and vertue thus comparative in respect of that name referred to his Attributes though otherwise usually accepted for his name 23. How are his attributes else showne By his appropriating or entituling himselfe to Israel or Israel to himselfe calling himselfe thy God O Israel and who brought the deliverance whereby he is not onely said the Lord or God but their Lord and their God their deliverer and defendor and as David speaketh the lifter up of their head 24. What learne we hence By that neare bond that we are obliged unto him so loving and good a God that calleth himselfe ours what should be our intimate affection duty and allegiance and how we should be his 25. But how doth this concern us As Israel was the true people of God the naturall vine and we the branches ingrafted in the same and so all true beleevers are in Christ the Israel of God as well as what was literally spoken of them is typically of the whole Church to be understood as is hereafter shewed 26. What the actions here Of deliverance from a most wretched estate and slavery into liberty and peace from all oppressors and oppression to worship and serve him so From Egypt and her proud King Pharaoh From Egypt and tyrannicall oppressors the Egyptians From Egypt and constrained Taske-masters of their owne Nation From Egypt and that house of bondage temporally and corporally of the bodies spiritually of the soules in danger of Idolatry and other abominations abounding there 27. How is this understood Literally of the Israelites so indeed delivered by the hand of Moses in the mighty power of God and mystically of all true Israelites in Spirit having many and mighty deliverances from all enemies spirituall and temporall by the hand of God and in Christ. 28. Who are the true Israelites in spirit All the faithfull engrafted into Christ and so the seed of Abraham who as many deliverances in body so more especially in soule are delivered by Christ out of The spirituall Egypt or Sodome of this world and her Prince the Divell wickednes and vanity and from her 1. Tyranny of sin death and hell 2. Oppressors and 3. Taske-masters 1. Of the Egyptians all externall Agents 2. Of the owne bloud evill lusts fighting against the Spirit House of bondage whether the Flesh and body of death house of clay that depresseth the Sipirit World wherein all wicked Agents and Instruments under the Divell their Prince threaten both spiritual and corporall and endanger us both in temporall and eternall bondage of sin and her punishments 29. What hence enforced As honour to this Lord and love to our God so all duties of love and thankefulnesse for these blessings and deliverances and in especiall obedience in all those respects to his Lawes As if Lord his honour and feare As if God his greatnesse and power As if our God and deliverer love and duty require our best respect reverence and obedience to his Lawes that doe so ensue 30. What else learne we from hence Gods mercy singularly manifested in thus dealing with us and those that are his to win us to grace and obedience our duty in following his example by all meanes to seeke how to procure our owne and others good to his glory 32. How his so especiall mercy In that in delivery of his Law and Commandements there he doth not onely shew what is good or his will and pleasing to him which is a favour and mercy or command it barely which he may doe with all authority in equity but much more seeketh by all meanes to allure us by his mercies favours and promises of life and goodnesse and putting us who are too forgetfull in minde of his many blessings and deliverances 33. What our duty hence For Ministers and all others to seeke by all meanes to bring themselves and many to God setting forth and calling to minde his manifold mercies and graces His goodnesse enforcing love of him His power and authority requiring obedience His excellencies winning honour and admiration His workes requiring reverent consideration His Law our meditation and best attention His deliverances binding us to all best duties of joy thankes praises and the like and that so what justice requires of duty may be performed towards him if possible with all sincere affection and good will 34. For what profit or to what end should wee doe this That by often and continuall meditations in his Law wee may know what the good and perfect will of God is who will so make it easie to us and us to understand wisedome secretly and the excellent and wonderfull things of his Law 35 How should we best understand his Law By seeking to know it in the internall meaning not so much according to the letter as in the intention and illumination of the Spirt for the letter seemeth sometimes dead but the spirit giveth life and as it is said holy Davids Psalmes ought to bee sung with his spirit or with the spirit and understanding to bee rightly used and so Saint Pauls writings to be read with his spirit to be truly understood so much more this holy writing the Law by Gods Spirit that endited it 36. VVhat rules or instructions have you for the better understanding of it There are certaine briefe rules and directions given for the right and true understanding of it or to guide the soule into due and orderly meditation of the things therein contained and may serve both Ministers in their interpretation and others in conceiving the true sense and interpretation or meaning thereof and where these come short of attaining this it is to bee further sought for by prayer in humility as from more speciall and internall illumination of Gods Spirit which can only bring the best knowledge of these things and contentation to the soule 37. Explaine this farther As required Davids spirit rightly to understand Davids Psalmes and Saint Pauls spirit or the Spirit of God rightly to conceive of Saint Pauls writings or holy Scriptures so for the spirituall and true understanding of the Law not onely according to the letter the letter killing or dead but the spirit giving life in the spirituall sense intending or comprehending all goodnesse here are further directions for such spirituall meaning required and as in law this one word the whole law and duty of man comprehended so in one word here not seldome to be seene in one vertue all the branches in one sinne all the kindes or what ever neere of kin comprised and therewith all signes meanes occasions and provocations to it so spiritually to be understood and by and with the vertue commanded and by and with the vice prohibited as well as by any vertue commanded the opposite vice and all his sequell discommended forbidden and by the vice or sin forbidden the opposite vertue and all of kin commanded and commended to bee embraced by our selves and all others in the Communion of Saints so there are such rules to this purpose
to be continued here and consummate in glory where all teares shall be wiped from our eies and in token of full forgivenesse all misery done away 9. How in the sixt Petition I. In our confession of 1. Gods graces first preventing to preserve us from evill and temptation to sin Subsequent to defend and keepe us in temptations from contagion of sin and to deliver us from evill or turne it to our good 2. Our weaknesse how apt to fall unable to resist evill or doe good how ready to faile in temptation 3. Our sufficiency in any measure from thee O Lord so O Lord we confesse our weaknesse without thy graces and that all our sufficiencie is from thee II. Our request or petition for our selves and intercession for others O Lord not lead nor suffer us to fall or leave us in any temptation whether of sin or calamity to despaire or forsake thee but relieve us with thy saving graces and turne the temptations to our good and give a happy issue III. In our deprecation of all evill included and infolded in the petition the chiefe part of it Lord remove all evill of temptation sin guilt or punishment asswage the power and malice of the Divell and deliver thy chosen and Israel from all their sins and infirmities and feare of the enemy Thanksgiving for all our temporall and spirituall deliverances from all calamities sinne and temptations to sinne and happy issue given to such temptations or misfortunes Thanksgiving for his graces continually infused and present with us in our distresses and miseries whereby we are enabled to passe through or beare them Thanksgiving for our hope and assurance of such further graces and the continuance of them that O Lord thou hast beene so powerfully present with us in all our needs and necessities and wilt so continue as having promised to be with thine to the end Our father 's trusted in thee and were delivered and thou O Lord wilt deliver Israel from all her sinnes as thou hast delivered thy Saints and we will therefore praise thee with joyfull lips 10. How in the conclusion In the voice of joy and thanksgiving ascribing all praise to him and magnifying him and his holy name shewing that he only is worthy of all honour and to whom wee are so particularly bound for his blessings and so we and all creatures do acknowledge the might of the Majesty of his glory the ground of our confidence whereby we are assured to be heard drawne from 1. Matter acknowledged his due all Kingdome and dominion Power and might Glory and Majesty 2. Manner originally absolutely and eternally his and at his dispose Circumstances of 1. Person thine O gracious God and loving Father in Jesus Christ. 2. Time and eternity they are thine for ever and ever 3. Certainty in truth and indeed as thou art true and thy word Yea and Amen And thus in this confidence we conclude with the ascribing all praise and honour to him in the way of thanksgiving for his mercies and manifestation thereof saying For thine is Kingdome power and glory for ever and ever Amen 11. What other exposition of this Prayer can you briefly shew As some expound these six Petitions by them to be divided into seven to be understood in particular so many deprecations against the seven deadly sins and prayer for the vertues to them opposed both in the generall and in the branches 12. In what manner The first Petition Hallowed be thy name that all pollution and luxury may be removed and chastity and temperance given that so both our bodies and soules may be fit and spotlesse temples of the Holy Ghost and his holy name neither in us or by our words lives or actions dishonoured or blasphemed The second Petition Thy Kingdome come that covetousnesse and so the dominion of earthly things as serving Mammon may be removed and contentednesse peace and poverty of spirit in humility may be given us because Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of heaven The third Petition Thy will be done c. that idlenesse and loathing of goodnesse removed and devotion and divine love given us that inflamed therewith we may be willing to perform obedience both in body and soule and so Gods will done in earth as it is in heaven The fourth Petition Give us this day our daily bread that gluttony and drunkennesse may be removed and sobriety and temperance given us that having moderate necessaries to relieve and comfort us we may there with be content and possesse our soules and the gaine of godlinesse The fifth Petition Forgive us c. that all anger and rancour or malice removed charity and patience may be given us that we forgiving others in love and mercy may be forgiven The sixt Petition Lead us not into temptation that pride whereby we seem especially to tempt God and to be tempted to leave God in all sin may be removed and humility given us that not trusting in our owne strength but in Gods wee may be defended The seventh Petition But deliver us from evill that envie the malicious root of mischiefe whereby the Divell enoying at Adam as man his God and his obedience and felicity neglected sin so entred may be removed and love the fountaine and grace the beginning of all good may be given whereby we delivered from evill 13. How is this exposition approved Though well and conveniently used for the morall application and tending to the planting of vertue and supplanting of vice in all these capitall heads the seven deadly sins and their Lernean poyson where with they infect the soule yet not so fully accommodate to the textuall explication whether in the letter or genuine sense and meaning of the Text. 14. Wherefore say you so Because not only one of the same sinnes in such severall petition but in each petition rather every one of the same seven deadly sins in the generall and most of them and their branches are desired to be removed and the opposite vertues planted as may be seen manifested in particular 15. How is this seen or shewne 1. As in the first Petition Hallowed be thy name all sinne is an unhallowing or prophaning of Gods Image and name and so prayed to be removed and virtue in generall planted 2. As in the second Petition Thy Kingdome come all sinnes are the power and kingdome of Satan which wee desire removed and Gods Kingdome in virtues and graces to be planted 3. As in the third Petition Thy will be done c. as all virtue and grace in us is Gods will and al sin against it both in generall and in particular we consequently desire done or removed 4. As in the fourth Petition Give us c. as we desire moderation of contentednesse in godlinesse which can never be but in the forsaking of all sin and desire of grace and vertue 5. As in the fifth Petition Forgive us c. we pray expresly against all sinnes
against finne pressing him on all parts that hee cryed out Eli Eli c. Did God forsake him No but the heavinesse of the wrath and curse pressing on him so sore in the grievousnesse of the anguish made him insensible of the comfort so though the divinity never parted from him yet in the parting of body and soule and grievous torments he felt not the comfort though by the assistance of it he was more then conqueror 32. But how could hee in that excellency of soule feele such torment or not feele the comfort By how much more excellent in soule and spirit by so much more sensible of the wrath of the offended Majesty of God as all best soules best know and feele it when the unwise doth not consider and the foole doth not understand it but his as the most excellent so most pressed with it especially considering the waight of the sinnes of the whole world infinite in waight number and measure as against the Infinite Majesty under which his soule now groning made a sacrifice for sin as most excellent most exquisitely felt the sorrowes of death even beyond all the Martyrs and sufferings in the whole world and so might well be robbed of comfort when plunged into that gulph of misery when yet by that deepe anguish and dignity of his person with assistance of the Deity that never left him hee conquered and brake open the gates and power of sin death and hell 33. What were the consequents His death and buriall wherein by his death hee destroyed death and by his buriall he fulfilled the curse to the utmost mite to dye and returne to earth yet thereby sanctifying both death and the grave to a gate of life and way towards glory 34. How did his death destroy death By fulfilling the Law and punishment not only to the full but beyond all debt by the dignity of his person and so death having seized on him that knew no sin had exceeded his commission and the law given that the soule that sinneth shall dye and by this meanes lost both his sting the power of the Law now satisfied for them that are in Christ and his authority having beyond his authority swallowed him that knew no sin and must render him againe and with him many others in respect of whom death it selfe was now swallowed up into victory 35. What memorable occurrents at his death 1. The Sun darkned to shew Light of Truth eclipsed and Son of God that suffered as Dionysius Areopagita then in Athens perceiving it is reported to say Aut Dens naturae patitur aut mundi machina dissoloetur 2. Veile of the Temple rent as a token of opening a way for the Gentiles to come to the Church and Temple of God 3. Graves opened as a token of death destroyed by the power of his death 4. Dead bodies of Saints arose and appeared to many in the holy City as an embleme or testimony of the resurrection in his power begun in so much that the Centurion and they that stood by confessed Verily this was the Son of God 36. Why is his buriall also remembred To shew prophesies in all points fulfilled hee made his grave with the rich so an honourable man Ioseph of Arimathea having begged his body laid it in a new Sepulchre in the garden and not onely a Consummatum est afore his death but in and after his death of all things and more fully to expresse the mystery as to dye with Christ to sin so to be buried with him in baptisme that wee may rise and live with him in glory 37 What then learne we hence Many and excellent duties As 1. sorrow for sin that caused our Saviours so great sufferings especially he being our dearest Friend or Spouse Lord and Saviour The Son of God 2. A holy comfort in him that death and danger is passed and overcome if we be but truly his and in him for then hee hath fulfilled the Law for us and freed us both from curse and punishment 3. Constant patience in all tribulations both because our blessed Saviour endured greater and that thereby we are freed from eternall death and anguish which as but gentle corrections may be esteemed for what should the condemned person if life be againe granted and full pardon given care to endure a small stroke a moments griefe else and such is our case 4. Mortification of our earthly members so to dye with Christ that wee may live with him for else 1. we doe but as much as in us lyes crucifie againe the Lord of life and worse then the Jewes 2. we have no part in him we doe not deny our selves but him and shake hands with sin the world and the devill in contempt of him 5. Joy in any sufferings especially for the truth thereby more confirmed his as honoured to bee worthy to suffer for him that suffered so great things for us 6. Thereby boldnesse and resolution in any combat or terror of conscience since the greatest enemies of all are conquered by his death and death it selfe destroyed 7. Courage even in the agony and pangs of death since death is conquered the sting taken away the power abated and Law satisfied yet death and the grave sanctified for a gate to life and way to glory sweetned by his taking it on him and in that hee went before us that way to glory 38. What followeth The fifth Article or as some make it a part of the others onely He descended into hell the lowest and last step of the humiliation of Christ. SECT 7. The 5. Article He descended into Hell The exposition of the 5. Article of Christs descent into hell and divers interpretations of the same and acceptations of the words both figuratively and literally by severall authors and expositions thereof insisted on and how far forth severally according to the analogy of which onely confidence faith to be allowed of and approved whereof the exposition containing the bitter torments and even paines suffered in his soule as the second also his descent to manifest his glory preferred but the third of Lymbus and 4 5 and 6. as improper or lesse pertinent rejected but the true and Catholique sense and meaning of this Article explained and demonstrated which how it was in some Creeds omitted and divers objections against the truth of it showne answered and refused as more captious then solid which sort some taken out of Luk. 23. 4. and that saying of our Saviour to the thiefe that this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise and thirdly from his consummatum est then also on the Crosse uttered As fourthly from the want of it in some Creeds and by negative divinity for that not expresly mentioned in the Evangelists though on the contrary firmly proved by them and from divers other places confirmed and so as generally in the Church in all times and by all persons and Orthodox Writers remembred and taught received and beleeved and lastly some of their
11. and 12. Articles of the Creed concerning the Priviledges of the Church and first forgivenesse of sinnes by washing us in Christs blood covering of our sinnes and imputation of his righteousnesse to those that are his and none others we being not able to satisfie for our owne but needing God powerfully the Church ministerially to forgive them where faith in Christ is required the condition whence the use of much comfort and consequently the blessed hope of resurrection the second priviledge manner certainty and reason wherof are here observed taken from Gods justice equity and mercy As also farther illustrated by divers examples and similitudes presenting to us a shew of the resurrection so the order of it and excellent estate therein more amply expressed in respect of the godly and what good duties to be hence learned and what good uses to be made of the same Whence also consequently our joyfull hope of life everlasting The last Articls where life of joyntly of soule and body raised and united in joy unspeakable and endlesse in heaven is by that to be understood which is also called the union With God and fruition of the glorious Godhead and blessednesse eternal which is the life of Angels though the meanes or cause of it as Christ or the word sometimes figuratively called life and life eternall or as it may be inchoate herein in the kingdome of grace as consummato in glory whereas the contrary and estate of the damned not properly a life but death or ever dying life and so not mentioned in the Creed where onely the comfort of the godly intended the use they make and duty they ought o learne in seeking striving for it in assurancâ— of which their blessed faith and hope they say Amen 1. VVHat is contained in these three last Articles Three priviledges granted to the Church and not elsewhere to be found or attained each Article one viz. 10. Forgivenesse of sinnes 11. Resurrection of body 12. Life everlasting 2. What is forgivenesse of sins Gods passing by our sins without calling them to his remembrance to shame or punish us for them but on the contrariwise imputing righteousnesse to us and accounting and allowing us just 3. Wherein consisteth it In these two things the Covering or cancelling and discharging of sinne Imputation and gift of justice 4. How is the covering or discharging of sin In taking away both the spot and staine of guilt and consequently the removing all punishment 5. How is it done By washing our soules in Christs bloud purging them by his merits and drowning them in the sea of his infinite love and mercy and as wee are in Christ he beholdeth no staine in us hee seeth no iniquity in Iacob and the cause of sin removed punishment the effect and death eternall the due to sin must needs be done away 6. How the imputation of Christs justice and his merits As in him our sins done away so in him is justice given by putting on him and his robes of righteousnesse as we are in him part of that holy society the communion of Saints and members of the true Catholique Church 7. To whom is then forgivenesse of sins Onely to the true members of the Catholique Church for so to them that are in Christ thence is no condemnation because they are of that body and in him in whom God is well pleased and so to all others who are not in him what can bee expected but condemnation 8. Can we not satisfie for our owne sins How can we satisfie for sin that without him and his grace are not able to thinke a good thought and when our best workes in comparison of true holinesse are but as poluted and filthy clouts before him and when wee have done the most we can it is but our duty yea when the best we can we are but unprofitable servants where is then our merit of our selves or ability to satisfie for our misdeeds 9. Who forgiveth sin Onely God the Father Son and Holy Spirit who having power to make the Law have power to forgive the offence 10. How is the Church said or men to forgive sinnes The Church ministerially and that divers ways from God as by The ministry of the word procuring it by offering and ordering the doctrine of repentance and forgivenesse of sin and converting sinners to God The exercising the power of the keyes by Gods order and commission for the benefit of the Church to humble the soule The applying the same to the penitent and so in the power of Gods commission to give and pronounce absolution to the benefit and comfort of the soule desiring the same 11. How the keyes or power of them exercised In foro 1. Exteriori in facie Ecclesiae more publiquely in the sight of the Church to the reforming of offences and removing of scandals 2. Interiori conscientiae more privately to the comfort of the soule and quieting the conscience of the humble penitent 12. How men how doe they forgive Onely partially in regard of some part of some offences concerning them but God forgiveth to the truly penitent totally in respect of all parts of both guilt and punishment and fully whatsoever either the Church holily intendeth or men neglect or wilfully refuse to forgive if he please 13. How stands this with Gods justice As in justice even to the utmost satisfied in the sufferings of Christ and in mercy as he gave and accepteth him and in his merits for us 14. What is then required to forgivenesse of sins A lively faith in Christ whereby we apprehend him and his merits and perfections thereby applyed and made ours whence commeth true repentance forsaking sinne and cleaving stedfastly to God 15. What certainty of it Gods gracious promises in Christ effectually applyed and sealed to the soule by the ministry of the Church in the holy use of his Word and Sacraments 16. What learne we hence In this life seeking this priviledge in the Church 1. To make our calling and election sure in Christ. 2. To become truly a member of his so to have our sins forgiven 3. Obtaine peace of conscience thus and both with God and men 4. To disclaime our owne merits so in humblenesse crave and have Christs justice 5. To try our faith by our repentance and so by our assurance of forgivenesse and thus seeking we shall surely attaine it both from God and his Church and have peace with God and men 17. What followeth of this Resurrection of body as a consequent of forgivenesse of sins for as death entred by sin so sinne also taken away the punishment also to be removed which being of the body in part shall also in that part be dissolved at the last and the body raised 18. But how and when shall it be By the mighty power of God and in his word by the voice of his Angell and sound of his trumpet at the end of the world 19. How can this be Though wormes have eaten it or
denying duty or service disloyalty and disobedience bordering upon rebellion and treason 45. What duties of Magistrates The conscionable execution of the Lawes as justice and their office require to the glory of God whose authority they have The honour of their Prince in whose place they stand The good of the Common-wealth and shewing themselves in their places men of courage fearing God faithfull and hating rewards and covetonsnesse wise prudent and unpartially just without respect of persons opposite to which unconscionable and unjust unfaithfull and irreligious indisereet respecting persons or covetous and given to bribery and extortion 46. What the peoples duties Obedience and reverence to them as in the Princes stead as he is in Gods whose Deputy and Vicegerents they are for the punishment of vice and maintenance of Religion and vertue so submitting to their authority for conscience sake thankfully to yeeld them both honour and love together with their fees and dues for the maintenance of them the common peace and good order opposite to which neglect of this duty or denying the same bordering on sedition or rebellion 47. What is then the generall duty of governours or superiours in authority 1. The well governing of inferiours in the Lord and in piety and justice not seeking themselves but the glory of God good of others 2. Rewarding and encouraging the good correcting the offenders with 1. Discretion and without partiality or passion seeking the good of the 1. party if he be corrigible 2. Christian society that 1. evill be taken away 2. dishonour of God prevented 3. others may feare 2. Moderation that neither too remisse or indulgent severe or cruell in the punishments The opposite thereof ill governing and not encouraging the good or correcting offenders accordingly 48. What generall duties of inferiours and subjects to authority Love and awe of it obedience and submission both to the command and correction with testisication of gratitude to God for his ordinance and the powers ordained of him both by word and deed service both with body and goods if occasion require opposite to which contempt disobedience ingratitude resisting the power and sedition 49. What the generall duty of all Honour and love to Superiours love and benevolence to inferiours 50. What in generall forbidden to all Irreverence towards any our betters or superiours and churlish and carelesse behaviour in them towards those that bee of a low degree whereby they leave to be or appeare either loving good fathers or good or dutifull children 51. But what if it be an evill Prince or Tyrant Yet you must not break Gods commandement but obey for conscience sake and pray for his conversion 52. What if an unnaturall and evill or cruell father Yet you must not be disobedient to breake the Commandement that another is not good is no priviledge for thee to be evill 53. What of an evill husband or lewd wife More need of observation of ones duty and Gods commands that the evil party may the better be reclaimed by the others good example 54. What if an evill Minister or other notorious wicked person Yet thou must not be evill and disobey God because another is not good but expect his amendment and doe thy duty for thou must not curse father or mother or the ruler no not in heart for the foules of the aire will reveale and God revenge it much lesse commit open impiety to the disobedience and contempt of him or any authority 55. But what if they command evill Here only thou art free for if it be against Gods Law and command then you must obey God and not men for his authority is greater then theirs for whiles they command good his authority stengthneth theirs but here it not only leaveth them but oppresseth them and thee if thou obey to doe evill and who shall deliver thee from the revenging hand of God 56. May here be too much submission or obedience to Superiours Yes if contrary to Gods Law or honour as for example 1. In obedience to doe evill 2. Idolatry ascribing too much to them as that to Herod vox Dei c Acts 12. 3. In making them absolute patterns in good or ill even to their sinnes where as we ought rather to imitate Christ. 4. In preposterous and absurd observance to great persons when in the very act of the honour of God some neglect it and rise to honour them who ought rather to be kneeling with them then part stakes with God and take this honour with him or from him 5. Too submisse prostration to them or bordering upon adoration which even the Angells forbad to Daniel and John with a take heed thou do it not which divine adoration indeed some heathen Emperours required and Christians were martyred for not performing the same 57. What may we thinke of evill Princes or Superiours As the eldest sonnes of Satan and like those wicked Kings of Israell that caused many to sinne by their evill example and command have good reason to share deeply in his inheritance hell and punishment 58. What of eye-service fraudulent and deceitfull Obedience As of mockers of God who knowes the heart and sees the actions stealers from men and murderers of their owne soules by this deceit 59. What of cursers or mockers of Superiours Never found to escape fearfull judgements as the Law Exod. 21. 17. and 28. not to curse and the curser to dye and mocking Cham accursed so wayward youth that in heart mocke or despise good counsell or admonition of Parents Masters or Ministers God seeth it who saith of such the eie that mocketh or despiseth instruction the ravens of the valley shall picke it out Prov. 30. 17. the Divell and his night birds so the mocking children against Elisha torne by Bears 2 King 2. the mocking Ephraimites against Jephta slain 42000. Jud. 12. and so 1 Sam. 11. mocking Nahash and Ammonites that would have the Israelites right eyes put out slaine and scattered and the mocking Jewes at Christ and his Apostles a fearfull ruine and desolation so feare to mocke any good man or other much more such whom wee ought to reverence in regard of their place or function 60. What vertues in generall or particular here commanded In generall to all I. Piety roote of goodnesse and Justice 1. Universall inclination to all vertues 2. Particular disiributive in administratione praemiorum paenarum proper to Superiours II. Commutative in negociatione proper to all inferiours and so 1. To Superiours wisdome or providence and prudence fortitude Temperance and in summe all vertues as examples or emblemes to inferiours 2. Inferiours many or most at least of all the others that concerne not superiours particularly so that here might be a catalogue of all morall vertues either to make Superiours fit to governe Worthy of honour and their place Examples to others Or inferiours dutifull to them whereby fitted to obedience they may be afterwards fit to governe as imperare non satis perit qui
even as we forgive our debtors c. III. Our intercession to deliver Israel from all her sins Our deprecation That thou O Lord wilt take away all sins of unfaithfulnesse and so against all uncharitablenesse c. IV. Thanksgiving and praise for 1. Our selves that it pleaseth thee O Lord to enlighten our hearts to see our wretched estate and this Petition granted 2. All that grace and forgivenesse of sinnes in Christ that our sins covered in him and his satisfaction 3. Our blessed hope herein with all Saints 4. The Saints in heaven that have fully attained it and their happinesse SECT 6. Of the sixt and last Petition The sixt Petition by some divided into two Petitions petitions with the order and Analysis and parts of it or them declared and first of temptations and their divers sorts and degree as well as the evill that they tend unto and what is meant by the leading into them Whence Gods preventing and subsequent graces come to bee considered in 〈…〉 the severall degrees and sorts of all such temptations whereby wes are defended from them or not lead into them so what wee desire or pray against in this petition and what is either in the letter expressed or else hereby intmated thus summed up together and explaned 1. VVHat the last Petition The sixt in number not to be led into temptation but delivered from evill that the Lord will not suffer us to fall into any temptation of the world the flesh or the divell by sinne to be carried away by them which is to fall from God but deliver us from all evill both of the temptation sin death and damnation 2. What is to be observed in the order and number of it 1. That this being the third in number and so the second for the soule here are two petitions for the soule against one for the body to teach us a greater care for the soule 2. That it is adjoyned to the former to shew it is not enough to have sins pardoned but we must strive for further mortification and subduing it in us 3. That there is a continually warfare and sin is to be watched against and resisted to make us take the more care 3. What are the parts of it According to some they are two Petitions Viz. Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evill and in Either 1. Action of the former Lead us not into latter But deliver us 2. Object of the former Temptation latter Evill but as indeed but one Petition and therein one thing desired Deliverance from evill as all one thing not lead us into temptation and deliver us from evill more then the degree only of the sinne or deliverance in the bud or growne to more ripenesse yet according to the words and manner of utterance in that diversity may be distinguished as respecting the twofold Action Object Action of 1. Preventing grace not to lead or defend us from 2. Subsequent graces to deliver and free us from the Object 1. Temptation 2. All evill 4. What are temptations Of divers sorts as whereby I. God tempteth men to trie them by 1. Blessings whether they will praise him and be thankfull this only temptation to be prayed for all others to be praied against 2. Proving their faith and strength of it as Gon. 22. 1. God did tempt Abraham 3. Crosses if with Iobs wife they will curse him 4. Suffering other temptations as of the Divell and Iobs friends to tempt him II. As whereby man tempteth either 1. God by first murmuring and repining as the Israelites in the wildernesse Secondly disobedience as Corah Dathan c. Thirdly requiring signes as the Jewes of Christ. Fourthly adventuring on apparant danger without command or hope of reliefe Fifthly neglecting the meanes God doth allow and expecting extraordinary from him 2. Man by provocations or allurements to sinne working meanes to deceive or circumvent sinne 3. Himselfe by his concupiscence tempted and entrapped or allured to sin Iames 1. 14. III. As whereby the Divell tempteth man as he did Evah in Paradise Christ in the Mount c. whether by himselfe or his wicked instruments 5. What meant by leading into temptation Either Gods 1. Withdrawing his grace and forsaking man whereby he is unable to stand 2. Leaving man to himselfe whereby he cannot but assuredly fall 3. Delivering him over to Satan for his punishment by obduration and hardnesse of heart By doubt and despaire c. By any other the power of Satan or temptation of his 6. What is meant by evill here Both the evill of 1. Temptations and baits of sin 2. The authour of sin the Divell and his malice 3. Sin and blot of sin and the guilt 4. Punishment of sin hell and damnation 7. What meant by preventing grace The presence of Gods good Spirit not suffering us to fall or to be tempted beyond our might so not the tempting so much as the leading into it or desertion in it is praied against in this place for temptations may be for good and the triall of Gods children and our patience constancie and faith but the desertion in it is the danger and which is to be feared as a punishment 8. How is God to be said to lead us As all things are guided by his providence and not a sparrow falleth to the ground without him if he suffer us to be tempted so by either ourselves men or Satan 9. But we pray against some temptations as well as the leading into them Yes such as be either absolutely evill as sin and the baits and lusts thereof or in some respect as calamities inflicted by the power and malice of Satan or his instruments as to Job and the like so we desire the latter part of the Petition to bee delivered from evill 10. What is the subsequent grace desired Such defence and preservation from all evill not only the beginning of it in temptation but after in the sequell in the evill that is happened that God will send a happy issue to our griefe and speedy deliverance II. What are the degrees of evill temptation As it is promoted towards sin by divers steps and especially three In the Suggestion by the Divel or his meanes In the Consent unto it in the will so beginning to be sin unto us In the Perpetrating of it so actuall sinne or as that consent is else said to be threefold in the Minde by assenting to it Will by delighting in it Action by doing of it 12. How many sorts of evill temptation As many as of sinnes that infect or other calamities and crosses as miseries that infest us especially fowre Of affected height in ambitious pride Of directed shame in earthly covetousnesse Of infectious luxury in foule voluptuousnes Of impetuous calamity misery and crosses which last is the best and often sent from the immediate hand and providence of God to humble us 13. What meanes of helpe prescribed against sinne and temptation I. Of prevention Gods grace with