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
breach of our promises to â—…en and the breach of all our holy vows â—…ade to thee our God Lord have mercy c. Remember not O Lord how often we â—…ave omitted the several parts and actions â—…f our duty for our sins of Omission â—…re infinite and we have not sought after â—…he righteousness of God but have rested 〈◊〉 carelesness and forgetfulness in a false â—…eace and a silent Conscience Lord have mercy c. O most gracious Lord enter not into â—…udgement with thy servants lest we be â—…onsumed in thy wrath and just displeaâ—…ure from which Good Lord deliver us and preserve thy servants for ever 11. For deliverance from evils FRom gross ignorance and stupid negligence from a wandring head and a trifling spirit from the violence and rule of passion from a servile will and a commanding lust from all intemperance inordination and irregularity whatsoever Good Lord deliver and preserve thy servants for ever From a covetous minde and greedy desires from lustful thoughts and a wanton eye from rebellious members and the pride and vanity of spirit from false opinions and ignorant confidences Good Lord deliver c. From improvidence and prodigality from envy and the spirit of ssander from idleness and sensuality from presumption and despair from sinful action and all vicious habits Good Lord deliver c. From fierceness of rage and hastiness â—…f spirit from clamorous and reproachful â—…nguage from peevish anger and inhuâ—…ane malice from the spirit of contenâ—…on and hasty and indiscreet zeal Good Lord deliver c. From a schismatical and heretical spirit â—…om tyranny and tumults from sedition â—…nd factions from envying the grace of God in our Brotber from impenitence and â—…ardness of heart from obstinacy and apoâ—…asie from delighting in sin and hating God and good men Good Lord deliver c. From fornication and adultery from annatural desires and unnatural hatreds from gluttony drunkenness from loving and believing lies and taking pleasure in the remembrances of evil things from deâ—…ighting in our Neighbours misery and â—…rocuring it from upbraiding others and â—…ating reproof of our selves Good Lord deliver c. From impudence and shame from contempt and scorn from oppression and cruelty from a pitiless and unrelenting spirit from a churlish behaviour and undecent usages of our selves or others Good Lord deliver c. From famine and pestilence from noisome and infectious diseases from sharp and intolerable pains from impatience and tediousness of spirit from a state of temptation and hardned spirits Good Lord deliver c. From banishments and prison from widowhood and want from violence of pains and passions from tempests and earthquakes from the rage of fire and water from Rebellion and Treason from fretfulness and inordinate cares from murmuring against God and disobedience to the divine Commandment Good Lord deliver c. From delaying our repentance and persevering in sin from false principles and prejudices from unthankfulness and irreligion from seducing others and being â—…bused our selves from the malice and â—…raftiness of the Devil and the deceit and â—…yings of the World Good Lord deliver c. From wounds and Murther from preâ—…cipices and falls from fracture of bones and dislocation of joynts from dismembring our bodies and all infatuation of â—…our souls from folly and madness from uncertainty of minde and state and from a certainty of sinning Good Lord deliver c. From thunder and lightning from phantasms spectres and illusions of the night from sudden and great Changes from the snares of wealth and the contempt of beggery and extreme poverty from being made an example and a warning to others by suffering sad judgements our selves Good Lord deliver c. From condemning others and justifying our selves from mispending our time and abusing thy grace from calling good evil and evil good from consenting tofolly and tempting others Good Lord deliver c. From excess in speaking and peevish silence from looser laughing and immoderate weeping from giving evil example to others or following any our selves from giving or receiving scandal from the horrible sentence of endless death and damnation Good Lord deliver c. From cursing and swearing from uncharitable chiding and easiness to believe evil from the evil spirit that walketh at noon and the arrow that flieth in darkness from the Angel of wrath and perishing in popular diseases Good Lord deliver c. From the want of a Spiritual Guide from a famine of the Word and Sacraments from hurtful persecution and from taking part with persecutors Good Lord deliver c. From drowning or being burnt alive from sleepless nights and contentious dayes from a melancholy and a confused spirit from violent fears and the loss of reason from a vicious life and a sudden and unprovided death Good Lord deliver c. From relying upon vain fancies and false foundations from an evil and an amazed Conscience from sinning near the end of our life and from despairing in the day of our death Good Lord deliver c. From hypocrisie and wilfulness from self-love and vain ambition from curiosity and carelesness from being tempted in the dayes of our weakness from the prevailing of the flesh and grieving the Spirit from all thy wrath and from all our sins Good Lord deliver c. III. For Gifts and Graces HEar our Prayer O Lord and consider our desire hearken unto us for thy truth and righteousness sake O hide not thy face from us neither cast away thy servants in displeasure Give unto us the spirit of Prayer frequent and fervent holy and persevering an unreprovable Faith a just and a humble Hope and a never-failing Charity Hear our prayers O Lord and consider our desire Give unto us true humility a meek and a quiet spirit a loving and a friendly a holy and a useful conversation bearing the burthens of our Neighbours denying our selves and studying to benefit others and to please thee in all things Hear our prayers c. Give us a prudent and a sober a just â—…nd a sincere a temperate and a religious â—…pirit a great contempt of the world a â—…ove of holy things and a longing after â—…eaven and the instruments and paths that â—…ead thither Hear our prayers c. Grant us to be thankful to our Benefaâ—…ctors righteous in performing promises â—…oving to our relatives careful of our â—…harges to be gentle and easie to be inâ—…reated slow to anger and fully instructed and readily prepared for every good work Hear our prayers c. Give us a peaceable spirit and a peaceable free from debt and deadly sin grace to abstain from all appearances of evil and to do nothing but what is of good report to confess Christ and his holy Religion by a holy and obedient life and a minde ready to die for him when he shall call us and assist us Hear our prayers c. Give to thy servants a watchful and an observing spirit diligent in doing our duty inflexible to evil obedient to thy word
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
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
and delivered him over to Pilate and by importunity and threats forced him against his Conscience to give him up to be scourged and then to be Crucified The Souldiers therefore mocking him with a robe and a reed and pressing a Crown of Thorns upon his head led him to the place of his death compelling him to bear his Cross to which they presently â—…il'd him on which for three â—…urs he hang'd in extreme torture â—…ing a sad spectacle of the most afâ—…cted and the most innocent pern of the whole world Dead When the Holy Jesus was weariâ—… with tortures and he knew all â—…ings were now fulfilled and his â—…thers wrath appeased towards â—…ankinde His Father pitying his â—…nocent Son groaning under such â—…tolerable miseries hastened his â—…ath and Jesus commending his â—…irit into the hands of his Father â—…ied with a loud voice bowed his â—…ad and died and by his death â—…aled all the Doctrines and Revelaâ—…ons which he first taught the â—…orld and then confirmed by his â—…ood he was consecrated our merâ—…ful High-Priest and by a feeling â—…f our miseries and temptations beâ—…me able to help them that are temptâ—… and for these his sufferings was â—…alted to the highest Throne and â—…eat of the right hand of God â—…nd hath shewn that to heaven there is no surer way then suffering for his name and hath taught us willingly to suffer for his sake what himself hath already suffered for ours He reconciled us to God by his death led us to God drew us to himself redeemed us from all iniquity purchased us for his Father and for ever made us his servants and redeemed ones that we being dead unto sin might live unto God And this death being so highly beneficial to us he hath appointed means to apply to us and to represent to God for us in the Holy Sacrament of his last Supper And upon all these considerations that Cross which was a smart and shame to our Lord is honour to us and as it turned to his glory so also to our spiritual advantages And Buried That he might suffer every thing of humane nature he was by the care of his friends and disciples by the leave of Pilate taken from the Cross and embalmed as the manner of the Jews was to bury and wrapt in linnen and buried in a â—…ew grave hewn out of a Rock â—…nd this was the last and lowest step of his humiliation He descended into Hell That is He went down into the â—…ower parts of the earth or as himself called it into the heart of the â—…arth by which phrase the â—…ture understands the state of sepaâ—…ation or of souls severed from their â—…odies by this his descending to the land of darkness where all things â—…re forgotten he sanctified the state of death and separation that none of his servants might ever after fear the jawes of Death and Hell whither he went not to suffer torment because he finished all that upon the Cross but to triumph over the gates of hell to verifie his death and the event of his sufferings and to break the iron barres of those lower Prisons that they may open and shut hereafter onely at his command The third day he rose again from the Dead After our Lord Jesus had abode in the grave the remaining part of the day of his Passion and all the next day early in the morning upon the third day by the power of God he was raised from death and hell to light and life never to return to death any more and is become the first-born from the dead the first-fruits of them that slept and although he was put to death in the flesh yet now being quickned in the Spirit he lives for ever and as we all die in Adam so in Christ we all shall be made alive but every man in his own order Christ is the first and we if we follow him in the Regeneration shall also follow him in the Resurrection He ascended into Heaven When our dearest Lord was risen from the grave he conversed with his disciples for forty days together often shewing himself alive by infallible proofs and once to five hundred of his disciples at one appearing having spoken to them fully concerning the affairs of the Kingdome and the Promise of the Father leaving them some few things in charge for the present he solemnly gave them his blessing and in the prefence of his Apostles was taken up into heaven by a bright Cloud and the ministery of Angels being gone before us to prepare a place for us above all heavens in the presence of his Father and at the foot of the Throne of God from which glorious presence we cannot be kept by the change of death and the powers of the grave nor the depth of hell nor the height of heaven but Christ being lifted up shall draw all his servants unto him And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty I believe that Jesus Christ sitteth in Heaven above all Principalities and powers being exalted above every Name that is named in heaven and earth that is above every creature above and below all things being put under his feet he is alwayes in the presence of his Father interceding for us and governs all things in heaven and earth that he may defend his Church and adorn her with his Spirit and procure and effect her eternal salvation There he sits and reigns as King and intercedes as our High-Priest He is a minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which God made and not man the Author anâ—… Finisher of our Faith the captain of our Confession the great Apostle of our Religion the great Bishop of our souls the Head of the Church and the Lord of heaven and earth and therefore to him we are to pay Divine Worship Service and Obedience and we must believe in him and in God by him and relie entirely on the mercies of God through Jesus Christ From thence he shall come In the Clouds shining and adorned with the glory of his Father attended by millions of bright Angels with the voyce of an Archangel and a shout of all the heavenly Army the Trump of God and every eye shall see him and they that pierced his hands and his feet shall behold his Majesty his Terror and his Glory and all the families of the earth shall tremble at his presence and the powers of heaven shall be shaken and the whole earth and sea shall be broken in pieces and and confusion for then he shall come to put an end to this world and To judge the Quick and Dead For the Father judgeth no man but hath given all judgement to the Son and at this day of Judgement the Lord Jesus shall sit in the Aire in a glorious
neither This Catholick Church I believe that is I believe whatsoever all good Christians in all ages and in all places did confess to be the Catholick and Apostolick Faith The Communion of Saints That is the Communion of all Christians because by reason of their holy Faith they are called Saints in Scripture as being begotten by God into a lively Faith and cleansed by Believing and by this Faith and the profession of a holy life in obedience to Jesus Christ they are separated from the world called to the knowledge of the truth justified before God and indued with the holy Spirit of Grace foreknown from the beginning of the world and predestinated by God to be made conformable to the image of his Son here in holiness of life hereafter in a life of glory and they who are Saints in their belief and profession must be so also in their practise and conversation that so they may make their calling and election sure lest they be Saints onely in name and title in their profession and institution and not in manners holiness of living that is lest they be so before men and not before God I believe that all people who desire the benefit of the Gospel are bound to have a fellowship and society with these Saints and communicate with them in their holy things in their Faith and in their Hope and in their Sacraments and in their Prayers and in their publick Assemblies and in their Government and must do to them all the acts of Charity and mutuall help which they can and are required to and without this Communion of Saints and a conjunction with them who believe in God through Jesus Christ there is no salvation to be expected which Communion must be kept in inward things alwayes and by all persons and testified by outward acts alwayes when it is possible and may be done upon just and holy conditions The forgiveness of sins I believe that all the sins I committed before I came to the knowledge of the Truth and all the slips of humane infirmity against which we heartily pray and watch and labour and all the evil habits of which we repent so timely and effectually that we obtain their contrary graces and live in them are fully remitted by the blood of Christ which forgiveness we obtain by Faith and Repentance and therefore are not justified by the Righteousness of Works â—…d by the Righteousness of Faith â—…d we are preserved in the state of â—…rgivenest or justification by the â—…utis of a lively Faith and a timely active Repentance The Resurrection of the body I believe that at the last day all â—…hey whose sins are forgiven and who â—…ived and dyed in the Communion of Saints and in whom the holy Spirit did dwell shall rise from their graves their dead bones shall live and be clothed with flesh and skin and their bodies together with their souls shall enter into the portion of a new life and that this body shall no more see corruption but shall rise to an excellent condition it shall be Spiritual Powerful Immortal and Glorious like unto his glorious body who shall then be our Judge is now our Advocate our Saviour and our Lord And the life Everlasting I believe that they who have their part in this Resurrection shall mâ—… the Lord in the Air and when thâ—… blessed Sentence is pronounc'd upoâ—… them they shall for ever be with thâ—… Lord in joyes unspeakable and fuâ—… of glory God shall wipe all teaâ—… from their eyes there shall be 〈◊〉 fear or sorrow no mourning oâ—… death a friend shall never go away from thence and an enemy shall never enter there shall be fulneâ—… without want light eternal brighteâ—… then the Sun day and no night joy and no weeping difference iâ—… degree and yet all full there is loâ—… without dissimulation excellency without envy multitudes without confusion musick without discord there the Understandings are rich the Will is satisfied the Affections are all love and all joy and they shall reign with God and Christ for ever and ever Amen This is the Catholick Faith which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved Tertull. de velandis Virgin Regula quidem fidei una omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis credendi scil. in unicum Deum Omnipotentem c. Hac lege fidei manente caetera jam disciplinae conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis operante scil. proficiente usque in finem Gratiâ Dei The Rule of Faith is wholly one unalterable never to be mended never changed to wit I believe in God c. This Law of Faith remaining in other things you may encrease and grow S. Aug. de Fide Symb. Haec est fides quae paucis verbis tenenda in symbolo Novellis datur Quae pauca verba fidelibus nota sunt ut credendo subjugentur Deo subjugati rectè vivant â—…ecte vivendo cor mundent corde mundo quod credunt intelligant This is the Faith which in few words is given to Novices These few words are known to all the faithful that by believing they may bâ—… subject to God by this subjectioâ—… they may live well by living wâ—… they may purifie their hearts anâ—… with pure hearts they may reliâ—… and understand what they do believe Max. Taurin de Tradit Symb. Symbolum tessera est 〈◊〉 quo inter Fideles Perfidosâ—… secernitur This Creed is the Badge or Cognisance by which the Faithful are discerned from Unbelievers Hujus Catholici Symboli breviâ—… perfecta Confessio quae duodecim Apostolorum totidem est signata sententiis tam instructa sit in munitione coelesti ut omnes Haereticorum â—…pinionoes solo possint gladio detrunâ—…ri Leo M. ad Pulcheriam Aug. This short and perfect Confession of this Catholick Creed which was consigned by the Sentences of twelve Apostles is so perfect a celestial Armour that all the Opinions of Hereticks may by this alone as with a sword be cut in pieces AGENDA OR Things to be done Inscripta Christo pagina immortalis est Nec obsolescit ullus in coelis apex Prudent {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hymn 10. THE DIARY OR RULE to spend each Day religiously §. 1. â—… SUppose every day to be a day of business for your whole life is a race â—…nd a battel a merchandise and a jourâ—…ey Every day propound to your self 〈◊〉 Rosary or a Chaplet of good Works to â—…resent to God at night 2. Rise as soon as your health and other occasions shall permit but it is good to be as regular as you can and as early Remember he that rises first to Prayer hath a more early title to a blessing But he that changes night into day labour into idleness watchfulness to sleep changes his hopes of blessing into a dream 3. Never let any
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
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
came that way For there he lay That is the God of Night and Day And over all the pow'rs of heaven doth reign It was the time of great Augustus Tax And then he comes That payes all sums Even the whole price of lost humanity And sets us free From the ungodly Emperie Of Sin and Satan and of Death O make our hearts blest God thy lodging place And in our brest Be pleas'd to rest For thou lov'st Temples better then an Inne And cause that sin May not profane the Deity within And sully o're the ornaments of Grace Amen A Hymn upon S. Johns day THis day We sing The friend of our eternal King Who in his bosome lay And kept the Keys Of his profound and glorious Mysteries Which to the world dispensed by his hand Made it stand Fix'd in amazement to behold that light Which came From the Throne of the Lamb To invite Our wretched eyes which nothing else could see But fire and sword hunger and miserie To anticipate by their ravish'd sight The beauty of Celestial delight Mysterious God regard me when I pray And when this load of clay Shall fall away O let thy gracious hand conduct me up Where on the Lambs rich viands I may sup And in this last Supper I May with thy friend in thy sweet bosome lie For ever in Eternity Allclujah Upon the day of the holy Innocents MOurnful Judah shreeks and cries At the obsequies Of their Babes that cry More that they lose the paps then that they die He that came with life to all Brings the Babes a funeral To redeem from slaughter him Who did redeem us all from sin They like himself went spotless hence A sacrifice to Innocence Which now does ride Trampling upon Herods pride Passing from their fontinels of clay To heaven a milky and a bloody way All their tears and groans are dead And they to rest and glory fled Lord who wert pleas'd so many babes should fall Whil'st each sword hop'd that every of the All Was the desir'd King make us to be In Innovence like them in Glory thee Amen Upon the Epiphany and the three wise men of the East coming to worship JESUS A Comet dangling in the aire Presag'd the ruine both of Death and Sin And told the wise-men of a King The King of Glory and the Sun Of Righteousness who then begun To draw towards that blessed Hemisphere They from the furthest East this new And unknown light pursue Till they appeare In this blest Infants King's propitious eye And pay their homage to his Royalty Persia might then the rising Sun adore It was Idolatry no more Great God they gave to thee Myrrhe Frankincense and Gold But Lord with what shall we Present our selves before thy Majesty Whom thou redeem'dst when we were sold W' have nothing but our selves scarce that neither Vile dirt and clay Yet it is soft and may Impression take Accept it Lord and say this thou had'st rather Stamp it and on this sordid metal make Thy holy Image and it shall out-shine The beauty of the golden Myne Amen A Meditation of the Four last things Death Judgment Heaven Hell For the time of Lent especially A Meditation of Death DEath the old Serpents Son Thou had'st a sting once like thy Sire That carried Hell and ever-burning fire But those black dayes are done Thy foolish spite buried thy sting In the profound and wide Wound of our Saviours side And now thou art become a tame and harmless thing A thing we dare not fear Since we hear That our triumphant God to punish thee For the affront thou didst him on the Tree Hath snatcht the keyes of Hell out of thy hand And made thee stand A Porter to the gate of Life thy mortal enemie O thou who art that Gate command that he May when we die And thither flie Let us into the Courts of Heaven through thee Allelujah The PRAYER MY Soul doth pant tow'rds thee My God Source of eternal life Flesh fights with me Oh end the strife And part us that in peace I may Unclay My wearied spirit and take My flight to thy eternal Spring Where for his sake Who is my King I may wash all my tears away That day Thou Conqueror of Death Glorious triumpher o're the Grave Whose holy breath Was spent to save Lost Mankinde make me to be stil'd Thy Child And take me when I dye And go unto my dust my Soul Above the sky With Saints enroll That in thy arms for ever I May lye Amen Of the Day of Judgement GReat Judge of all how we vile wretches quake Our guilty bones do ake Our marrow freezes when we think Of the consuming fire Of thine ire And horrid phials thou shalt make The wicked drink When thou the winepress of thy wrath shalt tread With feet of lead Sinful rebellious clay what unknown place Shall hide it from thy face When earth shall vanish from thy fight The heavens that never err'd But observ'd Thy laws shal from thy presence take their flight And kil'd with glory their bright eyes stark dead Start from their head Lord how shall we Thy enemies endure to see So bright so killing Majesty Mercy dear Saviour Thy Judgement seat We dare not Lord intreat We are condemn'd already there Mercy vouchsafe one look On thy book Of life Lord we can read the saving Jesus here And in his Name our own Salvation see Lord set us free The book of sin Is cross'd within Our debts are paid by thee Mercy Of Heaven O Beauteous God uncircumscribed treasure Of an eternal pleasure Thy Throne is seated far Above the highest Star Where thou prepar'st a glorious place Within the brightness of thy face For every spirit To inherit That builds his hopes on thy merit And loves thee with a holy charity What ravish'd heart Sâ—…raphick tongue or eyes Clear as the mornings rise Can speak or think or see That bright eternity Where the great Kings transparent Throne Is of an intire Jaspar stone There the eye O'th'Chrysolite And a sky Of Diamonds Rubies Chrysoprase And above all thy holy face Makes an eternal Clarity When thou thy Jewels up dost binde that day Remember us we pray That where the Beryl lyes And the Crystal 'bove the skyes There thou may'st appoint us place Within the brightness of thy face And our Soul In the Scrowl Of life and blissfulness enrowl That we may praise thee to eternity Allelujah Of Hell HOrrid darkness sad and fore And an eternal Night Groans and shrieks and thousands more In the want of glorious light Every corner hath a Snake In the accursed lake Seas of fire beds of snow Are the best delights below A Viper from the fire Is his hire That knows not moments from Eternity Glorious God of Day and Night Spring of eternal Light Allelujahs Hymns and Psalms And Coronets of Palms Fill thy Temple evermore O mighty God Let not thy bruising rod Crush our loins with an eternal