Church 8 Meditation vpon these heads especially 1 The infinitnesse of God's mercie 2 The price value of Christ's bloud 3 The efficacy of his intercession 4 The vertue of the Sacraments 5 The vniuersalitie and certaintie of Gods promises to the penitent 6 Exampls of mercy shewed to most grieuous sinners THE TEXTS ANd being in an Agonie he prayed more earnestly Luke 22. 44. Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance Eph. 6. 18. Be feruent in spirit seruing the Lord Rom. 12. 11. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer ver 12. Pray one for another that yee may be healed the effectuall seruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much I am 5. 16. What prayer or what supplication shall be made of any man or of all thy people Israel when euery one shall know his owne griefe and his owne sore and shall spread forth his hands vnto thee 2. Cron. 6. 29. Then heare thou from heauen thy dwelling place and forgiue ver 30. Then Dauids heart smote him after he had numbred the people and Dauid sayd vnto the Lord I haue sinned greatly in this I haue done and now I beseech thee ô Lord take away the iniquitie of thy seruant for I haue done very foolishly 2. Sam. 2◠10. I make my bed to swimme I water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. And hee went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He shall restore that which hee tooke violently away or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten or that which was deliuered to him to keepe or the lost thing which he found Leu. 6. 4. Or all that about which hee hath sworne falsly hee shall restore it in the principall and shall adde a fift part more thereto v. 5. If I haue taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him foure fold Luke 19. 8. Goe thy way bee reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Agree with thine aduersarie quickly while thou art in the way with him ver 25. Forgiue and ye shall be forgiuen Luke 6. 37. If ye forgiue not men their trespasses neither will my heauenly Father forgiue you Mat. 6. 15. If thy brother trespasse against thee seauen times a day and seauen times a day doe returne vnto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgiue him Luke 17. 4. Be yee kinde one to another tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christ's sake hath forgiuen you Eph. 4. 32. And his Lord was wroth and deliuered him to the tormentors til he should pay all that was due vnto him Mat. 18. 34. So likewise shall my heauenly Father doe also vnto you if yee from your heart forgiue not euery man his brother their trespasses v. 35. O King let my counsell be acceptable vnto thee and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poore Dan. 4. 27. Many sins are forgiuen her for she loued much Luk. 7. 47. Giue almes of such things as ye haue and behold all things are cleane vnto you Luk. 11. 41. Sell that ye haue giue almes prouide your selues baggs that waxe not old and a treasure in the heauens which faileth not Luk. 12. 33. Lay not vp for your selues treasures on earth where rust and moths doe corrupt and where theeues breake through and steale Mat. 6. 19. But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeues doe not breake through nor steale v. 20. And I say vnto you make vnto your selues friends of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse that when yee faile they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. While ye haue time doe good vnto all men but especially to them of the houshould of faith Gal. 6. 10. Charge the rich in this world 1 Tim. 6. 17. That they doe good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate v. 18 Laying vp for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life v. 19. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased Heb. 13. 16. His soule draweth nigh to the graue and his life to the destroyer Iob. 33. 22. If there bee a messenger with him or an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto him his vprightnesse ver 23. Then he is gracious vnto him and saith Deliuer him from going downe to the pit I haue found a ransome ver 24. He will pray vnto God and he will be fauourable vnto him hee shall see his face with ioy v. 26. Is any man sicke among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray ouer him I am 5. 14. And the prayer of the Faithfull shall saue the sicke c and if hee haue committed sinnes they shal be forgiuen him ver 15. Verily I say vuto you whatsoeuer ye shal bind in earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth shall bee loosed ia Heauen Matth. 18. 18. And when hee had sayd thus he breathed on them and sayd vnto thē Receiue the holy Ghost Ioh. 20. 22. Whosoeuers sins ye remit they are remitted vnto them and whosoeuers sinnes ye retaine they are retained verse 23. Thy mercy is great aboue the heauens and thy truth reacheth to the clouds Psal. 108. 4. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Psal. 145. 8. The Lord is good vnto all and his tender mercy is ouer all his workes Psal. 145. 9. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee Psal. 86. 5 Thou O Lord art a God full of compassion and gracious long suffering plenteous in mercy and truth ver 15. O giue thanks vnto the Lord for he is good and his mercy endureth for euer Psalm 136. 1. 116. 1. 107. 1. 118. 1. In whom we haue redemption through his blood according to the riches of his grace Eph. 1. 6. By his owne blood hee entered once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs Heb. 9. 12. The precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without blemish 1 Pet. 1. 19. This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you Luke 22. 10. The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Act 20. 28. Much more being now iustified by his blood we shall bee saued from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph. 2. 13. For he is our peace v. 14. If the blood of bulls and of goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the vncleane sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Heb. 9. 13. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through
The Sonne of man came to giue his life a ransome for many Math. 20. 28. I lay downe my life for my sheepe Ioh. 10. 15. Feede the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Acts 20. 28. He was deliuered for our offences and was raised againe for our iustification Rom. 4. 21. Being iustified by his bloud wee shall bee saued from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Who gaue himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time 1. Tim. 2. 6. How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge our conscience from dead workes Heb. 9. 14. His owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being dead to sin should liue vnto righteousnes by whose stripes ye were healed 1. Peter 2. 24. The bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne 1. Ioh. 1. 7. Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God by thy bloud Reu. 5. 9. Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedek Psal. 110. 4. It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. Rom. 8. 34. There is one God and one Mediator betweene God and man the man Christ Iesus 1. Tim. 2. 5. He is able to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 21. Christ is entred into heauen it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. Hebrewes 9. 24. If any man sinne wee haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous 1. Ioh. 2. 1. And he is the propitiation for our sinnes ver 2. Giue thankes ô Israel to the Lord from the ground of the heart Psal. 68. 26. It is a good thing to giue thanks to the Lord. Psal. 92. 1. O giue thanks to the Lord and call vpon his Name Psal. 105. 1. I will giue thankes to the Lord with my whole heart secretly among the faithfull and in the congregation Psal. 111. 1. He fell downe on his face at his feete giuing him thanks Luke 17. 16. There are not found that returned to giue glory to God saue this stranger ver 18. Giuing thankes alwayes for all things vnto God and the Father Ephes. 5. 20. Whatsoeuer ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing thanks to God and the Father by him wee giue thankes to God alwayes 1. Thes. 1. 2. In euery thing giue thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus concerning you 1. Thes. 5. 18. What shall I render to the Loro for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. 〈◊〉 Psal. 10. 7. 8. Psal. 116. 12. But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priest-hood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his maruellous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. They that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull Reu. 17. 14. Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you Ioh. 15. 16. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8. 33. According as he hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world Ephes. 1. 4. God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctification of the Spirit c. 2. Thes. 2. 13. God created man in his owne image Genes 1. 27. Haue dominion ouer the fish â—f the sea and the fowles of the 〈◊〉 and ouer euery liuing thing that moueth vpon the earth ver 28. Thy hands haue made me and fashioned me Psal. 119. 73. Thou hast fashioned me behind and before and â—â—yed thine hand vpon me Psal. 139. 4. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being vnperfect and in thy book all my members written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal. 139. 16. Thou art worthy ô Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Reu. 4. 11. Thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Psal. 31. 5. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath visited and redeemed his people Luke 1. 68. Being iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ. Rom. 3. 24. Christ Iesus of God is made vnto vs wisdome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law being made a curâ—e for vs. â—al 3. 13. In whom we haue redemption through his bloud the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Ephes. 1. 6. Colos. 1. 14. By his owne bloud he entered in once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs. Heb. 9. 12. Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer and gold from your vaine conuersation receiued by tradition from your fathers 1. Pet. 1. 18. But rather the pretious bloud of Christ as of a lambe without a blemish and without spot v. 19. Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God by thy bloud out of euery kindred and tongue and people and nation Reu. 5. 9. I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloued which was not beloued Hos. 2. 23. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Math. 9. 13. Among whom also are yee the called of Iesus Christ. Rom. 1. 6. Whom hee did predestinate them he also called Rom. 8. 30. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. Walke worthy the vocation wherewith ye are called Eph. 4. 1. I presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3. 14. God hath not called vs to vn cleannesse but to holines 1. Thes. 4. 7. Faithfull is he that calleth you who also will do it 1. Thes. 5. 24. Zion shall be redeemed with iudgement and her Courts with righteousnesse Isa. 1. 27. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many for he shall beare their iniquities Isa. 53. 11. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiuen and sinne is couered Psal. 32. 1. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie ver 2. It is one God which shall iustifie the circumcision by faith and vncircumcision through faith Rom. 3. 30. To him that worketh not but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom 4. 5. Whom he hath called them he also iustifieth Rom. 8. 30. Being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 5. 1. Much more being now iustified by his bloud wee shall be saued from wrath through him ver 9. Being iustified by his grace we shall be made heires according to the hope of eternall life Tit. 3.
our Lord Rom. 8. 39. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Iesus nor of mee his prisoner but bee partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 8. As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation abounds through Christ 1 Cor. 1. 5. Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Whom he fore-knew he predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne Rom. 8. 29. I was hungry and ye gaue me no meate I was thirsty and yee gaue me no drinke c. Mat. 25. 43. In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not vnto me ver 45. He that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Ioseph said Feare not for am not I vnder God Gen. 50. 19. Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither againe the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the Name of the Lord Iob. 1. 21. Shall wee receiue good at the hands of the Lord and shall wee not receiue euill In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips Iob 2. 10. But I was a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes Psal. 38. 14. For thy sake are we killed all the day long c. Psal. 44. 22. It is good for a man that hee beare the yoke in his youth Ier. 3. 27. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because hee hath borne it vpon him ver 28. He putteth his mouth to the dust if so bee there may be hope ver 29. Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him he is filled full with reproach Others were tortured and would not bee deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection Heb. 11. 35. And others haue beene tryed by mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bands and imprisonment ver 36. They were stoned they were hewen in sunder they were tempted c. verse 37 38. And they departed from the presence of the Councell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Act. 5. 41. Then Paul answered What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart for I am ready not onely to be bound but to dye also at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21. 13. In labours more abundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more frequent in death often 2. Cor. 11 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 verses Remembring without ceasing your worke of faith and labour of loue and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thes. 13. God hath set forth vs the last Apostles as it were approued to death for wee are made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10. 32. Partly while ye were made a gazing stocke both by reproches and afflictions and partly while ye became companions of them that were so vsed ver 33. I know thy workes and thy labour and thy patience Reue. 2. 2. I know thy faith and thy patience and thy workes ver 19. My bonds in Christ are manifest in that place and all other places Phil. 1. 13. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are made more bold to speake the Word without feare Phil. 1. 14. And they cast Stephen out of the City and stoned him and the Witnesses laid downe their clothes at the young mans feet whose name was Saul Act. 1. 58. And they stoned Stephen calling vpon God and saying Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit ver 59. And he kneeled downe and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sinne to their charge and when hee had said this hee fell asleepe ver 60. Sauls conuersion Act. 9. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you deliuering you vp to their Synagogues and into prison being brought before Kings and Rulers for my Names sake Luk. 21. 12. And this shall turn to you for a testimony against them ver 13. And you shall be brought before Gouernors and Kings for my Names sake for a testimony against them and against the Gentiles Mat. 10. 18. Others had tryalls of cruell mockings and scourges yea moreouer of bonds and imprisonment Heb. 11. 36. The trying of your faith worketh patience Iam. 1. 3. Ye are in heauinesse through manifold tentations 1 Pet. 1. 6. That the triall of your faith being much more precious then Gold though it bee tryed with fire might be found vnto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ ver 7. Brethren account it exceeding great ioy when ye fall into diuers tentations Iam. 1. 2. I reioyce in my sufferings Col. 1. 24. Your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy 10. 16. 20. As many as I loue I rebuke and châ—sten Reu. 3. 19. Whom the Lord loueth he chasteueth and hee scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Heb. 12. 6. No chastening for the time seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous Neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby ver 11. He chasteneth vs for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse ver 10. Let patience haue her perfect worke that ye may be perfect and entire lacking nothing Iames. 1. 4. By patience ye shall inherite the promises Heb. 6. 12. By your patience possesse your soules Luke 21. 19. Because thou hast kept the world of my patience I will keepe thee from the houre of tentation Reu. 3. 10. Whosoeuer confesseth me before men I will confesse him before my Father which is in heâ—uen Luke 12. 8. Verily I say vnto you that no man that hath forsaken house or lands for my sake but he shall receiue an hundred fold and in the world to come life euerlasting Mark 10. 29. If ye suffer for righteousnesse sake blessed are ye yea feare not their feare neither be troubled 1. Pet. 3. 14. But sanctifie the Lord in your hearts ver 5. If we suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him Rom. 8. 17. The afflictions of this present life are not worthy the glory that shall be reuealed ver 18. Blessed are they that suffer for righteousnesse sake for their is the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 5. 10. THE PRAYER FOR Thursday euening consisting of Petitions sutable to the workes of redemption on this day Motiues to patience agreeable to the precedent exhortation GRacious Lord and Sauiour who this day didst eate the Passeouer and went eating in thy Supper Suppe with me in the Euening of this life and grant that I may Dine with thee in thy day of eternitie Gracious Redeemer who this day gauest thy selfe to me in the Sacrament first instituted by thee and
beleeueth in him should not perish Ioh. 3. 15. The Father hath committed all iudgement to the Sonne that all men should honour the Sonne as the Father Ioh. 5. 23. There is another that beareth witnesse of me and I know that the witnesse he witnesseth of me is true Ioh. 5. 32. The Father who hath sent me himselfe beareth witnesse of me Ioh. 5. 37. The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedeck Psal. 110. 4. God willing more aboundantly to shew to the heires of promise the immutabilitie of his counsell confirmed it with an oath Heb. 6. 17. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might haue a strong consolation who haue flied for refuge to lay hold vpon the hope set before vs ver 18. Go into all the world he that beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued he that beleeueth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 16. Verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my sayings he shall neuer see death Ioh 8. 51. I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue Ioh. 11. 25. And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer die v. 26. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth Ioh. 17. 19. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall beleeue in me through their word ver 20. The Spirit it selfe beareth witnesse to our spirits that we are the children of God Rom. 8. 16. He which stablisheth vs with Christ and hath annointed vs 2. Cor. 1. 21. Who hath also sealed vs and giuen the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts ver 22. He that wrought vs for the selfe same thing is God who also hath giuen vnto vs the earnest of the Spirit After that ye beleeued ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1. 13. Which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glorie ver 14. He that receiued his testimonie hath set to his seale that God is true Ioh. 3. 33. He receiued the seale of righteousnesse Rom. 4. 11. Grieue not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption Eph. 4. â—0 If ye haue faith and doubt not ye shall not onely do this which is done to the figge-tree but also if ye say to this mountaine Be thou remoued and be thou cast into the sea it shall be done Mat. 21. 21. If I had all faith so that I could remoue mountaines c. 1. Cor. 1â— 2. Thesâ— signes shall follow them that beleeue in my Name they shall cast out diuels they shall speake with new tongues Mar. 16 17. They shall take vp serpents and if they drinke any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sicke and they shall recouer ver 18. Verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth on me the workes which I do shall he do also and greater workes then these shall he do Ioh. 14. 12. See Heb. 11 from the 14. verse to the 35. Aboue all take the shield of faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked Eph. 6. 16. Your aduersarie the diuell as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may deuour 1. Pet. 5. 8. Whom resist stedfast in the faith ver 9. This is the victorie that ouer-commeth the world euen our faith 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Who is he that ouercometh the world He that beleeueth c. ver 5. For ye are the children of God by faith in Iesus Christ Gal. 3. 26. God who knoweth the heart bore them witnesse giuing them the holy Ghost as he did vnto vs Acts 15. 8. And put no difference betweene vs and them purifying their hearts by faith Acts 15. 9. Whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall not be ashamed Rom. 9. 33. Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect and pretious and he that beleeueth on him shall not be confounded 1. Pet. 2. 6. See Isa. 28. 16. Psal. 118. 22. Mat. 21. 42. Acts 4. 12. Iesus seeing his faith said Son be of good cheere thy sinnes be forgiuen thee Mat. 9. 2. Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole ver 21. Behold his soule which is lifted vp in him is not vpright but the Iust shall liue by his faith Heb. 2. 4. And Abraham beleeued in the Lord and it was counted to him for righteousnesse Gen. 15. 6. And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things from which ye could not be iustified by the Law of Moses Acts 13. 39. The righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3. 21. Euen the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ to all that beleeue ver 22. Whom God hath set foorth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud ver 25. It is one God which iustifieth circumcision by faith and vncircumcision through faith ver 30. To him that worketh not but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 5. 6 7. 8. verses Being iustified by faith we haue peace with God Rom. 5. 1. With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse Rom 10. 10. Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ that 〈…〉 iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the workes of the law Gal. 2. 16. Who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation 1. Pet. 1. 5. For by grace ye are saued through faith Eph 2. 8. Receiuing the end of our faith the saluation of our soules 1. Pet. 1. 9. I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. From hence foorth is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all them that loue his comming ver 8. Be faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee a crowne of life Reuel 2. 10. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal. 2. vlt. Verily I say vnto you whosoeuer heareth my word and beleeueth him that sent me hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Ioh. 5. 24. THE PRAYER FOR Friday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the worke of the day Motiues to faith in Christ agreeable to the precedent exhortation MOst bountifull and mercifull Lord God who this day createdst man and redeemedst him formedst and reformedst him inspiredst him with the breath of life and expiredst and diedst for him vpon the Crosse shew thy selfe a faithfull Creator in preseruing thine owne workes and a faithfull Redeemer in
houlding thy deere purchase O let not thy hate of sinne extinguish thy loue to thy creature Let not any thing that I haue done preiudice thee in the merit of that which thou hast suffered for me My sins deserued eternall wrath of thy Father but thou hast borne it My wonton delights and impure pleasures deserued stripes and wounds but thou hast receiued them My hainous crimes deserued death but thou hast suffered it for me This day my first parent Adam was made a liuing soule and this day thou the second Adam wert made a quickning Spirit This day he sinned in a garden and this day thou sorrowedst in the garden This day he tooke the fruite of the forbidden tree and this day thou wert hung vpon the accursed tree This day he was cast into a dead sleepe and his side opened and his wite Eue formed of his ribbe was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone this day also thou wert cast into a deadly sleepe and thy side opened and thy Spouse the Catholicke Church brought foorth not by water onely but by water and bloud the water of regeneration and bloud of explation and sanctification This day Adam brought the curse vpon himselfe and all his posterity this day thou prouidedst an euerlasting blessing for thy selfe and all thy members That which he lost thou hast regayned with aduantage that which he did thou hast suffered for that which I owed thou hast discharged on the very day by taking all his and our debts vpon thee and laying downe an al-sufficient price to satisfie for them O giue me an hand of faith to receiue so much of this infinite sum as may discharge my debt and strengthen this my hand that I may hold it fast and tender it to thy Father and receiue from him an absolute and generall acquittance signed with thy blood and sealed with thy Crosse bearing date the very day of thy consummation of all things at thy death If thou bad'st required a greater thing we should haue done it for what will not a man doe for his life How much more when thou â—arest belieue and liue cast your selues vpon me and I will saue you from drowning in euerlasting perdition receiue the price of your ransome and bee freed When thou holdest out the golden Scapter of thy grace if wee will not take hold on it wee deserue double dâ—mnation for refusing so easy a meanes of saluation Adam belieued Eue and Eue the Serpent to her and our ruine why should not I much rather belieue thy Church thy Spouse and thy Spouse thy Word to saluation What should with-hold my faith from apprehending my hope from exâ—ecting the promises of thy Gospell confirmed by so many miracles testâ—fied by the Church in all Ages signed with the blood of so many Martyrs and 〈◊〉 to my soule and conscience by the holy Spirit Doth it shake and stagger my faith that thy workes recorded in holy Scriptures so farre transcend nature and the mysteries of sauing truth soare aboue humane reason But this demonstrateth rather faith to be faith and thee ô God to be true God Faith is not faith if reason comprehend it God cannot be God if nature limit him Am I the more auerse from embracing thy Gospell because it crosseth and checketh my naturall dispositions and in clinations But the cause is most euident thy Law is iust holy and pure but I am wicked prophane and impure The physick is for the most part the better which the patient liketh worst because it exasperateth the paine for the time Haue I the lesse loue and liking to the most holy faith because it restraineth my carnall liberty and abridgeth mee or altogether depriueth mee of worldly comforts and contentments But am I not spirit as welâ— as flesh Haue I not a Law in my minde controlling the Law of my members Is it not much better to sowe vnto the Spirit that I may reape peace ioy and life euerlasting then sowe to the flesh and of the flesh reape nothing but corruption Thy Gospell ô gracious God restraineth my carnall but enlargeth my spirituall liberty it denieth mee sinfull but it promiseth me holy delights and pleasures it moderateth the desire and vse of temporarie comforts and ioyes but assureth mee that my heart shall be filled with eternall Am I ready to be beaten off from my holy profession and beliefe by blowes and strokes persecutions losses imprisonment banishment scorne of the world and disgrace This should make mee hold it the faster for the Gospell foretelleth that these things should befall true bâ—lieuers and it is an honour to mee to beare the â—adge of mâ—â—profession and to drinke with thee my Sauiour in thine owne Cup. It is my profession to be thy Souldier and he is no Souldier that endureth not hardnesse I can expect no crowne without a Conquest no Conquest without a battaile no battaile without blowes and wounds and what are these light and momentary afflictions to an eternall weight of glory Thus doth thâ— Word conquer my reason and yet it will not yeeld I resolue to belieue Lord strengthen my resolution I doe belieue Lord helpe mine vnbelief All things past haue so come to passe as the Oracles of thy truth fore-shewed they should and how then can I doubt of things future reuealed in them The deluge was foretold 120 yeeres before and at the prefixed time it ouerranne the whole world Thy peoples bondage in Aegypt for 400 yeeres and their after deliuery is no otherwise described by Moses then it was in a dreame many Ages before deliuered to Abraham Thou calledst thy Shepheard Cyrus and thine annointed Iosias by name to their functions long before either of them or their forefathers were conceiued The 4 famous Monarchs pictured out in Nebuchadnezzars Image succeeded in their order The Assyrian represented by the golden head the Persian by the siluer armes and shoulders the Grecian by the thighs of brasse and the Romane by the leggs of yron And do we not see at this day the stumpe of that Image and the feete partly yron in the Turkish and partly of clay in the Germane Empire Thy Birth and Death ô Sauiour was fore shadowed in Types and fore-spoken of by Prophets euer since the world began and since thy comming into the flesh and finishing all things at thy death in Ierusalem Not a syllable or one iot of any of thy words haue passed without their accomplishment Ierusalem is destroyed the Temple made euen with the ground and neuer could be built againe The Iewes are dispersed into all nations The Gospell is preached through the whole world the man of sinne is euery day more and more discouered and why should I not then belieue as certainly that the heauens shall passe away shortly with heate and the elements melt with fire and thy signe bee seene in the clowdes and those that are in their graues be awaked with the sound of the last Trumpe and meete thee in the aire
I belieue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Is it not as easy for thee to raise mee out of ashes as at the first to reare me out of the dust to send backe my Spirit into my body as at the first to breathe it in I see the seede in the ground the plants in the garden dye before they rise and spring vp I see wormes and flies and diuerse other creatures that spend the winter season in a kinde of death reuiue in the Spring I see my selfe dead euery night and aliue in the morning Why then should I call in question this Article of my beliefe of all most comfortable Lord who this euening dist cast Adam into a dead sleepe and thy selfe fellest asleepe on the bedde of thy Crosse and awakedst him againe and raisedst thy selfe out of thy sleepe of death sanctifie my rest and sleepe this night vnto me that I may by it not only be strengthened in my body and reuiued from my bed of slumber to rise to my labour and trauell the next morning but also more confirmed in my faith touching the resurrection of this my body out of the bedde of the graue at the last day So bee it Amen The close out of Scripture To him that loued vs and washed our sinnes in his blood and made vs Kings and Priests to God euen his Father bee glory and dominion for euermore Amen Reu. 1. 5 6. Saturdayes Deuotion The Father resteth from the workes of Creation IN the seauenth day God ended his worke which he had made and the seauenth day he rested from all his worke which he had made Gen. 2. 2. So God blessed the seauenth day and sanctified it because that in it hee had rested from all his worke which God had created and made verse 3. The Sonne resteth in the Sepulcher ANd when the euen was come there came a rich man of Arimathea named Ioseph who had also himselfe bin Iesus's Disciple Mat. 27. 57. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus And Pilate commanded the body to bee deliuered verse 58. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth verse 59. And put it in his new Tombe which he had hewen out in a Rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the Sepulcher and departed verse 60. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting ouer against the Sepulcher verse 61. Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the chiefe Priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate verse 62. Saying Sir we remember that that deceiuer sayed while hee was yet aliue After three dayes I will rise againe verse 63. Command therefore that the Sepulcher be made sure vntill the third day left his Disciples come by night and steale him away and say vnto the people He is risen from the dead so the last error will bee worse then the first verse 64. Pilate saide vnto them Yee haue a watch goe your way make it as sure as you can verse 65. So they went and made the Sepulcher sure sealing the stone and setting a watch verse 66. For thine instruction meditate In the morning on the Father's rest from works of Creation In the euening on the Sonn's works of Redemption For thy comfort apply the benefits of both to thy selfe which are A holy rest here and happy rest hereafter Euerlasting For thy correction reprooue thy prophaning God's holy Sabbath by First Worldly businesse Secondly Carnal pleasures Thirdly Omitting holy duties Fourthly Performing them Negligently Vnwillingly Quicken thy Preparation to holy duties by the Psalme Constancy in life and death by the Admonition Zeale Deuotion and resolution by the Prayer ensuing The Hymne for Saturday Morning I Haue remembred thy Name ô Lord in the night season and haue kept thy Law Psal. 119. 57. I thought on my waies and turned my feete to thy testimonies verse 59. I preuented the dawning of the morning and cryed I hoped in thy Word v. 147. Heare my voice according to thy louing kindnesse ô Lord quicken mee according to thy iudgements verse 149. Seauen times a day doe I praise thee according to thy righteous iudgement v. 164. Great peace haue they that loue thy Law and nothing shall offend them verse 165. I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord thy Law is my delight verse 174. Deliuer me ô Lord from the wicked which is a sword of thine Psal. 17. 13. From men which are thy hand ô Lord from men of the world which haue their portion in this life and whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasures verse 14. My heart is pained within me and the terrors of death are fallen vpon me Psal. 55. 4. Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon me and horror hath ouerwhelmed me v. 5. O that I had wings like a Doue for then would I fly away and be at rest v. 6. I would hasten my escape from the windy storme and tempest v. 8. An Admonition for Saturday Morning being an exhortation to perseuerance the twelfth BEATITVDE All that expect the reward of Pietie must striue and pray for perseuerance and abhorre and shunne falling away from grace because in Scripture The one is Commanded by God Commended in his Saints Encouraged vnto by promises of Certaine reward Saluation Assured cōfort An incorruptible Crowne of glorie The other is Vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Dreadfully threatned Eternally punished THE TEXTS VVAtch yee therefore and pray continually Luk. 21. 36. Continue yee in loue Ioh 15. 9. Take heede to thy selfe and to thy Doctrine continue in them 1 Tim 4. 16. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast bin assured of 2 Tim 3. 14. Let vs hold fast our profession Heb. 4. 14. Hold fast till I come Reu. 2. 25. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. Dearely beloued and longed for my ioy and crowne stand fast in the Lord Phil. 4. 1. Paul and Barnabas perswaded them to continue in the grace of God Acts 13. 43. Confirming the soules of the disciple◠and exhorting them to continue in aith Act. 14. 22. But ye brethren be not wearie in well doing 2. Thess. 3. 13. Let brotherly loue continue Heb. 13. 1. Stand fast in one spirit with one minde striuing together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 17. Therefore my brethren be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwayes aboūding in the worke of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 28. Watch ye stand fast in the faith acquit you like men 1. Cor. 16. 13. Stand fast therefore in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made vs free Gal. 5. 1. Wherefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all stand fast Eph. 6. 13. Brethren stand fast hold the traditions which ye haue beene taught 2. Thess. 2. 13. Whom resist steadfast in the faith 1. Pet. 5. 9. Ye therefore seeing ye know these things beware lest yee also
thee FINIS Errata PAge 3. in marg germinatus reade germinans p. 9. l 8 r. his priuate prayer l. 9. dele alone p. 19. in marg patrij r. patrui p. 24 in marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 58. l. 22. pure and plaine heart r. pure hearts and hands p. 63. l. 9. bare r. priuate p 64. l. 13. Saturday r Sabbath eue p 68. l. 5. ioyned r. inioyned p. 97 l. 5 one r. oure p. 100. l. 6. roome r. man p. 109 l 1. knife r. thrift l 11. approued r. approueth p 120 l 9. fit r sill l. 15. faith r. face p. 150. l. 19 dele my p. 151. l. 16. insert the close out of Scripture p. 163 l 27 these r. the p. 167. l. 11. adde Gen. 3. 15. p. 185. l. 2. d Ier. 44. p. 194 l. 16. d. for p. 195. l. 14. heart r. head p. 235. l. ◠Ioh. 15. 10. r. Ioh 16. 28. p. 265. l. 27. immediately r. mediately p. 281. l. 18. thou wert r. thou who wert p. 299. in marg strength r out of his side p. 320. in mar which God r. of God p. 328. l. 1. his r thy p 331. l 22. dele made p. 361. l. 15. Mat. 1 12 r. Mat. 11. 1 p 365. deaded r dead p. 371 l 22 to r. for p. 380. in marg in r. an p. 388. l. 6. the r as the p 435. l. 23. eating 1. eaten p. 439. l. 2. for r. of p. 443 l 10. adde 1 Pet. 2. 23. p. 446. l 21. adde in marg the Spirit p. 449. l. 13. adde in marg happinesse p. 453 the prayers are false quoted p. 458. l. 17. things r. my members p. 460. l. 5. dele to which faith is requisite p. 465. in marg pray r. prayer p 477. l. 24. them r therein p 481. l. 20. in marg dele peace p. 4. 82. in marg dele heere p. 488 l 26 dele and p. 490. l. 12. from r. to p. 524. l. 21. were yea and amen r. were not yea and nay p 518. l. 3. affection r. affliction p 523. compasse r. compose p. 530. l. 13. dele and. p. 531. l. 8. dele so p. 532. l. 9 the r thy THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION THE SECOND PART Deliuering the summe of SAVING KNOVVLEDGE in 52 Sections answerable to the number of the Sundayes throughout the Yeere IOH. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. AVGVST Confess Quid prodest in caeteris disciplinis peritum esse fine doctrinâ piëtatis periturum LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Boorne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Rojall Exchange 1625. A Table representing the generall Method of this Part. Blessednes is obtained by true Religion reueiled by God in holy SCRIPTVRES which instruct vs in the 1. Knowledge of 1 God his Nature Attributes Works of CREATION Prouidence generall speciall 2 CHRIST his Person Estates Offices of King Priest Prophet 2. Worship of GOD in CHRIST Immediate vvhich consisteth in performing all holy duties commanded in the first Table Mediate which consisteth in performing all duties to our neighbours and our selues commanded in the second Table which are of a sorts 1 Generall and common duties of all Christians one to another 2 Special proper to men in certaine Estates Callings A Table of the particular Contents OF Catechisme the parts and proper ends thereof Sect. 1. Of blessednesse and the meanes of obtaining it Sect. 2. Of Religion and the parts thereof Sect. 3. Of the nature of God Sect. 4. Of the principall attributes of God Sect. 5. Of the workes of God in generall Sect. 6. Of Gods decrees Sect. 7. Of the Creation Sect. 8. Of Gods generall prouidence Sect. 9. Of the Predestination of Angels Sect. 10. Of the Predestination of men Sect. 11. Of Christ his person Sect. 12. Of Christ his estate of humiliation Sect. 13. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Sect. 14. Of Christ his Propheticall function Sect. 15. Of Christ his Priestly function Sect. 16. Of Christ his Kingly function Sect. 17. Of the Church and the parts thereof Sect. 18. Of the notes of the true Church Sect. 19. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith in particular Sect. 20. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 21. Of reuerence obedience and patience and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 22. Of loue feare repentance gratitude and zeale and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 23. Of hope confidence and magnanimity and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 24. Of the outward worship of God in generall Sect. 25. Of keeping the Sabboth Sect. 26. Of hearing the Word Sect. 27. Of Prayer and the parts thereof Sect. 28. Of receiuing the Sacrament and necessary preparation thereunto Sect. 29. Of oathes vowes and profession of our faith Sect. 30. Of the Christian duties wee owe to our selues Sect. 31. Of the common duties were owe to our neighbours Sect. 32. Of the speciall workes of humilitie Sect. 33. Of the speciall workes of meeknesse Sect. 34. Of the speciall workes of friendship Sect. 35. Of the speciall workes of Christian zeale Sect. 36. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours Sect. 37. Of the duties of inferiours towards their Superiours Sect. 38. Of the duties of equalls Sect. 39. Of the Christian duties of Kings towards their Subiects Sect. 40. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King Sect. 41. Of the duties of Christian parents Sect. 42. Of the speciall duties of children Sect. 43. Of the speciall duties of Masters Sect. 44. Of the speciall duties of Seruants Sect. 45. Of the duties of married folke Sect. 46. Of the duties of the Husband Sect. 47. Of the duties of the wife Sect. 48 Of the duties of Pastours Sect. 49 Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastour Sect. 50. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of their personall callings Sect. 51. Of the speciall antidotes or preseruatiues against sinne Sect. 52. THE PRAYER BEFORE THE Catechisme GRacious Father who hast prouided the sincere milke of the Word for New borne babes in Christ as thou hast strong meate for them that are of riper yéers and iudgement and hast commended to the dispensers of thy holy mysteries as well the care of feeding thy tender Lambes as thy well growne and stronger sheepe Guide me by thy holy spirit that I may guide them in the paths of righteousnesse and leade them to the waters of comfort flowing from the fountaine of thy most pure and holy Word Season their tender yéeres with true Religion and powre into these new vessels the new wine of thy Gospell that they sauour not of the caske of the olde Man Open their hearts as thou openedst the heart of Lydia that they may attend to those things that concerne their eternall saluation Sit thou in the middest of vs here assembled as thou satest