Church 8 Meditation vpon these heads especially 1 The infinitnesse of God's mercie 2 The price value of Christ's bloud 3 The efficacy of his intercession 4 The vertue of the Sacraments 5 The vniuersalitie and certaintie of Gods promises to the penitent 6 Exampls of mercy shewed to most grieuous sinners THE TEXTS ANd being in an Agonie he prayed more earnestly Luke 22. 44. Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance Eph. 6. 18. Be feruent in spirit seruing the Lord Rom. 12. 11. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer ver 12. Pray one for another that yee may be healed the effectuall seruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much I am 5. 16. What prayer or what supplication shall be made of any man or of all thy people Israel when euery one shall know his owne griefe and his owne sore and shall spread forth his hands vnto thee 2. Cron. 6. 29. Then heare thou from heauen thy dwelling place and forgiue ver 30. Then Dauids heart smote him after he had numbred the people and Dauid sayd vnto the Lord I haue sinned greatly in this I haue done and now I beseech thee ô Lord take away the iniquitie of thy seruant for I haue done very foolishly 2. Sam. 2◠10. I make my bed to swimme I water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. And hee went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He shall restore that which hee tooke violently away or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten or that which was deliuered to him to keepe or the lost thing which he found Leu. 6. 4. Or all that about which hee hath sworne falsly hee shall restore it in the principall and shall adde a fift part more thereto v. 5. If I haue taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him foure fold Luke 19. 8. Goe thy way bee reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Agree with thine aduersarie quickly while thou art in the way with him ver 25. Forgiue and ye shall be forgiuen Luke 6. 37. If ye forgiue not men their trespasses neither will my heauenly Father forgiue you Mat. 6. 15. If thy brother trespasse against thee seauen times a day and seauen times a day doe returne vnto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgiue him Luke 17. 4. Be yee kinde one to another tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christ's sake hath forgiuen you Eph. 4. 32. And his Lord was wroth and deliuered him to the tormentors til he should pay all that was due vnto him Mat. 18. 34. So likewise shall my heauenly Father doe also vnto you if yee from your heart forgiue not euery man his brother their trespasses v. 35. O King let my counsell be acceptable vnto thee and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poore Dan. 4. 27. Many sins are forgiuen her for she loued much Luk. 7. 47. Giue almes of such things as ye haue and behold all things are cleane vnto you Luk. 11. 41. Sell that ye haue giue almes prouide your selues baggs that waxe not old and a treasure in the heauens which faileth not Luk. 12. 33. Lay not vp for your selues treasures on earth where rust and moths doe corrupt and where theeues breake through and steale Mat. 6. 19. But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeues doe not breake through nor steale v. 20. And I say vnto you make vnto your selues friends of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse that when yee faile they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. While ye haue time doe good vnto all men but especially to them of the houshould of faith Gal. 6. 10. Charge the rich in this world 1 Tim. 6. 17. That they doe good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate v. 18 Laying vp for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life v. 19. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased Heb. 13. 16. His soule draweth nigh to the graue and his life to the destroyer Iob. 33. 22. If there bee a messenger with him or an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto him his vprightnesse ver 23. Then he is gracious vnto him and saith Deliuer him from going downe to the pit I haue found a ransome ver 24. He will pray vnto God and he will be fauourable vnto him hee shall see his face with ioy v. 26. Is any man sicke among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray ouer him I am 5. 14. And the prayer of the Faithfull shall saue the sicke c and if hee haue committed sinnes they shal be forgiuen him ver 15. Verily I say vuto you whatsoeuer ye shal bind in earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth shall bee loosed ia Heauen Matth. 18. 18. And when hee had sayd thus he breathed on them and sayd vnto thē Receiue the holy Ghost Ioh. 20. 22. Whosoeuers sins ye remit they are remitted vnto them and whosoeuers sinnes ye retaine they are retained verse 23. Thy mercy is great aboue the heauens and thy truth reacheth to the clouds Psal. 108. 4. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Psal. 145. 8. The Lord is good vnto all and his tender mercy is ouer all his workes Psal. 145. 9. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee Psal. 86. 5 Thou O Lord art a God full of compassion and gracious long suffering plenteous in mercy and truth ver 15. O giue thanks vnto the Lord for he is good and his mercy endureth for euer Psalm 136. 1. 116. 1. 107. 1. 118. 1. In whom we haue redemption through his blood according to the riches of his grace Eph. 1. 6. By his owne blood hee entered once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs Heb. 9. 12. The precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without blemish 1 Pet. 1. 19. This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you Luke 22. 10. The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Act 20. 28. Much more being now iustified by his blood we shall bee saued from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph. 2. 13. For he is our peace v. 14. If the blood of bulls and of goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the vncleane sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Heb. 9. 13. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through
to fit prayers and deâ—â—tions to seuerall seasons and speciall occasions baulked the Christian faste and feasts For albeit the Saints dayes might fare the worse with them because Popish superstitioÌ„ ouer cloyed them Which yet is an abuse of arguing to argue from the abuse to the abolishing the right vse By this meanes they might take from vs the vse of all Gods creatures because they haue beene superstitiously or profanely abused some way or other But admit there might be a legall caueat put in against the Saints Plea what haue the feasts of our Lord and Sauiour deserued that they should be struck out of their Callender or sleightly passed without the honour of a meditation Hymnes or Prayer on them They cannot pleade want of president authoritie or direction for they haue Coppies faire written in golden characters by Chrysostome in his Homilies Chrysologus Leo Augustine Bernard other deuout Fathers in their Sermons vpon these dayes If they saw not them why did they not follow the excellent patterne in the booke of Common Prayer Which laying before me I haue drawne formes of exhortations hymnes and prayers carying throughout a manifest impression of the feast to which they are dedicated And before them I haue prefixed a Paralell of the Prophesie of the old and the Historie of the new Testament compared together that thou mightest haue an ocular demonstration of that which S. Austine writeth concerning both The new Testament is vailed in the old and the old is reuealed in the new After the feasts or before as preparatiues to them the Church fasts should haue beene ranked But there being in their Deuotions no spirituall dainties allowed for the festiuals I nothing maruelled at it that Christian fastes were vtterly vnprouided for and if I may so speake fast with them Extraordinarie fasts of humiliâ—tion to auert some fearefull Plague or imâ—inent iudgement they take notice of but the ordinarie fasts of Deuotion they mention not at all Yet certainely the deuoute soule out of a sympathie with her Sauiour cannot 〈◊〉 weepe with him as well as reâ—oyce with him in some measure Fast with him on good-friday as well as feast with him and for him on Easter day If any teares of a sinner are the wine of Angels I am perswaded they are those teares of Deuotion which after much fasting and Prayer and meditation spring out of the serious apprehension of Christs infinite loue testified to man-kinde by his fasting watching praying weeping bleeding and dying for vs on the Crosse. But they wil say these are the sacred fewell of euery dayes deuotion Yet it is more proper to remember the â—orke of the day in the day wherein it was wrought And albeit the Iewes were bound alwayes to remember Gods wonderfull deliuerances yet more stricktly were they bound on the very day for that end appointed to be kept solemne What though we finde no expresse commandement for them The practise of the ancient Church and the religious constitutions of the present ratified by Supreme authoritie should sway in a matter of this nature according to that golden rule of S. Bernard Obey him as God who is in the place of God in those things that are not against God These fasts therefore should not haue bene forgotten I come now in the last place to the weekely Deuotions wherein I finde Prayers for each seuerall day of the weeke Yet as it is noted by the learned of S. Gregories Comment vppon Iob that It is an excellent Commentarie fraught with rich learning especially in matter of moralitie But it might haue beene wrote almost as well vppon any parcell of Scripture as vpon Iob. So you shall finde that the Prayers for each day may serue for any day as well as that to which they are intituled For example Munday's Prayer well fits Tuesday and Tuesday's Wednesday and all three Thursday Friday and Saturday No day hath more interest in the Deuotion for it then another When Timothie found fault with ALEXANDER for striking a stroke amisse vpon the Harpe and Alexander demanded of him Is it not all one whether I strike it this way or that way with these fingers or these True answered Timothie It is all one to an Emperour but not to a Musitian It is no error in stale to strike as you doe but it is an error in art I confesse in like manner it is no error in Religion â— set a godly Prayer for the day which hath no interest or relation at all to the day yet it is an indecorum and blurre in Art It is all one as if they should set a marke before them and shoote no more towards it then any other white To auoid this improprietie if not incongruitie in the Morning Hymne and Prayer I haue an eye to some worke of God the Father in the Creation wrought on that day In the Euening Hymne and Prayer to some worke of God the Sonne wrought or by the Church remembred on that day in the Passion weeke For the admonitions and exhortations wherewith the Deuotions are interlaced I tooke my patterne of them from S. CYPRIAN De agno per quem redempti viuificati sumus lanam ipsam purpuram misi quam cum acceperis toâ—icam tibi pro voluntate conficies In exhortatione â—am necessaria amputandae sunt verborum nostrorum morae ambages sermonis humani sâ—btrahendae ponenda illa sola quae DEVS loquitur Wâ—th whose words I will not cloathe mine owne I haue sent thee cloth saith he made of the fleece of that Lamb by whose bloud we are all redeemed Take as much as will serue thy turne and fashion and fit thy garment to thine owne minde All inferences and discourses of mine owne I omit because in so needfull exhortations the delayes and lingering protractions of mens words are to be cut off and onely Gods owne words to bee set downe To summe vp all in a word I haue brought thee into the Spouse garden of flowers and spices I haue gathered some out almost of euery bed and layed by them a thread in the Analysis or Method to binde them vp together Make thou thy Posie as thou likest best and breathe out with mee that sweete Prayer of the Spouse cut in one of her knots Arise ô North and blow ô South winde thaâ—â—he sent of our Spices flowers may flow and the beloued may come into his Garden GEntle Reader the lesser escapes I intreat thee to mend with thy pen and to set some marginall notes at the right place which thou shalt find here and there a little misplaced A Generall Table representing the Method of this Worke. This Manuell hath in it described a plat of holy ground diuided into 1 A garden of spirituall flowers 1 For ornament to decke and dresse vp the inner roome to entertaine the Spouse as preÌ„parations to religious duties In generall Prayer Hearing the Word In speciall to Receiuing § Sacrament 2. For sent to
of thanksgiuing p. 547. A prayer after recouerie p. 551. The Close out of Scripture p. 559. The dying man's deuotion p. 560. The first admonition to the sicke being an admonition to patience p. â—63 The second admonition against despaire p. 594. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death p. 594. A Prayer for the sicke To the Vnitie p. 600. To the Trinitie p. 604. To the Lord Iesus p. 608. THE PREPARATION TO RELIGIOVS exercises in generall PAR. I. Of Deuotion PRemeditation is the preparation to priuate prayer priuate to publicke priuate and publicke to the hearing the word priuate and publicke prayer together with the hearing of the word to the worthie participation of the holy Sacrament For the Sacrament receiues strength and vigour from the word preached the word preached from publicke prayer publicke prayer from priuate Deuotion and that from premeditation and consideration of the nature of deuotion and necessitie of preparation it selfe to all holy duties in the immediate worship of God Deuotion is the harts warmth or rather lifes bloud of religion It is a sacred bond knitting the soule vnto God It is a spirituall muskle mouing onely vpward and lifting vp the hearts eyes and hands continually vnto heauen And because it consisteth rather in the feruour of the affections then light of the thoughts of blaze or lustre in the words it is better felt then vnderstood and yet better vnderstood then can be expressed Especially priuate deuotion which is the Saint to whom I deuote this Treatise For priuate deuotion to shunne ostentaâ—ion and hypocrisie in heauenly things alwayes shuts her selfe vp in her closet desiring no eye to see her but her Fathers in secret Wounded she is like the spouse in the Canticles with the darts of diuine loue and continually bleedeth but inwardly in teares of compassion compunction and excessiue ioy There appeares no externall orifez in the flesh to be seene Shee resembles the strange plant in Plinie which buds inwardly and shooteth forth no bud blossome or leafe outwardly For if priuate deuotion cometh once to be knowne it ceaseth to be priuate The greatest commendation of it is like to that of the Garamantite a precious stone that hath no beautie nor lustre in the outside or in the surface but within the bodie of it appeares golden drops of diuine infusion What Cyprian speaketh of the wâ—rke of regeneration may be truly applyed to this vertue It is felt before it can be spoken of and it must be kindled in the heart by the Spirit before it can be felt It is the true Vest all fire that should be still kept burning in the heart but if it go out like that of the Vestals it must bee kindled from heauen To thee therefore ô most holy Spirit I addresse my prayer to kindle and keepe this fire in my soule by thy heauenly blasts Heate my heart with the feruour of true Deuotion and touch my tongue with a coale from thine altar that the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart may inflame all that reade these deuotions with a loue of deuotion it selfe and true Zeale Lev's censure may seeme too tart He that is not more religious in Lent then at other times hath no religion as all But I haue good warrant to suspect the sinceritie of their Deuotion altogether who are not more deuout in priuate then in publike For fire the closer it is kept the hotter it burneth and the exhalations which are violently detained in cranies vnder ground and can haue no vent are of force to moue the earth it selfe It cannot be otherwise but that the penitent or compassionate eye which droppeth in publike should runne and gush out with riuers of waters in priuate The afflicted soule which sometimes stealeth a groane and fetcheth a sigh in the Church offers vp often prayers with strong cries at home He that is affected and eleuated with spirituall ioy in publike is transported when he is alone and hath priuate communications with God S. Paul spake words of truth and sobernesse to the Corinthians Whether we he besides our selues it is to God or whether we be sober it is to you And Saint Ierome confirmeth it with an oath that after many dayes nay weekes spent by him in fasting and prayer in the end hee was rauished in spirit and seemed to haue priuate conuersation and familiaritie with quires of Angels My intent is not to detract any thing from publike deuotion but my desire is to adde to priuate Publike is more solemne but priuate ought to be more frequent Publike makes more noise but priuate for the most part hath a deeper channell Our Sauiour diuideth blessednesse equally betweene them both Blessed saith he is he that heareth the word and keepeth it it is publike deuotion that heareth the word preached but priuate that keepes it Publike gathereth Manna in greater aboundance but priuate is the golden Omer that preserueth it The Hart doth not so pant and bray for the riuers of waters as the soule of euery religious man longeth for the waters of life running plentifully out of the golden spoutes of the Temple the Ministers of the word but priuate deuotion it is that breedes this longing after the publike Ministerie Let vs take a patterne of Deuotion from our blessed Sauiour to whom all deuotions are due What commandeth hee by expresse precept When thou prayest enter into thy closet and what commendeth hee most by his owne practise It is true he calleth his house the house of prayer and as we reade that he was daily preaching so I doubt not but hee was daily praying in the Temple yet ye shall find him oftener on the Mount or in the Garden or in some priuate solitarie place praying alone then in the Temple yea and continuing longer in prayer spending sometimes whole nights in it This practise of our Sauiour hath bene a president to all those whose names in the Church of God are and haue bene as a sweete ointment for daily offering the sweetest incense of prayer to God Religious men neuer are wanting in publike assemblies but they exceed in priuate Deuotion Publike exercises of religion be their feasts but priuate their ordinarie Where find you Daniel but in his chamber at his Deuotion looking towards Ierusalem Where find you Dauid but in his couch watering it with his teares and communing with his owne heart in the night Where find you Cornelius but in his house in praying Where find you Saint Iohn on the Lords day but in the I le alone by himselfe in the spirit The powring out our speciall complaints to God our vowes to refraine such companie and such occasions of sinne the ripping vp of our whole life with a particular confession of our sins aggrauated by all circumstances and all those parts of repentance or the soules
discipline mentioned by Saint Paul are most necessarie exercises of religion yet cannot be so safely done nor so decently nor so effectually in publike as in priuate These parts are not to be acted on the stage but within the hangings He that actes these on the stage will haue the person of an hypocrite put vpon him for it Where was our Sauiour in his agonie but alone in Gethsemaine Where was hee transfigured in his prayer but on the holy Mount alone Moses his face shined after he came from his secret parlie with God and our soules shall shine with all spirituall graces if we haue often priuate conference with him by prayer but alwayes with due reuerence and preparation before PARAG. 2. Of Preparation Preparation to religious exercises is twofold 1 Extraordinarie as watching fasting and the like of which see the admonition for Ash-wednesday 2 Ordinary which consisteth in 1 Clensing our conscience from the guilt and staine of foule sinnes especially grosse actuall sins newly committed 2 Sequestring our thoughts from worldly cares businesses 3 Considering before hand what the RELIGIOVS worke is wee are about and how we ought to performe it and carrie our selues in it Moses put off his shooes and Dauid washed his hands before he drew neare to God The Iewes and Turkes at this day wash themselues before they enter their Temples and the ancient Pagans vsed many ablutions and lustrations before they durst come in sight of their faigned gods The vncleane Spirit in the Gospell had a cleane lodging and shall we entertaine the most pure and holy Spirit of God in an vncleane roome in our soules What Courtier presumeth to come into the Kings presence in stinking and nastie cloathes or with his hands and face all besmeared with dirt or spotted with inke How dare we then appeare before God with a foule and nastie conscience with a heart full of malice eyes full of adulterie hands full of the treasures of wickednesse mouthes full of deadly poyson of Aspes When wee haue defiled our eyes with vnchast lookes shall we presently cast them vp to heauen and confidently looke God in the face who is a God of most pure eyes and cannot endure the least spot of impuritie when we haue defiled our hands with bloud or vncleannesse or telling our vse money shall we presently lift them vp in supplication to God when wee haue defiled our tongues with corrupt and rotten communication shall we presently employ them in diuine prayer when we haue defiled our bodies with beastly lusts and wallowed in the mire of swinish pleasures shall wee presently present our selues as a sacrifice vnto God in priuate or publike deuotion God by his holy Prophet teacheth vs another lesson wash you make you cleane put away the euill of your doings from before mine eyes Cease to do euill learne to do well Come now let vs conferre and reason together Secondly he that will consecrate his thoughts and affections by priuate Deuotion vnto God must remoue and sequester them from earthly affaires and worldly negotiations For the cares of this life as they choake the seedes of the word so they stifle deuout meditation in the wombe that conceiueth them It is not more difficult to cast vp one eye to heauen and the other downe on the earth at the same instant then to fixe our cogitations and intentions at once on God and the world Holinesse in the Greeke implyeth a direct contradiction to earthlinesse Hagios is deriued from A the priuatiue particle and Ge signifying earth as if you would say vnearthlinesse God is a Spirit and cannot be otherwise seene of vs then in spirit Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God The soule of man is the glasse most truly representing Gods image If a glasse be furd or soyled with dust or dirt it reflecteth no shape or proportion aright but wipe the dust from the glasse and you shall see clearely So saith Saint Bernard rub thy glasse wipe away all dustie earthlinesse from thy mind and thou shalt see God in thy soule and conceiue cleare and diuine imaginations of him Thirdly he that desireth that God should haue respect to him and to his spirituall offerings must bee more readie to heare the wise man and looke to his foote then to make hast to offer the sacrifice of fooles What is it to offer the sacrifice of fooles but rashly and vnaduisedly not to bring and lay downe but to throw his gifts on Gods Altar without considering what he offereth or 〈◊〉 or to whom He that makes no more of prayers to God then of speaking with one of his companions nor of perusing inspired Scriptures then reading a peice of Aristotle or Liuie nor of participating of the blessed Sacrament then taking a morsell of bread or drinking a cup of wine can expect no blessing for the vse but rather ought to feare a curse for the abuse of these meanes of saluation These ordinances of God sanctifie not such but they rather prophane them Numa Pomphilius forbad any man vnder a great penaltie to salute his gods in the high way or to pray or bow or to do any reuerence to their temples or images as they walked by them in the streets and Wouer yeelds a reason of this law better then the law it selfe Diuine Maiestie sayes hee must not be sleighted holy duties must not bee suddenly slâ—bbered ouer but performed with reuerent regard 〈◊〉 religious cunctation or delay to frame and compose the mind vnto them But men haue forgotten the feare of the Lord euen in his presence and vnder his eye The holy name of God is made so common in mens mouthes and his dreadfull Maiestie so cheape in their estimamation that as they speake of him without reuerence so also they speake to him without aduised premeditation They are farre from Dauids modestie who went step by step and fetched a compasse to come to Gods altar I will wash my hands in innocencie and so I will compasse thine altar but these make but one step to it They suddenly and rudely rush vpon Almightie God neuer thinking that he is a consuming fire Augustus being inuited by a priuate Gentleman to his house entertained but slenderly below the maiestie of so great an Emperour in stead of thanking him gaue him a secret but smart checke for it I knew not said he before that we were such familiars But hath not the King of heauen and Monarke of the whole world more iust cause to censure in the like manner or more seuerely those among vs that seeme most forward to inuite and entertaine him who runne into his presence without shewing any reuerence speake vnto him without bowing their knee heare him in the Ministry of the Word without vncouering their heads participate of the dreadfull Mysteries as the Fathers call them of his
blessed Body and Blood sitting at the Communion as they doe at their ordinary table without expressing any thankfull humility or giuing testimony that they discerne the Lords body from common meat Is this to serue the Lord Christ with feare To reioyce vnto him with trembling To kisse the Sonne least hee be angry Nay to fall lowe before his footstoole because hee is holy But I will speake no more of Preparation to holy duties in generall least the preludium grow longer then the lesson I am now to prick The Preparation to Prayer PARAG. 1. My heart is indighting of a good matter my tongue is the penne of a ready writer saith the Kingly Prophet and againe My heart was hot within mee while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue If this sweete singer of Israel first pricked the notes in his heart before he began to sing them If he who was inspired by the holy Ghost framed his Prayers and Psalmes of thanksgiuing in his minde before hee deliuered them by his tongue ought not we who are as farre behinde him in his gifts as we are below him in condition much more meditate before we vtter any thing to the Lord I speake not of pious â—iaculations which must needs be suddaine as their occasions are and the motions of Gods Spirit within vs but of a set conceiued Prayer wherein we ought not onely well to ponder the matter but euen weigh if wee haue time euery word in the ballance that they bee not found too light and thereby our Prayers against sin be turned into sinne Bee not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to vtter any thing before God Seneca obseruing how bold men made with God and what strange petitions they blushed not to preferre vnto him gaue this sage aduise So deale with men as if God saw thee and so speake with God as if men heard thee For many men vent such vncharitable enuious and malitious matters such confused and vndigested stuffe such impertinencies inconsequencies absurdities especially in their priuate extemporarie Prayers as they would be ashamed that any man of quality or vnderstanding should ouer heare them It would make a prophane man laugh but a Religious man weepe to listen and marke how sometimes they court Almighty God with idle complements sometimes they cast vp Prayers with strong lines to heauen hoping thereby to drawe downe a blessing from God sometimes they expostulate with God in a sawcie and sometimes pose him in a ridiculous manner Sometimes they discourse profoundly in their Prayer as if they meant in good earnest to teach Almighty God what hee ought to doe Sometimes they are too tedious cloying his eares with bablings and vaine repetitions and sometimes againe they are too briefe curtayling their Orisens and breaking off in the middest One while they fly too high and meddle with counsells of State and another while they fall too low and tell God a Homely houshould tale If they heare a strange Phrase or an affected straine of puf-past eloquence this they cull out carefully and insert into their garlands Peter Moulin iustly taxeth a Fryar for styling Christ the Dolphin of heauen and I thinke he as well deserueth blame who prayeth to God that he may march to heauen in perfect equipage or come vnto God not with the soales of his foot but the foot of his soule who layeth open before God his manifold defections infections imperfections his sinnes of an higher straine and deeper staine and commendeth to his gracious goodnesse al the Ministers of the Church by what titles soeuer they are signified or dignified Giue me leaue to tell these men in their owne language that this is playing not Praying and that in sending vp such prayers they burne not incense to God but incense him rather Or if they will not heare me let the graue high-Priest among the ancient Romans Schoole them as he did a Vestall whom he obserued to be too curious and neate about her work which was tending the holy fire Vergin doe your work holily rather then handsomely reuerently rather then trimly There are a sort of men in direct opposition to these who affect a kinde of Rhetorike which weedeth out all flowers of Rhetorike They can away with no Prayer or meditation which fauours of the lumpe though the oyle be sacred Nothing pleaseth them in this kinde but that which is spunne with an ouer course thread Coursnes to them is strength dulnes grauity drinesse iudgement leanenes health and pack-staffe plainnesse the euidence as they terme it of the Spirit and simplicity of the Gospell Well may they claime kindred with the old Aegyptians who as Herodotus and Straboreport temper morter with their hands and kneade their dow with their feete Right so these men in all other things like well of art and wit where the matter is vile and base but in the deliuery of heauenly conceptions vtterly abandon them But they should haue considered better that sharpnesse of wit and true eloquence are gifts of God and therefore best of all to bee employed in holy things as gold and siluer are best bestowed in adorning Gods house so it bee without superstition Was not fine linnen and blew silke and Scarlet of as good vse in the Arke as Camels haire Is not the Queene brought into the spirituall Salomans chamber in Vesture of gold wrought about with diuers colours Was not the holy oyle and precious oyntment made by Gods coÌ„mandement according to the art of the Apothecary Are there not in the Prophet Esay the Psalmes of Dauid and the Epistles of Saint Paul in the originall language and other parts of Scripture more exquisite peeces of Artt and streines of eloquence then are to be found in any other writings whatsoeuer If they are accursed who doe the worke of the Lord negligently certainly the more diligence we vse the more blessed our holy labours shall be For my part I am resolued with Dauid neuer to offer that to God which costeth mee nothing There remaine yet in some places some of the base sect of the Patttalorochita who place Religion in nosing their words and speaking to God in a harsh and vncouth sound and pronuntiation They will not cry but howle and bellow to him But these are so few in number and their error is so contemptible that I hold it scarce fit the naming and no way worthy the refuting I would there were no more left of the sect of the Pharisees who vnder colour of long Prayers 〈◊〉 widowes houses who persume their consâ—â—ing and corrupt dealing with the balme of Gâ—lead who make Religion and Deuotion a stalking horse to their ambition and auaritious purposes and ends O mercifull God how is thy patience abused How is thy Maiesty sleightned How is thy worship prophaned O what sinfull wretches are we who need a large pardon not onely for our profane
and carnall but euen for our holy and spirituall exercises Lord bee mercifull shall I say to our siâ—nes Nay euen to our best works which are not free from imperfections Euen when we pray against sinne wee sinne in Praying both in respect of the forme and manner and end of Prayer Which that we may not doe or not so frequently or not so grieuously let vs prepare our selues before hand with the admonition â—hyme and Prayer ensuing THE TEXTS GOD is in heauen and thou vpon earth therefore let thy words bee few Eccles. 5. 2. When we pray vse not vaine repetitions as the heathen doe for they thinke that they shall be heard for their much speaking Mat 6. 7. After this manner Pray yee Verse 9. He that couereth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy Pro. 28. 13. I said I will confesse my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgauest the iniquity of my sin Psal. 32. 5. Feare this glorious and dreadfull Name The Lord thy God Deut. 28. 58. Let them praise thy great and terrible Name for it is holy Psal. 99. 3. Holy and reuerent is his name Psal. 3. 9. I am a great King saith the Lord of Hoasts and my Name is dreadfull among the heathen Mal. 1. 14. O Lord my God thou art become exceeding glorious thou art clothed with Maiesty and honour Psal. 104. 1. Thou deckest thy selfe with light as with a garment and spreadest the heauens like a curtaine Verse 2. The glorious Maiesty of the Lord shall endure for euer Verse 31. Then a clowde couered the Tent of the Congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle Exod. 40. 34. The Chariots of God are twenty thousand euen thousands of Angels c. Psal. 68. 17. Who is the King of glory Euen the Lord of Hosts hee is the King of glory Psal. 24. 10. The Lord euen the most Mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same Psal. 50. 1. Blessed be his glorious Name for euer and let all the earth bee filled with his Maiesty Amen Amen Psal. 72. 18. Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach vnto 1 Tim. 6. 18. And Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of the Congregation because the clowde aboade therein and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle Exo. 40. 35. I will reprooue thee and set thy sinnes in order before thine eyes Psal 50. 21. O Lord thou hast searched me and knowne me Psal 139. 1. Thou knowest my downe-sitting and mine vp-rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts long before v. 2. The wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his doings Pro 5. 21. The eyes of the Lord are in euery place beholding the â—uil and the good Pro. 15. 3. If thou sayest Behold we knew it not doth not hee that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soule doth not he know it Pro. 24. 12. Mine eyes are vpon all their waies they are not hid from my face neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes Ier. 16. 17. If our hearts condemne vs God is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things 1. Ioh. 3. 20. Behold euen to the Moone and it shineth not yea the Stars are not pure in his sight how much lesse man that is a worme Iob. 23. 9. Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickednesse neither shall euill dwell with thee Ps. 5. 4. Thou louest righteousnesse and hatest iniquity therefore God euen thy God c. Psal. 45. 7. And one cryed to another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts Isa. 6. 3. Then the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall reigne in Mount Sion Isa. 24. 23. And they the foure beasts full of eyes rested not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty Reuel 4. 8. Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider and he that keepeth thy soule doth hee not know it and shall not he render to euery man according to his workes Pro. 24. 12. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth c. but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Eccles. 11. 9. Woe vnto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be giuen him Isa. 3. 11. Thine eyes are open vpon all the wayes of the sonnes of men to giue euery one according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings Ier. 32. 19. I say vnto you that of euery 〈◊〉 word that men shall speake they shall giue an accompt in the day of Iudgement Mat. 12. 36. Then thinkest thou this ô man that iudgest them which do such things and dost the same that thou shalt escape the Iudgement of God Rom. 2. 3. Thou treasurest vp vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and reuelation of the righteous iudgemeâ—â— of God Rom. â— 5. Who will render to euery one according to his deedes Verse 6. If yee call on the Father who without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke passe the time of your soiourning here in feare 1 Peter 1. 17. The time is come that iudgement must beginne at the House of God and if it first beginne at vs what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospell of God And if the righteous scarcely be saued where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare Verse â—8 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them to chaines of darknes to be reserued vnto Iudgement c. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce with trembling Psal. 2. 11 Kisse the Sonne least he be angry c. Verse 12. Thou euen thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angrie Psal. 76. 7. Then the earth shooke and trembled the foundations also of the hills moued and were shaken because hee was wrath Psal. 18 7. The Lyon hath roared who will not feare Amos 3. 8. It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Hebr. 10. 31. I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the Earth and Heauen fled away and there was found no place for them Reuel 20. 11. And they said to the Mountaines and Rocks fall on vs and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe Reuel 6. 16. Dust thou art Gen. 3. 19. Behold I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. VVhat is man that thou art mindfull of him and the Sonne of man that thou visitest him Psal. 8. 4.
drinkes neither in feasting or fasting and Tertullian's censure is obseruable Hee that worshippeth God by meates or placeth worship in them is not farre off from making his belly his god yet it may bee truly called not only a good work but also a religious i. e. a worke commanded by religion and tending to religion as a preparation and helpe thereunto 〈…〉 to two 1 The Spirituall or metaphoricall fast of the soule which is the abstinence from the forbidden fruit of sin and this Fast although it may truly be so termed in regard of the restraint of our carnall appetites which as greedily desire sinfull objects as our stomake doth meate yet it is indeed a Feast as Salomon calleth it A good conscience is a continuall Feast 2 Corporall when wee abstaine from bodily sustenance and this is also 2 fold 1 Constrained and inuoluntary when Either we want meate to our stomake as in famine Or stomake to our meat as in sicknesse 2 Voluntary vndertaken deliberately when we abstaine from meate though wee could and might eate and this is 3 fold 1 Medicinall when wee forbeare either certaine meates or all meate for a while for the preuenting of sicknesse or recouering health 2 Ciuill when some kinde of meate is forborne for the profit of the Common-wealth 3 Religious when our abstinence is for the mortifying of our flesh and fitting and preparing vs to religious duties This also is either 1 Priuate in which euery man's conscience guided by Scripture and discretion must bee his law 2 Publike for which there must be a command from lawfull authority These publike fasts are either 1 Extraordinary as in time of warre plague or the like 2 Ordinary as the holiday Eues Embers anâ— Lent Fasts Place this first and second Table of Fasting in M btween fol. 260 and 261. Of the Lent Fast. THe Lent Fast is a mixed constitution partly ciuill appointed by the King or State to preserue young cattell spend fish and encourage fishermen partly Ecclesiasticall ordered by the Church for religious ends As those that haue a care of their bodily health vsualy purge in the Spring so the Church of God hath thought fit to prescribe this physick of fasting for the soule in the same season of the yeere for these ends especially 1. To beate downe the flesh at that season when by reason of the heate of the blood it vsually waxeth most wanton The ancient Romans vsed to hallow a spring to God and the Primitiue Church disdaining to bee outstripped by the heathen in any thing that sauored of Deuotion likewise consecrated the spring to the more strickt Seruice of God by fasting and prayer then at other times 2. To conforme the members to the Head In this season of the yeere our Lord's Agony and bitter Passion were endured and are remembred and therefore most fit it is that by fasting watching and teares wee expresse true remorse and sorrow for those our sinnes which were the causes of those his sufferings Godfrey of Bulloigne after he had conquered the holy land and regained it from the Saracens yet would neuer bee crowned there saying That it was not fit that the seruant should were a crowne of gold there where the Lord and Master ware a crowne of thornes Neither would Christ's dearest Spowse at that time of the yeere crowne her selfe with rose-budds in which Christ ware that crowne of thornes nor lye in beddes of downe when hee lay on the hard bed of his Crosse nor fare deliciously or drinke liberally when hee had nothing but gall giuen him to eate and viniger to drinke 3 To prepare vs to the celebration of the Feast of Easter and the participation of the Blessed Sacrament VVhat time fitter to call our selues to an accompt for the whole yeere then at or before the time which the Church hath appointed is in it selfe most proper for the most generall and solemne communion of the Lords Bodie and Bloud 4 To celebrate and as farre as wee are able to imitate our Lord 's fast of fortie dayes at least by some kind of abstinence during that whole time to imprint that miraculous fast of our Sauiour for vs deeper in our memories Question Doth the Church of England keepe the Lent fast as religious or a meere ciuill constitution Answere Not as a meere ciuill but also a religious sanction for as it appeareth in the booke of Common Prayer speciall Collects Epistles and Gospells with a Commination are appointed for diuers dayes in Lent Obiection Is it not Popery to keepe strictly the Lent fast as a religious institution An. It is not for First The religious obseruation of Lent is far more ancient then popery There are such euident prints and footsteps of it in the Authenticall Records of the Primitiue Church that he is altogether ignorant in the writings of the Fathers or blinde that seeth them not Secondly we keepe not Lent as the Papists doe but as the antient Christians did before Popery was hatched As in other things so in this we purge away the drosse wee retaine the gold wee remoue the abuse wee preserue the vse 1. Wee place not Religion or the substance of Gods worship in abstaining from any kinde of meate 2. We renounce all merit by fasting 3. Wee abstaine not from flesh as being any way conceiued by vs to bee more vnholy then fish 4. We doe not equalize humane constitutions Ecclesiastical or Ciuill to Diuine Lawes The one we teach directly and immediately to binde the conscience the other but indirectly iâ—mediately 5. We keepe it not by vertue of any papal constitution but in conformity to the ancient Church and obedience to his Maiesties Ecclesiasticall Lawes THE LENT' 's DEVOTION beginning on Ashwednesday â‚ The ground or at least the occasion of this Fast. In the Old Testament TYPES In the New an example in our LORD'S Fast. The Type Moses was with the LORD fortie dayes and fortie nights he did neither eate bread nor drinke water Exod. 34. 28. Hee went in the strength of that meate fortie dayes and fortie nights till hee came to Horeb the Mount of God 1. Kings 19. 8. Example Then Iesus c. Mat. 4. 1. And when he had fasted fortie dayes and fortie nights afterward he was an hungry ver 2. Being 40 daies tempted of the diuell and in those daies he did eat nothing Luke 4. 2. And the diuell tooke him vp into an high mountaine ver 5. IVdicious Caluin Videlius other excellent learned Doctors of the reformed church teach that this Fast of Christ was miraculous so no patterne for our imitation and they put Saint Chrisostome vpon it also whose words are Christ said Learne of mee not that I fast although hee could haue sayd so for he fasted forty dayes yet he saith not that but Learne of mee that I am meeke and lowly in heart The solution is not difficult for Christ's Fast may be considered two waies First
as a miraculous demonstration of his Diuinity or an euidence that hee was the true Messias because hee accomplished the Types foregoing in Moses and Eliah and in this regard it is to bee admired of vs but no way to be imitated And in this sence Caluin Videlius's words mayâ—passe and Saint Chrisostome must bee taken vnlesse thy will haue him contradict himselfe Secondly as a morall remedy against tentation or rather a spirituall Armour which Christ tooke vpon him when he was to buckle with the Diuell and thus wee may and ought to imitate Christ's Fast in the kinde though not in the degree As we cannot fast as Christ fasted so neither can we pray as Christ prayed whole nights and with strong cries and a bloody sweat yet no Christians euer doubted but that we may and must follow Christ in all religious exercises though not with euen paces yet as wee are able And because they appeale to S. Chrysostome let him be the Vmpire Our Lord Iesus Christ wheÌ„ he entred into the lists with Sathan fasted forty days giuing vs an example how wee ought to arme our selues against the Diuel Certainely if the Learned Bishops afterwards Martyrs that penned our Booke of Common Prayers had thought Christ's Fast of forty dayes no way to belong to our Fast they would neuer haue appointed the Story of Christ's Fast for the Gospell the first Sunday in Lent nor touched vpon it in the Collects For thine instruction meditate on Christ's Fast. For thy comfort apply the benefit of it to thy soule For thy correction condemne thy luxury and consider what great cause thou hast to humble thy soule with fasting Quicken Thy repentance by the Psalme Thy fasting by the exhortation Thy Deuotion by the prayer ensuing The Psalme for Ash-wednesday PVt mee not to rebuke ô Lord in thine anger neither chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure Psal 38. 1. For thine arrowes stick fast in mee and thy hand presseth me sore verse 2. There is no life in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne verse 3. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head they are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare verse 4. Lord thou knowest all my desires and my groaning is not hid from thee verse 9. Heare my Prayer ô Lord consider my desire ô hearken vnto mee for thy Truth and righteousnesse sake Psal. 43. 1. And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified verse 2. My spirit is vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate verse 4. I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land verse 6. Lord be mercifull vnto me heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee Psal. 41. 9. O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke vpon me ô Lord for thy goodnesse Psal. 21. 6. I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drinke with weeping Psal. 102. 9. And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast me downe verse 10. My dayes are gone like a shadow and I am withered like grasse verse 11. When thou with rebuke doest chasten man for sinne thou makest his beauty to consume away like as it were a moth fretting a garment euery man therefore is but vanity Psal. 39 12. What man is he that liueth shall not see death and shal deliuer his soule from the hand of the graue Psal. 89. 47. When the breath of man goeth forth he shall turne againe to his earth and then all his thoughts perish Psal. 146. 3. What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to the pit Psal. 30. 9. Shall the dust giue thanks to thee Or shall it declare thy Truth verse 10. Heare Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lord be thou my help verse 11. Here my Prayer ô Lord and let thine eares consider my colling hold not thy peace at my teares Psal. 39. 13. For I am a stranger vpon earth and a soiourner as all my Fathers were verse 14. O spare me a little that I may recouer my strength before I go hence and bee no more seene verse 15. AN ADMONITION FOR ASH-WEDNESDAY OR Exhortation to Fasting THE ANALSYS A deuout Christian ought to Fast because 1 God commandeth it 2 Christ commendeth it by Precept Example 3 The Saints practised it Vnder the Law Vnder the Gospell 4 It expelleth the Diuell 5 It quickens Prayer 6 It humbleth the Spirit 7 It tameth the flesh 8 It auerteth God's Iudgements 9 It obtaineth blessings Temporall Spirituall THE TEXTS BLow the Trumpet in Zion sanctifie a Fast call a solemne Assemblie Ioh. 2. 16. Is this the Fast which the Lord requireth c. Isa. 58. 5. The Bridegroome shall be taken away and then they shall Fast. Mat. 9. 15. When yee Fast bee not as the hypocrites c. Mat. 6. 16. Giue your selues to Fasting 1 Cor. 7. 5. And when he had fasted forty dayes and forty nights afterward he was an hungry Mat. 5. 2. Moses fasted Exod. 34 28. Fliah Fasted 1 King 19. 8. I ate no pleasant bread neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth Dan. 10. 3. Hanna serued God with Fasting and Prayer Luk. 2. 37. About this howre I Fasted Acts 10. 30. As they Ministred to the Lord and Fasted Acts 13. 2. Then Fasted they and Prayed verse 3. In Fasting often 2 Cor. 11. 27. And Prayed and Fasted Acts 14. 23. This kinde of Diuell goeth not out but by Fasting and Prayer Mat. 17. 21. I humbled my soule with Fasting Psal. 35. 13. I beate downe my body 1 Cor. 9. 27. And hee proclaimed through Nineueh Let neither man nor beast taste any thing neither feede nor drinke water Ionah 3. 7. And God saw their workes and God repented him of the euill which hee said he would doe vnto them and hee did it not verse 10. Go and assemble all the Iewes that are found in Shushan and Fast ye for me and eate not nor drinke in three dayes I also and my Maides will Fast likewise Ester 4. 16. And the Posts went forth with speede to exe cute the Kings decrees Ester 8. 14. Mordecay went out in a crowne of gold and to the Iewes was come Ioy and gladnesse verse 15. I Fasted Acts 10. 30. Peter sayd Of a trueth I see c. ver 34. The holy Ghost fell on them verse 4. 4. A Prayer for Ash-wednesday O Let not my Lord be angry that I who am but dust and ashes dare speake vnto him for my sinnes cry for vengeance and shall I be silent for pardon Gracious God either silence them or heare mee If thou wilt not heare the voice of my words heare the voice of my teares if thou wilt not heare them heare the voice of thy sons blood which
the day following gauest thy selfe for mee on the Crosse giue me a speciall saith to receiue thee and retaine thee and applie continually thy feare to embolden me thine Agonie to comfort me thy nakednesse to cloathe me thy cōdemning to quit me thy bloud to clense me thy wounds to heale me and thy death to quicken me O let not the worke of thy hands bee plucked out of thy hands Let not the purchase of thy bloud be morgaged to the diuell Let not thy teares and bloud bee shed in vaine Let not thy sighes and groanes be breathed out to no purpose Let not thine agonie and sweate let not thy taking and binding let not thy arraigning and condemning let not thy stripping and scourging let not thy buffetting and being spit vpon let not thy pricking and goaring let not thy crucifying dying want their effects in me What should I not do or suffer for thee who wert martired in all parts of thy body and faculties of thy soule for me In thy minde by apprehension of thy Fathers wrath in thy affections by feare and sorrow euen vnto death in thy inward parts by thine agonie in thy outward by thy torments in thy head by thornes in thy cheekes by buffets in thy face by spettle in thy eares by blasphemies in thy smell by the stench of Golgotha in thy taste by gall and vineger in thy handes and feete by nailes in thy bodie by stripes in thy side by the launce and in thy ioynts by the crosse O Lord who hast called me to the knowledge of thy truth and by thy Spirit imprinted thy loue in my heart by those nailes which fastened thee to the Crosse. Let nothing euer be able to separate me from thy loue not tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor life nor death for I know that all things worke for the best to them that loue thee I cannot suffer the thousandth part of that for thee which thou hast suffered for mee I cannot suffer the least part of that which I deserue for my sins I cannot suffer any thing which the Apostles and Prophets haue not suffered before me I cannot suffer so much as may any way counter-ballance the massie crowne of glory prepared for me for my light and momentarie afflictions are no way worthy the glorie that shall be reuealed vpon me hereafter And for the present what are afflictions or crosses or persecutions or mockes or disgraces but the common lot of thy children the discipline of thy schoole the physicke for my soule the pledge of thy loue the badge for my profession the incentiues of my deuotion the triall of my faith the exercise of my patience the testimonie of my constancie the marke of my conformitie with thee When I am thus chastened I am iudged of thee that I be not condemned of the world Shall tribulation therefore or anguish or bands or imprisonment or stripes or banishment separate me from thy loue Nay sith I know they befall me by thy prouidence and are mitigated by thy mercie and directed by thy loue for my greater good they shall rather vnite me faster to thee How shall I denie thee who art the Lord that bought me◠How should I grieue thy Spirit which comforteth me in all my griefes How should I set that bloud at nought which was the price of my redemption How shold I euer willingly offend thee who art my peace hast reconciled me to thy Father and payed my ransome with thy dearest hearts bloud How can I euer forget thee who remembrest me at all times in all places in my iournies by thy conduct at home by thy safe-guard in my prayers by thy assistance in my afflictions by thy comforts in my board by thy bountie in my bed by thy protection and in all my wayes by thy support To this thy gracious prouidence and care which continually watcheth ouer all thine Elect I commend my sleepe and rest this night beseeching thee so to order it and me that whether I sleepe or wake whether I labour or rest whether I lye downe or rise vp all may be done vnder thy protection in thy feare to thy glorie So be it Amen The close out of Scripture TO him that is able to keepe me that I fall not and to present me faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy Iud 24. That is to God onely wise my Sauiour be glorie and maiestie and dominion and power c. ver 24. The Deuotion for Friday The Father worketh The work of creation on this day MOreouer God sayd Let the earth bring forth the liuing thing according to his kind cattell and that which creepeth and the beast of the earth according to his kind and it was so Gen. 1. 24. And God made the beast of the earth according to his kind and the cattel according to his kind and euery creeping thing of the earth according to his kind and God saw that it was good ver 25. Furthermore God sayd Let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenes and let him rule ouer the fish of the Sea and ouer the Fowle of the Heauen and ouer the beasts and ouer all the earth and ouer euery thing that crcepeth moueth on the earth ver 26. Thus God created the man in his Image In the Image of God created hee him hee created them male and female ver 27. And God blessed them and God sayd to them Bring forth fruit and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule ouer the fish of the Sea and ouer the fowle of the heauen and ouer euery beast that moueth vpon the earth ver 28. And God sayd Behold I haue giuen to you euery herbe bearing seede which is vpon all the earth and euery tree wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed that shall be to you for meate ver 29. Likewise to euery beast of the earth and to euery sowle of the heauen and euery thing that moueth vpon the earth which hath life in it selfe euery greene herbe shall be for meat and it was so ver 30. And God saw all that he had made and loe it was very good So the Euening the Morning were the sixt day ver 31. AND I WORKE The worke of Redemption on this day Matth. 27. the whole Chap. as also Luke 23. Mar. 15. Ioh. 19. When he was reuiled he reuiled not againe when he suffered hee threatned not but committed himselfe to him that iudgeth righteously Who his owne selfe bore our sinnes in his owne body on the tree ver 24. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning on the worke of thy Creation In the Euening on the work of thy Redemption wrought on this day For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit of both For thy correction check thy selfe for thy Defacing Gods Image stamped in thee at thy Creation Trampling vnder foote Christ's blood the price of
restâ—red me to my former blisse Nay I haue gained by my losses and am raised higher by my fall through thy infinite mercie which hath not onely ransomed me from death but purchased me an eternall inheritance and crowne of life in thiâ—e heauenly kingdome Sith thou hast done so great things for me whereat I reioyce sith thou hast prepared such things for me as neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to conceiue what manner of man ought I to be in all holy conuersation How cleare ought those eyes to be which shall see God How cleane those eares which shall heare words that cannot be vttered How pure that heart which shall be filled with those ioyes whiâ—h neuer entred into the heart of man Thou ô Father which hast created me art the holy one of Israel Thou ô Sonne who redeemedst me art the Holy one of God Thou ô Spirit which sanctifiest me art the holy Ghost Thou ô Father hast created me according to thine Image in holinesse and righteousnes thou ô Sonne hast redeemed me to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life thou ô Spirit hast freed me from sinne and made me seruant to God that I might haue my fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life Our vocation is a holy calling our societies a holy communion our stile a holy Priesthood our assemblies holy congregations our CouÌ„trie the holy land of Promise our Citie the holy Ierusalem our Charter the holy Scriptures our immunities holy priuiledges our seales which confirme them holy Sacraments All our happinesse here is holinesse and holinesse hereafter shall bee our happinesse Lord make mee therefore to be so happy heere as to be holy and so holy here that I may be hereafter happy Amen The close out of Scripture The God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant Heb. 2. 20. Make mee perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in mee that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ. ver 21. The Hymne for Friday Euening Wherein the deuout soule Prayseth God for her Creation Redemption Prayeth for Preseruation Glorification THE TEXTS THy hands haue made me and fashioned me ô giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy Commandements Psal. 119. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed mee thou God of Truth O let mee heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew thou me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal. 41. 8. Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing Spirit leade me into the land of righteousnesse verse 10. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lipps Psal. 41. O let not mine heart bee inclined to any wicked thing let me not be occupied in vngodly workes with the men that work wickednesse verse 4. O Lord thou hast searched me out and knowne mee thou knowest my downe-sitting and mine vp-rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts long beforâ— Psal. 139. 1 2. For loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou ô Lord knowest it altogether verse 3. Thou hast fashioned mee behinde and before and layed thine hand vpon me verse 4. Such knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent for me I cannot attaine vnto it verse 5. I will giue thanks vnto thee for I am fearefully and wonderfully made meruailous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well verse 13. My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth verse 14. Thine eyes did see me when I was without forme for in thy booke were all things written which in continuance were fashioned when there was none of them before verse 15. O how deare are thy counsels to me 〈◊〉 God O how great is the summe of them verse 16. If I tell them they are more in number then the sands of the sea when I awake vp I am present with thee verse 17. Lord guide me with thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory Keepe mee as the Apple of thine eye hide mee vnder the shadow of thy wings Psal. 17. 8. I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it ver 16. The Admonition for Friday Euening being an Exhortation to Faith in CHRIST The principall inducements to stirre vs vp to faith in Christ are the 1 Necessity of this vertue in respect of 1 The Commandement of God in generall to which faith is requisite 2 All other duties in Speciall Praying Hearing Communicating 2 The excellencie of it for it is Pretious Holy The faith of the Elect. 3 The certainty of it for it is grounded on God The Father his VVord Oath The Sonne his Promises Prayer The Spirit his Earnest Seale 4 Efficacie 1 Extraordinary as working miracles 2 Ordinary as Victorie ouer the VVorld Diuell Iustification Saluation THE TEXTS YE beleeue in God beleeue also in me Ioh. 14. 1. This is the worke of God that ye beleeue on him whom he hath sent Ioh. 6. 29. Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and all thine house Act. 16. 31. This is his commandement that we should beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ 1. Ioh. 3. 23. Earnestly contend for the saith Iud. 13. Repent ye and beleeue the Gospel Mar. 1. 15. Follow righteousnesse faith charitie peace c. 2. Tim. 2. 22. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14. 23. How shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued Rom. 10. 14. He that prayeth let him pray in faith nothing doubting Iam. 1. 6. All things whatsoeuer ye aske for in prayer beleiuing ye shall receiue Mat. 21. 21. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Eph. 3. 17. I am the Bread of life whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him ver 56. He that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life ver 47. I am the Bread of life ver 48. To them that haue receiued like pretious faith with vs grace and peace be multiplied 2. Pet. 1. â— But ye beloued building your selues in your most holy faith pray to the holy Ghost Iud 20. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ according to the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. As many as were ordained to saluation beleeued Act. 13. 48. This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him Mat. 3. vlt. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer
Abraham of the most high God possessor of heauen and earth Gen. 14. 19 And blessed be the most high God who hath deliuered thine enemies into thy hand ver 20. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant For with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Gen. 32. 10. And when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he looked vpon their afflictions they bowed their heads and worshipped Exod. 4. 31. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song vnto the Lord saying I will sing vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse the rider hath he throwne in the Sea Exo. 15. 1. Then sang Debora and Barak c. Iud 5. 12. sequ And Anna prayed vnto the Lord and said My heart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord 1. Sam. 21. sequ vsq â—d 11. And Dauid spake vnto the Lord the words of this Song in the dayes that the Lord had deliuered him out of the hand of all his enimies c. 2. Sam. 22. 1. sequ See Psal. 8. 9. 18. 21. 27. 30. 34. 45. 46. 47. 48. 65. 66. 68. 75. 77. 81. 85. 89. 92. 95. 96. 98. 99. 100. 103. 104. 105. 107. 108. 111. 113. 115. 117. 118. 124. 134. 135. 136. 138. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. Blessed be the Lord God that hath giuen rest vnto his people Israel according to all that he had promised and hath not failed one word of all his good promises which he promised by the hand of Moses his seruant 1. Kin 8. 5. Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers who hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart Ezr. 7. 27. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy Name for thou hast done wonderfull things thy counsels of old are faithfulnesse and truth Isay 25. 5. The writing of Ezekiah king of Iuda when he had beene sick and was recouered of his sickenesse I said c. Isa. 38. 9. 10. vsq ad 21. Then was the secret reuealed vnto Daniel in a night vision then Daniel blessed the God of heauen Dan. 2. 19. Blessed be the Name of God for euer and euer for wisedome and might are his verse 20. I thanke thee and praise thee ô thou God of my fathers who hast giuen me wisedome and might and hast made knowne vnto me what we haue desired of thee v. 23. I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voice of thanksgiuing I will pay that I haue vowed Saluation is of the Lord Ionah 2. 9. MARIE said My soule doth magnifie the Lord c. Luke 1. 46. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel c. v. 68. And the shepheards returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seene Luke 2. 20. And immediately he rose vp and departed to his owne house glorifying God Luke 5. 25. And there came feare on all and they glorified God saying A great Prophet is risen among vs and God hath visited his people Luke 7 16. When he had laid hands on her immediatly she was made straight and glorified God Luke 13. 13. And one of them when he saw that he was â—ealed turned backe and with a loude voyce glorified God Luke 17. 15. And immediatly hee receiued his sight and followed him glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gaue praise vnto God Luke 18 45. And he leaping vp stood and walked and entred with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God Acts 3. 8. Paul when he saw the brethren thanked God and tooke courage Act. 18. 15. I thanke God alwayes c. Rom. 7. 21. See 1. Cor. 14. 14. 10. 30. 14. 18. 15. 57. 2. Cor. 9. 15. Eph. 1. 16. Phil 1. 3. Col. 1. 12. 1. Thess. 1. 2. 2. 13. 2. Tim. 1. 3. Phil. 4. To him be glorie and dominion for euer 1. Peter 5. 11. To the onely wise God our Sauiour be glorie and maiesty dominion and power now and for euer Iud 25. To him that hath loued vs c. be glorie and dominion for euer and euer Reuel 1. 5. 6. Offer vnto God thanksgiuing and pay thy vowes to the most High Psal. 50. 14. Turne to the Lord say vnto him Take away all iniquity and receiue vs graciously so we will render the calues of our lips Hos. 14. 2. Let no vncleanenesse c. be once named amongst you neither iesting which is not conuenient but rather giuing of thanks Eph. 5. 3 4. In euery thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiuing let your requests be made knowne vnto God Phil. 4. 6. Giuing thanks to the Father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. Being rooted and built vp in him and established in the faith as ye haue bin taught abounding therein with thanksgiuing Col. 2. 7. Whatsoeuer ye do in word or deede doe all in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing thankes to God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thankesgiuing Col. 4. 2. In euery thing giue thankes for this is the wil of God in Christ Iesus concerning you 1 Thes. 5. 18. Wee are bound to thanke God for you alwaies brethren 2 Thes. 1. 3. 2. 13. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes bee made for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. Commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to bee receiued with thanksgiuing 1 Timothie 4. 3. By him therefore let vs offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lipps giuing thankes to his Name See more at the end of the preparatory Admonition to Prayer A PSALME OF THANKSGIuing for recouerie I Will magnifie thee ô Lord for thou hast set mee vp and not made my spirituall foes to triumph ouer me Psal. 30. 1. O Lord my God I cryed vnto thee and thou heardest me v. 2. Thou Lord hast brought my soule out of hell thou hast kept my life from them that go downe into the pit v. 3. Sing praises vnto the Lord ô ye Saints and giue thankes vnto him for a remembrance of his holinesse v. 4. For his wrath endureth but for the twinkling of an eye and in his pleasure is life heauines may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning v. 5. O what great troubles and aduersities hast thou shewed me Psal. 71. 18. Yet diddest thou turne and refresh me and broughtest me from the deepe of the earth againe Thou hast turned my heauinesse into ioy thou hast put off sackloth and girded me with gladnesse Psal. 30. 11. Praise
thee FINIS Errata PAge 3. in marg germinatus reade germinans p. 9. l 8 r. his priuate prayer l. 9. dele alone p. 19. in marg patrij r. patrui p. 24 in marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 58. l. 22. pure and plaine heart r. pure hearts and hands p. 63. l. 9. bare r. priuate p 64. l. 13. Saturday r Sabbath eue p 68. l. 5. ioyned r. inioyned p. 97 l. 5 one r. oure p. 100. l. 6. roome r. man p. 109 l 1. knife r. thrift l 11. approued r. approueth p 120 l 9. fit r sill l. 15. faith r. face p. 150. l. 19 dele my p. 151. l. 16. insert the close out of Scripture p. 163 l 27 these r. the p. 167. l. 11. adde Gen. 3. 15. p. 185. l. 2. d Ier. 44. p. 194 l. 16. d. for p. 195. l. 14. heart r. head p. 235. l. ◠Ioh. 15. 10. r. Ioh 16. 28. p. 265. l. 27. immediately r. mediately p. 281. l. 18. thou wert r. thou who wert p. 299. in marg strength r out of his side p. 320. in mar which God r. of God p. 328. l. 1. his r thy p 331. l 22. dele made p. 361. l. 15. Mat. 1 12 r. Mat. 11. 1 p 365. deaded r dead p. 371 l 22 to r. for p. 380. in marg in r. an p. 388. l. 6. the r as the p 435. l. 23. eating 1. eaten p. 439. l. 2. for r. of p. 443 l 10. adde 1 Pet. 2. 23. p. 446. l 21. adde in marg the Spirit p. 449. l. 13. adde in marg happinesse p. 453 the prayers are false quoted p. 458. l. 17. things r. my members p. 460. l. 5. dele to which faith is requisite p. 465. in marg pray r. prayer p 477. l. 24. them r therein p 481. l. 20. in marg dele peace p. 4. 82. in marg dele heere p. 488 l 26 dele and p. 490. l. 12. from r. to p. 524. l. 21. were yea and amen r. were not yea and nay p 518. l. 3. affection r. affliction p 523. compasse r. compose p. 530. l. 13. dele and. p. 531. l. 8. dele so p. 532. l. 9 the r thy THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION THE SECOND PART Deliuering the summe of SAVING KNOVVLEDGE in 52 Sections answerable to the number of the Sundayes throughout the Yeere IOH. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. AVGVST Confess Quid prodest in caeteris disciplinis peritum esse fine doctrinâ piëtatis periturum LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Boorne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Rojall Exchange 1625. A Table representing the generall Method of this Part. Blessednes is obtained by true Religion reueiled by God in holy SCRIPTVRES which instruct vs in the 1. Knowledge of 1 God his Nature Attributes Works of CREATION Prouidence generall speciall 2 CHRIST his Person Estates Offices of King Priest Prophet 2. Worship of GOD in CHRIST Immediate vvhich consisteth in performing all holy duties commanded in the first Table Mediate which consisteth in performing all duties to our neighbours and our selues commanded in the second Table which are of a sorts 1 Generall and common duties of all Christians one to another 2 Special proper to men in certaine Estates Callings A Table of the particular Contents OF Catechisme the parts and proper ends thereof Sect. 1. Of blessednesse and the meanes of obtaining it Sect. 2. Of Religion and the parts thereof Sect. 3. Of the nature of God Sect. 4. Of the principall attributes of God Sect. 5. Of the workes of God in generall Sect. 6. Of Gods decrees Sect. 7. Of the Creation Sect. 8. Of Gods generall prouidence Sect. 9. Of the Predestination of Angels Sect. 10. Of the Predestination of men Sect. 11. Of Christ his person Sect. 12. Of Christ his estate of humiliation Sect. 13. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Sect. 14. Of Christ his Propheticall function Sect. 15. Of Christ his Priestly function Sect. 16. Of Christ his Kingly function Sect. 17. Of the Church and the parts thereof Sect. 18. Of the notes of the true Church Sect. 19. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith in particular Sect. 20. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 21. Of reuerence obedience and patience and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 22. Of loue feare repentance gratitude and zeale and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 23. Of hope confidence and magnanimity and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 24. Of the outward worship of God in generall Sect. 25. Of keeping the Sabboth Sect. 26. Of hearing the Word Sect. 27. Of Prayer and the parts thereof Sect. 28. Of receiuing the Sacrament and necessary preparation thereunto Sect. 29. Of oathes vowes and profession of our faith Sect. 30. Of the Christian duties wee owe to our selues Sect. 31. Of the common duties were owe to our neighbours Sect. 32. Of the speciall workes of humilitie Sect. 33. Of the speciall workes of meeknesse Sect. 34. Of the speciall workes of friendship Sect. 35. Of the speciall workes of Christian zeale Sect. 36. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours Sect. 37. Of the duties of inferiours towards their Superiours Sect. 38. Of the duties of equalls Sect. 39. Of the Christian duties of Kings towards their Subiects Sect. 40. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King Sect. 41. Of the duties of Christian parents Sect. 42. Of the speciall duties of children Sect. 43. Of the speciall duties of Masters Sect. 44. Of the speciall duties of Seruants Sect. 45. Of the duties of married folke Sect. 46. Of the duties of the Husband Sect. 47. Of the duties of the wife Sect. 48 Of the duties of Pastours Sect. 49 Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastour Sect. 50. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of their personall callings Sect. 51. Of the speciall antidotes or preseruatiues against sinne Sect. 52. THE PRAYER BEFORE THE Catechisme GRacious Father who hast prouided the sincere milke of the Word for New borne babes in Christ as thou hast strong meate for them that are of riper yéers and iudgement and hast commended to the dispensers of thy holy mysteries as well the care of feeding thy tender Lambes as thy well growne and stronger sheepe Guide me by thy holy spirit that I may guide them in the paths of righteousnesse and leade them to the waters of comfort flowing from the fountaine of thy most pure and holy Word Season their tender yéeres with true Religion and powre into these new vessels the new wine of thy Gospell that they sauour not of the caske of the olde Man Open their hearts as thou openedst the heart of Lydia that they may attend to those things that concerne their eternall saluation Sit thou in the middest of vs here assembled as thou satest