4 5. Who will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the heart Eph. 1.11 Who doth every thing according to the counsel of his own will Eph. 3.20 Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think Col. 1.16 By whom all things were created that are in heaven and earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers 1 Tim. 1.17 Who is the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God Ch. 6.15 The blessed and only Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords Vers. 16. Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see Heb. 4.13 In whose sight there is no creature that is not manifest but all things are naked and opened unto the eye of him to whom we have to do Heb. 13.8 Rev. 6.15 Who is yesterday to day and the same for ever At whose dreadful appearance the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men shall be willing to hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountaines Vers. 16. Crying to the mountaines and rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. II. Invocations of the second sort are such Scripture-expressions as these Ex. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth Vers. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin Neh. 9.17 Who is a God ready to pardon gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindnesse Psal. 9.9 Who is a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble Verse 10. Who will never forsake them that seek him Psal. 33.4 Whose word is right and all his works are done in truth Verse 18. Whose eye is upon them that fear him and upon them that hope in his mercy Verse 19. To deliver their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine Psal. 34.8 9. Who will not suffer them to want that fear and trust in him Verse 15. Whose eyes are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their cry Verse 17. To hear deliver them out of all their troubles Verse 18. Who is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit Verse 22. Who will redeem the soul of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate Psal. 36.5 Whose mercy is in the heavens and his faithfulnesse reacheth to the clouds Verse 6. Whose righteousnesse is like the great mountains and whose judgements are a great deep who preserveth man and beast Psal. 46 1. Our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal. 65.2 The God that heareth Prayers unto whom all flesh should come Verse 5. The confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea Psal. 72.12 Who delivereth the needy when he crieth the poor also and him that hath no helper Verse 14. Who shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Ps. 103.8 Who is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Verse 9. Who will not alwayes chide neither will he keep his anger for ever Verse 10. Who does not deal with us after our sins nor reward us according to our iniquities Verse 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him Verse 14. He knows our frame he remembers that we are but dust Verse 17. Whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children Verse 18. To such as keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandments to do them Ps 145.8 Who is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Verse 9. Who is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Verse 18. Who is nigh unto them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth Verse 19. He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will help them Isa. 51.6 Though the heavens shall vanish away like smoke and the earth shall waxe old like a garment and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner Yet his salvation shall be for ever and his righteousnesse shall not be abolished Isa. 66.2 Who hath great regard to them that are poor and of a contrite spirit and tremble at his Word Jer. 14.8 Who is the hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in time of trouble Ezek. 33.11 Who hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that he should turn from his way and live Mich. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage who retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Verse 19. Who will turn again and have compassion upon us subduing our iniquities and casting all our sins into the depths of the sea Mat. 18.20 Who hath promised where two or three are gathered together in his name to be in the midst of them Rom. 2.4 Who does abound in riches of goodnesse and forbearance and long sufferance which should lead us to repentance Who is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 2 Cor. 1.3 Eph. 1.17 Who is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort The God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift doth come with whom there is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning 2 Pet. 3.9 Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance III. Divine compellations of the third sort may be derived from such Scriptures as these Neh. 1.5 Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Job 5.19 Who will deliver us in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch us Verse 20. Who in famine shall redeem us from death and in war from the power of the sword O thou Preserver of men Job 7.20 Psalm 8.1 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world Psalm 18.2 My rock my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler the horne of my salvation and my high tower Verse 3. Who is worthy to be praised Ps. 19.14 Ps. 22.9 10 My strength and my Redeemer Who tookest me out of the wombe and hast been my hope and my God since I was upon my mothers breast Psal. 27.9 The God of my salvation Psal. 33.5 Who loveth righteousnesse and judgement and the earth is full of his goodnesse Verse 12. Blessed
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.
making us wanton and contemptuously to spurne at his laws Lading and wearying him with our sins whilest he does continually heap upon us his unwearied mercies By our Impatience under those small crosses that are justly inflicted upon us Not behaving our selves humbly and cheerfully under Gods fatherly chastisements Not accepting the punishment of our iniquity though it be much lesse then we have deserved Not bearing the indignation of the Lord as considering how we have sinned against him Being subject to murmuring and repining to fainting and despaire to seek help and deliverance by unlawful means By want of submission and obedience unto him according to our duty and profession very inconstant in our holy services temporary and by fits subject to backslide and revolt upon every slight temptation Our goodnesse being as the morning cloud and as the early dew which passeth away Not Vniversall in our obedience but partial and by halves apt to pick and chuse in our duties according as they may best suite with our own humours and the course of the times not having respect to all his commandments Not hating every false way Not hearty and sincere in our performances doing them with all our might but Hypocritically Perfunctorily Negligently By our not fearing of God according to the infinite power justice majesty of the divine Nature or according to those manifold sinnes whereby we have provoked his wrath Behaving our selves with much security and inadvertency under all the various dispensations of his providence as if we our selves were not at all concerned in them Not regarding the works of the Lord nor considering the operation of his hands still going on after the imagination of our own hearts as if we had made a Covenant with death and with hell were at an agreement very apt to promise to our selves peace and impunity though we do still persevere in our wonted rebellions very subject to slavish worldly fears of men that shall die and the sons of men that shall be made as grasse Forgetting the Lord our Maker who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth Not grieving when he strikes us refusing to receive correction though he does consume us making our faces harder then a rock and refusing to return By not demeaning our selves humbly before him according as our own vileness and the greatnesse of his mercy does require Behaving our selves in our general course as if we were desirous to live without God here and content to be annihilated hereafter so we might but in this world enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season CHAP. IX Sins against the second Commandment THE Second Commandment does concern the Manner and Means of Gods worship Against this we sinne not onely by representing and worshipping of him in Images but also by entertaining grosse mis-conceits of the divine nature by mixing any will-worship superstition or our own inventions with his service when we do not serve him after such a way as is agreeable to his nature and required in his word that is not in spirit and truth Not with uprightnesse sincerity cheerfulnesse 1. It will here concern us to examine how exceedingly we have failed in the manner of those good duties which we have attempted How much aversenesse there is in us from setting about them How much distraction and benummednesse of spirit in the performance of them How much impotency and wearinesse in the Continuance of them How much pride unspiritualnesse formality want of relish deadnesse uncomfortablenesse there is mixed with our best services Serving God with feigned lips Drawing neer to him with our mouthes and honouring him with our lips when our hearts are far from him Resting our selves in the meer outsides of duties when we do not enjoy any Communion with God in them 2. We ought to examine our failings in respect of the means or kindes of divine worship Our carelesnesse to keep our selves close in a constant holy communion with God by the right use of all his sacred Ordinances 1 Prayer both Private Publike 2 Ministery of the Word 3 Receiving of the Sacraments 1. Our Negligence in setting any solemn time apart for our secret devotions betwixt God and our souls Omitting them upon every trivial occasion or slight pretence of businesse Our carelesnesse in the private observance of this duty with our families and neer relations and in publike with the Congregation Our approaching before God without that preparation reverence or attention as becomes such vile creatures speaking to so great a Majesty Regarding iniquity in our hearts not calling upon him in truth Flattering him with our mouthes and lying to him with our tongues when our heart is not right with him Not Confessing our sins with that sorrow shame and confusion of face as having thereby so much dishonoured his glorious name and endangered our own salvations Being rather apt to cover our transgressions with Adam by hiding our iniquity in our bosome Or if we do acknowledge them yet we are not careful to forsake them but do still go on in a continuall round of confessing and committing committing and confessing again Failing very much in the Matter of our Petitions not asking those things which are according to his will Apt to make our prejudicate opinions and passionate wishes the subject of our Prayers instead of the holy and unchangeable will of God For the manner of them not with faith and fervency as being truly sensible of our own wants or as if we did really beleeve this duty to be an effectuall means for the supply of them Not tenderly affectionate in our forgiving of others or our interceding for them In our thanksgiving not mentioning the favours we have received with any such hearty sense of them as may stir up in our souls cheerfulnesse love gratitude Not praising God with our whole hearts and all that is within us Coming before him with customary devotion rather to satisfie the scruples of a natural conscience then out of any true love to this duty it self or experimental evidence of comfort to be had by it our hearts being apt to wander from him even whilest we are speaking with him to think but lightly of him whilest we pretend much honour to him Not retaining any taste or relish of these duties after they are ended Not living suitably to them Not taking notice how God does answer our Prayers in the several passages of his Providence towards us 2. For the Ordinance of Preaching the Minister does herein offend by being negligent and slothful in his calling not preaching with that constancy faithfulnesse simplicity judgement authority courage demonstration of the Spirit as he should The People by neglecting to hear and read the Word according to their severall opportunities By not preparing themselves for this holy exercise Not coming unto it with hungring and thirsting desires and loving
beleeving prizing it as being of such great efficacy and necessity for our everlasting well-beings able to save our souls Bringing with them much carnal security which makes them without any desire or care to profit by it much impenitence and hardnesse of heart Not without some secret resolutions of continuing in their former courses whatever shall be said to the contrary Many worldly cares and thoughts with high conceits of their own sufficiencies prejudice against their Teachers curiosity not to learn but to censure itching ears rather to please the fancy then reforme the life Not hearkning to it without much irreverence distraction infidelity misapplication obstinacy dulnesse wearinesse Not receiving it into a good and honest heart with desire to retain and practise it Not careful after they have heard it to root and fix it in their hearts by Prayer Meditation Conference Not expressing the fruits of it in their conversation slighting those many gracious opportunities wherein God hath reached forth unto them the proffers of mercy and salvation and though he hath with much patience waited for their amendment yet they have still hardened their hearts and notwithstanding the former and the latter raine do remain like dry stakes in an hedge barren and fruitlesse without any spiritual life or growth answerable to the means which they have had 3. For the Sacraments Baptisme Supper of the Lord. Our slighting and renouncing that Covenant which we made in Baptisme abusing that good profession which we have professed before many witnesses Not walking as those that have been received into the bosome of the Church and distinguished from others that are without Not fighting against the world the flesh and the Devil as becomes such as are listed into the number of Christs faithful souldiers and servants And so for the Sacrament of Christs body and blood our not hungring and thirsting after it not partaking of it so frequently as our necessities and opportunities have required When we have approached unto it have we been careful beforehand to set any solemne time apart for the fitting of our selves unto so holy a work have we not been unwilling to ransack and examine the secret corners of our hearts to finde out and to purge out those particular bosome-sins unto which our natures do most incline us after a more especial manner to excite and stir up in our selves the graces of Gods holy Spirit to renue those conditions of the Covenant required on our parts Faith and Repentance In the receiving of the Sacrament have we noâ— been too apt to slight and dis-esteem it as if iâ— were but an empty common ceremony have we behaved our selves with so much fear and reverence as might become such a sacred mystery with such spiritual joy and delight aâ— should be in those who are fit guests for thaâ— table After the receipt of it have we not quicklâ— forgotten our good resolutions relapsed intâ— our old sins again not feeling or regarding anâ— such comfort or profit as is promised to thâ— right partaking of this ordinance have we noâ— often eat and drunk unworthily and consequenâ—â—ly eat and drunk judgement to our selves becoming guilty of the body and blood of Christ doing that horrid act which we so much detested in the Jews crucifying again our blessed Saviour and by slighting the proffers of mercy in this Sacrament doing as much as in us lies to make his Passion of none effect CHAP. X. Sins against the third and fourth Commandment THe third Commandment does forbid the abuse of Gods name By the Name of God we are to understand any thing whereby he may be known as his Titles Attributes Ordinances Works So that we sin against this Commandment by wicked Oaths Cursed execrations unlawfull Vowes every light irreverent mention of God all such idle words as do no way tend to the sanctifying of his name By breaking the Vow of our Baptisme neglecting all those good promises and resolutions which since we have made Dealing falsly in our Covenants when our heart is not set aright and our spirit not stedfast with God By our not acknowledging and effectual remembrance of his holy titles and attributes as we have had occasion Not delighting to speak good of his name and to make his praise glorious By an irreverent and customary mention of his great and glorious name upon trivial occasions By our not thinking and speaking of his word so frequently with that holinesse and reverence as we should sometimes pretending to declare his statutes and to take his Covenant into our mouths whereas we hate instruction and cast his Law behinde us By our Carelesnesse in vindicating the glory of his Name and truths when they are vilified by others By prophaning our profession of Christianity with an unholy conversation Not behaving our selves so sincerely in regard of God nor so inoffensively in respect of men as we should By defacing his glorious image instamped upon us in our Creation Becoming more vile and foolish then the beasts that perish In our regeneration relapsing into the sins of our unregeneracy Not walking worthy of that vocation whereunto we are called By our carelesnesse in discovering and acknowledging the divine power and wisdome in those special passages of his providence which befal us The fourth Commandment does forbid all carelesnesse in sanctification of Sabbaths Ordinary Extraordinary So that we sin against this when we do not remember to keep the Lords day holy that is when we are not mindful beforehand to prevent and avoid all such businesses as may distract us in those duties that belong unto this day When we our selves do not rest from our usual works and sinful desires but mis-spend much of that precious time in idlenes and vanity or else satisfying our selves in a superstitious customary observation of the outward rest without regarding the means or the works of sanctification When we are not careful to prepare our selves for publike duty by praying for Ministers in general that God would endow them with fitting gifts and abilities prospering their endeavours by giving happy successe unto their Ministery More particularly for the Pastor to whose charge we belong that God would direct him to speak unto our hearts and consciences When we are careless in the performing of our publike duties not with so much reverence sincerity spiritualnesse attention as we should When we are negligent in looking to those that are under us who by our carelesness or connivance may be incouraged to the Prophanation of this day When we faile in those private duties thâ—â— concern the Sanctification of the Sabbath Meditation of the Word we hear Searching the Scriptures to prove the truth of it Application of it to our selves examining our own hearts private prayer conference whetting the Law upon one another mutually exhorting and stirring up each other unto holy duties contemplating the creatures and the Providence of God
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
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
would make our light so to shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie our Father who is in Heaven That we may never grieve the hearts or shame the faces of true Professors That we may walk honestly to those that are without behaving our selves so warily that we may never occasion his name to be blasphemed That with well-doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men That they may be ashamed who speak evil of us and falsly accuse our good conversation That we may be more ready to observe and extoll his great power wisdome goodnesse so evident both in his making and governing of the world His various and manifold works that are done in wisdome More especially those particular passages of his providence which concern our selves That we may understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this The fourth Commandment does enjoyn us to remember and to sanctifie the Sabbath Ordinary Extraordinary So that from hence we are taught to pray that God would teach us to esteem of the Sabbath as an holy honourable day set apart from common use consecrated to his peculiar worship and service that we may call it a delight finding a great pleasure and sweetnesse in those sacred duties that belong unto it That they may not seem tedious and irksome unto us especially since we all professe to wish and hope for such a blessed Eternity hereafter as shall be nothing else but Sabbath That we may always remember to fit our selves for the sanctifying of this day by laying aside all secular businesses and diversions endeavouring by Prayer and Meditation to put our hearts into such an holy frame as is required of those that desire to wait upon him in his Ordinances That he would be graciously present with all those assemblies of his Saints which do on that day meet together for his worship and service in any part of the Christian world That he would be pleased to assist and direct his Ministers that they may deliver his Word with plainnesse and power to the capacity of the weakest and conviction of the wisest That the people may receive it with meeknesse and faith that so it may accomplish that good work for which it is sent and mightily prevaile to the casting down the strong holds of sin the edifying of his Church and the making up the number of his Elect. That he would more especially direct and assist the Minister unto whose charge we belong to speak unto our consciences giving unto him the tongue of the learned that he may know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Being carefull to feed the flock strengthening the diseased healing that which is sick binding up the broken seeking that which is driven away and lost That he would give unto us Pastours after his own heart who may feed us with knowledge and understanding and that the work of the Lord may prosper in their hands That he would remove from us all irreverence distraction dulnesse prejudice in hearing of his Word That he would enlighten our mindes quicken our affections and strengthen our memories for the receiving and retaining of it That we may be careful of all those publick and private duties which concerne the sanctification of this day both in respect of our selves and those comitted to our charge Not doing after our own wayes nor finding our own pleasures nor speaking our own words But may consecrate our whole selves both souls bodies and services to his more especial Worship spending the whole day with chearfulnesse in the duties of Religion necessity and mercy And so for extraordinary Sabbaths Festivals Fasts 1. For occasional Festivals the solemne times of Joy and Thanksgiving That we may be careful to keep such times holy unto the Lord not resting our selves in external jollity and freedome but may seriously ponder the mercies which we celebrate endeavouring to have our hearts affected and inlarged with love and gratitude That our mouths may be filled with his praise that by our experience of his goodnesse we may learn to depend upon him and to be more confident in him in all future exigences exciting others unto this duty O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Endeavouring to expresse our thankfulnesse to him by our readinesse to relieve and supply his poor members Sending portions to those that have nothing that we may make the joy of the Lord to be our strength 2. For dayes of Fasting which are stiled Sabbaths in Scripture that we may not neglect this duty when we have any extraordinary call unto it that we may not satisfie our selves in the outward observance of it but may be most careful of the inward duties Renting of the heart afflicting of the soul Abhorring our selves and repenting in dust and ashes Remembring our evil wayes and doings which were not good and loathing our selves for them Being ashamed of our former works of darknesse Renuing our Covenants with God expressing a readinesse and zeale in the works of mercy and righteousnesse loosing the bands of wickednesse undoing the heavy burdens CHAP. XXI What we are directed to pray for in the second Table THe second Table does enjoin us to love our neighbours as our selves that is 1. We should not wish any evil more to others then to our selves 2. We should desire and as much as we can endeavour all good Natural Spiritual for others as we ought for our selves So that by this we are directed to pray that we may be kindely affectioned one to another with brotherly love without dissimulation Not in word onely and tongue but in deed and truth Loving each other with a pure heart fervently That our love may continue and increase abounding more and more towards one another and towards all men in knowledge and in all judgement As we have opportunity doing good unto all men but especially to the houshold of Faith That we may love our enemies and blesse them that curse us and pray for them that despitefully vse us and persecute us Considering one another to provoke unto love and good workes The fifth Commandment does injoyn the duties which concern the degrees and relations amongst men whether Superiours Inferiours By this we may learn to pray for all those graces and abilities whereby we may be fitted for the filling up of our several relations that we may be careful to acknowledge and observe that order which God hath appointed amongst men and to demean our selves towards them according to their places and degrees Gravely and modestly towards our Inferiours Reverently and dutifully to our Superiours Humbly and thankfully to our Benefactours Being kindly affectioned towards our Equals in honour preferring one another
crown of righteousnesse which at the last day the Lord the righteous Judge will bestow upon all those that love his appearing That he would carry us on through faith unto salvation And because when we have reckoned all the duties we can we shall leave out many particulars therefore for the supply of those which we cannot specifie we may use some general forme answerable to that exhortation of the Apostle that whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise that we may think of and do these things Being blamelesse and harmelesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we may shine as lights in the world CHAP. XXIII Of petitioning for temporal good things Provision and Protection NExt to spiritual good things we are permitted to pray for those matters which concerne our Temporal well-fare answerable to tha◠Petition in the Lords Prayer Give us this day our daily bread under the expression of daily bread we are to understand all those particulars that are either necessary or convenient for our natural life in respect Both of Provision for us in our Soules Bodies Callings Names Friends Estates Protection of us in our Soules Bodies Callings Names Friends Estates 1. For our Souls that God would be pleased to blesse and continue to us the use of our wits and memories that he would give us power to enjoy these temporal blessings filling us with gladnesse of heart with peace and serenity of mind expelling from us all unnecessary cares earthly sorrows unprofitable dejections 2. For our Bodies that he would continue to us our health and strength the free use of our senses and limbs supplying directing blessing us in the use of all such means as shall conduce to our preservation and well-being 3. For our Callings that he would furnish us with wisdome and abilities suitable to our several vocations making us diligent and industrious in them whereby we may be enabled in our places to promote his glory and to be instrumental for the good of others Being just towards all men and ready to serve one another in love and because without his blessing it will be in vain for us to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the bread of carefulnesse Therefore we should likewise pray that he would blesse our endeavours and all that we set our hands unto Prospering the work of our hands upon us 4. For our Names that he would take care of our reputations restraining others from reproaching and slandring of us and restraining us from scandalous sinnes and appearances of evil that he would teach us to behave our selves so wisely and circumspectly that we may bring credit to our persons and professions growing in favour both with God and man That he would deliver us from those whose teeth are speares and arrowes and their tongues a sharp sword 5. For our Friends that he would raise up for us such as may be kindly affectioned to us blessing us in all our neere relations kindred families friends neighbours acquaintance continuing to us the help and comfort that we have by them 6. For our Estates in respect 1. Of Liberty that he would still preserve us in our wonted freedome from bondage captivity imprisonment 2. That he would be pleased to restore and continue that precious blessing of Peace both in our Nations Towns Families Conversations 3. That he would make us Plenteous in the fruit of our ground and in the increase of our cattel Crowning the yeare with his goodnesse opening to us his good treasures the heavens Putting a force and efficacy into their influences and fruitfulnesse into the earth that it may yeeld us the staffe of bread to strengthen our hearts That he would alwayes supply us with food convenient for us so much as may with sobriety serve to conveigh us through this earthly Pilgrimage In brief that he would be pleased to blesse unto us the things we have and bestow upon us the things we want And as we should beseech God to provide for us so likewise to protect us in all these respects more especially according to those divers seasons wherein our prayers are to be framed whether for the Day or Night For the Day is his the Night also is his he hath prepared the light and the Sun They continue still according to his Ordinances for all things serve him 'T is he that turneth darknesse into light and renues the face of the earth 1. For our morning addresses O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee we should herein petition for his protection of us the day following that he would watch over us for good by his fatherly providence and defend us from all those sins and dangers to which we are exposed that we may not be insnared by any of those temptations which we shall meet with That he would give his Angels charge over us to keep us in all our wayes That he would be pleased so far to afford us his assistance and direction that we may glorifie his name both in our Thoughts Words Actions and to this end that he would put good meditations into our mindes and holy desires into our hearts truth into our inward parts That he would set a watch before our mouths and keep the door of our lips that we offend not with our tongues That no corrupt communication may proceed from us but such as is good to the use of edifying and may administer grace to the hearers That amongst our other businesses and employments we may not forget that one thing which is most necessary But may be more especially careful about all such matters as may prepare us for our appearance before him and farther us in that reckoning which we are to make at the great day of accounts That we may walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Considering that God is about our paths and is acquainted with all our wayes Every thing being naked and open unto the eyes of that dreadful Majesty before whom all the world must be judged at the last day That we may redeem the time because the dayes are evill improving the present opportunity of our health peace and prosperity unto the best advantage of our spiritual wel-being In this our day considering the things that belong unto our peace That we may be wise and modest in our carriages humble and moderate in our passions temperate and sober in our diet diligent and cheerful in our businesse That he would give us successe in all our honest undertakings making us wise and prosperous 〈◊〉 them That the glorious Majesty of the