in some few particulars At our first awaking in the morning who may not with heart and hands and eyes lifted up to heaven say Psalm 4.7 Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us and welcome the appearance of the light with this or the like Ejaculation Psal 67.1 God be merciful unto us and blesse us and shew us the light of thy countenance and be merciful unto us In cloathing of our selves how becoming would that be of the Apostle which converted a holy Father to be fitted to the occasion Rom. 13.12 The night is passed and the day is at hand Grant O Lord that I may cast off the works of darkness and put on the Armor of Light that I may walk honestly as in the day not in rioting or drunkenness not in chambering or wantonnesse nor in strife or envying but that I may put on my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus more necessary to cover my souls nakedness then apparel is for my body and not to make such provision for the flesh as is commonly used to fulfil the lusts thereof In like manner far be it from Superstition when we wash to pray Wash me throughly from my wickednesse Psal 51.2 and cleanse me from my sinne for I acknowledg my faults O Lord and my sin is ever
first-fruits of the Land which thou O Lord hast given me So Israels repentance is directed by Hosea Take unto you words Chap. 14.2 and turn unto the Lord and say unto him Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously so will we render the calves of our lips So in their solemn fasting the time was not to be unseasonably spent in tedious Teaching or by extemporal rapsodies to set forth the gifts of the Speaker or tire the devotion of the Auditory Joel 2.17 but as the Prophet directeth Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord neep between the Porch the Altar and let them say Spare thy people O Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach that the Heathen should rule ever them Wherefore should they say among the people Where is their God Which set formes in Publick Meetings were so far from altering in the New Testament that they are summed up and perfected in the Lords Prayer and so transmitted by the Apostles to all posterity that no settled Church can be noted that had not some Publick Leiturgy wherein the people might joyne with the Minister in Gods Service children and the simpler sort might be instructed by hearing the same words constantly repeated and not to come only as spectators to a Theatre to hear much learn little and do nothing as though all had not an interest in Gods Service according to their abilities and callings and that out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings Hosannaes were not to be endured Publick Prayers may be either 1. Confessions 2. Deprecations 3. Supplications 4. Intercessions 5. Thanksgivings 6. Praises 7. Comminations For Publick Confessions what can be contrived more fully and effectually then that used at the entrance of our Devotions Almighty and most merciful Father we have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheep c. And that other before the receiving of the Lords Supper Almighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Maker of all things Judg of all men we acknowledg and bewail our manifold sins c. These you and your children must have by heart to be ready at all times upon all pangs of sadnesse for sin or more dangerous convulsions of conscience Psal 32.6 In this the Psalmist found present ease I said I will confesse my sins unto the Lord and so thou forgavest the wickednesse of my sin This the Apostle commends as a salve most soveraign 1 John 1.9 If we confesse our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins But Ver. 10 If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us The Prophet Daniel fully relates how it wrought with him for no sooner had hee made that earnest passionate Confession in the behalf of himself and his fellow Captives in Babylon But while I was yet speaking Dan. 9.21 saith the Text and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel Tea while I was speaking in Prayer the man Gabriel being caused to flye swiftly came and touched me to give me satisfaction So quick in operation is an hearty Prayer and Confession No sooner shall David say 2 Sam. 12.13 I have sinned against the Lord but the Prophet shall reply And the Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye As soon as he shall acknowledge that his feet hath slipped Psal 94.18 he shall presently have good cause to adde Thy mercy O Lord held me up In the multitude of the sorrowes that I had in my heart thy comforts have refreshed my soul For as vomiting after excess of gluttony easeth the stomack so doth Confession the conscience after a burthening sinne committed For this purpose to have recourse to those Hymnes in our Church-Book and sing them devoutly O Lord of whom I do depend behold my careful heart c. And O Lord turn not away thy face from him that lyes prostrate c. And O Lord in thee is all my trust c. will be a great ease to an afflicted soul And they that have some fuller taste and relish of Gods Word may make a kind of confessionary Letany to themselves fitted to the times of trouble they live in As for example 1. By our Fratricide with Cain who causelesly murdered his innocent brother 2. By our unnatural irreverence with Cham that scoffed at the nakedness of his father 3. By our contemptuous profaneness with Esau who sold his birth-right for a mess of broth 4. By our Sacriledg with Achan who wickedly ventured on that which was consecrated to God to the destruction of himself and all his 5. By our divellish conspiracy with Corah and his Complices against Moses and Aaron Gods spiritual and temporal Prelates 6. By Doegs brutish falling upon Gods Priests to make them away that hee might have the greatest share in the plundering of their means 7. By Absoloms most unnatural rebellion against his most indulgent Father We have O Lord affronted heaven and plucked down thy just vengeance upon us but correct us therefore O Lord in thy judgment not in thy fury lest we should be consumed and brought to nothing And if you my Daughters would fit it more properly to your Sexe you may dispose it in this manner 1. Gen. 34.1 With Lots wife deserting her husband in looking back to the Luxury of Sodom 2. With Dinahs gadding abroad to her owne shame the enraging of her brethren and discontent of her father 3. With the plots of Josephs Mistresse upon her chaste servant 4. With Jobs impatient wife to adde affliction to the greatest afflictions of her tormented husband 5. With Michaels scoffing at her husband Davids Devotion as misbeseeming his High place to be submissive to God 6. With the haughtinesse of the daughters of Sion Isaiah 3 displaying their fancies to the world in twenty one fashions 7. With the peremptory Jewish wives Jer. 44.16 we have snapt at Gods Ministers as they did at the Prophet Jeremiah in Egypt and told them in plain termes Let them say what they would we would do as we list and our husbands should justifie us in it as there it is undertaken Ver. 19. In all which unsufferable exorbitancies or some of them wee have drawne thy just judgments upon us But spare us Good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with us for ever Which leads us to Deprecation the second kind of Publick Prayer CHAP. II Of Deprecations AFter Confession Deprecations may bee best thought upon by which we being conscious to our selves how manifold punishments our innumerable sins have deserved cry out unto God with the Psalmist Psal 130.3 If thou Lord shouldst be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it And to fall in with our Leiturgy O Lord deal not with us after our sins neither reward us after our iniquities And fully to this
all the women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances none being so scrupulous in those dayes as to take exceptions at them And Miriam said Sing ye unto the Lord for he hath criumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he throwne into the sea O what an excellent Emulation it is betweene men and women when they contend who may praise God most for his Blessings bestowed upon them In the same straine of praises is the consort of Deborah and Barak for the overthrow of General Siserah Judges 5. Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel when the people willingly offered themselves c. In comparison of which piece the highest touch of Heathen Poetry sounds but flat and livelesse Neither must the good-wives of Bethlehems praising of God for the birth of Obed King Davids grand-father be thought not worthy to be imitated upon the like occasion Rut. 4.14 15 And the women said unto Naomi Blessed be the Lord which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman that his name may bee famous in Israel And he shall be thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thine old age for thy Daughter in Law which loveth thee which is better to thee then ten sonnes hath born him Thankful Hannahs Hymn is tuned to the same key for the birth of her son Samuel And Hannah prayed and said 1 Sam. 2.1 My heart rejoiceth in the Lord my horn is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because I rejoice in thy salvation But eminent above all the rest is that Magnificat or Song of Praise and Thanksgiving of the most blessed Mother-maid Luke 1.46 retained in our Leiturgy to be alwayes repeated Wherein Humility in her greatest advancement referring all to Gods glory and reflecting still upon the Churches good is most lively set forth He hath looked upon me a poor wretch regarding the low and inconsiderable estate of his Hand-maiden passing by the flourishing Pomp of the rich and mighty He hath remembred his mercy for the redemption of Israel according to the promise made to our forefathers and therefore My soul doth praise and magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth not for any worth found in my self but in God only my Saviour O that the proud ones of these times would but think upon this This one patterne might be sufficient to take down their haughty looks and new fangled attires by minding them that the blessedst amongst all women was otherwise affected In the like straine is that Benedictus of holy Zachary Luke 1.68 Blessed or praised be the Lord God of Israel for hee hath visited and redeemed his people c. And that Psal 100. O be joyful in the Lord all yee Lands serve the Lord with gladnesse and come before his presence with a Song O go your way into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him and speak good of his Name And it is worth the noting that as the Book of the hundred and fifty Psalms begins with Blessed is the man or many blessings are upon that man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly but kissed the Son and ordered his walks to God to which the first fifty Psalmes especially lead him Neither stood in the way of sinners which the second fifty beats him from as most dangerous So the third fifty plucks him and his from the Seat of the scornful lift him up with Psalms of Degrees and Hallelujahs to thank and praise the Maker and Preserver of all things sealing all up with this conclusion Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Wherefore let not the Te Deum We praise thee O God we acknowledg thee to be the Lord or the Benedicite the following Canticle O all ye works of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever be thought superfluous in our Leiturgy for not having that Canonical Authority which the former Scriptures have lest our Sermons and unpremeditated praises and prayers should be in that respect excepted against and so Preaching be discredited as bordering too neer sometimes upon Apocrypha Let it be sufficient then that such holy prayers have ground in Scripture from which as the Articles of our Creed they are deduced and framed to the capacitie and memories of all that cannot bee more edifyingly instructed So Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost so often repeated to uphold the Doctrine of the sacred Trinitg against the ancient and moderne Hereticks and that Angelical Rapture used after receiving of the Lords Supper Glory be to God on high and in earth peace good will towards men We praise thee we blesse thee we worship thee we glorifie thee we give thanks to thee for thy great glory O Lord c. are such collections whereby young men and maidens old men and children may praise the Name of the Lord Psa 148.12 as the Psalmist exhorts them to do With whom we may safely conclude in that which our Leiturgy takes up for an entrance Psalm 95. O come let us sing unto the Lord c. with the Postscript of that good wish Psal 40.19 Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee and let such as love thy salvation say alwayes The Lord be praised CHAP. VII Of Comminations or Cursings COmmination in our Leiturgy is a part of Church-Discipline whereby Gods judgments are denounced against notorious offenders to terrifie them from their desperate courses and to put a stop to others that they follow not them in their damned wayes which by their owne mouthes they have pronounced accursed This is grounded on the twenty seventh of Deuteronomy with little alteration of words or matter for the applying it to our time And to the same end serve the Woes denounced by our Saviour Matth. 23 against the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees which will never be out of date as long as the same sins are fomented and thought good policie and not heartily repented of amongst Professors of Christianity With this Commination the Church-Excommunication hath a neer affinity whereby obstinate notorious offenders are excluded from the benefit of the Saints communion and delivered unto Satan as the incestuous Corinthian was by Saint Paul to the destruction of the flesh 1 Cor. 5.5 that the Spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus These warrantable practices of Primitive Discipline considered as they ought should breed a restlesse horror in the consciences of those that lye under such censures Gal. 6. For Be not deceived God is not mocked who will not have his Church neglected whose priviledges of binding and loosing here on earth are enrolled in heaven Mat. 18.18 And if we account it a slight matter to bee reckoned of Gods people as an Heathen or Publican at the last admittance of the faithful and obedient
then upon this repeated condition again and again most strictly to be observed As we forgive them that trespasse against us Mat. 6 14 15 And lastly is not that a thundring censure denounced upon that Caitiffe that took his Brother by the throat for a few pence when his Lord had acquitted him for so many Talents O thou wicked Servant Mat. 28.32 I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not thou have had also compassion on thy fellow servant even as I had pity on thee And you may read what followes Take him Tormentors not a penny to be abated those that afford none shall find no mercy And the application is from him that propounded the Doctrine ver 35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses 7. Lastly Distrust and despair take away all ground of prayer and turn us into the Land of Nod with Cain to denounce with a guilty conscience Gen. 4.13 Mine iniquity is greater then it my be forgiven or politickly to hang our selves with Achitophel or to give a name to Acheldama with Judas Such Murderers and Traytors prevent as it were Gods judgments and suppose the paines of hell more tollerable then a guilty conscience Let it be your care therefore my Daughters with your prayers to beseech God amongst other blessings to remove from you these forementioned Hindrances of prayer Gen. 15.11 Abraham had much ado when he sacrificed to keep off the fowls from devouring it And Joshuah the High Priest shall no sooner present himself a poor and ragged supplicant for restoring of his captive Country-men Zech. 3.1 but Satan will be at his right hand to resist him But resist the Divel saith the Apostle and he will flee from thee Jam. 4.7 That is done not by force of arms nor fasting only or almes-deeds howsoever otherwise commended but by continued and devout prayers gronnded upon that of our Saviour lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil And with this being put to flight if the evil spirit return again with seven worse then himself Luk. 11.26 of his undermining companions The shield of faith will be sufficient to quench all his fiery darts being managed with continued prayers and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance as the Apostle assures us Eph 6.18 more fully to be handled in that which followes CHAP. VI. Helpes for the stirring up and furtherance of our suits HE that intends to build a tower Luk. 14 28 you may find whose observation it is first sits downe and counts the costs what it wil amount unto lest haply when he hath laid the foundation and is not able to compass it all that behold begin to mock and say This man began to build and was not able to finish it In this the case of such that shall make their addresses to God by prayer is in a manner represented All kind of snares distractions seductions impediments shall be cast in his way that except preventions and helps come from above and are circumspectly used of us our best intents will but prove attempts like a foundation that wants a purse to compleat the building The helpes that herein will best further us may be reckoned to be 1. Meditation 2. Vowes 3. Fasting 4. Almes-deeds 5. Visiting of the sick and distressed 6. Frequenting pious and lawfull assemblies 7. Putting on the whole Armour of God whereby we may be able to stand in the evil day Eph. 6 13. and having done all to stand 1. How meditation and prayer mutually helpe each other the Psalmist sheweth in his early and earnest prosecution of them Ponder my words O Lord and consider my meditation Psal 5.1 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling my King and my God for unto thee do I make my prayer my voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up which when he had done in a serious turning over three books the book of Nature the book of Scripture and the book of Conscience which alwaies lie open for all to look upon he shuts up his religious speculation with this supplicant conclusion Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be alwaies acceptable in thy sight Psal 19.14.15 O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer This was holy Isaak's practice no doubt from the institution of his good father Abraham he went out to meditate in the field at eveningtide to pray saith the margin in our last translation intimating Gen. 24.63 that prayer and Meditation be of such affinity that prayer without meditation is as a messenger that runs without his errand 2. Vowes may passe also as helps to prayers upon deliberate meditation Jer. 23.32 otherwise they may prove rash and sinfull Those that we have made by our Godfathers and Godmothers in our Baptism to forsake the divel flesh and world with all their pompes and vanities might hold us in a right course without any monkish by-laws or further impositions of our owne if they were as well kept as they are wisely set down in our Catechisme But such is our wavering weaknesse and itch after Novelties that we must needs have a new lesson before the old be learned and Manna from heaven shall not relish if it grow too common you should do well therefore my daughters not to vow more then you have undertaken to doe already or else to vow no otherwise then that it may tend to the performance of that which solemnly before God and his Church you have undertaken For though the obedience of the Rechabites to the commands of their Father Jonadab Jer. 35.19 be approved in Scripture as an ensample for observing the fifth Commandment yet the Pharisaicall tye for their Corban that exempted children from obedience to their parents or relieving them in their necessity is branded by our Saviour as an attempt which justles aside Gods law that mans Traditions might take place So wise wee would make our selves to perfect Gods Text with our marginal notes and give order for a directer way to heaven then he that is the way John 14.6 the truth the life had leisure or pleasure to leave behind him Notorious are the sad consequences of Jeptha's inconsiderate vow Judg. 11.39 And what would Sauls for killing Jonathan 1 Sam. 14 c. 25. and Davids for massacring Nabal with his whole familie have wrought if God in mercy had not interposed Our vowes therefore when we make any extraordinary must be 1. Warrantable by Gods word 2. Fit for our condition of life 3. Concerning things in our power 4. Injurious to none 5. Changeable upon necessity 6. Referred wholly to Gods glory and the good of the Church and common-wealth wherein we live 7. No way exempting from
of the Father in our Redeemer Christ Jesus in whom only hee is well pleased All which variety of Armor of Proof is buckled together and made useful to us 7. By Prayer and Supplication in the spirit Eph. 6.18 watching thereunto with all Perseverance as the Apostle there sheweth and that not without apparent necessity For we wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against principalities against Powers against the Rulers of the darknesse of this world against spiritual wickednesse in High Places which needs must be most dangerous unto us 1. For their warinesse that grapple with us 2. For their invulnerablenesse they being Spirits whereas wee are flesh and bloud 3. For their principalities whereby they challenge a preheminence over us 4. For their Power by which they would quickly overbear us 5. By their rule in darknesse in which unawares they intrap us that see not what we do 6. They being spiritual and invisible wee carnal and open to all Assaults 7. They in high places we in the lower ground at pleasure to be over-topped The advantages therefore being so many and material doth it not stand us upon to be armed as it were from top to toe to withstand all these Forces in the evil day and and having done all to stand which if in a storm extraordinary we suspect will scarce hold out Recourse must be had to our Saviour by prayer with his Apostles in danger of drowning Master Matth. 8. Luke 8. Master we perish that he may arise and rebuke the winds and waves and then a wished calme will follow which how it may be discerned the next Chapter may in some sort direct CHAP. VII Of the Waiting for a gracious Answer from God to our Prayers and the surest Tokens to discern it NOne put up Petitions to any but wait for an Answer what they may depend upon The servants of Benhadad 1 Ki. 20.23 that in sackcloth and ropes about their heads were supplicants for their Master to victorious Ahab observed diligently whether they might catch at any thing from him that might yeild them comfort Upon Esthers engagement amongst the Virgins presented to Ahasuerus for selecting a Queen Esth 2.11 Mordecai walked every day before the Court of the Womens house to know how Esther did and what would become of her It stands much more upon Religious Petitioners that have put up their Prayers to God in matters of the highest consequence to attend what will be the issue of them that if they take their thanksgiving may be accordingly if otherwise their care may search out where the stop lieth and all diligence to bee used to remove it Whereupon the Psalmist resolveth Psal 85.8 I will hearken what the Lord will say concerning me for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints that they turne not again to folly This Micah seconds him in a time when neither friend nor wife nor children much lesse servants were to be trusted Mich. 7.7 I will look upon the Lord saith he I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me The like attendance we find professed by Habakkuk for expecting what God would do concerning a threatned ruine from the Caldeans Hab. 2.1 which he had earnestly prayed against I will stand upon my watch saith he and set me upon the Tower and I will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I shall answer when I am reproved for hee that thinks it sufficient to pray and observeth not what effect it taketh Job 39.14 may be likened to the foolish Ostrich which leaveth her eggs in the earth and warmes them in the dust little reckoning what afterward becomes of them Our circumspection must be more then so not onely to pray fervently but to wait patiently till some good token for our good may bee discerned for our comfort in good courses Psa 86.17 and shame of those which hate us Miracles here are not to be expected in such clear light of the Gospel which hath been confirmed by Miracles but Events are to be observed whereby wee may gather how far our Prayers have been prevalent When Abrahams servant saw with his eyes how all things succeeded as he had prayed for in Rebekahs readiness to give him to drink and water his Camels Ge. 24.27 he made no doubt but that God had heard his prayer And Hannahs cheerfulnesse after her praying to God for a Man-child 1 Sam. 1.18 was a notable evidence that she should not bee disappointed of her hopes Manaohs wives Logick in such cases may stand for a rule The Deed will lead us to the doer and that we find to that wee search after Judg. 13.23 If saith she the Lord were pleased to kill us as you husband conclude he would not have received a burnt Offering and a Meat Offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would at this time have told us such things as these Upon this womans Logick then why might not the best men and women thus proceed to gather what is become of their devoutest prayer Gal 5 22â— 23. The Apostle to the Galatians sets downe nine Fruits of the Spirit which those that are furnished with are not liable to any condemning Law These are 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Long-suffering 5. Gentlenesse 6. Goodnesse 7. Faith 8. Meeknesse 9. Temperance If after our humble suits then commended to God upon unpartial examination of our untainted consciences we find our love to God and Man increased our Joy through some good events heightned our Peace both inward and outward confirmed our Long-suffering quickned our Gentlenesse not abused our Ingenuity or Goodnesse more accepted our Faith or Fidelity trusted our Meeknesse winning others and Temperate Moderation in any good measure improved Why might not wee conclude That our prayers are accepted and filed in Gods Star-Chamber to be further thought on to our best advantage For by our walking in the Spirit as the Apostle gives there the rule we shall find which way the Spirit blowes Gal. 5.16 by which we live And to this walking in the Spirit there are required these seven Associates 1. Light without which there is no walking or working John 9 4. The night cometh when no man can work 2. Confidence to come at length to the Haven where we would be Ps 107.30 Psa 39 14 2 Cor. 5.6 in as much as here we are but strangers and Pilgrims 3 The love of the Country to which wee are walking from whence being absent wee have Davids longing Psal 42 2 when shall I come to appear before the presence of God Old Simeons craving his Letters demissory Luk. 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy Word And Saint Pauls desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 and to bee with Christ 4. Assurance that we are in the right way to it
see that yee walk circumspectly saith the Apostle not as fools Eph. 5.15 16. but as wise redeeming the time because the dayes are evil 5. Sobriety Psa 119.1 for blessed are they that are undefiled in the way and walk in the Law of the Lord which will be a sure guide unto them 6. Peaceableness with their fellow Travellers See that ye fall not out by the way saith Joseph to his brethren which wee most commonly do through vain glory Gal. 5.26 that the Apostle taxeth provoking one an other and envying one another when common calamities or blessings invite us most to unity 7. Cheerfulnesse that sweetneth all the crosses in the way and encourageth us to go on with assrance of the crowne that is set before us Those that sigh and cry for the abominations of the times and see as it were Gods hand lifted up to strike Ezech. 9.4 Rev. 7.3 shall find some marked as in Ezekiel and the Revelation which we shall discern in our selves as we find a conformity between our Actions and Petitions For may not he that as a true Nathaniel without guile finds himselfe Humble in himself Matth. 5 mourning for his owne sins and the iniquity of the times meek to his companions hungring and thirsting to do good to all men Merciful to the miserable Pure in his intentions patient in induring injuries for righteousnesse sake safely conclude that a Mark of Blessednesse is stampt upon him which is the chiefest scope our prayers aim at But what need we go further in this behalf then the Lords Prayer If we find our unbyassed affections striving to compasse the 1. Hallowing of Gods name above all things 2. The promoting of his Kingdom and Church 3. The doing his wil in observance of his word 4. The acknowledging with all thankfulnesse our daily bread and all other necessaries for this life to come from his bounty 5. Our readinesse to forgive all other their trespasses against us that wee may receive remission of all our sins from him 6. Our desires to be freed from all temptations of the flesh and world in which wee should perish being left to our selves And 7. Of protection from the violences and stratagems of that roaring Lion 1 Pet. 5.8 who is daily ranging about seeking whom he may devour Should not such hearty desires which cannot arise from our own strength ascertaine us that the hearty recital of this prayer of the Sons composing hath found favour with the Father to our best advantage in due time to be accomplished Thus have you my dear children the necessity of prayer and to whom it is to be directed the things that we are to pray for and the awful reverence to be used in asking the Impediments that may hinder it and Helps that may make it effectual The Tokens whereby we may conclude that our prayers have found grace to be accepted To put a happy period therefore to this Preparation when we settle our selves to pray 2 Th. 5.17 which the Apostle tels us must be without ceasing 1. The infinite Majesty of God 2. Our own vilenesse 3. The fraud and fury of our adversaries the Flesh the World and the Divel 4 The weight of the businesse wee go about being our utter making or marring 5. The Interest we have in our Saviour Christ Jesus who hath made an Attonement for us 6. The Inevitableness of the account we are to make and the uncertainty of the time we shall be called to it 7. And lastly The strictness of the judgement and unchangeableness that wil pass upon it must most circumspectly and religiously be pondered and laid to heart that so we may profess with the Psalmist Psal 6.8 Away from me all ye that work vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping the Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my prayer Which how you may frame more particularly I shall endeavour to give you plain Directions in that which followes THE SECOND PART Concerning PRIVATE PRAYER PRayers are known to be either Private or Publick Those are to be accounted Private which touch not only on private occafions but as they are differenced from solemne prayers at publick Meeting in the house of God And may be reckoned to be 1. Personal or prayers in secret 2. Houshold or prayers in a Family 3. Blessings or occasional Salutations 4. Psalms Hymns or spiritual Songs appliable to divers occurrences 5. Ejaculations framed on all sorts of conceits or objects 6. Lamentations for sin or miseries 7. Excitations or Incouragements to all kind of Christian cheerfulness and resolution CHAP. I. Of Personall or Prayers in secret IT is a question proposed by the Apostle What man knoweth the things of man 1 Cor. 2.11 save the spirit of man which is in him And cannot be answered otherwise then it is else where by himself Rom. 8.15 16. That the Spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God This Spirit is consciencious to our infirmities Rom. 8.15 16. and most secret sinnes For which if our hearts condemn us God is greater then our hearts to punish or to pity as his justice 1 Joh. 3.20 21 or mercy leads him but if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God The book of conscience in such cases is especially to be consulted with Hence were all those zealous strains of the heavenlie enspired Psalmist Psal 139.1 2 3 4 O God thou hast searched me out and knowne me thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts long before Thou art about my path and about my bed and spiest out all my wayes For lo there is not a word in my mouth but thou O Lord knowest it altogether To the same purpose is that considerate acknowledgment in an other place Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse mee from my secret faults keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shal I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence Psal 19.12 13 14. Here is a growth of sin as of an infant in the womb from scarce sensible motions to close committed offences which if they meet not with some publick check they will dare by degrees to appear in publick and amount at length to that great offence that seareth the conscience 1 Tim. 4.2 and makes it regardlesse of hell or heaven This Cocatrice not crushed in the egge will soon become a most dangerous flying serpent which can be quelled only with personal prayers Isa 14.49 opposed to the temptations terrors and assaults wee are most molested with Now these are only known to God and our selves and the Father that observeth in secret our retired suits will reward us openly to his own glory and our best advantage This Jacob was fully perswaded of and therefore upon the affrighting newes of
before me At our going forth Psalm 143 Shew me the way that I should walk in for I lift up my soul unto thee At the hearing of a Clock or looking on a Watch or a Dyal Teach me O Lord Psal 9.12 to number my dayes that I may apply my heart to Wisdom At the undertaking of any work of our vocation The glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon me Ibid. v. 17 Prosper thou the works of my hands O prosper thou my handy work which if wee cannot desire with a good conscience a stop must be made and the business not undertaken Last of all upon our death-beds old Jacobs Ejacalation will be acceptable and comfortable Gen. 49.18 O Lord I have waited for thy salvation With old Simeons in the New Testament to bear it company Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace because mine eyes have seen thy Salvation in knowing and depending upon him for my Redemption my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus Luk. 23.46 Whose praier in giving up the Ghost must be ours at the last gasp Father into thy hands I commend my spirit The happiest conclusion that all our Devotions can bring us unto In the interim we shall meet with in this vale of misery many passages to be lamented at which how it may be performed the next Title suggesteth CHAP. VI. Of Lamentations and complaints on sad Objects WE read in the Old Testament of the Roll of a Book Ezek. 2.10 wherein was written within and without Lamentations and Mourning and Wo. And in Ramah was there a voice heard as it is repeated in the New Testament Lamentation and weeping Matth. 2.18 and great mourning Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they were not The taking up of a lamentation is a Scripture phrase Jer. 7.29 Ezek. 19.1 26.17 27.2 28.12 32.2 and the practice of it usuall Lamentations are prescribed for Tyre and Pharaoh Saul hath a set lamentation penned by David for his sad overthrow and his brave son Jonathans upon cursed mount Gilboa in which the Daughters of Israel are called upon to weep over them 2 Sam. 1.22 under whom they had injoyed such Ornaments and happiness But all the singing men and singing women must by an Ordinance in Israel 2 Chr. 35.25 speak of Josiah in their Lamentations who was slain at Hadradrimmon Zac. 12.11 in the valley of Megidde whereof the Prophet Jeremiah was the Pen-man from whom wee have those inimitable Lamentations for the ruines of the Church and State that fell out in his time O that my head were waters Jer. 9.1 and my eys a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slaine of the Daughter of my people Jer. 7.29 Cut off thy hair O Jerusalem and cast it away and take up a Lamentation in the High-Places Lam. 1.11 Is it nothing to you all ye that passe by behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow Then he turnes unto the Lord Behold Chap. 2.20 O Lord and consider to whom thou hast done this shal the women eat their fruit and the children of a span long Shall the Priest and the Prophet be slain and that in the Sanctuary of the Lord How cold are all Heathen Poets and Orators compared to these burning expressions Isai 22.4 Isaiah had the like before for the desolation he foresaw should come upon his Country for their sins Look away from me for I wil weep bitterly Labour not to comfort me because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people And Alas Chap. 5.16 alas is the burthen of the Lamenration foretold by Amos in the like case which the Citizens and Husbandmen and all those that are skilful in wailing must take up when the Lord is angry and poureth out the Vials of his punishments upon them Psal 8.5 Psal 102.9 Such bread of tears and drink mingled with weeping the Prophet David often made his Kingly repast when the floods of Belial made him afraid and mark how earnest and passionate he is indivers addresses to God which pierce the highest heavens to extort as it were a blessing Will the Lord absent himself for ever Psal 77.7 and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and his promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure And what consorts more with the miseries of these lamentable times then that of the sixtieth Psalm Psalm 60.1 O God thou hast cast us out and scattered us abroad thou hast also been displeased O turn thou unto us again Thou hast moved the land and divided it heal the sores thereof for it shaketh thou hast shewed thy people heavy things thou hast given us a drink of deadly wine When you therefore consider my Daughters which I will you seriously and conscionably to do the irreverent contempt and worse then heathenish profaneness that is fallen of late upon Gods Worship under a pretence of exacter teaching and purer Reformation you may betake your selves to that complaint of the Psalmist Help Lord for there is not one godly man left Psalm 12.1 the faithful are minished from among the children of men the wicked walk on every side Ver. ult when the vilest men are exalted And turn that reproof of our Saviour into a necessary Prayer Mat. 21.13 O Lord thy house should be called and so ever acknowledged to bee the House of Prayer but behold it is now made not only a Den of Thieves but a Stable for horses and a Receptacle for Zims and Ohims and daughters of the Owles to act their parts therein Isai 34.14 Men of worse then Heathenish conditions are come into thine inheritance Psalm 79.1 thy holy Temple have they defiled and made thy Jerusalem an heap of stones c. 2. When you recount with your selves Things consecrated to God to be alienated to cursed uses the shepherds smitten the flocks scattered and that not by strangers but at home in the houses of our friends Zach. 13.6 how seasonably will that bee thought upon out of the seventy fourth Psalm O God Psalm 74.1 why art thou absent from us so long Why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture Thine adversaries roar in the midst of the congregations and set up their banners for tokens breaking downe the carved works set up for thy Worship with axes and hammers Let us make havock of them altogether say they root them out Psal 83.12 that they be no more a people that we may take the houses of God into our own possession Is it not time therefore for all good Christians to cry out Arise O Lord Psal 74.23 and maintaine thine own cause remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily 3 At the
cheerful Proclamations you may take notice of these seven especially 1. Of that wherof King David is made the Herald Psal 34.11 Come ye children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Your Teacher shall be a King and Prophet your Teaching shall be gratis your Learning shall be such as shall make you eternally happy 2. And because perchance to some it may come more plausibly from the deliverance of a woman Solomon the son brings in wisdom bestirring her self and sending abroad her maidens to invite all desirous to learn to a great feast in her stately house erected upon seven pillars Prov 9.1 Whoso is simple She proclaimes in the highest places of the City where it is likely of the greatest Audience whose is simple let him turn in hither and he that wanteth understanding come eat of my bread and drink of my wine which I have mingled In the third place that of the Prophet Isaiah would be diligently hearkned unto Ho every one that thirsteth Isai 55.1 come ye to the waters for spiritual refreshing which is infinitely beyond all carnal comforts come ye buy and eat come ye buy wine and milk without money and without price Wherrfore do ye spend money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatnesse And to prevent all surmises that a pious life is accompanied with sadnesse and lays a tye upon us which would abridge us of all cheerful society the Proclamation of our Saviour himself doth fourthly ascertain us to the contrary Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden Mat. 11.28 and I will give you rest Take my yoak upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls for my yoak is easie and my burden is light This is taken into our Leiturgy for a chief ground of the Excitations that are set before the partaking of the Lords Supper Lift up your hearts We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God It is meet and right so to do Upon this 5. The great Kings Invitation of all sorts to his wedding Supper of his Son Matt. 22.4 would bee most seriously hearkned unto Behold I have prepared my dinner my Oxen and my fatlings are killed come unto the marriage and not turn it off with excuses of absence or profane it by irreverent intruding without a wedding garment Matth. 7. for this shall never passe without an heavy censure Neither is the sixth Proclamation of lesse consequence Come out of her Rev. 18.4 my people that ye be not partaker of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Take it how you will either for clearing your selves from the Babylon or confusions of Popery or of Schismaticks or of wretched worldlings the case is of such consequence that the not abandoning of such Societies will make us uncapable of the priviledges of the Seventh and last Proclamation Rev. 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely What sense is so benummed what affection so bewitched what heart so stupified that such proffers if they win not yet at least will not retard from the desperate courses which the world the flesh and the divel continually put us upon To strengthen those graces so freely offered These Memorandums or Mementoes may do well to bee had in a readiness 1. Eccles 12.1 Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth while thou hast abilities and opportunities to do it for thou knowest not how soon thou mayest bee deprived of them 2. Luk. 17.30 Remember Lots wife fall not back from a good course wherein thou art lest thou be at a losse which thou shalt never be able to recover 3. Remember Dives Luk. 16.25 Lot and Lazarus We must not think to fare well here and never to be called to an account hereafter 4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy not in hearkning so much after other mens undertakings in speaking as the worshipping of God our selves in the beauty of Holinesse Heb. 10.25 Considering one another to provoke unto love and good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another so much the more as we see the day approaching This will draw on the Fifth Memento Remember that Jesus 2 Tim. 2.8 of the seed of David was raised from the dead having spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly Gol. 2.15 tryumphing over them by himself in his Crosse thereby freeing us from Satans slavery and purchasing to us an immortal Kingdom In travelling to the possession of which we must labour to support the weak and take the Sixth Memento of our Saviour with us It is more blessed to give Act. 20.35 then receive And yet when all this is done to keep us from undoing all again that Memento of Jude in the last place will be necessary Beloved remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Jude v. 17. that they told you that there should be mockers in the last times who should walk after their ungodly lusts But how shall we discern them from honest men seeing they varnish all their actions with the exquisite veile of holinesse and hold forth their zealous projects with the most taking professions of Saintship The nineteenth verse will there tell us in down right termes These be they that seperate themselves sensual having not the spirit The Separatists Libertines and Enthusiasts of this ages spawning which some suspect to have affinity with the three frogs issuing out of the mouth of the Dragon Rev. 16 1â— the beast and the false Prophets which set Kingdomes and States against the Lamb and his followers until in the battel of Armageddon they be utterly defeated Here the like number of Caveats may be put in and all from our Saviour immediately As 1 Take heed that no man deceive you by putting false Christs and false Prophets upon you Mark 13.5 2 Take heed what you hear Mat. 24.7.15 and how you hear 3. Take heed of vain-glory in your best works Mark 4.24 Luke 8.18 of Almesdeeds Fasting and Prayer 4. Take heed that the light which is in you be not darknesse Matth. 6. by aiming at wrong ends Luk. 11.35 and over-prizing your Sanctity in comparison with others 5. Heed also must bee taken of men Mat. 10.16 17 by joyning the Serpents wisdome with the Doves innocency which intimates that which the Prophet Jeremiah hath more at large Jer. 9 4 Take heed every one of his neighbor and
trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbor will walk with slanders 6. Take heed and beware of covetousnesse Luk. 12.15 for the abundance that a man hath makes him not happy but the well bestowing of it which basely neglected proves oftentimes the bane of the owner and a booty for those that will wickedly set it packing 7. You that are better advised Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting or drunkennesse or cares of this life and so that last day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come on all them which dwell on the face of the whole earth But enough hath beene spoken if it be well remembred and practised But what wil Caveats Memento's or Edicts from heaven avail if we be wanting to our selves and bend not an ear to hear or a heart to entertain what the Spirit saith unto the Churches and in them to us in particular II. Here then come in these Excitations which among Divines are called Soliloquies in which by reflecting upon our selves in what condition soever we are we set the superiour faculties of our souls that is the Understanding and Will to comfort and cheare up our drooping senses and consciences upon heavenly principles that will never faile And herein a Lanthorn to our feet and a light unto our pathes we have the Prophet David in so many passages that it may distract us in which especially to instance Psal 27.2 In the midst of his devouring canibal enemies that came upon him to eat up his flesh how cheerfully doth he rowze up himself The Lord is my light and my salvation whom then shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then should I be afraid Upon the scoffs of his Adversaries that having him at an advantage would cast him in the teeth Psal 42.12 Where is now thy God he reflects upon himself and without passionate retortion makes good his ground against them Ps 42.14 15 Why art thou so vexed O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God Psal 43.5 6 for I will yet thank him which is the help of my countenance and my God Psal 103.1 Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me Psal 146.1 Praise the Lord O my soul While I live will I praise the Lord as long as I have any being I will sing praises unto my God Such a communing with her own heart hath the poor woman troubled with the bloody-issue Mark 5.26 Matth. 9.21 If I might but touch his garment I shal be whole And how calmly in this kind doth Job put off the losses of his goods and children Job 1.21 Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return again The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. III. Last of all for inciting others not only all sorts of people must be called upon in these and the like terms O praise the Lord O give thanks unto the Lord O sing unto the Lord a new song which are as familiar as comfortable but also beasts and senselesse creatures must be fetcht in to bear a part Psalm 150 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord is the close of the Psalms Let the sea make a noise let the floods clap their hands Let the Hills be joyful together before the Lord And O be joyful in the Lord all yea Lands serve the Lord. These and like select passages set in our Leiturgy made familiar to you and yours my Daughters may serve to make you heavenly melody in the greatest distractions and affrightments this world may put upon you Psal 94.13 14 for the Lord will not fail his people neither forsake his inheritance but give them patience in the time of adversity until the pit be digged us for the ungodly Bruised reeds shall not be broken Isai 42.3 smoaking flax shall not bee quenched Psal 34 Sheep shall find green pastures when lions hunger the meal shall not fail in the barrel 1 King 17. nor the oyl in the cruse until there appeare a more plentiful supply Cast your care therefore upon God my Daughters in all your exigencies for he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 and be content with what he bestoweth upon you for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And our Saviour who tels us that in this world we shall have tribulation Joh. 16.33 and be sharers with him in his fufferings cheers us up notwithstanding with this conclusion Be of good comfort I have overcome the world THE THIRD PART OF PRAYERS IN Publick Assemblies CHAP. I. Of Confessions PUblick Prayers are such as are celebrated solemnly by Congregations in appointed times and places according to set formes prescribed to Priest and people by particular Churches within their severall Jurisdictions Such was that of blessing the people by the Priest Num. 6.22 not in variety of formes and phrases as he thought fit but in such termes and words which are enjoyned by God himselfe And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Speak unto Aaron and his sons saying On this wise shall ye blesse the children of Israel saying unto them The Lord blesse thee and keep thee The Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace And they shall put my Name upon the children of Israel and I will bless them This name some would have to import the blessed Trinity by reason of the word Jehovah or Lord here thrice repeated to which that Blessing is well conformed which is imparted usually by most parents to children In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And in the same form precisely all children of Christians are commanded to be baptized Mat. 28.19 In like manner it was not at the choice of him that presented his first fruits to acknowledg his thankfulnesse in what termes or variations he conceited but Deut. 26.5 Thou shalt speak as the Text commands thee and say before the Lord thy God A Syrian ready to perish was my father and he went downe into Egypt and sojourned there with a few and became a Nation great mighty and populous and the Egyptians evil entreated us and laid upon us hard Bondage And when we cryed unto the Lord God of our fathers the Lord heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an out-stretched arm and with great terribleness and with signes and with wonders And he brought us into this place and hath given us this Land even a Land that floweth with milk and honey And now behold I have brought thee the
purpose is that excellent Deprecation that followes O God merciful Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart c. This is seconded by another no lesse material We humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon our infirmities and for the glory of thy Name sake turn from us all those evils which we most righteously have deserved c. And here may be taken in those interchangeable Votes of Priest and People which are interposed O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thy Names sake O God we have heard with our ears c. and therefore now Arise O Lord help us and deliver us for thine honour that we may alwayes with united hearts and voices in the highest straine professe and say Glory be to the Father c And what are all those recountings of dangers in particular Orisons rising up from our sins as vapours that gather into a black cloud of vengeance to shun which we unanimously cry in our Letany Spare us Good Lord and Good Lord deliver us What are they but so many Deprecations for removal of just executions which would otherwise utterly confound us It was not without just cause therefore that Saint Paul so carefully exhorted Bishop Timothy whom hee had left in Ephesus to settle Church-Dectrine and Discipline that in Doctrine hee should labor to divert them from Novelties Fables 1 Ti. 1.3 4 and 6.20 and endlesse Disputes concerning Genealogies and such wrangling questions nothing tending to Edification And for Discipline he would have set in the first place in the ordring of publick Worship Deprecations 1 Tim. 2.1 Supplications Intercessions and giving of thanks for all men but especially for Kings and those that are in Authority Which lesson if it had been well pressed by those that take on them to be somewhat gifted above their brethren and observed better by their zealous followers we should have had little need then of such Leitugical Deprecations From 1. Herodian Tyranny 2. Pharisaical malicious hypocrisie 3. Saducean brutish incredulity 4 Judas his highest Treason 5. Simon Magus and Elymas his hellish oppositions 6. Ananias and Saphira's dainty deludings with a smooth lye 7. The Silver Smiths and Copper-Smiths boysterous and mechanical tumults to have Church and State forged on their Anvils as they would hammer it to repeat again and again Good Lord deliver us Let your care therefore my Daughters be in all such cryes and clamors Lo here is Christ or there is Christ Behold you shal find him by such a River re-baptizing or meet with him in such a Conventicle exercising or distributing his gifts not to forsake the old way which hath warrant to bee good from the Ancient of dayes but to hold fast by God with the Psalmist Psal 73.27 and possess your selves in patience according to our Saviours direction in the heaviest calamities Luk. 21.19 and not forget that advice of the sad Jer. 18.14 15. but serious Prophet forraign waters are not to bee preferred before our better tryed springs at home nor untrodden paths that are not cast up before the ancient wayes wherein our fathers have safely walked without stumbling For the performance of which Supplications will be found necessary and therefore fittest to be considered of in the third place CHAP. III. Of Supplications or Petitions SUpplications are Prayers directed to God for supply of our wants or prospering our pious intentions and endeavours whether spiritual or temporal Of which our Leiturgy is also a treasury that containeth all good things new and old to be desired as likewise a Magazine wherein that armour of God is to be had whereby we may be able to withstand all principalities and powers Ephe. 6.12 13 and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places if we continue with all Prayers and Supplications and watch thereunto with perseverance as the Apostle exhorts us For herein after Confession of sins and Deprecation of punishment how orderly are wee led on both in Morning and Evening Prayer to bee humble Petitioners for Peace and Protection which yeild the greatest happinesse that in this world may be expected Now for the first we have these Prayers O God which art the Author of Peace and Lover of Concord c. And O God from whom all holy desires all good counsels and all just works do proceed give unto thy servants that peace which this world cannot give c. For the second those O Lord our heavenly Father Almighty and everlasting God who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day defend us in the same by thy mighty power c. And Lighten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us c. Those that hold these and the like Supplications the less effectual because common and so fitted for the mouths of babes and sucklings of least understanding amongst the Vulgar may as well slight the Sun and Moone imparting their beames equally to the Prince and Peasant and cast off the whole Sacred Text of Scripture because it comes not out weekly in a new Translation Those also that further require variety as more grateful to their appetites whom Manna from heaven would not long satisfie if they will but take the pains to peruse with deliberation and singleness of heart the ninety two Collects which are no other but quick and pertinent petions framed and fitted to the time of the year out of the Texts of Epistles and Gospels for Sundays and Saints-daies shall find the like veyne of Devotion not to run in any Hâ—lps or Hand-maids or Practices of Piety that may fill the hungry with good things when the rich in their squeamish choiceness may be sent empty away Where by the way if we but cast an eye on the Letany what are all those necessary desires which the religious thoughts of many ages have laid together with which young and old rich and poor offer violence as it were joyntly with their out-cryes to the Throne of Grace We beseech thee to hear us Good Lord but a sum of Petitions linked together wherein all have a share which the best gifted men on the sudden will hardly think upon O what admirable variety of choice may bee here found As when we consult the Scriptures to beginne with that Collect of the second Sunday in Advent Blessed God which hast caused all Scripture to be written for our learning c. When we undertake and begin any work of our vocation to procure a blessing unto it with that so well known Supplication Prevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious favour and farther us with thy continual help c. For an entrance into our Prayers how fit is that Assist us mercifully O Lord in these our supplications and prayers c. or that which followes Almighty Lord and everlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct sanctifie govern c. And after the hearing