b b Psal 5.3 my voice shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord. c c Psal 43.3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me vnto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles d d Psal 85.7 Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy saluation And howsoeuer e e Heb. 4.2 Ierem. 7.8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 11.17 I haue often heard thy holy word called vpon thy great name and had to do with the seales of the righteousnes of Faith not for the better but for the worst at least wise with small or no fruit yet now I humbly pray thée make me like f f Luk 8.15 good ground that I may with an honest and good heart heare thy word kéepe it and bring forth fruit with patience And although g g Psal 8.1 3 6 9. thy name being excellent in all the earth by reason of the works of thy fingers h h Psal 111.2 3 4 5 7. which are great and wonderfull honorable and glorious veritie and iudgment I haue not sought out thy workes nor i i Esai 5.12 considered the operation of thy hands because I haue not had pleasure therein yea and though k k Psal 40 5. many are thy wonderfull workes which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to me ward they cannot be reckoned in order vnto thée l l Esai 64.7 and I haue not stirred vp my selfe to take hold of thée m m Rom. 1.21 neither haue bin thankfull n n Ps 119.76 nor praised thée for thy mercifull kindnesse o o 2 Chron. 32.35 at least wise I haue not rendred againe according to the benefit done vnto me p p Rom. 2.4 neither haue I knowne that the goodnes of God hath led me to repentance Yet now Lord q q Esai 26.10 by the fauour thou shewest vnto me let me learne righteousnes and r r 2 Chron. 32.26 humble my selfe for my hardnes of heart that thy wrath come not vpon me And ſ ſ Ierem. 31.18 whereas thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoke not t t Mica 6.9 hearing the rod and who hath appointed it yet most gratious God grant that now at the last u u Esai 9.13 I may turne vnto thée that smitest me and seeke thée the Lord of Hostes * * Heb. 3.7 13 15. To day giue me grace to heare thy voice not hardened in my heart through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Make me x x 1 Pet. 2.17 to loue brotherly fellowship y y 1 Pet. 4.4 not running with the prophane to the excesse of ryot but z z Coloss 3.16 teaching and admonishing my selfe and others in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie with grace in my heart vnto thée a a Act. 12.5 praying earnestly and giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto thée in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ b b Heb. 3.13 exhorting and comforting my selfe and others with thy words c c 1 Thess 4.18 and humbling my selfe vnto them in thy feare O God d d Iam. 4.10 Let thy word dwell richly in me in all wisedome which grant I may e e Prov. 4.21 kéepe in the midst of my heart that I may not sinne against thée but obserue to do as thou hast commanded me f f Deut. 4.32 neither turning aside to the right hand nor to the left Euermore grant g g Iam. 4.8 Heb. 10.22 1 King 8.61 1 Sam. 16.7 that I may draw néere vnto thée with a true vpright and plaine heart h h Phil 3.9 and studying to be found in Christ i i 2 Tim. 3.5 and to haue the power of godlinesse in me I may k k Phil. 3.14 presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus that at the last l l Rom. 9.23 thou maist make knowne the riches of thy glory vpon me a vessell of thy mercie and m m 1 Pet. 1.9 I may receiue the end of my faith which is the saluation of my soule n n Heb. 13.7 Make thy seruant the Minister of thy Gospell which shall speake vnto me and others this day the word of God o o Ezra 7.6 a ready Scribe p p Mat. 13.52 instructed vnto the kingdome of heauen like vnto a man that is an Housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old Stirre him vp q q 2 Tim. 2.15 to studie to shew himselfe approued vnto God a workeman that néedeth not to be ashamed rightly diuiding the word of truth r r 2 Thess 3 2. Deliuer him from vnreasonable and wicked men Strengthen him that he may ſ ſ 2 Tim. 4 7 8. fight a good fight finish his course and kéepe the faith and so giue him the crowne of righteousnesse t t Act. 16.14 And open my heart O Lord that I may attend vnto the things of thy word u u Act. 17.11 and receiue the same with all readinesse of minde searching the Scriptures daily whether those things be so And good Lord * * 2 Tim. 2.7 giue me vnderstanding in all things not onely for to try the spirits whether they are of God but also that I may x x Deut. 33.3 receiue of thy words euen y y Luk. 12.42 my portion of meat in due season z z Psal 141.5 yea when I am reproued let me take it as an excellent oyle which shall not breake my head Far be it from me that I should be a a Act. 7.54 cut to the heart and gnash at the Minister with my téeth but let me be pricked b b Act. 2.37 38. in my heart vnto repentance and receiue of the Ministerie how I ought to walke and to please God c c 1 Thess 4.1 and therein to abound more and more Prepare me O Lord d d Iam. 1.21 to lay apart all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnesse that I may receiue with méeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to saue my soule e e Psal 119.39 Incline my heart vnto thy testimonies and not to couetousnes f f 1 Tim. 6.9 lest falling into temptation and a snare and into many foolish hurtfull lusts they drowne me in destruction and perdition Alwaies make me carefull to g g Ephes 4.15 1 Tim. 1.5 grow in faith and a good conscience And let me neuer h h Iam. 1.22 deceiue my selfe in being a hearer onely and not a doer of the word And because oftentimes i i Math. 13.21 tribulation and persecution ariseth because of the word whereat I sée many are by and by offended I pray thée teach me k k Math. 7.24 to build my house vpon a rocke like a wise man l
glory of his power with the Deuill and his Angels euery one according to the diuers measures of the deserts of their sinnes Seruant Why is the day of iudgement concealed from all Angels and men Scholler r Mat. 24.36 37 38 39 40 41 42 c. Mark 13.33 37. Luk. 21. 34 35 36. Both to preuent all curious inquiring and also to make vs the more watchfull Seruant Why what neede haue we to watch seeing some signes that must go before that day are not yet fulfilled as besides others there ſ Math. 24.23 24 25 26 27 28. Mark 13.21 22 23. must be False-Christs and False-Prophets shewing great signes and wonders Scholler For two reasons cheifly First t Job 33.23 24 25 26 27 28. Eccles 9 10. Ps 89.10 11 12. 90.12 115.17 Hebr. 3.15 1 Thess 5.1 to 12. Rev. 14.13 compared because our death is to vs as the last iudgement shall be to them that then shall be found liuing forasmuch as they are both alike vncertaine and vnknowne and we may be yea and are often deceiued for the time of death as much as any shall be for the time of the last iudgement And séeing the last iudgement shall finde vs in that state whether for grace or sinne wherein death leaueth vs wherefore we must necessarily watch and prepare for death as for the last iudgement Secondly u Mar. 13.32 33 34 35 36 37. Luk. 21.34 35 36. 1 Thess 5.1 2 3 4 c. although wée should not be deceiued for the time either of the one or the other yet the danger of securitie whereby men are hardned to their owne destruction can be by no other meanes preuented nor auoyded but by watching the onely remedie against it Seruant Wherein consisteth this so needfull a Grace of Watchfulnes Scholler Both in shunning all the occasions of securitie and in vsing all the meanes of a speciall preparation or readinesse Seruant What occasions of securitie do you meane must be shunned if we will watch Scholler * Luk. 21.34 35 36. Not only voluptuousnes couetousnesse worldly carefulnesse ambitious desires and the like which are grosse sinnes x Luk. 17.26 27 28 c. 14.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 7.24 35. Esai 22.12 13 14. But also all abuse and excesse yea and the vnseasonable vse of things that of themselues are necessarie warrantable as eating drinking buying selling planting building marrying and giuing to mariage recreating c. as when men do giue themselues ouer to these things which are so much the more pernicious to the soule because they are not ordinarily condemned amongst men Seruant What meanes of speciall Preparation or Readinesse must wee vse Scholler First y 2 Cor. 13.5 Revel 21.27 wée must diligently examine our selues whether we haue the Faith Repentance and Sanctification which lead vnto saluation Secondly we must be carefull z Mat. 25.14 15 c. to 31. Dan. 5.18 to 24. with 4.24 25 26 27. 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 4.10 11. of the talents that is of those gifts and graces both of minde bodie which God hath distributed to vs to vse them to his glory and to the good of his Church yea and that others also may be stirred vp to séeke and serue the Lord which likewise turneth to Gods aduantage in the end Thirdly a 1 Thess 5.17 18 19 20 23. Psalm 16.1 Luk. 21.36 Mark 13.33 34. Revel 22.20 we must set our selues in most serious manner as to all the exercises of Piety so specially to Prayer that God would preserue vs from falling away that he would hasten his comming to Iudgement and fit vs thereunto Seruant How shall one know whether he haue the true grace of Faith that leadeth to saluation Scholler Besides other notes which I haue declared * Part. 2. and Part. 5. aboue one may try himselfe whether he hath true sauing Faith by these two First b Rom. 5.2 3 c. Heb. 10.34 35. 1 Cor. 3.21 23. when he can rightly reioyce and glory in God comfortably depending vpon him in all necessities feares and dangers yea euen in the midst of his greatest tribulations and tryalls vpon this ground of assurance that all things are his he Christs and Christ Gods Secondly c 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. 1 Ioh. 5.4 when his heart reioyceth at the very remembrance and consideration of the day of Iudgement because he is priuy to himselfe that he hath fought the good fight of Faith against all his temptations and hath also kept the same in a good conscience Seruant And how shall one perceiue in himselfe true Repentance and Sanctification Scholler First more generally d Math. 11.12 1 Iohn 3.2 3 8 10. Phil. 3.10 11 12 c. Psal 119.6 Matth. 16.23 Act. 5.3 Zach. 3.2 Rō 16.10 1 Ioh. 2.13 14. Ephes 4 26 27. 6.13 when one fully purposeth in his heart and applieth his whole strength powring forth his prayers incessantly vnto the Lord both to be throughly purged from all his sinnes without exception because where any one knowne sinne raigneth there Satans throne is and also to walke with God purely in the obedience of all his commandements all his dayes and most of all in such duties as God doth specially require at his hands for the magnifying of his power and grace ouer Satan and Sinne and specially at what time he is most strongly tempted to euill or opposed in that which is good Secondly more particularly by the graces of humility and mercie Seruant How may we perceiue the soundnesse of our repentance and sanctification by the grace of humility Scholler e Rom. 11.20 22. Pro. 15.33 Luk. 17.10 1 Cor. 4.5 6 7. Iob. 31.13 14 34. 2 Sam. 12.7 8 c. 13. with Psal 51 141.5 144.3 1 Tim. 1.15 Ephes 3.8 Esai 40 17. When in all our waies and euen in our greatest earthly prosperitie we doe carrie our selues with lowlinesse and feare both before God and Men as being euer in Gods sight onely vpholden by his grace hauing nothing but what we haue receiued and that of his frée goodnesse onely which he might haue giuen if he had pleased to any others though neuer so vnworthy as well as to vs and of sinners that shall be saued the chéfe but lesse than the least of all Saints in one respect or other if not in many And séeing all people and nations of the whole world are counted to God lesse then nothing and vanitie how little iudge you is each particular person if so he knew himselfe aright in his owne eyes To conclude it is a good note that wee haue humilitie the ready way to glorie when we can patiently and thankfullie in the secret of our hearts heare our reproofes and holilie profit by them Seruant How by Mercy Scholler f Mark 3.5 Luk. 19.8 41 42 43.44 Act. 9.36 10.1 c. Gal. 6.10 Psal 16.2 3. 35 13 14. Heb. 6.10 13.3.16 Iam. 2.13 Mat. 24.34
to know that all things worke togither for good to them that loue thee to bestow vpon vs all things needfull and conuenient for this present life so as we may be best fitted to liue to thy praise our owne soules eternall comfort and to the spirituall profit and aduantage of others in thy Church and especially to the better releefe and refreshing of thy poore afflicted seruants vnto the which ends also we pray thee blesse and prosper vs in the right vse of those thy good gifts which we presently enioy And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. But mercifull Father howsoeuer thou deale with vs for worldly benefits we most hartily desire thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes that are passed iustifying vs in the righteousnes of thy Sonne Iesus Christ And that we féeling the comfort of thy loue in our hearts by faith may for thy sake vnfainedly forgiue them that haue offended vs and by the same grace get stronger assurance to our owne soules that thou Lord wilt in thine infinite mercies forgiue vs all that great and manifold debt of ours And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill And for the time to come we entirely beséech thée to let vs sée the deepe deceitfulnes of our owne fleshly hearts and our corrupt inclination whereupon the Deuill for the most part worketh and withall doe thou stir vs vp to fight continually against the same euen against our euill and wretched lusts the vile fruits of our vnbeléefe and to watch against the Deuill who walketh about as a roaring Lyon séeking whom he may deuoure and like a subtile Serpent studying to deceiue O Lord grant he may neither bewitch vs in prosperitie as that we should denie or forget thée nor make vs froward in aduersitie Mortifie our corrupt nature the rotten and lothsome fountaine of our manifold sins and quicken vs in newnesse of life and in the studie of true godlinesse Which grace of Sanctification and a godly life we do the more earnestly beg at thy mercifull hands because thou hast taught vs plainly that without the same thou wilt not heare vs when we call vpon thée as also for that thou wilt not vouchsafe thine effectuall grace vnto any but vpon their strongest endeuours And so O gratious Lord we do most instantly beséech thée to saue vs from our sinnes to cast vs downe vnfainedly in the féeling of our spirituall miserie and vilenes to lift vs vp in the assurance of thy Sonne Christs merits and to make vs far more laborious for grace for our soules then for earthly fauour for our bodies For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer Touching all which our requests we doe ground our Faith for obtaining them only vpon thée who hast sole right authoritie and power ouer all and who wilt do all things vndoubtedly vnto they owne glory euermore and wilt cause the spirit of glory to rest vpon vs that on our part do glorifie thée And therefore we doe promise to render vnto thée most harty thanks at all times for all thy mercies and fauours plentifully bestowed vpon vs in Iesus Christ and most of all for our Redemption in him beséeching thée to inable vs to praise thée the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in doing those good works which thou hast ordained that we should walke in them and specially the duties of our callings and degrées wherein thou hast set vs. Amen For these and all other necessarie graces and blessings we doe not onely most feruently desire them but also do verily beleeue and desire to beleeue that thou hearest vs alwaies Beseeching thee to giue vs grace to striue against doubting and vnbeleefe and confirme our faith that we may come often vnto thee with all cheerefull willingnes and sound delight and may continue knocking for thy mercy without wearinesse vntill thy Sonne Iesus Christ shall come to dissolue vs and to crowne his owne grace in vs with eternall glory And here confessing thy free and gratious goodnesse in preseruing protecting vs this night past we pray thee teach vs to vse well thy mercy all this day to loue vs still to direct and blesse vs in our honest labours and businesses and so giue vs more and more cause to sing praise and giue thanks vnto thee and to liue and die to thy glory And make vs alwaies mindfull of that great gift of thine Christ and his Gospell to the end we may giue vp our selues to walke with him in deeds and sufferings and séeke our owne and others saluation with holy feare and trembling Finally let not thy word depart out of our mindes neither let vs goe astray from thy commandements And though we be thy most vnworthy and vnprofitable seruants yet be pleased to grant our suite and accept our sacrifice sith we come vnto thée in the onely mediation and intercession of thy blessed Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ And therefore * * 2 Cor. 13.14 the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with vs all Amen Parent Secondly I pray you giue vs a forme of Prayer for the worke-day euening and let it be such as consisteth altogether of the phrases and sentences of holy Scripture to the end we may take the better delight in calling vpon God for we finde our hearts dull and our flesh vnwilling oftentimes for this high seruice but we haue had experience by our vsing those very words which the Holy Ghost hath indited in the Bible that we haue beene quickned and made willing cheerefull and reuerent in our supplications thanks-giuings vnto the Lord. Pastor You may vse this following if you please A Forme of Euening Prayer on the worke-day for the whole Familie A prayer for the Familie on worke-day euening a a Esai 6.3 HOly holy holy b b Revel 4.8 Lord God Almightie which was and is In this forme I haue strictly followed the last translation of the Bible done by his Maiesties speciall commandement appointed to be read in Churches and is to come the whole earth is full of thy glory c c Psal 19.14 Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our Redeemer d d Psal 32.5 51.3 Wee acknowledge our sinnes vnto thee and our iniquities wee will not hide for they are euer before vs. e e Rō 5.12 19. For by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and by his disobedience wee are made sinners f f Psal 51.5 Thereupon wee were shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did our mothers conceiue vs. g g Esai 64.6 So wee bee all of vs as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags Thence it is that wee haue actually h h Dan. 9.5 9. sinned against thee