endeauour euen to rent our hearts and to be truly humbled before the Lord with godly sorrow 10. Qu. How shall wee bring our hearts to this heart-renting sorrow An. The remembrance of Gods great kindnesse and our owne wretched vnthankefulnesse but especially our looking vpon Iesus Christ pierced for our sinnes Zach. 12.10 and seriously considering what he endured to redeeme vs from death 2. Cor. 7.10 are chiefe meanes to bring vs to this godly sorrow causing repentance not to be repented of 11. Qu. What may we expect vpon this humiliation A. If being thus humbled in our selues we shall repaire to God and as in Dan. 9. EZra 9. and Nehem. 9. we haue presidents shall penitently confesse our sinnes with hearty prayer to God for pardon and grace and with a thorough resolution to forsake all our euill wayes and henceforth to liue in obedience to Gods holy will we may haue assurance that our sinnes are pardoned and shall finde grace renewed in our hearts to make vs to performe what wee haue resolued and promised 12. Qu. How serueth the outward ceremonies of rest and abstinence to this inward substance An. The bodily exercise of Rest and Abstinence is of profitable vse 1. In respect of time which is thereby gayned for the better dispatch without distraction of such holy duties 2. For the duties themselues whereunto these outward obseruances serue more or lesse either as signes to testifie or as helps to further our humiliation prayer and true repentance Adde here that for the better examination of our hearts and liues as is required in the ninth Question it may bee fit for people who are more ignorant to take a view of the explication made by M. Perkins of the breaches of the seuerall Precepts in his little Treatise of the nature and practise of repentance as also it will be expedient for the same purpose to obserue as keyes to open vnto vs the more full knowledge of the Commaundements the Rules set downe in the section following F. SIxe generall Rules for the better vnderstanding of the true meaning due extent and binding power of the ten Commaundements for the better discouering of the knowledge of sinne according to that ground of truth and definition of sinne set downe by S. Iohn 1. IOHN 3.4 Whosoeuer committeth sin transgresseth also the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For Sinne is the transgression of the Law THE Rules are these following 1. Where any a Mat. 15.4 and 4.10 duty is enioyned the contrary sinne is forbidden and where any b Eph 4.28 1. Thes 4 3.4 5. sinne is forbidden the contrary duty is required 2. Vnder one maine c 1. Ioh. 3.15 duty or crime expresly mentioned all degrees and branches of the same kinde are either commaunded or forbidden together with all d Pro 23.31 1. Thes 5.22 occasions or means furthering thereto and all effects signes or proper consequents of the same 3. The Precepts being giuen generally doe binde all estates and persons without exception e Rom. 3.19 Col. 3.25 both themselues to keepe them as also to take heede how they make themselues f 1 Tim. 5.22 Ephes 5.11 Rom. 1.31 accessaries to others breaking of them 4. None can g Iam. 4.12 dispence with any Commandement but God onely nor can any h Gen. 22.2 Exod. 12.35 36. breake them without sinne except by Gods speciall warrant to the contrary nor can any be held i Iam. 2.10 Psal 119.6 Luk. 18.21 22. conscionably to obserue any of them that hath not a due respect to all of them 5. The least breach of any precept is k 1 Ioh. 3.4 sinne and in it selfe l Rom. 6.23 mortall deseruing euerlasting wrath yet in each Commandement are different m Math. 5.22 Math. 7.2 degrees of sinne and the breaches of the Cōmandements of the n Mat. 22.38 1. Sam. 2.25 first table greater comparing them in a lik◠degree then of the second 6. One and the same duty or crime may be in different respects referred to o Pro. 25.18 Mal. 3.5 diuers Commandements and the breach principally of one table be in other respects the breach also of the other The Scriptures cited in the margent being well considered may giue some light for the iustifying and clearing of these Rules propounded G. THe knowledge of the Law hauing a two-fold vse the one to humble vs by sight of sinne vnto repentance and the other to guide vs being qualified by the Gospell in the way of righteousnesse Concerning the practise and power of the former of these two viz. repentance wee may take it briefely in these words of Salomon PRO. 28. 13. He that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall finde mercie 14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes but hee that hardeneth his heart shall fall into euill Agreeing whereunto see those counsels and comforts annexed Jsai 55.6 7 8. Seeke ye the Lord whilst c. Isa 1.16.17 18 19. Wash you make you cleane c. As also that excellent place 2. Cor. 7.10.11 where are set downe the seauen properties of true repentance an exposition whereof may be found in that plaine but profitable and powerfull Sermon of Repentance made by M. Dent which together with his booke of the Plaine Mans Path-way deserue to be recommended to ignorant persons and all yong beginners in the wayes of godlinesse to awaken them vp to some light and loue of life and saluation H. FOr further encouragement hereunto let vs lay vp in our hearts the tenour of the new and comfortable couenant of grace with the stipulation on our part by GOD required EZEK 36. 25. Then wil I sprinkle cleane water vpon you and yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse and from all your Idols will I cleanse you 26. A new heart also will I giue you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stonie heart out of your flesh and I will giue you a heart of flesh 27. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keepe my iudgements and doe them 28. And yee shall dwell in the land that I gaue vnto your Fathers and ye shall be my people and I will bee your GOD. After which followeth the stipulation or condition on our parts required 31. Then shall ye remember your owne wicked wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selues in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations 32. Be it knowne vnto you that I doe not this for your sakes saith the Lord therefore be ashamed and confounded for your owne wayes O house of Israel The summe of which said couenant see also excellently expressed by the Prophet Ieremie Ier. 31 33 34. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will make a new couenant c. And againe Ier. 32.38 39 40 41. And they
Lord thy God require of thee c. Mica 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good c. Eccles. 12.13.14 Let vs heare the conclusion of the whole matter c. All which as they prescribe what God expecteth yeelding reason to moue vs to be thereof carefull so do they also administer both motiues and matter of prayer to make vs earnest with God for his strength and grace to enable vs for a meete performance B. THe sinners suite or Dauids repentant Prayer after his fall for himselfe and the Church not vnfit to be vsed in our daily deuotion in regard of our continuall failing in the precedent duties PSAL. 51. 1. Haue mercy vpon me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgressions 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinne 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sinne is euer before me 4. Against thee thee only haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight that thou mayest be iustified when thou speakest and be cleare when thou iudgest 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue me 6. Behold thou louest truth in the inward affections and hast made mee to know wisedome in the secret of my heart 7. Purge me with a That is with the bloud of Christ sprinkled on my leaprous soule by the holy spirit Dauid for the strēgthning of his faith alluding to that ceremonie in cleansing the Leaper Leuit 14.67 As see 1. Pet. 1.2 1. Cor. 6.11 Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow 8. Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9. Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine iniquities 10. Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me 12. Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free spirit 13. Then will I teach transgressours thy wayes and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee 14. Deliuer me from b That is the guilt of bloud being the particular sinne that mostwounded Dauids conscience as we vnder this terme may pray against that particular sin which woundeth vs most is to vs as bloud was to Dauid bloud O God thou God of my saluation and my tongue shall sing aloude of thy righteousnes 15. O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise 16. For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offrings 17. The sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O God thou wilt not despise 18 Be fauorable for thy good pleasure vnto Sion build thou the walls of Hierusalem 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with c These Dauid mētioneth according to the condition of those times answering whereto are now the holy ministery of the word the Sacramēts with prayer praises thanksgiuing As see Hos 14. 2. Heb. 13.15 burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar And now to direct and encourage vs to this continuall duty of holy prayer one most vsefull forme to furnish vs both for words and matter whereunto may be as I conceiue this blessed Psalme to that end proposed take notice farther of these prescripts promises and presidents Math. 7.7 8. Aske and it shall be giuen you c. Psal 50.15 Call vpon mee in the day of trouble c. Rom. 8.26.27 Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities c. Jsai 65.24 Yea before they call I will answere c. Dan. 9.20.21 And while I was speaking and praying c. Ver. 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the Commandement came forth c. All assuring vs of Gods readines to heare when euer by his grace he stirreth our hearts to pray whereby wee may euen prophesie of the successe of our desires according to that acknowledgement Psal 10.17 O Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou preparest their hearts and then causest thine eare to heare C. DAuids blessed man pointing out yet more particularly the right path to life in renouncing euill wayes and cleauing vnto Gods word PSAL. 1.1.2 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the vngodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seate of the scornfull 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day night Agreeing hereunto see likewise Iob 22.21.22.23 Acquaint now thy selfe with God and be at peace c. Ephesi 5.8 11. Yee were darknesse but now are light in the Lord walke as children of the light And haue no fellowship c. As also Psal 119.1.2.3 26.4.5.6 All warning vs if euer we would be happy aboue all to flye as wee are still in Scripture warned the contagion of ill company Pro. 1.10.4.14.23.20 that fixing our delight vpon Gods law 2. Cor. 6.14 we may entertaine familiarity and fellowship with the Lord our both Sunne and shield Psal 84.11 Psal 16 11 in whose presence is fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore D. THe Doctrine and vse of the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper together with an adioyned direction for a meete preparation thereunto deliuered by St. Paul 1. COR. 11. 23. For I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also deliuered vnto you that the Lord Iesus in the same night that he was betrayed tooke bread 24. And when hee had giuen thankes hee brake it and said Take eate this is my body which is broken for you this doe in remembrance of me 25. After the same manner also he tooke the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud this do yee as often as yee drink it in remembrance of me 26. For as often as ye eate this Bread and drinke this Cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come 27. Wherefore whosoeuer shall eate this Bread and drinke this Cup of the Lord vnworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this Bread drink of this Cup. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation or iudgement to himselfe not discerning the Lords body THe direction for preparation in the twelue questions following 1. Quest How may a Christian fit himselfe for the Lords Table A. He must consider 1. why 2. how he shold come thereunto 2. Q. Why is he to come An. In obedience to Christs commandement who hath bidden vs so to doe in remembrance of him 3. Q. What profit may hee expect hereby to make him come willingly A. He is called
perfect heart and a willing minde that thou mayest blesse him and his Throne for euer Blesse also our gracious Queene and giue her an vnderstanding heart to knowe the Truth and with Mary to chuse the better part that she may bee an helper also and furtherer of thy glory Blesse the rest of the Royall Familie the Counsell Ministery and Magistracy in this whole Land and all that haue place of command charge or gouerment ouer others in the Church or Common-wealth Particularly O Lord blesse we beseech thee all our Kindred and Friends and specially vs of this Family that we may liue in thy feare and bee blessed with all things necessary both for our soules and for our comfort in this present life And now as thou hast added this day vnto the dayes past of our life Lord adde our repentance wee beseech thee vnto the day and let vs rest in peace this night vnder the shaddow of thy winges that being refreshed by thy good blessing of sleepe which our beds cannot giue vs but thou O Lord who giuest thy beloued rest we may be inabled the better to serue thee in our callings the day following to thy glory for others good and our owne comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we conclude our prayers as himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A priuate Prayer framed for the most part out of the precedent Scriptures and especially the 51. Psalme O Lord God mercifull and gracious that forgiuest iniquity and yet wilt by no meanes cleare the guilty I thine vnworthy and sinfull Seruant am bold to come before thee in confidence of thy mercy but with all humble and free acknowledgement that I am greeuously guilty and that by reason of the sinne both of my nature and life For I was shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did my Mother conceiue mee And this sinne wherein I was conceiued enough of it selfe to condemne me hath bene too to fruitfull in bringing foorth both sinnes of Omission and Commission in the whole course of my life whereby it hath come to passe that I haue neither denyed vngodlinesse and worldly lustes nor liued soberly righteously and godly in this present world I haue not knowne thee my God so much as I might nor serued thee so well as I ought but haue greatly failed euen in the most principall duties not Reading thy Word so diligently not hearing it so heedfully not receiuing the Sacrament so preparedly not keeping the Sabbath so conscionably not calling vpon thy Name so often and earnestly as I should haue done much lesse haue I regarded that extraordinary seruice of Fasting and humiliation though so many weightie occasions both publique and priuate haue called vpon mee for it And when I haue at any time performed these duties it hath not beene with so perfect an heart and so willing a minde as thou requirest but there hath bene much both heauinesse and hypocrisie in my best Deuotions I haue too to much distasted and shunned the narrow way not walking in my Calling so faithfully not vsing Recreation so moderately nor thy Creatures so soberly and inoffensiuely nor carrying my selfe towards my Neighbour for the good both of his soule and body and state so religiously Charitably and iustly as it had beene meet I should But besides this want of delighting in thy Law and holy duties I haue committed many grieuous sinnes against thy Maiestie following very fearefully especially in the time of You h and ignorance both the Company and the Counsels and the Courses of Wicked men and so instead of bringing forth the holy and pleasing fruites of the Spirit haue wrought and brought foorth the fiâ—thy and noysome workes of the Flesh Yea O Lord against thee against thee haue I sinned and besides Common euils an guilty as holy Dauid of bloud of some notorious and speciall prouocations Nor haue I beene thus sinnefull O Lord for want of instruction and meanes to be better for thou hast taught me wisdome and made known thy Word vnto me wherby I might haue bin cleansed and amended but it is because I haue wanted care haue not taken heede to my wayes according vnto thy Word nor laid vp that word of thine in my heart whereby I might haue beene kept from sinning against thee So that I can by no meanes iustifie my selfe nay O Lord I am so farre from that that say what thou wilt against mee in thy Word lay what thou wilt vpon me with thy Hand I doe freely confesse Thou shalt be iustified when thou speakest and cleare when thou iudgest Neuerthelesse O gracious Father since thou hast proclaimed thy selfe to be a God that pardonest iniquitie and transgression and sinne Let me finde grace I beseech thee in thy sight and pardon my iniquitie and my sinne I haue nothing to plead for my selfe but Haue mercy on me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions I cannot deny O Lord but I am a great Sinner but I know that the bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne Purge me therefore with that Hyssop and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then the Snow So make me to heare the voyce of ioy and gladnesse that my heart afflicted with sinne may reioyce in thee It s true O Lord thou art a GOD that doest by no meanes cleare the guilty yet haue mercy on mee while by this meanes the guilt of sinne is remoued from me Nor doe thou onely Hide thy face from my sinne O Lord and blot out all my iniquitie but together with the guilt of sinne take away the filthinesse likewise Wash mee throughly from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sinne yea Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Vouchsafe vnto mee the benefit of the new Couenant of grace working that grace in me that thou requirest of me Take away more and more the stony heart out of my flesh and giue me an heart of flesh that so I may remember my former euill wayes and my doings that were not good and loath my selfe in my owne sight for my iniquities and my abominations Together with this Repentance yea that I may haue this Repentance worke in mee that Faith whereby the House of Israel enquires after thee and whereby I a wretched Sinner finding my selfe heauy laden may so come vnto thee as to haue ease from thee And because none shall haue mercy but hee that forsaketh his sinne as well as confesses it Giue me so much grace as to forsake my wicked wayes yea and all my vnrighteous thoughts that so thou mayest haue mercy on me and abundantly pardon mee And because forsaking of sinne is not enough neither without returning vnto thee my Lord and my God make mee I beseech thee to goe in the pathes of thy Commandements and so put thy Spirit within me as to cause mee to walke