very cause of Christs death I must abhorre to commit new least thereby I crucifie againe the Lord of life Parent What is the quickning of the new man Child t Ephes 2.1 4.23 24. Gal. 2.19 20. Col. 2.12 13 3.1 2 3 4. A raising vp and strengthning vnto newnesse of life with a continuall increase through the power of Christs resurrection and life Rom. 5.10 6.4 5 9 10 11. Seruant How must you vse Christs resurrection that you may be quickned thereby to lead a new life Scholler u 1 Cor. 15.56 57. Rom. 6.4 5. with Heb. 6.6 Pro. 14.31 Bethinking my selfe that Christ triumphing ouer my sins in his resurrection made me righteous I am stirred vp vnto a godly life that I may glorifie not shame his triumph * See more of Regeneration in Part. 4. Parent Notwithstanding all this do you not sinne daily Child * Heb. 12.4 Psal 119.59 73.13 14. Rom. 6.12 Yes but yet I renew my repentance afresh euery day and earnestly striue with a continuall endeuour against sinne suffring it not to raigne in me Parent What is your continuall endeuour Child First x Psal 39.1 Gal. 5.24 Iam. 4.4 1 Pet. 5 8 9. Rom. 7.17 18 19. I watch ouer all my wayes resisting the lusts of my owne sinfull heart and flesh the motions of the Deuill and the intisements terrors of the world Secondly y Act. 9.36 1 Cor. 15.58 I studie to abound in all good workes and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.17 Seruant And what is your comfort in these your endeuors Scholler First z Heb. 6.11 13.18 Ps 19.13 that my conscience doth not accuse me either of wilfull negligence or presumption Secondly a 1 Thes 5.24 1 Cor. 1.8 9. my hope is confirmed that I shall conquer sinne and receiue daily increase for a new life Parent What is repentance Childe b Luk. 3.3 8. Acts 2.38 11.23 Repentance is a setled purpose in my heart ioyned with a carefull endeauour to leaue all my sinnes and to leade a new life according to all Gods commandements Seruant By what notes may you know that you haue Repentance and Newnesse of life And more particularly how may you bee sure that you haue truly repented of some sin which you haue committed Scholler First c 2 Cor. 7.9 10 Psal 51.5 Nehem. 9.35 when my heart is vnfainedly grieued with godly sorrow euen because I haue disobeyed the Lord my most louing and tender Father in Iesus Christ though I should neuer be punished at all for my sinne Secondly d Psal 51. Job 42.6 Psal 19.12 13 when I am heartily sorry for all my sinnes as well as for any especially such as I haue committed against my owne knowledge and doe detest and abhorre them Thirdly e Psal 40.8 Luke 9.23 Acts 11.23 Iames 5.10 2 Chron. 30.6 7 8 9. when I doe not onely stedfastly purpose but also diligently and constantly endeuour to follow the will of God both in déedes and sufferings and that against all temptations And fourthly f Phil. 4 13. Apoc. 1.6 when I féele my selfe more able to forsake sinne and to embrace righteousnes through Christ which strengtheneth mée * See part 5. pag. 176.177 Seruant But how must you vtter and testifie your Repentance Scholler First g Psal 32.5 51 3 4 14. Prou 28.13 1 Iohn 1.9 Math. 5.23 24 18 15 16 17 Acts 19.18 19 Ios 7.19.20 21 Iam. 5.16 by a willing and free confession of all my sinnes vnto God in secret and of those that bee greater offences and scandalous both vnto God and vnto his Church Secondly h Luc. 19.8.9.10 Num. 5.5 6.7 c. in those that be iniurious vnto men I must make restitution vnto the vttermost of my ability Thirdly i 1 Cor. 7 35. Hos 14.8 Psal 34.14 Mat. 5.28 29 30. I must thenceforth follow all the occasions of well-doing and auoid the euill specially of that particular sinne whereinto I haue already fallen or am most inclined vnto Seruant What speciall helpe doe you vse for occasions Scholler k 1 Cor. 7.20.24 Psal 101.2 2 Sam. 11 2. I haue euermore a diligent respect to my particular calling Seruant By what rule may you know whether your particular calling be warrantable or not Scholler l Ephes 6 6. 1 Cor. 10 31. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Euery calling whereof the word of God doth set downe the speciall duties ordinarily seruing to Gods glory and the benefite of mankinde is warrantable else not Seruant And how doe you know whether God requireth you to accept continue in such * I speak now of priuate callings or vocations a calling or not Scholler First m 2 Sam. 19.33 to 39. by the strength and fitnesse of my minde and bodie to performe the dueties and workes of my calling Secondly n Gen. 46 34 Acts 18 3. by the place time and vse for it Thirdly o Mat. 10.10 1 Cor. 9.14 by the benefit it ordinarily yéeldeth to satisfie the labourers necessitie if due paines be taken and a good conscience vsed therein Seruant But what if your calling minister not sufficient to satisfie your necessities though you doe wisely obserue all these rules May you not leaue your calling in such a case Scholler p 1 Cor. 7 20.24 Hag. 1.2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 with 2 15 16 17 18 19. Phil. 4.11 12 13. No verily if I may be suffered to follow it still but rather looke well that I bee truely reconciled vnto God for my sinnes And though I be so yet must I patiently endure the hand of God vpon my labours and put his most wise and mercifull corrections to a further good vse prouided I say that my calling be such all circumstances considered as through the vsuall blessing of God may yéeld competent maintenance to the labourer Parent And which are good works Child q Deut. 5.32 Ephes 2.10 Rom. 14.23 Psal 119.21 1. Sam. 15.22 Esai 29.13 Onely those which are truely grounded vpon Gods word the grace and spirit of God maketh me able to doe in conscience of my obedience vnto him Parent Doe you merit or deserue forgiuenesse of your sinnes or any other fauour at Gods hands for your faith repentance and good works Child No r Phil. 2.13 Ephes 2.8.9 for it is God that worketh in me both to will and to doe of his good pleasure and I am saued by grace Parent Why cannot you merit by your good workes Child ſ Rom. 7 13 18 Luke 17.10 Because the very best workes of the godliest man in the world are vnperfect Parent How commeth it then to passe that any of your works do please God Child t 1 Pet. 2.5 Exo. 28.36 37 38. Mal. 3.17 Math. 3 17. God is graciously content to passe by the euill and to
THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD Being A familiar Conference concerning Faith towards God and Good Workes before Men fitted for the capacitie of the meanest By R. S. Preacher of the word at ARLEY See the Contents more particularly before the Booke IOSVA 24.13 But as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. 1 PET. 2.17 Feare God NEHEM 1.11 Desire to feare him Imprinted at London by Edward Griffin for Ionah Man at the Talbot in Pater-noster Row 1620. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR WALTER ASTON KNIGHT OF THE BATHE BARONET AT THIS PRESENT LORD AMBASSADOR FOR HIS MAIESTIE TO THE KING OF SPAINE AND TO THE LADY GERTRVDE HIS MOST VERTVOVS AND BELOVED WIFE R. S. CONSECRATETH THESE HIS MEDITATIONS TOGITHER WITH HIS BEST WISHES AND SERVICES An Admonition to the Reader I Presume thou knowest very well good Reader that as the gifts of Teachers in deliuering are diuers so are those of the Hearers for conceiuing and profiting For which cause the Christian Scribe must as the great Diuinitie-Reader teacheth a Mat. 13.52 bring forth out of his treasure things both new and olde that is as I vnderstand it fit his setting forth of sauing truth after sundry good sorts to the estate and capacitie of the Learners b Phil. 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. minimè lubricum and for them it is safe to write the same things vnto them Thinke me not then to tautologize ouermuch in this Booke neither yet blame me for lacke of exact method therein For besides that a familiar Conference especially of the Country-man with his Houshold for whose sake chiefly I publish these my country-meditations is not so absolutely freed from the one nor so strictly tyed to the other note I pray thee that my studie and endeuour herein hath beene purposely to convey the truth to the more ignorant and ruder sort in such forme and so many words as I supposed them able to receiue it c Esai 28.9 10 11. 1 Cor. 3.1 2. 9.22 Heb. 5.11 12 13. and if they should not rightly conceiue and lay hold on the truth in one place speech or passage of the Booke yet in another they might attaine to it if it shall please the Lord. To which end I haue retained chiefly in the weightiest principles some common phrases and kindes of speech vsed in Catechismes because I take them to be plainest more generally knowne Namely I haue here and there vsed some answers out of Master William Perkins of worthy memorie his Catechisme And in some three or foure places also I haue imitated others a litle in some respects The reasons against Transubstantiation and many of those Questions and Answers about fit and worthy Receiuers and some few about Receiuing worthily are the labours of that judicious man and mine especiall frend Mr A. N. All the rest so far as I remember * Neither yet hath my paines beene the lesser in those few things that I haue taken from others as the discreet Reader may easily perceiue by my manner of vsing them are my poore indeuours togither with the frame of the whole so shaped as I thought fittest for my purpose Indeed when I began with this Worke I intended onely some briefer thing as a short Catechisme but afterwards partly considering the great and manifold necessities of the ignorant and partly following the aduise of diuers godly persons whom I consulted withall I haue inlarged my selfe to so many matters as you may see The doctrine and substance I assure my selfe is sound and I am priuie proceedeth from a heart that is willing to promote the common saluation d vers 3. as Iude calleth it Let it not want therefore judicious Reader thy Christian good word at least let it be free from thy blame though it may be there shall be found some shew of Reason for such censure considering not onely my defence premised but also the cause and honour of Him who is too often pierced through the sides of his poore seruants and fearing the offence of the weake who God knoweth are soone turned out of the way Albeit I take it had bin no great difficultie for me to haue made it both shorter and more methodicall saue that if I do not mistake I iudge this often repeating the surest or likeliest way to effect my intent and desire And if God shall moue any few of those Housholders hearts who haue hitherto vsed litle or no meanes in this behalfe to vse this so that it be with conscience I haue inough And why should they alwayes e Psal 2.3 breake Christs bands asunder and cast away his cords from them Now the Lord of his deere mercy conueyed vnto vs by the blood of of his onely Sonne by his all-working Spirit blesse my simple labour thy fauourable allowance and euery ones Christian vse of it vnto his owne praise in the building of his Church Amen Thine in the Lord R. S. The Table of the Contents THE drift of the Author in this Booke and concerning the instructing and reforming of the Country-mans-houshould in generall and particularly some directions and formes of teaching Children so soone as they can speake and such as hauing spent a great part of their time in ignorance carelesness can repeat some things as the Creed the Lords Prayer c. but yet vnderstand little or nothing thereof and therfore cannot put what they say to any good vse pag. 1. to 59. I The First part Concerning the Law of God contained in the tenne Commandements which are summarily expounded and the vses of the Law in generall briefly set downe pag. 59. to 79. II The second part Concerning the Gospell where the Creed is explaned pag. 79. to 111. III The third part concerning the Meanes of Grace in generall And first of the Word of God and of the Exercises thereof pag. 111. to 115. Secondly of Prayer Where 1 An Exposition of the Lords prayer pag. 115. to 126 2. Two formes of Prayer for the vse of the Country-mans-Household on worke-daies the one for the Morning the other for the Euening pag. 126. to 148. 3. Two formes of Thanksgiuing the one before meat the other after meat pag. 148. to 149. 4. A forme of Prayer for one in priuate for preparation to the Sabbath pag. 150. to 161. 5. Certayne godly Hymnes or Psalms for priuate vse pag. 167. to 174. IIII The fourth part Of the Sacraments of the New Testament p. 174. to 178 1. Of Baptisme pag. 178. to 182. 2. Of the Lords Supper pag. 188. to 194 where of fit and worthy Receiuers c. p. 194. to 206. V The last Part where 1. Of the Practise of the Communion of Saints pag. 206. to 110. 2. Of the Effects of the foure meanes of Grace both in good and bad p. 209 to 211. 3. Of the consideration of Gods works pag. 211 to 212. 4. Of Christs Protecting of his Church pag. 212 to 213. 5. Of Christs Disposing of
assuredly Child u Rom. 8.34 Heb. 6.19 20. 9.24 Reuel 1.5 Because he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father and so is become our continuall Remembrancer Parent How is Christ the King of his Church Child * Luk. 1.32 33. 1 Cor. 15.25 c. By ruling it in this world and glorifying it in the world to come Parent How doth Christ rule his Church in this world Child First x Phil. 2.13 by working grace in the heart Secondly y Psal 121. by protecting and defending it Thirdly z Rom. 8.28 by disposing all things to its greatest good Parent What Graces doth Christ the King of his Church *** The first way of Christs ruling of his Church in this world worke in the heart Child a Phil. 1.29 1 Cor. 6.11 Faith and Sanctification or Regeneration Parent What is Faith Child b Eph. 3.12 17. Rom. 4.18 21. Faith is a true perswasion of my heart grounded vpon the Promises of God that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for the saluation of Man he hath done it as well for me as for any others Parent In what words is Faith in Christ taught Child Gal. 2.20 The Sonne of God hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Seruant What is the least measure of true Faith that any one can haue who is of yeeres of discretion Scholler d Gen. 4.13 Rom. 8.9 23.24 25. Ephes 3.17 Math. 5.6 Psal 51.8 9. compared When one is perswaded that his sinnes may be forgiuen and withall prayeth from the bottome of his heart that whatsoeuer els God doth for him he would forgiue him Seruant But when Faith groweth to some strength how may you know then that you haue a true and liuely faith Scholler First e Rom. 5 1. Gal. 4.6 by the inward peace of my conscience féeling Gods loue in Christ and assuring me of the forgiuenesse of all my sinnes Secondly f Act. 15.9 Rom. 6.19 Iam. 2.14 15 16. c. by my good workes which are the fruits of a liuely faith * See more of Faith in Part. 4. and in Part. 5. Seruant Where are the chiefest points of Faith as touching the things themselues that are to be beleeued of a Christian comprised and set all togither in one short summe for the help of the more ignorant sort of weake memories Scholler In the Confession of Faith commonly called the Articles of our Beléefe and by some The Apostles Creed Seruant Why is it called The Creed Scholler Of the Latine word Credo which is the first word in this Confession and signifieth in our English tongue I beleeue Seruant And why beareth it the name of the Apostles Scholler Because it was taken out of the doctrine of the Apostles Seruant Vnto whom was it prescribed Scholler Vnto euery one to confesse in his owne person as being indéed the Summe of all Religion Parent Rehearse the Creed Child The forme of Confession of Faith I beléeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Bodie and the Life euerlasting Amen Parent I pray you Pastor giue vs a short Explanation of the Creede which we may vse to read deliberately in our house vnto our ignorant people now and than and at the least vpon the Lords day where better means of edification cannot be had before or after we haue beene at the publike Ministerie of the word In which Explanation we would haue you to direct vs how to vnderstand and apply euery seuerall point to ech one of our selues particularly and withall set vs downe in the margent some of the plainest testimonies of holy Scripture to proue that your exposition is grounded thereon Pastor I will so that you will not forget nor neglect to vse it weekely till such time as you and your Families be better instructed and setled in the truth Parent I pray God make me and my companie not only mindfull and diligent to vse it but also giue vs grace to profit by it Pastor Amen Now than a Christian man or woman should vnderstand and apply to his or her selfe the Articles of Faith as if he or she should say a litle more largely thus The Explanation of the Creede The Creed it self being the Summe of the holy Gospell Forasmuch as g g Heb. 11.1 2 3 c. Iam. 1 12 13. 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9. true Faith is the onely Mother and ground-worke of all sauing graces and whereby also they become acceptable to God and that euery person who looketh to bée saued must attaine saluation by his h h Hab. 2.4 Iohn 3.15 16 18. Gal. 3.22 26. Heb. 10.38 11.6 owne faith and not by the faith that is in any others out of himselfe And forasmuch as the same true faith i i Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 4.13 Matth. 10 32 33. Act. 8.37 will necessarily shew it self by Confession I doe here make confession of it with my mouth as I haue receiued and do stedfastly hold it in my heart not from the traditions or sayings of men but as I sée it warranted in Gods most holy word vnto the praise and glory of God my owne comfort and the good example of others in this forme following to wit I beleeue in God the Father Almighty Maker of heauen earth I doe acknowledge and beléeue k k Deut. 4.39.1 Iohn 5.7 one onely God distinguished into thrée persons l l Math. 28.19 the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost to be m m Iohn 14.1 20.28 my God n n Ephes 1.11 Act. 15.18 27.20 21 22 c. who decréed before all worlds o o Gen. 1. 2. chapters made and fashioned in time p p Act. 4.24 28. Gen. 14.19 Rom. 11.36 disposeth and possesseth all things whatsoeuer with all their seuerall actions circumstances in most holy manner according to his infinite power and wisedome vnto his owne glory and specially Angels in heauen and Men on earth who is both willing able to blesse me q q Rom. 8.28 Psal 115.11 13 15. and who I know maketh all things worke togither for good vnto me whom he hath called to loue feare and obey him maugre all enimies r r Iohn 20.17 because hee is Christs father and my father almighty in strength Which Father ſ ſ Gen. 3.1 7. Iohn 8.44 Rom. 7.12 23. Deut. 27.26 when wée wretches fel shamefully
accept the good being the fruit of his owne spirit for his Sonne Iesus Christ Parent Is not your saluation obtained partly by Christs grace partlie by your owne workes Child No u Rom. 11.6 for then grace were no more grace Parent Why then must you doe good works Child First and chiefly * Math. 5.16 to glorifie God thereby Next x 2 Pet. 1 5 6.7 8 9 10. to get assurance of my owne election and withall y 1 Pet. 2 12 15 c. for the edification and benefite of my neighbour Parent And what doth principally moue your heart to doe them Child z 2 Cor. 5 14. The loue of Christ constraineth me Parent Shall not euery man and woman in the visible Church bee saued by Christ Child No a Iohn 3 3 5.18 36. Hebr. 12.14 but those onely who are true beléeuers and borne anew of the holy Ghost Seruant What principall reason is there that vnbeleeuers and vnregenerate persons shall not be saued Scholler b Iohn 3.18 19 32 33. Rom. 1.25 3 3 4. 2 Thes 1.8 9 10. Iude. v. 4. Tit. 1.16 2 Pet. 2 20 21. Because by their vnbeliefe they doe either refuse as insufficient the only blessed Meane of their saluation changing that most vndoubted and important promise of God into a lye or doe otherwise through their vnthankefulnesse carelesnesse or presumption shamefully abuse it ☞ THE THIRD PART Concerning the Meanes of Grace in generall and first of the Word of God Parent WHat meanes doth Christ the King vse in working Faith and Sanctification in the heart Childe c Esai 59 21. Ierem. 10.23 Acts 20.32 Partly inward and partly outward Parent What is the inward meane Childe d Gal. 3.2 3. Luk. 11 13. 1 Cor. 12 13. Gal. 6.1 The holy Spirit which is giuen by the outward meanes Parent What are the outward Meanes Childe * Ibidem These foure First the Word of God whereby ordinarilie Faith and Sanctification are begun afterwards continually increased Secondly Praier Thirdly the Sacraments Fourthly the Practise of the Communion of Saints whereby the same graces are likewise increased and confirmed The first outward mean of Grace Parent What is the word of God Childe e Ioh. 5.39 21.31 Iam. 3.17 2 Pet. 1.21 Ephes 2.20 Rom. 1.2 with Gal. 6.16 The Doctrine of mans saluation written by diuine inspiration and contained in the bookes of the old and new Testaments called The holy Canonicall Scriptures Seruant How doe you certainelie know that the Scriptures are the verie vndoubted Word of God Scholler f Esai 59.21 Iohn 10.3 4 5 27. 16.13 1 Iohn 2.27 1 Thes 1.5 Chéefely by the inward perswasion of the Holy Ghost Parent How is the Word made profitable vnto your Saluation Childe g Rom. 10.14 Acts 17.11 Chiefly and first of all by the attentiue hearing and diligent meditating of it being rightly preached which serueth to the begetting of grace h 2 Tim. 4. i. 2.3 Luk. 1.3 4 24 17 to 33. Heb. 5.12 6. 1 2 c. Psal 1.1 2. 78.3 4 5 6. And afterwards principally by preaching and then by Catechesing Reading Conferring Meditating all for out strengthening growth Seruant How is the Word of God rightly preached Scholler i Nehem. 8.8 Tit. 1.9 2 Tim. 2 15. 3.16 1 Cor. 12.8 When the true meaning is plainely giuen and the profitable vse thereof is made and applied to the hearers Seruant What is your attentiue hearing of the Word Scholler k Acts 16.14 17.11 Luk. 8.15 Eccles 5.1 I reuerently marke it with an honest and good heart prepared to receiue it with zeale and readinesse Seruant And what is your diligent meditating of it Scholler l Psa 119.155 Prou. 8.34 I doe earnestly call it to minde carefully search it and think much vpon it to the end I may draw it into conscionable practise Seruant What need hath a Christian to vse godly meditation Scholler m Psal 119.113 139.23 24. Phil. 4.8 Because they are the grounds of all good speech and of all other holy actions and in very déed whosoeuer maketh no conscience of his thoughts maketh no right conscience of any thing at all Parent Among the manifold meditations of a Christian which do you think to be of speciall vse for his good Pastor First n Psal 16.8 Prou 15.3 alwaies to remember that God is present euery where Secondly o Psal 89.1 Phil. 1.23 Ioh. 14.1.2 c. to beare in minde Gods vnspeakeable mercies in Christ and particularly the promise and gift of eternall life Thirdly p Acts 28.26 27. 2 Thes 1.8 9. to meditate often on Gods iudgements especially those that are spirituall and vpon eternall condemnation the just reward of the vngodly Fourthly q Ps 78.1.7.11 111.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Dan. 9 11 12 13. Act. 4.24 25 26 27 c. it is good to consider diligently Gods works both ordinarie and extraordinary obseruing how they doe seale the truth of his word Fifthly and lastly r 1 Thes 3 4. Deut. 32 29. Eccles 11.9 1 Pet. 4.7 Ephes 5.16 2 Cor. 5.9 10 11 to thinke often of affliction and chiefely of death and of the last iudgement studying how to redeeme our time that we may be prepared with comfort for that great and terrible day Seruant What is Catechising Scholler ſ Heb. 5.12 6 1 2. Gal. 6.6 Luk. 1 4. Act. 18.25 A plaine easie instructing of the ignorant in the grounds of Religion chiefely by Questions and Answeres Seruant VVho are bound to Catechize Scholler t Gal. 9.6 Pro. 4.3 4. 31.1 The Ministers in publike and * the Housholders in priuate Secondly concerning Prayer The second outward mean of grace Parent VVhat is Prayer Childe u 1. Tim. 2 1. Phil. 4.6 Praier is a religious calling vpon the name of God eyther by Petition which wee commonly call Prayer or by Thanksgiuing Parent VVhat is Petition Childe * Psal 6.8 9 Dan. 9.17 18. Rom. 8.26 It is our humble entreating of God for all things which wee desire to enioy Parent VVhat is thanksgiuing Childe x Ps 16.7 8 9 10 11. Math. 8 2. 2. Sam. 15 25 26. It is our rendring praise to God for all the good things which we enioy in déed or by promise Parent What must you doe that you may learne to pray well Childe First y Luke 11.1 I must desire God to teach me to pray Secondly z Math. 6.9.10 11 12 13. I must diligently obserue the directions of Gods Word and particularly of the Lords prayer Parent VVhat is the Lords praier Childe That most perfect forme and pattern of prayer which the Lord Iesus taught his disciples Parent Say the Lord prayer Childe a Math. 6.9 10 11 12 13. Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen
Christes righteousnes and pledges of his blisse Baptisme For why In Baptisme sure there is assured vnto thee Thy sinnes are washed by his blood and thou renew'd shalt bee And thou art entred once for all into the fellowship Of Father Sonne and Holy Ghost at no time thence to slip This holy Trinitie is thy God and thou his Child become His grace is thine thou not thine own through Christ these things are done And Faith is it that consecrates thee to the Lord alone Yea Faith I say in Christes death and Resurrection Therefore vnto the Lord see thou thy selfe do dedicate To dye to sinne and liue to him in state regenerate As water skowreth filth away so makes it faire and cleane Thinke not thy sin is washt when yet thou wicked dost remaine The Supper of the Lord. * So in the Supper of the Lord this gratious Couenant Is otherwise set forth to thee that art the Lords seruant The broken bread doth signifie Christs bodie put to death The powred wine his pretious blood doth note vnto thy Faith When Bread and Wine are ministred by Minister to thee Thinke with thy selfe Christ offereth himselfe and grace to mee And when thou eatst drinkst the same perswade thy selfe withall Christs Merits now belong to me to set me free from thrall Thy Baptisme once was ministred the Supper often ought The new birth needeth oft releefe though once t was truly wrought Wherefore as bread and wine do fresh our bodies oftentimes So comforts Christ the conscience with guilt of sinne that pines And as mans bodie gathers heart by bread and wine to liue So by this sacred food the Lord more spirituall strength will giue To doe his will with thankfulnesse more perfect for to be And better able sinne to leaue this is the veritie And finally as thou dost joyne and that in open place Amids Gods people that receiue before Christ Iesus face See then that peace and loue in thee vnfained be to Men And specially to faithfull folke else thou art none of them Stirre vp thy knowledge and thy faith repentance and thy loue Be zealous of this holy food vnworthy lest thou proue Examine well thy heart before to God thy prayer powre And look try how thou dost thriue in grace from that same howre * The fourth good Meane or Exercise that Christ bids thee to vse Is speciall fellowship with Saints the bad thou must refuse The Saints will teach comfort thee and many waies thee aide The bad will badly teach and will make thee of grace afraid * The fifth and last is noting well Gods creatures workes and hand His iudgements and his benefits God cause thee to vnderstand His patient long-sufferance and doings good alway Repentance and Obedience do teach thee euery day Fifthly Of the right vse of the Meanes of Grace and the Reward thereof DRaw neere to God with vpright heart and vse these meanes of grace Then Christ will be thy King Priest and Prophet in ech case Thy King to worke rule thy heart according to his will Most ready for to do thee good and saue thee from all ill Thy Priest for why he offred vp himselfe to death for thee And will apply his precious merits thy heart to purifie And of this thing thou maist be sure because he rose againe From death to life ascended vp and raigneth now in heauen And thence it is he worketh by his scepter and his rod Making his Meanes effectuall to bring thee vnto God And thence he is thy Prophet eke by Ministers that teach His holy word which thou must heare and diligently search Directing all thy wayes thereto with good and honest hart Christ wholly thine thou wholly his by true indeuour art Then God will surely saue thy soule for Christes sake his Sonne And prosper thee in all thy wayes what ere is said or done Hee 'l turne thy suffrings to the best and Satan eke confound His Promises he will fulfill if that thy heart be sound Beleeue then firmely in thy minde that God will count thee pure Full freely and full gratiously Christs Gospell is most sure Repent thee turne and grow in grace be thankfull and rejoyce In suffering with thy Sauiour obey his holy voice And keepe thy selfe within thy lot thy calling and degree Take paines be iust meeke mercifull and God will harke to thee And alwaies watch for Christ shall come to iudge both quicke and dead Thy Bodie shall be raisd from dust and to thy soule joyned Thy sinnes he will not mention the iust he will declare But iudge he will the Reprobate their sinnes he will not spare Their damned state thou shalt behold Christs sentence to commend Yet thou the joyes vnspeakable shalt haue without all end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Forme of Prayer after Conference Parent WE Coloss 1.9 pray thée O God to fill vs with the knowledge of thy will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding to giue vs grace to walks worthy of thée Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God to strengthen vs with all might according to thy glorious power vnto all patience and long-suffering with ioyfulnesse and to make vs truly thankfull vnto thée O Father who hast made vs méete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and for that thou hast and wouldst deliuer vs from the power of darknes and translate vs into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne in whom we haue redemption through his blood euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and Rom. 9.5 who is God ouer all blessed for euer Child Amen Seruant Amen Scholler Amen HEB. 6.1 Let vs goe on to perfection FINIS
all things to its greatest good as of Sinne Afflictions Death c. pag. 214. to 221. 6. Of the last Resurrection Iudgement generall pag. 221. to 228 7. Of watching pag. 228. to 235 8. And of Christs full glorifying of his Church in Heauen pag. 235. The Peroration or Summe of the whole composed in easie plaine meeter pag. 238. to 254. THE COVNTRY-MAN WITH HIS HOVSHOLD Being A familiar Conference concerning Faith towards God and Good Works before Men fitted for the capacitie of the meanest The Speakers conferring be these fiue The Pastor Parent Childe Seruant Scholler Pastor GOd a 2 Ioh. v. 10. speed you Parent And you also b Act. 16.15 If you haue iudged me to be faithfull to the Lord come into my house c vers 9. and helpe vs that we may learne and be stirred vp to d 1 Thess 2.11 walke worthy of God who hath called vs vnto his kingdome and glory Pastor Indeed I haue often and long time marueiled of the generall-grosse neglect and strangenesse of your selfe other housholders in that you haue contented your selues with a bare and fashionable vse of your Ministers labours in publicke without seeking any fellowship whiles you are in prosperitie with them in priuate as touching the matters of God Wherein now at the length it seemeth you desire my helpe For hitherto you and other Housholders haue by your carelessnes this way not onely hindred and discouraged your Ministers in the worke of the Gospell but also wronged your selues and your owne people besides the euill example you haue giuen to others in such sort that neither the judicious can well tell what to thinke of you nor yet you your selues for the greater number I feare know whether you profit or not by the publike preaching of the word though it be both plentifully and fitly set forth of the Ministers and also ordinarily frequented by you I say litle of the want yea of the alienating of the affectiōs of Loue and Delight yea and of Zeale oftentimes which as they are on the one side procured and nourished by often societie and familiaritie and therevpon doe much further the soule for the knowledge beleefe and practise of Godlinesse not vnlike to good handmaides who by their continuall industry do set forward their Mistresse businesse and therein promote her welfare So on the other side these being wanting or estranged many good things become vnprofitable and vsually very wholsome orders and directions are either refused or litle or nothing vsed and so the soule is neuer the neerer and it may be the further off from piety as it commeth to passe by such maides as either do not minde diligence or addict themselues to other matters then their seruice and therefore are so farre from profiting their Mistres that contrarily they do rather incomber her and hindeer her good estate And what dishonour the Lord sustaineth by this profane course I leaue to be lamented of all those that know what Gods glory meaneth and haue any feeling of the greiuous and intolerable losse of it But I pray you what haue you thought of e Act. 20.20 31. S. Paul his three yeeres diligence at Ephesus by night and day in teaching and warning euery one of the Church of God with teares from house to house And what vse haue you made of his plaine exhortation to f Heb. 13.17 obey them that haue the rule ouer you and to submit your selues and likewise of his request g 1 Thess 5.12 13. to know them which labour among you and are ouer you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteeme them very highly in loue for their workes sake Parent For my part I must confes that albeit I haue knowne such testimonies of holy writ yet I haue not so seriously considered applied them to my selfe as now of late time euery day more and more I doe And for others I beséech God to moue their hearts likewise to h Psal 30.1 1 Cor. 16.15 16 dedicate themselues and their houses to God that euery one may helpe and labour with you for the entertainment and promoting of the Gospell of Christ Pastor Verily you haue caused me much greefe because through your strangenesse I haue bin but slenderly able to follow the Lords will i Ezek. 34. by seeking out his sheepe specially those that are lost feeding them in fat pastures laying them in good folds bringing them againe that were driuen away binding that which was broken strengthning that which was sicke c. And for that I could not approue my selfe to be that good and carefull k Iohn 10.3 4. Shepheard who calleth his owne sheepe by name leadeth them out and goeth before them that they may follow him And withall you haue made me much ashamed that I am so ignorant and vncertaine of the particular persons estate in my flocke and the more when I thinke of Cyrus the Persian King of whom it is recorded l Plinie Solin Val. Max. others that he knew both the faces names of all the souldiers in his armie which was very great so that he could salute and as neede required exhort euery one by name to vertue and manhood and yet his drift was but for earthly glory and a temporall victorie But my office is ordained of Christ the Captaine of our Faith to direct and incourage his Souldiers to get the greatest victorie that euer was or can be euen ouer the Deuill Sinne Death and Damnation and to obtaine euerlasting glory and that with Christ the Lord of glory Howbeit it is come to passe through the subtiltie of Sathan and Mans corruption in the lacke of a religious familiar societie betwixt me and my charge that I haue but litle certaine knowledge of their spirituall estate and therefore am forced to expect the lesser fruit of my publike labours eftsoones censuring my selfe as doing my office but by the halues onely in preaching a Sermon or two out of the pulpit ech weeke vpon the Lords day which yet I cannot so profitably performe in fitting my labour to their estate as otherwise I might to wit if I and they had such priuate fellowship as the Lord commendeth vnto vs in his holy word For which and diuers other reasons I doe not onely seeke and take some likely opportunities with them to set on foote this holy Ordinance of the Lord but withall I cease not to pray the Almighty the Author of all good gifts and Father of lights as well to inable and guide mee with necessarie graces and godly wisedome in some good constant course to bestow some priuate paines this way as to open the dores of my peoples hearts and houses to make some good vse thereof and I waite for the mercy of God in raising vp some helpers to the same end and in vouchsafing me some happy entrance into so worthy a meane of his glory and of our spirituall aduantage
so long as he continueth the earnest desire of my heart in this behalfe and my godly labours amongst them For this course that I speake of and you do now begin to embrace if it be well performed and accepted will by Gods blessing make mens houses yea the meanest cottages honourable and reuerend in the account of all godly men as we doe read that sundry in the primitiue Churches founded by the Apostles were adorned by the name of m Rom. 16.5 1 Cor. 16.19 Col. 4.15 Philem. v. 2. Churches the worthiest societies of men in the world Parent Nay rather I and my Familie and such as we haue béen haue cause to gréeue and be ashamed for our strangenesse to you to whomsoeuer else might benefit vs in grace as you haue shewed yea and to feare lest God in his iustice should cast vs out of the number and reckoning of Christian houses as n Genes 21.10 12 14. Abraham at Gods commandement cast out Hagar and Ishmael out of his house because we are so far from the o 2 Tim. 3.5 power of Godlinesse that we want the forme thereof in our houses which ought to be as you haue said as so many Churches both for the forme and power of godlinesse vnlesse it shall please God to direct vs to take a better course and that with spéed and to blesse it vnto our vse Wherefore sir I pray you let me obtaine your present counsell and furtherance to reforme my Houshold and to plant good order therein for this great worke of Gods Holy Gospell And euen now if your time and occasions will permit come in p Act. 10.33 that we may heare all the things that are commanded you of God Pastor You speake in fit time for I am not altogither vnprouided at this present to confer my small gift vnto you and your houshold q Luk. 10.5 Peace be to this house Parent r Psal 129.8 The Blessing of the Lord be vpon vs. Will you that I call in my people that they may enioy the benefit of our Conference at this time Pastor It shall not neede to doe so now till I haue made a Preparatiue by a course which I haue in hand and then hereafter by the grace of God we will proceed altogither My Preparatiue is by this Booke wherein I haue set downe such informations Helps as I iudge most needfull and fit for such Housholds as yours is This therefore I will bestow on you vpon condition you will promise me that you will not be slacke to vse it in your house according to the directions thereof so far forth as you shall finde it vpon iust tryall to be the truth according to Godlinesse and conuenient for your estate For this Booke doth not onely touch the cheifest points of Faith towards God and Good Workes before Men and that in the plainest manner I could deuise for the vnderstanding of the weakest persons and breifely expoundeth the Lords prayer the Ten Commandements and the Confession of Faith with the doctrine of the Sacraments and diuers ſ See the Table of the Contents other necessarie things but also it prescribeth certaine formes of Prayer Thanksgiuing and some Psalmes or Hymnes which you may vse for prayer and praise to God your owne edification and comfort and the stirring vp of others to seeke the Lord with you All which things I desire you not onely to read once or twise ouer for nouelties sake as many are wont to do in these dayes without any further vse in a manner but also to follow the directions and course therein aduised vnlesse you can meete with a fitter helpe for your better inabling and drawing on to call vpon and magnifie Gods name and to confesse his sauing truth of your selues without the guidance of set formes and till you can with iudgement make choise of such Psalmes for priuate vse as are sutable for any condition of minde or bodie you shall be in Parent I most heartily thanke you But I pray you do you propose all that you haue written in this booke to be learned by heart Pastor No But my meaning is Note 1 First that the three formes of Prayer to wit two for the working daies and the the third for the Sabbath the Explanation of the Creede and the direction for singing of the Psalmes be constantly vsed though they be read vpon the booke either by your selfe or some other of your house whom you shall appoint till you or some other I say of your house shall be able either to vse them without the booke or otherwise to conceiue prayer c. of your selues which indeed is the thing that you must principally labour for Note 2 Secondly that all such Questions and Answers as doe passe betweene the Parent and the Childe shall bee learned by heart of all them whose hearts God shall moue and inable to labour therein wheresoeuer they be placed in the Booke and in such order as they stand as also the two formes of thanksgiuing before and after meate And those things are principall and fundamentall points of Religion and therefore most needfull to be learned Note 3 And thirdly those Questions and Answers which passe betwixt the Seruant and the Scholler wheresoeuer they be throughout all the fiue parts of the Booke I doe commend vnto the often and diligent reading and noting of the well-disposed vnlesse it shal please them of their owne accord to get by heart any choise matter which they shall finde in it to be most for their good For daily vse and constant practise in reading good matter specially being penned in forme of Conference and pithily shall by Gods blessing in tract of time preuaile much euen aboue expectation though one cannot attaine to learne euery word in order by heart at least it will bee a Meane to increase knowledge and to make the Points of Doctrine much easier in hearing the publike Ministery Now this part of the Conference I meane betwixt the Seruant and the Scholler containeth sometimes Explanations somtimes Reasons and sometimes Vses of the Points of Doctrine professed in the Conference betwixt the Parent and the Childe and sometimes markes of sauing grace to direct the weaker sort to iudge and discerne the better of their spirituall estate and sometimes confutation of errors and taking away of doubts By Scholler I vnderstand such a one as can write read the English tongue in any ready competent sort though he want other literature And because this kinde of Schollers are better fitted to heare the preaching of the word to look into the holy Scriptures with more likelyhood of fruit than others who haue not those gifts of writing reading I haue therefore assigned him to make answer to the Seruant who also by reason of his or her age and experience for the most part ought to haue more judgment than the Childe in points that tend vnto greater perfection and growth And
withall I haue also brought you the Parent in sometimes asking my helpe and sometimes conferring otherwise with me and my selfe the Pastor answering your Questions replying satisfying your demands aduising or exhorting in sundry matters and passages of the Booke Parent I thanke the Lord for the care you haue had of me and my people and such as we are And I do promise by the grace of God to obserue your order and directions both for my selfe and all my familie as also for other my speciall frends with whom I can preuaile vntill it shall please God to bring vs to some competent perfection that we be as good or better than your Booke Pastor Well then remember your promise and consider that it is impossible for you t 1 Sam. 2.12 13 14 15 16 17 22 23 24 25. to seeke and serue the Lord in the Congregation and yet to to be negligent or prophane in the house And looke that you breake not off a good course well begun but hold on with cheerefull resolution and constancie against all temptations and stumbling blocks And euermore be carefull to proceed with a good and honest heart neuer seeming before men to be more religious than indeed you are before God who is the searcher of the hearts And haue respect to your conuersation that it be such as may u Tit. 2.10 adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things And to this good worke of informing reforming your Houshold it shall be much helpfull for you often and seriously to call to minde First the Commandements which God hath giuen togither with the Promises that he hath made to the truly obedient in this behalfe And secondly the Examples of the Godly Fathers mentioned in Scripture who haue practised furthered this worke and specially of Abraham Iosua and Dauid whom the Lord made notable patterns for all Christian Housholders to imitate Parent I pray you giue me some taste of Gods commandements and promises laid forth to all Housholders Pastor The Commandement or rather Charge that the Lord giueth you is most plainly expressed in Deuteronomie In one place he beginneth thus u Deut. 6.6 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart And in another thus x Deut. 11.18 Yee shall lay vp these my words in your heart and in your soule And then in the former place he proceedeth thus y Deut. 6.7 8 9. And thou shalt teach them diligently vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp And thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets betweene thine eyes And thou shalt write them vpon the posts of thy House and on thy Gates His meaning is Housholders must apply this worke that because mans heart is scarcely by the greatest and most continuall labor brought into due order obedience that first for our selues we meditate his word so much the more carefully and earnestly that we may vnderstand and embrace it in the whole course of our life and secondly that we doe our best endeuour to propogate the doctrine of it from one to another euen to all posteritie He saith Teach them diligently the Originall hath it thus * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Et exacues ea vel Et ea acutè ingeres Tremel Put them pearcingly as warriours sharpen and whet their weapons to pierce and cut their enimies with more easinesse Therefore Parents Housholders must put Gods word so importunately and fitly vpon their children people that there be no failing on their part for lacke of the best course and manner that may be taken but that the other may receiue it So then you must carry your selues towards them as those that will haue no nay and that whatsoeuer else they entertaine or refuse this holy doctrine they must needs embrace Thus the Lord requireth you to be diligently and euermore bent and busie to accept and promote his word to all your people and specially to your children pressing it vpon their consciences whether you be in rest or motion and in what place soeuer you be taking the likeliest opportunities and vsing your greatest wisedome to make it effectuall in their hearts To which ends he admonisheth you to haue it in a readinesse in your hearts as a thing that you alwaies carry in your hands to be put to present vse vpon ech occasion and as a thing that is euer to be seene directly before your eyes and therefore to be alwaies in minde and neuer to be out of the way z Psal 18.21 22. but ready for a continuall rule and constant practise in all your wayes Then the Promise is added in these word a Deut. 11.21 That your dayes may be multiplied and the dayes of your children in the Land which the Lord sware vnto your Fathers to giue them as the dayes of heauen vpon the earth that is to say Both you and yours who serue the Lord in his word shall prosper and be blessed both here euer For the multiplying of dayes noteth the happines of time and liuing vpon earth and the Land of Gods promise or oath which was Canaan signified euerlasting life Parent Shew me likewise the examples of piety in this behalfe with you haue named first of Abraham Pastor Of Abraham the Lord said thus b Genes 18.19 I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord to doe iustice and iudgement that the Lord may bring vpon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Lo here Gods own report both of Abrahams course in glorifying God by his children and houshold also of his owne gratious blessing vpon him and his progenie according to his free promise besides the present fauour God shewed him in acquainting him with his secret purpose to proceede against Sodom and Gomorrhe for which and other causes Abraham is often graced in the holy Scriptures with that speciall title The Friend of God Parent A digression why Abraham is called The friend of God Let me intreat you to declare vnto me more largely plainly the meaning of that title which God gaue vnto Abraham The friend of God Pastor For three Reasons First we know it is the manner and dutie of true and louing frends to shew speciall fauour and kindnesse one to another and to make hearty and vnfained promise of their mutuall loue as well either to other as to ech others posteritie after them and to giue credit either to others affections and words yea and duly and mindfully to performe their promises on both parts as Dauid and Ionathan did But wee read in the Scriptures of Gods singular fauour and mercy on th' one part towards Abraham in calling him by his grace to be faithfull
your children and euery other ignorant person according to their abilitie in hearing Parent What do you vnderstand by the way he should go Pastor The way that a child should go is the right manner of leading his life in the seruice of God righteously and honestly in his society with man and lawfully in the performance of all dutie whereof Godlinesse is the principall And this it the lesson I haue euen now laid before you namely that The fittest time to learne the feare of the Lord is while we are yong Wherefore those Parents and Housholders are much to blame Note what the Prophet Esay saith Esai 55.1 2 3. who carelesly neglect this first and cheifest care of teaching their people to liue vnto God who yet passe modestie in caring and vrging them how they should liue vnto the flesh and the world And do not they I pray you confute themselues for saying it is too early to catechise them when they are yong seeing they judge it the fittest time to invre them to doe somewhat as soone as they can and do beat into their heads how to get or saue somewhat and to forecast for a liuing in time to come And doe they not practise their vsuall prouerb Early sharpe will be a thorne Except they be such foolish persons as cocker their children with nicenesse proud raggs dainty fare c and make them idle drones or worse whereby they become vnfruitfull for Church or Common-wealth yea oftentimes wasters or rather destroyers of the good gifts of God which are none of theirs by right whatsoeuer title they haue to them by humane lawes and conueyance but indeed belong to the children of God Parent And what is taught by not departing from it when he is old Pastor Not onely that what thing is taught in youth continueth in old age as we may see on the one side in those that taste in their age of the good things which they learned in their childhood as on the other side in them that are brought vp in wickednesse who cast forth the euill sauour thereof in their gray haires but also that early instructing profiteth both the vnderstanding and the memorie And therefore it is for the most part that the elder sort that haue not beene informed in their youth doe learne loddly as the common saying is and remember badly Parent Séeing then you haue made it plaine that Parents must teach or catechize their children in priuate as also that it is best to begin with them so soone as they are able to speake or learne any thing I pray you shew me at what particular times and seasons and how often this labour must be bestowed and in what manner Pastor For the particular times and oftennesse Solomons Rule which is generall for all good duties and works of mercy must be obserued namely t Eccles 11.6 In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening with-hold not thy hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good His meaning is that we must exercise our goodnes at all times without ceasing so far as we can and so often as conueniently we may For we must not thinke that God is tyed to man or that he will blesse our labour when we do it after a tempting manner once in a weeke twice in a quarter or but now and then at our faire leasure as who should say God must be at our becke and that the most necessarie grace of saluation is gotten with litle ado where in the meane space earthly things which are transitorie sometimes do vs no good are not obtained but with great continuall paines and forecast But we must learne to serue and waite vpon the Spirit of God for his gratious blessing vpon our diligent vse of the meanes trying when God will please to worke by our labour and taking it for his singular fauour and goodnes toward vs if he will prosper our indeuour at one time or other or at all times when we haue constantly done our best from time to time And if I may giue my iudgement the fittest and likeliest seasons for your purpose are euery night and morning at meales and vpon such motions of their mindes whether proceeding of their owne willingnesse or arising of the manifestation of any notable workes of God as your paines may seeme in all reason most likely to take the deeper impression in their hearts And for the manner which as I haue shewed must be easie plaine and familiar for the benefit of the capacitie so also it must be u Eccles 12.10 cheerefull and pleasant though not without reuerence and grauitie thereby to win and hold the affections and to delight Parent In what forme of words do you thinke fit to teach children at the first Pastor In the shortest and pithiest Questions and Answers that can well be deuised which must be strictly obserued and often repeated And for want of better you may vse this following namely Parent The first A. B. C. of a Christian Childe What is your Religion Childe * Act. 11.26 The Christian Religion Parent In whom do you beleeue Childe x Iohn 14.1 In God Parent What is God Childe y Iohn 4.24 God is a Spirit z Gen. 17.1 Almighty a 1 Tim. 1.17 Psal 90.2 without beginning without ending Parent How many Gods be there Childe b 1 Iohn 5.7 Onely one God but thrée persons Parent How bee the Persons called Childe c Math. 28.19 The Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Parent Who made you Childe d Heb. 1.1 2. God the Father Parent Who redeemed you Childe e 1 Cor. 1.30 God the Sonne Parent Who sanctifieth and preserueth you Childe f 1 Cor. 16.11 12.11 Gen. 1.2 God the Holy Ghost Parent Wherefore did God make redeeme sanctifie and preserue you Childe g Deut. 10.12 32.6 To serue him Parent How will God be serued Childe h Deut. 29.29 After his will reuealed in his word Parent How many parts be there of the word of God Childe Two parts Parent Which be they Childe i Galat. 3.8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18. Rom. 10.5 6. The Law and the Gospell otherwise called the Couenant of workes and the Couenant of Grace Parent And what is meete to teach them in the second place Pastor The Lords prayer Parent What next Pastor The Confession of Faith otherwise called The Creede Parent And what afterwards Pastor Then you may set vpon the doctrine of the Law contained in the Ten Commandements which is the first part of this booke of familiar conference that I haue giuen you and so proceed according to the directions I haue set you downe k 2 Tim. 2.7 And the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things Parent But I pray you how must I deale with them who haue beene neglected to be taught in their youth
because willingly from God vpon the inticement of the Deuill and inwrapped our selues with vnspeakable guilt slauerie and woe rebelling against the Law of God which is holy iust and good and lying open to Gods curse for euermore t t Iohn 3.16 Rom. 5.12 13 14 c. sent forth for the praise of his glorious grace And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord the second Person of the Trinitie euen his onely begotten Sonne to be u u Act. 2.36 our Lord for our Redemption and so to become our Sauiour which is ment by the name * * Matth. 1.21 Iesus and therefore he x x Esai 61.1 2 c. Heb. 1.9 Iohn 3.34 annointed him for the name Christ signifieth Annointed with the Spirit aboue measure that he might be our holy y y Deut. 18.18 c. Prophet to teach vs the way of saluation z z Heb. 10.12 14. our mercifull High Priest to offer himself a sacrifice for vs and our a a Luk. 1.32 33. Psal 72. 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. powerfull King to worke in our hearts his sauing grace to gouerne vs to protect vs and continually to minister vnto vs all blessings néedfull both for soule and bodie Who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost Borne of the Virgin Marie b b Luk. 1.35 2.6 7. Which Iesus Christ to the end he might be a fit Mediator for vs Rom. 5.15 18 19. 8.2 3. tooke the true nature of man vpon him in all things sinne onely excepted and so was holily conceiued by the extraordinarie operation of the Holy Ghost in the wombe of a Virgin called Marie thereby sanctifying our sinfull conceptions and of her was he borne and brought forth into the world after the common fashion of all men c c Gal. 4.4 5. Heb. 2.16 17. that we might be sure that by the partaking of our nature he hath communicated himselfe and all his goodnes to vs. d d Rom. 5.19 Who in the same our nature led a holy life according to all Gods commandements that it might be imputed vnto vs and e e Esai 53. Luk 22.44 23.1 c. Iohn 18. 19. chapter withal suffred vnspeakable torments both in soule and bodie sufficient to haue purged the sinnes of the whole world though none but the faithfull shall receiue any benefit thereby f f Deut. 21.23 Galat. 3.13 1 Thess 1.10 1 Iohn 3.8 Was crucified Who being made a Curse for vs was bound as a guilty person that we might be loosed out of the spirituall chaine and slauerie of Satan and sinne g g Matth. 27. Coloss 2 13 14. Phil. 1.29 Gal. 6.14 Ps 119. 67 71. 2 Cor. 12.20 1 Thess 1.10 Who was condemned wrongfully by the Iudge Pilate that we which are guilty of innumerable transgressions might be discharged before the Tribunall Seat of Gods fearefull iustice and who thereupon was most shamefully executed as a most hainous Malefactor notwithstanding he was most iust and innocent his hands and féete being fastned with nailes to a Crosse and thereon tormented till he was slaine his side pierced with a speare his blood shed both while he was aliue and dead dead and buried and so being truly dead his bodie was buried All which was to satisfie Gods wrath to wrath to take the curse which otherwise was our due desert because h h Rom. 5.6 8 10. wee were vngodly sinners and Gods enemies to kill and burie all our sins with him i i Ephes 2.16 to reconcile God and vs to slay the enmitie k k Philip. 3.10 2 Cor. 4.17 and to sanctifie and make happy and comfortable all our afflictions and persecutions l l Act. 2.24 27 29 30. Ps 16.10 Math. 12.40 1 Cor. 15.54 55. He descended into Hell Yea he abased himselfe yet further euen to the lowest degrée of humiliation continuing thrée dayes and thrée nights contemptibly in the bands of death that he might vtterly abolish the sting of death that he might vtterly abolish the sting of death and teach vs thorow humiliation for our sinnes m m Act. 2.24 2 Cor. 13.4 Iohn 10.18 Notwithstanding hauing payed the vttermost price for all our sinnes and conquered Satan Rom. 4.25 6.4 5 9 10 11. 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. 3.21 Reuel 20.5 6. Sinne Hell Damnation the third day he rose againe frō the dead he triumphantly rose againe from death to life vpon the third day both to assure vs that God will count vs righteous that doe beléeue in his name and also to quicken and restore vs to a new and holy life which is the first resurrection n n 1 Cor. 15.4 5 6. Act. 1.2 3 4 c. And so his soule taking his bodie againe and quickning it by his diuine power he continued for a season vpon the earth He ascended into heauen and o o Act. 1.9 11. Mark 16.19 Heb. 9 24. Ephes 4.10 11. Iohn 14 2. 17.24 Col. 3.2 afterwards did thence gloriously ascend into heauen to take possession of it in our name to appeare in the presence of God for vs and to fill all things and specially his Church with his gifts and graces thereby to lead it thither whence by sinne and iniquitie it was banished And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty p p 1 Tim. 3.16 Heb. 7.25 1 Cor. 15.25 27. There he sitteth at the Fathers right hand making intercession for vs by offering to his Father Act. 2.33 36. Psal 110.1 and applying to vs the merit of his passion where he hath all power and authoritie committed vnto him to be the onely Lord and King for the gouernment of all things vnto the saluation of his people and destruction of his enimies q q Act. 3.21 Iohn 17.24 And there he shall remaine as touching his manhood vntill the latter day to the end we might haue assured and constant comfort because our flesh dwelleth there in the person of our Redéemer Frō thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead r r Act. 17.30 31. 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Math. 25.32 c. Rom. 2.6 At that day he shall returne to pronounce execute iust iudgement vpon all mankinde both the good and bad whether dead afore or found aliue at his comming vnto the praise of his glorious iustice rendring vnto euery one according as their workes shall testifie their faith or vnbeléefe This Iesus Christ then I acknowledge and beléeue to be both my Sauiour my Intercessor and my Iudge vnto whom I earnestly cry ſ ſ Rev. 22.20 Come Lord Iesus come quickly t t Act. 24.16 with 2 Cor. 5.6 8 9 10 11. labouring alwaies to haue a cleare conscience that I may haue boldnes at that day and so I trust that he will pronounce for me and make mée partaker of his glory I beleeue in the Holy Ghost And withall I do u u 1
to know that all things worke togither for good to them that loue thee to bestow vpon vs all things needfull and conuenient for this present life so as we may be best fitted to liue to thy praise our owne soules eternall comfort and to the spirituall profit and aduantage of others in thy Church and especially to the better releefe and refreshing of thy poore afflicted seruants vnto the which ends also we pray thee blesse and prosper vs in the right vse of those thy good gifts which we presently enioy And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. But mercifull Father howsoeuer thou deale with vs for worldly benefits we most hartily desire thée to forgiue vs all our sinnes that are passed iustifying vs in the righteousnes of thy Sonne Iesus Christ And that we féeling the comfort of thy loue in our hearts by faith may for thy sake vnfainedly forgiue them that haue offended vs and by the same grace get stronger assurance to our owne soules that thou Lord wilt in thine infinite mercies forgiue vs all that great and manifold debt of ours And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill And for the time to come we entirely beséech thée to let vs sée the deepe deceitfulnes of our owne fleshly hearts and our corrupt inclination whereupon the Deuill for the most part worketh and withall doe thou stir vs vp to fight continually against the same euen against our euill and wretched lusts the vile fruits of our vnbeléefe and to watch against the Deuill who walketh about as a roaring Lyon séeking whom he may deuoure and like a subtile Serpent studying to deceiue O Lord grant he may neither bewitch vs in prosperitie as that we should denie or forget thée nor make vs froward in aduersitie Mortifie our corrupt nature the rotten and lothsome fountaine of our manifold sins and quicken vs in newnesse of life and in the studie of true godlinesse Which grace of Sanctification and a godly life we do the more earnestly beg at thy mercifull hands because thou hast taught vs plainly that without the same thou wilt not heare vs when we call vpon thée as also for that thou wilt not vouchsafe thine effectuall grace vnto any but vpon their strongest endeuours And so O gratious Lord we do most instantly beséech thée to saue vs from our sinnes to cast vs downe vnfainedly in the féeling of our spirituall miserie and vilenes to lift vs vp in the assurance of thy Sonne Christs merits and to make vs far more laborious for grace for our soules then for earthly fauour for our bodies For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer Touching all which our requests we doe ground our Faith for obtaining them only vpon thée who hast sole right authoritie and power ouer all and who wilt do all things vndoubtedly vnto they owne glory euermore and wilt cause the spirit of glory to rest vpon vs that on our part do glorifie thée And therefore we doe promise to render vnto thée most harty thanks at all times for all thy mercies and fauours plentifully bestowed vpon vs in Iesus Christ and most of all for our Redemption in him beséeching thée to inable vs to praise thée the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in doing those good works which thou hast ordained that we should walke in them and specially the duties of our callings and degrées wherein thou hast set vs. Amen For these and all other necessarie graces and blessings we doe not onely most feruently desire them but also do verily beleeue and desire to beleeue that thou hearest vs alwaies Beseeching thee to giue vs grace to striue against doubting and vnbeleefe and confirme our faith that we may come often vnto thee with all cheerefull willingnes and sound delight and may continue knocking for thy mercy without wearinesse vntill thy Sonne Iesus Christ shall come to dissolue vs and to crowne his owne grace in vs with eternall glory And here confessing thy free and gratious goodnesse in preseruing protecting vs this night past we pray thee teach vs to vse well thy mercy all this day to loue vs still to direct and blesse vs in our honest labours and businesses and so giue vs more and more cause to sing praise and giue thanks vnto thee and to liue and die to thy glory And make vs alwaies mindfull of that great gift of thine Christ and his Gospell to the end we may giue vp our selues to walke with him in deeds and sufferings and séeke our owne and others saluation with holy feare and trembling Finally let not thy word depart out of our mindes neither let vs goe astray from thy commandements And though we be thy most vnworthy and vnprofitable seruants yet be pleased to grant our suite and accept our sacrifice sith we come vnto thée in the onely mediation and intercession of thy blessed Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ And therefore * * 2 Cor. 13.14 the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with vs all Amen Parent Secondly I pray you giue vs a forme of Prayer for the worke-day euening and let it be such as consisteth altogether of the phrases and sentences of holy Scripture to the end we may take the better delight in calling vpon God for we finde our hearts dull and our flesh vnwilling oftentimes for this high seruice but we haue had experience by our vsing those very words which the Holy Ghost hath indited in the Bible that we haue beene quickned and made willing cheerefull and reuerent in our supplications thanks-giuings vnto the Lord. Pastor You may vse this following if you please A Forme of Euening Prayer on the worke-day for the whole Familie A prayer for the Familie on worke-day euening a a Esai 6.3 HOly holy holy b b Revel 4.8 Lord God Almightie which was and is In this forme I haue strictly followed the last translation of the Bible done by his Maiesties speciall commandement appointed to be read in Churches and is to come the whole earth is full of thy glory c c Psal 19.14 Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our Redeemer d d Psal 32.5 51.3 Wee acknowledge our sinnes vnto thee and our iniquities wee will not hide for they are euer before vs. e e Rō 5.12 19. For by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and by his disobedience wee are made sinners f f Psal 51.5 Thereupon wee were shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did our mothers conceiue vs. g g Esai 64.6 So wee bee all of vs as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags Thence it is that wee haue actually h h Dan. 9.5 9. sinned against thee
and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly and haue rebelled euen by departing from thy precepts and from thy iudgements neither haue we obeyed thy voice O Lord our God to walke in thy Lawes which thou hast set set before vs by thy seruants thy prophets i i Rom. 1.9 Neither haue we serued thée with our spirits in the Gospell of thy sonne for though k k Tit. 2.11 12 13. thy grace that bringeth saluation hath appeared vnto vs teaching vs that denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts we should liue soberlie righteouslie and godlie in this present world so looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ l l Phil. 1.27 yet our conuersation hath not béene such as becommeth the Gospell of Christ m m 2 Cor. 6.1 but wée haue ouer much receiued thy grace in vain n n Ephes 4.27 grieuing thy holy spirit o o v. 30. giuing place to the Deuill p p Psal 109.22 wounding our owne hearts within vs q q 1 Cor. 8.11 and the weake consciences of our brethren r r 2 Pet. 2.8 vexing the righteous soules by our vnlawfull déeds ſ ſ 2 Sam. 12.14 giuing great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme t t Lam 3.22 23 Wherefore it is of thy mercies oh Lord that wee are not consumed because thy compassions faile not they are new euerie morning Besides u u Psal 19.12 we cannot vnderstand our errors clense thou vs from secret faults * * Psal 51.9 hide thy face from our sinnes pardon and blot out all our iniquities x x Psal 25.11 for they are great wash vs throughlie y y Apoc. 1.5 from them through him that loued vs z z Esai 53.4 5.10 that bare our griefes carried our sorrowes was wounded for our transgressions whose soule thou madest an offering for sinne a a Mat. 26.38 excéeding sorrowfull euen vnto death b b Iohn 1.29 the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world And c c Heb. 12.14 because without holinesse no man shall sée the Lord and d d Ierem. 10.23 we know that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps e e Lam. 5.21 therefore turne thou vs O Lord and we shall be turned f f Psal 51.11 Create in vs cleane hearts O God and renew right spirits within vs. g g Psal 19.13 Kéep backe thy seruants also from presumptuous sinnes let them not haue dominion ouer vs that so wée may bee vpright and innocent from the great transgression h h 1 Thes 5.23 Sanctifie vs throughout and we pray God that our spirits and soules and bodies may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ To which end i i Ephes 3.14 16.17.18.19 wée bow our knées vnto thée the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that thou wouldest grant vs according to the riches of thy glorie to be strengthned with might by thy spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith that wée being rooted and grounded in Loue may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth length hepth and height and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that wée may be filled with all fulnesse of God So let k k 2 Cor. 5.14 the loue of Christ constraine vs l l 1 Pet. 2.9 to shew forth the praises of thée Lord who hast called vs out of darkenesse into thy maruellous light m m Verse 12. hauing our conuersatiō honest that men may by our good workes which they shall behold glorifie thée in the day of visitation n n 2. Pet. 1.10 and giuing diligence to make our calling and election sure o o Philip. 2.12 wee may worke out our owne saluation with feare and trembling yea and shining as lights in the world p p Luk 15.10 2 Cor. 7.4 we may reioyce both Angells and Men q q Rom. 15.1 2. edifie our weake brethren r r 1 Pet. 3.1 winne them that obey not the word and ſ ſ vers 16. hauing a good conscience that whereas they speake euill of vs as of euill doers that they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good conuersation in in Christ t t 1 Pet. 2 15. for so is thy will O God that with well doing wee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men u u 1 Cor. 15.58 And forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord make vs stedfast vnmoueable and alwaie aboūding in the work of the Lord * * Psal 119.15 directing our waies in thy statutes x x Gal. 6.10 and as we haue opportunity doing good to all men specially vnto them who are of the houshold of faith y y 2 Cor. 9.7 not forgetting chéerefully to communicate with their afflictions z z Mat. 25.40 because the very least of them are the brethren of thy sonne Christ Iesus a a Heb. 13.16 and with such sacrifices thou art well pleased And because b b 1 Pet. 5.8 our aduersary c c Revel 12.9 12 17. the Deuill is come down vnto vs hauing great wrath because hee knoweth hee hath but a short time making warre with them that keepe the commandements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ d d 1 Thes 2.18 hindering them also e e Math. 4.3 Ephes 6.11.12 and tempting them with his wiles and spirituall wickednesses f f Reuel 12 9. being that olde serpent which deceiueth the whole world we pray thée g g Ephes 6 10. make vs strong in the power of thy might h h 1 Pet. 5.8 9. to resist him stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren that are in the world and to be sober and vigilant i i Ephes 6.13 17 181 taking vnto vs the whole armour of God especially the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance that we may be able to withstand him in the euill day k k Iohn 8 44. and not do his lusts And séeing l l 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh grant we may be armed likewise with the same minde no longer to liue the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to thy will O God nor m m Rom. 6◠to suffer sinne to raigne in our mortall bodies n n Luk 8.14 that we should obey it in the lusts thereof nor bée choked with cares and riches and pleasure of this life And whereas the flesh o o Galat. 5.17
lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that we cannot doe the things that we would we wretched persons do intreat thée p p Rom 7.24 to deliuer vs from the body of this death through Iesus Christ our Lord q q verse 22. that we may not only delight in the law of God after the inward man but also r r Gal 5.16.24 walke in the spirit and crucifie the flesh with the affections lusts And seeing Å¿ Å¿ 1 Iohn 5.19 the whole world lieth in wickednesse t t Ioh. 17.14.15 and hateth vs because we are not of the world wee pray not that thou wouldst take vs out of this world but that thou wouldest kéep vs from euill u u Rom. 12.2 that we may not be conformed vnto the children of this world * * Luke 16.8 who are in their generation wiser then the children of light x x 1 Cor. 1.27 28.29 Thou hast made foolish the wisdome of this world for not many wise not many mighty not many noble are called but thou hast chosen the foolish things the weake the base the despised and things that are not that no flesh should glory in thy presence Oh then giue vs grace O Lord y y Jam. 4.4 not to affect the friendship of this world which is enmity with God nor z z 1 Ioh. 2.15 16.17 to loue the world nor the things that are in the world which passeth away and the lust therof and is not of the father but to doe thy will O God and so to abide for euer And now Lord a a Psal 139.2.3.4 who knowest our downe sitting our vprising who vnderstaÌ„dest our thoughts a farre off who compassest our paths art acquainted with all our waies For there is not a word in our tongues but lo O Lord thou knowst it altogether b b Esai 26.9 stirre vs vp that with our spirits within vs we may séeke thee earely c c 1 Thes 5.6 Suffer vs not to sleepe as others do d d Eph. 5.11.14 1 Cor. 15.34 in the vnfruitful works of darknes but cause vs to arise from the dead to awake to righteousnesse the thy son Christ may giue vs light e e 1 Thes 5.10 who died for vs that whether we wake or sleepe we should liue together with him f f Luk. 2.37 so let vs serue thee night day g g Psal 3.5 4 8. and lye downe in peace and not be afraid and let our sleepe bee sweet Af-Afterwards i i Psal 104.23 let vs awake and goe forth vnto our works to our labors vntill the euening k k Psal 31.15 for our times are in thy hand l l Psal 3 5. 4.8 and thou Lord onely sustainest vs and makest vs dwell in safetie m m Psal 127.2 And because it is vaine for vs to rise vp early and to sit vp late to eate the bread of sorrowes n n Psal 129 8. the blessing of the Lord be vpon vs. If for these earthly things thou Lord dost say o o 2. Sam. 15.26 I haue no pleasure in you behold here are we do thou to vs as seemeth good vnto thée p p 1 Cor. 10.31 And Lord whether wée eat or drinke or whatsoeuer we doe moue our hearts to doe all to thy glory q q Esai 64.5 and so let vs reioyce working righteousnesse and remembring thée in thy waies And for our selues r r Psal 90.12 teach vs to number our daies and because Å¿ Å¿ Iob 4.19 our houses of clay whose foundation is the dust are crushed before the moath t t Deut. 32.29 to consider our latter end u u Eccles 12.13 Make vs mindfull also good Lord that thou shalt bring euery worke into iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or whether it be euill and therfore * * Psal 119.37.60 quicken vs we desire thee in thy way that wee may make haste and not delay to kéepe thy commandements with our whole man x x Psal 51.18 Do good in thy pleasure vnto Zion build thou the walls of Ierusalem y y Acts 9.5 Luk 21 19. Grant thy persecuted members may possesse their soules in their patience z z Math. 11.28 29. Giue rest vnto the soules of all that labour and are heauy laden a a Psal 147.4 Heale the broken in heart and binde vp their wounds b b Psal 72.12.13 14. Deliuer the poore and them that haue no helpers redéem their soules from deceit and â—â—olence and precious let their bloud be in thy sight c c Psal 146.7.8 9. Execute iudgement for the oppressed giue food to thy hungry ones loose thy prisoners preserue the strangers reléeue the fatherlesse and widdowes d d Psal 41.3 Strengthen thy mercifull ones vpon their beds of languishing and make their beds in their sicknesse e e Psal 3.8 Let thy blessing be vpon all thy people f f 2 Sam. 15 31 O Lord we pray thée turne the counsel of the vngodly into foolishnes yea and g g Psal 10.5 breake thou the arme of the wicked euill men notwithstanding let h h Psal 141.5 our prayers be in their calamities i i 1 Tim. 2.2 Blesse our noble King and the hopefull Prince and all that are in authority ouer vs that wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlines honesty k k 2 Thes 3.1 Let thy word haue frée course and be glorified l l Eph. 6.19.20 Giue vtterance vnto thy Ministers in generall particularly to ours that they may open their mouthes boldly and speake as they ought to speake making knowne the mysterie of the gospell m m 2 Cor. 6.4 and in al things approue themselues as the Ministers of God n n Act. 17.11 Grant we may receiue the Word with all readines and search the Scriptures daily whether those things be so o o Psal 67 2 6 7. And let thy way be known vpon earth thy sauing health among all nations and so let the earth yéeld her increase and let God euen our owne God blesse vs let God blesse vs and let all the ends of the earth feare him p p 2 Tim. 2.19 Let euery one of vs that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity q q 1 Sam. 25.6 Peace be to vs and peace be to our house and peace be vnto all that wee haue r r Psal 145.15 Let our eyes wait on thee O Lord and giue thou vs our meat in due season Å¿ Å¿ Psal 108.12 Giue vs help from trouble and t t 1 Cor. 10 13. suffer vs not to be tempted aboue that we are able but with the temptation make a way to escape that
b b Psal 5.3 my voice shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord. c c Psal 43.3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me vnto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles d d Psal 85.7 Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy saluation And howsoeuer e e Heb. 4.2 Ierem. 7.8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 11.17 I haue often heard thy holy word called vpon thy great name and had to do with the seales of the righteousnes of Faith not for the better but for the worst at least wise with small or no fruit yet now I humbly pray thée make me like f f Luk 8.15 good ground that I may with an honest and good heart heare thy word kéepe it and bring forth fruit with patience And although g g Psal 8.1 3 6 9. thy name being excellent in all the earth by reason of the works of thy fingers h h Psal 111.2 3 4 5 7. which are great and wonderfull honorable and glorious veritie and iudgment I haue not sought out thy workes nor i i Esai 5.12 considered the operation of thy hands because I haue not had pleasure therein yea and though k k Psal 40 5. many are thy wonderfull workes which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to me ward they cannot be reckoned in order vnto thée l l Esai 64.7 and I haue not stirred vp my selfe to take hold of thée m m Rom. 1.21 neither haue bin thankfull n n Ps 119.76 nor praised thée for thy mercifull kindnesse o o 2 Chron. 32.35 at least wise I haue not rendred againe according to the benefit done vnto me p p Rom. 2.4 neither haue I knowne that the goodnes of God hath led me to repentance Yet now Lord q q Esai 26.10 by the fauour thou shewest vnto me let me learne righteousnes and r r 2 Chron. 32.26 humble my selfe for my hardnes of heart that thy wrath come not vpon me And ſ ſ Ierem. 31.18 whereas thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoke not t t Mica 6.9 hearing the rod and who hath appointed it yet most gratious God grant that now at the last u u Esai 9.13 I may turne vnto thée that smitest me and seeke thée the Lord of Hostes * * Heb. 3.7 13 15. To day giue me grace to heare thy voice not hardened in my heart through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Make me x x 1 Pet. 2.17 to loue brotherly fellowship y y 1 Pet. 4.4 not running with the prophane to the excesse of ryot but z z Coloss 3.16 teaching and admonishing my selfe and others in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie with grace in my heart vnto thée a a Act. 12.5 praying earnestly and giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto thée in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ b b Heb. 3.13 exhorting and comforting my selfe and others with thy words c c 1 Thess 4.18 and humbling my selfe vnto them in thy feare O God d d Iam. 4.10 Let thy word dwell richly in me in all wisedome which grant I may e e Prov. 4.21 kéepe in the midst of my heart that I may not sinne against thée but obserue to do as thou hast commanded me f f Deut. 4.32 neither turning aside to the right hand nor to the left Euermore grant g g Iam. 4.8 Heb. 10.22 1 King 8.61 1 Sam. 16.7 that I may draw néere vnto thée with a true vpright and plaine heart h h Phil 3.9 and studying to be found in Christ i i 2 Tim. 3.5 and to haue the power of godlinesse in me I may k k Phil. 3.14 presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus that at the last l l Rom. 9.23 thou maist make knowne the riches of thy glory vpon me a vessell of thy mercie and m m 1 Pet. 1.9 I may receiue the end of my faith which is the saluation of my soule n n Heb. 13.7 Make thy seruant the Minister of thy Gospell which shall speake vnto me and others this day the word of God o o Ezra 7.6 a ready Scribe p p Mat. 13.52 instructed vnto the kingdome of heauen like vnto a man that is an Housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old Stirre him vp q q 2 Tim. 2.15 to studie to shew himselfe approued vnto God a workeman that néedeth not to be ashamed rightly diuiding the word of truth r r 2 Thess 3 2. Deliuer him from vnreasonable and wicked men Strengthen him that he may ſ ſ 2 Tim. 4 7 8. fight a good fight finish his course and kéepe the faith and so giue him the crowne of righteousnesse t t Act. 16.14 And open my heart O Lord that I may attend vnto the things of thy word u u Act. 17.11 and receiue the same with all readinesse of minde searching the Scriptures daily whether those things be so And good Lord * * 2 Tim. 2.7 giue me vnderstanding in all things not onely for to try the spirits whether they are of God but also that I may x x Deut. 33.3 receiue of thy words euen y y Luk. 12.42 my portion of meat in due season z z Psal 141.5 yea when I am reproued let me take it as an excellent oyle which shall not breake my head Far be it from me that I should be a a Act. 7.54 cut to the heart and gnash at the Minister with my téeth but let me be pricked b b Act. 2.37 38. in my heart vnto repentance and receiue of the Ministerie how I ought to walke and to please God c c 1 Thess 4.1 and therein to abound more and more Prepare me O Lord d d Iam. 1.21 to lay apart all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnesse that I may receiue with méeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to saue my soule e e Psal 119.39 Incline my heart vnto thy testimonies and not to couetousnes f f 1 Tim. 6.9 lest falling into temptation and a snare and into many foolish hurtfull lusts they drowne me in destruction and perdition Alwaies make me carefull to g g Ephes 4.15 1 Tim. 1.5 grow in faith and a good conscience And let me neuer h h Iam. 1.22 deceiue my selfe in being a hearer onely and not a doer of the word And because oftentimes i i Math. 13.21 tribulation and persecution ariseth because of the word whereat I sée many are by and by offended I pray thée teach me k k Math. 7.24 to build my house vpon a rocke like a wise man l
take this for a taste which if you will read and sing togither with all your Houshold but once on euerie worke day in the Euening you shall finde that those who can learne any thing shall before the yeare goe about performe it by heart of themselues although they bestow no other time vpon it A godly Hymne or Psalme collected out of the booke of DAVIDS Psalms and composed of choise verses which do breifely point at some of the cheifest Lessons of Faith towards God and of good Workes towards Men all for the most part in forme of prayer praise to God Fit for the more ignorant sort to sing at their ordinarie worke and at other times convenient to the glory of God and their owne edification Psal 92 vers 1 IT is a thing both good and meete to praise the Highest Lord And to thy name O thou most High to sing withone accord vers 2 To shew the kindnesse of the Lord betime ere day be light And eke declare his truth abroad when it doth draw to night Psal 55 vers 1 O God giue eare and do apply to heare me when I pray And when to thee I call and cry hide not thy face away Psal 39 vers 9 From all the sinnes that I haue done Lord quite me out of hand And make me not a scorne to fooles that nothing vnderstand Psal 143 vers 2 If thou O Lord do straitly marke our foule iniquitie O Lord who can before thee stand excused for to be Psal 130 vers 4 But mercy and compassion O Lord are still with thee That men may loue feare the name of thy great Maiestie Psal 111 vers 10 His feare true wisedome doth begin his lawes obserue do they That any vnderstanding haue his praise doth last for aie Psal 119 vers 133 Direct my footsteps by thy word that I thy will may know And neuer let iniquitie thy seruant ouerthrow vers 36 Incline my heart thy lawes to keepe and couenants to embrace And from all filthie auarice Lord shield me with thy grace vers 37 From vaine desires and worldly lusts turne backe mine eyes and sight Giue me the spirit of life and power to walke thy waies aright The second part Psal 133 vers 1 Behold how good a thing it is and pleasant for to see Brethren together fast to hold the bond of amitie Psal 41 Ver. 1 And he is blest that carefull is the needy to consider For in the season perillous the Lord will him deliuer Psal 94 Ver. 12 And Lord that man is happie sure whom thou dost keepe in awe And through correction dost procure to teach him in thy Lawe Psal 72 Ver. 4 Yet thou dost helpe the weake poore with aid and make them strong And eke destroy for euermore all those that doe them wrong Psal 116 Ver. 10 I did belieue therefore I spake yet I was troubled sore Psal 119 Ver. 94 But I am thine saue me my God for I haue sought thy lore Psal 43 Ver. 5 Why art thou then so sad my soule and fretst thus in my brest Still trust in God for him to praise I hold it euer best Psal 125 Ver. 4 Doe well O Lord vnto all those that vpright are in heart But those that vnto crooked waies shall choose to turne apart Vers 5 Them shall the Lord with workers lead of all iniquity But peace vpon his Israell for euermore shall be Psal 80 Vers 19 O Lord of Hostes through thy good grace conuert vs vnto thee Behold vs with a pleasant face and then full safe are wee Psal 57 Vers 13 Set forth and shew thy selfe O God aboue the heauens bright Extoll thy praise on earth abroad thy Maiestie and might Parent I pray you what Psalmes of Dauid do you iudge most edifying and comfortable for our ordinary vse Pastor Twelue select Psalmes Me thinketh the first the fourth the eight the twelfth the fifteenth the ninteenth the twenty fifth the thirty second the fiftie first the seuenty third the one hundred third and the hundred ninteenth are easiest and fittest for an ignorant familie For the which I referre you to your Psalme books specially I recommend the fifteenth Psalme vnto you wherein a true Christian is pithily and summarily described by his proper marks and fruits And if any of you can sing the tune of Psalme 136. and 148. you may sometimes vse the same fifteenth Psalme which I haue paraphrased in this forme following and fitted to be sung in that tune also by two the one making the question and the other answering An Hymne made vpon the fifteenth Psalme Psalme 15. in another tune in manner of a Dialogue and may be song by two the one representing IEHOVA and the other DAVID To the tune of Psalme 136. Dauid 1. IEhoua omnipotent shew forth what folke they are Shall soiourne in thy tent As Pilgrimes wont to fare The members here Of Church fighting but aye dwelling in heauens there Iehoua 2. The righteous soule he walkes vpright in constant wise Entire and Iustice workes his carefull exercise Likewise the truth in heart doth speake without deceit the simple sooth 3. This man maliciouslie depraueth not with tongue So neither frowardly his neighhour doth he wrong Ne knowes slandour nor yet doth broch a foule reproach ' gainst his neighbour 4. Each vile one is abhor'd in his vnpartiall eye Free fearers of the Lord he much doth magnifie And if he sweareth though hurt there-frō to him do come himselfe not spareth 5. On gaine his heart 's not bent as vsurers for vse Nor ' gainst the innocent reward at all doth chuse Dauid Good godly deede why then doth he Iehoua for charity and not for meede Dauid These marks Lord are they true Iehoua These markes be veritie Dauid O'rethrowne iust shall I rue Iehoua O'rethrowne iust shall not be Nor any ill to him whose way goes not astray from this my will Parent What ordinances hath the Lord appointed and left vnto his Church in his wisedome and mercy to further speciall prayer and thankesgining in more extraordinary occasions Pastor Fasting for Prayer feasting for thanksgiuing and Vowes for both Which learne in the larger Catechismes and specially in the booke intituled A Treatise of Christian Religion ☞ THE FOVRTH PART Concerning the Sacraments of the New testament The third outward mean of Grace first in generall Parent WHat are the Sacraments of the Testament Childe a Gen. 17.1 7 11. Rom. 4.11 1 Cor. 11.25 Publike and holy signes and Actions ordained by the Lord Iesus mystically setting forth and sealing the Couenant of Grace Seruant Hath God ordained the Sacraments to begin grace in any persons Scholler b Rom. 4.11 10.14 17. No but God by his spirit in Christ doth by the Sacraments confirme and strengthen grace where it is already begunne Seruant How then doe you esteeme the Sacraments in respect of Christs minde towards you Scholler c Acts 2.38 1 Cor. 11.24 25