Esai 66.2 1 King 8.37 38 39. Luk 8 13 14. Matth. 6.33 That being vnfainedly cast downe in the sense of our spirituall miserie and vilenesse we doe desire spirituall graces aboue all worldly benefits Parent Which is the Thanksgiuing of the Lords Prayer Child For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for euer Parent What do you learne out of the Thanksgiuing Child z 1 Chron. 29.10 11 12 13. 2 Cor. 1.20 Phil. 4.6 1 Tim. 2.1 1 Pet. 4.14 Because God hath full right and power ouer all and doth all things to his owne glory and that for euer I learne First to ground my assurance of obtayning my prayers onely on God And afterwards to render him therefore all praise and glory backe againe at all times Parent Which is the Conclusion of the Lords Prayer Child Amen Parent What is the meaning of Amen Child a 1 Cor. 14.16 2 Cor. 1.20 Reuel 22.20 So be it So it is and So it shall be Parent What do you learne out of Amen Child b Iam. 1.6 7. 5.16 Mark 11.24 I learne thereby that I must pray not onely with seruent desire to obtaine the thing that I aske but also with Faith and Assurance that I shall haue my desire accomplished Parent But what if God heare not our prayers at the first Child c Mark 9.24 Luk. 18.1 c. 21.36 Psal 42.11 1 Thess 5.17 Esai 62.7 Yet we must striue against doubting and vnbeléefe and continue in prayer neuer waxing faint nor for any cause ceasing to importune the Lord till hée hath granted our requests Seruant How is Prayer diuided Scholler Into Publike Priuate and either of the same into Ordinarie and Extraordinarie Seruant What do you call Publike Prayer Scholler d Act 6.4 c Psal 84.1 c. 1. Cor. 14.40 That which is made by the Church assembled for Gods worship and seruice sake Seruant What is priuate Prayer Scholler e 2 Sam. 6.20 Ester 4.15 Math. 6.6 That which is made in priuate either with others as in the Familie or solitarily and secretly by ones selfe alone Seruant Which are the fittest times for Prayer and Thanksgiuing to God to be performed in and with the whole Familie ordinarily Scholler f Psal 55.17 Dan. 6.10 The Morning and Euening g 1 Tim. 4.3.4.5 Mat. 14.19 Luke 24.30 And before and after Meales Parent I pray you Pastor giue vs some conuenient formes of Prayer which during our infirmitie we will vse till God inable vs to conceiue prayer of our selues And first let vs haue a forme of Prayer composed according to the principall matter and forme of the Lords Prayer as you haue already explaned it and let it be fitted for the worke-day morning in the Houshold Pastor You may vse this plaine and easie one or some other that you thinke fitter for your estate A Forme of Morning Prayer on the worke-day for the whole Familie * * Luke 11.1 Lord teach vs to pray A prayer for the familie on work-day mornings O Gratious Lord who hast not onely commanded vs to make knowne our requests vnto thée only See the proofes in the Conference concerning Prayer supra in euery thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiuing but also hast sanctified it to be thine ordinance thereby to blesse them whom thou wilt blesse assuring vs that thou wilt accept the prayers of all them that do ground the same aright vpon thy word and promise we humbly beséech thée prepare our hearts by thine owne Spirit that we may now approch vnto thy most sourraigne Maiestie with holy feare and reuerence and in the féeling of our wants may powre forth our soules before thée who wilt fulfill the desires of all them that call vpon thée zealously The Lords Prayer Our Father And herein chiefly we intreat thée to giue vs a true and comfortable féeling that thou art become our most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne in whom thou art well pleased that calling vpon thy most holy name with Faith and child-like boldnesse through him we may verily beléeue that we shall haue the petitions which we desire of Thée and thereupon expect thy blessing with comfort for all our necessities And forasmuch as thou hast commanded vs to pray one for another we pray thée to accept our cry also in the name of thy holy Sonne Iesus for the behoofe of all other thy children wheresoeuer liuing throughout the whole world yea euen also of their and our enimies that belong vnto thée according to the election of grace though they be not yet called which art in Heauen And because thou art in heauen being as able to helpe as thou art willing we pray thee giue vs an assured trust in thy All sufficient power as well as in thy tender and frée mercie without the which grace we cannot looke to be heard of thée in any of our praiers whatsoeuer Hallowed be thy name O God and Lord of all glory we first and cheifly desire thée to vouchsafe vnto vs the true zeale of thy glory that we may be willing and ready instruments truely to set forth thy name in our thoughts words and all our cariage according to thy holy will reuealed in thy word and that before we séeke reléefe for our selues in any of our owne necessities and be thou pleased to be glorified of vs yea and let thy name be magnified ouer all for of thée through thée and to thée are all things to thée be glory for euer Amen Thy kingdome come Next we intreat thée to inlarge the kingdome of thy grace in Iesus Christ by the inward working of thy Spirit in our hearts and in all other thine elect And to that end let thy Word thy Sacraments and all other thy holy Ordinances haue free passage and libertie in the world and become effectuall vntill all thine elect shall be gathered and fitted for thy comming to iudgement which we pray thée hasten that these sinfull daies may be finished and then take vs to thy kingdome of glory Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen And therefore also we beséech thée to make vs more and more thine obedient seruants striuing to keepe thy commandements till we come to perfection and to be like thy holy Angels who hearken vnto the voice of thy word and do thy pleasure And withall grant vnto vs that we may neither despise thy chastenings nor faint when we are rebuked of thée but may giue thée reuerence in our sufferings with dutifull submission ioyfull patience and let thy chastenings yéeld vs the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse when we are exercised thereby Giue vs this day our daily bread And séeing thou Lord art the Author and Giuer of all temporall blessings as well as spirituall we pray thee according to thy heauenly will and diuine wisedome for thou onely knowest our necessities and what is good for vs yea and hast made vs
and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly and haue rebelled euen by departing from thy precepts and from thy iudgements neither haue we obeyed thy voice O Lord our God to walke in thy Lawes which thou hast set set before vs by thy seruants thy prophets i i Rom. 1.9 Neither haue we serued thée with our spirits in the Gospell of thy sonne for though k k Tit. 2.11 12 13. thy grace that bringeth saluation hath appeared vnto vs teaching vs that denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts we should liue soberlie righteouslie and godlie in this present world so looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ l l Phil. 1.27 yet our conuersation hath not béene such as becommeth the Gospell of Christ m m 2 Cor. 6.1 but wée haue ouer much receiued thy grace in vain n n Ephes 4.27 grieuing thy holy spirit o o v. 30. giuing place to the Deuill p p Psal 109.22 wounding our owne hearts within vs q q 1 Cor. 8.11 and the weake consciences of our brethren r r 2 Pet. 2.8 vexing the righteous soules by our vnlawfull déeds ſ ſ 2 Sam. 12.14 giuing great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme t t Lam 3.22 23 Wherefore it is of thy mercies oh Lord that wee are not consumed because thy compassions faile not they are new euerie morning Besides u u Psal 19.12 we cannot vnderstand our errors clense thou vs from secret faults * * Psal 51.9 hide thy face from our sinnes pardon and blot out all our iniquities x x Psal 25.11 for they are great wash vs throughlie y y Apoc. 1.5 from them through him that loued vs z z Esai 53.4 5.10 that bare our griefes carried our sorrowes was wounded for our transgressions whose soule thou madest an offering for sinne a a Mat. 26.38 excéeding sorrowfull euen vnto death b b Iohn 1.29 the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world And c c Heb. 12.14 because without holinesse no man shall sée the Lord and d d Ierem. 10.23 we know that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps e e Lam. 5.21 therefore turne thou vs O Lord and we shall be turned f f Psal 51.11 Create in vs cleane hearts O God and renew right spirits within vs. g g Psal 19.13 Kéep backe thy seruants also from presumptuous sinnes let them not haue dominion ouer vs that so wée may bee vpright and innocent from the great transgression h h 1 Thes 5.23 Sanctifie vs throughout and we pray God that our spirits and soules and bodies may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ To which end i i Ephes 3.14 16.17.18.19 wée bow our knées vnto thée the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that thou wouldest grant vs according to the riches of thy glorie to be strengthned with might by thy spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith that wée being rooted and grounded in Loue may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth length hepth and height and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that wée may be filled with all fulnesse of God So let k k 2 Cor. 5.14 the loue of Christ constraine vs l l 1 Pet. 2.9 to shew forth the praises of thée Lord who hast called vs out of darkenesse into thy maruellous light m m Verse 12. hauing our conuersatiō honest that men may by our good workes which they shall behold glorifie thée in the day of visitation n n 2. Pet. 1.10 and giuing diligence to make our calling and election sure o o Philip. 2.12 wee may worke out our owne saluation with feare and trembling yea and shining as lights in the world p p Luk 15.10 2 Cor. 7.4 we may reioyce both Angells and Men q q Rom. 15.1 2. edifie our weake brethren r r 1 Pet. 3.1 winne them that obey not the word and ſ ſ vers 16. hauing a good conscience that whereas they speake euill of vs as of euill doers that they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good conuersation in in Christ t t 1 Pet. 2 15. for so is thy will O God that with well doing wee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men u u 1 Cor. 15.58 And forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord make vs stedfast vnmoueable and alwaie aboūding in the work of the Lord * * Psal 119.15 directing our waies in thy statutes x x Gal. 6.10 and as we haue opportunity doing good to all men specially vnto them who are of the houshold of faith y y 2 Cor. 9.7 not forgetting chéerefully to communicate with their afflictions z z Mat. 25.40 because the very least of them are the brethren of thy sonne Christ Iesus a a Heb. 13.16 and with such sacrifices thou art well pleased And because b b 1 Pet. 5.8 our aduersary c c Revel 12.9 12 17. the Deuill is come down vnto vs hauing great wrath because hee knoweth hee hath but a short time making warre with them that keepe the commandements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ d d 1 Thes 2.18 hindering them also e e Math. 4.3 Ephes 6.11.12 and tempting them with his wiles and spirituall wickednesses f f Reuel 12 9. being that olde serpent which deceiueth the whole world we pray thée g g Ephes 6 10. make vs strong in the power of thy might h h 1 Pet. 5.8 9. to resist him stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren that are in the world and to be sober and vigilant i i Ephes 6.13 17 181 taking vnto vs the whole armour of God especially the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance that we may be able to withstand him in the euill day k k Iohn 8 44. and not do his lusts And séeing l l 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh grant we may be armed likewise with the same minde no longer to liue the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to thy will O God nor m m Rom. 6◠to suffer sinne to raigne in our mortall bodies n n Luk 8.14 that we should obey it in the lusts thereof nor bée choked with cares and riches and pleasure of this life And whereas the flesh o o Galat. 5.17
haue deliuered vnto you But because l 1 Cor. 3.7 neither he that planteth is any thing nor he that watereth but God that giueth the increase therefore you must not presume vpon your own strength resolution and diligence in vsing this or any other Meane of Grace neither can you make a right conscience of your promise and dutie to bestow your carefull endeuour in following any good directions nor looke for any blessing of God at all vpon your paines vnlesse you shall make speciall prayer vnto him For which causes I haue framed you one short forme of prayer to be vsed by you during your infirmitie at such times as you shall set your selfe in any speciall manner to learne or teach by heart any part of the booke when you begin and I haue copied out on of S. Pauls prayers with some small addition thereto for the conclusion of your labour The former is placed in the forefront of the conference and the latter in the end of all Parent How much am I and such weaklings as I bound to praise God for your Loue and Paines who haue so carefully prouided fit helps for our guidance in our great weaknes m Heb. 6.1 that we may goe on to perfection if we be not very retchlesse Pastor Beware then you bee not retchlesse Remember Gods promise that n Luk. 11.9 10. if you will seeke you shall finde o Psal 145.18 and the Lord will be neere vnto you if you will call vpon him in truth yea p 2 Chron. 15.2 with you while you be with him q 2 Chr. 16.9 for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect toward him Who euer sought the Lord in holinesse and failed of sauing grace or of any necessarie comfort or succor r Luk. 11.13 Who hath truly desired the Holy Spirit and our heauenly Father hath not giuen him Debate the matter with your selfe Hath God intrusted you with soules putting them vnder your hands Å¿ Gen. 33.5 35.2 yea and made you instruments to beget soules the noblest creatures in earth and will you be carelesse of their eternall saluation Hath God honoured you with them and will you not honour God by them Or will you seeme to teach them to honour God and will not your selfe honour God with and amongst them Do you looke that they should learne the word of God at your mouth and will you not guide them by your owne conuersation Will you not commend that vnto them by the liuely and constant practise of your example which they may imitate vnto eternall life What delight I pray you hath the Lord in you that content yourselues to receiue honour and obedience at your peoples hands and t Iohn 5.44 seeke not the honour that commeth from God onely And what u Mat. 16.26 can all your earthly meanes aduantage them when they want the true treasure For cast the eye of your minde vpon that base esteeme which the supreme God the Possessor of Heauen Earth hath of that Householder his people that are prophane and carelesse of true pietie and vpon that his most fearefull curse inflicted and to be inflicted on the impenitent and obdurate in their sinne though they seeme for the present to be in neuer so great safegard and flourishing prosperitie which curse they cannot any waies escape but by timely repentance and conuersion vnto God For as Zophar saith * Iob. 20 24 25 26 27 28 29. He shall flee from the yron weapon and the bowe of steele shall strike him through It is drawne and commeth out of the bodie yea the glistering sword commeth out of his gall terrours are vpon him All darknes shall be hid in his secret places * That is The vengeance of God is apt and prone to seize vpon him as vpon its proper and right subiect A metaphor taken from such matter as towe drystraw c. which being put into the fire neede no blowing as greene wood doth but taketh fire and flame straight-waies a fire not blowne shall consume him It shall goe ill with him that is left in his tabernacle The heauen shall reueale his iniquitie and the earth shall rise vp against him The increase of his house shall depart and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath This is the portion of a wicked man from God and the Heritage appointed vnto him by God Yea and though as Iob sheweth x Iob. 21.14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. their seed seemeth to be established in their sight with them and their of spring before their eyes Their houses are safe from feare neither is the rod of God vpon them Their Bull gendreth and faileth not their Cow calueth and casteth not her calfe They send forth their litle ones like a flocke and their children dance They take the timbrell and harpe and rtioyce at the sound of the Organe They spend their dayes in wealth Yet in a moment goe downe to the graue Therefore they say vnto God Depart from vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that we should serue him and what profit should we haue if we pray vnto him Lo their good is not in their hand The counsell of the wicked is far from me How oft is the candle of the wicked put out and how oft commeth their destruction vpon them God distributeth sorrowes in his anger They are as stubble before the winde and as chaffe that the storme carrieth away God layeth vp his iniquitie for his children he rewardeth him and he shall know it His eyes shall see his destruction and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almighty What pleasure then hath he in his house after him when the number of his moneths is out of in the middest Wherefore it is your wisdome to forecast what sufficient answer you shall be able to make vnto the Great Iudge at that day when he will demand Giue an account of thy stewardship for thou maist be no longer steward Luk. 16.2 Parent But it is a lamentable thing to see how most folkes do reject all this counsell of God which you haue stood vpon as needlesse fantasticall new and vpstart Pastor The obiection or rather blasphemous slander that it is needlesse and fantasticall hath bin sufficiently confuted by the Holy Scriptures as you haue heard already The same we may say for their shamelesse censure that it is new and vpstart For besides that the Lord himselfe in his holy word doth call vpon vs to aske for the old wayes or pathes where is the good way and to walke therein assuring vs that we shall finde rest for our soules Ier. 6.16 the godly Fathers in all ages haue cryed vnto the people for the same thing And amongst those that haue laboured in the Church of God since Christ we may
read many worthy testimonies to this purpose of which I will onely acquaint you with the graue and memorable speech of Chrysostome in his second Sermon vpon IOHN * Chrysost in Joan. Hom. 2. Illud vos admonendos hortandosque censeo pernecessarium vt quo nunc estis animo perseueretis neque in hoc tantùm consessu sed domi quoque vir cum vxore pater cū filio invitem de his frequenter vltro citroque suam ferant inquirant sententiam velintque probatissimam hanc pulcherrimā inducere consuetudinem Nec mihi quispiam dicat pueros in his occupari non oportere Non enim tantùm opus est vt his vacent admonitionibus verùm etiam solis And afterwards Nonne irā Dei in vos meritò provocatis cùm caeteris rebus certo tempore diligenti curâ adhibitâ in diuinarum rerum dectrinâ pueros exerceri molestū intempestivūque ducitis Nō sic non sic inquā fratres dilectissimi Haec profecto atas his maximè admonitionibus indiget Tenera est citò qua ei instillantur imbibit audita accipit tanquā sigillo auditus cera hoc est puerorū animis impresso Praeterea vita cius in auditu est in ipsis ferè inanis vt vel ad virtutem vel ad vitiū facilè possit deflectere Si quis igitur eos ab ipsis incunabulis quaso vitiorum vestibulis ad viam virtulis abstraheret in habitu quodā natura rectè viuendi cos confirmaret neque sponte sua facilè in deteriora prolaberentur cùm ciusmodi à teneris ad virtutem eos alliceret c. I iudge it very necessarie saith he to admonish and exhort you that you would continue in the minde you are now in and not onely in this assembly but at home also you would oftentimes speake reason and inquire of these things too and fro one with another bringing in this most commendable and excellent custome the husband with the wife and the father with the childe And let none obiect to me that children ought not to be busied herein For they haue neede not onely to intend these admonitions but also to giue themselues to nothing else And afterwards Do you not deseruedly prouoke the wrath of God against your selues seeing you take certaine times and vse diligent care for other matters but count it troublesome and vnseasonable to exercise your children in the learning of Gods matters These things ought not to be so as you doe my most beloued brethren Verily this age of childhood standeth in greatest neede of these admonitions For it is tender and quickly sucketh in whatsoeuer is instilled into it and what it heareth it receiueth and like as waxe taketh the impression of a seale so childrens mindes doe in hearing Moreouer their manner of life consisteth much in hearing and they are of that qualitie for the most part that they may easily be bowed either to vertue or vice If any then would waine them from their cradles as it were from the entry of vices vnto the way of vertue he may settle them in a certaine habit and nature of liuing well from whence they shall not easily fal back of their owne accord vnto any very bad courses sithens by such vsage they are allured vnto vertue from their tender age And vpon Matthew in Sermon 5. he exhorteth Housholders to call to remembrance and to repeat Sermons newly heard vpon the weeke day with their familie at home before they do busie themselues with other matters Now then you must not be discouraged by any such reprochfull termes from seeking and setting forth the sweet y 2 Cor. 2.14 sauour of the knowledg of God in your place and calling for Satan is euer wont z 1 Thess 2.18 to labor the hindrance of Gods word by the a Iude ver 14 15 16 17 18. vngodly speeches of foolish and malitious persons as by all other meanes he can vse whom b 1 Pet. 5.9 Ephes 6.10 11 c. to 21. 2 Thess 3.1 2. 2 Cor. 2.11 you must resist by Faith Prayer Wisdome and Diligence in all holy meanes vnto the vttermost of your power and then surely the Lord will bruise him vnder your feete shortly Rom. 16.20 To conclude I require you c 2 Tim. 4.1 c. before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and dead at his appearing in his kingdom that you neither neglect the publike preaching of his word d Act. 17.11 nor the tryall of doctrine by the holy Scriptures nor yet the priuate reading of the same vnder pretence of vsing this or any other good Bookes whatsoeuer For the holy Bible is the Booke of Bookes whereof I would wish you to read one Chapter at the least euery worke-day morning and to cause your folkes euery one both great and small seuerally to render you a sentence thereof in the euening before you goe to prayers with them * For their rawnesse sake you may appoint ech of them by name some short and pithy sentence out of the Chapter as soone as you haue read it in the morning and wish them to thinke of it in the day time that so they may giue you an account of it the more easily in the euening remembring that they are e Psal 1.2 Deut. 5.32 33. blessed who exercise themselues in Gods Law both day and night to do thereafter And f Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you vp and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified g Philip. 1.9 10 11. And I pray God that your loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that you may approue things that are excellent that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousnes which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and praise of God Parent Amen Pastor So I leaue you to your Booke h 2 Cor. 13.11 Farewell Parent i 2 Thess 3.16 The Lord be with you THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD A Forme of Prayer before Conference Parent TEach vs O Lord by thy most holy Spirit we heartily pray thée that wée may know Thée thy Law thy Gospell our selues our sinnes and duties aright and that we may put all to good vse namely to the glory of thy blessed Name to the further humiliation sanctification and true comfort of our owne Soules and Bodies and to the edification and profit of our Neighbours through thy onely Son Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Childe Amen Seruant Amen Scholler Amen ☞ THE FIRST PART Concerning the Law or Couenant of Workes Parent WHat is the voice of the Law or Couenant of workes Child a Rom. 10.5 with Mat. 19.16 17. Do this and thou shalt liue for euer Parent Which is
take this for a taste which if you will read and sing togither with all your Houshold but once on euerie worke day in the Euening you shall finde that those who can learne any thing shall before the yeare goe about performe it by heart of themselues although they bestow no other time vpon it A godly Hymne or Psalme collected out of the booke of DAVIDS Psalms and composed of choise verses which do breifely point at some of the cheifest Lessons of Faith towards God and of good Workes towards Men all for the most part in forme of prayer praise to God Fit for the more ignorant sort to sing at their ordinarie worke and at other times convenient to the glory of God and their owne edification Psal 92 vers 1 IT is a thing both good and meete to praise the Highest Lord And to thy name O thou most High to sing withone accord vers 2 To shew the kindnesse of the Lord betime ere day be light And eke declare his truth abroad when it doth draw to night Psal 55 vers 1 O God giue eare and do apply to heare me when I pray And when to thee I call and cry hide not thy face away Psal 39 vers 9 From all the sinnes that I haue done Lord quite me out of hand And make me not a scorne to fooles that nothing vnderstand Psal 143 vers 2 If thou O Lord do straitly marke our foule iniquitie O Lord who can before thee stand excused for to be Psal 130 vers 4 But mercy and compassion O Lord are still with thee That men may loue feare the name of thy great Maiestie Psal 111 vers 10 His feare true wisedome doth begin his lawes obserue do they That any vnderstanding haue his praise doth last for aie Psal 119 vers 133 Direct my footsteps by thy word that I thy will may know And neuer let iniquitie thy seruant ouerthrow vers 36 Incline my heart thy lawes to keepe and couenants to embrace And from all filthie auarice Lord shield me with thy grace vers 37 From vaine desires and worldly lusts turne backe mine eyes and sight Giue me the spirit of life and power to walke thy waies aright The second part Psal 133 vers 1 Behold how good a thing it is and pleasant for to see Brethren together fast to hold the bond of amitie Psal 41 Ver. 1 And he is blest that carefull is the needy to consider For in the season perillous the Lord will him deliuer Psal 94 Ver. 12 And Lord that man is happie sure whom thou dost keepe in awe And through correction dost procure to teach him in thy Lawe Psal 72 Ver. 4 Yet thou dost helpe the weake poore with aid and make them strong And eke destroy for euermore all those that doe them wrong Psal 116 Ver. 10 I did belieue therefore I spake yet I was troubled sore Psal 119 Ver. 94 But I am thine saue me my God for I haue sought thy lore Psal 43 Ver. 5 Why art thou then so sad my soule and fretst thus in my brest Still trust in God for him to praise I hold it euer best Psal 125 Ver. 4 Doe well O Lord vnto all those that vpright are in heart But those that vnto crooked waies shall choose to turne apart Vers 5 Them shall the Lord with workers lead of all iniquity But peace vpon his Israell for euermore shall be Psal 80 Vers 19 O Lord of Hostes through thy good grace conuert vs vnto thee Behold vs with a pleasant face and then full safe are wee Psal 57 Vers 13 Set forth and shew thy selfe O God aboue the heauens bright Extoll thy praise on earth abroad thy Maiestie and might Parent I pray you what Psalmes of Dauid do you iudge most edifying and comfortable for our ordinary vse Pastor Twelue select Psalmes Me thinketh the first the fourth the eight the twelfth the fifteenth the ninteenth the twenty fifth the thirty second the fiftie first the seuenty third the one hundred third and the hundred ninteenth are easiest and fittest for an ignorant familie For the which I referre you to your Psalme books specially I recommend the fifteenth Psalme vnto you wherein a true Christian is pithily and summarily described by his proper marks and fruits And if any of you can sing the tune of Psalme 136. and 148. you may sometimes vse the same fifteenth Psalme which I haue paraphrased in this forme following and fitted to be sung in that tune also by two the one making the question and the other answering An Hymne made vpon the fifteenth Psalme Psalme 15. in another tune in manner of a Dialogue and may be song by two the one representing IEHOVA and the other DAVID To the tune of Psalme 136. Dauid 1. IEhoua omnipotent shew forth what folke they are Shall soiourne in thy tent As Pilgrimes wont to fare The members here Of Church fighting but aye dwelling in heauens there Iehoua 2. The righteous soule he walkes vpright in constant wise Entire and Iustice workes his carefull exercise Likewise the truth in heart doth speake without deceit the simple sooth 3. This man maliciouslie depraueth not with tongue So neither frowardly his neighhour doth he wrong Ne knowes slandour nor yet doth broch a foule reproach ' gainst his neighbour 4. Each vile one is abhor'd in his vnpartiall eye Free fearers of the Lord he much doth magnifie And if he sweareth though hurt there-frō to him do come himselfe not spareth 5. On gaine his heart 's not bent as vsurers for vse Nor ' gainst the innocent reward at all doth chuse Dauid Good godly deede why then doth he Iehoua for charity and not for meede Dauid These marks Lord are they true Iehoua These markes be veritie Dauid O'rethrowne iust shall I rue Iehoua O'rethrowne iust shall not be Nor any ill to him whose way goes not astray from this my will Parent What ordinances hath the Lord appointed and left vnto his Church in his wisedome and mercy to further speciall prayer and thankesgining in more extraordinary occasions Pastor Fasting for Prayer feasting for thanksgiuing and Vowes for both Which learne in the larger Catechismes and specially in the booke intituled A Treatise of Christian Religion ☞ THE FOVRTH PART Concerning the Sacraments of the New testament The third outward mean of Grace first in generall Parent WHat are the Sacraments of the Testament Childe a Gen. 17.1 7 11. Rom. 4.11 1 Cor. 11.25 Publike and holy signes and Actions ordained by the Lord Iesus mystically setting forth and sealing the Couenant of Grace Seruant Hath God ordained the Sacraments to begin grace in any persons Scholler b Rom. 4.11 10.14 17. No but God by his spirit in Christ doth by the Sacraments confirme and strengthen grace where it is already begunne Seruant How then doe you esteeme the Sacraments in respect of Christs minde towards you Scholler c Acts 2.38 1 Cor. 11.24 25
Cor. 6.11 Iohn 14.26 15.26 acknowledge beléeue the third Person of the Trinitie the Holy Ghost procéeding from the Father and the Sonne to be the Sanctifier and comforter of Gods Elect making effectuall vnto them whatsoeuer Iesus Christ hath wrought suffred who worketh and preuaileth in me which I perceiue not only by the graces of * * Ephes 4.22 23 24. Rom. 7.15 to the end true holinesse and righteousnes begun and increasing in me and by my diligent striuing against the remnants of my corruption and lusts but also x x 2 Cor. 1.22 Rom 8.15 16 23 26. by the earnest of the same Spirit in my heart inabling me to call God my Father and to pray with sighes and grones within any selfe for the perfect adoption The holy Catholike Church And further I do acknowledge a y y Iohn 10.16 Act. 2.42 c. 14.22 1 Cor. 1.26 27. 2 Tim. 3.12 companie of people called by Gods frée grace in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit few in number in comparison of the rest and ordinarily consisting of the baser sort and the same exercised with many affliction z z Deut. 12.30 31 32. 29.29 Seruing God according to his word a a Gen. 4.26 Rom. 10.13 invocating his name b b Heb. 13.17 submitting themselues vnto the Ministerie of the Gospell and c c Act. 19.5 1 Cor. 11.24 25. professing Iesus Christ in the vse of the Sacraments Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. d d Ephes 5.26 27. 1 Thes 4.7 Holy because both Christs holines is imputed to them beléeuing in him and also for that there doth procéed from their holy faith a holy life and conuersation And Catholike because this companie of people is e e Ephes 4.12 13 16. Iohn 11.52 Esai 2.2 3. vniuersally scattered ouer all the world of whose number without the which there is no saluation I doe certainly know and professe my selfe to be one f f Iohn 6.27 10.27 Act. 2.47 24.14 because I féele in my selfe an hungring after the Word and Sacraments with all other the Ordinances of the Lord as the meanes of my spirituall nourishment and doe willingly submit my selfe to be guided by the spirit and word of God the Communion of Saints In which Church I acknowledg g g 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Psal 16.3 1 Cor. 12.26 that there is a partaking of gifts and graces from Christ to them Esai 11.6 7 8 Phil. 2.1 2 3 c. Col. 3.11.12 13 14. amongst themselues mutually vnto the best good and saluation of euery member which I for my part doe professe and practise both ioyning my selfe vnto them in all godly exercises and labours and féeling my selfe vnfainedly knit vnto them in all holy affections mercifulnesse h h Act. 13.38 39. Psal 103. â— 2 3 4 11 12. Esai 38.17 Mic. 7.19 Zach. 12.10 Rom. 7.19 10. Matth. 5.44 45. 6.14 Ephes 4.32 Lâ—â—â— 23.34 Act. 7.60 the forgiuenesse of sinnes And forasmuch as this onely true Church doth apply Iesus Christs righteousnesse vnto it selfe euery member particularly and for his sake whom they haue pierced by their sinnes do heartily repent I do beléeue that God wil forgiue them their sinnes and do assure my selfe that hée will forgiue me all mine for the which cause I cannot choose but be thankfull to the Lord in waging warre against euery sinne and in forgiuing and praying for all them that haue vniustly and greatly offended thée euen my sorest enimies the resurrection of the body Finally I acknowledge and beléeue that at the last day i i Ioh. 5.28 29. Job 19.25 1 Cor. 15. Eccles 12.14 2 Cor. 5.10 Matth. 25. all the soules of the dead shall returne and be put into the very same bodies wherein they once liued and so be raised vp to liue againe and the quicke changed all in a moment through the vnspeakable power of God to the end they may all come to iudgment wholy both bodies and soules togither and sentence may bée giuen vpon them When k k Phil. 3.21 Revel â—0 6 21.4 Rom. 6.11 13. 1â— 1 2â— for my part I trust to haue a ioyfull and glorious resurrection my selfe as all other the faithfull shall haue whereof we haue a plaine earnest giuen vs already in the Resurrection of Christ our head frée from any more miserie and hauing all teares wiped away from mine eyes because I féele my selfe rising daily vnto newnesse of life and my bodie conformed sitted in all the parts and faculties of it more and more to serue the Lord for I know I shall not be condemned because I verily beléeue l l Rom. 8.1.3 2 Cor. 7.11 Iesus Christ hath béene in a sort condemned for me and hath made mée condemne my selfe in remorce of conscience for my sinnes to such effect that I walke not after the flesh that is in following and satisfying the swindge of my naturall corruption but after the Spirit that is in framing my waies agreable to the gift and state of regeneration wrought in my heart by the Holy Spirit m m 2 Cor. 5.1 2. c. 1 Tim. 4.8 Revel 21.22 22.1 2 3 4 5. and the life euerlasting From that day the Godly shall possesse the kingdome of heauen in the presence of God for euermore Iohn 10.9 10 11 15 17 28. Phil. 3.20 1 Thess 4.17 the most happy and blessed life which God hath prepared for them and whereof I looke to bee partaker forasmuch as Christ hath both merited it for me and wrought so in me that my conuersation is in heauen that is such as tendeth driueth towards the heauenly glory n n Reuel 22.3 with Luk. 2.14 There shall he be praised of me and of all other his elect for euer o o Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 1.20 Apoc. 22.20 Tit. 3.7 Rom. 8.23 Amen All these things I doe truly beléeue with my heart and confesse with my mouth that they are so indéed and doe desire and waite for the full performance accomplishment of them vnto the praise and glory of God Parent What is Regeneration or Sanctification Child p Iohn 3.3 Luk. 3.3 8. 1 Thess 5.23 A singular grace of God whereby I am truly changed from my sinnes and made the obedient child of God Parent What are the parts of Regeneration Child q Ephes 4.22 23 24. The mortifying of the olde man and the quickning of the new Parent What is the mortifying of the old man Child r Rom. 6.3 6 c. 8.13 Col. 3.5 Gal. 5.24 The abating and crucifying of sinne and of the power thereof through the vertue of Christs death and buriall Seruant How must you vse Christs death that it may slay your sinne Scholler Å¿ Zach. 12.10 Gal. 2.20 Heb. 6.6 1 Cor. 2.8 with 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Bethinking my selfe that my sinnes were the
accept the good being the fruit of his owne spirit for his Sonne Iesus Christ Parent Is not your saluation obtained partly by Christs grace partlie by your owne workes Child No u Rom. 11.6 for then grace were no more grace Parent Why then must you doe good works Child First and chiefly * Math. 5.16 to glorifie God thereby Next x 2 Pet. 1 5 6.7 8 9 10. to get assurance of my owne election and withall y 1 Pet. 2 12 15 c. for the edification and benefite of my neighbour Parent And what doth principally moue your heart to doe them Child z 2 Cor. 5 14. The loue of Christ constraineth me Parent Shall not euery man and woman in the visible Church bee saued by Christ Child No a Iohn 3 3 5.18 36. Hebr. 12.14 but those onely who are true beléeuers and borne anew of the holy Ghost Seruant What principall reason is there that vnbeleeuers and vnregenerate persons shall not be saued Scholler b Iohn 3.18 19 32 33. Rom. 1.25 3 3 4. 2 Thes 1.8 9 10. Iude. v. 4. Tit. 1.16 2 Pet. 2 20 21. Because by their vnbeliefe they doe either refuse as insufficient the only blessed Meane of their saluation changing that most vndoubted and important promise of God into a lye or doe otherwise through their vnthankefulnesse carelesnesse or presumption shamefully abuse it ☞ THE THIRD PART Concerning the Meanes of Grace in generall and first of the Word of God Parent WHat meanes doth Christ the King vse in working Faith and Sanctification in the heart Childe c Esai 59 21. Ierem. 10.23 Acts 20.32 Partly inward and partly outward Parent What is the inward meane Childe d Gal. 3.2 3. Luk. 11 13. 1 Cor. 12 13. Gal. 6.1 The holy Spirit which is giuen by the outward meanes Parent What are the outward Meanes Childe * Ibidem These foure First the Word of God whereby ordinarilie Faith and Sanctification are begun afterwards continually increased Secondly Praier Thirdly the Sacraments Fourthly the Practise of the Communion of Saints whereby the same graces are likewise increased and confirmed The first outward mean of Grace Parent What is the word of God Childe e Ioh. 5.39 21.31 Iam. 3.17 2 Pet. 1.21 Ephes 2.20 Rom. 1.2 with Gal. 6.16 The Doctrine of mans saluation written by diuine inspiration and contained in the bookes of the old and new Testaments called The holy Canonicall Scriptures Seruant How doe you certainelie know that the Scriptures are the verie vndoubted Word of God Scholler f Esai 59.21 Iohn 10.3 4 5 27. 16.13 1 Iohn 2.27 1 Thes 1.5 Chéefely by the inward perswasion of the Holy Ghost Parent How is the Word made profitable vnto your Saluation Childe g Rom. 10.14 Acts 17.11 Chiefly and first of all by the attentiue hearing and diligent meditating of it being rightly preached which serueth to the begetting of grace h 2 Tim. 4. i. 2.3 Luk. 1.3 4 24 17 to 33. Heb. 5.12 6. 1 2 c. Psal 1.1 2. 78.3 4 5 6. And afterwards principally by preaching and then by Catechesing Reading Conferring Meditating all for out strengthening growth Seruant How is the Word of God rightly preached Scholler i Nehem. 8.8 Tit. 1.9 2 Tim. 2 15. 3.16 1 Cor. 12.8 When the true meaning is plainely giuen and the profitable vse thereof is made and applied to the hearers Seruant What is your attentiue hearing of the Word Scholler k Acts 16.14 17.11 Luk. 8.15 Eccles 5.1 I reuerently marke it with an honest and good heart prepared to receiue it with zeale and readinesse Seruant And what is your diligent meditating of it Scholler l Psa 119.155 Prou. 8.34 I doe earnestly call it to minde carefully search it and think much vpon it to the end I may draw it into conscionable practise Seruant What need hath a Christian to vse godly meditation Scholler m Psal 119.113 139.23 24. Phil. 4.8 Because they are the grounds of all good speech and of all other holy actions and in very déed whosoeuer maketh no conscience of his thoughts maketh no right conscience of any thing at all Parent Among the manifold meditations of a Christian which do you think to be of speciall vse for his good Pastor First n Psal 16.8 Prou 15.3 alwaies to remember that God is present euery where Secondly o Psal 89.1 Phil. 1.23 Ioh. 14.1.2 c. to beare in minde Gods vnspeakeable mercies in Christ and particularly the promise and gift of eternall life Thirdly p Acts 28.26 27. 2 Thes 1.8 9. to meditate often on Gods iudgements especially those that are spirituall and vpon eternall condemnation the just reward of the vngodly Fourthly q Ps 78.1.7.11 111.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Dan. 9 11 12 13. Act. 4.24 25 26 27 c. it is good to consider diligently Gods works both ordinarie and extraordinary obseruing how they doe seale the truth of his word Fifthly and lastly r 1 Thes 3 4. Deut. 32 29. Eccles 11.9 1 Pet. 4.7 Ephes 5.16 2 Cor. 5.9 10 11 to thinke often of affliction and chiefely of death and of the last iudgement studying how to redeeme our time that we may be prepared with comfort for that great and terrible day Seruant What is Catechising Scholler ſ Heb. 5.12 6 1 2. Gal. 6.6 Luk. 1 4. Act. 18.25 A plaine easie instructing of the ignorant in the grounds of Religion chiefely by Questions and Answeres Seruant VVho are bound to Catechize Scholler t Gal. 9.6 Pro. 4.3 4. 31.1 The Ministers in publike and * the Housholders in priuate Secondly concerning Prayer The second outward mean of grace Parent VVhat is Prayer Childe u 1. Tim. 2 1. Phil. 4.6 Praier is a religious calling vpon the name of God eyther by Petition which wee commonly call Prayer or by Thanksgiuing Parent VVhat is Petition Childe * Psal 6.8 9 Dan. 9.17 18. Rom. 8.26 It is our humble entreating of God for all things which wee desire to enioy Parent VVhat is thanksgiuing Childe x Ps 16.7 8 9 10 11. Math. 8 2. 2. Sam. 15 25 26. It is our rendring praise to God for all the good things which we enioy in déed or by promise Parent What must you doe that you may learne to pray well Childe First y Luke 11.1 I must desire God to teach me to pray Secondly z Math. 6.9.10 11 12 13. I must diligently obserue the directions of Gods Word and particularly of the Lords prayer Parent VVhat is the Lords praier Childe That most perfect forme and pattern of prayer which the Lord Iesus taught his disciples Parent Say the Lord prayer Childe a Math. 6.9 10 11 12 13. Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen