7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Psal. 51. 7. I will purge away thy drosse and take away all thy Tinnâ— Isa. 1. 25. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified 1. Cor. 6. 11. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. For by one offering he hath perfected them for euer that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. To them that are sanctified by God the Father c. Iude 1. 1. I know that my redeemer liueth c. Iob 19. 25. Though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God ver 26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and afterwards receiue me to glorie Psal. 73. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me bee with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Math. 25. 34. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luke 12. 32. If so be we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified together with him Rom. 8. 17. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shall be reuealed in vs ver 18. Whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth ver 30. Who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned to his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. Henceforth there is layed vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy diseases ver 3. O Lord thou hast brought vp my soule from the graue thou hast kept me aliue that I should not go downe to the pit Psal. 30. 3. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue c. 1. Sam. 2 6. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect Psal. 18. 32. He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes ver 34. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle Psal. 103. 5. Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will bind vs vp Hos. 6. 1. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Genes 32. 10. Also the Lord gaue Iob twise as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. Charge the rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 1. Ti. 6. 17. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in thrall Psal 4. 1. Cornelius a iust man and of good report Acts 10. 22. And these all hauing obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promises Hebrewes 11. 39. Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by heartie counsell Prou. 27â—9 Then came to Iob all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had bene of his acquaintance c. Iob 42. 11. Thou Lord onely makest mee dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal. 91. 1. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord shall preserue thee from all euill he shall preserue thy soule A preparatorie Hymne collected out of diuerse Psalmes where in the deuout soule desireth Accessea. Audienceb. Assistancec. Acceptanced. a Thou sayest seeke ye my face my heart said vnto thee thy face Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. Hide not thy face farre from mee nor put thy seruant away in anger ver 9. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal. 51. 11. b Heare ô Lord when I crie vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and answer me Psal. 27. 7. Ponder my words ô Lord consider my meditation Psal. 5. 1. My heart is enditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. c O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal. 51. 15. Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Psal. 141. 2. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips ver 3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight ô Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal. 19. 14. A preparatorie Prayer wherein all the conditions requisite in Prayer are expressed and prayed for HEauenly Father whose gift it is that I can aske any good gift at thy hands without whose grace I cannot desire thy healthfull and sauing grace Infuse into my heart the Spirit of supplication that in an awfull reuerence of thy Maiestie out of a true sence and feeling of my wants and infirmities and a liuely faith in thy promises I may with chearefulnesse of mind and feruencie of Deuotion and constant perseuerance lift vp a pure and plaine heart vnto thee at all times humbly intreating thy souereigne bountie for such things onely as thou in thy eternall wisdome hast pre-ordained to giue and calling vpon thee in such order and manner as thou hast prescribed me to aske in that absolute patterne of all prayer set downe in the Gospell by my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. In whose name mediation and words I crie Abba Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name c. A preparation to the hearing of the word GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage whereby the deadly poyson first entered Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule by the operation of the holy Spirit Hast thou an eare ô Christian by thy profession for the diuell and none for God An eare to receiue poyson dropped in and not to
retaine 7 Grace to practise the sincere doctrine of Gods holy word THE TEXTS HEarken ô Israell vnto the ordinances and statutes which I teach you Deut. 4. 1. Heare my Law ô my people incline your eares to the words of my mouth Psal. 78. 1. This is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him Mat. 3. 17. Hee that heareth of mee these words c. Mat. 7. 24. Hee that hath an eare to heare let him heare Mat. 11. 15. Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches Reu. 2. 7. Take heed what ye heare Mar. 4. 24. Beware of false Prophets that come vnto you in sheeps-clothing Mat. 7. 15. They searched the Scriptures whether those things were so Acts 17. 11. Proue all things hold that which is good 1 Tâ—es 5. 21. Try the Spirits whether they be of God or not 1. Ioh. 4. 1. They haue not reiected thee but they haue reiected me 1 Sam. 8. 7. Hee that heareth you heareth me and he that heareth me heareth him that sent me Luk. 10. 16. Blessed is hee that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it Luk. 11. 28. Ye receiued the Word not as the Word of men but as it is indeed the Word of God 1 These 2. 3. The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation c. Heb. 4. 12. If any man speake let him speake as the Word of God 1 Pet. 4. 11. I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery beleeuer Rom. 1. 16. Man liueth not by bread only but by euery Word that proceedeth from the mouth of God Luke 4. 4. Hee that heareth my words and belieueth in mee hath life eternall and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Ioh. 9. 24. To whom shall we goe Thou hast the words of eternall life Ioh. 6. 68. He that refuseth me and receiueth not my words hath one that iudgeth him The word which I haue spoken it shall iudge him at the last day Ioh. 12. 48. If I had not come and spoken vnto them they had not had sin Ioh. 15. 22. Wee are the sweete smelling sauour of Christ in them that are saued and them that perish 2 Cor. 2. 15. To the one wee are the sauour of death vnto death and to the other the sauour of life vnto life verse 16. Continue in Praâ—er and watch in the same with thanksgiuing Colos 4. 2. Praying for vs that God may open to vs the dore of vtterance to speake the mysteries of Christ. verse 3. That I may vtter it as it becommeth me to speake verse 4. A certaine woman named Lydia heard vs whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things that Paul spake Acts 16. 14. Giue me vnderstanding and I will keepe thy Law Psal. 119. 34. And this I pray that ye may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement Phil. 1. 9. That yee may discerne those things that differ verse 10. The Lord giue thee a right iudgement in all things 2 Tim. 2. 7. God that commanded the light to shine out of darknesse is he that hath shined in our hearts to giue the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ. 2. Cor. 4. 6. The Apostles said Lord increase our Faith Luke 17. 5. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ c. Ephes. 3. 14. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith verse 17. And his Mother kept all these sayings in her heart Luk. 2. 51. I haue hid thy promises in my heart that I might not sin against thee Psal. 119. 11. Whosoeuer heareth of mee these words and doeth the same I will liken him to a wise man that built his house vpon a rock Mat. 7. 24. If ye know these things blessed are ye if ye do them Ioh. 13. 17. Be ye dooers of the Word not hearers only deceiuing your own soules Iam. 1. 22. The Preparatory Hymne wherein the deuout soule expresseth her a High esteeme of the Word b Continuall meditating on it c Exceeding delight in it Feruent desire to be d Instructed in it e Ruled by it a My soule breaketh for the longing it hath vnto thy iudgements at all times Psal 119. 20. The Law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of gold and siluer verse 72. The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Psal. 19. 7. The Statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the heart the commandement of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes ver 8 The feare of the Lord is cleane enduring for euer the Iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether verse 9. More to bee desired are they then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then hony and the hony combe verse 10. Moreouer by them is thy seruant taught and in keeping of them is great reward verse 11. b I will meditate in thy precepts and haue respect to thy waies Psal 119. 15. O how I loue thy Law it is my meditation all the day ver 97. Thy words haue I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee verse 11. c I will delight my selfe in thy statutes I will not forget thy word verse 16. Thy testimonies are my delight my counsellers verse 24. Thy testimonies haue I claimed as mine heritage for euer for they are the very ioy of mine heart verse 111. d Open thou mine eyes that I may behold the wondrous things of thy Law verse 18. Make me to vnderstand the way of thy precepts so shall I talke of thy wondrous workes verse 27. e Order my steps in thy Word and let not any iniquity haue dominion ouer me verse 133. Make thy face to shine vpon thy seruant and teach mee thy statutes verse 135. The Preparatory Prayer GRatious God who hast appointed the opening of the Scriptures by preaching to bee the ordinary meanes of saluation to all thy chosen blesse this thine ordinance to me and prepare me for it Grant that thy Word being mixed with faith in me may bee vnto me a sauour of life vnto life and not a sauour of death vnto death Direct and assist thy Minister that hee may rightly diuide it Open vnto him the dore of vtterance that what he hath conceiued in thy feare vpon thy holy Oracles hee may deliuer to thy glory Fill him with the holy Ghost that his lips may bee full of grace and that he may speake instruction to mine ignorance correction to my errors comfort to mine afflictions and peace to my conscience Guide the sword of the spirit in his hand that it may meete with and smite my speciall corruptions and bosome sins knowne or vnknowne and giue me patience to
his who made them Saints In the Deuotion fitted to these dayes first I lay the ground out of Scripture and then descant vpon it in the Admonition Hymne and Prayer all which allude to the History of that feast 4. After these feasts the week-dayes come in their order The Saints Martyrs and Arch-angels dayes I haue purposely omitted not that I dislike the keeping of them for I haue euer and will iustify and maintaine the obseruation of them according to that godly institution and practice of our Church But I desired to keepe my book within the compasse of the title which is a Manuell And albeit wee honour Saints and Martyrs yet religious Deuotion which is my Theame is restrained to God by holy Dauid Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord. In the Church of Rome there are many Deuotionâ— to Saints and more to our Lady then to Christ but wee acknowledge no religious Deuotions but to him who charmed the old Serpent with that voice of his Father Him onely shalt thou serue In the weeke daies Deuotion those words of our Sauiour were my loadestarre My father worketh and I worke For all the morning prayers haue relation to some worke of God the Father in the sixe dayes of Creation and all the euening to some worke of God the Sonne in the sixe dayes immediately before his glorious resurrection The admonitions for morning and euening containe 12 beatitudes or blessednes 8 mentioned by our Sauiour Mathew 5. and the rest out of other choice Texts of Scripture All which blessednesses I wish thee from my heart desiring thee to afford me one Prayer who haue stored thee with many Thine in the Lord Iesus D. F. THE MORNINGS DEVOTION An admonition for the Morning VVEE haue a more sure word of Prophecie whereunto ye do well that yee take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a dark place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in your hearts 1 Pet. 1. 19. I am the roote and the off-spring of Dauid saith Christ and I am the bright morning Starre Reu. 22. 16. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall giue thee light Ephes. 5. 14. It is now time to awake out of sleepe for now our saluation is neerer then when wee belieued Rom. 13. 11. The night is past the day is at hand therfore cast off the works of darknesse and put on the armour of light verse 12. See that ye walk circumspectly redeeming the time because the dayes are euill Eph 5. 15. Walke honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonesse not in strife and enuying but put on the Lord Iesus and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13. 14. A Hymne for the Morning O Lord thou art my God earely will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee I will sing alowd of thy power and mercy in the morning Psal. 63. 1. 2. Psal. 59. 10. My tongue shall speake of thy righteousnesse and thy praise all the day long Psal. 35. 28. I layd mee downe and slept for thou Lord sustainedst me Psal. 3. 5. I haue dwelt in the secret place of the most High abode vnder the shadow of the Almighty Psal. 91. 1. 4 He shall couer me with his feathers and vnder his wings will I trust his faithfulnesse and truth shall bee my shield and buckler ver 4. Lord arise and lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon me Ps. 4. 7. Teach me to number my dayes that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome Instruct mee in the way which I shall go and guide me with thine eye Psal. 90. 12. Psal. 32. 9. Teach mee thy way ô Lord and I will walke in thy truth ô knit my heart to thee that I may feare thy Name Psal. 86. 11. Hold vp my goings in thy path that my footsteps slip not Psal. 17 5. O satisfie mee earlie with thy mercy and that soone that I may reioyce and be glad al my dayes Psal. 143. 8. Let the beauty of the Lord my God be vpon mee establish thou the worke of my hands vpon me ô prosper thou my handie worke Psal. 90. 17. A Prayer for the Morning GRacious Father rich in mercy to all thy children that call vpon thee accept I beseech thee this my morning Sacrifice of praise thanks giuing which with a willing heart and deuout affection I offer vnto thee in confidence of thy sonnes infinite merits and acknowledgement of thine euerlasting loue and those inestimable benefits which by him and for him and with him thou conferredst vpon me and all thine Elect in him How deare are the thoughts of thy mercies vnto me how great is the â—umme of them Who can value the precious Pearle of thy Word and treasure of thy grace Who can raise his thoughts and desires to the high price of our â—aling an incorruptâ—ble crowne of glory layd vp for vs in heauen Lord fit me with thy grace that I may abound in thanksgiuing and praises for it Enlarge my heart with thy loue that I may in some sort comprehend with al Saints the measure of thine infinite â—oue mâ—nifested to me in the faith of Iesus Christ and abundantly testified by writing my name in the booke of life before I was and engrauing me as a signet with thine owne image at my creation and when I had defaced and in a manner quite raced it out by renuing it in me againe and redeeming mee that had sold my selfe as a bondslaue vnder sinne and death not with corruptible things as gold siluer or pretious stones but with the inualuable and incorruptible blood of thine onely begotten son who gaue his life for my ransome and by his suffering and death hath purchased for me a crowne of life To whom therefore with thee and thy spirit which sealeth all thy mercies vnto me and me vnto the day of redemption bee ascribed the whole glory of my creation redemption sanctification and saluation For vnto me nothing belongeth but shame and confusion who insteede of embracing any mercy and answering thy loue prouoke thy iustice and incense thy wrath and grieue thy spirit and despight thy grace and as much as in me lyeth crucifie againe to my selfe the Lord of life and trample the blood of the New Testament vnder foot Such is my peruerse nature and vngratious disposition that the better thou art to me the worse I proue to thee What couldest thou haue done vnto mee that thou hast not done Thou hast planted me in a fruitfull country thou hast fenced mee with thy prouidence watered me with the former and latter raine of thy Word pruned me with milde and seasonable afflictions and thou castest continually the hot and bright beames of thy fauour vpon me and thou lookest for grapes but behold nothing but wilde grapes What remaineth therefore but that thou shouldest roote mee out of thy vineard and plant another in my
Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor finding thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words Isa. 58. 13. Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride vpon the high places of the earth and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it ver 14. When the first day of the weeke began Marie Magdalen and the other Marie came to the sepulcher Math. 28. 1. Marke 16. 1. Iohn 20. 1. And behold there was a great earth-quake for the Angell of the Lord descended from heauen and rolled backe the stone from the doore and sate vpon it Math. 28. 2. And the Angell answered and said to the woman Feare yee not for I know that ye seeke Iesus that was crucified Math. 28. 6. He is not here for he is risen ver 7. And when the day of Pentecost was come they were all with one accord in one place Acts 2. 1. And suddenly there came a sound from heauen as of a rushing mightie wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting ver 2. And they were all filled with the holy Ghost and began to speake with other tongues as the Spirit gaue them vtterance ver 4. Euery first day of the weeke let euerie one lay aside as God hath prospered him c. 1. Corinth 16. 2. And the first day of the weeke the disciples being met together to breake bread Paul preached vnto them Acts 20. 7. And I was in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me a great voice as it had bene of a trumpet Reu. 1. 10. THE MORNING HYMNE for the Sabbath or the Lords day Wherein the deuout soule expresseth her performance at least in desire of all holy duties requisite on the Sabbath which are 1 Priuate as a 1. Premeditation b 2. Early rising or watchfulnesse c 3. The soules examination of her selfe d 4. Prayer at home consisting of 1. Confession of sinne e Originall f Actuall g 2. Profession of faith 3. Supplication for h 1. The Church i 2. The King k 3. The Minister l 4. Our selues 2 Publike as m 1. Going to the Church n 2. Ioyning in publike prayers and thankesgiuing with the congregation o 3. Hearing the word p 4. Contributing to the poore a I haue thought vpon thy Name in the night season and haue kept thy Law Psal. 119. 55. b Early in the morning do I cry vnto thee for in thy word is my trust ver 147. c I called mine owne wayes to remembrance and turned my foote to thy testimonies ver 59. d I will make my supplication in thy presence with my whole heart be mercifull vnto me according to thy word ver 58. e Behold I was borne in iniquitie and in sin hath my mother conceiued me Psal. 51. 3. f Who can tell how oft hee offendeth O cleanse thou mee from my secret faults Psal. 19. 12. g I said I will confesse my sin and so thou forgauest the wickednesse of my sinne Psal. 32. 6. h O be fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the walls of Ierusalem Psal. 51. 19. Thou shalt arise ô Lord and haue mercie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercie vppon her yea the time is come Psal. 102. 13. For why thy seruants thinke vpon her stones and it grieueth them to see her in the dust ver 14. i Giue the King thy iudgements ô Lord and thy righteousnesse to the Kings sonne Psal. 72. 1. Then shall hee iudge the people according vnto right and defend the poore ver 2. Hee shall keepe the simple by the right and punish the wrong doer ver 4. k Let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousnesse and let thy Saints sing with ioyfulnesse Psal. 132. 9. l O send out thy light and thy truth that they may leade mee and bring mee to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling Psal. 43. 3. m I was glad when they said vnto me Let vs go into the house of the Lord. Open me the gates of righteousnesse that I may go in and giue thanks to the Lord. Psal. 118. 19. n O magnifie the Lord our God and let vs fall downe before his footestoole for he is holy Psal. 99. 5. o The Lord gaue the word great was the companie of the Preachers Psal. 68. 11. I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me for hee shall speake peace vnto his people and to his Saints that they turne not againe Psal. 85. 8. For his saluation is nigh them that feare him that glorie may dwell in our land ver 9. p O my soule thou hast said vnto the Lord Thou art my God my goods are nothing vnto thee Psal. 16. 2. All my delight is vpon the Saints and such as excell in vertue ver 3. An offering of a free heart will I giue thee and praise thy name because it is so comfortable Psal. 58. 7. A Prayer for the Sabbath Morning BLessed Creator and Author and finisher of the saluation of man-kind who in memorie of thy glorious rest from both thy noble workes hast blessed and sanctified a day of holy rest vnto thy selfe sanctifie me for it that laying aside my accustomed businesse and sequestring my thoughts from all worldly cares I may keepe it and my selfe holy to thee by dedicating it and deuoting my selfe wholly to thy peculiar worship and immediate seruice And to the end that this my religious seruice may bee more acceptable to thee quicken me with thy Spirit that I may performe it with all alacritie and chearefulnesse and may make thy Sabbath my delight Touch my heart and tongue with a coale from thine Altar that from the sweet incense of my meditations hymnes prayers and thanksgiuing thou mayest smell a sauour of rest O holy Lord God of Sabbath sanctifie thy rest vnto me let thy Spirit rest in me that I may find rest to my soule from all tentations troubles and feares and may rest from my owne workes which are painefull and sinfull trauels and may employ this day all the powers and faculties of my soule and bodie in doing and considering thy workes in adoring thy Maiestie and admiring thy wisdome and acknowledgeing thy power and embracing thy loue and magnifying thy goodnesse and reioycing in thy mercies trembling at thy iudgements In visiting thy holy Temple and praising thee with thy Saints and offering vp the calues of my lips In diligently reading thy Scriptures attentiuely hearing thy word reuerently celebrating thy mysteries charitably relieuing thy members and zealously practising all holy duties both publike and priuate O let me this whole day walke with thee as Enoch did and talke with thee as Moses did and seeke thy face as Dauid did And grant that beholding thine image in thine holy word as in a cleare and cristall mirrour I may bee changed into the same image euen from glorie to glorie Let this Sabbath put
thee the fruite of my lippes Now I haue felt thy strength in my greatest weakenesse I haue tasted thy goodnesse in my bitter pangs I will therfore cal vpon thee in my troubles and will praise thee in my deliuerances and depend vpon thee as well in want as in plentie in sicknesse as in health in death as in life Thou mightest most iustly haue depriued me of the benefit and my infant of the hope of life Thou mightest deseruedly haue cut off the roote and the branch in the same moment for both were at thy mercie and liable to a curse But thy mercie is ouer all thy workes thou art good to them that are bad gracious to them that are vngracious mercifull to them that are most sinfull Thou desirest not the death of a sinner but of sin Thou wouldest that all should liue and here sowe the seedes and in heauen reape the fruite of immortality For to this end thou breathedst into vs the life of nature to make vs capable of the life of grace that thereby we may attaine the life of glory Therefore doest thou bring vs into the light of this world and set vs in the way that walking the paths of thy Commandements we might in the end ariue at our country in heauen This life of nature thou hast now giuen to my childe and continued to me adde now I beseech thee grace to nature and glory to grace hereafter that as we now liue in thee by nature so wee may liue to thee by grace and hereafter for euer liue with thee in glory Thou hâ—st ordained strength out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings and iustly maist expect praise from them Gracious Lord first giue my infant strength and then receiue praises from it The hidden treasure which for many moneths thou layedst vp in me is now safely taken out of me and deliuered me therefore I now offer it to thee in thy holy Temple Accept that from mee which thou hast giuen to me Receiue that into thy hands which thou hast put into mine armes Wash it in the Font of Baptisme regenerate it by thy holy Spirit feede it with the sincere milke of thy Word till it haue knowledge to choose the good and refuse the euill As it groweth in yeeres and stature strength so grant that it may grow in thy grace and fauour and increase in wisedome and in the knowledge of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it Amen The close out of Scripture NOw vnto the King immortal euerlasting inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen 1 Tim. 1. 17. The Sicke-mans Deuotion when there is yet hope of recouerie In his Sicknes After his Recouery When thou art smitten with sicknesse ô deuout Christian 1 ENter into thy priuate Chamber and commune with thine owne heart and search out diligently the cause of thy Fathers displeasure Psal. 4. â— 2 Confesse the particular sin or sinnes for which thy heart smiteth thee most with sighs and teares Psal. 32. 5 6. 3 Promise and fully purpose amendment through the assistance of grace Psal. 39. 1. 4 Aduise with the Physitian of thy soule and follow his godly direction and desire him to pray for thee and minister a word of comfort vnto thee and if thou find thy selfe fit for it in the beginning of thy sicknesse when thou art in perfect sence and memorie participate of the blessed Sacrament rather then when thy faculties are more enfeebled Iob. 33. 23. Iam. 5. 14. 5 Vse carefully all good meanes of Physicke and dyet for thy recouerie yet rely not vpon the meanes or instrument but vpon God Eccl. 38. 1. 2. Chr. 16. 12. 6 Pray to God instantly continually First absolutely for the health and saluation of thy soule Secondly conditionally for the health of thy bodie 7 Settle thine estate and make thy Will that thou mayest bee more free for holy and heauenly meditations Isa. 38. 1. 8 Submit thy self wholly and absolutely to God's good wil and pleasure concerning thee whether for life or death 1. Pet. 4. 19 9 Reade if thou be able or appoint to be read vnto thee at seasonable times select Chapters of Scripture and deuout Sermons and Prayers Rom. 8. Philippians 1. 1. Corinth 15. 1. Thes. 4. 2. Cor. 5. Ioh. 5. 6. 17. Hâ—b 12. Iob. 19. Reu. 2. 3. 21. 22. Iob 14. Isa. 38. 40. Among other helpes in this kind Open thy sorrow and griefe by the Hymne Strengthen thy faith patience by the exhortation Quicken thy Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing A PSALME FOR the sicke wherein The deuout Soule Expresseth her Maladie affection Hope in God Experience remembrance of his former goodnes Meek patience Prayeth for Ease Helpe Recouerie Quickning grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome to make good vse of sicknesse THE TEXTS HAue mercy vpon mee ô Lord for I am weake O Lord heale mee for my bones are vexed Psal. 6. 2. My soule also is sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish mee v. 3 My Spirit vexeth within me and my heart within mee is desolate Psal. 143. 4. Yet I doe remember the time past I muse vpon all thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the worke of thy hands verse â—5 I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land v. 6. Heare me O Lord and that soone for my Spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from mee â—est I bee like vnto them that go downe into the pit v. 7. Thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brest Psal. 22. 9. I haue bin left vnto thee euer since I was borne Thou art my God euen from my mothers womb v. 10. Though I walke in the shadow of death I will feare no euill thy rod and thy staffe comfort me Psal. 23. 4. Lord what is my hope Truly my hope is euen in thee Psal. 39. 5. I became dumbe and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing v. 10. I will patiently abide alway and praise thy name more and more Psal. 71. 12. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger nor chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure Psal. 6. 1. The sorrowes of my heart are enlarged O bring me out of my trouble Psal. 25. 16. Heare ô Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lord bee thou my helper Psal. 30. 11. Turne thee ô Lord and deliuer my soule ô saue mee for thy mercies sake Psal. 6. 4. For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thankes in the pit v. 5. What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to the pit Psal. 30. 9. Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee Or shall it declare thy truth v. 10. Take thy Plague away from me I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal. 39. 11. Quicken mee ô Lord for thy names
against enuenomed wounds Then would we as soone as we feele the sting of sinne in our consciences bruise the Serpent by true contrition destroy the sinne and apply the oyle of teares issuing from it to cure the wound before it festered But among other iust causes of teares this is not the least that wee misspend our teares and spill that heauenly dew and profane the Font-water of our second baptisme as Saint Cyprian calleth it Wee haue teares at our owne will in worldly losses but none at God's command for the losse of his grace Wee take on for the death of our friends departing frō vs but cannot wring out a teare for the spirituall death of our soules departing from God Yet all our fretting and vexing all our weeping and howling cannot fetch our friend backe againe or repaire our worldly losses whereas on the contrary as Saint Chrysostome piously noteth the afflicting of our soules and serious bewailing of our sinnes by God's grace shall reuiue our soules and recouer all our spirituall losses and that with aduantage What pittie nay what folly is it to powre costly eye-water out of a Venice-glasse into a vile pot or basen to wash our feete withall Do we not the like when we turne godly sorrow into worldly and abuse pretious teares to the bewailing of vile base losses haue we suchstore of them or such want of better employmēt for them See we not wrath is gone out against vs and the fire long agoe kindled and not yet quenched by our teares Lord thou hast shewed thy people terrible things thou hast giuen vs a drinke of deadly wine and hast caused vs to suck out the dreggs of it because we Moab like are setled vpon our Lees. As Pharaoh saw the hugh of his bloodie minde in the waters of Aegypt turned all redd as blood so we may see the crimson colour of our sins in the vialls of thy wrath powred of late vpon vs. We trade not spiritually for the pearle of the Gospell and therefore our Merchant's returnes faile Wee would not weepe for our sins and therefore the heauens did weepe for vs a long season in continuall showers We haue bin hard hearted and barren in good works and therefore thou madest heretofore the heauen aboue vs as brasse and the earth vnder vs as Yron By drunkennesse and gluttony by euill perswasions and worse examples one soule hath infected another and therefore thou hast sent a Plague whereby one body infecteth another Such a Plag◠as our ancients neuer heard of and our posterity will scarce belieue The chiefe of our Cities haue beene ploughed vp and sowed so thick with dead corps's that one could scarce lye by another Against this and all other iudgements which thy law threatneth and our sins prouoke wee haue no weapons to contend with thy iustice but prayers and teares We haue no meanes to clense the infected aire but our sighs and groanes O Lord remoue our sins as a clowde and iniquities as a mist and then this dreadfull bloodie clowde which lately powred downe but now onely droppeth will vanish of it selfe Consummate the worke of mercy thou hast begun and quite remoue this iudgement through thy tender compassion in the bowells of Christ Iesus wee beseech thee But remoue this iudgement in mercie not in iudgement Take not thy hand off of vs to fetch a greater stroake at vs. Deliuer vs not from one Plague as thou diddest Pharoh to send a worse in steede thereof Put vs not out of thine hands into which we are fallen to giue vs ouer into the hands of our enemies Saue vs not from the Sword to kill vs with Famine neither preserue vs from a corporall to starue vs with a spirituall Take not away one plaister to apply a smarter in the place but perfectly heale our wounds Bee absolutely reconciled vnto vs in him vpon whom thou hast already layed the chastisement of our peace O remember not our our old sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great misery Helpe vs ô God of our saluation for the glory of thy name ô deliuer vs and bee mercifull to our sins for thy names sake O thinke vpon thy congregation and Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Looke vpon the hands of many thousands that haue beene lifted vp to thee in Publike and many more in Priuate to iustifie thee in thy Iudgements and blesse thee for thy mercies and intreate thee for this Land and thy disconsolate Spouse yet weeping in teares of bloud in diuerse places To strengthen and support the weaker of these hands and fill their mouthes with continuall Deuotions I haue furnished and replenished this Manuel which I name THE HAND-MAID To PRIVATE DEVOTION to waite on her in her Chamber or Oratorie The purtraying of her Mistresse I leaue to the pensill of some Diuine Apelles whose taske will be the harder because she neuer commeth abroade All that my intention aimeth at and my endeauours promise is but to lay open a priuate way and set vp certaine Stages for thy holy race and pricke thee on forward in it Farre better helpes in this kinde the pious charitie and zeale of religious and learned persons hath afforded thee of whom yet I may truely say as Tully spake of the Emperours that dealt with Mithridates before Pompey Laudandum quod secerunt ignoscendum quod reliquerunt They are to be commended for that they haue done and pardoned for that they left What they haue left I labour to supply and if I cannot supply it yet I thought fit to implie and intimate that the Authors themselues or the Publishers of their workes might adde what they finde wanting First my thinkes I see in their bookes of Deuotion and prayers Salomon's temple without the gate called Bewtifull I meane exquisite meditations and orizons without an entrance thereunto by preparation With that part therefore I begin and it taketh vp the more roome in my booke because it hath beene so scanted for place or rather quite excluded in theirs In it if thou finde some tertnesse I intreate thee Courteous Reader to remember with me the precept of the Lord Iesu Haue salt and haue peace If I haue salt haue thou peace the rather because Hymnes Prayers and other religious exercises are spirituall sacrifices and euery sacrifice by the Law was to be seasoned with salt Et quoniam mel in Dei sacrificijs non offertur nimia dulcedo arte mutata est quâdam piperis austeritate condita apud Deum nil tantum suaue placet nisi quod habet in se aliquid mordacis veritatis It is S. Ierom's obseruation vpon the legall sacrifices that God neuer appointed hony to be offered vnto him And the morall truth vailed vnder that shadow was that in our spirituall oblations nothing pleaseth God that is onely sweete and hath not some smacke 〈◊〉 it of biting truth Next I haue much maruelled what the reason might be that they vndertaking
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
come then that which is in part shall be abolished 1 Cor. 13. 10. Loue doth neuer fall away though that prophecying be abolished or that tongues cease c. ver 8. I pray that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs c. Ioh. 17. 21. An Hymne for the Sabbath Euening REturne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt graciously with thee Psal. 116. 7. In Gods Word will I reioyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me Psal. 56. 10. The words of the Lord are pure words like as siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seauen times in the fire Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will bee alway praysing thee They will goe from strength to strength and to the God of Gods appeareth euery one of them in Sion Psal. 84. 47. I will giue thankes to the Lord in the Congregation from the ground of the heart Psal. 68 26. Vnto thee ô God I will pay my vowes vnto thee will I giue thanks Psal. 56. 12. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy Statutes Psalme 119. An Euening Prayer for the Sabbath HOly holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which art and which art to come hallow my nature that I may hallow thy Name As thou impartest thy goodnes to me whereby I liue and moue in thee so I beseech thee communicate to mee some measure of thy holinesse that I may liue and moue to thee Let thy Spirit of grace possesse my body and soule that the desires of my minde and thoughts of my heart and words of my lipps may be holinesse vnto thee Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee And first with ioy and thankfulnesse I acknowledge it a special testimony of thy loue that thou hast giuen me liberty and meanes to keepe a holy Sabbath vnto thee to meete in thy House to offer vp my ioynt-prayers and thanks-giuing with thy holy congregation to confesse my sinnes to professe my faith to lay open my wants to cheere vp my selfe by singing the sweete songs of Sion to heare thy sacred Word read and Preached whereby my faith hath beene strengthened in the misteries of saluation my hope established in the promises of thy Gospell and my life set forward in a setled course of holinesse and righteousnesse whereby the Kingdome of sinne and Satan is beate down and destroyed and the Kingdome of Christ built vp in me By this thy Word the carelesse sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous terrified and the penitent comforted the power of sinne is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the spirit quickned grace reuined and my Election assured by these insallible Marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed bee thy Name for it this day thy Word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisedome The dispenser of thy misteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many pearles among thy people Lord grant that with Mary I keepe these and all thy sayings in my heart and make vse of them in my life and receiue comfort from them at my death And here I would proceed to intreate at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy spiritual and temporall blessings vpon mee but my sinnes lye at the doore of my conscience and affright mee My heart smites mee for my failings in the performance of the duties of thy Sabbath My deuout Meditations haue bin stefled in the wombe that bare them my prayers haue not beene without distractions my hearing without wearisomenesse nor my almes-deeds without grudging Pardon deare Father my want of preparation before I come to thine house of intention and Zeale at thy seruice and want of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all other my sins especially of this weeke and day in the night of eternall obliuion Ease me of the burden of them that I may more securely repose my body and soule vpon thy gracious protection to take their naturall refreshing by sleepe whereby I may bee enabled and strengthened to doe thee better seruice the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the waies of thy commandements and the duties of my calling The close out of Scripture Now the very God of peace sanctify mee throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ Amen THE PRACTICE of Extraordinarie DEVOTION In the Religious obseruation of Christian Feasts as namely our Lords Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection Ascension Sending downe the Holy Ghost Fasts as namely Ashwednesday Good friday By Daniel Featly Doctor in Diuinity LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and Religious Ladie the Countesse of DENBIGH May it please your Honour YOur conference with me about my conference with the Iesuites and your gracious acceptation of the relation and defence thereof left in me such an impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious disposition that I euer since desired the aduantage of some good opportunitie to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour The truth of God receiueth not onely support but great honour from the patronage and countenance of great Personages and she much glorieth in finding so strong a Champion euen in the weaker sexe Albeit the Sun-beames are alwayes most bright in themselues yet they neuer appeare so glorious to vs as when they fall vpon crystall glasse or pretious stones In like sort Religion and vertue the raies of diuine light in the soule although they shine alwayes brightly in themselues yet they neuer seeme so conspicuous and resplendent as when they receiue some luster from the subiect when Nobilitie of birth and minde concurre when ornaments of bodie and soule meete when eminencie of grace eminency of conditions toyne in one and reflect mutually each on the other And verily if your more then or dinarie fauour and respect to the Ministers of the Gospell and to my selfe in particular had not made this my voluntarie oblation a necessarie obligation to your Ladiship yet your constancie in the truth and loue to Sion and her solemne and sacred assemblies might iustly challenge to your Honour the Dedication of this part of my HAND-MAIDES Taske which is to furnish Christian fastes and feasts with proper MEDITATIONS HYMNES and PRAYERS As our bodie liues to the soule by which it liueth so our soule should liue to God by whom it liueth And no otherwise is the life of the bodie preserued by heate and moisture then the life of the soule is maintained and kept by the heate of diuine loue and radicall moisture of teares bedewing the heart
roote of a true penitent To kindle the one and feede the other I Dedicate and deuote the DEVOTION of this part of my HAND-MAIDE to your Honour For the feasts representing to your Religious thoughts what Christ hath done for you will through the blasts of Gods Spirit inflame the heate of heauenly loue in you and the fasts admonishing you what Christ hath suffered for you must needs yeeld aboundant matter to supply the springs of godly sorrow In heauen ioy taketh vp all times and parts in hell sorrow on earth they diuide In heauen there is ioy without sorrow in hell sorrow without ioy on earth sorrow and ioy act their parts fasts and feasts haue their courses mirth and mourning their turnes and at euerie turne my HAND-MAIDE is readie to attend you either with sackcloth for the one or the wedding garment for the other S. Bernard taking his ground from those words of the Prophet Ioel Rent your hearts c. and returne to the Lord with your whole heart thus pleasantly descanteth therupon We cannot returne vnto the Lord with our whole heart vnlesse it be broken first with true contrition There is no whole heart but a rent heart no sound heart but a broken S. Ierome according in the same note summeth vp the whole practice of a deuoute soule in her priuate carriage with God in these words She sorroweth after a godly manner and reioyceth for that sorrow Godly sorrow for sinne and holy ioy for that sorrow is the whole Deuoute man Madame if my Meditations vpon the fasting suffering and death of our Sauiour make you sad and sorrowfull remember out of S. Ierome that you ought to be ioyfull for such sorrow If the piercing Texts of holy Seripture in the ADMONITIONS and HYMNES appointed for the Christian fasts diuide betweene your soule and spirit and bruse if not breake your heart with an holy sympathy remember out of S. Bernard that There is no returning to God with a whole heart but by breaking it And if you find in the whole Deuotion of Fasts matter of pensiuenesse and griefe in the Christian feasts you shall haue store of oyle to make you a cheerfull countenance and reuiue your deaded thoughts The heart of a man is in continuall motion it alwayes either dilateth it selfe or contracteth and the hidden man of the heart in like manner hath his Systole and Diastole as the Anatomists speake his heart continually either enlargeth it selfe by ioy or contracteth it selfe by sorrow And no doubt when God bespeakes our hearts for himselfe he especially expects and respects these motions thereof and affections producing them He will haue vs ioy in him and sorrow and long after him Ioy in his fauour and sorrow in his displeasure Ioy in his promise and sorrow at his threates Ioy in the holy Ghost and sorrow in our owne spirits Feast to him in a thankefull profession of his gracious goodnesse and fast to him in an humble confession of sinfull wickednesse Like the Heliotropium turne alwayes to the Sunne open when he sheddeth abroade his beames and shut when he draweth them in Inlarge our hearts with ioy at his gracious presence and sorrowfully shut and contract them when he is or seemeth to be absent from vs. Thus if our ioy be the interpreter of our loue to him and our sorrow of our desire of him if our ioy be holy and our sorrow holy if our feasts be feasts of Deuotion and our fasts be fasts of contrition our gracious Redeemer will vouchsafe to be present at both he will feast and fast with vs. At our fasts he will weepe for our spirituall as he did for Lazarus his corporall death At our feasts he will turne our water into wine and rauish our soules with heauenly melodie Our feasts shall be as temperate and holy as fasts and our fasts as comfortable as feasts A good conscience shall be vnto vs a continuall feast here and the Marriage supper of the Lamb an euerlasting feast hereafter To both which feasts God by his Spirit which biddeth you bring you for his sake who by his fasts and sorrowes on earth hath purchased for vs euerlasting feasts and ioyes in heauen In whom I rest Your Honour 's to dispose of DANIEL FEATLY PART 1. SVPPART 3. The Festiuall's Deuotion The Feast of the Birth of our Lord IESVS CHRIST The ground of this feast Prophecies in the old Testament Histories in the New of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God PARALELL Prophecie The Seede of the woman shall break the Serpents head Historie He took not on him the nature of Angels but he tooke the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. In the fulnes of time God sent his Sonne made of a woman Gal. 4. 4. The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah nor a lawgiuer from betweene his feete vntill SHILOH come Gen. 49. 10. Christ is called Shiloh from an Hebrew word signifying to send or to saue or secundinam to intimate Christs virgin birth quasifilium secundinoe When IESVS was borne in Bethlem of Iudea in the daies of Herod the king who raigned when Christ was born was a stranger and so the Scepter was then departed from Iuda Mat. 2. 1. The Lord himselfe shall giue you a signe Be hold a Virgin shal conceiue beare a sonne and shall call his name Immanuel Isa. 7. 14. Ioseph being raised from sleepe did as the Angell of the LORD had bidden him and tooke vnto him his wife Mat. 1. 24. But knew her not till she had brought forth her first begotten Sonne and hee called his name IESVS ver 25. For vnto vs a child is borne vnto vs a sonne is giuen Isa. 9. 6. The Angel said Vnto you is borne this day in the City of Dauid a Sauiour which is CHRIST the Lord. Luk. 2. 11. But thou Bethlem EPHRATA though thou bee little among the thousands of Iuda yet out of thee shall hee come forth to me that is to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth haue bin from old and from euerlasting Mich. 5. 2. When Iesus was borne in Bethlem c. Mat. 2. 1. Ioseph went to the City of Dauid called Bethlem Luk. 2. 4. And the dayes were accomplished that she should bee deliuered verse 6. And shee brought forth her first borne sonne verse 7. For thine instruction meditate on Christs birth For thy comfort apply the benefits to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy new birth and life and quicken Thine obedience by the exhortation Thy thankfulnesse by the Hymne Thy Zeale and Deuotion by the prayer AN EXHORTATION TO STRIVE AND PRAY for the state of grace and regeneration THE ANALISIS Wee must defire and pray that we may bee regenerated and borne anew because by it we obtaine 1 Entrance into the Kingdome of Grace Glory 2 Knowledge 3 Liberty from Corruption Raigning sin 4 Adoption and the title of the Sonnes of God 5 The preheminency of the first borne 6 The spirit of supplication and accesse
of Martyrs since the worlds beginning were put in one skale and thine in the other thy Passion would beare them all down for thou barest the full weight of thy Father's heauiest hand Neuer were there sufferings like thy sufferings because neuer such a Sufferer the torments being infinitely improued by the Bearer Neuer sweat like thy sweat because neuer any had a burthen like to thine Neuer teares like thy teares because shed for them who thirsted for thy bloud Neuer torments like thy torments because neuer flesh so pure and tender as thy flesh Neuer horrour like to thy horrour being forsaken of thy Father because neuer loue like to thy loue of him Neuer sorrow like to thy sorrow because neuer sense and apprehension like to thy sense and apprehension of the infinite displeasure of God for the sinnes of mankinde O my most bountifull Redeemer who bestowedst largely and wast bestowed liberally for me it concerneth mee to know how much I stood thee in For how should I estimate thy loue if I cannot cast the totall of the Debt thou diddest discharge for mee But no heart can conceiue what sorrow thou conceiuedst no tongue can expresse what griefe thou diddest expresse by thy bloudy teares and those thy strong cries when thou complainedst that thy soule was heauy vnto death prayedst thy Father if it were possible to let this 〈◊〉 passe from thee I am appaled at thine agony I am astonished or thy feare I am amazed at thy patience I am rauished at thy loue My heart riseth my veines swell my bloud boiles within me against thy Persecuters If it were in my power I would put them all to millions of torments I would inflict a thousand deaths vpon Iudas that betrayed thee and Pilat that condemned thee and the enuious Scribes and Pharisees that layed snares for thee and the periured witnesses that gaue false euidence against thee and that execrable rout that preferred a murtherer before thee and the barbarous Souldiers that spit vpon thee and buffeted thee and the bloudy executioners of the Iewish malice and Romane cruelty that hanged and nayled and goared thee But when I diue deepe into thy bloudy passion I finde my selfe as deepe in the guilt of thy bloud-shedding as they They were in that but accessaries but I by my sinnes was a principall in the death of the Lord of Life My sinnes by their tongues and hands did all this villany outrage vpon thee Their nailes and speares pierced but the flesh but my sinnes pierced thy very soule My sinnes my sinnes O Lord by their hands crucified thee wherefore I condemne mine eyes to continuall teares my heart to perpetuall sighs and my thoughts to euerlasting pensiuenesse What shall I doe to wash away the guilt of thy bloud which alone can take away the guilt of my sinnes Verily I should bee vtterly swallowed vp in this gulfe but that the price of thy bloud hath satisfied as for all other sins so for the guilt of spilling it selfe And now my anger and feare and trouble anguish are all turned into ioy and comfort and loue admiration of the infinite wisdome of thy Father in prouiding such a remedy and his iustice in requiring such a satisfaction but most of all thy infinite loue making so full payment of the infinite debt of my sinnes What can I do what can I suffer enough for thee Gracious God to all the rest of thy blessings spirituall temporall conferred vpō me purchased by thy sufferings adde this one aboue the rest the special gift of the remembrance of these thy sufferings that wheresoeuer I am whatsoeuer I doe I may haue thy passion in my heart and thy wounds bleeding afresh in my mind with an infinite hatred of sinne that procured them and loue of thy goodnesse who induredst them for me Thy Church since thou leftest her is a widdow and I am as one of her dead children not as the Samaritan was halfe dead but whole dead in my sinnes and transgressions Thou Lord art the true Elias who raisedst and doest raise from death this Widdowes children to life by stretching thy body ouer them O my gracious Lord apply thy Body stretched this day on the Crosse to me Lay thy head to my head thy hands to my hands thy feet to my feet and thy heart to my heart that I may receiue warmth from thy bloud and ease from thy stripes and health from thy wounds and spirit from thy breath and strength from thy grace to stand vp from the dead and walke with thee from hence forth in newnesse of life So bee it Amen The weeke dayes Deuotions THe first day being the Christian Sabbath preceded the Festiualls whither I referre thee The others here follow in their order Munday's Deuotion being the second day from the Creation The Father worketh The worke of Creation on this day AGaine God said Let there be a Firmament in the middest of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters Gen. 1. 3. Then God made the Firmament and separated the waters that were vnder the Firmament from the waters that were aboue the Firmament and it was so and God called the Firmament Heauen ver 7. So the euening and the morning were the 2. day ver 8. And I worke THe worke of redemption this day prophesied of in the Epistle Isa. 50. 6. I gaue my backe vnto the smiters my cheeks to the nippers I hid not my face from shame spitting c. Related in the Gospell Mat. 27. 1 2. When the morning was come all the chiefe Priests and the Elders of the People tooke counsell against Iesus to put him to death For thine instruction meditate In the morning vpon the worke of Creation In the euening vpon the worke of Redemption For thy comfort apply the Vse of the one Benefit of the other For thy corrction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankes by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing THE HYMNE HAue I not remembred thee in my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking Psal 63. 7. Because thou hast beene my helper therefore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce ver 8. My soule hangeth vpon thee thy right hand hath vpholden me ver 9. Saue me O God for the waters are come in euen to my soule Psal. 69. 1. I stick fast in the deepe mire where no ground is I am come into deepe waters so that the flouds runne ouer me ver 2. My misdeeds preuaile against me O be thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Psal. 65. 3. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vnto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and shall bee satisfied with the pleasures of thine House euen of thy holy Temple ver 4. Thou shalt shew vs wonderfull things in thy righteousnesse O God of our saluation thou that art the hope of all the ends of
Lord in the depth of thy Wisdome finde meanes to helpe my ignorance in the depth of thy goodnesse to ouercome my wickednesse in the depth of thy mercy to relieue my misery Inlighten mine vnderstanding that I may know mine ignorance rectifie my will that I may detest my wickednesse and mollifie my heart that I may bewaile my misery and by faith incorporate me into thy Sonne Iesus Christ that I may be partaker of his knowledge righteousnesse and happinesse As he made my ignorance his ignorance and my sinne his sinne and my misery his misery by taking vpon him my guilt and satisfying for my punishment so make thou I beseech thee his Wisdome my instruction his Righteousnes my sanctification and his Glory my happinesse Consider mee I beseech thee not as I am in my selfe defiled but as I am in him washed not as I am in my selfe naked but as I am in him clothed not as I am in my selfe wounded but as I am in him healed not as in my selfe a childe of wrath but as in him reconciled and at peace with thee And hauing my peace made with thee by his chastisement grant that I may haue peace as farre as it is possible with all men especially with all the children of peace Let mee euer remember and consider that thou my Father art the God of peace and thy Sonne my Sauiour the Prince of peace and his Law the Gospell of peace and his Seruants the Children of peace whose duty is the study of peace and the marke they principally aime at as the end of their faith the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding O let mee striue and contend against strife and contention as a thing most hatefull to thee hurtfull to my neighbour and most of all preiudiciall to my selfe by endangering my person and state disturbing the quietnesse of my minde hindring me in the prosecution of my businesse and which is worst of all making me indisposed and altogether vnfit for the performance of diuine duties Teach me of what spirit I am or should be euen of that which descended vpon thy Sonne in the likenesse of a Doue without Gall By this spirit mortifie in me the lusts and affections of the flesh as enuy wrath reuenge and the like By the still voice in which thou spakest to Elias let mee learne that thou art not in the fire of my rage nor in the storme of my passion but in the saft gale of grace Lord who on this day replenishedst the Sea and Riuers with fish and Aire with Fowles in shapes admirably various and in number almost infinite stir me vp by the consideration thereof to admire thy power wisdome in thus storing and as it were peopling this vaste and fearefull seeming solitude and much more to magnifie thy goodnesse in thus richly and daintily furnishing the tables of men Blessed Lord who this day madest the waters fruitfull let thy Spirit moue vpon the waters of my teares that they may abound in the fruits of repentance and bee blessed in the encrease of spirituall consolatious Lord who this day commandest the Fowles to flye through the aire lift vp my soule from the earth with the wings of faith and hope that she may flye vp towards Heauen Make mee light and cheerefull after my heauy sorrowes and grieuous afflictions that though I haue beene as blacke and sad in my heart and countenance as if I had layen among the pots yet I may be by the grace of thy Spirit which descended in the likenesse of a Doue like that Doue whose wings are siluer and her feathers like gold So be it Amen The close out of Scripture God grant that my loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement Phil. 1 9. That I may discerne things that differ one from another that I may be pure and without offence vntill the day of Christ ver 10. Filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Chirst vnto the glory and praise of God ver 11. The Deuotion for Thursday Euening THE HYMNE Wherein the deuout soule expresseth her desire of prayer for peace Publike Priuate THE TEXTS BEhold how good and pleasant a thing it is brethren to dwel together in vnity Ps. 133. 1. It is like the precious Ointment vpon the head that ranne downe vpon the Beard euen Aarons Beard and went downe to the skirts of his clothing v. 2. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended vpon the Mountaine of Sion for there the Lord promiseth his blessings and life for euermore ver 3. Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meseck and to haue my habitation in the tents of Kedar Psal. 120. 4. My soule hath long dwelt among them that be enemies vnto peace ver 5. I labour for peace but when I speake to them therof they make themselues ready to battaile v. 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue thee Psal. 122 6. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy Palaces ver 7. For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be within thee ver 8. Because of the house of the Lord my God I will seeke thy good ver 9. The Admonition for Thursday Euening being an Exhortation to Patience the eightth BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS All true Christians must valiantly and cheerfully endure troubles for the Gospell in respect of 1 God his Will. Power Ordinance 2 Christ his Loue. Example Sympathy with vs. 3 The Saints Practice Encouragement 4 The enemies Conuersion or Conuiction 5 Our selues who therby receiue 1 Tryall 2 Ioy. 3 Assurance of God's loue 4 Quiet fruit of Righteousnes 5 Holinesse and perfection 6 Life 7 Protection 8 Honor before God 9 Inestimable rewards 1 In this life 2 In the life to come THE TEXTS IN the world ye shall haue afflictions Iob 6. 33. I was dumbe and opened not my mouth because thou Lord hadst done it Psal. 39. 9. Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit their soules to him in well doing as their faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. vlt. Who hath euer resisted his Will Rom. 9. 19. He is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3. 21. We must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14. 22. All that liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecutions 2 Tim. 3. 12. Thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 2. 3. You shal be hated of all men for my Names sake Luke 21. 17. The loue of Christ constraineth vs because wee thus iudge that if One dyed for all then all were dead 2 Cor. 5. 14. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ Shall tribulation or anguish or distresse or persecution or famine or sword Rom. 8. 35. Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus
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