my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in
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
blessed Body and Blood sitting at the Communion as they doe at their ordinary table without expressing any thankfull humility or giuing testimony that they discerne the Lords body from common meat Is this to serue the Lord Christ with feare To reioyce vnto him with trembling To kisse the Sonne least hee be angry Nay to fall lowe before his footstoole because hee is holy But I will speake no more of Preparation to holy duties in generall least the preludium grow longer then the lesson I am now to prick The Preparation to Prayer PARAG. 1. My heart is indighting of a good matter my tongue is the penne of a ready writer saith the Kingly Prophet and againe My heart was hot within mee while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue If this sweete singer of Israel first pricked the notes in his heart before he began to sing them If he who was inspired by the holy Ghost framed his Prayers and Psalmes of thanksgiuing in his minde before hee deliuered them by his tongue ought not we who are as farre behinde him in his gifts as we are below him in condition much more meditate before we vtter any thing to the Lord I speake not of pious â—iaculations which must needs be suddaine as their occasions are and the motions of Gods Spirit within vs but of a set conceiued Prayer wherein we ought not onely well to ponder the matter but euen weigh if wee haue time euery word in the ballance that they bee not found too light and thereby our Prayers against sin be turned into sinne Bee not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to vtter any thing before God Seneca obseruing how bold men made with God and what strange petitions they blushed not to preferre vnto him gaue this sage aduise So deale with men as if God saw thee and so speake with God as if men heard thee For many men vent such vncharitable enuious and malitious matters such confused and vndigested stuffe such impertinencies inconsequencies absurdities especially in their priuate extemporarie Prayers as they would be ashamed that any man of quality or vnderstanding should ouer heare them It would make a prophane man laugh but a Religious man weepe to listen and marke how sometimes they court Almighty God with idle complements sometimes they cast vp Prayers with strong lines to heauen hoping thereby to drawe downe a blessing from God sometimes they expostulate with God in a sawcie and sometimes pose him in a ridiculous manner Sometimes they discourse profoundly in their Prayer as if they meant in good earnest to teach Almighty God what hee ought to doe Sometimes they are too tedious cloying his eares with bablings and vaine repetitions and sometimes againe they are too briefe curtayling their Orisens and breaking off in the middest One while they fly too high and meddle with counsells of State and another while they fall too low and tell God a Homely houshould tale If they heare a strange Phrase or an affected straine of puf-past eloquence this they cull out carefully and insert into their garlands Peter Moulin iustly taxeth a Fryar for styling Christ the Dolphin of heauen and I thinke he as well deserueth blame who prayeth to God that he may march to heauen in perfect equipage or come vnto God not with the soales of his foot but the foot of his soule who layeth open before God his manifold defections infections imperfections his sinnes of an higher straine and deeper staine and commendeth to his gracious goodnesse al the Ministers of the Church by what titles soeuer they are signified or dignified Giue me leaue to tell these men in their owne language that this is playing not Praying and that in sending vp such prayers they burne not incense to God but incense him rather Or if they will not heare me let the graue high-Priest among the ancient Romans Schoole them as he did a Vestall whom he obserued to be too curious and neate about her work which was tending the holy fire Vergin doe your work holily rather then handsomely reuerently rather then trimly There are a sort of men in direct opposition to these who affect a kinde of Rhetorike which weedeth out all flowers of Rhetorike They can away with no Prayer or meditation which fauours of the lumpe though the oyle be sacred Nothing pleaseth them in this kinde but that which is spunne with an ouer course thread Coursnes to them is strength dulnes grauity drinesse iudgement leanenes health and pack-staffe plainnesse the euidence as they terme it of the Spirit and simplicity of the Gospell Well may they claime kindred with the old Aegyptians who as Herodotus and Straboreport temper morter with their hands and kneade their dow with their feete Right so these men in all other things like well of art and wit where the matter is vile and base but in the deliuery of heauenly conceptions vtterly abandon them But they should haue considered better that sharpnesse of wit and true eloquence are gifts of God and therefore best of all to bee employed in holy things as gold and siluer are best bestowed in adorning Gods house so it bee without superstition Was not fine linnen and blew silke and Scarlet of as good vse in the Arke as Camels haire Is not the Queene brought into the spirituall Salomans chamber in Vesture of gold wrought about with diuers colours Was not the holy oyle and precious oyntment made by Gods coÌ„mandement according to the art of the Apothecary Are there not in the Prophet Esay the Psalmes of Dauid and the Epistles of Saint Paul in the originall language and other parts of Scripture more exquisite peeces of Artt and streines of eloquence then are to be found in any other writings whatsoeuer If they are accursed who doe the worke of the Lord negligently certainly the more diligence we vse the more blessed our holy labours shall be For my part I am resolued with Dauid neuer to offer that to God which costeth mee nothing There remaine yet in some places some of the base sect of the Patttalorochita who place Religion in nosing their words and speaking to God in a harsh and vncouth sound and pronuntiation They will not cry but howle and bellow to him But these are so few in number and their error is so contemptible that I hold it scarce fit the naming and no way worthy the refuting I would there were no more left of the sect of the Pharisees who vnder colour of long Prayers 〈◊〉 widowes houses who persume their consâ—â—ing and corrupt dealing with the balme of Gâ—lead who make Religion and Deuotion a stalking horse to their ambition and auaritious purposes and ends O mercifull God how is thy patience abused How is thy Maiesty sleightned How is thy worship prophaned O what sinfull wretches are we who need a large pardon not onely for our profane
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
receiue the oyle of grace and most pretious balsame of Gods word instilled by preaching If thou art a sheepe of Christ and belongest to his fold shew his eare-marke My sheepe heare my voyce Where wee reade in the Psalme according to the Septuagint and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes A body thou hast fitted or prepared me it is in the originall according to the Hebrew word for word Mine eares hast thou opened to teach vs that God fits vs and prepares vs for his seruice especially by boaring our eares with those goades and nailes that are fastened by the Maisters of the assemblies and are giuen from one sheapheard I socrates aduiseth Demonicus to employ all his leasure time in diligently hearing the penned Orations and speeches of eloquent Orators and graue Counsellers For so saith hee thou shalt get that with much ease which cost another man much paines That which a diuine Orator and heauenly Preacher hath beene many weekes perhaps yeeres in laying together hee scattereth abroad in an hower Obseruest thou not how the Manna which he gathereth graine by graine or seede by seede hee deliuereth out to thee in whole Omers yea and Ephaes too Yea but thou art well stored with this heauenly prouision and foode of Angels thy library is like a rich Granarie and why maist thou not then as well or better spend thy time in perusing such writings then repairing to the Church perhaps a good way from thy house to heare a man of meaner gifts then those were or are whose works thou hast in the last and best editions by thee I perceiue by this obiection that thou hast heard much against hearing heare now a little for it First as a great Master of the Law was wont to say that Courts of iustice must not Clash one against another so it is most certaine that duties of piety ought not Clash iustle or any way crosse one the other Priuate reading and publike hearing must both haue their places seasons and turnes If thou art so straightned in time or ouerlaid with businesse that thou canst not allow a fit time for both let the priuate voluntary alwaies giue place to the publike necessary duty The coÌ„mandements of God the Church wherein thou liuest ought to ouersway thy priuate opinion fancie or inclination or perhaps diabolicall tentation If thy Pastor be so strictly charged to preach vnto thee certainely thou art necessarily bound to heare him For these duties are linked together Hath priuate reading the like promises to publike hearing the Word Or is it of like force and efficacie Where thou canst name one that hath beene wonne to the Christian faith and true godlinesse by bare reading wee can produce many thousands that haue beene added to the Church by publike Sermons yea sometimes at one Sermon The holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost came with the sound Where the sound is of the Word Preached there goeth the Spirit ordinarily Yet I deny not but that men in priuate reading the Scriptures and other holy books may do feele some soft and sweet blasts of the holy spirit but in the publike Ministry of the Word the Spirit commeth downe like a mighty rushing winde filling the whole roome wee receiue then grace in a fuller measure Sermons preached are compared to raine and deaw but printed to snow which though it lye longer on the ground yet it is much colder and doth not in like sort pierce moysten and fatten the ground as the other Moreouer those things that haue passed the presse lye by vs wee may at any time haue and vse them but the notes of a Sermon preached are like the Manna that fell on the Saturday which if it was not presently gathered was vtterly lost There is much difference betweene those generall Receipts you finde in Physick bookes and a speciall potion or Electuary made by a trusty Apothecary according to the direction of a Learned Physitian and particularly applyed to thy peculiare disease Euery man hath not the skill of the Apothecary to make the confection and fewer haue the iudgement of an experienced physitian to direct where and how it ought to bee giuen And albeit thy preacher bee a man of no very extraordinary gifts yet in regard he is an Ambassadour sent from God vnto thee if he faithfully though perhaps not so eloquently deliuer his message vnto thee thou oughtst to heare it and honour him for his Masters sake His feete cannot but seeme beautifull to thee if they be shoâ—d with the Preparation of the Gospell of Peace The diligent Bee gathereth hony out of Thime one of the driest herbs that is and certainly if thou bee not a drone thy selfe thou mayest sucke from the mouth of the barrenest and as thou callest him the dryest Preacher Doctrine sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Although I assent freely to Lactantius that the truth findeth easyer-entrance into the soule when she commeth armed not onely with her owne strength but also with the best aide wit or art can afford Yet withall I affirme with Saint Paul that faith standeth not in the entising words of mans wisedome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God Art may moue affection but nothing but Gods Word and the grace of the Spirit can remoue corruption Humane wit and learning may tickle the eare and as Seneca speakes of Chrysippus his acute Sentences pricke but neuer pierce the heart that is the singular prerogatiue of the Word of God What are Rams-hornes in comparison of siluer Trumpets Yet when God commands and appoints the harsh sound of them shall demolish those strong holds of Satan which the sweeter and shriller sound of siluer Trumpets shall not doe Bee thoâ— obedient to him who is set ouer thee in the Lord and must giue an account of thy soule Desire not to haue thy eares tickled but thy heart pricked and make then no doubt but that God will blesse his ordinance and thy obedience and supply to thee by his Spirit what may bee deficient in the Preachers learning or language But then thou must come prepared to the hearing of the Word by such directions as are set downe in the Word THE PREPARATORIE Admonition THE ANALYSIS The preparation to the hearing of the Word consisteth in 1 Consideration especially of these particulars viz that 1 The hearing of the word is a necessarie dutie ioined by God the Father Sonne Holy-Ghost 2 Wee must giue account to God what how and whom wee heare 3 The word we heare is the word of God not of a mortal man 4 It is the ordinarie meanes of saluation 5 If we profit not by it it will be to our greater damnation 2 Prayer for 1 The Preacher that God would Direct Assist him 2 Our selues in that he will giue vs 1 Attention to heare 2 Vnderstanding to conceiue 3 Wisedome to apply 4 Iudgement to discern 5 Faith to belieue 6 Memory to
endure the iust reproofe of them by his Ministry and loue him for it and amend by it Open my heart that I may attend to those things that belong to my peace Endue me with wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding that I may descerne those things that differ and try all things and hold that which is good and apply it to my selfe for the subduing of my fleshly members and affections and building me vp in the most holy faith of thine Elect. Quicken me with thy spirit that I may cheerefully and willingly and constantly listen to the voice of the heauenly charmer that hee may kill the venome of sinne in my soule Let the words of thy Preacher drop as raine and distill as deaw vpon me and into mee to make my barren heart fruitfull in holy affections desires my minde in heauenly thoughts and conceptions my tongue in wholsome words and graceful speeches my hands in all manner of good workes that I proue not an idle hearer but a doer of the Word constant practicer of al holy duties to the honour of thy holy and blessed Name and the saluation of my soule in the day of the Lord Iesus To whom with thee and the holy Ghost c. The Preparation to the receiuing of the holy Sacrament IT being reuealed to aged Simeon that hee should see his Sauiour in the flesh before hee rendered vp his owne Spirit when hee came into the Temple of the Lord and there found the Lord of the Temple hee was so ouer-ioyed there with that hee tooke the babe into his armes embraced it and began his Swan-like song or Nunc dimittis saying Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for I haue seene the Prince of Peace Mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and I desire to see no more Into thy hands ô sweete babe whom I hold in mine arms I commend my fainting Spirit Embrace my soule with thine armes of mercy as I embrace thy body with these arms of flesh This singular prerogatiue of Simeon or rather a farre greater the Lord vouchsafeth thee ô deuout soule when he biddeth thee to his holy Table euen to take into thy hands thy Sauiour To see with thine eyes handle with thy hands yea and taste with thy mouth the Word of life For by with the sacred elements though not in or vnder them thou partakest of the flesh and bloud of the Son of God spiritually for his words are spirit and life yet truly and in very deede for hee is the liuing bread that came downe from heauen his flesh is meate indeede and his blood is drinke indeede As at sumptuous feasts where curious seruices are thou seest the proportion and shape of the Deere or Fowle set out in gold and colours on the outside or lidde of those baked meates which are truly contained vnder it and to bee eaten So vnder the holy formes of bread and wine thou feedest on thy Sauiour That which is represented in the signe to the eye of the body is presented in the thing signified to the eye of the soule and hand of thy faith what is shadowed in the Sacrament is truly also exhibited by it Qui credit edit If thou belieuest that thou eatest thou eatest that thou belieuest let no hereticall Harpyes pluck from thee thy heauenly dish or meate as Celaeno did Aeneas's Beware of two sorts of Hereticks especially which seeke to beguile thee in the Sacrament or rather of it viz the Sacramentaries Papists the one denyeth the signe the other the thing signified The one offereth thee a shadow without the body the other the body without the shadow and consequently neither of them giueth thee the true Sacrament which in nature and substance cosisteth of both The Sacramentary would robb thee of the Iewell the Papist of the Casket Lay thou thine hands on both hold both fast as thou seest the verity and substance of the one so beleeue that verity and substance of the other As thou takest the one receiue the other As thou handlest the one apprehend the other As thou feedest with thy mouth on the one feede in thy heart on the other And as truly as the one nourisheth thy body to a temporall so the other shall preserue thy soule to eternall life For it is the tree of Life which growes in the middest of the Paradice of God his Church on earth The way to the mysticall tree in Paradice was guarded by an Angel wauing a flaming sword The way to this in like manner is fenced There stands an Angell at the Table Gods Minister brandishing the sword of the Spirit and forbidding vnder paine of death any to eate of this fruit that haue their teeth set on edge with the apples of Sodome and grapes of Gomorrah Other fruits and meate are prepared for vs but we must be prepared for this before we eate it The bread of the earth cannot feed when thou eatest it till it bee changed into thy body because thou art more excellent then it but this bread which came downe from heauen is more excellent then thou art and therefore thou must be changed into it before it nourish thee All other meate is receiued as it is in it selfe and no otherwise but this is diuers as it is receiued Other meate affecteth and altereth the taste but heere the taste altereth the meate For if it be worthily receiued it is the body and blood of Christ if vnworthily it is but bare bread and wine If it meete with a spirituall taste and appetite stomack purged and prepared it proueth the food of life nay of immortality if otherwise it turneth into deadly poyson for hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body A learned Physitian that tendreth the health and life of thy body will neuer minister strong physick that will amend or end thee before hee prepareth thy body accordingly This Sacrament is not onely foode but also physick to cure thy soule yea such strong physick as will worke effectually one way or other to thy health and saluation or to thy death and damnation Bee carefull therefore before thou takest it to prepare thy selfe for it and for thy helpe peruse the Admonition Hymne and Prayer following The admonition before the Communion THE ANALYSIS The due preparation to the Sacrament is by 1 Examinatiō whether thou hast 1 A feruent desire to partake of this holy table 2 Competent knowledge in this high mysterie 3 Faith in Christs incarnation death and affiance in the merits of both 4 A conscience cleansed by true repentance 5 An heart free from malice and all vncharitablenesse 2 Prayer THE TEXTS Let a man examine himselfe and so let him cate of that bread and drinke of that cup. 1. Cor. 11. 28. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse sake for they shall be satisfied Math. 5 6. Ho euery one that thirsteth come
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
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
of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the Law of sinne and of death Romans 8. 2. Yee haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage againe to feare but the Spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father verse 15. They despight the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10. 29. The Spirit maketh Intercession for vs with sighs and grones that cannot be expressed Romans 9. 29. To one is giuen the Spirit of the Word of Wisedome to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit 1 Corinthians 12. 8. All these worketh one and the same Spirit verse 11. The Father of Glory giue vnto vs the Spirit of Wisedome and reuelation in the Knowledge of him Ephes. 1. 17. The Spirit of Glory and of GOD resteth in vs. 1 Peter 4. 14. When the Spirit of Truth is come hee will leade you into all Truth Ioh. 16. 13. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 1 Corinthians 3. 17. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting Gal. 6. 8. Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. The fruits of the Spirit are loue peace ioy c. verse 17. If yee be led by the Spirit yee are not vnder the Law verse 18. Whosoeuer speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not bee forgiuen him neither in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12. 32. Of how much sorer punishment shall hee bee thought worthy who hath troden vnder foot the Sonne of GOD and hath accounted the blood of the couenant wherewith hee was sanctified an vnholy thing and hath done despight to the Spirit of God Hebrewes 10. 29. A Prayer for Whit sunday INcomprehēsible Spirit the third Person in the blessed and glorious Trinity who after the Father had manifested himselfe to the world in the works of Creation and the Sonne in the works of Redemption finished in the flesh diddest manifest thy selfe on this day in a wonderfull manner by the sound of a rushing winde and the light of fiery tongues Manifest thy selfe most powerfully and gloriously in the vniuerfall Church by enlarging her bounds and making vp her breaches and hallowing her Assemblies and furnishing her Pastors and knitting the hearts of all her members in true loue the bond of perfection Perfect the work of sanctification in all thine Elect manifest thy selfe also graciously this day and declare thy gifts in the tongues of the Preachers and eares of the hearers and the hearts of all the Congregation Direct the mouthes of the Preachers that they may skilfully sowe the Seede and open the eares and mollify the hearts of the hearers that they may receiue it profitably and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit abundantly which are loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance c. O Eternall and infinite holy Ghost the loue of the Father and the Sonne who diddest descend vpon our Sauiour in the likenesse of a Doue without gall purge out of my conscience all gall of malice and bitternesse and grant that with meeknesse I may receiue the ingraffed Word which is able to saue my soule O holyest Spirit eternall breath of the Father and the Son and former of the Word in the wombe who camest with a sound come down vpon me in the sound of thy Word Preached though not in the extraordinary gifts of Prophecy tongues and healing yet in the ordinary graces of faith hope and charity the Spirit of supplication and Prayer of wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding of power and ghostly comfort O heauenly Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne who descendedst from heauen like a mighty rushing winde throw mee downe to the ground in humility and prostrate my heart and soule before thee Beate downe all strong holds of carnall imaginations and worldly thoughts resisting thy grace Chase away all cloudes of error out of my vnderstanding cleare my will of all foggs of noysome desires coole and refresh me in the heate of persecution fill the sailes of my affections and driue mee speedily into the faire hauen where I would bee O diuine fire burning continually in the hearts of the faithfull and consuming all our spirituall sacrifices who this day diddest descend and appeare in the likenesse of fiery tongues bee a fire in my heart and tongue that I may be feruent in my Meditations and Prayers and Zealous in the profession and defence of thy Truth Inlighten the darknesse of my vnderstanding inflame the coldnesse of my affections purge out the drosse of my corruptions direct me in all the affaires of this life assist mee in all the exercises of Deuotion strengthen me in al the assaults of temptation comfort me in all the miseries and afflictions seale all thy gracious promises of thy Gospell vnto mee and seale mee to the day of redemption So bee it Amen Into my minde descend ô Doue Purge gall cleane out of me With siluer wings raise me aboue My Sauiour Christ to see PART 1. SVPPART 4. The Christian FAST'S Deuotion Of FAST'S in generall There is a 3-old fast 1 Fast from sinne 2 Fast for sinne 3 Fast against sin THe fast from sinne ought to bee perpetuall The fast for sinne is extraordinarie vpon speciall occasions to auert some dreadfull iudgement or auoide som imminent danger The fasts against sinne ought to be more frequent and according to the customes of the ancient Church and the present practise of the Church of England They are Weekly on the Fridaies Monethly on the Holy-day Eeues Quarterly in the Ember weekes Yeerely in the Lent THe Doctrine of fasting hath met with errors and superstitions on both hands Some ascribing too much to it and placing the immediate and principall worship of God in it some ascribing too little and making it no matter of Religion at all Some superstitiously obseruing and others out of a contrary superstition scrupulously declining the obseruation of all Fasts appointed by the Church To steere the iudgement in a middle course betweene these rocks on both sides conceiue thus of the nature of Religious acts the seuerall kindes of Fasts and the vse thereof A Religious act or work may be taken 1 In a larger sence for any work commanded by Christian Religion in vvhich sence all the duties of the second Table may be called Religious acts or workes as well as the first 2 In a more restrained acception for such workes and acts in which Religion properly taken for the worship of God consists And these are of two sorts 1 Principall as Believing in God Praying the like 2 Accessarie seruing as helps or preparations to the princi pall as Watching Fasting and the like FAsting is not to be esteemed such an act of religion as wherein principally and immediatly we worship God for the Kingdome of God as the Apostle reacheth consisteth not in meates and
the earth and of them that remaine in the broad Sea ver 5. Thou stillest the raging of the Sea and the noise of the waues and the madnesse of his people ver 7. They that dwell in the vttermost parts of the earth shall bee afraid of thy tokens thou that makest the our goings of the Morning and Euening to praise thee ver 8. Thou visitest the earth and blessest it thou makest it very plenteous ver 9. Thou waterest her furrowes thou sendest raine into the little Vallies thereof thou makest it sofi with the drops of raine and blessest the encrease of it ver 11. Thou crownest thy yeeres with thy goodnesse and thy clouds drop fatnesse ver 12. They shall drop vpon the dwellings of the wildernesse and the little hils shall reioyce on euery side ver 13. Hee gathereth the waters of the Sea together and layeth vp the deepe as in a Treasure-house Psal. 33. 7. O praise the Lord of Heauen praise him in the height Psal. 148. 1. Praise him all ye Heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the Heauens ver 4. Praise the Lord vpon earth yee Dragons and all deepes ver 7. Fire and Haile Snow and vapours wind and storme fulfilling his Word ver 8. Sing vnto God ò ye Kingdomes of the earth ô sing praises vnto the Lord Psal. 68. 32. Which sitteth in the Heauens ouer all from the beginning loe he doth send out his voice yea and that a mighty voice ver 33. Ascribe ye power vnto God his worship and strength are in the Clouds ver 34. The Admonition for Munday being an Exhortation to humility or pouerty in Spirit Wherunto our Sauiour ascribeth the first BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS The speciall motiues to humility set down in the Scriptures are 1 God's infinite Majestie puritie perfection 2 Mans vilenesse sinfulnesse wretchednesse wants of vvhich before See the Preparation to Prayer 3 Diuine Precepts 4 Holy patterns of this vertue in God the Father Christ. The Saints vnder the Lawe Gospell 5 Gratious promises made to the humble of 1 Neerenesse societie with God 2 Sauing knowledge 3 Sanctifying grace 4 Honour and preferment 5 Eternal blessednes in heauen THE TEXTS TAke my Yoake vpon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowly in heart and you shall finde rest to your soules Mat. 11. 29. Vnlesse yee become as one of these little ones yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Mat. 18. 23. Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he will lift you vp Iam. 4. 10. Decke your selues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde 1. Pet. 5. 5. Humble your selues vnder the mighty hand of God that he may raise you in due time verse 6. Who is like to the Lord our God that hath his dwelling on high and yet humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and in earth Psal. 113. 5. I am among you as hee that ministreth Luke 22. 17. And he began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith hee was girded Iohn 13. 5. He emptied himselfe or made himselfe of no reputation Phil. 2. 7. He humbled himselfe and became obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. I will speake vnto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 17. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all thy truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant Gen. 32. 10. And he said wherewith shall I saue Israel Behold my Father is poore in Manasseth and I am the least in my fathers house Iude 6. 15. Lord I am not high-minded c. Psal. 131. 1. And Dauid said vnto Saul who am I and what is my life and my father's family in Israel that I shall bee sonne in Law to a King 1. Sam. 18. 18. And now O Lord my God thou hast made thy seruant King in stead of Dauid my father and I am but a little child I know not how to goe in and out 1. King 3. 7. Notwithstanding Ezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart both hee and the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that the wrath of the Lord came not vp them 2. Chron. 32. 20. Then Iob arose and rent his Mantle and shaued his head and fell downe vpon the ground and worshipped Iob 1. 20. O Lord God righteousnesse belongeth to thee but to vs confusion of face at this day Dan. 9. 7. He that commeth after me is greater then I whose shoo-latchet I am not worthy to vnloose Math. 3. 11. When hee was not farre from the house the Centurian sent vnto him saying Master trouble not thy selfe I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder the roofe of my house Luke 7. 6. When Simon Peter saw it hee fell downe on his knees saying Goe from me Lord for I am a sinfull man Luke 5. 8. The Publicane standing a farre off would not lift vp his eyes to heauen but striking his breast said Lord be mercifull to mee a sinner Luke â—8 15. I am the least of the Apostles not worthy to be called an Apostle c. 1. Cor. 11. 9. Iesus Christ came to saue sinners whereof I am chiefe 1. Tim. 1. 15. I am the Rose of the field and the Lilly of the valleys Cant. 2. 1. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble contrite heart to reuiue the spirit of the humble Is. 57. 15 To this man will I look euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Isa. 66. 2. When pride commeth then commeth shame but with the lowly is wisedome Prou. 11. 2. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and reuealed them vnto babes Math. 11. 21. Hee giueth more grace wherefore hee saith God resisteth the proud but giueth grace to the humble Iam. 4. 6. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty but before honour is humilitie Pro. 18. 1â— Hee that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted Luke 14. 11. He raiseth the poore out of the mire and lifteth the needie out of the dunghill Psal. 113. 7. That he may set him with Princes euen with the Princes of his people verse 8. Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 5. 3. THE PRAYER FOR Munday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to humilitie agreeable to the precedent exhortation The Prayer it selfe The second dayes Deuotion FAther Almighty maker of heauen and earth who createdst the Euening and the Morning the second day as wel as the first Continue I beseech thee vnto mee as well the comfortable rest of the Euening to refresh mee after my labour and trauaile as the most needfull light of the Morning to manage my affaires and businesses But especially perpetuatt vnto mee the repose of a quieâ—
compared vnto her verse 11. Follow after loue and couet spirituall things 1. Cor. 14. 1. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Set your affections on things which are aboue and not on things which are in the earth Col. 3. 2. My soule breaketh out for the very feruent desire that it hath alway to thy iudgements Psal. 119. 26. My soule is a thirst for God euen for the liuing God Psal. 42. 1 2. One thing is needfull Mary hath chosen that good part which shal not be taken away from her Luke 10. 41. From the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto the Kingdome of heauen hath suffered viclence and the violent take it by force Math. 1. 12. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Prou. 3. 16. Seeke yee first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all other things shall be added vnto you Mat. 6. 33. Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing promise of the life that now is and that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. If from thence thou seeke the Lord thou shalt finde him Deut. 4. 29. Her wayes are the wayes as pleasure and all her paths are peace Pro. 3. 17. She is a Tree of life to them that lay hold vpon her and happy is euery one that reteineth her verse 18. Your heart shall liue that seeke good Psal. 69. 33. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse for they shall be satisfied Mat. 5. 6. The Kingdome of Heauen is like to a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles Mat. 3. 45. Who hauing found a Pearle of great price went and fold all that he had and bought it verse 46. The Prayer for Tuesday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the the sufferings of Christ on this day Motiues to seeke after the meanes of our saluation agreeable to the precedent exhortation BLessed Redeemer who trodest the wine-presse of thy father's wrath alone reconcile mee to thy Father and of a child of wrath make mee a child of grace and sonne of desires Thou who trodest the wine-presse alone no Arch-angell or Angel or any creature in heauen or in earth being ioyned with thee in that worke Giue mee a taste of the new wine of thy Gospel to cheere vp and reuiue my drooping spirits and comfort my heauy and sorrowfull heart Thou which camest with thy garments red from Bozra yea as red as bloud Cloath mee with thy red garment died in thine owne bloud Couer my nakednesse deformities wounds and sores from the sight of thy Father Thy garment is no narrow nor scanty garment it is large enough to couer thee and all thine Elect. It is the wedding garment without which none shall euer be admitted into the Kings Supper but bee bound hand and foot and cast into outward darknesse where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And this doome we all deserued for wee were borne naked and voide of all good and we lay a long time wallowing in our owne bloud and filth and no eye pittied vs till it pleased thee of meere loue and compassion to take vpon thee a nature of infirmities to cure all the infirmities of our nature and to cloath thy selfe with flesh that thou mightest beare off our blowes and receiue the stroakes of diuine iustice that wee should haue endured and deadded them in thine owne body O what shall I returne vnto thee by way of thankefull acknowledgement of such thy loue I can render thee nothing but that which thou hast giuen me I can render thee nothing that is not thy due before I can render thee nothing but that which thou puttest into my heart to render it to thee Wherefore I huÌ„bly beseech thee by thy grace to enflame my heart with thy loue to incite mee to perpetuall praise thanksgiuing to kindle in me an euerlasting desire to approue my self vnto thee more and more tie thy loue vnto me O let nothing be so precious to me as thy fauour nothing so fearfull as thy displeasure nothing so hatefull as sin nothing so desirable as thy grace Let me not now like a little child run in the dirt soile my cloathes and take many a fal in pursuite of a Butter-fly or a bubble of Sope appearing glorious in the aire but suddenly vanishing to nothing Let mee not be so foolish as to lay the foundation of my happinesse in sinking sands or goe about to chase a vanishing shadow Let me enter into a serious consideration of the vanitie of the world and the deceitfulnesse of riches and shame of pleasures and folly of sports and leuity of honours and danger of greatnesse and account of all Perswade mee by thy Spirit out of thy Word that I haue heere no abiding Citie but seeke for one hereafter That I am a stranger and pilgrim here vpon earth and therefore howsoeuer I haue heretofore mis-spent my time and mis-placed my affections and spilt my labours and lost my selfe in following earthly vanities yet let me now take the right way to true contentment Let all my trauailes be towards heauen all my trade for spiritual merchandise all my labour for the meate that perisheth not all my searching for the pearle of the Gospell all my seeking for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Let mee desire temporall blessings onely for spirituall ends wealth that I may he rich in good workes preferment to aduance the honour of the Gospell health strength the better to enable mee to doe thee seruice length of dayes that I may praise thee in the Land of the liuing Lord whose life was sought this day to destroy it seeke thou mine to saue it Lord who this day wâ—rt anointed to thy death and buriall anoint me with thy Spirit to eternall life Saue mee from the hands of all mine enemies that I may serue thee without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life Guard mee by thy prouidence that securely reposing my soule on thy mercy for my absolution from sinne and my bodie on thy power for deliuerance from all dangers I may so by rest and sleepe refresh and strengthen both that I may rise the next morning more cheerefully to trauaile in the wayes of thy lawes and workes of thy commandements So be it Amen The close out of Scripture Vnto him that is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that I aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in me be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout all ages world without end Ephes. 3. 20 21. enemies for I fly to thee to helpe me verse 9. Be mercifull vnto mee and blesse mee and shew the light of thy countenance vpon mee and be mercifull vnto me Psal. 67. 1. God is the Lord who hath shewed vs light binde the sacrifice with cords to the hornes
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
thee FINIS Errata PAge 3. in marg germinatus reade germinans p. 9. l 8 r. his priuate prayer l. 9. dele alone p. 19. in marg patrij r. patrui p. 24 in marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 58. l. 22. pure and plaine heart r. pure hearts and hands p. 63. l. 9. bare r. priuate p 64. l. 13. Saturday r Sabbath eue p 68. l. 5. ioyned r. inioyned p. 97 l. 5 one r. oure p. 100. l. 6. roome r. man p. 109 l 1. knife r. thrift l 11. approued r. approueth p 120 l 9. fit r sill l. 15. faith r. face p. 150. l. 19 dele my p. 151. l. 16. insert the close out of Scripture p. 163 l 27 these r. the p. 167. l. 11. adde Gen. 3. 15. p. 185. l. 2. d Ier. 44. p. 194 l. 16. d. for p. 195. l. 14. heart r. head p. 235. l. ◠Ioh. 15. 10. r. Ioh 16. 28. p. 265. l. 27. immediately r. mediately p. 281. l. 18. thou wert r. thou who wert p. 299. in marg strength r out of his side p. 320. in mar which God r. of God p. 328. l. 1. his r thy p 331. l 22. dele made p. 361. l. 15. Mat. 1 12 r. Mat. 11. 1 p 365. deaded r dead p. 371 l 22 to r. for p. 380. in marg in r. an p. 388. l. 6. the r as the p 435. l. 23. eating 1. eaten p. 439. l. 2. for r. of p. 443 l 10. adde 1 Pet. 2. 23. p. 446. l 21. adde in marg the Spirit p. 449. l. 13. adde in marg happinesse p. 453 the prayers are false quoted p. 458. l. 17. things r. my members p. 460. l. 5. dele to which faith is requisite p. 465. in marg pray r. prayer p 477. l. 24. them r therein p 481. l. 20. in marg dele peace p. 4. 82. in marg dele heere p. 488 l 26 dele and p. 490. l. 12. from r. to p. 524. l. 21. were yea and amen r. were not yea and nay p 518. l. 3. affection r. affliction p 523. compasse r. compose p. 530. l. 13. dele and. p. 531. l. 8. dele so p. 532. l. 9 the r thy THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION THE SECOND PART Deliuering the summe of SAVING KNOVVLEDGE in 52 Sections answerable to the number of the Sundayes throughout the Yeere IOH. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. AVGVST Confess Quid prodest in caeteris disciplinis peritum esse fine doctrinâ piëtatis periturum LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Boorne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Rojall Exchange 1625. A Table representing the generall Method of this Part. Blessednes is obtained by true Religion reueiled by God in holy SCRIPTVRES which instruct vs in the 1. Knowledge of 1 God his Nature Attributes Works of CREATION Prouidence generall speciall 2 CHRIST his Person Estates Offices of King Priest Prophet 2. Worship of GOD in CHRIST Immediate vvhich consisteth in performing all holy duties commanded in the first Table Mediate which consisteth in performing all duties to our neighbours and our selues commanded in the second Table which are of a sorts 1 Generall and common duties of all Christians one to another 2 Special proper to men in certaine Estates Callings A Table of the particular Contents OF Catechisme the parts and proper ends thereof Sect. 1. Of blessednesse and the meanes of obtaining it Sect. 2. Of Religion and the parts thereof Sect. 3. Of the nature of God Sect. 4. Of the principall attributes of God Sect. 5. Of the workes of God in generall Sect. 6. Of Gods decrees Sect. 7. Of the Creation Sect. 8. Of Gods generall prouidence Sect. 9. Of the Predestination of Angels Sect. 10. Of the Predestination of men Sect. 11. Of Christ his person Sect. 12. Of Christ his estate of humiliation Sect. 13. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Sect. 14. Of Christ his Propheticall function Sect. 15. Of Christ his Priestly function Sect. 16. Of Christ his Kingly function Sect. 17. Of the Church and the parts thereof Sect. 18. Of the notes of the true Church Sect. 19. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith in particular Sect. 20. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 21. Of reuerence obedience and patience and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 22. Of loue feare repentance gratitude and zeale and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 23. Of hope confidence and magnanimity and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 24. Of the outward worship of God in generall Sect. 25. Of keeping the Sabboth Sect. 26. Of hearing the Word Sect. 27. Of Prayer and the parts thereof Sect. 28. Of receiuing the Sacrament and necessary preparation thereunto Sect. 29. Of oathes vowes and profession of our faith Sect. 30. Of the Christian duties wee owe to our selues Sect. 31. Of the common duties were owe to our neighbours Sect. 32. Of the speciall workes of humilitie Sect. 33. Of the speciall workes of meeknesse Sect. 34. Of the speciall workes of friendship Sect. 35. Of the speciall workes of Christian zeale Sect. 36. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours Sect. 37. Of the duties of inferiours towards their Superiours Sect. 38. Of the duties of equalls Sect. 39. Of the Christian duties of Kings towards their Subiects Sect. 40. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King Sect. 41. Of the duties of Christian parents Sect. 42. Of the speciall duties of children Sect. 43. Of the speciall duties of Masters Sect. 44. Of the speciall duties of Seruants Sect. 45. Of the duties of married folke Sect. 46. Of the duties of the Husband Sect. 47. Of the duties of the wife Sect. 48 Of the duties of Pastours Sect. 49 Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastour Sect. 50. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of their personall callings Sect. 51. Of the speciall antidotes or preseruatiues against sinne Sect. 52. THE PRAYER BEFORE THE Catechisme GRacious Father who hast prouided the sincere milke of the Word for New borne babes in Christ as thou hast strong meate for them that are of riper yéers and iudgement and hast commended to the dispensers of thy holy mysteries as well the care of feeding thy tender Lambes as thy well growne and stronger sheepe Guide me by thy holy spirit that I may guide them in the paths of righteousnesse and leade them to the waters of comfort flowing from the fountaine of thy most pure and holy Word Season their tender yéeres with true Religion and powre into these new vessels the new wine of thy Gospell that they sauour not of the caske of the olde Man Open their hearts as thou openedst the heart of Lydia that they may attend to those things that concerne their eternall saluation Sit thou in the middest of vs here assembled as thou satest
Our condition requires it Examples of mecknes God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The Saints Moses Dauid Ieremiah The woman of Canaan Saint Paul Resemblances in the creatures Meekenesse bringeth peace Wealth Honour Wisedome The fruits of the spirit Blessednesse 1 Gods Commandement 2 The Saints practise Hezekiah Manasses Ezra Peter 3 A preparation to the Gospell 4 Acceptable to God 5 The effect of true conuersion 6 A cause of many diuine vertues 7 Bringeth ioy and comfort 8 The want of it fearefull Precepts for seeking the meanes of saluation Examples Dauid Mary The bearers of Iohn Baptist. Promises of life All things needfull Gods fauour Delight Peace Life Blessed content The kingdome of heauen Saluation by Mercy It is the most eminent attribute to God Precepts of mercy The last iudgement proceeds vpon works of mercy Mercy the fruit of the Spirit The Saints practise Iobs Tabithas Cornelius The good Samaritans Philippians Onesiphorus Philemons Workes of mercy a certaine note of pure Religion In assurance of saluation and meanes of obtaining mercy at Gods hand 1. Precepts for it 2. God takes notice of it 3. God highly esteemes it 4. Promises of 1. Life 2. Fauour of Kings 3. Sight of God 4. Gods fauours 5. Profiting by the Word 6. Abode in heauen Precepts God the Father God of peace The Sonne Prince of peace The holy Ghost the Spirit of peace Examples The Saints children of peace The fâ—uits of peace are Prosperity Honour Benediction Wisdome Righteousnesse The speciall presence of God Vnity Beatificall vision God his Will Power Ordinance Christ his loue Example Sympathy The Saints continuall practise Ioseph Iob. Daniel Ieremiah The Apostls and Saints of the Primitiue Church Paul The Thesa louians The Hebrewes Thyatyra Encouragements Couuersion of enemies Conuiction Triall Ioy. Assurance of Gods loue Fruit of righteousnesse Holinesse Perfection The promises Life Honour in in heauen Rewards in this life For holinesse 1. Precepts 2. Paterens so fit in God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The church Reasons drawne from the Creation Our Vocation Redemption Sanctification Glorification Fruites of holinesse Ioy. Peace Prosperitie Dignitie Faith commanded As necessarie to all religious duties as Prayer Hearing the word The Sacrament It is Pretious Holy Proper to the Elect. Grounded on God the Father his Word Oath The Sonne his promise Pray The Spirits earnest Seale Faith worketh miracles Ouercommeth the 〈◊〉 The world Maketh sonnes of God Purifieth the heart Keepeth from confusion Iustifieth Saueth Crowneth with euerlasting blessings Precepts for perseuerance Examples Abraham Dauid Daniel The blind man The Cananitsh woman Peters conuerts Paul Cornelius The beasts full of eyes The Corinthians CoÌ„tinuance is a note of Truth Hath certaine promises of reward Saluation Comfortable assurance A crowne of life Apostasie and backsliding vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Fearefully thrâ—aâ—ned with losse of reward Of Gods fauour With a reprobate sence Infamy Death Eternally punished Death is common to all men The time and houre is by God prefixed God is an omnipotent and faithfull Creator Christ himselfe died and by death entred into his glorie And destroyed death And changed it in Name Nature Of a losse it is made a gaine Of a curse a blessing and a dâ—scharge from Labour Sorrow Paine Sinne. Free from euill company Bondage Temptation Feare the Saints desire Death Are comforted in death by Faith By Loue. By Hope By a good conscience The bodie resteth in hope of a glorious resurrection The soule immediatly enioyeth blisse Body and sonle shall be crowned at the last day Fruitfulnes is a spirituall blessing The paines are deserued by the sin of Eue. Sweetened with hop of a childe And promises of blessings Temporall Spirituall Confidence in God comanded Practised by Abraham Saraah Moses Dauid Eliah Hester Iob. The three children Ionah Reasons drawne from God His Attributes Faithfulnesse Prouidence Omnipotencie Goodnesse Gracious promises Performances to men in distresse as Lot The children of Israel Eliah Citizens of Samaria The 3 children as they are called Daniel Ionah Peter The sicke soule expresseth her malady Remembrance and experience of Gods goodnesse Hope in God Meeke patience Prayeth for ease Helpe Recouery Quickening grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome Sicknesse is God's visitation who is the Father of our Spirits and cannot be resisted Must be obeyed From whoÌ„ we receiue good It is a scourge for our sins It is sent for our good To weane vs from the world To tame the flesh and strengthening the Spirit To make vs loath sin To bring vs to acknowledgement of our sins in speciall To proue sincerity of our faith and loue To keepe vs from euerlasting torments To make vs seeke more earnestly to God Who will be found of vs. And shew his glory in our recouery For thankfulnesse Examples of Christ. The Angels The Saints in heauen The Saints on earth Melchizedeck Iacob The people of Israel in Moses time Moses Deborah Barak Anna. Dauid Salomon Ezra Isaiah Ezekias Daniel Ionah Marie Zacharias The Shepheards The man taken with a Palsie The people The woman that had a Spirit of infirmity One of the Lepers The blinde man The 〈…〉 Paul Peter Iude. Iohn Precepts In thy extremest fit meditate vpon 1 The heinousnes of thy sin deseruing a sharper scourge 2 The vnsufferable torments of hel which by these teÌ„porall chastisements â—re preuenâ—ed 3 The vnconceiuable paines and sorrowes which Christ endured for thee 4 The afflictions of Gods Saints equalizing farre surpassing thine Iob. Dauid Ieremiah The Apostles and first Disciples Paul 5 The faithfulnesse goodnesse of God who will not tempt vs aboue our strength 6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes 7 The incoÌ„parable reward of our patience See the Admoniâ—ion for good-Fryday Pray instantly and feruently Desire others to pray ◠〈◊〉 open thy sins and griefe in particular Weepe abundantly Restore Reconcile Forgiue freely from the heart Giue as thou art able liberally Seeke to thy Pastor and desire comfort froÌ„ him and the Church absolution Medit at vpon by faith apply to thy selfe Gods infinite mercy The vertue of the Sacraments The vniuersality of promises to penitent sinners The example of Gods mercy in pardoning heinous and grieueus sinners Peter Mary Magdalen The prodigall The theefe on the Crosse. The Iewes that crucified or consented to the crucifying of IESVS Layeth opeÌ„ his afflictions in body and soule Confesseth Prayeth for audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sin 4 Acknowledgeth Gods mercies 5 Professeth trust Desire of death Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Assured hope of Eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God