Members of it is Holy 1 Thess 4.7 2 Tim. 1.9 and 2.19 And I make no doubt but that according to his most gracious promise against this Church built upon the Rock of that Faith which St. Peter confessed in owning Jesus to be the Christ the Gates of Hell or the Power and Malice of the Devil and all his Agents shall not finally prevail Mat. 16.18 but that in it there will be in some part or other of the World a constant succession of Pastors to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 The Communion of Saints I do further believe that all Christians truly sanctified have Fellowship not only with God the Father the Son 1 Joh. 1.3 and the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 as dwelling in them Joh. 14.23 but are united with the Saints Rom. 1.7 Eph. 4.16 1 Joh. 1.7 on Earth the Living Members of Christ in Faith and Charity in Worship and Sacraments Acts 2.42 and 4.32 1 Cor. 12.26 Eph. 4.5 13. in Christian Assemblies Heb. 10.25 from which Assemblies those who wilfully withdraw whilest no sinful Conditions of Communion are really put upon them tho' through Pride and Prejudice and the Clamour of the Enemies of an Establishment it may be so suggested do make such a Schism Breach or Rent in the Body of the Church as becometh not the Members of it but is extreamly hurtful to Order Peace and Charity Rom. 16.17 1 Cor. 1.10 and 12.25 26. dishonourable to Religion and displeasing to Almighty God Gal. 5.20 21. Art X. The Forgiveness of Sins I do believe that not only all the Sins whatsoever any Person was guilty of before he was Baptized are forgiven unto him at his Baptism if he was duly qualified for the receiving of that Holy Ordinance Acts 2.38 and 22.16 but also that all the Sins that any Person shall commit after Baptism shall likewise upon his true Repentance be forgiven him by God Mar. 3.28 Luk. 24.47 for the sake of Christ's meritorious sacrifice once offered on the Cross Heb. 9.26 by which he made Atonement for the sins of the World Rom. 5.11 Col. 1.20 and 2.13 14. 1 Joh. 4.10 Art XI The Resurrection of the Body I do believe that as it is appointed for all Men once to die Heb. 9.27 so is it also determined That at the end of the World there shall be a general Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Act. 24.15 their Bodies however their Parts may before that be scartered or dissolved being by the Almighty Power of God raised again and re-united to their Souls Job 19. 26 27. never to be separated any more 1 Cor. 15.42 53. And that as all the just shall be raised to a Resurrection of Life so shall all the unjust to a Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5.29 Art XII And the Life Everlasting I do believe that at the general Resurrection of the Last Day all Men shall be rewarded according to their Deeds which they have done in their Bodies 2 Cor. 5.10 they that have done good shall go into Everlasting Life Mat. 25.46 a state of perfect Joy and Happiness for ever and they that have done evil into everlasting punishment Mat. 25.46 a state of unspeakable Woe and Misery where there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth to all Eternity Mat. 25.30 These are the Articles of the Faith of a Christian Man But if this Faith tho' never so firmly believed does not work by Love 1 Cor. 7.19 Gal. 5.6 and 6.15 it is vain it is dead it is such a Faith as the Devils have who believe and tremble but do not obey Therefore we go on to show those Christian Works or Duties which are the Fruits of True Faith and which together with the belief of Revealed Doctrine are called Faith or an Embracing the Gospel Mar. 16.16 Joh. 3.18 19. And this Faith God accounts through Christ as the Performance of the Condition on our part of the Covenant of Baptism Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 3.21 CHAP. II. Of the Things to be Practised by a Christian THE Duties belonging to a Christian Respect God our selves and our Neighbours Tit. 2.11 12. The Gospel offering Salvation to all Men upon the Terms of a Godly Sober and Righteous Life through the Merits of Christ Jesus Section I. Of Duties towards God to be practised by every one that believes in him Such Duties to God are to Love and Fear him to Repent and turn to him to Honour and Glorifie him and to Trust in and Rely upon him with Contentment Resignation and Thankfulness to God 1. To Love God God is the Chief Good and therefore he is to be loved both by the Approbation of the Mind and the Affection of the Heart and we are to Love him with all our Hearts and with all our Souls and to show we do so by Keeping his Commandments John 14.15 by chusing to suffer for his sake rather than to sin Heb. 11.25 by our delighting to converse with him in Prayer and Praises in Reading and Hearing his Word and Receiving the Sacrament esteeming with David One Day in his Courts better than a Thousand elsewhere Psal 84.10 And by our coming to those Spiritual Exercises with the same Earnestness as the panting Hart does to the Water-Brooks and with the same chearfulness of Mind though not always the same Sense of it as we go to visit our dearest Friends And Lastly by our longing Desire to Enjoy him in Glory not thinking the Labour and Service of our whole Lives too much towards the attaining that blessed State nor setting up our Rest on this side Heaven Heb. 11.16 but pressing and hastning towards it with Devout Affections and Holy Diligence being willing when God calls to go out of the World and patient to stay till he calls 2. To Fear God Fear is a very affecting and powerful Passion and is a most forcible means to hold us to our Duty and to restrain us from sin For how can he presume to offend by any wilful neglect of his Duty or by the commission of any known sin that considers either the Knowledge and Power of God or His Purity and hatred of Sin That He understands all our Thoughts hears all our Words discerns all our Actions as well secret as open Psal 139.1 to 17. and will as certainly punish all sin unrepented of as He hates and condemns it For as He is able to cast both body and soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 so he has declared That he will do it Mat. 25.41 2 Thes 1.8 Rev. 21.8 And therefore the Scripture requires that we should serve the Lord with Fear Ps 2.11 Heb. 12.28 But then this Fear is not servile or slavish that no longer restrains us from sin than the Rod is before us or held over us but Filial the Fear of a Child that is afraid of displeasing his Father because he is his Father and to whom he always pays as well as owes the greatest Reverence and Obedience 3. To Repent and Turn to God
is both a punisher of evil doers Rom. 2.9 and a rewarder of those that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 God hath threatned the Disobedient with fearful Judgments of all kinds outweighing all the short and brutal Pleasures of Sin Deut. 28.15 to v. 68. Psal 11.6 Rom. 2.9 and will at last say to the impenitent Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 He hath also encouraged all his Servants with Promises of very great Rewards Mark 10.30 Rom. 2.7 10. to which they may have an Eye Heb. 11.26 as being assured to them thro the Merits of his Son Rom. 8.17 1 John 5.11 And as he was gracious in making his Promises so he will be just in the performing of them To the Righteous he will deny no good thing Ps 84.11 Godliness hath the promise both of this Life and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 1 John 2.25 In this life God hath promised to true Christians Mercies both temporal and spiritual as for temporal Mercies he giveth them to his Children so far as they are convenient for them that they may be Blessings to them and not Snares and he hath assured those who love him that all things shall work together for good to them Rom. 8.28 He also blesseth them Eph. 1.3 with Spiritual Blessings in Christ. By his holy Spirit going along with the means of the Gospel and the sincere endeavours of Men he enlightens the Mind and heals the Will and moderates the Affections and sanctifies the whole Man He prevents evil he brings good out of it he gives grace to repent he vouchsafes pardon he works in us to will and to do whilst we work out our Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 13. He supports in trouble He sanctifies affliction He makes us able to resist temptation He sends deliverance in his time and way He gives that Peace which the World can neither give nor take away He makes a Man happy both in Life and Death After Death he delivers him from the insupportable Miseries of Hell and rewards his mean and temporary Services with Life everlasting 1 John 2.25 He giveth not only Grace but Glory even the eternal Glory of Heaven Eph. 4.7 1 Thes 2.12 He receiveth the Souls of the Faithful into Joy and Felicity after they are delivered from the burthen of the Flesh 2 Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 And at the great day of Judgment he raiseth this Mortal Body and maketh it like to Christs Glorious Body Phil. 3.21 and uniteth it to the Soul and causeth the whole Person to be entirely happy for ever and ever Eye hath not seen 1 Cor. 2.9 neither hath Ear heard nor hath it entered into the heart of Man fully to conceive the things which God hath prepared for those that love him and all this for performing but a reasonable Service Rom. 12.1 in which God also assists him Seeing now that the goodness of the End doth naturally quicken Man in the way and that God hath encouraged the Obedience of a Christian with such exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 it behoves him to abstain from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And then after he has had his Fruit unto holiness his End will be everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen CHAP. IV. Certain Forms of Devotion to be used either in a Family or in the Closet of a Christian A Prayer to be used at any time of the day especially in the Morning and Evening When this Prayer or any of the rest is used in a Family there needs only the change of the Person as We must be put instead of I Vs instead of Me Our instead of My Are instead of Am c. O Most Holy and Blessed Lord God the Great Creator of Heaven and Earth and the most merciful and gracious Father of Mankind in thy Son Christ Jesus It is of thy great Condescension that the Sons of Men may approach thy Presence who art Infinite in Majesty and Power and canst do what thou pleasest every where I that am miserable Dust and Ashes do humbly acknowledge the Duty which I owe thee both as I am thy Creature and as I am made a Member of the Body of thy Son I am ashamed when I call to mind my forgetfulness of thee and my Ingratitude to thee who have so often and so grievously sinned against thee in Thought Word and Deed by Ignorance Error and Presumption for which thou mightest justly cast me off for ever But Lord I repent be pleased to accept of my Repentance Lord I believe help my weak Belief Pardon all my sins that are past for the Merits of my dear Saviour and preserve me by thy Grace from offending thee for the time to come And when thou hast dealt thus graciously with my Soul be pleased to extend thy mercy to my Body also and give me such a supply of all things necessary for the support of it as thou in thy Wisdom shalt see most convenient And grant that I may use the Comforts of this Life with such Moderation and Sobriety that I may never forfeit the hopes of a better when this my Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved Remove far from me all Evil especially that great Evil of Sin And wheresoever thou seest me apt to fall thro' the weakness of my Corrupt Nature there let thy Strength be most graciously seen in my Preservation O Lord I beseech thee let not thine Anger Rise against me to punish me in this World Or if my sins have so far provoked thee that thou wilt not spare me altogether thy VVill be done only this I humbly beg by all the meritorious sufferings of thy dear Son that thou wilt deliver me from thy VVrath and from Everlasting Damnation and of thy great Goodness bring me to Life Eternal through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Extend thy Goodness not only to me a miserable sinner but to all mankind Let thy VVays be known upon Earth thy saving health among all Nations Be gracious to Christ's Vniversal Church more especially bless these Kingdoms and that part of thy Church which is planted in them And herein be particularly gracious to our Soveraign Lord the King Prolong his Days and prosper his Government over us Bless the Princess and all the Royal Family Give thy Grace to all the Nobility and Gentry and to all that are in Authority that Justice Mercy and Truth may flourish amongst us and there may be no Complaining in our Streets Bless all our Pastors and Teachers and prosper their Endeavours for the good of Souls Look down in Mercy upon all that are in Affliction give them an entire Resignation to thy holy Will and in thy due time send a happy End to all their Troubles Let it be good for them that they have been under thy Discipline Strengthen the Good
Church by Baptism pardon I beseech thee all my former Breaches of that holy Covenant which I was then entred into And now that I am going to renew my Baptismal Vows in my own Person so strengthen me with all the graces of thy Holy Spirit that I may make open Profession of thy Holy Religion at all times hereafter and speak and think and live as becomes a true Member of Christ Give me Grace to mortifie all my evil and corrupt Affections and daily to proceed in all vertue and godliness of living till I at last attain the end of my hopes even the Salvation of my Soul through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Holy Just and Gracious God it is of thy Mercy alone that I am not consumed and because thy Compassions fail not I have by my manifold Provocations deserved the utmost of thy wrath and indignation against me yet behold thou hast not only spared me but hast now also invited me to the renewing of that Holy Covenant which I have so often and so shamefully broken I am not worthy of that daily bread which sustains my bodily Life how then shall I dare to approach thy Holy Table to partake of that Bread of Life which thou hast prepared for the food of Pious and Holy souls O Lord it is true my guiltiness makes me tremble to come and yet it makes me not dare to stay away For where can my polluted Soul be washed but in the Fountain of thy Sons Blood That alone which was shed for the remission of sins can take away all its stains Hither therefore I come according to thy gracious Invitation and hope that my Person and Service may be accepted in thy beloved Son To that end do thou prepare my heart to draw nigh to thee Let thy Divine Spirit breath into my Soul such holy Thoughts and devout Affections as may become one who commemorates the death of the Son of God who was wounded for our Iniquities and bruised for our Transgressions O let my heart be deeply affected with such a sense of sin as may make me hate the very thoughts of every evil way for the future and chuse to endure any thing rather than to despise the riches of his love And while I remember the love of my Blessed Saviour in dying for me a Sinner may I never forget to exercise Charity towards all Men even Enemies as well as Friends Let every Grace be so confirmed and strengthened in me that I may serve thee sincerely and acceptably all the days of my Life perfecting Holiness in thy fear Fulfil O Gracious Lord all my Petitions and grant that I may be made Partaker of the benefits of Christ's most blessed Body and Blood here and of his glory hereafter through the merits of the same our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer at the Sacrament immediately before Receiving O Blessed Lord Jesus I remember with all humility and love and gratitude how thy Sacred Body was broken and thy Precious Blood poured out for sinners And I am now come to receive this Bread and this Wine which thou hast appointed as the Sacramental Representations of them O let that Sacrifice of thine which thou didst once make when thou didst offer up thy Sacred Body upon the Cross be effectual for the Salvation of my Soul and Body Here is that which my Soul longeth and thirsteth after O let me not be sent empty away Give me thy self and with thy self thy Holy Spirit to take possession of me and let me feel that it always dwells in me by those Heavenly Graces moving in my Soul which are the blessed fruits and effects of it Awaken mâ— Repentance encrease my Faith inflame my Charity Thankfulness and Devotion Make me a meet Partaker of thy Holy Supper here and of the Joâ—s of thy Kingdom hereafter through Christ Jesus Amen A Prayer after the Sacrament I Return unto thee O most gracious and glorious God all praise and thanks for thine infinite and inconceivable Mercies to us the Children of Men and especiall I desire to bless and magnify thy Holâ— Name for that wonderful love of thine in sending thy dear Son to die for Sinners and for that great Grace which thou hast now vouchsafed thy humble Servant in giving me a fresh assurance of an Interest in that precious Death by admitting me to partake of thy holy Sacrament ordained in remembrance of it O may I never forget what thou hast done for my Soul but carry the thoughts of it along with me to all the â—ctions of my life that it may be in me a Spring of entire obedience unto thee all the rest of my daâ—s This is indeed my unfeigned desire that may never break those Vows and Promises of a Holy Life which I have made to thee this day But I am afraid of my own treache ous Heart and the Assaults which will be made upon me by my spiritual Enemies least they should betray me into the breach of thy Holy Commandments O therefore let the assistance of thy holy Spirit be ever with me and the grace always prevent and follow me and then I trust I shall approve my self thy faithful Servant in all things and finish my course with joy With my own I desire the happiness of all Mankind that they who are still in darkness and in the shadow of Death may see the salvation of God and taste how Gracious thou art to Christians and that all those who are called by the Name of Christ may depart from Iniquity and adorn the Doctrine of Christ their Saviour in all things May we all glorifie thy Name in this World and live for ever to praise thee in the World to come through Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer to be used by or with or for a Sick Person Note that in this Prayer when used for another I must be changed to He She or We and Me to Him or Her and My to His or Her O Most Righteous and Merciful Lord the God of Health and of Sickness of Life and of Death I most humbly acknowledge the justice of thy present Visiation upon thy Servant whose Sins had long agoe deserved it from thee Yet since thou designest not the ruine but the amendment of those whom thou scourgest I beseech thee by thy Grace to sanctify this Correction to me that this sickness to my Body may be a means of health to my Soul Deliver Me from all frowardness and impatience under it and give me an entire resignation to thy Divine will If in thy good Providence thou hast appointed that I shall live longer upon Earth Lord bless all means that are uâ—ed for my recovery and give me grace to amend the rest of my Life and with good works to glorifie thy holy Name But if thou hast otherwise determined and this Sickness must be unto Death O fit and prepare me for it Wean my Heart from