V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steale IX Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy Neighbours The Lords Prayer in a Preface six Petitions a Confirmation and a Conclusion The Preface The Petitions OVr Father which art in Heaven 1. Hal lowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our dayly Bread 5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors 6. And lead us noâ— into Temptation but deliver us from evill For thine is the Kingdome and the Power The Confirmation and the glory for ever The Conclusion Amen â—race before meat BLessed God the Father of all blessings and God of all comfort and consolation blesse us and the Creaturs whatever now provided for us so fill both our bodies and soules with good that both may abound in all goodnesse to thy only glory and both their good through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be all honour and glory for ever Amen Grace after meat Give us O Lord we beseech thee all thankfull hearts for all thy good graces and benefits what ever now and at all times bestowed on us that by us and all the faithful for that all thy good thou maist receive all praise and glory now and for ever Amen A short Catechisme 1. Question WHat ought to be our chiefest care Answer To glorifie God a 1 Cor. 10. 31. II. Q That we may have that Care and shew forth that glory what ought we especially to have A Zeale b Numb 25. 11. III. Q Is Zeale enough to shew it A No we must have also knowledge c Rom. 10. 2. IV. Q That we may have both that zeal and knowledge what ought we especially to understand and consider A The works of God and the Word of God V. Q What are the works of God A The world and all things therein contained VI. Q Dothâ—bat glorifie God A Yes d Psal 19. 1 2. VII Q Why would he have his works to glorifie him A That we might be without ex cuse e Rom. 1. 19 20. VIII Q What is the Word of God A The holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament commonly called the Bible IX Q Why ought we to understand and consider that Word A That we might have a certaine rule to go by X. Q Have we a certaine rule in that Word A Yes f Is 8. 20. XI Q What especially teacheth that Word A The Knowledge of God and our selves g 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. XII Q What ought we to know of God A Two things especially XIII Q What be they A First what he is secondly what he hath done XIV Q First what is God A He is a Spirit h Jo. 4. 24. XV. Q Secondly what hath God done A He hath made all things i Gen. 1. â— XVI Q What ought we to know of our selves A Three things especially XVII Q What be they A First â—â— what we were Secondly what we are Thirdly what we shall be XVIII Q First then what weâ—e we A At our first Creation when God made man and all things he and they all Gen. 1. 31 were good k XIX Q Secondly what are we A Since that our first Parent Adams Gen. 6. 5. Ro. 6. 23. fall evill 1 And unlesse by Grace renewed subject to death m XX. Q Thirdly what shall we be A At the last day the generall Resurrection of all Mankind they by grace Mat. 25. 34. renewed shall be blessed in Heaven'n they that continue in sin shall be accursed in Mat. 25. 41. Hell o XXI Q Well but what was Adams sin to us Rom. 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. A We sinned in him p XXII Q How then can we be redeemed from that his guilt A By Jesus Christ XXIII What or who is Jesus Christ A The Sonne of God and Saviour of man XXIV Q Why must we be redeemed by Jesus Christ A Because the sin of man was against God God that is also man as Jesus Christ was and is must make the satisfaction XXV Q Are there more Gods then one A No there is but one God but there are three Persons in the Godhead XXVI Q What are those three Persons A The first the Father the second the Son and the third the holy Ghost XXVII Q How doe you know this A My Creed tels me so XXVIII Q What is the Creed A The Articles of our Faith XXIX Q Why doe some call it the Apostles Creed A Because some say the Apostles composâ—d it XXX Q What doe you think who composed it A It is uncertaine XXXI Q Why then is it râ—ceived A Because whoever composed it makes no great matter but being of old received and certainely containing the sum or grounds of Christian Religion comprised in the Gospell of Christ it is therefore received XXXII Q How many be those Articles of it A According to the number of the twelve Apostles twelve XXXIII Q What be those Articles A I beleeve in God c. XXXIV Q What is Faith A A certaine confidence in and dependance on Jesus Christ q Eph 3. 12. XXXV Q Why need we that confidence and dependance on Jesus Christ A Because we are sinners and none but he bare those sins i Heb. 9. 28. XXXVI Q What is sin A A transgression of the Law s 1 Jo. 3. 4. XXXVII Q What is that Law A The Commandements of God XXXVIII Q How many Commandments are there A Ten in two Tables t Deut. 4. 13. XXXIX Q Which be the Commandments A I am the Lord thy God c. XL. Q What learne you by these Commanmandements A My duty towards God and my duty towards my Neighbour XLI Q What is your duty towards God A To love him above all things u Mat. 22. 37. XLII Q What is your duty towards your Neighbour A To love him as my selfe w Mat. 22. 39. XLII Q Well but can you exactly keepe them in every point A No but I dayly breake some one or other of them in thought word and deed x Psal 14. 1. 3. And breaking but one I am guilty of all y Ja. 2. 10. XLIV Q How then to any purpose can you keepe any of them A I must labour what I may to keepe them XLV Q Why must you labour to keepe them A Because they are the rule prescribed of God XLVI Q Well but being as you say not able to keepe them as you ought how
the giver of all good r Jam. 1. 19. that God may not onely give but give also the comfortable use of that we may not onely have but enâ—oy s 1 Tim. 6 17. them And this againe that he gives us not only me though it be I alone that make this prayer and that as to our and not onely my Father That as I pâ—ay to him for all that this also he give both to me and all t 1 Cor. 10. 24. And this againe this day yea daily bread as much as to say as for what we have not daily to pray for u 1 Thes 5 17. for what we have to give thankes daily w vers 18 least for what we have we be never the better x Hag. 1. 6 or to make what we have worth nothâ—ng esteeme of them as our gettings y Hab. 1 16 and not as Gods giveings For though coming to us under the title of ours our daily bread know we yet and consider whos 's first it is our goods greatnesse our what ever else we have Gods and to us by but his grace made ours which by our ingratitude abused may assoone be anothers as ours anothers that in thankfullnesse to God may farre better deserve it z 1 Sam. 28. Vse Which should teach us to acknowledge the grace and goodness of God the Author of this our happinesse a Prov. 10. 27. and may justly expect as we ought obediently to yeeld him in our thankes the glory of them b Prov. 104 24 that in them we see his providence c 1 Tim. 6 17 and are more to trust to that then our owne And that otherwise he might give even them but not to us d 2 Ki. 7. 2 By our ingratitude to become our ruine e Psal 78 30 31 This petition poynting not onely on earth by our prayer to it in an earthly patrimony but by our thankfullnesse in it to an heavenly to which Christ himselfe wishes to be the price of our providence f Mat. 6 13 to seeke moderately and modestly for the things of earth but in the first place for heavenly things g vers 33 And so as here for the body though it be that first in Order yet is it not to be that first in our intention when though Christ knowing our naturall Constitution that while we have so much impure earth about us and apt to have more of sense then faith doth somewhat in the first place give way to that yet is it but the better to worke on this that seeing that Christs providence for the body may thinke it not wanting but much more propense to the soule as the preservatives for which are the next Petiâ—ions V. By trespasses in the one which is the first in order meaning sins what ever transgressions against or failings in our obedience to Gods Law and Commandements h 1 Jo. 3 4 called also debts in as much as they make us subject to the penalty of the Law for that transgression are indebted to God which debt he must have paid and discharged But wo be to us the payment when not any wise able to doe it i Job 9. 3. but die we must k Gen. 2 17 But le ts take heart of grace though of our selves we cannot yet one there is shall overcome Satan l Gen. 3. 15. There is balme in Gilead m Jer. 46. 11. to prevent our scattering one that layes downe his life for the Sheepe n Joh. 10. 15 17. and one whom God loves and therefore loves him and well pleased in him o Mat. 3. 17. in him will accept of us p Jo. 15. 7. When in this petition we pray that God will forgive understand that forgivenesse in him q 1 Jo. 1. 7. 2. 1. in whom only is the pardon obtained r Jo. 15. â— that t is forgive us is as before give us that with our own our prayer also be for the forgivenesse of the sins of others And then that t is forgive us our sins our debts or our trespâ—sses hints only on our behalfe the necessity of this Petition that sin is onely our own s Jam. 1. 13 14. This forgive us our trâ—spasses is the Petition as we forgive them that trâ—spasse against us being as a condition added Marke I say as a condition not that t is the cause why God forgives us but a good meane to prompt to us Gods propensenesse to forgive us our sins yea to assâ—re may I say that his forgivenesse of our sins committed against him when our hearts can tell us we are willing and propense to forgive the trespasses men have committed against us As if to assure that doth the Apostle wish our performance of thiâ— t Eph. 4. 32. Vse 1. Which Petition may teach us in the first place he hatefull nature of sin that a work t is of our own wherein unlesse to prevent sometimes the intolerable exorbitancies of it or to punish for it God hath no hand u Ezech. 18. 31 32 So hatefull to God is it w Ps 101. 3. so hurtfull to our selves x Numb 32. 23. that that of all things else we be most carefull to beware of that we sin not y 1 Jo. 2. 1. If unhappily overtaken with sin that by Christ we seeke forgivenesse of our sin as in whom alone we have propitiation for it z vers 2. Then that this we doe not only for our selves seeke to expedite our selves from this sin but seeke also we ought the Salvation of otherâ— a Gen. 18. 13. to the end 1 Tâ—m 4. 16. And then Vse 2. Which consideration added may teach us how acceptable to God are workes of mercy and compassion that as he is to us or as we would have him be to us so should we be to each other b Luk. 6. 36. that as in our Petitions God is ready to forgive us asking him so should we be upon the Petitions of them that aske us as see that Parable Mat. 18. 23. to the end We now come to the sixt and last Petition that other preservative for the soules safegâ—ard to prevâ—nt sinning praying God not to lead us not into the Temptation of Sin Satan or the World but that he will deliver us from the evill of them Which is a Petition well added to the other and coupled as 't were to it by the Particle Note And as if to teach us still the damnable nature of sin what though sins past may be forgiven sins to come may condemn us And therefore ought we not onely as there in that still to pray the forgivenesse of this or that or all whatever sins past but as in this we be not more intangled by it in times to come c Mat. 12 43 44 45. Jo. 5. 14. and so our further sin procure our further or greater damnation Which Petition here that
at this Resurrection â—ee God 34. T. You say out of that of St Paul d Ro. 6. 23 that the wages of sin is death and in your answer to our one twentieth question that we all finned in Adam How can we then be freed from the death of sin L. Why that I told you in our answer to yâ—ar two and twentieth question that it is by Jesus Christ 35. T. How prove you that L. Why those places before cited c Ro. 5. 18 1 Cor. 15. 22. prove it 36. T. All finned in Adam and if all be made alive in Christ then are none subject to death L. True it is all finned in Adam but they all that are made alive in Christ are only Beleevers all that are made alive are made alive in him but they all are onely such as beleeve in him Explic. Salvation in Christ is offered to all d Mat. 11. 28. though none lay hold of it but the chosen when though he was a sufficient satisfaction for all yet was he efficiently satisfactory onely for them e Jo. 18. 9. Where though but the chosen are saved yet in that Salvation though perhaps but of a few in comparison of the damned doth mercy yet prevaile against justice and more it is that one is saved by his merit then that thousands dye by their owne merits And that in as much as possible it is that all without him may be damned and though but one saved that impossible is that salvation of that one but by him 37. T. You said in answer to our eight and twentieth question that the Articles of our faith are called the Creed What mean you by that word Creed L. The sum of our Faith Explic. Creed is an Appellative from a Latin word that signifies to beleeve whence we take the thus naming of the summe or symbol of our Faith Creed Which in sum is distributed unto these three parts as some divide First of God the father and our Creation secondly of God the Sonne and our Redempâ—ion Thirdly of God the holy Ghost and our sanctification Other some make foure parts of it by dividig this â—hird into two parts making that of God the holy Ghost one and Gods holy Catholicke Church with the Articles that follow the other Both making up but the same in sum and that as we have said the sum of our Faith 38. T. In your definition of Faith you said in answer to our foure and thirâ—ieth question that it is a certaine and sole dependance on Jesus Christ How prove you that L. By that of St Paul f Eph. 3. 12. Explic. Faith is diversly taken as for Constancy and Fidelity in keeping promises g Ro. 3. 3. for the Doctrine of the Gospell h Ga. 1. 22. the profession of any kind of Religion i Ro. 1. 8. and the like And is a perswasion or assent to any purpose And in Scripture is four-fold 1. Historicall as is the Faith of Devils they beleeve there is a God k Ja. 2. 19 and tremble too at the presence and and power of God beleeve there is a word of God c. but they beleeeve not he is their God or that Word good for them c. which like faith wicked men may have and have no more faith nor hopes then the Devils 2. Temporary Faith a degree yet beyond that of Devils and those wicked men to assent to Gods truth for a time but in time againe to fall away typified by that Parable of the seed that fell in stony ground l Mat. 13. 20. 3. Faith of Miracles which is a perswasion that God will doe miracles in the now worke of our salvation which is a perswasion of ill men and a perverse generation are they that after so glorious a light of the Gospell will besides the promises of the Gospell now seeke unto God for a Miracle m Mat. 12. 38 39. 4. Justifying Faith which is as you have said a certaine and sole dependance upon Jesus Christ an assent to God and his Word that he is our God and his Word good for us that in Jesus Christ we have peace with God will without any miracle by the sole guidance of his Word not only beleeve nor only beleeve for a time but will in this holy perswasion live and dye 39. T. What faith is there meant L. Justifying faith 40. T How prove you our salvation by Jesus Christ L. Because as we answered to your five and thirâ—ieth question he bare oâ—r sins 41. T. How prove you that he bare our sins L. Out of that of St Paul n Heb. 9 28. 42. T. Why could no other doe iâ— I. No no man else bâ—t the man Christ Jesus 43. T. How prove you that I. By those two places of Poul o 1 Tim. 2. 5. Rom. 5. 6. both which places shew him alone our Redeemeâ— that he bare our sins freeing us from the guilt of them which none others strength could doe 44. T. You said in answer to our six and thirtieth question that sin is a transgression of the Law how prove you that L. By that of St John p 1. Jo. 3. 4 45. T. What is that transgression of the Law L. A breach of Gods Commandments 46. T. Where in consists that breath L. In committing what they forbid and in omitting what they require 47. T. You said the Commandements are ten in two Tables How prove you that L. They are ten as we read in the Law Deut. 10. 4. and in two Tables in the verse next before or both together in Deut. 4. 13 that one verse or place q. 48. T. Where are they written or repeated at large L. In the twentieth Chapter of Exodus where it is said And God spake c. from the first verse of that Chapter downe to the eighteenth verse 49. T. What meane you by those two first verses And God spake all these c. Are they part of the Commandements L. No but they are the Prâ—face to them 50. T. What learne you from that Preface L. That God is the Author of them and so they are Gods Commandements 51. T. But God there speakes to the Jewes and of their freedome from Egypts bondage what is all that to us L. Yes it is spoken as to us too that freedome from Egypts bondage by Moses being a Type of our freedome from sinne by Jesus Christ 52. T. Why but will Christ have us keepe the Commandements L. Yes all that will testifie theâ—r love to Christ must keepe the Commandements r Jo. 14. 15. all that will seeme truly to know God must by keeping the Commandements shew that knowledge s 1 Jo. 2 3. 53. T. Why you said before that we are saved by Christ and that he baâ—e our sins and before that that faith was a sole dependance upon him as if that and no more were requisite to salvation and yet here againe you say we
wrath appeased g Mat 12 40 Jonas cast into the Sea to appease its raging so Christ into the grave to appease Gods fury And then 5. He descended into Hell that is being dead and buried when as to our redemption he had sealed its consummation as if to shew his lowest estate and that come he was to the bottome of these steps or degrees he was in the Grave under the power of death and darknesse untill the third day although in the garden h Mat. 26 38 39 and on the Crosse i Mat 27 46 having suffered the most hellish paines he yet by this thus continuance in the grave would consummate all his sufferings and for a time be Captive that after he might appeare the more glorious Conqueror over Death and Hell for ever Applic. That first he suffered Christ the Son of God that he should be driven to such an exigency for mans sin may not onely shew the certainty of his salvation but also the hainousnesse of mans sinne And therefore never thinke it much what we suffer for sin or thinke God austeâ—e that he will not spare us that would not spare his owne Sonne for us No but that he thus suffered for us the just for the uâ—just as saith the Apostle k 1 Pet 3 18. le ts accuse our selves as the cause of our sufferings and beware of sinne that may yet cause us to suffer Then that under Pontius Pilate he suffered may shew us the certainty of our Messias the Shiloh Jacob speakes of l Gen. 49. 10. meaning Christ which was not to come untill the Scepter was departed from Judah which was now in Pilates time Jury being become tributary to Rome and he a President under Caesar Then secondly that he suffers thus crucified the most dreadfull dolorous and dismall sort of sufferings may teach us how hard a matter it was to reconcile us to God and what an hatefull and horrid thing sin is Then thirdly that he dyes the Sonne of God for the sins of man may teach us to leave our man sin and seeke unto that our Saviour God to be as those two Disciples were m Jo. 1. 37 never satisfied till we had found Christ be as the woman of Samaria was having found him never at rest till we have proclaimed him to others n Jo. 4. 28. 29. till we have made him ours and crucified our old man of sin in these sufferings of this new Man of God o Rom. 6. 6. Gal. 2. 20. Then fourthly that he was buried may teach us having crucified our sinnes with his sufferings where to bury them in his death p Rom. 6. 4. And to that end by faith and repentance to beate downe to kill in us whatever reigning contagion of sin q vers 12. Christ dying to that end that we should not live to our selves in our sin r 2 Cor. 5. 15. but unto him in holinesse of life in upright and honest conversation s Luk. 1. 75. And then fifthly that he descended into Hell may teach us that he hath left unassayed no mean of our salvation but having lost heaven by our sinne and merited hell he by his merits will bring us even from hell to heaven And therefore should we leave unassayed no means may make us forsake sin but by holinesse and righteousnesse in him make us still fit for heaven Disciples t is true there are many about this part of this Article many wil not have Christ descend to this lower step of hell the place of the damned but that he went only to the grave the place of the dead But knowing Christ to become the Conqueror of hell wherever it is and to have got the mastery over death and Devils we may rather modestly beleeve the truth of this part of the Article then curiously enquire into the manner of it beleeve Christs descent though not knowing how he went thither and that whether or no while his body was in the grave his soul went into the place of the damned as some thinke or however otherwise whither in soule or body or both or neither went thither makes no matter as to our knowledg of the manner it being a matter plain enough that he became victorious over hell that both death Devils were made subject to him t 1 Cor. 15. 55. and not onely so but by that his Conquest over both made us all Conquerors u veâ—s 57. Witnesse his most glorious Exaltation and steps by which he ascendâ—d in the next three Articles in which are four degrees of it first in the next which is the fifth Article secondly in the sixt and first more in the seventh Of which exaltation now next and thereof first the first step thereof which is in the V. Fift Article The third day he rose againe from the dead Where is to be noted what now next he did 1. rise again 2. whâ—n the third day and 3. whence from the dead That first he rose again the Scriptures teach and that too according to the Scriptures When the third day w 1 Cor. 15 4. And thirdly also whence from the dead x vers 12. He first thus rose againe as by those steps of his Humiliation abased to purchase our salvation so by these of his exaltation raised to apply that salvation to us y Rom. 4. 24. And as by that last step in his Humiliation having to the full satisfied for our sin so in this first step of his exaltation begins he to shew his glory for till thus raised are we not fully happy nor he fully glorified z Jo. 7. 39 the full of our happinesse consisting most in that his glory who thus rises again as evidence that he hath both satisfied for our sinnes and vanquished death and that we also shall rise in him a Ro. 6. 4. from both sin b Rom. 8. 11. and death c 1 Cor. 15. 17. 20. Then secondly the third day he rose again nor sooner nor later no sooner because they might see he was truly dead no later because they might see his power over death And then thirdly from the dead he thus rises to make good that his saying d Jo. 2. 19. that he would destroy the Temple meaning his body by death and three dayes raise it up againe meaning this his third dayes resurrection from the dead Applic. That first he rose againe may teach us that faithfully applying to our selves his merits nor death nor Hell shall detain us but that in him we may be happy perils and persecutions shall not for ever oppress us but though for a while by them bearing the markes of Christ e 2 Cor. 4. 10. yet this rise of Christ shall raise us from them f vers 14. The grave shall not for ever detaine us g 1 Cor. 15. 22. 1 Thes 4. 10. but in this his Exaltation shall we â—â—se also thence Then
main blessings that of the Communion of Saints which we have expounded and this of the Remission of sins we come next to expound or explain A maine blessing t is o Is 33. 24 Psal 32. 1. a blessing of this life p Eccle. 9. 10. Mat. 5. 25. No other mean to free us from sin for being by nature all sinners dead in trespasses and sins q Eph. 2. 1. 3. Gods free grace in Christ which is this forgivenesse is that onely must revive us r vers 5. 8. That had will doe and that if sought is a certaine meane to be had s Ps 32. 5. Is 55. 7. But will we know how God t is gives it t Is 43. 25 Mark 2. 7 but ever upon this condition that we repent u Luk. â—3 3. â— Act. 3. 19. Remission never comes but by the way of Repentance w 1 Jo. 1. 9 And by that way it ever comes x Ps 32. 7. Applic. That Remission of sin is that other great blessing of God to his Church in this life how above others ought we to seeke for that To repent us of our sinnes that we may obtaine this blessing y Act. 3. 19. And when a blessing of this life here had or never had how ought we to let passe no time when but still be both mindfull and carefull how to obtaine it and as the Apostle wisheth x Heb. 3. 13. dayly to call unto each other to be still mindfull of this That when but by this there is no meane to free us from sin that we be mindfull still to keep God the giver of this our friend who that if faithfully sought too wil give it us how againe ought we still to seeke him y Is 55. 6. Mat. 7. 7. And being onely sin is it that steps between God and us to the prejudice of this forgivenesse our ever care it must be that to keepe us by God we ever keep off sin a 1 Jo. 2. 1. Thus of the two maine blessings here come we next to explaine those other two maine blessings hereafter the first whereof we have in the next the XI Eleventh Article and that this the Resurrection of the Body which is that our bodies though buried and turned to dust and ashes yet shall be gathered and rise againe b Is 6. 19. Act. 24. 15 Rev 20. 12 Yea the very same bodies c Job 19. 25. 26. 27 perfect and intire d Act. 3. 21 as no more subject to death e Rev. 21. 4. so surely not subject to any losse harme or imperfection made immortall and glorified bodies f 1 Cor. 15. 53. And as here forgiven and remitted by Christ's blood g Eph. 1. 7 so hereafter raised by the power h Mat. 22. 29. and vertue of Christ's Resurrection i Ro. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 15. 20. at the last day k Job 14. 11. 12. Jo. 11. 23. 24. Applic. That this order is observed in Gods distribution of these blessings first thus to blesse us here and after so to blesse us hereafter may teach us to observe and note the order by what steps to attaine happinesse that fellowship we must have with the godly here and our sins forgiven us ere we can hope to have our bodies raised so as to attain everlasting life Then that our bodies shall rise againe yea the very same bodies how may this comfort each dying soule to thinke he is not lost for ever bâ—t onely laid up for a time and therefore while living labour to keep our bodies pure and unspotted from any the filthy pollution and reigning contagion of sin that after being dead at this Resurrection they may yeeld a sweet savour to God And being to be raised by the power and vertue of Christ learne we still to magnifie that power not to doubt nor any wise to distrust this Resurrection But that we shall rise againe yea that all shall rise l Jo. 5. 29. both good and bad though the bad to abad a sad and dismall doome to have eternall death and damnation yet that that is though but just to them as to the good to their fuller comfort and consolation the more to magnifie Gods mercy and be sensible of their owne happinesse everlasting life and Salvation Which everlasting life come we next to explain the second blessing hereafter as set forth in the XII Twelfth and last Article The life everlasting Amen This is may I say the Crowne of blessings and an happy close to our Creed Wherein our faith hath its full consummation of happinesse In this is it the Sheepe which is the Church that listen to the voyce of Christ the Shepherd have summed up the price of their happinesse and blessed issue of his voyce they hear him they follow him and he in this blesses them makes them happy m Jo. 10. 27. 28. By eternall life meaning both life of grace n Tit. 3. 7. and also life of glory hereafter o Jo. 17. 24. the one an entrance as 't were to the other p Jo. 5 24. Which what either is is beyond our ken or compare admirable ineffable q Psal 31. 19. 1 Cor. 3. 9 2 Cor 12. 5. Be it otherwise what it will be this we know and are assured of we shall be freed from all evil r Rev. 1. 4. enjoy all good and that too for ever s Ps 116. 11. This life is everlasting life Applic. That this life is such an ineffable blessing how should we labour to attain it And being of everlasting being what persons should we be if we meane to attaine it How labour to be Citizens fit for the Celestiall City men not immerged with any wilfull pollution of sin t Rev. 21. 27. but such as here attend the good pleasure of God doe his Commandements live the life of grace here that we may have right to that life of glory hereafter u Rev. 22. 14. every one in his proper place and calling by faith and repentance laying hold of that temporall life of grace that so he may attaine that everlasting life of glory So as whatever our care be here though by carnall Christians scorned contemned despised derided yet of Christ may we hear that happy call hereafter Come ye blessâ—d of my Father c. w Mat. 25. 34. And thus have you an end of the Articles Amen is an Hebrew word used even in all Languages to signifie an assent to what we say approve of or pray for and is to be understood to testifie our faith even of every these Articles of the Creed as of every petition in the Lords Prayer As to the further explanation whereof we refer you to our exposition of the word at the end of the Lords prayer Many other circumstances might be noted incident to every Article of the Creed but we study brevity and to explain that obvious in the words
extemporary way but in peace let them go that their way and my prayer is that the God of peace may blesse it to them and others that depend upon them while my alike prayer is that God to me and others that goe by this set way may bless that also to us and that though going thus two severall wayes to God-wards we may both attain at our both aimed at jorneyes end God And while others more learned and versed in that extemporary way may goe on perhaps without Hesitation yet to avoyde Tautologies and some Absurdities that may arise from others lesse learned or not so well versed in that way and especially those my Children that I have all along thus laboured to instruct give them leave to be led along by these or the like premeditated formes whose intentive spirits may as effectually go along with as that of others without their books or forms by Gods blessing be to God as acceptable to And therefore while we censure none that go otherwise let 's not feele the lash of their Censure by our going this way but in their Extemporary wayes have they now and then a short ejaculation that God will blesse to us these like set formes in as much as my Charity is as theirs should also be that we both in our wayes seeke God we no lesse in these set forms then they in their Extemporary wayes When though our opinions may somewhat differ about the Mode of Prayer knowing that their opinions may some what differ whose faith may be yet the same yet herein we may both conclude that prayer is necessary And let 's thus conclude it too thaâ— howevermade if with sound hearts made and truly humbled souls that both are to God acceptable who lookes not upon the face of things but on the heart of man 1 Sam. 16. 7. not on the manner of delivery but on the hearts that make it Although by our Saviours owne to me seemeing advice and counsell we be yet carefull in the best Mat 6 7 manner we may to make it That l by only much speaking we be not thought to be accepted or however though sometimes perhaps there may be occasion of much speakeing that vaine Repetitions be avoyded Which unlesse by them of able parts and exquisitely versed in it are too too incident to many who rather then thus adhereing to the times and fancies of some too much affected to this way in dispute yet whither or no warrantable might do well to take up that which is without dispute warrantable and by set formes whither of their owne or others till as others better versed in the way avoyd those whatever absurdities when both they and their hearers before hand prepared for the service will doubtlesse after the better discharge it A Generall Prayer at all times of many together or by one Man or Woman alone as the occasion serves changing the Number and Sex LEâ— the Words of our mouthes and the Meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength our Redeemer O Eâ—â—rnâ—ll most glorious and most gratious Lord God thou who art rich in mercy and abundant in goodnesse and Truth we thine unworthy servants on our bended knees and from the bottome of our humbled hearts in the Name of thy son our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whose name thou hast promised that if we aske any thing according to thy will thou will both heare and doe it do now thus humbly make our addresse unto thee and pray that our prayers now and ever may with acceptation come in thy presence We confesse Lord and we are ashamed of the manifold sins and transgressions we have in thought word and deed committed against thy divine Majesty And that not onely in that Originall sin of our first parent Adam whom thou at first madest upright and us in him but that by our impious inventions on that accursed stock we have grafted the impes of our owne infinite Actuall sins Graces t is true many we have had offered to us had too and received many Graces but alas in vain hath been our receit of them So many so infinite have been our sins that we have even grieved thy good spirit of grace with those seducers of old whatever we have professed as to thee with our words with our workes yet we have denied thee turning thy soveraigne soul-saving Grace into the destroying delusion of our owne wantonnesse Hath not thy longsuffering patience more then abundantly winked at our manifold sins And is not that space thou hast given us to repent in wherein we have not repented more then enough to testifie our ingratitude to thee our mercifull God O how uncleane are we made by sin how filthie is even our righteousnesse that even much more loathsome must needs be our sin how many are the impious inventions we daily plot and practise as if we meant no other then onely to study how to contrive even our owne ruine and damnation So many are our mischievous imaginations So as shouldest thou be so severe as to marke what hath been done amisse O Lord who may stand If thou shouldest lay Judgement to the Line and righteousnesse to the plummets thou mightest make thine anger to smoake thy jealousie to burne like fire and all the Curses that are written in thy book thou mightest lay upon us and blot out our name from under the Heaven When then O Lord what might remaine for us but a certaine fearefull looking for the Execution of these severer Judgements thy wrathfull displeasure may justly lay upon us Yet O Lord though to the terror of perverse and obstinate sinners we know that thou art just yet to the comfort of repentant sinners we know thou art mercifull too And therefore in most humble manner we now at thy Throne of grace and mercy beg of thee our God in thy Son Christ our Saviour the forgivenesse of those our sins O Lord remember not against us nor impute to us former transgressions and for them otherwise that may ensue let thy mercies speedily prevent And that we may happily lay hold of that thy preventing grace make us in every respect sit for it Is our Faith small O Lord encrease our faith Is our repentance backwards Hasten O Lord our Repentance dissolve our flinty hearts into godly sorrow and by that happy means work in us that more happy repentance repentance to salvation not to be repented of When to further both that faith and repentance inflame our holy zeale of glory and truly to manage that zeale endue us with the knowledge of thy will by the glorious Sun-beames of thy good word and spirit enlighten the eyes of our understanding that we may know thee as we ought and testifie our knowledge by our sincere love of thee our God and Saviour Put us O Lord in the way of thy truth and then Lord grant us grace happily to persevere in that way to the end Let not
to our God who dwelleth in inaccessible light whose love blessings and comfort love of God as our deare and loving father blessing of Christ as his dear son and our Saviour comfort of the Holy ghost that proceedeth from them both to comfort and establish us in the truth 3 persons and one God be with us and be by us and all the Church of God ever called upon and blessed to the blessing and preserving of our soules from whatever siâ— our bodies from whatever sicknesses or calamities our estates from whatever ruine and destruction Now and for ever Amen A Morning Prayer for a Familie O come let us worship and bow down and kneele before the Lord our maker O eternall everliving and everloving Lord God and saviour thou that art most powerfull yet gratious most just yet merciful too rich in graces and superabundant in goodnes give us O give us both of that thy grace goodnesse that in this humble offerture of our morning Exercise we be duly prepared for it And that in the first place in the due acknowledgment of our many and manifold sins and transgressions that though we thus come nigh thee in this weighty busines of prayers praises yet shouldest thou come nigh us and weigh us in the ballances of thy justice we might be found lighter then vanity so horrid so hideous have been our sins so many so infinite our transgressions So as whilest looking on them alas what can we look for but a fearefull downefall to death and damnation Ouâ— pride our covetousnes our drunkennes our deboyshery or deceit our hypocriasic our neglect of thy word our disobedience to thee our God despite to our neighbours an aggravation of that desobedience with whatever other breach of thy blessed commandments have so far broken in upon us that when but seriously laying it to heart we may not have heart to hope our aÌ„y wise evading that downfal Yea so besotted are we with sin that notwithstanding our daily both hearing and handling thy blessed word we heare but heede it not yea we know what 's good but practise it not A sort of arrand hypocrites we are that mock thine house of prayer thy word thy sacraments and whatever other seemly ducies of Religion and devotion bâ—t stales to our lewdersin cloaths to cover our licenciousness Yea and too too oft the very practise of prayer but a practise also to bolster up our carnall desires not therein heeding the due Method end of it thy endlesse praise and our eternall Salvation No though covertly so contemne thy word we do by our careless unconscionable regard of doing thereafter so grieve thy good spirit by our sin so abuse thy mercy by our presumption so forget thy judgments cauteriz'd as t' were and hardned in that sin presumption that looking upon us so many sinkes of sin so many presumptuous vassalls of indignation what can we expect but our portion with the wicked and with them that forget God but to be turned into hell the place appointed for the Devill and his Angels Bâ—t yet O Lord there is mercy with thee weigh us in the ballanees of that when then our hopes may be it may poize down the scale of thy justice and being turned from our sins by thy mercy we may so evade the fury of thy justice and by true faith timely repentance happy sanctification of life knowledge of thy will love of thy name zeale of thy glory sincerity for thy truth boldnesse in the profession of thy word perseverance in godlinesse and goodnesse patience under whatsoever crosse or calamity contentment with our whatever estate so arme us against the evill of sinne the evill of punishment may not fray us so order our steps to God by good that no step be made to either of those evils When to further our dayly morning exercise yea our alwayes excecises in these like duties what especial obligations have we as thy continual mercies which should stir up our continual thankfulnesse for those thy mercies our own miseries which should also force our prayers for the continuance of those thy mercies thy mercies that we are not confounded our miseries that they become not that our confusion Let us O let us in a due acknowledgement of those thy mercies both to free us from and prevent our those whatever miseries let us make conscience of all our doings not to do any thing contrary to the law of good conscience but as directing to that good Conscience to go by the rule and directions of thy good word in the Scriptures and be guided by the dictates of thy good spitit in that Word Try we thereby and prove we all our thoughts examine we thereby and therein all our words and works that so we may seek thee our good God in all and find thy good grace in the execution of our goodnesse Nor for our selves O Lord let 's onely become thus suppliant to thee but let our prayers also extend to the good both of our selves and others and be now next extended for a blessing upon thine holy Catholike Church c. Here go on as occasion serves as in the genenerall Prayer till you come thus to conclude And now O Lord having thus made a tender of our bounden duty in this our first offerture of this morning worke of thine in thus calling upon thee be favourable now next to us in the workes of our owne callings that by effecting them to our comfort we may effect them also to thy glory That even every one of us in our severall places and callings may as not onely thus opening the day thy glory by this thy worke bâ—t by thy goodnesse may goe through with it to our comfort in our own workes When now to conclude these our imperfect requests we have thus made to thee both for our selves and others imperfect in as much as many things are omitted we should pray for for our selves many things omitted we should praise thee for to supply that imperfection of both our prayers and praises let us now at last make our addresse unto thee for them in that most absolute forme that perfectly compriseth them all saying as our Saviour himselfe hath taught us to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven c. The peace of God which passeth all understanding preserve us in peace and keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and understanding of him our God and Father that his out-stretched arme be our defence stretched out in the mercifull exhibition of his Sonne Christ our Saviour Whose salvation let be our auspicious aid and that made good to us by the grace of that good spitit of grace the holy Ghost the Comforter he hath sent to be with us To which Father of peace Son of mercy holy Spirit of comfort and consolation three Persons and one God be by us and all the faithfull ascribed all honour and glory praise power might Majesty and Dominion
now and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer for a Family Let our Prayer be set before God as Incense and the lifting up of our hands as the Evening sacrifice O Eternall most glorious and most gracious Lord God thou who art rich in mercy and abundant in goodnesse and truth We thine unworthy Servants here prostrate before the footstool of thy sacred Majesty doe humbly confesse and acknowledge our many and manifold sinnes and transgressions As how shapen in wickednesse and conceived in sin when Children bred up altogether in childishnesse when growing strong strengthning our selves in wickednesse giving up our whole selves as instruments of unrighteousnesse unto sin our hearts hardned to ill workes our understandings dulled our wils refractory and our whole affections crooked and perverse our heads set to plotand contrive mischiefe our hands to handle iniquity our tongues to cursing swearing lying filthy and corrupt communication our eyes to looke upon and behold vanity our feet ready and swift to stand in the way of sinners and to walke in the counsell of the ungodly So as both within and without from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot there is no whole part in us but we are altogether full of putrified sores sores of abominable sin and wickednesse As to the things of thy service and the advancement of thy glory how have we neglected and omitted our almost every pious duty As to our Neighbours good how intemperate have we beene in pride and envy in willfullnesse and uncharitablenesse to break all the Christian and godly bands of unity How have our words actions and intentions perverted the better practices both of our selves and others O Lord I what have we not done but might justly draw downe thy vengeance on us Yet O Lord there is mercy with thee As consequent to this our humble confession let us implore that mercy and desire thine all fatherly goodnesse to remove from us thy judgements and to prevent all further evils that might justly come on us for our sins Yea and the better to prevent those evils prevent our sins and let us cast away from us those our beloved those our darling sins to which our perverse nature is too much prone and inclined Let no temptation of Satan deceive us let no allurements of the world or flesh pervert us Soften our hearts enlighten our understandings rectifie our wils strenthen our affections reise up and revive our dead and benumned Consciences Let no wandring imaginations seduce us and in thy mercies washed let us not relapse into our old mire of sin Let not heresie schisme infidelity or Apostacy blemish the truth of our Religion Let not Wars Famine Plague or scarsity blain the happinesse of our healthfull prosperity No O Lord let not any evill whither of sin or punishment impaire or thy glory or our good Nor is it onely sin that thus brings us on our knees or the evill of sin that requires from us deprecations of evils but our parts also it is to supplicate thy farther mercies that thoâ— wouldst be pleased to grant a continuance of the happinesse we have and to supply us with the good blessings we want and have not Give us O Lord understanding hearts and cleer judgements to see our sins Give us O Lord humble wils and holy affections to hate and abandon those our sins And Lord give us true repentance to bewaile those our sins And for the furthering of all those graces further us and furnish us with the assistance of thy good spirit of grace supply that we want strengthen increase the grace we have O Lord so blesse every one of us in our severall places and callings as that we may truly become Instruments of thy glory to doe the will of thee our loving Lord and Master here that hereafter we may receive the Crowne of righteousnesse which thou haste prepared for all those that doe it When to conclude our Prayers give us leave to praise thee and give thee humble thankes for all thy mercies that for our sins thou hast not totally consumed us But to further thy glory and our good hast elected us before the foundation of the World created us in time after thine own Image redeemed us from the power of Satan by the more powerfull passion of thy Christ and our Jesus We thanke thee our Lord for our Christian calling and vocation wrought in us by the inward operation of thy spirit and the outward preaching and ministery of thy Word for our justification in Christ our measure of sanctification here and our hopefull â—ssurance of glorification hereafter yea for all thy blessings and benefits we now and ever yeeld thee a thankefull acknowledgement Nor for our selves are we onely thus suppliant but O Lord let our prayers extend also to the good both of our selves and others Be ever therefore gracious to thy Spouse the Church c. Here againe goe on as occasion seemes as in the generall Prayer When as reflecting upon the Church pray that God would purge her from Schisine and Heresie and as to all the Members of both Church and Common-wealth that he would reconcile all the differences of Opinions among us that in his good time we may not onely obtaine but keepe the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace When you may conclude thus BLesse us all O Lord pardon our sinnes this day passed and let us have quiet rest this Night to come that the day following and so all the dayes of our lives we may still study and strive the advancement of thy glory our own and our Neighbours good And this and whatever else necessary for us grant us O Lord even for thy Sons sake Christ Jesus In whose Name and Words concluding these our imperfect Prayers come we unto thee in that his most perfect saying as he hath taught us Our Father which art in Heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the sweet and comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost be with us blesse preserve and keepe us this Night following and for ever Amen The End