HOLY INCENSE FOR THE CENSERS of the SAINTS OR A method of Prayer with matter and formes in selected Sentences of sacred Scripture ALSO A PRAXIS upon the HOLY OYLE shewing the VSE of SCRIPTURE-PHRASES And Choyse Places taken out of the singing PSALMES digested into a Method of Prayer and Praises Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Ephes 6. 18. LONDON Printed for Robert Milbourne at the signe of the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard 1634. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sir EDVVARD AYSCOVGH Knight and to his religious and noble Lady the best blessings of this and the blessednesse of a better life through IESVS CHRIST Right Worshipfull IT was the Farewell-clause of HER Letter who is the Honour of this Country the Praise of her owne Sexe and the Glory of your Noble family Mistresse ANNE AYSCOVGH Martyr Pray Pray Pray and in another Letter written to IOHN LACELS Sacrificed with her in the same fire for the Word of God and for the Testimonie which they held Farewell Pray This hath beene the practice of all the Saints Bishop Latimer is famous to Posteritie for his three Grand-petitions which God most graciously granted Master Luther not lesse powerfull with God by Praying than prevailing with Men by his Preaching daily breathed his soule herein like Iacob wrastling with God and not letting him goe without a Blessing and thus the Captaine of our salvation our blessed Saviour continued all night in Prayer to God and in the dayes of his flesh offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard as the Apostle tells us Heb 5. 7. PRAYER doubtlesse is the very element in which the Soule liveth the very aliment by which it subsisteth Saint Paul as soone as converted Behold hee Prayeth O Lord by these men live As well may a fish live out of Water or a bird without Ayre as the Christian without Prayer 'T is the vitall breath of Faith stop it and take away Spirituall life And though at sometimes hee breathes short and hardly and insensibly in his deliquium animae fits of Spirituall desertion and temptation yet his life is still in him as in Epilepticks the man possessed with the dum be Spirit Mark 9. 26. who was as one dead yet when Christ takes him by the hand he ariseth Sinne prevailing may tongue-tie him a while that hee chatters not with Hezekiah yet when his lips move not nor his voyce is heard his desires will beate strongly upward his heart works and pants and grones and sighes and breathes and breakes in its longing and looking towards Heaven O thinks hee that my sinnes such and such were Pardoned ô that I had more grace to serve my God! O that I could master such and such a prevailing Lust O that I could more abound in fruits of righteousnesse in my conversation thus his heart is fired alway thus fixed And who can marvell that the children of God are so much herein seeing all the blessings of this and the hopes of a better life are assured and conveyed unto them hereby yea and that the whole service and worship of God is in Scripture stiled a calling upon the name of the Lord the Church a house of Prayer and God himselfe a God that heareth Prayers O thou that hearest Prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psal 65. 2. Vpon this sacred subject is the ensuing treatise which though but now presented to you Right Worshipfull long since was intended in that mournefull and praying time when Gods chastening was upon the City of my habitation the space of almost two whole yeares together Your noble house was then the Zoar whither I was invited whereto I fled where I was above my deserts freely entertained Those and many other your favours before and since challenge my Prayers and best services Accept of this I intreate you as a testimonie of my thankefull observance towards you yet not as mine but as it hath received spirit and life from the word of life 'T is Holy Incense for the Censers of the Saints dropping from the Tree of Life smelling sweetely in the coales of the Altar hearts enkindled with true devotion flaming and blazing upward Prayer will make the face to shine as Moses talking with God in the Mount The more time we spend herein the more heavenly is our life on earth Godlinesse hath the promises 't will make your names to live and flourish when other Magnifico's whose portion is in the huskey profits frothie pleasures windie honours c emptie shadowes of this life shall bee written in the * earth and rot And though now it bee undervalued and the price beaten downe as a merchandize not worth the owning much lesse of buying at any low rate yet it will quite for cost and be of high esteeme in another world a pearl of price that good part and that one thing necessary You are happy Right Worshipfull above many in that God hath given you a mind to know him a heart to love him Presse on still toward the marke study which way to honour God most and to live to him this will bring you peace at the last 'T is not a forme of godlinesse which even the civill gentry affect hereby gilding over their baser courses rotten practises but the power of it in a sanctified life which before God is much set by Goe on in that good way you have begun count all things but dung that yee may winne Christ and bee found in him Take up the crosse which lies in the waies of God Deny your selves This doe and you shall cause the blessing to rest on your house and posteritie after you and those Olive plants about your table shall become trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord for so long as you hold you fast by him you shall you cannot but prosper and grow as the Lilie as the Olive-tree as the Vine and spread out your branches as the Cedars in Lebanon Thus praying to God for a blessing on these my prayers and on you both I commend my selfe and them to you you and yours to God and to the word of his grace ◠which is able to build you up further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus In whom he resteth that is Lincolne May 6. 1634. Your Worships in all Christian services to be commanded IOHN CLARKE TO THE READER TO gratifie the expectation of friends and to satisfie some to whom I have long beene much obliged rather than for any conceited worth of any thing that is mine in these formes and method of Prayer are they thus now presented to thy view Christian Reader There be many blessed be God in manifold respects farre beyond these of mine Excellent moulds
acted with a high hand against Knowledge and the cries of a convinced conscience which makes sinne rebellion to know God yet not to glorifie him as God not in the dayes of our ignorance onely but since the light of the glorious Gospell hath shone into our hearts 3 Without any or with small temptation resolving to sinne selling themselves with Ahab even in cold bloud to doe wickedly Heb. 10. 26. as in sinnes in which there is neither pleasure or profit c. As to sweare prophane the Sabbath refuse preaching praying scorning Gods wayes 4 Against frequent purposes faire promises of more holy obedience reiterated vowes and covenants generall in Baptisme Lords Supper particular on such and such an occasion 5 Against meanes 1 Blessings coards of love 2 Corrections thou hast striken us but wee have not sorrowed Ier. 5. 3. 3 Word early and late all the day long 2 Actuall sinnes against the Gospell 1 Not thirsting after Christ Iesus nor prizing nor loving and cleaving unto him with our dearest affection 2 denying him in our lives 2 Not repenting us of our sinnes though God in mercie vouchsafe space and means but hiding excusing not mourning for nor forsaking sinne 3 Not believing the promises of salvation nor relying upon Iesus Christ for justification sanctification and salvation c. not stirring up our selves to take hold of him but forsaking our owne mercies 4 Sâ—â—ning against the holâ— Ghost by tempting grieving or quenching the holy spirit of God receiving the grace of God in vaine turning it into wantonnes growing cold in religion losing our first love Thus bringing our iniquities to remembrance 1 wee must acknowledge and bewayle them not onely generally but individually also one by one fetching and ferreting them out as so many Achans by the poll especially those which are naturalized and habituated in us our beloved and darling sinnes our dearest Dalilahs And that from a 1 Trobled broken bleeding melting spirit beleeving heart clasping the promises Ezr. 10. 2. yet now there is hope in Israel c. 2 Honest heart wishing the confusion as wel as making the confessioÌ„ of sin meaning to leave every wicked way and with purpose of heart cleaving to the Lord 2 Confession of the evill of punishment acknowledging our selves in regard of these our so many and grievous sinnes not onely to bee lesse than the least of all Gods mercies but most justly worthy of his most dreadfull plagues lyable and obnoxious to all evills of punishment in Iudgements Corporall Spirituall Temporall Eternall vid. Ezr. 9. Dan 9. Thus of the first part of Prayer viz. CONFESSION The Second followes which is PETITION PEtition is either for Our selves Others 1 Our selves and is called Supplication consisting of two branches viz. Apprecation Deprecation 1 Apprecation or collation of good which also consists in desiring 1 Supply of all wants Spirituall Corporall 2 Continuance and encrease of all blessings both Eternall Spirituall Corporall 1 Apprecation for bestowing of all good blessings viz. 1 Supplying all our wants of things 1 Spirituall viz. Grace Encrease of Grace Meanes of Grace 1 For the grace of free Pardon for our sinnes that God for his mercies promise Christs sake even the abundant merits of our Lord Iesus his bloudy passion who hath satisfyed for them to the utmost farthing by pouring out his soule for an oblation for the sinnes of the whole world would be pleased freely to forgive and blot them out of his booke never laying them to our charge beforemen to shame us in this world or to our everlasting confusion before men and Angels in the world to come Of which that we may more fully bee assured wee pray for a lively and apprehensive Faith by which we may be inabled to lay hold on and apply the generall and free Promises of Salvation to our selves in particular that God would seale up the assurance hereof to our consciences by the gracious testimony of his holy spirit giving unto us the spirit of adoption whereby we may with comfort and confidence cry ABEA father that so being justifyed and freed from the guilt and punishment of all our sinnes wee may have peace of conscience being reconciled to him in his Sonne 2 Repentance unto life whereby our stony hearts may be softned broken w th godly sorrow our eyes run down w th rivers of teares for our falls and faylings heretofore and we quickned to new obedience to serve the living God in holinesse and righteousnesse all our remaining dayes 3 All other sanctifying graces accompanying furthering our everlasting happinesse 1. as saving knowledge that we may understand what the holy and acceptable will of the Lord is 2 Fervent love to God our brethren yea our very enemies for his sake that loved us when wee were enemies 3 Ardent zeale 4 Lively hope 5 Son-like feare of God 6 True humility and contrition of spirit 7 Sincerity and boldnesse in the profession of the truth Perseverance patience and strength under the crosse Contentation in all estates either of weale or woe want or abundance 2 Encrease and growth of all these graces that the bruised reed may not be broken nor the smoking Flaxe quenched but that our graces like the light may shine more and more to the perfect day and our works be more at last than at the first 3 The meanes of grace continued and sanctifyed unto us as 1 Gods Word preached at Church 2 Read in private that the holy Ghost blessing it from heaven may bring it close home unto and savingly worke it upon our hearts that thus the heavenly spirit breathing on his own ordinances they may quicken us and become effectuall to our salvation 2 Sacraments 3 Sabbaths 4 Prayer 5 Fasting c. 2 Supply of wants temporall our owne personall concernements and all outward blessings appertayning to this present life Health Liberty Friends Rayment Food giving and preserving to our use the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time wee may enjoy them preservation in our persons and estates Direction in all our courses thoughts words actions the blessing of God upon all our labours a right and sanctifyed use of all Gods blessings and chastisements 2 Deprecation of Evills personall nationall both of sinne and punishment either before or after it comes Before it comes aversion prevention After it comes ablation or removall 1 Wee pray against the evill of sinne that we may be 1 Delivered freed and acquitted of the guilt and danger of all our sinnes 2 Endued with watchfulnesse power and dominion over them all in our judgements to dislike them in affections to hate them in heart to bewaile them and in life to forsake them 1 From the guilt and danger that our sinne may not shame us before men and torture our consciences here in this life nor condemne us body and soule in the world to com that our doing evil
sicknesses crosses temptations for ordinary and extraordinary favors for desired successe in our labors and vocations for blessing the workes of our hands upon us in the day and for preserving and refreshing us with sweet sleepe in the night and finally all blessings of what kinde soever may here as occasion is offered yea must be remembred with thankful acknowledgement unto God not onely verbally with our lips and tongue but vitally and really in a holy conversation shining in our life lest it be verifyed of us which our Saviour saith concerning the Lepers Were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine There are not found that returned to give glory unto God c. Luk. 17. 17. 18. FINIS Methodi Causes of Distraction in PRAYER Ex P. M. 1. THe naturall lightnesse of our spirits that have much adoe to stay themselves and keepe long in one state 2 Because divine things are farre off from our senses now they are the senses which tye our attention as the sight of the Preacher workes a deeper impression in the hearers 3 Because of our lusts as hatred covetousnesse ambition which being bent to their naturall center will bee setling 4 Because of the Devill who stirs up our lusts and foysteth in vaine thoughts when we pray because Prayer is the maine ram that batters downe the wals of his kingdome Helpes against it 1 A Voice in prayer for the thought alone is easily distracted 2 Darkenesse and the removing of all objects that may distract 3 Be short in thy prayers and pray the oftner Eccles 5. 4 Mortifie our lusts for they clip the wings of our prayers pride covetousnesse wantonnesse cholâ—er 5 Meditate before you pray of Gods greatnesse of his judgements of our sinnes c. The godly man will bee sorry for judge and condemne himselfe for his distraction formalitie deadnesse of spirit c. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth Psal 145 18 to this man will I looke even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few Take heed thou give not the sacrifice of fooles if thou offer the lame and the sicke unto thy governour will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flocke a male and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing Offer incense unto his name and a pure offering whatsoever thine heart prayeth let it bee heartily with all thy might labour for the spirit of prayer which the Lord promiseth to his faithfull ones the Spirit of grace and of supplications for know that 1 A very hypocrite may pray and that as one would thinke very zealously both with others and also apart by himselfe For is the true Christian sometimes hot in prayer hee will sweat is the humbled soule sorrowfull he wil weepe and blubber doth the sincere heart sigh softly hee will cry out amaine with a great and exceeding bitter cry as Esau Blesse me even mee also O my father It stands us therefore in hand to looke that our hearts bee right in the sight of God 2 For what is the hope of the hypocrite will hee delight himselfe in the Almighty will hee alwayes call upon God no for in more grievous crosses he sometimes hath not one word to blesse himselfe withall yet hee sometimes may then seeke God early they powred out their prayer when thy chastning was upon them 3 In thy Praying seeke Gods face herein the hypocrite is too blame hee prayes out of selfe-respects for base ends and out of pride and vaine glory hee prayes more often more zealously with others than alone by himselfe to his father in secret not with all manner of prayer c. the touchstone of prayer is giving of thankes in which he is seldome about which he does but bungle 4 Make not prayer thy end in praying but use it in good sadnesse as a meanes to bee enabled against corruptions and to get grace the hypocrites are lazie lip-prayers hee feeles not sinne like a mountaine of leade lying on his conscience hee sees not a want of grace c. he puts not to the shoulder he useth not the meanes for the atteining of what hee prayes his hands labour not his feet bestirre them not so fast as his tongue hee prayes against sinne yet lives wickedly hee prayes for health c. and yet lives riotously intemperately would I had such and such a grace but hee is not sicke of love nor earnest for those graces hee desireth he never breaketh his sleep for the matter hee hungers not thirsts not for righteousnesse Hunger will breake stone walsand the sincere Christian will have no nay like Rachel give mee children give me this and this grace or I die hee useth the meanes O that my wayes were so directed Like as the Hart brayeth for the water brookes my soule-breaketh for the longing that it hath 5 Pray without ceasing persevere in prayer and faint not never thinke thy selfe to have too much heavenly society and talke with God acquaint thy selfe still more with the Almighty The hypocrite is inconstant fickle off and on Wicked men and hypocrites have taken up a course of prayer and breeding and custome have wrought a kind of conscience in some but they but lust with Balaam let mee die the death of 2. They alwayes have one pad one forme 3. From the lips or braines not from the spirit 4. At randome as men shoot not minding how their arrow lights or speeds 5. They begin and end in themselves with their owne strength for their owne particular ends not for the Church Meanes of PREPARATION to Prayer 1 CLense our soules from the guilt of foule sinnes those lately committed Wash you make you cleane The Iewes and Turkes wash their bodies wash thou thy soule in the brinish teares of sincere sorrow 2 Sequester our thoughts from worldly cares goe up into the mount retire thy selfe some little while before thou prayest outward things stifle our prayers and make them hang the wing 3 Consider we have to doe with God come with feare and trembling into his presence not rushing on a consuming fire Three Questions to bee asked of our selves the serious answer whereunto will stirre up and furnish every babe in Christ to cry Abba father with faith feeling and fervencie Q. 1. VVHat sins have I committed all my life long that lie heavie on my conscience and would affright my soule if I were now to die This Question sincerely answered wil drive thee to a scrutinie and searching them out as the Iewes did Leaven before the Passeover and very seasonable for Christians before
15. Psal 103 3. 9. Psal 30. 5. Psal 126. 5. Isay 1 18. Isay 54 8. Ezec. 18 21. 23. Ezech. 33. 11. Math. 12. 20. Math. 11. 28. Rom. 8. 1. Omnipotent goodnes Eph. 3. 20. Gen. 17. 1. 2 Cor. 9. 8. Rom. 10. 12. Craving of AVDIENCE ASSISTANCE and ACCEPTANCE Looke downe from thy holy habitation from heaven have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant and to my supplication O Lord my God to hearken to the cry and to the praier which thy servant prayeth before thee this day Thou hast commanded that we should call upon thee in the day of trouble and hast promised also that thou wilt deliver us Lord bow downe thine eare and heare open Lord thine eyes and see and heare the words Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice Thou hast promised that if wee shall aske any thing in thy Sonnes name thou wilt doe it Now therefore O our God heare the prayer of thy servants and their supplication and cause thy face to shine upon us for the Lords sake for wee doe not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesse but for thy great mercies Wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought therefore let thy Spirit it selfe helpe our infirmities and make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered It shall come to passe when he cryeth unto me that I will heare for I am gracious Hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant and of thy people Israel when they shall pray towards this place heare thou in heaveÌ„ thy dwelling place and when thou hearest forgive Heare thou in heaven and forgive the sinne of thy servants and of thy people Israel that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walke and give raine upon thy land which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance Heare thou in hâ—eaven thy dwelling place and doe according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for that all people of the earth may know thy name to feare thee as doe thy people Israel Heare thou in heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and doe and give to every man according to his wayes Let thine eare now be attentive and thine eyes open that thou may est heare the prayer of thy servants Hearken unto the voyce of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray Heare the voyce of my supplication when I cry unto thee when I lift up my hands toward thy holy Oracle Give eare O Lord unto my prayer and attend to the voyce of my supplication Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Unto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens Heare my prayer O Lord give eare to my supplications in thy faithfullnesse answer me and in thy righteousnesse Heare me speedily O Lord my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that goe downe into the pit Looke downe from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory O Lord how long shall I cry and thou wilt not heare I even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save CONFESSION of Sinne. O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God for our iniquities are increased over our heads and our trespasse is growne up unto the heavens Thou createdst our first Parents in thine owne image and breathedst into their nostrils the breath of life but the Serpent beguiled them and they did eate of the forbidden Fruit whereby all mankind being then in their loines also sinned and now come short of the glory of God thou madest man upright but they sought out many inventions We are risen up in our fathers steed an increase of sinfull men to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward us Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in Sinne did my mother conceive me We know Lord that in us that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing for though to will be present with us yet how to performe that which is good we finde not Thou Lord seest that the wickednesse of man is great upon earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is onely evill continually If I justifie my selfe mine owne mouth shall condemne me the heaven shall reveale our iniquity and the earth shall rise up against us What is man that he should bee cleane and hee which is borne of a woman that hee should be righteous abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water for mine iniquityes are growne over mine head and as a heavy burden they are too heavie for me Who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sinnes Wee are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragges and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away and there is none of us that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himselfe to take hold on thee We have made thee to serve with our sinnes we have wearied thee with ouâ— iniquities The shew of our countenance doth witnesse against us and we declare our sinne as Sodome and hide it not woe unto our soule for we have rewarded evill to our selves If thou Lord shouldest marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand But â—hâ—re is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared If we should be weighed by thee in the balances we should be found wanting And that which makes our sin become exceeding sinfull in the land of uprightnes have we dealt unjustly would not behold the majestie of the Lord. We are ashamed of the Gospell of Christ though it be the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleeveth Thou hast spread out thy hands all the day unto a rebellious people which have walked in a way that was not good after their owne thoughts Ah Lord God! we love not the Lord Iesus in sincerity We hide as it were our faces from him and will not have him to raigne over us Alas wee count not all things losse and doung for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus our Lord. That we might bee found in him not having our owne righteousnesse We take no paines to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings or to bee made conformable to his death Thou hast given us space to repent of all our abominations that wee have committed but we repented not Wee confesse not our transgressions unto thee Lord that thou mightest forgive the
and formes of prayer That which I here undertake is but to gather into heapes and heads some graines of sweet gummes myrrh aloes cassia and frankincense more precious than all the perfumes and pouders of the Merchant out of the Spouses garden of spices which thou maist scatter on the burning coals of thy zâ—alous Devotions If any even the meanest that calleth God Father can make use hereof in framing his petitions to bee put up and presented to the high Court of Heaven I have my ends and desires how ever they shall be taken or take others I prescribe no man a way the spirit of God is not limited by me Private prayers may bee framed as the holy spirit gives us utterance and it is a vaine thing when the heart is full and boyles upward to quench and restraine its free operations No poure out thy heart in prayer as thou feelest enlargement Publike prayers would bee more composed and set to that exact and heavenly platforme and prayer of our Saviour that others who pray with us may perceive the orderly passing from one part to another and so bee helped edified and affected thereby For the Common-prayers in our Church Liturgie it were to be wished that in great and noble families which are more than a modell of a little Church they would use the Common-prayer-booke there they may have most excellent prayers for almost-any occasion incident and imaginable such as both Martyrs and all other peaceable and sober-minded Christians have ever honoured extolled vindicated and practised Pitie it is to see some out of I know not what humour to cavill carpe at and cry downe not onely formes of private Devotion such as these but that which all antiquitie hath so much magnified and hath under so gracious and pious Princes a by publike authority so long beene established in the Church Certes Publike Prayers of the people of God in Churches throughly setled did never use to be voluntary Dictates proceeding from any mans private spirit gift or extemporall wit God himselfe framed to his Priests the very speech wherewith they were charged to blesse the people And our Lord even of purpose to prevent this fancie of extemporall and voluntary Prayers hath left us of his owne framing one which might both remaine as a part of the Church-Liturgie and serve as a paterne whereby to frame all other Prayers with efficacie yet without superfluitie of words Prayers doubtlesse are accepted of God otherwise than being coÌ„ceived alwayes anew according to the exigent of present occasions being not actions which ought to waste away themselves in the making they may bee resumed and used againe as Prayers and yet no instruments of superstition Moses hath left a prayer for that admirable victorie given them against Pharaoh cast into a Poeticall mould which grew afterward to be a part of the ordinary Iewish Liturgie c. The Lord grant unitie and concord to all that call upon his name that they may agree in the truth of his holy Word and live in Godly love one with another that all unhappy differences in opinion may bee composed and those swellings and great thoughts of heart layed downe That wee may all mind one thing to serve our God out of a pure heart without evill surmisings or making things worse by jealous and suspicious censurings which exasperate rather than heale our breach Let us pray and labour hereunto The prayers of the Christian Souldiers brought raine to the fainting armies of the heathen Emperours Elias a man subject to passions as others bee by Prayer shut opened heaven Est quaedam precum omnipotentia one calls it the wonder-working power of Prayer able to beate backe the very Ord'nance of Hell a spirituall Engine able to batter downe all the Bull warks of the Devill the most precious and almost if not altogether omnipotent Grace and great Master of miracles wrought both in heaven and earth Beleeve it if then wert in a state more dangerous than Death in a place worse than Hell yet if thou couldst but thence pray truly thou shouldst find comfort Out of the belly of hell cried I Iona. 2. Hereby thou mayst have accesse to God on all occasions for Prayer beares about the privie Keyes of heaven yea forceth entrance when all is locked Be in love with this so heavenly a grace f and that time breath and spirits which others spend in prating of and censuring the actions of superiours doe thou in praying to God for thy selfe for the Church for our gracious King and all in authority under him that wee may still lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie which is the Prayer of thy fellow servant in Christ Iesus Promises made to Prayer EXceeding great and precious Promises are made by God to his Elect and yet how often doth the poore soule lag and droope for not Knowing or not Vsing them as need requires living like some Misers besides their hopes besides their meanes They deserve to want who lack supply for want of fetching 'T is not the having of wealth meate or cloathing but the Vsing applying digesting and putting on that does us good Spirits and life may bee in the heart and blood may bee in the liver yet unlesse these flow kindly to every part the body is not healthfull beautifull or vigorous The Promises therefore should be often chewed sucked and meditared on God must be humbly and holily remembred of them not as if he were not faithfull and just but because we are distrustfull he cannot lye and though we be weak in Faith our unbeliefe cannot make his promise of none effect He will not falsifie his covenant nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lips hath he said and shall he not doe it hath he spoken and will hee not bring it to passe Now as wee would receive of his fulnesse so the promises must enlarge our hearts Promises made to Prayer in Generall Before they call I vvill answer and whilst they are yet speaking I will heare Aske and it shall be given seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened unto you And yee shall bee unto mee a kingdome of Priests In every place incense shall be offered in my name and a pure offering Wee know not what to pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groning which cannot be uttered Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine eare to heare Whatsoever things ye desire when ye pray beleeve that ye receive them ye shal have them Secondly the Parts of Prayer 1. Confession of Sinne. Hee that covereth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so Confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercie If we Confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from
every Communion c. to a particular confession and bewayling of them Thou maist set them downe in a paper Qu. 2. What would I desire God to doe for me if I were sure to obtaine my wish of him Thy heart will answer O that God would please to forgive my sinnes such and such O that hee would give unto me stedfast faith in the Lord Iesus the grace of Perseverance Health c. Set downe the particulars 3. Qu. What speciall favours and blessings hath God bestowed on mee from my infancie till now for which I owe him all possible thankesgiving Thy heart will make answer such and such a time hee delivered mee from danger from death c. made such a man to be my friend gave mee a husband a wife preferment c. Thus if thou signifie to God thy hatred of those sinnes want and hearty desire of those graces thankesgiving for those blessings Exercise will make this easie and Christs spirit that great master of requests will be ready to draw thy petitions for thee prompting thee with sit words and holy affections thou shalt make thy prayers unto him and hee shall heare thee and if thou seeke him hee will be found Iob 22. 27. Doe this daily it will bee no hinderance to thy worldly employments No man ever lost by serving God Meat and Mattens hinder no mans thrift Godlinesse hath the Promise for as hee rideth not furthest that goes early out on a bad horse c. or hee that is early up at his busines with blunt and dull-edged tooles but weaâ—ies himselfe and mars his worke so he prospers not best that goes about his calling before he hath seasoned his heart with holy meditations reading and prayer to God Exod. 40. 5. Thou shalt set the Altar of Gold for the Incense before the Arke of the Testimonie Exod. 30. 7. Aaron shall burne thereon sweet Incense every morning vers 8 and at Even hee shall burne incense upon it a perpetuall incense before the Lord. Levit. 16. 12. He shall take a censer full of burning coales of fire from off the Altar before the Lord and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small and bring it within the veile vers 13. And hee shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord that the cloud of the incense may cover the Mercie-seat that is upon the Testimonie Holy Incense for the the Censers of the Saints Or Selected Sentences of holy Scripture furnâ—shing with materialls and serving as Formes of Prayer according to the heads of the former Method PREPARATION LEt us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens Unto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens DESCRIPTIONS of GOD. O God the God of the Spirits of all flesh Thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindenesse O thou that hearest prayers Thou Lord that createdst the heavens and stretchedst them out that spreadest foorth the earth and that which commeth out of it that givest breath unto the people upon it and spirit to them that walke therein The God in whose hand our breath is and whose are all our wayes The high and lofty One that inhabitest eternity whose name is holy who dwellest in the high and holy place c. The living God and the everlasting King Who hast made the earth by thy power and hast established the world by thy wisedome and stretched out the heavens by thy discretion That formest the mountaines and createst the wind declarest unto man what is his thought that makest the morning darkenesse and treadest upon the high places of the earth The blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who onely hast immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approch unto whom no man hath seene or can see The Lord of Hoasts which dwelleth betweene the Cheâ—uâ—ims Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot containe thee Thine is the Kingdome O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all Behold even to the Moone and it shineth not yea the Stars are not pure in his sight O Lord my God thou art very great thou art cloathed with honour and Majesty Who coverest thy selfe with light as with a garment who stretchest out the heavens like a curtaine The nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the ballance hee taketh up the Isles as a very little thing All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing and vanity It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the Earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grashoppers that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtaine and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in O Lord of Hoasts that trieth the righteous and seest the reines and the heart The Lord which giveth the Sunne for a light by day and the ordinances of the Moone and of the Stars for a light by night which divideth the Sea when the waves thereof roare the Lord of Hoasts is his name Lord God behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arme and there is nothing too hard for thee Thou shewest loving kindnesse unto thousands and recompencest the iniquity of the Fathers into the bosome of their children after them the great the mighty God the Lord of hoasts is his name Great in Councell and mighty in worke for thine eyes are open upon all the wayes of the Sonnes of men to give every one according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings The King whose name is the Lord of Hoasts Him that maketh the seaven Stars and Orion and turneth the shaddow of death into the morning and maketh the day darke with night that calleth for the waters of the Sea and powreth them out upon the face of the earth the Lord is his name He that buildeth his stories in the heaven and hath founded his troupe in the earth Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because hee delighteth in mercie He rebuketh the Sea and maketh it dry and drieth up all the Rivers I hou art of purer eyes then to behold evill and canst not looke on iniquity Descriptions of God from his Mercie and long-suffering Exod 34. 6. 2 Pet. 3. 9. 2 Chron. 30. 9. Nehem. 9. 31. Psal 103. 8. 11. 13. 17. Mic. 7. 18. 19. Rom. 2. 4. Gracious Promises Gen. 3
may receive them as pledges of thy favour and gracious assurances of thine everlasting love through Iesus c Matter for Graces after meate Blessed bee thy name for health life strength and for all the blessings of this and the blessed hopes of a better life make it our meate and drinke to doe the will of thee our heauenly father make us to hunger after that bread which endureth to everlasting life Provide dayly bread for all thy poore servants till thou bring us to that place where we shall never hunger nor thirst any more thy loving kindnesse is better than life that I may labour not so much for this meat that perisheth but for that meate which endureth to everlasting life the body and bloud of our Saviour which is meate indeed and drinke indeed Keepe us in thy feare while we live on earth and afterward receive us to glory in thy kingdome We thanke thee O Lord for the comfortable use of these good blessings we beseech thee also feed our soules to everlasting life with the meate that perisheth not through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Blessed bee thy name O Lord God for thus opening thy hand and filling us at this time with thy good creatures vouchsafe still to be our God with-hold no good thing from our soule or body Save all thy Church protect our King Queene Prince Royall Progeny and Realme Grant free passage to to thy Gospel comfort to thy Servants and peace of conscience to us all through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An EPITOME of a Christians Conversation and Religious course of life gathered out of some Godly Practicall Divines c. Every day bestow halfe an houre in reading the Scriptures and Prayer Gods word will not onely shew thee what to do what to pray but will worke a secret power to accomplish the same Appoint and set a part some time once every day seriously and solemnely to cast up the eye of thy Faith on that never-fading crowne of life which after an inch of time shall for ever rest upon thy head The comforts hereof will make a man live almost without a soule and sweeten all the troubles of this life Set one houre in the weeke a part Saturday in the afternone is more fit by reason of the approching day to consider of search and try thy wayes this will snub and keepe downe the weeds of corruptions from overspreading thy soule Thou bestowed an houre on thy body every day in dressing it and lookest thy selfe in a glasse to attire thy outward sheath and wilt thou not once a weeke doe as much for thy soule thy body must one day rot and turne to dust perhaps to morrow thy soule must live ever either in weale or woe Life and death are now in thy choyse chuse then that good part Give God the honour of thy thoughts as well as of thy words and actions often thinke how all the glistering shewes of this whole world must and doe vanish and moulder into vanity and nothing very smoke As soone as thou hast broken of sleepe set God before thee and thinke What shall I doe what course shall I take that I may bring glory to God that I may not sinne this day O that my wayes were so directed Never speake the evill which thou too certainely knowest by others but with fearefulnesse as it were and some kinde of enforcement being sure thou hast a calling to it and then doe it seasonably charitably discreetly and not in humour spleene imperiousnesse T is the humor of Hypocritts to be supercilious and censorious but for Gods glory thy owne discharge use no moe wordes against mâ—ns sinnes than thou wilt make prayers for their soules in secret Be bold yet wise in speaking for Christ and with height of resolution goe through all the disgraces that the sinfull times lay in the wayes of God In Actions civil Doe as thou wouldst be done to religious Strive to live by faith because faith is the soule of all our actions our prayers will bee cold unlesse this warme them Take heed of falling from thy first love Serve not God for by-respects but onely for himselfe So long as thou art unfeinedly displeased with and sorry for all thy sinnes and dost mortifie the deedes of thy body by the spirit thy cafe is the state of salvation Let thy whole conversation favour of the Lord. Bee alwayes bemoaning thy spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie covetousnesse perfâ—â—ctorinesse and formality in Gods service Give not way to a heartlesse neglect of the use of Gods holy ordinances reading prayer fasting private humiliation for this is the fore-runner to some fearefull sinne or fiery temptation to some heavie judgement or dangerous apostasie Seeke not thy selfe in any of thy actions Looke to thy repentance that it bee sincere universall constant from the heart root for all sinne Incorporate thy selfe into the Communion of Saints be intimate onely with them such an holy and humble majesty is in their carriage such a deale of heaven is in their countenances such spirituall ravishments is in their hearts such grace and powerful piercings in their speeches such zeale and hearty melting is in their prayers that they cannot but worke upon thy heart if thou converse with them Looke well to thy carriage that thou leave not an ill savour behinde thee in any company Wait for occasions to doe good Act. 26. 28. In bad company give them apparent signes of thy dislike Unlesse you give some kinde of reall or verball reproofe they will be hardned Often withdraw your selfe apart imparting unto God your griefes wants desires Walke with God on the top of Mount Tabor once a day Prayer in secret will bee unto thee an unspeakeable comfort a testimony that thou art not left to thy selfe if words will not come sigh God heares the sighing of his servants if thou canst not sigh breath God hath an care for that thou hast heard my voyce hide not thine eare at my breathing at my cry yea speake with thy countenance be humbled for thy unfitnesse dulnesse c. Then wee pray most happily when wee arise from prayer most humbled After prayer thou shalt carry thy selfe in thy vocation with much more zeale and standing thus upright with God thou wilt not feare the world thou shalt have rest and peace within what ever stirres bee without Have a speciall eve to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties take heed of customarinesse and Formality which cuts out the heart and drawes the very life-blood from them Strive by all meanes for attainment of what thou prayest for by all occasions helpes and heavenly offers Be diligent in thy personall employments and take heed of idlenesse 2 Have an eye to Gods glory in all thy undertakings 3 Goe about earthly busines with an heavenly mind 4 Let not any unrighteous gaine entice thee to sinne or belime thee 5 Set not thy delight
on any earthly thing for nothing brings true content to the soule but God Delight thy selfe in him this will both purifie thy heart and assure it before God In thy carnall delight there are or may be losse of crosses in curses for them They are broken cisternes In the end of every day aske thy selfe What have I done What have I done amisse What have I left undone Thus summe up thy accounts and make all streight twixt God and thee Keepe a Catalogue of all thy g 〈…〉 knowne sinnes nor balking any but dealing truely with thy selfe and then falling downe on thy knees disburden thy conscience of them by humble confession to God carrying this thy owne inditement and spreading it before the Lord and pleading guilty drag thy sinfull lusts to the crosse of thy Saviour and there crucifie them 2 Pray for a soft and tender heart as for life Lord thou hast promised to take out the heart of stone to give an heart of flesh 3 Get the particular promises which thou desirest to have fulfilled to thy soule without booke yea into thy heart as well as thy head Mr. Byfield Mr. GEORGE FLETCHER in Christs victory and triumph pag. 50. VVHo is it sees not that he nothing is But he that nothing sees what vveker brest Since Adams armour faild dares warrant his That made by God of all his creatures best Straite made himselfe the worst of all the rest If any strength we have it is to ill But all the good is Gods both povv'r and vvill The dead man cannot rise though he himselfe may kill Mr. QVARLES Historie of SAMPSON Medit. 21. LOrd if our Father Adam could not stay In his upright perfection one poore day How can it be expected we have povver To hold out siege one scruple of an houre Our armes are bound vvith too unequall bands We cannot strive vve cannot loose our hands Great Nazarite avvake and looke upon us Make haste to helpe the Philistims are on us Medit. 22. ibid. Lord shouldst thou punish every part in me That does offend what member would be free Each member acts his part they never lin Vntill they joyne and make a body of sinne Make sinne my burthen let it never please me And thou hast promis'd when I come to ease me Medit. 19. idem ibid. Thou great Chirurgion of a bleeding soule Whose soveraigne balme is able to make whole The deepest wound thy sacred salve is sure We cannot bleed so fast as thou canst cure Heale thou our wounds that having salv'd the sore Our hearts may feare and learne to sinne no more And let our hands be strangers to those knives That wound not fingers only but our lives Some particular formes of PRAYER 1. For the Sacrament of the LORDS Supper WOnderfull art thou O Lord in all thy works towards the sons of men but more especially wonderfull in that great worke of our redemption by the death of thy Son Hadst thou left us to have perished in that estate of damnation into which wee desperately had implunged our selves by the wilfull disobedience of our first parents it had beene but just with thee so to have done for wee were the clay thou wast our Potter and we all are the work of thine owne hands and hadst thou taken no delight in us to doe us good thou mightest easily have made us dishonourable vessels of thy wrath as well as thou didst the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation whom thou hast reserved in everlasting chaines under darkenesse under the judgement of the great day But thou in love to our soules wouldest not that wee should perish and therefore out of thine own incomprehensible wisedome foundest out a meanes of rasoming and redeeming man from hell by causing thine own sonne God equall for ever with thy blessed selfe to bee made sinne for us that so wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree and the more to confirme us in the assured hope of everlasting salvation which he once purchased for us by his bloody passion did institute for his Church the blessed Sacrament of his body and blood in which I see him againe crucified and freshly bleeding before mine eyes in the outward elements of bread and wine which he hath appointed to bee often celebrated in remembrance of him Blessed bee thy holy name therefore my daily sinnes have made mee unworthy of daily bread much more of this bread of life yet seeing thou callest and invitest mee at this time to the Supper of the Lambe to eate of that Manna that came down from heaven to partake of those divine mysteries O let not mee suffer my selfe to bee needlesly detained from so blessed a feast by any pretended occasions whatsoever as those did that made excuses and set light by their invitation to the marriage of the Kings sonne Math. 22. 5. left thou sweare in thy wrath that I shall never taste of thy Supper nor enter into that rest which my Saviour is gone to prepare for thy beloved ones For if those in the law that did neglect to eate the Passeover and to worship at Hierusalem at the times appoynted were to bee cut off from the number of thy people of how much sorer punishment shall I bee worthy if I refuse to partake in thy blessed Sacrament and neglect so great salvation which thou tenderest unto mee hereby O therefore make me to come as a guest invited comming prepared unto thy table having on my wedding garment because thou thy selfe the great master of this feast art present in the assembly eying and observing thy guests Let mee therefore first wash my hands in innocencie my heart from wickednesse and so compasse thine Altar O Lord that seeing Christ my Passeover is sacrificed for mee I may purge out the old leaven and become a new lumpe keeping this feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth feeding on him with the sowre herbes of godly sorrow and unfained repentance for all my former sins O make the very remembrance of them to be grievous and the burthen of them intollerable unto mee O wash mee Lord wash mee not onely the feete but even the hands also and the head for I am uncleane I am uncleane a very Leper a sinke of sinne whom thou mighest shut out of the congregation of thy people for ever but yet O Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee cleane Thy blood O sweet Iesus is able to cleanse more throughly than the waters of Iordan did Naomans leprosie and to wash away all my pollutions and make my Ethiopian skin my leopards spots to be white as snow in Salmon Now the good Lord pardon me and every one that prepareth himselfe to seeke thee in the truth of his heart though wee bee not cleansed and prepared according to that exact purification of thy Sanctuary O Lord make me to search
thy holy spirit from mee make mee one with Christ my head flesh of his flesh bone of his bone make mee one with the mysticall body of thine Elect that I may have my part in the prayers of the Church in the Communion of Saints here on earth in the kingdome of grace and may enjoy thee and them face to face and sit downe and eat and drinke with thee in thy kingdome of glory Amen For the Sacrament of Baptisme O Lord our God the great the mighty and the terrible God who keepest covenant and mercy with all them that feare thy name and trust upon thee even to a thousand generations thou hast promised to bee our God and the God of our seed to enter into covenant with us that wee should bee thine O Lord I come to thy throne of grace at this time to lay claime to my interest in that new covenant sealed unto thy Church in the blood of Iesus that thou wouldst performe the same unto mee and mine also hast not thou said thou wilt circumcise mine heart and the heart of my seed to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule that thou wilt put thy Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts and that thou wilt bee our God and wee shall bee thy people that thou wilt forgive our injquity and wilt remember our sinne no more O Lord hast thou said it and wilt not thou also doe it By faith I plead my interest thereunto not for my selfe alone but for mine also with whom I beseech thee to make an everlasting covenant of life and peace that being baptized into Iesus Christ they may bee sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word O Lord wee are all borne the children of wrath and there is no way for us to escape the damnation of hell except wee bee borne againe of water and of the Spirit O Lord doe thou sprinkle cleane water upon us wash away the filth of Zion and purge the blood of Ierusalem from the midst thereof Baptize us with the Holy Ghost that having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water wee may bee new creatures fit to bee an habitation of God through the spirit O blessed be thy goodnesse for ever which hast given us this seale of thy rich promise this is that Arke in and through which thou savest thine Elect thou dalliest not with us herein it is no idle ceremonie thou art present in thy own ordinance to fulfill that which thou hast promised O wash our soules with the baptisme of Repentance as thou doest our bodies with the outward element of water Let the vertue of Christs death kill sinne in us for how shall wee that are buried with Christ by baptisme and thereby dead to sinne live yet therein Doe not wee herein vow to forsake the Devill the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh and shal we break our vow transgresse the covenant O let this be far from us teach us therefore to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts deliver us from every evill worke that we may serve the living God Sprinkle cleane water upon us that we may bee cleane from our naturall filthinesse and from all our uncleannesses Wash us O wash us throughly from our iniquities and cleanse us from our sinnes Make our hearts to be stedfast in thy love and never to forget this covenant of our God thy mercie doe thou keepe for us and ours for evermore and let thy covenant stand fast with us and bee established for ever as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven And as thou hast thus brought us into the bond of the covenant so let us never depart from thee Bee thou unto us a God and let us be thy people for evermore even till thou bringest us unto Mount Sion and to the Citie of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and to an inumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new covenant and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel Make me to be thine my self be thou my Father and make me to be thy Sonne for if the first fruit be holy the lumpe also shall be holy and if the roote be holy so also shall the branches bee This mercie I beg of thee in his name merits and mediation out of whose pierced side issued forth water and bloud for the sanctifying and justifying of thine Elect. To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all glory service thanksgiving and dominion through all the Churches of the Saints for ever Amen For Regeneration Sanctification and grace to serve God O Lord thou God of truth who hast sworne in thy faithfulnesse that as thou livest thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that hee should turne from his way and live and therefore commandest thy people saying Turne ye turne ye from your evill wayes for why will ye dye O house of Israel and hast enjoyned that I should wash me and make me cleane put away the evill of my doings from before thine eyes promising moreover that though my sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they bee red like crimson they shall be as wooll I that am a wicked and miserable caitiffe a sinner before the Lord exceedingly even as the men of Sodome that have done abominable workes and denied the God that is above wilfully sinning after I had received the knowledge of the truth and treading under foote the Sonne of God counting the bloud of the covenant wherewith I was sanctified an unholy thing and having done deâ—piâ—e to the spirit of grace O Lord even out of the deepes doe I call unto thee for helpe yea out of the belly of hell doe I earnestly cry for thy mercie O cast not out my prayer Though mine iniquities be more than the haires of my head my transgressions heavier than the sand yet is there forgivenesse with thee and although my sinnes have reached up to heaven yet thy mercie is above the heavens mine are at the most but the sinnes of a man but thine at the least are the mercies of an infinite God yea thou hast the relenting bowells of a most tender Father O spread the robe of thy Sonnes righteousnesse over me that so thou mayest not behold my nakednesse cloath me with the garments of his salvation say unto my soule Live cause breath to enter into my dry bones lay sinewes upon them and bring flesh upon them and cover them with skinne that I may know that thou art the Lord. And albeit I be dead in trespasses and sinnes yet open my grave and cause me
instructa officina remediorum omnium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coloss 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. A PRAYER gathered out of the PSALMES O Lord that Heaven docst possesse I lift mine eyes to thee Even as the servant lifteth his His masters hands to see Thou the foundations of the earth Before all times hast layde And Lord the heavens are the worke Which thine owne hand hath made Thou Lord I say whose seate is set On Cherâ—bins most bright Shew forth thy selfe and doe not let Send downe thy beames of light Incline thine eare unto my words O Lord my plaint consider And heare my voyce my King my God To thee I make my prayer As incenso let my prayers be Directed in thine eyes And the up-lifting of my hands As evening sacrifice FOr loe my wicked doings Lord Above my head are gone A greater load than I can beare They lye me sore upon O Lord our God if thou shalt weigh Our sinnes and them poruse What one shall then escape and say I can my selfe excuse Thou Lord dost know the thoughts of man His heart thou seest full plaine Thou Lord I say mans thoughts dost scan And find'st them all but vaine The wicked workes that we have wrought Thou seâ—'st before thine eye Our privy faults yea eke our thoughts Thy countenance doth spye Both wee and eke our fathers all Have sinned every one We have committed wickednesse And lewdly we have done Our wicked life so farre exceedes That we should fall therein But Lord forgive our great misdeeds And purge us from our sin IN judgement with thy servants Lord O enter not at all For justified be in thy sight Not one that liveth shall From the beholding of my sinne Lord turne away thy face And all my deedes of wickednesse Doe utterly deface Lord turne thee to thy wonted grace My â—illy soule up take O save me not for my deserts But for thy mercies sake Have mercy on me Lord after Thy great aboundant grace After thy mercies multitude Doe thou my sinnes deface Yea Lord remove our sinnes from us And our offences all As farre as is the Sun rising Full distant from his fall The man is blest whose wickednesse Thou Lord hast cleane remitted And he whose sinne and wickednesse His hid and also covered And blest is he to whom the Lord Imputeth not his sin Which in his heart hath hid no guile Nor fraud is found therein O Lord create in me a heart Vnspotted in thy sight And eke with in my bowels Lord Renew a stable spirit With Hysope Lord besprinkle me I shall be cleansed so Yea wash thou me and so I shall Be whiter than the Snow Of joy and gladnesse make thou me To heare the pleasant voyce That so the bruised bones which thou Hast broken may rejoyce For thy Names sake with quickning grace Alive doe thou me make And out of trouble bring my soule Even for thy justice sake O God my God I watch betime To come to thee in haste For why my soule and body both Doe thirst of thee to taste And in this barren wildernesse Where waters there are none My flesh is parcht for thought of thee For thee I wish alone Direct our hearts unto thy grace Convert us Lord to thee Shew us the brightnesse of thy face And then full safe are we Gods promise I doe minde and praise O Lord I sticke to thee I doe not care at all assayes What flesh can doe to me I still depend with all my heart On thee and thus will say My Father and my God thou art My rocke of health and stay O blest is he whose hope and heart Doth in thee Lord remaine That with the proud doth take no part Nor such as lye and faine My heart doth knowledge unto thee I sue to have thy grace Then seeke my face sayst thou to me Lord I will seeke thy face In wrath turne not thy face away Nor suffer me to slide Thou art my helpe still to this day Be still my God and guide SO grievous is my plaint and moane That I waxe wondrous â—aint All the night long I wash my bed With teares of my complaint Thou seest my sinnes that many be Thou on my teares dost looke Reserve them in a glasse by thee And write them in thy booke Burnt offrings thou delight'st not in I know thy whole desire With sacrifice to purge his sinne Thou dost no man require A troubled spirit is sacrifice Delightfull in Gods eyes A broken and an humble heart God thou wilt not despise Surely with ashes as with bread My hunger I have fill'd And mingled have my drinke with teares That from mine eyes have still'd The Lord is high and yet he doth Behold the lowly sp'rite But he contemning knowes afarre The proud and lofty wight O Would to God it might thee please My wayes so to addresse That I might both in heart and voyce Thy lawes keepe and confesse I have both sworne and will performe Most certainely doubtlesse That I will keepe thy judgements just And them in life expresse Prove me my God I thee desire My wayes to search and try As men doe prove their gold with fire My reines and heart espie O Lord thou hast me tride and knowne My sitting thou dost know And rising eke my thoughts a farre Thou understandst also My paths yea and my lying downe Thou compassest alwayes And by familiar custome art Acquainted with my wayes THen in thy paths that be most pure Stay me Lord and preserve That from thy way wherein I walke My steps may never swerve And whilest that breath within my brest Doth naturall life preserve Yea till this world shall be dissolv'd Thy law will I observe From such as thee desire to know Let not thy grace depart Thy tighteousnesse declare and shew To men of upright heart Thy tender mercies Lord from me Withdraw thou not away But let thy love and verity Preserve me still for aye And whiles I live I will not fayle To worship thee alway And in thy name I shall lift up My hands when I doe pray As thou hast giuen power to me So Lord make firme and sure The thing that thou hast wrought in me For ever to endure O Teach me Lord thy wayes and I Shall in thy truth proceede O joyne my heart to thee so nigh That I thy name may dreed WHat thing is there that I can wish But thee in heaven above And in the earth there is no thing Like thee that I can love HAte I not them that hate thee Lord And that in earnest
7. Exod. 19. 6. Mal. 1. 11. Rom. 8. 26. Psal 10. 17 Mar. 11. 24. 2. Promises made to each several head of Prayer c. Pro. 28. 13. I Iohn 1. 9. Isai 1. 18. Isai 43. 25. Ier. 31 34. Isay 57. 1â— Ezek. 18. 21. 22 23. Mat. 11. 28. Mic. 7. 18. 19. Rom. 16. 20. Rom. 6. 14. Psal 37. 24. Ezech. 36. 25. 26. 27 Deut. 30. 6. Isai 44 3. Isai 42 3. Math. 5. 6. Phil. 1 6. Isai 12. 3. Isai 55. 1. Exod. 20. 24. Prov. 16. 3. prov 3. 6. Isai 30. 21. psal 121. 8. Deut. 28. 6. 30. 9. 31 8. Psal 91. 11. Isay 35. 6. 10. Ioel. 2. 26. Isai 55. 12. Psal 25. 1. 1. Preface 2. Parts 1. Confession of 1 Sinne. to which is necessary 1 A particular knovvledge of sin 2. Sense of it and sorrow for it 3. particular enumeration 1. Of Adams disobedience 2. Originall sinne to be descried in the Vnderstanding 1. Conscience 3. Memory 4. Will. 5. Sensitive appetite 6. Affections 7. Body and members 3 Actuall sin in deeds of 1. Omission and Dâ—sâ—â—uncie 2. Commission 1. Against God 2. Presumptuously 3. Without or with temptations 4. Against vowes 2. Sinnes against the Gospell 2. part of Confession viz. of the wages of punishment The second part of prayer which is Petition Apprecation for 1. Pardon of sinne 2. Faith in Christ 3. Repentance 4. All sanctifying grace 2. For growth and encrease of Grace 3. The meanes of grace continued and sanctifyed to us 2. Petition for supply of temporall wants 2. Deprecation 1. To be freed from the guilt of Sin Personall Nationall 2. To have povver 1. Over Sinne. 2. The world 3. The Devill 2. To hee freed from the evill of punishment Nationall Personall 2. Iâ—tercession for the Catholike Church 2. Called 3. In forraine arts 2. Our land at home 3. Afflicted The third part of Prayer which is Thankesgiving for the Church in generall 2. Our selves in particular Election c. â— For grace in any measure 2. Thankesgiving for Temporall Blessings Helpes against Distraction in Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8 Isai 66. 2. Eccles. 5. 2. vers 1. Mal. 13. 14. Mal. 1. 11. Zech. 12. 10. M. Dyke on the hearts deceiptf Gen. 27. 34. Iob 27. 8. 10. Hos 5. 15. Isai 26. 16. 2 Chr 7. 14. M. Dyke ibid. Our sacrifices must bee offered with fire warmth of enflamed Zeale Cold Prayers are to God as dead drinks be to us Psal 42. 1. Ps 119. 20. Luk. 18. 10. 1 Thes 5. 17 Isai 1. Tergat speculum mundet spiritum Bern. Out of M. Byfield 1. For confession of sin 2. For petition of necessaries 3. for thankesgiving 3 For Thankesgiving * Practice of Christianity pag. 622. To these Common-places thou mayest in thy daily reading the Scriptures referre many of the like nature Lam. 3. 41. Psal 123. 1. Num. 16. 22. Nehe. 9. 17. Psal 75. 2. Isai 42. 5. Dan. 5. 23. Isai 57. 15. Ier. 10. 10. 12. Amos 4. 15. 1 Tim. 6. 15. 16. Sam. 1. 4. 4 1 King 8. 27 1 Chr. 29. 11 12. Iob 25. 5. Psal 104. 1. 2. Isai 40. 15. 17. 22. Ier. 20. 12. Ier. 31. 35. Ier. 32. 17. 18. 19. Ier. 46. 18. Amos 5 8. Amos 9 6. Mich. 7. 18. Nah. 1. 4. Hab. 1. 13. Deut. 26. 15 1 Reg. 8. 28. Psal 50. 15. 2 Reg. 19. 16. Psal 141. 2. Iohn 14. 14. Dan. 9. 17. 18. Rom. 8. 26. Exo. 22. 27. 1 Kin. 8. 30. 36 43. 39. Nehe. 1. 6. Psal 5. 2. Psal 28. 2. Psal 86. 6. Psal 19. 14. Psal 123. 1 Psal 143. 1 7. Isai 63. 15. Hab. 1. 2. â— Ezra 9. 6. Gen 1. 27. 2. 7. 3. 13. Heb. 7. 10. Rom. 3. 23. Eccles. â— 29 Num. 32. 14 â—il â— â—â— Rom. 7. 18. Gen. 6. 5. Ioâ— 9. 20. 20. 27. 15. 14. 〈…〉 6. Psal 38. 4. Pro. 20. 9. Isai 64. 6. 7. Isai 43. 24. Isai 3. 9. Psal 130. 3. Dan. 5. 27. Rom 7. 13. Isa 26. 10. Rom. 1. 16. Isa 65. 2. 1 Cor. 16. 22 Eph. 6. 24. Isai 53. 3. Phil. 3. 8. 9. 10. Rev. 2. 21. Psal 32. 5. Ier. 5. 3. Ephes 4. 30 Iude 4. Revel 2. 4. Psal 42. 2. Heb. 10. 26. 27. 28. 29. Isai 1. 18. 2 Sam. 12. 14 Ier. 5. 28. Iob 42. 6. Psal 40. 12. Psal 43. 2. Psal 90. 8. Isai 1. 12. Isai 3. 8. Isai 5. 18. Isai 59. 2. Ier. 6. 7. Ier. 2. 21. Ier. 2. 22. Ier. 17. 1. Amos. 2. 13. Amos 5. 12. Rom. 7. 14. 23. 24. Ezr. 9. 13. Lam. 3. 22. Isay 28. 17. Deu. 29. 23. Psal 9. 17. Psal 130. 7. Exod. 34. 9. Isai 44. 2. Ier. 14. 7. Iob 6. 8. Nehe 4 5. Psal 25. 7. Psal 25. 11. Psal 79. 8. Hos 14. 2. Mic. 7. 19. Ioh. 1. 29. Ioh. 18 37. Isai 53. 5. Psal 57. 2. Psal 51. 2. 7. 2 Sam 24. 10 Ps 119. 132 Isai 1. 18. Ier. 32. 27. Math. 6. 39. Luk. 17. 5. Math. 7. 20. Rom. 5. 1. Iam. 2. 20. Heb. 12. 14. Psa 51. 10. Phil. 3. 9. Psa 6. 6. Mat. 11. 21. Act. 11. 18. Rev. 2. 21. Deut 5. 29. 2 Tim 2. 26. 2 Cor. 7. 10. Ezek 37. 25. Eze. 36. 26. 27 Ephes 1. 17. 18. Hab. 2. 14 Heb. 8. 11. Ephes 3. 17. 18. 19. Phil. 3. 10. Prov. 192. Prov. 2. 2. 3. 5. Hos 8. 2. Mat. 22. 37. Luke 7. 47. Iohn 13. 34. Phil. 1. 9. Gal. 6. 10. Mat. 5. 44. Tit. 2. 14. Rev. 3. 16. Psa 119. 20 Iohn 2. 17. 2 Cor. 9. 2. Psal 51. 6. Iohn 1. 47. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Ier. 16 17. Psal 139. 2 3. 1 Cor 4. 5. Amos 9. 2. 3. Prov. 24. 12. Eeles 12. 14 1 Sam. 16. 7. 2 Kin. 20. 3. 1 Chr. 28. 2. Ier. 23. 24. Psal 44. 21. Ps 139. 12. Prov. 20. 27. 1 King 8. 39 Heb. 4. 13. Rom. 1. 1â— Act 4. 29. Mark 8. 38. Deut. 5. 29. Ier. 32. 39. 40. Heb. 10. 23. Phil. 4. 11. Phil 4. â—2 1 Tim. 6. 6. 7. 8. Heb. 13. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Iob. 2. 10. Math. 6. 25. Math. 6. 26. 2â— 27. 30. 31. 32. Prov. 30. â— Prov. 30. 9. Luk. 9. 23. Ioh. 16. 33 Act. 14. 2â— Rom. 8. 1â— Phil. 1. 29. Heb 12. 1. 2. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 12. 13 14. 〈◊〉 119. 105 Psal 16. 7. Heb. 4. 12. Pro 20. 12. Ier. 23. 29. Isai 55. 10. 11. Isai 50. 4. Isai 53. 10. Psal 36. 8. 9. Psal 132. 7. Psa 119. 18 Isai 26. 8. Mic. 4. 2. Isai 30. 21. Psal 65. 4. Isai 25. 6. â—â— 7. 1 Cor. 11. 28. loh. 6. 32. 35. 36. 37. Psal 42. 1. Psal 63. 2. Psa 126. 12. 13. Gen. 28. 20. 21. 43. 14. Prov. 2. 8. Psal 17. 5. Psal 91. 11 12. Gen. 28 15. 1 Chr. 4. 10. Neh. 1. 11. Psal 90. 17. 2 Chr. 20. 12 Isai 26. 12. Psal 127. 2. Ier. 10. 23. 1 Cor. 2. 3. Rom. 6. 12. 12. Heb. 12. 15. Rom. 6. 22. Rom 7 23. 24 Psal 19. 12. 13. 2 Cor. 10. 5. Ps 131.
and try my wayes to looke backe upon all the ungodly actions and aberrations of my fore-past life to view my sinne-deformed soule in the cleare glasse of thy undefiled â—aw that so I may judge and abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and bee still more vile in mine owne esteeme make me to examine my selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cup knowing that if I eate and drinke thereof unworthily I eate and drinke damnation to my selfe because I discerne not the Lords body Teach mee to try my selfe whether I be in the faith or no for without faith it is impossible to please thee in any service T is my faith in the death of my Saviour that is the hand and mouth by which I must apply him and make him mine in this Sacrament Assure me by these broad seales annexed to the covenant of grace and letters patents of thy holy word that thou wilt make good what thou hast promised that as thou hast called Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters so thou wilt refresh this my gasping and thirsting soule as thou callest all that be weary and heavie laden to come unto thee so thou wilt in no wise send mee empty away that cast my selfe into the bleeding armes of my dying Saviour Perswade my unbeleeving and doubting heart that as thy Minister taketh and blesseth and breaketh and poureth out and giveth and saith Take and eate the bread take and drinke the wine of the Sacrament so thou from everlasting hast separated consecrated and ordained Iesus Christ to be a Sacrifice for my sinnes hast poured out his blood to be a satisfaction to thy offended justice for my sinfull soule and that hereby I shall continue in communion with him my head and his mysticall body my fellow members Thy flesh O sweet Saviour is meate indeed and thy blood is drinke indeed O let me I beseeth thee find it so in my fainting soule that I may bee ravished with thy love that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is and find thy free promises and pledges of thy grace to bee better than wine sweeter also than the honey and the honey combe Let thy holy spirit set to his privie seale on my heart inwardly by the secret and sweet refreshment of his blessed testimonie that I am my well beloveds and my well beloved is mine establishing my heart in thy love and knitting my soule unto thee for ever O draw me and I shall run after thee shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee saved And Lord make mee to love my brethren as thou hast loved me yea to love my very enemies for thy names sake reconciling my selfe to those whom I have offended following peace with all men and forgiving them their hundred pence as thou hast freely forgiven me my ten thousand talents Vouchsafe me this aud all other graces which may fit mee for thy service in thy kingdome of grace and prepare mee for the enjoyment of everlasting glory through my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen After the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Lord what shall I render unto thee for all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon mee and daily ladest mee withall a most unworthy sinner how shall I bee sufficiently thankefull unto thee for them when they bee more than I can reckon up unto thee more then my heart is able to conceive or comprehend Should I offer up unto thee thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oyle they all would come farre short of thy most free eternall undeserved infinite love Lebanon it selfe is not sufficient for wood nor the beasts upon a thousand hils for a burnt offering What shall I then doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men or what recompence shall I make thee I will even take the cup of salvation and give thankes to thy name O Lord. I will offer up my soule and body for a holy living and acceptable sacrifice unto thee this will please thee better than bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Thou O Lord in the beginning didst make mee to bee when I was not before and when I had lost my selfe and forfeited my being and life and happinesse didst in Christ restore mee to a more blessed estate than at my Primitive integrity Thou thy selfe art become my Father thy sonne my Saviour thy holy Spirit my Sanctifier thy word my Instructor thy Sacraments the food to refresh satisfie and feed my poore hungry soule to everlasting life This day thou hast called me to thy holy Mountaine and made me joyfull in thy house of prayer this day hast thou invited me to sit downe at thy table and made unto mee a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined thou hast abundantly satisfied me with the fâ—â—nesse of thy house and hast made mee to drinke of the river of thy pleasures Blessed bee thy glorious name for ever and ever which is above all thankesgiving and prayse of mine O that I could bee indeed thankefull unto thee as thou art gracious unto me If I should open my mouth never so wide thou wouldest fill it thy favours to my poore soule are more than all tongues of men and Angels can worthily magnifie And now O Lord accept I beseech thee the free will-offering of thy servant that desires to feare thy name and to make a covenant with thee never to bee broken that my soule shall cleave close unto thee and avouch thee this day to bee my God and Saviour for ever more Here I doe resigne myselfe soule and body all that is in me and all that belongs unto me to bee wholly thine and that I will never wickedly depart from thee my God as I have done O that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy commandements alway Never let mee with the disgorged dog returne any more to my former vomit nor with the washed sow to wallow in the mire but as I have now washed my feete so suffer mee no more againe to defile them as I have put off the filthy rags of my old conversation so I may never againe put them on but become a new creature That seeing the expiation of my sins cost my Saviour so deare as the shedding of his precious blood and that thy wrath lay so heavie upon him who was our suretie onely being innocent in himselfe I may hence conceive how heinous a thing sinne is how abhorred by thee and so hate it in my selfe with a perfect hatred and resist it even to blood and not crucifie againe hereby the Lord of life and glory O make mee thankefully to remember that bitter passion of his and thy love O Father unto mee in that thou hast accepted mee to life in him and hast brought salvation this day home to my house to my heart Lord enter in abide with and dwell in my soule for ever Take not