promised to give Lord give therefore a gratious answere through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee O Father of mercy and the holy Spirit the Comforter be all honour and glory in heaven and earth to all eternity AMEN Another private Prayer immediatly after receiving the Lords Supper LOrd make us thankefull for all thy mercies especially for the knowledge of thy sonne our ever blessed Redeemer and for these seales of our salvation now received Holy Jesus who even now from the right hand of the father hearest and beholdest what we have done according to thine owne institution in remembrance of thy death and passion forgive us all our failings and imperfections accept our wills to obey thee more perfectly and as thy selfe gavest the signes so give thou who only canst the powerfull effects thereof that every one of us may evidently feele the vigour and strength of this spirituall refection in our soules and consciences more and more to a full assurance of our interest in thee peace of conscience through thee sanctified wills and affections by thee and that candor of manners holinesse of words and actions which may cleerely shine in our conversations before all men to thy glory and our comfort in life and death Lord heare and help us Lord encline thy mercifull eare unto us and doe it for his merit who now intercedeth for us thy sonne our holy Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN CHAP. XV. § 1. Of the Sabbath the name institution things considerable for the sanctification the beginning and ending reasons of Gods institution thereof § 2. Of the change to the Lords day now to be observed of Christians § 3. How we must now sanctifie it 1 SAbbath signifieth a rest from motion or worke hence this day set a part for holy conventions and the publike service of God is called a Sabbath thereto sanctified and hallowed by Gods appointment for every rest or cessation from worke is not the Sabbath of the Lord. 2. The Lord having perfected the worke of creation rested on the Seaventh day that is ceased from creation blessed it sanctified or appointed it to be kept holy by man as is repeated and interpreted in the morall law given by the ministry of Moses 3. In this praecept are considerable those things which are 1. Morall and Naturall 2. Positive and ceremoniall 1. The Morall part is that a seaventh day be set apart and kept holy for divine worship and rest from servill workes and this as all morall precepts having their ground in the law of nature concernes and bindes all men in all ages whose reason telleth them that there must be a time for the publike service of God 2. The Positive and Ceremoniall part is that which bound all men to the observation of the seaventh day from the creation untill it was changed as all the Leviticall ceremoniesâ— for a seaventh day to begin from Christs resurrection from the dead and also that which bound the Jewes to the observation of certaine ceremoniall rests and solemnities thereon untill the substance of those shadowes were come so wee read of their severall Sabbaths as first their great Sabbath which was that on which concurred a double solemnity as the last day of the Pasover and the seaventh day Sabbath secondly their holidaies or solemne feast daies wherein they were to feast and rejoyce before the Lord see Levit 23 24. c. Deut. 16. 14. and these were also to them Sabbaths Lam 1. 7. the adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Thirdly their Sabbath of the earth every seventh yeare to rest Exod 23. 11. Levit 25. 4. Numb 28. 10. Fourthly Sabbaths of yeares seven times seven yeares 49. after which the trumpet was to â—ound the Jubile Levit 25. 8 9. Fitly their Sabbath of weekes see Levit. 23. 15 16. Deuâ— 16. 9 10. these were ceremoniall appertaining to the Levitie all law and therefore determined and ended with the rest of those ceremonies so Paul arrangeth them and would have no man judge Christians in respect of any such Sabbath Colos 2. 16. yea hee counteth it returning to weake and beggerly elements to observe daies c. Galat. 4. 10. 4. The seventh day Sabbath began at Evening and so ended the next day Evening according to the beginning and ending of naturall daies from the Creation as 't is saide the evening the morning made the first day from Even unto Even shall you celebrate your Sabbath but our Lords day beginneth in the morning from the resurrection of Christ on the morning of the third day and that 's not without a mystery that the Legall sabbath began with darknesse and the Evangelicall beganne with light 5. God appointed the observation of the Sabbath for many reasons 1. That it might be a day for Gods publike service as it was and is observed that men might come together to heare the Law pray receave the holy Sacraments c. Luk 4. 16. Act 20. 7. 1. Cor 16. 2. 2. To keepe in memory the work of creation Exod 20. 10 11. 3. In the giving of the law was added that which concerned Israels deliverance from their Egyptian servitude a type of our freedome from the bondage of sinne and Satan remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keepe this Sabbath day 4. That it might be a signe betweene God and his people that they might knowe that he is the Lord that sanctifieth them and a signe of the eternall rest in the life to come as it is said there remaineth therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sabbath keepping to the people of God 5. To move masters to be just and equall to their servants and beasts in remembrance of their owne condition on the seventh day thou shalt rest that thy Ox and thy Asse may rest and the sonne of thy hand-maid and the stranger may bee refreshed Exod 23. 12. that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou and remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt c. 6. That God and his lawes may be remembered that in case any forgetfulnesse of him should fall on man most apt to forget God the very solemnity of the day might remember him 6. Sanctification of the Sabbath on Gods part was his appointment to keepe it holy on mans the setting it apart from common use and ordinary workes to spend it in holy exercises according to God's commandement profanation of the Sabbath was and is by doing those workes which God prohibited to be done on that day as servile workes or on any day as sinne or any thing hindering his workship on that day to bee performed as humane servile or ordinary workes of ourcallings all workes are not prohibited on the Sabbath the Preists by the law did sacrifice thereon this as other like were divine or such as appertained to the
sanctification of the Sabbath so are meditation on Gods workes wisedome power benificence providence c. hearing reading preaching praying administration and receaving the sacraments workes of mercy and necessity c 1. This Sabbath so farre as it was ceremoniall was changed for the full and true morall part thereof to bee performed on the Lords day which is a Christians sabbath or holy rest for to the publike service of God still religiously to be kept because 1. It is the Key of religion and that which being duely observed enableth us to the performance of all the rest for therein we are to learne our duty to God and man 2. This law God twice wrote with his owne hand in tables of stone to â—â—itate the perpetuity thereof as farre as it is morall 3. If there were no fixed time for the publike service of God how should men agree to meet therein One would have a farme another Oxen or some other secular businesse to distract them one from another Moreover if there were no fixed day 't is much to bee feared the men of this world for their present emoluments would often adjourne Gods service as Felix did Pauls discourse of righteousâ—esse temperance and future judgement with a goe thy way for this time and when I have a convenient season I will call for thee 4. The same reasons for the keeping holy a Sabbath remaine to Christians which for substance God gave for the performance thereof before the Gospell we and our servants have need of rest need to remember God to learne his will to pray and joyne in his publike worship 5. Christ came not to repeale or dissolve the morall law in any one jot or title nor indeed is it changeable or dispensable nor may any part of Gods worship therein commanded be taken away though we are not now to keep so rigid a rest as was ceremoniall to the Jews to remember them of something peculiar to them in their minority and subjection to those ceremonies which were their schoolemaster to Christ. 6. The Church of Christ hath constantly since the Apostles time kept this day which we now celebrate as an holy rest to conclude it is the worlds birth day wherein it first saw light the Queene of daies the praeludium of the Saints resurrection Math 27. 53. the type of the eternall rest and Sabbath to come Isai 66. 23. which yet remaineth for the people of God Heb 4. 9. 2. For the better understanding of these things wee must first consider that though we read no particular precept for the transposition of the Sabbath from the seventh to that which we now celebrate which is the first of the weeke Mat 28. 1. Mark 16. 1. 2. 6. Luk 24. 1. 3. Joh 20. 1. 1 Cor 16. 2. Rev 1. 10. yet is it most likely that Christ the Lord of the Sabbath prescribed the change and that as hee was with Moses forty daies in the mount to teach him the law and government of the Church under the same not leaving his people to any the least point of will-worship and voluntary religion as may appeare in his strict limiting them to the patterne shewed Moses to the very snuâ—â—ers ashpans basons and pinnes of the sanctuary so also when he was before his ascension forty daies with his disciples teaching them what to preach and how to governe the Church though hee would not againe relade and burden them with antiquated ceremonies as touch not tast not handle not yet neither would he leave them to any will-worship but prescribe them what they should doe concerning so maine a point as the transposition and change of the Sabbath neither needed he otherwise to confirme a law naturall and morall then by shewing himselfe Lord of the Sabbath by taking that away from it which was ceremoniall and transporting it to another day so that as from Christs own appointment of the sacrament it was called the Lords Supper so also from his owne appointment this which we now keepe Sabbath was called the Lords day For who may presume to appoint such a thing but the Lord of the Sabbath Or who may call any thing the Lords or ordaine any thing in his holy worship which his selfe hath not appointed And it is worthy our noting that Paul appointing collections for the poore on that day 1. Cor 16. 1 2. saith also 1 Cor 11. 23. 1 Cor 15. 3. that he delivered them that only which he had received of the Lord and that there speaking of that day he spake as of a thing then in use and custome for holy conventions preaching praying receaving the Sacraments among Christians See Act 20. 7. so that Christ commanded and instructed them and they only ordered the Churches accordingly without all dispute it is sufficient for us to bee followers of the Apostles as they were of Christ considering that they were assisted by an infallibility of spirit in these things Secondly we must consider why Christ changed it which was because 1. The ceremoniall part thereof was changable by the Lord of the Sabbath he tooke it not away because the morality is indispensable and unchangable as having it's ground in the law of nature not withstanding that which some obiect to the contrary that there is no principle thereof leading a meere naturall man to the observation of a seventh day sabbath for 1. In the very creation God sanctified the Sabbath and hallawed it by his owne rest thereon as afterward by his absteining to give them Manna on that day and before Moses received the law on Sina written on tables of stone he said unto the people Exod 16. 29. The Lord hath given you the Sabbath 2. The naturall mans principles before the fall and after the fall in the state of corruption differ in many things and degrees as light and darknesse The naturall man in this existence neither doth receive nor can knowe the things of Gods spirit so that he wanteth illumination and consequently the use of diverse principles necessary to lead and guide him in the way of sanctity which in his pure essence and state of innocency he had as a compleate and perfect law of nature 3. The darknesse of minde which fell on man by sin was so generall that it left him only some such obscure knowledge of a Deity to be worshipped and a conscience which served rather to check their failings therein then to enforme them as that it left them without all excuse thus they that had not the written law were a law to themselves the prudent among them acknowledging that there was no nation so immane and barbarous but it beleeved there was a God yet condemning their own ignorance as much in the manner of his worship as their apprehension of him knowing like blinde men out of the way that they erred they groaped after him but could not finde the way
his voice wherein are the issues of life and death remember that the time is holy by Gods owne institution that the place is consecrated and set apart for Gods publike worship and let that come into thy minde which God said unto Moses approaching towards him loose thy shooes from thy feet for the place thou standest on is holy ground to thy selfe thus appliable put off all thy carnall affections resigne thy selfe body soule unto the guidance of Gods holy word and spirit Christ said not in vaine my house shall be called an house of prayer to all nations and where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them 6. Pray privatly that God would forgive thee thy sinnes give thee such a measure of his spirit to enable thee to serve him as may make thee therein acceptable to him blesse his owne ordinance unto thee sanctify thee body and soule to his service that thou maist sanctify his Sabbath with that zeale care and fervency of spirit which may please him that hee would assist the Ministers of his word and thy selfe and the whole congregation so that the word may profit you to the amendment of life and building you up to the assurance of salvation in Christ. In the Sabbath if thou wilt performe thy duty well thou must 1. Begin with delight in it and all the service of God therein to be performed this was God's condition of prospering Israel that they should call the Sabbath a delight the carnall man for feare of humane law or censure resteth from his ordinary workes goeth to Church joyneth with the Congregation in prayer hearing c. but it is irksome to him he thinkes the time long because he delighteth not in the Lord and his Sabbath but he that through delight therein keepeth it not as in help to sanctification keepeth it no better then a beast 2. Glorifie God therein In hearing praying receiving the holy Sacrament singing praises c. thou shalt honour him not doing thine owne waies any servile worke Those things may be done which are subordinate to the sanctification of a Sabbath as the Priests laboured in sacrificing the Ministers now doe in preaching and officiating without breach of this precept Workes of necessitie or mercy to man or beast are to be done the Ox fallen into a pit must be releived the Physitian Apothecary Chirurgion or others in case of necessitie may and must respectively helpe though it be the ordinary worke of their calling because it is a worke of mercy so to doe is to honour God as on the contrary it were to his dishonour as if his law bound any man from doing all the good hee can or shewing mercy to the distressed whereas indeed he is a God of mercy loveth the same in all those who beare his image but thou must not for gaine doe that which might equally be omitted as bargaining bearing burdens or other servile worke or labour of thy calling or travelling except in case of necessity or subordination to a Sabbath dayes workes it is certainly an ingratefull sacriledge to rob God of his owne daies service appointed for no necessitie of his but only for our own good and salvation and to entrench on that which he hath reserved to himselfe whereas he hath allowed men six daies to doe their workes and take their lawfull delights therein Therefore hee saith as we must not on the Sabbath doe our own waies so must not we finde our owne pleasures nor speake our owne words it is an hatefull robbery of God to use pastimes on that day though lawfull on others much worse those which are never lawfull whereby the Devill is more served on that day then any other The many fearefull judgements of God on offenders herein and that which usually befalleth them in that God seldome prospereth the most probable industries of such is enough to deter all considering men from profanation of the Lords day 3. Doe what good thou canst to thy selfe in that which concerneth thy soule or thy body health and preservation in case of necessitie or to others in the like at convenient times when the publike or private worship of God require not thy attendance walke in the fields or gardens that thou maist contemplate on Gods creatures and his benificence power providence and wisedome therein visit the sick and imprisoned if thou have ability and convenience of releiving or comforting them 4. Absteine from immoderate drinking feeding sleeping and whatsoever else may render thee lesse apt for the sanctification of this day 5. As all thy life thou must rest from sinne so specially on this day wherein the very sanctity of the time violated doubleth the offences committed there when God specially requireth the sanctimony and endeavours to learne his will and doe not thinke it enough to rest from labour as God resteth not in an inactive contemplation and as the glorified Saints in the life to come in their rest aud refreshing shall yet continually sing their Halleluiahs and doe those things which shall be to the eternall glory of God in them so doe thou now compose thy selfe to have thy present conversation in heaven and to begin thy rest and Sabbath here which shall never end When the Sabbath is ended if thou canst write down some principall heads for directions or of comforts heard that day and by often perusing them commit all to memory However repeat to thy selfe if single or with thy family the summes of that thou hast heard praise God for the same sing Psalmes meditate of the eternall rest whereof this is a type frame thy whole life for the attaining thereto beg pardon of God for thy severall failings and defects and pray for the assistance of his good spirit and that his ordinance may be powerfull in thee and thine to life eternall A Prayer for the Sabbath day morning O Lord our God holy and merâ—â—â—â— Wâ—â—umbly pray thee for Jesus Christ sake to forgive 〈◊〉 our sinnes to cleanse us bodies and soules from all those corruptions which make us lesse able to serue thee as we ought and unworthy to appeare before thee O our God be pleased to send the Comforter to enlighten us and to open our understandings that being now sequested from all worldly cares affections and thoughts we may lift up our hearts to thee serving thee in fervency of spirit and truâ—th that we may this day beginne our heaven on earth in doing thy will here as it is there done And because they are unworthy of new blessings who are unmyndfull of those they have received we here desire to render thee the fruites of our hearts and lipps praise and thanksgiving for all thy mercies and favours eternall and temporall for thy unspeakable love in electing us to salvation for thy infinite goodnesse in creating us after thyne owne glorious image to a capacity of light and understanding that we might be able in some measure
parity of manners conciliateth love but Gods love createth our likenesse to him hence is it that the most excellent creatures love him most whereby they are made such some think that ardency of love denominateth those Angells which stand in Gods presence Seraphim certaine it is such are we as is our love our manners are not estimable by that which we knowe but by that we love good or evill love maketh us such if we love God we are godly if the world worldly if sinne sinfulf all men the best of all doe sinne but the wicked only love sinne looke how the glasses species are as is the posture thereof if you turne it to heaven you see only heaven in it if to the earth only earth so is it in our love the soules looking-glasse wherein we may see and judge of our selves 6. Without this love there can be no true happinesse for the wrath of God the severity of his justice remaineth for those who hate him give him all that a sinfull soule can desire make him times minion the worlds favorite you can make him nothing better then a devill But with the love of God though a man may possibly seeme or be said unhappy he cannot be so for all things worke together for good to them that love God prosperity adversity life death all things shall finally advantage them he that seeketh the love of God must looke for many enemies but contrary to their intentions they shall doe him good the love of the world is sweet at first but bitternesse in the end and the love of God hath many sharpe trialls at first but in the end shall be most comfortable This love is that divine Elixer which maketh the vile pretious an indeficient treasure which whosoever hath can never lack that which is good he that hath it not can never be the better for all hee hath what good or salvation can he expect who is so unhappy as not to love the fountaine of all blessednesse what can hee reasonably feare who loveth an omniscient and righteous God who is a pleanteous rewarder of those that love him Though we cannot be saved for any desert of Love to God for it is his mercy not our merit wee cannot be saved without it if any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be anathema maranatha 1. Cor 16. 22. 7. So excellent is this one possession that Paul counted all but meere losse for it dying Joshua left this as the chiefe legacie to his friends and family concerning whom hee resolved as for me and my house we will serve the Lord take good heed therefore unto your selves that yee love the Lord your God he need no more it is better to love God then to be heire of the world if thou canst not know this living thou shalt when thou art dying let my children faithfully love God I wish them no greater blessing who with my soule pray they may be truly blessed A Prayer for love to God O Lord God Almightie great and glorious who art cloathed with Majestie the beauty of holinesse perfection of beauty who hath filled heaven earth with the gratious effects of love and goodnesse I thy poore creature prostrating my selfe before thy mercy seat humbly acknowledge the many sinnes which render me utterly unworthy ever to appeare before thee specially that great ingratitude which maketh me ashamed to speake unto thee who art the searcher of all hearts yet in assurance of my acceptance in the son of thy love who now sitting at thy right hand maketh requests for me I am bold to pray thee to fill my heart with thy love which is better then all things that with my soule I may desire thee in the night with my spirit within me seeke thee early O Lord though the remainder of sinne in me create me many distractions though fraile flesh and blood starteth at the apprehension and feare of thy just judgments or murmur at the bitternes of thy present corrections yet thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee though with a fraile yet with a sincere heart and love with thine owne spirit infused into me O Lord my soule thirsteth after thee and thy holy presence in my sanctification and full assurance of thy mercy Therefore according to thine owne promise who caâ—st not deceive sanctifie me herein that I may love thee more and more cleanse me from all my sinnes create that purity of heart in me which may assure me of a capacity to behold thy goodnesse in the land of the living fill my lips with grace diffusive of it selfe to thy glory and the ministration of grace to the hearers guide me in the whole course of my life in that holinesse which may please thee disburden my conscience of all that guilt which leaveth me in any feare of that way by which thou hast appointed me to come unto thee and thy kingdome of glory that no afflictions paines feaâ—es or terrours of life or death may be able to separate me from thy love in Christ Jesus Blessed Lord only assure me of thy love and let thy holy will bee done with me I am thine thou madest me to thine owne image thou redeemedst and repairedst the same by thy free spirit when I was dead in trespasses and sinnes thou neither madest redeemâ—dst nor sanctifiedst me for my selfe therefore when thou doest that with me which shall best please thee in the advancement of thy glory in my salvation thou makest me happy in the end of my creation redemption and sanctification Lord it was thine owne free love which by revealing thy selfe and the inestimable riches of thy mercy to mee made me knowe what I had to love in thee neither didst thou finde in me any thing worthy of thee but the effects of thine owne love which in my election before I was determined to make me an object of thy mercy therefore thou who art Love didst set thine own image on me thou best knowest that I am of my selfe but worthlesse dust and earth and by my sinnes a masse of corruption such as onely can displease thee and deserve thine anger but O Lord God of mercy who foundest me a child of wrath and madest me a sonne an enemy and reconciledst me by the death of thy holy sonne Jesus accomplish the worke of thine owne mercy in me and love me still give mee an heart to love thee so above all with all my soule minde and might love that which thou hast wrought in my heart cherish thine owne graces in me though my love be full of imperfections yet thy worke is perfect in thee is no shadow of change Lord for thine owne loves sake now make me such as thou maist love me to eternitie through the merits of thy sonne Jesus Christ my Lord and blessed Saviour AMEN CHAP. XVII § 1. Of love to our selves of the kindes thereof § 2. Of Love to our
and art delivered from so many unjust and pernicious tyrants in that the incentives of sinne are grown inactive in age 2. Study to be wise it is great misery to be old and not wise it was too much to be guided by the affections of youth if that be past remember that age is wisdomes flower or fruitfull autumne rather venerable not for number of years but merit if thou encrease in this strength of minde thou shalt so much the more recompence the decay of bodily strength as the soule is more excellent then these walls of clay or man then beast this wisdome is not in gray haires but in such a guidance of the minde as that the aged be sober grave temperate sound in faith charity and patience and that Women be in behaviour such as becometh holinesse teachers of good things that the younger may by them learne to be wise to love their Husbands and their Children to be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their Husbands that the word of God be not blaspheamed some extreamly erre thinking it the only wisdome of age to be attent to worldly gaines some heathens could say what can be more absurd then the lesse way we have to goe the more solicitous to be to get viands and that they grew old every day learning something how much more studious ought we to be true wisdome which Gods word teacheth 3. Be holy the feare of God is the old mans glory whereof the hoary head is the crowne if it be found in the way of righteousnesse such shall flourish like the Palme tree and Cedar in Lebanon bringing forth fruit in age those I say that are planted in the howse of the Lord. as they that gathered Manna on the Sabbath eve gathered twice as much as for an other day so they that are holy lay up a double store in age for their eternall rest at hand their encreasing sanctity like shadowes of the setting sunne is then multiplied They injure age who casting their faults on it entertaine it as some unwelcome guest some evill it is their errour which makes it so it can never be well with the sinner but every age is good to the just as evill to the sinner is that most which is neerest his judgement 4. Live to God and thine own eternall blessednesse if thou wilt live to men in temporall relations these gray haires wrinkles and ruines of youth strength and beauty may create thee some contempt but if the centre of thy desires be the chiefe good that must best please thee which makes thee best and so these sorrowes of thy aged brow fraitfull of counsaile gravity temperance holy contempt of the world and preparation for a passage to a better life as thy hoary head wisedomes banners shall be welcome to thee make use therefore of time for eternity and provide for that state to which this decaying earthly tabernacle shall againe be so repaired that the glory of the second house shall be greater then that of the first so shall thy life seem long enough if in an age long or short thou canst reckon but few mispent daies so shall thy bodily defects not be so grievous a little strength will be enough to lift up the hands to God where the heart is right neither those of the minde as decay of memory and the like old men can remember that they most care for and age hath a capacity of amendment in those evills which blemish it as talkativenesse anger frowardnesse and such like which removed it shall be more lovely winning by a milde gravity and of more authority with men however God taketh no advantages on our weaknesse so shall this age appeare most happy he lived not unprofitably who dyeth happily 5. Consider the vanity and frailty of this present life and learne to live which few doe though they number many years none truly doe who live not to God the end of their creation and living she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth living to God shall make that age more happy which bringeth thee neere as that most happy which brings thee to him The Old Mans supplication O Lord God of my salvation I humbly desire to render thee all due and hearty thankes for thy abundant mercies and favours spirituall and temporall thy gracious preservation of me from my youth up unto my hoary haires that thou sparedst me in thy fatherly mercy when thy justice might often have destroyed me Lord as thou hast given me place for repentance reserving me to age who mightest justly have cut off the daies of a mispent youth so now accomplish thine own worke give me an heart faithfully to turne unto thee that I may constantly endeavour to redeeme the vaine errours of my time past by becomming a patterne of faith and obedience to all those with whom I converse Lord fill me with thy holy spirit that I may beare more fruit in my age Forsake me not now I am old and gray headed Remember not the sinnes and follies of my youth let thy power appeare in my weaknesse and the work of thy spirit in the decaies and ruins of this earthly tabernacle by the evident repaire of thine own image in me mortifying the remaindes of sinne and assuring me of my election and calling in Christ Jesus and now ô Lord that the time of my departure draweth nigh give me a watchfull spirit that I may be ready when thou callest seeing there are but few steps between me and this worlds end Lord strengthen me give me a lively faith invincible and constant perseverance in this race the few and evill daies of this earthly pilgrimage that by thy mercifull assistance who workest both the will and the deed and shewest mercy where thou pleasest I may so runne that I may obtaine that when thou pleasest to give me rest from my labours and gather me to my Fathers I may against all the paines and sorrowes of death willingly and cheerefully yeeld up my soule into thy gracious hands in full assurance of my redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN CHAP. XXXIV Meditations for Woemen neere their Travaile § 1. All misery proceedeth from sinne § 2. Our sinnes pardoned in Christ Why the punishments are not taken away Woemens comfort therein § 3. Directions necessary hereunto 1. ALL misery is the undoubted issue of sinne man was happy in his pure naturalls and creation to the Image of God the only fountaine of blessednesse untill sinne defacing the same subjected him to the curse The first sinner heard the terrible sentence of the almighty peculiar to her sex I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy Conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth Children these paines in travaile are the first fruits of misery appearing in that Sex which was first in the transgression so dangerous is it to be leaders into sinne
strengthen our Faith give us assurance of thy favour and mercy toward us shed abroad thy love in our hearts that all things even our sorrowes may worke together for the best to us in mercy asswage the sorrowes of this thy servant with the comfortable assurance of an happy issue give her patience to beare and ability to overcome her tryalls it was the word of justice which appointed this affliction but Lord whose mercy is over all thy workes allay the rigor of that sentence mitigate her paines speake comfort to her soule give a powerfull assistance to her weaknesse O gracious father by the power of whose word man is thus brought into the World give her a speedy and safe deliverance now that the child is come to the birth give her strength to bring forth to the encrease of thy Kingdome through the new birth by water and the holy Ghost to the comfort of thy now afflicted servant the Fathers joy and the praise of thy holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour Lord heare and grant these our Petitions and what ever else thou knowest more needfull for us through his merits in whom thou hast promised to heare us in whose mediation and words we present and conclude our petitions saying Our Father which art in heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ c. A thanksgiving for a Woman after her Deliverance O Lord God of our salvation who mercifully enclinedst thine eare unto us in our feare and distresse who appointedst in thy Law that she should bring a paire of mourning Turtles who had not a spotlesse Lamb for a sacrifice of thanks-giving it is the same thy clemency who wilt now accept their repentance who have not that unblemished innocency which can abide the tryall of thy severe justice and their hearty desire to be truely thankfull who have nothing worthy thy acceptance to render unto thee Lord therefore accept what thy selfe hast given us to bring before thee an humble and hearty desire to returne thee the fruits of our hearts and lipps the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving as for all thy fatherly mercies so particularly for that thou hast asswaged the sorrowes of this thy servant with a comfortable Issue that thou hast given her patience to beare ability to overcome her tryalls and strength to bring forth that by thy mercy mitigating her paines thou hast allayed the rigour of thy sentence which thy justice pronounced we acknowledge thee to be the only Lord in whose hands are the Issues of life and death the God of our health and salvation And now ô Lord perfect thine own worke as thou hast delivered thy servant from her feare and sorrow so give her an heart ever to trust and rejoyce in thee as thou hast given her this fruit of the wombe so make him an accession to the encrease of thy Kingdome by the spirit of regeneration sanctify him and keep him in his tender yeares from sinne and all the malitious assaults of the enemy give thy holy Angels charge over him to keep him in all his waies that he may grow up in thy faith feare and love so that in what ever condition thy good providence shall set him his interest and assurance may be of his election and salvation in Christ Jesus Lord accomplish thy worke of mercy to thy servant repaire her health and strength give her a faithfull heart carefully to imploy the same in thy service and the holy education of those thou hast given her assist her in the whole remainder of her life that she may pay all her vowes made to thee in her feare and trouble let the tast of these bitter fruits of sinne give her a more fervent love to thy mercy pardoning it and a greater hate to all that which offendeth thee lead her in thy waies teach her so to number her daies that she may apply her heart unto wisedome make her more and more fruitfull in all good workes and zealous of thy lawes so that her life may appeare not only restored but also improoved and made more happy to the glory of thy great name the good example of others who shall see as thy worke of mercy on her so the effects of that worke the fruits of sanctity in her to the further assurance of her conscience before thee confirmed by the experience of thy mercy in her deliverance and preservation and to the salvation of her body and soule to all eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour AMEN Directions for the Sick CHAP. XXXV § 1. As all afflictions sanctified so sicknesse profitable for Gods children many waies § 2. How it may become so to us § 3. Duties of them that visit the sick 1 THere is nothing constant in this world but inconstancy and change of all things We are borne with a condition of dying mortality beginneth with life â—our sicknesse with our health we bring it from the wombe as derived to us from our first parents from the houre of whose transgression death tooke date and in the commencement of sicknesse he began to dye according to the sentence from which he became mortall and now all flesh is grasse and all the goodlinesse thereof as the flower of the feild the grasse withereth and the flower fadeth quickly and certainly though insensibly we perceive it soone withered though we cannot mark by what degrees it changeth so age and infirmity stealeth on 2 The good God as he is severe so is he mercifull neither loosing mercy in his justice nor his justice in his mercy There is nothing which befalleth the elect but it hath some good in it or by it to them accrewing Concerning afflictions David saith it is good for me that I have beene in trouble The very death of the Saints bitter as it is to flesh and blood is mercy to them blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord not only that they rest from their labours but also in that it is to them the death of sinne and passage to eternall life and so our sicknesse is profitable though it be the rod of an almighty Father it shall like Moses rod sometimes in the dreadfull shape of a serpent serve to divide the bitter waves and open us a passage to our eternall rest and so the decayes of these earthly tabernacles shall daily bring us neerer to the repaire of our eternall building in heaven therefore God sendeth sicknesse upon his dearest children whom he could as easily have rescued from death by a translation as he did Enoch and Eliah but hee maketh their sicknesse many waies proâ—itable unto them as by preparing them unto death by repentance and calling upon the Lord by weaning them from the love of this life by teaching them patience and subjection to the hand of God whereas impatience like the sea turneth all that which falleth into it even the otherwise sweet and comfortable blessings of
holy â—host dwelling in him and cleansing his heart to entertaine him as t is written yee are the temples of the living God 2. Cor 6. 16. 2 The holy Ghost proceeding of the Father and the Sonne is truly God See Act 5. 3 4 1. Cor 3 16. 1. Cor 6. 19. 1. Cor 12. 4 5 6. 2. Cor 6. 16. Isaâ— 6. 19. Act 28 25. Therefore we are commanded to baptize in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Math 28. 19. So the Apostle 2. Cor 13. 13. in his prayer uniteth the three persons it appeareth that he is God by his effectuall working he regenerateth Joh 3. 6. sanctifieth teacheth us all truth Joh 14. 21. 26. sealeth up our redemption Ephes 1. 13. he giveth utterance to his speakers Math 10. 20. dictateth the holy Scriptures 2. Pet. 1. 21. he appointeth overseers of the Church Act 20. 28. foretelleth things to come 1. Tim 4. 1. which is an evident argument of his Godhead 3 The holy Ghost is essentially in God the Father and the Sonne and so proceedeth of them not as a part of them for no infinite hath parts and he is equally God with the Father and Sonne nor as parting from them nor as the creatures are in God which are not of his substance and being though in him they live move and have their being but hee is of the same eternity substance power and Majestie in the unity of the Deity His proceeding is spoken of in Scripture Joh 15. 26. Whether we speake of his essentiall eternall proceeding or of that admirable effusion of his graces on men in ordinary or extraordinary gifts Act 2. 2. Gal 4. 6. these three are one 4 Though the holy Ghost be one in the unity of the Godhead with the Father and the Sonne yet is he a distinct person from them both for though the Father be a spirit and the Son a spirit according to his Deity and both are most holy yet neither are called the holy spirit which is a peculiar name to the third person of the blessed Trinity 1 Be not overcurious to search into the being of the holy Trinity but examine thy selfe whether the holy spirit dwell in thee or not Whether thy heart be purified from those unhallowed thoughts and desires of corrupt â—lesh and blood Whether thou hast the love of God shead abroad in thy heart as also true charity to all men for God's sake Whether the holy Ghost testifie to thy spirit that thou art a sonne of God Rom 8. 15. 16. teach thee to cry abba father help thy infirmities and endite thy prayers 2 Grieve not the holy spirit with which thou art sealed up to the day of redempt oÌ„ Eph 4. 30. doe not that which may make him depart from thee hurt or greiue thy selfe or the saints in whom he liveth 3 Be sure thou walke according to and by the guidance of the holy Ghost that thou maist be assured thou art in Christ Rom 8. 1. that the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in thee and quickneth thy mortall body to the life of grace That thou art led by that spirit and art indeed a sonne of God A man that had seene those Palestine Kine going straight to Bethshemesh with the the Arke of God would have thought there must be some supernaturall power therein so when we see men going the way of God contrary to the affections of â—lesh blood we may certainely conclude that God's spirit ruleth there CHAP. VII § 1. Concerning the Catholike Church § 2. Conclusions belonging hereto § 3. Rules observable 1 AFter our meditation on the holy Trinity a due order of confession requireth that wee should thinke of the Chuch as the sacred Temple thereof because his beleefe and confession is vaine who is not of this Church nor can be possibly be a sonne of God who is not of this Church This is the pillar and ground of truth 1. Tim. 3. 15. as bearing the light to direct men to salvation the Keeper of the Oracles of God Rom 3. 2. Rom 9. 4. not that the truth of God is subjected to the authority of men but because it useth mans ministry the Gospell is not proved but approved by the testimony and authority of the Church in which it not so much receiveth as it giveth the Church credit and a sure marke of distinction 2 Though we are to beleeve in God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost we are to beleeve the Church not in the Church as God we beleeve an holy Catholike Church wee beleeve the chiefe pillars thereof the Prophets and Apostles we beleeve not in them as we doe in the foundation Christ we beleeve their words to be the infallible dictates of him in whom wee beleeve and looke for salvation 3 The Catholike Church is a peculiar company of men predestinate to eternall life called and incorporated into Christ their head wherefore she is the body Colos 1. 18. the slock and shepheard of Christ the Lord's sloore which he came to purge Math 3. 12. his Vineyard and pleasant plant Isay 5. the Arke in which we are saved 1. Pet 3. 21. the Spouse and sacred bride of Christ the Temple of God fouÌ„taine of truth house of faith and the holy City 4 This Church as God elected and redeemed by the blood of his holy sonne Jesus so he called her by his spirit working powerfully on the use of the word preached and Sacraments administred he sanctifieth her and governeth her duly is she his and therefore holy because his who maketh her so Holy by Christ's imputed righteousnesse and that which his spirit worketh in her however blacke yet comely Cant 1. 5. an holy nation a chosen people 1. Pet 2. 9. this holinesse is inchoative in this life she is now throughs many infirmities like Jacobsâ—lock â—lock at Padan Aram all spotted shee shall bee without spot or wrinckle in the life to come 5. This Church is Catholike or universall in respect of 1. Time she hath beene in all ages God hath still and will have his Church here untill the number of the elect being finished she shall be triumphant in heaven 2. Persons in it are some of all sorts conditions and degrees male and female rich and poore honourable and obscure God is no respecter of persons though he set in order and appoint the distinctions for and with men 3. She is Catholicke in respect of place because she is spread over all the world and gathered from all parts under the Gospell 4. Lastly it is called Catholicke to distinguish it from particular congregations or Churches of one denomination as the Church of Jerusalem Antioch Corinth England France c. For the better understanding hereof consider these conclusions 1. The Church of God in respect of her extent is either Catholike or particular and
to him nor understand how they ought to serve him which when they attempted by idol-worship and the vaine forgeries of mans inventions they knewe it was but the foolish and frivolous dreames of selfe-beguilâ—ng authors and the blind assent of a seduced multitude the great and tyrannicall mistresse of errous which swaied them 4. That remainder of the law of natures light after mans fall was such as rather or more immediatly concerned the preservation of the naturall man in this present life then for the compleat instruction of the spirituall for eternall life and so to be reckoned among those common gifts of God bestowed equally on elect and reprobates of this kinde was the admirable prudence temperance equity constancy and â—idelity of some meere heathens wherein the conscience had these principles that intemperance injury murder theft perjury lying stealing rapine adultery false testimony c. were odious crimes for all these and the like wereâ— immediatly serving to the preservation of humane society which the God of order and omnipotent parent of this universe will conserve unto the end of time therefore causeth he his sunne to shine and his raine to fall indifferently on the just and unjust and therefore these principles of the Law of nature were left more undeniably cleere and lesse obscured and obliterated on the tables of mans heart in his fall then those which more immediatly concerne the worship of God in the first table of the morall law and the spirituall mans relation thereto God constantly resolving in his unsearchable wisdome and justice to preserve the life of nature respectively to all men for the appointed times but the life of grace to eternall salvation onely to his elect in Christ upon the tables of whose hearts he writeth his laws in their regeneration So that though there be no principle to lead and direct a meere naturall man after his eâ—cecation in his fall to the worship due to one only God yet none can more reasonably deny that a man in the state of innocency had a perfect knowledge of all the law of God and principles in the law of nature to lead him to the observation of every precept thereof then that the light of the eye is not naturall to a man accidentally blinde and so having no sight to direct him in the way he should walke in Man had in his state of innocency a sufficient knowledge of the whole law of God and therefore as that principle which led him to the true worship of one onely God so also to the keeping of the Sabbath which is a part thereof because all the morall law and every precept thereof hath its ground in the law of nature uncorrupted cleerly appearing though in the corrupt state it be obscure in some branches thereof more in some lesse obliterated and the written morall law is indeed no more then a repetition second writing or supply thereof figured in God's duplicate writing againe the same lawes on the second tables after the first were broken 5. The fourth commandement in the morality that is sanctification of a seventh day Sabbath is a law of nature as having its ground therein and therefore bindeth all men of all times and ages and conditions to the end of time as well as those lawes which say Honour thy father and thy mother thou shalt not kill commit adultery or steale but that which was ceremoniall therein as the observation of a seventh from the creation was positive and therefore alterable it being the nature of a positive law to binde either certaine persons only as Adam and Eve by the precept of not eating the forbidden fruit or to a certaine time as the ceremoniall law bound Israel untill the fulfilling of all by Christ and as all before and under the law were bound to observe the seventh day Sabbath from the creation untill it should be changed for the Lords day in whose power the alteration thereof was as he was the creator appointer and sanctifier of the first Sabbath and was and is the Lord of the same now changed for that which wee celebrate in remembrance of his resurrection 2. Christ changed the day to remember us of his resting from all the workes of his humiliation in his resurrection the creation of a new spirituall world as it were new heavens and new earth which shall remaine that from one Sabbath to another all flesh may come and worship before him of which hee saith old things are past away behold all things are become new this day that heavenly light the day starre and sunne of righteousnesse arose therefore as hath beene noted we begin not this Sabbath from the evening darknesse as the old world untill the fulnesse of time to be exercised under the shadowes of the lawâ— but from the morning light a type of that which the Apostle saith the night is past the day is at hand Rom 13. 12. 3. To be a figure of that eternall Sabbath and rest specified Heb 4. 9. by Christs accomplishing the worke of our redemption and justification by his resurrection 4. That beleevers might therein have a perpetuall pledge of the new covenant of grace salvation their deliverance from the servitude and curse of the law 5. Lastly that it might bee a marke of distinction betweene Christians and Jewes and Mahumetans who obstinatly adhere to antiquated ceremonies or ordinances of men It remaineth that we consider how wee must sanctify this Sabbath which that we may doe it is necessary to observe 1. the due preparations for it 2. practices in it 3. duties after it Concerning the first these rules are necessary 1. Doe not overtoile travell or overwatch thy selfe or servants least thou or they be sleepy so inattentive in hearing or praying 2. So consider it before it come that thou maist be sure to set apart all businesses and distractions which might hinder the performance of thy duty 3. Rise up so early that thou want no convenience to fit thy selfe for Gods publike and private worship which when men do not they come both unprepared to Church neglect their private duty for preparation which often rendreth the publike unfruitfull this discovereth an admirable hypocrisie in men who will to rise that they may have time to wash dresse the outward man for the sight of men least any thing should be uncomely to outward view but for the inward man obvious to the severe eye of an heart-searching God they are litle or nothing soâ—icitous 4. Renew thy repentance before thou come to heare the law of Go lest thou appeare there like the ghest without the wedding garment untrimmed and fowle in a sacred solemnity lest the seed of Gods word fall unprofitably among thornes and the venomous weeds of thy old sinnes and so become a â—avour of death unto thee 5. Consider the sanctity of God into whose presence thou art entring as Moses into the clowd to heare
to know thee who art the fountaine of life of holinesse that wee might be like thee whose beeing is an independent selfe-happinesse and immortality that we might in thy presence enjoy thy favour eternally for thy gratious providence which in thy rest from creation is ever active in our preservation for that as it was thy pleasure to forme all creatures on earth in the aire and those unseene paths of the deeps for our sakes so by the powre of the same word which at first said let them be made and they were so thou still preservest them in their severall kinds for our use releife and comfort nor is thy goodnesse lesse considerable in those remoter lights of heaven the greater and the lesse which thou hast made to distinguish and measure times and seasons to rule the day and comfort the unked shades of night O Lord the heavens declare thy glory and the firmament sheweth thy handy worke in wisedome and great power hast thou created all things the unseene multitude of those glorious Angels which thou hast made ministring spirits and sent them out to pith thâ—ir tents about us night and day for out defence and preservation are the worke of thy hands they and we live move and have our beeing in thee who art the incomprehensible beeing of beeings Above all thy workes is thy mercy and above all instances thereof is that for which we are this day to praise and glorifie thy holy name the accomplishment of the greatest worke our redemption by the resurrectioâ— of thy Sonne Jesus from the dead our creation had not profited us if our redemption had not repaired us when we were fallen in our creation thou gavest us our selves and beâ—ings but in our redemption thou not onely restoredst us to our selves but gavest us thy selfe in Christ the some of thine eternall love Lord what is man that thou so regardest him or the sonne of man that thou so visitest him Who is able to declare thy goodnesse and to set forth that praise which is worthy of thee Thou hast also made the Sabbath for man for whom thou madest this universe thou hast sanctified it and given it to be a time of rest and a signe betweene thee and us that we might knowe that thou art he who sanctifieth us that we might herein meet together in thy publike worship to learne thy holy wil for our salvation to present our supplications severall necessities before thy throne of grace and mercy â—â—ffer up the incense of our prayers and thankesgiving that wee may rest from sinne and our daily labours and being disburdened of all the cares and distractions of this world may approach neere unto thy sacred Majestie with pure hearts and hands But O Lord our God who among the corrupted sonnes of men is worthy to appeare in thy holy presence who art the searcher of hearts and a God of pure eyes O Lord we humbly acknowledge our vilenesse and unworthinesse beseeching thee for thy sonne Christ Jesus sake to forgive us all our sinnes and throughly to purge us from the old levin of our iniquities give us such a measure of thy grace and sanctifiing spirit that we may rest assured of our calling and election to eternall life repaire thy decayed image in us every day more and more enabling us to serve thee in true holinesse mortifying and subduing all our carnall affections which resist the motions of thy good spirit in us make us comfortably sensible of the vertue of Christs resurrection in us quickning us to newnesse of life in a perfect and entire obedience to all thy holy commandements that in assurance of our sinnes remission in Christ our peace we may enjoy a comfortable rest in true peace of conscience and our reconciliation to thee by a justifying faith in him To this end wee humbly pray thee to blesse thine owne ordinance to us this day Lord give thy spirit of prayer and prophesie unto thy messengers therein appointed to entreat a blessing for us and to declare thy will unto us distill the dew of heaven into their hearts and tongues that they may minister faithfull directions for the recalling those that erre confirmation of those that stand and sound comfort to the afflicted consciences of those that mourne in Zion Lord who bountifully findest seed to thy sowers grant that they may finde the hearts and affections of thy people not stony or thorny but fruitfull ground be thou present with us by thy sanctifying spirit this day that thy Sabbath may be our delight and thy word our soules food comfort and refreshing that this and all our daies we may walke worthy of our high calling in Christ and have our conversations in heaven where hee sitteth at thy right hand that this Sabbath as it is a representation of that which shall be an eternall rest from all our sorrowes cares and labours may also be a meanes to direct and bring us to the same even to the end of our hopes the salvation of our bodies and soules the fulnesse of joy and eternity of true happinesse in thy presence through the merits of thy sonne our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father of mercy and the holy Ghost the comforter of the elect be ascribed all honour praise dominion and glory this day and evermore AMEN To the ordinary evening Prayer may be added this private prayer for the Sabbath O Lord God of mercy and compassion we render all humble hearty thankes to thy gratious Majestie for all thy mercies and favours as in our whole lives so specially this day bestowed upon us for our peace health and opportunity to serve thee that in thy tender mercy sparing us thou hast not according to our deservings by our neglects of thy holy ordinance and sundry profanations of thy Sabbath made this day unto us as unto many others a day of dread and terrour of trouble and flight but a day of comfort an holy rest and refreshing to our bodies and soules in a peaceable and plentifull use of thy holy word and ordinance O good Lord continue thy goodnesse to us herein give us true repentance and reformation of all our lives forgive us our many sinnes and sundry â—ailings in our duties so sanctify our memories that wee may receive and our affections that we may readily obey thee according to thy holy will now declared in those portions of thy holy word which have this day beene opened unto us Lord who only givest the encrease to the planting and watring of those who faithfully labour in thy vineyard blesse that which wee have heard so that wee may walke in the strength thereof and give us a setled resolution to obey the same to submit our selves wholy to thy will and word to have our conversation so ordered thereby that sin may dye in us and the life of grace shew it selfe in an holy and sincere obedience of our thoughts words and ictions untill we come
not on theâ— Cursing is the language of reprobates the bitterness of a malevolent heart overflowing the tongue these vices as they are fearful sins so dangerous symptoms of an impious soule loathsome habits such as could not become an heathen Mahumetan why any Christian should think them gratefull I could never understand 8. Let thy study be in Gods word acquaint thee with his oracles and make their language familiar to thee so shalt thou finde an holy savor in them beyond all excellency of the tongues of men and if thou give thine heart sincerely to obey them the holy Ghost will derive thence a sweet influence into thy tongue and so season thy heart that all the tempters suggestions shall be bitter to thee 9. Lastly because even the answer of the tongue is from the Lord who made the mouth pray him to heale thy natural corruptions to sanctifie thy heart and tongue and watch thou over thy selfe according to all these and the like rules A Praier O Lord God my helper and guide of my soule to thee are all the fruits of my heart and lips praise and thanks-giving most due touch thou my tongue with a coale from thine altar purge my sins and take away mine iniquity thou hast the key of David which openeth and none can shut open my lips that my mouth may shew forth thy praise remove far from me vanities and lies a deceitfull tongue bitternesse reviling injurious unpeaceable profane uncharitable and all unhallowed speeches which may any waies displease thy holy Majesty or hurt my neighbour heale the corrupt fountaines of my soule season them with true wisedome and sanctity cause thy word to dwell â— leâ—tifully in mee set a watch before the doores of my lips that no corrupt communication may proceed thence but that onely which may relish of thy good spirit administer grace unto the hearers and give good example unto my brethren to the advancement of thy kingdome and the comfortable assurance of my conscience before thee through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen CHAP. XXII Of external actions in general § 1. Whence good Actions are How requisite How regulated § 2. Rules concerning them 1. THe Actions of men are the proceed and fruit of their thoughts as we owe sanctimony to God and our consciences within so doe wee good example to our neighbour in things external as Christ saith Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven 2. Good actions proceed from sound faith without which they cannot be good nor pleasing to God for whatsoever is not of faith is sinne faith apprehending Christ to the justification of our person maketh our workes acceptable to him so farre as they are fruits of regeneration and uniting us to Christ giveth us a capacity of his spirit sanctifying and enabling us in some measure to overcome sinne and doe that which is holy in his sight therefore the Scripture saith Shew mee thy faith by thy works which yet saith also a man is justified by faith only without the workes of the Law 3. Though the best of our works cannot justifie us before God because they are imperfect yet are they never severed from true faith and they are the way to Gods kingdom though they cannot be the cause of our arrival there therefore to the yong mans quaere who would be justified by workes Christ answereth Keep the Commandements thus hee convinced him who had not yet learned the righteousnesse of faith which saith Beleeve and thou shalt be saved Thereby shewing that yet he wanted something who excelled many men in most things and therefore must seek salvation in something else that is by faith as also that the way to heaven is onely by sanctity this is a condition not the cause of our salvation wee can never be saved for it because our best is imperfect nor without it because wee owe our best endeavours to Gods honor 4. It is not enough to intend or speak good Satan is contented either that men should draw neer unto God with their lips if their hearts he farre off or that they speake well if they will doe evill Words at best are but feminine vertues workes are masculine of these the spiritual Pharoah giveth charge to smother them but we desire to convert our words into actions and not onely to speak but to doe holy things 5. Actions humane natural or civil are no otherwaies here concerned then as they are in order to the moral and so regulated by the Law and holy Word of God in the affirmative or negative precepts which is the onely rule of all our moral actions toward God or man neither example of others prescription universality of consent nor commands of men may carry us against the expresse word of God these have place onely in those things which Gods law alloweth commandeth or leaveth arbitrary Concerning thy actions in generall these Rules are to be held 1. Neither propose nor doe any thing evil or unjust for any worldly gaines honors or pleasures because it is an undeniable losse to get the world with the losse of thy soule what can secular honors advantage thee when God condemneth thee when all the world cryeth thee up when opinion of the multitude canonizeth thee for a Saint or applaude thy actions as the people Herods speech for more then humane Gods Angel may smite thee and the wormes destroy thee What are pleasures in their birth they look toward a precipitate end and the change of this scene serveth onely to aggravate the misery Dives heard in hell Sonne remember thou receivedst good things present remembrances of pleasures past embittereth the torments 2. Make God's Law thy counsellers in all things weigh all thy purposes hereby before thou â—ut any thing in execution resolving to do nothing but that which is there permitted or agreeth thereto David could not enterprise before he had consulted God's oracles not the very â—eathens but would send for the doubtful Effataes of their priests When the word of God is our rule we will not set up strange gods in our hearts as they doe who adore their owne inventions in will-worship and voluntary religion wherein all even the most zealous and painful actions as pilgrimages superstitious fasts foolish penance and idolatrous oblations or costly dedications shall be rejected with a Who required this at your hands The Lord will not be pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oile for saith the Prophet hee hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord requireth of thee In religious acts as wee have noted God left not Israël to their owne wills in the least things but commanded See thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount Also when God's word is our rule wee will neither lay snares upon
that we may know him and feel in our souls and consciences the comfortable power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death in the mortification of all those corrupt and sinful affections which continually resist the working of thy regenerating spirit in us O Lord our God being deeply sensible of our own disability to save or helpe our selves wee â—ast all our care and confidence of present protection preservation and future salvation on the merits of thy son Christ Jesus in assurance that thou art faithful who hast promised as by him to save us so through him to hear and help us in all our wants and distresses O Lord God of trueth and mercy who hast commanded us to aske and promised to grant accept our obedience and confidence in asking and according to thy trueth grant our requests in forgiving all our sinnes and giving us all those blessings which thou knowest needful for us that wee may serve thee cheerfully sanctifie our bodies and soules to thy service that in them both wee may cleave to thee please thee and rest assured by the testimony of thy holy spirit and the powerful working thereof in us that thou hast sanctified called and elected us to life everlasting Lord give us experience of thy trueth which never failed give us lively and justifying faith to apprehend Christ Jesus and all his merits give us perseverance therein that no trials of life or death may ever separate us from thy love nor any powers of hell be able to overthrow our confidence therein And now O Lord our God who makest the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee wee humbly thank thee as for all thy mercies and favors spiritual and temporal continually poured out upon us in our election creation redemption calling from the kingdom of darknesse our sanctification preservation from daiely imminent dangers of body and soule our liberty peace health and all those temporal necessaries for the comfort sustenance of us and ours which thy fatherly providence hath bestowed upon us so also for that it hath pleased thee to preserve us this night past from the powers of darknesse terrors of night and all the ovils thereof Lord continue thy mercy to us safely brought to the begining of this day the day is thine the night also is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sunnâ— O Lord our refuge let no evil befal us this day let not any plague come neer our dwelling give thine Angels charge over us to keep us in all our waies that wee may in nothing displease thee as thou hast put away the late darknesse which covered the face of the earth and waters by the comfortable appearance of this great light which thou madest to govern the day that men may follow their several labours therein so blessed Father of lights cause the sunne of righteousnesse Christ Jesus to arise on every one of our hearts thence to chase away the remainders of ignorance darknesse of minde and unbeliefe to open our eies that wee sleep not in death to enlighten us with a sound knowledge of all the mysteries of eternal life and salvation that we may arise and shake off the dangerous security in sinne and conscionably walk with thee who hast called us to thy kingdome that we may please thee being fruitful in every good worke encreasing in the knowledgâ— of thee strengthned to all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse and thankfulnesse for that thou hast made us partakers of the inheritance of thy saints in light that wee may walke worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called with all holinesse and meeknesse love and charity toward all men endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bâ—nd of peace so labouring in our several callings as being ever careful first to seek thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof in assurance that so all temporal necessaries shall be administred unto us in all our endeavours expecting the blessing from thee without which it is but lost labour to rise early late take rest eat the bread of carefulnesse and deprive our souls of ease Blesse all the creatures to us this day make them good and prosperous unto us direct us so in all our thoughts words and actions that wee may glorifie thee preserve a good conscience and give an example of holinesse to those with whom we converse that in nothing the trueth of religion with which thou hast blessed us be evil spoken of through our failings but that we may by our integrity stop the mouths of all adversaries and adorn the Gospel by walking unblameably toward all men and sincerely before thee ever remembring that of all our thoughts words and actions we must give a strict inevitable account at the dreadful day of judgment now kept from the knowledg of all men that they may every day live as if it were their last keeping a constant and careful watch in exspectation of that houre which shall come like a theefe in the night wherein thou wilt assuredly bring to light things hid in darknesse and make the counsels of all hearts manifest judging every man according to his workes Neither pray wee for our selves only but wee also beseech thee for thy whole Church and all thy distressed servants whether their afflictions be in body minde or estate comfort now and in thy good time enlarge all prisoners and captives which suffer for or with the testimony of a good conscience Lord God of all consolation assure them that when thy will and work is done in them thou wilt shew thy self their gracious deliverer and comforter Lastly we pray thee O Father of mercy blesse this family wherein by thy providence we are blesse us all from the first to the last with all those whom thou hast made neer unto us prosper us O Lord and our endeavours upon us feed us with bread of our stature that which thou knowest necessary and convenient for us give us a faithful dependance upon thy fatherly hand which never leaueth them destitute who trust in thee give us a prudent holy and thankefull use of all those good things which thou hast bestowed upon us that thou maist be pleased to continue thy mercy and providence over us give us contented mindes free from covetousnesse and distracting cares in assurance that thou wilt never forsake us and good Lord as thou art pleased to adde this day to our transitory lives so adde that grace to this day which may direct and guid every one of us in our bodies and souls that we may spend it and the remainder of our daies to thy glory and the comfortable assurance of our consciences before thee so that having our present conversation in heaven and walking with thee in sincerity of heart when these fleeting daies are ended we may live with thee in thy kingdome of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Short Evening Praier O
not on her with honour tender love and duty nothing can fully recompence the ingratitude of this generation of Vipers their Mothers sorrow and destruction but hell Gods children love and honour his Ordinance in their parents For direction and comfort before their Travaile let Women 1. Spend the time of their expectation as they would doe the howers of their last day in hearty repentance for all their sinnes making their peace with God labouring to strengthen their faiths by recounting the comfortable promises of God in Christ Jesus rendring themselves with patience meeknesse and confidence into his mercifull hands who alone can keep them strengthen and comfort them in their paines and make them joyfull Mothers 2. Consult with God in all their fears and sorrowes as Rebecca did by the holy scriptures which are his Oracles giving certaine and infallible answers conference with the prudent Saints meditations and ascensions of the afflicted soule into Gods gracious presence 3. Reconcile themselves to all those whom they have injured by repairing them what they can for it is a condition of their salvation in childbearing that they continue in Faith and Charity and if all must quickly agree with their adversaries while they are in the way then they specially who as they say of Seamen may be reckoned between the living and the dead and in hazard of a sodaine convention at the barre by the end of this life 4. It must be a grave document as to all so specially to married Women of modesty and chastity I know not what comfort the adultresse can have who bringeth forth her Husbands irreparable injury her own shame Children of Whoredomes the indelible staine of their blood and their posterities dishonour all this with paine and horrour or more dangerous stupidity of a sinfull conscience whereas the good conscience of the chast is the soules rest bed of perfumes Garden of spices sorrowes lenitive griefes faire havens the soules Paradice and afflictions sanctuary with which though they have externall sorrowes yet are they blessed happy is the way however rough and fearefull by which they come to eternall life as the externall prosperity of the wicked can never make their waies better then destructive and unhappy So neither can any afflictions sorrowes feares or paines of the elect make them lesse then truely blessed because all these are but as the stepps in Jacobs ladder whose last shall land them in the presence of God as it is written we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdome of God 5. Let them pray frequently and fervently that God would be pleased to measure their sufferings by that assistance which he will give them strengthen them to their labour mitigate their paines grant them a speedy and safe deliverance that they may enjoy the blessing of propagation to the encrease of his Kingdome the glory of his holy name and their eternall rejoycing after their temporall sorrowes which hee hath appointed them A prayer for Woemen in or neere their Travaile MOst glorious and holy Lord God almighty creator and mercifull preserver of all thy creatures who hast commanded the weary and heavy laden to come to thee and promised by the sonne of thy love and truth Christ Jesus to ease them we prostrate our selves before thy throne of mercy with bended knees and trembling hearts yet with assurance of thy faithfulnesse to performe who hast freely promised Truth it is O Lord when we consider our own deservings we can look for nothing but the severity of thy justice and rejection from thy gracious presence that thou shouldest take no delight in us when we come before thee but that the spreadiâ—g out of our hands in Prayer should be a trouble and wearinesse unto thee we confesse that destruction of body and soule by all those judgements which thou hast denounced against the first sinners is due unto us if thou enter into judgement with us we accuse and condemne our selves as most vile and utterly unable to stand in judgment before thee the searcher of the heart and reines and most unworthy of the least of those favours which our necessities compell us to beg at thy mercifull hands in confidence that thou wilt not breake the bruised reed reject the penitent nor condemne them who condemne themselves we renounce our selves that we may be found in the righteousnesse of our Lord Jesus It was he ô blessed Father who being the eternall Word Wisdome and Power by whom the World was created and is still sustained yet to save us miserable sinners and so his enemies was made flesh for us became man to set us free took on him the forme of a Servant to sanctify and redeeme us from sinne begun in our conception and encreasing from our birth vouchsafed to be conceived in the Virgins wombe by the Holy Ghost and to be borne the man of sorrowes to suffer the severity of thy wrath against sinners 't was he that dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our justification that thereby he might pull out the sting of death and change the judgements into fatherly corrections 't was he that became a curse for us to redeeme us from the curse of the law that by his stripes we might be healed that the blessing the promise of the spirit the comforter might come on us through faith in him for his sake holy Father be reconciled to us for his sake encline thy gracious cares to our prayers now according to thine own appointment calling on thee Thou hast indeed threatned the first sinner to multiply her sorrowes in her travailes and that sentence as the sinne in which we fell is become hereditary in paines sorrow feare and anguish in these bitter effects of sinne we acknowledge thy just judgements but Lord correct us not in thine anger consider the frailty and infirmity of this poorâ— dust and earth wherewith thou hast clothed us consider not what we have done but what thy holy Sonne Jesus in that sacred flesh indivisibly united to the Godhead hath suffered for us accept his obedience who hath done and suffered all things which thy determinate counsaile had before all worlds appointed for the worke of our redemption We are unworthy to be heard but Lord heare him ascended into heaven to take possession thereof for us and now sitting at thy right hand a faithfull mediator for us and bearing the remembrance of us before thee he is truely God able to heare and help all them that call upon him faithfully and truly man who hath had experience and can be toucht with a sense of humane miseries for his sake heare us speaking the same things to thee here on earth which his own spirit helping our infirmities both dictateth to us from heaven and presenteth to thee for us in heaven Lord for his sake helpe us give us true and hearty repentance assure us of our sinnes remission and our discharge from the curse and rigor of the law