no sanctuary for a troubled soul but only Gods favourable presence till hee return and comfort nothing can So terrible in the meane time is this affliction that the desperate Judas took death for his sanctuary against that which to him was more tolerable then death how heavily it sitteth upon the hearts of Gods elect may appeare in the words of Job and others Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soule which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more then for hid treasures which rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can finde the grave See Jer. 20. 14 15 16 17 18. 1 King 19. 4. Jonah 4. 8. 3. The conscience is the knowledge of the heart knowing that which God knoweth with it it is a divine light in us which we cannot extinguish if wee would a supream court in us above us a silent register of all we do or say a thousand witnesses accusing or excusing an impartial Judge which cannot be bribed to justifie the wicked or condemn the just the first revenge of impiety wherein none guilty can be absolved though there were none other Judge 4. In true peace of conscience the heart is cheerful in every estate and condition Rom. 5. 1. 3. it feareth no judge nor witnesse it is a continuall feast the soules Eden the mindes faire haven an unvalueable possession which maketh every owner happy a riches which shall never be taken away the first fruits of heaven an immoveable comfort as no winde can move or shake the sun beams so can neither life nor death prosperity or adversity this as long as this is safe though men receive many sharpe charges as did the citizens of Ai yet are they confident to resist they can resolve with Job though he kill me yet will I trust in him but if that faile and the smoke arise thence their hearts fail them 5. God woundeth and healeth it is his justice and mercy wee wound our selves by sin and God healeth us by afflictions as Chirurgions doe with the lancet and cautery Sins are the theeves which spoil us and leave us wounded by the way till the good Samaritan come with his wine and oile to cleanse supple and binde up our wounds he smiteth the conscience with sense of his anger danger and bitter smart to make us sensible of our sins and bring us to a loathing of them this he doth sometimes by external afflictions sometimes by the word of the Spirit the word preached wounding the heart terrifying the conscience and then Peters hearers cry out Men and brethren what shall wee do sometimes by smiting the conscience with an inward sense and apprehension of his fierce wrath and severe judgements imminent in which an horrible feare overtaketh them like the earth-quake at Horeâ— preceding the still voice of mercy in sense of a spiritual disertion while he hideth away his face spiritual wants or permission to some grievous tentation cold fits of despair and buffeting by the messengers of Satan in all which though there be meanes of comfort appointed yet none can prevaile till the spirit of God the comforter return and heale the same hand giveth vulnus opemque the wound and plaister as it was said the Assyrians and Jareb could not heal Judah and Ephraim of their wound so no creature can the wounded spirit till he who correcteth in measure cometh and bindeth up he onely hee healeth the broken hearts and bindeth up their wounds even hee who was wounded for our sins and bruised for our iniquities by whose stripes wee are healed 1. There are some things principally wounding and afflicting the conscience coming up like those Philistim spoilers in three companies to destroy and drive men into despair first apprehension of Gods wrath for some grievous sins committed so â—ain having murdered his brother cryed My sinne or punishment is greater then I can beare Judas having betrayed Christ durst not come to him to beg mercy because he apprehended an implacable anger in Christ it is true that the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience for their sinnes that his wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men that the impenitent by their hardnesse of heart treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath that there shall be indignation and wrath to them that obey not the trueth but when thou who art of a wounded spirit and broken heart hast well considered it may be thou shalt finde that these things concerne thee not but those who live in sin and so would do 2. The second thing wounding the conscience is sense of spiritual wants as of hope faith assurance of salvation the spirit of sanctification praier c. which being Gods grace and the presence of his holy Spirit in the regenerate may yet for the time be an hidden treasure an immortall seed under the frozen clods without any appearance of life and the saints may weep and complain like Magdalen in the garden of the losse of Christ when he is with them speaketh to them and they know him not 3. The third is fear of some strong tentations and trials in which the afflicted and affrighted conscience startleth as the Disciples when Jesus slept in the storm their ship filled with waves and ready to founder in the sea or like Peter on the water when he saw the rough billows coming and cryeth out Save Master we perish when 't is sure enough they cannot perish who are with Christ. Now concerning him that will receive any solid comfort in any of these cases it is very necessary that he 1. Well consider that state in which he seemeth to be 2. Examine his conscience throughly 3. Practice some rules proper for any of these estates Concerning the conscience afflicted with the apprehension of Gods anger against his sinnes let him consider that 1. As God is just so is he merciful he is no inexorable Radamanth he is easie to be entreated concerning whom we have a word more sure then any testimony of man God sufficiently known to himselfe onely hath thus proclamed himself Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodnesse and trueth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression Now if that which others said of the Kings of Israël that they were mercifull Kings could perswade them to seek mercy and desire quarter that they might be saved how much more should that which God who cannot lie as fame can and commonly doth hath declared of himself move the afflicted soule to submit and beg mercy of him more ready to grant it then wee are or can be to entreat it for aske it wee never could except his preventing grace moved us thereto 2. God
appearing meane time make us patient cheerefully to endure our trialls give us hearts rightly composed to wait all the daies of our lives till our changing come And now O gracious Father though wee are most unworthy to speake unto thee for our selves yet seeing thou hast commanded us to call upon thee one for another with promise that the prayers for the righteous shall be available if they be fervent so that they shall save the sick that thou wilt raise them up and if they have committed sinnes they shall be forgiven them we humbly pray thee for this our sick brother Lord assure him of his sinnes remission by the merits of Christ Jesus give him that peace of conscience and inward comfort of thy holy spirit which may manifest thy favour and mercy to him There is nothing impossible to thee which thou wilt doe heare therefore and have mercy on him only speake the word and blesse the meanes that he may be healed if otherwise thou hast determined thy holy will be done Lord who canst make all things happy to thy children give him patience meekely to beare thy fatherly hand remember whereof thou hast made fraile man consider his infirmity measure out his tryalls with that tender hand which best knoweth how to proportion the affliction to that strength which thy selfe hast given him O Lord God of all comfort leave him not comfortlesse but as the outward man decayeth strengthen the inward suffer not the malicious tempter to cast down or shake his confidence in Christ Jesus let not the sonne of violence come neere him as thou hast all his life time from his mothers wombe unto this present given thyne angells charge over him to pitch their tents about him so be pleased in this time of tryall to open to him the eie of faith whereby he may cleerely perceive that they are more and stronger with him then can be against him send the holy spirit the comforter to his afflicted soule to bring to memory and apply all these gracious promises which thou hast made thine elect Blessed Jesus who hast therefore taken our fraile nature on thee that thou mightst have experience of our miseries who best knowest what it is to dy having in thyne own death and bitterest passion overcome death and him that had the power thereof to deliver us from sinne and destruction the bitter fruite and effect therof now appeare his comforter assuring him of his interest in thy sufferings give him such a sense of thy mercy that the gates of hell may never prevaile against it such experience of the life of thy spirit and power by which thou didst rise againe from the dead that hee may certainely know that his Redeemer liveth and shall at last shew the same power in his resurrection in which he shall with the rest of thine elect at the voyce of the last trumpet be raised from the dust of the earth to meet thee in the clouds of heaven to see thee with those now languishing eyes which must at and to the appointed time be cloased to sleep in thee that hee may rest from his labours And now O Lord who hast hid from us the houre of our dissolution that we might alwaies expect thee let thy good spirit which sleepeth not set a carefull watch over every one of our soules that we may never sleepe without oyle in our lamps but be ready at thy appearance to enter with thee into thy kingdom where all sorrow shall cease in the fulnes of joy faith in the fruition of thy promises and this state of misery and corruption in a never ending life of glory and immortality Lord heare and help us Lord grant us these requests and whatsoever else thou knowest more needfull what thou hast promised or we should aske for thy Sonne Christ Jesus sake in whose words and mediation we conclude our imperfect prayers Our Father which art in heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ c. Thanksgiâ—ing for health recovered O Lord God gracious and mercifull aboundant in goodnesse and truth heaven and earth sound out thy praise all thy creatures tasting of thy providence and preservation praise thee and what have I more to present thee with them what can I lesse then my humble and hearty thanks for thy tender mercy toward me whom thou hast therefore delivered from sicknesse and sorrowes of death that I might yet live to glorifie thy name among the living and for the comfort of others to declare what thou hast done for my poore soule how thou hast raised me by casting mee down and healed me by wounding an afflicted conscience with a terrible sense of thy severe judgements how thou didst sanctify my sicknesse by giving me an heart to looke up to thy fatherly hand which smote me to acknowledge my sinnes for which thou correctedest me to repent me of the same assured of thy mercy in Christ Jesus to resolve and vow to forsake all my sinfull waies to doe a more holy and faithfull endeavour to serve and please thee And now O Lord I humbly pray thee enlarge my heart and tongue to praise and glorifie thy holy and great name all things are of thee and what can any creature give thee but of thine owne hand Lord give mee that sacrifice of praise and thankesgiving which may be acceptable to thee that I may henceforth not onely speake but live thankefully and holily before thee that I may pay my vowes which I made in my distresse and feare so that it may be good for me that I have beene afflicted that I may in all temperance and godlinesse make a right use of health restored me and of the daies which thou addest to my life to thy glory and the comfortable assurance of my conscience both in life and death That thou who hast begun to shew mercy maist be pleased to continue the same in thy gratious preservation of me so that at my last houre which thou hast appointed me the former experience of thy mercy may give me a sound hope and full assurance that thou wilt keepe me unto and in my end that when this house of clay shall be dissolved I shall rest with my Saviour Jesus Christ untill the time determined to raise the dead in him to the life of glory in which our Forerunner now sitteth at thy right hand to whom with thee O Father of mercy and God of all consolation and the holy spirit bee rendred all honour praise and glory in Heaven and on Earth for ever and ever AMEN A Prayer for the sicke of the Plague O Allmighty God great and terrjble in thy judgments yet of infinite mercy and compassion to those who truly seeke thee wee humbly acknowledge that not only this plague wherein thou now afflictest this land is due unto our sinnes but also allother thy severe judgments to our destruction and desolation and to whome shall we seek for helpe but to the whome we haue so continually
taketh not away faiths confidence but the security of the flesh 3. Lay up the promises of God therefore were they written that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 4. Set not up thy rest in this world neither trust in any thing thereof it is but like a staffe of reed a loose rope at Sea a false friend forsaking in adversity the quick-sands on which foolish builders lay their foundation as Moses told Israel yee are not come to your rest all Worldly things change continually here can be no constancy among the sonnes of Men prosperity is but like a faire morning quickly overcast with hideous stormes like the morning dew soon vanishing like a faire flower a Jonah's gourd such is all Worldly joy there is no sure hope but in the living God who changeth not neither deceiveth trust 5. Take heed of vaine hopes specially those which are against right reason lest thou tempt God they deceive men such is their trust who contemne the ordinary means in expectation of miracles and they who doe things against the expresse word of God in vaine hope of pardon 6. Propose not too great things to thy selfe we are often the evident authors of our own sorrowes when we promise peace health and prosperity to our selves this high-flying ambition sometimes looseth it feathers and we fall into bitterness when we come short of that which we vainly promised our selves 'T were better never climb then rise to fall 7. Pray to the God of hope and consolation to infuse a sure hope and confidence into thy soule A Prayer for Hope O Lord God my earnest expectation and my hope my fortresse helper and deliverer though my numberlesse sinnes have deserved thy wrath so that thou maist justly cast me off into hopelesse despaire and finall destruction yet look upon me in mercy through thy Christ in whom thou hast commanded me to beleeve and promised remission of my sinnes and eternall life for his sake assure me thereof that there may be hope in my end Though thou now fill my wounded spirit with bitternesse removing me from peace and comfort so that forgetting prosperity I goe mourning all the day long though thou humblest my dejected soule with grievous weights of sorrowes and makest my eyes fountains of teares driving me to solitude and silence with them that mourne in Zion yet art thou good to them that waite for thee and to the soule that seeketh thee thy mercies are renewed every morning thy compassions â—aile not thou hast opened unto me the riches of thy mercies in Christ 〈◊〉 caused me to trust in thee thou hast according to thine abundant 〈◊〉 begotten me againe to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christâ—om â—om the dead of an inheritance incorruptible therefore my soule hath â—id thou art my portion therefore will I trust in thee Truth it is ô Lord that the hopes of the hills are vaine so is all confidence in man unhappy is that hope which is not in thee but in spight of Satans malice blessed must he be whose hope thou art he shall be like a tree planted by the waters of life which cannot faile because thou canst not deceive trust ô God of all consolation therefore now at last speake peace to my afflicted soule let me not be disappointed of my hope though thou please to weane me from the love of an unkind and trustlesse World by permitting me to such griefe and sorrow yet seeing thou art my trust from my youth let me not be ashamed of my confidence let thy mercy be still my hope and thy grace my strength amidst all the stormes and surges of afflictions fasten my soules Anchor on the land of the living my rock who is entred within the vaile to make requests for me give me patience to beare untill the time of comfort and refreshing shall come from thy gracious presence give me the helmet of salvation assurance of all that which thou hast promised in thy word and layed up for me in heaven let the experience of thy former goodnesse in many deliverances give me a doore of hope for the future that I may more and more trust in thee Thou who art the God of hope fill me with joy and peace in beleeving that I may abound in hope through the power of thy holy spirit Give me strong consolation and full assurance of thy mercy that continuing grounded and established in a stedfast hope of my resurrection to a life of glory at the appointed houre my flesh may rest in hope and my soule be cheerfully rendred into thy gracious hands to rest with thee through Jesus Christ my ever-blessed Lord and Saviour Amen 1. Feare is a pensive and sorrowfull expectation of some evill to come imminent or so supposed wee feare any thing which is evil reall or apparent many times that which is not feare is opposite to fortitude as one extream of participation and as it allayeth too much daring limits it and so is good but as it exceedeth in it extream pernicious There can be no vertue where there is no fortitude hee can never be holy toward God or honest toward men who dareth not to be so because Satan will be sure to work upoâ— the timerous putting before him continual though 〈◊〉 and vaine feares like hunters Suells to put the fearfull 〈◊〉 from the safe wayes so driving through pusillanimity 〈◊〉 timidity that he maketh them evill for feare of men whom the true feare of God cannot make good 2. To omit many acceptations of the word 1. There is a natural feare and that of two sorts in respect of the object first concerning the avoidance of sinne for the love of God so Adam in his innocency having heard the threatning feared to sin because he would not offend God whom he loved above all for however Adam in the temptation lost this feare and so sinned yet in the rectitude of his minde he had it before the temptation prevailed upon him and secondly concerning the avoidance of sorrow in apprehension of God's anger against sinne committed so Christ feared Matth. 26. 38. Heb. 5. 7. both without sinne neerest to this cometh the filial fear of the regenerate who though through infirmity they often sinne and feare to displease God by any offence as it is said The â—ear of the Lord is to hate evil This is the beginning of wisedome and it is principally in foure things 1. That wee set God ever before our eies living as in his sight and presence 2. That we know and acknowledg him as the omniscient witnesse and just Judge of all our thoughts words and actions 3. That wee feare not creatures in respect of him 4. That wee ever do that which is just and acceptable to him though none other can witnesse against us so did good Joseph and who ever is offended with us for the same so did Daniel and those other servants of God 2. There
not on her with honour tender love and duty nothing can fully recompence the ingratitude of this generation of Vipers their Mothers sorrow and destruction but hell Gods children love and honour his Ordinance in their parents For direction and comfort before their Travaile let Women 1. Spend the time of their expectation as they would doe the howers of their last day in hearty repentance for all their sinnes making their peace with God labouring to strengthen their faiths by recounting the comfortable promises of God in Christ Jesus rendring themselves with patience meeknesse and confidence into his mercifull hands who alone can keep them strengthen and comfort them in their paines and make them joyfull Mothers 2. Consult with God in all their fears and sorrowes as Rebecca did by the holy scriptures which are his Oracles giving certaine and infallible answers conference with the prudent Saints meditations and ascensions of the afflicted soule into Gods gracious presence 3. Reconcile themselves to all those whom they have injured by repairing them what they can for it is a condition of their salvation in childbearing that they continue in Faith and Charity and if all must quickly agree with their adversaries while they are in the way then they specially who as they say of Seamen may be reckoned between the living and the dead and in hazard of a sodaine convention at the barre by the end of this life 4. It must be a grave document as to all so specially to married Women of modesty and chastity I know not what comfort the adultresse can have who bringeth forth her Husbands irreparable injury her own shame Children of Whoredomes the indelible staine of their blood and their posterities dishonour all this with paine and horrour or more dangerous stupidity of a sinfull conscience whereas the good conscience of the chast is the soules rest bed of perfumes Garden of spices sorrowes lenitive griefes faire havens the soules Paradice and afflictions sanctuary with which though they have externall sorrowes yet are they blessed happy is the way however rough and fearefull by which they come to eternall life as the externall prosperity of the wicked can never make their waies better then destructive and unhappy So neither can any afflictions sorrowes feares or paines of the elect make them lesse then truely blessed because all these are but as the stepps in Jacobs ladder whose last shall land them in the presence of God as it is written we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdome of God 5. Let them pray frequently and fervently that God would be pleased to measure their sufferings by that assistance which he will give them strengthen them to their labour mitigate their paines grant them a speedy and safe deliverance that they may enjoy the blessing of propagation to the encrease of his Kingdome the glory of his holy name and their eternall rejoycing after their temporall sorrowes which hee hath appointed them A prayer for Woemen in or neere their Travaile MOst glorious and holy Lord God almighty creator and mercifull preserver of all thy creatures who hast commanded the weary and heavy laden to come to thee and promised by the sonne of thy love and truth Christ Jesus to ease them we prostrate our selves before thy throne of mercy with bended knees and trembling hearts yet with assurance of thy faithfulnesse to performe who hast freely promised Truth it is O Lord when we consider our own deservings we can look for nothing but the severity of thy justice and rejection from thy gracious presence that thou shouldest take no delight in us when we come before thee but that the spreadiâ—g out of our hands in Prayer should be a trouble and wearinesse unto thee we confesse that destruction of body and soule by all those judgements which thou hast denounced against the first sinners is due unto us if thou enter into judgement with us we accuse and condemne our selves as most vile and utterly unable to stand in judgment before thee the searcher of the heart and reines and most unworthy of the least of those favours which our necessities compell us to beg at thy mercifull hands in confidence that thou wilt not breake the bruised reed reject the penitent nor condemne them who condemne themselves we renounce our selves that we may be found in the righteousnesse of our Lord Jesus It was he ô blessed Father who being the eternall Word Wisdome and Power by whom the World was created and is still sustained yet to save us miserable sinners and so his enemies was made flesh for us became man to set us free took on him the forme of a Servant to sanctify and redeeme us from sinne begun in our conception and encreasing from our birth vouchsafed to be conceived in the Virgins wombe by the Holy Ghost and to be borne the man of sorrowes to suffer the severity of thy wrath against sinners 't was he that dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our justification that thereby he might pull out the sting of death and change the judgements into fatherly corrections 't was he that became a curse for us to redeeme us from the curse of the law that by his stripes we might be healed that the blessing the promise of the spirit the comforter might come on us through faith in him for his sake holy Father be reconciled to us for his sake encline thy gracious cares to our prayers now according to thine own appointment calling on thee Thou hast indeed threatned the first sinner to multiply her sorrowes in her travailes and that sentence as the sinne in which we fell is become hereditary in paines sorrow feare and anguish in these bitter effects of sinne we acknowledge thy just judgements but Lord correct us not in thine anger consider the frailty and infirmity of this poorâ— dust and earth wherewith thou hast clothed us consider not what we have done but what thy holy Sonne Jesus in that sacred flesh indivisibly united to the Godhead hath suffered for us accept his obedience who hath done and suffered all things which thy determinate counsaile had before all worlds appointed for the worke of our redemption We are unworthy to be heard but Lord heare him ascended into heaven to take possession thereof for us and now sitting at thy right hand a faithfull mediator for us and bearing the remembrance of us before thee he is truely God able to heare and help all them that call upon him faithfully and truly man who hath had experience and can be toucht with a sense of humane miseries for his sake heare us speaking the same things to thee here on earth which his own spirit helping our infirmities both dictateth to us from heaven and presenteth to thee for us in heaven Lord for his sake helpe us give us true and hearty repentance assure us of our sinnes remission and our discharge from the curse and rigor of the law
A GVIDE TO THE HOLY CITY OR Directions and Helps to an holy life Containing Rules of religious advice with Prayers in sundry cases and estates necessary for those who are not of heart so enlarged as to advise themselves or to conceive comfortable prayers according to their present wants By IOHN READING B. D. and sometimes Student in Magdalen Hall in OXFORD Come ye children hearken unto mee I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Psal. 34. 11. If any man lacke wisedome let him aske of God which giveth to all men liberally and reproacheth no man and it shall be given him Jam 1. 5. OXFORD Printed for THOM ROBINSON and RICH DAVIS 1651. THE PREFACE Good Reader MY purpose in publishing these Meditations is an hearty desire to communicate that to others wherewith the Lord blessed forever hath comforted me If I may hereby contribute any assistance to them who have not better advice or hearts not so enlarged as to conceive prayers according to their severall conditions and wants I have my end I cannot reasonably expect that this Benom issue of my afflictions should be accepted of all or like the Manna fit every palate specially in this censorious age wherein some like nothing but the Minerva's of their owne braine I would I could not say many like those foolish heathens adore their owne maladies applauding themselves for good and wiâ—e in that they distast all that is good and wholsome which is indeed a symptome of a disaffected palate I am not ignorant that a speaker ventureth within the reach of Censure and that a writer tyeth himselfe to the stake yet in hope that some may reap good by my labours I resolve not to be discouraged if any shall be so injurious as to render evill to my good intentions my labour is with the Lord who appointed some cheap sacrifices that the poore might serve him as well as the rich and requiring principally willing hearts hee that had not jewels gold silver silke purple or like pretious things might bring skins goats-haire things of small vallew and bee accepted you who have a greater share of heavenly treasures offer of your fulnesse God accepteth the poore widdowes mites where is no more give me then the use of S. Augustines words whosoever readeth these things where he is equally certaine let him goe on with mee where he equally doubteth let him enquire with me where he acknowledgeth his errour let him returne to me where hee findeth mine let him recall me let us all enter into that sacred vvay of charitye which may bring us to Christ in vvhose schoole I desire to be a disciple of vvhom I beg in my daily prayers that whether â— follow or lead others in the vvay to heaven I may understand and persevere in that truth vvhich neither deceiveth nor is deceived in vvhich if my hearts desire and constant prayer to God through Jesus Christ that wee may all meet in his kingdome of glory merit any returne of your charity joyne with me and for me in your prayers And now brethren I commend you to the word of his grace which is able to build you further and to give you an inheritance among all them thaâ— are sanctified read happily practice diligently consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things The Summe of the Guide shewing the 1 End of a Christians hope and endeavours true happinesse 2 Meanes to attaine it true 1 Faith grounded on Gods Word and truth teaching us what we are to believe concerning 1 God the Father Almighty 2 God the Son Iesus Christ our Lord and Saviour 3 God the Holy Ghost our Comforter 4 The Catholike Church 5 The Communion of Saints 6 The remission of sinnes 7 The resurrection of the body 8 Life everlasting 2 Obedience in 1 Generall which is in our 1 Performance of duties to 1 God in 1 Love to him above all 2 Prayer 3 Hearing the Word 4 Receiving the Sacrament 5 Sanctification of the Sabbath 2 Man in love to our 1 Selves 2 Neighâ—bours 1 Friends in God 2 Enemies for Gods sake 2 Being rightly guided in our 1 Soule passions perturbations of mind as in case of 1 Love delight c. 2 Mirth sorrow 3 Anger hatred malice 4 Envie 5 Impatience patience 6 Discontent content 7 Hope 8 Feare 9 Cares 10 Iealousie 2 Outwardman as in the 1 Tongue 2 Actions 2 Particular 1 Calling of 1 Masters and servants 2 Man and wife 3 Parents and children 2 CoÌ„ditions which are either 1 IncideÌ„t to some which are either 1 Internall as the wounded spirit and afflicted conscience 2 Externall as 1 Wealth poverty 2 Imprisonment 3 Banishment 4 Old age 5 Child-bearing 6 Sickness 2 Common to all mankind as death The CONTENTS Chap. 1. THe necessity of a Christians aime at a right end in all his actions pag. 1. The Prayer pag. 3. 2. Of true religion wherein it consisteth of faith and those things which concerne it pag 4. A prayer for Faith pag. 10. 3. What we are to believe concerning God that there is but one God in essence and Trinity of Persons how we must labour to know him pag. 12. A prayer pag. 23. 4 What we are to believe concerning Iesus Christ Gods only Son our Lord conceived by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary p. 24. 5 What we are to believe concerning Christ's suffering under Pontius Pilate his crucifying death buriall resurrection ascâ—ntion sitting at the right hand of God the Father and his coming againe to judgement p. 35. The Prayer p. 47. 6 Concerning the Holy Ghost what we are to believe rules thereto belonging p. 48. 7 Concerning the Catholike Church conclusions belonging thereto and rules observable p. 50. 8 What the Communion of Saints is wherein consisting rules thereto appertaining p. 54. 9 Concerning the necessity of sins remission to whom it belongeth it is the summe of the Gospell rules thereto appertaining p. 59. A Prayer for repentance and remission of sinnes p. 63. 10 Concerning the resurrection of the dead how the truth thereof may appeare what use we are to make of the meditation thereon pag. 64. 11 What life everlasting is wherein the happinesse thereof consisteth what rules of practice we are to hold concerning the same pag. 68. The Prayer p. 72. 12 Concerning Prayer what and how necessary it is conditions thereof motives to the earnest practice of this duty râ—les thereto belonging pag. 73. A Prayer for the spirit of Prayer p. 87. 13 Of hearing Gods word motives thereto usuall lets conditions requisite to profitable hearing pag. 89. A Prayer before hearing the Word p. 104. 14 Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper who receive the grace thereby represented how we ought to prepare for the right receiving thereof how to receive it what we must doe after we have received pag. 108. A private prayer before the receiving of the Lords Supper p. 109. Another private
either historicall such as the devill hath Jam 2. 19. or temporary Math. 13. 20. Act 8. 13. and this is either faith of miracles or a temptation of security for the devill himselfe will perswade obstinate sinners that they beleeve and are therefore sure of salvation that he may keep them without charity which is the life of religion and that one thing without which faith is dead perswade them to sin securely And there is also a sanctifying justifying lively faith proper to the elect only this purifyeth the heart gives us the adoption of sonnes and everlasting life concerning this faith we enquire and because the heart is so deceitfull and Satan suitable to teach hypocrisie so neerely to resemble true grace it highly concerneth every man seriously to examin whether his faith be true or counterfeit to which purpose take these rules Examin 1 Whether the more thou art perswaded concerning the assurance of thy salvation the more thou lovest God for his own sake and thy brethren for Gods sake Some vainely dreame of justifying faith though their conscience tells them they love but some for fashion sake or their own ends for Gods sake few if any and God onely as far as they hope he will blesse them that faith onely is available which worketh by love without which it is no more alive then a man without heat 2 Whether the more assurance of Gods mercies in Christ thou hast the more thou desirest to be further confirmed Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse for they shall be satisfied 3 Whether the more thou beleevest the more humble thou art God giveth grace to the humble when Paul was by Gods mercy brought out of his ignorance and unbeleefe he was not ashamed to acknowledge that which being in sin he would not have done of sinners I am chiefe True faith can no more be without humility then an house witohut a foundation the proud hypocrite resteth so securely upon his fruitlesse faith that he contemneth other men as if none were holy but himselfe and some few of his society which he vainely conceaveth have engrossed the infinite grace and spirit of God which freely and secretly worketh where others cannot judge thereof 4 Whether the greater perswasion thou hast of thy beleeving the deeper sense also thou hast of thy sanctification true faith is such a lively grace that it cannot be inactive where the natuall life is it will shew it selfe by some evident effects and so must the life of Grace to our consciences therefore the Apostle maketh the quaere know you not your owne selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates intimating that the regenerate and true believers doe indeed know and feele by comfortable effects that the Spirit of Jesus is in them for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sonnes of God which walke not after the flesh and if we walke in the spirit we shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh by which thou must examine thy faith 5. Whether after many trials feares and doubtings doth the Spirit of God still returne and comfort thee so that thy faith is more assured after trials then before True faith like the needle of a compasse in the severall boords tacks and agitations of the ship at sea never resteth till it returne to its owne point and fixeth on the mercy of God againe as 't is written I was in misery and he saved me returne unto thy rest O my soule 6 Lastly examine the conclusions suggested to thy minde with the hope of salvation men shall sometimes have a chearfull perswasion that they are the elect servants of God and therefore shall be saved but yet have Naamans exceptives frequent in their resolutions to sinne God pardon thy servant in this upon this abused promise of God whosoever believeth not shall perish not considering that 't is no true faith which impropriateth the gift of God to wantonnesse or any purpose to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season but a dangerous tentation of security a meere snare of Satan perswading men that they have certaine interest in Gods promises that he might keepe them in some knowne sinne But if thy heart say thus I believe seeing therefore God hath shewed me this great mercy working this comfortable perswasion in me I will be more and more carefull of my waies that I may not offend so good a God and grieve his holy Spirit whereby he hath sealed me up to redemption I will strive to make my calling and election sure that an entrance into the eternall Kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ may be more abundantly administred to me I will heartily endeavour to follow the guidance of his good Spirit who hath translated me from the kingdome of sinne and darknesse of ignorance into light and the kingdome of his dear Sonne by some measure of sanctiâ—ication that I may make an end of my salvation with feare and trembling such a resolution is an undoubted adjunct of true faith purifying the heart slesh and bloud can never give this perswasion or resolution and Satan will not for though he will be contented to present some seeming good if he may thereby perswade a secure man to some reall evill yet 't is farre from his nature to move to good for any good end for this were to divide and ruine his owne kingdome and whole designe which is to make all others confederates in his rebellion and as desperate castawaies as himselfe It remaineth therefore that the Spirit of God against whose worke and purpose the gates of hell can never prevaile must be the sole Author of this perswasion and resolution I believe and therefore will doe my uttermost endeavour to be more holy then ever I have beene 7. Concerning the meanes to be used in the Word and Sacraments for the attaining of this faith I shall speake in its owne place 8. The Object of faith is the truth of God revealed in holy Scripture teaching us his will concerning our salvation the summe whereof are the Articles of our beliefe of which in the following Chapters A Prayer for Faith O Lord God of the spirits of just men Father of lights from whose fulnesse descendeth every good and perfect gift We humbly acknowledge our owne miserable hardnesse of heart wilfull obstinacy and disobedience to thy holy Word hath continually provoked thy justice to give us over to strong delusions and beliefe of lies to our owne destruction that the vaile should be laid over our hearts when we reade or heare the word of promise that Satan should be suffered to blind us that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ might not shine unto us and that we might not be able to discover our interest in thy promises nor make any assured claime to the merits of thy
could foretell what he meant to doe For who hath been his counsellour Who could have named Cyrus and foretold so many yeares before that he should give command for the repaire of Jerusalem but God who alone had appointed it Who could have foretold of a deluge of waters to drowne the whole world and that an hundred and twentie yeares before while the Arke was building Who but only he Who could have told of Abrahams oppression in Egypt and inheriting the Land of Canaan by his posterity but only God It were too long to repeat the sundry particulars hereto belonging all conclude a certaine providence and prescience and that a Godhead 6 If we consider the order of causes which cannot run into infinites but must quickly come in the computation to the cause which is God 7 If we consider the common assent of all Nations in all ages acknowledging that there is a God and to be adored all which proceedeth from the weake unextinguished light of nature the slender remainer of the knowledge of God left in the conscience of man after his fall 8. Lastly if we consider the excellency of mans soule and body tell me Atheist who made that soule of thine by which thou livest and hast sense and motion who did kindle that divine sparke and lampe of reason in thee who made thee capable of knowledge could any but the God of wisedome who enlightened that eie of thine by which thou â—ow seest could any but he that created light who framed those admirable parts of thy body so as that nothing is wanting nothing superfluous nothing otherwise could be devised or framed so convenient dost thou dreame of a naturall propagation tell mee then what is nature and who made the lawes thereof Is it not as we said the ordinary power of God who thus appointed Who made the first man If he had power to make himselfe he might more easily have repaired himselfe and why then doe we dye By this and by innumerable demonstrations it may appeare that there is a God though unseen of any and unknowne of all wicked unbeleevers There is but one God for 1 So the Scripture the infallible word of truth hath revealed the Lord our God is Lord onely Deut 6. 4. Exod 20. 2. 3. Deut 5. 6 7. Psal 18 31. 2. Sam 7. 22. Mal 2. 10. Ephes 4. 5. 6 1. Tim 2. 5. there is no other God but one for though there be many that be called Gods whether in heaven or earth yet there is but one God 2 The wonders which he hath done as they are recorded in the old and new Testament declare his unitie being such as could proceed from none but an Almightie and infinite power and two almighties or infinites there cannot be therefore the Psalmist said there is none that can doe like thy workes 3 By reason it must be so for one Sun is able to enlighten the world one soule to animate man how much more can one God who alone created all of nothing rule governe and maintaine his owne worke 4 That which hath selfe-being can be but one such is God 5 God is most perfect and there can be but one such as but one omnipotent one eternall 6 The government of the world admitteth but one God for if we should suppose it distributed into severall dynasts as Benadads servants dreamed 1. King 20. 23. there must bee confusion by the discord and contrarietie or at least a limitation of each others power determined to certaine parts and places either of which suppositions were impious and absurd in reason besides that humane partnership in kingdomes never began with fidelitie or ended without blood in irrationall polities nature bringeth all to order and subordination to one there is one king to swarme the bees one leader of the heard in the reasonable necessitie God and nature have appointed the subjects and superiours to avoid confusion of opinions and practices ever dangerous to publike interests which cannot subject without unity there must be some one generall in the army to command in chiefe and one Pilate at the helme and shall we thinke that the supreame celestiall power can be divided 'T is certaine that except the power of one doe unite all that this universe consisting of parts so different and unreconcilably contrary in nature as fire and water and the one prevailing over the other must extinguish his enemie and so destroy the whole neither could the contrary motions of bodies so vast continue but by the Almightie power of one to uniteâ— and containe them all in subjection and order 7 God is omnipresent and every where therefore one for in every pluralitie there must be limitation and no infinitnesse one barring the other from being in all places 8 Lastly the wiser sort of heathens though they knew not God aright confessed that hee is onely one S. Paul citing Aratus his words for we are his generation Act 17. 28. sheweth that he spake but of one Orpheus is expresse saying there is but one selfe being and Sybilla of whom Plato and Aristophanes speake is more expresse there is only one God Thales Miletius Pythagoras Anaxagoras Aristotle Cicero and many more of them knew that there could be but one true God in so much that Varro who wrote of all the fabulous Pagan Gods acknowledged that they worship the true God who beleeve him to be the Governour of the universe the Oracles of the devill speaking in them for his other advantages confessed one God Thus much I have spoken for their sakes who are infirme We must beleeve that there are three persons in one Godhead unity in trinity and triniâ—â— in unity this Christ taught Math. 28. 19. commanding his disciples to baptise In the name of the Father Sone and Holy Ghost and at the baptisme of Christ this appeared the Father saying from heaven This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased the sonne was baptised and the holy Ghost descended in the likenesse of a dove and these three are one 1. Joh 5. 7. the same is grounded in many places of Scripture Joh. 14. 16. 17. Gal 4. 6. Cor 13. 13. For the better understanding hereof wee must knowe the difference betweene an essence and a person the essence of God is one eternall spirituall simple selfe-being having being of and in no other but giving being to all things created To this belong all his essentiall attributes of which we speake A Person is a subsistence or being in the essence or substance of God and all the sacred persons in the Godhead have a mutuall relation one to the other and are distinguished one from another not in substance or Godhead for they are all one substance and one Godhead but by some property not common to any one with the other as the father from all eternity is ingenitus unbegotten the sonne from all eternity
is begotten not made sicut lumen de lumine verus Deus de vero Deo light of light God of God the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne from all eternity We must labour to know God not by a curious and vaine enquiry after his incomprehensible being which we can never know but by a true faith and humbled soule beleeving and considering him as he hath declared himselfe Christian faith saith in the Apostles words unto us there is but one God but among the professours thereof how many are the hearts like those Athenian altars Act 17. 23. inscribed unto the unknowne God ignorance of â—od is the mother of all impiety unthankfulnesse repining infidelitie securitie presuming to sin impenitencie therefore the wicked are said not to know â—od and obedience to his commandements is a sure marke that we know him Paul therefore wondreth at the Galatians that knowing God by the Scriptures they could turne back againe to beggerly and impotent rudiments at once shewing what we ought to know of God and what use to make thereof praying thaâ—â—he Colossians might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding that they might walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things being fruitfull in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God this knowledge of â—od is more acceptable to him then sacrifice Hos 6. 6. without this a man can doe nothing but erre had he never so great a zeale of God if we will serve and please him wee must know what he delighteth in ignorance of the truth and unitie of God begat that monstrous idolatrie of many false Gods had they knowne there is but one they would not have worshipped many had they knowne him to be omnipotent spirituall wise mercifull just they would not insteed of him have adored any impotent Idol which they knewe could not help nor deliver it selfe from fire or violence neither was sensible when it was making to avoid such mischeivous errours it is necessary that we should know the Lord as he hath revealed himselfe least we heare that which Christ told the Samaritan Joh 4. 22. yee worship that yee know not that there is but one God the Almighty creator and mercifull preserver of all things three persons but one deity Say not why should I vainly strive to know him who is incomprehensible and unspeakable If I cannot drinke up the whole river shall I not tast to quench my thirst Because I cannot receive all the beames of the Sun shall not I use a moderate light thereof If I were admitted into Paradise because I cannot eate all the fruit should I not tast of the tree of life I cannot know God as he is in his incomprehensible being I will endeavour to knowe him as he is good and gratious to me I will consider his power providence mercy and benificence who hath with so full an hand bestowed things temporall on man that nothing can be desired but his blessing on them nothing could be wanting would not man be wanting to himselfe in the right use of Gods favours in the booke of Grace I will consider his great and admirable favours and his counsaile for our salvation in Christ To conclude observe these rules 1 Take heed that thy extravagant thoughts carry thee not by vaine and curious speculations to prie into the Arke whereby thou maist more easily loose thy selfe then finde the truth marke and follow the wisdome of God for thy salvation when God would open the truth and mysteries of eternall life to man he provided that wee might know those things which were necessary to obtaine eternall life but those things which are too curious and profane minds he spake not where the Scripture hath not a tongue have thou not an eare 2 Measure not all things which thou canst know and beleeve by carnall reason for if he said to Moses desiring to come nigh and to discover that fierie mysterie which burned and consumed not loose thy shooes from thy feet how much more must we put off our carnall senses when wee draw nigh so glorious and holy a God that we may think on him with pure and untroubled affections 3 Be thou not over long or curious in the contemplation of the deity but when thou thinkest thereof cover thy face with the Cherubs wing let thy thoughts be full of humilitie sobrietie and holy ascâ—â—tions by zealous prayer When Jacob saw a vision in the fields of Luz waking he said how fearefull is this place How much should the presence of God aw us when we doe by our meditations as it were come into his presence and view his dreadfull holy and glorious Majestie Therefore as thou lookest but sparingly on the Sun thou gazest not long though it be the dayes eye of so great and comfortable use to thee so meditate on God It is behoofull and comfortable for thee to remember that God is ever present with thee it will aw thee in thy behaviour and sustaine thee in thy sufferings but it is not safe to fix thy thoughts in any searching meditation of him 4 As he that will looke upon the Sunne will finde it under some thin clowd so thou must do here Christ in his humanity is as the sunne in a cloud the safest way to looke on the Godhead is through the vaile of his flesh and in him to consider what a one God hath shewed himselfe to us in him wee see his wisdome severity and the unsearchable riches of his mercy all that which is necessary for us to know concerning him 5 Labour for purity of heart the more thou performest Gods will the more thou shalt know him Yea and a prudent consideration of thy selfe shall advance thy knowledge of God that thou maist beleeve in him and forsaking thy selfe rely only on him A Prayer O Most gratious Lord God beeing of beeings unaccessible light life of life father of the spirits of the just infinite incomprehensible Lord God of power wisedome mercy justice truth who dwellest in that unsearchable glory and Majestie to which none of all thy creatures can attaine Lord God of gods King of Kings slow to anger of great goodnesse and compassion who hast beene pleased out of thine owne eternall love to man even before he was to elect him and in thy creating him to put thine owne glorious image of light and knowledge upon him to extend a gratious hand of providence over him to looke downe from the habitation of thy glory to consider the things which are done among the sonnes of men looke downe O blessed Lord God upon mee wretched sinner by the malitious tempter and mine owne wilfulnesse blinded and deprived of that excellent light of my creation and despoyled of that purity of heart conformity of will and actions wherein I had ability to serve and please
thee Lord despise not as I have justly deserved thine owne handy worke but mercifully repaire all my decayes it is indeed life everlasting to know thee and thy Sone Iesus but none can know thee but those to whome thou pleasest to reveale thy selfe Lord open mine eies that I sleepe not in death shew the light of thy countenance upon mee make mee to know thee in a comfortable participation of thy grace and communion of thy holy and sanctifying spirit that I may worship thee aright by serving thee sincerely take off the vaile from my heart in the reading and hearing thy holy word which testefieth thee give mee a constant assurance of thy gratious favour toward me and a comfortable sense of thy presence ever with me that in all my thoughts words and actions I may ever set my selfe in thy holy presence and walke with thee in purity of heart and sanctimony of life assure me of my interest in thee that I may in life and death depend upon thy fatherly providence that I may know that thou art my God my Saviour and mercifull preserver Lord thou art neere every one of us in thee we live move have our being Thou passest by us and we see thee not thou art about all our paths knowest all our waies the words we speak what ever we doe and the secrets of our hearts specially thou art neere unto them that call upon thee in truth thou wilt not conceale thy selfe from those who faithfully seeke thee and thy saving health which seeing none can doe except thou draw them Lord finde us that we may seeke thee and seeking finde thee Draw us with thy preventing grace that wee may follow thee and supply us with that strength that wee may not seeke thee in vaine good Lord manifest thy selfe and reveale thy will to us that doing it faithfully we may at last with all thy Saints and holy Angells enjoy thy blessed presence wherein is the fulnesse of joy for ever and ever through thy only sonne our Saviour JESUS CHRIST AMEN CHAP. IV. Of that which we are to beleeve concerning § 1. Iesus Christ Gods only sonne our Lord. § 2. Conceived by the holy Ghost § 3. Borne of the Virgin Mary THis is a sweet and comfortable part of our Creed and hath excellent promises annexed to it when Peter confessed Christ to be the sonne of the living God Christ replied upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it that is this confession shall be an unmoved foundation of them that beleeve All that beleeve in him shall receive remission of sinnes Act 10. 43. So Paul said to the Gâ—aler Act 16. 31. Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved and all thy houshold and that upon excellent ground for God dwelleth in true beleevers 1. Joh. 4. 15. and the confession hereof maketh the Church of God as the blood of Paschal Lambe did the doores of Israel that the destroyer might not enter as the red clew did Rahabs house distinguishing it from the rest of perishing Jerico 2 In the Articles of our faith wee finde foure titles of our Saviour 1. Jesus 2. Christ. 3. God's only Sonne 4. our Lord. 1 This name Jesus in the Hebrew Jehoscua a Saviour which the Greeks rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other languages Jesus signifieth his office which was to save his people from sin and death eternall it was preâ—igured in the type which bare his name Joshua to whom the leading of Israël into Canaan and the division of the inheritance was received Moses stood on Pisga and shewed the people the holy land But Joshua led them in the law shewed us heaven and the holy way to it but it brought nothing to perfection by reason of our infirmity Rom 8. 3. but Jesus Christ condemned sinne in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us and wee bee saved in him so all the Prophets give testimony to him that as I noted through his name all that beleeve in him shall receive remission of sinnes for the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed This name was given him by the father and brought from heaven by the Angell Gabriel thou shalt call his name Jesus he is the only Saviour Neither is there salvation in any other for among men there is given none other name under heaven whereby we must be saved He only is able perfectly to save them that come unto God by him So often then as wee heare of this sweet name Jesus we must remember all the comforts through him acrewing to us that in no affliction nor death it selfe we despaire seeing that he beareth not that name in vaine 2 The second title of the Sonne of God is Christ which signifieth annointed as also the name Messiah doth The Law and custome was to ancient Kings Priests and Prophets Exod 9. 7. 30. 30. 23. 24. and therefore is Christ eminently and above all others called the Lords Christ or annointed Psal 45 7. Isai 6. 1. Luk 4. 18. Act 10. 38. Kings and Priests thus annoited were types of Christ the annointed not with bodily oile compounded of Mirrhe Calamus and Cassia but with the spirit of God which he receaved without measure as a fountaine to derive graces to others he was appointed of God to this triple office to bee a King to governe and preserve his people a Priest for ever who was once for our redemption the Priest sacrifice and altar first to offer up himselfe a sufficient sacrifice to expiate the sinne of the world and then to mediate and appeare before God for us as the great Master of requests to present our petitions to get us audience by his never-dying merit as t is said his blood speaketh better things for us then the blood of Abel that cryed for revenge this for pardon and attonement And lasâ—â—y he was appointed a Prophet to reveale and teach us his fathers will for that kingly Priesthood and holy kingdome in which consisteth our eternall peace and happinesse was to be established by the Scepter of his word and vertue of his holy spirit with which he was annointed his annointing as a Prophet importeth that he who is in the bosome of the father eternall God took on him an humane nature annointed with the fulnesse of the spirit that he might reveale to us the will of his father concerning our redemption and salvation and thereby manifest that great mystery which had been hid from the beginning of the world in darke shadowes and representations untill the fulnesse of time so preaching peace to them a far off and to them that were neere and that he might effectually teach us by his holy spirit and ministry of the word and sacraments unto the
of death I will sing my nune dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace securely may hee dare Death and Hell Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victory who can indeed say Thankes be unto God which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Confesse and repent thee of all thy sinnes that is forsake them and thou shalt find mercy if thou hidest them under any pretence of merit or pleading not guilty thou canst not prosper God's family saith not I am whole but heale mee O Lord and I shall be whole repentance is the second table after the shipwracke of our soules wee read that Peter after his fall repented wee read hee wept wee read not that hee satisfied repentance is no cause but a condition of our pardon without which it cannot be obtained because God is just as well as mercifull if God should forgive before we repent it were approbation of the fact rather then mercy nor could it stand with his justice This repentance is 1. in knowledge of our sinne without which we cannot repent therefore David prayeth Lord open mine eyes that I sheep not in death it is a fearfull judgement of God not to know our sinnes that we may repent The first degree of happinesse is not to sinne the second to knowe our sinnes there in entire innocency to save here followeth the medicine to heale 2. In hearty sorrow for all our sinnes without which we doe not repent 3. In a constant change of the minde purpose to sinne no more and forsaking our evill waies 't is not only in saying God be mercifull to me but in turning to him that hee may shew mercy who had not had any Saint had hee not pardoned sinners therefore the Prophet bids us search and try our waies turne againe unto the Lord. 3. Apply the word of God home to thy conscience that thou maist understand thy sinne and misery comming on thee and be toucht at heart as Peters hearers were Act 2. 37. 4. Pray earnestly to God to take away the stony heart which hindereth thy repentance and the comfortable effects thereof this lieth like the cover on the wells mouth at Padan Aram till it be roled away the flocks cannot bee watred the rocks at Horeb could not yeeld a drop of water till the rod of God smote it nor can mans harder heart one teare of faithfull repentance untill God touch it 5. Beware of living in or relapsing into any knowne sinne least the end be worse then the beginning in such case it had beene better for thee not to have knowne the way of righteousnesse then after the knowledge thereof to returue with the dog to the vomit 6. Be sure thou forgive 't is the condition of remission of thy sinne which Christ annexeth to thy petition for forgivenesse as we forgive them that trespasse against us and repeateth it to teach us the necessitie thereof for if we forgive them their trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you but if yee forgive not â—neither will your father forgive your trespasses malice is strange fire which never came from heaven no sacrifice of prayer can be acceptable therewith be resolved then seeing thy daily infirmities put thee upon a daily asking mercy to shew it that thou maist find it that thou be not with the evill servant who would receive but shew no pitty delivered to the tormentors for the exaction of that which thou canst never satisfie A Prayer for repentance and remission of sinnes O Lord God of mercy and compassion slow to anger and more ready to forgive then we can be to beg pardon forgive us all our sinnes which we have at any time committed in thought word or action give us hearts to consent and obay that thou maist bee pleased according to thyne owne gratious promise to make our scarlet sinnes white as snow to take away those filthy habits where with we are naturally clothed and to put us on the robe of Christ's innocency give us hearty and unfeigned repentance of all our sins that we may abandon all our evill vaine and unprofitable waies whereby we have provoked thy wrath against our owne soules Seale up our pardon by the certaine testemonie of thy spirit of truth which cannot deceave in a comfortable peace of conscience and assurance of our reconciliation by the merits of our Lord Jesus Give us security on the second table of repentance who have unhappily let goe the first of innocency As thou hast in the pretious blood of thy deare sonne Jesus cancelled the hand writing of ordinances which was against us fastning them on his crosse so accomplish thine owne mercy cancelling them to the sense of our consciences by a certaine assurance of our salvation that the stings of death may not afflict us nor the gates of hell ever prevaile against us but that our sinnes being covered and no more imputed to us we may cheerefully thankfully and holily live before thee to thy glory the good example of of others and the assurance of our owne hearts before thee that thoâ—â— who hast in some measure sanctified hast also freely and fully pardoned us Lord answer unto our soules with good and comfortable words through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour AMEN CHAP. X. § 1. Of the resurrection from the dead § 2. How the truth thereof may appeare § 3. What wee are to make of the meditation hereof 1 THe third benefit of the Church shall be the Resurrection from the dead in the first Adam all dye in the second all live hope of a joyfull resurrection is the root of all good workes Act 24. 15. 16. Act 26. 6 7. 2. It is necessary that sinne which brought death into the world like a viperous brood eating through its mothers bowels should be destroyed by death and as necessary that sins kingdome so ended all should rise againe that they may come to judgement 3. Resurrection is of the dead body of man for first death is not only a bare negation but a privation of life so dead and livelesse differ that only which had life and after died riseth againe Secondly there are two sorts of dead bodies the first sine potentiâ ad vitam without possibilitae of rising againe so beasts dye never to live againe or in potentiâ ad vitam in abilitie once to rise againe by the power of God so determining it so man dyeth and shall assuredly rise againe all men elect and reprobates shall come from death as Pharaohs two servants from their prison one to honour the other to execution some to the joyes of heaven eternall blessednesse of body and soule the other to endlesse shame and unspeakable torments in hell sire with the Devill and his Angells 4. The same body which dyeth shall be raised againe the same substance as
direct to salvation comfort the soul and make a man truly wise but only that which cannot be false that only is the ground of faith whatsoever is lesse is but opinion at most this infallible certainty is only in the word of God who cannot lye Let others magnifie traditions of men I will learne my religion here who but God could teach me Gods will and the mystery of salvation If the Oratour did justly reprove him that learned Greeke at Lilybaeum not at Athens and Latine at Cilicia not at Rome how much more culpable are they who neglecting Gods word will elsewhere learne religion 3. God hath spoken at sundry times and in divers manners by the Prophets and Apostles whose writings the same his infallible spirit endited to reveale his will concerning the duty and salvation of man and for a constant and unchangeable rule of faith and manners leading to the same As when he had shewed the Israelites his power and providence to feed them with Manna from heaven hee commanded that a part thereof should be laid up for posterity in the golden urne so when those divine clouds the Prophets and Apostles had showred downe their heavenly food of soules the commission was to them all which was to some write this for a memoriall in a booke Exod 17. 14. write the vision and make it plaine upon tables Habac 2. 2. what thou seest write in a booke Rev 1. 11. write for these words are true and faithfull Rev 21. 5. This is that Manna which was accommodate to every Palate it was milke to the child and strong meat to the man the Scripture is for all estates ages and conditions 4. Though the Scriptures are the only infallible dictate of the holy Ghost appointed to be the rule by which to try all doctrines yet the preaching of the same word expounding applying it by the Ministers of Christ is likewise the ordinance of the same God assisted by a sufficient measure of his spirit to the edifying and salvation of the hearers so is it the power of God to salvation to every one that beleeueth he hath said it is not you that speake but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you and take heed unto thy selfe and unto the doctrine for in doing this thou shalt both save thy selfe and them that heare thee 5. As Christ was the Prophet which God promised to raise up which every soule must heare which will be saved so was and is his spirit now speaking in the Preachers of the Gospell See Luk. 10. 16. and as salvation is by faith onely so is faith by hearing and that by the Word of God and how shall they learne without a teacher or preach except they be sent and furnished of God when he sent the Angell to Cornelius he could by the same have instructed him concerning his will but he remitted him to the Ministrie of Peter so when Christ appeared to Saul on the way he could as easily have told him what he should do as send him blâ—nd to Ananias to restore him at once a double light but he would thus teach men a reverend esteeme and dependance on the ministry by which his purpose was ordinarily to bring men to faith and salvation To incite us to this duty of hearing let us consider that 1. As Aaron must be heard when he went into the holy place and the Prophet must heare the Word at Gods mouth and warne the people thereof upon paine of death so if they will not heare and be warned they wilfully perish 2. The Word is Gods Scepter of his Kingdome 't is his great mercy to give the light of the Gospell to a people as a starre to lead them to Christ when hee removeth the Candlesticke from others by nature as good as they The Queene of Saba said that Solomons servants were happy in that they might stand and heare his wisedome how much more happy are they who may in the Gospell heare the wisedome of Christ and be sensible of his saving power therein 3. This word as God owneth it for the dictate of his spirit and his ordinance so doth he indeed make it effectuall to convert the soule to make the simple wise unto salvation and the wise perfect and throughly furnished to all good workes 4. Hereby Satans Captives may be brought to repentance acknowledge the truth recover themselves out of his snare 2. Tim â— 24. to whom they must else like those care-bored servants be in vassalage for ever 5. The word of truth is safely heard though not alwaies so preached truth begetteth malice and so createth danger to the speaker where itching eares will not endure sound doctrine 2. Tim 4. 3. 6. It is the word of reconciliation 2. Cor 5. 19. the embassie of God to entreat us to be reconciled to him in Christ it profereth peace if we will embrace it if we hearken unto it as Jothan said God will hearken unto us it is the gladsome tydings of salvation the Gospell of peace Rom 10. 15. the savour of life to them who receave it as of death to them that reject it or neglect it every sermon setteth before us life and death blessing and cursing that we may choose as Fabius said to the Carthaginians when he shooke his robes In this bosome I bring you warre and peace choose which you will 7. The dangers are unavoidable to the refuser to heare this word 1. It is a desperate condition to be deafe to the ordinary remedy appointed by God to cure us read 2. Chron 36. 15. c. The Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his Messengers rising early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place but they mocked the Messengers of God despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of God arose against the people and there was no remedy Therefore brought hee up them the King of the Chaldeans who slew their yong men with the sword c. See Jer. 19. 15. Jer. 29. 18 19. Jer 25. 8. 9. c. Levit. 26. 18. c. Deut. 21. 13. 15. Therefore did we heare a voyce of trembling and fear and not of peace therefore a voyce is heard in Ramah lamentation and bitter weeping for indeed hereby men desperately prevoke God Heb. 3. 16. It is the height of rebellion against him wherein they will admit of not treaty Deut. 1. 43. Isay 30. 9. the Physitians say deafnesse in a sharp fever is a signe of madnesse 't is nothing lesse here God will give them over to strong delusions to beleeve lies and be damned who will not receive the love of truth that they may be saved I will choose their delusions saith the Lord and bring their feares upon them because when I
our hearts as Adamant stone least we should heare thy law and the words which thou sentest in thy spirit by the former Prophets therofore came this great wrath from thee the Priests have offered polluted bread on thy altar with the strange â—ire of their owne inventions the oppressing Cities obeyed not thy voice nor received correction they trusted not in thee neither drew neere unto their God their Princes within them were roaring Lyons and their Judges evening Woolves yea their Prophets were light and treacherous persons their Priests have polluted thy sanctuary done violence to thy Law we have itching eares for heapes of teachers which preach pleasing things crying to us peace peace even when misery and destruction is upon us because we would not abide wholsome doctrine we have not feared thee nor received instruction but corrupted all our waies therefore are wee to this day consumed by the fire of thy jealousie we are become an aâ—â—licted poore people and we deserve that thou shouldst still be terrible unto us and powre upon us thy indignation bring distresse upon us and that our blood should be powred out like water on the bosome of this good land which we have stained with cruelty murder rapine oppression uncleanesse and that fulnesse of sinnes which is scarse heard of among those who have not heard thy law to teach them better But O Lord our God there is none holy whom thou hast not made such nor any so wicked but thou canst make him holy Lord we are in thy gracious hands we humbly pray thee to frame our hearts according to thine owne will and make us such as thou wouldst have us to be O God of mercy have compassion on them who would not swerve from thee make us a people of circumcised hearts and pure language that we may all yet once againe serve thee with one consent convert us that thou maist turne unto us and establish thy covenant of life and peace amongst us O Lord in the amazing feares and bitter aâ—â—lictions of our soules answere with good and comfortable words returne unto Jerusalem with mercies comfort Zion be still our God and let us be thy people in truth and righteousnesse be thou a wall of fire round about her the glory in the midst of her dwell thou in her that she may againe be called a city of truth the mountaine of the Lord of hoasts the holy mountaine Cut of the remnant of Baal from this place and the name of the Chemarims with their Priests who turned back from thee unto vanity and superstition shew us thy waies O Lord and teach us thy statutes lead us in thy truth O God of our salvation set thy feare in our hearts that thy secret may be with us open our eyes that we sleep not in death shew us our sinnes and the way to avoid them by the knowledge of thy law and the spirit of sanctification assure us of our interest in Christ by the comfortable testimony of thy holy spirit applying the promises of the Gospell to our wounded consciences continue forth the light of thy word to us and the purity of religion and thy holy worship amongst us put thy holy spirit the spirit of prayer and prophesie abundantly upon the Ministry assist them with enlightned understandings sound knowledge of all the mysteries of eternall life and salvation enlarged hearts holy affections faithfull memories and hasâ—owed lips for the powerfull delivery of thy holy word unto us forgive us all our disobedience barrennâ—sse and unfruitfulnesse give us true and hearty repentance for all our sinnes past with a stedfast purpose and faithfully resolution never to commit the like againe take from us all spirituall blindnesse hardnesse of heart unbeleefe prejudicate opinion wandring and profane thoughts and what ever else hath hitherto hindred the fruit bearing of thy holy word resist the vigilant malice of the tempter that he may not distract us nor take away the seed of thy word out of our hearts Give us sanctified thoughts and holy reverence towards thine ordinance an hearkening eare and attentive heart O God who hast the key of David which openeth none can shut who said'st unto the deafe eares be opened and they presently were so say it unto our hearts and eares so sanctify our affections and prepare us to heare and receive thy word that we may attend unto it as thy word and not the word of man that it may prove a savour of life to us that we may bring forth better fruits then ever we have done that leading us in thy way it may bring us to Christ the truth the way and the life the end of the law to every one that beleeveth and the fruits of our hopes endeavours the salvation of our bodies and soules through thy sonne our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN A Prayer to be used after hearing the word O Lord our God we humbly present unto thee the fruits of our hearts and lips praise and thankesgiving as for all thy gratious mercies and favours spirituall and temporall so specially for the light of truth in thy holy word preached unto us whereby thou pleasest to reveale thy will concerning our duty towards thee and our salvation in Christ Jesus More particularly wee thanke thee for that portion thereof now bestowed upon us we humbly pray thee to pardon our unholy and unreverend hearing our profanesse of heart and minde inattention wandring of thoughts and drouzinesse of spirit And now holy father prosper thine owne ordinance send downe the former and the latter raine the dew of grace to mollifie our hard and stony hearts that the seed now sowed in our outward eares may be fixed in our memory and take deepe root in our hearts and affections that the fruits of our faith and entire obedience may appeare in our lives and conversations to thy glory and our comfort and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN CHAP. XIV § 2. Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper § 2. Who receive the grace thereby represented § 3. How we ought to prepare for the right receiving thereof how to receive it and what to doe after receiving 1 OUr Saviour Christ hath left us under the Gospell onely two Sacraments Baptisme the Sacrament of initiation and the Lords Supper the sacrament of confirmation that admitteth us into Christs visible body the Church this feedeth and strengthneth in the same 2. A Sacrament is a visible signe of an invisible grace an holy seale ordained of God to strengthen our faith in his promises in Jesus Christ for the free remission of our sinnes which God therefore annexed to his word to confirme us by representing the suffering of Christ to our sight and tasting as the Gospell preacheth it to our eares 3. This Sacrament is called the Lords Supper because Christ ordained it at his last supper wherein to fulfill the law he eate the Pascall Lambe and to shew the determination
that is bitten with hels fiery serpents all other wayes uncurable by looking upon Christ with the eye of faith shall be saved therefore in case thou find any stupid impenitencie in thy stony heart be thou the more attentive in hearing the word and more serious in applying it to thy conscience more fervent in prayer and more frequent in receiving this holy Sacrament thou shalt at last find an happy effect hereof 5. Examine whether thou be in charity with all men as he that presumed to offer with any other fire then that which came from heaven was cut off from Israâ—l so shall it be with those who offer this spirituall sacrifice in malice if hee that touched the Arke with unconsecrated hands was smitten dead what shall become of them who dare come to the Lords table with bloody hands and malicious hearts if thou be not in charity leave thy gift before the altar go first and be recenciled neither maist thou thinke thy selfe excused from communicating by thy malice God biddeth thee be reconciled and then come and offer neither maist thou thinke to lay downe thy malice as they speake of the serpent while she drinketh for a time only to resume it againe in a wilfull abstinence there is a contempt of the Sacrament which shall condemne a man and in comming to Christ our Passeover with the leven of maliciousnesse is the same danger there is no safe way but in reconciliation that thou maist receive worthily 2. The second point is how we must receive we must do it with hearts lifted up to God in holy meditations of Christ's passion frequent ejaculations imploring Gods gracious assistance obsignation and sealing up of our salvation with hallowed thoughts minds sequestred from all worldly things and the most attentive and holy reverence of soule and body for so ought wee to appeare before God in his worship Psal. 95. 6 7. Secondly the riches of Gods grace all the merits of Christ are here offered and held out to us by the hand and ordinance of Christ Thirdly 't is administred and received with a prayer for which no gesture can be too humble lastly when Moses rehearsed the mercie of God to Israël in the institution of the Passeover then the people bowed downe and prostraited themselve the same reason have wee to expresse a reverend and humble thankfulnesse for Christ our Passeover 3. After receiving 1. Give thanks to God for these seales of thy redemption in Christ. 2. Be carefull to performe all thy promises vowes holy resolutions conceived and made in thy preparation to receive and live every day of this life as if thou didst therein communicate 3. Keepe a carefull watch over thy body and thy soule least the evill one repossesse himselfe of the swept garnished roome and bring with him seaven worse spirits then himselfe Lest thou relapsing to the filthy vomit of thy old sinnes thy end proove worse then the beginning I have washed my feet said the Spouse of Christ how shall I defile them 4. Pray the Lord to make good his own ordinance unto thee effectually sealing thee up unto the day of redemptioÌ„ 5 Examine thy selfe whether thy soule be nourished and strengthned by receiving which will appeare if after it thou art more cheerefull in greater assurance of thy salvation remission of sinnes peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost if thou art more quick active and able to all holy duties if receiving breed in thee a spirituall appetite to receive againe that thou maist more be confirmed in Christ if it beget a fervent love to God and thy neighbours amendment of life and more hearty loathing thy sinnes inward sense of the life of Jesus dwelling in thee an holy contempt of this world with a longing desire and constant hope of a better life to come causing thee to set thy affections on things celestiall to walke with God in holinesse and to have thy conversation in heaven if these things are in thee blessed art thou hee hath sealed thee with his holy spirit who will knowe thee for his owne and so protect thee with his providence that the destroying Angell shall not touch thee To conclude when the diseased woeman of whom spake but touched the hemme of Christ's garment shee presently felt the powerfull effect thereof in her healing though Christ had made her no such promise and if we have received his body and blood according to his command his promise must be fulfilled and wee shall be strengthned and healed we shall feele the same power nourishing us to eternall life A private Prayer before the receiving of the Lords Supper MOst gratious Lord God Father of mercy and truth Who dwellest in that light which none can attaine unto yet vouchsafest to prepare the hearts of thy servants here on earth to help their infirmities and to heare their petitions prepare my heart teach mee to pray encline thine eare unto mee and have mercy upon mee O Lord thou art a just and a severe Judge how shall I then vile and unworthy wretch appeare this day before thee in the courts of thyne house I came into this world a child of wrath disobedience naked and destitute of all goodnesse but thou O Lord my Redeemer hast bestowed the seale of thy righteousnesse upon mee in my Baptisme thou hast called mee to the knowledge of thy gospel thou hast given me the earnest of my redemption by the spirit of regeneration Lord establish now the thing which thou hast freely wrought in mee and as thou hast this day invited mee to thy table and the communion of the body and blood of thy holy Sonne Jesus Christ so Lord bestow the wedding garment on mee that I may appeare before thee cloathed in his righteousnesse whom thou madest an offering for sinne that in him wee might become righteous before thee Lord what is man that thou so regardest him and who among the sonnes of men hath more cause to praise thy mercies then wretched I thy mercy hath long spared me thou hast taken me out of the power of darknesse kingdome of Satan thou hast given me the glorious freedome of the children of light what shall I rendër the Lord for all his benefitts towards me I will call upon the name of the Lord I will declare his mercies I will take the cup of salvation and pay my vowes all is to little which I have to give thee O Lord thou hast in my creation given me my selfe in my redemption thou hast restored me to my selfe therfore now accept againe thyne owne gift Lord let me be wholy thyne And beeing now to appeare before thee whith a sacrifice of praise I pray thee for Iesus Christ his sake prepare the alter purge me with Hysope create a cleane heart within me renue a right spirit sprinkle the doore of my soule with the blood of the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world that
the destroyer may not enter send into my soule that heavenly fire of love to thy sacred Majestie and charity to all men which may assure mee of thy acceptance of me and my sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving clens out of mee all the old leaven of sinne and maliciousnesse open my understanding increase my faith that I may see and know the assurance of my sinnes remission in the seale of eternall life which by thy mercies I am now to receive Thou hast taught mee O Lord that my blessed Saviour in the night that he was betrayed made this holy testament wherein as he tooke flesh and blood of us that he might dye for us so hee bequeathed his body and blood to us that wee might live in him and left this Sacrament as a faithfull pledge of his love to remember us of his dying for us till he come againe O Lord I know thou art the life and truth and wouldst not leave thy Church any effectlesse earnest of their salvation Lord Jesus therefore be present with my spirit worke powerfully on thine owne ordinance that it may indeed seale up my salvation in my soule with that conconstant assurance that the gates of hell may never prevaile against it that no terrour of conscience nor any delusions of Satan may be able to overthrow it but that I may with a lively faith lay hold on all thy merits that I may find therein an inward peace in confidence of my sinnes remission reconciliation with my God sound joy in the Holy Ghost my comforter sanctified will and affections purity of life and holy obedience which hath the testimony of a good conscience to be a sweet comfort both in life and death assuring me that I have fought a good fight with entire faith and therefore shall enjoy the crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall at that day give to all them that love his appearing Grant this O Lord and whatever else thou knowest to be needfull for me for Jesus Christ his sake who with thee and the holy spirit liveth and raigneth ever one God world without end AMEN An other private Prayer for one ready to receive the Lords Supper HOly Lord I humbly beseech thee for Christ Jesus sake whose sacred body and blood are here represented forgive me all my sinnes and give me a stedfast hearty and constant resolution never to commit the like againe give mee a lively faith that through these signes which my Saviour hath appointed to be received in remembrance of his death and passion untill his comming againe I may really apprehend the spirituall relish of the bread of life and to be assured that Christ's body was given for me and his most pretious blood shed for my redemption Lord lift up my soule above all worldly thoughts that I may by a steady and confident application of all the benefits of his death and passion see Christ Jesus sitting at thy right hand feed on him by a justifying faith and thereby be nourished to eternall life Holy Father heare and assist direct and guid me according to thine owne will Lord Jesus who gavest thy selfe to death for my salvation deny not the requests of my feeble soule longing for the assurance of thy saving health hungring and thirsting for thee and thy righteousnesse O holy Ghost the sanctifier of all the elect throughly cleanse me from all the old leaven of sin prepare me body and soule to an holy reverend and effectuall receiving these sacred mysteries that my soule and conscience may thereby be sealed up to redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord and blessed Saviour AMEN A private Prayer after receiving the Lords Supper MOst gratious God and mercifull Father who of thine owne free love and good pleasure hast elected created redeemed regenerated reconciled justified and preserved me unto this present who hast also bestowed â—on me unworthy of the least of thy mercies the peaceable use of thy holy word and sacraments I humbly thanke thee as for all other thy favours so for this present comfort which I have now received Lord accept this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ whose oblation of himselfe once offered for a full and perfect price of our redemption and satisfaction for all our sins we have hereby according to his owne ordinance remembred Lord perfect the worke which thou hast begun in me make good thine owne institution unto my soule seale me up unto the day of redemption worke in mee a full assurance of my sinnes remission and my reconciliation to thee by the death and merit of thy holy sonne Jesus give me a lively sense of my union with him and his living in me so guiding me by his holy spirit that his life may appeare in all my thoughts words and actions that I may henceforth live no more to sinne but being freed from the power and laws thereof may have my fruit unto holinesse and eternall life Lord make me every day more and more able to doe thy will and to abandon mine owne corrupt desires let me now feele in my soule conscience the reall benefit of thy word and sacraments which thou hast promised to all those that truely seek thee give me that longing desire of right cousnesse which is by thy grace secured from despaire and preserved from vaine glory and presumption satisfie me with that measure of grace which thy wisdome knoweth sufficient for me Lord make me knowe assuredly that I have not now received this holy sacrament in vaine nourish me hereby to eternall life give me a greater strength to walke righteously before thee with sound faith cheerefulnesse of minde firme and comfortable peace of conscience and that joy of the holy Ghost which may ascertaine me that thy kingdome is established in me Give me a zealous love of thy glory ready obedience to thy law feare to displease thee innocency of life and that holy charity towards all men which may give me boldnesse in the great and terrible day of the Lord Jesus order thou my conversation so that it may be unblamable towards all men and holy before thee to thy glory and the good example of those with whom I live assist me with such a measure of thy sanctifying spirit that I may indeed performe all those vowes which I have made before thee that every day of my life may be to mee as this Sabbath an holy rest from sinne Lord who powerfully commandest all thy creatures prevent the mischievous subtiltie of the tempter let thy holy spirit keepe me body and soule give me an holy contempt of this present world and affections set on high where my blessed Saviour sitteth at thy right hand who shall in the appointed time appeare in judgement and gather his elect unto him These things and whatsoever else thou knowest needfull for me or any part of thy whole Church militant I begge at thy gratious hands who hast commanded us to aske and
Angels pitch round about his to deliver them and when we seem most overmatcht they are more with us then can be against us as that fearfull servant saw at last It made David so confident In the Lord put I my trust how say yee then to my soul Flee as a bird to your mountaine all confidence in men their counsels or an arme of flesh is unhappy and must faile beeing under the curse God cannot si fractus illabatur orbis therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountaines be carried into the midst of the sea 4. Hearken unto the Word of God whoso hearkneth unto mee shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil thou shalt walke in the way safely when thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid herein thou shalt know God's power trueth providence mercy and justice and so trust in him as it is written They that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee 5. Love the Lord sincerely the more thou lovest him the more thou wilt rest assured of his love and protection the more perfect thy love is the more it casteth out fear 6. Depart from evill as the Princes of the Philistines said of David Let him not go down with us to the battle leâ—t in the battle he be an adversary to us Set thy selfe to seek the Lord as Jehoshaphat did when many enemies were upon the march against him and atcheived a glorious victory against them Keep a good conscience it shall be a wall of brasse unto thee when that is safe a man is bold as a lion but if we see the smoke of hell ascend there wee must needs faint like the men of Ai when they saw their City on fire Sinne in the conscience maketh men cowardly they may possibly speak glorious words who have timerous consciences but as one said of the fearfull dogg vehementiùs latrat quà m mordet hee must needs feare who hath no peace in himselfe 7. Consider the end of the â—aints sufferings which hath ever been happy in that they are the more partakers of Christ's glory by how much more of his sufferings consider how long they have suffered or thou canst fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast sâ—me of you into prison that yee may be tryed be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life It is true flesh and blood must have it allowance for its infirmity but the more wee can lay to heart the end of the saints so happy that even the wicked affect it and the quiet fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised the lesse we must needs feare the malice of any creature 8. Labour for peace with God give him no rest till he speak it to thy conscience resolve not to let him go untill he blesse thee and assure thee of thy remission in Christ. What hath he to feare whose sins are forgiven the sting of death pâ—lled out who would not dare it therefore the Apostle did because he could say Thanks be unto God who giveth us victory through Jesus Christ this is Faith's victory over the world 9. In thy greatest feares pray more fervently so did our Saviour being in an agony he prayed more earnestly so did Jacob in fear of his brothers long-studied revenge pray that God would open thine eies to see his saving health God many times terrifieth to awaken our drouzie souls and open our mouths to earnest prayer which in prosperity are too prone to the spirit of slumber and coldnesse feare hath many tongues and can open the mouth of the dumb Even Jonah's mariners in their feare will pray and instigate others thereto that one example of Croesus sonne Athis before dumb crying out O Cyrus spare my father and by our misfortunes learne that thou also art but a man sheweth what the violence of feare can do A Prayer against Feare O Lord God almighty dreadfull in thy wrath and indignation against sinners I humbly acknowledge that there is not one of thy judgements which I may not reasonably fear who have deserved them all the miseries of this life terrors of death and future condemnation But O Lord God of consolation assure mee of my sinnes remission and my peace with thee for Christ Jesus sake fill my heart and affections with that measure of thy love which may exclude all servile feare give mee the testimony of a good conscience to comfort me against all vain fears of the wicked lift up the light of thy countenance upon me and assure me that thou who rulest in heaven and earth from the Angel to the worm art my defence and help at hand Thou art omnipotent and canst doe what thou wilt Lord let it be thy will to deliver me from the affliction which I fear that I may live to praise the and declare thy goodnesse toward mee if it be possible let this cup passe from mee if otherwise thy holy will be done Lord suffer mee not for any tryals to fail from thee consider my weaknesse remember whereof thou hast made me that I am but dust and earth soon passing away give me patience to endure thy fatherly hand and full assurance that all things shall work together for the best give me fervency of spirit to pray more earnestly give me that â—aith to which thou who canst not deceive hast made the promise of audience and granting our petitions Give mee an invincible resolution not to let thee goe untill thou blessest me with some happy issue through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen Of Cares CAre is the childe of Providence some say the souls apparitor to summon all it's faculties to it's Senate or Committee it is rather counsels president determining what to pursue and what to decline the weight which moveth all it's wheels that taken off or quite run down all the nerves of providence are loosed and the soules faculties become inactive and resty so as we neither affect the good nor feare the evill Care is the centinel which gives the alarme to awaken wisedom to it's offices the steward of the inward house the Palinurus and pilot which sitteth at the helm to steere and direct the course lest industry be wanting to prudent decrees and resolutions or successe to industry so necessary is this vigilancy of the soule that without it we can neither be profitable to our selves or others in things divine or humane though salvation shall neither be in his care who willeth nor his that runneth but in him that sheweth mercy yet if thou care not to lay hold on his promises and to beleeve and obey thou shalt finde that he that made thee without thy care will not save thee without it because
family 4. That they be docible and ingenious modest willing in meeknesse to learn and obey their Masters wills an ignorant servant is troublesome but a proud and immorigerous intolerable 5. That they be not slothful and negligent 6. That they be not qâ—arrelsom or contentious or unjust accusers of their fellowes 7. That they be not murmurers or querulous persons or rude answerers again Tit. 2. 2. 8. That they be not hearkners after their Masters counsels too full of eies or busie inquisitors into those things which are above the sphere of their duety it is many times a servants wisedome not to know what he knoweth 9. That they be not given to drunkennesse ryot intemperance luxury or subject to passion he that will be a good servant to others must first be his own master The Motives hereto are 1. God's expresse command Colos. 3. 22. Ephes. 6. 5 c. where that moveth not I know not what can Obedience to thy Master is shewing thy selfe a servant of Christ and doing the will of God Eph. 6. 6. 2. This adorneth the doctrine of God Tit. 2. 10. 3. Therefore the grace of God hath appeared to all men bond and free Tit. 2. 11. 4. If servants be faithful they shall receive the reward of the Lord Col. 3. 24. 5. Hee that doth wrong to his Master shall receive the like God will revenge it Col. 3. 25. 6. A false and trecherous servant is odious to God and man commonly branded with an indelible note of infamy as an unthankfull deceiver of trust 7. The name of God and his doctrine are blasphemed by that servant who professing to be a Christian is false injurious or unprofitable to his Master because that sacred profession is not to him a spurre to duety but a cloak of hypocrisie After reading some of the Psalmes and a Chapter of the Old or New Testament to thy Family use this or the like Prayer A short Morning Prayer with a Family O Almighty God and most merciful Father wee render thee all humble and hearty thanks as for all thy mercies and favours temporal and eternal from time to time bestowed upon us so particularly for thy gracious preservation of us this night past beseeching thee to give us also a prudent and holy use of this favor to thy glory the good example of our brethren and the assurance of our consciences before thee And as thou hast been pleased to bring us safe to the begining of this â—lay so we pray thee holy Father to continue thy providence and thy merâ—y to us therein keep us safe in bodies soules and all that thou hast given us blesse us in our several labours and endeavors let thy blessing be upon all that which thou hast given us for our use and comfort make thy creatures good and successeful to us direct us in that way wherein thou wouldst have us walke that being counselled and guided by thy good spirit which cannot erre we may in all that which we speak or dâ— keepe the testimony of a good conscience doing and saying that onely which is pleasing in thy sight and walking prudently and unblameably toward all men and holily and sincerely before thee our all-seeing God Let not our hearts decline to any evil waies but give us grace ever and in every undertaking to remember our ends wherein wee must give a strict account of all our actions words and thoughts and seriously to consider that for ought wee know this day may be our last so framing our lives and conversations that at our last houre which thy providence hath set every one of us we may be found busied in a faithful watch as careful servants continually expecting the coming of our Lord that wee may with our Lord Jesus on whom wee have beleeved enter into that joy which thou hast prepared for all them who love and loâ—ke for his comming These and all other things which thou knowest more needful for â—s wee beg at thy merciful hands for Jesus Christ his sake in that holy and perfect form which himselfe hath taught us saying Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father and the most comfortable fellowship of God the holy Ghost be with us all to direct guide and keep us this day and evermore Amen Another Morning Praier for a Family O Lord God merciful long-suffering abundant in goodnesse and trueth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving transgression and sinne unto the penitent but not acquitting the guilty and obstinate sinner wee thy poore servants through thy mercy sparing us this day appearing before thee humbly acknowledge our selves to be most vile and loathsome in thy sight not only in respect of our original corruption which we have brought into the world with us but also for our actual sinnes which we have multiplied beyond all weight and number thou art a God of pure eies and inviolable justice how shall we appeare before thee who cannot stand in the judgment of our own consciences Lord what have we more then the hearty acknowledgment of our own unworthinesse to present thee How can wee hope to prevent the curse which goeth forth over the face of the earth to cut off on this side and that 〈◊〉 afflict families and nations with sorrowes and destructions but only by condemning our selves and flying from thy justice to thy mercy our sinâ— are great and grievous but O merciful God where sinne and misery abound thy grace doth more abound and where none are able to satisfie thy justice the greatnesse of the debt can make no difference whether 500 or 50 when neither hath to pay thy mercy equally closeth an unequal account in a free forgivenesse of both Seeing theâ— for this end thou hast opened the treasures of thy mercy in Christ Jesus coming into the world to save sinners wee humbly and confidently acknowledge that of those sinners wee are chiefe Lord thou knowest there is salvation in none other look not therefore on that which we have done or can perform but on that which hee hath done and suffered for us we are indeed subject to the curse for that we many waies transgresse thy holy lawes but therefore was thy holy Jesus made a curse for us that hee might redeem us from the curse of the Law that the blessing might come on us through him in our being made heires thereof and receiving the promise of the spirit the earnest and seale of our redemption through faith Wee condemne our selves that Christ may justifie us that we may be found in him not appearing in our owne righteousness which is at best but as a soon vanishing morning cloud and in the severity of thy judgement as a silthy polluted garment in which we could expect no other sentence then Depart yee cursed into everlasting fire therefore we renounce our selves that we may be clothed with his righteousnesse which is by faith in him
that we may know him and feel in our souls and consciences the comfortable power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death in the mortification of all those corrupt and sinful affections which continually resist the working of thy regenerating spirit in us O Lord our God being deeply sensible of our own disability to save or helpe our selves wee â—ast all our care and confidence of present protection preservation and future salvation on the merits of thy son Christ Jesus in assurance that thou art faithful who hast promised as by him to save us so through him to hear and help us in all our wants and distresses O Lord God of trueth and mercy who hast commanded us to aske and promised to grant accept our obedience and confidence in asking and according to thy trueth grant our requests in forgiving all our sinnes and giving us all those blessings which thou knowest needful for us that wee may serve thee cheerfully sanctifie our bodies and soules to thy service that in them both wee may cleave to thee please thee and rest assured by the testimony of thy holy spirit and the powerful working thereof in us that thou hast sanctified called and elected us to life everlasting Lord give us experience of thy trueth which never failed give us lively and justifying faith to apprehend Christ Jesus and all his merits give us perseverance therein that no trials of life or death may ever separate us from thy love nor any powers of hell be able to overthrow our confidence therein And now O Lord our God who makest the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee wee humbly thank thee as for all thy mercies and favors spiritual and temporal continually poured out upon us in our election creation redemption calling from the kingdom of darknesse our sanctification preservation from daiely imminent dangers of body and soule our liberty peace health and all those temporal necessaries for the comfort sustenance of us and ours which thy fatherly providence hath bestowed upon us so also for that it hath pleased thee to preserve us this night past from the powers of darknesse terrors of night and all the ovils thereof Lord continue thy mercy to us safely brought to the begining of this day the day is thine the night also is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sunnâ— O Lord our refuge let no evil befal us this day let not any plague come neer our dwelling give thine Angels charge over us to keep us in all our waies that wee may in nothing displease thee as thou hast put away the late darknesse which covered the face of the earth and waters by the comfortable appearance of this great light which thou madest to govern the day that men may follow their several labours therein so blessed Father of lights cause the sunne of righteousnesse Christ Jesus to arise on every one of our hearts thence to chase away the remainders of ignorance darknesse of minde and unbeliefe to open our eies that wee sleep not in death to enlighten us with a sound knowledge of all the mysteries of eternal life and salvation that we may arise and shake off the dangerous security in sinne and conscionably walk with thee who hast called us to thy kingdome that we may please thee being fruitful in every good worke encreasing in the knowledgâ— of thee strengthned to all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse and thankfulnesse for that thou hast made us partakers of the inheritance of thy saints in light that wee may walke worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called with all holinesse and meeknesse love and charity toward all men endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bâ—nd of peace so labouring in our several callings as being ever careful first to seek thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof in assurance that so all temporal necessaries shall be administred unto us in all our endeavours expecting the blessing from thee without which it is but lost labour to rise early late take rest eat the bread of carefulnesse and deprive our souls of ease Blesse all the creatures to us this day make them good and prosperous unto us direct us so in all our thoughts words and actions that wee may glorifie thee preserve a good conscience and give an example of holinesse to those with whom we converse that in nothing the trueth of religion with which thou hast blessed us be evil spoken of through our failings but that we may by our integrity stop the mouths of all adversaries and adorn the Gospel by walking unblameably toward all men and sincerely before thee ever remembring that of all our thoughts words and actions we must give a strict inevitable account at the dreadful day of judgment now kept from the knowledg of all men that they may every day live as if it were their last keeping a constant and careful watch in exspectation of that houre which shall come like a theefe in the night wherein thou wilt assuredly bring to light things hid in darknesse and make the counsels of all hearts manifest judging every man according to his workes Neither pray wee for our selves only but wee also beseech thee for thy whole Church and all thy distressed servants whether their afflictions be in body minde or estate comfort now and in thy good time enlarge all prisoners and captives which suffer for or with the testimony of a good conscience Lord God of all consolation assure them that when thy will and work is done in them thou wilt shew thy self their gracious deliverer and comforter Lastly we pray thee O Father of mercy blesse this family wherein by thy providence we are blesse us all from the first to the last with all those whom thou hast made neer unto us prosper us O Lord and our endeavours upon us feed us with bread of our stature that which thou knowest necessary and convenient for us give us a faithful dependance upon thy fatherly hand which never leaueth them destitute who trust in thee give us a prudent holy and thankefull use of all those good things which thou hast bestowed upon us that thou maist be pleased to continue thy mercy and providence over us give us contented mindes free from covetousnesse and distracting cares in assurance that thou wilt never forsake us and good Lord as thou art pleased to adde this day to our transitory lives so adde that grace to this day which may direct and guid every one of us in our bodies and souls that we may spend it and the remainder of our daies to thy glory and the comfortable assurance of our consciences before thee so that having our present conversation in heaven and walking with thee in sincerity of heart when these fleeting daies are ended we may live with thee in thy kingdome of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Short Evening Praier O
workes layed afflictions upon our loines and broken our land yet heale the breaches thereof though thou hast caused us to drinke of the wine of astonishment in thy sore displeasure and made us examples of thy just judgments yet turn again unto us and make us instances of thy mercy that sinners may in our story read that which may make them afraid to sin and confident of thy mercy in their unfeigned repentance remember thy mercy which hath been ever of old before all times thou electedst us at the begining of time thou createdst us to thine owne holy image in the fulnesse of time thou gavest thy holy sonne Jesus to death for our redemption Lord cast not that away which thou hast purchased at so deare a rate we know thy mercy faileth not thou art ever the same not like man that thou shouldst repent thee as mistaken in thy choice or defeated in thy counsels O Lord our God accomplish thine owne election in us thou hast given us thy son Iesus how shouldst thou not also with him give us al things needful for us thou hast for his sake acquitted us from eternal condemnation how shouldst thou not also spare us and deliver us in the temporal 'T is little O bountiful God which we beg at thy merciful hands for our present releife to that which thou freely gavest us before wee could aske nor is it because wee have none to stand up in the gap for us that thy wrath is not yet appeased seeing thy Christ our faithful high Priest sitteth at thy right hand making intercession for us O Lord for his sake be reconciled to us deny not our requests heare and helpe us establish thy free covenant and mercy with us strengthen O God that which thou hast wrought for us and our fathers when thou deliveredst us from the powers of darkness and taking us to be thy people didst translate us into the kingdome of thy deare son establish the trueth sincerity of religion unity of hearts and abundance of peace which thou then gavest us forgive the sins of thy people turn our hearts unto thee from the first unto the last give us unfeigned repentance and humiliation under thy mighty hand that thou maist spare us and grace to forsake all our evill waies that thine anger may cease from us give us patience to bear thy fatherly corrections who hast with so much patience born with our iniquities Bless thy Church universal with trueth and unity shew thy mercy on her distressed thou hast hid thy face from us and consumed us because of our jniquities but Lord remember them not for ever appoint now unto them that mourne in Sion give them beauty for ashes the oile of joy for mourning and the garment of praisâ— for the spirit of heavinesse comfort her waste places make her wildernesse like Eden and her desart like the garden of the Lord give her joy and gladnesse and let the voice of thanks-giving and melody be heard in her again Blesse that part thereof which thy right hand hath planted in great Britan and Ireland blesse this family and every part thereof forgive us all our sinnes sanctifie our bodies and souls to thy service give us that blessed peace of conscience which the world can neither give nor take away give us assurance of our iustification in Christ Jesus fill us with fruits of righteousnesse that wee may not foolishly sleeâ—e without oile in our lampes because wee know not whether the day now spent shall be our last when wee sleepe let thy providence which watcheth over all thine preserve us from the powers of darknesse perplexing fantasies and troublesome dreames that 〈◊〉 may rest in thee and being refreshed rise againe to glorifie thee in our several places and callings through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour Amen CHAP. XXIV Of Marriage and the dueties thereof § 1. Of Marriage the institution end and fruits thereof § 2. Of choice in general and particular who are to be avoided § 3. Dueties of the Married mutual and peculiar § 4. Advice to the widow 1. MArriage is the conjunction of one man with one woman according to the lawes of God and man in the holy indissoluble band of Wedlock whereby they become one flesh I say of one man with one woman for so God made them at first and so appointed from the begining See Matth. 19. 4 c. so that plurality of wives or husbands at once is adultery though when either party dyeth the surviver is free to marry in the Lord according to the lawes of God who saith Let every man have his owne wife and every woman her own husband and the wife is bound by the law to her husband so long as hee liveth Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled forbidding to marry is the doctrine of devils who labour to pervert the order and institution of God to corrupt and dishonor the fountain of humane propagation with impure and wandring lusts And also according to the lawes of man which being grounded on God's law necessarily binde all men thereto subject as cautioning against emergent inconveniences with relation to times places and persons as where they binde to publish the sponsals or contracts to prevent marriage without consent of parents and governers or where they limit to certain houres in the face of the congregation c. to avoid clandestine marriages or incontinent living under pretence of marriage next I say it is an holy and indissoluble band holy for whatsoever is not so in respect of the persons capacity and fitnesse the end and use thereof is neither lawful before God nor man and I say indissoluble for they two become one flesh partners of one condition in weale and woe whence they call it conjugium as à communi iugo and for this cause shall a man leave father and mother and remaine with his wife which is not simply but comparatively to be understood as if hee said Thou shalt more constantly keep with her or rather leave father and mother then thy wiâ—e and the word of Christ is cleere what God hath joined together let no man put asunder whosoever shall put away his wife except it be for fornication and shall marry another committeth adultery now in case of adultery man separateth not but a just punishment as death dischargeth the party innocent he is cruelly impious who putteth away a chaste wife and hee impiously foolish who keepeth an adulterous or dead one by him Neither may wee conceive that God joineth all them together that are married before men there is a just age fit to give consent required freedom in consent and where these are not it is no lawful marriage If there be deceit as where the man is an Eunuch where there is fraud or errour as where a Leah is substituted for a Rachel where there is a lawful preâ—ontract of either party with some other where either party
and how canst thou correct thy children for imitating thee when thou doest worst in teaching by example When they learne cursing swearing profanation intemperance rude and foul language which hath cost many a life obscence and â—ilthy talke irreligion and neglect of all good duties from parents they think themselves justified by their sins Hence usually is hatched an evil egge of a bad bird a corrupt and cursed seed Hence cometh it to passe that children doe not more commonly inherit their fathers patrimonies then their vices and sooner are they possessed of these then them those come to them after their fathers death these in their life so have they descended to them true vices before those things which are but falsly called good Woe worth such parents and miserable are their children beyond those who by their parents impious superstition passed through those Moloch flames wherein a soon dying body perished but here is the danger of body and soul eternally perishing in hells unquenchable fire The heathen would have taught these seeming Christians better Let nothing said he uncomely to be spoken or done so much as touch these doors within which there is a childe If any evil in thy family happen to be done it ought with much discretion to be drawn to a present example of detestation of that sinne as the Spartans woont to shew their drunken servants to their children that by their discomposed deportments and loathsome deformity they might learn to detest drunkennesse 10. Pray continually for thy children O that Ismaël might live in thy sight cryed Abraham Gen. 17. 18. Job rose up early every day to sacrifice for his sonnes lest they should beare some inexpiated sinnes Job 1. 5. Thine owne experience of the folly and frailty of youth their ignorance pronenesse to error and sinne their many dangerous temptations should stirre up thy natural affâ—ctions to this duety unexcusable before God are they that neglect it and damnable they who instead of praying for them curse them on inconsiderable and lesse grounds then that which instigated Micha's mother thereto Jud. 17. 2. No wonder said the heathen that so many children prove impious seeing they grow up among their parents curses It is true the causelesse curse shall not come and that God can turn a Balaam's curse into a blessing yet Jotham's curse fell on the wicked Shechemites and heavily fell good Noah's on Cham and his posterity yea impious parents commonly see the fruits of their rash curses in their childrens ruine 11. Look on thy children as the blessings which God hath given thee we are all the sonnes of Time which devoureth all it own brood we have here â—o continuing city wee must all part again until wee meet in eternity when God took away Job's dear children he said The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord It is no little bitternesse to flesh and blood to loose hopeful children but we must in such case consider how much more happy they who rest in Christ are then we who survive to mourne for them It is one of the most incongruous acts of a reasonable soule to bewaile those whom wee beleeve blessed Next we must consider God's justice afflicting us for loving things humane too much and his mercy in taking them away from evils to come disburdening us of the care he entrusted to us for a time nor can any say what a childe may prove there are Adoniahs and Absoloms still sweet children but rebellious men there are lovely Dinahs and fair Tamars pleasant children but in their maturity bitter break-hearts Neither may wee sorrow as men without hope wee have not lost them but their company for a time David who bewailed an impious sonne bitterly comforted himself in the death of his harmless infant I shall go to him he shall not return to me Do not deceive thy self God hath given thee a short use not any lasting propriety in things secular when they told a prudent heathen of his deare sonnes death he replyed I knew I had begotten a mortal sonne Thou canst not want examples of mortality in thine own family wherein thou missest many of thy Ancestors and friends let nothing seem unsufferable or strange to thee which is both common and inevitable be sure thou want not the true use thereof which is a due value of all things present and making haste to provide thy selfe and children for a better life in the want of a good childe rather rejoice that thou hadst such an one then lament that hee is gone into God's kingdome of glory before thee while thou enjoyest their company remember to instruct them for eternity he said true An aged father is a fugitive pleasure and so are yong children thou knowest not when they goe out of thy sight whether ever thou shalt see them again till thou meet them in the kingdom of heaven there all teares shall be wiped from thine eies there shall be no more sinne sorrow curse nor fear of deaths parting deare friends there shall be blessednesse without measure or end A Parents praier for his Children O Lord God everlasting father of mercy of whom is named the whole family in heaven and earth abundant in goodnesse and trueth shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love thee and keep thy commandements Give mee grace to be upright and holy before thee that it may according to thy promise who canst not deceive go well with me and my children after mee Thou who art the God of my fathers and hast preserved me from my mothers womb who hast blessings in store for all that fear thee for their generations who depend on thee plant thy fear in every one of their hearts and sanctifie them bodies and soules whom thou hast given mee so that in whatsoever state and condition thy providence shall set them it may be my comfort and assurance that they are thy faithful and elect servants that thou maist be pleased to dispose of them as thine own to their several places and callings to which thy fatherly providence hath assigned them Lord season their tender years with grace and trueth help them and blesse them with blessings of heaven above and the earth beneath and let my blessings prevail above the blessings of my fathers give them assurance of their adoption in Christ Jesus keep them and order their steps in the way which thou wouldst have them walke in let thy faithfulnesse and mercy be with them all the daies of their lives be thou a father and rock of salvation unto them keep them by thy sanctifying spirit holy and sincere before thee uphold them that their foot-steps slip not be thou the guide of their youth keep their tender years from sinne and shame take not thy mercy and thy trueth from them preserve them from the houre of tentation in life and
and honors and undoubtedly it doth so much please God that a man doth in sense of his wants from his heart and before all things begge grace and sanctity of him that he will not deny him but adde to his grant more then wee are able to aske or thinke of A Praier for comfort and supply in case of spiritual wants O Lord God abundant in mercy and trueth who delightest not in the destruction of wretched creatures nor despisest the groanes of a troubled spirit I poore afflicted man in bitternesse of soule acknowledg my vilenesse and want of grace the corruption of my sinful nature the misery which I have procured my self by my wilful disobedience to thy holy lawes and my impotency to any thing that is good I am as that wretched traveller wounded and cast down only sensible of my wonnds utterly unable to move or helpe my selfe the Priest and Levite passe by and helpe mee not no creature can yea thy holy law which saith Doe this and live is so farre from helping or releeving mee that now by reason of my infirmity it becometh to mee a killing letter at best but like the Prophets staff sent before by the ministery of the servant not able to give life only shewing mee my sinnes and rendring me guilty as before thy dreadful tribunal so at the barre of mine owne conscience Lord let the good Samaritan the Prophet himselfe Christ Jesus my Saviour naw come to mee he only can binde up my wounded soul and heale it Thou hast wounded mee by an heavy apprehension of thy justice now heal mee by the assurance of thy mercy strengthen my faith in Châ—ist who freely justifieth sinners as thou hast in thine eternal love given him to death for my redemption so give me an infallible assurance that hee is my Jesus and Saviour that according to thine owne gracious promise in him I may live with thee Blessed Saviour who sentest the holy Ghost the comforter of all thine elect to thy afflicted Disciples to strengthen them send him to my more feeble and wretched soul it is neither of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of thine own goodnesse shewing mercy thou workest both the will and the deed of thy good pleasure be graciously pleased to sanctify my corrupted will and affections as thou hast given me a will and an hearts desire to serve and please thee that I might be saved so perfect thine owne worke in mee establish that thing which thou hast begunne will thou that I will not in vaine thou hast nothing the lesse by communicating thy goodnesse to others Lord give me true holinesse repaire thine own image in mee that thou maist own mee for thine manifest thine own worke in mee unto mee Let not the good spirit which dwelleth in mee be any longer hidden from mee Lord Jesus manifest thy selfe unto my soule let the light of thy spirit breake out in full assurance of faith that I may no more doubt of thy mercies give mee an evident victory over sinne and despaire by the manifest presence of the comforter Lord my afflicted soule knoweth no sanctuary but thy mercy unto thee it gaspeth as a thirsty land O showre downe that abundant dew of grace which may refresh my wearied spirit and fill mee with the fruits of righteousnesse which may appeare in my life and conversation to thy glory and the assurance of my election calling sanctification perseverance and salvation in thy beloved sonne my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with Thee and the holy Spirit three Persons one immortal incomprehensible omnipotent onely wise God be rendred all honour and glory in heaven and earth now and to all eternity AMEN CHAP. XXVIII § 1 Of the conscience afflicted with feare of tentations and falling away What wee are herein to consider § 2. How wee must examine the conscience herein § 3. What wee must practice WEe are next to consider the wounded spirit or conscience afflicted with feare of tentations and falling away through them enclining it to despair of grace sufficient to resist them hereby the soule is in heavinesse through manifold tentations in which case it is necessary to consider that 1. A tentation is a tryal or taking an experiment of some thing the Devil who cannot compel tryeth men whether he can allure them to sinne and this is tentation 2. There is a temptation of tryal see 1 Cor. 10. 13. Act. 20. 19. Rev. 3. 10. and so James saith My brethren count it all joy when yee fall into divers tentations for when he is tryed hee shall receive the crown of life and blessed is the man that so doth God who is said to tempt no man that is to evil because as there is no sin in him so neither is there any of him yet tryed Abraham to make him known to others and himself for no man untryed knoweth himself which is called tempting or proving as Deut. 13. 3. Ex. 15. 25. Ex. 16. 4. Deut. 8. 16. Psal. 26. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 6. And there is a temptation of seducement which is a solicitation to defection and falling from God by sinning and doing evil 1 Tim. 6. 9. 1 Thes. 3. 5. so that God tempteth that he may teach us but the Devil that he may destroy us 3. Some temptations arise from the corruption and sin inherent in the flesh Jam. 1. 14. Every man is tempted when hee is 〈…〉 his own lusts such as are mentioned Galat. 5. 19 20. Some are suggested by the tempter who being a spirit hath power to inâ—â—â—uate and convey his impious notions into our mindes suggestion between spirits being as contiguity and touching of bodies now whereas hee cannot know the unuttered secrets of the heart it being Gods peculiar to search that he marketh mens natural inclinations and their habits by their words and actions and so prepareth baits for them accordingly sishing in these depths the secrets whereof hee knoweth not till hee perceive his suggestions are swallowed and the sinner taken therefore he presenteth such thoughts as he conâ—ectureth will take by that which is obvious to the senses of men as hee sitteth an opportunity of treason to impious Judas by the malice of the high Priests of lust to Amnon of venturing on the cursed thing to Achan of revenge to Cain of idolatry to Ahaz by the altar of Damascus 4. There are foure degrees of tentations by which it cometh to full maturity 1. Suggestion 2. Delight therein 3. Consent to 4. Acting the same as James 1. 14 15. Man is tempted when hee is drawn away of his own lusts and eâ—iced thenwhen lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is finished bringeth sorth death the first of these a bare suggestion is not our sinne if there be no delight therein or consent thereto for Christ was tempted in all points like as wee are yet without sinne The
he may neither perplexe nor disturb it Lord whose providence sleepth not preserve us and ours sleeping waking living and dying that in every estate it may appeare wee are thine through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN The prayer of a wounded spirit against temptations O Lord God Almighty all-seeing examiner of the heart and reines who knowest before wee aske what wee have need of who by thy holy spirit helpest our infirmities who know not what to pray as wee ought and thereby makest requests for us according to thy will with nnutterable groanes which thou only understandest helpe my infirmities endite my praiers and restraine the busie malice of the tempter Direct my praiers as incense in thy sight let them come into thy presence through Jesus Christ our onely redeemer and advocate Trueth it is O Lord that all things shall worke together for the best to them that love thee and are called according to thy purpose for thou hast said it and that it shall be good for mee which thou doest to mee I am confident O my God that it shall once appeare that it is happy for mee that I have been in trouble when after the tryal of my faith and exercise of my patience thou shalt give mee the quiet fruits of righteousnesse I beleeve that they shall not finally miscarry who trust in thy mercy this is the voice of my faith in thee whom I beleeve and know to be the God of trueth but O Lord thou best knowest that I am also fraile flesh and blood full of infirmities feares doubtings and failings because mine iniquities have taken such hold on mee that I cannot looke up they are more in number then the haires of my head so that my heart faileth mee neither have I to deale with flesh and blood onely Lord thou knowest those unseen powers of darknesse which wth restlesse encounters assault my soule to destroy it O Lord God of my salvation be not thou farre from mee shew thy power and deliâ—iver mee from the messengers of Satan which are too mighty for mee rescue mee bridle their insolent malice binde the stâ—ong man and deliver thy vessel from his usurping tyranny that I may in every faculty of my soule serve and please thee pardon all my sinnes for thy holy sonne Jesus sake who died for mee heale my wounded soule which hath to the present sorrow of my heart so often sinned against thee hide not thy face from mee in the time of my trouble forget not my bitter affliction which maketh mee goe mourning all the day long while the insulting enemy oppresseth mee thou art my King command deliverances I am poore and needy destitute of helpe and strength to resist Satan's fiery darts put thy whole armour upon mee that I may be able to stand arise for my helpe O thou Preserver of men redeeme mee from the devouring lyons mouth for for thy mercy sake thinke upon mee make haste to helpe mee make no long tarrying O my God suffer mee not for any tryals to fall from thee lay no more upon mee then thou wilt give mee strength patience and perseverance to beare cheerfully confirme mee unto my end that I may be blamelesse unto the day of our Lord Christ give mee a blessed effect of and issue out of every tryal that the more thou permittest mee hereto the more certaine experience I may have of thy mercy and the greater assurance that thou wilt never faile mee nor forsake mee that I may through him who hath by suffering vanquished death hell and him who had the power of death overcome all these spiritual wickednesses which fight against my soule I have trusted onely in thy mercy holy Father who hast ordained strength in the mouths of babes and inâ—â—â—s strengthen mee unto the end that my heart may rejoyce in the salvation spare mee that I may recover my strength put thou a new song into my mouth that I may praise thee for my deliverance and declare unto afflicted sinners what thou hast done for my soule Lord heare mee and have mercy upon mee Lord who art ever more ready to give then wee can be to aske deny not the requests of a poore sinful soule crying unto thee for Jesus Christ his sake our only Lord and Saviour AMEN CHAP. XXIX Concerning the guidance of the minde in the encrease of wealth § 1. Afflictions common their fruit in good men Poverty a great tryall riches great temptations commonly mistaken § 2. How to guide thy selfe in the encrease of riches or a full inheritance 1. TEmporal afflictions are common to the just and wicked wee are here like the clean and unclean in Noah's ark shut up in one condition into afflictions wee goe like Israël and the Egyptians into the red-sea to events most contrary deliverance or destruction to the saint they are but as the raine to the arke the more it fell the more that was lifted up Being sanctified they give understanding and are though rough-handed yet excellent masters of vertue like biting frosts to the trees restraining the luxuriant sap and rendring them more fruitfull 2. Among other afflictions in this life want and poverty as among temptations wealth is not the least These are commonly the minds Scylla and Charybdis the two great and antient diseases of Republicks Families and incautious soules there being great hazard in either concludeth a necessity of a right guidance of the minde herein so great as that the wise man deprecated both extreames Give mee not poverty nor riches Having spoken of those things which appertain to man are in man or incident to him within it is requisite that wee consider him in the discomposures which proceed from things external as poverty imprisonment banishment old age sicknesse and death In these first estates which I proposed my purpose is to lay down some rules directing how happily to use the one and bear the other 3. Because riches are great temptations and men are commonly deceived in judging of them too much admiring and affecting these and as much impatient of poverty whereas indeed they are neither absolutely good nor alwaies signes of an happy owner but good or evil according to their use and therefore are they commonly evil because as Aristides said Many use riches ill few can well therefore it highly concerneth those who enjoy encrease or great riches to mark and practice these and the like rules 1. If riches encrease set not your heart thereon Psal 62. 10. where they have the heart there is no place for faith charity humility equity modesty or honesty He saith not Get not riches but set not your heart upon them for so they carry it away from God many of the Saints have been rich but their rule was not to trust in uncertain riches all earthly possessions often change their owners often desert and leave them to wants The heathen Solon told Croesus as much though he could not beleeve
mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation that wee may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God 1. That Gods dearest servants have been imprisoned others had tryals of cruel mockings and scourgings of bonds and imprisonment being destitute afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthy True Christians must suffer persecution in this kinde Ieremy Ioseph Michaiah Iohn Baptist and the Apostles might be cited for examples but that wee have so many modern and now sighing in their bonds 2. The Heathen boldly affirmed that it could not be a prison in which Socrates was I am certaine it can be no lesse then an happy place and condition in which Christ is as hee was with Joseph in prison so hee is still with his and hee giveth them favour oft-times with men as hee did to Joseph Jeremy Paul and Silas sometimes deliverance as hee sent his Angel to Peter with an habeas corpus and enlarged him the word and power of God cannot be bound neither canst thou any more imprison an holy minde or shut out Christ from it then binde up the sun-beames Christ is imprisoned with his servants as he saith When I was in prison yee visited mee the prison cannot shut out thy praiers from heaven nor Christ from thee and therefore is it thine honour not thy unhappinesse 3. No man knoweth the value of liberty who never wanted it nor commonly the true use of it we best know Gods blessings by wanting them for a time and so intermitted liberty is sweeter then continued 4. There hath no tentation overtaken you but such as Christ fore-told should come for the tryal of his They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prison the time cometh saith hee that whosoever killeth you will think that hee doth God service this hee fore-told that wee might not be scandaled and that wee might be assured that hee whose providence layeth these things on us is faithfull and will not suffer us to be tempted above that wee are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape so that wee may be able to beare it 5. Better is an injurious prison then an impious liberty the prison hath been a Sanctuary to some whose liberty was beset with dangers so that experience made them sorry that their imprisonment was no longer which before they esteemed too long all enlargement is not alike successfull as the examples of Pharoah's servants shew the worst prison is to be shut up within the command of our own sinful affections sinne is the worst bond they are not stone-walls locks bolts chaines geives fetters or manacles which make the worst prison Manasses was most dangerously bound when hee had most liberty to commit those purple-faced sinnes and so most free when hee was in bondage chaines and captivity the mindes pure freedome is the best hee is the most wretched vassal who is taken captive at Satan's will or subjected to his own the guilty conscience followed as the impious Aristobulus or bloody Nero with the memory of horrid acts is more straitned then the prisoner whose bodies consinement impeacheth not but sometimes advanceth the blessed liberty of his minde The rich Libertine is the basest captive it is not happinesse to have power over other mens lives and liberties of which that odious L. Sylla gloried that he could proscribe and kill so many thousand citizens but over a mans own he whose wealth is a snare to him furnishing him with meanes and opportunity to sin is the most wretched captive bound Darius-like with golden chains as heavy restraining as the most vulgar in the mindes captivity by so much more heavy and destructive by how much more of value an immortal soul is then the body The old prosecuters wont to binde a dead body to a living Christian so that it might be not only his burden but his perpetual torment to death a thousand-fold worse is the burden which sin layeth on a captivated soule Wretched man that I am cryed Paul who shall deliver mee from the body of this death External bonds and imprisonment can make a man unhappy if so much but a little while Sinne if not here discharged will to eternity Bonds and prisons to the servant of Christ are but exercises encreasing their mindes more happy liberty and resolution I had rather he any mans captive then mine owne 6. If thou make a good use of thy imprisonment thou maist finde many considerable advantages therein it will teach thee which are thy fast friends it enlargeth a well resolved minde it bringeth to minde the errour and abuse of former liberty that thou maist thereby be disposed to repentance for the same it acquainteth thee with exercises of patience fixeth in thee holy resolutions guards the eare from many turbulent clamours which torment the more free eare it restraineth the roving eies from seeing that vanity of the world which made Democritus laugh and Heraclite continually weep it restraineth many from destructive liberty it is a riged and unpleasing but profitable school of temperance and patience It is the glasse that more truely sheweth a man himselfe then liberty ever can not to deject the minde to despair and worldly sorrow but to raise it to a due consideration of the causes of Gods judgments which being ever just must bring a good man to the deep consideration of the end of his suffering and prove an happy stimulus to repentance as it did to Manasses who found his best liberty in prison and captivity It may be God permits it to try thee then it must raise and comfort thy minde to a ready meeting with Gods will therein It may be for the testimony of the Lord Jesus and his trueth then it must highthen thy resolution to an unmoved constancy to be ready not to be bound only but also to dye for the name of the Lord Jesus Great and good mindes cannot be subject to servile captivity either they will in their strength and invincible resolution grounded on the reward they look upon and assured on them by the trueth of God endure the crosse and despise the shame and sufferings which are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in them or make such use of God's fatherly corrections as shall render them no lesse then happy in the quiet fruits of righteousnesse lastly it will teach a man how subject this vaine world is to perpetual changes and wean him from the pernicious love thereof 7. The Prison is the conâ—ines of death in health and so must teach a wise man to prepare there before the evil daies and restlesse paines death's importunate harbingers
sinners death but his conversion Lord convert my soule remove my sins frame my heart affections and life according to thine own will thou who hearest the poor and despisest not the wretched captive visit all that are bound Lord our redeemer hear them in an acceptable time and help them in the day of salvation preserve the oppressed and despised of men say unto the prisoners Goe forth and to them that are in darknesse Shew your selves binde up the broken hearted proclaime liberty to the captives and opening the prison to them that are shut up comfort them that mourne let their deep sighing come before thee according to the greatnesse of thy power preserve thou them that are appointed to dye Lord lift thou up my head enlarge my feet bring me out of bondage that I may live to serve and praise thee in the assemblies of thy servants however thou pleasest to dispose of mee let all my sufferings redound to thy glory and my salvation give me patience to endure constancy to depend on thee firme faith to apprehend thy promises and hope to expect thy saving health Consider my weaknesse and lay no more upon mee then thou wilt enable mee to bear cheerfully sanctifie my afflictions and make them good to mee in the fruits of righteousnesse which thou hast laid up for all those who rest on thee Heare mee O Lord let my cry come unto thee and have mercy upon me through Jesus Christ our Lord and blessed Saviour AMEN A Morning Praier for prisoners O Eternal and Almighty God Creator Preserver and Governer of all things in heaven and earth before whom the Thrones and Dominions Powers Cherubims and Seraphims vaile their faces with their wings not able to behold the brightnesse of thy Majesty nor to comprehend thy being known to none but thine owne infinite wisedome At the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure the earth is moved and the pillars of heaven doe tremble yet in thy unspeakable mercy thou vouchsafest to looke downe from thy throne of glory and to take care for man yea the poorest and most despised among the sonnes of men and not only to bow downe a gracious eare to their petitions but to command them to call upon thee that thou maist relieve and deliver them to this end hast thou made so many instances of that word of thine The fervent praier of the righteous availeth much Such praiers have divided the Seas and made their swelling waves stand on heapes beat down the armies of aliants stopped the mouthes of lions restrained the devouring flames opened and shut heaven made the Sunne and Moone stand still converted the revengeful malice of enemies into pity and compassion broken the heavy yokes of bondage shaken off the chaines opened the prison doores and delivered those that were appointed to death so that thou hast not in â—ain sayed Call upon mee in the day of thy trouble so will I heare thee and thou shalt glorifie mee Lord thy mercy is not changed thine arme shortened nor thine eare heavy only our sins have separated between thee and us this is that filthy leprosie over-spreading every part and faculty of our bodies and souls which hath covered our mouths and hindred our praies from thy graecious presence turning away thy merciful eares so that as wee have not hearkned when thou spakest unto us by thy Prophets to warn us from the waies of death and destruction so thou maist justly refuse to heare our cries But O Lord God if thy mercy could have been hindred by mans sin thou hadst never elected him to salvation for thou fore-sawest all things from eternity to all times to come If any evil could have overcome thy goodnesse thou hadst never redeemed us with so great a price as the blood of thy sonne Jesus for thou fore-knewest that they to whom thou sentest him as a redeemer would crucifie the Lord of life if the iniquity of an impious world could intercept thy bounty this sun should not shine nor thy rain descend upon the wicked neither wouldst thou have preserved us this night past that we might now meet to call upon thee for mercy and deliveraâ—ce if thy justice had not given place to mercy we therefore humbly acknowledge thy goodnesse and our own vilenesse and unworthinesse and for thy mercy sake beseech thee to pardon and put all our sins out of thy remembrance that they may no more appeare to provoke thine anger to our destruction O Lord we know not what or how to pray as wee ought help thou our infirmities by thy holy Spirit who maketh intercession for us according to thy will with groanings inuterable it is the same spirit of thine which indited the praiers of thy Prophets and Apostles by which they obtained such marvellous things which now also moveth in and for thy poore afflicted children crying unto thee Good Father give us that lively faith fervency and evidence of spirit to which thou who art the God of trueth and canst not deceive hast made the promise of audience and attaining Lord shew us the effects of that good word which saith Ask and you shall have Now give unto us that aske forgive us all our sinnes and give us an happy deliverance out of the pressures which lie so heavily upon us Give us peace with thee in the testimony of a good conscience and if it be thy holy will peace with all men as thou hast passed by us with fire storme and earth-shaking indignation so now speake unto us in the still voice of thy mercy and compassion Lord if it be possible let this cup of anger passe â—rom us if not thy will be done Give us patience and perseverance give the blessed issue who givest the bitter tryal consider whereof thou hast made fraile man Remember that wee are but poore dust and earth and as the grasse soon withering away deale with us so here that wee may not faile of living to thee in this life and with thee in that eternal life to come And now O Lord who causest the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee wee bless thy holy name for thy gracious providence preserving of us this night past and giving us this present oportunity of presenting our supplications unto thee Good Father continue thy mercy to us and ours this day sanctifie us unto thy service direct all our thoughts words and actions so as that in the several waies of our callings they may all tend to the glory of thy holy name the good example of our brethren and the further assurance of our consciences before thee Lord blesse thy holy Church in all nations specially that which thy right hand hath planted in this Blesse Lord our several families let our innocency appeare as the light lift up our heads from these bonds and in thy good time restore us to them againe hear their praiers for us and ours for them and both for thy sonne Jesus sake O Lord who art the
God of all true consolation who defendest the fatherlesse and widowes leave them not comfortless be thou their guider and protector though thou pleasest to take us from them take not thy grace and holy spirit from us nor them and so thy will be done Blesse all those who any where suffer in the like durance with us blesse us all here present grant that wee may make a right use of our present afflictions that they may better us give us hearts to trust in thee what ever thou doest to us cheerfully to discern thy mercies in the midst of our corrections and ever to blesse thy holy name for that thou hast corrected and not given us over to final destruction Lord encline thine eare and heare Lord help us Lord consider in mercy and do it for Jesus Christ his sake in whose ever blessed name we conclude our petitions in that absolute forme of prayer which hee hath taught us in his Gospel saying Our Father which art in heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ c. AMEN An Evening praier for the same O Most gracious and glorious Lord God we do not here appear before thee with any confidence in our own merits being such in respect of our unhallowed thoughts corrupt words and sinful actions as that if there were neither in earth or heaven among men or Angels any witnesse of our iniquities our owne consciences would accuse and convict us and if there were no other judge our own hearts could not but condemne us and thou art greater then our hearts and nothing can be hid from thee the just and all-seeing judge of the living and the dead who must all stand before thy tribunal wee therefore in all humility of soules appeale from thy justice in which wee can looke for nothing lesse then death and destruction the due wages of sin unto the sanctuary of thy mercy there laying hold on that altar on which thy sonne Christ Jesus was offered up a living sacrifice for us who were dead in trespasses and sinnes hee is that lamb of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world and that great Angel of the Covenant who in the precious censer of his merits offereth the praiers of the Saints as Sweet odors holy and acceptable to thee for his sâ—ke â—arden all our sinnes which have rendred us not onely lesse then the least of thy mercies but also worthy of thy severest judgments temporal and eternal for his sake let our complaints come before thee and from thy mercy seat 〈◊〉 thou our supplications which come not out of feigned 〈◊〉 but from the depth of our afflicted soules Trueth it is O Lord wee have procured all these miseries unto our selves and the bitternesse wherewith thou hast filled us is none other but the fruit of our owne inventions who have obstinately followed our owne vain and unprofitable waies refusing the guidance of thy good spirit and holy word recalling us to the paths of eternal life But O Lord God of mercy thou desirest not the death of sinners but that they may be converted and live thou art the sole fountain of holinesse every good and perfect giving descendeth from thee who art the father of light enlighten thou our understandings open our eies that wee sleep not in death sanctifie our depraved wills rectifie our sinful affections and subject them all to thine owne holy will and pleasure frame every faculty of our soules and bodies to a new and sincere obedience to thy law that wee may neither decline to the right hand nor to the left but may henceforth make strait steps to our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. In his name wee continue our supplications to thee in the behalfe of thy Church universal Lord gather dayly to her such as thou hast elected to salvation enlighten those who have not yet known thy name take off the vaile from the hearts of thy ancient people the Jewes that now neer the fulnesse of time they may see unto Christ the end of the law to every one that beleeveth both of Jewes and Gentiles shew more and more mercy in the confirmation of us whom thou hast called until our fulness be come in Discover and confound the man of sinne daily abolishing the mystery of iniquity by the brightnesse of thy coming the sword of the spirit and evident preaching the Gospel to all nations until thou shalt at thy second coming manifest thy selfe our Saviour and Redeemer and wipe all teares from our eies even so come Lord Jesus And now O Lord who lookest with a tender eie upon the pressures of thy servants let the sighing of the Prisoners come before thee and according to the greatnesse of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die be merciful to us here present before thee we have indeed at thy hands against whom wee have sinned deserved this rod but O our God correct us in mercy not in thine anger for what are wee in thy hands and who can stand before thee when thou art angry Wee have not rendred unto thee according to thy goodnesse wee have surfeited on the sweet blessings of peace and abused our liberties not valuing the benefit thereof but vainly reckoning it among our hereditary possessions as if it might never be taken from us when we had freedom to goe into the assemblies of thy children the places where thine honour dwelleth to hear thy word and present our supplications unto thee Lord how often have vain pleasures or worldly profits detained us or coming before thee how seldom have wee returned with any fruits of amendment therefore doest thou now teach us by wanting these comforts their estimate which wee would not know while wee enjoyed them But O good God seeing thy fatherly corrections are not to destroy but to amend us give us now good understanding by these chastisements give us discerning spirits that through these afflictions we may look up to the hand that smiteth us and by our corrections gain a true loathing and detestation of all the sins for which thou art displeased with us Lord if it may stand with thine honor enlarge and deliver us in mercy restore every man to his own family to the mutual comfort of us and ours that with them we may praise thy holy name and better serve thee then ever wee have done if otherwise Lord proportion our patience to our tryals forsake us not in our sad distresses be thou ever present with us that we may rest assured of thy mercies give us peace of conscience and a blessed freedom from the bondage of sin that wee may therein know that neither stone walls nor armed guards can shut thy holy spirit the comforter from us nor bar our praiers from ascending up to thee Lord as our tryals encrease encrease our comforts in thee so that as the more it rained the more the arke was listed up in which thou hadst enclosed those whom thou didst thereby save in a
be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde let nothing be done through strife If yee have any part in the communion of Saints hold the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace if there be envy malice contentions schismes factions and discords 't is an ill signe of your interest in this holy communion God's sonnes are peaceable all that are guided by his spirit who is Love love and care for each other as the members of the body mutually defend and hide the blemishes of their fellowes 2. Be compassionate if one member suffer all grieve because they are animated by one soule and is it possible that any man should make himselfe beleeve that the spirit of Jesus hath quickned him who not only remembreth not but malitiously promoteth the affliction of Joseph 3 Forsake not holy assemblies where Gods word soundeth and his honour dwelleth 'T is a delusion of Satan who advanceth his throne most in our divisions which maketh men prefer private prayers and exercises before the venerable publike 4 Unite to holy societies and with draw from evill company 't is very dangerous to have society with the wicked Jehoshaphat found it so what makest thou in the way to Egypt said the Prophet The wisest Solomons hazards were from evill company have no fellowship with them saith the Apostle In the society of the holy there is good even to the wicked sometimes for their sakes Potiphers house prospered for one good Josephs sake the ships company were saved for one Paul how much more are the Saints advantaged by their holy communion Begin thy heaven on earth having society and communion with the Saints here or thou shalt never have the happinesse thereof hereafter 5 Be thou holy if thou wilt be of this society you knowe in worldly leagues 't is parity of manners which begeteeth amity like loves his like get on the wedding garment if thou wilt rejoyce with the invited If we say wee have fellowship with him and walke in darknesse we ly and doe not know the truth Saul among the Prophets became a proverb of a prodigie The Nethanims joyned themselves to Israel but when they returned they could not finde their pedegrees and therefore were diffranchised as hypocrites shall be from the elect there 's no admission of any thing uncleane into heaven no wealth can purchase entrance but only sanctity if Simon had the Indies to morgage he could not enter 6. Let it comfort thee in thy sufferings feare not they are more with thee then against thee in every distresse thou partakest of the sweet odours ascending up into Gods holy presence the prayers of the Saints if one Moses by standing in the gap could divert the plague raging among the people what shall not many thousands doe for one afflicted man We will goe with you said they in the prophesie for wee have heard that God is with you God is with thee in all that thou dost said Abimelech and Phicol to Abraham therefore they thought themselves happy to have a covenant with him what ever thou sufferest they share with thee and intercede for thee CHAP. IX Concerning Remission of Sinnes § 1. Of the necessitie hereof to whom it belongeth it is the summe of the Gospell § 2. Rules hereto appertaining THE second benefit which God bestoweth on his Church is remission of sinnes which is a free pardon of all their transgressions so that God will never impute them remember or charge them upon any of those who are justified by faith in Christ. This is an article of great necessity to be beleeved for what could communion availe us if a free remission of our sinnes did not acquit us of a due condemnation Without this what could we be but a wretched condemned society What ever we else beleeve concerning Christ the Saviour without this wee were no better then excluded Virgins with oylelesse lamps then Judas amongst the Apostles sonnes of perdition This remission is when God forgiveth faults and punishments neither imputing the one nor executing the other not onely some sinnes but all as 't is written Thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depth of the sea and Psal. 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities who healeth all thy diseases 'T is true that sometimes the chastisement lasteth longer then the imputation of the fault so when the Prophet had said to David repenting the Lord hath put away thy sinne yet hee could not prevaile for the life of his child neither did the sword depart from his house but this was a fatherly correction an healing not a punishment and David confessed as much 't is good for mee that I have beene in trouble and it standeth good by reason that God remitteth all sinnes if any for seeing he that breaketh any one commandement is guilty of all if God retained any one sinne unremitted the whole debt must be charged upon the sinner This was that which Christ declared to Simon in the parable of the two debters one owed 50. the other 500. pence and when neither had to pay the creditor equally forgave both 2. This benefit is peculiar to the elect the Church the people that dwell therein shall have their iniquities forgiven they onely are the redeemed of the Lord all others out of Christ are in the gall of bitternesse having no part nor fellowship herein there is no other name under heavenby which we can be saved he was delivered for our offences by his blood we are redeemed the Paschall lambe belongeth onely to this house herein however the grace of God is given in diverse measures remission of sinnes is equally bestowed on all the Saints 3. This great benefit is the summe of the Gospell proclaimed by John Baptist given in charge to be preached to all for this cause God sent his onely Sonne into the world to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and remission of sinnes in him we have redemption through his blood the forgivenesse of sinnes To this point appertaine these rules 1. That we despaire not in respect of the greatnesse of our sinnes how great soever it be it is farre lesse then the infinite merit of Jesus Christ whose blood cleanseth us from all sinnes though your sinnes be as scarlet twice dyed in originall and actuall transgression they shall be white as snow there were many who went out of Christs presence very happy some restored to sight some to hearing some to health some dispossessed of uncleane spirits some restored to life 't was true of him what was said of Caesar hee sent none away sad the yong rich mans owne fault dismissed him so but none more happy then her that heard goe in peace thy sinnes are forgiven thee let the spirit of truth say only this to my soule and in spight