our soueraigne with our gracious Queen Anne Prince Charles the Count Palatine with the Lady Elizabeth adorne them with all Princelie graces answerable to their high estate but especiallie with such spirituall graces as may make them Kings and Priests to thee and thy sonne for euer Impart of the same spirit of grace and gouernement to all the honorable of his Maiesties priuie Counsell to the Nobilitie and Magistracie of the Land Blesse thy seruants the Ministers of thy word and sacraments and giue them sufficiencie fidelitie and successe in thy businesse Take knowledge of our priuate friends our kinsfolkes our charges and whosoeuer may claime interest in this duty at our hands Finally to them and vs and all that call on the name of Iesus Christ both our Lord and theirs grant whatsoeuer we haue or ought to haue asked and that for the only mediations sake of the same thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Ghost one God be praise and dominion for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for the Euening O Lord God by whose gracious prouidence the night succeedeth the day and the day the night we acknowledge that if wee had no other glasse to see thee in nor booke wherein to reade of thee but that of thy creatures wee could not without shamefull vnthankefulnesse bee ignorant of thee for as much as day vnto day vttereth thy goodnesse and night vnto night teacheth knowledge But whereas thou art further pleased to reueile thy selfe vnto vs in the booke of thy Scriptures and in the glasse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ if now we should not know thee or not acknowledge thee how desperate were our blindnesse how damnable were our vnthankefulnesse wherefore wee entreat thee to accept from vs in the name of Christ humble thankes for the manifold witnesses pledges of thy loue towards vs. Thou O Lord hast made vs not wee our selues yea thou hast made vs men and women not beasts perfect in shape noâ— monsters sensible and of vnderstanding not fooles Thou didst preserue vs in the woâ—be nourish vs when wee hanged vpon the brests prouide vs meanes of education fit vs for some honest employment wherein now by thy goodnesse wee are exercised and doe therein finde thine assistance and blessing Thou hast brought vs forth in a fruitfull land in times of peace and prosperity so â—hat we haue our share in the common blessings of a most happy gouernment Besides thou hast in priuate compassed euery one of vs with particular mercies tending to the comfort of life And euen this day past hast beene our guide our Father and our friend and now bringest vs before thee with matter of praise and not of mourning so that we may adde the day past vnto the number of the daies of our wellbeing And as if thou thoughtest all this too little for vs thou hast from all eternity set thine heart vpon vs and appointed vs to saluation by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ reueiled thy couenant of grace vnto vs by thy Gospell confirmed to vs in particular the promises of mercy by the outward seales of thy sacraments and by the inward seale of thy spirit changed our vile and cursed nature and made vs in some measure partakers of thy diuine nature sealed vs vp by the Holy Ghost vnto the day of redemption In a word it is thou O Lord that hast giuen vs light light of nature light of grace and light of glory For all which mercies wee doe now and alwaies magnifie thy glorious grace beseeching thee to stirre vs vp vnto a greater measure of thankefulnesse and obedience that as there is euerie day in the booke of thine account much goeing out towards vs from thee so thou maist finde somewhat from vs comming in vnto thee And now O Lord being answered in our prayers of the Morning and of the former time of our life we are emboldened to come againe vnto thee who therefore doest heare the praier that to thee all flesh may come Wee beseech thee therefore be not weary of our importunity be not ashamed of our pouertie but as the sense thereof leadeth vs vnto thee so let the pitty and commiseration of the same encline thy mercifull heart towards vs. O Lord we cannot come into thy sight but we bring with vs great matter occasioÌ„ either of wrath or of mercy from thee Our naturall corruption which as the leprosie of Adam cleaueth to vs all his posteritie filling vs euen from our conception with the seedes of all euill so that wee brought with vs a world of sinne into this thy world Our actuall transgressions which in imitation of Adams sinne we haue eueryone of vs committed our thoughts our words our works by which the eies of thy glorie haue beene daily prouoked Finally the heinous circumstances whereby our sinnes haue beene made out of measure sinfull as the abuse of thy patience quenching of thy spirit despising of thy Gospell vnthankefulnesse for thy mercies vnfaithfulnesse in thy couenant These O Lord and many moe are the mischiefs with which our natures are blemished our liues pestered our consciences burdened thy heauie wrath most iustly procured Yet because thou hast giuen thy Sonne Iesus Christ a meanes of propitiation in whom thou reconcilest the world to thy selfe wee haue boldenesse through him to entreat thee of grace and pardon Lord let his death and sufferings satisfie thy iustice for all our sinnes and procure vs fauour and forgiuenesse from thee that so mercy may reioice ouer iudgement in our behalfe as both meet together in thee Let thy Christ O Lord be our Iesus to saue vs from our sinnes and deliuer vs from the wrath to come Enrich vs with the treasure of his merits that may both ransome vs out of the hand of our deadly enemie and purchase vs an euerlasting estate in the kingdome of thy glory Let it not greeue thee O Lord thus to make vs more then gainers at thine hand seeing at the hand of him our suretie thou art sure to bee no looser And whereas thou hast not onely promised so to deale with vs but commanded vs to beleeue that promise of thine O Lord in desire to obey thy commandement and to seale vnto thy truth we professe that wee doe beleeue yet priuie to the weakenesse of our faith wee pray thee helpe our vnbeliefe Speak peace O Lord vnto our consciences replenish vs with the comforts of thy spirit multiplie in vs the euidences of our saluation Shed thy loue abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost set vs as a seale vpoÌ„ thine hand and set thy seale O Lord vpon vs not onelie that seale of Election whereby thou knowest vs to bee thine owne but also the seale of Sanctification whereby we may know our selues to be thine O Lord if we see nothing in our selues but what wee haue of our selues or of the world we cannot say wee belong to any but to Satan
b Gen. 5.3 6.3 image of Adam the c Ephes 4.22 old man the d Joh. 3.6 flesh c. Viz. the e Rom. 5.12 state 1. Of sinne 2 By for sinne of death Q. What is Sinne A. A f 1. Ioh. 3.4 sweruing from the law of God making the sinner g Gen. 4.7 guiltie before God and liable to the curse of the law Q. How is mankinde in the state of sinne since the fall A. Euery one naturally descending from Adam besides the guilt of that first sinne committed in Paradise 1. Is a Psal 51.5 conceiued and borne in originall corruption 2. Liuing in this world sinneth also b Gen. 6.5 Esa 48.8 actually yea of himselfe c Jer 13.23 Mat. 7.18 can doe nothing but sinne d Tit. 1.15 neither is any thing pure vnto him Q. What is originall corruption A. It is the defacing of Gods image consisting chiefely in wisedome and holinesse and the impression of the contrarie e Ioh. 8.41 c. image of Satan called f Rom. 7.7 Jam. 1.14 Concupiscence consisting 1. In an vtter g Rom. 7.18 disabilitie and h 8.7 enmitie vnto that which is good 2. In i Rom. 7.14 pronenesse vnto all manner euill Q. In what part of our nature doth it abide A. In the whole man and euery part 1. k Eph. 4.17 18 19. Darkening or l Esay 44.20 misleading the vnderstanding 2 m T it 1 15 Ephes 4.19 Benumming or n Mar. 10.20 1. Cor. 8.7 abusing the conscience 3 a Rom. 7.23 Rom 6.10 Enthralling and b Ephes 4.18 hardening the will 4. c Iam. 4.1 Gal. 5.17 Iob 15.16 Disturbing and disordering the affections 5. Finally making the bodily sences and members Either 1. As d Mat 5.29 30 Porters to let in sinne or 2. As e Ro. 6.12 13 3.13 c. Instruments to execute it Q. Is the image of God then wholly defaced in man A. No. For he f Iam. 3.9 remaineth still a creature reasonable and capable of grace hauing the same parts and faculties he had before and in them some reliques of Gods image as in the vnderstanding g Joh. 1.9 some light in the conscience sometimes h Rom 2.15 right iudgement in the will i Rom. 2.14 some libertie to good and euill in naturall and ciuill actions and freedome in all things from compulsion c. Q. What is actuall sinne A. It is sinne committed k Rom. 5.14 after the manner of Adams transgression to wit a particular breach of Gods law leauing a a Ier. 13.23 staine in the soule which polluteth the sinner and disposeth him to further euill Q. How is such sinne committed A. Two wayes Viz. by 1. Omission of duety required 2. Commission of euill forbidden whether it be 1. Inwardly in the b Gen. 6.5 Mat. 15.19 vnderstanding will or affections or 2. Outwardly in c Esay 3 8. word or deed Q. By what degrees doe men proceed in the committing of actuall sinne A. d 2. Sam. 11.2 Temptation offered e Psal 7.14 Jam. 1.14.15 concupiscence taking liking conceiueth wherevpon ensueth the committing or birth of sinne by custome and continuance wherein the heart finally is f Heb. 3 13 hardened Q. What are the different kindes of actuall sinne A. They are many but wee may reduce them to these fiue Viz. 1. g Esay 6.5 Partaking with others sinnes 2. h Psal 19.12 Sinnes of ignorance or of an i 1. Cor. 8.7 erring conscience 3. a Rom. 7.19 Sinnes of knowledge through infirmitie 4. b Psal 19.13 50.21 Eccle. 8.11 Sinnes of Presumption and obstinacie 5. c Heb. 6.4.5 6 10.29 Mar. 3.29 30. The impardonable sinne against the holy Ghost Q. Doe all naturall men alike commit all these kindes of sinne A. No for though d Rom. 7.14 all are alike disposed vnto all manner euill hauing in their corrupt nature the seedes of euery sinne yet doth God for the good of humane societie restraine many from notorious crimes by e Ro. 13.3.4.5 feare of shame and punishment desire of honour and reward c. Q. How doth God employ men in this state of sinne A. 1. Hee guideth them partly by the f Ro 2.14.13 Joh. 1.9 light of nature and partly by g Esay 44.28 common graces of the Spirit vnto many actions profitable for humane societie and for the outward seruice of God 2. Hee h Act. 3.18 4 27.28 ouer-ruleth their euill and sinfull actions so that thereby they bring to passe nothing but what his hand and counsell had before determined for his owne glorie SECT IX Of the second Consequent of the Fall viz. Death and of the Leauing of Reprobates in this fearefull state Q. HOw is man by sinne in the state of death A. By the iust sentence of God deliuering him a Rom. 5.12 for sinne into the power both of corporall and eternall death signified by b Ge. 3.22 c expelling our parents out of Paradise and debarring them of the Sacramentall tree of Life Q. What are we to vnderstand by corporall death A. The c Gen. 3.19 Eccl. 12.7 separation of the soule and bodie with all euils that attend thereon or make way thereto as d Deut. 28.15 c. sorrow sicknesse shame seruitude penurie c. yea euen c Mal. 3.2 Psal 69.22 blessings are cursed and a Psal 69.22 prosperitie causeth ruine Q. What is eternall death A. It is the finall b 2. Thes 1.9 separation of the whole man in hell for euer from Gods fauourable presence and fellowship together with present c 2. Tim. 2.26 Ephes 2.2 bondage vnder Satan d Heb. 10 27 Esay 33.14 hellish horrors and such like fore-runners of damnation Q. By what law doth God proceede in this punishment A. By the law of workes first written in the heart of Adam and vttered to his eare in Paradise and since more solemnely published and fully expressed by Moses and the Prophets e Deu. 29. â—6 Rom. 1.31 3 20. for the discouerie of sinne and the punishment due thereto Q. How commeth it to passe that the reprobate abide without recouerie in this state of sinne and death A. Because f Act. 17.30 14.16 the Lord doth not grant vnto them the benefite of Redemption and grace of faith and repentance vnto life but suffereth them to runne on in sinne deseruedly vnto condemnation Q. How doth God suffer them so to runne into condemnation A. In a diuers manner Some reprobates dying infants Others of riper yeares of which later sort 1. Some are not called 2. Others called Q. How doth God deale with reprobates dying infants A. Being once conceiued they are in the a Rom. 5.14 state of death by reason of the sinne of Adam imputed and of originall corruption cleauing to their nature wherein also dying they
to come will come and will not tarrie Q. How shall Christ come to iudgement A. Euen in his d Act. 1.11 humane body but e Mat. 25.31 with vnspeakeable glorie attended with all the holy Angels of God and with the f 1. Thes 4 1â— shout of an Arch-Angell Q. How shall all men be brought into the presence of Christ the Iudge A. a 1. Cor 15.52 The dead shall be raised with their owne bodies and the liuiâ—â— changed and that in a moment at the sound of the last trumpet Q. Shall the resurrection of the Elect and the Reprobate be the same A. No. For b 1. Cor. 15.52 53. the Elect shall rise with glorious bodies but the Reprobate with bodies full of vncomelinesse Q. How shall men appeare before Christ A. c Luk. 21.28 1. Thes 4.17 The Elect shall with ioy be caught vp to meete the Lord but d Reu. 1.7 6.15 16. the Reprobate with horror shall bee drawne into his presence SECT LI. Of Examination and sentence Q. HOw shall men bee tryed in this iudgement A. e Ro. 2.12 15. According to the will of GOD manifested vnto them by nature or by Scripture and the testimonie of their owne consciences touching their obedience or disobedience thereto Q. Shall the Elect vndergoe this tryall A. Yea but with great fauour for a Ezek. 18.22 Reu 14.13 not their sinnes but their good workes onely shall bee remembred and those not strictly censured but onely produced as proofes of that faith in Christ whereby they haue b 2. Pet. 1.10 11 entrance into the kingdome of God Q. How shall sentence bee pronounced A. Christ the Iudge shall award vnto c Mat. 25.34 the Elect the blessed kingdome promised and to d Mat. 25.41 the Reprobate the curse of euerlasting fire e Rom. 6.23 which they haue deserued SECT LII Of the Execution of the last Iudgement Q. HOw shall this sentence be executed A. a Mat. 25.46 Christ by his Almightie power and ministerie of Angels shall caâ—â— the Diuels and wicked men into hell fire and after carrie vp the righteous with himselfe into the blissefull and euerlasting kingdome of glorie ECCL 12. ver 13 14. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commandements for this is the whole of man For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill A short Prayer for the Morning O Eternall and Almightie Lord God who in vnspeakeable wisedome and goodnesse hast made all things for the good of man and man with al and aboue all things for thine owne glorie wee humbly acknowledge our selues to be vtterly vnworthy of the least of all thy mercies which wee either enioy or desire to enioy For O Lord wee are not onely weake creatures vnable to giue vnto thee first that wee should bee recompenced but also sinfull and vnthankefull wretches not rendring vnto thy Maiestie according to thy kinde and gracious dealing with vs. Thou createdst vs O Lord in thine owne image endued with wisedome and true holinesse adorned with all bodily perfections aduanced vnto dominion ouer all thy workes of wonder but wee all in Adam by breaking thy Couenant forfeited our birth-right deâ—aced thine holy image and made our selues more vile then the beasts that perish Thus were wee borne into the world an increase of sinfull men full of ignorance and vanitie of minde of rebellion and obstinacie of heart secure in conscience peruerse in affections vnbridled in appetite vtter enemies vnto thine holinesse carelesse to know or seeke after thee vnwilling either from thy blessings or from thy iudgements to take knowledge of thee Yea Lord when thou causedst the light of thy glorious Gospell to shine vnto vs our foolish hearts despised that light and preferred darknesse before it because our deedes were euill so that if thou hadst not giuen vs as well sight as light and a minde as well as meanes to know thee who art true euen to this day our eyes had beene still blinded by Satan the God and Prince of the darknesse of this world But blessed for ouer be thy glorious Name who for thine owne mercies sake not our merite and by thine owne Almightie power without any disposition or concurrence on our part hast effectually called vs vnto the knowledge and obedience of thy Gospell But what can we plead for our selues O Lord that haue walked vnworthy of this thy great grace and as much as in vs lieth againe defaced thine image in vs euen the new creature For since the time that we gaue our names vnto Christ and professed our selues to bee of his partie wee haue many waies and many times treacherously ioined with Satan with the world and our owne corruption to sinne against the honour of our Sauiour and against the light of knowledge which shineth into our consciences so that by our disobedience and rebellion we haue weakened the cause of thy Truth and opened the mouth of the Aduersarie to reproch the holy Gospell of thy Sonne Iesuâ— Christ which we professe Finally our whole course conuersation aboundeth with continuall breaches of all thy righteous lawes and is shamefully barren of those fruits of righteousnesse which by Iesus Christ should redound vnto thy praise and glorie Wherefore O Lord wee freely confesse against our selues our great wickednesse wee iudge our selues worthy â—o be destroyed for all our iniquities we abhorne our selues and repent before thee in dust and ashes we fly only to thy rich mercie grace in Christ Iesus beseeching thee for his sake to haue mercie on vs with his bloud to wash clense vs from all our sinnes in his face and countenance to behold vs in his absolute merite mediation fauourably to accept vs. So shall there be no condemnation for vs being in Christ Iesus who was made sinne for vs that wee might be made the righteousnes of God in him Further O Lord that wee may soundlie assure our selues that wee are in Christ and withall be enabled to walke more worthie of thy grace wee beseech thee make vs more and more partakers of the spirituall power both of the death and life of Christ Let the power of his death mortifie in vs all carnall and sinfull lusts let it crucifie the world vnto vs and vs vnto the world let it dull and dead our hearts vnto the allurements of sinne let it make vs sencelesse or carelesse of the discouragements that are or may be offered in the way of well-doing Let it arme vs with this mind rather to suffer any trouble and forbeare any pleasure then by sinning against thee to hazard the peace of a good conscience On the other side let the quickening power of the life of Christ reuiue our dead nature vnto new obedience let it in flame our hearts with the loue of thy maiestie let it make thy word sauourie vnto vs and more desirable then our