Christs bodie and bloud in the Sacrament no foode for children but men in riper yeares that can examine themselues 6 Bread and wine are designed and set apart for the holy Communion Christs body and bloud designed and appointed by God for man his redemption and satisfaction 7 Bread and wine layed vpon the Communion table Christs body and bloud layed vpon the Altar of the crosse 8 Bread and wine consecrated by the Priest and exhibited to the Communicants Christs body and bloud consecrated by the eternall Spirit and offered to his Father 9 Bread broken wine poured out Christs body bruised and torne and his bloud poured out 10 Bread and wine giuen by the Minister Christs body and bloud giuen by the Father 11 Bread and wine taken into the hands of the faithfull Communicant Christs body and bloud receiued by faith and applyed 12 Bread and wine eaten and drunke with the mouth Christs body and bloud fed vpon in the heart 13 Bread and wine vnited to the substance of our body and made one with vs. Christs body and bloud vnited to vs made one with vs by an vnspeakable and inseparable coniunction 14 Bread and wine sustaine and nourish the body to a temporall life Christs body and bloud nourish and preserue body and soule to eternall life 15 Bread and wine increase the substance of one body Christs body and bloud worthily receiued increase faith and all spirituall graces in the soule Short pravers to be vsed in the very act of receiuing or a little before Lord make me a worthy partaker of these most holy mysteries Prepare me before Assist me in Comfort and confirme me after the receiuing of this heauenly foode Lord 1 Renew my repentance 2 Confirme my faith 3 Perfect my charitie 4 Increase my knowledge 5 Fasten my intention 6 Quicken my deuotion Lord giue me I humbly beseech thee 1 Sorrow for my sin 2 Thirst of thy grace 3 Knowledge in thy mysteries 4 Faith in thy promises 5 Loue to thy members 6 Thankfulnesse for this inestimable fauour thou vouchsafest me inbidding me to thine owne Table A short thanksgiuing after the Communion to be vsed in the seate or at the Lords Table GRacious Redeemer I most heartily thank thee for these pledges of thy loue and tokens of thy fauour and seales of the generall pardon for all my sins And I vow by the helpe of thy strengthening grace from henceforth euer to abstaine euen from all appearance of euill neuer willingly to offend thee in thought word or deed How shouâ—â—â— sinne against thee who hast died for me and washed my sinnes in thy bloud which I haue now receiued to my vnspeakable comfort Another Affect me with a taste of this heauenly food and continue the rellish of it in the mouth of my soule make me for euer hereafter loath the worlds delicacies the fleshes baites and the diuels morsels especially the forbidden fruite of c. Here name thy secret and bosome sinnes which thou hast bene last or most ouertaken with Another Welcome blessed and heauenly guest my dearest Lord and bountifull Sauiour I bow the knees of my heart vnto thee I put my hands vnder thy sacred feete pierced with nailes for me I lay downe before thee the keyes of my euerlasting doore Enter high Lord of heauen and earth take possession of all my inner roomes Comâ—â—nd and rule all the faculties of my soule and members of my body especially the hidden roome of my heart Liue and dwell with me here below by faith till I come to dwell with thee for euer aboue in heauen So bee it How is it that my Lord is come himselfe to visite me Can a sinfull man expect of God such grace much lesse deserue it Wilt thou conuerse with Publicans and such sinners as I am Nay wilt thou not onely eate with them but suffer thy selfe to be eaten of them I am astonished at this thy wonderfull humilitie and vnconceiueable loue Lord make me for euer mindfull of it thankfull for it Amen Glorie be to God on high on earth peace and eternall comfort in my conscience I am fed now with thy body and my heart is cheared with the cup of the new Testament in thy bloud Now I am incorporated into thy mysticall body and am made flesh of thy flesh bone of thy bone Lord let nothing be euer able to separate me from this but sith all things worke for the good of thy chosen let all things more and more vnite me to thee that I may grow from grace to grace and strength to strength till I come to the fuu measure of thy perfect age Amen I haue now eaten of this bread and drunke of this cup according to thine holy ordinance Lord grant that I may feele in my soule the effect of this spirituall refection by the confirming of my faith assurance of my hope enlargement of my loue and my increase in spirituall strength against all tentations At my conception and birth thou gauest me my selfe ô Lord and now according to thy promise in the Sacrament thou hast giuen me thy selfe and by faith I haue receiued thee I can do no lesse and I would I could do more then giue my selfe wholly vnto thee Refuse me not who hast giuen thy selfe for me and vnto me Take me into thy fauour and seruice Keepe mee in thy Church which is thy house continually and protect me against all my bodily and ghostly enemies A larger forme of Thanksgiuing after thou returnest to thy house or chamber from receiuing the Communion I Yeeld vnto thee ô most bountifull gracious and euerliuing Lord and Sauiour the greatest thanks my heart can conceiue or tongue expresse for this inestimable fauour that thou vouchsafest to bid me to thine owne Table and there hast feasted my soule with the true Manna that came downe from heauen the foode of Angels thine owne blessed body and bloud O knit my heart and affections for euer vnto thee who hast substantially and inseparably vnited thy selfe vnto mankind by taking flesh from vs in thine incarnation and giuing vs thy flesh in this sacred institution What shall be able to separate me from thee or from thy members who by thy Spirit and vertue of this Sacrament am truly incorporated into thee and made a member of thy mysticall body How can I question thy loue who hast giuen me this pledge of thy fauour How can I forget thy bitter death and passion whereof thou hast instituted so liuely a memoriall How can I doubt of thy promises whereof thou hast giuen such a seale How should I distrust my future inheritance whereof thou hast giuen me this earnest I know thou wilt denie me no good thing who hast giuen me thy selfe I know that I shall liue eternally and blessedly because by thy faith working in and through this Sacrament I receiue the seede of immortalitie I am truly made partaker of thy naturall yea and a liuely part
ye to the waters Isa. 55. 1. Giue vs euermore of this bread Ioh. 6. 34. For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drâ—nketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords bodie 1. Corinth 11. 29. I am the bread of life hee that cometh to me shall not hunger and he that belieueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Ephes. 3. 17. I will wash mine hands in innocencie and so will I go to thine altar ô God Psal. 26. 6. To the impure all things are impure Tit. 1. 15. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Math 5. 23. Leaue thou thy gift before the Altar and go thy way be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift ver 24. Wee being many are one bread and one bodie for we are all partakers of this one bread 1. Cor. 10. 17 A preparatory Hymne to bee vsed before or at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament wherein the deuout soule expresseth her a Desire of the foode of life b Hope that she shall obtaine it c Thankes for it a As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee ô God Psal. 42. 1. My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God ver 2. My soule thirsteth for thee my soule longeth for thee as a drie and thirstie land Psal. 63. 1. I will blesse thee while I liue I will lift vp my hands in thy Name ver 4. b My soule shall be satisfied with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with ioyfull lips ver 5. Thou preparest a table before me and my cup runneth ouer Ps. 23. 5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Psal 16. 5. I will take the cup of saluation call vpon the Name of the Lord Psal. 116. 13. c I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord now in the presence of all his people ver 14. I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiuing and will call vpon the name of the Lord ver 17. saying The Prayer before the Communion GRacious Redeemer who out of thy pierced side openedst to all that thirst for thy grace a double fountaine for sinne and vncleannesse the one of water the other of bloud the one to purge the guilt the other the filth of sinne and hast sealed these inestimable benefits of sanctification and redemption vnto all beleeuers by the Sacraments of Baptisme and of thy holy Supper assist me by thy Spirit in the sanctified vse of these holy Mysteries and Symholls of thy most blessed bodie and bloud Most louing bountifull Lord who hast prepared such a table for me giue me a mouth and stomacke according that I may worthily receiue these heauenly dainties to the glorie of thine infinite goodnesse and the euerlasting comfort of my soule Cleare the eyes of mine vnderstanding from all mists of hereticall fancies carnall imaginations that I may rightly distinguish the signes from the things signified by them and also discerne thy bodie from common meate Sharpen my appetite that I may hungrily feede vpon this bread of which whosoeuer eateth shall neuer hunger and stily drinke of this cup of which whosoeuer drinketh shall neuer thirst O thou true foode of my soule receiue me who am now to receiue thee Quicken me with thy Spirit who wilt feede me with thy flesh vouchsafe me thy grace who communicatest to me thy nature that as in and by these holy Mysteries I receiue life from thee so I may also receiue by them grace to liue to thee not seeking mine owne pleasure nor doing mine owne will but deuoting the remainder of my life to thy seruice and yeelding my selfe wholly to the power of thy sanctifying grace to worke in me alwaies that which is pleasing in thy sight So be it Amen Religious duties to be performed at the time of the receiuing the Communion 1. Prepare thy body by a decent gesture 2. Recollect thy mind and fixe thy thoughts wholly vpon this most sacred action stir vp in thee 3. Stirre vp in thee 1 An holy feare out of this consideration that God is there present in a speciall manner and his Angels attending on him and obseruing thee Say to thy selfe in the words of Iacoh O how fearefull is this place it is no other then the house of God and gate of heauen 2 An holy astonishment or admiration out of this consideration that the Lord thy Maker and Redeemer and the high possessour of heauen and earth so farre humbles himselfe as to bee thy guest Say to thy selfe in the words of Salomon Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth Behold the heauen and heauen of heauens cannot containe him how much lesse the narrow roome of my soule 1. King 8. 27. 3 An holy abashment or confusion out of this consideration that so vile a worme and sinfull wretch as thou art should haue so infinite a Maiestie and holy God to come and sup with thee Say to thy selfe in the words of the Centurion Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe or with S. Peter Depart from me for I am a sinfull man 4 An holy sorrow out of this consideration yâ— thy sins did put thy Sauiour to these torments which are signified and liuely represented in this Sacrament Say to thy selfe in the words of Ieremiah O that mine eyes were a fountaine of teares to bewaile those sinnes which drew so much bloud from my Sauiour 5 An holy ioy out of this consideration that the infinite debt of thy sins is discharged and the acquittance deliuered into thy hands Say to thy selfe in the words spoken of Zacheus This day saluation is come into mine house 6 An holy desire of expressing some kind of thankfulnesse to God out of this consideration that together with the SacrameÌ„t thou receiuest Christ himselfe and all the benefits of his passion Say to thy selfe in the words of Dauid What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits that he hath done vnto me I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. 4 Ioyne the signes with the things signified Take Feede on bodily Bread Wine ghostly Bodie Bloud 5 Obserue meditate vpon the resemblances betweene them 1 Bread and wine true and in substance not in appearance onely Christs bodie a true bodie his bloud true bloud not in shew onely as some Hereticks haue imagined 2 Bread one bodie or lumpe made of many graines wine one liquor or drinke of many grapes Christ his body one of many members vnited together 3 Bread and wine an entire repast Christs body and bloud the perfect refection of the soule 4 Bread and wine strengthen and comfort the heart Christs body and bloud est ablisheth the heart and comforteth the conscience 5 Bread and wine the common foode of men not children
of thanksgiuing p. 547. A prayer after recouerie p. 551. The Close out of Scripture p. 559. The dying man's deuotion p. 560. The first admonition to the sicke being an admonition to patience p. â—63 The second admonition against despaire p. 594. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death p. 594. A Prayer for the sicke To the Vnitie p. 600. To the Trinitie p. 604. To the Lord Iesus p. 608. THE PREPARATION TO RELIGIOVS exercises in generall PAR. I. Of Deuotion PRemeditation is the preparation to priuate prayer priuate to publicke priuate and publicke to the hearing the word priuate and publicke prayer together with the hearing of the word to the worthie participation of the holy Sacrament For the Sacrament receiues strength and vigour from the word preached the word preached from publicke prayer publicke prayer from priuate Deuotion and that from premeditation and consideration of the nature of deuotion and necessitie of preparation it selfe to all holy duties in the immediate worship of God Deuotion is the harts warmth or rather lifes bloud of religion It is a sacred bond knitting the soule vnto God It is a spirituall muskle mouing onely vpward and lifting vp the hearts eyes and hands continually vnto heauen And because it consisteth rather in the feruour of the affections then light of the thoughts of blaze or lustre in the words it is better felt then vnderstood and yet better vnderstood then can be expressed Especially priuate deuotion which is the Saint to whom I deuote this Treatise For priuate deuotion to shunne ostentaâ—ion and hypocrisie in heauenly things alwayes shuts her selfe vp in her closet desiring no eye to see her but her Fathers in secret Wounded she is like the spouse in the Canticles with the darts of diuine loue and continually bleedeth but inwardly in teares of compassion compunction and excessiue ioy There appeares no externall orifez in the flesh to be seene Shee resembles the strange plant in Plinie which buds inwardly and shooteth forth no bud blossome or leafe outwardly For if priuate deuotion cometh once to be knowne it ceaseth to be priuate The greatest commendation of it is like to that of the Garamantite a precious stone that hath no beautie nor lustre in the outside or in the surface but within the bodie of it appeares golden drops of diuine infusion What Cyprian speaketh of the wâ—rke of regeneration may be truly applyed to this vertue It is felt before it can be spoken of and it must be kindled in the heart by the Spirit before it can be felt It is the true Vest all fire that should be still kept burning in the heart but if it go out like that of the Vestals it must bee kindled from heauen To thee therefore ô most holy Spirit I addresse my prayer to kindle and keepe this fire in my soule by thy heauenly blasts Heate my heart with the feruour of true Deuotion and touch my tongue with a coale from thine altar that the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart may inflame all that reade these deuotions with a loue of deuotion it selfe and true Zeale Lev's censure may seeme too tart He that is not more religious in Lent then at other times hath no religion as all But I haue good warrant to suspect the sinceritie of their Deuotion altogether who are not more deuout in priuate then in publike For fire the closer it is kept the hotter it burneth and the exhalations which are violently detained in cranies vnder ground and can haue no vent are of force to moue the earth it selfe It cannot be otherwise but that the penitent or compassionate eye which droppeth in publike should runne and gush out with riuers of waters in priuate The afflicted soule which sometimes stealeth a groane and fetcheth a sigh in the Church offers vp often prayers with strong cries at home He that is affected and eleuated with spirituall ioy in publike is transported when he is alone and hath priuate communications with God S. Paul spake words of truth and sobernesse to the Corinthians Whether we he besides our selues it is to God or whether we be sober it is to you And Saint Ierome confirmeth it with an oath that after many dayes nay weekes spent by him in fasting and prayer in the end hee was rauished in spirit and seemed to haue priuate conuersation and familiaritie with quires of Angels My intent is not to detract any thing from publike deuotion but my desire is to adde to priuate Publike is more solemne but priuate ought to be more frequent Publike makes more noise but priuate for the most part hath a deeper channell Our Sauiour diuideth blessednesse equally betweene them both Blessed saith he is he that heareth the word and keepeth it it is publike deuotion that heareth the word preached but priuate that keepes it Publike gathereth Manna in greater aboundance but priuate is the golden Omer that preserueth it The Hart doth not so pant and bray for the riuers of waters as the soule of euery religious man longeth for the waters of life running plentifully out of the golden spoutes of the Temple the Ministers of the word but priuate deuotion it is that breedes this longing after the publike Ministerie Let vs take a patterne of Deuotion from our blessed Sauiour to whom all deuotions are due What commandeth hee by expresse precept When thou prayest enter into thy closet and what commendeth hee most by his owne practise It is true he calleth his house the house of prayer and as we reade that he was daily preaching so I doubt not but hee was daily praying in the Temple yet ye shall find him oftener on the Mount or in the Garden or in some priuate solitarie place praying alone then in the Temple yea and continuing longer in prayer spending sometimes whole nights in it This practise of our Sauiour hath bene a president to all those whose names in the Church of God are and haue bene as a sweete ointment for daily offering the sweetest incense of prayer to God Religious men neuer are wanting in publike assemblies but they exceed in priuate Deuotion Publike exercises of religion be their feasts but priuate their ordinarie Where find you Daniel but in his chamber at his Deuotion looking towards Ierusalem Where find you Dauid but in his couch watering it with his teares and communing with his owne heart in the night Where find you Cornelius but in his house in praying Where find you Saint Iohn on the Lords day but in the I le alone by himselfe in the spirit The powring out our speciall complaints to God our vowes to refraine such companie and such occasions of sinne the ripping vp of our whole life with a particular confession of our sins aggrauated by all circumstances and all those parts of repentance or the soules
truth and redeemed mee from my vaine conuersations neuer returne backe to my worldly courses but take another way to my true home in heauen The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad I see thy starre in the Scriptures nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart O let my ioy exceede theirs as my knowledge doth The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest and entered into thy bed-chamber So ô Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life euen till I come to see thee not in a stable on earth strawed with litter and dung but in a pallace in heauen built with Saphyrs and founded vpon pearles not receiuing a present of gold from men but wearing a crowne of gold put vpon thee by thy Father not hauing a quantity of frankinsence or mirrh in thy hand but a golden censor full of sweete odours which are the prayers of Saints Among which I beseech thee offer vp the prayers of mee a sinner that I may bee a Saint after thou hast purged mee from all my fil thynesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S RESVRRECTION OR Easter-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old Testamēt Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Lords rising from the dead PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell or graue nor suffer thine holy One to see corruption Psal. 16. 11. He spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh see corruption Acts 2. 31. Historie The Angel said to the women Feare yee not for I know that yee seeke Iesus that was crucified Mat. 28. 5. He is not here for he is risen as hee said come see the place where the Lord lay verse 6. Thy dead men shall liue with my body shall they rise Awake sing yee that dwell in dust for thy dew is the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out her dead Isa. 26. 19. And the graus did open thēselues and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose Mat. 27 52. And came out of their graues after his resurrection went into the holy City and appeared to many v. 53. O death I wil be thy death ô graue I wil bee thy destruction Hos. 13. 14. Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him Rom. 6. 9. Death is swallowed vp into victorie 1. Cor. 11. 14. O Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie ver 55. Type And the Priest shall shake the sheafe of the first fruites before the Lord that it may be acceptable to you the morrowe after the Sabbath Leu. 23. 11. Accomplishment Now in the end of the Sabboth when the first day of the week began to dawn MARY MAGDALEN came to see the Sepulcher Mat. 28. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angell of the Lord descended from heauen and came and rolled away the stone from the dore and sate vpon it c. ver 2. He is not here for hee is risen c. 6. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruites of them that sleepe 1. Cor. 11. 20. The first fruits is Christ ver 23. And Ionah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Ion. 1. 17. The Sonne of man three daies three nights in the heart of the earth Mat. 12. 4. The third day God spake vnto the Fish it cast out Ionah on the drye land Ion 2. 10. Destroy this temple and in three dayes I will reare it vp againe Ioh. 2. 19. Hee spake of the temple of his bodie ver 21. As soone as he was risen from the dead his disciples remembred and belieued the Scriptures and the word which he spake vnto them ver 22. For thine instruction meditate on the Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's resurrection For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit thereof For thy correction examine thy spiritual resurrection from dead workes Quicken Thy faith by the Hymne Thy repentance by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion by the prayer ensuing An Hymne for Easter day OPen mee the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe into them and giue thankes vnto the Lord. Psal. 119. 19. This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it verse 20. I will thanke thee for thou hast heard me and art become my saluation verse 21. Thou wilt shew me the paths of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 11. The same stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone in the corner v. 22 This is the Lord 's doing and it is maruellous in our eyes v. 23 This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will reioyce and be glad in it ver 24. Why doe the heathen rage continually and the people imagin a vaine thing Psal. 2. 1. Then shall hee speake vnto them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure saying Euen I haue set my king vpon Zion mine holy Mountaine verse 5. 6. The Lord vpon thy right hand shall wound euen kings in the day of his wrath Ps. 110. 5. Hee shall iudge among the heathen hee shall fill their places with the dead bodies and smite in sunder heads ouer diuers countries verse 6. He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall hee lift vp his head verse 7 Be wise now therefore ô yee kings bee learned yee that are iudges of the earth Ps. 2. 10. Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce vnto him with reuerence verse 11. Kisse the sonne least hee bee angry and so ye perish from the right way if his wrath bee kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him verse 12. THE ADMONITION for Easter-day THE ANALYSIS Wee must pray and striue for repentāce from dead workes and newnes of life because a 1. It is God's commandement b 2. It is the Saint's practise c 3. It is the euidence of our new-birth d 4. It is the end of our resurrection e 5. It is the end of our redemption f 6. It obtaineth remission of sinnes g 7. It auoideth GOD'S temporall iudgements h 8. It is the onely means to shun eternal death i 9. It maketh vs blessed euen in this life THE TEXTS a CAst off concerning the conuersation in times past that old man which is corrupt through deceaueable lusts Eph. 4. 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mindes verse 23. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse ver 24. b Yee haue put of the old man with his workes Colos. 3 9. And haue put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him verse 10. c Being borne
me and the paines of hell gat hold vpon me I found trouble and sorrow Psal. 116. 3. The Kings of the earth set themselues and the Rulers take councell together against the Lord and against his Christ. Psal. 2. 2. Mine enemies whisper together against mee against me doe they deuise hurt Psal. 41. 7. l Yea mine own familiar friends in whom I trusted which did eate of my bread hath lift vp his heele against me ver 9. I am like a Pelican in the Wildernesse and an Owle in the Desart Psal. 102. 6. I watch and am alone as a Sparrow on the house top ver 7. My louers and my friends stand aloofe from my stroke and my Kinsmen stand a farre off Psal. 38. 11. Mine enemies reproch mee all the day long and they that are mad vpon mee are sworne against me Psal. 102. 8. But I as a deafe man heard not and as a dumbe man that openeth not his mouth Psal. 39. 13. I am as a worme and no man a reproch to men and despised of the people Psal. 22. 6. All they that see me laugh mee to scorne they shout out their lips and shake their heads saying ver 7. He trusted in the Lord that he would deliuer him let him deliuer him seeing he delighted in him Psal. 22. 8. Many Oxen came about me strong Bulls of Basan haue beset me round ver 12. They gaped vpon mee with their mouthes as it were a ramping and roaring Lyon ver 13. Thy wrath lyeth hard vpon me and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waues Psal. 88. 7. I am powred out like water all my bones are out of ioynt Psal. 22. 14. They pierced my hands and my feet Psal. 22. 16. My strength is dryed vp like a Pot-sheard and my tongue cleueth to my gums ver 15. Reproch hath broken my heart and I am full of heauinesse I looked for some to haue pitty on me but there was none for comforters but I found none Psal. 69. 20. They gaue me gall to eat and in my thirst they gaue me vineger to drinke ver 21. My God my God Why hast thou forsaken me Psal. 22. 1. Into thy hands I commend my spirit Psal. 31. 5. Thou keepest all my bones so that not one of them is broken Psal. 34. 20. My heart is like wax it is melted in the middest of my bowels Psal. 22. 14. They part my garments among them and on my vesture doe they cast lots Psal. 22. 18. Thou hast layed me in the lowest pit in a place of darknesse and in the deepe Psal. 88. 5. Free among the dead like to them that bee wounded and lye in the graue which be out of remembrance and are cut away from thine hand The close out of Ieremiah IS it nothing to you all yee that passe by Behold and see if there be any sorrow like vnto my sorrow which is done vnto mee wherewith the Lord hath afflicted mee in the day of his wrath Lam. 1. 12. A Prayer for Good-friday DEarest Redeemer the Mediatour of Heauen and Earth who this day werest placed on the Crosse betweene them both with thine armes stretched abroad to embrace and thy head bowed downe as it were to kisse all that come vnto thee I humbly prostrate my selfe at thy feet desiring in vnfained repentance with my teares to wash those thy wounds that bled for my sinne and in a liuely faith to touch the print of thy nailes and thrust my finger into the hole of thy side thereby to take reall and corporall possession of thee that I may with Thomas truely call thee My Lord and my God my dread and my loue my surety and my ransome my Sacrifice and my Priest my Aduocate and my Iudge my desire and my contentment the life of my hope here and hope of my life hereafter Before I was thine for thy hands haue made me and fashioned me but now sith thou hast offered thy selfe to be my pledge and thy bloud for my ransome thou art truly mine My Lord and my God O let the Speare which ranne thee thorow fasten my heart to thy Crosse Let the nailes which printed thy flesh imprint thy loue in my soule let the thornes which pricked thy temples not suffer the temples of mine head to take any rest in sinne let the vineger which was giuen thee melt my adamantine heart into sorrow let the Spunge which was offered thee on the Crosse wipe out all my debts out of thy Fathers Tables Let others goe on forward if they please I will stay still at the Crosse and take no other Lesson for I desire no other Pulpit then that tree no other Preacher then thy crucified body no other Text then thy death and passion no other parts then thy wounds no other amplification then thy extension no other notes then thy markes no other points then thy nailes no other booke then thy opened side The first Adam did eat the fruit of the forbidden tree therefore thou the second Adam hangedst vpon a Tree By his fall all mankinde were so sorely wounded that the whole head was sicke and the whole heart faint from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot there was nothing but wounds and bruses and sores full of corruption therefore thy whole head was pained thy whole heart wounded from the sole of thy foot which was gored with nailes to the crowne of the head which was pricked with thornes there was nothing but cuts and stripes and markes and skars and sores and wounds in thy whole body Because our heads plotted and deuised wickednesse on thy head was platted a Crowne of thornes Because our eyes burned with lust thy eyes were bedewed with teares Because we belched out blasphemies against God thy face was spit vpon Because our bodies haue beene stretched want only vpon our soft beds thy body was stretched vpon the hard Crosse. O Lord our eares haue offended thee by listening to want on Musicke prophane speeches and songs therefore thou suffredst in thine eare by hearing scoffes and blasphemous taunts Wee haue offended God in our smell by luxurious perfumes and sweete odours therefore thou sufferedst in thy smell by the stench of Golgotha Our taste had offended in gluttony and drunkennesse therefore thou sufferedst in thy taste by gall and vineger Because our feet were swift to shed bloud thy feet were nailed to the crosse Because our hands were defiled thy hands were bathed in bloud Because all parts of our bodies offended thou wast punished in all parts in thy temples with thornes on thy cheekes with buffets in thy ioints with straines in thy flesh with stripes Lastly because our hearts most grieuously offended in vnchaste malicious couetous ambitious thoughts desires and affections and piercing our selues with worldly cares therefore thou wast most grieuously punished in thy heart which was run thorow with the Speare If all the sufferings
it may be night wherein all the beasts of the Forrest doe moue ver 20. The Sunne ariseth and they get them away together and lay them downe in their dens ver 22. Man goeth forth vnto his worke and to his labour vntill the Euening ver 23. O Lord our Gouernour how excellent is thy Name in all the world Psal. 8. 9. The Admonition for Wednesday Euening being an Exhortation to purity in heart answerable to the sixth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS Purity especially in heart is to bee prayed for and sought after in regard of God his 1. Speciall command for it 2. Particular taking notice of it 3. High esteeme and approbation thereof 4. Gracious promises to it of 1 Life 2 Fauor of Kings 3 Sight of himselfe 4 His fauour and bounty 5 Profit by the Word 6 Abode in Heauen THE TEXTS NOw therefore serue the Lord and serue him in sinceritie of heart and in truth Ios. 24. 14. Prepare your hearts vnto the Lord and serue him onely 1. Sam. 7. 3. They that are of a forward heart are an abomination to the Lord but such as are vpright in the way are his delight Prou. 11. 20. My sonne giue mee thy heart and let thine eyes obserue my wayes Pro. 23. 26. Cleanse your hands yee sinners and purge your hearts yee double-minded Iam. 4. 8. Serue God with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all imaginations of the thoughts 1. Chron. 28. 9. O Ierusalem wash thine heart Ier 4. 4. God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but God iudgeth the heart 1. Sam. 16. 7. Thou knowest the hearts of all men Acts 1. He will lighten things hid in darknesse and make the counsels of thy heart manifest 1. Cor. 4. 5. Thou louest truth in the inward parts Psal. 51. 6. Wee speake not as pleasing men but as pleasing God who tryeth the hearts 2. Thes. 2. 4. Let it bee the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 1. Per. 3. 4. Keepe the heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Prou. 4. 23. Hee that loueth purenesse in heart the King shall be his friend Prou. 22. 11. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Math. 5. 8. Truely God is good vnto Israel euen to him that is of a cleane heart Psal. 73. 1. That which fell on good ground are they which with an honest and good heart heare the Word and keepe it and bring forth fruits with patience Luke 18. 15. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord or who shall stand in his Holy place Psal. 24. 3. He that hath cleane hands and a pure heart verse 4. Hee that walketh vprightly and speaketh vprightly c. Isai. 33. 15. He shall dwell on high c. The Prayer for Wednesday-Euening Composed of 1 Petitions sutable to the sufferings of Christ on this day 2 Motiues to perswade purity in heart and sincerity agreeable to the precedent exhortation MOst holy blessed and glorious God who dwellest in light which none may approach I miserable and sinfull creature by nature a child of the night and of darknesse nay very darknesse it selfe am ashamed and confounded to lift vp mine eyes to heauen or looke towards the place where thine honour dwelleth For I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and deserue to be cast out for euer from the sight of thy face and presence of thy glorious Maiestie into vtter darknesse which the diuel the Prince of darknesse and his Angels that are reserued in chaines of darknesse till the great and terrible Day of thy wrath For that heauenly light which thou hast kindled in my heart though I seeke to smother it neuer so much clearely conuinceth my conscience that I preferre the pleasures of sinne which are the workes of darknesse before the glorious inheritance of thy Saints in light hauing my very vnderstanding the onely light which is in me much darkened through the ignorance that is in me by reason of the hardnesse of my heart And notwithstanding thou hast called mee early and late and stretched thy hands all the day long vnto mee yet I haue walked still in the vanitie of my minde and wearied my selfe in the wayes of wickednesse and haue not hearkened to thy voice whereby I might walke in thy lawes which thou hast appointed for me Or if for a short time I haue reioyced in the light of the Gospel yet soone after I haue quenched thy Spirt and haue giuen my selfe to wantonnesse to worke filthinesse with greedinesse Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Though thou shouldest drowne all my former sinnes in the bottomelesse sea of thy mercy yet the sins of this day alone giue sufficient euidence against mee to condemne mee My vnsanctified desires and impure thoughts and vaine imaginations and idle words and vnfruitfull workes make mee vnexcusable before thee I cannot answer for my abuse of the creatures mis-spending my time which is most precious ouerstipping many occasions of doing good How negligent haue I beene in the duties of my calling How cold and dull in my exercises of Religion How defectiue in the confession of my sinnes How carelesse in applying the soueraigne remedies of the Word My very prayers which I make vnto thee for the supplying of all my wants and healing of all my infirmities are accompanied with so many wants and infirmities that I haue neede to aske pardon for these my imperfect prayers Lord giue mee a sense of my stupidity and senselesnesse and a feruent desire of more feruency and zeale and true remorse and sorrow for want of remorse and sorrow for these my sinnes And because that I know not how to pray as I ought let thy Spirit make intercession for me with sighs and grones which cannot be expressed and let the bloud of thy Sonne speake better things for mee then the bloud of Abel O let not the glorious light of Heauen goe downe vpon thy displeasure against me but for thy decre Sonne Iesus Christ his sake who is the prâ—pitiation for my sinnes be reconciled vnto mee while it is called to day that I may finde rest vnto my soule this night together with the comfortable refreshing of my body by sleepe So shall I neuer cease with a ioyfull heart and a cheerefull voice to praise thee for thine vnspeakable loue in electing me to eternall life in Heauen before thou hadst laid the foundations of the earth Thy goodnesse in creating mee after thine owne Image thy mercy in redeeming mee with the bloud of thine onely begotton Sonne thy grace in calling mee to the knowledge of thy truth and thy fatherly care in safely protecting me mercifully
restâ—red me to my former blisse Nay I haue gained by my losses and am raised higher by my fall through thy infinite mercie which hath not onely ransomed me from death but purchased me an eternall inheritance and crowne of life in thiâ—e heauenly kingdome Sith thou hast done so great things for me whereat I reioyce sith thou hast prepared such things for me as neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to conceiue what manner of man ought I to be in all holy conuersation How cleare ought those eyes to be which shall see God How cleane those eares which shall heare words that cannot be vttered How pure that heart which shall be filled with those ioyes whiâ—h neuer entred into the heart of man Thou ô Father which hast created me art the holy one of Israel Thou ô Sonne who redeemedst me art the Holy one of God Thou ô Spirit which sanctifiest me art the holy Ghost Thou ô Father hast created me according to thine Image in holinesse and righteousnes thou ô Sonne hast redeemed me to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life thou ô Spirit hast freed me from sinne and made me seruant to God that I might haue my fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life Our vocation is a holy calling our societies a holy communion our stile a holy Priesthood our assemblies holy congregations our CouÌ„trie the holy land of Promise our Citie the holy Ierusalem our Charter the holy Scriptures our immunities holy priuiledges our seales which confirme them holy Sacraments All our happinesse here is holinesse and holinesse hereafter shall bee our happinesse Lord make mee therefore to be so happy heere as to be holy and so holy here that I may be hereafter happy Amen The close out of Scripture The God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant Heb. 2. 20. Make mee perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in mee that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ. ver 21. The Hymne for Friday Euening Wherein the deuout soule Prayseth God for her Creation Redemption Prayeth for Preseruation Glorification THE TEXTS THy hands haue made me and fashioned me ô giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy Commandements Psal. 119. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed mee thou God of Truth O let mee heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew thou me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal. 41. 8. Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing Spirit leade me into the land of righteousnesse verse 10. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lipps Psal. 41. O let not mine heart bee inclined to any wicked thing let me not be occupied in vngodly workes with the men that work wickednesse verse 4. O Lord thou hast searched me out and knowne mee thou knowest my downe-sitting and mine vp-rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts long beforâ— Psal. 139. 1 2. For loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou ô Lord knowest it altogether verse 3. Thou hast fashioned mee behinde and before and layed thine hand vpon me verse 4. Such knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent for me I cannot attaine vnto it verse 5. I will giue thanks vnto thee for I am fearefully and wonderfully made meruailous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well verse 13. My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth verse 14. Thine eyes did see me when I was without forme for in thy booke were all things written which in continuance were fashioned when there was none of them before verse 15. O how deare are thy counsels to me 〈◊〉 God O how great is the summe of them verse 16. If I tell them they are more in number then the sands of the sea when I awake vp I am present with thee verse 17. Lord guide me with thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory Keepe mee as the Apple of thine eye hide mee vnder the shadow of thy wings Psal. 17. 8. I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it ver 16. The Admonition for Friday Euening being an Exhortation to Faith in CHRIST The principall inducements to stirre vs vp to faith in Christ are the 1 Necessity of this vertue in respect of 1 The Commandement of God in generall to which faith is requisite 2 All other duties in Speciall Praying Hearing Communicating 2 The excellencie of it for it is Pretious Holy The faith of the Elect. 3 The certainty of it for it is grounded on God The Father his VVord Oath The Sonne his Promises Prayer The Spirit his Earnest Seale 4 Efficacie 1 Extraordinary as working miracles 2 Ordinary as Victorie ouer the VVorld Diuell Iustification Saluation THE TEXTS YE beleeue in God beleeue also in me Ioh. 14. 1. This is the worke of God that ye beleeue on him whom he hath sent Ioh. 6. 29. Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and all thine house Act. 16. 31. This is his commandement that we should beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ 1. Ioh. 3. 23. Earnestly contend for the saith Iud. 13. Repent ye and beleeue the Gospel Mar. 1. 15. Follow righteousnesse faith charitie peace c. 2. Tim. 2. 22. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14. 23. How shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued Rom. 10. 14. He that prayeth let him pray in faith nothing doubting Iam. 1. 6. All things whatsoeuer ye aske for in prayer beleiuing ye shall receiue Mat. 21. 21. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Eph. 3. 17. I am the Bread of life whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him ver 56. He that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life ver 47. I am the Bread of life ver 48. To them that haue receiued like pretious faith with vs grace and peace be multiplied 2. Pet. 1. â— But ye beloued building your selues in your most holy faith pray to the holy Ghost Iud 20. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ according to the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. As many as were ordained to saluation beleeued Act. 13. 48. This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him Mat. 3. vlt. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer
houlding thy deere purchase O let not thy hate of sinne extinguish thy loue to thy creature Let not any thing that I haue done preiudice thee in the merit of that which thou hast suffered for me My sins deserued eternall wrath of thy Father but thou hast borne it My wonton delights and impure pleasures deserued stripes and wounds but thou hast receiued them My hainous crimes deserued death but thou hast suffered it for me This day my first parent Adam was made a liuing soule and this day thou the second Adam wert made a quickning Spirit This day he sinned in a garden and this day thou sorrowedst in the garden This day he tooke the fruite of the forbidden tree and this day thou wert hung vpon the accursed tree This day he was cast into a dead sleepe and his side opened and his wite Eue formed of his ribbe was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone this day also thou wert cast into a deadly sleepe and thy side opened and thy Spouse the Catholicke Church brought foorth not by water onely but by water and bloud the water of regeneration and bloud of explation and sanctification This day Adam brought the curse vpon himselfe and all his posterity this day thou prouidedst an euerlasting blessing for thy selfe and all thy members That which he lost thou hast regayned with aduantage that which he did thou hast suffered for that which I owed thou hast discharged on the very day by taking all his and our debts vpon thee and laying downe an al-sufficient price to satisfie for them O giue me an hand of faith to receiue so much of this infinite sum as may discharge my debt and strengthen this my hand that I may hold it fast and tender it to thy Father and receiue from him an absolute and generall acquittance signed with thy blood and sealed with thy Crosse bearing date the very day of thy consummation of all things at thy death If thou bad'st required a greater thing we should haue done it for what will not a man doe for his life How much more when thou â—arest belieue and liue cast your selues vpon me and I will saue you from drowning in euerlasting perdition receiue the price of your ransome and bee freed When thou holdest out the golden Scapter of thy grace if wee will not take hold on it wee deserue double dâ—mnation for refusing so easy a meanes of saluation Adam belieued Eue and Eue the Serpent to her and our ruine why should not I much rather belieue thy Church thy Spouse and thy Spouse thy Word to saluation What should with-hold my faith from apprehending my hope from exâ—ecting the promises of thy Gospell confirmed by so many miracles testâ—fied by the Church in all Ages signed with the blood of so many Martyrs and 〈◊〉 to my soule and conscience by the holy Spirit Doth it shake and stagger my faith that thy workes recorded in holy Scriptures so farre transcend nature and the mysteries of sauing truth soare aboue humane reason But this demonstrateth rather faith to be faith and thee ô God to be true God Faith is not faith if reason comprehend it God cannot be God if nature limit him Am I the more auerse from embracing thy Gospell because it crosseth and checketh my naturall dispositions and in clinations But the cause is most euident thy Law is iust holy and pure but I am wicked prophane and impure The physick is for the most part the better which the patient liketh worst because it exasperateth the paine for the time Haue I the lesse loue and liking to the most holy faith because it restraineth my carnall liberty and abridgeth mee or altogether depriueth mee of worldly comforts and contentments But am I not spirit as welâ— as flesh Haue I not a Law in my minde controlling the Law of my members Is it not much better to sowe vnto the Spirit that I may reape peace ioy and life euerlasting then sowe to the flesh and of the flesh reape nothing but corruption Thy Gospell ô gracious God restraineth my carnall but enlargeth my spirituall liberty it denieth mee sinfull but it promiseth me holy delights and pleasures it moderateth the desire and vse of temporarie comforts and ioyes but assureth mee that my heart shall be filled with eternall Am I ready to be beaten off from my holy profession and beliefe by blowes and strokes persecutions losses imprisonment banishment scorne of the world and disgrace This should make mee hold it the faster for the Gospell foretelleth that these things should befall true bâ—lieuers and it is an honour to mee to beare the â—adge of mâ—â—profession and to drinke with thee my Sauiour in thine owne Cup. It is my profession to be thy Souldier and he is no Souldier that endureth not hardnesse I can expect no crowne without a Conquest no Conquest without a battaile no battaile without blowes and wounds and what are these light and momentary afflictions to an eternall weight of glory Thus doth thâ— Word conquer my reason and yet it will not yeeld I resolue to belieue Lord strengthen my resolution I doe belieue Lord helpe mine vnbelief All things past haue so come to passe as the Oracles of thy truth fore-shewed they should and how then can I doubt of things future reuealed in them The deluge was foretold 120 yeeres before and at the prefixed time it ouerranne the whole world Thy peoples bondage in Aegypt for 400 yeeres and their after deliuery is no otherwise described by Moses then it was in a dreame many Ages before deliuered to Abraham Thou calledst thy Shepheard Cyrus and thine annointed Iosias by name to their functions long before either of them or their forefathers were conceiued The 4 famous Monarchs pictured out in Nebuchadnezzars Image succeeded in their order The Assyrian represented by the golden head the Persian by the siluer armes and shoulders the Grecian by the thighs of brasse and the Romane by the leggs of yron And do we not see at this day the stumpe of that Image and the feete partly yron in the Turkish and partly of clay in the Germane Empire Thy Birth and Death ô Sauiour was fore shadowed in Types and fore-spoken of by Prophets euer since the world began and since thy comming into the flesh and finishing all things at thy death in Ierusalem Not a syllable or one iot of any of thy words haue passed without their accomplishment Ierusalem is destroyed the Temple made euen with the ground and neuer could be built againe The Iewes are dispersed into all nations The Gospell is preached through the whole world the man of sinne is euery day more and more discouered and why should I not then belieue as certainly that the heauens shall passe away shortly with heate and the elements melt with fire and thy signe bee seene in the clowdes and those that are in their graues be awaked with the sound of the last Trumpe and meete thee in the aire
to God with confidence 7 The guidance of the spirit 8 An incorruptible inheritance THE TEXTS EXcept a man bee borne againe hee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Ioh. 3. 3. Except a man be borne of water and the spirit c. verse 5. Ye were darknesse but now yee are light in the Lord. Ephes. 5. 9. The creature shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God Rom. 5. 21. Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for his seede remaineth in him neither can hee sinne because he is borne of God 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you for yee are not vndâ—â— the Law but vnder grace 〈…〉 6. 14. As many as receiued 〈…〉 them he gaue power to 〈…〉 Sonnes of God euen to them that belieue on his name Ioh. 1. 12. Which are borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God verse 13. That he might redeeme them that are vnder the Law and that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes Gal. 4. 5. And to the congregation of the first-borne Heb. 12. 23. Of his owne will begat hee vs with the Word of truth that we should bee the first fruits of his creatures Iam. 1. 18. Wee haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father Rom 8. 11. As many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 14. Blessed bee God the Father of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus Christ which 〈◊〉 to his abundant mercy 〈◊〉 vs againe vnto a 〈◊〉 â—pe 1 Pet. 1. 3. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you verse 4. The same spirit testifieth to our spirits that we are the children of God Rom 8. 6. If we be children then heires euen the heires of God and coheirs annexed with Christs verse 17. A Hymne for the Natiuity of our Lord consisting of fowre parts 1. God the Fathers 2. Christs 3. The Prophets 4. The Churches Glory be to God on High in earth peace good will to men THe Lord euen the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising vp of the Sunne to the going downe thereof Ps. 50. 1. Out of Sion hath God appeared in perfect beauty verse 2. Saluation is nigh them that feare him that glory may dwell on the earth Psal. 85. 9. Mercy and truth are met together righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other verse 10. Truth shall flourish on the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen ver 11. Thou art fairer then the children of men full of grace are thy lipps because God hath blessed thee for euer Psal. 45. 3. Thou hast loued righteousnesse and hated iniquity wherfore God euen thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes verse 8. O Lord my God great are thy wonderous workes which thou hast done like as be also thy thoughts which are to vs ward yet there is no man that ordereth them vnto thee Psal. 40. 6. If I would declare or speake of them they should be more in number then I am able to expresse verse 7. Sacrifice and meate offerings thou wouldest not haue but mine eares hast thou opened verse 8. Burnt offerings and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required then said I Loe I come verse 9. In the volume of thy booke it is written of me that I should fulfill thy will O my God I am content to doe it yea thy law is in my heart verse 10. I haue declared thy righteousnesse in the great congregation Loe I will not refraine my lipps ô Lord and that thou knowest verse 11. I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart my talking hath beene of thy truth and of thy saluation verse 12. I wil preach the lawe whereof the Lord hath said vnto me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I bogotten thee Psal. 2. 7. He shall call me Thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation Psal. 89. 27. And I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth verse 28. Shew vs thy mercy ô Lord and grant vs thy saluation Psal. 85. 7. Lord saue vs now Lord sende vs now prosperity Through thy tender mercy whereby this day spring from on high hath visited vs. To giue light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our feete into the way of peace Cant. Zach. The Prayer GRatious Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God and Sauiour of man the ioy of Angels and dread of diuels the Iewes Messiah the Gentiles starre the hope of the liuing and resurrection of the dead the way to all that come vnto thee the truth to all them that know thee and the life to all them that belieue in thee Make good all thy glorious gratious titles to me Lord protect me Iesu saue me Christ my anointed King rule me my anointed Priest sanctifie me my anointed Prophet reueale vnto mee the secrets of thy Kingdome O Christ whose name is an oyntment powred out annoint me with the oyle of gladnesse this day aboue others This is the day which the Lord hath made I wil reioyce and be glad in it nay I dare take the note higher This is the day in which the Lord was made I will exult and triumph in it Thou which madest all dayes wert this day made of a woman and made vnder the Law From all eternity it was neuer heard that eternity entred into the Kalender of time supreame Maiesty descended into the wombe immensity was comprehended infinity bounded vbiquity inclosed and the Deity incarnated Yet this day it was seene for this day the Word became flesh God became man and to effect this wonderfull mystery a Virgin became a Mother One deepe calleth vpon another one miracle begetteth another The Sunne bringeth forth all other dayes but this day brought thee forth the Sonne of righteousnesse If wee set our voices and instruments and heart-strings to the highest straine of ioy at the birth of great Kings and Princes What ought I to doe this day on which thou the king of heauen wast born vpon the earth At the mariage of great Personages men giue full scope to all manner of expressions of carnall ioy euen oftentimes to the very surfeit of the senses with pleasure How then should I bee rauished with spirituall ioy at this time when heauen and earth the diuine nature and humane were married The contract was in heauen before all times but the marriage was this day consummated in the vndefiled bedde of the Virgin Lord who this day cammest downe to me draw me vp to thee and giue me accesse with more confidence and bouldnesse for now thou art become my brother and ally by bloud The rayes of thy diuine Maiesty will not dazle the eyes of
my soule they being now vailed with thy flesh This day thou diddest vnite thy selfe to me naturally and substantially and becamest truly flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone Vnite me to thee this day spiritually and make me a true member of thy mysticall body that I may bee flesh of thy flesh and bone of thy bone Lord thou diddest this day participate of my humane nature make me this day participate by grace of thy diuine as farre as I am capable thereof and impart and communicate vnto mee the merrit of all thy actions and benefit of all thy sufferings in this thy nature O my Lord my God who by assuming flesh vnto thy diuine person hast sanctified it and highly aduanced it farre aboue all creatures keepe me from defiling my flesh with sinfull pollutions or abasing and inthralling it to Satan O Sonne of God who by thy incarnate nature becamest the Sonne of Man make me the sinfull sonne of man by grace and adoption to become the Sonne of God And as thou this day according to the words of thine Angel wert borne to me bee borne also in mee that from hence forth I liue not but thou in me Let thy spirit quicken me thy flesh nourish me thy wisdome guide me thy grace sanctifie me and thy Word instruct me Let the holy Ghost of whom thou wast conceiued beget thee in mee by the immortall seede of thy Word Let my faith conceiue thee my profession bring thee forth my loue embrace thee and Deuotion entertaine and continually keepe thee with mee till thy second comming So come vnto me Lord Iesus come quickly THE Feast of our Lord's Circumcision OR New-yeares dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast are The type thereof in the old The accōplishmēt in the new Testament PARALELL The Type And Abraham circumcised Isaak when he was eight daies old as God commanded him Gen. 21. 4. The accomplishment And when the eight dayes were accomplished that they shuld circumcise the child his name was then called IESVS Luk. 2. 21. Meditate ô deuout Christian 1 For thine instruction vpon the circumcision of thy Sauiour 2 For thy comfort applie to thy selfe the 3 For thy correctiō examine the circumcision of thy heart and quicken thine 1 Obedience by the exhortation 2 Thankfulnes by the hymne 3 Zeale deuotiō by the praier THE ADMONITION for New-yeeres day THE ANALYSIS wee ought to desire striue and pray for the circumcision of the heart 1 In respect of GOD who Desireth it a Commandeth it b Loueth it c Obserueth it d Praiseth it e Rewardeth it f Brandeth the contrarie g 2 In respect of man's heart which needeth it 1 Because it is most corrupt and impure 2 Because it is most deceitfull THE TEXTS a MY son giue me thy heart Prou. 23. 16. vid. Ier. 4. 4. b Circumcise the fore-skinne of your hearts Deut. 10. 16. O Ierusalem clense thy heart Ier. 4. 4. c Clense your hearts yee sinners Iames 4. 8. Behold thou louest truth in the inward parts Psal. 51. 6. d God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh vpon the outward appearance but God seeth the heart 1 Sam. 16. 7. e The circumcision is of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not of man but of God Rom. 2. 29. In whom yee are circumcised with circumcision made without hands by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh through the circumcision of the flesh Col. 2. 11. Beware of the concision For wee are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioyce in Christ Iesus and haue no confidence in the flesh Philippians 3. 3. f The good Lord be mercifull to him that prepareth his whole heart to seeke the Lord his God 1 Chron. 30. 19. He will doe good to such as be good and true of heart Psal. 125. 4. There is sprung vp a light for the righteous and ioyfull gladnesse to such as bee true hearted Psal. 99. 12. g The eyes of the Lord behold the earth to shew himselfe strong with them that are of perfect heart towards him 1 Chron. 16. 9. Yee of vncircumcised eares and hearts haue alwaies resisted c. Acts. 7. The peruerse in heart are an abomination to the Lord. Pro. 11. 20. All the imaginations of mans heart are onely euill continually Gen. 6. The heart of man is deceitfull aboue all things Ier. 17. 9. The Psalme for New-yeeres day OSing vnto the Lord a new song sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth Psal. 96. 1. Sing vnto the Lord and praise his name be telling of his saluation from day to day verse 2. The heauent declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke Psal. 19. 1. One day telleth another and one night certifieth another v. 2. There is neither speech nor language but their voice is heard among them verse 3. Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words vnto the end of the world verse 4. In them hath he set a Tabernacle for the sunne which commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioyceth as a gyant to runne his course verse 5. He appointeth the Moone for certaine seasons and the Sunne knoweth his going downe Psal. 104. 19. O Lord how manifold are thy workes In wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches verse 24. So is the great and wide c. verse 25. vsque ad 〈◊〉 When thou lettest thy breath goe forth they are made and thou shalt renew the face of the earth verse 30. The glorious Maiesty of the Lord shall endure for euer the Lord shall reioyce in his workes verse 31. Thou crownest the earth with thy goodnesse and thy cloudes drop fatnesse Psal. 65. 12. They shall drop vpon the dwellings of the wildernesse and the little hills shall reioyce of euery side verse 13. The flocks also shall bee full of sheepe the valleys also shall stand so thick with corne that they shall laugh and sing verse 14. The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast prepared the light of the sunne Psal. 74. 17. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made summer and winter verse 18. The Prayer for New-yeeres day MOst tender and compassionate Lord now first knowne by thy name Iesu who being the true vine which yeeldest the wine that gladdeth the heart wast pruned this day with the sharpe knife of circumcision and bleddest for me haue pitty and compassion on mee who with weeping eyes and a bleeding heart come vnto thee beseeching thee that those drops of blood which fell from thee this day may satisfie for the sinne of my birth and the whole streame that ranne from all the parts of thy body in the Garden and on the Crosse may expiate all my numberlesse actuall sinnes whether they be sinnes of lighter tincture or of a Scarlet dye Sinnes like beames or sinnes like moates Sinnes conceiued