fire against the contemners of thy most holy precepts and yet to the penitent sinners hast alwaies shewed thy selfe a fauorable Father and a God full of mercie we thy creatures and woorkemanship of thine owne handes confesse our selues most vnworthie to open our eies vnto the heuens but far lesse to appeare in thy presence For our consciences accuse vs and our manifold iniquities haue borne witnes against vs that we haue declined from thee We haue bin polluted with Idolatrie we haue giuen thy glory to creatures we haue sought support where it was not to be founde and haue lightlied thy most wholesome admonitions The manifest corruptiō of our liues in al estates euidently proueth that wee haue not rightlie regarded thy precepts lawes and holy ordinances and this was not onelie done O Lord in the time of our blindnes but euen nowe when of thy mercie thou hast opened vnto vs an entrance to thy heuenly kingdom by the preaching of thine holie Euangell the whole bodie of this miserable Realm still continueth in their former impietie For the most part alas following the foote steppes of the blinde and obstinat princesse vtterlie despise the light of thy Gospell and delight in ignorance and Idolatrie others liue as a people without a God and without all feare of thy terrible iudgments And some O Lorde that in mouth professe thy blessed Evangell by their slaunderous life blaspheme the same We are not ignorant ô lord that thou art a righteous iudge that cannot suffer iniquitie long to be vnpunished vpon the obstinat trangressors especiallie O Lord when that after so long blindnes and horrible defection from thee soe louinglie thou callest vs againe to thy fauor and felloshipp and that we doe yet obstinatlie rebell we haue O Lorde in our extreame miserie called vnto thee yea when wee appeared vtterlie to haue bene consumed in the fury of our enemies and then didst thou mercifullie incline thine eares vnto vs. Thou foughtest for vs even by thine owne power when there was in vs neither wisedome nor force Thou alone brakest the yoke from our neckes and set vs at liberty when we by our foolishnes had made our selues slaues vnto straungers and mercifullie vnto this day hast thou continued with vs the light of thine Evangell and so ceasest not to heape vpon vs benefites both spiritual and temporal But yet alas O Lord we clearly see that our great ingratitude craueth farther punishement at thy hands the signs wherof are evident before our eies For the whispering of sedition the contempt of thy graces offered and the maintenance of Idolatrie are assured signes of thy farther plagues to fall vpon vs in particular for our grieuous offences And this vnmeasurable intemperatenesse of the aire doeth also threaten thine accustomed plague of famin which commonlie followeth riotous excesse and the contempt of the poore wherewith alas the whole Earth is replenished Wee haue nothing O Lord that we may lay betwixt vs and thy iudgment but thine onelie mercy freely offred vnto vs in thy dear Son our Lorde Iesus Christ purchased to vs by his death and passion For if thou wilt enter into iudgement with vs thy creatures and keepe in minde our grieuous sinns and offences then can there no flesh escape condemnation And therefore wee most humblie beseech thee O Father of mercies for Christ Iesus thy Sonnes sake to take from vs these stony hearts whoe soe long haue heard aswell thy mercies as seuere iudgments and yet haue not bin effectuallie moued with the same and giue vnto vs hartes mollified by thy Spirit that may both conceiue keepe in minde the reuerence that is due vnto thy maiestie Look O Lorde vnto thy chosen children labouring vnder the imperfection of the fleshe graunt vnto vs that victory that thou hast promised to vs by Iesus Christ thy Sonne our onely Sauiour Mediatour and Lawgiuer To whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honour and praise nowe and ever A CONFESSION OF OVR Sinnes commonly vsed in the Church of Edinburgh before Sermons IT is of thy mercie O Lord and not of our merites that it hath pleased thee to shew thy selfe vnto the world euer from the beginning and vnto vs nowe in this last most corrupt age yea Lord we further confesse that neither Lawe nor Gospell can profit vs to saluation except that thou of thy meere grace worke in vs aboue all power that is in this our nature For albeit thou teach we shal remaine ignorant albeit thou threaten wee shall contemne and albeit thou promise mercie and grace yet shall we dispair and remaine in infidelitie Vnles that thou create in vs newe hartes write thy Lawe in the same and seale in vs remission of our sinnes and that the sense and feeling of thy fatherlie mercie by the power of the holie Spirite To the old world thou spakest by Noah To Pharaoh his people by thy seruant Moses To all Israell by the fearfull trumpet of thy Lawe To the Citie of Ierusalem by thine owne wisedome our Lord Iesus Christ and to the multitude as well of Iewes as Gentiles by the preaching of the holy Apostles But who gaue obediēce Who trembled and constantly feared thy hotte displeasure Who did rightly acknowledg the time of their visitation And whoe did embrace and keepe to the end thy Fatherlie promises Onely they O Lorde to whome thy Spirite was the inward teacher whose hartes thou openest and from whome thou remoouest rebellion and infidelity the rest were externally called but obeyed not they heard aswell mercy offred as thretnings pronounced but neither with the one nor with the other were they effectuallie mooued We acknowledge O Lorde that the same corruption lurketh in vs that buddeth forth in them to their destruction and iust condemnation And therefore wee most humblie beeseech thee O Father of mercie for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake that as thou hast caused the light of thy word clearly to shine amongest vs and as thou hast plainlie instructed vs by the externall ministerie in the right way of saluation Soe it will please thee inwardlie to moue our dull hearts and by the power of thy holie spirit that thou wilt write and seale in our harts that holy feare and reuerence which thou crauest of thy chosen children that faythfull obedience to thy holie will together with the feeling sense that our sinnes are fullie purged and freely remitted by that onely one Sacrifice which only by it selfe is acceptable vnto thee to wit the obedience death and meditation of thy onely son our Soueraigne Lord only Pastour Mediatour and high Priest our lord Iesus Christ To whome with thee and with the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end AN OTHER CONFESsion of our sinnes IVst and righteous art thou ô Lord God father everlasting holy is thy Lawe most iust are thy iudgments yea even when thou doest punishe in greatest seueritie wee doe confesse as the truth is that wee haue
doth so preserue f Iohn 6.39 me that without the will of my heauenly Father not so much as a haire can fal g Mat. 10.30 Luk. 21.18 from my head yea al things are made h Rom. 8.28 to serue for my saluation Wherefore by his spirit also i 2. Cor. 1.22 5.5 Ephes 1.14 he assureth me of euerlasting life maketh k Rom. 8.24 me ready prepared that henceforth I may liue to him The vse THe vse of this doctrine is manifold and diuerse partly seruing for the confirmation of our fayth partly for the instruction of every godly and faythful man For first if Christ haue most fully satisfied for al my sinnes as he hath hereof I am perswaded that al my sinns are forgiuen and that I being iustified by fayth haue peace with God through Christ and that I am trulie blessed both in life and in death and hereof also I conceiue certaine hope and assurance that God for Christes sake wil hereafter be gratious vnto me Secondly if he haue deliuered vs from the power of the Diuell wee are hereby put in mind every on of vs to detest sin and diligently to beware that it raigne not in our mortall bodies but rather to followe after righteousnes innocencie and vprightnes of life all the dayes of our life Then whereas Sathan before reigned throgh death to our destruction and Christ also hath subdued death for vs wee may boldely despise death considering that the first death can not otherwise light vpon vs but for our saluation and the second death is overcome by the power of Christ that is not able to hurt the godly Thirdly if wee properly belong vnto the Lorde let vs not serue any other but him who hath redeemed vs according vnto the counsell of the Apostle 1. Cor. 7.23 Yee are bought vvith a price be not the seruants of men next let vs not iudg our brethren as the same Apostle saith Who art thou that iudgest an other mans seruant Rom. 14. â— he standeth or falleth to his ovvne Lord. Fourthlie seeing the same Christ doth maintain that saluation which hee hath purchased for vs and hath sealed the same by his spirit in our harts Luke 11.22 whatsoeuer Sathan that Enemie of ours dooth interprise soe long as we haue on our side so strong and so valiant an armed man we are commanded not to quail or be discouraged for that we are alwaies sure to bee conquerours through Iesus Christ our Lord. Question 2 How many things are needfull for thee to knowe to the end thou enjoying this comfort maist liue and dye an happy man Answere Three l Luk. 24.47 1. Cot. 6.11 Rom. 8.16 Tit. â— 3.4.5.6.7.8 things First what is the greatnes m Iohn 9.41 Rom. 3. of my sinne and of my miserie Secondly by what means I may be deliuered n Iohn 17.3 from all my sin miserie Thirdly what thankfulnes I owe o Ephe. 5.10 1. pet 2.9 3.10.11.12 Rom. 6.11.12 13. Mat. 5 16. 2. Tim. 2.15 to God for that deliuerance THE FIRST PART OF MANS MISERIE THE ARGVMENT 1. Of mans miserie that is of sinne whereby it is knowne 2. How greate our debt is 3. Of our inhabilitie to pay it Question Lords day 2 3. How doest thou know thine own miserie Answere BY the law of God a Rom. 3.20 The Vse THis vse of the lawe the Apostle declareth in many places By the Lavv commeth the knovvledg of sinne And vvithout the lavve sinne is dead that is Rom. 3.8 not perceiued therefore by the Law it is perceiued and quickned but more plainly when he saith Nay I had not knovvne sinne but by the Lavv for I had not knovvne lust except the Lavve had said Rom. 7.8 thou shalt not lust Last of all to the Galath Gal. 3.9 The Lavve vvas added because of transgression Out of which testimonies it is truly gathered that it is the morall Lawe whereof hee here speketh which is in stead of a glasse wherein we perfectly behold our own vncleannes even as a glasse sheweth vnto vs the spottes in our face that we wel knowing and vnderstanding it and withal perceuing in what danger we stand may bee ashamed of our selues and by this meanes being trulie humbled before God may sue to the sanctuarie of his grace Question 4. What doeth the Law of God require of vs Answere That doth Christ teach vs summarily Mat. 22. Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with al thy heart with all thy soule with al thy mind with al thy strength b Luk. 10.27 This is the first and the greatest commandement and the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe On these two commandementes hangeth the whole lawe and the Prophets The vse THe vse of the doctrine of the loue of God of our neighbour brieflie consisteth in these points 1. That when wee heare it is required at our hands to loue God with a single affection of hart we chase away and remoue far from vs all hypocrisie lest that saying of the Prophet be fitly applied vnto vs Esa 29 13 This people honoreth me vvith their lippes but their hart is far from me 2. That seing God requireth of vs perfit loue of himselfe we earnestly consider how great diligence and indeuour we had need to vse that we may daily profite and increase more and more in the loue of God 3. Seeing God requireth of vs to loue our neighbor as our selues let vs beware of pretending any ignorance of this lawe as that wee knowe not what or how much we oughr to giue our neighbour seeing every man is able to dissolue this doubt by the tender loue that he beareth vnto himselfe and therefore is without excuse before God if he do otherwise Next let vs restraine all selfe-loue in our selues whereby it commeth to passe that we think our selues only worthie to be loued and doe either careleslie neglect or disdainfully and proudlie despise all others Question 5. Art thou able to keepe all these thinges perfectlie Answere In no wise c Rom. 3.10.23 1 Iohn 1.8 For by nature I am prone to the hatred of God and of my neighbour d Rom. 8.7 Eph 2.3 Tit. 3.3 OF THE CREATION OF man after the image of God THE ARGVMENT Of the creation of man to the image of God and of his fall in this of originall sinne and of the power of free-wil or of the vnderstanding and the will in this corruption of nature Question Lords day 3 6. What then did God make man so bad and so corrupt Answere No truelie e Gen. 1.31 Gut God created him good according to his own image f Gen. 1.26 27. that is endewed with true righteousnes and holines that he might rightlie know God his Creator and loue him with all his hart and liue in blessednes with him for euer and that to laude
Cor. 11 33. Sacramentes and to the publike prayers a 1. Tim. 2.1 2 3 8 9 1. Cor. 14 16. ioyne also mine own priuat and according to mine abilitie bestowe some thing vppon the b 1 Cor. 16. poore Secondly that in all my life I absteine from wicked actions yeelding vnto the Lord that by his spirit he may worke his good worke in me and so that I c Esai 66.23 beginne that everlasting Sabbath or rest in this life OF THE FIFT COMMANDEMENT THE ARGVMENT That they are to be honoured whom the Lord hath set ouer vs and both to be obeied thankfully to be requited Question Lords day 39 104 What dooth the Lord injoine vs in the fift commandement Answere That wee performe vnto our Parentes and euen to all that are set ouer vs due honour loue fidelitie and doe d Eph. 6.1.2 5. c. Col 3.18.20 22 23 24 Eph 5 22 pro. 1.8 4 1 15 20 20 20. Ex. 21.17 Rom. 10.1 submit our selues to their faithfull precepts and chastisements with that obedience that is meet Secondlie that we e Prou. 23 22. Gen. 9.25 1 pet 2 18. patiently bear with their faults manners alwaies hauing in remembrance that God will lead f Eph. 6 40 Col. 3 19 21 Rom. 13. Mat. 22.27 and rule vs by their hand OF THE SIXT COMMANDEMENT THE ARGVMENT Of avoyding manslaughter how many waies it is committed in the sight of God the end whereof is that the safetie of everie one ought to bee commended to everie one Question Lords day 40 105 What doeth God require in the sixt commandement Answere That neither by thought nor by word nor by gesture much lesse by deede either by my selfe or by any other I doe reuile or hate or hurt or g Mat 5 12 22. Gen. 9.6 Mat 26.52 slay my neighbour but h Eph. 4.26 Rom 12 19 Mat. 5 25. 18 35 cast away all desire of reuenge Moreouer that I i Rom. 13 14 Col. 2.23 Syr. 3.27 Mat. 4 7. hurt not my selfe nor wittingly cast my selfe into any daunger And therfore also that murther might be avoided he hath k Gen. 9 6 Exod. 21.14 Mat 26.52 Rom. 13.4 armed the Magistrate with the sword Question 106 Why but this commandement seemeth to forbid onelie Murder Answere For the slaying of murder God teacheth that he hateth the roote and original of murder to wit a Iac. 1.20 Gal. 5 20. anger b Rom 1 29. enuy hatred c 1. Ioh. 2.9.1 and desire of reuenge and doth d account all these for murder b 1. ioh 3 15. Question 107 And is it sufficient to kill noe man in such sorte as hath bin spoken Answere It is not sufficient for when God condemneth wrath enuie hatred hee requireth that wee e Mat 22.59 7 12 loue our neighbour as our selues and that wee vse towards him f Rom. 12.10 curtesie gentlenes g Ephe. 4.2 Galat. 6.1.2 Mat. 5.5 Ro. 12.18 Mat. 5 7 Luk. 6 3. meeknes patience h Exod. 24.5 and mercie i Mat. 5 45. and that whatsoeuer may hurte him as much as in vs lieth we turne it away from him In a worde that wee be so disposed in mind that we k Rom 22.20.81 spare not to doe good even to our enemies OF THE SEAVENTH COMmandement THE ARGVMENT Of Adulterie that is that we be not defiled with any vncleannes or intemperate lust of the flesh but that wee gouern all the parts of our life chastly and continently Question Lords day 41 108 What is the meaning of the seuenth commandement Answere That God doeth l Leu. 18.27.28 abhor all filthines and therefore that we also ought m Iud. 22.23 to hate and detest it and on the other side that we ought to liue soberly modestly and n 1. Thes 4 3 4.5 chastly either in holy wedlock or single life Question 109 Doth God forbid nothing els in this commandement but adultery and such kind of filthines Answere For as much as our body soule are the temples of the holy Ghost the will of God is that wee possesse both them purely holilie therefore hee doth generally forbid filthy deeds gestures and behauiours p Eph. 5.3 4 Cor. 6 18.19 20 speeches thoughts q Mat 5 27.23 and desires and whatsoeuer may allure r 1 Cor 15 33. vs herevnto OF THE EIGHT COMMANDEMENT THE ARGVMENT Because all vnrighteousnes is abhominable in the sight of God hee forbiddeth greedilie to gape after that which is an other mans and commandeth vs to lend our faythful helpe to every man for the keeping of his owne goods and by this meanes hee doeth allowe and ratifie the distinction of owners and proper possessions Question Lords day 42 110 What doth God forbid in the eight commandement Answere Not only those Å¿ 1. Cor. 6 10. thefts and t 1. Cor. 5.10 robberies which the Magistrate doeth punish but vnder the name of theft hee comprehendeth all naughtie shifts occupations whereby wee catch after other mens goods and labor to u Luk. 3.14 1. Thes 4.6 conveigh them to our selues by force or by couler of right as are vnequall x pro. 11.1 16.11 weights an vniust metwand vnequal y Eze. 45.9 c. measure deceitfull ware counterfeit mony z Psal 15.5 Luc. 6.35 vsurie or any other forbiddin way or means to thriue get welth Add hereunto all a 1. Co. 6 10 couetousnes and the manifold mispending and b Prou. 5. â—6 abusing of the guifts of God Question 111 What are those things which God commandeth here Answere That I further and increase as much as I am able the commoditie and profit of my neighbour and soe deale with him as I c Mat. 7.12 desire to be delt withall my selfe that diligently and faythfully I follow my worke that I d Eph. 4 28 may be able also to help the neede of others OF THE NINTH COMMANDEMENT THE ARGVMENT That we ought not to abuse our tong to lying slandering and false accusations of our neighbour but rather to avouch the truth and to maintaine and preserue the life and goods of our neighbour Question Lords day 43 112 What doeth the ninth commandement require Answere That I beare noe false e prou 19 5 9 81.28 witnes against any man that I f Psal 15.3 falsifie or misconstrue no mans words that I back bite or g Rom 1.29 21 reproch no man that I h Mat 7 1 c Luk 6 87 condeme noe man rashlie or before his cause be heard but that I i Ioh 8.44 do with al carefulnes avoide all kind of lying deceit as the k prou 12 22 13.5 proper woorkes of the Diuell vnles I will prouoke the most grieuous displeasure of God against my selfe that in iudgments and other affaires I follow the truth and freely and constantly
be f psa 115 1 71 8 honored and magnified OF THE SECOND PETITION THE ARGVMENT Wherein the comming of Gods kingdome the preseruation and perfection thereof consisteth Question Lords day 49 123 What is the second petition Answere Lette thy Kingdome come that is so gouerne vs by thy worde and by thy Spirit that wee may g Mar. 6.33 psal 119.5 143.10 bee more and more subiect vnto thee preserue and increase thy h psal 51.20 122 6 7. Churche destroy the workes of the Deuill and every power that exalteth it selfe against thy maiestie make void all the counsels that are i 1 Ioh. 3.8 Rom. 16 20. taken against thy word vntill at the length thou k Apoc. 22 17 20. Ro 8 22 23 do fully and perfectly raigne when thou shalt be al in l 1 Cor. 15 28 al. OF THE THIRD PETITION THE ARGVMENT The end of this petition is that all men do submit themselues to the will of God that so it may appeare that God doth raigne effectually in the World Question Lords day 49 124 What is the third petition Answere Thy will bee done as in Heauen so also in Earth that is Gâ—â—unt that we and all men m Mat. 16.24 Tit. 2.12 renouncing our owne wil may readilie and without any murmuring n Luk 22.42 obey thy wil which onlie is holie so may cheerefully o 1 Cor 7 24. execute whatsoeuer the Angels doe in p psal 103.20.21 Heauen OF THE FOVRTH PETITION THE ARGVMENT The end of this petition is that wee may acknowledg that God is he whoe must giue vnto vs all things necessary for the maintenance of this present life Question Lords day 50 125 What is the fourth petition Answere Giue vs this day our dailie bread that is supplie vnto vs all things q psal 145 15 16 104.27 28. Mat. 6 2â— necessarie for this present life that thereby we may acknowledg that thou art the onelie fountaine from whom all good thinges doe r Act. 17 27 28 14.17 flowe and except thou giue thy blessing all our care trauell and euen thine owne guifts will be vnprosperous and Å¿ 1 Cor 15 58 Deut 8 3 psal 27 16.17 hurtefull vnto vs Wherefore graunt that turning our affiance from all creatures we may t psal 62.11 55.23 set it vpon thee alone OF THE FIFT PETITION THE ARGVMENT Because the conscience of sinne hindreth men in praying by reason that the Deuill suggesteth such thoughts to the end wee might not bee overcome with these temptations Christ would haue vs set against them as a comfort this petition of forgiuenes of sinnes Question Lords day 51 126 What is the fift petition Answere Forgiue vs our debtes as we forgiue them that are indebted vnto vs that is for the blood of Christ impute u psal 51.1 c. 143.2 1 Ioh. 2.1 2 not vnto vs most miserable sinners al our sinnes and even that corruption which as yet cleaueth vnto vs as wee also feele this testimonie of thy fauour in our harts that we haue a stedfast purpose from our hartes to x Mat. 6.14.17 forgiue all that haue offended vs. OF THE SIXT PETITION THE ARGVMENT This Petition is the second parte of the spirituall couenant which God hath made for the saluation of his church for we desire in it that as he hath forgiuen vs our sinnes so he woulde vouchsafe to write his lawes in our hartes that hee would defend vs by the power of his Spirit and susteine vs by his helpe so that we may stand invinciblie against al tentations Question Lords day 52 127 What is the sixt petition Answere Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from all evill that is forasmuch as wee are by nature soe feeble and weake that we y Iohn 15.5 psal 103.14 are not able to stand no not a moment of time our deadly enemies z 1. pet 5.8 Ephe. 6 12 Satan the a Iohn 15.19 worlde and our own b Rom. 7.23 Gal. 5.17 flesh do continuallie assaile vs vpholde thou vs and strengthen vs by the power of thy spirit that wee c Mat. 26 41. Mar. 13 33. faint not in this spirituall combate but may so long stand against them vntill at the last we d 1. Thes 3.13 5,23 obtaine a perfite victorie Question 128 How doest thou conclude thy prayer Answere For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer that is wee ask all these thinges at thy hand because thou being our king almightie art willing and able e Rom 10.11 12 2. pet 29. to giue vs all things and these things we therefore aske to the end that by them al glorie may f Ioh. 24.13 psal 115.1 Ier. 33.8.9 redound not vnto vs but vnto thy holie name Question 129 What meaneth the last word Amen Answere That the matter is certaine and out of doubt for my prayer is much more certainlie heard of God then I in mine owne hart do feele that I desire it with all my hart FINIS A PVBLIKE CONFESSION of our sinnes commonly vsed in the Church of Edinburgh in the day of common prayer O Eternal God and most merciful Father wee confesse acknowledg here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable sinners conceaued and borne in sinne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no goodnes For the fleshe evermore rebelleth against the Spirit whereby wee continuallie transgresse thine holy preceptes and commandements and so do purchase to our selues through thy iust iudgement death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenlie Father forasmuch as wee are displeased with our selues for the sins that wee haue committed against thee and do vnfainedly repent vs of the same wee most humblie beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake to shewe thy mercie vppon vs to forgiue vs al our sinnes and to increase thine holie Spirit in vs that we acknowledging from the bottome of our harts our owne vnrighteousnes may from henceforth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruits as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil not for the worthines thereof but for the merits of thy dearly beloued Son Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast already giuen an oblation and offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainlie perswaded that thou wilt dedy vs nothing that we shall ask in his name according to thy will For thy Spirit dooth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull Father and so louest vs thy children through him that nothing is able to remooue thine heauenly grace and fauor from vs. To thee therefore O Father with the Sonne and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie world without end So be it Another confession prayer commonly vsed in the church of Edinburgh O Dreadfull most mightie God thou that from the beginning hast declared thy selfe a consuming