when we present our selves to God having received Christs body within us we are sure to be accepted and all the good prayers we make to God for our selves others are sure to be heard Quest Who are fit to receive this Sacrament Ans. None but baptized Christians and such as repent of their sins and heartily purpose to lead a good life Quest What other Ministeries hath Christ ordained in his Church to help us and to bring so many great purposes to pass Ans. Jesus Christ hath appointed Ministers and Embassadors of his own to preach his Word to us to pray for us to exhort and to reprove to comfort and instruct to restore and reconcile us if we be overtaken in a fault to visit the sick to separate the vile from the precious to administer the Sacraments and to watch for the good of our souls Quest What are we tied to perform towards them Ans. To pay them honour and maintenance to obey them in all things according to the Gospel and to order our selves so that they may give account of our souls with chearfulness and joy Quest Which are the Commandments and Laws of Jesus Christ Ans. They are many but easie holy but very pleasant to all good â—…indes to such as desire to live well 〈◊〉 this world and in the world to â—…ome and they are set down in â—…he Sermons of our blessed Lord â—…nd of his Apostles but especially â—…n the 5. 6. 7. Chapters of S. Matâ—…hew AN EXPOSITION OF The Apostles CREED I believe in God I Believe that there is a God who is one true supreme and alone infinitely wise just good free eternal immense and blessed and in him alone we are to put our trust The Father Almighty I believe that he is 1. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and 2. of all that believe in him whom he hath begotten by his Word and adopted to the inheritance of Sons and because he is our Father he will do us all that good to which we are created and designed by grace and because he is Almighty he is able to perform it all and therefore we may safely believe in him and relie upon him Maker of Heaven and Earth He made the Sun and the Moon the Stars and all the regions of glory he made the Air the Earth and the Water and all that live in them he made Angels and Men and he who made them does and he onely can preserve them in the same beeing and thrust them forwards to a better he that preserves them does also govern them and intends they should minister to his glory and therefore we are to do worship and obedience to him in all that we can and that he hath commanded And in Jesus Christ I also believe in Jesus Christ who is and is called a Saviour and the Anointed Anointed of the Lord promised to the Patriarchs whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power to become the Great Propheâ—… and declarer of his Fathers Will to all the world telling us how God will be worshipped and served he is anointed to be the Mediator of the New Covenant and our High-Priest reconciling us to his Father by the Sacrifice of himself and to be the Great King of all the world and by this Article we are Christians who serve and worship God the Father through Jesus Christ His onely Son Jesus Christ is the Son of God he alone of him alone for God by his holy Spirit caused him to be born of a Virgin by his power he â—…ised him from the Dead and gave â—…im a new birth or beeing in the boâ—…y he gave him all power and all â—…xcellency and beyond all this he 〈◊〉 the express Image of his person â—…he brightness of his glory equal to God beloved before the beginning of â—…he world of a nature perfectly Diâ—…ine very God by essence and very Man by assumption as God all one â—…n nature with the Father and as Man one Person in Himself Our Lord Jesus Christ Gods onely Son is the Heir of all things and persons in his Fathers house All Angels and Men are his servants and all the Creatures obey him we are to believe in him and by Faith in him onely and in his Name we shall be saved Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost I believe that Jesus Christ was not begotten of a Man nor born by natural means but that a Divine Power from God Gods Holy Spirit did overshadow the Virgin-Mother of Christ and made her in a wonderful manner to conceive Jesus in her womb and by this his admirable manner of being conceived he was the Son of God alone and no man was his Father Born of the Virgin Mary Though God was his Father and he begat him by the power of the Holy Ghost and caused him miraculously to begin in the womb of his Mother yet from her he also derived his humane Nature and by his Mother he was of the Family of King David and called the Son of Man his Mother being a holy person not chosen to this great honour for her wealth or beauty but by the good will of God and because she was of a rare exemplar modesty and humility and she received the honour of being a Mother to the Son of God and ever a Virgin and all generations shall call her blessed Suffered under Pontius Pilate After that Jesus passed through â—…he state of Infancy and Childhood â—…eing subject to his Parents and working in an humble Trade to serve â—…is own and his Mothers needs he â—…rew to the state of a man he began to preach at the age of Thirty years and having for about three years and a half preached the â—…pel and taught us his Fathers will having spoken the Gospel of his Kingdome and revealed to us the secrets of Eternal life and Resurrection of the Dead Regeneration and Renewing by the Holy Spirit Perfect Remission of sins and Eternal Judgement at last that he might â—…cile the world to his Father he became a Sacrifice for all our sins and suffered himself to be taken by the malicious Jews and put to a painful and shameful death they being envious at him for the number of his Disciples and the reputation of his person the innocence of his life the mightiness of his Miracles and the power of his Doctrine and this death he suffered when Pontius Pilate was Governour of Judea Was Crucified Jesus Christ being taken by the Rulers of the Jews bound and derided buffeted and spit upon accused weakly and persecuted violently at last wanting matter and pretences to condemn him they asked him of his Person and Office and because he affirmed that great Truth which all the world of good men long'd for that he was the Messias and designed to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on high they resolved to call it Blasphemy
Throne and the Angels having gathered together Gods Elect from the four Corners of the world and all the kindreds of the earth being brought before the Judgement-feat shall have the Records of their Conscience laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their memory to convince the wicked of the Justice of the Judge in passing the fearful Sentence upon them and to glorifie the mercies of God towards his Redeemed ones and then the righteous Judge shall condemn the wicked to the portion of Devils for ever to a state of torments the second and eternal and intolerable death and the godly being placed on his right hand shall hear the blessed Sentence of Absolution and shall be led by Christ to the participation of the glories of his Fathers Kingdome for ever and ever Amen I believe in the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit Who is the third person of the holy â—…ndivided everblessed Trinity which 〈◊〉 worship and adore and admire â—…ut look upon with wonder and am â—…ot in a capacity to understand I â—…elieve that the Holy Spirit into whose name as of the Father and the â—…on I was baptized is the heavenly Author the Captain the Teacher and the Witness of all the Truths of the Gospel That as the Father sent the Son so the Son from heaven sent the Holy Spirit to lead the Church into all Truth to assist us in all Temptations and to help us in the purchase of all Vertue This Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and our Lord Jesus received him from his Father and sent him into the world who receiving the things of Christ and declaring the same excellent doctrines speaks whatsoever he hath heard from him and instructed the Apostles and builds the Church and produces Faith and confirms our Hope and increases Charity and this Holy Spirit our blessed Lord hath left with his Church for ever by which all the servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary tâ—… Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do and we speaâ—… by the Spirit and work by the Spirit when by his assistances any waâ—… imparted to us we speak or do anâ—… thing of our duty He it is whâ—… inlightens our Understandings 〈◊〉 our Will orders and commands our Affections he comfoâ—… our sorrows supports our spirits iâ—… trouble and enables us by Promisâ—… and Confidences and Gifts to â—…suff for the Lord Jesus and the Gospelâ—… and all these things God the Fathâ—… does for us by his Son and the Soâ—… by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit by all means within and without which are operative upon and proportionable to the nature of reasonable creatures This is he whâ—… works Miracles gives the gifts ofâ—… Prophesie and of interpretation that teaches us what and how tâ—… pray that gives us Zeal and holy Desires who sanctifies children iâ—… Baptism and confirms them with his grace in Confirmation and reproves the world and consecrates Bishops and all the Ministers of the Gospel and absolves the penitent blesses â—…he obedient and comforts the sick and excommunicates the refractary and makes intercession for the Saints that is the Church and those whom he hath blessed appointed and sanctified to these purposes do all these Ministeries by his Authority and his Commandment and his Aids This is he that testifies to our Spirits that we are the sons of God and that makes us to cry Abba Father that is who inspires into us such humble confidences of our being accepted in our hearty and constant endevours to please God that we can with chearfulness and joy call God our Father and expect and hope for the portion of sons both here and hereafter and in the certainty of this hope to work out our salvation with fear and reverence with trembling and joy with distrust of our selves and mighty confidence in God By this holy and ever-blessed Spirit several persons in the Church and every man in his proportion receives the gifts of Wisdome and utterance and Knowledge and Interpretation and Prophecy and Healing and Government and discerning of Spirits and Faith and Tongues and whatsoever can be necessary for the Church in several ages and periods for her beginning for her continuance for her in prosperity and for her in persecution This is the great Promise of the Father and it is the gift of God which he will give to all them that ask him and who live piously and chastely and are persons fit to entertain so Divine a Grace This Holy Spirit God gives to some more to some less according as they are capable They who obey his Motions and love his Presence and improve his Gifts shall have him yet more abundantly but they that grieve the holy Spirit shall lose that which they have and they that extinguish him belong not to Christ but are in the state of reprobation and they that blaspheme this holy Spirit and call him the Spirit of the Devil or the Spirit of Error or folly or do malicious despites to him that is they who on purpose considering and choosing do him hurt by word or by deed so far as iesâ—… in them shall for ever be separated from the presence of God and of Christ and shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Lastly this holy Spirit seals us to the day of Redemption that is God gives us his Holy Spirit as a testimony that he will raise us again at the last day and give us a portion in the glories of his Kingdome in the inheritance of our Lord Jesus The holy Catholick Church I believe that there is and ought to be a visible Company of men professing the service and discipline that is the Religion of the Gospel who agree together in the belief of all the Truths of God revealed by Jesus Christ and in confession of the Articles of this Creed and agree together in praying and praising God through Jesus Christ to reade and hear the Scriptures read and expounded to provoke each other to love and to good works to advance the honour of Christ and to propagate his Faith and Worship I believe this to be a Holy Church Spirituall and not Civill and Secular but sanctified by their Profession and the solemn Rites of it professing holiness and separating from the evil manners of heathens and wicked persons by their Laws and Institutions And this Church is Catholick that is it is not confin'd to the Nation of the Jews as was the old Religion but it is gathered out of all Nations and is not of a differing Faith in differing places but alwayes did doth and ever shall profess the Faith which the Apostles preached and which is contained in this Creed which whosoever believes is a Catholick and a Christian and he that believes not is
all our faculties and grant that as they there so all the world here may serve thee with peace and concord purity and love unfeigned with one heart and one voice glorifying thee our heavenly Father Grant that we may quit all our own affections and suspect our reasonings and go out of our selves and all our own confidences that thou being to us all things disposing all events and guiding all our actions and directing our intentions and over-ruling all things in us and about us we may be Servants of the Divine Will for ever Give us this day our daily Bread Thou O God which takest care of our Souls do not despise our bodies which thou hast made and sanctified and designed to be glorious But now we are exposed to hunger and thirst nakedness and weariness want and inconvenience Give unto us neither poverty nor riches but feed us with food convenient for us and clothe us with fitting provisions according to that state and condition where thou hast placed thy Servants that we may not be tempted with want nor made contemptible by beggery nor wanton or proud by riches nor in love with any thing in this world but that we may use it as strangers and pilgrims as the relief of our needs the support of our infirmities and the oyle of our lamps feeding us till we are quite spent in thy service Lord take from thy Servants sad carefulness and all distrust and give us onely such a proportion of temporal things as may enable us with comfort to do our duty Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us O dear God unless thou art pleased to pardon us in vain it is that we should live here and what good will our life do us O look upon us with much mercy for we have sinned grievously against thee Pardon the adherent imperfections of our life the weaknesses of our duty the carelesness of our spirit our affected ignoâ—…nce our indiligence our rashness and â—…ant of observation our malice and Preâ—…mptions Turn thine eyes from our imâ—…urities and behold the brightness and â—…urest innocence of the Holy Jesus and â—…nder his cover we plead our cause not â—…hat thou shouldest judge our sins but â—…ive us pardon and blot out all our iniâ—…uities that we may never enter into the â—…orrible regions where there are torments without ceasing a Prison without ransome â—…eproaches without comfort anguish without patience darkness without light 〈◊〉 worm that never dies and the fire that â—…ever goeth out But be pleased also to give us great Chaâ—…ity that we may truly forgive all that â—…rouble or injure us that by that Charaâ—…ter thou mayest discern us to be thy â—…ons and Servants Disciples of the Holy â—…esus lest our Prayer be turned into sin â—…nd thy grace be recalled and thou enter â—…nto a final anger against thy Servants Lead us not into Temptation Gracious Father we are weak and ignorant our affections betray us and make us willing to die our adversary the Devil goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour he is busie and crafty malicious and powerful watchful and envious and we tempt our selves running out to mischief delighting in the approaches of sin and love to have necessities put upon us that sin may be unavoidable Pity us in the midst of these disorders and give us spirituall Strength holy Resolutions a watchful Spirit the whole Armour of God and thy protection the guard of Angels and the conduct of thy holy Spirit to be our security in the day of danger Give us thy grace to flie from all occasions to sin that we may never tempt our selves nor delight to be tempted and let thy blessed Providence so order the accidents of our lives that we may not dwell near an enemy and when thou shalt try us and suffer us to enter into combat let us alwayes be on thy side and fight valiantly resist the Devil and endure patiently and persevere constantly unto the end that thou mayest crown thy own work in us But deliver us from evil From sin and shame from the malice and fraud of the Devil and from the falseness and greediness of men from all â—…hy wrath and from all our impurities â—…ood Lord deliver thy servants Do not reserve any thing of thy wrath 〈◊〉 store for us but let our sins be Parâ—…oned so fully that thou mayest not puâ—…ist our inventions And yet if thou â—…ilt not be intreated but that it be neâ—…essary that we suffer thy will be done â—…mite us here with a Fathers rod that â—…hou mayest spare us hereafter let the â—…ad accidents of our life be for good to â—…s not for evil for our amendment not â—…o exasperate or weary us not to harden â—…r confound us and what evil soever it â—…e that shall happen let us not sin against â—…hee For ever deliver us from that evil â—…nd for ever deliver us from the power of â—…he evil one the great enemy of Manâ—…inde and never let our portion be in â—…hat region of Darkness in that everâ—…asting burning which thou hast prepared â—…or the Devil and his Angels for ever For thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen So shall we thy servants advance the Mightiness of thy Kingdome the Power of thy Majesty and the Glory of thy Mercy from generation to generation for ever Amen LETANIES FOR All Things and Persons O God the Father of Mercies the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have â—…ercy upon thy servants and hear the â—…rayers of us miserable sinners O blessed Jesus the Fountain of Peace â—…nd Pardon our Wisdome and our Righâ—…ousness our Sanctification and Redemâ—…tion have mercy upon thy servants reâ—…se not to hear the prayers of us miseraâ—…e sorrowful and returning sinners O holy and divinest Spirit of the Faâ—…er help our infirmities for of our selves â—…e know not what to ask nor how to â—…ray but do thou assist and be preâ—…nt in the desires of us miserable sinâ—…ers 1. For Pardon of Sins REmember not Lord the follies of our childehood nor the lusts of our youth the wildness of our head nor the wandrings of our heart the infinite sins of our tongue and the inexcusable errors of the dayes of vanity Lord have mercy upon us poor miserable sinners Remember not O Lord the growing iniquities of our elder age the pride of our spirit the abuse of our members the greediness of our appetite the inconstancy of our purposes the peevishness and violence of all our pafsions and affections Lord have mercy c. Remember not O Lord how we have been full of envy and malice anger anâ—… revenge fierce and earnest in the purchases and vanities of the world and lazy anâ—… dull slow and soon weary in the things of God and of Religion Lord have mercy c. Remember not O Lord our uncharitaâ—…le behaviour towards those with whom â—…e have conversed our jealousies and suâ—…icions our evil surmisings and evil reâ—…ortings the
inquisitive after thy will pure and holy thoughts strong and religious purposes and thy grace to perform faithfully what we have promised in the day of our duty or in the day of our calamity Hear our prayers c. O teach us to despise all vanity to fight the battles of the Lord manfully against the Flesh the World and the Devil to spend our time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk alwayes as in thy presence to preserve our souls and bodies in holiness fit for the habitation of the holy Spirit of God Hear our prayers c. Give us a holy and a perfect repentance a well instructed understanding regular affections a constant and a wise heart a good name a fear of thy Majesty and a love of all thy glories above all the things in the world for ever Hear our prayers c. Give us a healthful body and a clear â—…nderstanding the love of our neighbors â—…nd the peace of the Church the publick â—…fe and comfort of thy holy Word and â—…acraments a great love to all Christians â—…nd obedience to our Superiors Eccleâ—…astical and Civil all the dayes of our â—…ife Hear our prayers c. Give us spiritual wisdome that we may â—…iscern what is pleasing to thee and folâ—…ow what belongs unto our peace and let the knowledge and love of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be our guide and our portion all our dayes Hear our prayers c. Give unto us holy dispositions and an active industry in thy service to redeem the time mispent in vanity for thy pity sake take not vengeance of us for our sins but sanctifie our souls and bodies in this life and glorifie them hereafter Hear our prayers c. Our Father c. IV. To be added to the former Letanies according as our Devotions and time will suffer For all states of men and women especially in the Christian Church OBlessed God in mercy remember thine inheritance and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever pity poor mankinde whose portion is misery and folly shame and death But thou art our Redeemer and the lifter up of our head and under the shadow of thy wings shall be our help untill this Tyranny be overpast Have mercy upon us O God and hide not thy self from our petition Preserve O God the Catholick Church in holiness and truth in unity and peace free from persecution or glorious under it that she may for ever advance the honour our of her Lord Jesus for ever represent is Sacrifice and glorifie his Person and â—…dvance his Religion and be accepted of â—…hee in her blessed Lord that being filled with his Spirit she may partake of his â—…lory Have mercy upon us c. Give the spirit of Government and hoâ—…iness to all Christian Kings Princes and Governours grant that their people may obey them and they may obey thee and â—…ive in honesty and peace justice and holy Religion being Nursing Fathers to the Church Advocates for the oppressed Paâ—…rons for the widows and a Sanctuary for the miserable and the fatherless that they may reign with thee for ever in the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to thy servants the Bishops and all the Clergy the spirit of holiness and courage of patience and humility of prudence and diligence to preach and declare thy will by a holy life and wise discourses that they may minister to the good of souls and finde a glorious reward in the day of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to our Relatives our Wives and Children our Friends and Benefactors our Charges our Family c. pardon and support comfort in all their sorrows strength in all their temptations the guard of Angels to preserve them from evil and the conduct of thy holy Spirit to lead them into all good that they doing their duty may feel thy mercies here and partake of thy glories hereafter Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Christian Kingdomes and Common-wealths peace and plenty health and holy Religion to all families of Religion and Nurseries of piety zeal and holiness prudence and unity peace and contentedness To all Schools of Learning quietness and industry freedome from wars and violence factions and envy Have mercy upon us c. Give to all married pairs faith and love charitable and wise compliances sweetness of society and innocence of conversation To all Virgins and Widows great love of Religion a sober and a contented spirit an unwearied attendance to devotion and â—…he offices of holiness protection to the fatherless comfort to the disconsolate paâ—…tience and submission health and spiritual advantages to the sick that they may feel thy comforts for the dayes wherein they have suffered adversity Have mercy upon us c. Be thou a star and a guide to them that travel by land or sea the confidence and comfort of them that are in storms and shipwracks the strength of them that toil in the Mynes and row in the Gallies an instructer to the ignorant to them that are condemn'd to die be thou a guide unto death give chearfulness to every sad heart spiritual strength and proportionable comfort to them that are afflicted by evil spirits pity the â—…unaticks give life and salvation to all to whom thou hast given no understanding accept the stupid and the fools to mercy give liberty to prisoners redemption to captives maintenance to the poor patronage and defence to the oppressed and put a period to the iniquity and to the miseries of all mankinde Have mercy upon us c. Give unto our enemies grace and pardon charity to us and love to thee take away all anger from them and all mistakes from us all misinterpretations and jealousies bring all sinners to repentance and holiness and to all thy Saints and Servants give an increasing love and a persevering duty bring all Turks Jews and Infidels to the knowledge and confession of the Lord Jesus and a participation of all the Promises of the Gospel all the benefits of his Passion to all Hereticks give humility and ingenuity repentance of their errors and grace and power to make amends to the Church and Truth and a publick acknowledgement of a holy faith to the glory of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Merchants faithfulness and truth to the labouring husbandman health and fair seasons of the year and reward his toil with the dew of heaven and the blessings of the earth To all Artizans give diligence in their Callings and a blessing on their labours and on their families To old men piety and perfect repentance a liberal heart and an open hand great religion and desires after heaven To young men give sobriety and chastity health and usefulness an early â—…iety and a persevering duty To all families visited with the rod of God give consclation and a holy use of the affliction and a speedy deliverance To us
perfeâ—… knowledge my weaknesses and disâ—… 〈◊〉 the strength and beauties of the Sons â—…f God V. â—…N the mean time use what means thou 〈◊〉 pleasest to conform me to the image of â—…hy holy Son that I may be gentle to â—…thers and severe to my self that I may â—…t down in the lowest place striving to â—…o before my brother in nothing but in â—…oing him and thee honour staying for â—…ny glory till thou shalt please in the day â—…f recompences to reflect light from thy â—…ace and admit me to behold thy glories Grant this for Jesus Christs sake who â—…umbled himself to the death and shame of the Cross and is now exalted unto glory Unto him with thee O Father be glory and praise for ever and ever Amen For MUNDAY A Prayer against Covetousness I. O Almighty God eternal Treasure of all good things thou fillest all things with plenteousness Thou clothest the lillies of the field and feedest the young ravens that call upon thee Thou art all-sufficient in thy self and all-sufficient to us let thy Providence be my store-house thy dispensation of temporal things the limit of my labour my own necessity the measures of my desire but never let my desires of this world be greedy nor my labourimmoderate nor my care vexatious and distracting but prudent moderate holy subordinae to thy Will the measure thou hast appointed for me II. TEach me O God to despise the world to labour for the true riches â—…o seek the Kingdome of heaven and its â—…ighteousness to be content with what â—…hou providest to be in this world like a â—…tranger with affections set upon heaven â—…abouring for and longing after the posâ—…estions of thy Kingdomes but never â—…uffer my affectious to dwell below but â—…ive me a heart compassionate to the â—…oor liberal to the needy open and free â—…n all my communications without base â—…nds or greedy designes or unworthy â—…rts of gain but let my strife be to gain â—…hy favour to obtain the blessedness of doâ—…ng good to others and giving to them â—…hat want and the blessedness of receivingâ—…rom thee pardon and support grace and â—…oliness perseverance and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord For TUESDAY A Prayer against Lust I. O Eternal Purity thou art brighter then the Sun purer then the Angels and the Heavens are not clean in thy sight with mercy behold thy servant apt to be tempted with every object and to be overcome by every enemy I cannot O God stand in the day of battel and danger unless thou coverest me with thy shield and hidest me under thy wings The fiery darts of the Devil are ready to consume me unless the dew of thy grace for ever descend upon me Thou didst make me after thy image be pleased to preserve me so pure and spotless chaste and clean that my body may be a holy Temple and my soul a sanctuary to entertain thy divinest Spirit the Spirit of love and holiness the Prince of Purities II. REprove in me the spirit of Fornication and Uncleanness and fill my soul with holy fires that no strange fire may come into the Temple of my body where thou hast chosen to dwell O cast out all those unclean spirits which have unhallowed the place where thy holy feet have trod Pardon all my hurtfull thoughts all my impurities that I who am a member of Christ may not become the member of a harlot nor the slave of 〈◊〉 Devil nor a servant of lust and 〈◊〉 desires But do thou purifie my 〈◊〉 and let me seek the things that are 〈◊〉 hating the garments spotted with the 〈◊〉 never any more grieving thy holy 〈◊〉 by filthy inclinations with impure 〈◊〉 phantastick thoughts but let my 〈◊〉 be holy my soul pure my body 〈◊〉 and healthful my spirit severe 〈◊〉 and religious every day more and more that at the day of our appearing 〈◊〉 may be presented to God washed and cleansed pure and spotless by the blood of the holy Lamb through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For WEDNESDAY A Prayer against Gluttony and Drunkenness I. O Almighty Father of Men and Angels who hast of thy great bounty provided plentifully for all mankinde to support his state to relieve his necessities to refresh his sorrows to recreate his labours that he may praise thee and rejoyce in thy mercies and bounty Be thou gracious unto thy servant yet more and suffer me not by my folly to change thy bounty into sin thy grace into wantonness Give me the spirit of temperance and sobriety that I may use thy creatures in the same measures and to the same purposes which thou hast designed so as may best enable me to serve thee but not to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Let me not as Esau prefer meat before a blessing but subdue my appetite subjecting it to reason and the grace of God being content with what is moderate and useful and easie to be obtained taking it in due time receiving it thankfully making it to minister to my body that my body may be a good instrument of the soul and the soul a servant of thy Divine Majesty for ever and ever 11. PArdon O God in whatsoever I have offended thee by meat and drink and pleasures and never let my body any more be oppressed with loads of sloth and delicacies or my soul drowned in seas of â—…ine or strong drink but let my appeâ—…ites be changed into spiritual desires that 〈◊〉 may hunger after the food of Angels and thirst for the wine of elect souls and may account it meat and drink and pleasure to do thy will O God Lord let me â—…eat and drink so that my food may not become a temptation or a sin or a â—…ease but grant that with so much caution and prudence I may watch over my apâ—…petite that I may in the strength of thy â—…mercies and refreshmnets in the light of thy countenance and in the paths of thy Commandments walk before thee all the dayes of my life acceptable to thee in Jesus Christ ever advancing his honour and being filled with his Spirit that I may at last partake of his glory through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For THURSDAY A Prayer against Envy I. O Most gracious Father thou Spring of an Eternal Charity who hast so loved mankinde that thou didst open thy bosome and send thy holy Son to convey thy mercies to us and thou didst create Angels and Men that thou mightest have objects to whom thou mightest communicate thy goodness Give me grace to follow so glorious a precedent that I may never envy the prosperity of any one but rejoyce to honour him whom thou honourest to love him whom thou lovest to commend the vertuous to discern the precious from the vile giving honour to whom honour belongs that I may go to heaven in the noblest way of rejoycing in the good of others II. O Dear God never suffer the Devil to rub his vilest Leprosie of Envy
upon me never let me have the affections of â—…he desperate and damned let it not be â—…ll with me when it is well with others â—…ut let thy holy Spirit so over-rule me for ever that I may pity the afflicted and be compassionate and have a fellow-feeling of my brothers sorrows and that I may as much as I can promote his good and give thee thanks for it and rejoyce with them that do rejoyce never censuring his actions curstly nor detracting from his praises spitefully nor upbraiding his infelicities maliciously but pleased in all things which thou doest or givest that I may then triumph in spirit when thy Kingdome is advanced when thy Spirit rules when thy Church is profited when thy Saints rejoyce when the devils interest is destroyed truly lovieg thee and truly loving my brother that we may all together joyn in the holy Communion of Saints both here and hereafter in the measures of grace and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For FRIDAY A Prayer against Wrath and inordinate Anger I. O Almighty Judge of Men and Angels whose anger is alwayes the minister of Justice slow but severe not lightly arising but falling heavily when it comes Give to thy servant a meek and a gentle spirit that I also may be slow to anger and easie to mercy and forgiveness Give me a wise and a constant heart that I may not be moved with every trifling mistake and inconsiderable accident in the conversation and entercourse of others never be moved to an intemperate anger for any injury that is done or offered let my anger ever be upon a just cause measured with moderation and reason expressed with charity and prudence lasting but till it hath done some good either upon my self or others II. LOrd let me be ever courteous and easie to be intreated never let me fall into a peevish or contentious spirit but follow peace with all men offering forgiveness inviting them by courtesies ready to confess my own errors apt to make amends and desirous to be reconciled Let no sickness or cross accident no imployment or weariness make me angry or ungentle and discontent or unthankful or uneasie to them that minister to me but in all things make me like unto the holy Jesus Give me the spirit of a Christian charitable humble merciful and meek useful and liberal complying with every chance angry at nothing but my own sins and grieving for the sins of others that while my passion obeys my reason and my reason is religious and my religion is pure and undefiled managed with humility and adorned with charity I may escape thy anger which I have deserved and may dwell in thy love and be thy Son and Servant for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For SATURDAY A Prayer against weaâ—…ness in well-doing I. O My God merciful and gracious my soul groans under the loads of its own infirmity when my spirit is willing my flesh is weak my understanding foolish and imperfect my will peevish and listless my affections wandring after strange objects my fancy wilde and unfixed all my senses minister to folly and vanity and though they were all made for Religion yet they least of all delight in that O my God pity me and hear me when I pray and make that I may pray acceptably Give me a love to Religion an unwearied spirit in the things of God Let me not relish or delight in the things of the world in sensual objects and transitory possessions but make my eyes look up to thee my soul be filled with thee my spirit ravished with thy love my understanding imployed in the meditation of thy Law all my powers and faculties â—…f soul and body wholly serving thee â—…nd delighting in such holy ministeries II. O Most gracious God what greater favour is there then that I may and what easier imployment can there be then to pray thee to be admitted into thy presence and to represent our needs and that we have our needs supplied onely for asking and desiring passionately and humbly But we rather quit our hopes of heaven then buy it at the cheapest rate of humble prayer This O God is the greatest infirmity and infelicity of man and hath an intolerable cause and is an unsufferable evil III. O Relieve my spirit with thy graciousness take from me all tediousness of spirit and give me a laboriousness that will not be tired a hope that shall never fail a desire of holiness not to be satisfied till it possesses a charity that will alwayes increase that I making Religion the business of my whole life may turn all things into Religion doing all to thy glory and by the measures of thy Word and of thy Spirit that when thou shalt call me from this deliciousness of imployment and the holy ministeries of grace I may pass into the imployment of Saints and Angels whose work it is with eternal joy and thanksgiving to sing praises to the mercies of the great Redeemer of Men and Saviour of Men and Angels Jesus Christ our Lord To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and worship all service and thanks all Glory and Dominon for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to be said by a Maiden before she enters into the state of Marriage I. O Most glorious God and my most indulgent Lord and gracious Father who doest bless us by thy bounty pardon us by thy mercy support and guide us by thy grace and govern us sweetly by thy providence I give thee most humble and hearty thanks that â—…hou hast hitherto preserved me in my Virgin state with innocence and chastity â—…n a good name and a modest report It â—…s thy goodness alone and the blessed â—…manation of thy holy Spirit by which 〈◊〉 have been preserved and to thee I reâ—…urn all praise and thanks and adore and â—…ove thy goodness infinite II. ANd now O Lord since by thy dispensation and over-ruling providence I am to change my condition and enter into the holy state of Marriage which â—…hou hast sanctified by thy Institution and â—…lessed by thy Word and Promises and â—…raised up to an excellent mystery that it might represent the Union of Christ and his Church Be pleased to go along with â—…thy servant in my entring into and passing through this state that it may not be a state of temptation or sorrow by occasion of my sins or infirmities but of holiness and comfort as thou hast intended it to all that love and fear thy holy Name III. LOrd bless and preserve that dear person whom thou hast chosen to be my Husband Let his life be long and blessed comfortable and holy and let me also become a great blessing and comfort unto him a sharer in all his joyes a refreshment in all his sorrows a meet helper for him in all accidents and chances of the world Make me amiable for ever in his eyes and very dear to him Unite his heart to me in the
he that hath given the following Assistances to thee desires to be even a door-keeper in Gods House and to be a servant of the meanest of Gods servants and thinks it a worthy imployment to teach the most ignorant and make them to know Christâ—… though but in the first rudiments of a holy Institution This onely he affirms That there is more solid comfort and material support to a Christian spirit in one Article of Faith in one period of the Lords Prayer in one holy Lesson then in all the disputes of impertinent people who take more pains to prove there is a Purgatory then to perswade men to avoid Hell And that a plain Catechism can more instruct a soul then the whole dayes prate which some daily spit forth to bid men get Christ and persecute his Servants Christian Religion is admirable for its wisdome for its simplicity and he that presents the following papers to thee designs to teach thee as the Church was taught in the early dayes of the Apostles To believe the Christian Faith and to understand it to represent plain Rules of Good Life to describe easie Formes of Prayer to bring into your Assemblies Hymnes of Glorification and Thanksgiving and Psalms of Prayer By these easie paths they lead Christs little ones into the Fold of their great Bishop and if by this any service be done to God any ministery to the Soul of a Childe or an ignorant Woman it is hoped that God will accept it and it is reward enough if by my Ministery GOD will bring it to passe that any Soul shall be instructed and brought into that state of good things that it shall rejoyce for ever But do thou pray for him that desires this to thee and endevours it ERRATA Page 87. 1.2 for me r. us ibid. f. me r. us ibid. 1.3 f. me r. us ib. 1.5 f. me r. us ibid. f. me r. us ibid 1.6 f. my r. our CREDENDA OR What is to be Believed O {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Plato de legibus Let this Truth be confessed and remain for ever That they who are well instructed easily become good men A. SHORT CATECHISM FOR The institution of young persons IN THE Christian Religion QUESTION IN what does true Religion consist ANSWER In the knowledge of the one true â—…od and whom he hath sent Jesus â—…hrist and in the worshipping and â—…rving them Quest What dost thou believe conâ—…rning God Answ. That there is a God 〈◊〉 That he is one 3. Eternal 4. Alâ—…ighty 5. That he hath made all â—…he world 6. That he knows all things 7. That he is a Spirit not of any shape or figure or parts or body 8. That he is present is all places 9. That his seat is in Heaven and he governs all the world so that nothing happens without his order and leave 10. That he is the Fountain of Justice 11. of Mercy 12. of Bounty or Goodness 13. That he is unalterably happy and infinitely perfect 14. That no evil can come near him 15. And he is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Quest What other Mystery is revealed concerning God Ans. That God being one in nature is also three in Person expressed in Scripture by the names of Father Son and Holy Spirit The first Person being known to us by the name of The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ The second Person is called The Son and the Word of the Father The third is The Spirit and Promise of the Father and these are Three and One after a secret manner which we must believe but cannot understand Quest What is this God to us Ans. He is our Creator and Father and therefore he is our Lord and we are his Creatures his Sons and his Servants Quest Wherefore did God create and make us Ans. That we might do him honour and service and receive from him infinite felicities Quest How did God make man Ans. By the power of his Word out of the slime of the earth and he breathed into him the breath of life Quest Was man good or bad when God made him Ans. Man was made pure and innocent Quest How then did man become sinful and miserable Ans. By listening to the whispers of a tempting spirit and breaking an easie Commandment which God gave him as the first tryal of his obedience Quest What evils and change followed this sin Ans. Adam who was the first man and the first sinner did both for himself and his posterity fall into the state of death of sickness and misfortunes disorder both of body and soul we were thrown out of Paradise and lost our Immortality Quest Was man left in these evill without remedy Ans. No But God pitying his creature promised That of the seed of the woman he would raise up a Saviour and Redeemer who should restore us to Gods favour and to the felicity which we lost Quest How did God perform the promise Ans. By sending Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature to dye for our sins to become our Lord and the Author of holiness and life and salvation to mankinde Quest Who is Jesus Christ Ans. He is the Son of God the second Person of the holy Trinity equal with the Father true God without beginning of life or end of days Quest How then could he be our Redeemer and the promised seed of the woman Ans. The Son of God in the fulness of time by the miracles of his Mercy took upon him humane Nature and united it after a wonderful manner to his Godhead so that he was both God and Man He was born of a Virgin who conceived him not by any natural means but by the power of the Holy Ghost and was called Jesus Christ and his Mothers name was Mary of the seed of Abraham of the family of King David and all these things came to passe when Augustus Caesar was Lord of the Roman Empire Quest How did Jesus Christ work this promised Redemption for us Ans. By his holy and humble life and his obedient dying a painful death for us upon the Cross Quest What benefits do we receive by the life and death of Jesus Christ Ans. We are instructed by his Doctrine encouraged by his excellent Example we are reconciled to God by his Death He hath given us an excellent Law and glorious Promises and himself hath received power to make good all those Promises to his servants and fearfully to destroy them that will not have him to reign over them Quest What Promises hath Jesus Christ made us in the Gospel Ans. He hath promised to give us all that we need in this life That every thing shall work together for our good That he will be with us in tribulation and persecution He hath promised his Graces and his holy Spirit to enable us to do our duty and if we make use of these
all pardon and holiness and life eternal through Jesus Christ Amen The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communication of the Holy Spirit be with us all for ever Amen A SHORT PRAYER To be said every Morning O Almighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the God of mercy and comfort with reverence and fear with humble confidence and strong desires I approach to the Throne of Grace begging of thee mercy and protection pardon and salvation O my God I am a sinner but sorrowful and repenting Thou art justly offended at me but yet thou art my Lord and my Father merciful and gracious Be pleased to blot all my sins out of thy remembrance and heal my soul that I may never any more sin against thee Lord open my eyes that I may see my own infirmities and watch against them and my own follies that I may amend them and be pleased to give me perfect understanding in the way of godliness that I may walk in it all the dayes of my pilgrimage Give me a spirit diligent in the works of my Calling chearful and zeaâ—…us in Religion fervent and frequent in â—…y Prayers charitable and useful in my â—…onversation Give me a healthful and a â—…aste body a pure and a holy soul a â—…nctified and an humble spirit and let â—…y body and soul and spirit be preserved â—…nblameable to the coming of the Lord â—…esus Amen II. BLessed be thy Name O God and blessed be thy Mercies who hast preserved â—…e this night from sin and sorrow from â—…ad chances and a violent death from the â—…alice of the Devil and the evil effects of â—…y own corrupted nature and infirmity The out-goings of the Morning and Evening shall praise thee and thy servants â—…hall rejoyce in giving thee praise for the operation of thy hands Let thy providence and care watch over me this day and all my whole life that I may never sin against thee by idleness or folly by evil company or private sins by word or deed by thought or desire and let the imployment of my day leave no sorrow or the remembrance of an evil conscience at night but let it be holy and profitable blessed and alwayes innocent that when the dayes of my short abode are done and the shadow is departed I may die in thy fear and favour and rest in a holy hope and at last return to the joyes of a blessed Resurrection through Jesus Christ In whose Name and in whose words in behalf of my self and all my friends and all thy servants I humbly and heartily pray Our Faether c. A Prayer for the Evening ETernall God Almighty Father of Men and Angels by whose care and providence I am preserved and blessed comforted and assisted I humbly beg of thee to pardon the sins and follies of this day the weaknesses of my services and the strength of my passions the rashness of my words and the vanity and evil of my actions O just and dear God how long shall I confess my sins and pray against them and yet fall under them O let it be so no more let me never return to the follies of which I am ashamed which bring sorrow and death and thy displeasure worse then death Give me 〈◊〉 command over my evil inclinations and 〈◊〉 â—…erfect hatred of sin and a love to thee â—…ove all the desires of this world Be â—…leased to bless and preserve me this night â—…rom all sin and all violence of Chance â—…nd the malice of the Spirits of darkness â—…atch over me in my sleep and whether sleep or wake let me be thy servant â—…e thou first and last in all my thoughts â—…nd the guide and continual assistance of â—…ll my actions Preserve my body pardon â—…he sin of my soul and sanctifie my â—…oul let me alwayes live holily and justly â—…nd soberly and when I die receive my â—…oul into thy hands O holy and everâ—…lessed Jesus that I may lie in thy boâ—…ome and long for thy coming and hear â—…hy blessed Sentence at Doomsday and â—…hold thy face and live in thy Kingâ—…lome singing praises to God for ever and â—…ver Amen Our Father c. For SUNDAY A Prayer against Pride I. O Eternal God merciful and glorious thou art exalted far above all heavens thy Throne O God is glory and thy Scepter is righteousness thy Will is holiness and thy Wisdome the great foundation of Empire and Government I adore thy Majesty and rejoyce in thy Mercy and revere thy Power anâ—… confess all glory and dignity and honour to be thine alone and theirs to whom thou shalt impart any ray of thy Majesty or reflexion of thy honour but as foâ—… me I am a worm and no man vile dust and ashes the son of corruption and the heir of rottenness seized upon by folly a lump of ignorance and sin and shame and death What art thou O Lord the great God of Heaven and Earth the fountain of Holiness and Perfection inâ—…te But what am I so ignorant that â—…now not what so poor that I have noâ—…ng of my own so miserable that I am â—…e heir of sorrow and death and so sinâ—… that I am encompassed with shame â—…d grief II. ANd yet O my God I am proud proud of my shame glorying in my 〈◊〉 boasting my infirmities for this is all â—…t I have of my own save onely that I â—…ve multiplied my miseries by vile actiâ—…s every day dishonouring the work of â—…y hands my understanding is too conâ—…ent my affections rebellious my will â—…ractory and disobedient and yet I â—…ow thou resistest the proud and didst â—…t the Morning Stars the Angels from â—…aven into chains of darkness when they â—…w giddy and proud walking upon the â—…tlements of heaven beholding the gloâ—…us Regions that were above them III. THou O God who givest grace to the 〈◊〉 humble do something also for the â—…oud man make me humble and obedient Take from me the spirit of pridâ—… and haughtiness ambition and self-flaâ—…tery confidence and gayety teach metâ—… think well and to expound all things faiâ—…ly of my brother to love his worthiness to delight in his praises to excuse his erâ—…rors to give thee thanks for his gracâ—… to rejoyce in all the good that he receiveâ—… and ever to believe and speak better thingâ—… of him then of my self IV. O Teach me to love to be concealeâ—… and little esteemed let me be truâ—… humbled and heartily ashamed of mâ—… sin and folly teach me to bear reproachâ—… evenly for I have deserved them to râ—…fuse all honours done unto me because have not deserved them to return all tâ—… thee for it is thine alone to suffer râ—… proof thankfully to amend all my fauâ—… speedily and do thou invest my soâ—… with the humble robe of my meek Mastâ—… and Saviour Jesus and when I have hunâ—… patiently charitably and diligentâ—… served thee change this robe into tâ—… shining garment of immortality my coâ—… into glory my folly to