drawn yet neerer vnto thee euen more to loue thee feare thee and obey thee that as thou art inlarged towards vs in mercy so we may bee inlarged towards thee in thanksgiuing and as thou dost abound towards vs in goodnesse so we may abound towards thee in obedience loue And sith deer father thou art neuer wearie of doing vs good notwithstanding all our vnworthinesse naughtines therfore let the consideratâ—on of thy great mercy and fatherly kindnesse towards vs euen as it were force our hearts compell vs to come into thy most glorious presence with newe songs of thanksgiuing in our mouths We pray thee O most merci-God to forgiue vs all our vnthankfulnes vnkindnes prophane great abusing of all thy mercies and specially our abuse contempt of thy Gospell together with all other sins of our life which we confesse are innumerable moe then can be reckoned both in omission of good things commission of euill We most humbly intreat thee to set them all ouer to that reckoning which thy sonne Christ hath made vp for them vpon his crosse and neuer to lay any of them to our charge but frely forget all forgiue al. Naile downe all our sins iniquities to the crosse of Christ burie them in his death bath them in his blood hide them in his wounds let them neuer rise vp in iudgment against vs set vs free of the miseries that are vpon vs for sinne keepe backe the iudgments to come both of soule body goods good name Be reconsiled vnto vs in thy deer Son concerning al matters past not once remembring or repeating vnto vs our old abhominable iniquities but accept vs righteous in him imputing his righteousnes to vs our sins to him Let his righteousnes satisfie thy iustice for our vnrighteousnes his obedience for our disobedience his perfection for our imperfection Moreouer wee humbly beseech thy good Maiestie to giue vs the true sight feeling of our manifold sinnes that wee may not bee blinded in them through delight or hardned in them through custome as the reprobates are but that we may be euen weary of them and much grieued for them labouring striuing by all possible meanes to get out of them Good Father touch our hearts with true repentance for all sins let vs not take any delight or pleasure in any sin but howsoeuer we fall through frailtie as we fal often yet let vs neuer fal finally let vs neuer lie downe in sinne or continue in sin but let vs get vp vpon our feet againe turne vnto thee with all our harts seeke thee whilest thou mayest bee found whilest thou dost offer grace mercy vnto vs. O Lord increase in vs that true and liuely faith whereby wee may lay sure hold on thy son Christ rest vpon his mercies altogether Giue vs faith assuredly to beleeue al the great precious promises made in the Gospell and strenghthen vs from aboue to walke abouÌ„d in all the true sound fruites of faith Let vs grow daily in the sanctification of the spirit and the mortification of the flesh Let vs liue holily iustly and soberly in this present euil world shewing forth the vertues of thee in all our particular actions that we may adorne our most holy profession and shine as lights in the midst of a crooked froward generation amongst whom wee liue being gainfull to all by our liues and couersations offensiue to none To this end wee pray thee fill vs with thy spirit and all spirituall graces as loue wisedome patience contentment meekenes humilitie temperance chastitie kindnes and affabilitie and stirre vs vp to vse prayer watchfulnesse reading meditating in thy Law all other good meanes whereby wee may grow abound in all heauenly vertue blesse vs in the vse of the meane from day to day make vs such as thou wouldest haue vs to be and such as wee desire to be working in vs both will deed purpose and power For thou O Lord art all in all thou wilt haue mercy vpon whom thou wilt haue mercie whom thou wilt thou hardnest Haue mercie vpon vs therefore deere father neuer leaue vs to our selues nor to our owne willes lusts desires but assist vs with thy good spirit that we may continue to the end in a righteous course that so at length we may be receiued into glory and be partakers of that immortall Crowne which thou hast laid vppe for all that loue thee truely call vpon thee Further we intreat thee O heauenly Father to giue vs all thinges necessarie for this life as food raiment health peace libertie such freedome from those manifold miseries which wee lye open vnto euery day as thou seest meet Blesse our stocke store corne and cattell trades occupations all the works of our hands for thy blesssing only maketh rich it bringeth no sorrows with it Grant these thinges good father vnto vs heere present and to all thine absent praying the in speciall fauour to remember our friends kinsfolks in the flesh all our neighbors wellwiller all those for whom we are bound to pray for Iesus Christs sake our onely mediator aduocate Amen An Euening Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families O Eternall God and our most louing and deare Father wee thy vnworthy children doe here fall down at the foote of thy great Maiesty acknowledging euen from our hearts that wee are altogether vnworthy to come neere thee or to looke towards thee because thou art a God of infinit glory and we are most vile and abhominable sinners such as were conceiued and borne in sinne and corruption such as haue inherited our fathers corruption also haue actually transgressed all thy holy statutes and lawes both in thoughts words and deeds before we knew thee and since secretly openly with our selues with others our particular sinnes are moe then can be numbred for who knoweth how oftentimes hee offendeth But this wee must needs confesse against our owne selues that our hearts are full of pride couetousnes the loue of this world yea the very sinckes of sin and dunghils of all filthinesse so that thou hast hast iust cause to proceed to sentence of Iudgement against vs as most damnable transgressors of thy holy Commandements yea such as are suncke in our rebellios and haue many times and often committed high treason against thy sacred Maiesty and therefore thou mayest iustly cast vs downe into Hell fire there to bee tormented with Sathan and his Angels for euer and we haue nothing to except against thy Maiesty for so doing sith therein thou shouldest deale with vs but euen according to equity and our iust deserts Wherefore deere Father wee doe appeale from thy Iustice to thy Mercie most humbly intreating thee to haue mercy vpon vs and freely to forgiue vs all our sins past whatsoeuer both new and old secret and open knowne and vnknowne and that for Iesus Christ his sake our only Mediator and Redeemer Giue vs therfore deere father euery day more more sight and feeling of our sins with true humiliation vnder the same Giue vs also that true liuely faith wherby we may lay hold vpon thy deere son Christ all his merits applying the same to our owne soules so as wee may stand fully perswaded that whatsoeuer hee hath done vpon the Crosse he hath done for vs particularly as well as for others Giue vnto vs faith good father constantly to beleeue all the sweete promises of the Gospell touching remission of sins eternall life made in thy son Christ O Lord increase our faith that wee may altogether rest vppon thy promises which are all yea Amen Yea that we may settle our selues all that wee haue wholly vpon them both our soules bodies goods name wiues children our whole estate knowing that al things depend vpon thy promises power prouidence And that thy word doth support beare vppe the whole order of Nature Moreouer we intreat thee O Lord to strengthen vs from aboue to walke in euer good way and to bring foorth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thee in al things and to be fruitfull in all good works that wee may shew foorth vnto all men by our good conuersation whose children we are and that we may adorne beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits practise of Godlinesse and true religon To this end wee pray thee sanctifie our hearts by thy spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason vnderstanding wil affections so as they may bee fitted for thy worship and seruice taking a delight and pleasure therein stirre vs vp to vse prayer watchfulnes reading and meditation in thy Law and all other good meanes wherby we may profit in grace and goodnes from day to day Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes that wee may die to sin and liue to righteousnâ—â—â— Direct all our steps in thy word â—â— none iniquity haue dominion ouer vâ— Assist vs against our special infirmitieâ— and master sins that wee may get thâ— victory ouer them all to thy glory and the great peace comfort of our owâ— consciences Strengthen vs good Father by thy grace holy spirit againâ—â— the common corruptions of the worlâ— as pride whoredom couetousnes coÌ„tempt of thy gospell swearing yinâ— dissembling and deceiuing Oh dearâ— father let vs not be ouercome of those filthy vices or any other sinfull pleasures and fond delights wherewith thousands are carried headlong into destruction Grant these things and all other needfull graces for our soules or bodies for Iesus Christs sake In whose name we further cal vpon the as he hath taught vs saying Our Father which art c. FINIS
remember our selues to be farre off from God vnlesse we lift vp our hearts also on high and therefore saith the same Psal 25. 1. Prophet To thee haue I lifted vp my Soule Our hearts that thereby we should know if our hearts be not farre from terrestriall cogitations we shall hardly receiue any celestiall consolations We may lawfully in prayer aske corporall benefits of God because Corporall benefits we should thereby know that he is the author and giuer thereof and should not onelie be thankefull to him for it but thereby to seeke loue and worship him because we should Ios 7. bee perswaded of his good prouidence towards vs in that hee hath Ios 7. not onely promised hee will neuer faile vs but also hath an outstretched hand to helpe them that call vppon him Because our faith of recociliation and remission of sins shold bee exercised through the asking of these corporall things The feruent prayer of the righteous Prayer availeth Exod. 8. much aualyeth not onely for them but for others At Moses prayer the plague ceased Elias great 1. King 17. plenty of raine Queene Hester deliuered Hest 14. her and her people We ought to referre all our prayers Prayers c referred requests and doings to Gods good pleasure following the example of Christ when he was crucified Mat. 26. 4 without cause by the Iewes Of David when he was dispossessed of his 2. Sam. 15. 26 Kingdome by his sonne and of Iob Iob. 2. 7 13 when hee was afflicted most grieuously by Sathan The meanes whereby wee are Saluation drawne to saluation is Faith 〈◊〉 and Charity The chiefest of these is loue because it serueth heare and Co. 13. 13 in the world to come The worke of a true faith is builded True faith builded vpon things past we belieue the death of Christ is past things present wee belieue at this present hee sitteth at the right hand of his Father and things to come we belieue that Christ shall come to iudge the August quicke and the dead Faith doth grow and increase in vs three manner of waies By the hearing of the word of God preached Faith increaseth 3. wayes M. P. because it layeth before our eyes the promises which God in his Gospell hath made vnto vs in his Sonne By the reuerent receiuing of the Sacraments because they being rightly receiued of vs are as pledges and seales of the promises of God made vnto vs in his word And by prayer and inuocation because God hath made an especiall promise to vs thereby that hee will heare whatsoeuer we aske according to his will A true and liuely faith must bee A description of true Faith M. S. Simple in belieuing the word of god without inquiring or searching in Gods mysticall matters by humane reasons Sound in defending the truth thereof with inclyning or leauing to the erronious opinions of the aduersaries of the same Constant in following the same word without doubting for any reason of mans blame that seemeth contrary nor to be drawne away from it by temptations promises or threatnings either of torment or of death Such as will know whether they Faith the knowledge haue an effectuall faith must consider the fruis of it is good works for Iam. 2. 17. faith without workes is dead The triall of it is Affliction for it is not sufficient Phil. 1 29. for vs to belieue in Christ but also to suffer for his sake The end of it is Saluation for he that continueth to the end hath this comfort Mat. 24. shal be saued A Iustifying Faith is knowne by these effects It bringeth foorth Mat. 7. 18. Iam. 3. 18. Galat. 5. 6. fruits It worketh by loue It apprehendeth Gods mercy offered in Iesus Christ Faith differeth from Hope and Faith the difference yet wee hope in thinges present as when I hope I am in Gods fauour things past as when I hope my sins be forgiuen me things to come as when I hope to haue eternall life Charity is a singular vertue for Charity a vertue without it what is Faith It auayleth little though it moue mountaines Knowledg it profiteth little though I speake with tongues of men and Angels Martirdome It helpeth little though I offer my body to be 1. Cor. 13. burned Wee ought to liue in loue charity How to liue 1. Tim. 1. 5. because it is the effect and fulfilling of the Commandement and whole Law Because it is a testimony vnto vs of our translation from 1. Iohn 3. 14. death to life whereby we are made 1. Iohn 4. 8. the Children of God and heires in heauen Because it worketh the cause in vs for God is loue and hee that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him Workes of superarrogation are Workes of superarrogation very friuolous for our works are in no wise availeable to saue vs by reason of their Imperfection because all righteousnes is no better then filthy Esa 64. 6. clouts or as some writ menstruous Rom. 11. 6. clothes Gods election because we should then chose God rather by our works then he should elect vs of his meere grace and then grace were no grace Christs passion because his sonne should haue suffered in vaine if we had any sufficiency of our selues Although works are not the cause of our saluation yet partly they are the effects of it good works are very necessary to bee vsed amongst Christians That thereby God may glorified That by their good examples Mat. 5. 16. 1. Peter 3. 1. 2. Peter 1. 10. others may be wonne to the word That by them they may make their Election sure Dauid numbred three degrees of our saluation Gods mercy whereby Psal 40. 10 Degrees of saluation he fatherly pittieth vs His righteousnesse wherby he continually protecteth vs His truth whereby appeareth his constant fauour towarâ—s vs. There be three causes of our saluation The efficient cause God the Saluation 3. causes M. P. Father is the begining of our saluation The materiall cause Christ Iesus is he in whom our righteousnes is resident The Instrumentall cause faith is the meane whereby wee apprehend the same S. Paul approueth the formall cause of our saluation to be the free mercie of God for whom hee predestinateth Rom. 8. 30. he calleth whom hee calleth he iustifieth and whom he Ephes 2. 8. iustifieth he glorifieth By grace yee are saued through faith Although there be many reasons whereby we may assure our selues to be elected yet we may briefly gather our election by the holy Ghost which testifieth with our spirit that Rom. 8. 15. we are the Children of God by the fruites of the spirit in hauing good workes or will to doe well By remorse of conscience ioyned with the loathing of sinne and loue of righteousnesse Election is knowne by these testimonies Faith is gathered by
world but they cannot deceiue Hypocrites these three GOD For hee seeth their secrets and will one day reueale all DEATH For hee commeth of a suddaine and will destroy them with all The DEVIL For he waites for their Soules to reward them for all An Hypocrite is resembled to these three thinges A sheepe in Wo to you Hipocrits skinne Hee talketh smoothly A Foxe in subtiltie Hee intendeth craftily A Wolfe in crueltie He attempteth villany Truth is a most excellent treasure Truth excellent and worthy to bee Honoured Because it ouercommeth all thinges Embraced Because it defendeth all things Aduanced Because it indureth for euer Such as delight in Lying should but remember the Author of it It Lying is a seed of the Deuills sowing The euill of it It is abhomination before the Lord And the end of it It procureth sorrow to his owne soule at the last This discommodity commeth of lying when one doth accustome it hee shall seldome leaue it when Lying the discommodity hee saith truth hee shall hardly bee beleeued when hee is knowne to be such a one the better sort will abhorre him Hee is happie that in his communication hath an eye in feare to Heb. 10. 3. Feane of God Gods Maiesty because it is fearefull to fall into his handes To his Brothers frayltie Because it is the easiest thing of a Thousand to offend him To his owne safetie because he must giue accompt of euery Idle word Our Communication ought to Communication what Esa 19. Heb. 6. 16. bee yea and nay yet wee may lawfully Sweare For the glory and worship of God For confirmation of truth and equity For discharge of our conscience being lawfully called The Magistrate may lawfully require Oathes an oath so it bee done for the manifestation of Iustice Iudgement and Truth But wee ought not to sweare vainely when there is no cause at all Lightly vpon euery smal occasion Rashly without good consideration Who shall inherit heauen saith Psal 24. Dauid He that hath cleane hands a pure hart He that hath not lift vp his mind to vanity He that hath not sworne to deceiue his neighbour The Mischeifes that insue of Lechery Lechery are many if we confer the beginnig with the end at first it tickleth the flesh with touching afterwards it poisoneth the mind with filthy delights and last of all by consenting to sin both body soul are ouercome The sin of Lechery is the pleasāts to the deuill because it hurteth body soule because he was neuer touched with it being a spirit because it bringeth a heape of other sinnes withall The Lecherous man in this life Lechery tormented is three waies tormented with the heat of the Harlot with the paine of his hurt with the worme of his owne conscience The Sonne of Syrach saith there Eccle. 25. Sirach his hatred are three thinges which his soule hateth A poore man that is proud A rich man that is a lyer An old Adulterer that doteth There bee three speciall reasons that fornication should be eschewed Because it defileth the body with a peculier kind of filthinesse Because Fornicators Sacriligious persons a fornicator is sacriligious for that our bodies are consecrated to God Because we ought both in body and soule to serue him who hath saued vs. This briefly is to bee obserued in Eccle 26. A Whores Comparison a Whore Shee brings a man to a morsell of bread therefore compared to a Dogge Shee hunts for the precious life of him therefore compared to a Sowe Shee leades him the high way to Hell she is therefore compared to Dung A whore is to bee abandoned if A Whore abandoned Deut 23. 17. Pro. 23. 28. 2. Esd 16. 42. it were but for these causes because God hath forbidden any such to be suffered Because shee increaseth the transgressors among men Because shee enuieth honest and vertuous women There bee three thinges may terrifie A Theife terrified by 3. things Bradford a Theife in his lewd attempts the precept GOD hath set downe that is Thou shalt not steale The Positiue Law of this Land that is Death of body The ymportable iudgement to come destruction both of body and soule A theife by following one that is the Deuill hee offendeth three Hee displeaseth God by breaking his commaundement Hee hurteth his neighbour by taking away his right He hateth his owne soule Pro. 29. by following sinne This inconuenience commeth of Idlenesse when one is rooted in it Idlenesse the inconuenience it will hardly be◠remoued when he hath the end of his lust it will bee most loathsome when he is so idle the deuill is most occupied There be 3. things that grieued the wise man A man of warre that Eccle 26. 29. Wiseman grieued suffered pouerty Men of vnderstanding that are not set by When one departeth from righteousnesse to sinne God punisheth his people for their sinnes with 3. kinds of plagues Plauges 3. kinds which commonly goe together Warre Famine and Pestilence And where hee blesseth there followeth three benefits Peace Plentie and Blessings 3. kinds Salubrity Christian Souldiers fight but faintly if they want these weapons Ephe. 6. 12. Souldiers weapons The Sheild of Faith The Helmet of Hope The Sword of the Spirit Euery Christian Souldier hath 3. Souldiers enemies Iam. 4. 1. Ephe. 6 12. enemies to incounter with the lewd affections of themselues The euill prouocations of the people The dayly suggestions of Sathan There were three persons spared Persons spared from the Warres Deut. 20 7. Deut. 24. 5. Deut. 20. 8. in the old Lawe from going on warfare hee that was betrothed to a maid he that was but new married he that was faint hearted God sendeth Raine Cold Heate Tempest and such like oftentimes Iob. 37. 13. Weather to punish man to profit the earth to declare his fauour towards man One may eate flesh at all times so it be done without scruple or doubting Flesh without offence of our brother without breach of Godly orders For euery creature of God is good and nothing ought to bee refused if 1. Tim. 4. 4. it bee receiued with thanksgiuing Our meats are sanctified vnto vs Beza 1. Tim. 4. 5. Meates by the word of God and prayer because wee confesse and acknowledge that God is the maker and giuer of those creatures which wee vse because we are of the number of those who through Christs benefits haue recouered that right ouer al cretures which Adam lost by his fall Because by our Prayers wee craue of the Lord that wee may vse those meates with a good conscience which wee receiue at his hands Such as by their Doctrine will Difference made of meates Fox make difference of meates the same may bee called Deuillish or deceitfull in three respects 1 Because the teachers of them make lawes of thinges which are not their owne for God