pray against afflictions though these are also tentations and lead us not c. but we do absolutely pray to be delivered from the evil of sin and this by God alone who can bring good out of evil A. 107. The Conclusion of the Lords-Prayer which is For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only and in our prayers to praise him ascribing Kingdom power and glory to him and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard we say Amen To. 2. Hom. IX Amen which word is as much as to say as truth that the blessing or thanksgiving may be confirm'd Expl. 107. In this Conclusion we are taught 1 Self-denial and the renouncing of all worth and merit in our selves for we are not to say Lord do thus and thus for I am worthy for whom thou shouldst do so and so but for thine is the Kingdom c. i. e. Thou who hast commanded us to pray for what we need hast Power to give us what we beg though in our selves never so unworthy From that word therefore Lord we may note 1 That answering of prayers is a special part of Gods providence in governing the world which he will have every supplicant to own and acknowledg The belief of a providence is very necessary to the offering up unto God the sacrifice of prayer 2 From those words and the Power we may note sc. That what God may do as Governour of the world in answering prayers by virtue of his supreme Authority that he hath strength and ability to execute and perform 3 From those words and the Glory observe 1 That God looks upon it as one of his Titles of Honour to be a God hearing prayers 2 That therefore in our prayers as well as in any other part of Divine worship we should principally aim at the honour of God and 't is one of the greatest arguments we can have of hope to speed when our design is rather to gloririfie God than to gratifie our selves 3 That the Kingdom and Power of God and that honour which does redound to him from both these are everlasting 4 That Praise should accompany Prayer 5 That whatever we ask of God in the name of Christ according to his will believing we shall receive for that 's the meaning of that word which doth seal up this Prayer Amen because so it is or so be it or in the words of Christ be it unto thee even as thou wilt a greater encouragement than which unto prayer no rational supplicant can desire for 't is no more than ask and have that your joy may be full FINIS a Psal. 87.5 6. b Ier. 9 3. c Gen. 14.14 d Hos. 4.6 e Eph. 4.18 f Isa. 27.11 g Act. 3.6 h 1 Cor. 3.2 Heb. 5.12 i Mat. 4.4 Amos 8.11 k Luk 8.26 37. 9 5. 10 11 12. l Mat. 10.14 40 c. m Zach. 5. n Ier. 36 23. o 2 Cor. 4.3 p Rom. 10.1 q Gal. 6.6 r Deut. 11.18 19 c. 6.6 7 8. 4.9 Eph. 6.4 Isa. 28.10 Ex. 13.8 Psal. 78.5 Prov. 22.6 29 3. 10.1 1.10 4.1 2. Col. 3.11 12. Gen. 18.18 19. 2 Tim. 1.5 with 3.15 c. s 1 Tim. 4.3 4 5. Ioh. 8.29 t 1 Tim. 3.5 u 1 Pet. 2.2 Isa. 55.1 2. * Sir Edwyn Sands observed Eighty years ago that this was a notable means for the growth of the Reformed Religion x Deut. 17.18 19. y Prov. 29.15 17. with 4. 1 Sam. 2.23 c. 3.13 Luk. 12.47 48. Prov. 1.24 25 c. * Decembâ—r 1670. 1 Tim. 6.3 Eccl. 12.13 Joh. 13.17 Phil. 4.13 1 Cor. 9.23 27. Mat. 10.13 14 -40. Luk. 10.16 1 Thes. 4.8 Joh 12.25 48. Prov. 19.2 Heb. 12.13 1552. 1562. Artic. XXXV 13 Eliz. c. 5. 1655. Dec. 11. 1670. What is the chief End of Man a 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God b Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 26. My flesh and my heart saileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever What Rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him c Eph. 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone d 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness e 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. What do the Scriptures principally teach f 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus What is God g Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth h Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection i Psal. 90.2 From everlasting to everlasting thou art God k Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning l Exod. 3.14 And God said unto Moses I am that I am and he said thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you m Psal. 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite n Rev. 4.8 Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come o Exod. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty g Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth h Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection i Psal. 90.2 From everlasting to everlasting thou art God k Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning l Exod. 3.14 And God said unto Moses I am that I am and he said thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you m Psal. 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite n Rev. 4.8 Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come o Exod. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty Are there more Gods than one p Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God
it should be express'd or set forth in any Image or bodily Similitude And that in the First Table and the beginning thereof is this Doctrine aforesaid not briefly touch'd but at large set forth and that with denunciation of destruction to the contemners and breakers of this Law and their posterity after them Expl. 49. We have here principally observable 1. The order 2. The matter of the Commandment From the order we are to observe that God doth prefer the inward worship of the heart which is required in the first Command to the outward worship of the body which is here principally directed that the later or that of the body without the former is but hypocritical and the former without the later but partial so that God is to be worshipp'd with all our bodies and spirits Those therefore who do present their bodies in Idol-worship as that of the Mass and yet plead they keep their hearts for God are here condemned 2. The matter or argument and scope of the Command i. e. to prevent all miscarriages and abuses in bodily worship and to instruct men how they may present their bodies as well as their souls a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God Yet to prevent mistakes about what is forbidden in this Command we are to note these two things 1. That not all making of Images or Pictures or likenesses of the creatures is here forbidden for then it would follow that a man might not so much as frame an Idea in his own fancy of one mans being like another contrary to the very notion of truth which is nothing else but a conformity betwixt the mind and the object 2. Nor is all civil use or historical representations of things to the eye which is so helpful to the understanding and memory here forbidden A. 50. The second Commandment requireth the receiving observing and keeping pure and entire all such religious Worship and Ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word Hom. II. p. 3. Let us honour and worship for Religions sake none but God and him let us worship and honour as he will himself and hath declared by his word that he will be worshipp'd and honoured not in nor by Images or Idols which he hath most straitly forbidden neither in kneeling lighting of Candles burning of Incense to believe that we should please him for all these be abomination before God but let us honour and worship God in spirit and in truth fearing and loving him above all things trusting in him only calling upon him and praying to him only praising and lauding of him only and all other in him Hom. XX. He requireth a sincere and pure love of godliness and of the true worshipping and serving of God i. e. that forsaking all manner of things that are repugnant and contrary to Gods will we do give our hearts unto him Expl. 50. In the general is here required that the bodily worshipping of God be performed only in such a manner both for substance and circumstances as God doth require or allow or at least is not expresly and consequentially contradicted in his word More particularly 1. It doth require our utmost and constant care and endeavour to observe and preserve all holy Ordinances and external Church-priviledges in their purity and freedom from all manner of corrupt mixtures in any kind whereby God is provoked fasting prayer thanksgiving hearing reading the Word singing of Psalms administration and participation of Gospel-Institutions as the Sacraments Swearing the Discipline and Censures of the Church Maintenance of Gospel Ministers c. 2. All outward decency in such external Rites and Ceremonies as are warrantably used in Religion especially in publick 3. All outward reverence in gesture speech and behaviour in the worship of God 4 All disapproving detesting and loathing all manner of Idolatries Will-worship superstition together with all the monuments and occasions and appearances thereof A. 51. The second Commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by Images or any other way not appointed in his Word To. 2. Hom II. p. 1. Lest the Doctrine against Images should not be marked or remarked the same is written and required not in one but in sundry places of the word of God Neither could the notableness of the place being the very beginning of the very loving Lords Law make us to mark it So that if either the multitude or plainness of the places might make us to understand or the earnest charge that God giveth in these places move us to regard or the horrible plagues punishment and dreadful destruction threatned to such worshippers of Images or Idols setters up or maintainers of them might ingender any fear in our hearts we would once leave and forsake this wickedness being in the Lords light so great an offence and abomination p. 3. Images and Image-worshipping were in the primitive Church which was most pure and incorrupt abhorr'd and detested as abominable and contrary to true Christian Religion p. 3. Idolatry cannot be separated from Images any long time but as an unseparable accident or as a shadow follows the body when the Sun shineth so Idolatry followeth and cleaveth to the publick having of Images in Temples and Churches It is not possible to keep men from Idolatry if Images be suffer'd publickly the Images of God our Saviour the Virgin the Apostles Martyrs and others of notable holiness of all others most dangerous Expl. 51. More particularly this command forbiddeth 1. absolutely and altogether the making of any kind of Images of God or of any person in the Trinity at least as God 2. It forbiddeth all making of Images in order to the worshipping of God in them or by them or any way abusing them in the true Religion as conceiting the presence of God to be in or with an Image in a more especial manner than elsewhere 3. All the means and direct occasions of Idolatry all inventions traditions and corruptions of men in Gods worship or about the worship of God 4. All manner of witchcraft or consulting those that have familiar Spirits 5. All worshipping of Images as well as of God before them together with all that religious respect that is given to them as in shrining cloathing them c. 6. All prophaning neglecting opposing or contemning of the worship and Ordinances of Christ as also all kind of Simony and Sacriledg A. 52. The Reasons annexed to the second Commandment are Gods Soveraignty over us his propriety in us and the zeal he hath to his own Worship Hom. II. p. 1. Concerning none other matter did God give more or more earnest and express Laws to his people than those that concern the true worshipping of him and the avoiding and fleeing of Idols and Images and Idolatry for that both the said Idolatry is most repugnant to the right worshipping of him and his true glory above all other vices and that he knew the proneness and inclination of mans
day e 1 Joh. 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life What benefits do Believers receive from Christ at their resurrection f Heb. 12.23 And to the spirits of just men made perfect g Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ. h 1 Thes. 4.14 Them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him i Isa. 52.7 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness k Job 19.26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God What benefits do Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection l 1 Cor. 15.43 It is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory m Mat. 10.32 Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I also confess before my Father which is in Heaven n 1 Joh. 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is o 1 Thes. 4.17 And so shall we ever be with the Lord. What is the duty which God requireth of man p Mic. 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God What did God at first reveal unto man for the rule of his obedience q Rom. 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not the the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves 15. Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended r Deut. 10.4 And he wrote on the Tables according to the first writing the Ten Commandments Mat 19.17 If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments What is the sum of the Ten Commandments s Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind 38. This is the first and great Commandment 39. And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self 40. On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets What is the Preface to the Ten Commandments t Exod. 20.2 What doth the Preface to the Ten Commandments teach us u Deut. 11.1 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and keep his charge and his statutes and his judgments and his Commandments alway Luk. 1.74 That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear 75. In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives What is the first Commandment What is required in the first Commandment w 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son Know thou the God of thy Father x Deut. 26.16 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes and his Commandments and his judgments and to hearken to his voice y Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve What is forbidden in the first Commandment z Psal. 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God a Rom. 1.20 So that they are without excuse 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God b Psal. 81.11 But my people would not hearken unto my voice and Israel would none of me c Rom. 1.25 Who changed the truth of God into a lye and worshipped and served the creatures more than the Creator who is blessed for ever What are we especially taught by these words before me in the first Commandment d Psal. 44.20 If we have forgotten the name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange God 21. Shall not God search out this What is the second Commandment What is required in the second Commandment e Deut. 32.46 Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your children to observe to do all the words of this Law Mat. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you f Deut. 12.32 What thing soever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it What is forbidden in the second Commandment g Deut. 4.15 Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude in the day that the Lord spoke unto you in Horâ—â— 16. Lest you corrupt your selves and make you a graven Image h Col. 2.18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puss't up by his fleshly mind What are the Reasons annexed to the second Commandment i Psal. 95.2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto him with Psalms 3. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods k Psal. 45.11 He is thy Lord and worship thou him l Exod. 34.14 Thou shalt worship no other God for the Lord whose name is jealous is a jealous God Which is the third Commandment What is required in the third Commandment m Psal. 92.2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name n Rev. 15.3 Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name o Eccles. 5.1 Keep thy feet when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools p Psal. 38.2 I will worship towards the holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving-kindness and for thy Truth 's for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name q Job 36.24 Remember that thou magnifie his work which men behold What is forbidden in the third Commandment r Mal. 2.2 If ye will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory unto thy Name saith the Lord of Hosts I will even send a curse upon you What is the reason annexed to the third Commandment s Deut. 28.58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God 59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful Which is the fourth Commandment What is required in the fourth Commandment t Deut 19.30 Ye shall keep my Sabbath and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord. Deut. 5.12 Keep the Sabbath-day to sanctifie it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath u Gen. 2.3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made w Act. 20.7 And upon the first day of the
Christ may be truly acceptable to God and a means of our sanctification I do not urge you in every prayer to insist on every head here or restrain you to these only shew you a way how to use these neither would I tye you to this way but advise you to exercise your spiritual senses to discern and have regard to your own occasions and the enlargement of your own hearts that out of the abundrnce of them in faith and humility you may express your minds to God in Scripture-language from a feeling of our own wants Thus I have took the freedom to suggest something of help in this kind to those who may either desire or need it But I impose nothing upon any one which God hath left free I hope none that know me well will judg me to be so narrow-spirited I have only offered a guide to the weaker for to bring to their mind needful matter under the three main parts of Prayer viz. Confession Petition Thanksgiving It may be some will begin with Petition or Thanksgiving and then Confession or vary and use them interchangeably as in prudence they think best for that season or are moved by the holy Spirit to omit or but touch on one or the other part and slay most on the third which may do well The great care to be took is that the party praying perform this necessary duty with hearty and sincere devotion But I humbly conceive it were of great advantage for one or more serious persons in a Neighbourhood who have better understanding after the reading this I now write to you to shew unto those of meaner abilities the import of this advise for the use and improvement of this small token for their knowledg and practise Perhaps the School-Master may think it expedient to do it for some of his Scholars in the highest Form However I could perswade my self some unexperienc'd in praying especially towardly young ones will rejoice to be directed I have latele known some who have been much changed and wrought upon by the serious reading of such a Book as this given and heartily recommended to them It would do well in your Family-reading of it if some of the House would turn to the Bible and find out the Texts that you may with your own eyes see them there as cited I doubt not but you will find them unless possibly by the error of the Printer which yet I know not there may be somewhere a failure but then you having the words a little searching of the Scripture will soon amend that if it should be so But I fear in being thus particular for your profit which I aim at I shall run my self beyond my projected bounds It remains I should subjoin something of III dly Some short general Rules consonant to Scripture and grounded mostly upon these cited in this little Book which may be of concernment to all to help both superiors inferiors and equals in the practice of godliness Wherefore that you may by this Mannual grow better which I humbly beg of our good God 1 Keep your end in your eye and think much on the means prescrib'd to attain it and how you may best use them You must make Religion your business and that requires you to aim at the glorifying of God and the enjoying of him the saving of your own souls according to the Rule God hath given you in his word In all your employments whether in your general or particular Calling and all your enjoyments whether spiritual or temporal magnifie the Name of God extol his excellency and perfection in thought word and deed Endeavour to carry your selves so agreeable to his mind that you may please him and be accepted of him 'T is a small matter then how you are censur'd in mans judgment 1 Cor. 6.20 Mat. 16.26 Rom. 11.36 Psal. 50.23 Mat. 5.16 Psal. 144.15 1 Cor. 13.12 2 Tim. 3.15 16. 2 Cor. 5.9 1 Cor. 4.3 2 Bethink your selves who God is and that you your selves are dependants upon him Oh! labour to have right notions of him who is wholly a spiritual invisible independant being of himself infinite in all perfection as none else is or can be a most gracious and merciful rewarder of all those that diligently seek him Who is but one yet distinguished into three persons or subsistents all equal in power and glory and doing all things most wisely and powerfully Remember by him you were made and are govern'd in him you live move and have your beings and can do nothing without him who is every-where and will every-where be worshipped in spirit and truth Iob. 4.24 Iob 10.4 Exod. 3.14 Ioh. 11.7 8 9. Heb. 11.6 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Iob. 5.7 Psal. 104.24 Iob 1.3 Act. 17.28 Neh. 9.6 Ioh. 15.5 Luk. 12.26 2 Cor. 3.5 1 Chron. 28 9 10. Ier. 23 23 24. 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 3 Consider well what an happy state man was in when he came first out of Gods hands and into what a sad plight of sin and misery you and all other meer men and women are faln Be sure no blessing can be expected but a curse so long as you abide in a state of corrupt nature unregenerate tribulation and anguish do attend every mothers child of you both here and hereafter Yet Psal. 8.4 5. Gen. 2.7 Iob 35.10 11. Mat. 10.28 Eccles. 12.7 7.29 Rom. 3.9 c. 5.19 Gen. 3.6 6.5 Eph. 2.1 2 3. Ier. 4.22 Tit. 3.3 Gal. 3.10 Ioh 3.3 Lam. 3.39 Rom. 2.9 4 Hearken attentively to what is done and and offered by our gracious Redeemer for your restoration What offices he hath of Priest Prophet and King both in his estate of Humiliation and Exaltation Oh be affected with the glad tidings he brings who came to save his people from their sins and is the great Peace-maker and only Mediator betwixt God and man ready to save to the uttermost all poor sinners that come unto God by him in that new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh Mat. 1.21 Act. 4.12 Ioh. 1.14 48. Eph. 2.14 15. 1 Tim. 2.5 Mat. 11.28 c. Ioh. 6.37 Heb. 10.20 5 Ponder throughly upon and readily receive what help the Holy Spirit is pleas'd to afford in working of effectual grace and see the necessity of it He is a most free agent and stands ready to enlighten the mind and convince of sin righteousness and judgment to encline the will soften the heart and put a principle of grace within it or else it would remain strong under all the rebukes and exhortations of the word Ioh. 3.5 6. Eph. 2.8 Phil. 2.12 Ioh. 16.8 Act. 16.14 Heb. 4.12 1 Cor. 6.17 Rom. 8.28 2 Thes. 2.13 14. Ezek. 36.26 2 Cor. 3.3 6. 6 Look your selves often in the glass of Gods holy Law and therein take notice of your own deformities See how much you fall short of what God calls for and how much you do of that which he forbids This
Building by this Rule he must square all his thoughts words and actions by this Line and Level and thereby he may come to know what is right and what is wrong what is sin and what is duty what is true and what is false and so accordingly may cease to do evil and learn to do well believe that which is true and reject that which is false nor is the Old Testament alone this Rule nor the new Testament alone but both together and both together they are the only Rule of Christianity neither is there any other ordinary sufficient Rule to direct a Christian either how he may serve God acceptably or enjoy God eternally but this written Word 1. The Pagans Rule or Light of Nature or what may be known of God by the things which are made is not sufficient to this end because it cannot discover Christ to us which is the only means of salvation 2. The Papists Rule of Tradition is no good Rule because fallible and contradictory in many things to the Rule of Scripture And 3. for the very same reason the Quakers Rule is no good Rule I mean their Light within because opposite to the light of the Word without and therefore it remaineth that the written Word is the only Rule A. 3. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requireth of man Artic. vi Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation so that whatever is not read therein or prov'd thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of Faith or be thought necessary or requisite to salvation Homil. 1. In holy Scripture is fully contained what we ought to do and what to eschew what to believe what to love and what to look for at Gods hand at length Expl. 3. There are two things principally which man is to believe concerning God and they are the two main foundations of the Christian Religion in the practice of it 1. That God is or that there is such a being who is in and of himself absolutely perfect and who gives Being to all his Creatures 2. That he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him namely in and through Christ Heb. 11.6 or that it is not in vain to love serve and obey this God And there is but one thing in the general which God requires of man namely a free and full compliance with his will whether in the doing or suffering part of Religion A. 4. God is a Spirit Infinite Eternal and unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Homil. xvij It passeth far the dark understanding and wisdom of a mortal man to speak sufficiently of that Divine Majesty which the Angels cannot understand Considering the unsearchable nature of Almighty God to reverence and dread his Majesty excellent Power incomparable Wisdom inestimable Goodness to take him for God Omnipotent Invisible Expl. 4. A Spirit i. e. A Being which has not flesh and bones as we have Luk. 24.39 has not hands or feet or any bodily parts no nor any bodily properties neither as length breadth heigth depth thickness shape or colour such a Being as is not cannot be as God the object of any of the Five Senses for no man has seen God at any time c. but is invisible and absolutely perfect because he does not depend upon any thing else either for what he is or for what he does Infinite i. e. without any limits or bounds to his perfection an unconfined Essence absolutely free from all measure or determination of time place or degrees Eternal i. e. without beginning or end of days or succession of duration always the same before and after time ever present infinitely above all circumscription of motion according to former and latter Vnchangeable i. e. he can never cease to be what he is the true God nor can he alter at all so as to be more or less God than he is nor more or less perfect for saith he I am God I change not In his Being for when the Son of God who is very God became man he did not cease to be God In his Power for this being infinite it is not capable of an alteration either by adding to it or taking from it And the same may be said concerning his Wisdom for the very same reason for how can he be more or less wise than he is who is infinite in Wisdom and Knowledg In his Holiness i. e. he cannot be more or less holy than he is or be more or less inclin'd or obliged to act suitably to the perfection of his own nature than he is already In Iustice Goodness and Truth i. e. he cannot be more just good and true than he is nor less just good and true than he is because he is Justice Goodness and Truth it self and is all these and has all these in infinite and absolute perfection and therefore he is unchangeable in these A. 5. There is but one only the living and true God Artic. I. There is but one living and true God everlasting without Body Parts or Passions of infinite Power Wisdom and Goodness the Maker and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible Expl. 5. i. e. There is but one only absolutely supreme and perfect Being who is the Maker and Governour of all things for as for Magistrates though they be called gods I have said ye are gods Psal. 82.6 yet they are so only by way of representation only because they do represent God in his Authority and Government And for Idols though they be called gods as there be of this sort gods many yet these gods of the Heathen they are false gods and upon that account are every-where disparaged in Scripture And though the Devil himself be called the god of this world yet 't is only because he is Gods Ape ruling and working in the children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 but by Gods permission as God does in his own children So that it still holds good that to us there is but one God of whom and by whom are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 A. 6. There are three persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God the same in substance equal in power and glory Artic. I. And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Expl. 6. In this A. there are three things to be explained as 1. The meaning or nature of a Divine person 2. How they are said to be three persons 3. How distinguisht from each other For the understanding of the first we are to know that by a person in the general we mean a substantial compleat Being whether visible or invisible having
he would have men to believe and do in order to salvation and that either mediately by committing the word of Christ unto writings as in the Scripture or immediately by the Spirit of Truth as he did communicate and speak his mind to Moses the Prophets and Apostles A. 25. Christ executeth the office of a Priest in his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and to reconcile us to God and in making continual intercession for us Homil. xx p. 1. We having nothing of our selves to present us to God have need of a Mediator for to bring and reconcile us unto him who for our sins is angry with us The same is Jesus Christ to pacifie his wrath For he alone did with the Sacrifice of his Body and Blood make satisfaction unto the Justice of God for our sins To. 1. Hom. III. p. 2. We must trust only in Gods mercy and that Sacrifice which our High-Priest and Saviour Christ Jesus the Son of God once offered for us upon the Cross to obtain thereby Gods grace and remission as well of our original sin as of all a â—â—â—al sin if we truly repent and turn unfeignedly unto him To. 11. Hom. xi Reconciled to Gods favour we are taught to know what Christ by his intercession and mediation obtaineth for us of his Father when we be obedient to his will yea attributeth that unto us and to our doings that he by his Spirit worketh in us and through his grace procureth for us Expl. 25. In this A. we have both the parts of Christs Priestly Office as 1 st Satisfaction and this twofold 1. To the whole Law in fulfilling all righteousness in the perfect performance of what the Law required from him 2. To the Iustice of God in undergoing the Curse of the Law for the Elect and this he did by his sufferings but especially when his Soul was made an offering for sin or when he was sacrificed for sinners In which Offering he was 1. The Priest for he offered up himself or he laid down his life of himself and he was the Priest as God-man 2. He was the Altar principally according to his Divine nature because the Altar was to sanctifie the gift offered and therefore was to be more excellent than the Sacrifice it self 3. He was also the Sacrifice for he offered the Sacrifice of himself i. e. according to the humane nature properly and this therefore is called the Sacrifice of his Body and of his Blood and all this that there might be some kind of compensation made or satisfaction given to God for that wrong which we had done to him 2 dly We have the intercession of Christ which is the other part of Christs Priestly Office whereby Christ doth present himself continually before the Father pleading his blood and merit for the satisfaction that he has made to Divine Justice and for the reconciliation of God to the sinner And his intercession is rather by way of plea at the Bar of Justice than by way of prayer and supplication at a Throne of Grace and therefore it is that he is called our Advocate A. 26. Christ executeth the office of a King in subduing us to himself in ruling and defending us and in restraining and conquering all his and our Enemies To. 2. Homil. xiv He sitteth on the right hand of his heavenly Father having the rule of heaven and earth reigning as the Prophet saith Psal. 17. from Sea to Sea he hath overcome the Devil Death and Hell and hath victoriously gotten the better hand of them all to make us free and safe from them Homil. xvij p. 3. To this our Saviour and Mediator hath God the Father given the power of heaven and earth and the whole jurisdiction and authority to distribute his gifts committed to him and thereupon to execute his authority committed after that he had brought sin and the Devil to captivity to be no more hurtful to his members he ascended up into heaven again and from thence sent liberal gifts to his well-beloved Servants and hath still the power to the worlds end to distribute his Fathers gifts continually in his Church to the establishment and comfort thereof Expl. 26. Yet more fully Christ doth execute his Kingly Office 1 st By his authority in setting up a government in his Church which in the outward form or administration thereof is to be managed by such Officers and according to such Laws Ordinances and Censures as he hath appointed in his word 2 dly By his Power as 1. That of his Almightiness whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself and to make his very enemies his foot-stool 2. Of his Grace whereby he doth subdue the hearts of his chosen people to himself and makes them a willing people in the day of his power 3. Of his Spirit whereby he doth sanctifie his people and fit them for heaven as also support guide and comfort them under all the afflictions they meet with on earth 4. By his Iustice in punishing his and his Churches adversaries A. 27. Christs Humiliation consisted in his being born and that in a low condition made under the Law undergoing the miseries of this life the wrath of God and the cursed death of the the Cross in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time Hom. III. p. 3. Hath given his own natural Son ' being God eternal immortal and equal unto himself in power and glory to be incarnated and take our mortal nature upon him with the infirmities of the same and in the same nature to suffer most painful and shameful death for our offences to the intent to justifie us and restore us to life everlasting Hom. xij He did hunger and thirst eat and drink sleep and wake preach his Gospel weep and sorrow for Ierusalem pay tribute for himself and Peter suffer death Expl. 27. In the general Christs Humiliation doth consist in all that which did befall him from the first moment of his conception in the Virgins womb to the very time of his resurrection from the grave 1. He was humbled in his conception that he who was God equal with the Father should according to his humane nature have a body framed for him in the womb of a Virgin and should continue â—â—ose Prisoner there for the space of about nine months whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain 2. Humbled in his birth in that he was born of a woman and that not an Empress or Princess but a woman of a mean rank and low estate though a Virgin that he who was the Son of God and the Father of eternity or himself the everlasting Father should in fulness of time be born in the form of a servant made under the Law not only in a state of subjection to the commands of it but also liable to the curse of it which was due only
talk of publick fame or markt out by the sentence of the Judg or the notoriety of the fact 8 Forgeries whether of writing or tales 9 Harsh misconstructions and interpretations of other mens words intentions or actions 10 Flattering and undervaluing of others 11 All malicious aggravations or unjust excuses and extenuations of others faults 12 All such whisperings reviling and rash speaking whereby either truth charity or the good name of others is wronged 13 All raising and receiving false reports and the rejoicing in the disgrace of another 14 All mental reservations and Jesuitical equivocations or any other way whereby our own good name or credit and conscience and the good name of others as well as truth it self and Religion is wronged A. 79. The tenth Commandment is Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his oxe nor his asse nor anything that is thy neighbours Expl. 79. This Command doth concern the frame and temper of the inward man whether it be in reference to God to our selves or to others and the main scope of it is to preserve heart-purity yea to bring faln man if it were possible on this side the heavenly Paradise to that primitive rectitude and original righteousness wherewith he was created and which was not only the perfection but the glory of mans nature A. 80. The tenth Commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition with a right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbour and all that is his To. 1. Hom. V. p. 3. Covet not wrongfully but content your selves with that which you get truly and also bestow your own goods charitably as need and case requireth Expl. 80. This Command requires in the general yet in a more direct and express manner internal obedience to all the other nine Commands or a universal regularity in mans nature principles inclinations inward motions and affections towards God and man Obj. But will some say this Command therefore seems to be needless or supernumerary because every other Command doth require that holy and regular frame of heart which is suitable to it self and the duties which it requires from the outward man Answ. This Command is added not only as a universal declaration but also as an universal confirmation of what God requires as to the rectitude or due temper of soul in all the other Commands together and therefore 't was necessary to be added to all the rest so that this Command is of a further reach than all the former being it requires universal rectitude or original righteousness towards God and man Obj. But then this Law would require that which is impossible Answ. The Law must not cease to be perfect because man is impotent or not able to perform Man has wilfully lost this power yet the Law must not therefore lose its purity or perfection Yet 2 this frame of soul is not impossible to mans rational nature though to corrupted nature 3 Though the rigour of the Law doth still require perfection yet the grace of the Gospel doth accept of sincerity in and through Christ. But more particularly 1 This Command requires distinction of propriety or that a man should know what belongs to him as his own 2 Contentedness of mind with a mans present condition and lot till God is pleased in his good providence to make his way plain before us for the alteration or bettering of our condition now Gods way of providence is known by this that it never contradicts his revealed will in his word and in that it never destroys the eternal principles of righteousness and justice betwixt men 3 It requires a charitable frame i. e. that we be so far from envying him or coveting what is his that we rather wish and pray heartily that both he and his may prosper as well as we or what belongs to us A. 81. The tenth Commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his To. 2. Hom. XXI p. 3. Coveting or desiring of other mens Wives Houses Lands Goods and Servants willing to leave unto no man any thing of his own Expl. 81. This Command forbiddeth all manner of lust or concupiscence whereby the nature or heart of men is polluted and defiled so that original lust or concupiscence which Paul had not known to be sin but by this Law is plainly forbidden by this Law Thou shalt not covet Rom. 7.7 Neither is only the fountain-lust or the depraved inclination of corrupt nature here forbidden but also all the streams that proceed from it as the lusts of the flesh as luxury or the lust of the eye as gain or the pride of life as glory scil vain-glory Yet further here is forbidden 1 st Discontentedness of mind when men repine and murmure at Gods providence as if he did wrong those complainers when he gives either more or better of this worlds goods to others than he does to them which wicked temper doth arise 1 From mens covetousness 2 From pride which would pull down other mens estates to a mans own level but these two levelling principles being destructive to propriety as well as society are here forbidden 3 From a double mistake As 1 concerning the nature of these things as if a mans happiness did consist in the abundance of these things 2 Concerning Gods government of the World as if he did not govern the World in wisdom and righteousness Qu. But may not a man lawfully desire more of this Worlds goods than he has already Answ. Yes Provided 1 his desire of what he wants be without murmuring and repining 2 With cheerful submission to the will of God And 3 with subordination to Gods glory neither is contentment of mind at all inconsistent with such regular desires 2 dly Envying at the prosperity of others is here forbidden For 1 This is against charity which requires we should love our Neighbours as our selves and which should rather rejoice than grieve at the good of others 2 And that golden Rule of Righteousness Do as you would be done unto 3 Against the example of God himself who rejoiceth in the prosperity of his servants 3 dly Here is forbidden all inordinate motions and affections towards worldly objects as love delight zeal c. in or for the enjoyment and impatience vexation immoderate grief for loss or disappointments A. 82. No meer man since the Fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the Commandments of God but daily doth break them in thought word and deed Artic. XIII Works done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-Authors say
this kingdom may come amongst wicked men is to pray that the interest power and dominion of Sin Satan and Antichrist in the world may be destroy'd for in this Petition we do acknowledg our selves to be by nature subjects of the Prince of darkness and therefore we are to pray that this iron-yoke may be taken off and that we may take upon us the easie yoke of Christ. But in reference to the elect Gods kingdom is either 1 st A kingdom of Grace in this world and then we pray the Scepter of this kingdom may rule in the hearts and lives of Gods elect Now this Scepter being the Gospel we are to pray 1 That this may be dispersed all the world over in order to the gathering of the dispersed Iews which do belong to the election of Grace and to the fulness of the Gentiles 2 That where the means of grace and knowledg are enjoyed together with all Gospel-Ordinances and Gospel-order they may prove effectual for the begetting and growth of grace and saving-knowledg and for the spiritual comfort and support of weak Christians 3 That to this end and purpose God would bestow his Holy Spirit upon his people as the Spirit of Truth to lead them into all necessary truth as a Spirit of Holiness to sanctifie them and as he is the comforter 4 That the power of the Civil Magistrate may be laid out for the good of the Church and that God would still furnish his Church with such Officers both Spiritual and Civil as may most promote the interest of Christs spiritual kingdom and all this we are to beg of God alone 1 because he alone can check and restrain whatever does oppose his kingdom 2 Because he alone can effectually grant what we beg herein 2 dly And for the kingdom of Glory we are to beg the hastening of it for the elects sake by Christs second coming because hereby 1 God will be most glorified 2 The kingdom of Grace will be perfected when Christs loyal Subjects shall reign with him in glory Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly A. 103. In the third Petition which is Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven We pray that God by his grace would make us able and willing to know obey and submit to his will in all things as the Angels do in Heaven To. 2. Hom. XXIII As God the Creator and Lord of all things appointed his Angels and heavenly Creatures in all obedience to serve and honour his Majesty so was it his will that man his chief Creature upon the earth should live under the obedience of his Creator and Lord. Expl. 103. In this Petition we have two things observable 1 The matter of our obedience it must be what God requires 2 The manner it must be according to the pattern in the Mount sc. as it is done in heaven For the matter 't is only Gods Will which must be the Rule of mans duty not the wills or fancies or traditions or corrupt customs of men we owe obedience no further to men in what they require from us than it is agreeable to the Will of God and especially in the duties of Religion because God alone who is the searcher of the heart is Lord of the conscience when-ever therefore what is required of us as matter of duty comes accompany'd with a thus saith the Lord either in the plain words or in the plain sense of Scripture we must not dispute but obey Yet to prevent mistake we are to know 1 There is the secret will of God called the will of his counsel and purpose but though this be the Rule he himself walks by yet 't is not the Rule of our obedience and we are no further to pray that this will may be done than as it seems good to his infinite wisdom and that we may with patience submit to it and in all events though they may cross our wills never so much acknowledg the holiness and rectitude of it and nothing may displease us that pleaseth him But 2 dly there is his revealed will as 1 in his promises and here we are to pray that they may be fulfilled 2 In his threatnings towards the implacable enemies of his Church that these may be executed and this in subserviency to the former Petition that his Kingdom may come 3 In his prophesies that they may be accomplished 4 And principally in his Commands that these may be obey'd and performed above and before any thing else or that these be done whatever else be left undone and that 2 dly For the manner as it is done in heaven by Angels and the Spirits of just men made perfect i. e. perfectly not that we can be perfect in holiness here on earth but that we should be aiming at it and be perfecting holiness in the fear of God in which are these two things 1 The renouncing our own wills as they do oppose the will of God 2 Actual real constant cheerful universal compliance with the holy will of God A. 104. In the fourth Petition which is Give us this day our daily Bread We pray that of Gods free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy his blessings with them To. 2. Hom. VI. Our daily bread i. e. all things necessary for this our needy life Hom. VII p. 3. When we have sufficiently pray'd for things belonging to the soul then may we lawfully and with safe conscience pray also for our bodily necessities as meat drink clothing health of body deliverance out of prison good luck i. e. success in our daily affairs c. according as we shall have need Expl. 104. The former Petitions did respect God and this is the first of those which doth concern our selves In which Petition 1 Somewhat is imply'd as 1 That we depend upon God for the necessities of life 2 That these are only to be desired so far as they may help us in the doing of his will 3 That the frailty of our natures is such that they stand in need of daily supplies of these necessaries 4 That our care in reference to these things is neither to be immoderate for we are to ask but for bread i. e. necessity nor to look far as is imply'd in that word day 5 That having food and rayment we be therewith content 6 That however men in their honest Callings do take pains for necessaries yet they are the free gift of God 2 In the Petition we are to ask 1 necessaries of life called in Scripture food and rayment and here bread 2 All means and helps to obtain these 3 A blessing upon them for these three things are included in this one word bread A. 105. In the fifth Petition which is And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors We pray that God for Christs sake would freely pardon all our sins which we are the rather