mercie compassion towardes our Brethren yea euen towards our Enemies Fourthly to loue one another inwardly in heart as our selues yea euen our enemies and them that hate vs. Que. What is the seauenth Commandement An. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. We are forbidden in this seauenth Commaundement first all Adultery Fornication and all other vncleannesse in our bodies Secondly all vnpure thoughts and lustes of the heart Thirdly all other things which might intice to such vncleannesse as all vnchast behauiour filthy talke and songs wanton apparrel leud and idle pastimes gluttony drunkennesse houses of open whoredome and whatsoeuer else may allure vs to vncleannesse Fourthly on the other side he commandeth vs to keepe our bodies and soules chaste and pure as Temples of the holy Ghost Or if the guift of Chastity be not giuen vs then to vse the lawful remedy appointed by God which is marriage Que. What is the 8. Commandement An Thou shalt not steal Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. In this eighth Commandement the Lord God forbiddeth all stealing and robbing in ouâ—ward deeds Secondly he forbiddeth all stealing in heart that is all desire of any mans Goodes wrongfully Thirdly hee forbiddeth all false and wrongfull dealing Fourthly on the other side he chargeth vs that we bee content with the portion of goodes which the Lord giueth vs to apply our selues in our vocation and calling to get our owne liuing and liue of that which is our owne and also to be helpfull to others Que. What is the 9. Commandement An. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement Ans The Lord God in this ninth Commandement doth command vs first that we should neuer speak falsly in witnesse-bearing Secondly that not onely in witnesse-bearing but also in other matters wee should neuer lye flatter or dissemble Thirdly that we should neuer tell any false tales behinde our neighbors backe or heare them of others that we shold neuer beleeue any euill spoken of them behind their backes vntill we fully know the certainty Fourthly in priuate offences to speake nothing although it be true to the hurting of our Brothers good name if by priuate admonition hee may be wonne Que. What is the 10. Commandement Ans Thou shalt not couet thy neighbors house Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. Heeâ—e the Lord God in plaine words doth forbid all inward desire whatsoeuer is vnlawfull to be done although we neuer consent vnto it as the rebellion of the flesh all corruption of the old man all blot of originall sinne so that by this Commaundement most clearely we may see the Image of that man that pleaseth God euen such an one in whom nothing is impure neither in will nor nature Que. Canst thou fulfill all these Commandements of God without breaking any one of them An. These are the Commandements of Almightie God the perfect fulfilling whereof no flesh can attain vnto No although I do all that I can yet I breake them daily both in thoght word and deede Que. What punishment doth God appoint for breaking any one of these An. The punishment for the breaking of the least Commandement euen in thought yea if it were but once broken in all my life is the euerlasting curse of God which containeth al the torments that can bee deuised both of soule and body and in the Scripture is called by diuers names to expresse the paine as hel fire the worme that neuer dyeth vtter darknesse burning Lake second death damnation and such like Qu Is there nothing which a man can do in the World to serue as a sufficient recompeÌ„ce to God for one sinne An. No althogh I should giue all my goodes vnto the poore or suffer my bodie to be whipped all my life long or suffer any other punnishment which might be deuised it is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes Que. Yea but God is mercifull will he therefore punish sin so sharply thinkest thou An. Our God indeede is mercifull but he is also iust and true and therefore must needes of iustice and trueth punish mans sinne with the punishment which hee hath appointed Que. Seeing then this punishment must needs bee suffered are we in our selues able to suffer and ouercome it An. None is able to suffer and ouercome this great punishment of sinne being onely man Quest Is there then no meanes at all whereby we may be saued from those pains euerlasting An. The pains which our sinnes deserue must needes bee suffered by man beecause that God of his iustice must needes bee suffered by man because God of his iustice must needes punnish sinne in man which vvas committed by man and therefore our Sauiour Christ being euerlasting God became also man and hath fully suffered whatsoeuer was due for mans sinne Que. Are not then all people discharged seeing the punnishment is paid An. None are discharged sauing those that take holde vpon Christ and his merites with a true Faith Que. What callest thou this true Faith An. This true and liuely Faith is a full perswasion assurance of my hart grounded vpon the promise of God and wrought in me by the holy Ghost whereby I am fully assured that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for mans saluation pertayneth not onely to others but euen to me and is whollie mine as surely as if I performed the same in mine owne person Que. How can it be that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee yet according to Gods trueth fullie punished with the punishment which God hath appointed for sinnes An. By this my true faith I see my sinnes both to bee forgiuen and yet fully punished for in Iesus Christ to satisfie Gods iustice they be fully punished and yet to me they be forgiueÌ„ because in me they be not punished but in Christ for me to set forth Gods mercy and therfore shall neuer be laide to my charge In this manner therefore I see the Lord my God to be both mercifull iust Que. Yea but although the punishment of my sins be paide in Christ yet seeing there can no vnrighteousnesse dwel with God how canst thou stand before Gods iudgement seate as righteous and iust s ing thou hast no righteousnesse but such as is staind with so many sins An. I stand as iust righteous before the Throne of God not clothed with mine owne righteousnesse which I haue wrought in mine owne person but with the righteousnes of Iesus Christ Which righteousnes being taken hold vppon by a true faith is made mine thus am I iust in the sight of God not in respect of mine owne workes which I haue done but taking hold vpon Christ his Workes to be mine by Faith Quest Doth not this make men to runne into all sinne wickednesse An. No for this true faith as soone as it hath wrought in vs through the holy ghost doth frame our hearâ—s anew
all meanes and waies possible namely by pride enuie malice couetousnesse gluttonie drunkennesse fornication and all other euill workes wherevnto hee doth moue vs and by him thrust into our hearts and whereby without the assistance of thy grace hee doth bring vs within his baits and snares laid for our soules And contrariwise wee of our selues haue no ability nor any meanes to preuaile against them vnlesse thou of thy mercy vouchsafe to be gracious vnto vs to strengthen vs by thy power and to defend vs in all temptations which he worketh against vs that he may not triumph ouer vs to ouâ— destruction We beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts to vouchsafe to be our comfort in all our troubles to defend vs against all temptations and that it would please thee to lead and gouerne vs in all our thoughts words and deeds so shall wee dwell in safety O Lord thou knowest that among all Creatures man is most rebellious against thee and his offences and transgressions against thee most manifolde and contrariwise euery one creature in his kind doth most worthily shew thy powâ—r might and praise and by them is thine omnipotency declared but we in our liues do shew our selues most vnkind and vnnaturall children towards thee daily offending thy diuine Maiesty and euery minute transgressing against thy Lawes and Commandements nothing regarding thy iudgements which might in a moment destroy vs. But thou O Lord in thy mercy dost vouchsafe notwithstanding to spare vs admonishing vs to repentance and newnesse of life that through our faithfull conuersion wee may bee saued Raise vs vp therefore good Lord from our drowsie sluggishnesse and carelesse security Suffer vs not any longer to wallow and tumble our selues in our grieuous Iniquities Let not sinne haue so much power ouer vs or increase in vs. Destroy and ouerthrow Satan and his wily policies Roote out of our hearts all workes of the world wicked motions of the flesh and pernitious practises of the Diuell that we may no longer offend thy goodnesse And plant in vs such good thoughts good motions and good endeuours that we may diligently serue thee in all things according to thy will and embrace with willingnesse thy holy word to the comfort of our Soules and setting forth of thy glory Open thy bountifull hands O Lord and blesse vs with all good guifts giue vs obedient hearts and willing mindes to search and seeke out the trueth of thy holy word strengthen vs with constancy in the same that in all things wee may leade our liues accordingly not as professors alone but as faithfull performers of the same to the vtter diligence of our power Confirme and establish vs in all good works thar wee may as true Christians sowe such Seeds of thy knowne truth that others from whom the brightnesse of thy Gospell hath beene concealed and kept vnknowne may by our good example take such happy fruites thereof that they may know thee and bee brought home to thy Fold as lost Sheepe Be thou O Lord our Shepheard and let vs be then sheepe of thy Fold and remaine in thy protection both now and alwaies to the end Increase the number of the faithfull diligent and carefull Ministers Preachers and distributers of thy holy word and Sacraments and giue vnto them a single heart towards thee Let them not be such as do onely preach and teach thy word with their lippes and tongues and haue their hearts farre from thee but that they inwardly with all their soule in perfect faith cleaue vnto thee and thy truth and accordingly shew the same in their life and conuersation Driue also out of thy Church all Buyers and Sellers and such as like rauening Wolues seeke to liue by the spoyle of thy sheepe Cast out O Lord wee pray thee such idle Pastors as are crept into thy Church who more respecting gaine then grace imploy their study for promotion and leaue the flocke vnfed which is vnder their charge Lord of thy vnspeakable Mercy deliuer vs from such carelesse keepers and blind guides least we also being made blinde by their negligence may bee kept blind in ignorance and so with them fall into the dangerous pit of thy deepe and heauy displeasure Rehearse and pardon vs all our offences teach vs to serue thee as we ought make strong our faith and hope in thee indue vs with thy heauenly light that wee may perfectly see our foule and manifold enormities and examining our owne conscices and discerning our imperfections wee may learne to amend our liues Make vs willing Followers of thee and diligent louers of thy Law Make vs penitent for our sinnes past and continue in vs thy feare Let vs not fall inro any manner of temptations but by thy mighty power deliuer vs from all euill To thee alone O Lord belongeth mercy and forgiuenesse and thou onely art our louing Sauiour Purge vs and make vs cleane that wee may bee found chosen vessels fit to serue thee in this life and after to obtaine perfect saluation at thy mercifull hands enioy euerlasting rest in thy Celestiall habitation prepared for thy faithfull and elect people and with thy holy and blessed Angels may sing praise vnto thy holy name for euer These blessings O Father wee beseech thee to bestow vpon vs for Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs Our Father c. A Thanksgiuing after blessings obtained to acknowledge them aâ— from God BLessed Lord I feele in my selfe how mercifully thou hast dealt with me greeuously I was troubled and now by thy goodnesse partly releasâ—d how dangerouslie I was assaulted and now by thy mercie partly deliuered this releefe although I must needs confesse by infallible arguments â—o bee thy onely worke in me yet such is the pride of my rebellious flesh that it will not suffer me to asâ—â—â—â—e fully the same to proceede of thee and thine onely goodnesse but seeketh out other fained causes according to the vaine deuises of my mind therefore I beseech thee most gracious Father that thou wilt so frame my heart that I may with my whole heart and mind with all the powers of my soule acknowledge aâ— my comfort and ayde to be thy onely worke wrought in me by thy holy Spirit and that I may bee thankfull for the same all the daies of my life O Lord thou hast sworne by thy holinesse that thou wilt not giue thine honor to any other Seeing then deere Father that thou hast sent mee this strength let mee bee perswaded fully in my heart deere Father that it commeth from thee that to thee I may render due honor praise thanksgiuing for the same and the rest of my life that I may be assured in heart of thy mercifull defence in mine extreame dangers as thou hast many times wonderfully deliuered me and thou wilt according to thy promise so continue thy mercifull ayde whereby thy name in mee may be glorified my
my life hid with Christ in God when Christ which is my life shal appeare I may also appeare with him in glorie Grant this gracious Father for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Aduocate and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for grace and wisedome O Most mighty God and mercifull Father poure into my heart thy heauenly grace wisedome Comfort my sinnefull soule with thy heauenly Manna molifie and make soft my hard heart with the sweete pleasant oyle of thy most holy word Suffer me not O mercifull Lord to swerue or slide from the waies of truth but grant helpe of thy holy Spirit that I may walke in the same vnto my liues end and let not thy heauenly wisedome depart from me at any time during this life According to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Preserue me from this my youth and infancy vnder thy fauourable protection Giue mee grace O Lord that I may euen to the graue continue a faithfull and manly Souldâ—er in defence of thy truth and that I may in all my life daily grow to the ripe perfection of godly wisedome and truly and iustly acknowledge thee mine onely God Deut. 6. That I may onely feare thee and honor thee That I may cleaue fast vnto thee Deut. 10. That I doe not after the abhomination of any idolatrous people worship stocks or stones Deut. 8. Nor let me not O Lord harken to any false Prophets that teach their owne imaginations and not the word of God Deut. 13. Now vouchsafe O Lord God to heare me and let thy wisedome gouerne mee I know my God that no creature can truly say I haue done my dutie in the seâ—uice of the Lord neither is it in the power of man who is so deeply subiect to sinne to escape all those stumbling blockes which haue made our waies dangerous and perillous through those innumerable practises wherewith Sathan our great enemie through his malice and craft hath deuised to intrap our sinfull soules to our vtter destruction Lord of thy great mercy roote and pull out of my heart all the workes of Sathan namely fornication adultery vncleannes wantonnesse pride enuie vnnaturall desires vnpure thoughts lewd behauiour idlenesse and all other vicious and naughty actions which being followed according to the pleasures and delights of the world in this life bring with them euerlasting damnation of body and soule in the world to come Encrease in me O Lord such aboundance of thy grace wisedome and heauenly blessing that through the operation of the same in me I may proue a true workman in thy haruest such a seruant as occupieth his Maisters Talent vnto gaine a witnesse that beareth testimony of Christ to all people at all times and in euery place continue constant in the truth during the whole course of this my mortall life In thy truth O God do I delight therefore make me perfect in the same In thee alone doe I repose my whole trust and confidence saue me O God of all mercy and defend mee against my enemies Establish and confirme me O Lord in faith towards thee Keepe thou my lips and gouerne my tongue Suffer not my heart to purpose any thing that may displease thee nor my tongue or lips to speake ought whereby I should purchase thy wrath Whosoeuer doth trust in thee O God shall vnderstand thy truth and the faithfull shall haue rest in thy fauour but the vngodly according to their owne wicked thoughts shall find corruptioÌ„ The soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the force of death shall not touch them All wisedome commeth from the Lord and hath beene with him alwaies and is with him from the beginning Eccle. 1. The feare of the Lord doth expell sin Lord of thy mercy grant me thy heauenly wisedome whereby I may truly learne to know thee rightly and be diligent to performe thy precepts effectually Lord leaue me not in my young daies let thy wisedome enter into my heart and make her habitation in my soule so shall I liue in thy fauour and perseuer in thy lawes through thy grace Let not them that trust in thee O Lord God of Hoastes bee ashamed let not those that seeke thee bee confounded O God of Israel Lord I make my prayers vnto thee in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare mee in the truth of thy saluation In thee alone O heauenly Father are all things generally and what is not of thee is altogether naught Replenish and blesse me O Lord with all good giftes shew thy louing countenance towards me gouerne me by thy grace continue me in thy fauour and protect and defend me now and euermore vnder the winges of thy manifold mercies so shall no vile temptation haue power to preuaile against me Such is the force of thy heauenly wisdome O God that whosoeuer obtaineth the same and directeth his life accordingly shall prosper and see good daies Whosoeuer pleaseth thee O Lord from the beginning are made whole through wisedome Sapient 9. Which of thy mercy O my God vouchsafe to grant vnto me for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thee the holy Ghost be all glory honor and praise now and for euer Amen A Prayer to walke conscionably in our ciuil and personall Calling O Most glorious and wise God who in thine infinit wisedome hast ordayned that euery Sonne of Adam should eate his bread in the sweat of his face and so hast wisely fitted each man in his seuerall place with seuerall and particular gifts of nature experience and grace that so hee might glorifie thee in some speciall calling not willing that any should liue idlely like an vnprofitable burthen of the earth mispending his precious time and wasting away thy Creatures neither doing good to humaine society And herein hast giuen vs a patterne from thy selfe who euen workest hitherto and albeit that thy great businesse of Creating all things ended with those first six daies in which euery particular was brought forth by thee in his proper kind yet thy prouidence is neuer intermixed in it neither slumber nor sleepe ouer taketh thee And so also thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ whilst in the daies of his flesh hâ—e humbled himselfe to liue as man vpon the earth both in his priuate life attended vppon a painefull trade and when the time came of his manifesting himselfe to the world went about doing of good yea with that chearfulnes that it was his meate and drinke to doe thy will and to finish the worke of him that sent him And all thine holy actions also in continuall action obeying the voyce of thy word and ministring for their sakes that shall be heires of life nay doth not euery Creature in his place obey this thine ordinance the Sunne the Moone all those heauenly Orbes Do they not execute their operations faithfully and finish their Reuolutions in their seasons Do not these inferior things daily performe thy