will Absolve none without true Repentance wherefore let us beg of him who requires this Condition to give what he requires (g) Domine da quod jubes jube quod vis D. Augustin upon all these considerations let us beseech c. if we now make not our applications it will be a despising his love slighting his Message and sending back his servants empty oh let us earnestly pray for true Penitence we are encouraged by his gracious nature engaged by his courteous offer of a treaty urged by necessity as being not like to be forgiven without it further we must ask these favours of him from whom comes every good and perfect gift (h) James 1.17 for if we consider what we ask we shall easily discern they must not be sought any where else Repentance is a change of the notions of the mind the choices of the will the actings of the affections and passions induring new joys and sorrows hopes and fears desires and aversations so that it is a kind of new Creation (i) Ephes 4.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he alone that brought life out of death and light out of darkness can bring us from the death of sin and darkness of iniquity to the life and light of holiness and Piety * Nulla sine Deo meus bona Seneca we can fall down by our own weight but we cannot rise out of this narrow Pit without help nay we sink lower for our hearts are as backward to repent as forward to sin and by frequent commissions we love sin more and are more loth to part with it yesterday we mistook by accident to day we desire to be again in such circumstances to morrow we shall run into them (k) viresque acquirit eundo so that we must not trust in our own hearts (l) Prov. 28.1 but seek repentance from God and his holy Spirit which being both so necessary for us and of so incomparable advantage to us let us humbly beg this on our knees beseeching God to grant them to us which word grant (m) Acts 11.18 denotes a free act of grace from a Prince to his Subject though few offending Subjects can have a Pardon granted out upon their Repentance yet God deals so with us and hath not only promised to forgive us when we do repent (n) John 6.37 but to give us grace that we may repent (o) Acts 5.31 and if we have his gracious assistance no doubt we shall repent truly and not fall into Ahabs hypocrisie Israels treachery (p) Psal 78.34 nor Judas his despair Oh let us pray for his holy spirit of grace which will open our eyes to see our sirs and soften our hearts to mourn for them and strengthen our purposes to amend them and this will be a true Repentance which contains in it an unfeigned Faith which is here understood though not expressed for Faith and true Repentance are so inseparably joyned that in Scripture Repentance is put for them both in many places (q) Matth. 4.17 compared with Mark 1.15 because he that is truly humbled and really purposed to amend doth ever trust in Gods mercy or else it may be understood when we pray for his holy Spirit we mean to produce in us all graces especially Faith which is that gracious fruit of the Spirit of Adoption (r) Gal. 4.16 for by it we call God Father and as such rely on him 'T is certain if we can prevail with God for his holy Spirit it will bring both Faith and all Graces with it and will assist us to do good when Repentance hath taken us off from our evil courses this will keep out those lusts which Repentance began to exclude but observe Repentance goes first for you must not expect this holy Dove will abide in impure places (s) Pietas inducit Spiritum Sanctum R. R. ad Candida tecta columbae when the unclean Spirit expects his house to be swept and garnished (t) Matth. 12.44 we may then hope to have our Prayers for Gods holy Spirit heard when Repentance hath prepared his lodgings in our hearts § 11. That those things may please him which we do at this present Having thus taught you who to pray to and what to pray for it remains that we shew the great advantages of having your Prayers heard that so you may not put up so weighty a request without such hearty desires and zealous affections as are suitable to it for this one Petition granted will procure you 1. Present acceptance 2. Future assistance 3. Endless happiness true Repentance and Gods holy Spirit will assure all this to you but if you pray not so devoutly and earnestly as to obtain them your Absolution must be cancelled your services rejected your souls continue polluted here and be condemned to endless misery hereafter so that we hope your own Interest will quicken you most passionately to beg for these to which purpose consider them severally 1. If your Confession Prayers and Endeavours be such as can prevail with God to give you a true Repentance and his holy Spirit then all the duties now performed shall be acceptable particularly and in the first place that which we Ministers are doing viz. pronouncing the Absolution this shall be confirmed by God and he will assent to it so that your Pardon shall be inrolled in Heaven and then all other duties that we and you do shall be pleasing to God and beneficial to you our mutual and common Prayers shall be answered our praises accepted our hearing shall be converting and salutiferous our Communicating an infallible conveyance and irrevocable seal of Grace and peace But without Repentance all our prayers and praises and all we do (u) See of this at large before in Sect. 2. shall be rejected as a mocking of God without his holy spirit also all our observances are harsh and unpleasing flat and dull in Gods account it is this good Spirit that makes our hearts and tongues agree this inlightens our minds to see our wants quickens our memory to remember them toucheth our hearts with a sense of them confirms our Faith that God can supply us and enlarges our affections to beg the relief of them In a word this Spirit of God helps us to ask inclines him to give and fits us to receive all we pray for so that God is not pleased when we worship him without it (x) Gal. 4.6 John 4.24 Rom. 8.26 and denies nothing when we have it so that our Saviour accounts (y) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luc. 11.13 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 7.11 it the same to pray for the holy spirit and all good things which spring from it And now who would not earnestly beseech for such a true Repentance as might invite this Holy Spirit into their hearts which will be the seal of their Pardon and make all they do well-pleasing to God to please him
all-seeing eye behold all the dwellers upon earth especially thine anointed ones on whose safety the welfare of the rest depends In all loyal affection to our King we most heartily intreat thee and in all lowly regard to thy glorious Majesty we beseech thee by thy particular providence to defend and with thy especial love and favour to behold thy servant and our most gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles that in his safety and happiness we may have peace and comfort and so replenish him with all holy and virtuous qualities by filling his heart with the grace of thy holy Spirit to make him a most religious Prince that he may in his counsels and intentions alwaies incline to choose that which is agreeable to thy will and in his actions and undertakings ever follow the rule of thy word and walk in thy way And that he may be fitted for the due Administration of so great a charg endue him plenteously with the spirit of wisdom and courage and such an extraordinary measure of all heavenly Gifts as may declare him thy anointed And that he may be every way blessed grant him in health and safety plenty and wealth long to live and prosperously to reign over us direct prosper and strengthen him and his armies that he may vanquish and overcome the policies and forces of all his and our enemies who attempt to disturb our peace And finally since the greatest of men the best of Kings and the longest of worldly joys are finite grant to our dear Soveraign that after this life finished in virtue and honour he may attain a Crown of glory in the Kingdome of everlasting joy and felicity which was purchased by the merits and must be obtained through the mediation of Iesus Christ our Lord to all which we most heartily say Amen be it so The Analysis of the Prayer for the Royal Family This Prayer hath three Parts 1. The Person to whom we Pray described by His Power Almighty God His Goodness the fountain of all goodness 2. The Persons for whom we Pray we humbly beseech thee to bless our gracious Queen Catherine Iames Duke of York and all the Royal Family 3. The blessings desired for them 1. Spiritual gifts and grace Endue them with thy holy Spirit enrich them with thy heavenly grace 2. Temporal prosperity prosper them with all happiness 3. Eternal glory and bring them to thine everlasting Kingdom through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Practical Discourse on the Prayer for the Royal Family § 10. ALmighty God the fountain of all goodness we humbly beseech thee to bless our gracious Queen Catherine Iames Duke of York and all the Royal Family There is as near an alliance between this and the former Prayer as between the persons for whom they are made so that there will be little to be added except where this hath something peculiar And first it deserves our notice that God is called here the fountain of all goodness which is the explication of those Scripture Phrases the well-spring of life and living waters (s) Psal 36.9 Jer. 2.13 and is an acknowledgment that the God we pray unto is absolute and independent having all goodness in and from himself and also inexhaustible for though he bestows his blessings liberally and constantly upon all creatures yet he suffers no diminution nor decay Wherefore though we have now been petitioning for a King who needs extraordinary assistances and large measures of all kinds of blessings yet we know this Ocean cannot be drawn dry but can supply the Branches as well as the root and make all that stock grow and flourish together The Queen and heir to the Crown are the fountains from which we hope blessings shall be derived upon after Generations But here we behold there is a higher fountain which must first replenish them with all that goodness which they convey to us The ancient Church in their prayers did desire the welfare of the Palace and the imperial family (t) Domum tutam Pertul Pro omni palatio Liturg. S. Basil Pontifices eorumque exemplo caeteri sacerdotes cum pro incolumitate principis vota susâ—iperent Neronem quoque Drusum iisdem diis commendavere Tacit Annal. l. 4. Vt pro Domino Imperatore cum suâ prole orationes oblationes augeantur Concil Rhemense can 40. Ezra 6.10 as well as the safety of the Emperour And the practice of the heathens as well as the Canons of the Christians do make it appear fit and rational But if reasons do outweigh examples we may add that we are many waies obliged to pray for the Queen and the Royal family 1. In regard to the glory of God whose honour is advanced by holy example of persons so illustrious whose dignity when it is adorned with piety and goodness may bring virtue into repute and engage many to imitate them 2. In duty to the Kings majesty whose comfort will be encreased both in the holiness and prosperity of persons so neerly related to him and so dearly beloved by him 3. Thirdly in affection to our Country who in this and future generations will have cause to bless God for these prayers if they become prevalent because these are the hopes of succeeding times and our children may be happy in the religious education of such as are to be the pillars of Justice and Patrons of the Church hereafter David had not been so curious in Solomons education but that he knew it was not the Princes personal concern alone but interest of the whole Nation and of all Gods people The Persian Kings desired the Prayers of the Jews for their sons Ezra 6.10 and chose four of their most wise and virtuous Nobility to whom the education of the Prince was committed who as Clem. Alexandrinus tells us were called the Royal tutors and we hope the care of those concerned shall be joiâ—ed to the Churches prayers and then this Petition shall be prevalent § 11. Endue them with thy holy Spirit enrich them with thy heavenly grace Prosper them with all happiness and bring them to thine everlasting Kingdom through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen These particulars are a comprehension of the same blessings in other words which before we desired for the King even spiritual temporal and eternal felicity The persons we pray for are Royally descended nobly educated replenished with all honourable endowments with great riches and vast possessions yet although they need none of the wealth or honours of this world we may wish them greater and better things viz. that their virtue may be parallel to their descent and their graces equal (u) Nemo in nostrûm gloriam vixit nec quod ante nos fuit nostrum est animus facit nobilem Sen. Ep. 44. nay excel all other endowments that they may be rich in good works so as to gain the love of God and of all good men these in the first place to which we desire it may please God to superadd
our selves into this estate but thou O Lord who seest our distress have mercy upon us and let thy bowels yearn upon so wretched a spectacle forgive that horrid guilt that doth amaze us for though we deserve no pitty yet thou knowest we are most miserable sinners like to be eternally condemned by thy Justice if thou dost not pardon us and certain to perish under thy vengeance whensoever thou beginnest to punish us but for thy pity and compassion sake spare thou them O God that knowing they have deserved thy wrath and fearing before it comes do of their own accord confess their faults in hopes to find mercy and a deliverance if it please thee from temporal judgments however from eternal Although O Lord our God when thou hast removed thy Judgments unless thou also take away that security and presumption impenitence and unbelief the sad remains of our sins we shall want thy favour still which is our only happiness therefore we further pray Restore thou that health and comfort that former joy and peace freedom and strength we had before we did offend For we now groan under that deadness which seized on us upon the withdrawings of thy holy spirit and do see and lament those sins which did occasion it we â—ow relent and are of the number of them that are penitent and resolve if thou wilt cleanse us from the dregs of these corruptions never to do the like again We confess we have no merit to deserve these things and so no ground in our selves to expect them but we hope thou wilt grant us all these requests for Pardon Peâ—ce and Restauration because they are oh thou God of truth according to thy Promises which thou madest so freely out of thy everlasting love and resolvest so fully to perform that that thou hast openly declared and proclaimed these thy gracious intentions unto mankind on purpose that such poor sinners as we who are not excepted might not despair but come in upon thy general summons and lay hold on those comfortable promises which are made in Christ Iesus our Lord who Purchased this favour for us by his death and now lives to dispense his benefits to those he dyed for in whom thou art reconciled to us so that we not only hope for a Pardon but mindful of his intercession we beseech thee to give us thy holy Spirit and grant O most merciful Father unto us who deserve nothing on our own account to be so powerfully assisted by thy grace for his sake who is now pleading in heaven for us that we who have earnest desires and unfeigned purposes to amend though we cannot satisfie for the time past may hereafter give all diligence to fulfill the end of Christs coming and answer the design of thy forgiving us that we may live a godly and religious life in observance of all our duties to thee that we may love and fear thee honour and adore thee believe in thee and rely upon thee long for thee and delight in thee above all the world daily seeking to know thee praying for thy help praising thee for thy Mercies and waiting in hopes of the eternal injoyment of thee that by serving thee we may be inabled also to lead a Righteous life in all justice honesty and charity to our Neighbours hurting no man in thought word or deed but ready to relieve and help all to our power doing ever unto others what we would have done to our selves And lastly grant that by thy Divine aid we may live a Temperate Chast and a sober life Mortifying our lusts moderating our desires restraining our appetites so that we may avoid all carnal delights that would cloud our reason engross our thoughts pollute our bodies and souls or unfit us for thy service Which if thou shalt please to do for us thy mercy in forgiving our grievous sins thy pity in delivering us from apparent mine and thy grace in strengthening us to live a reformed life will not only be our advantage but turn to the glory of thy holy name which shall be praised by us and all the world for these incomparable testimonies of thy unspeakable Loving-kindness now and evermore And in token of our earnest desire of all these Petitions we unfeignedly sign them by heartily saying Amen Lord grant it may be so SECTION IV. Of the Absolution §. 1. Of Absolution in General SIN doth abridge the Soul of its free converse with God and by the terror of it binds the soul down with fear and by it the wicked are reserved in chains to the judgment of the great day wherefore it is compared to a bond (s) Acts 8.23 Graec. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the sinner is said to be holden in its cords (t) Prov. 5.22 but since Christ came to loose those bonds (u) Isai 66.1 they are now prisoners of hope (x) Zach. 9.12 because Jesus hath the keys of death and Hell and he can loose whom he please by forgiving that is absolving and unloosing those bonds But because he is now invisible and imployed in heaven to intercede for us before his departure he appointed his Apostles to supply his place giving them Commission (y) Math. 16.19 Chap. 18.18 John 20.22 23. by a visible and external application of this power to support the spirits of all true Penitents till himself should come to ratifie this Absolution upon which ground the Bishops and Priests of the whole Christian Church have ever used to absolve all that truly Repented and at this day it is retained in our Church and is a part of the daily office which being so useful and necessary and founded on holy Scripture needs not any arguments to defend it but that the ignorance and prejudice of some makes them take offence at it and principally because it hath been so much abused by the Papal Church so that it may perhaps help the Devotion of many if we discover the true meaning of Absolution and the mistakes of our adversaries on both sides as well those who make it nothing as those who urge it as instar omnium those who would rob us of it as those who would ensnare us by it 1. The true judgment of the Church of England concerning Absolution may best be gathered from the Liturgy in which are three forms of Absolving set down The first declaratory here which is a solemn promulgation of pardon by a Commissionated person repeated every day when the whole Congregation confess their sins wherein they are assured of forgiveness if they Repent and believe and this is fitted for a mixt Company of good and bad men where many hypocrites feign Repentance but this Absolution gives no encouragement to such Only it assures all that there is a Pardon and shews on what terms it may be had so that to those who truly do repent it is present remission to those that do not it is a Monitor that they may repent it comforts the Godly and
ad Dist 1. de Poen Negatur remissio iis quibus noluerunt sacerdâ—tes remittere Bellarm. supr as the Audian hereticks of Old and Donatus disciples (m) Optat. Mil. in Parmen l. 5. did contrary to the Antient Church of Christ (n) Homines autem in remissionem peccatorum ministerium suum exhibent non jus alicujus potestaris exercent Ambros de Spir. S. l. 3. c. 19. nay to their own Opinions (o) Vid. Biol in 4 Dist 14. Quaes 2. and practices (p) secundum quod potestas mihi tradita sâ— extendit quantum debeo possum in vet form Indulg P. Martin in former times and therefore we may and must declare our abhorrency of these evil uses of Absolution though in that sober moderate and useful manner we do perform it we do not vary from the prime intention of Christs commission and the Practice of Antiquity Absolution was instituted by Jesus and if it have been corrupted by men we will cast away the Corruptions not the Ordinance it self §. 2. The Analysis or Division of the Absolution The Absolution contains these three things * ☜ 1. The Commission in which is shewed 1. From whom That God who is 1. Able Almighty God 2. Willing as the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and who wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live 2 To whom Ministers And hath given Power and Commandment to his Ministers 3. For whom his people To declare and pronounce to his People being Penitent 4. About what The Absolution and Remission of their sin ☞ * 2. The execution of it by declaring 1. Who giveth He viz. Almighty God 2. What is given viz. Deliverance from the guilt and punishment Pardoneth and Absolveth 3. To whom 1. How many all them 2. How qualified 1 that truly Repent and 2 Vnfeignedly believe his holy Gospel 3. The Application or a direction to Prayer shewing 1. For what we must Pray Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us 1. true Repentance 2. and his holy Spirit 2. Why we must Pray viz. for 1. Present acceptance that those things may please him which we do at this present and 2. Future assistance that the rest of our lives hereafter may be pure and holy so 3. Endless happiness that at the last we may come to his eternal joy 3. How we must Pray for them through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Practical Discourse on the Absolution § 3. ALmighty God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ There is nothing in the world more desirable then the peace of a good Conscience especially to those who have felt the smart of it when it is disquieted by sin The Pardon of sin which removes those terrors is most welcome news to such and the Messengers most acceptable (q) Rom. 10.15 but he that hath been truly humbled will make a stop either out of Doubting or Admiration (r) Luke 1.34 Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non dubitantis sed admirantis Grot. when a Nathan is sent from God to tell him of Pardon (s) 2 Sam. 12.13 he would wish it might be according to that sweet word only the greatness of his desires awaken some little jealousies least the message be too good to be true and therefore no wonder if they ask us by what Authority we do this (t) Matth. 21.23 we answer we are but Deputed servants (u) Heb. 5.4 in all we do much more in this transcendent part of our office (x) 2 Cor. 5.8 we therefore shew our Commission from Almighty God whose Power none can Question it being a Part of his Name (y) Exod. 34.7 to be the Pardoner of Iniquity Transgâ—ession and Sin of all sorts in thought word and deed His Laws indeed forbid sin and his Word decrees punishment for it but this doth not tye his hands nor take away his Priviledge (z) Deus cum legem peneret non ademit sibi omnem potestatem sad habet ignoscendi licentiam Lactant. to forgive by which he indeed shews himself Almighty (a) Imperatori licet sententiam revocare reumque mortis absolvâ—re ipsi ignoscere quia non est subjectus legibus qui habet potestatem leges ferre August 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supreme Lord of all the World above us and his own Laws so that he can dispense with them he that bound can loose without appeal or controul (b) Revel 3.7 we come from him who is the offended Party and the Judge who if he please to forgive can do it so fully that neither Men nor Devils can call you to a further account (c) Rom. 8.33 Now if this term of Almighty prove dreadful as representing an Almighty justice who remits not without blood Heb. 9.22 Then the poor soul will ask with Isaac (d) Gen. 22.7 8. where is the Lamb I answer God hath provided and in the next words behold the Lamb of God Jesus Christ for your comfort this Almighty is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him the Father of Mercies and God of all comforts (e) 2 Cor. 1.3 in that being satisfied with that all-sufficient sacrifice he can be just and yet forgive us (f) 1 John 1.9 he that sends us can do it by his supremacy easily may do it by his Covenant in Christ Jesus justly will do it through his love to us in him certainly And now methinks the Pious man should be transported with extasies of Reverence and Love Reverence to this Mighty God Love to this merciful Father Behold that glorious God whose Anger thou hast provoked and whose Commissions for thy final ruine were issuing out to be executed by the destroying Angel he is now the Father of Jesus and for his sake and at his intreaty hath sealed thy Pardon and Cancelled that Warrant signed for thy Execution (g) Ezek. 18.4 and sent thee a full and free Absolution by the hands of a Messenger of Peace What posture is lowly enough to receive it what love great enough to return for it Oh blessed Change Now thou seest what Jesus hath done for thee look not so much at the hand that brings it as the Power that sent it and the Merits that Purchased it so shall thy Faith be firm thy comfort sweet and thy peace durable so that nothing but wilful renewed affronts against him that sent it can alter thy Pardon abate thy joy or disturb thy happy peace § 4. Who desireth not the death of a sinner These are the very words of God himself Ezek. 18.23 and for better confirmation they are again repeated Chap. 33. vers 11. and are strengthened by an Oath which he is pleased to take by his life that is himself (h) Heb. 6.13 Not that he needs such bonds (i) Num. 23.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo. Deus loquitur nobiscum linguâ filiorum hominum R. R. to keep him to
of the Christian Church prove Christ to be God (u) Ergo qui remittit Deus est quia nemo remittit nisi Deus Hilar. in Math. Can. 8. because he forgave sin which none but God can do (x) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in 1 Cor. 15. and his son Jesus who is also very God and purchased this Mercy of Absolution with his own blood (y) Ille solus peccata dimittit qui pro peccatis mortuus est Ambr. Veniam peccatis quae in ipsum commissa sunt solus potest ille largiri qui peccata nostra portavit Cypr. wherefore we give to God the things which are Gods and plainly declare he is the Author we the dispensers only of this favour and the Witnesses and Messengers to bring certain news thereof (z) En fili certificate remissa tibi esse peccata hujus me testem habebis Vade in Pace Fer. in Matth. 9. And this is more comfort to the Penitent the Supreme Judge he from whose Sentence is no Appeal Pardoneth thee fear not the state of Agag whom Saul had pardoned but God had not wherefore Samuel hewed him to pieces in the midst of his vain hopes that the bitterness of death was past He Pardoneth that hath no equal to examine or approve much less superiour to disanul his actings Our absolution is profitable when the Persons are meet to receive it (a) Tunc enim vera est absolutio Praesidentis cum aeterni arbitrium sequitur judicis Greg. hom 26. but the stamp of God will make it currant in Heaven it self The Priests Pardon is not compleat at present till it be ratified at the last day But he Pardoneth at this present while we are holding out this Absolution he that knows who among you are true believers and really Penitent is at this instant sealing your Pardon in Heaven which makes ours to be valid we then are but the Messengers and interpreters but it is our great Master that Absolveth because what we do is Pronounced in his name dispensed by his Authority offered on his Condition and confirmed by his Approbation § 9. All them that truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel These two acts Repentance and Faith are by Christ (b) Mark 1.15 and his Apostles (c) Act. 20.21 made the Conditions of all the Gospel promises and without them no Absolution can be had those that have these no man can condemn but without these no man can acquit it was therefore a great arrogance in those Ecclesiasticks in St. Hieroms time who imagined they could save or destroy at pleasure (d) ut vel damnent innocentes vel solvere se noxios arbitrantur Hierom. Com in Matth. l. 3. Nec Angelus nec Archangelus potest nec Dominus ipse si peccaverimus in poenitentiam deferentibus non relaxat Ambros Epist 28. ad Theodos and it is as great a vanity in any to believe a Servant acting contrary to his Masters known Will because it will be insignificant wherefore if any by hypocrisie shall think to surprize an Absolution Or if he that dispenseth an act by prejudice or corruption you must know it is he must ratifie the Pardon who can see whether these qualifications are in him that receives it or no and though we hold out this Act of a Grace to all yet our Master pardons none but such as do repent truly and believe unfeignedly and how many soever do so if they have been the worst of sinners they shall every one be forgiven Let us then take care to come 1. With an hâ—mble lowly penitent and obedient heart sorrowing and being ashamed fearing exceedingly confessing humbly and resolving heartily against all sin let us beware that a hard heart and a customary confession and hypocritical pretences do not ruine our hopes and blast our desires for he only Pardoneth the real Penitent 2. Let us bring with us an unfeigned Faith in his Gospel trusting in the assurances of his Promises and persuading our selves of the necessity and excellence of his laws and confirming our souls in the expectations of his rewards and this Faith unfeigned (e) 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Tim. 1 5. will open the door of Mercy but for that bold challenge which some make to the promises and the benefits of the Gospel while they are void of hatred to sin or love to God it is only feigned to stifle the accusations of Conscience and ward off the threats of the Law and to give the man liberty to sin and God will never accept such to remission but discover these men had no other ground for their confidence but only because they had persuaded themselves of a falshood Remember you come to him that searcheth the heart for a Pardon and strive that your Repentance may be true and Faith cordial and sound as you hope for mercy from him and learn by this order first to repent of your former evil ways before you entertain too particular confidences of Gods love and your interest in Jesus but if you have truly repented the more firmly you believe the greater will be Gods glory and the sweeter your comfort and the speedier will your Absolution be confirmed Though your iniquities are heinous and innumerable if upon the sight you have had of them you do condemn your self with real purposes of amendment and notwithstanding your unworthiness if you can trust to the Merits of Jesus and believe all the gracious Promises of the Gospel shall be fulfilled to you I doubt not to assure this your Repentance and Faith shall pass the test of God himself and your desires shall be satisfied in his mercy § 10. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true Repentance and his holy Spirit The whole duty of a Minister consists in instruction and exhortation (f) Acts 2.40 Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first to convince the understanding the second to engage the affections both which parts of his Office the Priest doth here exercise for hitherto he hath testified there is Remission to be obtained and now he exhorts to seek for it for in this Section we are directed how to obtain in the following we are encouraged by the Benefits to be had thereby now this present exhortation is a conclusion inferred from all the former parts of this Absolution which are in this word wherefore urged as so many motives to quicken our addresses viz. 1. Since God who is full of power and mercy would not the death of us sinners but desires we may live therefore we may cheerfully come to him for help who will be as well pleased with the opportunity of giving as we with the mercy of receiving 2. He hath Commissionated Ministers to be the Heralds of his willingness to forgive wherefore let us in answer to this gracious Proclamation go in and submit to him who though he be the offended Party first sent to us to be reconciled 3. He hath assured us he
that we may seldome fall into temptation and never fall by it least Sathan who desires our eternal ruine again get power over us and advantage against us let us not be a prey to his malice but deliver us from evil which he inticeth us to as a Tempter and will punish us for as a Tormentor that we may not deliver our selves over to him by sin nor thou give us up to his wrath to execute thy sentence upon us for it These mercies we need and though we are unworthy yet we Petition thee for them thou mayest help us for thine is the Kingdome thou canst do it for thine is the Power thou wilt do it for us as thou hast freely and frequently relieved poor penitent sinners for which Men and Angels do acknowledge thine is the Praise and the Glory and we shall by thy mercy to us be obliged to joyn in this just acknowledgment which shall be made to thee in Heaven and Earth for ever and ever world without end Amen be it so SECTION VI. Of the Responses First of them in General § 1. AFter this devout address to God in that incomparable Prayer which Jesus taught are added some short and pithy Sentences in which the People are to bear a part according to the manner of the Primitive Christians (u) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constit Ap. l. 2. c. 5. who used this so constantly that Eusebius (x) Euseb Hist Eccl l. 2. c. 17. brings it as an Argument to prove the Essenes were Christians because they sung by turns answering one another They did so indeed among the Jews but those duties were performed by the Priests and Levites only But Christians have a greater Priviledge and every man is so far a Priest (y) 1 Pet. 2.9 Revel 1.6 as to have leave to joyn in this spiritual sacrifice and it is for the benefit as well as honour of the people For First This shews their full Consent and Unity in all that is Prayed for which Christ teacheth us to be necessary that our Prayers may be heard (z) Matth. 18.19 Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor is their silence sufficient to express such a consent as is here required for they must not only be willing these things may be prayed for but they must desire God should look on it as every ones particular request and accordingly Minister and people must with one mouth as well as one mind (a) Rom. 15.6 praise God Secondly This quickens their Devotion by a grateful variety making those holy offices pleasant which our corrupt nature is so apt to think tedious and by a different manner of address making the time seem short (b) Breve videbitur tempus quod tantis operûm varietatibus occupatur Hieron Epist ad Laet. and the Devotions new so that we may be as fresh as in the beginning of our Prayers Thirdly This engageth their Attention which is apt to stray especially in Sacred things and most of all if the people bear no part But when they have also their share of Duty they must expect before it comes that they may be ready when it is come that they may be right they must observe and after take heed to prepare against the next Answer they are to give How Pious therefore and Prudent is this Oâ—der of the Church thus to intermix the Peoples duty that they may be alwaies exercised in it or preparing for it and never have leisure to entertain those vain thoughts which will set upon us especially in the house of God (c) Nihil agendo malè agere dâ—scimus Senec. if we have nothing to do And assuredly the general neglect of this Duty of answering in their course hath introduced so much laziness sleeping irreverence inadvertency and weariness into the house of God Our Pious Ancestors may make our Devotion blush when we see them all the time of Prayer in procinctu with their knees bended their hands lifted up their eyes fixed on the Minister and their hearts and mouths ready to say Amen and answer where ever it was required And if ever this Devotion be restored in the Church which all good men passionately with it must be by learning the people zealously and conscientiously to joyn in these pious Ejaculations allotted to them which that they may do I shall now explain them to every ones capacity § 2. O Lord open thou our lips And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise This sentence with many of those that follow are Endited by the Spirit of God taken out of that excellent repository of Devotion the Psalms of David from whence the Jews took the greatest part of their Liturgy and the Primitive Christians collected their Prayers (d) See Dr. Hammonds Preface to his Annotat. and composed their Hymns out of it because it contains variety of prayers and praises exactly fitted for all persons in all circumstances as pertinent as if they had been made for the present occasion and so we shall find this to be which we now consider The words are to be found in Psal LI. ver 15. and were antiently transcribed into the Christian Liturgies for they are ordered to be three times repeated in that antient one attributed to St. James not to mention them of later date And nothing can be more pertinent when Minister and people apply themselves to praise God for speech is the gift of God (e) Prov. 16.1 Exod. 4.11 and that in which man excells all other Creatures and was given us to this end that we might glorifie him whence the tongue is called our glory (f) Psal 16.9 gloria mea LXX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Psal 36.12 108.1 because it is the instrument of his praise But we here do not only acknowledge our speech was given us to this end but desiring now to make a right use of it we beg his help and confess from him we have the faculty and the exercise of that faculty in every Act especially in holy things wherein unless he open our lips we cannot set forth his praise This is the sense of the words considered absolutely and alone But the Observation whence they are taken oâ—t of the most famous Penitential Psalm and where they are set soon after the Confession will afford us another profitable exposition David useth them after the Confession of his grievous sin and earnest supplication for Pardon and we use them in the Close of the Penitential part before we begin our solemn praises and petitions intimating that till we have some hopes of our Pardon we cannot proceed any further and so we briefly but zealously press that great sute for mercy because sin and the guilt of it doth stop our mouths and shut our lips that we become tongue-tyed (g) Matth. 22.11 Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speechless and mute as Judah the most eloquent of all his brethren (h) Gen. 44.16 Quid scribam vobis a t quomodo
immediately before his presence who sees our thoughts having our hearts filled with thanksgiving and gratitude for all his favours And the more to set forth his love and quicken our bretheren let us openly reioyce and shew our selves glad in him not with any vain songs but with Psalms which are indited by his Spirit and appointed by the Church as Forms of our daily Praises Ver. III. And we have great reason to glorifie him with heart and voice for the Lord Jehovah is not like any other that is falsly worshiped for he is a great God infinite and incomprehensible in his Essence supream and absolute in his Dominion and a great King who commands over Angels of Heaven Devils of Hell and the greatest earthly Monarchs being far above all that are supposed or called Gods and therefore deserves a nobler worship then Heathens give to their feigned Deities and guardian Angels or flattering Courtiers to their Royal Masters Ver. IV. He is not limited in his Power and Providence to one City or confined to a single Province but in his hands and Power under his Rule and Government are all the remotest and most secret corners of the earth no place is too far for him to reach too deep for him to discover or too high and strong for him to subdue for the heigth and the strength of the hills which are inaccessible to men these are his also and serve for the bulwarks of his Kingdome Ver. V. He is Lord of all the world and commandeth over that unruly Abyss of Waters the Sea which he binds in fetters of sand that it should not harm us but serve our needs for he hath given us power over it because it is his by an unquestionable Title for he created and he made it and therefore ought to give laws to it and to dispose of it and all the earth because he took away the covering of Waters from the ground and his hands made Herbs and Fruits Birds and Beasts and so furnished and prepared the dry land to be a habitation for the Sons of Men. Ver. VI. O come then since we have so gracious and All-sufficient a God let us not only praise him for what we have but also pray unto him and worship him in spirit and truth petitioning him for the relief of all our necessities with all possible zeal and sincerity in our heaâ—ts and with all lowliness and reverence in our postures let us bow and fall down on our faces and kneel to so glorious a King behaving our selves decently and humbly before the Lord who is able to do all things and being our maker will not suffer us the work of his own hands to perish Ver. VII But besides his Creating of us upon which ground others have hope to be heard as well as we our peculiar interest in him may encourage us to pray to him for he is the Lord whom we believe in and who calleth himself our God and although he made all men yet he hath especially made himself known to us and we are the people whom he feeds with his Word and Sacraments and whom he hath chosen to be the flock of his pasture that he himself may watch over us day and night to secure us from sin and Sathan because we are his especial subjects and the sheep that shall ever be preserved by the care of his eye and the power of his hand if we come at his call and hearken to his voice Ver. VIII O ye peculiar people of God observe how when his Word is read or preached to you his Ministers nay his Spirit doth every day invite you to Repentance saying to day after you have lost so many and have so few remaining while this is in your power it will be well for you if ye will hear and obey his voice and that he may not call in vain take heed you wilfully harden not your hearts by delighting in the pleasures of sin and doubting of the promises or slighting the threatnings of God for the event will be as sad as in the provocation of the Divine Anger by the unbelieving Israelites at Meribah and in the day of their presumptuous temptation of Gods patience at Massah in the wilderness of Sin after they came out of Egypt Ver. IX This example God set before the Posterity of those obstinate Jews saying to them as now he doth to us remember the time when your fathers whom you glory in disobeyed my commands and questioned my Providence and durst not trust my promises but tempted me by requiring miracles from me to satisfie their lusts and by this they supposed to have proved me and made trial of my power and love although there was evidences enough of both in their miraculoâ—s deliverance wherein they found my kindness and saw my works which were so wonderful they would have convinced any but such stubborn wretches Ver. X. For all this I forbore them as I have done you who serve me as they did yet fourty years long I spared them from utter destruction and still they were as rebellious as at first so that all that time was I grieved with the perverseness of this Generation At last when nothing would amend them I declared my utter detestation of them and said of those whom I had once chosen it is a people whom nothing can reclaim a refractory crew that do err in the thoughts of their hearts concerning me imagining me faithless and false or weak and impotent and no wonder for they have not known nor never would observe my waies to destroy presumptuous sinners but to give grace and glory to holy and humble men which put their trust in me Ver. XI Wherefore I warn you all to take heed least you refuse to hear my voice and neglect to repent to day for so you will provoke me to deal with you as I did with them unto whom I sware and stedfastly resolved in my wrath being justly incensed at their baseness that they should all perish in the wilderness and for all their confidence one of them should not enter into the blessed land of promise nor partake of my rest nor did they for I cut them off from the possession of Caanan for disobedience and unbelief and I will keep all such out of the heavenly Jerusalem loe I have said it that you may be warned and turn in time Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the Beginning c. §. VII Of the daily use of the Psalms in the Morning and Evening Prayer THE Book of Psalms seems to be a Collection of thosâ— devout hymns wherewith holy men did praise God upon publique or private occasions and are fitted to all Conditions of the Church in general and of particular persons and are Divine forms of Prayer and Praise indited by the Spirit of God with such admirable variety that we may easily Collect a Form from thence either to Petition for any thing we need or to glorifie the
high did thus descend to Earth it was to be hoped men would shake off their sloth and since he sent them so fair a notice that they would not be surprised in their carelesness but appear in an Equipage suiting the greatness of his Majesty the dearness of his love and the excellency of his design (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo de Cher. that was to come And this made the good man rejoyce hoping when they saw their danger and were shewed their Redeemer they would fly into his arms for remission and grace and if they did so he is glad for their advantage However he praises God for his mercy since he hath done his part And we have still the same cause of rejoycing for that which was then done by an Agent extraordinary is now performed by the Ministers and Ambassadors of Chriâ—t and by the Gospel you have now heard which being ever resident among us prepare a lodging for Jesus in your hearts when he comes in the Spirit to offer his grace to you Thus he is set before you not to be gazed at but to be entertained And if you upon the warning prepare for him by Repentance you shall also have Remission and then you may with Zachary bless God for the knowledge of Salvation that the Gospel gives unto you And that the exhortations of Ministers and summons of Gods word may not be as ineffectual to us as those of this great Prophet were to the Jews consider the first cause of all this Mercy both of Gods sending his son to us and giving us so many warnings to receive him It was the bowels of Gods tender mercies (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vulg. Viscera Misericordiae viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affectus Matris erga foetum è Visceribus suis prodeuntem Jerem. 31.20 which yearned to behold us in the hands and under the sword of the merciless executioner and moved him to send his son to rescue us by suffering the stroke for us It was not our merits but our misery not our deserts but distress that prevailed with him we were worthy to dye yet his heart relented and he could not see us bleed and shall we be unmoved to behold him bleed for us and will we dye for all this we were indeed in darkness and could not see our danger and if we had fallen into the pit then it had been our calamity but now the morning appears John teaches Ministers Preach and Christ himself the Sun of Righteousness (c) Malach. 4.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut LXX Jerem. 23.5 Zachar. 3.9 malè Bez. germen conser ver 79. Jesai 9.2 Camer Grotius Christus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur à Patribus Judaei horoscopum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocare solent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.2 Syr. vert 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scaliger began to spring from the East then and now if we perish 't is our willfulness and deserves no pitty Oh what hath God done to shew us the right way sending first the morning Star the Harbinger of the Suns approach (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo. and when the Heathens were benighted in Idolatry the Jews with evil principles worse practises and sad afflictions then did our Sun display his Beams from on high for he rose not from the Earth but his rising was his fall his course a descent from Heaven to us and if Zachary is so rejoyced with the glimpses we should much more with the Meridian glory he now shines in Let us not only rejoyce in his light for a season but walk by it and if we be in darkness it will shew us our Condition and then guide us into the right way this light will first Convert us and then conduct us The Apostle thought it was high time to awake then (e) Rom. 13.11 12. and sure it is more so now for if in the light of knowledge in the day we do the works of darkness that very light which we refuse to direct us as a guide shall discover us to our shame But take warning and let not this light be set up in vain who would not most thankfully follow a friendly light offered to him in an unknown dark and dangerous way The Devil will lead you up and down after the Ignis fatuus of Enthusiasm and your own imagination till you sink into destruction but this Gospel is a true light be thankful for it for its precepts are tâ—e Beams of the Sun of Righteousness and do not only admire but follow it and it will not only shew you where you are but carry you where you should be even to everlasting joy and peace Amen The Paraphrase of the Benedictus PRaised and Blessed be the Lord of hosts the God of Israel even of all true believers for he hath shewed us in holy Gospel how he remembred our misery beheld our distress and in pitty sent his son from heaven who hath visited in his Incarnation and redeemed by his death us and all his people throughout the world He hath relieved us when we had no means of help and hath raised up the greatest deliverer that ever was to be a mighty Salvation for us even his Eternal and only Son made man descending as was promised of the tribe of Judah to succeed in the house and restore the Kingdome of his servant David and make it an everlasting Dominion Hereby our God hath not only helped us but manifested his own truth for now he hath make good his Word and done as he spake by his Spirit in the mouth of all his messengers the holy Prophets which have been sent to give notice of this great mercy at sundry times since the world began It rejoyceth our souls to see the fulfilling of that which they so often comforted Gods people with by assuring them that we and they should be delivered by an invincible Redeemer from our enemies Sin and Sathan and nobly rescued from the hands and out of the Power of those that had enslaved us and of all that hate us and seek our ruine This is the blessed time in which the God of truth was pleased to perform the glorious work of our Redemption which was the mercy so much desired by and so graciously promised to our forefathers now he hath vouchsafed to call to mind and to remember the engagements he made to them in his holy Covenant and made them good before our eyes Our gracious Lord is as sure to perform his word as he was ready to promise and we now rejoyce in the verification of the Oath which he unchangeably sware to our forefather Abraham to assure him that he would give us who are his seed by faith his own dear Son for our Redeemer And now what doth the Lord our God require in return for all his mercy and truth but that we being delivered by the death of Jesus from the wrath of God and rescued out of
to pray to my Victorious Redeemer to rescue me from the snares of Sathan whom he hath conquered to obtain my justification in Heaven and to compleat my sanctification on Earth that I may serve him in new obedience and never lye as dead in sin more Art 6. I do also most firmly believe that the work of our Redemption being finished on Earth he ascended as a glorious Conquerour with great triumph into Heaven from whence he came and sitteth there in great glory now interceding for us and pleading his merits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty that we may be admitted thither for his sake Wherefore I am obliged and resolved to lift up my heart to him and trust in him in all my troubles to hope for the acceptance of my services to ascend thither now in my thoughts affections and desires that I may hereafter ascend in Person and have the full prospect and fruition of his glory And I am encouraged to call upon my glorified Mediator that he will preserve me in peace on Earth fill my soul with longings after Heaven and procure my acceptance there And that his power over Men and all Angels and his interest at the Throne of God may be imployed to bring me to himself Art 7. I do also most firmly believe that though Jesus be now in heaven yet at the end of the world from thence he shall come again most gloriously attended with millions of Angels to try and to judge all the world according to their deeds both the quick which shall then be found alive and the dead though departed never so long before Wherefore I am obliged and resolved daily to expect and diligently to prepare for his coming to Judgment by frequently examining and severely judging my self before by careful avoiding that which would then condemn me and by leaving all evil actions of others to receive their sentence at his Tribunal And I am encouraged to make my supplication to my Judge who also is my Saviour that he will forgive me and all my enemies and to beseech him to prepare us for this day by his Grace and to acquit us in it by his infinite merits and then none can condemn us for ever Art 8. Furthermore I believe most firmly in the third Person of the glorious Trinity the Holy Ghost the sanctifying spirit who is very God and by his assistance and blessing on the means of grace doth instruct convert strengthen and comfort all pious and pure souls Wherefore I am obliged and resolved to honour the holy Word of God to attend on all his Ordinances to follow the good motions of this blessed Spirit and in a lively hope and expectation of the assistance thereof to resist all evil and apply my self to all that is good And I am encouraged to pray by the help of this good Spirit for a blessing on the Word and Sacraments and all Religious duties that I may by them become still more wise and holy till I am sanctified throughout in Spirit and Soul and Body Art 9. I do also most firmly believe that God is and ever was acknowledged by and hath and ever will defend the Universal society of Believers in all ages and places called the holy Catholique Church who are all united unto Christ their head by grace and to one another by love as appears by the Communion of Saints in all offices of Piety and Charity among themselves Wherefore I am obliged and resolved to live in unity peace and charity as a useful member of this Church to adhere to the Faith professed by it to joyn in the Ordinances Administred in it and to do good to all that belong unto it And I am encouraged to pray with my bretheren for the encrease safety and peace of this Church for the flourishing of Religion the prosperity of the Princes sâ—ccess of the Ministers and unity of the members thereof that by our Concord and good works we may all appear living members of Christ Art 10. I do also most firmly believe that I and all true Christians upon our unfeigned Faith and hearty Repentance shall obtain the forgiveness of and a Pardon for all our sins through the merits and intercession of Christ Jesus Wherefore I am obliged and resolved never to forsake Christs Church to which this priviledge doth belong diligently to repent of all my Transgressions and chearfully to serve my God without fear neither doubting the truth of his Promise nor the sufficiency of my Redeemers merits And I am encouraged daily to make an humble Confession of my siâ—s with earnest supplications for Absolution and hearty Petitions that I may repent so truly that I may abhor and forsake all iniquity here and be fully acquitted from it at the last and great day Art 11. I do also most firmly believe that not only our souls remain after death but our whole man shall be restored to life again by the resurrection of the body howsoever corrupted or dispersed and its reuniting to the soul at the voice and by the power of the Son of God Wherefore I am obliged and resolved to keep this body in temperance soberness and chastity while I live to resign it chearfully when I dye to be steadfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord since I know my labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. And I am encouraged to pray through the first begotten from the dead for the sanctification of my vile body and a part in the first Resurrection that over me the second death may have no power and that I may be delivered in the greatest miseries of this life and supported under the very Agonies of Death Art 12. And finally I do most firmly believe that the wicked shall remain in endless torments while Gods faithful servants shall enjoy his presence and the society of Saints and Angels in the life whose joys are unspeakable and its glories everlasting which Faith I seal with a most hearty Amen Wherefore I am obliged and resolved to suffer patiently whatever happens in this transitory life to spend the moments thereof well to despise the short and empty pleasures of sin and to esteem nothing too good to loose too difficult to resist or too tedious to perform for the obtaining this happiness And lastly I am encouraged to pray to the purchaser of this Glory to comfort me in all the troubles of this life with the hopes and to carry me through all my duties here by the desires thereof and finally to bring me to the fruition of this bliss the fulfilling of all these hopes and desires hereafter Amen SECTION XII Of the Versicles and their Responsals before and after the Lords Prayer § 1. THe Lord be with you Answ And with thy Spirit If we have sincerely repeated our Creed together we have professed our Faith in God and declared our unity and agreement with one another and then we have cause to hope our Prayers will prevail
will humble us and make our request more zealous and mollifie him and make him more ready to grant them By his great mercy he will be moved to compassion to see us chained by night and sleep helpless and exposed to all mischiefs of soul and body and will send his grace to defend our souls and his Angels to guard our bodies that none of these perils shall hurt us And then our morning Praises must own it as an Act of great pitty How dare you suffer your eyes to sleep in the midst of such armies of Perils before you have besought him that never slumbers nor sleeâ—s to save you from them But if any be so confident it is not courage but desperate stupidity and inconsideration that makes him so daring The good man begs for Protection for this night and so again for the next and every time with a new Devotion having warmed his heart first with apprehensions of his own dangers and insufficiency to escape them § 7. For the love of thine only Son our Saviour Iesus Christ Amen Although with the Disciples we may be somewhat affraid when we enter into the cloud yet we must beware the darkness do not shut up the eye of our Faith by which we may behold him in whom God is well pleased when our bodily eyes are closed And if we discern him by Faith that very sight will make our darkness to be light For we may run to him and approach the Throne of Grace with him in our Armes The Molossian King was by law obliged to grant any Petition offered by one that brought his Son with him And the Kiâ—g of heaven cannot deny us when we most truly and humbly disclaim our own merits and beg his Protection for the love he bears to the holy Jesus who was the delight of his Soul from all eternity and yet â—e became one with us in his incarnation and made us one with him in our regeneration and we are the members of his body and the price of his bloud so that the Father loves us in and for him that have nothing attractive or lovely in our selves Again we intreat him to save us by all the love which Jesus bears unto us to whom we are neer as his own flesh deerer then his own life more esteemed then fallen Angels or a thousand worlds For his delight is with the Sons of men (z) Prov. 8.31 Wherefore we beseech our heavenly Father by that which will moove his bowels towards us by his own everlasting love to us and his affection to his only Son and by the inexpressible love of that his Son to us to give us a night comfortable and safe We are in darkness but our head is in a never ceasing light and he that gave him to redeem us from eternal darkness will not suffer us to perish in spiritual darkness nor leave us exposed to the mischiefs of one night that will so soon be over passed If our affections be as fervent as this argument is foâ—ceable 't is sure this Petition will not be denyed The Paraphrase of the third Collect for Aid against all Perils LEt the assurance of thy Providence the comforts of thy grace and the beams of thy favour Lighten our darkness and remove the discomfort of the approaching night we beseech thee to make in sweet and safe to us O Lord thou Father of lights and by thy great mercy behold and pitty the various miseries and mischiefs that we thy poor helpless Creatures are exposed unto That thou mayest preserve and defend us in our souls and bodies estate and friends from all perils and dangers which might befall us in any part of this night grant this dear Father not for our merits but for the love thou bearest to the person of the only Son and to us for his sake since he is our Saviour even Jesus Christ our Lord and our Redeemer Amen SECTION XVI Of the Collects for the King and the Royal Family The Analysis of the Prayer for the Kings Majesty This Prayer hath two general Parts 1. The Confession of the King of Heaven acknowledging 1. His great goodness O Lord our heavenly Father 2. His Supream Authority high and mighty King of Kings Lord of Lords the only ruler of Princes 3. His Universal Providence who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth 2. The Petitions for his Vicegerent on Earth requesting 1. A special Providence over him most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Soveraign Lord King CHARLES 2. All kinds of blessings â—or him 1. Spiritual 1. Grace aâ—d so replenish him with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may alwaies incline to thy will and walk in thy way 2. Gifts endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts 2. Temporal 1. Prosperity grant him in health and wealth long to live 2. Victory strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies 3. Eternal with the general motive and finally after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Practical Discourse on the Prayer for the Kings Majesty § 1. O Lord our heavenly Father The Almighty and Eternal God is without dispute the King of Heaven and Earth and supream governor of all the world But since his throne is in Heaven he is pleased to constitute Princes his Deputies on the Earth which he hath given to the Children of men (a) Psal 115.16 Wherefore since by him Kings reign (b) Prov. 8.15 Nos judicium Dei suscipimus in Imperatoribus qui gentibus illos praefecit id in eis seimus esse quod Deus voluit ideoque salvum volumus esse quod Deus voluit Tertul Apol. c. 32. we submit to his appointment of them and revere his Majesty in them and to him we make our supplications for them who hath power to defend them as well as authority to create them And he must needs have a peculiar regard toward them and love to them because they are anointed by him to administer his rights among us This hath encouraged all Nations to pray for their Governors so universally as if it had been an agreement among all mankind To omit the Heathen sacrifices and Prayers for the Cities and Emperors we shall find two Psalms (c) Psal 20. Psal 72. which were used by the Jews as Forms of Prayer for the King and both by Gods command and the desire of the Princes of the Gentiles who then were rulers over that people supplications were made to God in their behalf (d) Ezra 6.10 Jerem. 29.7 by those Jews who were under their protection But to come nearer we Christians are most expresly commanded by God and his holy Apostle (e) 1 Tim. 2.1 2. In obsequio quotidiano pro regibus pro his qui in sublimitate positi sunt orandum est Chrys in 1 Tim. 2. Pro potestatibus seculi Tertul. Apol. Obsecramus
not to pray that he who rules us may be governed by the will and walk in the waies of God and then judgment shall be executed religion maintained the Nation shall remain in peace and the Church in prosperity the Kingdom established the King and people exceeding happy in each other Evil men for their own designs may advise their Prince to attend nothing but the pursuing his own inclinations and to walk in the ways of his own heart but the Church knows it is his happiness honour and interest to will according to the will of God and act according to his law and therefore orders us to pray for such abundant measures of Grace as may incline his heart and guide his life into all the Paths of true holiness that his eminent dignity may make his virtue exemplary and conspicuoâ—s and thâ—t may refleâ—t again a lustre upon his honour to make him still more glorious And to encourage this Petition we may remember it is desired in heaven as well as on earth by him that can give as well as by us that ask for God himself enjoyns the Prince to have alwaies beside him a Coppy of his law (c) Deut. 17.18 Josh 1.8 to read on it meditate in it ask councel of it (d) Psal 119.124 Heb. viri consilii mei sunt and walk according to it that he might prosper all his daies And from thence came that ceremony still in use of delivering the word of God to the King (e) 2 Kings 11.12 at his Coronation the substance whereof is fully expressed in this excellent sentence which will most heartily be put up by all that desire the glory of God the benefit of the Prince and the welfare of this Nation § 6. Endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts In the first ages of the world there were usually many visible effects of the descent of the holy spirit (g) Numb 11.17 Judges 13.25 1 Sam. 10.10 and Chap. 16.13 upon such as were chosen to govern the people of God to beget in those under them a reverent opinion of these Persons whom all the world hath ever accounted sacred And there are still some footsteps of these miraculous gifts in the power of healing which God hath bestowed upon the lawful heir of this Crown as a testimony that our King is the Lords anointed To which we beseech our heavenly father to add the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of counsel and might which are so necessary that in our prayers as well as Solomon's choice (g) 1 Kings 3.9 10 11. ubi Grotius ex Men. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have the precedence of all outward blessings For these gifts will enable him to determine intricate cases to mannage weighty affaires to countermine subtle devices to disentangle cunningly proposed counsels in which general usefulness and the advisers self-interest are commonly closely twisted Wherefore we pray that he may have so quick an apprehension so sound a judgment and so couragious a mind that like many of his Royal progenitors he may with a spirit almost prophetical unriddle the dark Intrigues of Policy and with an Heroick resolution break through the most rugged difficulties that he may neither fear his Enemies nor too much incourage any of his seeming friends that he may neither be lifted up in prosperity nor dejected by adversity and may tread the narrow path between justice and clemency severity and indulgence and we are to hope that he who hath advanced our Soveraign to this dignity will be mindful of the necessities of his own anointed and fit him for the place he hath called him to so that all his people may reverence and love him and be happy under the Government of so wise and religious a Prince § 7. Grant him in health and wealth long to live Though Solomon chose wisdome and grace yet God added beyond his promise riches and honour long life and health as an accessary to the former (h) 1 Kings 3.11 Mathew 6.33 Wherefore according to our Saviours rule we pray for those in the first place and now we hope our all sufficient Lord who hath endless treasures of all sorts will not deny us these temporal blessings which are requisite to his external felicity And we have the primitive Christians (i) Nos enim pro salute Imperatoris Deum invocamus aeternum paulo post Oramus pro omnibus Imperatoribus vitam illis prolixam imperium securum c. quaecunque hominis Caesaris vota sunt Tert. Apol. cap. 30. Sacrificamus pro salute Imperatoris sed Deo nostro ipsius sed quomodo praecepit Deus purâ prece Idem ad Scapuli cap. 2. for our example in this as well as in other things who though they did offer no incense to fase Gods for the health and safety of the Emperour as the Gentiles did yet did daily and earnestly sacrifice to the true God with fervent prayers beseeching him to give their Princes health and wealth long life and peace and whatsoever Caesar or any man could wish for or desire as we learn out of Tertullian and all the ancient Liturgies But we must take these words in their full latitude and so they will comprehend all outward blessings so health signifies not only the good temperament of the body but as the Latin salus safety from all dangers (k) Isaiah 58.8 And wealth intimates not only riches but all manner of plenty and prosperity (l) Job 21.13 1 Corinth 10.24 And a long life is to be interpreted of a life of comfort and happiness (m) Non vivere sed valere est vita Prov. Rab. ita 1 Kings 1.31 Dan. 2.4 for the life of the miserable is almost a continual dying And now let us put all these together and the sum will be that we earnestly pray that his Majesties life may be long and his years many and prosperous that he may be freed from sickness and want that so his Reign may abound with all blessings Which we ought earnestly to desire for our own sakes because it is our concern the Supream power should be alwaies vigorous and safe prosperous and abounding in all plenty that he may be a terrour to his enemies and a defence to his loving and loyal subjects In his safety we are safe his health and wealth enables him to secure us in that which is ours since his strength and his time his treasures and his power are imployed and expended for the common good And because changes are alwayes dangerous sometimes destructive to a Nation we pray that our King may be long preserved in his gracious Reign over us And no doubt his majesty shall fare the better for the fervent prayers of the Church which he hath so well deserved by being the Restorer and Defender of its ancient doctrine and discipline § 8. Strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies Guiccardine the famous historian tells
is the Christians highest aim it was Davids prayer (z) Psal 19.14 and the greatest blessing the Priest could wish (a) Numb 6.24 25 26. Psal 20.3 4. that Almighty God might accept them Poor Socrates after many a tedious step in a virtuous but afflicted state (b) An diis placent quae feci nescio hoc autem solum scio me sedulò haec egisse ut placerent could not tell whether he had given content to his Deities or no but whoever of you have the grace of Repentance and the holy spirit are not in those uncertainties but have Enochs Testimony Heb. 11.5 that you do please God § 12. And that the rest of our lives hereafter may be pure and holy this is the second benefit and motive earnestly to pray for these things for so you shall not only be welcomed at present with a gracious smile but all your lives long be reputed as the friends of God and by his help shall be preserved as pure as a true Repentance hath made you and as holy as those are who are under the Guard of the Spirit of holiness Pray therefore with all your soul for a true Repentance or else as soon as your soul is washed it will return to its impure wallowings and all your labour is in vain hitherto (c) 2 Pet. 2.22 laterem lavare for a feigned repentance will send Absolom away for a while but upon the next Enterview will hurry us with more passion into his embraces whereas the deep wounds of the true penitent make sin hateful to him while he lives and he that gets on a white garment with so much difficulty will not easily sully it but carefully preserve it pure as his tears have made it And upon the same ground be very pressing for the holy spirit Which if you can obtain you shall not only be preserved from the spots of sin but shall shine with the lustre of a holy life for our goodness is apt to vanish (d) Hos 6.4 we are wavering and soon weary unless we have that establishing spirit (e) Psal 51.14 David prays for and then all duties will be easie and we shall be strong for love and the sense of his assistance will carry us cheerfully through them all so as to be our pleasure not burden and when we are arrived to this nothing can bribe us to forsake them Oh happy soul that is thus begun to be restored to that purity and holiness which are part of Gods Image (f) Ephes 4.24 and parcels of the Divine Perfections blessed is he that is so far advanced that God is not like to forsake him because he hath made him holy pure and a fit temple for the inhabitation of his spirit nor is he likely ever to forsake that God whose mercy hath saved him whose grace doth refresh him whose waies please him and his glorious bounty which faith discovers doth still allure him to press forward to neerer unions and unseparable connexions no state under the Sun is to be longed and wished for like this which a true Repentance and Gods holy Spirit brings us to § 13. So that at the last we may come to his eternal joy through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen There is nothing more desirable then the sweet peace of a good Conscience but only that which is the end and perfection thereof and that is that happiness which is infinite and endless which the Scripture calls an eternal and everlasting joy (g) Isai 35.10 Chap. 61.7 51.11 which neither men nor devils can lessen or interrupt much less put a period to it And if God give us true Repentance it will preserve us from the sins which forfeit this and if he add his holy spirit it will safely lead us into those paths of righteousness which lead thither where we can desire no more because we have all that is desirable There are no cares to disturb no fears to allay nor sorrows to abate those ravishments of delight for ever there is joy which far surpasseth the half-sad and mixed pleasures which this world hath being nothing else but pure joy which pleaseth by its own excellence and by having no fears nor possibility of defailance in degree or continuance we tast something of it in the charming calm of a strong faith and a quiet conscience with undeceived expectations of Gods love but this is but the land-skip of our heavenly Canaan which Jesus hath purchased for us and God the Father will grant unto us and the most holy Spirit will be our guide thither (h) Psal 51.14 LXX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole glorious Trinity is concerned for us and will cooperate with us to put us into possession of them and then rejoyce over us to all eternity The Father who forgave us the Son who dyed for us and the Blessed Spirit who wrought effectually in us will Communicate this their joy with us and to us for ever And lastly to shew that you thankfully follow these Directions of the Ministers and have in your own heart and thoughts most devoutly petitioned God for a true Repentance and his holy Spirit by means whereof all these incomparable benefits may redound to you in testimony I say hereof you sum up all in a Petitionary Amen desiring it may be so and assenting also to the truth of all this It is most true and therefore oh so be it unto you Amen The Paraphrase of the Absolution BE it known to every one of you that hath confessed his sins with an humble lowly Penitent and obedient heart that Almighty God Supreme King of Heaven and Earth whose Royal Prerogative it is fully to acquit or finally to condemn being the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who assumed our nature and suffered for our sins this great God by his Merits is of an angry Judge become a tender Father and hath solemnly sworn he is one who desireth not neither taketh pleasure in the death or damnation of a sinner though never so justly deserving it but rather chuseth to have opportunity to shew mercy and therefore he useth all possible means that he may turn from his wickedness which will bring the sinner into condemnation that by leaving these paths of death he might be forgiven and live in holiness and comfort here and in everlasting glory hereafter And to confirm this his good will and keep penitent sinners from despair he hath given and in holy Scripture communicated Power by vertue of his Supreme Authority and Commandment for the exercise of this power for when poor sinners need comfort he hath given special charge to his Ministers lawfully chosen by himself and those he appoints to be his Ambassadors to declare at all times his willingness to pardon all and pronounce Absolution more particularly and plainly to those that by returning and obedience do own him even to his People being Penitent for all their offences as you now from your