work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure 'T is not in our power to regenerate our selves for we are not borne of blood nor of the Will of the flesh nor of the Will of man that is not of any natural created strength but of God And he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think 'T is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us to be so 2. He is willing and hath promised to give unto us a new spirit To put his law into our inward parts to write it in our hearts And if men that are evil know how to give good gifts to their children how much more shall our heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that aske him He hath professed it to be his own Will even our sanctification And he cannot deny us the performance of his own Will He hath promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousnesse shall be filled And therefore if he hath in any measure given us this hunger we need not doubt but he will give us this fulnesse likewise He hath said that he delights to dwell with the Sons of men and what reason have we to doubt the successe of our desires when we do beg of him to do that which he delights in 2. The next thing to be prayed for is the obedience of our lives answerable to that in the Lords Prayer Thy will be done one earth as it is in heaven And here likewise we are to petition for spiritual grace and ablities both to perform and to continue and to increase in all holy duties 1. For the Performance of them that he would lead us into the paths of righteousnesse That with simplicity and godly sincerity we may have our conversation in this world That denying all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we may live soberly righteously and godly in this present world That God would give us grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly feare That we may not any more be conformed unto this world That being dead unto sin we may live unto righteousnesse Not any longer spending the rest of our time in the flesh to the lustâ— of men but to the Will of God That the time past of our lives may suffice to have served divers lusts That for the future we may walk as obedient children not fashioning our selves according to the former lusts of our ignorance but as he that hath called us is holy so we may be holy in all manner of conversation To this purpose is that desire of David O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes and in another place Teach me to do thy Will for thou art my God let thy good Spirit lead me into the land of uprightnesse and elsewhere Shew me thy wayes O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me in thy truth and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation Teach me thy wayes O Lord and I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to feare thy name 2. For our continuance in them That we may serve him without fear in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our lives Being stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord Holding faith and a good conscience Patiently continuing in well doing without wearines as knowing that in due time we shall reap if we faint not Holding fast the profession of our faith without wavering that our hearts may be established with grace that amidst all outward changes and losses we may still hold fast our integrity Thus the Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that God would stablish them in every good word and work 3. For our Increase in them That God would make all grace to abound towards us That we alwayes having alsufficiency to all things may abound to every good work That we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse unto the glory and praise of God That forgetting those things which are behinde and reaching unto those things which are before we may continually presse towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God Thus doth the Apostle pray for the Hebrews The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight And Epaphras for the Collossians that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God CHAP. XVIII Of the several graces and duties injoyned in the first Commandment THe graces that we should pray for are many of them briefly summed up together in several Scriptures But for our more full and distinct apprehension of them they may be more particularly considered according to their distinct relations either to the Law Gospel The duties enjoyned by both these may be easily collected from those vices and failings mentioned in our Confession The first Table in the Law doth concern our duty to God The first Commandment doth enjoyn us to have Jehovah alone for our God that is in all respects to behave our selves towards him as our God So that by this we are directed to pray for these graces and duties viz. Knowledge and Belief of him Trust and Hope in him Love towards him Zeal for him Rejoycing in him Gratitude towards him Patience under him Obedience to him Fear of him Being humble before him Because it is not good that the soul should be without knowledge we should therefore pray that he would be pleased to incline our ears unto wisdome and apply our hearts to understanding That he would open our eyes to behold the wonderous things of his Law That he would give unto us the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of our understandings being inlightened we may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power That he would enable us to be more inquisitive after those sacred truths revealed in the Word more diligent to acquaint our selves with his holy attributes and works more mindefull of his Holinesse Justice Truth Power Omnipresence that he is about our paths and beds and acquainted with all our wayes He does search and know us understanding our thoughts afar off all things being naked and open in his sight That we may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall understanding that we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God that we may follow on to know the Lord.
faithfulnesse answer me and in thy righteousnesse 4. From his Truth Psal 69.13 O God in the multitude of thy mercy hear me in the truth of thy salvation 2 Sam. 7.28 And now O Lord God thou art that God and thy words be true and thou hast promised this goodnsse unto thy servant therefore now let it please thee c. 5. From his Mercies Psal. 6.4 O save me for thy mercies sake Psal. 25 6. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old Isa. 63.15 Look down from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holines and thy glory where is thy zeal and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me are they restrained 6. From his Glory Josh. 7.9 What wilt thou do unto thy great Name 2 Kings 17.19 Now therefore O Lord our God I beseech thee save thou us out of his hands that all the Kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God even thou onely Pal. 79.10 Wherefore should the Heathen say where is their God Jer. 14.21 Do not abhor us for thy names sake do not disgrace the Throne of thy Glory 7. From his Covenant and Promise 1 Kings 8.25 26. O Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him c. And now O God of Israel let thy word I pray thee be verified which thou spakest unto him c. Psal. 74.20 O deliver not the soul of thy Turtle unto the multitude of the wicked forget not the Congregation of the poor for ever Have respect unto the Covenant c. Jer. 14.21 Remember break not thy Covenant with us 8. From his Command of calling upon him and appointing this Ordinance as the means of our help and supply in any condition Psal. â—7 8 Thou saidst Seek ye my face my heart answered Thy face Lord will I seek Psal. 50.5 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal. 86.5 For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee 2. The second sort of arguments from our selves are derivable from some of these heads 1. From our Relation to him as being his people servants children Psal 74.1 2. Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture remember the Congregation which thou hast purchased of old the rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed this Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Psal. 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thine handmaid thou hast loosed my bonds Psal. 143.12 Of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant Isa. 63.16 Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer Isa. 64.8 But now O Lord thou art our Father we are the clay and thou our Potter we are all the work of thine hand Be not wroth very sore O Lord neither remember iniquity for ever Behold see we beseech thee we are all thy people Jer. 14.8 9. O! the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in time of trouble why shouldst thou be as a stranger in the land and as a wayfayring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night Why shouldst thou be as a man astonied as a mighty man that cannot save yet thou O Lord art in the midst of us and we are called by thy name leave us not 2. From our own sincerity Psal 40.16 Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let such as love thy salvation say continually The Lord be magnified Psal. 119.38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant who is devoted to thy fear vers 94. I am thine save me for I have sought thy precepts vers 159. Consider how I do love thy preceâ—t quicken me O Lord according to thy loving kindnesse Isa. 38.3 Remember now O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight 3. From our present Dependance upon him Ps. 7.1 O Lord my God in thee do I put my trust save me from all them that persecute me Psal. 2â— 2 O my God I trust in thee let me not be ashamed vers 20. Keep my soul and deliver me let me not be ashamed for I put my trust in thee Psal. 57.1 Be merciful unto me O God be merciful unto me for my soul trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge untill these calamities be over-past 4. From the greatnesse of our Need and sufferings Psal. 25.19 Consider mine enemies for they are many and they hate me with a cruel hatred Psal. 60.1 2 3. O God thou hast cast us off thou hast scattered us thou hast been dâ—spleased O turne thy self to us again thou hast made the earth to tremble thou hast broken it thou hast shewed thy people hard things thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment Psal. 79.8 Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Psal. 142.6 Attend unto my cry for I am brought very low deliver me from my persecutors for they are stronger then I. 5. From the Benefit of his hearing and granting our requests Psal. 80.18 So will not we go back from thee quicken us and we will call upon thy name Psal. 102.15 So the Heathens shall fear the name of the Lord and all the Kings of the earth thy glory vers 18. This shall be written for the generations to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. Psal. 106 47. Save us O Lord our God and gather us from among the Heathen to give thanks unto thy holy name and to triumph in thy praise 6. From our Experience and former examples Judg. 15.18 Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant and now shall I die for thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised Psal. 22.4 5. Our father 's trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal. 27.9 Thou hast been my help leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation To these may be added in the businesse of Imprecation another Topicke from the insolence and impiety of Gods enemies Exod. 32.12 Wherefore should the Egyptians say for mischief did he bring them out to stay them in the mountaines and to consume them from the face of the earth Psal. 140.8 Grant not O Lord the desires of the wicked further not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves From some of these heads a man may fetch arguments
meet for repentance Labouring to draw nigh unto God by cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts 2. For faith that God would discover to us the great need of a Saviour and since he hath set forth his Son to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood and hath made him the authour of eternal salvation to all that obey him That he would win over our souls to an earnest endeavour of acquaintance with him and high esteem of him That God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse would shine into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ That he would make us more especially inquisitive after the saving experimental knowledge of him in whom are laid up the treasures of wisdome and knowledge whom to know is perfect wisdome and eternal life That he would count us worthy of his holy calling and fulfill in us all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the work of faith with power that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us and we in him That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith that we being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that we may be filled with all the fulnesse of God That we may truly value the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus Glorying in his Gospel as being the power of God to salvation Counting all things but losse and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus that we may win him and he found in him not having our own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ. That in all estates and conditions we may learn to live by faith 1. In regard of our temporal life with all the various uncertainties of it whether Prosperity that by this grace of faith we may keep our hearts in an holy frame of humility meeknesse dis-ingagement from the world and all outward confidences or Adversity wherein this grace may serve to sweeten our afflictions to support us under them teaching us to profit by them to bear them meekly to triumph over them assuring the heart that nothing befals us but by the disposal of Gods Providence who is infinitely wise and merciful and faithfull 2. In regard of Spiritual life both for our Justification that we may not expect it from our own services or graces Not having our own righteousnesse but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith And so for the life of Sanctification that we may not live unto our selves but unto him who died for us and rose again That our conversation may be as becometh the Gospel of Christ standing fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel Alwayes remembring that we are not our own but bought with a price and therefore should make it our businesse to glorifie Christ with our bodies and spirits which are his That he would work in us such a lively faith as may make us rich in good works that we may demean our selves as becomes our professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ walking worthy of that vocation wherewith we are called as becomes children of the light Being holy in all manner of conversation Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ Exercising our selves unto godlinesse Walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel Diligently following every good work Shewing out of a good conversation our works with meeknesse and wisdome That we may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Considering that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works that we should walk in them Having our conversation in heaven walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in all good works That every one of us who professeth the name of Christ may depart from iniquity Because for this reason was the Gospel preached to those that are dead in sin that they might live according to God in the Spirit That we may give all diligence to adde to our faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity that these things being in us and abounding we may not be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but may hereby clear up unto our selves the evidences of our calling and election That we may deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts living soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and that glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Considering that he shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeance on those that obey not his Gospel who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired of all them that believe in that day For if he that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and hath done despight to the Spirit of grace That the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus would make us perfect stablish strengthen settle us That we may continue in the faith grounded and setled and not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel being rooted and built up and stablished in the faith Laying aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us and running with patience the race that is set before us Holding fast our profession without wavering that we may abide in Christ and his words may abide in us Continuing in the things which we have learned Being faithful unto the death that then he may bestow upon us a crown of life That the Word of Christ may dwell in us richly in all wisdome That we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God That we may be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus That having fought a good fight and finished our course and kept the faith we may receive that
That he would sanctifie to us the knowledge we have already attained that it may not be idle and ineffectual but may produce in our lives answerable obedience that we do not with-hâ—ld any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would open our hearts to believe all those truths revealed in his Word that he would inable us to take diligent heed lest there should be in any of us an evill heart of unbelief in departing from the living God That we may firmly assent unto his promises and threats and as we do professe our selves to believe in God so we may be carefull to maintain good works That we may not rely on such outward means as cannot help us but in all our wants and troubles we may place our chief confidence on him as knowing that he is infinitely wise powerful merciful both able and willing to succour us that when we know not what to do our eyes may be upon him That in our greatest exigences when we are in a state of darknesse and can see no light we may then trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon our God That we may still cast our burden upon him and abide under the shadow of the Almighty Committing our wayes unto the Lord Being careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplications make our requests known unto God who careth for us and will never leave or forsake us That we may labour to stirre up and strengthen our hope in him such hope as may be well grounded and will not make us ashamed of which we may be alwayes able and ready to give answer to every man that asketh us a reason That we may look more at the things which are not seen then at those things which are seen That in times of fear and danger we may fly for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us which hope may be as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast That no condition or temptation may make us cast away our confidence That we may give all dilligence to make our callings and elections sure To clear unto our selves the evidences of our own everlasting well-beings That we may love the Lord our God with all our heart with all our soul and with all our might so farre above that natural affection which we do bear to those other things whether father or mother wife or children brethren or sisters yea and our own lives also that we may be said to hate and despise them in comparison of him That our love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that we may approve the things that are excellent That we may delight in all those holy duties whereby we may enjoy communion with him That we may earnestly long and thirst after the enjoyment of him when we shall come and appear before him That he would make us Zealous and fervent in all holy duties resolute and couragious in standing to the truth not to be deterred by hopes or fears Not wronging any good cause either by our cowardize or indiscretion Not resting our selves in a luke-warm profession being neither cold nor hot but being valiant for the truth and fervent in spirit Alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to salvation considering what he hath said That if we shall be ashamed of him in this adulterous generation he also will be ashamed of us when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels That we may rejoyce and glory in the LORD placing our chief happinesse in a spiritual communion with him Serving him with joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart Delighting greatly in his Commandments Finding more happinesse in the light of his countenance then in the increase of corn and wine preferring his loving kindnesse before life it self That he would make us more heartily sensible of those many great favours which are continually multiplied upon us That he would draw up our hearts to heaven in the acknowledgement of his bounty and goodnesse that our souls may blesse him and our desires may be alwayes towards him that we may be ready to talk of his loving kindnesse and to speak good of his name endeavouring to expresse our gratitude by the readinesse and cheerfulnesse of our obedience Seeking to glorifie his name by bearing much fruit unto him That we may be patient under his afflicting hand as considering that he is the Author as well of the evil we suffer as of the good we enjoy And shall we receive good from the hand of God and shall we not receive evil The greatest judgement that can befal us in this life is farre lesse then our deserts 'T is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not And then besides he hath promised that all things shall work together for the good of them that love him And though the cup may be bitter yet it proceeds from the hand of a Father That we may count our selves happy in what we suffer for righteousnesse sake because the Spirit of God and the Spirit of glory resteth upon us That we may rejoyce and glory in our tribulations as knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Reckoning with our selves that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us That in all our sufferings we may trust in the living God committing our souls unto him who is their faithfull Creatour and righteous Judge That we may accept the punishment of our iniquity waiting upon God in the way of his judgements Being willing to put our mouths in the dust rather then to open them in murmuring against him Considering how unjust and unreasonable it is for a living man to complaine a man for the punishment of his sins And that it is rather meet to be said unto God I have borne chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him He does punish us lesse then our iniquities deserve Not dealing with us after our sins nor rewarding us according to our iniquities and we have no reason to repine at kinde and moderated corrections Though in some respects he hath chastened us sore yet he hath not given us over to death He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men and therefore we have great reason totally to submit and resigne up both our selves and affaires to be governed by his wise providence and to let the Lord do with us what
seemeth good unto him That we may be constant universal sincere in our obedience Walking before him in truth and with a perfect heart and may do that which is good in his sight That in the generall course of our lives we may demean our selves in a setled regular way of submission and obedience having respect to all Gods Commandments Obeying from the heart the forme of doctrine delivered to us Following the Lord fully walking exactly and precisely before him That we may have not only the forme of godlinesse but the power also That we may sanctifie the Lord God of Hosts making him our fear and our dread considering that the end of all things is at hand when we must all appear before his dreadful tribunal every one to receive according to that he hath done in his body whether it be good or bad That we may be lesse afraid of other matters that cannot hurt us men that shall die and the sons of men that shall be made as grasse but may chiefly fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell Behaving our selves as being alwayes in his sight and presence as considering that our most secret bosome-sins which with such Art and care we have endeavoured to conceal from men are all of them naked and open in his sight before whom we must be judged at the last day That we may be humble before him ascribing nothing to our own power or merit That our hearts may not be lifted up to forget the Lord nor our mindes hardened in pride as considering that his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him And that if any man think himself to be something when indeed he is nothing he deceives himself That we may be clothed with humility counting it our safest defence and most comely ornament That we may not mind high things nor be wise in our own conceits Considering the basenesse of our Originall the many diseases and miseries which our bodies are liable unto the sinful and slavish condition of our souls our nothingnesse as creatures our vilenesse as sinners CHAP. XIX What are we directed to pray for out of the second Commandment THe second Commandment does enjoyn us to worship God after such a spiritual manner and by such holy means as is agreeable to his Nature and required in his Word So that from hence we are taught to pray for the direction and asistance of his Spirit in all our holy duties that he would work in us an holy frame and temper of heart without which 't is not possible for us to performe any acceptable service That he would quicken our affections to a greater fervency and delight in our attendance upon him That he would make us more careful in enjoying and increasing our communion with him by a conscionable observance of all those holy ordinances which he hath appointed particularly 1. Prayer 2. Ministery of the Word 3. Receiving of the Sacraments 1. That he would poure upon us the Spirit of prayer and supplication make us diligent and constant in our Publick Private devotions that we may accustome our selves to them with a greater forwardnesse and delight as being the chief means to ease our hearts of all troubles and sorrow to fill up our joy That we may be more solemn and reverent in our approaches before him as considering that we who are but dust and ashes vile despicable creatures are to speak unto that dreadful Majesty before whom all the world shall be judged at the last day That we may be more vigilant over our own hearts in respect of roving distracted thoughts which are so apt to interrupt us in this duty That we may stir up our selves to lay hold on God and set our faces to seek him Not pouring out words onely but our souls before him Serving him in our spirits Drawing near unto him with a true heart sprinkled from an evill conscience That he would be pleased to assist us and to accept of us in this duty Shedding abroad his love in our hearts Opening our lips that our mouths may shew forth his praise And then that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts may be alwayes acceptable in his sight That we may confesse our sins with a greater sense and sorrow for them feeling in our selves a greater loathing and detestation of them Acknowledging our transgressions and setting our sins before us Abhorring our selves for them and repenting in dust and ashes That we may put up our petitions with a greater faith and fervency as being truly sensible of our own wants and those gracious promises which he hath made for the supply of them Drawing near in the full assurance of faith nothing wavering Asking such things as are according to his will That his Spirit may help our infirmities and make intercession for us and that he would remember the promise which he hath made to be nigh unto them that call upon him in truth and to fulfill the desire of those that fear him That we may give thanks with greater chearfulnesse and love and sense of his favours with such heartinesse and fervency as may be in some measure proportionable to our importunity in the want of mercies That we may be ready to speak the praises of our God whilest we have any being that our meditations of him may be sweet and we may be glad in the Lord. That we may retain a relish and taste of this holy duty in our mindes after the performance of it behaving our selves answerably in the course of our lives observing what return is made to our prayers Hearkening what God the Lord will say Considering the several wayes and dispensations of his providence towards us that we may understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. This Commandment does likewise concerne the duties which belong to that other Ordinance the Ministery of the word in reference both to Minister People The Minister may hereby be directed to pray that God would endow him with all those graces and abilities which may fit him for the discharge of his calling both in respect of his Life Doctrine that he may both save himself and them that hear him 1. For his Life That he may shew himself as a pattern of good works Of a blamelesse conversation not self-willed not soon angry Not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of good men sober just holy temperate gentle unto all men apt to teach patient Renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty Not walking in craftinesse but by manifestation of the truth commending himself unto every mans conscience in the sight of God Behaving himself as a steward of the mysteries of God Not seeking so much his own profit as the profit of many that they may be saved that
after he hath preached unto others he himself may not become a cast-away 2. For his Doctrine that he may study to approve himself unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth That he may preach the Word being instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine with meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth Feeding the flock of God not by constraint but willingly Not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde That he may speak as the Oracles of God That his doctrine may be in demonstration of the spirit and of power with uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity not as pleasing men but God who tryeth the hearts The People or hearers may be hereby directed to pray for a greater love and esteem of his Word as being the Ordinance of his infinite wisdome which he can make effectual for the Conversion and salvation of souls Considering that the fashion of this world passeth away Pleasures shall die and vanish Honours shall be laid in the dust gold and silver shall rust and canker but the word of God abideth for ever This alone is able to make us wise unto salvation and to save our soules being that word by which we shall be judged at the last day That therefore we may value it above gold and silver finding a relish in it sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb That we may alwayes love the beauty of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth To publish with the voice of Thanksgiving and to tell of all his wondrous works This one thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary That we may have a greater care to know and practise his will As new borne babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word to grow thereby That he would teach us so to prize and improve the present liberty and Sun-shine of the Gospel that we may be carefull in this our day to lay up for our selves a good foundation against the evil time That we may approach unto this Ordinance with such reverent and prepared affections as may become his more especial presence amongst us Considering our feet when we draw neer before him that he would over-awe our spirits with an holy fear and reverence in the apprehension of his presence and beholding of us who is a God of infinite holinesse and glorious Majesty that we may bow down our souls with a willing subjection unto every sacred truth That he would subdue the pride of our hearts Cast down every imagination that exalteth it selfe against him and bring into subjection every thought unto the obedience of Christ and because the Word of it selfe is but a dead letter and it is not in the power of any outward means the wisdome or preparation of weak sinful man to subdue the power of sin the Kingdome of Satan or to create men in Christ Jesus unto good works that therefore he would be pleased to accompany the outward means by the inward efficacy and operation of his Spirit Man can speak only unto the ear but he can speak unto the heart and 't is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us be so and he hath promised to meet such as desire to wait upon him and to remember him in his wayes That he would remove from our understandings the veile of ignorance and infidelity whereby we are made incapable of spiritual truths that he would take from our affections that natural pravity and malice whereby we are made enemies to spiritual notions that we may receive the truth not only in the light but in the love of it not with-holding any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would strengthen us against all temptations of Satan cares of the world hardnesse of our own hearts or what ever may hinder our profitable and saving hearing That he would take from us all irreverence distraction prejudice dulnesse in hearing of his Word and because it must redound either to the glory of his justice in our farther hardening and final condemnation or to the glory of his mercy in our conversion and salvation that he would therefore sanctifie it to our good that as the rain cometh down from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it fruitful so the Word that goeth out of his mouth may not return unto him void but accomplish his good pleasure and prosper in that to which it is sent That it may be unto us sharp as a two-edged sword to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit the joynts and marrow discovering the very thoughts and intentions of the heart And because Paul may plant and Apollos may water but he only can give the increase That therefore he would be pleased to give a blessing and successe to his own Ordinance That his Word may be unto us a word of power converting the soul and making wise the simple that he would give unto us hearing ears and understanding hearts that we may believe and be saved That he would write his laws in our inward parts That he would open our eyes to behold the wondrous things of his law Incline our hearts to affect direct our steps that we may walke in the paths of his precepts Shew us thy wayes O Lord and teach us thy paths lead us in thy truth and guide us for thou art the God of our salvation Teach us thy wayes O Lord and we will walke in thy truth unite our hearts to fear thy name Shew us the way that we should walk in for we lift up our souls unto thee Teach us to do thy will for thou art our God Let thy good Spirit lead us into the land of uprightnesse That we may behave our selves with humility attention alacrity laying down all high thoughts fleshly reasonings stubborne resolutions being ready to receive with meeknesse the ingraffed word which is able to save our souls That we may enjoy communion with him in his Ordinances that he would fill us with all joy and peace in believing That he would sanctifie our judgements affections memories that we may apprehend and believe and affect and retain those sacred truths that shall be delivered That he would inlighten our mindes open our hearts soften our consciences compose our thoughts to attend unto his Word with meeknesse and faith receiving it into good and honest hearts with full purpose to walk answerably to it in our conversations That Christ may be formed in us that our hearts may be established in every good word