the Prince and Princesse Palatine with their Issue the honourable Priuy Counsellors Nobles and Magistrates the Bishops and Ministers the Vniuersities and Nurseries of learning Among all sorts stirre vp those that may valiantly fight thy battels against the Deuill against this world that lieth in wickednes Be gracious O Lord to our * Parents Brethren sisters c. to those for whom wee are specially bound to intreate thee and They that haue such may here mention them whom thou hast made thy instruments of good vnto vs. Protect this family prosper vs in our health our credit and in our worldly estate Aboue all let vs grow rich in godlinesse sobriety and righteousnesse Giue vs this night quiet rest and safetie raise vs vp againe in due time that wee may the next day and so from day to day doe thee acceptable seruice glorifie thee in our seuerall callings For these and for all good things needfull for vs and for al thy children we pray as thy Sonne our Sauiour hath taught vs. Our Father c. A Prayer vpon the Lords Prayer O Lord our God thy Sonne our Sauiour hath assured Vpon the Preface vs that thou art through him a louing Father to the godly and willing to helpe them and that thou art an heauenly and powerfull Father alwaies able to comfort them therefore we come vnto thee with boldnesse and confidence through faith in him and we desire and endeuour to pray vnto thee now and hereafter not with profane carnall and earthly hearts but with reuerence to thy diuine Maiesty and with heauenly affections O helpe vs and strengthen vs and raise vp our soules from earth and earthly things to thee that dwellest on high Petition 1 First and aboue all things we desire that praise may be giuen to thee for all thy worthinesse that thy enemies may know thee to be the Lord and themselues to be but men that their power is but weaknesse and their wisedome but foolishnesse when they lift vp themselues against thee and thy deare Spouse the Church Get thee honour vpon thine obstinate enemies as thou didst vpon Pharao and the Egyptians But let thy seruants and faithful people know thee to their comfort Let them sanctifie thee in their hearts let them euer beleeue and also finde by ioyfull experience that thy power is their protection thy wisedome their direction thy iustice their deliuerance from all wrongs And let all prayse and thanks be giuen vnto thee for all thy benefits for our health and peace for our food and raiment for thy great fauours so extraordinary bestowed vpon this land for many yeares and for those which we in particular haue receiued and do inioy from thy bountifull hand specially for those heauenly and spirituall blessings our election redemption vocation assurance of glorification and for the comfort of thy most holy Word Petition 2 Let thy Kingdome come conuert the wicked as many as belong to thine election enlighten the eyes of them that are blinded with the loue of superstition grant that those which wallow in sin may begin to hate that mire and filth wherein they haue delighted O Lord increase thy gifts and graces in the godly reigne in them by thy powerfull spirit thou that art the God of peace sanctifie them thorowout that their whole spirit and soule and body may be kept blameless vnto the comming of Iesus Christ Kill and crucifie in them daily the old man and let the new man be raised vp in them O Lord blesse and prosper the meanes which thou hast ordained for these euds Raise vp godly Kings that may walke in the steps of Dauid Ezekiah Iosiah and religious Nobles like Ioseph Obadiah Daniel Nehemiah Mordecai that may administer iustice and maintaine truth and seeke the prosperity of Israel-Increase we pray thee the number of faithfull Pastors and teachers endue them with excellent gifts of Learning and Godlinesse that they may be able to conuince heresies and errours to confound euery Iannes and Iambres that shall resist thy truth O let thy seruants walke in the steps of the Apostles and Prophets and not in pride couetousnesse or idlenesse Vnite them in thy truth lest by their diuisions thy people be also diuided grant that they may be knit together in one minde and in one iudgement that with one minde and with one mouth they may prayse thy name And let vs earnestly wait for thy comming to iudgement that thou maist put all thine enemies vnder thy feet and reigne for euer in perfect peace that wee may reigne with thee triumphantly Petition 3 In the meane time direct and teach vs to doe thy Holy and blessed will to renounce and denie our owne wills that are so foolish so peruerse and wicked Teach vs to walke in the way of all thy Commandements let our hearts be seasoned with godlinesse let vs loue thee aboue all let vs feare thee and euer walke in all sinceritie as in thy sight and presence let vs trust in thee and rest vpon thy promises for the things of this life and of the life to come Let it be our chiefe delight to speake to thee by prayer and thanksgiuing and to heare thee speaking vnto vs by thy word both read and preached Inable vs by thy grace to obey thee in those generall duties that belong to all Christians and in the particular duties of our seuerall callings grant that Magistrates and people Ministers and hearers husbands and wiues parents and children masters and seruants may conscionably and in heartie obedience vnto thee performe those duties which they owe one to another Grant that in whatsoeuer profession trade or course of life thou hast placed vs we may not liue to our selues but make this our speciall end to please and to glorifie thee And whereas the wicked performe heauenly duties in earthly manner defiling their praiers and thy word Sacraments by their hypocrisie grant that we may performe not only heauenly but also earthly duties and businesses in a heauenly manner walking cheerfully in our vocations endeuouring with all our might to doe thy Maiesty acceptable seruice euery day and to be through thy grace profitable members of the Church Common-wealth and family where we liue Direct vs and inable vs that we on earth may doe thy worke and businesse wisely and also gladly and cheerfully with strength and courage fearing no aduersary euer beholding thy face and following the patterne of thy heauenly Angels Petition 4 Vouchsafe O Lord to giue vs foode raiment health peace publike and priuate blessings and all things needfull for this present life Stirre vs vp to labour and diligence keepe vs from sloth and idlenesse giue a blessing to our endeuours Let vs neuer goe about to inrich or maintaine our selues by lying by deceit or oppression or any vnlawfull meanes let vs seeke nothing at the hands of Satan by sinfull practices or purposes but let our consciences assure vs that whatsoeuer things we
man A. God the Sonne the second Person in the Trinitie Ioh. 1. 14. Ioh. 3. 16. Q. What doth IESVS signifie A. A Sauiour because he only saueth his people from their sinnes Matth. 1. 21. Acts 4. 12. Q. What doth Messiah or Christ signifie A. Anointed for God by his Spirit anointed Him to bee our King to gouerne vs our Priest to offer vp Himselfe for a Sacrifice and to make intercession for vs our Prophet to declare Gods will vnto vs Psal 2. 2. Luk. 1. 33. Psal 110. 4. Esa 61. 1. Deut. 18. 15. That he might make vs also kings and priests vnto God and inable vs to instruct others in the will of God Reu. 1. 6. Rom. 15. 14. Q. How is Christ Gods only Sonne since all the faithfull are his children A. God is the Father of Christ by nature and our Father by grace Matth. 16. 16. Heb. 1. 5 6. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Q. Why addest thou Our LORD A. He hath created and redeemed vs he is our best and greatest Master Psalm 95. 6 7. 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Rom. 14. 8 9. 1 Cor. 6. 19. Act. 2. 36. Q. What beleeuest thou concerning Christs conception and birth A. That he was borne of a mother without a Father miraculously Q. Why so A. That hee might not be conceiued and borne in sinne as we are Psal 51. 5. Heb. 4. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 19. Q How diuidest thou the Articles that follow concerning Christ A. They containe partly his humiliation and partly his exaltation Q. Rehearse those Articles that containe his humiliation A. He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hel Q. Did Christ when he liued vpon the earth liue in pompe riches ease and pleasures A. No but in pouerty labour and persecution Esay 53. 1 1. Mat. 8. 20. Heb. 2. 10. Q. What death died he and how A. His enemies of malice accused him before Pontius Pilate the Iudge who to pleasure them condemned him to death euen to the bitter shamefull cursed death of the Crosse Gal. 3. 13. Phil. 2. 8. Q. Died he willingly or against his will A. Most willingly because he knew that God his Father had so decreed and because his purpose was by his owne death to kill sinne in vs and saue vs from eternall death shame and torment Romans 6. 6. Heb. 2. 14. 15. Heb. 10. 14. Q. What beleeuest thou concerning his buriall and his descending into hell A. To assure vs of his death his body was buried and continued till the third day vnder the dominion of death that he might deliuer vs from the-dominion thereof Heb. 2. 14 15. Q. Rehearse the Articles that containe Christs exaltation A. The third day he rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie from thence shall he come to iudge the quick and the dead Q. What beleeuest thou heere A. That by the power of his Godhead he raised his dead body to life againe the third day and that a glorious life Ioh. 10. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Matth. 28. 1. Q. Why did he so A. That hee might shew the same power on vs by raising our soules now from sin and our bodies hereafter from the graue Rom. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 20. Phil. 3. 10. Q. Goe on to his Ascension A. Forty daies after his Resurrection he ascended visibly in soule and body into heauen Acts 1. Q. Why did he so A. That we whiles we line may through his quickning spirit ascend by heauenly affections Col. 3. 1 2. that at our death our soules may ascend and be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Luke 16. 22. Reuel 14. 13. Luke 23. 43 and that at the last day we may both in soule and body ascend and liue with him for euer Ioh. 14. 2. 1 Thess 4. 17. Q. How doth Christ sit at Gods right hand hath God the Father a right hand and a left and other parts of a mans body as many imagine A. Their imagination is foolish and wicked for his sitting there doth signifie that the same Christ that was so greatly humbled is now exalted aboue all men and Angels Ephes 1. 20 21 22. Q. What profit haue we thereby A. This that he can and doth defend vs from all enemies maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8. 31 34. and sendeth vs the Holy Ghost Ioh. 16. 7. Acts. 2. 33. and the Ministers of his Word Matth. 28. 18. 19. 20. Ephe. 4. 10. 11. Q. What beleeuest thou concerning his comming to Iudgement A. He will come from heauen in glory with all his holy Angels and all men shal giue account to him of all their thoughts words and deeds Matthew 25. 31. 1 Cor. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Matth. 12. 36. Acts 17. 31. Eccles. 12. 14. Q. Which is the third part of the Beleefe A. I beleeue in the Holy Ghost Q. What is the Holy Ghost A. God the third person in Trinity Acts 5. 3 4. proceeding from the Father and the Son Ioh. 15. 26. Gal. 4. 6. who doth direct sanctifie and comfort the faithfull Ioh. 16. 13. Rom. 1. 4. and 8. 9 c. Gal. 5. 22. Ioh. 14. 16. Q. Of these three Persons is any one greater then another or in time before another A. No but they are all equall coeternall Q. Rehearse the fourth part of the Beleefe A. I belieue the holy Catholick Church c. Q. What is this holy Catholike Church A. The whole number of those whom God before the world began decreed to sanctifie in this life and to glorifie in the next life with Christ their Head Eph. 1. 4 5. Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Q. What hath God decreed of the rest of mankinde A. To let them runne on in the course of sinne vnto endlesse damnation Rom. 9. 13 22. Q. If God hath of old decreed euery mans saluation or damnation then a man elected shall be saued liue he neuer so wickedly and areprobate shall be damned liue he neuer so godly A. It is a foolish and a wicked thing to imagine that any reprobate can liue or die godly or that God will suffer any of his elect to liue and die wickedly Q. How then conceiuest thou of this matter A. Thus that God in ordaining the end ordaineth fit meanes withall therefore he decreeth that the elect by faith and the fruits thereof shal obtaine saluation as the reprobate by their infidelity and the fruits thereof do purchase their owne damnation Esay 38. 5 21 Matth. 2. 13. Acts 27. 24 31. Mark 16. 16. Q. Proceede to the priuiledges of the Church what beleeuest thou concerning the Communion of Saints A. This Church or body of Christ consisteth of many members all which receiue the same spirituall life from their head and are helpfull as fellow members one to another Eph. 4. 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 12. 26. Q. What further beleeuest thou A. That euery Saint hath all his sinnes forgiuen him by the death of Christ and
bloud of Christ as our bodies are with the Bread and Wine 1 Cor. 10. 16. and 11. 24 25. 26. Q. Doe all that come to the Lords Supper receiue profit thereby A. No for all vnworthy receiuers receiue much hurt thereby 1 Cor. 11. 17 27 29. Q. Who are vnworthy receiuers A. 1. All that are carnall and vnregenerate 2. The godly themselues when they come with security hauing offended God and neglecting to renue their repentance 2 Sam. 11. 27. 1 Cor. 11. 30. Q. How must thou prepare thy selfe for the Lords Supper A. I must examine my selfe 1. Whether I repent me truly of all my sinnes past 2. Whether I stedfastly purpose to leade a new life 3. Whether I haue a liuely faith in Gods mercy through Christ 4. Whether I remember and meditate on Christs death with thankfulnesse 5. Whether I be in charitie with all men freely forgiuing them all wrongs done against me as God for Christs sake hath freely forgiuen me Q. Thou saist that thy faith is preserued and increased by continuall meditation in the Word of God shew me then to what end and in what manner oughtest thou both to reade Gods word and to heare it preached A. Not for fashions sake to seeme religious but with a sincere purpose earnest desire constant endeuour and feruent prayer that thereby my faith may bee strengthened my life amended and my soule comforted 1 Cor. 14. 3. 2. Tim. 3. 16. Psal 19. Psal 119. And further I must beware of malice against the Preacher and of a preiudicate opinion of his person or gifts of pride and selfewill I must reade and heare with an humble heart so that when the Word sheweth me any errour of mine in iudgement or practice on the right hand or on the left I must bee readie to reforme it 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. Iames 1. 21 22. c. Q. What if the Preacher deliuer things vnsound or vnprofitable A. I must pray that I may with wisdome discerne and with modesty refuse the same but euer I must beware that I bee not a rash and proud censurer of any man specially of Gods messengers 1 Thess 5. 21. Matth. 7. 1. Iam. 3. 1. Iam. 1. 19 20. Q. How oughtest thou to prepare thy selfe for death at all times specially in time of sicknes A. After the same manner as I ought to prepare my selfe to receiue the Lords Supper so that if I recouer I must walke the more circumspectly afterward MORNING PRAYER for a Family A briefe Confession with thanksgiuing WEE most humbly present our selues O LORD before the Throne of thy great Maiesty in the name of thy beloued Sonne our onely Sauiour confessing that of our selues we are most vile polluted with sinnes originall and actuall sinnes against thee and against our neighbour sins of omission and commission secret and open known and vnknown euen to our selues O let them not make a separation betwixt thee and vs seeing thou art reconciled vnto vs and not onely so but also thou hast vouchsafed to become our louing Father hauing redeemed vs by thy Sonnes bloud and adopted vs by his Spirit whom thou hast sent into our hearts thou hast also fed clothed and lodged vs thou hast strengthned and preserued vs euen to this houre therefore for all thy mercies so many and so great we praise and blesse thy holy name And now Lord as thou hast raised our bodies from sleepe so raise vp our hearts from their naturall dulnesse and earthly disposition Sanctifie vs more and more in soule and body that euery day wee may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ by the workes of the Spirit O Lord increase our faith giue vs yet more assurance of that thy Prayer for strength of faith eternall loue that therein we may reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious and obediently wait for the performance of all thy promises both to prouide for vs and to defend vs in this life and after to crowne vs with eternall glorie Let this assurance bee such that thereby we may bee able to endure al the miseries and trials of this mortall pilgrimage not only with patience and quietnesse but also with heauenly comfort And teach vs O Lord to loue thee and that sincerely that our Prayer for loue to God false hearts may not goe a whoring after the world whiles wee foolishly and wickedly admire the riches and pleasures and pride of this life and suffer our selues to be snared therewith O let vs know that the loue of thy glorious Maiestie and of these vile things cannot stand together As wee desire to loue thee sincerely so to loue thee abundantly that wee may bee the better assured that wee loue thee let not our loue bee as a sparke of fire couered with the ashes of our darke and earthly corruptions but let it be as burning coles and as a vehement flame And let it appeare by our heartie loue to our neighbour specially Prayer for loue to our neighbour to those whose good fruits declare them to be thy faithfull children Suffer vs not this day nor heereafter to be iniurious to any by deceit or oppression by slandering or back-biting those that are absent by reproching or disgracing those that are present or by any other wrongs but let vs be profitable and helpfull to many to the vttermost of our power Grant that wee may instruct those that are more ignorant then our selues let vs relieue according as thou hast enabled vs those that stand in need of our helpe O Lord preserue vs from the damnable error of those that Against counterfet happines place their greatest happiness in worldly wealth and pleasure open our eyes to discerne yet more cleerely that if thou be our riches then wee shal be rich indeed if thou be our delight then shall we perceiue how vile and vaine all carnall delights are Let vs know how good a thing it is to draw neer vnto thee by hearing thy voyce in thy most holy Word and by speaking to thee in our prayers and thanksgiuing withdraw not thy Spirit from vs giue vs not ouer vnto Satan and worldly lusts for then shall we runne headlong into all sinne and misery This that followeth is verie needfull in many houses of the Gentrie and richer sort LOrd preserue this family from the sinnes of idlenesse pride fulnesse of bread from contempt or neglect of the poore from foolish and corrupt communication from chambering and wantonnesse from excessiue and vnseasonable eating and drinking from louing of pleasures more than thee the chiefest Good In a meane and laborious Family prayer to this purpose will be conuenient WEE beseech thee cheere vs vp and comfort vs in the middest of our labours and trauels let vs not admire or enuie the happinesse of those that abound with ease and wealth but euer let vs remember that a painefull and godly life is the way to perfect rest and endlesse ioy that an idle voluptuous and vnprofitable