Earnest Praying if we would obtain any thing from God a right true Repentance and in-turned Humility For right Praying is a receiving of that which the Soul desireth concerning which Christ saith From henceforth the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force to themselves Math. 11.12 43. For which cause I will set down a brief Form of a Confession or Preparation how a Man should prepare himselfe when he will bring his short Prayer and Requests before God 44. For he may as well be heard in a short Prayer as with many words if his heart stand right in the presence of God It needeth not long Prayers or many words but only a Beleiving or faithfull repentant Soul which with totall Earnestnesse giveth it self up into the Mercy of God into Gods Compassion For one onely sigh worketh with God if the Will standeth nakedly or purely before God and hath cast away from it the Earthly Garment viz the false or wicked Lust This for an Intimation to the Reader and for a quickening stirring to him 45. For there needeth not to be used just such a Form of Confession but the Holy Spirit will well enough make a Form for him in the heart when the Will in true earnest Sincerity turneth it self to God 46. Only for an Introduction to every one who doth not yet know how a true Prayer should be fitted I will set down this Confession to direct his Soul therewith and I will commit the work of Confession together with the Praying to the Holy Spirit in every Soul which is truly and rightly Earnest He will well enough make for him a Confession and Prayer if any doe but earnestly sincerely and rightly come to the Gate where GOD the LORD in Man Speaketh operatively Then he will find it so A Confession and Right Acting or Working of Repentance before Gods Countenance 47. O Deepest of all Greatest Unsearchable Holy God! Thou who out of meer Grace and Mercy after the terrible apostacy of our first Parents with thy great Love and Mercy in thy Sonne JESUS CHRIST hast manifested thy self in our Humanity and in him hast made an open Gate of Grace again for us poor Men to thy Countenance and abolished Sinne and Death in his Bloud and callest us now to such Grace as a Mercifull God we poor Sinners now should only Convert again and come to thee and thou wilt quicken or refresh us Math. 11.28 48. I poor unworthy sinfull Man come upon the invitation of thy Word and acknowledge to thee that I am not worthy of such Grace which thou offerest us For I Stick in the Slime of Vanity and am Laden with vain Lusts of the Flesh and own-self Will my Sinnes have captivated and obscured me so that I neither tast nor see thy Grace in me also I have no Right Trust or Confidence nor Faith towards thee and have totally given my self up into the vanity of the World and of the Flesh and am compassed about therewith 49. I have defiled my fair bright Garment which thou hast put on to me in the Baptisme with the Lust of the Flesh and lye in the Devils Net captive in thy fierce Wrath. Hell setteth its Jaws wide open against me and my Conscience gnaweth me thy Judgement standeth alwayes before me and the Bands of Death wait upon me 50. I lye in the slime and mire of Sinnes and Vanity so that also I neither know my Sinnes nor can bewail them For they have hidden me from thy Countenance and I have only yet a little sparkle of the living breath in me through thy drawing which desireth thy Grace 51. And I come now before thee with the Lost Sonne and the Publican in the Temple and fly to thy Mercy and pray thee in my weak power through the Bitter Suffering and Dying of my Redeemer JESUS CHRIST whom thou hast Set before thee for a Grace-Throne and offerest us thy Grace through his Satisfaction that thou wouldst receive me yet again for thy Child and Heir in thy Sonne and wouldst awaken for me a right Earnest Repentance also Sorrow and Grief for my former committed Sinnes in my Heart that I may goe out from the wicked way or Conversation and turn my heart totally and altogether to THEE 52. O Great God strengthen I beseech thee my weak Faith in Me rouse my heart I pray thee that it may acknowledge and bewaile my manifold Sinnes Touch thou my poor Soul with thy Power that it may acknowledge it self that it standeth deviated and turned away from thee 53. O thou Breath of the Mercifulnesse of God doe thou draw me to thee through my Redeemer Jesus Christs Death and Resurrection and abolish my Sinnes in his Bloud and Death and make my poor Soul living in his Bloud and wash it clean from its Sinnes that its desire may presse into thee O thou Holy God! and fetch Power out of thy Spring or Fountain of Grace 54. Awake thou I pray thee in me a right hunger and thirst after true Repentance and Sorrow for my former committed Sinnes that I may hate or be at Enmity and angry against them and turn my self to Thee 55. O thou great deep of Mercy I am afar off from thee and cannot reach thee in my weak Power turn thee to me I beseech thee and comprehend my desire into thee and kindle it O Lord that I may tast thy Grace 56. Forgive I pray thee my Trespasses and Sinnes and heal my weaknesse bruise I pray thee my Heart and Soul that I may acknowledge and humble my self before thee Be thou I pray thee my beginning to Conversion and lead me upon the right path that I may walk with thee 57. Give me I pray thee thy holy Spirit in my Soul and Spirit and Sanctifie me in thy Grace As thy beloved Sonne Jesus Christ hath engaged to me saying My Father will give the holy Spirit to them that pray unto him for it Luke 11.13 Also Knock and so it will be opened unto you Math. 7.7 Luke 11.9 58. Now come I poor Sinner upon the Invitation of thy Word and take to me thy Saying in my Soul and Heart and will not leave off from thee unless thou blesse me with JACOB 59. And though indeed my Sinnes are many yet thou art God and the Eternall Truth which cannot Lye where thou hast Spoken in the Prophet Isaiah If we Convert and Repent then we shall be snow-white as wool Isai 1.18 60. Upon thy Saying I trust and give my self totally and altogether up to thee and pray thee receive me into Grace and bring me to thy Children who walk in the way of the Living and let me walk with them and enter into thy Commandement give me a true humble and obedient Heart that may alwayes fear before thy Anger and Sinne no more 61. O thou Well-Spring or Fountain of all Grace what shall I say before thee Or why should I flatter my self and comfort my evill Will
God and presse or penetrate to the New Birth that he may Pray in Spirit and in the Truth and that the Spirit of Christ may pray in and with him and plead for him before God Christ saith John 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that pray unto him or worship him must pray unto him or worship him in Spirit and in Truth The Preface of the Prayer-Book To the Reader that Loveth God Concerning the true Ground of the right * Or Art Skill of Prayer What Prayer is and wherefore God commandeth us to Pray Dear Christian Reader 1. RIght Praying is not a meer Custome that a Man needs only Speak or Say the Words of Prayer no such speaking of words without hearty Consideration Attention or Devotion and divine Desire is but an Outward thing an outward forming or framing of words 2. The Mouth Imageth or contriveth its words of the Prayer with the outward Power of the Constellations or Starres and Elements and maketh only a form or figure of the willing wherein there is no working Power For Nothing pleaseth God unlesse what himself worketh and doth with a thing 2. For God in the Prophet complaineth of such outward Mouth-prayer or Lip-prayer without Power where he saith With their lips they draw near to Me but their Heart is farre from Me. Isai 29.13 4. Also saith Christ Not all that say LORD LORD shall come into the Kingdome of Heaven but they that doe the Will of my Father in Heaven Math. 7.21 And saith further in another Place Without ME ye can doe nothing John 15.5 He alone is the living Fountain and the Throne of Grace with and through which we with Prayer can enter or press before and into God 5. If we would pray aright then we should I. First view and well consider our selves whither our Heart have Imaged or framed it self into another Creature and whether also such desire which we desire to obtain of God be right Or also whether such desire which we would bring to God in our Prayer be against the profit or benefit and Love of our Neighbour Or whether we therein seek temporall Matters to abridge our Neighbour therein and to draw that which is his to our selves Or whether we thereby desire a Generall Common Love and Unity or Concord Or whether with such Praying we seek only our own Profit and Gain to our selves 6. II. And Secondly We should well Consider our selves whether we also in our Prayer desire and Love any thing More or above the Mercy of God Or whether whatsoever we desire of Temporall things we desire them only and alone from the divine hand and Co-working Or whether we would through our Skill Art Subtilty Cunning and Wit draw it to our selves and so only pray to God for his * Or permission leave to have it or whether we relye upon our selves or whether we would obtain it through the divine co-working that we may afterwards say with a chearful heart This God hath bestowed or vouchsafed ME through his Fatherly Care and Providence I have only been the Hand and the Instrument Or whether we will say this I have brought to passe through my own Skill and Understanding 7. III. Thirdly we should consider what we would doe with that which we pray for and desire from God Whether we thereby only desire to have the Honour and Highness of the World for temporall Pleasure and Voluptuousness or whether we would lay out that which God casteth upon us with his Blessing through our Prayer to his Honour and the Love of our Neighbour and give it to him again and whether we would also account our selves therein only to be Labourers and Servants or Ministers in his Vineyard as from whom God will require an account of his Gifts how faithfull we have been therein 8. IV. Fourthly we should Consider that in this World we have nothing for our own and that we our selves are not our own but only for a little while in this World are Labourers and besides strange Guests or Pilgrims only Officers of our God over his Creation Workmanship and Creatures and that whatsoever we work in and doe we doe it not for our selves only but for God and our Neighbour 9. And that we all are together but One in Christ our Saviour who himself is IN us ALL and in that respect that we should have a Generall Common Love one towards another and desire †1 John 4.10 11. heartily to Love one another as God in Christ our Saviour hath loved us and that we will heartily and readily impart the Gifts which God hath given us through our Prayer whether they be Earthly or Heavenly to our fellow-Members and hold together as the Tree in its Branches or as the Earth with its Fruit or Productions doth which willingly and readily giveth up it self into all its Fruits and loveth and beareth them all 10. V. Fiftly we must Consider that we of and from our own power cannot rightly pray before God as Christ saith Without Me ye can doe nothing Also Saint Paul saith We know not what we should pray as we ought before God But the Holy Spirit it self pleadeth for us mightily with unspeakable Sighs before God as it pleaseth him Rom. 8.26 11. Therefore when we will pray to God our Heavenly Father then we must call upon him in the Name of his dear Sonne Jesus Christ for the Illumination of his holy Spirit that he would forgive our Sinnes for his bitter Suffering and dying sake and give us that which is good and * Blissfull happy for us we should commit all whatsoever is Earthly to his Skill Cognizance and Will and not only with Empty breath and words enter before God when we would pray aright and be heard But with true right earnest sincere Repentance and Conversion from our false or wicked Conversation We must goe forth from all Falshood Pride or State Covetousness Envy Anger and Contrariety or Opposition and totally give up our Heart and Soul to God the Holy Spirit that he may be our Working of Repentance and Power in the Prayer That he may include or comprehend our willing and desiring in himself and bring it into GOD that we may dye away in the Death of Christ from our false or wicked vanity and desire which is befallen us by inheritance and in the Spirit of Christ in us rise again and be born with a New Will Mind and Obedience towards God and forth on walk in such Power in Righteousness and Purity with our Will and New Birth before God as his Children whom he hath dearly bought through the Bloud and Death of his well-beloved Sonne and hath new regenerated them in his Spirit 12. VI. Sixtly Christian Loving Reader thou oughtest well to consider What Prayer is and why God Bids us to Pray It is NOT such a thing as when a Man cometh before a Worldly King or Lord when he hath misdemeaned himself towards him and Prayeth
themselves by the Trees of Paradise Whence came the Fear and the Terrour 73. Question How did Adam and Eve in the Fall really †Gen. 3.3 dye away from the Kingdome of Heaven and Paradise and yet lived Naturally as to this World 74. Question What was * Gen. 3.8 See the Mysterium Magnum chap. 33. ver 11. to the 16. Three Principles chap. 17. ver 91. the Voice of God in the Word when the Day became Cool How did God call Adam again How is that to be understood 75. Question What is †Gen. 3.15 the Seed of the Woman or Wife and the Crushing or treading upon the Serpent what did God speak or breath into them again was it only an Outward Promising or an * Jam. 1.21 incorporating of the Operative or Effectual Grace 76. Question What is the †Gen. 3.17 See Myster Magnum ch 25. ver 38. Three Principles chap. 20. ver 40. Curse of the Earth And what is Effected thereby 77. Question How did Adam and Eve become * Gen. 3.24 thrust out of Paradise into this World And what was the Cherubine with the Naked Sword before Paradise 78. Question Why did the †Gen. 4.8 See the Three Principles ch 20. ver 45. and 84. first Man born of Woman become a Murtherer 79. Question What was * Gen. 4.3 4. Cain and Abels Sacrifice Mysterium Magnum ch 26. ver 44. Wherefore did they Offer Sacrifice What did they thereby Effect 80. Question Why was Cains Murther Committed because of the Sacrifice what was the Ground of that Mysterium Magnum ch 27. ver 41. And what Manner of Type or prefiguration are these two Brothers 81. Question In what Grace did the first World Mysterium Magnum ch 28. ver 4. to the 25. without Law become saved What was their Justification 82. Question Whether did Cain become Damned in respect of his sinnes Mysterium Magnum ch 29. ver 57 54. What was his doubting or despairing of Grace 83. Question Why did †Gen. 4.15 Mysterium Magnum ch 29. God Make a Mark upon Cain And say Whosoever slayeth Cain his blood shall be avenged sevenfold 84. Question Wherefore * Gen. 4 2◠said Lamech one of Cains posterity to his Wives Zilla and Ada Lamech shall be avenged Seventy times Seven times what doth that signifie 85. Question What was the †Gen. 6. from 1. to the 8. Greatest Sinne of the first World 86. Question * Gen. 5.22 23 24. Hebr. 11.5 Luke 9.30 31. See the 35. Question in the forty Questions of the Soul What it the Enochien Life Where hath Enoch remained or what hath become of him as also Moses and Elias 87. Question †Gen. 7.10 Mysterium Magnum ch 34. ver 37. What did the Deluge or Floud for Sinne signifie 88. Question What signifieth * Gen. 9.21 22 25. Noahs Drunkenness Upon which he Cursed his Sonne Ham 89. Question What is †Gen. 11.2 4 9. Mysterium Magnum ch 35. and 36. the Tower at Babell and wherefore did the Languages there become altered or changed 90. Question What was the Covenant of * Gen. 17.5 ◠Abraham concerning the Blessing together with the Circumcision What doth that signifie 91. Question What manner of Figure is †Gen. 19.13.24.25 Mysterium Magnum ch 43. the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha How was that Effected 92. Question Wherefore did * Gen. 19.26 Mysterium Magnum ch 44. ver 28 c. Lots Wife become a Pillar of Salt How is that to be understood 93. Question Wherefore did †Gen. 19. from 30. to the 38. Mysterium Magnum ch 44. ver 3. and 36 c. Lots Daughters lye with their Father And beforehand made him drunk that they might be impregnate or with childe of their Father Whence two mighty Nations existed What doth this Figure signifie 94. Question What * Exod. 2.3 to the 10. doth Moses's figure signifie that he must be taken out of the Lake of Water and be preserved for so great an Office 95. Question Why did †Exod. 3.2 Acts 7.30 the Lord appear to Moses in the Bush after a Fire-flaming manner when he Elected and Chose him 96. Question * Exod. 7. ch to the 13. Out of what Power did Moses do his Wonders before Pharaoh What doth this Figure signifie 97. Question What manner of Figure is †Exod. 13. the bringing forth of the Children of Israel out of Egypt 98. Question Why * Exod. 24.18 ch 34.28 Deut. 9.9 must Moses remain forty dayes upon Mount Sinai when God gave him the Law 99. Question What is †Rom. 13.9 10. the Law in one Totall Summe 100. Question What were the * Heb. 9. c. Sacrifices of Moses How did Sinne become over thrown and reconciled through these Sacrifices 101. Question What is the ground of the Propheticall Prophesying By what Knowledge and Spirit did * 2. Pet. 1.19.20 21. the Prophets in the Old Testament Prophesie 102. Question What is †John 1.41 Christ of whom the Prophets in the Old Testament Prophesied 103. Question What was * Mal. 4.6 Luke 1.13 15 16 24 36 63. John the Baptist the Fore-runner of Christ 104. Question What †Luke 1.26 27. manner of Virgin was Mary in which God became Man ere She became impregnate or with Childe 105. Question * Luke 1.27 Wherefore must Mary beforehand be betrothed to old Joseph ere She became impregnate of the Holy Ghost 106. Question How is God viz the word †Iohn 1.14 become Flesh What hath he assumed from Man 107. Question Wherefore would * Math. 1.21 23. Luke 1.31 God become Man Could he not forgive Man his Sinnes without becoming Man 108. Question How was the Uniting of the Deity and Humanity in this becoming Man 109. Question How did Christ become born of Mary to this World without prejudice to her * Isai 7.14 Math. 1.23 Virginity How could She after the Birth remain still a Virgin 110. Question Why did Christ Converse †Luke 3.23 thirty yeares upon Earth before he entred upon his Office Why did * Luke 2.52 He increase in Age and Grace with God and Man Seeing he is God himself and needeth no encreasing 111. Question Why †Mark 1.9 did Christ suffer himself to be Baptised by John with Water whereas he himself was both the Baptisme and Baptiser which should baptise with the Holy Ghost 112. Question Wherefore must Christ * Math. 4.2 after his Baptisme be forty dayes Tempted in the Wilderness What is that that a God-Man should be Tempted And why must the Devil Tempt him before he †Math. 4.1 and 23. Iohn 2.11 began his Works of Wonder or Miracles 113. Question How * Iohn 3.13 was Christ in Heaven and also on Earth both at once 114. Question Why did Christ upon Earth †Math. 13.34
teach before the people concerning the Kingdome of Heaven in Similitudes or * Mark 4.13 33.34 Mysterium Magnum ch 46. ver 31. Parables 115. Question Why hath not Christ himself described his Gospel with Letters in writing But only Taught and left it afterwards to his Apostles to write it down 116. Question Why must it be the very * Mark 10.33 Math. 27.1 41. High Priests and Scribes or Scripture learned who taught the People that must speak against or contradict Christ and would readily mock him and condemn him continually to death Why must not the worldly Magistracy doe it or the Common people What doth that signifie 117. Question Why must there be such a way and processe observed toward Christ †Mat. 26.67 ch 27.26 to the 34. with Mockings reproaching derision or scorn and scourging before his Passion Why did God suffer that to be so done 118. Question Why must the very Teachers of the Law bring Christ to the judgement and yet must be put to Death by the * Math. 27.2 Heathenish Magistracy What doth that signifie 119. Question Why must Christ suffer and †Mat. 27.50 dye Was God to doe it for such a Revenge sake that he might attone and reconcile or appease himself could he not otherwise forgive Sinnes 120. Question What is the Figure of the Two Murtherers Luke 23.33 which were hanged on a Crosse on Each side of Christ And why must Christ dye on a wooden Crosse and Not otherwise 121. Question How †Heb. 2.14 Phil. 2.8 did Christ slay Death on the Crosse with his dying How came that to passe 122. Question Why must Christ * Ioh. 19.31 34 and 20.25 Col. 2.14 be nailed to the Crosse And why Must his Side be opened with a Spear out of which Bloud and Water ran How doe these signifie in the Figure 123. Question Why must Christ †Math. 27. from 39. to the 50. be reproached on the Crosse 124. Question Whether also was the divine Power * Ioh. 19.34 in the Bloud which Christ shed or poured unto the Earth 125. Question Why did †Math. 27.51 Three Principles ch 25. ver 44 45. the Earth Tremble when Christ hung on the Crosse 126. Question What did †Luke 23.46 See the 37. Question of the forty Questions of the Soul the Darknesse signifie which at that time came over all Nature 127. Question Wherefore did Christ in his Death * Luke 23.44 Mysterium Magnum ch 23. ver 3. commend his Soul into his Fathers Hand What is that Hand of God 128. Question Why did some * Luke 23.48 Convert and turn again when they saw what was done at the dying of Christ and the High Priests not Why must they be blind and hardened to this work 129. Question What was †Acts 2.27 31 Heb. 2.14 Christs going to Hell where he overcame Death and the Devil 130. Question How did 〈◊〉 * 1 Pet. 3.19.20 preach to the Spirits which in the Tiâ—â—â—oah believed not 131. Question 〈…〉 â—hrists Rest in the †Math. 27.63 64. ch 28.1 Luke 24.1.7 Grave signifie 〈…〉 lye forty houres in the Grave 132. Question 〈◊〉 must * Mâ—th 27.64 65 66. Christs Grave be guarded with W â—â—â—rs What doth that signifie that the Hiâ—h Priests would resist or oppose Gods Power and Might and would keep Christ in the Grave 133. Question Why did the Evangelist say that * Math. 28.2 to the 9. the Angell removed the Great Stone from the door or Mouth of the Grave Could not Christ have risen else out of the Grave 134. Question What is the Power of Christs Resurrection through the Death How * Col. 2.14 15. did he make a triumphant shew of Death on his Body What was it then that he did with it 135. Question What manner of †Rev. 3 8. Door hath Christ through Death in our humanity opened in the Anger and Righteousness of God whereby we may enter into God How is that done 136. Question What doth the Pilgrimage * Luke 24. from the 13. to the 31. vers Journey of the two Disciples from Jerusalem to Emaus signifie where they complained in anxiety for their Master and yet Christ walked among them and enquired of them and taught them And yet they knew him not 137. Question Why did Christ after his Resurrection first appear to †Mark 16.9 10 11. John 20.14 to the 19. a Woman and not to the Disciples 138. Question Why did Christ * Luke 24.42 Joh. 20.19 26. after his Resurrection eat of the †broyled Fish with his Disciples And Entered into them through a shut door and taught them 139. Question Why did not Christ after his Resurrection shew himself to Every one But to some only 140. Question Why did Christ * Act. 1.2 3. Three Principles ch 25. from the 75. ver to the 98. after his Resurrection Converse forty dayes upon Earth before he went or was taken up to Heaven What doth that signifie 141. Question What is †Math. 24.51 Mark 16.19 Act. 1.9 Three Principles ch 25. from 98. verse to the end Christs going or Ascention to Heaven That he did visibly ascend Whither is he arrived and where is he now at present 142. Question What signifie * Acts 1.11 the Two Men in shining Garments who said ye Men of Galilee why look ye up after him this JESUS who is taken from you to Heaven will come again as ye have seen him Ascend or goe to Heaven Acts 1.11 143. Question †Three Principles ch 26. verse 1 2. thence to the 13. Why must * Acts 2.1 His Ascention was forty Dayes after his Resurrection or the Passeover or Easter And ten Dayes after his Ascention to the Day of Pentecost which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quinquagessuna dies the fiftieth day or seven weeks day or the Morrow after the seventh Sabbath which was called the Feast of Weeks or First-fruits Math. 26.2 Mark 14.1 2. â—uke 22.1 John 13.1 the Passover was the fourteenth day of the first Month. Exod. 12 1â— Levit. 23.5 Numb 28.16 in the Month Abib Exod. 13.4.23.15 and 34.18 the Feast of the first Fruits of thy Labours thou hast sown in the field Exod. 23.16 the feast of weeks Exod. 34.22 And from the Morrow after the Sabbath of the Passover you shall count Seven Sabbaths that is seven times seven which is forty nine and the Morrow after maketh fifty dayes Levit. 23.15 16. Numb 28.26 The Feast of Weeks Deut. 16.9 the Disciples of Christ yet wait ten Dayes from his Ascention for the sending of the Holy Ghost Why was not that done Instantly 144. Question What is this that the Disciples must †Luk. 24.49 Ioh. 15.26 Acts 1.4 wait and Continue together till the Holy Ghost came 145. Question What is the Feast of Acts 2.1 to the 4. Pentecost How was the shedding or pouring forth
of the Holy Ghost Effected And how did the bands of the Tongues of the Lords Disciples become unloosed 146. Question How is the difference or distinction of Languages among them to be understood That they have at one instant Spoken all Languages at once in one sence so that People of †Acts 2.5 to the 14. all Nations understood them 147. Question What doth this * Ioel. 2.28 Act. 2.17 18. shedding forth of the Holy Ghost out of Christs Death Resurrection and Ascention to Heaven profit or benefit us How may that be also effected in us 148. Question What is the †Rom. 2.27 29. and 7.6 Litteral Word and the * 2 Cor. 3.6 Living Word Christ in this shedding forth one with the other How became they distinguished seeing all did not hear the Holy Ghost Teach from the Mouth of the Apostles for †Acts 2.13 one sort of them said They are full of sweet Wine these heard indeed Mans-word but not Christ teaching in his * Phil. 3.10 Resurrection 149. Question How doth Christ himself Teach presentially in the Office of Preaching And yet sitteth at the right hand of the Power of God Or among whom doth Christ Teach what is a * John 10.2 Shepherd or Pastour in the Spirit of Christ And a Teacher of the †2 Cor. 3.6 Letter without the Spirit of Christ Each in his Office 150. Question * Math. 18.18 19 20. What is the Office of the Keys Math. 18.18 John 20.22 23. How may they become rightly used Or who is worthy or fit for this Office of the Keys and Capable thereof How i◠this to be understood Whether is Christ himself in the Office or whether is he himself the Office Or whether hath he freely given it to Man so that he may without Christs Spirit forgive Sinnes Or how is it done 151. Question What is Christs Testament together with the †Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.20 to the 29. 34. See the Treatise of the Two Testaments of Christ Last Supper with Bread and Wine How is Christ really enjoyed * John 7.51 to the 66. The two Testaments What manner of Flesh and Bloud is it And what is the Mouth to eat it with 152. Question What is the place in Man wherein Christs Flesh and Bloud Continueth as he himself saith †Iohn 6.56 Whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud he continueth in me and I in him John 6.56 Also * Iohn 6.53 If you doe not eat the Flesh of the Sonne of Man and drink his Bloud then ye have no Life in you John 6.53 153. Question How is Man and how doth he become †Iohn 15.5 The two Testaments a Branch on the Vine Stock of Christ How doth Christ dwell in him and yet sit at the Right Hand of God in Heaven Also how can he sit at the right Hand of God in Man and yet the outward Man not be he 154. Question What manner of Christian is a * 1 Cor. 4.20 Iam. 1.21 22. The two Testaments 1. Ioh. 3.18 Titulary Christian in Name only without or out of Christ who only Comforteth himself and imputeth Christs Merits to himself and yet is unregenerate of the Spirit of Christ and Liveth Beastially Whether also doth he in such working or doing belong unto Christ Or what doth he receive in Christs Supper 155. Question Whether also may Christs †Ioh. 6.56 The two Testaments Flesh and Bloud become enjoyed by Believers without or out of the Testamentory Ordinance and Observation Or how may that be done 156. Question Why hath Christ ordained and instituted this Testament and said So oft as we doe it The two Testaments we should doe it in his remembrance 1 Cor. 11.25 To what profit and benefit is it done with Bread and Wine and not without Or whether may it also become enjoyed or participated without Bread and Wine 157. Question Whether is the true Testamentary enjoyment or participation The two Testaments bound meerly to the Apostolicall practice and Observation Or whether also Men have power or authority to alter and change this Ordinance as is done now adayes 158. Question Whether also is the Testament powerfull in the altered or changed Ordinance or Not 159. Question See the 5. ch concerning the Supper What doe the Learned when they reproach one another about Christs Testaments and the pretious Covenant of Grace And disgrace one another and give one another up to the Devill about it Whether doe they also mannage the Office of Christ whether is that right or wrong whether also is this done as a Minister of Christ Or whom doe they serve thereby 160. Question See the Theosophical Epistle Which is the very Mark of a right Christian upon Earth whereby Men may distinguish him from a Titulary-Christian 161. Question What is properly a Christian within and without How is he a * 1 Cor. 6.19 Temple of the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdome of God is inwardly revealed or Manifested How doth he walk and †Phil. 3.20 converse in Heaven and upon Earth both at once 162. Question What is the * Iohn 4.3 Antichrist upon Earth under Christianity 163. Question What is * Rev. 16.19 and 17.5 and 18.10 to the 22. and 19.20 and 17.1 to the 16. and 19.2 Babell or Babylon the Beast and the Whore in the Apocalips or Revelations 164. Question What is the Ruine of the Beast and how is it Effected that the Seven-headed Beast should become cast into the Abysse 165. Question How doth Christ then take in the Kingdome when this Beast becometh slain 166. Question What is the true New †Mat. 19.28 Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ Is it done in this time or after this Time 167. Question What is the * Rev. 13.14 dying of a True Christian What of him dyeth 168. Question What is the dying of the Wicked in that it is called an †Rev. 20.14 15. Eternal Dying 169. Question Whither goeth the Soul See the 21. Question of the forty Questions of the Soul when it parteth from the Body be it blessed or not 170. Question What are the Doings and Life of Souls See the 22. Question of 40. Questions till the Last Judgement Day 171. Question What is the * Jude 6. John 12.48 Question 30. in the forty Questions Last Judgement or how is it Effected 172. Question How is the †John 11.24 1 Cor. 15.52 in thirty Question Resurrection of the Dead Effected What Riseth again 173. Question How doth * 1 Joh. 2.17 2 Pet. 3.10 13. In the 30. Question this World passe away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward 174. Question What shall be after this Worlds Time †1 Cor. 15.24 to the 28. When God shall be all in all when the Dominions shall cease 1 Cor. 15.24 28. 175. Question Question the
and Desire I desire no Comfort from thee in my earthly evill Will but pray thee out of all my power which yet is in me mortifiâ— my Earthly Evill Will and let it no more live before thee For it desireth only hypocrisie dissembling or flattery and own self Love and is never sincerely upright before thee It giveth thee good words and pretendeth Truth and yet is a Constant Lyar before thee 62. Give me only thy Will that I may will nothing without thee Doe thou with thy Will tread down my self evill Will to the ground and let me in thy Power co-will and act with thee 63. O LORD what shall I in my vanity pray for from thee I pray for Nothing from thee but for the dying of my Saviour JESUS CHRIST That thou wouldst put me to Death in his Death and make me living again in his Resurrection in him that I may no more walk or converse according to my Spirits Will in me but in him That I may be his Temple and Dwelling-house that he may lead and conduct me so that without him I may be able to will or doe nothing 64. Unite thou and bind me with him so that I may be a fruitfull Branch on his Vine and bear good Fruit in his Power into thy Promise I sink my self down totally and altogether Be it done unto me according to thy Word and Will Amen A Thanksgiving and Prayer When a Man after such Acting Repentance findeth the divine Power in himself 65. O GOD thou Well-Spring or Fountain of Love and Mercy I glorifie and praise thee in thy Truth and Thank thee in my Heart that thou presentest to me thy Countenance again and lookest upon me unworthy and Miserable Wretch with the Eyes of thy Mercy and givest me a Ray or Beam of Comfort so that my Soul CAN hope on Thee 66. O thou Infinite Love of JESUS CHRIST thou who hast Broken Death in our Humanity and changed Gods Anger into Love to thee I give up my self totally and altogether My Soul Laudeth and honoureth thee It rejoyceth it self in thy Power and Love that thou art so Good and Gracious My Spirit sporteth in thy Power and joyeth it self in thy Truth All thy doing is right and Truth Thou rulest over Sinne and breakest the Power of Death Thou holdest the Might and Power of Hell captive and shewest us the Way of Life 67. None is like thee O LORD Who releasest the Captives out of the Pits and Graves of Death and refreshest the Miserable Thou givest them drink in their Thirst and givest them Water of Eternall Life Thou directest their Feet in right Paths and guidest them with thy Staffe The dry parched Places of the Heart and of the Soul thoâ— fattenest and bedewest with thy Rainy Showers and givest them Water of Mercy 68. Thou makest them living in the Midst of Death and settest them up before thee so that they live before thee Thou thinkest on the Mercy and Covenant which thou hast made with us through thy Bloud and Death and forgivest us our Sinnes 69. Thou pourest into us of thy Power so that we acknowledge thee and givest us Food of the Eternall Life whereby we become quickened and continually hunger and thirst after thee This now my Soul acknowledgeth therefore it praiseth thee and exalteth thee in thy great Might and Glory 70. O thou Well-Spring or Fountain of Divine Sweetnesse comprehend or receive my Soul into thee and fill my Spirit with thy Love and bind me to thy Band that I never more depart from thee Strengthen I pray thee my weak Faith and give me an assured Hope and Confidence 71. Cleanse I pray thee my Heart and Soul and give me Chastity Modesty and Purity in my Conscience that I may be ashamed of Sinne before thy Countenance and depart from it Mortifie I pray thee all Evill Lusts in me that I may cleave unto thee with clean and pure desire and walk in thy Will 72. Keep and Maintain me I pray thee in thy Power and acknowledgement and give me an humble Heart towards thee and my Neighbour so that I may alwayes acknowledge and love thee Help also that I may Love my Neighbour as my self through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. AMEN A Prayer to the Great Fire-burning Love of God shewing how rightly to Pray for it O Thou Holy GOD thou that dwellest in a Light that None can câ—â—â— unto but only the Love of thy Sonne Jesus Christ which thou hast out of meer Grace poured into our Humanity in JESUS Christ Wherewith thou hast loved us poor Men before the foundation of the World And hast through this Love redeemed us from thy fierce Wrath and from the power of Death and of Hell and offerest us now this Love through thy Sonne Jesus Christ in thy Fire-flaming Spirit that we should pray unto thee for it and thou wilt give it unto us 74. I poor unworthy Man acknowledge my self in◠〈…〉 worthy of it But seeing thou hast manifested or revealed 〈…〉 in our assumed Humanity and callest therewith the poor * Luke 19.10 1 Joh. 4.2 3. 2 John 7. lost Sinners And art* Come in the Flesh so that thou wilt seek them in their Sinnes and Miseries and thereby deliver them from Sinne and save them as thy Word teacheth us this Therefore come I upon the invitation of thy Word and receive thy Word and truth in my Heart and Soul and Comprehend it in me as thy Free-Gift and pray thee O thou Fire-flaming Love of God in the Covenant of JESUS CHRIST freely given to us poor thirsty Soules kindle also my poor Soul with this Love that it may attain a New Life and Will and become delivered out of its Prison and Captivity of thy Anger and out of the Jawes of Death 75. O thou fiery Love of God thou who hast in our Humanity broken Death and destroyed Hell and brought forth our Souls victory in Christ through Death Thou who hast at †Acts 2. the holy Pentecost moved in the Apostles Mouths and Hearts in fiery flames and kindled all thy Saints and done thy Miracles or Works of Wonder by them Thou that lovest and preservest the whole World and all thy Creatures To THEE I come and give my self wholly into thee 76. O thou great Fountain of God Open thy self also in the Spirit of my Inwardnesse and kindle also in me the Fire of thy Love so that my Spirit may burn in thy Love and acknowledge and praise thee therein 77. O thou great Holinesse through the Merits of my Saviour JESUS CHRIST through his Bloud and Death I presse in me to thee and give my self up into thy Flame Through his Resurrection and Ascention or going to Heaven I bring my Will into thee and give it up to thee totally and altogether Doe thou with it how thou wilt Doe but deliver it from false or wicked Lust and break its power that it may only look upon thee 78. O thou holy Power