and suitable to his nature to haue mercy but hee is hardly drawne to punish as being a worke altogither vnsuitable to his disposition To them that loue mee With their whole heart without hypocrisie and doe not impart that worship to others which is due to him And keepe my Commandements In obedience walking in his waies All his Commandements but chiefely this concerning his worship The third Commandement Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine THe Name of the LORD which in it selfe is Holy True and Iust Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vaine And therefore wee ought not to prophane it or take it in our mouthes lightly or vpon euery small occasion Herein we offend When we Blaspheme God either openly or in our hearts When we vse his Holy Word to any prophane scurrilous or impure end When we commit Periurie When we murmure against him When we leaue his Prouidence and consult with Witches or the like When we sweare vpon triuiall and light causes When we curse or vse vnlawfull Imprecations When wee performe not that which we faithfully promise When we in any action of our owne detract from Gods Glory and attribute and arrogate too much to our selues For the Lord will not c. The Lord and Iudge of Heauen and Earth who seeth and obserueth all our actions is so farre from conniuing at this sinne that without repentance he will condemne euery one that offendeth therein Saul 1. Sam. 14. â—… for vnaduised Cursing and adiuration lost a victory against the Philistims 1. Sam. 14.24 For consulting with a Witch 31.4 was with his sonnes brought to vntimely ends Sennacherib 2. Kings 19.10 for blaspheming God was slaine by his owne sonnes Ananias Act. 5.5 for lying to the holy Ghost died suddenly The fourth Commandement Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day c. IN this Commandement are two things contained 1. A Precept or declaration of the will of God To set apart some day 1. To the publique worship of God 2. In ceasing from our labours 2. A Reason of the Commandement 1. Because God after the Creation rested on the seuenth day 2. Because he also blessed and Sanctified it Remember Let not worldly cares put it out of thy minde but obserue it with all care and Religion 1. Not without great cause was this Precept so strictly vrged 1. Because by the neglect of it ariseth the neglect of all Spirituall duties 2. Because that in it was contained a Type or shadow of the great and euerlasting Sabboth which is our Sanctification 3. Because that we haue therby some time to shew mercy to our seruants and beasts wearied with labour That thou keepe holy c. In frequenting the Church and there to exercise thy selfe In Prayer Hearing the Word Receiuing the Sacraments In pious and religious workes as Visiting the sicke Releeuing the poore Meditating on Gods worke Praising him for them In refraining from sinne In resting from seruile labour And although that part of the Iewes Sabboth be abrogated which respected the Seuenth day Sacrifices and other exterior acts of Gods worship commanded and enioyned to the Iewes yet the Church hath appointed in stead thereof the Lords day or Sonday called the first day of the weeke wherein all Christians are bound to retaine and obserue all the duties of the first Sabboth Reue. 1.10 Act. 20.7 1. Cor. 16.2 auoiding the Iewish strict and superstitious Ceremonies Sixe dayes c. In following the vocation appointed there by God wherein thou art to omit nothing necessary for the sustentation of thy family And not to spend those sixe dayes wholly in idlenesse pleasures or excesse Nor in the publique duties of the Sabboth and thereby neglecting the care ouer thy family But the seuenth day In that day neither thou nor any of thy familie or cattell shall doe any seruile labour except in case of necessity and preseruation of Gods Creatures from damage or losse but ye shall spend it in those religious duties formerly set downe In case of necessitie Mar. 2.27 The Sabboth being made for man and not man for the Sabboth we are to conceiue that it was ordeined not to destroy but to preserue him and therefore all workes are not forbidden that day 1. As dressing of meate Numb 28.1 By the example of the Priests who on the Sabboth killed the Beasts for sacrifice and dressed the rest And of Christs Disciples plucking eares of corne Mat. 12.1 and Tertullian saith that the Ancient and Primitiue Church neuer fasted on the Sabboth day De Coron militis c. 3. 2. Ministring Phisicke to the sicke Luc. 6. By the example of our Sauiour healing on that day Io. 5. 3. Sauing Corne Hay Houses and the like from perishing By our Sauiours question to the Pharises Mat. 12.11 2. The Reason why God commanded the obseruation of the first Sabbath was 1. Because after God by his Word had created the vniuerse of nothing hee rested himselfe from all the worke that he had made Gen. 2.2 2. Because this day was by him blessed and sanctified And the Reason why the Seuenth day was changed into the first day of the weeke vpon which the Christians Sabbath is obserued was in remembrance of our Sauiours Resurrection which hapned on this day as may be gathered by Christs selecting that day to appeare twice to his Apostles after his Resurrection Ioh. 20,19.26 The second Table The fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee AS the first Table teacheth the Honor and loue of God so doth the second the Dutie we owe to our Neighbour And the first Commandement of this Table enioyneth vs to honour and reuerence our Parents as being the thing which God esteemeth next in degree to his Honor. And it containeth First A Precept Secondly A Promise 1 The Precept is Generall and Particular 1 The Generall comprehendeth our Dutie to all our Elders and Superiors whom God hath set ouer vs for our gouernement and preseruation which dutie is of necessitie to be performed in respect of the vpholding of Politique gouernement 2. The particular Precept conteineth our dutie to our naturall Parents Father and Mother of what degree estate or condition soeuer they be Whether Poore or Rich Good or Bad this Commandement layeth hold on vs. Honour thy Father and Mother That which we are enioyned to doe by these words is to Reuerence them as from whom we receiued our being Loue them for their care sorrow and paines in our education Obey them in all lawfull things as being appointed by God to command ouer vs. Be thankefull to them In requiting their charge and loue In ministring to their necessities Be
hast not only of nothing created vs after thine owne Image Gen. 1.9.6 but also hast from time to time most gratiously preserued vs euen to this present Morning from all dangers and terrors and hast giuen vs this night past sweet sleepe comfortable rest whereby we are refreshed and fitted to our bodily labour We thanke thee O Lord for all thy spirituall blessings for our Regeneration Iustification Sanctification in some measure and our Redemption by Iesus Christ We praise thy Name for thy bountifull supply of all things necessary for this life as also for thy patient and long expectance of vs in our Conuersion O Lord we confesse that wee haue beene so farre from the serious consideration of thy fauours to vs and from rendring due thankes vnto thee for them that in stead thereof we haue continually grieuously offended thy Maiestie with most abominable and vile sinnes notwithstanding thou hast sought to reduce vs to thy obedience by the good motions of thy Holy Spirit As often O Lord as we looke about vs either with the eyes of our bodies or mindes so often doe thy fatherly and innumerable benefits appeare vnto vs. For all which wee render againe and againe from the bottome of our hearts infiuite thankes vnto thee and humbly desire thee for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus to pardon all our ingratitude and rebellions Englighten vs we pray thee with thy holy Spirit that we may see our imperfections kindle our zeale towards thee rule and gouerne our mindes wils affections and actions that we may not willingly offend thee any more And giue vs Grace that we may alwayes thinke speake and doe whatsoeuer shall be pleasing vnto thee and abstaine from all things which shall displease or offend thee It is more then enough O Lord that we haue beene hitherto so rebellious against thee It is too much that we haue beene so negligent to serue thee and so ingratefull to thee for all thy blessings Let all euill and wickednesse now depart from vs and let new manners new affections and new hearts be renewed in vs. We commit our selues O Lord wholly into thy protection this day and the rest of our liues and most humbly desire thee of thy infinite goodnesse that as now thou hast put good thoughts into vs thou wilt bee pleased to perfect them in vs so that being led by thy holy Spirit we may do that which is acceptable to thee and loue serue honour and praise thy holy Name all the dayes of our liues And for as much O Lord as thou hast promised to those that loue thee all things necessary for this life wee call and cry to thee O our Father which art in heauen to Giue vs this day our daily bread euen whatsoeuer is needfull and expedient for our sustentation Giue vs O Lord sufficient for our maintenance lest wee take euill and indirect courses or blaspheme or murmure against thee and not too much lest we forget from whose hands wee receiue it Giue not only that which shall be necessary but contented mindes also with it Blesse O Lord the labor and worke of our hands blesse vs at home and abroad and grant that euery one of vs may truely as in thy sight walke in our seuerall vocations and diligently and carefully intend the same making a conscience of all our waies that by thy gracious fauour and our owne endeuours wee may haue prosperous successe in all things which we shal vndertake Continue O Lord thy Gospell among vs. Blesse our gratious King with the Queene the Prince Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue the whole Land and all sorts and conditions of people in it Blesse all that trauell by Sea or Land and take into thy protection all Orphans Widdowes and all that suffer wrong Giue health and strength to the sicke and weake and ioy and comfort to the sorrowfull and afflicted Blesse vs O Lord with healthfull and sound bodies keepe our good names vnspotted and vnblemished Blesse the fruites of the earth and giue vs wholsome peaceable and seasonable times These and all other thy blessings which thou knowest better to giue then we to aske vouchsafe if it seeme good to thy Maiestie to giue vs for the worthinesse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord in whose blessed Name and absolute prayer wee close vp our imperfect prayers and say as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. Rules for Euening and Night As we vsually twice a day at the least take our bodily sustenance so should wee be no lesse carefull for the refreshing of our Soules but twise a day likewise Morning and Euening if not oftner dispose our selues to Deuotion and Prayer When thou therefore retirest thy selfe as in the Morning remember 1. To giue God thankes that hee hath deliuered thee from the dangers of the day past prospered thee in thy affaires and giuen thee necessaries for thy sustentation 2. Examine thy Conscience narrowly and consider wherein thou hast the day past offended God either in thought word or deed and hauing set thine offences before thee confesse them to him and in the bitterenesse of thy Soule repent thee bee sory for them and craue Pardon for them and Grace that thou offend no more in the like 3. Pray to God to continue his care ouer thee the night following and to defend thee from all perills and dangers So that going to thy rest with these good actions and thoughts thou shalt doe the like to those which rake vp fire in the Embers ouer night that they may the more readily find it in the morning In the Night WHen thou awakest in the night call vpon God likewise for the night was not made wholly for sleepe praise him contemplate and meditate vpon his workes Sometimes weepe for thy sinnes according to the practize of Dauid For as the nightly Dew refresheth and tempereth the Earth Psal 6.6 so doe our nightly teares asswage our concupiscences And sometimes reioyce in the Lord according to that of the Psalmist for the great benefits thou hast receiued from him Psal 149.5 By these meanes keeping thy selfe to one holy exercise or other thou shalt be sure to auoide the Deuils tentations whose chiefe time of setting vpon vs fitteth best with his works which are vsually stiled the works of Darkenesse Euening Prayer Psal 42.10 The Lord hath granted his louing kindnesse in the day therefore in the Night will I sing of him and make my Prayer to the God of my Life O Lord God Father euerlasting I yeeld thee most humble and hearty thankes that thou hast not onely auerted thy punishments from me which my grieuous sinnes haue deserued but instead thereof hast preserued me from all dangers and supplied me with all necessaries of this life O Lord I confesse that I haue so highly offended thee this day that all the punishmēts which may be inflicted vpon vile and miserable sinners are due to me I confesse
from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone day Esa 38.12 Who hast not cut of my life like a weauer nor made an end of me O Lord I confesse that as my dayes haue increased so hath my sinne multiplied Pro. 24.16 The iust man falleth seuen times a day But I miserable sinner seuenty seuen times seuen times But I returne to thee O Lord and repent Luc. 17.4 Let not the Sunne goe downe in thy wrath O Lord whatsoeuer good I haue done this day I acknowledge that thou hast wrought it in me and desire thee gratiously to accept of me for it as thy Instrument only O Lord whatsoeuer euill I haue committed this day I confesse it to be the worke of mine owne hands and heartily pray thee to pardon it O Lord which giuest the sleep of health to them that loue thee and causest those that feare thee to sleepe confidently Psal 13.4 Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death Keepe me from the terrors of the night and from the workes of darknesse Psal 91.5 Lord though I sleepe yet let my heart watch to thee and when I wake let me be presently before thee let my thoughts ascend to thee Grant that I may alwaies remember that the night is no night with thee and that the darkenesse and light are to thee alike Psal 139.12 Grant that I may alwaies meditate vpon the long and last sleepe the sleepe of death the bed of my Graue and the Couering of wormes and dust Let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne and let me not in my sleepe doe or thinke any thing that may offend thee or defile my selfe And grant that after the sleepe shall depart from mine eyes I may remember thee search my reynes and trye my heart O Lord I commend my selfe and all that of thy bounty is mine to thee In thee I put all my trust and confidence Thou seest in what dangers we are what snares the Deuill layeth for vs. I humbly therefore pray thee to defend me from him And grant me so to order and end my life that I may sleepe peace and take my rest with thee for the merits of Iesus Christ c. Psal 4.9 I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer for a Family O Almighty and euerlasting God who hath appointed all times and seasons to succeede in their due course and hast ordained the day for the workes of the day and bodily labour and the night to take our quiet rest and refreshing by whose prouidence and mercy we haue beene preserued this day from all dangers and haue beene furnished with all things necessary for this life wee humbly pray and beseech thee that now in this time of night and darkenesse wherein we poore and miserable sinners stand in most need of thy helpe and aide thou wouldest be pleased to keepe vs from all dangers spirituall and temporall O Lord we confesse that we haue not deserued the least of thy fauours nay if thou shouldest with strict eye examine our actions how we haue spent this day and the rest of our daies past we should not be able to stand in thy sight much lesse beg any further blessings of thee For notwithstanding thy manifold and daily fauours wee haue in all things beene rebellious and repugnant to thy blessed Will and obedient and comformable to the command of our enemies the Flesh the World and the Deuill in so much as wee haue lost our liberties and are become seruants and slaues vnto them For we haue wholly giuen our selues to serue the pleasures of the Flesh in concupiscences and other carnall Acts we haue hearkened too much to the delights of the World in couetous desiring that which is not our owne in abusing the Creatures thereof which were created for our necessary vse and not for our wanton and insatiable desires and wee are become the seruants of Sathan in not opposing and resisting his vncleane and wicked tentations Our sinnes are infinite and our iniquities are numberlesse so that wee cannot nor are any way able to recount them vnto thee We haue fled from thee seeking vs neglected thee Louing vs stopped our eares to thee speaking to vs turned our backes to thee reaching thy hand to vs forgotten thee doeing good to vs and despised thee correcting vs. Yet O Lord we humbly intreat thee to shew thy accustomed mercy to vs poore and miserable sinners who in griefe and anguish of soule confesse these our offences and earnestly and bitterly bewaile them Looke vpon vs with the eyes of compassion not for any thing in vs but for the loue and respect which thou bearest to thy Sonne Christ Iesus in whom we verily beleeue that thou art fully reconciled vnto vs. Take away our sinnes and the punishment due vnto vs for them Let thy wrath be turned from vs and destroy vs not together with our manifold transgressions Lord thou seest our wickednesse and withall how and in whose name we craue thy mercy Turne thee O Lord from thine anger which thou mightest iustly power vpon vs and bee gratious vnto vs according to thy wonted goodnesse who abhorrest nothing which thou hast made Create also we beseech thee in vs new hearts hearts fit to serue thee and write thy Law in them with the finger of thy Holy Spirit that all our desires and all our actions may bee conformable to thy blessed Will And now againe O Lord we desire thy Maiestie to take our soules and bodies into thy protection this night following suffer vs not to sleepe in sinne but watch ouer vs and defend vs vnder the shadow of thy wings Let not our sleepe bee excessiue or immoderate but raise vs againe in due time that after a quiet and moderate sleepe we may arise to serue and praise thee ioyfully beginne and perfect our workes iustly labour in our vocations truely and seeke thy Kingdome earnestly that at the last by thee with thee and in thee wee may come vnto the same Kingdome by the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose Name and Prayer wee are bold to call further vpon thee saying Our Father c Prayers for seuerall Persons For a married man O Heauenly Father Maker and Preseruer of Heauen and Earth who in the beginning didst institute Matrimony foretelling the mysticall vnion of the Church with our Sauiour Christ who also in the time of his being vpon earth did honour Marriage with his first Miracle Ioh. 2. and hast appointed it also for a meanes whereby mankinde is propagated Gen. 2. for a remedy to auoide vnlawfull lust and for the mutuall comfort and consolation of thy Children I humbly entreat thee to giue me the assistance of thy diuine Grace that I may liue according to thy commandements with my wife whom thou hast giuen for my helpe and comfort in this world Mortifie in me all vncleane
wee omit and leaue vndone those things which thou commandest vs to doe and commit those things which thou forbiddest And of these some are done Ignorantly others Of our own knowledge Vnwillingly others Wittingly greedily Before our calling others Being called Against God others Against our neighbours and our selues In heart others In word deed By our selues others By others as authors or prouokers Of Commission others Omission Secretly others Of which our heart reprooueth vs. Forgiue them O Lord retaine not the offence exact not the punishment Be reconciled vnto vs By laying aside thy displeasure By receiuing vs to Grace Forgiue Acts 7.60 2. Tim. 4.16 And as thou forgiuest vs. So also forgiue our enemies As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Not to prescribe an example to God to imitate vs nor that we merit in forgiuing others but to testifie how great a matter it seemeth to vs to forgiue offences Blessed bee thou O Lord for propounding to vs so easie a condition To forgiue a mite and be forgiuen a Talent Oh happy exchange to receiue gold for drosse Herein O Lord thou dealest wonderfully and mercifully with vs that we daily praying thus are daily to forgiue and to be forgiuen And thou dost binde vs by this condition of mutuall forgiuenes For he that forgiueth not doth pray against himselfe and in effect doth pray thus Lord forgiue not me for I doe not forgiue Graunt vs therefore grace to follow thy Example fully and freely to forgiue the offence and not retaine the punishment or any malice against those whom we seeme to forgiue As we Not so much in quantitie but the like in qualitie For wee forgiue imperfectly thou absolutely and perfectly And lead vs not into temptation There are two sorts of Tentation 1. Of Triall 2. Of Deceit or Seducing 1. That of Tryall is when God doth any thing to proue the constancy and affections of his Seruants and this is good As of a Gen. 22.1 Abraham of b Iob 1. Iob of his c Exo. 15.25.16.4.20.20 people 2. That of seducing is when we are tempted by the Deuill his ministers or our owne flesh Deut. 8.2.16.13.3 to forsake God and his Commandements and this temptation we pray against For what Benefit will redound to vs in forgiuing our old sinnes if wee contract new O Lord not only pardon that which is past but preuent vs from committing the like Let vs not be encouraged to sinne because of thy bounty in blotting out our former offences but rather to Thankefulnesse and care to offend thee no more Deliuer vs from that which is past Subuention Keepe vs frō that which is to come Preuention Let vs not turne with the dog to the vomite or the Sow to the mire 2. Pet. 2.22 It is enough 1. Pet. 4.3 that we haue spent the time past in the workes of the flesh For the enemie is neuer readier or neerer to vs then when the house is cleane swept Mat. 12.44 Therefore the danger being so neere vs giue vs grace to be the more wary of him For behold O Lord hee is at hand to ensnare vs either with his owne Malice the delights of the World or the pleasures of the flesh If he cannot preuaile by faire meanes yet by force to compell vs. If he cannot puffe vs vp with delight yet to deiect vs with sorrow Wherefore O Lord forsake vs not and by forsaking vs Lead vs into tentation For of our selues without thee we haue no power to resist Sathan neither hath Sathan without thee any power to Tempt vs. Let no Tentation but such as is common to man 1. Cor. 10.13 take hold on vs. Giue vs a happy issue with our Tentation let it bee to the Triall of our faith and the Confusion of Sathan Lead vs no further in then thou wilt bring vs out againe Thou O Lord leadest none in but who first leadeth in himselfe nor hardnest any but those who first harden themselues Ecclus. 3.26 Let not vs bee rebellious and prouoke the Tempter nor loue danger lest we perish therein It is a dangerous thing to bee tempted for the vncertainty of the victory It is Presumption to desire it but Humilitie to decline it It is ioyfully to be endured but by no meanes to be desired But deliuer vs from euil Not only Lead vs not That is not sufficient except thou deliuer vs also If we cannot be free from Tentation yet deliuer vs from the Euill of it From Tentation that is Euill From euill All things are Euill which diuert vs from Thee but especially That Euill enemie of thine and for Thy sake our Enemie for he is not our enemie in respect of our selues for we are not of such strength as that he should desire to oppose vs but he is our Enemy because we are thy children and belong to Thee Deliuer vs O Lord from his bondage Psal 68.1 Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered Psal 89.23 Let not the enemy be able to doe vs violence nor the sonne of wickednesse hurt vs. Psal 86.13 Deliuer our Soules O Lord From the nethermost Hell Psal 22.20 From the power of the dogge Psal 22.21 From the Lyons mouth and the hornes of the Vnicornes Psal 69.15 Out of the myre that wee sinke not Psal 69.16 From the deepe and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon vs. And not only deliuer vs from Him but from his Malice also From whatsoeuer poysou he hath breathed on the Creatures From the Enmity of the World From whatsoeuer is ill in our flesh Deliuer vs also O Lord from the Euill of Punishment from the Euils and miseries of this life Especially of the life to come Amen Behold O Father we haue according to thy Sonnes Directions and forme presumed to craue those things which wee want we haue made our neede knowne vnto thee We desire of thee O Father that thou wouldest graunt vs those things which wee haue craued of thee Wee sigh and groane to thee and pray thee to confirme our votes and wishes with thy Seale So be it Grant vs our petitions for his sake that is a true and faithfull witnesse and in whom all thy promises are Yea and Amen Honour him in vs who deserue of our selues without him no good but much euill at thy hands And say to our petitions Amen So be it Our Father which art in heauen O Almightie Lord and our Heauenly Father whose Fatherly power and goodnesse is seene in the Creation preseruation and gouerning of all things and vpon whom as a Father we waite and depend for all that is good who art in all places by thy presence but especially in Heauen by thy Excellence We thy poore children whom thou hast preferred before the rest of thy creatures Psal 8. doe from the bottome of our hearts Hallowed bee thy Name wish and