and spirituall obseruation of the Sabbath wherevnto as one maine branch of piety in those times put for the whole the Iewes were inuited by promise of rich reward from God ISAI 58. 13 If thou turne away thy foot froÌ„ the Sabbath that is as the words following shew from prophaning it whereto by corrupt nature all are carried from doing thy will on my holy day and shalt call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honorable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor seeking thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words 14 Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride vpon the high places of the earth and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Some haue sought to antiquate and quite abolish now vnder the Gospell the authority of the fourth Commaundement as the Papists in their Catechismes expunge the second And Athiests and Blasphemers would as gladly haue the first and third â—azed out But both the deuotion and doctrine of our Church still directing vs to our ten Comandements * The same which God spake in Exod. 20. As see â—n our Church Catechisme and booke of Common Prayer viz in the Communion ministration of Baptisme and in particular to this * In the Homily of the time and place of Prayer sober minded Christians ought and will haue a due respect therâ—unto and as we celebrate in steede of the passeouer the Eucharist as the new Sâ—crament of the Gospell called for distinction from the former by St. Paul the a 1 Cor. 11.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lords Supper So likewise to obserue in place of the Sabbath this first day of the weeke as our Christian Sabbath and sanctified day of rest for holy worship called for like distinction by Saint Iohn b Reu. 1.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords day In which as that blessed Apostle then in banishment was rauished in the spirit and saw heauenly visions and reuelations So should we also labour who haue receiued the spirit to be in what we may that day wholy spirituall and heauenly minded so withdrawing our mindes and hearts as farre as wee are able except in cases of more vrgent necessities from all distracting whatsoeuer businesses or delights as that wee deuote our selues and be wholy taken vp in publique more priuate seruices of Gods holy worship Psa 92.1 2 heauâ—nly contemplations and workes of Christian charity as in an holy festiuall of reioycing before the Lord. Of which particulars so much hauing been written In the Homily fore-alledged of the time place of prayer and in the Practise of Pietie c. Exod. 20.8 Nehe. 13.22 I spare to adde more but onely exhort that without either superstition or prophanenesse wee so remember before hand to prepare for it euer when it commeth as God would haue vs to keepe it holy that God may remember vs in mercy and we receiue the blessing And thus also briefely for the obseruation of the Lords day the more solemne Christian Sabbath or day of holy rest T. NExt for direction touching Charitie that common and perpetuall Debt of Christians Rom. 13 8 1 Pet. 1 22. Rom. 12.10 owed generally to all but with tender and brotherly affection to true Beleeuers professing and giuing proofe of their precious Faith and walking in Truth which St. Paul termeth the More excellent way 1 Cor. 12.31 Col. 31 4 Rom. 13.10 Ephes 4.4 Ioh. 13.34 Vers 35. the Bond of perfectnesse and fulfilling of the Law tying vs thereto by so many bondes which our Sauiour himself stileth his New Commandement maketh knowne as the chiefe cognizance of his Disciples take notice of the fifteene properties hereof set downe 1 COR. 13. 4 CHARITIE or Loue suffereth long and is kinde or bountifull Charity enuieth not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 charitie vaunteth not it selte or is not thwarting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or doing frowardly it is not puffed vp 5 It doth not behaue it selfe vnseemely it seeketh not her owne things it is not easily prouoked it thinketh none euill 6 It reioyceth not in iniquity but reioyceth in the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7 It beareth or couereth all things it beleeueth all things it hopeth all things it endureth all things By which properties the meaning well apprehended shall we try our hearts and liues as we may doe also in the mutuall good offices of the bodily members 1 Cor. 12.26 it may bee feared we shall finde in vs much want of Charity which since it argueth by Saint Johns rule weakenesse 1 Ioh 4.20 at least in our loue to God wee had the more neede to pray that God who is Charity it selfe Ver. 16. would by his spirit of loue bestow vpon vs and more and more heate and enflame in vs this quickning and working Grace V. FVrther yet the exercise and excellency of this grace of Charitie being most obseruable in Christians carriage about their speciall Callings rules in Scripture are not wanting shall men consult with these Counsellers to guide Christians in such personall duties according to that generall charge Psal 119.24 as the maine and speciall foundation laid by grace of good order in humane societie 1 COR. 7.20 24. Let euery man in the same vocation wherein hee is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therein abide with God that is doing duties to men therein out of Conscience towards God More speciall directions of which kind applyed to those Domesticall subordinations wherein Families are established Ephes 5.21 that Each may submit to other in the feare of God according to his will we shall find 1 Of Husbands and Wiues the summe whereof comprised Coloss 3.18.19 And more vnfolded Ephes 5. and 1 Peter 3. consisting of feruent and faithfull loue in the Husband and due subiection and reuerence in the Wife is vsefully read by order of our Church in Marriage Solemnities to make both parties and their Neighbours also more mindefull of their duties 2 Of Parents and Children the summe whereof grounded on the fifth Commandement being in Children Honour and thankefull Obedience to their Parents In Parents wise and due care for nurture and education of their Children and euery way towards them Loue and tender kindnesse is by the same Apostle also both in Coloss 3.20 21 briefely touched and Ephes 6.1 2 3 4. more fully opened and by the Legall Promise annexed to the Praecept powerfully perswaded 3 Of Masters and Seruants the summe of the Masters duty which is to doe that which is iust and equal to their Seruants Knowing that they also haue a Master in heauen that regardeth euery mans carriage and respecteth no mans person being deliuered Ephes 6.9 and Coloss 4.1 But more expressely and at large the duty of Seruants as needing in those times most to bee remembred set downe as in
c. And thankes to God for the beleeuing Thessalonians 1 Thess 2.13 For this cause also thanke wee God c. Cornelius his profession of readiness Acts 10.33 Now therefore are wee all here present before God c. And Wisdomes encouragement to attendance Prou. 8.32.34 Heare instruction and be wise and refuse it not blessed is the man that heareth me c. All seruing abundantly to stirre vp and direct vs hereabout According to which grounds there is a little Booke translated into English written by Zepperus intituled the Art of hearing Sermons which prescribeth Rules both for praecedent Praeparation present Attention and after vse for profit as doe many other Treatises so sufficiently in this behalfe that I need to adde no more but onely counsel to take care that our obedience of heart and life doe so continually follow accompany this our hearing Ioh. 13.17 Iam. 1.25 that we may be blessed in our doing and so build on the Rocke Math. 7.24 that wee may remayne vnmoueable in times of triall And this also touching Hearing R. THE commendations giuen a Gen. 5.24 Henoch and condition of the Couenant made with b Gen. 17.1 Abraham in the Old Testament and counsell for wise and euen * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precise walking with God giuen by the c Epes 5.15 Apostle in the New enforcing vpon vs a continuall wachfullnesse ouer our hearts and wayes doe necessarily bind vs to a prouident d Verse 16 Redeeming the time and therefore to an earnest seeking vnto God which wee may be guided vnto by that pithie Prayer made to that very purpose by Moses the man of God PSAL. 90.12 Teach vs O Lord so to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts to wisdome According whereunto that our Practise may be framed these short Rules may be obserued 1 For the time past euery one so to come back to his own hart saying a Ier. 8.6 What haue I done As that it may abundantly suffice vs as b 1 Pet. 4.3 Saint Peter warneth to haue mispent the time past according to the lusts of sensual men Vers 2. and resolue for the space remaining wholly to conforme our heart and wayes vnto the Will of God 2 For the time to come so wisely euery one to consider our latter ende Deu. 32.29 forecasting the vncertaine shortnesse of our life a Vapour quickly vanishing Iam 4.14 and the stricktnes of our account when euer we shall be called hence to Iudgement 1 Cor. 5.11 that we neuer sing to our soules the rich mans Requiem Luke 12.19 but rather with the Fiue wise Virgins Math. 25.4 continually nourish in our selues a watchfull expectation of the Bridgroomes comming 3 For the time present so euery one of vs with all diligence to improue our opportunities Gal. 6.10 Mat. 25.16 and employ our Talents as that we may doe the worke of him that hath called vs in that day which he giueth vs Ioh. 9.4 thereby preuenting our Sauiours teares and making proofe both to our selues and others that we are taught to know in this our day Luk. 19 41 42. those things that belong vnto our peace And now for a familiar helpe vnto this heauenly skill especially to those of younger yeares whose hearts God shall touch Eccles 12.1 to remember their Creator in the dayes of youth and to endeauour with that noble Courtier Obadiah 1. Reg. 18.3 12. by fearing God timely to feare him greatly Let me adde to aduise as a profitable course if hauing skill to write they be enabled thereunto the keeping of a Diarie or Journall a booke I meane of daily remembrance for spirituall reckonings such as are their owne failings in duty towards God needing humbling and Gods benefits whether publique or personall requiring thankes Which course though I vrge not on all as necessarie yet for them whose disposition and leasure suteth with it and who shall be prouidently carefull onely of setting down matters of secrecie with such abreuiations or characters of their owne framing as that themselues onely may be priuie to them it will be found I doubt not singularly profitable as sometimes it was to a young Noble-man of this Land The late Lord Harington testified in his Funeral Sermon made by M. R. S. and Printed anno 1614. whose example and gaine thereby may recommend it to all others for daily obseruation and right ordering of their wayes and especially for weekely preparation to Sabbath-exercises and furnishing themselues principally for priuate extraordinary humiliations Moreouer to the end that our whole time may be better bestowed and we our selues against all oppositions and impediments may be at all times better armed it shall not bee amisse to adnex for conclusion these two directions 1. For munition to see we be euer armed with the Panoplie or compleat armour of a Christian described by St. Paul Ephes 6 Eph. 6 13. in the seuerall pieces but marke no backe-piece to learne vs neuer to turne backe from our enemies such as are the girdle of truth Iam. 4.7 the breast-plate of righteousnesse the helmet of saluation the shield of faith and the rest M. Gouge M. Dounham Eph. 6.13 which hauing beene by diuers largely opened vnto vs I exhort onely with the Apostle that by feruent prayer they may bee daily buckled and girded vpon vs. 2. For meditation concerning which being the studie or serious musing of the minde and so a chiefe furtherance either to good or euill actions according to the obiects whereon it is exercised leauing the rules thereof to such as haue exactly Doctor Hall and at large discouered that Art vnto vs I will onely adde as generall heads whereon profitably to set on worke our vacant thoughts in such exercise sixe questions all found in seuerall places of Scripture in the very words wherein they are expressed viZ. 1. What is man Psa 8.4 ViZ. That hee should be so highly aduanced 2. Who am I 2. Sam. 7.18 ViZ. That I should be so greatly regarded 3. What haue I done Ierem 8.6 ViZ. For which I should be humbled 4. What shall I doe Act. 16.30 Viz That yet I may be saued 5. Whither shall I flee Psa 139.7 Viz. If sinne be committed 6. What shall I render Psa 116.12 ViZ. For benefits receiued And thus farre concerning the continuall Christian watch or eueryday-Sabbath which they certainly obserue best who are carefullest to keepe the Lords day as they should doe S. TOuching the which Lords day being to vs Christians in place of the former seauenth day or Sabbath the ordinary Sabbath or weekely day of holy rest founded on our Sauiours glorious resurrection Ioh. 20.1 Act 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 and from the Apostles practise recorded in holy Scripture commended to the Church I see not why wee may not to raise vp our selues to the highest pitch of holy deuotion therein set before our eyes that religious
through Christ Iesus our blessed Lord and alone Sauiour In whose holy Name wee continue to call on thee and recommend our selues vnto thee in that perfect prayer which himselfe did teach vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. A Grace or blessing before Meate GOod Lord forgiue vs all our sinnes that make vs vnworthy of any of thy blessings and remooue from vs all thy Iudgements which are vpon vs or due vnto vs for the same blesse and sanctifie vs euer for thy seruice and thy good creatures at this present for our vse giue them strength to nourish vs and giue vs grace for them and all thy mercies to bee thankefull to thee and to receiue them as tokens of thy loue towards vs through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thankesgiuing or Grace after meate O Lord wee giue thee humble thankes for all thy blessings bestowed vpon vs both for our soules and bodies in regard of this life present that to come and in particular for refreshing vs at this present with thy good creatures We beseech thee continue thy fauour vnto vs and keepe vs euer in thy feare Blesse thy whole Church this Land the King Queene and all the Royall Family our friends and all that are deare vnto vs. Grant thy Gospell a free and a fruitfull passage comfort all thine aflicted seruants and guide vs in the right way to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for a Family in the Euening O Lord God gracious and mercifull by whose watchfull prouidence wee thy poore and vnworthy seruants haue been this day preserued and with thy rich and vndeserued fauours many wayes comforted and blessed wee returne to render vnto thine holy Maiestie all humble and hearty thanks for these and all thy benefits and blessings out of the euer-flowing fountaine of thy loue towards vs in Iesus Christ aboundantly powred downe vpon vs. O Lord we doe confesse wee be not worthy of the least fauour nay hauing beene sinners from the wombe we deserue wrath and daily goe on to prouoke the eyes of thy Maiestie to displeasure by our manifold sinnes and sinfull corruption still vnto this day remaining in vs and oft-times euery day breaking out vpon vs to thy dishonour We acknowledge O good Lord our ignorance and much want of desire endeauour after the sauing knowledge of thy blessed will reuealed to vs in thy holy word and wee haue iust cause to bewaile the prophanenesse and stubborne pride and disobedience of our hearts which make vs daily to rebell against thy most righteous lawes both by leauing vndone the duties which thou enioynest and aduenturing vpon those euill courses which thou forbiddest yea O Lord our vile hypocrisie in our best seruices our wretched vnthankfulnesse for thy coÌ„tinuall blessings our murmuring impatience vnder thy fatherly chastisements and tryals our contempt and abuse of thy sacred Gospell our blaspheming of thy glorious and fearefull name and prophaning of thy blessed Sabbaths our selfe-love and high-mindednes our worldlinesse and wicked couetousnesse our wantonnesse voluptuousnesse and other vncleane and sinfull lusts our wrathfulnesse and maliciousnesse our vnmercifulnesse and impenitencie and hard-heartednes and earthly mindednes and a whole world of wickednesse notwithstanding all the meanes of grace vouchsafed still abounding in vs How doe they testifie against vs to our face and in thy sight that wee are most wretched and miserable sinners deseruing in thy iustice shouldst thou enter into iudgement with vs tenne thousand deaths and euen damnation in hell for euer Howbeit since we perceiue euen hereby that it is of thine owne free goodnesse and gracious mercy that we are not consumed because thy compassions faile not but are towards thine renewed euery morning and doe continue with them to the euening We are emboldned to looke vp to thee and in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ in whom alone thou art well pleased to beseech thee for his sake to forgiue vs all our sinnes to wash vs cleane in his bloud and to assure our conscience by the witnesse of thine holy Spirit of the full discharge and pardon of them all Mercifull Father wee most humbly pray thee for his sake to put them all euery one of them great and small out of thy sight and withall by thy blessed Spirit purge them more and more out of our hearts O Lord giue vs grace euery day more and more our selues to see them and the vilenesse of them and how base and filthy they make vs in thy sight and giue vs hearts to bee vnfainedly sorrie that wee haue by them offended thee our so gracious God and grieued thine holy Spirit whereby wee are sealed to the day of redemption Worke in vs an hatred and detestation of all sinnes whatsoeuer giue vs grace for the time to come to striue and labour against them those especially whervnto we are by age education complexion company or any other occasion most enclined as against the deadliest enemies of our soules Yea O Lord God graunt that for this purpose wee may carefully shunne all occasion of euill such as are idlenesse ill company prophanenesse wantonnesse and the like and may more conscionably entertaine and vse all good meanes of grace such as are the hearing reading and meditating in thy holy Word the often calling vpon thy holy name the keeping of thy holy Sabaths the receiuing of thy blessed Sacraments the ioyning our selues in familiarity and fellowship with thy faithfull children and the like that by thy blessing hereupon wee may encrease and grow together with our yeares and age in faith patience and humility in meekenesse temperance and sobriety in loue vnto thee and to thy truth and to other for thy sake in a contempt of this wretched world which will shortly leaue vs and a longing after the ioyes to bereuealed in thy Kingdome and all good fruites of thy sanctifying Spirit which may faâ—ther our reckoning and seale vp our saluation vnto the day of Christ Meane while wee continue our prayers most mercifull God for thy whole Church and all the rest of thy chosen children who are our fellow heires of future glory whersoeuer they be scattered especially all those who being in misery whether in their soules or bodies doe want thy more speciall comfort O Lord instruct them that yet are ignorant conuert those that are prophane raise vp the fallen strengthen them that stand and keepe vs that we neuer fall but that our end may bee better then our beginning and our workes better and more at the last then at the first Be gracious and good vnto all Christian Churches that professe thy Truth restore peace if it be thy blessed will in thy good time to them which are troubled and continue peace and the light of thy Gospell for euer vnto this wherein wee liue Blesse herein wee beseech thee our Gracious King and giue him an heart to feare thee and seeke thy glory to knowe thee and serue thee with a
perfect heart and a willing minde that thou mayest blesse him and his Throne for euer Blesse also our gracious Queene and giue her an vnderstanding heart to knowe the Truth and with Mary to chuse the better part that she may bee an helper also and furtherer of thy glory Blesse the rest of the Royall Familie the Counsell Ministery and Magistracy in this whole Land and all that haue place of command charge or gouerment ouer others in the Church or Common-wealth Particularly O Lord blesse we beseech thee all our Kindred and Friends and specially vs of this Family that we may liue in thy feare and bee blessed with all things necessary both for our soules and for our comfort in this present life And now as thou hast added this day vnto the dayes past of our life Lord adde our repentance wee beseech thee vnto the day and let vs rest in peace this night vnder the shaddow of thy winges that being refreshed by thy good blessing of sleepe which our beds cannot giue vs but thou O Lord who giuest thy beloued rest we may be inabled the better to serue thee in our callings the day following to thy glory for others good and our owne comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we conclude our prayers as himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A priuate Prayer framed for the most part out of the precedent Scriptures and especially the 51. Psalme O Lord God mercifull and gracious that forgiuest iniquity and yet wilt by no meanes cleare the guilty I thine vnworthy and sinfull Seruant am bold to come before thee in confidence of thy mercy but with all humble and free acknowledgement that I am greeuously guilty and that by reason of the sinne both of my nature and life For I was shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did my Mother conceiue mee And this sinne wherein I was conceiued enough of it selfe to condemne me hath bene too to fruitfull in bringing foorth both sinnes of Omission and Commission in the whole course of my life whereby it hath come to passe that I haue neither denyed vngodlinesse and worldly lustes nor liued soberly righteously and godly in this present world I haue not knowne thee my God so much as I might nor serued thee so well as I ought but haue greatly failed euen in the most principall duties not Reading thy Word so diligently not hearing it so heedfully not receiuing the Sacrament so preparedly not keeping the Sabbath so conscionably not calling vpon thy Name so often and earnestly as I should haue done much lesse haue I regarded that extraordinary seruice of Fasting and humiliation though so many weightie occasions both publique and priuate haue called vpon mee for it And when I haue at any time performed these duties it hath not beene with so perfect an heart and so willing a minde as thou requirest but there hath bene much both heauinesse and hypocrisie in my best Deuotions I haue too to much distasted and shunned the narrow way not walking in my Calling so faithfully not vsing Recreation so moderately nor thy Creatures so soberly and inoffensiuely nor carrying my selfe towards my Neighbour for the good both of his soule and body and state so religiously Charitably and iustly as it had beene meet I should But besides this want of delighting in thy Law and holy duties I haue committed many grieuous sinnes against thy Maiestie following very fearefully especially in the time of You h and ignorance both the Company and the Counsels and the Courses of Wicked men and so instead of bringing forth the holy and pleasing fruites of the Spirit haue wrought and brought foorth the fiâ—thy and noysome workes of the Flesh Yea O Lord against thee against thee haue I sinned and besides Common euils an guilty as holy Dauid of bloud of some notorious and speciall prouocations Nor haue I beene thus sinnefull O Lord for want of instruction and meanes to be better for thou hast taught me wisdome and made known thy Word vnto me wherby I might haue bin cleansed and amended but it is because I haue wanted care haue not taken heede to my wayes according vnto thy Word nor laid vp that word of thine in my heart whereby I might haue beene kept from sinning against thee So that I can by no meanes iustifie my selfe nay O Lord I am so farre from that that say what thou wilt against mee in thy Word lay what thou wilt vpon me with thy Hand I doe freely confesse Thou shalt be iustified when thou speakest and cleare when thou iudgest Neuerthelesse O gracious Father since thou hast proclaimed thy selfe to be a God that pardonest iniquitie and transgression and sinne Let me finde grace I beseech thee in thy sight and pardon my iniquitie and my sinne I haue nothing to plead for my selfe but Haue mercy on me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions I cannot deny O Lord but I am a great Sinner but I know that the bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne Purge me therefore with that Hyssop and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then the Snow So make me to heare the voyce of ioy and gladnesse that my heart afflicted with sinne may reioyce in thee It s true O Lord thou art a GOD that doest by no meanes cleare the guilty yet haue mercy on mee while by this meanes the guilt of sinne is remoued from me Nor doe thou onely Hide thy face from my sinne O Lord and blot out all my iniquitie but together with the guilt of sinne take away the filthinesse likewise Wash mee throughly from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sinne yea Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Vouchsafe vnto mee the benefit of the new Couenant of grace working that grace in me that thou requirest of me Take away more and more the stony heart out of my flesh and giue me an heart of flesh that so I may remember my former euill wayes and my doings that were not good and loath my selfe in my owne sight for my iniquities and my abominations Together with this Repentance yea that I may haue this Repentance worke in mee that Faith whereby the House of Israel enquires after thee and whereby I a wretched Sinner finding my selfe heauy laden may so come vnto thee as to haue ease from thee And because none shall haue mercy but hee that forsaketh his sinne as well as confesses it Giue me so much grace as to forsake my wicked wayes yea and all my vnrighteous thoughts that so thou mayest haue mercy on me and abundantly pardon mee And because forsaking of sinne is not enough neither without returning vnto thee my Lord and my God make mee I beseech thee to goe in the pathes of thy Commandements and so put thy Spirit within me as to cause mee to walke