of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the Law of sinne and of death Romans 8. 2. Yee haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage againe to feare but the Spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father verse 15. They despight the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10. 29. The Spirit maketh Intercession for vs with sighs and grones that cannot be expressed Romans 9. 29. To one is giuen the Spirit of the Word of Wisedome to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit 1 Corinthians 12. 8. All these worketh one and the same Spirit verse 11. The Father of Glory giue vnto vs the Spirit of Wisedome and reuelation in the Knowledge of him Ephes. 1. 17. The Spirit of Glory and of GOD resteth in vs. 1 Peter 4. 14. When the Spirit of Truth is come hee will leade you into all Truth Ioh. 16. 13. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 1 Corinthians 3. 17. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting Gal. 6. 8. Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. The fruits of the Spirit are loue peace ioy c. verse 17. If yee be led by the Spirit yee are not vnder the Law verse 18. Whosoeuer speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not bee forgiuen him neither in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12. 32. Of how much sorer punishment shall hee bee thought worthy who hath troden vnder foot the Sonne of GOD and hath accounted the blood of the couenant wherewith hee was sanctified an vnholy thing and hath done despight to the Spirit of God Hebrewes 10. 29. A Prayer for Whit sunday INcomprehēsible Spirit the third Person in the blessed and glorious Trinity who after the Father had manifested himselfe to the world in the works of Creation and the Sonne in the works of Redemption finished in the flesh diddest manifest thy selfe on this day in a wonderfull manner by the sound of a rushing winde and the light of fiery tongues Manifest thy selfe most powerfully and gloriously in the vniuerfall Church by enlarging her bounds and making vp her breaches and hallowing her Assemblies and furnishing her Pastors and knitting the hearts of all her members in true loue the bond of perfection Perfect the work of sanctification in all thine Elect manifest thy selfe also graciously this day and declare thy gifts in the tongues of the Preachers and eares of the hearers and the hearts of all the Congregation Direct the mouthes of the Preachers that they may skilfully sowe the Seede and open the eares and mollify the hearts of the hearers that they may receiue it profitably and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit abundantly which are loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance c. O Eternall and infinite holy Ghost the loue of the Father and the Sonne who diddest descend vpon our Sauiour in the likenesse of a Doue without gall purge out of my conscience all gall of malice and bitternesse and grant that with meeknesse I may receiue the ingraffed Word which is able to saue my soule O holyest Spirit eternall breath of the Father and the Son and former of the Word in the wombe who camest with a sound come down vpon me in the sound of thy Word Preached though not in the extraordinary gifts of Prophecy tongues and healing yet in the ordinary graces of faith hope and charity the Spirit of supplication and Prayer of wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding of power and ghostly comfort O heauenly Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne who descendedst from heauen like a mighty rushing winde throw mee downe to the ground in humility and prostrate my heart and soule before thee Beate downe all strong holds of carnall imaginations and worldly thoughts resisting thy grace Chase away all cloudes of error out of my vnderstanding cleare my will of all foggs of noysome desires coole and refresh me in the heate of persecution fill the sailes of my affections and driue mee speedily into the faire hauen where I would bee O diuine fire burning continually in the hearts of the faithfull and consuming all our spirituall sacrifices who this day diddest descend and appeare in the likenesse of fiery tongues bee a fire in my heart and tongue that I may be feruent in my Meditations and Prayers and Zealous in the profession and defence of thy Truth Inlighten the darknesse of my vnderstanding inflame the coldnesse of my affections purge out the drosse of my corruptions direct me in all the affaires of this life assist mee in all the exercises of Deuotion strengthen me in al the assaults of temptation comfort me in all the miseries and afflictions seale all thy gracious promises of thy Gospell vnto mee and seale mee to the day of redemption So bee it Amen Into my minde descend ô Doue Purge gall cleane out of me With siluer wings raise me aboue My Sauiour Christ to see PART 1. SVPPART 4. The Christian FAST'S Deuotion Of FAST'S in generall There is a 3-old fast 1 Fast from sinne 2 Fast for sinne 3 Fast against sin THe fast from sinne ought to bee perpetuall The fast for sinne is extraordinarie vpon speciall occasions to auert some dreadfull iudgement or auoide som imminent danger The fasts against sinne ought to be more frequent and according to the customes of the ancient Church and the present practise of the Church of England They are Weekly on the Fridaies Monethly on the Holy-day Eeues Quarterly in the Ember weekes Yeerely in the Lent THe Doctrine of fasting hath met with errors and superstitions on both hands Some ascribing too much to it and placing the immediate and principall worship of God in it some ascribing too little and making it no matter of Religion at all Some superstitiously obseruing and others out of a contrary superstition scrupulously declining the obseruation of all Fasts appointed by the Church To steere the iudgement in a middle course betweene these rocks on both sides conceiue thus of the nature of Religious acts the seuerall kindes of Fasts and the vse thereof A Religious act or work may be taken 1 In a larger sence for any work commanded by Christian Religion in vvhich sence all the duties of the second Table may be called Religious acts or workes as well as the first 2 In a more restrained acception for such workes and acts in which Religion properly taken for the worship of God consists And these are of two sorts 1 Principall as Believing in God Praying the like 2 Accessarie seruing as helps or preparations to the princi pall as Watching Fasting and the like FAsting is not to be esteemed such an act of religion as wherein principally and immediatly we worship God for the Kingdome of God as the Apostle reacheth consisteth not in meates and
Our condition requires it Examples of mecknes God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The Saints Moses Dauid Ieremiah The woman of Canaan Saint Paul Resemblances in the creatures Meekenesse bringeth peace Wealth Honour Wisedome The fruits of the spirit Blessednesse 1 Gods Commandement 2 The Saints practise Hezekiah Manasses Ezra Peter 3 A preparation to the Gospell 4 Acceptable to God 5 The effect of true conuersion 6 A cause of many diuine vertues 7 Bringeth ioy and comfort 8 The want of it fearefull Precepts for seeking the meanes of saluation Examples Dauid Mary The bearers of Iohn Baptist. Promises of life All things needfull Gods fauour Delight Peace Life Blessed content The kingdome of heauen Saluation by Mercy It is the most eminent attribute to God Precepts of mercy The last iudgement proceeds vpon works of mercy Mercy the fruit of the Spirit The Saints practise Iobs Tabithas Cornelius The good Samaritans Philippians Onesiphorus Philemons Workes of mercy a certaine note of pure Religion In assurance of saluation and meanes of obtaining mercy at Gods hand 1. Precepts for it 2. God takes notice of it 3. God highly esteemes it 4. Promises of 1. Life 2. Fauour of Kings 3. Sight of God 4. Gods fauours 5. Profiting by the Word 6. Abode in heauen Precepts God the Father God of peace The Sonne Prince of peace The holy Ghost the Spirit of peace Examples The Saints children of peace The fâ—uits of peace are Prosperity Honour Benediction Wisdome Righteousnesse The speciall presence of God Vnity Beatificall vision God his Will Power Ordinance Christ his loue Example Sympathy The Saints continuall practise Ioseph Iob. Daniel Ieremiah The Apostls and Saints of the Primitiue Church Paul The Thesa louians The Hebrewes Thyatyra Encouragements Couuersion of enemies Conuiction Triall Ioy. Assurance of Gods loue Fruit of righteousnesse Holinesse Perfection The promises Life Honour in in heauen Rewards in this life For holinesse 1. Precepts 2. Paterens so fit in God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The church Reasons drawne from the Creation Our Vocation Redemption Sanctification Glorification Fruites of holinesse Ioy. Peace Prosperitie Dignitie Faith commanded As necessarie to all religious duties as Prayer Hearing the word The Sacrament It is Pretious Holy Proper to the Elect. Grounded on God the Father his Word Oath The Sonne his promise Pray The Spirits earnest Seale Faith worketh miracles Ouercommeth the 〈◊〉 The world Maketh sonnes of God Purifieth the heart Keepeth from confusion Iustifieth Saueth Crowneth with euerlasting blessings Precepts for perseuerance Examples Abraham Dauid Daniel The blind man The Cananitsh woman Peters conuerts Paul Cornelius The beasts full of eyes The Corinthians CoÌ„tinuance is a note of Truth Hath certaine promises of reward Saluation Comfortable assurance A crowne of life Apostasie and backsliding vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Fearefully thrâ—aâ—ned with losse of reward Of Gods fauour With a reprobate sence Infamy Death Eternally punished Death is common to all men The time and houre is by God prefixed God is an omnipotent and faithfull Creator Christ himselfe died and by death entred into his glorie And destroyed death And changed it in Name Nature Of a losse it is made a gaine Of a curse a blessing and a dâ—scharge from Labour Sorrow Paine Sinne. Free from euill company Bondage Temptation Feare the Saints desire Death Are comforted in death by Faith By Loue. By Hope By a good conscience The bodie resteth in hope of a glorious resurrection The soule immediatly enioyeth blisse Body and sonle shall be crowned at the last day Fruitfulnes is a spirituall blessing The paines are deserued by the sin of Eue. Sweetened with hop of a childe And promises of blessings Temporall Spirituall Confidence in God comanded Practised by Abraham Saraah Moses Dauid Eliah Hester Iob. The three children Ionah Reasons drawne from God His Attributes Faithfulnesse Prouidence Omnipotencie Goodnesse Gracious promises Performances to men in distresse as Lot The children of Israel Eliah Citizens of Samaria The 3 children as they are called Daniel Ionah Peter The sicke soule expresseth her malady Remembrance and experience of Gods goodnesse Hope in God Meeke patience Prayeth for ease Helpe Recouery Quickening grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome Sicknesse is God's visitation who is the Father of our Spirits and cannot be resisted Must be obeyed From whoÌ„ we receiue good It is a scourge for our sins It is sent for our good To weane vs from the world To tame the flesh and strengthening the Spirit To make vs loath sin To bring vs to acknowledgement of our sins in speciall To proue sincerity of our faith and loue To keepe vs from euerlasting torments To make vs seeke more earnestly to God Who will be found of vs. And shew his glory in our recouery For thankfulnesse Examples of Christ. The Angels The Saints in heauen The Saints on earth Melchizedeck Iacob The people of Israel in Moses time Moses Deborah Barak Anna. Dauid Salomon Ezra Isaiah Ezekias Daniel Ionah Marie Zacharias The Shepheards The man taken with a Palsie The people The woman that had a Spirit of infirmity One of the Lepers The blinde man The 〈…〉 Paul Peter Iude. Iohn Precepts In thy extremest fit meditate vpon 1 The heinousnes of thy sin deseruing a sharper scourge 2 The vnsufferable torments of hel which by these teÌ„porall chastisements â—re preuenâ—ed 3 The vnconceiuable paines and sorrowes which Christ endured for thee 4 The afflictions of Gods Saints equalizing farre surpassing thine Iob. Dauid Ieremiah The Apostles and first Disciples Paul 5 The faithfulnesse goodnesse of God who will not tempt vs aboue our strength 6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes 7 The incoÌ„parable reward of our patience See the Admoniâ—ion for good-Fryday Pray instantly and feruently Desire others to pray ◠〈◊〉 open thy sins and griefe in particular Weepe abundantly Restore Reconcile Forgiue freely from the heart Giue as thou art able liberally Seeke to thy Pastor and desire comfort froÌ„ him and the Church absolution Medit at vpon by faith apply to thy selfe Gods infinite mercy The vertue of the Sacraments The vniuersality of promises to penitent sinners The example of Gods mercy in pardoning heinous and grieueus sinners Peter Mary Magdalen The prodigall The theefe on the Crosse. The Iewes that crucified or consented to the crucifying of IESVS Layeth opeÌ„ his afflictions in body and soule Confesseth Prayeth for audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sin 4 Acknowledgeth Gods mercies 5 Professeth trust Desire of death Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Assured hope of Eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God
7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Psal. 51. 7. I will purge away thy drosse and take away all thy Tinnâ— Isa. 1. 25. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified 1. Cor. 6. 11. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. For by one offering he hath perfected them for euer that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. To them that are sanctified by God the Father c. Iude 1. 1. I know that my redeemer liueth c. Iob 19. 25. Though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God ver 26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and afterwards receiue me to glorie Psal. 73. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me bee with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Math. 25. 34. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luke 12. 32. If so be we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified together with him Rom. 8. 17. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shall be reuealed in vs ver 18. Whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth ver 30. Who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned to his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. Henceforth there is layed vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy diseases ver 3. O Lord thou hast brought vp my soule from the graue thou hast kept me aliue that I should not go downe to the pit Psal. 30. 3. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue c. 1. Sam. 2 6. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect Psal. 18. 32. He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes ver 34. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle Psal. 103. 5. Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will bind vs vp Hos. 6. 1. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Genes 32. 10. Also the Lord gaue Iob twise as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. Charge the rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 1. Ti. 6. 17. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in thrall Psal 4. 1. Cornelius a iust man and of good report Acts 10. 22. And these all hauing obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promises Hebrewes 11. 39. Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by heartie counsell Prou. 27â—9 Then came to Iob all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had bene of his acquaintance c. Iob 42. 11. Thou Lord onely makest mee dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal. 91. 1. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord shall preserue thee from all euill he shall preserue thy soule A preparatorie Hymne collected out of diuerse Psalmes where in the deuout soule desireth Accessea. Audienceb. Assistancec. Acceptanced. a Thou sayest seeke ye my face my heart said vnto thee thy face Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. Hide not thy face farre from mee nor put thy seruant away in anger ver 9. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal. 51. 11. b Heare ô Lord when I crie vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and answer me Psal. 27. 7. Ponder my words ô Lord consider my meditation Psal. 5. 1. My heart is enditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. c O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal. 51. 15. Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Psal. 141. 2. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips ver 3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight ô Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal. 19. 14. A preparatorie Prayer wherein all the conditions requisite in Prayer are expressed and prayed for HEauenly Father whose gift it is that I can aske any good gift at thy hands without whose grace I cannot desire thy healthfull and sauing grace Infuse into my heart the Spirit of supplication that in an awfull reuerence of thy Maiestie out of a true sence and feeling of my wants and infirmities and a liuely faith in thy promises I may with chearefulnesse of mind and feruencie of Deuotion and constant perseuerance lift vp a pure and plaine heart vnto thee at all times humbly intreating thy souereigne bountie for such things onely as thou in thy eternall wisdome hast pre-ordained to giue and calling vpon thee in such order and manner as thou hast prescribed me to aske in that absolute patterne of all prayer set downe in the Gospell by my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. In whose name mediation and words I crie Abba Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name c. A preparation to the hearing of the word GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage whereby the deadly poyson first entered Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule by the operation of the holy Spirit Hast thou an eare ô Christian by thy profession for the diuell and none for God An eare to receiue poyson dropped in and not to
sheweth knowledge Psal. 19. 2. Let the Saints bee ioyfull in glory let them sing alowd vpon their beds Psal. 149. 5. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord is my keeper the Lord is my shade on my right hand verse 5. The Sunne shall not smite me by day nor the Moone by night verse 6. The Lord shall preserue mee from all euill he shall preserue my soule verse 7. I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for thou Lord makest mee dwell in safety Psal. 4. 9. Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not the sleepe of Death Psal. 13. 3. With thee is the fountaine of life In thy light shall I see light Psal. 36. 9. Thou wilt light my candle and wilt make my darknesse to be light Psal. 18. 28. A Prayer for the Euening GLorious Creator eternall infinite and incomprehensible God whose face obscureth the Sunne and darkeneth the Moone and shadoweth the Starres and dazeleth the eyes of the Cherubims to whom the light it selfe if it be compared is but a darke shadow and the darkenesse is no darkenesse but the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike Enlighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding that I wander not in the night of errour and ignorance but continually walke as becommeth the childe of the day in the light of thy truth and the wayes of thy Commandements And though the Sunne hath withdrawne his comfortable light from my bodily eyes yet let the light of thy countenance and the bright beames of thy fauour still shine vpon my soule in the middest of thickest darkenesse and the shadow of death Saue me ô Father of lights from the powers of darkenesse Receiue me into thy gracious tuition and giue thine holy Angels charge to pitch their tents about me that being secured on euery side from all dangers and feare I may quietly rest in thee in whom I liue and moue And whilest my bodily sences are surprized with sleepe keepe my soule still awake that I may be alwayes readie to meete the Bridegroome with my lampe in my hand Let the last trump sound shrill in mine eares to driue away from me the spirit of slumber and carnall securitie O thou the keeper of thine Israel who doest neuer slumber nor sleepe watch ouer me this night Behold into thy hands I commend my soule and bodie and all things else wherewith thou hast blessed me being assured that the thing cannot perish thou vouchsafest to take into thy custodie Grant me I beseech thee safe quiet and comfortable rest voyde of cares feares free from distempers and diseases as also all dangers dreames fancies pollutions and temptations And make it I pray thee as profitable to my soule as it is necessarie to my bodie that it may not onely refresh strengthen my bodie to the better performance of my daily labours and trauels in my calling but also settle and quiet my soule in the remembrance and continuall expectation of that sweete repose and blessed rest which they enioy that die in thee Let my sleepe put mee in minde of my death my bed of my graue my lying downe of my buriall my vncloathing of putting off this tabernacle of flesh my rising againe of my resurrection my apparelling of putting on the Lord Iesu. Like as the night couereth and hideth all things from the eyes of men so let thy mercy couer and hide my sinnes that they neuer come to light either to confound mee in this life or condemne me in the life to come Finally as it is the nature of sleepe to tye the outward senses and make fast and shut vp the organs of my body so let thy grace restraine my inward senses and barre vp all the passages of my soule that the diuell may finde no place to enter into me Close vp the eyes of my minde that they behold not vanitie stop my eares that they heare not follie and my spirituall smell that it let not in the sauour of death Set a watch before my mouth and seale vp the closet of my heart that nothing enter into the one or go out at the other that may defile me Thus keepe me and guard me from my bodily and ghostly enemies this night and as long as I abide in the darke prison of my bodie and when thou deliuerest me out of it by death make me partaker of the glorious inheritance of thy Saints in light in the heauenly Ierusalem which needeth neither Sunne nor Moone nor Starres to shine in it for the glorie of God enlighteneth it and the Lambe is the light thereof To whom with the euerlasting Father and most sacred blessed Spirit be rendred thankes and praise now and for euer Amen The close out of Scripture Remember me ô Lord with the fauour thou bearest thy people ô visite me with thy saluation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen and reioyce in the gladnesse of thy people and glorie with thine inheritance THE CHRISTIAN Sabbaths or Lords dayes Deuotion Thou who intendest to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath to thy Creator and Redeemer must aduisedly consider that the fourth Commandement which enioyneth this dutie with a speciall Memento hath in it somewhat 1 Ceremoniall not now in force as 1 Keeping the precise seauenth day on which God rested 2 The strict rest according to the rigour of the letter 3 The legall manner of hallowing it by sacrifices and ceremoniall rites 2 Morall now and for euer in force as 1 The dedicating of a certaine day to the true and essentiall worship of God 2 The keeping holy of a seauenth day i.e. one at the least in seauen 3 The hallowing that day of the seauen which God appointeth that was Vnder the Law the seauenth from the Creation Vnder grace now the first day of the weeke See the ensuing Admonition THE ADMONITION for the Sabbath THE ANALYSIS To stirre vp thy selfe to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath meditate vpon 1 GOD 1 The Father his Precepts for it Promises to it 2 The Sonne his resurrection on this day 3 The holy Ghost his comming downe on this day 2 The Apostle's guided by the Spirit Iniunction Practise For the hallowing the Christian Sabbath REmember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy sixe dayes shalt thou labour c. Exodus 2◠8. Yee shall keepe the Sabbath therefore for it is holy vnto you Euery one that despiseth it shall be surely put to death Exodus 31. 14. Ye shall keepe my Sabbath and reuerence my Sanctuarie I am the Lord. Leuit. 26. 2. Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall bee as signes betweene me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Eze. 20. 20. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting and keepeth his hands from doing any euill Isaiah 56. 2. If thou turne away thy soote from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on the Holy-day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the
my soule they being now vailed with thy flesh This day thou diddest vnite thy selfe to me naturally and substantially and becamest truly flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone Vnite me to thee this day spiritually and make me a true member of thy mysticall body that I may bee flesh of thy flesh and bone of thy bone Lord thou diddest this day participate of my humane nature make me this day participate by grace of thy diuine as farre as I am capable thereof and impart and communicate vnto mee the merrit of all thy actions and benefit of all thy sufferings in this thy nature O my Lord my God who by assuming flesh vnto thy diuine person hast sanctified it and highly aduanced it farre aboue all creatures keepe me from defiling my flesh with sinfull pollutions or abasing and inthralling it to Satan O Sonne of God who by thy incarnate nature becamest the Sonne of Man make me the sinfull sonne of man by grace and adoption to become the Sonne of God And as thou this day according to the words of thine Angel wert borne to me bee borne also in mee that from hence forth I liue not but thou in me Let thy spirit quicken me thy flesh nourish me thy wisdome guide me thy grace sanctifie me and thy Word instruct me Let the holy Ghost of whom thou wast conceiued beget thee in mee by the immortall seede of thy Word Let my faith conceiue thee my profession bring thee forth my loue embrace thee and Deuotion entertaine and continually keepe thee with mee till thy second comming So come vnto me Lord Iesus come quickly THE Feast of our Lord's Circumcision OR New-yeares dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast are The type thereof in the old The accōplishmēt in the new Testament PARALELL The Type And Abraham circumcised Isaak when he was eight daies old as God commanded him Gen. 21. 4. The accomplishment And when the eight dayes were accomplished that they shuld circumcise the child his name was then called IESVS Luk. 2. 21. Meditate ô deuout Christian 1 For thine instruction vpon the circumcision of thy Sauiour 2 For thy comfort applie to thy selfe the 3 For thy correctiō examine the circumcision of thy heart and quicken thine 1 Obedience by the exhortation 2 Thankfulnes by the hymne 3 Zeale deuotiō by the praier THE ADMONITION for New-yeeres day THE ANALYSIS wee ought to desire striue and pray for the circumcision of the heart 1 In respect of GOD who Desireth it a Commandeth it b Loueth it c Obserueth it d Praiseth it e Rewardeth it f Brandeth the contrarie g 2 In respect of man's heart which needeth it 1 Because it is most corrupt and impure 2 Because it is most deceitfull THE TEXTS a MY son giue me thy heart Prou. 23. 16. vid. Ier. 4. 4. b Circumcise the fore-skinne of your hearts Deut. 10. 16. O Ierusalem clense thy heart Ier. 4. 4. c Clense your hearts yee sinners Iames 4. 8. Behold thou louest truth in the inward parts Psal. 51. 6. d God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh vpon the outward appearance but God seeth the heart 1 Sam. 16. 7. e The circumcision is of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not of man but of God Rom. 2. 29. In whom yee are circumcised with circumcision made without hands by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh through the circumcision of the flesh Col. 2. 11. Beware of the concision For wee are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioyce in Christ Iesus and haue no confidence in the flesh Philippians 3. 3. f The good Lord be mercifull to him that prepareth his whole heart to seeke the Lord his God 1 Chron. 30. 19. He will doe good to such as be good and true of heart Psal. 125. 4. There is sprung vp a light for the righteous and ioyfull gladnesse to such as bee true hearted Psal. 99. 12. g The eyes of the Lord behold the earth to shew himselfe strong with them that are of perfect heart towards him 1 Chron. 16. 9. Yee of vncircumcised eares and hearts haue alwaies resisted c. Acts. 7. The peruerse in heart are an abomination to the Lord. Pro. 11. 20. All the imaginations of mans heart are onely euill continually Gen. 6. The heart of man is deceitfull aboue all things Ier. 17. 9. The Psalme for New-yeeres day OSing vnto the Lord a new song sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth Psal. 96. 1. Sing vnto the Lord and praise his name be telling of his saluation from day to day verse 2. The heauent declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke Psal. 19. 1. One day telleth another and one night certifieth another v. 2. There is neither speech nor language but their voice is heard among them verse 3. Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words vnto the end of the world verse 4. In them hath he set a Tabernacle for the sunne which commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioyceth as a gyant to runne his course verse 5. He appointeth the Moone for certaine seasons and the Sunne knoweth his going downe Psal. 104. 19. O Lord how manifold are thy workes In wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches verse 24. So is the great and wide c. verse 25. vsque ad 〈◊〉 When thou lettest thy breath goe forth they are made and thou shalt renew the face of the earth verse 30. The glorious Maiesty of the Lord shall endure for euer the Lord shall reioyce in his workes verse 31. Thou crownest the earth with thy goodnesse and thy cloudes drop fatnesse Psal. 65. 12. They shall drop vpon the dwellings of the wildernesse and the little hills shall reioyce of euery side verse 13. The flocks also shall bee full of sheepe the valleys also shall stand so thick with corne that they shall laugh and sing verse 14. The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast prepared the light of the sunne Psal. 74. 17. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made summer and winter verse 18. The Prayer for New-yeeres day MOst tender and compassionate Lord now first knowne by thy name Iesu who being the true vine which yeeldest the wine that gladdeth the heart wast pruned this day with the sharpe knife of circumcision and bleddest for me haue pitty and compassion on mee who with weeping eyes and a bleeding heart come vnto thee beseeching thee that those drops of blood which fell from thee this day may satisfie for the sinne of my birth and the whole streame that ranne from all the parts of thy body in the Garden and on the Crosse may expiate all my numberlesse actuall sinnes whether they be sinnes of lighter tincture or of a Scarlet dye Sinnes like beames or sinnes like moates Sinnes conceiued
had a place prepared for mee in heauen O Lord when thou camest to vs on earth Iohn was thy forerunner but thou wert my forerunner in thy returne into heauen Iohn prepared the way before thee on earth but thou preparedst away before me into heauen That way those regions in the aire which Lucifer defiled cursed by his fall through them from heauen thou hast clensed and blessed by the marching tryumphantly through them into heauen O blessed Creator and repairer of nature in thee not onely all the kindreds of the earth but all creatures vnder the cope of heauen are blessed and therefore they sigh and grone together with vs desiring feruently thy second comming The earth was blessed and sanctified by thy birth and thy treading vpon it The water by thy descending into the riuer Iordan at thy baptisme and walking on the Seas Now the ayre likewise and fire expected an honour and a blessing from thee and both receiued it the ayre by thy ascending through it the fire by sending downe the Holy Ghost in the likenesse of fierie Clouen Tonguer O Lord my Redeemer how excellent is thy Name in all the world Creatures without voice praise thee as the heauens and earth without vnderstanding knowe thee as the starre that lighted the Sages to thee without will obey thee as winds and Seas without eares hearken to thee as the figtree which thou cursedst and it withered without naturall affection bemoan thee as the stones that claue the vale that rent the earth that quaked at thy passion without will voluntarily offer thee seruice the Foale to beare thee the Doue to manifest thee the Fish to discharge thee the Sunne to hide thine ignominy among men and here the cloude to vaile thee from mortall eye and transport thee into heauen O Lord my Redeemer how excellent is thy name in al the world who makest the light thy garment the Angell thy messenger the aire thy race the cloudes thy charriot and flyest vpon the wings of the winde into heauen Thou art ascended vpon high thou hast led captiuity captiue In thy Passion thou wast Death's death killedst it In thy buriall thou wast the Graue's graue and destroyedst destruction and now in thy Ascension thou conquerdst conquest it selfe and ledst captiuity captiue and receiuedst gifts for men for the whole Church and euery Belieuer O Lord bestow these gifts liberally vpon me that I may grow in grace and the knowledge and loue of thee This day thou liftedst vp thy body from the earth lift vp my heart from it This day thou transportedst thy body to heauen transport my desires thither This day thou setledst thy selfe in thy Throne at the right hand of thy Father fixe my thoughts and settle mine affections on thee in heauen and on heauen for thee Amen The Feast of the comming downe of the holy-Holy-Ghost or Whitsun-daye's Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old Testament Prophecies Types In the new the Promises Performance of sending the holy Spirit PARALELL Prophecie I will powre out of my Spirit vpoÌ„ all flesh and your sons daughters shall prophecie c. Ioel 2. 28. Historie These are not drunken as ye suppose Act. 2. 15. This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel ver 16. And it shal come to passe in the last daies that I wil powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh ver 17. Type He took vp the mantell of Eliah that fell from him and when the sons of the Prophets saw him they sayd The Spirit of Eliah doth rest on Elishah 2. King 13. 5. Accomplishment And they were filled with the Holy-Ghost c. Acts 2. 4. God sent the Spirit of his Sonne into your harts Gal. 4. 6. Promise Ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost within these few daies Acts 1. 5. Performance They were filled with the holy Ghost c. Acts 2. 4. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Mat. 3. 11. There appeared to them cloueÌ„ tongs like fire and it fate vpon each of them Acts 2. 3. These signes shall shall follow them that belieue They shall speake with new tongues Mar. 16. 17. And they began to speake with other tongues as the Spirit gaue them vtterance Act. 2. 4 THE HYMNE FOR Whitsunday Wherein is expressed the holy Ghost's a 1 Sending b 2 Comming downe 3 Workes In generall c Creation d Renouation In speciall e Inhabitation f Inspiring Ministers Inclining the minds and wills of the people O Lord how manifold are thy workes In wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Psal. 104. 24. So is the great and wide sea also wherein are things creeping innunâ—erable ' both small and great beasts verse 25. These waite all vpon thee and thou giuest them their meate in due season verse 27. a Thou sendest forth thy Spirit they are c created and thou d renewest the face of the earth verse 30. Thou hast asended vp on high thou hast led captiuity captiue and receiued gifts for men yea euen for the rebellious that the Lord God might e d well among them Psal. 68. 18. Hee bowed the heauens and b came downe Psalme 18. 9. Hee rod vpon the Cherubins and did flie hee did euen fly vpon the wings of the b winde verse 10. The Lord gaue the Word great f was the company of the Preachers or of them that published it Psal. 68. 11. The people shall come g willingly in the day of thy power or at the time of thy Assemblies in the bewty of holinesse from the wombe of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth Psal. 110. 3. AN EXHORTATION to obey the motions of God's holy Spirit THE ANALYSIS The motiues to obey the motions of the Spirit are 1 Gods strict Commandement 2 The Saints continuall practice 3 The Spirit 's excellency who is the 1 Fountaine of grace 2 Lord of life 3 Comforter of the Elect. 4 Teacher of the Church 4 The benefits of obeying them 5 The danger of resisting them WAlke in the Spirit Gal. 5. 16. If we liue in the Spirit let vs walke in the Spirit verse 23. Grieue not the holy Spirit of God whereby yee are sealed to the day of redemption Ephes. 4. 30. Quench not the Spirit of God 1 Thes. 5. 19. Yee stiffnecked and vncircumcised in heart and eares yee doe alwaies resist the holy Ghost There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. That the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit verse 4. Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwell in you verse 9. As many as are led by the spirit of God are the Sonnes of God verse 14. Declared to be the Sonne of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 4. The Law
conscience and the cleare light of the Gospel to guide my feete into the way of peace This light conuinceth the errours of my vnderstanding the deprauation of my will the disorder of my affections the impurity of my thoghts the vanity of my desires the deceitfulnesse of my heart the wickednes of all my wayes This light sheweth mee what I was in my birth slime and filthinesse what in my life vanity and folly and what in my death stench rottennesse This light discouereth vnto me that I haue nothing which I haue not receiued that without Christ I can doe nothing that in me that is in my body dwelleth no good that I am not able of my selfe as of my self think a good thought that I cannot desire to thinke nor haue wil to desire nor grace to will any good My comforts are rare my crosses frequent my pleasures momentary my paines permanent my gifts small my wants and infirmities great my helpes weake my assaults strong my good deeds few and they tainted with imperfections my sinnes infinite Let these considerations O Lord humble me in my selfe that Christ may raise me wound mee in my selfe that Christ may heale me burden mee in my selfe that Christ may ease me kill mee in my owne conceits that Christ may quicken me make mee most vile in mine own eyes that I may bee most deare and precious in his O Lord which as vpon this day createdst the clouds to raine vpon the earth showre downe thy graces abundantly into my heart to mollifie it that the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility and spring vpward in hope and spread abroad by charity and fructifie in all kindes of good workes Lord who this day separatedst the waters from the waters separate I beseech thee and distinguish betweene the waters of teares which I shed for my sinnes and those others which I shed for worldly crosses and calamities Cast away the one and put the the other into thy bottle Lord who this day madest the heauens or ayre without which I cannot liue naturally no not for a moment infuse into my heart the Spirit of grace without which spiritually I cannot breathe in my prayers nor sigh nor so much as moue any facultie or part of soule or body vnto thee As oft as I take in or let out the aire which I breathe let mee receiue in grace from thee and breathe out praise vnto thee Amen The close out of Scripture The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with me 2. Cor. 13. vlt. The Euening's Deuotion for Munday THE HYMNE Heare me O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies euen in the truth of thy saluation Psal. 69. 14. Let not the water floods drowne mee nor the deepe swallow me vp and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon mee verse 16. Thou diddest diuide the sea through thy power and brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters Psal. 74. 14. Thou smoest the heads of Leuiathan in pieces and gauest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse verse 15. Thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard Rocks thou driedst vp mighty waters verse 16. Thou art the God that doth wonders and hast declared thy power among the people Psal. 77. 14. The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee and were afraid the depths also were troubled verse 16. The clouds powred out water the aire thundered and thine arrowes went abroad verse 17. The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings shone vpon the ground the earth was moued verse 18. Thou bringest forth clouds from the ends of the world and sendest forth Lightnings with the raine bringing the windes out of his treasures Psal. 135. The springs of water were seene and the foundations of the round world were discouered at thy chiding O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure Psal. 18. 15. Thy way is in the Sea and thy pathes in the great waters and thy footsteps are not knowne Psal. 77. 19. THE ADMONITION for Munday's Euening being an exhortation to meeknes THE ANALYSIS The speciall Arguments to perswade meeknes set downe in Scripture are drawne from 1. The causes Impulsiue 1 Diuine precepts 2 humane frailty Exemplary God the Father Sonne H. Ghost The Saints The creatures in which nature hath patern'd this vertue 2 The effects 1 Peace With God With men 2 Wealth 3 Wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding 4 Sanctifying graces the fruits of the Spirit 5 Blessednesse THE TEXTS PVt them in minde c. Tit. 3. 1. That they be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekenesse to all men verse 2. If any man bee ouertaken in a fault ye which are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6. 1. I beseech you that yee walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with lowlinesse and meeknesse with long suffering forbearing one another in loue Ephes. 4. 2. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloued the bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long-suffering Col. 3. 12. Forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any man haue a quarrell against any euen as Christ forgaue you so also doe ye verse 13. But thou O man of God flye these things and follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith patience meekenesse 1. Tim. 6. 11. Dearely beloued auenge not your selues but rather giue place vnto wrath For it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12. 19. Wherefore my beloued Brethren let euery man bee swift to heare slow to speake and slow to wrath Iam. 1. 19. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God verse 20. Look diligently least any man faile of the grace of God least any root of bitternesse spring vp and trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb 12. 15. Consider thy selfe least thou also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. Let him among you that is without sinne cast the first stone Ioh. 8. 7. Hee shall haue iudgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy reioyceth against iudgement Iam. 3. 13. And they heard the voice of the Lord in the coole of the day walking in the garden c. Gen. 3. 8. And after the earthquake there was a fire but God was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice verse 12. in which voice God was And it was so when Eliah heard it c. verse 13. Neuerthelesse for thy great mercies sake thou diddest not vtterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and mercifull God Nehem. 9. 31. God said to Ionah Doest thou well to be angry for thy Gourd Ion. 4. 9. Thou hast pitie on the Gourd for which thou hast not laboured which came in a night and perished in a night verse 10. And should not I spare Nineueh that great
the Mount of Oliues and his Disciples also followed him ver 39. And when he came to the place he said to them Pray lest ye enter into temptation ver 40. And he gate himselfe from them about a stones cast and kneeled downe and prayed ver 41. Saying Father if thou wilt take away this Cup from me neuerthelesse not my will but thine be done ver 42. And there appeared an Angell vnto him from Heauen comforting him ver 43. But being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of bloud trickling downe the ground ver 44. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning on the creation of Fish and Fowâ—e In the Euening on thy Sauiours Agony Last Passeouer Supper For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the Benefits Corporall of the one Spirituall of the other For thy correction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and patience by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Thursday-morning O Lord how manifold are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Psal. 104. 24. So is the great and wide Sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts ver 25. There goe the Ships and there is that Leuiathan whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein ver 26. These wait all vpon thee that thou mayest giue them their meate in due season ver 27. That thou giuest they gather thou openest thy hand and they are filled with good ver 28. Thou hidest thy face and they are troubled thou takest away their breath and they dye and returne againe to their dust ver 29. They that goe downe to the Sea in ships that doe their businesse in great waters Psal. 107. 23. These see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe ver 24. For hee commandeth and raiseth vp the stormy wind which lifteth vp the waues thereof ver 25. They mount vp to the Heauens they goe downe againe to the depth their heart is melted because of trouble ver 26. They reele to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are euen at their wits end ver 27. Then cry they to the Lord in trouble and hee bringeth them out of their distresse v. 28. He maketh the stormes to cease so that the waues thereof are still ver 29. Then are they glad because they are quiet so hee bringeth them to their desired Hauen ver 30. Praise the Lord vpon earth ye Dragons and all deepes Psal. 148. 7. Beasts all Cattel wormes and fethered Fowles ver 10. He sendeth the Springs into the Vallies which run between the mountaines Psal. 104. 10. By these Springs shall the Fowles of the Heauen dwell and sing among the branches ver 12. Let euery thing that hath breath praise the Lord Praise ye the Lord Psal. 150. 6. The Admonition for Thursday Morning being an Exhortation to peace-making or the seauenth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS The deuout soule must labour to make peace and haue peace with all as far as it is possible in 1 Obedience To the LAVVE To the GOSPEL 2 Conformitie to 1 God the Father Sonne H. Ghost 2 The Saints 3 In hope expectation of blessings 1 Temporall as 1 Good daies 2 A good name or honor 2 Spirituall as 1 The glad tydings of the Gospell 2 Wisedome 3 Righteousnesse 4 The guidance of Gods Spirit 5 The vnitie of the Spirit or communion of saints 6 The Beatifical vision or sight of God in Heauen THE TEXTS SEeke peace and ensue it Psal. 34. 14. Execute the iudgement of truth and peace in your gates Zach. 8. 16. Let none of you imagine euill in your hearts against your Neighbour ver 17. Haue Salt and haue peace one with another Mar. 9. 50. Into what house soeuer yee enter first say Peace bee to this house Luke 10. 5. If it bee possible haue peace with all men Rom. 12. 18. Let vs therefore follow after the things that make for peace and things wherewith wee may edifie one another Rom. 14 19. God hath called vs to peace 1 Cor. 7. 15. Be of one minde liue in peace 2 Cor. 13. 12. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which all yee are called in one body Col. 3. 15 Follow righteousnesse faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. Follow peace with all men c. Heb. 12. 14. God is not the God of confusision but of peace 1 Cor. 14. 33. The God of peace shall be with you Phil. 4. 19. To vs a Sonne is giuen and the gouernment shall bee vpon his shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderfull Counseller The Mighty God The Euerlasting Father The Prince of peace Isa. 9. 6. Melchiâ—sedec first being by interpretation King of Righteousnesse and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace Heb. 7. 2. That he might be like to the Sonne of God who abideth our Priest continually ver 3. The fruit of the Spirit is loue ioy peace c. Gal. 5. 22. Abraham said Let there bee no strife betweene me and thee and my Herdsmen thy Herdsmen for we are brethren Gen. 13. 8. I labour for peace Psal. 1 20 6. Though I bee free from all men yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all that I might gaine the more c. 1 Cor. 9. 19. Why suffer yee not rather wrong 1 Cor. 6. 7. Being reuiled we blesse being persecuted we suffer it 1 Cor. 4. 12. Being defamed wee intreat ver 13. What man is he that desireth life and loueth many dayes that he may see good Psal. 34. 12. Seeke peace c. ver 14. Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called The children of the most High Mat. 5. 9. If the Sonne of peace be there your peace shall rest vpon it if not it shall turne to you againe Luk. 10. 6. The Wisdome from aboue is first pure then peaceable Iam. 3. 17. The fruits of righteousnesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace Iam. 3. 18. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Liue in peace and the God of loue and peace shall bee with you 2 Cor. 13. 12. Keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3. Follow peace c. without which no man shall see God Heb. 12. 14. The Prayer for Thursday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to peaceablenesse agreeable to the precedent exhortation ONe depth calleth vpon another the depth of my ignorance vpoÌ„ the depth of thy Wisdome the depth of my wickednesse vpon the depth of thy goodnesse the depth of my misery vpon the depth of thy mercy O
restâ—red me to my former blisse Nay I haue gained by my losses and am raised higher by my fall through thy infinite mercie which hath not onely ransomed me from death but purchased me an eternall inheritance and crowne of life in thiâ—e heauenly kingdome Sith thou hast done so great things for me whereat I reioyce sith thou hast prepared such things for me as neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to conceiue what manner of man ought I to be in all holy conuersation How cleare ought those eyes to be which shall see God How cleane those eares which shall heare words that cannot be vttered How pure that heart which shall be filled with those ioyes whiâ—h neuer entred into the heart of man Thou ô Father which hast created me art the holy one of Israel Thou ô Sonne who redeemedst me art the Holy one of God Thou ô Spirit which sanctifiest me art the holy Ghost Thou ô Father hast created me according to thine Image in holinesse and righteousnes thou ô Sonne hast redeemed me to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life thou ô Spirit hast freed me from sinne and made me seruant to God that I might haue my fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life Our vocation is a holy calling our societies a holy communion our stile a holy Priesthood our assemblies holy congregations our CouÌ„trie the holy land of Promise our Citie the holy Ierusalem our Charter the holy Scriptures our immunities holy priuiledges our seales which confirme them holy Sacraments All our happinesse here is holinesse and holinesse hereafter shall bee our happinesse Lord make mee therefore to be so happy heere as to be holy and so holy here that I may be hereafter happy Amen The close out of Scripture The God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant Heb. 2. 20. Make mee perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in mee that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ. ver 21. The Hymne for Friday Euening Wherein the deuout soule Prayseth God for her Creation Redemption Prayeth for Preseruation Glorification THE TEXTS THy hands haue made me and fashioned me ô giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy Commandements Psal. 119. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed mee thou God of Truth O let mee heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew thou me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal. 41. 8. Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing Spirit leade me into the land of righteousnesse verse 10. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lipps Psal. 41. O let not mine heart bee inclined to any wicked thing let me not be occupied in vngodly workes with the men that work wickednesse verse 4. O Lord thou hast searched me out and knowne mee thou knowest my downe-sitting and mine vp-rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts long beforâ— Psal. 139. 1 2. For loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou ô Lord knowest it altogether verse 3. Thou hast fashioned mee behinde and before and layed thine hand vpon me verse 4. Such knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent for me I cannot attaine vnto it verse 5. I will giue thanks vnto thee for I am fearefully and wonderfully made meruailous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well verse 13. My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth verse 14. Thine eyes did see me when I was without forme for in thy booke were all things written which in continuance were fashioned when there was none of them before verse 15. O how deare are thy counsels to me 〈◊〉 God O how great is the summe of them verse 16. If I tell them they are more in number then the sands of the sea when I awake vp I am present with thee verse 17. Lord guide me with thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory Keepe mee as the Apple of thine eye hide mee vnder the shadow of thy wings Psal. 17. 8. I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it ver 16. The Admonition for Friday Euening being an Exhortation to Faith in CHRIST The principall inducements to stirre vs vp to faith in Christ are the 1 Necessity of this vertue in respect of 1 The Commandement of God in generall to which faith is requisite 2 All other duties in Speciall Praying Hearing Communicating 2 The excellencie of it for it is Pretious Holy The faith of the Elect. 3 The certainty of it for it is grounded on God The Father his VVord Oath The Sonne his Promises Prayer The Spirit his Earnest Seale 4 Efficacie 1 Extraordinary as working miracles 2 Ordinary as Victorie ouer the VVorld Diuell Iustification Saluation THE TEXTS YE beleeue in God beleeue also in me Ioh. 14. 1. This is the worke of God that ye beleeue on him whom he hath sent Ioh. 6. 29. Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and all thine house Act. 16. 31. This is his commandement that we should beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ 1. Ioh. 3. 23. Earnestly contend for the saith Iud. 13. Repent ye and beleeue the Gospel Mar. 1. 15. Follow righteousnesse faith charitie peace c. 2. Tim. 2. 22. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14. 23. How shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued Rom. 10. 14. He that prayeth let him pray in faith nothing doubting Iam. 1. 6. All things whatsoeuer ye aske for in prayer beleiuing ye shall receiue Mat. 21. 21. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Eph. 3. 17. I am the Bread of life whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him ver 56. He that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life ver 47. I am the Bread of life ver 48. To them that haue receiued like pretious faith with vs grace and peace be multiplied 2. Pet. 1. â— But ye beloued building your selues in your most holy faith pray to the holy Ghost Iud 20. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ according to the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. As many as were ordained to saluation beleeued Act. 13. 48. This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him Mat. 3. vlt. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer
my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in
of thanksgiuing p. 547. A prayer after recouerie p. 551. The Close out of Scripture p. 559. The dying man's deuotion p. 560. The first admonition to the sicke being an admonition to patience p. â—63 The second admonition against despaire p. 594. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death p. 594. A Prayer for the sicke To the Vnitie p. 600. To the Trinitie p. 604. To the Lord Iesus p. 608. THE PREPARATION TO RELIGIOVS exercises in generall PAR. I. Of Deuotion PRemeditation is the preparation to priuate prayer priuate to publicke priuate and publicke to the hearing the word priuate and publicke prayer together with the hearing of the word to the worthie participation of the holy Sacrament For the Sacrament receiues strength and vigour from the word preached the word preached from publicke prayer publicke prayer from priuate Deuotion and that from premeditation and consideration of the nature of deuotion and necessitie of preparation it selfe to all holy duties in the immediate worship of God Deuotion is the harts warmth or rather lifes bloud of religion It is a sacred bond knitting the soule vnto God It is a spirituall muskle mouing onely vpward and lifting vp the hearts eyes and hands continually vnto heauen And because it consisteth rather in the feruour of the affections then light of the thoughts of blaze or lustre in the words it is better felt then vnderstood and yet better vnderstood then can be expressed Especially priuate deuotion which is the Saint to whom I deuote this Treatise For priuate deuotion to shunne ostentaâ—ion and hypocrisie in heauenly things alwayes shuts her selfe vp in her closet desiring no eye to see her but her Fathers in secret Wounded she is like the spouse in the Canticles with the darts of diuine loue and continually bleedeth but inwardly in teares of compassion compunction and excessiue ioy There appeares no externall orifez in the flesh to be seene Shee resembles the strange plant in Plinie which buds inwardly and shooteth forth no bud blossome or leafe outwardly For if priuate deuotion cometh once to be knowne it ceaseth to be priuate The greatest commendation of it is like to that of the Garamantite a precious stone that hath no beautie nor lustre in the outside or in the surface but within the bodie of it appeares golden drops of diuine infusion What Cyprian speaketh of the wâ—rke of regeneration may be truly applyed to this vertue It is felt before it can be spoken of and it must be kindled in the heart by the Spirit before it can be felt It is the true Vest all fire that should be still kept burning in the heart but if it go out like that of the Vestals it must bee kindled from heauen To thee therefore ô most holy Spirit I addresse my prayer to kindle and keepe this fire in my soule by thy heauenly blasts Heate my heart with the feruour of true Deuotion and touch my tongue with a coale from thine altar that the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart may inflame all that reade these deuotions with a loue of deuotion it selfe and true Zeale Lev's censure may seeme too tart He that is not more religious in Lent then at other times hath no religion as all But I haue good warrant to suspect the sinceritie of their Deuotion altogether who are not more deuout in priuate then in publike For fire the closer it is kept the hotter it burneth and the exhalations which are violently detained in cranies vnder ground and can haue no vent are of force to moue the earth it selfe It cannot be otherwise but that the penitent or compassionate eye which droppeth in publike should runne and gush out with riuers of waters in priuate The afflicted soule which sometimes stealeth a groane and fetcheth a sigh in the Church offers vp often prayers with strong cries at home He that is affected and eleuated with spirituall ioy in publike is transported when he is alone and hath priuate communications with God S. Paul spake words of truth and sobernesse to the Corinthians Whether we he besides our selues it is to God or whether we be sober it is to you And Saint Ierome confirmeth it with an oath that after many dayes nay weekes spent by him in fasting and prayer in the end hee was rauished in spirit and seemed to haue priuate conuersation and familiaritie with quires of Angels My intent is not to detract any thing from publike deuotion but my desire is to adde to priuate Publike is more solemne but priuate ought to be more frequent Publike makes more noise but priuate for the most part hath a deeper channell Our Sauiour diuideth blessednesse equally betweene them both Blessed saith he is he that heareth the word and keepeth it it is publike deuotion that heareth the word preached but priuate that keepes it Publike gathereth Manna in greater aboundance but priuate is the golden Omer that preserueth it The Hart doth not so pant and bray for the riuers of waters as the soule of euery religious man longeth for the waters of life running plentifully out of the golden spoutes of the Temple the Ministers of the word but priuate deuotion it is that breedes this longing after the publike Ministerie Let vs take a patterne of Deuotion from our blessed Sauiour to whom all deuotions are due What commandeth hee by expresse precept When thou prayest enter into thy closet and what commendeth hee most by his owne practise It is true he calleth his house the house of prayer and as we reade that he was daily preaching so I doubt not but hee was daily praying in the Temple yet ye shall find him oftener on the Mount or in the Garden or in some priuate solitarie place praying alone then in the Temple yea and continuing longer in prayer spending sometimes whole nights in it This practise of our Sauiour hath bene a president to all those whose names in the Church of God are and haue bene as a sweete ointment for daily offering the sweetest incense of prayer to God Religious men neuer are wanting in publike assemblies but they exceed in priuate Deuotion Publike exercises of religion be their feasts but priuate their ordinarie Where find you Daniel but in his chamber at his Deuotion looking towards Ierusalem Where find you Dauid but in his couch watering it with his teares and communing with his owne heart in the night Where find you Cornelius but in his house in praying Where find you Saint Iohn on the Lords day but in the I le alone by himselfe in the spirit The powring out our speciall complaints to God our vowes to refraine such companie and such occasions of sinne the ripping vp of our whole life with a particular confession of our sins aggrauated by all circumstances and all those parts of repentance or the soules
blessed Body and Blood sitting at the Communion as they doe at their ordinary table without expressing any thankfull humility or giuing testimony that they discerne the Lords body from common meat Is this to serue the Lord Christ with feare To reioyce vnto him with trembling To kisse the Sonne least hee be angry Nay to fall lowe before his footstoole because hee is holy But I will speake no more of Preparation to holy duties in generall least the preludium grow longer then the lesson I am now to prick The Preparation to Prayer PARAG. 1. My heart is indighting of a good matter my tongue is the penne of a ready writer saith the Kingly Prophet and againe My heart was hot within mee while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue If this sweete singer of Israel first pricked the notes in his heart before he began to sing them If he who was inspired by the holy Ghost framed his Prayers and Psalmes of thanksgiuing in his minde before hee deliuered them by his tongue ought not we who are as farre behinde him in his gifts as we are below him in condition much more meditate before we vtter any thing to the Lord I speake not of pious â—iaculations which must needs be suddaine as their occasions are and the motions of Gods Spirit within vs but of a set conceiued Prayer wherein we ought not onely well to ponder the matter but euen weigh if wee haue time euery word in the ballance that they bee not found too light and thereby our Prayers against sin be turned into sinne Bee not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to vtter any thing before God Seneca obseruing how bold men made with God and what strange petitions they blushed not to preferre vnto him gaue this sage aduise So deale with men as if God saw thee and so speake with God as if men heard thee For many men vent such vncharitable enuious and malitious matters such confused and vndigested stuffe such impertinencies inconsequencies absurdities especially in their priuate extemporarie Prayers as they would be ashamed that any man of quality or vnderstanding should ouer heare them It would make a prophane man laugh but a Religious man weepe to listen and marke how sometimes they court Almighty God with idle complements sometimes they cast vp Prayers with strong lines to heauen hoping thereby to drawe downe a blessing from God sometimes they expostulate with God in a sawcie and sometimes pose him in a ridiculous manner Sometimes they discourse profoundly in their Prayer as if they meant in good earnest to teach Almighty God what hee ought to doe Sometimes they are too tedious cloying his eares with bablings and vaine repetitions and sometimes againe they are too briefe curtayling their Orisens and breaking off in the middest One while they fly too high and meddle with counsells of State and another while they fall too low and tell God a Homely houshould tale If they heare a strange Phrase or an affected straine of puf-past eloquence this they cull out carefully and insert into their garlands Peter Moulin iustly taxeth a Fryar for styling Christ the Dolphin of heauen and I thinke he as well deserueth blame who prayeth to God that he may march to heauen in perfect equipage or come vnto God not with the soales of his foot but the foot of his soule who layeth open before God his manifold defections infections imperfections his sinnes of an higher straine and deeper staine and commendeth to his gracious goodnesse al the Ministers of the Church by what titles soeuer they are signified or dignified Giue me leaue to tell these men in their owne language that this is playing not Praying and that in sending vp such prayers they burne not incense to God but incense him rather Or if they will not heare me let the graue high-Priest among the ancient Romans Schoole them as he did a Vestall whom he obserued to be too curious and neate about her work which was tending the holy fire Vergin doe your work holily rather then handsomely reuerently rather then trimly There are a sort of men in direct opposition to these who affect a kinde of Rhetorike which weedeth out all flowers of Rhetorike They can away with no Prayer or meditation which fauours of the lumpe though the oyle be sacred Nothing pleaseth them in this kinde but that which is spunne with an ouer course thread Coursnes to them is strength dulnes grauity drinesse iudgement leanenes health and pack-staffe plainnesse the euidence as they terme it of the Spirit and simplicity of the Gospell Well may they claime kindred with the old Aegyptians who as Herodotus and Straboreport temper morter with their hands and kneade their dow with their feete Right so these men in all other things like well of art and wit where the matter is vile and base but in the deliuery of heauenly conceptions vtterly abandon them But they should haue considered better that sharpnesse of wit and true eloquence are gifts of God and therefore best of all to bee employed in holy things as gold and siluer are best bestowed in adorning Gods house so it bee without superstition Was not fine linnen and blew silke and Scarlet of as good vse in the Arke as Camels haire Is not the Queene brought into the spirituall Salomans chamber in Vesture of gold wrought about with diuers colours Was not the holy oyle and precious oyntment made by Gods coÌ„mandement according to the art of the Apothecary Are there not in the Prophet Esay the Psalmes of Dauid and the Epistles of Saint Paul in the originall language and other parts of Scripture more exquisite peeces of Artt and streines of eloquence then are to be found in any other writings whatsoeuer If they are accursed who doe the worke of the Lord negligently certainly the more diligence we vse the more blessed our holy labours shall be For my part I am resolued with Dauid neuer to offer that to God which costeth mee nothing There remaine yet in some places some of the base sect of the Patttalorochita who place Religion in nosing their words and speaking to God in a harsh and vncouth sound and pronuntiation They will not cry but howle and bellow to him But these are so few in number and their error is so contemptible that I hold it scarce fit the naming and no way worthy the refuting I would there were no more left of the sect of the Pharisees who vnder colour of long Prayers 〈◊〉 widowes houses who persume their consâ—â—ing and corrupt dealing with the balme of Gâ—lead who make Religion and Deuotion a stalking horse to their ambition and auaritious purposes and ends O mercifull God how is thy patience abused How is thy Maiesty sleightned How is thy worship prophaned O what sinfull wretches are we who need a large pardon not onely for our profane
receiue the oyle of grace and most pretious balsame of Gods word instilled by preaching If thou art a sheepe of Christ and belongest to his fold shew his eare-marke My sheepe heare my voyce Where wee reade in the Psalme according to the Septuagint and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes A body thou hast fitted or prepared me it is in the originall according to the Hebrew word for word Mine eares hast thou opened to teach vs that God fits vs and prepares vs for his seruice especially by boaring our eares with those goades and nailes that are fastened by the Maisters of the assemblies and are giuen from one sheapheard I socrates aduiseth Demonicus to employ all his leasure time in diligently hearing the penned Orations and speeches of eloquent Orators and graue Counsellers For so saith hee thou shalt get that with much ease which cost another man much paines That which a diuine Orator and heauenly Preacher hath beene many weekes perhaps yeeres in laying together hee scattereth abroad in an hower Obseruest thou not how the Manna which he gathereth graine by graine or seede by seede hee deliuereth out to thee in whole Omers yea and Ephaes too Yea but thou art well stored with this heauenly prouision and foode of Angels thy library is like a rich Granarie and why maist thou not then as well or better spend thy time in perusing such writings then repairing to the Church perhaps a good way from thy house to heare a man of meaner gifts then those were or are whose works thou hast in the last and best editions by thee I perceiue by this obiection that thou hast heard much against hearing heare now a little for it First as a great Master of the Law was wont to say that Courts of iustice must not Clash one against another so it is most certaine that duties of piety ought not Clash iustle or any way crosse one the other Priuate reading and publike hearing must both haue their places seasons and turnes If thou art so straightned in time or ouerlaid with businesse that thou canst not allow a fit time for both let the priuate voluntary alwaies giue place to the publike necessary duty The coÌ„mandements of God the Church wherein thou liuest ought to ouersway thy priuate opinion fancie or inclination or perhaps diabolicall tentation If thy Pastor be so strictly charged to preach vnto thee certainely thou art necessarily bound to heare him For these duties are linked together Hath priuate reading the like promises to publike hearing the Word Or is it of like force and efficacie Where thou canst name one that hath beene wonne to the Christian faith and true godlinesse by bare reading wee can produce many thousands that haue beene added to the Church by publike Sermons yea sometimes at one Sermon The holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost came with the sound Where the sound is of the Word Preached there goeth the Spirit ordinarily Yet I deny not but that men in priuate reading the Scriptures and other holy books may do feele some soft and sweet blasts of the holy spirit but in the publike Ministry of the Word the Spirit commeth downe like a mighty rushing winde filling the whole roome wee receiue then grace in a fuller measure Sermons preached are compared to raine and deaw but printed to snow which though it lye longer on the ground yet it is much colder and doth not in like sort pierce moysten and fatten the ground as the other Moreouer those things that haue passed the presse lye by vs wee may at any time haue and vse them but the notes of a Sermon preached are like the Manna that fell on the Saturday which if it was not presently gathered was vtterly lost There is much difference betweene those generall Receipts you finde in Physick bookes and a speciall potion or Electuary made by a trusty Apothecary according to the direction of a Learned Physitian and particularly applyed to thy peculiare disease Euery man hath not the skill of the Apothecary to make the confection and fewer haue the iudgement of an experienced physitian to direct where and how it ought to bee giuen And albeit thy preacher bee a man of no very extraordinary gifts yet in regard he is an Ambassadour sent from God vnto thee if he faithfully though perhaps not so eloquently deliuer his message vnto thee thou oughtst to heare it and honour him for his Masters sake His feete cannot but seeme beautifull to thee if they be shoâ—d with the Preparation of the Gospell of Peace The diligent Bee gathereth hony out of Thime one of the driest herbs that is and certainly if thou bee not a drone thy selfe thou mayest sucke from the mouth of the barrenest and as thou callest him the dryest Preacher Doctrine sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Although I assent freely to Lactantius that the truth findeth easyer-entrance into the soule when she commeth armed not onely with her owne strength but also with the best aide wit or art can afford Yet withall I affirme with Saint Paul that faith standeth not in the entising words of mans wisedome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God Art may moue affection but nothing but Gods Word and the grace of the Spirit can remoue corruption Humane wit and learning may tickle the eare and as Seneca speakes of Chrysippus his acute Sentences pricke but neuer pierce the heart that is the singular prerogatiue of the Word of God What are Rams-hornes in comparison of siluer Trumpets Yet when God commands and appoints the harsh sound of them shall demolish those strong holds of Satan which the sweeter and shriller sound of siluer Trumpets shall not doe Bee thoâ— obedient to him who is set ouer thee in the Lord and must giue an account of thy soule Desire not to haue thy eares tickled but thy heart pricked and make then no doubt but that God will blesse his ordinance and thy obedience and supply to thee by his Spirit what may bee deficient in the Preachers learning or language But then thou must come prepared to the hearing of the Word by such directions as are set downe in the Word THE PREPARATORIE Admonition THE ANALYSIS The preparation to the hearing of the Word consisteth in 1 Consideration especially of these particulars viz that 1 The hearing of the word is a necessarie dutie ioined by God the Father Sonne Holy-Ghost 2 Wee must giue account to God what how and whom wee heare 3 The word we heare is the word of God not of a mortal man 4 It is the ordinarie meanes of saluation 5 If we profit not by it it will be to our greater damnation 2 Prayer for 1 The Preacher that God would Direct Assist him 2 Our selues in that he will giue vs 1 Attention to heare 2 Vnderstanding to conceiue 3 Wisedome to apply 4 Iudgement to discern 5 Faith to belieue 6 Memory to
endure the iust reproofe of them by his Ministry and loue him for it and amend by it Open my heart that I may attend to those things that belong to my peace Endue me with wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding that I may descerne those things that differ and try all things and hold that which is good and apply it to my selfe for the subduing of my fleshly members and affections and building me vp in the most holy faith of thine Elect. Quicken me with thy spirit that I may cheerefully and willingly and constantly listen to the voice of the heauenly charmer that hee may kill the venome of sinne in my soule Let the words of thy Preacher drop as raine and distill as deaw vpon me and into mee to make my barren heart fruitfull in holy affections desires my minde in heauenly thoughts and conceptions my tongue in wholsome words and graceful speeches my hands in all manner of good workes that I proue not an idle hearer but a doer of the Word constant practicer of al holy duties to the honour of thy holy and blessed Name and the saluation of my soule in the day of the Lord Iesus To whom with thee and the holy Ghost c. The Preparation to the receiuing of the holy Sacrament IT being reuealed to aged Simeon that hee should see his Sauiour in the flesh before hee rendered vp his owne Spirit when hee came into the Temple of the Lord and there found the Lord of the Temple hee was so ouer-ioyed there with that hee tooke the babe into his armes embraced it and began his Swan-like song or Nunc dimittis saying Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for I haue seene the Prince of Peace Mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and I desire to see no more Into thy hands ô sweete babe whom I hold in mine arms I commend my fainting Spirit Embrace my soule with thine armes of mercy as I embrace thy body with these arms of flesh This singular prerogatiue of Simeon or rather a farre greater the Lord vouchsafeth thee ô deuout soule when he biddeth thee to his holy Table euen to take into thy hands thy Sauiour To see with thine eyes handle with thy hands yea and taste with thy mouth the Word of life For by with the sacred elements though not in or vnder them thou partakest of the flesh and bloud of the Son of God spiritually for his words are spirit and life yet truly and in very deede for hee is the liuing bread that came downe from heauen his flesh is meate indeede and his blood is drinke indeede As at sumptuous feasts where curious seruices are thou seest the proportion and shape of the Deere or Fowle set out in gold and colours on the outside or lidde of those baked meates which are truly contained vnder it and to bee eaten So vnder the holy formes of bread and wine thou feedest on thy Sauiour That which is represented in the signe to the eye of the body is presented in the thing signified to the eye of the soule and hand of thy faith what is shadowed in the Sacrament is truly also exhibited by it Qui credit edit If thou belieuest that thou eatest thou eatest that thou belieuest let no hereticall Harpyes pluck from thee thy heauenly dish or meate as Celaeno did Aeneas's Beware of two sorts of Hereticks especially which seeke to beguile thee in the Sacrament or rather of it viz the Sacramentaries Papists the one denyeth the signe the other the thing signified The one offereth thee a shadow without the body the other the body without the shadow and consequently neither of them giueth thee the true Sacrament which in nature and substance cosisteth of both The Sacramentary would robb thee of the Iewell the Papist of the Casket Lay thou thine hands on both hold both fast as thou seest the verity and substance of the one so beleeue that verity and substance of the other As thou takest the one receiue the other As thou handlest the one apprehend the other As thou feedest with thy mouth on the one feede in thy heart on the other And as truly as the one nourisheth thy body to a temporall so the other shall preserue thy soule to eternall life For it is the tree of Life which growes in the middest of the Paradice of God his Church on earth The way to the mysticall tree in Paradice was guarded by an Angel wauing a flaming sword The way to this in like manner is fenced There stands an Angell at the Table Gods Minister brandishing the sword of the Spirit and forbidding vnder paine of death any to eate of this fruit that haue their teeth set on edge with the apples of Sodome and grapes of Gomorrah Other fruits and meate are prepared for vs but we must be prepared for this before we eate it The bread of the earth cannot feed when thou eatest it till it bee changed into thy body because thou art more excellent then it but this bread which came downe from heauen is more excellent then thou art and therefore thou must be changed into it before it nourish thee All other meate is receiued as it is in it selfe and no otherwise but this is diuers as it is receiued Other meate affecteth and altereth the taste but heere the taste altereth the meate For if it be worthily receiued it is the body and blood of Christ if vnworthily it is but bare bread and wine If it meete with a spirituall taste and appetite stomack purged and prepared it proueth the food of life nay of immortality if otherwise it turneth into deadly poyson for hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body A learned Physitian that tendreth the health and life of thy body will neuer minister strong physick that will amend or end thee before hee prepareth thy body accordingly This Sacrament is not onely foode but also physick to cure thy soule yea such strong physick as will worke effectually one way or other to thy health and saluation or to thy death and damnation Bee carefull therefore before thou takest it to prepare thy selfe for it and for thy helpe peruse the Admonition Hymne and Prayer following The admonition before the Communion THE ANALYSIS The due preparation to the Sacrament is by 1 Examinatiō whether thou hast 1 A feruent desire to partake of this holy table 2 Competent knowledge in this high mysterie 3 Faith in Christs incarnation death and affiance in the merits of both 4 A conscience cleansed by true repentance 5 An heart free from malice and all vncharitablenesse 2 Prayer THE TEXTS Let a man examine himselfe and so let him cate of that bread and drinke of that cup. 1. Cor. 11. 28. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse sake for they shall be satisfied Math. 5 6. Ho euery one that thirsteth come
mee in mind of thy rest from thy workes and assure me thereby of an euerlasting Sabbath in heauen from my works Into which rest that I may enter stirre vp my good desires in me raise my thoughts and affections to the things that are abâ—ue Renew mee according to the Image of thy Sonne and frame my life to a heauenly conuersation Enlighten my vnderstanding sanctifie my will moderate my desires gouerne my affections mortifie my fleshly members and destroy the man of sinne in me and deliuer me from this bodie of death Worke in me a feare of thy power and loue of thy goodnes and zeale of thy glorie and thirst of thy grace an earnest desire and constant resolution as much as in me lyeth to approue my selfe to thee in all things and frame all my actions to the rule of thy word Heare me I beseech thee for my selfe and for thy Church and thy Church for me and Christ for vs all c. saying Righteous Father keepe them from euill sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth The close out of Scripture The glorie which thou hast giuen me giue them that they may bee one as thou and I are one So bee it heauenly Father for thy Sonn's sake by the grace of thy holy Spirit To whom be all honour praise glorie and thanksgiuing from euerlasting to euerlasting Amen AN ADMONITION for the Sabbath Euening THE ANALYSIS The fittest subiect of contemplation on the Sabbath is the meditation on the eternall Sabbath in heauen of which the Sabbath on earth is a type Consider it two wayes Priuately there is No sinne No tempter or temptation No thraldome or seruitude No labour or toyle No sorrow or griefe No paine or torment No night or darkenesse No death No curse No feare Positiuely there are Euerlasting habitations Indefiezable estates of inheritance Royall honours and dignities Inualuable wealth and riches Vnspeakable ioyes and pleasures in the Sight and fruition of God Societie with Christ Companie with all Saints Angels Glorification of our bodies PerfectioÌ„ of our soules in Knowledge Righteousnesse Loue vnion with God THE TEXTS WE looke for a new heauen and a new earth according to his promises in which dwelleth righteousnes 2. Pet. 3. 13. The Dragon fought with his Angels Reu. 12. 7. But they preuitled not neither was their place found any more in heauen ver 8. And the Dragon that old Serpent called the Diuell and Satan was cast out c. ver 9. Reioyce yee heauens and yee that dwell in them The creature shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 21. There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4 9. Bessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours Reu. 14. 13. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reu. 7. 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun-light on them nor any heate Reu. 7. 16. And there shall bee no night there and they shall neede no candle nor the light of the Sunne for the Lord God giueth them light c. Reu. 22. 5. There shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the first things are passed Reu. 21. 4. And there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it Reu. 22. 3. Your ioy shall no man take away from you Ioh. 16. 22. That they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luk. 16. 9. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. An inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet 1. 4. They striue for a corruptible but wee for an incorruptible crowne 1. Cor. 9. 25. When the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare ye shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of glorie 1. Pet. 5. 4. Take inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you Mat. 25. 34. It is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luk. 12. 32 They shall raigne for euermore Reu. 22. 5. And the building of the wall was of Iasper and the Citie was pure gold like to cleare glasse Reu. 21. 18. And the foundations of the walls were garnished with all manner of precious stones ver 19. And the gates were twelue pearles ver 21. The things which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard neither can enter into mans heart to conceiue are which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2. 9. In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 12. They shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drink out of the riuer of thy pleasures Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life c. verse 9. I know that my redeemer liueth and I shall see God in my flesh Ioh. 19. 25. Now we see in a glasse darkly but then wee shall see face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. And they shall see his face and his name shall bee in their foreheads Reu. 22. 4. As for me I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it Ps. 17. 16. Father I will that they which thou hast giuen may bee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. These follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth Reuelation 14. 4. Wee are come to the Mount Sion and to the City of the liuing God and to the celestiall Ierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels Heb. 12. 22. And to the Congregation of the first-borne which are written in heauen c. verse 23. This corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortality 1 Cor. 15. 13. The glory of the earthly is one and the glory of the heauenly is another verse 40. There is one glory of the Sun and another of the Moone and another glory of the Starres for one starre differeth from another starre in glory verse 41. So also is the resurrection of the dead c. verse 42. He shall change our vile body and make it fashioned like vnto his glorious body Philippians 3. 21. They that be wise shall shine as the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for euer Daniel 12. 3. Now I know but in part but then I shall know as I am knowne 1 Cor. 13. 12. We are come to the congregation of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to God the Iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men Heb. 12. 23. When that which is perfect shall
come then that which is in part shall be abolished 1 Cor. 13. 10. Loue doth neuer fall away though that prophecying be abolished or that tongues cease c. ver 8. I pray that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs c. Ioh. 17. 21. An Hymne for the Sabbath Euening REturne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt graciously with thee Psal. 116. 7. In Gods Word will I reioyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me Psal. 56. 10. The words of the Lord are pure words like as siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seauen times in the fire Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will bee alway praysing thee They will goe from strength to strength and to the God of Gods appeareth euery one of them in Sion Psal. 84. 47. I will giue thankes to the Lord in the Congregation from the ground of the heart Psal. 68 26. Vnto thee ô God I will pay my vowes vnto thee will I giue thanks Psal. 56. 12. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy Statutes Psalme 119. An Euening Prayer for the Sabbath HOly holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which art and which art to come hallow my nature that I may hallow thy Name As thou impartest thy goodnes to me whereby I liue and moue in thee so I beseech thee communicate to mee some measure of thy holinesse that I may liue and moue to thee Let thy Spirit of grace possesse my body and soule that the desires of my minde and thoughts of my heart and words of my lipps may be holinesse vnto thee Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee And first with ioy and thankfulnesse I acknowledge it a special testimony of thy loue that thou hast giuen me liberty and meanes to keepe a holy Sabbath vnto thee to meete in thy House to offer vp my ioynt-prayers and thanks-giuing with thy holy congregation to confesse my sinnes to professe my faith to lay open my wants to cheere vp my selfe by singing the sweete songs of Sion to heare thy sacred Word read and Preached whereby my faith hath beene strengthened in the misteries of saluation my hope established in the promises of thy Gospell and my life set forward in a setled course of holinesse and righteousnesse whereby the Kingdome of sinne and Satan is beate down and destroyed and the Kingdome of Christ built vp in me By this thy Word the carelesse sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous terrified and the penitent comforted the power of sinne is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the spirit quickned grace reuined and my Election assured by these insallible Marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed bee thy Name for it this day thy Word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisedome The dispenser of thy misteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many pearles among thy people Lord grant that with Mary I keepe these and all thy sayings in my heart and make vse of them in my life and receiue comfort from them at my death And here I would proceed to intreate at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy spiritual and temporall blessings vpon mee but my sinnes lye at the doore of my conscience and affright mee My heart smites mee for my failings in the performance of the duties of thy Sabbath My deuout Meditations haue bin stefled in the wombe that bare them my prayers haue not beene without distractions my hearing without wearisomenesse nor my almes-deeds without grudging Pardon deare Father my want of preparation before I come to thine house of intention and Zeale at thy seruice and want of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all other my sins especially of this weeke and day in the night of eternall obliuion Ease me of the burden of them that I may more securely repose my body and soule vpon thy gracious protection to take their naturall refreshing by sleepe whereby I may bee enabled and strengthened to doe thee better seruice the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the waies of thy commandements and the duties of my calling The close out of Scripture Now the very God of peace sanctify mee throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ Amen THE PRACTICE of Extraordinarie DEVOTION In the Religious obseruation of Christian Feasts as namely our Lords Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection Ascension Sending downe the Holy Ghost Fasts as namely Ashwednesday Good friday By Daniel Featly Doctor in Diuinity LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and Religious Ladie the Countesse of DENBIGH May it please your Honour YOur conference with me about my conference with the Iesuites and your gracious acceptation of the relation and defence thereof left in me such an impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious disposition that I euer since desired the aduantage of some good opportunitie to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour The truth of God receiueth not onely support but great honour from the patronage and countenance of great Personages and she much glorieth in finding so strong a Champion euen in the weaker sexe Albeit the Sun-beames are alwayes most bright in themselues yet they neuer appeare so glorious to vs as when they fall vpon crystall glasse or pretious stones In like sort Religion and vertue the raies of diuine light in the soule although they shine alwayes brightly in themselues yet they neuer seeme so conspicuous and resplendent as when they receiue some luster from the subiect when Nobilitie of birth and minde concurre when ornaments of bodie and soule meete when eminencie of grace eminency of conditions toyne in one and reflect mutually each on the other And verily if your more then or dinarie fauour and respect to the Ministers of the Gospell and to my selfe in particular had not made this my voluntarie oblation a necessarie obligation to your Ladiship yet your constancie in the truth and loue to Sion and her solemne and sacred assemblies might iustly challenge to your Honour the Dedication of this part of my HAND-MAIDES Taske which is to furnish Christian fastes and feasts with proper MEDITATIONS HYMNES and PRAYERS As our bodie liues to the soule by which it liueth so our soule should liue to God by whom it liueth And no otherwise is the life of the bodie preserued by heate and moisture then the life of the soule is maintained and kept by the heate of diuine loue and radicall moisture of teares bedewing the heart
to God with confidence 7 The guidance of the spirit 8 An incorruptible inheritance THE TEXTS EXcept a man bee borne againe hee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Ioh. 3. 3. Except a man be borne of water and the spirit c. verse 5. Ye were darknesse but now yee are light in the Lord. Ephes. 5. 9. The creature shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God Rom. 5. 21. Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for his seede remaineth in him neither can hee sinne because he is borne of God 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you for yee are not vndâ—â— the Law but vnder grace 〈…〉 6. 14. As many as receiued 〈…〉 them he gaue power to 〈…〉 Sonnes of God euen to them that belieue on his name Ioh. 1. 12. Which are borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God verse 13. That he might redeeme them that are vnder the Law and that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes Gal. 4. 5. And to the congregation of the first-borne Heb. 12. 23. Of his owne will begat hee vs with the Word of truth that we should bee the first fruits of his creatures Iam. 1. 18. Wee haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father Rom 8. 11. As many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 14. Blessed bee God the Father of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus Christ which 〈◊〉 to his abundant mercy 〈◊〉 vs againe vnto a 〈◊〉 â—pe 1 Pet. 1. 3. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you verse 4. The same spirit testifieth to our spirits that we are the children of God Rom 8. 6. If we be children then heires euen the heires of God and coheirs annexed with Christs verse 17. A Hymne for the Natiuity of our Lord consisting of fowre parts 1. God the Fathers 2. Christs 3. The Prophets 4. The Churches Glory be to God on High in earth peace good will to men THe Lord euen the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising vp of the Sunne to the going downe thereof Ps. 50. 1. Out of Sion hath God appeared in perfect beauty verse 2. Saluation is nigh them that feare him that glory may dwell on the earth Psal. 85. 9. Mercy and truth are met together righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other verse 10. Truth shall flourish on the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen ver 11. Thou art fairer then the children of men full of grace are thy lipps because God hath blessed thee for euer Psal. 45. 3. Thou hast loued righteousnesse and hated iniquity wherfore God euen thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes verse 8. O Lord my God great are thy wonderous workes which thou hast done like as be also thy thoughts which are to vs ward yet there is no man that ordereth them vnto thee Psal. 40. 6. If I would declare or speake of them they should be more in number then I am able to expresse verse 7. Sacrifice and meate offerings thou wouldest not haue but mine eares hast thou opened verse 8. Burnt offerings and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required then said I Loe I come verse 9. In the volume of thy booke it is written of me that I should fulfill thy will O my God I am content to doe it yea thy law is in my heart verse 10. I haue declared thy righteousnesse in the great congregation Loe I will not refraine my lipps ô Lord and that thou knowest verse 11. I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart my talking hath beene of thy truth and of thy saluation verse 12. I wil preach the lawe whereof the Lord hath said vnto me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I bogotten thee Psal. 2. 7. He shall call me Thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation Psal. 89. 27. And I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth verse 28. Shew vs thy mercy ô Lord and grant vs thy saluation Psal. 85. 7. Lord saue vs now Lord sende vs now prosperity Through thy tender mercy whereby this day spring from on high hath visited vs. To giue light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our feete into the way of peace Cant. Zach. The Prayer GRatious Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God and Sauiour of man the ioy of Angels and dread of diuels the Iewes Messiah the Gentiles starre the hope of the liuing and resurrection of the dead the way to all that come vnto thee the truth to all them that know thee and the life to all them that belieue in thee Make good all thy glorious gratious titles to me Lord protect me Iesu saue me Christ my anointed King rule me my anointed Priest sanctifie me my anointed Prophet reueale vnto mee the secrets of thy Kingdome O Christ whose name is an oyntment powred out annoint me with the oyle of gladnesse this day aboue others This is the day which the Lord hath made I wil reioyce and be glad in it nay I dare take the note higher This is the day in which the Lord was made I will exult and triumph in it Thou which madest all dayes wert this day made of a woman and made vnder the Law From all eternity it was neuer heard that eternity entred into the Kalender of time supreame Maiesty descended into the wombe immensity was comprehended infinity bounded vbiquity inclosed and the Deity incarnated Yet this day it was seene for this day the Word became flesh God became man and to effect this wonderfull mystery a Virgin became a Mother One deepe calleth vpon another one miracle begetteth another The Sunne bringeth forth all other dayes but this day brought thee forth the Sonne of righteousnesse If wee set our voices and instruments and heart-strings to the highest straine of ioy at the birth of great Kings and Princes What ought I to doe this day on which thou the king of heauen wast born vpon the earth At the mariage of great Personages men giue full scope to all manner of expressions of carnall ioy euen oftentimes to the very surfeit of the senses with pleasure How then should I bee rauished with spirituall ioy at this time when heauen and earth the diuine nature and humane were married The contract was in heauen before all times but the marriage was this day consummated in the vndefiled bedde of the Virgin Lord who this day cammest downe to me draw me vp to thee and giue me accesse with more confidence and bouldnesse for now thou art become my brother and ally by bloud The rayes of thy diuine Maiesty will not dazle the eyes of
anew not of mortall seede but of immortall 1 Pet. 12. 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. New wine must bee put into new bottells Mat. 9. 17. d As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the father So also wee should walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. e We are deliuered from the Law being dead to it wherewith we were holden that wee should serue in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7. 6. Purge out the old leuen that ye may be a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7 If any man be in Christ let him bee a new creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 Cor. 5. 17. In Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. According to his mercy hee hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. f Returne and liue Eze. 19. Cease to doe euill learne to do well c. Isa. 1. 16. Though your sinnes were as crimson they shall bee made white as snow verse 18. g Vnlesse yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Luke 12. 3. h Repent and doe the first workes Reu. 2. 5. Repentance vnto life Acts 11. 18. i Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for the second death shall haue no power ouer him Reu. 10. 5. A Prayer for Easter-day GLorious Sonne of righteousnesse who this morning didst preuent the dawning of the day by sending forth the beames of thy glorified body out of the pitâ— of darknesse and A shadow of death shine vpon my soule by the light of thy grace Inlighten my darke apprehension of the misteries of thy resurrection Inflame my cold affections and reuiue my heart euen deaded with pensiue thoughts vpon thy bitter passion O how did the surest ground of faith shake the fastest Anker of hope loosen ' at the earthquake at thy death what smiting together of knees what wringing of hands what knocking of brests what fainting of hearts what hanging downe of heads were there at giuing vp of the Ghost when thy head hung downe on the Crosse with thee the faith with thee the hope with thee the ioy with thee the life of thy dearest Disciples expired What should or could the prisoners of death euer expect when they saw him whom they thought to haue bin their redeemer the Lord of life arrested by death and kept close prisoner in the graue so long O death how sharpe was then thy sting O graue how fearefull was thy seeming victory But blessed bee the angell which remoued the stone and thereby made way that the stone which the builders refused might be preferred to bee the head stone in the corner Blessed be the right hand of thy Father who in raising thee out of the graue raised our hope out of the dust For where is our hope Our hope is euen in thee ô Christ and thy resurrection Thou art the life and the resurrection of all that belieue in thee Death like a Hornet by stinging thee hath lost his sting and now may make a buzzing noise to affright me but can thrust out no sting to hurt mee The graue by thy lying in it is turned to a bedde and a withdrawing roome to retire my selfe a while to put off this ragged flesh and attire my selfe with robes of glory Now I dare insult ouer death and hell since thy triumph ouer them O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory O my soule where is all thy comfort If in this life thou art most miserable if thy life bee hid with Christ in God then when Christ which is thy life shall appeare thou shalt also appeare in glory What though I mourne here I shall be comforted What though I fast here I shall bee satisfied What though I am disgraced here I shall bee glorified What though I am here trampled vnder feete I shall there be crowned What though my flesh be eaten with wormes and these wormes turned into dust and that dust blowed by the winde ouer the face of the earth Yet after thou turnedst man to destruction againe thou sayest Come againe yee children of men I know thou my Redeemer liuest and shall stand vp at the last day and I shall see them in my flesh with these eyes and no other Lord establish this beliefe in me beate downe all the forts that naturall reason reareth against it Grant that I may euery day more and more feele as the power of thy birth in my regeneration and of thy death in my mortification so also of thy resurrection in my rising from the death of sinne to the life of Grace Lord thou restoredst life to three men to one in his bed to another on the beare to the third in the graue They who conceiue sinne in their hearts are like him that was dead in his bed they who bring it forth into action are like him that was brought forth dead on his beare but they that continue in sinne and all impurity and putrifie in the custome thereof are like him that was foure dayes dead and stanke in the graue Such a one or worse am I for I haue layen not foure dayes but scores of yeeres in this loathsome graue and am euen deuoured of the worme of conscience Yet Lord this day of thy glorious resurrection say vnto mee as thou didst to him Come forth awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and I will giue thee light Make this day of thy resurrection from the death of nature the day of my rising from the death of sinne and corruption first to the life of grace and after to the life of glory Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S ASCENSION OR Holy-Thurs-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old TestameÌ„t Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Sauiours going in triumph into Heauen PARALELL Prophecie Thou hast ascended vp on high thou hast ledde captiuity captiue Psalm 68. 18. Historie And when he had spokeÌ„ these things while they beheld him hee was taken vp Act. 1. 9. Hee rodde vpon the Cheâ—ubims did flye yea he did flye vpon the wings of the wind Psa. 18. 10. For a Clowd tooke him out of their sight Act. 1. 9. Sit thou on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. Hee was caried vp into heauen and he sate on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19. Type Eliah was taken vp with a fierie Charet 2. King 2. 11. Accomplishment While hee blessed them he was parted from them and caried vp into heauen Luke 24. 51. For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's Ascension For thy comfort apply the benefit thereof to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy desires and affections check thy earthlinesse and worldlinesse Thy faith and ioy by the Psalme Thy loue and hope by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion
by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Ascension-day Wherein all parts of Christ his glorious returne in tryumph into heauen are prophetically expressed as 1 His lifting a vp himself from the earth 2 The cloudes receiuing b and carrying him 3 The Angels c meeting him 4 The heauens d opening to him 5 God the Father's enthronizing him into his euerlasting kingdome GOD is gone vp with a merrie noyse and the Lord in the sound of the Trumpe Psal. 47. 5. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength So will we sing prayse thy power Psal 21. 13. Set vp thy selfe ô God aboue the heauens and thy glory aboue al the earth Ps. 108. 5 b O sing vnto God sing praises vnto his Name magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens or cloudes by his name IAH and reioice before him Psal. 68. 4. In thy Majestie ride prosperously because of truth meeknes and righteousnes and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Psal. 45. 4. The Chariots of God are twentie thousand euen thousands of Angells the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place Psal. 68. 17. d Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be yee lift vp yee euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in Psalm 24. 7. Who is the King of glory It is the Lord strong and mightie euen the Lord mighty in battel ver 8. Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in ver 9. Who is the King of glorie Euen the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glorie ver 10. e I haue set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion Psal. 2. 6. Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ver 8. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou Ruler in the middest among thine enemies Thou shalt bruise them with a rodde of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessell The exhortation for Ascension DAIE Wee ought to set our affections on things aboue 1 Because there is the source of our Soule which is of a heauenly and diuine nature 2 Because there is our Head 3 Because there is the nobler better part of our bodie 4 Because there is our abiding Citie 5 Because there is our mansion house 6 Because there is our hope inheritance 7 Because there are no true ioyes nor durable riches but there GOD created man in his own Image Gen. 1. 27. God formed him of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Gen. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was Eccles. 12. 7. The spirit-returneth to God that gaue it Ibid. We had fathers of our flesh which corrected vs shall we not be much more in subiection to the Father of spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Exceeding great and precious promises are giuen to vs that by these wee might bee partakers of the diuine nature hauing escaped the corruption that is in the world 2 Pet. 1. 4. He was caried vp into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mat. 16. 19. Whom the heauens must containe Acts 3. 21. I saw the â—eauen opened and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of the Father Acts 7. 56. I goe out of the world to the Father Ioh. 13. 1. Go to my Father Ioh. 15. 10. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we look for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Phil. 3. 20. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Col. 3. 1. Set your affections on things that are aboue and not on things on the earth ver 3. Yee are come to the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to the spirits of iust men-made perfect Hebrewes 12. 23. Now yee are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God Ephesians 2. 19. For here we haue no continuing Citie but wee seeke one to come Heb. 13. 23. For this we groane earnestly desiring to bee clothed with our house 1. Cor. 5. 2. Arise and depart for this is no rest for you Mic. 2. 10. They confessed that they were strangers and sought a Citie whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 13. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts 1. Pet. 2. 11. I am a stranger and soiournet as all my fathers were Ps. 39. 14. In my Fathers house there are many mansions I goe to prepare a place for you Io. 14. 2. If our hope were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable 1. Cor. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that sadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet. 1. 4. Lay vp your treasure in heauen c. Mat. 6. 19. Look not on things which are seene but on things which are not seene for the things c. 2. Cor. 4. 18. Vanitie of vanities c Eccles. 1. 2. Whom haue I in heauen but thee c. Psal. 73. 24. The Prayer for Ascension Day GLorious and gratious Redeemer Lord Iesus Christ who humbledst thy selfe didst become obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse and therefore thy Father highly exalted thee aboue the graue in the resurrection aboue the earth in thy Ascention aboue the heauens in thy session at his right hand and then he gaue thee a name aboue al names that at the name of Iaesus euery knee shall bow both of things in heauen and in earth and of things vnder the earth I humbly bow the knees not onely of my body but of my heart and soule vnto thee I neuer heare of thee or remember neuer thinke or speake of thee but with greatest reuerence and loue that heart can conceiue or tongue expresse I admire the mystery of thine incarnation I tremble at the horror of thy passion I adore the power of thy resurrection and I triumph in the glory of thine Ascension My God and my Lord make me wholly thine as thou art mine Thy birth was my life thy life my merit thy death my ransome thy resurrection my deliuery out of the prison of death when thy father layed thee vp for my debt thy Ascension my assurance and takingp ossessioÌ„ of an incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance reserued in the heauens O Sauiour if thou haddest not been born I had neuer been borne anew if thou hadst not dyed for my sins I had dyed in my sins If thou hadst not risen from the dead my soule might haue bin with thee in Paradice but my body should not haue rested in hope neither should I haue euer seene God in my flesh if thou hadst not ascended I might haue bin freed from hell but I should neuer haue
They quicken our Zeale and Deuotion 10. k They tryour saith hope and loue 11. l They are meanes to weane vs from the loue of this world 12. m They preserue and free vs from euerlasting torments 13. n If we patiently endure them our reward shall be plentifull in heauen 14º They teach vs to compassionate our brethren and comfort them in their adversities THE TEXTS a IT became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things seeing that he brought many children vnto glory to consecrate their Prince of their saluation by efflictions Heb. 2. 10. For in that he suffered and was tempted hee is able to succour them that are tempted verse 18. Christ suffered for vs. leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2 21. Whom he knew before to be made like to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. b The Lord hath chastened and corrected me Psal. 118. 18. O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger nor chasten me in thy displeasure Psal. 6. 1. When thou with rebukes doest chasten man for sin c. Psal. 39. 12. c My sonne despise not the the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him Prou. 3. 11. Whom the Lord loueth hee chasteneth and scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Heb. 12. 6. As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten Reu. 3. 19. d The Lord hath seuerely corrected me but he hath not giuen mee ouer vnto death Psal. 118. 18. Great are the troubles of the Righteous but the Lord deliuer him out of all Psal. 34. 18. From them all the Lord deliuered me 2. Tim. 3. 11. God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able but will euen giue the issue to the tentation that ye may bee able to heare it 1 Cor. 10. 13. Blessed be God the Father of mercy and God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1. 3. Who comforteth vs in all our tribulations that wee may bee able to comfort them that are in any affliction ver 4. e For as the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation aboundeth through Christ. v. 5. f What son is he whom the father chastneth not Heb. 12. 7. If therefore yee bee without correction whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons ver 8. In the world yee shall haue afflictions Iohn 16. 33. Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted Act. 7. 52. All that will liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecutions 2 Tim. 3. 12. g It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble that I might learne thy Statutes Psal. 119. No chastisement for the present seemeth ioyous but grieuous but afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to them which are thereby exercised Heb. 12. 11. Hee chastneth for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse ver 10. We know that all things work for the best to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. Count it exceeding ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations Iam. 1. 2. Before I was troubled I went wrong but now haue I kept thy Word Psal. 119. 67. It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble that I might learne thy Statutes ver 71. h And they said Wee haue verily sinned against our brother because we saw the anguish of his soule when he besought vs and wee wonld not heare him therefore is this trouble come vpon vs. Gen. 42. 21. All that is come vpon vs for our euill deeds and our great transgoessions Ez. 9. 13. Ierusalem hath greatly sinned therfore she is in derision La. 1. 8. The Lord is righteous for I haue rebelled against him v. 18. There is no rest in my bones by reason of my sinne Psal. 38. 3. My wickednesses are gone ouer my head are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare ver 4. i In their afflictions they will seeke me diligently Then hee came to himselfe c. Luk. 15. 17. Euery night wash I my bed c. Psal. 6. 6. Behold how I mourne in my Prayer and am vexed When hee was tryed hee was found faithfull Heb. 11. 17. Others were tryed by scourgings c. ver 36. k Knowing that the tryall of your faith bringeth forth patience Iam. 1. 3. That the triall of your faith being much more precious then fine gold that perisheth might bee found to your glory 1 Pet. 1. 7. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I will deliuer thee from the houre of tentation which shall come to all the world to try them that dwell on the earth Rom. 3. 10. Woe is mee that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech c. Psal. 120. 4. O that I had wings like a Doue c. Psal. 55. 6. Let me dye for I am no better then my fathers Ionah 4. 3. m For when wee are iudged we are chastened of the Lord that we bee not condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 31. n If wee suffer with him wee shall bee also glorified with him Rom. 8. 17. For I account the momentary afflictions are not worthy the glory that shall be shewed to vs. ver 18. For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glory 2. Cor. 4. 17. He suffered and was tempted that he might succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. God comforteth vs in all our tribulations that we might be able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith our selues are comforted of God 2 Cor. 1. 4. The Hymne for Good-Friday Wherein is expressed the manner of Christs sufferings death and buriall with the remarkable circumstances thereof In particular 1 The Antecedents 1 CHRISTS Agony 2 Herods Pilats and the Rulers of the Iewes conspiracy against him 3 Iudas betraying him 4 The Disciples forsaking him 5 The Iewes false accusing him 6 His silence before the Iudge 7 The Souldiers blaspheming and deriding him 2 The Passion it selfe 1 The enduring his Fathers wrath 2 The racking his ioints 3 The piercing his flesh 4 His thirst and the drinke giuen him 5 His last cry vpon the Crosse. 6 His giuing vp his spirit the piercing his side and not breaking a bone Psal. 34. 20. 3 The consequents 1 The gushing of water out of his heart 2 The casting Lots vpon his Vesture 3 His buriall and lying no small time in the graue THE TEXTS O Lord God of my saluation I haue cryed day and night before thee Psal. 88. 1. Mine eye mourneth by reason of afflliction I haue called dayly vpon thee I haue stretched out my hands vnto thee ver 9. For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto the graue Psal. 88. 2. My heart is smitten and withered like grasse Psal. 102. 4. By reason of the voice of my groning my bones cleaue to my skin ver 5. The sorrowes of death compassed
the earth and of them that remaine in the broad Sea ver 5. Thou stillest the raging of the Sea and the noise of the waues and the madnesse of his people ver 7. They that dwell in the vttermost parts of the earth shall bee afraid of thy tokens thou that makest the our goings of the Morning and Euening to praise thee ver 8. Thou visitest the earth and blessest it thou makest it very plenteous ver 9. Thou waterest her furrowes thou sendest raine into the little Vallies thereof thou makest it sofi with the drops of raine and blessest the encrease of it ver 11. Thou crownest thy yeeres with thy goodnesse and thy clouds drop fatnesse ver 12. They shall drop vpon the dwellings of the wildernesse and the little hils shall reioyce on euery side ver 13. Hee gathereth the waters of the Sea together and layeth vp the deepe as in a Treasure-house Psal. 33. 7. O praise the Lord of Heauen praise him in the height Psal. 148. 1. Praise him all ye Heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the Heauens ver 4. Praise the Lord vpon earth yee Dragons and all deepes ver 7. Fire and Haile Snow and vapours wind and storme fulfilling his Word ver 8. Sing vnto God ò ye Kingdomes of the earth ô sing praises vnto the Lord Psal. 68. 32. Which sitteth in the Heauens ouer all from the beginning loe he doth send out his voice yea and that a mighty voice ver 33. Ascribe ye power vnto God his worship and strength are in the Clouds ver 34. The Admonition for Munday being an Exhortation to humility or pouerty in Spirit Wherunto our Sauiour ascribeth the first BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS The speciall motiues to humility set down in the Scriptures are 1 God's infinite Majestie puritie perfection 2 Mans vilenesse sinfulnesse wretchednesse wants of vvhich before See the Preparation to Prayer 3 Diuine Precepts 4 Holy patterns of this vertue in God the Father Christ. The Saints vnder the Lawe Gospell 5 Gratious promises made to the humble of 1 Neerenesse societie with God 2 Sauing knowledge 3 Sanctifying grace 4 Honour and preferment 5 Eternal blessednes in heauen THE TEXTS TAke my Yoake vpon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowly in heart and you shall finde rest to your soules Mat. 11. 29. Vnlesse yee become as one of these little ones yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Mat. 18. 23. Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he will lift you vp Iam. 4. 10. Decke your selues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde 1. Pet. 5. 5. Humble your selues vnder the mighty hand of God that he may raise you in due time verse 6. Who is like to the Lord our God that hath his dwelling on high and yet humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and in earth Psal. 113. 5. I am among you as hee that ministreth Luke 22. 17. And he began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith hee was girded Iohn 13. 5. He emptied himselfe or made himselfe of no reputation Phil. 2. 7. He humbled himselfe and became obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. I will speake vnto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 17. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all thy truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant Gen. 32. 10. And he said wherewith shall I saue Israel Behold my Father is poore in Manasseth and I am the least in my fathers house Iude 6. 15. Lord I am not high-minded c. Psal. 131. 1. And Dauid said vnto Saul who am I and what is my life and my father's family in Israel that I shall bee sonne in Law to a King 1. Sam. 18. 18. And now O Lord my God thou hast made thy seruant King in stead of Dauid my father and I am but a little child I know not how to goe in and out 1. King 3. 7. Notwithstanding Ezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart both hee and the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that the wrath of the Lord came not vp them 2. Chron. 32. 20. Then Iob arose and rent his Mantle and shaued his head and fell downe vpon the ground and worshipped Iob 1. 20. O Lord God righteousnesse belongeth to thee but to vs confusion of face at this day Dan. 9. 7. He that commeth after me is greater then I whose shoo-latchet I am not worthy to vnloose Math. 3. 11. When hee was not farre from the house the Centurian sent vnto him saying Master trouble not thy selfe I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder the roofe of my house Luke 7. 6. When Simon Peter saw it hee fell downe on his knees saying Goe from me Lord for I am a sinfull man Luke 5. 8. The Publicane standing a farre off would not lift vp his eyes to heauen but striking his breast said Lord be mercifull to mee a sinner Luke â—8 15. I am the least of the Apostles not worthy to be called an Apostle c. 1. Cor. 11. 9. Iesus Christ came to saue sinners whereof I am chiefe 1. Tim. 1. 15. I am the Rose of the field and the Lilly of the valleys Cant. 2. 1. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble contrite heart to reuiue the spirit of the humble Is. 57. 15 To this man will I look euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Isa. 66. 2. When pride commeth then commeth shame but with the lowly is wisedome Prou. 11. 2. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and reuealed them vnto babes Math. 11. 21. Hee giueth more grace wherefore hee saith God resisteth the proud but giueth grace to the humble Iam. 4. 6. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty but before honour is humilitie Pro. 18. 1â— Hee that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted Luke 14. 11. He raiseth the poore out of the mire and lifteth the needie out of the dunghill Psal. 113. 7. That he may set him with Princes euen with the Princes of his people verse 8. Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 5. 3. THE PRAYER FOR Munday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to humilitie agreeable to the precedent exhortation The Prayer it selfe The second dayes Deuotion FAther Almighty maker of heauen and earth who createdst the Euening and the Morning the second day as wel as the first Continue I beseech thee vnto mee as well the comfortable rest of the Euening to refresh mee after my labour and trauaile as the most needfull light of the Morning to manage my affaires and businesses But especially perpetuatt vnto mee the repose of a quieâ—
causeth repentance not to be repented of but worldly sorrow causeth death 2. Cor. 7. 10. For behold this selfe same thing that yee sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what cleering of your selues yea what indignation yea what feare yea what vehement desire yea what zeale yea what reuenge ver 11. They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Psal. 126. 7. I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to reuiue the heart of the contrite Isa. 57. 15. Ye shall be sorrowfull but your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy Ioh. 16. 20. Blessed are they that mourne for they shall bee comforted Mat. 5. 4. Wee haue mourned vnto you and yee haue not wept Luke 7. 32. And yee are puffed vp and haue not sorrowed 1 Cor. 5. 2. Woe bee vnto thee Corazin woe vnto thee Rethsaida c. for they c. in sack cloth Mat. 11. 21. And I gaue her time to repent and shee would not repent Reuel 2. 21. After thy hard and impenitent heart treasurest vp to thy selfe wrath in the day of wrath Rom. 2. 3. THE PRAYER FOR Tuesday morning composed of 1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day 2. Motiues to godly sorrow agreeable to the precedent exhortation O That my head were water and mine eyes were a spring of teares that I might weepe day and night for the deluge of sinne ouerflowing the whole world but especially for the inundation therof in this our Iâ—â—nd We are ouerwhelmed in this Torrent and should be drowned but that the gales of thy Spirit driue it somewhat backe and thy restraining Grace with the publike discipline of our Lawes and Canons set some bounds to it What hearts can vent sight enough what eyes yeeld sufficient teares to bewaile those publike sinnes vnder the burthen whereof the Land sinketh besides those priuate which lye as heauy on each of vs in particular Sinnes of omission sinnes of commission sinnes of birth sinnes of life sinnes of youth sinnes of age sinnes of frailty sinnes of â—ilfulnesse sinnes of act sinnes of habit and custome sinnes of secret taint sinnes of open stâ—inâ— Sinnes of infirmity committed against the power of the Father sinnes of ignorancâ— against the wisdome of the Sonne and sinnes of malice against the grace of thy holy Spirit If I should goe about to extenuate my sinneâ— euen that would aggrauate them if to excuse them my conscience would condemne me For I must confesse to thy glory and my owne shame that by my Originall and Actuall secret and open sudden and aduised ignorant anâ—â—â—â—icious sinnes I haue dishonoured thy Name prophaned thy Word defaced thine Image grieued thy Spirit despighted thy Grace wounded my owne conscience stained my good name scandalized my profession depriued my selfe of the comforts of the Gospell of the protection of Angells of the sweet fellowship of thy Spirit and drawne vpon mâ—e many heauy iudgements and treasured vp wrath against the day of wrath Yet because I mourne with Dauid in my prayers I weepe bitterly with Peter I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes with Iob I am ashamed and confounded with Ezra Lord let thy mercy preuaile against thy iustice my sighs and teares against my sinfull ioyes and thy Sonnes bloud euen against my crimson sinnes Lord who on this day madest dry Land and firme ground to appeare dry vp my â—â—â—res with the beames of thy mercy and giue me firme ground of comfort in thy Word Lord who on this day createdst all kinde of seedes sow in my heart the incorruptible seede of thy Word that I may thereby be regenerated to a liuely hope Lord who on this day createdst all kindes of fruitfull Trees make mee like a good Tree to bring forth good fruit here that I may hereafter eate of the Tree of Life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God So be it Amen The close out of Scripture GOd the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ grant mee according to the riches of his glory that I may be strengthened by his spirit in the inner man Ephes. 3. 16. That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith that I being rooted and grounded in loue ver 17. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth and length and depth and height v. 8. And to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that I may bee filled with the fulnesse of God verse 19. The Deuotions for Tuesdayes Euening THE HYMNE alluding to the worke of God on this day in the Allegory OVT of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice Psal. 130. 1. O let thine eares consider wel the voice of my complaint verse 2. If thou Lord wilt be extreme to marke what is done amisse O Lord who can abide it ver 3. But there is mercy with thee therefore thou shalt bee feared verse 4. I looke for the Lord my soule doth waite for him in his word is my trust verse 5. My soule flyeth to the Lord before the Morning watch I say before the Morning watch verse 6. I haue watched and am euen as a Sparrow that sitteth alone on the house top Psal. 102. 7. My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread verse 4. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and instructest him in thy Law They that sowe in teares shal reape in ioy Psal. 126. 7. Hee that now goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seede shal doubtlesse come againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him verse 8. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme-tree and shall spread abroad like a Cedar in Lebanon Psal. 92. 11. Hee shall be like a tree planted by the Riuer's side which bringeth forth her fruit in due season Psal. 1. 3. Whose leafe shall not fall and what soeuer hee doth it shall prosper verse 4. Such as bee planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God Psal. 92. 12. They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age and shal befat and well liking ver 13. THE ADMONITION for Tuesday Euening being an exhortation to hunger and thirst for righteousnesse whereunto our Sauiour ascribeth the fourth Beatitude THE ANALYSIS We must diligently and earnestly seek after the meanes of our saluation because therby 1 Wee obey God 2 Wee imitate his Saints 3 Wee obtain blessings Temporall Spirituall 1 Fauour 2 Delight 3 Peace 4 Life 5 CoÌ„tentment 6 The Kingdom of heauen THE TEXTS SEek the Lord and his strength seeke his face euermore Psal. 105. 4. Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that meat which endureth to euerlasting life Ioh. 6. 27. Receiue mine instruction not siluer and knowledge rather then fine gold Prou. 5. 10. For wisedome is better then precious stones and all pleasures are not to bee
compared vnto her verse 11. Follow after loue and couet spirituall things 1. Cor. 14. 1. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Set your affections on things which are aboue and not on things which are in the earth Col. 3. 2. My soule breaketh out for the very feruent desire that it hath alway to thy iudgements Psal. 119. 26. My soule is a thirst for God euen for the liuing God Psal. 42. 1 2. One thing is needfull Mary hath chosen that good part which shal not be taken away from her Luke 10. 41. From the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto the Kingdome of heauen hath suffered viclence and the violent take it by force Math. 1. 12. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Prou. 3. 16. Seeke yee first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all other things shall be added vnto you Mat. 6. 33. Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing promise of the life that now is and that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. If from thence thou seeke the Lord thou shalt finde him Deut. 4. 29. Her wayes are the wayes as pleasure and all her paths are peace Pro. 3. 17. She is a Tree of life to them that lay hold vpon her and happy is euery one that reteineth her verse 18. Your heart shall liue that seeke good Psal. 69. 33. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse for they shall be satisfied Mat. 5. 6. The Kingdome of Heauen is like to a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles Mat. 3. 45. Who hauing found a Pearle of great price went and fold all that he had and bought it verse 46. The Prayer for Tuesday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the the sufferings of Christ on this day Motiues to seeke after the meanes of our saluation agreeable to the precedent exhortation BLessed Redeemer who trodest the wine-presse of thy father's wrath alone reconcile mee to thy Father and of a child of wrath make mee a child of grace and sonne of desires Thou who trodest the wine-presse alone no Arch-angell or Angel or any creature in heauen or in earth being ioyned with thee in that worke Giue mee a taste of the new wine of thy Gospel to cheere vp and reuiue my drooping spirits and comfort my heauy and sorrowfull heart Thou which camest with thy garments red from Bozra yea as red as bloud Cloath mee with thy red garment died in thine owne bloud Couer my nakednesse deformities wounds and sores from the sight of thy Father Thy garment is no narrow nor scanty garment it is large enough to couer thee and all thine Elect. It is the wedding garment without which none shall euer be admitted into the Kings Supper but bee bound hand and foot and cast into outward darknesse where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And this doome we all deserued for wee were borne naked and voide of all good and we lay a long time wallowing in our owne bloud and filth and no eye pittied vs till it pleased thee of meere loue and compassion to take vpon thee a nature of infirmities to cure all the infirmities of our nature and to cloath thy selfe with flesh that thou mightest beare off our blowes and receiue the stroakes of diuine iustice that wee should haue endured and deadded them in thine owne body O what shall I returne vnto thee by way of thankefull acknowledgement of such thy loue I can render thee nothing but that which thou hast giuen me I can render thee nothing that is not thy due before I can render thee nothing but that which thou puttest into my heart to render it to thee Wherefore I huÌ„bly beseech thee by thy grace to enflame my heart with thy loue to incite mee to perpetuall praise thanksgiuing to kindle in me an euerlasting desire to approue my self vnto thee more and more tie thy loue vnto me O let nothing be so precious to me as thy fauour nothing so fearfull as thy displeasure nothing so hatefull as sin nothing so desirable as thy grace Let me not now like a little child run in the dirt soile my cloathes and take many a fal in pursuite of a Butter-fly or a bubble of Sope appearing glorious in the aire but suddenly vanishing to nothing Let mee not be so foolish as to lay the foundation of my happinesse in sinking sands or goe about to chase a vanishing shadow Let me enter into a serious consideration of the vanitie of the world and the deceitfulnesse of riches and shame of pleasures and folly of sports and leuity of honours and danger of greatnesse and account of all Perswade mee by thy Spirit out of thy Word that I haue heere no abiding Citie but seeke for one hereafter That I am a stranger and pilgrim here vpon earth and therefore howsoeuer I haue heretofore mis-spent my time and mis-placed my affections and spilt my labours and lost my selfe in following earthly vanities yet let me now take the right way to true contentment Let all my trauailes be towards heauen all my trade for spiritual merchandise all my labour for the meate that perisheth not all my searching for the pearle of the Gospell all my seeking for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Let mee desire temporall blessings onely for spirituall ends wealth that I may he rich in good workes preferment to aduance the honour of the Gospell health strength the better to enable mee to doe thee seruice length of dayes that I may praise thee in the Land of the liuing Lord whose life was sought this day to destroy it seeke thou mine to saue it Lord who this day wâ—rt anointed to thy death and buriall anoint me with thy Spirit to eternall life Saue mee from the hands of all mine enemies that I may serue thee without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life Guard mee by thy prouidence that securely reposing my soule on thy mercy for my absolution from sinne and my bodie on thy power for deliuerance from all dangers I may so by rest and sleepe refresh and strengthen both that I may rise the next morning more cheerefully to trauaile in the wayes of thy lawes and workes of thy commandements So be it Amen The close out of Scripture Vnto him that is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that I aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in me be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout all ages world without end Ephes. 3. 20 21. enemies for I fly to thee to helpe me verse 9. Be mercifull vnto mee and blesse mee and shew the light of thy countenance vpon mee and be mercifull vnto me Psal. 67. 1. God is the Lord who hath shewed vs light binde the sacrifice with cords to the hornes
thy Redemption Quicken Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne Thy sanctity and faith by the exhortation Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Friday Morning being the sixt day from the CREATION O Come let vs worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our Maker Psal. 95. 6. For he is the Lord our God and wee are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands v. 7. What is man Lord that thou art so mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him Psal. 8. 4. Thou madest him little lower then the angels to crown him with glory and worship v. 5. Thou madest him to haue dominion ouer thy workes and thou hast put all things in subiection vnder his feet v. 6. All Sheep and Oxen yea and the beasts of the field v. 7. The Fowles of the aire and the Fishes of the Sea and whatsoeuer walketh through the paths of the seas ver 8. O Lord our gouernor how excellent c. v. 9. The Admonition for Friday Morning being an Exhortation to Holinesse of life and conuersation the ninth BEATITVDE THE ANALYSIS We are in holy Scriptures inuited perswaded to Holinesse by 1 Precepts in the Lawe Gospell 2 The patterne of sanctitie in God the Father Sonne Spirit 3 The Tiâ—les and Attributes of the Church 4 The state of Creation at the fiâ—st 5 The nature of our Vocation 6 The end of our Redemption 7 The effect of Sanctification 8 The condition of Glorification 9 The fruites of holinesse which are 1 Ioy. 2 Peace 3 Prosperitie 4 Dignitie 5 Euerlasting happinesse THE TEXTS BE ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy Reuel 11. 44. Giue your members seruants vnto righteousnesse in holinesse Rom. 6. 19. Follow peace with all men and holinesse Heb. 12. 14. Put on the new man which after God is created in true holinesse Eph. 4. 24. Be in behauiour as becometh holinesse Tit. 2. 3. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conuersation 1. Pet. 1. 15. Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption Act. 2. 27. But ye denied the holy one and the iust Acts 3. 14. Holy men spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1. 21. Shee was found with child of the holy Ghost Mat. 1. 18. He will baptise you with the holy Ghost and with fire Mat. 3. 11. The Spirit of sanctification Rom. 1. 4. The Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are 1. Cor. 3. 17. That he might present to himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 27. Created after the Image of God in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4. 24. God hath not called vs to vncleanenesse but to holinesse 1. Thess. 4. 7. Let your conuersation be such as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1. 21. Walke worthy of the Lord Col. 1. 10. I beseech you that ye walke worthy the calling whereunto ye are called He hath visited and redeemed his people c. That we might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Luke 1. 71. Being freed from sinne and made seruants to God ye haue your fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life Rom. 6. 21. Holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 4. Reioyce in the Lord alwayes and againe I say reioyce Phil. 34. Reioyce in the Lord ô ye righteous and be glad all ye that are true of heart Psal. 31. 12. Psal. 32. 1. Ye reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glorie 1. Pet. 1. 8. The Kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Blessed is he that hath not walked in the wayes c. Psal. 1. 2. But his delight is in the law of God c. Psal. 1. 3. His leafe shall not wither and whatsoeuer he doth it shall prosper Psal. 1. 4. Those that honor me I wil honor If thou call the Sabbath thy delight the holy of tho Lord and shalt honour him I will cause thee to possesse the high places of the earth Isa. 56. 23. 24. Blessed are all those that are vndefiled in the way walk in the Law of the Lord Psal. 119. 1. We looke for a new heauen a new earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him Reu. 20 6. And I Iohn saw the holy Citie new Ierusalem comming downe from God out of heauen prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband Reu. 21. 2. Hee shewed mee that great Citie new Ierusalem Verse 10. The way to the 〈…〉 all was not yet made manifest Heb. 9. 8. By his owne bloud he entred in once to the holy place hauing obtained eternall Redemption for vs verse 12. The Prayer for Friday Morning being the sixt day from the Creation Composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to 〈…〉 agreeable to the precedent exhortation GLOrious Creator and gratious Sauiour of mankind I lift vp mine eyes hands to thee whose hands this day made and fashioned me I lift vp my heart vnto thee whoâ—e heart was this day pierced for my transgressions I lift vp my bodie and soule to thee who this day wast lifted vpon the Crosse to offer an infinite sacrifice for the expiation of the sinnes of the whole world Let thy hands which fashioned and formed me sustaine and support me let thine armes which thou stretchedst on the Crosse embrace me and hold me fast to thee that nothing may seuer me froÌ„ thee Almightie and most wise Creator who hast made me of nothing suffer me not to make my selfe worse then nothing Gracious Redeemer who hast saued that which was lost loose not that which thou hast saued Though the malice of Sathan be great yet thy goodnesse is greater Though my sinnes be exceeding many yet thy mercies exceede them though my corruptions be strong yet thy grace is stronger Let it not be in my power or the power of any creature either in heauen or in earth to marre thy best worke to deface thine Image which first thou stampedst in me and after I had slurried and almost raced it out thou hast by grace renewed it according to the first patterne in holinesse and righteousnesse When thou madest me light I made my selfe darkenesse but thou hast turned my darkenesse into light When I was freed I enthralled my selfe but thou hast freed me when I was straight I crooked my will but thou hast rectified it when I was whole I maimed my selfe but thou hast healed me when I was happie I made my selfe miserable but thou hast
is impossible for those who were once enlightened and haue tasted the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4 It they shall fall away to renew them to repentance c. ver 5. The Angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserued in euerlasting chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud 6. THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the rest of the Father and the Sonne on this day Motiues to perseueraÌ„ce agreeable to the subsequent exhortation ALmightie Creator of heauen and earth and all things therein who this day restedst froÌ„ all thy workes and blessedst it grant to me after the painefull laboures and trauailes of this life are ended a sweete blessed and comfortable rest with thee in heauen where I may keepe a continuall Sabbath hold a perpetuall feast sing an euerlasting song weare an incorruptible crowne possess an eternall inheritance and fully enioy thee in all things and all things in thee in endlesse quietnesse ioy content and rest This rest is the marke at which all my desires aime this is the price for which all my endeauouâ—s runne this is the hauen to which by the gales of thy spirit my christian course driues For in this rest there is perfect tranquillitie and in this tranquillitie contentment and in this contentment ioy and pleasure and in this ioy and pleasure varietie and in this varietie securitie and in this securitie eternitie This is the end without end to which all my labours in thy seruice and sufferings for thee through my whole life tend vnto Here I haue labour without rest there shall be rest without labour here perturbations without tranquillitie there tranquillitie without perturbations here desire without content there content without desire heere paine and sorrowes without sincere pleasures and ioy there ioyes and pleasures without all paine and sorrowes heere satiety of delights without variety there variety without satiety here feare without safety there safety without feare heere a sudden end without ioy there ioyes without end Wherefore I beseech thee heauenly Father loosen my desires and affections from the things that are belowe and knit them to the things that are aboue Breake and dissolue the vnlawfull contracts betweene my soule and the creatures and marrte her to thee in righteousnesse Breede in me more and more the loathing of the forbidden fruit and a longing for the fruits of the tree of life Let mee not leane vpon the reedes of Aegypt which will breake vnder me and the splinters run into my body Let mee not repose my selfe vnder Ionâ—s's worme-eaten gourd but the sollid wood of Christ's Crosse. Let me not set vp my rest on this side of Iordan but passe ouer into the celestiall Canaan And because death is the narrow passage betweene this life and the life to come let mee not so much feare this cut as I doe for on this side I leaue labour sorrow sinne shame vexation anxiety paine and mortality and on the other side I finde rest righteousnesse glory contentment pleasure and immortality It is but a short passage and my Sauiour hath made it safe All thy Saints either haue or shall passe it ouer I lose nothing in this passage my soule is presently transported and though my body stay a while heere yet it shall follow in due time And no sooner this darke world and the shadow of it goes out of sight but the glorious light of heauen shineth vpon me I see streetes of gold and gates of pearle and foundations garnished with all sorts of pretious stones I shall behold thee the Father in thy Maiesty Christ thy Sonne in his glory the Spirit in his sanctity the Arch-angels and Angels in their excellency and the Saints in their felicity I shall then hunger no more I shall labour no more I shall trauell no more I shall feare no more I shall grieue no more I shall desire no more I shall need no more any house for the heauen heauen of heauens shall be my habitation nor Temple for God shall bee my Temple nor light for the Lambe shall be my light O Lord let the hope and expectation of this euerlasting rest and happinesse sweeten all my labours and ease my torment and mittigate my sorrowes and comfort my heart that I faile not in my labour nor tyre in my trauell nor sinke vnder my burdens nor fall vnder my crosses nor die for sorrow of my wounds receiued in the Lord's battailes but hold on cheerefully strenuously and valiantly till I ariue at the land of promise and there receiue the lot of mine inheritance with the Saints in light So be it Amen The close out of Scripture The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding preserue my heart and minde through Iesus Christ Phil 4. 7. The Deuotion for Saturday Euening THE HYMNE I Will blesse the Lord at all times his praise shall bee in my mouth continually Psal. 34. 1. O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layed vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Psal. 31. 19. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath shewed mee meruailous kindnesse v. 21. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth vs with benefits euen the God of our saluation Psal. 68. 19. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. O loue the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserueth the faithfull and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer Ps. 31. 23. Behold the eye of the Lord is vpon them that feare him and vpon them that hope in his mercie Ps. 33. 18. To deliuer their soule from death and to keepe theÌ„ aliue in famine v. 19. Though I haue layen among the pots yet shall I bee as the wings of a Doue couered with siluer and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68. 13. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all Psal. 34. 19. He keepeth all his bones so that not one of them is broken v. 20. Why art thou cast downe ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I will yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psal. 42. 11. THE TEXTS IN. Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15. 22. It is appointed to men once to dye Heb. 9. 27. Death went ouer all Rom. 5. 12. Man that is borne of a woman is but of few dayes Iob. 14. 1. Hee commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe he flyeth away as a shadow and continueth not verse 2. And where is he verse 10. When the breath of man goeth forth hee shall turne againe to his earth and then all his thoughts perish Psal. 146. 3. Man lyeth downe and riseth not till the heauens be no more Iob 14. verse 14. They shall not be awaked nor raised out of their sleepe v. 14. Thou hast made my
thee the fruite of my lippes Now I haue felt thy strength in my greatest weakenesse I haue tasted thy goodnesse in my bitter pangs I will therfore cal vpon thee in my troubles and will praise thee in my deliuerances and depend vpon thee as well in want as in plentie in sicknesse as in health in death as in life Thou mightest most iustly haue depriued me of the benefit and my infant of the hope of life Thou mightest deseruedly haue cut off the roote and the branch in the same moment for both were at thy mercie and liable to a curse But thy mercie is ouer all thy workes thou art good to them that are bad gracious to them that are vngracious mercifull to them that are most sinfull Thou desirest not the death of a sinner but of sin Thou wouldest that all should liue and here sowe the seedes and in heauen reape the fruite of immortality For to this end thou breathedst into vs the life of nature to make vs capable of the life of grace that thereby we may attaine the life of glory Therefore doest thou bring vs into the light of this world and set vs in the way that walking the paths of thy Commandements we might in the end ariue at our country in heauen This life of nature thou hast now giuen to my childe and continued to me adde now I beseech thee grace to nature and glory to grace hereafter that as we now liue in thee by nature so wee may liue to thee by grace and hereafter for euer liue with thee in glory Thou hâ—st ordained strength out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings and iustly maist expect praise from them Gracious Lord first giue my infant strength and then receiue praises from it The hidden treasure which for many moneths thou layedst vp in me is now safely taken out of me and deliuered me therefore I now offer it to thee in thy holy Temple Accept that from mee which thou hast giuen to me Receiue that into thy hands which thou hast put into mine armes Wash it in the Font of Baptisme regenerate it by thy holy Spirit feede it with the sincere milke of thy Word till it haue knowledge to choose the good and refuse the euill As it groweth in yeeres and stature strength so grant that it may grow in thy grace and fauour and increase in wisedome and in the knowledge of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it Amen The close out of Scripture NOw vnto the King immortal euerlasting inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen 1 Tim. 1. 17. The Sicke-mans Deuotion when there is yet hope of recouerie In his Sicknes After his Recouery When thou art smitten with sicknesse ô deuout Christian 1 ENter into thy priuate Chamber and commune with thine owne heart and search out diligently the cause of thy Fathers displeasure Psal. 4. â— 2 Confesse the particular sin or sinnes for which thy heart smiteth thee most with sighs and teares Psal. 32. 5 6. 3 Promise and fully purpose amendment through the assistance of grace Psal. 39. 1. 4 Aduise with the Physitian of thy soule and follow his godly direction and desire him to pray for thee and minister a word of comfort vnto thee and if thou find thy selfe fit for it in the beginning of thy sicknesse when thou art in perfect sence and memorie participate of the blessed Sacrament rather then when thy faculties are more enfeebled Iob. 33. 23. Iam. 5. 14. 5 Vse carefully all good meanes of Physicke and dyet for thy recouerie yet rely not vpon the meanes or instrument but vpon God Eccl. 38. 1. 2. Chr. 16. 12. 6 Pray to God instantly continually First absolutely for the health and saluation of thy soule Secondly conditionally for the health of thy bodie 7 Settle thine estate and make thy Will that thou mayest bee more free for holy and heauenly meditations Isa. 38. 1. 8 Submit thy self wholly and absolutely to God's good wil and pleasure concerning thee whether for life or death 1. Pet. 4. 19 9 Reade if thou be able or appoint to be read vnto thee at seasonable times select Chapters of Scripture and deuout Sermons and Prayers Rom. 8. Philippians 1. 1. Corinth 15. 1. Thes. 4. 2. Cor. 5. Ioh. 5. 6. 17. Hâ—b 12. Iob. 19. Reu. 2. 3. 21. 22. Iob 14. Isa. 38. 40. Among other helpes in this kind Open thy sorrow and griefe by the Hymne Strengthen thy faith patience by the exhortation Quicken thy Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing A PSALME FOR the sicke wherein The deuout Soule Expresseth her Maladie affection Hope in God Experience remembrance of his former goodnes Meek patience Prayeth for Ease Helpe Recouerie Quickning grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome to make good vse of sicknesse THE TEXTS HAue mercy vpon mee ô Lord for I am weake O Lord heale mee for my bones are vexed Psal. 6. 2. My soule also is sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish mee v. 3 My Spirit vexeth within me and my heart within mee is desolate Psal. 143. 4. Yet I doe remember the time past I muse vpon all thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the worke of thy hands verse â—5 I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land v. 6. Heare me O Lord and that soone for my Spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from mee â—est I bee like vnto them that go downe into the pit v. 7. Thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brest Psal. 22. 9. I haue bin left vnto thee euer since I was borne Thou art my God euen from my mothers womb v. 10. Though I walke in the shadow of death I will feare no euill thy rod and thy staffe comfort me Psal. 23. 4. Lord what is my hope Truly my hope is euen in thee Psal. 39. 5. I became dumbe and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing v. 10. I will patiently abide alway and praise thy name more and more Psal. 71. 12. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger nor chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure Psal. 6. 1. The sorrowes of my heart are enlarged O bring me out of my trouble Psal. 25. 16. Heare ô Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lord bee thou my helper Psal. 30. 11. Turne thee ô Lord and deliuer my soule ô saue mee for thy mercies sake Psal. 6. 4. For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thankes in the pit v. 5. What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to the pit Psal. 30. 9. Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee Or shall it declare thy truth v. 10. Take thy Plague away from me I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal. 39. 11. Quicken mee ô Lord for thy names
sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble Psal. 143. 11. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified v. 2. O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke vpon me ô Lord for thy goodnesse Psal. 25. 6. Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal. 39. 9. O teach mee to number my daies that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome Psal. 90. 12. An Admonition to the Sicke THE ANALYSIS Euery good Christian ought to struggle with his infirmities labour to compass his minde to meet patience in sicknesse especially considering that sicknes is 1 His heauenly Fathers visitation whose 1 Power cannot bee resisted 2 Will must be obeyed 3 Goodnesse must bee acknowledged in sending vs good as well as euill 2 A deserued scourge for his sinne 3 Seat in loue to him for his good 1 To weane him from the loue of the world 2 To strengthen the spirit in him and tame the flesh 3 To breed in him a loathing and detestation of sin in generall the cause of all afflictions 4 To call him home and bring him to a sence acknowledgement of his particular sinne 5 To proue the truth and sincerity of his faith and loue 6 To saue him from eternall punishment for his sinne 7 To make him seeke more earnestly to God who will be found of him and if his appointed time bee not come manifest his glory in deliuering him frō the very iawes of death THE TEXTS VVEe haue had Fathers of our flesh which corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence shall wee not much rather be in subiection to the Father of Spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Who hath euer resisted his wil Rom. 9. 19. He is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3. 21. Hee draweth the mighty with his power he riseth vp and no man is sure of life Iob 24. 21. Will hee pleade against mee with his great power Iob 23. 6. God is greater then man Iob 33. 12. Why doest thou striue against him for hee giueth not account of any of his matters v. 13. Thy will be done c. Mat. 6. 10. Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me Mat 26. 39. Yet not as I will but as thou wilt v. 16. I held my peace because it was thy doing Psal. 39. 10. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts c. 1 Pet. 3. 11. Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their soules to him in well doing as vnto a faithfull creator 1 Pet. 3. 19. Wee haue receiued good at the hands of God and shall wee not receiue euill Iob 2. 10. Affliction commeth not forth of the dust neither doth trauaile come forth of the ground Iob 5. 6. I will make thee sicke in smiting thee because of thy sinne Micha 6. 13. Man suffereth for his sinne Lam. 3. 39. Wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. The heate beate vpon the head of IONAS that he fainted and wished in himselfe to dye and said It is better for me to die then to liue Ionah 4. 8. And ELIAH requested that he might die It is enough Lord take away my life I am no better then my Fathers 1 Kings 19. 4. We that are in this Tabernacle doe groane being burdened 2 Cor. 5. 4. That I should not bee exalted aboue measure there was giuen me a Thorne in the flesh 2 Cor. 12. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for when I am weake then am I strong v. 10 Though our outward man decay our inward man is renewed c. 2 Cor. 4. 16. My wounds stinke and are corrupt through my foolishnesse Psal. 38. 5. vid. Psal. 38. 4. Let vs search and trie our waies and turne againe to the Lord Lam. 3. 40. I truly am set in the Plague and my heauinesse is euer in my sight Psal. 38. 17. I will confesse my wickednesse and be sorrie for my sinne verse 18. The people turneth not to him that smiteth them Isa 9. 13. see Ezra 9. 13. The thing that I so greatly feared is fallen vpon me Iob 3. 25. We haue transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned Lam. 3. 42. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. He shall also be my saluation for an hypocrite shall not stand before him v. 16. And though all this be come vpon vs yet doe we not forget thee nor behaue our selues frowardly in thy couenant Psal. 44. 18. Our heart is not turned backe neither our steps gon out of the way v. 19. No not when thou hast smitten vs into the place of dragons and couered vs with the shadow of death v. 20. We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. I will bee vnto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a roaring Lyon to the house of Iudah I will teare and goe away Hosea 5. 14. I will goe and returne to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seeke my face In their affliction they will seeke me early v. 15. Hee would haue filled his bellie with the huskes that the swine did eate and no man gaue vnto him Luke 15. 16. And when he came to himself he said How many hired seruants in my Father's house haue meate enough and I perish with hunger v. 17. I will arise and goe to my Father c. v. 18. When in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel and sought him hee was found of them 2 Chron. 15. 4. In wrath or in the middest of iudgement thou remembrest mercy Abak 3. 2. Ikill and make aliue I wound and I heale Deut. 32. 39. The Lord bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 1 Sam. 2. 6. This man was borne blinde that the worke of God might bee shewed in him Ioh. 9. 8. This sicknesse is not vnto death but for the glory of God that the Son of God might bee glorified thereby Ioh. 11. 4. For wee had the Sentence of death in our selues that wee should not trust in our selues but in God that raiseth the dead 2. Cor. 1. 9 10. Who hath deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer in whom wee trust that he will yet deliuer vs ver 11. A Prayer for the Sicke FAithfull Creator and preseruer of all men especially of thine Elect whom thou smitest in mercie and chastenest in loue and correctest in tender compassion and wounding and healing againe killing and reuiuing bringing downe to the gates of hell and raising vp from thence againe Look downe I beseech thee vpon thy poore prostrated seruant grieuously punished and afflicted in body with the smart
paines I beganne to distaste them all I grew out of loue with this life and entertained death in my most serious thoughts and I perswaded my selfe that those thoughts of death shall neuer dye in me but still liue in my memory and vpon euery good occasion bee stirred vp and reuiued to prepare and dispose mee to my last end that so I may see that Basyliske first and kill it before it see and kill mee O death how bitter is thy remembrance in the pride of health O life how bitter is thy remembrance in the misery of sicknesse Verily I had vtterly fainted vnder my Crosse and my soule had bin put to silence I had sowned and giuen vp not onely my Ghost but thy holy Spirit of comfort if thou hadst not stayed me with flagons and comforted mee with apples and in my hottest fits cooled me with the sweete gales of thy grace I had fallen not onely with Iob to curse the day of my birth but to question the truth of thy Promises But euerlasting thanks bee vnto thee who gauest me victorie ouer that fearefull tentation and by thy holy Spirit didst call to my mind all those sweet promises of thy Gospell whereby I receiued comfort and recouered strength And now I am assured and more then euer before perswaded that neither height nor depth nor principality nor power nor paine nor pleasure nor sicknes nor health nor life nor death nor things present nor things to come shall euer be able to separate me from thy loue in CHRIST IESVS The close out of Scripture I Said in the cutting off of my dayes I shall goe to the gate of the graue I am depriued of the residue of my yeeres Isa. 38. 10. I sayd I shall not see the Lord in the land of the liuing I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world ver 11. Behold for peace I had great bitternesse but thou hast in loue to my soule deliuered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast my sins behind thy backe ver 17. For the graue cannot praise thee death cannot confess thee they that goe downe to the pit cannot hope for thy truth ver 18. The liuing the liuing hee shall prayse thee as I doe this day verse 19. The dying-mans deuotion Suppart vlt. The Admonitions The man that is breathing out his last gaspe needeth◠1 MEeke patience to endure God's good pleasure Of which see the Admonitions for Good-Fridaie for Thursday Euening and for the sicke before 2 Godly sorrow for all the sinnes of his life wherby he hath grieuously displeased his heauenly Father Of which see the Admonition for Tuesday morning 3 Assured confidence to commit his Soule to God as a faithfull Creator Of which see the Admonition for the Child-bearing woman after her deliuery 4 Constant perseuerance to hold on to the end Of which see the Admonition for Saturday morning 5 Liuely apprehension of the ioyes of heauen and powers of the world to come Of which see the Meditation for the Sabbath Euening 6 Christian resolution cheerfully to lay downe his Tabernacle and go willingly to the Father of spirits Of which see the Admonition for Saturday Euening 7 A peaceable disposition to forgiue all his enemies and depart in peace as with God so also with all men Of which see the Admonition for Thursday Morning 8 A charitable and compassionate aflection to consider the poore and destitute according to his estate and wealth to help and succour them that so by their prayers he may be receiued into euerlasting habitations Of which see the Exhortation for Wednesday morning In the extremity of bitter pangs consider ô deuout Christian 1 Thy sins deserue a sharper scourge yet 2 All thou sufferest is nothing to what Christ endured for thee 3 Other Saints and holy Martyrs haue abided a harder tryall and more grieuous afflictions many more terrible conflicts and yet haue been more then Conquerours through Christ. 4 It is a thousand times better to be corrected here though neuer so seuerely then eternally tormented in hell 5 God wil not lay more vpō thee thē he will giue thee ability to beare therfore will vndoubtedly asswage thy paine or increase thy patience 6 The extremity of thy paines wil be but a short time for God wil either take them from thee by recouering thee or thee from them by deliuering thee out of the body 7 The more grieuous thy paines are the greater thy reward shall be if thou patiently endure them THE TEXTS IT is the Lords mercy that wee are not vtterly consumed because his compassion fails not Lam. 3. 20. If thou Lord shalt marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand or who may abide it Psalm 130. 3. He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs after our iniquities Psal. 103. 10. Like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him ver 13. For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but dust ver 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulnes hath surprized the hypocrites who shall dwell with the deuouring fire who among vs shall dwel with euerlasting burning I◠33. Topheth is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared Hee hath made it deep and large the pile therof is fire and much wood the breath of the LORD like a streame of Brimstone doth kindle it Isa. 30. 33. A fire is kindled in mine anger and it shall burne to the lowest hell Deut. 32. 22. The Sonne of man shall send his Angells and they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and them which doe iniquity Mat. 13. 41. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth verse 42. Whose fan is in his hand and hee will throughly purge his floore and gather his wheat into his garner but burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire Mat. 3. 12. Suffering the vengeance of eternall fire Iud. 7. Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and coole my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Luk. 16. 24. Where the worme dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Mar. 9. 44. 46. In flaming fire taking vengeance of them that knowe not God 2. Thes. 1. 8. Binde him hand and foot cast him into vtter darknes there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22. 13. To whom the mist of darknes is reserued for euer 2. Pet. 2. He hath reserued in euerlasting chaines of darknes vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud. 6. 〈◊〉 same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lambe Reu. 14. 10. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp for euer and euer ver 12. These both were
thee FINIS Errata PAge 3. in marg germinatus reade germinans p. 9. l 8 r. his priuate prayer l. 9. dele alone p. 19. in marg patrij r. patrui p. 24 in marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 58. l. 22. pure and plaine heart r. pure hearts and hands p. 63. l. 9. bare r. priuate p 64. l. 13. Saturday r Sabbath eue p 68. l. 5. ioyned r. inioyned p. 97 l. 5 one r. oure p. 100. l. 6. roome r. man p. 109 l 1. knife r. thrift l 11. approued r. approueth p 120 l 9. fit r sill l. 15. faith r. face p. 150. l. 19 dele my p. 151. l. 16. insert the close out of Scripture p. 163 l 27 these r. the p. 167. l. 11. adde Gen. 3. 15. p. 185. l. 2. d Ier. 44. p. 194 l. 16. d. for p. 195. l. 14. heart r. head p. 235. l. ◠Ioh. 15. 10. r. Ioh 16. 28. p. 265. l. 27. immediately r. mediately p. 281. l. 18. thou wert r. thou who wert p. 299. in marg strength r out of his side p. 320. in mar which God r. of God p. 328. l. 1. his r thy p 331. l 22. dele made p. 361. l. 15. Mat. 1 12 r. Mat. 11. 1 p 365. deaded r dead p. 371 l 22 to r. for p. 380. in marg in r. an p. 388. l. 6. the r as the p 435. l. 23. eating 1. eaten p. 439. l. 2. for r. of p. 443 l 10. adde 1 Pet. 2. 23. p. 446. l 21. adde in marg the Spirit p. 449. l. 13. adde in marg happinesse p. 453 the prayers are false quoted p. 458. l. 17. things r. my members p. 460. l. 5. dele to which faith is requisite p. 465. in marg pray r. prayer p 477. l. 24. them r therein p 481. l. 20. in marg dele peace p. 4. 82. in marg dele heere p. 488 l 26 dele and p. 490. l. 12. from r. to p. 524. l. 21. were yea and amen r. were not yea and nay p 518. l. 3. affection r. affliction p 523. compasse r. compose p. 530. l. 13. dele and. p. 531. l. 8. dele so p. 532. l. 9 the r thy THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION THE SECOND PART Deliuering the summe of SAVING KNOVVLEDGE in 52 Sections answerable to the number of the Sundayes throughout the Yeere IOH. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. AVGVST Confess Quid prodest in caeteris disciplinis peritum esse fine doctrinâ piëtatis periturum LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Boorne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Rojall Exchange 1625. A Table representing the generall Method of this Part. Blessednes is obtained by true Religion reueiled by God in holy SCRIPTVRES which instruct vs in the 1. Knowledge of 1 God his Nature Attributes Works of CREATION Prouidence generall speciall 2 CHRIST his Person Estates Offices of King Priest Prophet 2. Worship of GOD in CHRIST Immediate vvhich consisteth in performing all holy duties commanded in the first Table Mediate which consisteth in performing all duties to our neighbours and our selues commanded in the second Table which are of a sorts 1 Generall and common duties of all Christians one to another 2 Special proper to men in certaine Estates Callings A Table of the particular Contents OF Catechisme the parts and proper ends thereof Sect. 1. Of blessednesse and the meanes of obtaining it Sect. 2. Of Religion and the parts thereof Sect. 3. Of the nature of God Sect. 4. Of the principall attributes of God Sect. 5. Of the workes of God in generall Sect. 6. Of Gods decrees Sect. 7. Of the Creation Sect. 8. Of Gods generall prouidence Sect. 9. Of the Predestination of Angels Sect. 10. Of the Predestination of men Sect. 11. Of Christ his person Sect. 12. Of Christ his estate of humiliation Sect. 13. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Sect. 14. Of Christ his Propheticall function Sect. 15. Of Christ his Priestly function Sect. 16. Of Christ his Kingly function Sect. 17. Of the Church and the parts thereof Sect. 18. Of the notes of the true Church Sect. 19. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith in particular Sect. 20. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 21. Of reuerence obedience and patience and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 22. Of loue feare repentance gratitude and zeale and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 23. Of hope confidence and magnanimity and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 24. Of the outward worship of God in generall Sect. 25. Of keeping the Sabboth Sect. 26. Of hearing the Word Sect. 27. Of Prayer and the parts thereof Sect. 28. Of receiuing the Sacrament and necessary preparation thereunto Sect. 29. Of oathes vowes and profession of our faith Sect. 30. Of the Christian duties wee owe to our selues Sect. 31. Of the common duties were owe to our neighbours Sect. 32. Of the speciall workes of humilitie Sect. 33. Of the speciall workes of meeknesse Sect. 34. Of the speciall workes of friendship Sect. 35. Of the speciall workes of Christian zeale Sect. 36. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours Sect. 37. Of the duties of inferiours towards their Superiours Sect. 38. Of the duties of equalls Sect. 39. Of the Christian duties of Kings towards their Subiects Sect. 40. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King Sect. 41. Of the duties of Christian parents Sect. 42. Of the speciall duties of children Sect. 43. Of the speciall duties of Masters Sect. 44. Of the speciall duties of Seruants Sect. 45. Of the duties of married folke Sect. 46. Of the duties of the Husband Sect. 47. Of the duties of the wife Sect. 48 Of the duties of Pastours Sect. 49 Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastour Sect. 50. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of their personall callings Sect. 51. Of the speciall antidotes or preseruatiues against sinne Sect. 52. THE PRAYER BEFORE THE Catechisme GRacious Father who hast prouided the sincere milke of the Word for New borne babes in Christ as thou hast strong meate for them that are of riper yéers and iudgement and hast commended to the dispensers of thy holy mysteries as well the care of feeding thy tender Lambes as thy well growne and stronger sheepe Guide me by thy holy spirit that I may guide them in the paths of righteousnesse and leade them to the waters of comfort flowing from the fountaine of thy most pure and holy Word Season their tender yéeres with true Religion and powre into these new vessels the new wine of thy Gospell that they sauour not of the caske of the olde Man Open their hearts as thou openedst the heart of Lydia that they may attend to those things that concerne their eternall saluation Sit thou in the middest of vs here assembled as thou satest