for a troubled and wounded Conscience 464 The END of the Table A briefe and necessarie Catechisme Very meet to be knowne of euery one before they bee admitted vnto the Supper of the Lord. Question WHat is the cheefest thing which euery one ought to bee most carefull of as long as they liue An. Euery one ought to be most careful of these two points First and chiefely â—ow we can be saued in the day of iudgement before Gods iudgement seate and so come to life euerlasting Secondly how to liue according to Gods holie will during our life In which two points wholly standeth the glory of God so much as of man ought to bee sought for Que. How can we know this how wee are discharged before Gods iudgement seate An. We can neuer know how we bee discharged before the iudgement seate of God vntill such time as we know our owne miserable estate by reason of the greatnesse of our sinnes and the horrible punishment which we deserue for them Que. How doest thou know the greatnesse of thy sinne and the horrible punishment due to the same An. The greatnes of my sinne and the horrible punnishment thereof I knowe â—y the Law of God rightly vnderstood the sum whereof is contained in the tenne Commandements Quest Rehearse the tenne Commandements An. God spake all these wordes and saide I am the Lord thy God which brought â—hee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of â—ondage 1 THou shalt haue none other but Gods me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenesse of any thing that â—s in Heauen aboue nor in the â—arth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a iealous God and visit the sinnes of the Fathers vpon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercie vnto thousands in them that loue mee and keepe my Commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy GOD in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day six daies shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to do But the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of worke thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidseruant try cattle and the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe dayes the LORD made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherfore the Lord blessed the seauenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murder 7 Thou shalt not committe Adultery 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbor 10 Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours wife nor his manseruant nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Qu. What is the first Commandement An. Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement A. The Lord God straitly chargeth vs in this first commandement that wee worship God alone which worshippe standeth in three points First that wee loue God aboue all SecoÌ„dly that we make our praiers to none but to God Thirdly that we acknowledge God alone to be the guider and gouernour of all things of whom wee receiue all the benefites we haue and therefore that we trust and stay vpon him alone Que. What is the second Commandement An. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image or the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue c. Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. In this second Commandement bee contained three things First that wee should not think God to be like either man or woman or any other thing therefore that we make no image of God in any case Secondly that we make no image of any other thing either to worship the image it selfe either God Saint or Angell by the image neyther yet to this end to bee the better put in minde of God by the Image Thirdly that we worship not God in any other outward worship according to our owne fantasies but as God commandeth vs in his word Que. What is the 3. Commandement An. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement Ans God chargeth vs in this third Commandement these three things First that we vse with a most high reuerence the name of GOD whensoeuer we either speak or thinke vpon him Secondly that wee neuer blaspheme the name of God in our common talke although the matter bee neuer so true but only where the glory of God is sought or the saluation of our Bretheren or else before a Magistrate in witnessing the truth when we are thereunto lawfully called In which causes we must onely sweare by the name of God But as for Saints Angels Rood Book Crosse Masse or any other thing wee ought in no case by them to sweare Que. What is the 4 Commandement An. Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. The hallowing of the Sabbath day is to rest from our labours in our Calling and in one place to assemble our selues together and with feare and reuerence to hear marke and lay vppe in our hearts the word of GOD preached vnto vs to pray all together that which we vnderstand with one consent And at the times appointed to vse the Sacraments in Faith and Repentance and all our life long to rest from wickednesse that the Lord by his holy Spirit may work in vs his good worke and so begin in this life the euerlasting rest Que. What is the fift Commandement An. Honor thy Father thy Mother Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. The meaning of the fift Commandement is that we should honour that is to say loue feare obey and releeue our Parents or any other that are vnto vs in their stead As our Princes Rulers and Magistrates our Pastours and Teachers our Masters and all other which are aboue vs in any calling placed by God the Aged and â—ray headed and that all Superiors do shew themselues indeed Parents in defending and guiding their Inferiours Qu. What is the sixt Commandement Ans Thou shalt doe no murther Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. First the Lord God forbiddeth vs in this Commandement all killing fighting and quarrelling all reproaches mocks and taunts Secondly he forbiddeth all killing in heart that is al anger and malice all desire of reuenge Thirdly on the other side he commandeth vs to preserue life by exercising the workes of
and dye to thee with them and for them glorifie thy most holy name for euer and euer We beseech thee also good Lord our God for all our Bretheren wheresoeuer that those which are in thy Church in peace and safety may prosper and goe for ward and stand in thy truth for euer that thy goodnesse may bee assured vnto them-and that thou wouldst keepe their place and maintaine their cause against all that labour to trouble them And for such as doe yet labour vnder tyranny and affliction whose sufferings thou knowest O Lord better then we can declare It may please thee to breake the rodde of their oppressours to quench the fire of their aduersaries to lighten or rather cleane take away that burthen that they so presse them withall that they together with vs may ioyne in thy Congregation and feede safely So that there may bee none to scar vs. Let thy Spirit of comfort possesse our hearts that all trouble may seeme lesse then thy trueth and glory so lighten our eies that in our darknesse we may haue such sight of thy glory and of Iesus Christ who is in that high Mountaine where hee is now so glorious that our griefes may bee swallowed vp A Speciall Morning Prayer for the Sabbath MOst Mighty and glorious Lord of Hosts God of Sabbaths Who though thou didst rest from all thy workes of Creation yet daily workest in all the world disposing and preseruing all things therein by thy generall prouidence and especially rulest in thy Church and Children doing all their workes for them and daily preseruing them from the euils of the time encouraging them daily by the renuing of thy mercies to seeke thy face refreshing thy Beloued daily from Sabbath to Sabbath with the fruits of thy house that they may bee fitted to rest for euer with thee in thine eternall Sabbath It is thy singular mercy great patience O Lord our God that thy vnworthy vnprofitable seruants hauing so often prouoked thee to call vs to an account and take our Talents from vs are yet respited to a further vse of thy blessings and redeeming of the time in better husbanding thereof But O Lord our God how wonderfully and aboue all other vnspeakeable is this thy goodnesse that though wee haue no better then prophaned this thy holy day generally heretofore by speaking our owne words and thinking our owne thoughts therein so far from being bettered by thine ordinances that wee still remaine more hardened and inexcusable thereby more leauened with hypocrisie and worldlynes more barren in vprightnesse and holynesse of conuersation and so deserue for euer to be plucked vp by the rootes and cast out of thy presence Yet hast thou offered vs once againe this gracious opportunity of thy blessed Presence and to drawe neere vnto thee his thy day in the vse of thy holy ordinances How iustly mightest thou long since either fatted vp our hearts and so giuen vs vp to our owne lust and reprobate waies that all good motions might bee vtterly quenched in vs all desire of thy presence wholly extinguished Or though wee had any desire yet thou mightest iustly hide thy face from vs and turne this day of our visitation into a perpetuall night Hast thou not thus reckoned with our neighbours round about And what mightest thou find in vs O blessed Lord that any way could stay this fearefull reckoning Is it because wee haue enioyed more fauours longer then they haue done Lord what may wee truly expect herefrom then to be beaten with more stripes And though thy patience bee more enlarged towards vs yet shall not the reckoning bee the more intollerable Or is it not thy singular wisdome to warne vs graciously by our Bretherens harmes and humble vs the more by the sence of our vnprofitablenes as if our case were bootlesse desperate Or is it because thou hast giuen vs some remorse of Iosephs affliction and enlarged our hearts with some compassion towards them Oh how doth this continue our cruelty towards them that while wee seeke to ease them of their smart by our cold compassions wee yet encorage them by our example in sinne How doth this challenge our want of mercy to our selues while wee more harden our hearts hereby in wickednesse as if we were more righteous then they because wee are spared and they are punished and so heape vp more wrath against our selues by our impenitencie while we labour to reclaime others from the fury thereof Thus find wee nothing by our selues why wee fare better then others but that our best fare is like to proue our deadly bane Onely in thee O our God there is absolute power to doe with thine owne what thou wilt with thee there is free mercy to spare whome thou pleasest In thee there is infinite wisdome to draw thy Children vnto thee by contrary meanes some by feare plucking out of the fire alluring others by thy tender compassions that thou onely mightest haue the glory of all thy workes melting some by thy patience which harden others and hardning some by thy corrections which soften others Meditate O my soule on this Power Wisdome and mercy of thy glorious God Exalt him and say who is like our God that spareth and punisheth whome hee pleaseth that punisheth by sparing and spares by punishing And solet thy heart beginne this day with such deuoute Meditation and rauishment therewith that it may truely cast thee downe before his glorious presence and vtterly cast thee out of all carnall confidence and so wholy cast out of thee all vaine and earthly thoughts that may interrupt thy sweete fellowship with thy glorious God while thou labourest to power out thy soule before him in iudging thy selfe iustifying his free goodnes for thy former preseruation and crying for acceptance in thy Sauiour for the pardon of thy sinnes and to be cloathed with his righteousnesse that thou mayest appeare all faire in the presence of thy God and so be safely carried by his Spirit into the Chamber of thy Mother there to sucke and bee satisfied O grant vs gracious God thus to beginne this day in thee and with thee And that wee may bee better quickened and enabled hereunto and set to the spending thereof wholy in thy feare Perswade our hearts wee pray thee Blessed Lord of the moralitie and equitie of this thine owne ordinâ—nce that what thou hast for thine owne intire and solemme worship so vnchangeably ratified wee may not esteeme common and indifferent as either to seeke my selfe any whit therein or els not to seeke thee in all thy waies as if either thou hadst imposed rest from our worldly imployments because idlenes pleaseth thee and the ease of the flesh were part of the worship or els might excuse vs from spirituall imployments or else that herein also wee might take our ease and serue our selues refreshing the labours of our soules by satisfing the flesh But cause vs gracious God to know that
seeing that I erre as a child before such a Father which canst not but off thy Fatherly pitty and compassion but rather as thou hast bought mee vnto thee to bee an heire of thy kingdome by the bloud of thy naturall Sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christ so am I sure that thou wilt lighten mee in the end with full fruition of the bright light of thy countenance that I may see thee and know that as this thy Sonne knoweth thee yea see thee and know thee my Father face to face to know thâ—e as I am knowne Thus rest I onely in thy hands O my God crauing of thee to encrease my knowledge in thy holy word whereby I may know thy good will pleasure And knowing the same giue mee O Lord thy holy Spirit to conduct and lead mee in the same all the daies of my life that in sinceritie of faith and purenes of liuing and conuersation thy glorious Maiesty bee magnified in mee for euer Giue mee grace therefore most mercifull Father that for so high a treasure left among vs as is this thy most holy word I may be thankfull reuerently embrace accept and esteeme of the same as the most precious iewell in earth bee thereâ—n confirmed more strongly that all things therein contayned to be most certaine and vndoubtedly true not by any mortall man but by thy most holy Spirit in man penned and written to the comfort and behoofe of man that I may most humbly lowly and with most high reuerence submit my selfe thereunto as becometh thy Maiestie and thy word proceeding out of thy most blessed mouth that I may reuerently with humblenesse and obedience read heare and occupie my selfe in the same to the comfort of my soule and encrease of thy glory Lighten mine vnderstanding most deere Father with thy holy Spirit that I may learne cleerely to conceiue and vnderstand the things therein contained which no mortall man can conceiue saue those who haue learned of thee whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide mee deerâ— Father with thy holy Spirit that hauing the true vnderstanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my deere Father of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour throughly in conscience perswaded that I haue my full and perfect saluation life euerlasting in him and through his attonement made through his death and passion that I doe not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy sacred word to satisfie vaine curiositie or bragge of knowledge but onely to the releeuing of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soule and the appeasing of my sorrowfull heart that I may to the end of my life walke in sincerity before thee my heauenly Father in the comforts of thy deere Sonne our Sauiour vpholden still by the mercifull power of the holy Ghost to thine euerlasting praise and glory world without end Amen A Thanks-giuing after the hearing or reading of the word of God O Eternall God and most mercifull Father I yeeld vnto thee most heartie thankes for all thy benefits bestowed vppon mee especially that it hath pleased thy heauenly goodnesse to shine into my heart through the light of thine holy Spirit in the Mysteries of thy holy word and that thou hast framed my heart and mind to take such vnspeakeable ioy and comfort in thy most blessed holy word and the embracing of my saluation therein offered vnto mee For these thine vnspeakable mercies I beseech thee O Lord make mee thankfull that I may acknowledge the great benefit thereof and esteeme of so inestimable a treasure aboue all earthly possessions or treasures And O Lord my God for so much as I wander in this present life among many and infinite dangers whereby I am euery moment in perill of sliding backe and falling from this feruent zeale of thy euerlasting truth which thou hast kindled in my brest if otherwise thou doe not stay mee by thy mercifull hand and for so much as I learne out of thy most blessed and holy word that it is not sufficient to haue begunne well vnlesse I continue to the end not sufficient to hold my hand to the plough and looke backe I craue at thy hands in the name of thy beloued Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Christ that this thy worke which thou hast begun in mee thou wilt in mercy encrease in me more and more and continue it euen to the end of my life that I doe not waxe cold secure dull or faint but continually encreasing in true zeale I may still more and more be delighted with reading hearing and meditating of thy holy word I may thereby also daily encrease in true knowledge of thy blessed will from faith to faith that I may euen from the bottome of my heart so sincerely professe thy true Religion that all hypocrisie vaine-glory and fained holinesse vtterly through thy holy Spirit rooted out of my heart I may onely hold my selfe contented that I may haue the eyes of thy Maiesty beholding my inward heart minde whereby I onely studying to be allowed before thy Maiesty may vtterly reiect all the vaine praise of men which might puffe mee vp or the scoffing iests taunts or reproches of the vngodly which might else driue me downe To this end O Lord my God that I may encrease and daily more and more be confirmed in thy mercies begun in mee I beseech thee stirre vp true sincere Preachers and Messengers who daily may stirre vp my minde and heart otherwise by nature dull to the ioyfull embracing of the glad tidings of peace Leaue mee not destitute O Lord my God of the meanes which thou hast appointed for the encrease of a liuely faith true zeale which meane is onely the Ministery of thy blessed and holy word but make mee alwaies carefull for the seeking of it and so prouide O Lord my God that I may alwaies haue it comfortably receiue it and sweetly digest it Keepe mee by thy holy Spirit O Lord that I neuer be seduced by erronious doctrine but that onely I may giue eare vnto thy voice that cleauing onely vnto thee I may in this present life which thou hast giuen mee so occupy my selfe and vse this good time which thou hast appointed that I may still looke for the comming of thy deere Sonne to receiue mee into the euerlasting rest prepared for all the elect and chosen whereby I shall for euer remaine together with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer before the receiuing of the Sacrament O Lord Iesus Christ which art the sweete comfort of all that call vpon thee and the sure succour of all such as sue vnto thee behold mee a most sinfull creature and foule offender which bowing the knees of my heart with all humilitie before thee confesse vnfainedly that I am
send the Spirit of thy Sonne into my dead heart whereby thou hast quickned mee by faith in the merits of my Sauiour enabled mee with boldnesse to draw neere vnto thee and to crie with confidence Abba Father O how hast thou shed thy loue abroad in my heart by the holy Ghost which thou hast giuen me whereby though I haue beene in great heauines through many temptations especially with the sense and horror of my sins yet hast thou wonderfully refreshed my fainting spirit and caused mee to reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious O how haue these holy rauishments taken me vp into the third heauens How hath my soule now longed to put off this corruption and to be taken vp for euer to enioy thy glorious presence How gladly would I now haue obtained the marke before I had run my race How willingly would I haue the crowne before I had finished my course O the vnspeakable riches of the wisedome and mercy of my God toward me Didst thou not put this precious treasure of faith into an earthen vessel that the glorie might bee of God and not of man didst thou not Redeeme mee out of the hands of our enemies that so I might passe the time of my pilgrimage in feare and magnifie thy power daily in mine infirmities daily denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may be found of thee in Christ that still I might liue by faith in the Sonne of God and grow vp in him to perfect holinesse Surely blessed Lord when I consider mine owne corruption daily more and more appearing in me and rebelling against thy righteous will and casting vp daily mists to dimme the eie of my Faith that I cannot so clearly discerne the light of thy countenance yea somtimes so leading me captiue into sinne that I am many times to seeke of the sence of thy Loue I am many times put to question the truth of my faith and to distrust my selfe whether I haue any faith or no. For alas Lord I must needs confesse to thy glory that although thou commandest mee to beleeue perfectly in thy Sonne and to be strong in faith yet I find on the other side such strength of corruption preuailing ouer mee and commanding mee forcibly to giue way thereunto and so not onely interrupting the sense of thy loue vnto me but also challenging my loue vnto thee that I am forced many times to feare whether I am led by the Spirit truly of faith or no whether euer thy loue were shed abroad in my heart if euer I loued thee in truth seeing it seemes vnto me that my loue vnto sinne is not altogether quenched nay I feele the power of corruption carrying mee so violently after the lusts of my heart that as I find my selfe lesse cheerfull and constant in thy seruice so on the other side I sometimes find my selfe lesse able to resist temptations more apt and inclinable to such lusts which heretofore I haue subdued yea often more fouly ouercome and foiled by them What shall I say vnto thee O thou searcher of my heart and preseruer of my soule dost thou not see how cold somtimes I am in prayer How dull in the hearing of the word How carelesse of thy Sabbaths How vnconscionable and negligent in my calling How rebellious and inordinate in my affections O how often haue I greeued thine holy Spirit by neglecting the good motions thereof yea many times willingly crossing the same and entertaining contrary suggestions of my cruell enemie How carelesse haue I beene to examaine my heart and renew my couenant with thee How deceitfull or carelesse in breaking often my vowes which I haue made vnto thee against speciall corruptions for renuwing of decayed graces O How often haue I beene ready to giue way to such curssed thoughts of blasphemie and fearefull impietie which might euen quench thy Spirit lead to the dispighting thereof How haue I sometimes bin readie to violate my Conscience by rushing on desperate euils yea how fearfully haue I wounded the same by committing grosse sinnes and to make vp the measure of my misery How haue I hardned my heart by sleeping in sinne and neglecting the sauing meanes of deepe humiliation to awaken me to repentance Alas Lord thou knowest ful wel that though thou hast followed mee with many secret and open afflictions to rouse me out of this sleepe of Security yet either it hath proued but a dreame and so I haue falne asleepe againe or if my heart hath bin awake yet it hath not bin vnto thee to make my sound peace but rather vnto my Enemie to cease his violence yea somtimes to the World to procure some temporary lenity rather to ease my present paine then to heale me thoroughly And surely righteous Lord euen thus it hath befalne that such as I haue sown I haue often reaped euen more hardnesse of heart lesse sense and remorse for sinne more boldnesse thereto and more ease therin lesse delight in holy duties lesse life in prayer lesse coÌ„science in the word more slights in my calling more distraction in my recknings and more confusion in my Spirit Yet still O Lord I heare a voice behinde me saying This is the way walke in it Yet still I finde thy hand ouer me to stay me from sinking still my better aduised heart tels me it was better with mee formerly then now when I had comfort in thy presence and conscience in thine Ordinances Still thy Spirit is readie to reuiue me with hope that I may recouer againe and my hope is confirmed heereby that the meanes are still offered me and I am capeable of them But alas Lord insted of comfort by them I reape nothing but further confusion because as I am vnable to apply them to my selfe so indeed I am not now fit for that comfort which I seeke for in thee For what peace can there be to mee while my corruptions stink before thee Or how can I look for comfort bâ—fore I be soundly healed O the vnspeakeable Riches of the wisedom and mercie of my God! how insearchable are thy Councels and thy waies past finding out As thou diddest bring light out of darkenesse in calling mee from darknes vnto light so doest thou cause thy light to shine in darkenesse that thy glorie may bee perfected in my infirmities And therefore though I am now thy Creature renewed after thine owne image yet seeing thou wilt haue the onely glory of thy worke therefore as the light of the righteous must shine more and more vnto the perfect day so the darknesse of corruptions must not bee dispelled vtterly at once but daily be banished more and more vnto the coming of Christ Therefore is it blessed Lord that though thou hast cancelled the guilt of my sin at once by faith in Christ yet hast thou wisely left the corruption of sinne to be abolished by degrees that so I might still liue by Faith in the death of Christ for the mortifying thereof that I
commanded vs in thy holy word may receiue the reward of thy promise that is all things necessary for this life and in the life to come euerlasting glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against vsuall and common swearing ETernall God and louâ—ng Father in thy holy word the word of truth thou sayest that the man who vseth to sweare much is accursed and the plague shall neuer depart from his house and in thy holy Gospell hast said that we shall render account at the day of iudgement for euery idle word that we shall speake O how much more shall we giue accounts of euery pâ—ophane blasphemous and bloody oath that wee sweare And therefore to the end wee might auoyd thy vengeance against that day thou hast commanded vs not to sweare at all but that our communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoeuer is more then that commeth of euill Wherefore I beseech thee good Lord in the bowels of mercy so to dispose order my tongue and mouth the vse whereof thou hast giuen me aboue other creatures to glorifie thee withall that thereby I abuse nor blaspheme not thy holy name For true it is O Lord that swearers blasphemers of thy holy name as much as lyeth in them do crucifie thy Sonne afresh and are as guilty of his blood as Iudas was that betrayed him or the cursed Iewes that slewe him And seeing that to sweare by thee whose blessed name is neuer to bee thought of nor yet once called into question but with great reuerence feare and dread is most horrible blasphemy and to sweare by any creature else is most detestable Idolatry keepe me I beseech thee from all manner of vnlawfull swearing and from all wicked bloody Oaths that both my heart tongue and mouth and all parts else both of body and soule may bee instruments of praise to set forth thy glory all the daies of my life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against pride HOly Lord thou hast in thy blessed Gospell commanded vs by all meanes possible to eschew the filthy vice of pride which is a certaine rebellion of the heart against thee and aboue all things to embrace and euer hold fast the anchor of humility A perfect patterne whereof wee may learne in thee O blessed Sauiour who was humble lowly curteous gentle mercifull pittifull full of compassion and all goodnesse not disdaining the vilest person or loathsomest Lazer that euer liued if hee faithfully beleeued in thee Thou humbledst thy selfe that we might bee exalted thou becamest poore to make vs rich thou camest downe to the earth to liue in humility that we might be exalted to liue in felicity Thou wast poore in estate meane in attire and base in all things before the world in respect of thy humanity but before thy heauenly Father in respect of thy Deity most magnificall and glorious And therefore not without cause thou biddest vs learne of thee saying Learne of me for I am humble lowly your Soules shall liue Thou ouerthrowest the proud in their owne imagination and giuest grace to the humble yea thou so much abhorrest pride that thou iudgest them to eternall damnation that offend therein If wee would consider with our selues our owne misery wee should haue no cause to rise vp into pride For in respect of our bodies are wee any thing else then vile dung and ashes And in respect of our soules til they be regenerate by the Spirit of God are they not bondslaues to Sathan receptacles to fiendes and subiect to euerlasting damnation What haue wee now that we haue not receiued Or whereof may we be proud Wherefore O my God I beseech thee who art the true mirrour of all humility giue me the spirit of meeknes humblenesse and lowlinesse of heart and keepe me from all filthy pride arrogancy of body or mind that I neuer lift vp my selfe into pride against thee or thinke of my selfe aboue that which I am of my selfe but that I casting downe my selfe and distrusting mine owne worthinesse may be by thee aduanced to eternall glory Grant that those things which thou gauest me for necessities sake onely as thou diddst my apparell to hide my shame withall may neuer bee abused of mee as instruments of wickednesse And those things which thou gauest me to praise and glorifie thee withall as thou diddest my heart my tongue mouth I neuer abuse to thy dishonour And as it may please thee to indue mee with this true humility of mind towards thee so I beseech thee to giue me the true humility of body and mind towards my brethren also that I be not puft vp nor aduance my selfe aboue them disdaining or contemning them though otherwise neuer so meane or contemptible before the world And whensoeuer the Enemie assaulteth me to stirre mee vp to pride I beseech thee whose power is incomprehensible to strengthen mee to with-stand his temptations and set before the eies of my minde the examples of thy Iudgement inflicted vpon the children of pride in all ages as namely how thou threwest downe Lucifer a bright Angel in heauen into hell fire how thou condemnest Adam and all his posterity How thou destroyedst Nymrod that huge Giant Goliah that fierce monster Nabuchadnezar that ambitious bloody tyrant Herod that arrogant miscreant and many others who through the sinne of pride rebelled against thee and may by these examples bee terrified from committing that great heynous sinne against thee that I humbling my selfe in this world after the consummatioÌ„ of this life may bee exalted in the kingdome of heauen there to raigne with thee for euer and euer Amen A Prayer against Gluttony and drunkennesse BLessed Lord as thou hast created man after thy owne similitude and likenesse and hast giuen him a perfect body like vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ so thou hast ordained and prouided for him ordinary meanes as meate drinke flesh fish hearbes oyles wines what not to keepe and sustaine the same And hast commanded these thy creatures to bee moderately taken to the sustentation of the body with praise and thanksgiuing to thee accursing them to hell who by abusing not lawfully vsing these thy blâ—ssings make them instruments of sinne and so consequently of damnation to themselues Giue me grace I beseech thee that I may neuer abuse thy giftes through gluttony drunkennesse riot or excesse but that I liuing in all godly temperance and sobriety may bee thankfull vnto thee for them and also vse them for my necessity Knowing that our meates without thy blessing cannot nourish the body but destroy it rather as experience daily teacheth Make me O Lord to loath and detest this horrible vice so much the more in respect of the filthynes of the same for besides that it transformeth man into the Image of a beast or rather maketh him worse then a beast for they neither eate nor drinke without measure it also blindeth his eies of reason
therefore in thine infinit wisdome thou hast now restrained vs from bodyly labours that wee might bee there by freed from all encombrances of care and worldly mindednesse and so might wholy apply our selues both to the publicke and priuate meanes and practice of thy worship therein euen all the day and that wee may so doe O grant vs wee humbly pray thee to call thy Sabbath a delight to consecrate it glorious vnto thee eschewing our owne waies and renouncing our owne will forsaking all vaine and ordinary words giuing no way to any loose or worldly thoughts but we may bind our selues to an entire and constant following thee in all the wayes of thy worship as may any way seeme to the saÌ„ctifying of this day And because I am like to meete with many hinderances herein both within and without mine owne heart within repining hereat as an heauy yoake and pleading for vnseasonable and carnall liberty The world without alluring by cunning pretences and contrary example and scorning my strictnes and scrupulousnesse herein O arme mee strongly gratious God against all these enchantments and foolish scarcrowes That I may not leane to mine owne wisdome but to thy sacred word studying the more carefully to please thee in all things that I may stop the mouthes of gainsayers or gloâ—ie herein the more that they are still opened against weldoing shall prouoake thee iustly to stoppe their mouthes in due time with confusion O perswade my heart as thou hast taught mee that thy yoake is easie thine ordinances not greeuous and grant mee to try mine ease by the diseasing of my flesh and to prepare for coÌ„fort therin by greefe for my fayllings which may still prouoake mee to continue therein and the subduing of my flesh may better fit mee to the cheerfull vndergoing thereof and the more I feele mine owne wants and greeue therein the more I may hunger after and value thy sweete ordinance whereby my wants may bee supplyed and sorrowes râ—freshed that so in the deniall of my selfe I may bee still found of thee in Christ and by his power may bee still enabled to goe through the spirituall occasions of the day and norished with hope of the acceptance of my weake endeauours therein So grant mee louing Father when I speake vnto thee to speake euen from thee From the sence of thy Maiesty to abase mee humbly before thee from the light of thy Truth to discerne my speciall wants by the light of faith to apprehend thy speciall fauour in Christ to cast me out of my selfe and cast mee boldly vppon thee and by remembrance of thy former mercies and faithfull promises to assure mee good successe in presence with thee and so from the sence of thy loue to offer a sacrifice of praise vnto thee that I may still receiue from thee by emptying my soule in compassion to others may bee more replenished by thee O grant mee Blessed Lord that when thou speakest to mee I may heare thee onely and alone by thee Let thy key open my heart that it may receiue thee inwardly Let it shut my heart againe that by meditation I may retaine thee constantly Let it open my heart againe by applying thine ordinance to my present and speciall wants and so breake the stony rocke againe that the teares of hearty Repentance may gush out plentifully O then let it shut my heart fast by confidence in thee that I sincke not in dispaire And then let it open and enlarge my heart againe with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious in the sence of thy rich mercies And now let it shut vp my heart againe against selfe loue spirituall pride that so it may be opened by speciall grace to all gratious and constant duties to thee my selfe and my neighbour And when we are to meet thee together in that holie communion O prepare the roome for thy selfe that thou mayest delight to feast with me and giue me an heauenly appetite that I may desire to feed on thee Humble my soule before thee that thou mayest stoope vnto me and ease my soule of its heauie burthen that it may ascend vnto thee and so knit my heart hereby vnto thee in an euerlasting fellowship When I obserue thy church enlarged by the admission of new members the breach of mine owne Vow to consider my decay and backe-slydings from thee and in the sense thereof to pray more earnestly for thy Blessings vpon thine owne Ordinance reioycing for the encrease of thy Church heereby and yet preparing vnto the bloodie Baptisme and so hungering afâ—er the full consummation of thy Chosen When I ioyne with the Congregation either in giuing thee praise or in prayer â—o receiue from thee O grant me to ioyne of conscience not custome to the satisfying of the flesh to humble each other that we may haue mutuall comfort to labour with one mind end that our paines may not be tedious or fruitlesse Giue mee so to praise thee that I bee more humbled in my selfe so to giue thee thankes that I part not stakes with thee so to sing vnto thee that I may sorrow for my sinnes so to reioyce before thee as that I may still hunger after thee and long for thy euerlasting presence So enlarge mee from thy bounty to all occasions for thy sake to fill the emptie to emptie the gorged stomacke to raise the humbled recall the wandring confirme the weakâ— informe the ignorant conuince the obstinate comfort the abiect and reconcile the auerse in all these giue mee good Lord a cheerfull heart rather choosing to preuent then bee preuented herein rather striuing with the last then giuing ouer with the first And so what I haue found a broad O grant me to communicate at home with my God in prayer to blesse it vnto mee with my selfe in priuate application to be bettered therby with my family in conference and instruction to increase the kingdome of Christ still raising my soule higher from the world by meditation of the wisedome and goodnes of my God in his wonderfull workes so still more abasing my flesh in the view and sence of mine owne vnprofitablenesse in the best I haue done yet comforting my soule in the promise of my God that hee will require no more then hee giues and shew his power in my weaknesse that though I find no more in my rekconing but a dearer and more deepe sence of my corruption as this day to discerne detest the same so this deepe sense of corruption may enable me to prepare more conscionably against the more publike occasions and prouoke mee more earnestly to hunger after the euerlasting Sabbath And euen so grant mee Gracious God thus to end the day with thee as I haue endeauoured to begin and continue the same in thee O pardon I humbly pray thee whaesoeuer hath bene mine and accept graciously and crowne thine owne worke in mee who am thy seruant and the Son of thy handmaide And so do heartily commend
day of affliction wherein I called vpon the name of the Lord and hee heard mee and I found that his rod comforted me Neuerthelesse O good Lord consider and helpe two dayes of health take away the fruite of many dayes of sicknesse wee are as men Sea-sicke that comming on the shore presently returne to ioy and mirth and forget both dangers on the Sea and dangers on the Land So came it to passe from age to age in thy people of Israel being tied fast in miserie and iron they called vpon thee and receiued mercie being deliuered they soone turned backe like a bow and became drunken with prosperitie Then thy face was against them thy anger was kindled and they cast into affliction againe but in their miseries they renewed their prayers and thou diddest renew thy grace but new prosperitie brought new rebellion and new rebellion new punishments and new punishments new conuersation The house of mirth was to them and is to all a baite to wantonnesse but in the house of sorrow a prouocation of humilitie and prayer Prosperitie is as a Cup of wine mingled with poyson as a bed of securitie and a way to destruction Therefore O Lord with the fulnesse of earthly things giue mee also the fulnesse of spiâ—ituall thinges that I forget thee not in vanity of life or in the false delights of sinfull flesh O keepe my heart that it bee not made drunken with prosperity but grant mee in sobernesse to vse thy blessings to thy glory and to the releefe of my Brethren and when I reioyce not to reioyce in these base things for that reioycing is euill but to reioyce in thee turning my mirth from wanton Daunces from vaine Songs from other carnall delights to exercises of Religion to helpes of knowledge singing of Psalmes with melodie to thee in my heart Finally O Lord seeing that in this earthly prosperity there is so great abuse and so present danger for want of grace to abuse them O Lord teach mee the true vse of them that I may not set my heart thereon but in thee giuing thee thanks for them and labouring with all diligence through thy grace in Iesus Christ that they bee not through my wickednesse turned into curses As Salomon teacheth wisedome to take heede of an Harlot so teach mee to take heed of vaine pleasures in worldly matters that I be not bewitched with prosperity and forget thee bathing my selfe in pleasures and neuer setting thee before mine eyes O mercifull Father for thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ worke this in mee that I may bee rich in good workes that I may haue as not hauing that I may vse the world as not abusing it but vsing it to thy glory and praise through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God bee all praise honor and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer against Whoredome and vncleannesse O God which by thy holy word hast commanded that for the auoyding of the filthy sinne of fornication eueâ—y man should haue his lawfull wife and euery woman enioy her lawfull husband threatning death and damnation to all such as seek to liue contrary to thy commandement herein I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake that thou wilt mortifie and kill in me all carnall concupiscence filthy motions and fleshly desires by the operation of thy holy Spirit in me that I neuer defile either my body or soule in this loathsome and stinking sinne of whoredome adultery fornication Incest or other vncleannesse of body whatsoeuer but liuing purely vnpolluted therewith all the dayes of my life I may practise to please thee in all my proceedings I know O Lord that flesh and blood the filthy vncleane workes of flesh and blood cannot enter into thy habitation nor yet possesse any portion in thine euerlasting kingdome of glory therefore whensoeuer the diuell his wicked members the world or the flesh shall tempt and prouoke mee to preparation hereto giue me power and strength to withstand their assaults and put into my minde to consider that thine eyes doe behold me and thine holy Angels looke vpon me also that the horrible company of diuels compasse me about ready to register my filthy fact in a booke of memoâ—ials against the great day of the Lord. And so by thy gracious assistance and thâ—se good considerations I may beâ— partly terrified and partly ashamed for euer to commit the same knowing that thou who sparedst not the former world but destroyedst Sodom and Gomorrha with fire brimstone from heauen the whole world with water the Citty of the Sichemites with the edge of the sword and the children of Israel at sundry times slaying infinite Millions of them for this horrible vice wilt not spare me a most wicked and abhominable sinner if I commit the like offence Wherefore blessed Father suffer mee not thy deere Child in Iesus Christ bought with thy most precious blood to bee once spotted stained or blemished either in body or mind with this filthy stinking sinne of whoredome fornication that I appearing cleane in thy sight may after this life ended liue with thee thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost one true and euer liuing God world without end Amen A Prayer against Couetousnes and ambition ALmighty God and most mercifull Father who hast commanded euery man to labour and trauaile in his vocation and calling thereby to releeue his necessities and to maintaine his estate and hast promised thereto thy blessing Blesse I beseech thee all my actions and laboures which I shall at any time take in hand in thy name and thereby I receiuing sufficent sustentation maintenance for mine estate and calling may be free from the insatiable desires of couetousnes ambition auarice and all desire of vnlawfull gaine knowing that those that desire to bee rich fall into diuers temâ—ptations and snares of the diuel From which coÌ„tagious infection I beseech thee so much more warily to keepe mee by how much more I finde the same forbidden in thy holy word The holy Apostle calleth it idolatry worshipping of Idols and the roote of all euill excluding them out of the kingdome of heauen that be infected therewith And thy deere Son Iesus Christ telleth vs that it shall be easier for the Camell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man that is a couetous rich man whose affiance is in his riches to enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore good Father keepe me farre from this filthy vice of couetousnesse and ambition grant that I hauing food for my body and cloathes for my backe with all other necessaries incident to this life may bee well contented therewith not coueting or desiring any more and all the daies of my life in true simplicity of heart may giue thee praise for the same Finally grant that I seeking the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof as thou hast