the Scriptures being silent let us not press the knowledge of the place but rather duly prepare our selves wherever and whensoever it be that also being uncertaine I meane so as to us uncertaine but certainly knowne to God t Mat 24 26 Act 17 30 that Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead which is our fourth note in this Article The quick they that u 1 Cor 15 51 then shall be found alive and the dead all them sleeping in their dust from the first man Adam to the last that ever shall dye all others whoever w Rom 14 10 all the world x Act 17 31 2 Cor 5 10 And all in this manner shall then appeare in Judgement where shall be Christ the Judge sitting on his throne of glory with his Assessors the twelve Apostles y Mat 19 28 on theirs assenting to his glory and judgement Then the Parties to appear at this judgement all Natitions z Mat 25 31 32 When this shall be the proceeding of it The cause shall be pleaded the good and the bad severed one from another a vers 33 When they that have done good shall go into life everlasting b vers 34 they that have done evill into everlasting fire c vers 41 Applic. That first there shall be a Judgement a general Judgement of all at the last day may teach us all carefullnesse in faith and holinesse to prepare for it to repâ—nt us of our sins done to others d â—uk 12. 58. not to repine at injuries done unto us by others e 1 Cor. 4. 4. as knowing there is a righteous Judge shall take due cognizance of both which is Christ When secondly that he is the Judge labour should we to be found in him as without whom all is but as losse f Phâ— 3. 78 and but in him no life at all g Rom. 8. 1. To avoid whose severer sentence and happily to hand his milder one see we that we displease not this Judge but labour we in all we may to please him h 2 Cor. 5. 10. That thirdly Christ shall certainly come from heaven though uncertaine it be where he shall judge may prompt us to prepare for him when and wherever he comes From that uncertainty of his coming gathering that this is our certaine duty at all times to looke for his coming patiently to waite for that his coming i Hab. 2. 3. Then fourthly that come he shall to judge quicke and dead may hint us the impartiall proceeding at this Tribunall when now there will be no excuse of appearance no shifting off this appearance but that all shall appeare Let then all duly prepare for it Labour to be of the number of the godly who then shall be called to glory and be carefull not to be of the number of the ungodly shall then go into condemnation which may teach us by well living to love the presence of Christ who then shall present us to this glory and not by ill living to incur that condemnation but as of fire the tormenting Agent to be as much affraid of doing or committing sinne the cause of this torment as of running headily into the fire the tormentor Come we now next to expound the third part of the Creed which some make all the Articles following othersome onely that one that next followes which is the VIII Eighth Article I beleeve in the holy Ghost where is to be considered these two particulars as first what or who the holy Ghost is and then secondly what we must beleeve as touching the holy Ghost As to the first The holy Ghost is a Spirit as God is and is even the same or that very God that is a Spirit k Jo. 4 24 is the third Person in the Trinity distinct from the other two also distinct persons Father and Son a reall subsistence though one be the substance of all three and that God l Act. 5 3 4. 1 Jo. 5 7 He is called Spirit because of his spirituall being not that more a Spirit he is then or Father or Son but that spired or breathed he is by them both and breathes in the hearts of Gods chosen And holy he is called not that properly he is more holy then any of the rest of the Persons for they also have this like Title or attribute of holy both the Father m Jo 17 11 and the Son n Act 4 30 are termed holy yea men o 2 Pet 1 21 women p 1 Pet 3 5 Angels q Mark 8 38 have sometimes this Epithet of holy but that his proper office it is to sanctifie and make holy r 1 Cor 12 3 11 by him to acknowledg Christ of him to receive what ever gift or grace he hath he rules s Act 2 4 he leades t Rom. 8 14 he regenerats u Mat 3 11 he teacheth w Jo 16 13 he comforts x Act 5 41 he confirmes y Jo 14 16. And as he is this all so 2. this all must we beleeve this ought to be every particular mans Creed as of Father and of Son so also of the holy Ghost I beleeve must be every ones Profession of every one of them of this third Person the holy Ghost as well as of the first or second Father or Son to beleeve as we have said a distinct person a true God equall to both Father and Son though a distinct subsistence another person yet for substance the same God though proceeding from Father Son all three one God from whom all good cometh z Jam 1 17 yet as holy Ghost the third Person the distributer dispenser of that good as of knowledge a 1 Cor 2 12. utterance b Act 2 4. love c Cal. 5 22. joy peace d and the whatever like gifts and graces holy men are endued with Applic. That first the holy Ghost is thus God as God let us love and honour him by faith and obedience make our selves fit Temples for him d 1 Cor. 6 19. by sin not to grieve or reject him e 1 Cor. 3. 16. Eph. 4. 30. And then secondly that he is the Author of holâ—nesse may teach us faithfully to acknowledge that Author not to any power of our own but to him to ascribe the working of it by the energy of his word and working to accost still our Christianity to come to Christ by him f 1 Cor. 12 3. by them both to God g 1 Jo. 4. 12 13 14 15. And thus much of the third part the fourth and last followes in the following Articles of which next Or otherwise we may consider this Creed being as saith a Father the Rule how to order our faith concerning God and the Church of God as divided into these two Parts first of God secondly of the Church of God 1. Of God that as already explained there are three
to our God who dwelleth in inaccessible light whose love blessings and comfort love of God as our deare and loving father blessing of Christ as his dear son and our Saviour comfort of the Holy ghost that proceedeth from them both to comfort and establish us in the truth 3 persons and one God be with us and be by us and all the Church of God ever called upon and blessed to the blessing and preserving of our soules from whatever siâ— our bodies from whatever sicknesses or calamities our estates from whatever ruine and destruction Now and for ever Amen A Morning Prayer for a Familie O come let us worship and bow down and kneele before the Lord our maker O eternall everliving and everloving Lord God and saviour thou that art most powerfull yet gratious most just yet merciful too rich in graces and superabundant in goodnes give us O give us both of that thy grace goodnesse that in this humble offerture of our morning Exercise we be duly prepared for it And that in the first place in the due acknowledgment of our many and manifold sins and transgressions that though we thus come nigh thee in this weighty busines of prayers praises yet shouldest thou come nigh us and weigh us in the ballances of thy justice we might be found lighter then vanity so horrid so hideous have been our sins so many so infinite our transgressions So as whilest looking on them alas what can we look for but a fearefull downefall to death and damnation Ouâ— pride our covetousnes our drunkennes our deboyshery or deceit our hypocriasic our neglect of thy word our disobedience to thee our God despite to our neighbours an aggravation of that desobedience with whatever other breach of thy blessed commandments have so far broken in upon us that when but seriously laying it to heart we may not have heart to hope our aÌ„y wise evading that downfal Yea so besotted are we with sin that notwithstanding our daily both hearing and handling thy blessed word we heare but heede it not yea we know what 's good but practise it not A sort of arrand hypocrites we are that mock thine house of prayer thy word thy sacraments and whatever other seemly ducies of Religion and devotion bâ—t stales to our lewdersin cloaths to cover our licenciousness Yea and too too oft the very practise of prayer but a practise also to bolster up our carnall desires not therein heeding the due Method end of it thy endlesse praise and our eternall Salvation No though covertly so contemne thy word we do by our careless unconscionable regard of doing thereafter so grieve thy good spirit by our sin so abuse thy mercy by our presumption so forget thy judgments cauteriz'd as t' were and hardned in that sin presumption that looking upon us so many sinkes of sin so many presumptuous vassalls of indignation what can we expect but our portion with the wicked and with them that forget God but to be turned into hell the place appointed for the Devill and his Angels Bâ—t yet O Lord there is mercy with thee weigh us in the ballanees of that when then our hopes may be it may poize down the scale of thy justice and being turned from our sins by thy mercy we may so evade the fury of thy justice and by true faith timely repentance happy sanctification of life knowledge of thy will love of thy name zeale of thy glory sincerity for thy truth boldnesse in the profession of thy word perseverance in godlinesse and goodnesse patience under whatsoever crosse or calamity contentment with our whatever estate so arme us against the evill of sinne the evill of punishment may not fray us so order our steps to God by good that no step be made to either of those evils When to further our dayly morning exercise yea our alwayes excecises in these like duties what especial obligations have we as thy continual mercies which should stir up our continual thankfulnesse for those thy mercies our own miseries which should also force our prayers for the continuance of those thy mercies thy mercies that we are not confounded our miseries that they become not that our confusion Let us O let us in a due acknowledgement of those thy mercies both to free us from and prevent our those whatever miseries let us make conscience of all our doings not to do any thing contrary to the law of good conscience but as directing to that good Conscience to go by the rule and directions of thy good word in the Scriptures and be guided by the dictates of thy good spitit in that Word Try we thereby and prove we all our thoughts examine we thereby and therein all our words and works that so we may seek thee our good God in all and find thy good grace in the execution of our goodnesse Nor for our selves O Lord let 's onely become thus suppliant to thee but let our prayers also extend to the good both of our selves and others and be now next extended for a blessing upon thine holy Catholike Church c. Here go on as occasion serves as in the genenerall Prayer till you come thus to conclude And now O Lord having thus made a tender of our bounden duty in this our first offerture of this morning worke of thine in thus calling upon thee be favourable now next to us in the workes of our owne callings that by effecting them to our comfort we may effect them also to thy glory That even every one of us in our severall places and callings may as not onely thus opening the day thy glory by this thy worke bâ—t by thy goodnesse may goe through with it to our comfort in our own workes When now to conclude these our imperfect requests we have thus made to thee both for our selves and others imperfect in as much as many things are omitted we should pray for for our selves many things omitted we should praise thee for to supply that imperfection of both our prayers and praises let us now at last make our addresse unto thee for them in that most absolute forme that perfectly compriseth them all saying as our Saviour himselfe hath taught us to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven c. The peace of God which passeth all understanding preserve us in peace and keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and understanding of him our God and Father that his out-stretched arme be our defence stretched out in the mercifull exhibition of his Sonne Christ our Saviour Whose salvation let be our auspicious aid and that made good to us by the grace of that good spitit of grace the holy Ghost the Comforter he hath sent to be with us To which Father of peace Son of mercy holy Spirit of comfort and consolation three Persons and one God be by us and all the faithfull ascribed all honour and glory praise power might Majesty and Dominion
V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steale IX Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy Neighbours The Lords Prayer in a Preface six Petitions a Confirmation and a Conclusion The Preface The Petitions OVr Father which art in Heaven 1. Hal lowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our dayly Bread 5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors 6. And lead us noâ— into Temptation but deliver us from evill For thine is the Kingdome and the Power The Confirmation and the glory for ever The Conclusion Amen â—race before meat BLessed God the Father of all blessings and God of all comfort and consolation blesse us and the Creaturs whatever now provided for us so fill both our bodies and soules with good that both may abound in all goodnesse to thy only glory and both their good through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be all honour and glory for ever Amen Grace after meat Give us O Lord we beseech thee all thankfull hearts for all thy good graces and benefits what ever now and at all times bestowed on us that by us and all the faithful for that all thy good thou maist receive all praise and glory now and for ever Amen A short Catechisme 1. Question WHat ought to be our chiefest care Answer To glorifie God a 1 Cor. 10. 31. II. Q That we may have that Care and shew forth that glory what ought we especially to have A Zeale b Numb 25. 11. III. Q Is Zeale enough to shew it A No we must have also knowledge c Rom. 10. 2. IV. Q That we may have both that zeal and knowledge what ought we especially to understand and consider A The works of God and the Word of God V. Q What are the works of God A The world and all things therein contained VI. Q Dothâ—bat glorifie God A Yes d Psal 19. 1 2. VII Q Why would he have his works to glorifie him A That we might be without ex cuse e Rom. 1. 19 20. VIII Q What is the Word of God A The holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament commonly called the Bible IX Q Why ought we to understand and consider that Word A That we might have a certaine rule to go by X. Q Have we a certaine rule in that Word A Yes f Is 8. 20. XI Q What especially teacheth that Word A The Knowledge of God and our selves g 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. XII Q What ought we to know of God A Two things especially XIII Q What be they A First what he is secondly what he hath done XIV Q First what is God A He is a Spirit h Jo. 4. 24. XV. Q Secondly what hath God done A He hath made all things i Gen. 1. â— XVI Q What ought we to know of our selves A Three things especially XVII Q What be they A First â—â— what we were Secondly what we are Thirdly what we shall be XVIII Q First then what weâ—e we A At our first Creation when God made man and all things he and they all Gen. 1. 31 were good k XIX Q Secondly what are we A Since that our first Parent Adams Gen. 6. 5. Ro. 6. 23. fall evill 1 And unlesse by Grace renewed subject to death m XX. Q Thirdly what shall we be A At the last day the generall Resurrection of all Mankind they by grace Mat. 25. 34. renewed shall be blessed in Heaven'n they that continue in sin shall be accursed in Mat. 25. 41. Hell o XXI Q Well but what was Adams sin to us Rom. 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. A We sinned in him p XXII Q How then can we be redeemed from that his guilt A By Jesus Christ XXIII What or who is Jesus Christ A The Sonne of God and Saviour of man XXIV Q Why must we be redeemed by Jesus Christ A Because the sin of man was against God God that is also man as Jesus Christ was and is must make the satisfaction XXV Q Are there more Gods then one A No there is but one God but there are three Persons in the Godhead XXVI Q What are those three Persons A The first the Father the second the Son and the third the holy Ghost XXVII Q How doe you know this A My Creed tels me so XXVIII Q What is the Creed A The Articles of our Faith XXIX Q Why doe some call it the Apostles Creed A Because some say the Apostles composâ—d it XXX Q What doe you think who composed it A It is uncertaine XXXI Q Why then is it râ—ceived A Because whoever composed it makes no great matter but being of old received and certainely containing the sum or grounds of Christian Religion comprised in the Gospell of Christ it is therefore received XXXII Q How many be those Articles of it A According to the number of the twelve Apostles twelve XXXIII Q What be those Articles A I beleeve in God c. XXXIV Q What is Faith A A certaine confidence in and dependance on Jesus Christ q Eph 3. 12. XXXV Q Why need we that confidence and dependance on Jesus Christ A Because we are sinners and none but he bare those sins i Heb. 9. 28. XXXVI Q What is sin A A transgression of the Law s 1 Jo. 3. 4. XXXVII Q What is that Law A The Commandements of God XXXVIII Q How many Commandments are there A Ten in two Tables t Deut. 4. 13. XXXIX Q Which be the Commandments A I am the Lord thy God c. XL. Q What learne you by these Commanmandements A My duty towards God and my duty towards my Neighbour XLI Q What is your duty towards God A To love him above all things u Mat. 22. 37. XLII Q What is your duty towards your Neighbour A To love him as my selfe w Mat. 22. 39. XLII Q Well but can you exactly keepe them in every point A No but I dayly breake some one or other of them in thought word and deed x Psal 14. 1. 3. And breaking but one I am guilty of all y Ja. 2. 10. XLIV Q How then to any purpose can you keepe any of them A I must labour what I may to keepe them XLV Q Why must you labour to keepe them A Because they are the rule prescribed of God XLVI Q Well but being as you say not able to keepe them as you ought how
secondly that the third day he rises nor sooner which may teach us not to despaire but patiently wait the salvation of God that though a while we may be miserable or afflicted yet in the end we shall be blessed And then that no later he stayes before he rises may teach us not to distrust that salvation but waiting Gods appointed time which though unknown to us yet this to know that salvation shall come h Ps 30. 5. And then thirdly that from the dead he rises what comfort may that administer that our weaknesse buried in his death shall be strengthned by the power of his resurrection i 1 Cor. 15. 43. See we next those two steps of his Exaltation how in the VI. Sixt Article He 1. ascended into heaven and then 2. sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almighty He first ascended into Heaven that he might not onely on earth by his resurrection testifie his power but by his ascention also into heaven creat also our happinesse and that there to prepare a place for us k Jo. 14. 4 to send and showr downe his gifts and graces on us l Jo. 7. 39 17. 7. Eph. 4. 8 11 12 c. And then secondly he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty where by Gods right hand is meant not that he hath hands or feet or the like who is a Spirit m Jo. 4. 24. but as spoken after the manner of men who by right hand meane all manner of preheminence n Phi. 2. 9. Ep. 1. 20. 21. which now Christ hath at Gods right hand meaning thereby his o Ex. 15. 2 power p Ps 118. 15. his goodnesse and glory q Psal 16. 11 110 1 Mat. 28 20. Heb. 1. And there so sitteth to manifest the full of mans Redemption r Heb. 10. 12. Not onely at first by his Humiliation to plead for us but by this Exaltation on this step of judicature continually to plead for us s Rom. 8. 38. Heb. 7. 15. Thence to give out writs and mandats for the managing of his Church and chosen by the power of his spirit more fully ruling in the hearts of his people t Joh. 14. 16. and by the rule of his Word speaking by that spirit u Heb. 4 12. by both that Word and Spirit drawing unto himselfe his chosen as fore-prophefied of him w Jo. 15. 11. that he should do as afterwards x Act. 2. 41. 47. is the doing testified When though in his humane nature he ascended into heaven y Mat. 26. 11. Act. 7. 56 where he is thus in power on Gods right hand yet is he with us too though not as before in Body z Jo. 16. 28. Heb. 8. 4. yet more fully then before in Spirit a Mat. 28. 20. Jo. 14. 18. 26. Applic. That first he ascended and that to showr his gifts and graces on us may administer our carefull attendance on him that our hearts be prepared happily to entertain those gifts and graces and that by obedience to his Word and Spirit that we by sin grieve not the one b Ep. 4 30 nor pervert the other c Col. 3. 16. That he ascended into Heaven the place of all blisse and true happinesse may prompt when ever he shall please to call for us our both readinesse and willingnesse to be with him yea our desire to be with him d Ph. 1. 23 and in the meane time to count him most deare to have faithfull dependance on him e Phil. 3. 8 9 10. Then secondly that he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty and that to manifest the full of mans Redemption to intercede for us in heaven by his word and spirit to governe us upon earth How in this advocate may we have Confidence f Jo. 14. 13. that not only Heaven at last shall be our home g Jo. 14. 3. but that here till we come at that home hereafter have we his word and spirit to direct us which may teach us not to faint under crosses nor lanch out into carelessenesse but to take to us these armes of God to draw us to God such as the preaching of his word h Rom. 10 17. the blessed influence of good motions of his spirit that we attend the one by our diligent hearing of it and quench not i 1 Thes 5 19. the other by our contempt or carelessenesse Seein Christ at Gods right hand humbly to submit our selves to Christ k Psa 2. 6 11. 12. And as he gloriously overcame death and hell and the Devill and those whatever enemies of ours that erst surprised us so that we be carefull to overcome those whatever our sins and lusts may without this our care surprize us This by the holy spirit of God is still commended to our care l Rom. 6. 12. 1 Jo. 2. 1. And but by our conquest over this no promise of being happy with Christ m Mat. 19. 28. Rev. 3. 21. Thus of these two steps of Exaltation the fourth and last of which lets now next see as in the VII Seventh Article From thence he shall come to judge the quicke and the dead which Article offers to our consideration these foure particulars as first That there shall be a judgement 2. That he Christ shall be the Judge 3. the place whence he shall come to bâ—come this Judge from thence to wit Heaven where he sits at Gods right hand and fourthly when as a cloze to this part of the Creed and explaining this Article consider we may the Manner of the Judgement what it is and the proceeding of it whom it is he shall judg quick and dead 1. There shall be a judgement and Christ though yet deferring his coming shall yet thus come to judge T is not the mocks n 2 Pet 3 4 of scorners shall trustrate it but this reason were it no other were enough for it that Gods justice to both good and bad may require it o Eccl 12 13 14 Luk 16 25 2 Rom 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 Th 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 But besides not only Scriptures back'd thus with reasons but they also infallible which we must rather beleeve then question evidence the same truth that there shall be a judgement p Dan 7 13 14 Mat 10 15 12 36 Act. 17 31 1 Thes 4 16 Heb 9 21 2. Christ shall be Judge the same that ascended shall descend q Act 1 11 and to this purpose to judge as who hath now all power thereof r Jo 5 22 Act 10 42 3. From Heaven he shall come s Mat 26 64 Phil 3 20 that place whence implying a place whither which though uncertaine where yet must conclude that it must be on the earth there where we have done good or evill to have this last sentence But
the one of Morning the other of Evening Prayer for a Family COL 4. 2. Continue in Prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving The Appendix A brief Discourse of Prayer WHereas the Apolste tels us 1 Tim. 4. 5. that even every thing is to be sanctified by the Word of God and by Prayer and that before we have out of that word given some briefe Instructions for the information of Children and therein together with others yet especially that Masters and Mistresses of Families that otherwise have not that more exquisite of their own may have a Method how to informe their children and servants in those their Families in the Grounds and Principles of Religion that now nothing may be wanting to helpe us to forward that information it may be expedient we by this Appendix of Prayer leave them not onely in generall a set forme of Prayer to be used at all times and even on all occasions and for all but also in speciall a forme how to open the Day and another how to shut in the Night both in this and all their whatever other holy endeavours to have though but those mean formes of Prayer for both Wherein I would not fain be mistaken or that any one should thinke that I one of the meanest of Gods servants should be thought in any thing overmasterly and bind the devotions of others to any my formes or impale â—â—em within this my ruder Method whose perhaps more excellent gifts and graces administer to them that far better of their own No but them thus expert and everywise accomplished for this so holy an exercise I leave to follow the bent of their owne endeavours according to the flowing measure of Gods word and spirit to expedite themselves in it and apply my sâ—â—â—ie to the information of my Children that have not yet attained those like 〈◊〉 eminent gifts or graces and may bâ— Gods blessing upon these like formes bâ—â— somâ—â—hat helped on to Godwards And 〈◊〉 not only Children in years but i◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—etion too that though men grown thâ—â— heretofore wanted for better educacation may be somewhat helped on by this to better both themselves and theirs that either the one or the other as their abilities willingnesse may give way to it as they see good performe this duty by these Formes not onely thus in generall at all convenient occasions but in speciall too in the Morning to begin their whatever oâ—her Workes of their owne and in the Evening to end those workes they both to begin and end with this godly worke of Prayer as by the one craving a blessing on what ever they shall so do and by the other as giving thankes for that and what ever blessings they shall want or desire I am not ignorant that set formes of prayer is a thing much controverted however by none that I ever yet could speake with or read of soundly argued as either unlawfull or inexpedient but rather a pious practise warrantable from Gods word Though in these latter times much heaved at and as it were to be cast out by them Extemporary which Extemporary votes though usefull I confesse in a mans private closet and for himselfe who himselfe best knowes his one Exigencies yet how warrantable in the publique I am yet I also confesse to learne For other discourses as divine Orations Homilies Sermons or the like which few yet are loth rawlie to vent but by first some kind of premeditation I grant yet may be at a mans pleasure and as his abilities are either premeditated or Extemporary he being therein but as a Messenger from God to his people to propose things to their Consideration but for prayers where he is as the mouth of the people to God and is to propose not onely his owne but also their requests and resolutions it might be much expedient they pin not their positions wholy upon his extemporary verdict but know also in some measure before hand what they in that his form should pray for in as much as otherwise they may be tied to an implicite Creede and pray for they know not what Is it not the mind of Gods spirit that as well as be zealous for God we be knowing also how to manage that zeale in as much as even that zeale without this knowledge is by the Apostle himselfe Rom. 10. 2. counted scarce commendable When surely by the word ought we to trie both and even before hand see not onely in discourse but even in Prayer to what we meane to produce that we be sure it be according to the mind of Gods spirit in that word That to the Apostles Mat. 10. when vers 18. to be led before Governours Kings for the name of Christ it should vers 19. in that houre be given them what they should speake warants not now our whatever Extemporary speaking That gift was but contemporary with them the Spirit of God that then spake by them was yet in his worke of the Word the Scriptures and had not yet by them set a period to that worke as afterwards he did Rev. 22. 18 19. with a Curse to whosoever should or add to or diminish from them Whennow he speaks to us but in and by those Scriptures Were every Extemporary discourse theron now to be accounted his it is easie to gues into what absurdities we might ruÌ„ when of Sermons and Commentaries and Expositions on them pretended as true are yet we know many heterodox and false and not according to the mind of that Gods Spirit in the scriptures Yea may I not doubt to say that al the Apostles said no nor yet before them all that the Prophets said was not of Equall Authority with the Scriptures they by the Dictate of Gods holy Spirit left us upon record as a rule to guide our faith by For what saith Saint Paul 1 Cor. 7 some things he commended as the commands of God vers 10. the Spirit of God speaking by him some things againe he counsels of himselfe vers 12. and as no expresse command of God And beside that marke that before cited assertion where it is said it should in that houre be given to the Apostles what they should speake what was it but only that what on their owne behalfe they should answer their persecutours not what should be the rule of our faith That was not to be committed to the airie puffes of an extemporary answer or promulgation of their successours but to the written word they should leave them The mind of the Spirit must now be made manifest by the word of the spirit which only is in and by the scriptures No no they truly to me seeming do but weakely provide for their safeguard that from the sounder pillars of premeditation will flie to or leane on that extemporarie But I am not now to argue the point Nor though thus declaring my opinon doe I argue or accuse any their practise that knowingly use or are affected to that
extemporary way but in peace let them go that their way and my prayer is that the God of peace may blesse it to them and others that depend upon them while my alike prayer is that God to me and others that goe by this set way may bless that also to us and that though going thus two severall wayes to God-wards we may both attain at our both aimed at jorneyes end God And while others more learned and versed in that extemporary way may goe on perhaps without Hesitation yet to avoyde Tautologies and some Absurdities that may arise from others lesse learned or not so well versed in that way and especially those my Children that I have all along thus laboured to instruct give them leave to be led along by these or the like premeditated formes whose intentive spirits may as effectually go along with as that of others without their books or forms by Gods blessing be to God as acceptable to And therefore while we censure none that go otherwise let 's not feele the lash of their Censure by our going this way but in their Extemporary wayes have they now and then a short ejaculation that God will blesse to us these like set formes in as much as my Charity is as theirs should also be that we both in our wayes seeke God we no lesse in these set forms then they in their Extemporary wayes When though our opinions may somewhat differ about the Mode of Prayer knowing that their opinions may some what differ whose faith may be yet the same yet herein we may both conclude that prayer is necessary And let 's thus conclude it too thaâ— howevermade if with sound hearts made and truly humbled souls that both are to God acceptable who lookes not upon the face of things but on the heart of man 1 Sam. 16. 7. not on the manner of delivery but on the hearts that make it Although by our Saviours owne to me seemeing advice and counsell we be yet carefull in the best Mat 6 7 manner we may to make it That l by only much speaking we be not thought to be accepted or however though sometimes perhaps there may be occasion of much speakeing that vaine Repetitions be avoyded Which unlesse by them of able parts and exquisitely versed in it are too too incident to many who rather then thus adhereing to the times and fancies of some too much affected to this way in dispute yet whither or no warrantable might do well to take up that which is without dispute warrantable and by set formes whither of their owne or others till as others better versed in the way avoyd those whatever absurdities when both they and their hearers before hand prepared for the service will doubtlesse after the better discharge it A Generall Prayer at all times of many together or by one Man or Woman alone as the occasion serves changing the Number and Sex LEâ— the Words of our mouthes and the Meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength our Redeemer O Eâ—â—rnâ—ll most glorious and most gratious Lord God thou who art rich in mercy and abundant in goodnesse and Truth we thine unworthy servants on our bended knees and from the bottome of our humbled hearts in the Name of thy son our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whose name thou hast promised that if we aske any thing according to thy will thou will both heare and doe it do now thus humbly make our addresse unto thee and pray that our prayers now and ever may with acceptation come in thy presence We confesse Lord and we are ashamed of the manifold sins and transgressions we have in thought word and deed committed against thy divine Majesty And that not onely in that Originall sin of our first parent Adam whom thou at first madest upright and us in him but that by our impious inventions on that accursed stock we have grafted the impes of our owne infinite Actuall sins Graces t is true many we have had offered to us had too and received many Graces but alas in vain hath been our receit of them So many so infinite have been our sins that we have even grieved thy good spirit of grace with those seducers of old whatever we have professed as to thee with our words with our workes yet we have denied thee turning thy soveraigne soul-saving Grace into the destroying delusion of our owne wantonnesse Hath not thy longsuffering patience more then abundantly winked at our manifold sins And is not that space thou hast given us to repent in wherein we have not repented more then enough to testifie our ingratitude to thee our mercifull God O how uncleane are we made by sin how filthie is even our righteousnesse that even much more loathsome must needs be our sin how many are the impious inventions we daily plot and practise as if we meant no other then onely to study how to contrive even our owne ruine and damnation So many are our mischievous imaginations So as shouldest thou be so severe as to marke what hath been done amisse O Lord who may stand If thou shouldest lay Judgement to the Line and righteousnesse to the plummets thou mightest make thine anger to smoake thy jealousie to burne like fire and all the Curses that are written in thy book thou mightest lay upon us and blot out our name from under the Heaven When then O Lord what might remaine for us but a certaine fearefull looking for the Execution of these severer Judgements thy wrathfull displeasure may justly lay upon us Yet O Lord though to the terror of perverse and obstinate sinners we know that thou art just yet to the comfort of repentant sinners we know thou art mercifull too And therefore in most humble manner we now at thy Throne of grace and mercy beg of thee our God in thy Son Christ our Saviour the forgivenesse of those our sins O Lord remember not against us nor impute to us former transgressions and for them otherwise that may ensue let thy mercies speedily prevent And that we may happily lay hold of that thy preventing grace make us in every respect sit for it Is our Faith small O Lord encrease our faith Is our repentance backwards Hasten O Lord our Repentance dissolve our flinty hearts into godly sorrow and by that happy means work in us that more happy repentance repentance to salvation not to be repented of When to further both that faith and repentance inflame our holy zeale of glory and truly to manage that zeale endue us with the knowledge of thy will by the glorious Sun-beames of thy good word and spirit enlighten the eyes of our understanding that we may know thee as we ought and testifie our knowledge by our sincere love of thee our God and Saviour Put us O Lord in the way of thy truth and then Lord grant us grace happily to persevere in that way to the end Let not
now and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer for a Family Let our Prayer be set before God as Incense and the lifting up of our hands as the Evening sacrifice O Eternall most glorious and most gracious Lord God thou who art rich in mercy and abundant in goodnesse and truth We thine unworthy Servants here prostrate before the footstool of thy sacred Majesty doe humbly confesse and acknowledge our many and manifold sinnes and transgressions As how shapen in wickednesse and conceived in sin when Children bred up altogether in childishnesse when growing strong strengthning our selves in wickednesse giving up our whole selves as instruments of unrighteousnesse unto sin our hearts hardned to ill workes our understandings dulled our wils refractory and our whole affections crooked and perverse our heads set to plotand contrive mischiefe our hands to handle iniquity our tongues to cursing swearing lying filthy and corrupt communication our eyes to looke upon and behold vanity our feet ready and swift to stand in the way of sinners and to walke in the counsell of the ungodly So as both within and without from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot there is no whole part in us but we are altogether full of putrified sores sores of abominable sin and wickednesse As to the things of thy service and the advancement of thy glory how have we neglected and omitted our almost every pious duty As to our Neighbours good how intemperate have we beene in pride and envy in willfullnesse and uncharitablenesse to break all the Christian and godly bands of unity How have our words actions and intentions perverted the better practices both of our selves and others O Lord I what have we not done but might justly draw downe thy vengeance on us Yet O Lord there is mercy with thee As consequent to this our humble confession let us implore that mercy and desire thine all fatherly goodnesse to remove from us thy judgements and to prevent all further evils that might justly come on us for our sins Yea and the better to prevent those evils prevent our sins and let us cast away from us those our beloved those our darling sins to which our perverse nature is too much prone and inclined Let no temptation of Satan deceive us let no allurements of the world or flesh pervert us Soften our hearts enlighten our understandings rectifie our wils strenthen our affections reise up and revive our dead and benumned Consciences Let no wandring imaginations seduce us and in thy mercies washed let us not relapse into our old mire of sin Let not heresie schisme infidelity or Apostacy blemish the truth of our Religion Let not Wars Famine Plague or scarsity blain the happinesse of our healthfull prosperity No O Lord let not any evill whither of sin or punishment impaire or thy glory or our good Nor is it onely sin that thus brings us on our knees or the evill of sin that requires from us deprecations of evils but our parts also it is to supplicate thy farther mercies that thoâ— wouldst be pleased to grant a continuance of the happinesse we have and to supply us with the good blessings we want and have not Give us O Lord understanding hearts and cleer judgements to see our sins Give us O Lord humble wils and holy affections to hate and abandon those our sins And Lord give us true repentance to bewaile those our sins And for the furthering of all those graces further us and furnish us with the assistance of thy good spirit of grace supply that we want strengthen increase the grace we have O Lord so blesse every one of us in our severall places and callings as that we may truly become Instruments of thy glory to doe the will of thee our loving Lord and Master here that hereafter we may receive the Crowne of righteousnesse which thou haste prepared for all those that doe it When to conclude our Prayers give us leave to praise thee and give thee humble thankes for all thy mercies that for our sins thou hast not totally consumed us But to further thy glory and our good hast elected us before the foundation of the World created us in time after thine own Image redeemed us from the power of Satan by the more powerfull passion of thy Christ and our Jesus We thanke thee our Lord for our Christian calling and vocation wrought in us by the inward operation of thy spirit and the outward preaching and ministery of thy Word for our justification in Christ our measure of sanctification here and our hopefull â—ssurance of glorification hereafter yea for all thy blessings and benefits we now and ever yeeld thee a thankefull acknowledgement Nor for our selves are we onely thus suppliant but O Lord let our prayers extend also to the good both of our selves and others Be ever therefore gracious to thy Spouse the Church c. Here againe goe on as occasion seemes as in the generall Prayer When as reflecting upon the Church pray that God would purge her from Schisine and Heresie and as to all the Members of both Church and Common-wealth that he would reconcile all the differences of Opinions among us that in his good time we may not onely obtaine but keepe the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace When you may conclude thus BLesse us all O Lord pardon our sinnes this day passed and let us have quiet rest this Night to come that the day following and so all the dayes of our lives we may still study and strive the advancement of thy glory our own and our Neighbours good And this and whatever else necessary for us grant us O Lord even for thy Sons sake Christ Jesus In whose Name and Words concluding these our imperfect Prayers come we unto thee in that his most perfect saying as he hath taught us Our Father which art in Heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the sweet and comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost be with us blesse preserve and keepe us this Night following and for ever Amen The End