THE CONDVIT of Comfort Containing sundrie comfortable Prayers to the strengthening of the faith of a weak Christian. By Abr. Fleming The fifth Jmpression Printed at London by A. M. and are to be sold by Fr. Groue at his shop without Newgate 1624. To the Christian Reader TO auoyd all doubt of deceit Christian Reader which might bee thought to lie lurking vnder this glorious title The Conduit of Comfort we will make an Anatomie of this Encheridion or Manuel opening the very body laying out the bowels thereof before the eyes of thy iudgement Note therefore euery member for thy full satisfaction as followeth The Anatomie of this Manuell The Conduit of Comfort The Contemplation of a Christian. The Lords Prayer expounded by Sentence and Example The Common Creed expounded by Sentence and Example The Ten Commandements expounded by Sentence and Example The Appurtenances to this Conduit The Cesterne is Conscience The Pipe is Peace The Locke is Loue. The Key is Knowledge THE CONDVIT OF COMFORT A Morning Prayer for a Family MOst gratious God and omnipotent Father which dost from the Throne of thy grace behold all the wickednesse of mortall Men pardon wee beseech thee our most lamentable and grieuous sinnes and wash them away by the precious blood of thy most blessed Sonne Christ Iesus who dyed to saue vs sinful men of which sort we are the most miserable and wicked We giue thee most hearty thankes O Lord that thou hast brought vs safe to the beginning of this day and raysed vs from the sinne of Sloth and Ignorance and grant O Lord that wee may so spend this day that it may be most to thy glory the comfort of our owne Soules giue vs grace most heauenly Father that wee may follow our vocations wherevnto thou hast called vs and that we may doe alwayes those things which may bee righteous in thy sight Graunt these our humble petitions most heauenly Father all things necessary for vs for thy deere Sonnes sake Christ Iesus to whom with thee and the blessed Trinity be all Honour and Glory both now and for euer more Amen An Euening Prayer for a Familie OH Euerlasting Lord God and mercifull Father wee thy poore and wretched Creatures from the bottome of our hearts giue thee most humble and hearty thankes that of thy mercy thou hast vouchsafed to nourish vs with thy goodnesse by thy power preserued vs from all dangers and perils that might haue befalne vs this day yea and at all times of our life heeretofore We most humbly beseech thee in the merits of thy Sonn Christ Iesus our blessed Lord and Sauiour not to respect our vnworthynesse but in his graue to bury our misdeeds which we either wittingly or ignorantly haue done Especially those sins which this day we haue commited against thy diuine Maiesty either in thought word or deed O Lord bee mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs the euill that we haue committed and supply the good which wee haue omitted Lord restore what we haue lost lighten our darknesse and alter the whole course of our mindes that nothing may bee wanting in vs to the setting forth of thy prayse Wée beseech thee O Lord according to thy goodnesse to defend vs this night from all perills and dangers keepe vs from feareful dreames and vaine cogitations preserue our bodies from eternall death and our soules from euerlasting damnation Grant these things O Lord and all other thy graces requisite for vs euen for thy Son Christ Iesus sake In whose name we conclude this our vnworthy prayer in that forme of prayer which hée in his Gospell hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the obtaining of Grace In this wicked world O Christ whiles I liue To gouerne and guide me thy spirit of grace giue WOrship Praise Honour Glory Maiestie be giuen vnto thee O God my Creator to thée O Christ my Redéemer and to thee O holy Ghost my Sanctifier for all the blessings of thy grace most plentifully powred vpon mee for my election my Creation my Redemption my sanctification and for all other thy good giftes and benefites beséeching thée O swéet Sauiour that as by thy bitter death and passion the power of sinne was suppressed the concupiscence of the flesh subdued the wickednes of the world asswaged and the maliciousnesse of Satan quenched so it would please thee to ouer-shadow mee with the Shield of thy fauour that I a painefull pilgrim and weary wanderer in the world may passe my pilgrimage in peace of conscience comforting me with the hope of thy promises which wilt canst refresh the fainting soule and restore it when it is attainted with any dāgerous disease O Christ my Phisician so prepare the thoughts of my heart vnto thee that I may be swallowed vp in the contemplation of Heauen and heauenly ioyes not regarding the vanities of this world which are but baits and snares to intangle vs and to make vs lothsome in thy sight Giue me grace O thou Son of Dauid to liue in the world as ready to leaue the world Let the world continue as thou diddest make it euen a seruant for the maintenance of men and not a soueraign to rule and haue them at commandement And because thy Kingdome O Christ is not of this world giue me I beséech thee such a renewed heart such a sanctified soule such a godly desire and such an earnest endeauour to do thy wil that I contemning this wicked world with all the transitory pleasures of the same may raigne with thee in thy kingdome purchased for the faithful euen by thy precious Blood Death Passion Graunt this O Christ my Mediator at the appointed time of thy good will and pleasure Amen A Prayer for thankefulnesse to God for his gifts For Wisedome and Wealth with other gifts more Lord giue me the grace To thanke thee therefore IEsus Christ thou which art the Wisedome of thy Father I thy poore creature sometimes a slaue to sinne and a firebrand of Hell but now a child of election and grace as I hope and constantly beleeue giue thee hearty thanks for thy goodnesse diuers and sundry wayes testified vnto mée And because it hath pleased thee to be so bountifull as to endue mée with Wisedome whereas thou mightest haue made mée a senselesse and vnreasonable creature beside that blessed me with worldly wealth I beséech thee be so gracious vnto me as to shew me the way how to vse this Wisedome to thy glory and the comfort of other not boasting therein because it is thy free gift nor abusing it because it is thy blessing Also O swéete Sauiour and Sonne of the eternall God because wealth without thée is but wretchednesse riches pouerty and all earthly pleasures but méere miseries I beséech thée to shine into my heart with the bright beames of thy Spirit that I may like a faithfull Steward not only dispose and lay out the talent which thou hast lent me but also
in heart and mind with the sweetenesse of thy word wherein the comfortable promises of life saluation are conteined that wee may exercise our selues therein day and night that wee may reuerently vse it as the healthfull foode of our soules that we may bring vp our children seruants in the knowledge of the same being fully perswaded that there is nothing in the world comparable thereunto for it exceedeth al treasure whē al things are consumed thy word shall continue in glory brightnesse perfection O Lord heare our praiers and for the honour of thy name heare the suites of thy poore seruants euen for thy beloued Sonne his sake Iesus Christ our Sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost one Deitie in Trinitie be all laude honour prayse dominion power glory and maiestie both now and world without end Amen The Contemplation of a Christian. The misery of euery man Through Satans guile by sinne began But Christ vouchsaft mans thrall t' asswage His power supprest old Satans rage WHen Sinne had blemished the happy estate of our first Parents their whole race felt the smart of their punnishment and are at this day subiect vnto miserie Iniquitie made a gappe for many calamities sundry kinds of sicknesses manifold maladies infinite tribulations which we had neuer tasted if our first Parents had not offended Lamentable is our case by theire meanes for the Lord of life hath punished their sins in their posteritie by degrees of generaons throughout many ages Little hope of health is in our selues nay there is in vs no hope of saluation at all for by the subtiltie of Satan sinne got dominion ouer vs by sin death Iustly therefore are we subiect to so many miseries in that we feele the heauy hand of God laying load vpon vs it is for our offences and our disordered life According as our deserts haue beene so GOD hath dealt with vs nay he hath handled vs far better then we deserued who by nature are the children of wrath and confusion Most mercifully hath he looked vpon vs and of his plentifull compassion hee sent his boloued Sonne Christ Iesus into the world that he by his bloodshed might worke our releasement Like reprobates and condemned persons wee had been plunged into the déep pit of hell had not the death of Christ made full satisfaction for vs wrought our Redemption A Lion of the tribe of Iuda a brāch springing from the stocke of Iesse pittying vs poore desolate soules by the vertue of his power suppressed Satans rage Maruelous mightily did he vanquish the Diuel our mortall enemy who intended our destruction and vtter ouerthrow had not he in time brought our deliuerance to passe Be ioyfull therefore all nations and lift vp your heads extoll this Lambe of God whose innocencie tooke away our iniquitie and whose heauinesse was our hapinesse Euerlasting prayse and thankes be ascribed vnto his name by whose death we are receiued to life yea to eternall life O prayse his glorious name for euer Amen Death ouer vs possest such power That meanes he sought vs to deuower But Iesus Christ did set vs free To whom all prayse and thankes giue wee WEe are iustly subiect vnto death for death is the reward of sinne and iniquitie Iniquitie hath changed our order of creatiō which was perfect and Angeilcal Life vnto vs through sinne is turned vnto death and the mercy of God into iudgement Lord haue mercy vpon vs for in vs there is no hope of health for Death hath power ouer vs. Increase of new calamities doe light vpon vs dayly and we see our selues forsaken Among our enemies we walke continually euen in the face of the Flesh the World and the Diuell Miserable were wee if Iesus Christ with the shield of safetie should not ouershadow vs. Little should wee differ from the children of wrath nay our case were as comfortlesse as theirs A most mercifull Sauiour art thou O Christ A most mercifull Redeemer and Aduocate Make vs thankfull vnto thee for thy goodnesse for thou didst set vs free from all misfortune Blessed be thy name and great be thy glory through out all the world for this thy kindnesse Early late thou art to be praysed yea in the assemblies cōgregations of the faythfull righteous thou in thy greatnes O God shalt be gloryfied Amen The World is vaine and all therein Yea man is vile because of sinne Yet Iesus Christ redeemed all To Death and Hell that were in thrall WOe be to this world for it is as vaine as smoke yea it is more vaine then vanitie it selfe In riches there is shame and in pleasure there is punishment because of sinne and iniquitie Like a dreame is the life of man his dayes are but a spanne long and his time tarryeth not Like a Fansie or a May-game which hath but an houres delight recreatiō In the world there is nothing more common then wickednesse in the world there is no goodnesse Al are bent vnto mischiefe and villanie the sonnes of men haue set their heartes vpon euill Mightie men and poore slaues all haue troden the path of sinne and vanitie is in all their wayes Like Sheepe without a Shepheard they are gone astray and had beene lost if Christ had not holpen All were in the mouth of Hell gates and had sunke in their owne shame and destruction Miserably had they perished if that good shepheard of our soules had not taken vpon him our deliuerance Bring Frankinsence vnto his Altas O ye people prayse him who is prayse worthy for his power and magnificence Enter into his Temple and Sanctuary sing songs all with one consent to the honour of his name for all the benefits and goodnesse which hee hath plentifully bestowed vpon vs at all times let al the faithfull answer and say Amen Gods prouidence is wonderfull He shewes himselfe most merciful In all our wayes defending vs And by his grace amending vs. WIthout th' assistance of Gods spirit miserable were the condition of all mankind yea most miserable In sinne we are conceiued in sin we are brought vp and the whole course of our life is full of iniquitie Like a menstruous cloth so is our conuersotion in the sight of God and his holy Angels Like a filthy and loathsome Sinke so is our behauiour before the face of the faithfull Iudgment is more méete for vs then mercy yet it hath pleafed God to deale with vs in mercy And that doth daily experience testifie for we sée manifest proofes of his prouidence Meate and cloathing and whatsoeuer is necessary toward the maintenance of man he hath giuen vs. Like a Father he tendereth vs and esteemeth vs as Children begotten a new by free Grace As a Henue hoouering ouer her Chickens so doth he defend vs in all our wayes day by day Mercie is on his right hand Mercie goeth before him and vpon Mercy is the seate of his Maiestie built Be glad therefore
the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1.3 Thou Lord in the begining hast stablished th' earth and the heauens are the works of thine hands Psal. 102.25 Heb. 1.10 Haue we not all one Father Hath not one GOD made vs Malach. 2.10 By the word of the Lord were the heauens made and all the hoast of them by the breath of his mouth Psal 33.6 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. THere is but one GOD which is the Father of whom are all things and we in him And one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1. Cor. 8 6. If we walke in the light as he is in the light we haue fellowship one with another Christ with vs and we with our selues the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth vs from all our sinnes 1. Ioh. 1.7 Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknes and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne in whom wée haue redemption through his blood that is the forgiuenesse of sinnes Colos. 1.13.14 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am wel pleased Math. 3.17 3. Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary BVt when the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his Sonne made of a woman made vnder the Law or subiect to the law that he might redéeme them which were vnder the Law that wee might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Galat. 4.4.5 And the Word was made flesh Christ was formed and made man by the operation of the holy Ghost without the working of man and dwelt among vs and we saw the glory thereof as the glorie of the onely begotten sonne of the Father full of grace and truth Ioh. 1.14 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thée This was spoken to Mary and the power of the most high shal ouershadow thée it shall be a secret operation of the holy Ghost therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thée shall be called the Sonne of God Hee must be without sinne which must take away sinne Luke 1.35 Behold a Virgin shal be with child and shal beare a Sonne and they shall call his name Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs. Matth. 1.23 Esaie 7.14 When Marie was betrothed to Ioseph before they came togeather before he tooke her home to him she was found with Child by the holy Ghost Math. 1.18 4. Suffred vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead buried and descended into Hell FOr Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the trée that we being deliuered from sinne should liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed 1. Pet. 2.21.24 They scourged Iesus they stripped him they put vpon him a Scarlet robe to deride and mocke him because he called himselfe a King they gaue him Vineger to drinke mingled with Gall to open his veines so to hasten his death this was giuen him hanging vpon the crosse they crucified him betwéen two théeues they cast lots for the parting of his garments they set a scornefull writing ouer his head they reuiled him ceassed not till he gaue vp the Ghost Matth. 27.26 28 29 30 34 35 37 50. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane Linnen cloth and put it in his new Tombe Christs burying doth so much the more verifie his death and resurrection which he had heawen in a rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the sepulchre and departed Matth. 27.59 60. I know that ye seeke Iesus which was crucified he is not heere for he is risen as he sayd Come see the place where the Lord was layd c. Matth. 28.5.6 God made him to be sinn for vs which knew no sinne a sacrifice for sinne that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him By inputation when wee shall bee clad with Christes righteousnesse 2. Cor. 5.21 Hee destroyed through death him that had the power of death that is the Diuell and that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death and Gods anger were all their life time subiect to bondage Heb. 2.14.15 Christ hath abolished death brought life and immortalitie to light through the Gospell 2. Tim. 1.10 Death is swallowed vp in victory O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.55 5. And the third day he rose againe from the dead IEsus Christ was deliuered to death for our sinnes and is risen againe for our iustification to accomplish and make perfect our iustification Rom. 4.25 Goe quickly and tell his Disciples that he is risen from the dead and behold he goeth before you into Galilie there ye shall see him loe I haue told you The Angell assureth the women that come to see Christes Sepulchre of his resurrection Math. 28.7 Mark 16.6.7 Luke 24.6 Joh 1 20.1 Act 1.21.22 But now Christ is risen from the dead was made the first fruites of them that sleept by his resurrection being the first we are all assured of our resurrection 1 Cor. 15.20 Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will rise it vp againe This he meant of his body which should die and did rise againe the third day after his death Iohn 2.19.21 First of all I deliuered vnto you that which I receiued or learned by Gods worde how that Christ died for our sinnes according to the scriptures and that he was buried rose againe the third day and was seene of Cephas then of the twelue though Iudas wanted yet they were so called still after that of more then fiue hundred brethren at once c. 1. Cor. 15.3.4.5.6 6. He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie ANd it came to passe that as he blessed them he departed from them and was caried vp into heauen Luke 24.51 So after the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into Heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mark 16.19 And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken vp whereby they knew certainely whither he went for a cloude tooke him vp out of their sight Act. 1.9 It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for vs. Rom. 8.34 7. From thence he shall come againe to iudge the quike and the dead THis Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as ye haue séene him go into heauen euen the true Redeemer to gather vs vnto him Acts. 1.11 And when the Sonne of man commeth in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee fit vpon the throne of his glorie Math. 25.31 And then shall they see the Sonne of man comming in the cloudes with great power and glorie Mark 13.26 And when these thinges begin
to come to passe then looke vp and lift vp your heades for your redemption draweth neere The effect of that redemption shall appeare which Iesus Christ hath purchased Luk. 21.27.28 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghost GOe therefore and teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and the Sonne the holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father wil send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all thinges to your remembrance which I haue told you Iohn 14.26 This holy Ghost is called somtime The spirit of truth proceeding from the Father because hee worketh the truth in vs. Iohn 14.17 15.26 some time the Spirit of the Father speaking in his Ministers Matth. 10.20 sometime the Spirit of the Sonne Rom. 8.9 sometime the good Spirit Psal. 143.10 sometime an holy Oyntment 1. Iohn 2.20 sometime a Comforter Iohn 14.16 15.26 16.7 sometime the earnest of our Inheritaunce The holy Ghost is the gage or pledge of our second redemption which shall be at the possession of our inheritance in heaued Ephes. 1.14 somtime the earnest of the Spirit in our heartes 2. Cor. 1.22 No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 12.3 9. The holy Catholik Church the Communion of Saints CHrist loued his Church and gaue himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word Baptisme is a token of the Churches consecration that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle because it is couered and clad with his righteousnesse and holinesse that it should be holie and without blame Ephes. 5.27 I am the Rose of the field and the Lillie of the vallies like a Lillie among the thornes so is my Loue among the doughters c. Christ preferreth his Church aboue all other thinges Cant. 2.1.2 For other foundation can no man lay then that which is layd which is Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 3.11 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God that the spirit of God dwelleth in you 1. Cor. 3.16 In this Church are many members but one body in Christ Rom. 12.4.5 1 Cor. 6.15 Let vs follow the truth in loue and in al things grow vp into him which is the head that is Christ. Christ being head oâ— his Church nourisheth his members and ioyneth them togeather by ioynts c. Ephe. 4.15 Christ is the head of the body of the Church Col. 1.18 Now reioyce I in my sufferings for you or your commoditie and fulfil the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for Christ suffereth dayly in his members as partaker of their infirmities and therefore a reuenger of their iniuries for his body sake which is the Church Coloss. 1.24 the edification of the Church is heere ment There are many members but one body 1. Cor. 12 20. Now ye are the body of Christ and members for your part For all Churches dispersed throughout the world are diuers members of one bodie 1. Cor. 12.27 God is not the author of confusion but of peace as we see in all the Churches of the Saints 1. Cor. 14.33 10 The forgiuenes of sinnes WHose sinnes so euer ye remit they are remitted and whose sinnes soeuer ye retaine they are retained Iohn 20.23 He that shall beleeue and be baptised shall be saued but he that will not beléeue shal be damned Luk. 16.16 It behoued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached in his name among all nations Luk. 24.46.47 And GOD saw their workes that they turned from their euil wayes the fruites of their repentance proceeding of fayth planted by the Prophets preaching to the people of Niniueth and God repented of the euill that he had said that hee would doe vnto them and hee did it not Ionah 3.10 Stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the old way wherein the Patriarches and prophets walked directed by the word of God signifying that there is no true way but that which God prescribeth which is the good way and walke therein and ye shall finde rest for your soules Ierem. 6.16 11. The resuâ—rection of the body FOr since by Man came death by Man came also the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead 1. Cor. 15.21 Behold I shew you a secret thing We shall not all sleepe but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall blow and the dead shall be raysed vp incorruptible we shall be changed When the Lord commeth to iudgement some of the Saints shall be aliue whoÌ„ he will change euen as if they were dead so that this change shall be to them in stead of death 1. Cor. 15.51.52 The Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute and with the voice of Th'archangel and with the trumpet of God the dead in Christ shal rise first Then shall we which liue remaine euen we which are aliue or shall be then found liuing be brought vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the ayre and so shall wée be euer with the Lord. In this sodaine taking vp there shall be a kinde of change of the qualities of our body which shall be as a kind of death 1. Thes. 16.17 And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shal gather togeather his elect from the foure windes and from the one end of the heauen vnto the other c. Matth 24.31 And though after my skin Wormes destroy my body yet shall I sée God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall sée and mine eies shall behold and none other for me though my reines are consumed within mee Iobs full hope that both soule and body should enioy the presence of God in the last resurrection Iob. 19.26.27 I know that he shall rise againe in the resurrection at the last day The words of Martha to Iesus concerning dead Lazarus The errour of the Sadduces men marueilous quidditiue concerning the resurrection is here confuted Iohn 11.14 12. And the life euerlasting Amen I Am the resurrection and the life Christ restoreth vs from death to giue vs euerlasting life hée that beléeueth in me though he were dead yet shal he liue And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer die Iohn 11.25.26 I am the liuing bread which giue life to the world which came downe from heaven if any man eate of this bread hée shall liue for euer and the bread that I giue you is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world Iohn 9.51 Thou hast the wordes of eternall life Then without Christ there is but death for his word onely leadeth vs to life Joh. 6.68 This is the will of him that sent me that euery one which séeth