beneath yet is he present with vs his members euen to the end of the world ini preseruing and gouerning vs with is effectuall power and grace who when all things are fulfilled which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophetes since the world began will come in the same visible forme in the which he ascended with an vnspeakable matestie power and companie to separate the Lambes from the Goates the Elect from the reprobate So that none whether he be aliue then or dead before shall escape his iudgement Moreouer I beleeue and confesse the holy Ghost God equall with the Father and the Sonne who regenerateth and sanctifieth vs ruleth and guideth vs in all truth perswading most assuredly in our consciences that we be the Children of God Brethren to Iesus Christ and tellowe heires with him in life euerlasting Yet notwithstanding it is not sufficient to beleeue that God is omnipotent and mercifull that Christ hath made satisfaction or that the holy Ghost hath his power and effect except we doe applie the same benefites to our selues which are Gods Elect. I beleeue therefore and confesse one holy Church which as members of Iesus Christ the only head thereof consent in faith hope and charitie vsing the giftes of God whether they be temporall orspirituall to the profit and furtherance of the same Which church is not séene to mans eye but only known to God who of the lost Sons of Adam hath ordained some as bessels of wrath to damnation and hath chosen others as vessels of his mercy to be saued the which also in due time he calleth to integritie of life and godly conuersation to make them a glorious church to himselfe But that church which is visible and séene to the eye hath thrée tokens or marks wherby it may be discedice First the word of God contained in the old and new Testament which as it is aboue the authoritie of the same Church and only sufficient to instruct vs in all things concerning saluation so it is left for all degrees of men to reade and vnderstand For without this word neither Church counsel or decree can establish any poynt touching Saluation The second is the holy Sacraments to wit of Baptisme and the Lords Supper which Sacraments Christ hath left vnto vs as holy signes and seales of Gods promises for as by Baptisme once receiued is signified that we as well infants as others of age and discretion being strangers from God by originall sinne are receiued into his familie and congregation with full assurance that although this roote of sin lye hid in vs yet to the elect it shall not be impured So the Supper declareth that God as a most prouident Father doth not only feede our bodies but also spiritually nourisheth our Soules with the graces and benefites of Iesus Christ which the Scripture calleth eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud neither must we in the administration of these Sacraments followe mans phantasie but as Christ himselfe hath ordained so must they be ministred and by such as by ordmarie vocation bee thereunto called Therefore whesoeuer reserueth or worshippeth these Sacraments or contrarywise contemneth them in time and place procureth to himselfe damnation The third marke of this Church is Ecclesiasticall discipline which standeth in admonition and correction of faults The finiall end whereof is excommunication by the consent of the Church determined if the offender be obstinate And besides this Ecclesiasticall censure I acknowledge to belong to this Church a politicall Magistrate who ministreth to euery man Iustice desending the good and punishing the euill to whom we must render honour and obedience in all things which are not contrary to the word of God And as Moses Ezechias Iosias and other godly rulers purged the Church of God from Superstition and Idolatrie so the defence of Christs Church apperteineth to the Christian Magistractes against al Idolaters and Heretikes wherein standeth only remission of sinnes purchased by Christs bloud to al them that beleeue whether they be Iewes or Gentiles and leades vs to vayne confidence in Creatures and trust in our own imaginations The punishment whereof although God oftentimes deferreth in this life yet after the general resurrection when our soules and bodies shall arise againe to immortalitie they shall be damned to vnqueachable sire and then we which haue forsaken all mans wisdome to cleaue vnto Christ shall heare that ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my Father inherice ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world and so shall goe triumphing with him in bodie and soule to remaine euerlastingly in glory where we shall see God face to face and shall no more need one to instruct another for we shall all know him from the highest to the lowest To whom with the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost be all praise honor and glorie now and for euer So be it The Commandements of God giuen by Moses and expounded by Christ The first Table THou shalt haue none other Gods bt me Exo. 20. Deut. 6. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Christ Mat. 6. Heare Israel Our Lord God is one Lord and thou shalt loue thy Lord God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength Matth. 4. Thou shalt worship thy Lord God and him onely shalt thou serue ij Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a ielous God and visit the sinnes of the Father vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands in t hem that loue me and keepe my commandements Iohn 1. No man hath séene God at any time The only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hath declared him Christ Iohn 4. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Acts 18. For as much as we are the generation of God wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like vnto Gold Siluer or Stone grauen by craft or imagination of man 1. Iob. 5. Babes kéepe you from Images Sap. 14. Cursed is the I dol that is made with hands yea both it and he that made it because it was called God whereas it is but a fraile thing For the vngodly and his vngodlines are both like abhominable vnto God iij. Thon shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine For the Lord will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine Christ Mattth 5. Ye haue heard how it was sayd vnto them of olde tyme Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt perfourme thyne othes to the Lord. But I
not to order them according to thy word deserueth thy dreadfull curse Graunt therefore that as thou hast blessed me with an household so I may diligently watch that nothing be commited of the same that might offend thy father lie goodnesse and be an occasion of turning thy blessing into cursing but that so many as thou hast committed to my charge may eschue all vice imbrace all vertue liue in thy feare call vpon thy holie name learne thy blessed commandements heare thy holy word and auoiding idlenesse diligentlie exercise themselues euerie one in his office according to their vocation and calling vnto the glorie of thy most honorable name Amen Of all Christians ALbeit O Heauenly FAther all we that vnfeinedly professe thy holy religion and faithfullie call on thy blessed name are thy sonnes and heires of euerlasting glorie yet as all the members of a body haue not one office so likewise we being manx and making one bodie whereof thy dearely beloued Sonne is the head haue not all one gift neither are we all called to one office but as it hath pleased thee to distribute so receiue we we therefore most hūbly praythee to send the Spirit of loue and concord among vs that without any disorder or debate euery of vs may be conent with our calling quietly liue in the same studie to doe good vnto all men by the true and diligent exercise therof without too much séeking of our priuat gaine and so order our selues in all poynts according to thy godlie will that by well-doing wee may stoppe the mouthes of such foolish and ignorant people as reporte vs to be euill dooers and cause them through our good workes to glorifie thee our Lord God in the ay of visitation Amen A Prayer meete for all men and to besaid at all times O Most mercifull Father grant me to couer with an ardent mind those things which may please thee to search them wisely to know them truly and to fulfil them perfectly to the laud and glory of thy name Order my liuing so that I may doe thatwhich thou requirest of me and giue me grace so that I may know it and haue will and power to doe it and that I may obtaine those things which be most connenient to my soule Cacious Lord make my way sure streight to thee so that I fall not between prosperitie and aduersirie but that in prosperous things I may giue thee thankes and in aduersitie be patient so that I be not lift vp with the one nor oppressed with the other And that I may reioyce in nothing but that which moueth mee to thee nor to be sorie for any thing but for those things which draw me from thee desiring to please no bodie nor fearing to displease any besids thee most louing father let all worldly things be vile vnto me for thee and be thou my most speciall comfort aboue al. Let me not be merie with the ioy that is without thee And let me desire nothing besides thee let all labour delight me which is for thee and let all the rest wearie we which is not in thee Make me to lift vp my hart oftentimes to thee and when I fall make me to thinke on thee and be sorie with a stedfast purpose of amendement Louing Lord make me humble without faining merrie without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnes true without doublenes fearing thee without desperatiō trusting in thee with out presumption telling my neighbors their faults meekly without dissimmulatiō teaching them with words and examples without any mocking obedient without arguing patient without grudging and pure without corruption giue me also I beseech thee a waking spirite that no curious thought with draw me from thee Let it be so strong that no filthie affection dram me backward so stable that no tribulation breake it graunt me also to knowe thee diligentlie to learne a godlie conuersation to please thee and finallie hope to imbrace thee for the precious blood sake of that immaculate Lambe our onlie Sauiour Iesus Christ To whom with thee O Father and the holy Ghost thrée persons and one God be all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of saith O Mercifull God deare Father of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in whom as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him forasmuch as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and thereto promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and graunt vs that which in his name wee shall aske of thee Loe gracious Father I am bold to beg of thy mercie through thy Sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards me in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christ thy Sonne may be thankfull to thee loue thee and serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life So be it A Prayer for repentance MOst gracious God and mercifull father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned and done wickedlie and thorough thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentance whereto this long suffering doth draw my hard hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy Spirite power and grace to humble mortifie and teare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me thorow Iesus Christ thy dearly beloued Sonne Amen A Prayer for remission of sinnes and for the comfort and true feeling of Gods sauor and mercie OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wieked Blindis my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscener is in me as a spring or stincking puddie Oh how faine is saith in me How little is my loue to thée or thy people How great is selfe-loue How hard is my heart by the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnesse towards me whether thou art my mercifufll father and whether I be thy childe or no Indeede worthilie might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause and not the fruite rather of thy Children The cause and not the fruite rather of thy Children The cause why thou art my Father is the mercy goodnesse grace and trueth in Christ Iesus the which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this good wil to bring me into thy Church by Baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy Children that I might be holy faithfull obedient and innocent and to cal me diuers times by the ministring of thy word into thy kingdome besides the innumerable other benefits alwaies hether to powred vpon me all which thou hast done of this thy good will that thou of thine owne mercie bearest to me in Christ and for Christ before the world was made The which
thing as thou requirest streightly that I should beléeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my deedes I should come vnto thee as to a father and make my mone without distrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee déere father I come through thy Sonue our Lord Mediator aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on the right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnesse and mercy in Christ to be mercifull vnto me that I may feele in deed thy sweet mercie as thy Childe The time O deere father I appoynt not but I pray thee that I may with hope still expect and looke for thy help I hope that as for a little while thou hast left me thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue need by reason of my great misery Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whom thou louest but surely oh redermer in eternall mercies thou wilt shew thy compassion For when thou leauest vs oh Lord thou doest not leane vs very long neither doest thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our Iuere and aduantage Euen that for holy spirit with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and theere vs that the want of feeling to our sorrow may be recompensed plentifully with the linely since of hauing thee to our eternal ioy and therefore thou swearest that in thine euer lasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion on vs Or which thing to the ende we might be most assured thine oth is to be marked for thou saist as I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the Waters to drowne the world so haue I sworne that I will neuer more be angrie with thee nor reprooue thee The Mountaines shall remooue and the Hils shall fall downe but my louing kindnesse shall not mooue and the band of my peace shallnot faile thee Thou saiest thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Déere Father therfore I pray thée remember euen for thine own truth and mercies sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy god time I pray thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may bee holy in thy sight through Christ that I may alwaies not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same dailie more and more as thy children doe aboue all things desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy Kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer Mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Prayer for delinerance from sinne and to be restored to Gods grace and fauour againe O Almightie and euerlasting Lord God which hast made heauen and earth and all things therein contained Ourcomprehensible vnitie O alwaies to be worshiped most buissed Trmitie I humbly beseeth thee and praye thee by the assumption and crucified humanâ—â—â—e of our I orde Irius Christ that thou wouldest inclide and howe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the bottomelesse priormy vriticie Driue from me all kinde of vice wlikeduesse and sinne and make in me a cleane heart and renew in me a right spirice for thy holy names sake O Lord Iesus I beseech thy goodnesse for that exceeding great loue which drew thee out of thy Fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy Virgine and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it hath pleased thee to saue me and to deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest draw me out of my selfe into thee my Lorde God and grant this my loue mya recouer again to me thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is fallen to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should liue that so I may become can ormable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in mee and I in thee my heart being soupled with thy grae and setled in thy faith for euer O thou my God â—ooâ—e â—nd set at libertie my spirice from al inferiour things gouerne my soulâ— and so work that both in soule and bodie I may be haly and liue to thy glorite world without ende Amen A Prayer necessart to be sayd at all times O Bountifull Lord Iesuâ— O sweete Sauiour O Christ the soune of God haue vittie vpon me mercifullie heare mee and despise not my prayerse Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redcemed me from the hondage of sinne death and hell neither with gold nor siâ—uâ—r but with thy most preâ—â—us â—oote once offâ—â—ed vpon the Crosse and thâ—â—â— owne blood shed once for all for my ransome therefore cast me not away wham thou by thy great wisdome hast made bespise mee not whome thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnesse hath builded now whilest I liue O Iesus haue mercie on me for if I dye out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie whilest I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eyes as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewailmy sinfull life and obtaine thy fauour and dye therein I reknowledge that if thou shouldest deale with me according to very iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy high throne of mercie trusting to obtaine Gods fauour not for my merttes but for thy merites O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to the Father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euil life into his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them that shall be saued forgiue me my sinnes giue mee grace to leade a godlie and innocent life graunt me thy heauenly wisdome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to be humble in prosperitie patient in â—duersitie obedient to my rulers faithfull vnto them thaâ— trust me dealing truelâ— with all men to liue chastâ—â—e in wedlocke to abhorre adulterie formcation and all vncleannesse to doe good after my poer to all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in me during this present life and that I after ward may obtaine eneriusting life through the mercie and merites of thy passion So be it A Prayer for the vvrote congregation of Christ. SHew thy selfe goutle and gracious O Almightie God towards thy beloued Church for thy exceeding great glories sake and mercie most magnificent that we may be miraculously deliuered from the horrible fardle and cruell bondage of our deadly sinnes who haue hetherto been bondslaues to the flesh and wretched
heigot of that most excessent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten the victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebel against thy maiestie O Lord the blind dulnesse of our corrupt nature will nto suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefites yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christ our Lord we present our selues to this thy Table which hee hath left to bee vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the trone of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our Spiritual kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table with whom we haue our conuersation present in Heauen and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust and shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioy which thou O father of mercie hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the world was laid And these most inest imable benefits we acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by chine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christ For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by the holy Spirice render to thee all thankes praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen ¶ A thankes giuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion MOst mercifull father we render to thee all praise thankes honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy to graunt vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowship and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishmēt vnto euerlasting life And now we beséech thée also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthie benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts that we may grow and inicrease dayly more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good workes and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes and rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduauncement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer Amen A comfortable Prayer O Lord God almigbtie and Father most mercifull there is none like thee in heauen or in earth which workest all things for the glorie of thy name and the comfort of thine elect Thou diddest once make man ruler ouer all thy creatures and placed him in the garden of all pleasure but how soone alas did he in his felicitie forget thy goodnesse Thy people Israel also in their wealth did euermore run astray abusing thy manisld mercies like as all flesh contimually rageth when it hath gotten libertie and externall prosperitie But such is thy wisedome adioyned to thy mercies deare Father that thou seekest all meanes possible to bring thy children to the sure sence and liuely feeling of thy fatherly fauour And therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie graciously correcting all thy Children whom thou receiuest into thy houshold Wherfore I wretched and miserable sinner render vnto thee most humble and heartie thankes that it hath pleased thee to call me home to thy folde by thy fatherly correction at this present whereas in presperlite and aduersitie I did neglect thy greace offered vnto me For the which negligence and many other grieuous sinnes where of I now accuse my selfe before thee thou mightest most iustly haue giuen me vp into a reprobate minde and induration of hart as thou hast done others But such is thy goodnesse O Lorod that thou séemest5 to forget al my offences and hast called me of thy good pleasure from all idolatrie to professe thy name and to suffer some Crosse amongst thy people for thy truth and Gospel sake and so to be thy witnesse with the Prophets and Aposties yea with thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ our head to whom thou doest being heere fashion me like that in his glorie I may also be like him when he shall appeare O Lord God what am I vpon whom thou shouldest shewe this great mercie O most louing Lord forgiue me my vnthankefulnesse and all my sinnes for Iesus Christes sake O heauenly Father increase thy holy Spirit in me to teach my heart to crye Abba deare Father assure me of thy eternall election in Christ to reueale thy will more and more towards me to confirme mee so in thy trueth that I may liue and dye therein and that by the power of the same Spirite I may boldlie giue an account of my faith to all men with humblenesse and meekenesse to the glorie of thy most holy name Thorowe Iesus Christ our Lor and onely Sauiour So be it A meditation for a vvoman vvith childe and specially vvhen she entreth in to trauell O Almightie and mercifull Father which of thy bountifull goodnesse hast fructified my wombe and of thy gracious blessing hath created mee a reasonable creature I most heartily thanke thee not only for this thy gracious gift but also for that thou hast at all times since I conceiued preserued me from all perils both of soule and bodie and hast so moderated all my nips pinches throwes and pangs that I haue hetherto right well escaped them I acknowledge O Lord iustly for our sinfull transgression of thy commaundements thou saidst vnto the first woman and in her to vs all I will increase thy sorrowe when thou art with childe with paine shalt thou bring forth thy children And our paines therefore that we suffer in this behalfe are none other thing but a worthie Crosse layde vpon vs by thy godly ordinance to the which with heart and minde I humbly submit me trusting surely and being fully perswaded in my faith that thou callest none into perrill and daunger but both thou canit and wilt at conuenient season deliuer them Thou most gracious GOD hast commaunded vs in all our trouble to call vpon thee for ayde and helpe and not only hast commaunded vs but also of thy mercifull goodnesse hast promised to vs good deliuerance saying Call vpon mee in the time of trouble and I will deliuer thee O good Lord how greatly doe these words comfort my hart and sustaine my sillie soule Who would not greatly reioyce that knoweth certainely almighty God to be present with him in his trouble Saith not God thus Or euer they cal saith he I shall aunswere them while they are yet but thinking how to speake I shal beare them and in the Psalme I am with him saith God in his trouble out of which I