Morning prayer before ye enter to warke.

O Great Creator of all things, our gratious Lord & sweet father in Christ, we the warke of thine awin hands, thy pure seruands and children maist humblie adores and worships before the throne of thy majestie, acknawledging and extolling thee for thy wonderfull warkes, al wrought of thy gudnes, in power and wise­dome inspeakeable, in making of all, vpholding of al; & [Page 9] ordering and ruling of all, for the weill and comfort of man; whome thou haste appointed, Lorde ouer all thy creatures: that of him aboue all wher thou might bee serued and glorified. Lorde, we heartely thank thee for all thy benefits sa largely bestowed vppon vs, that our hearts cannot sufficiently think on thē, meikle lesse our mouthes expresse them, as for that thou hast this night watched over vs, keiped vs from al danger of bodie & saule, & giuen vs comfortable rest for refreshing of the wearines of our weak nature, humbly beseeching thee for thy mercy & grace, in respect of our manifolde sins committed against thee this night, & all the nights and times of our life by-past; that in the lawer of the preci­ous blood of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour, al our vncleannes of saule and bodie may be washed away. Suffer not Lorde our sins to stay the course of thy bles­sing, and bring on vs thy fearefull curse, as maist justlie they deserue; bot rather amend vs be a maire forcible working of thy spirit of grace and sanctification: That as thou continues the course of time, the day after the night, and night after the day: sa the course of thy kind­nesse, and loue may be continued with vs thy seruands and children beyonde all time, and sa Lord, vouchsafe to receaue vs this day vnder thy gratious gouernment and fauourable protection: waken vs out of the sleepe of sinne, raise vs out of the bed of securitie, make vs to cast off the warks of darkenes, and put on the armour of light, that we may walk honestly as in the day time, yea as in thy sight and presence, before whome the greatest darkenes euen of the hid thoughts of the [...] shines as the cleare light. Make the day [...] thy gospell to lighten our mindes [...] that [...] Christ [...] ­ [...] [Page 10] to shine before the eyes of our faith, and the heate beames of thy spirit to kendel vp that lyuely warmenes and holsome heate of loue in our hearts, and guide vs sa, be thy grace in all thy waies, that in thought, word, and deede, we may glorifie thy name, and edifie vthers bee our gude example in all godlines and vertue. Lorde, as we are mindefull of this bodie to cleange, cleithe, and feide the same dayely, make vs as carefull of our saules and inward man, to purge it be repentance, washe it in the precious blood of the lambe the Lord Iesus, cleith it with his righteousnes, and feide the samin be his bo­die broken for vs: that is, be trew faith in his death and passion, keepe our hearts and thoughts from all vngod­ly, vnhonest, vnlawful, wrangous, filthie & vnclean de­uises and desires: keepe our mouthes and tongues from all blasphemie, swearing, banning, cursing, foule, euill, vaine and profaine speaking, keepe our hands & feete from all violent wrang, wicked and vnhonest turnes & waies, and make our hearts, hands, and feete, and haill saule and bodie rightly sanctified and ruled be thy spi­rit, to think, speak or do nathing this day, bot that whilk flowing from faith, directed be the square of thy law, may tend to thy praise, the we [...]l and profite of our bre­thren and neighbours, joy and contentment of our awin consciences, and to the forderance of the gud & lawfull turnes of our occupation, lest these members infected with the leprosie, & botch of sinne, being a iust curse and plague vpon vs and all our labours. Garde vs therfor by thy gratious power fra the deuil, warld, and flesh: that we be not snared be their craft, intangled with their tentatiōs, nor allured be their delitious, pleasures, furnish vs out of thy rich and vnwasted store, all [Page 11] things needefull and comfortable for body and saule; let thy bountifull blessing bee vpon our occupationes and warks of our hands, without the whilk, all our cair and busines is vaine and lost, giue vs grace to seeke and luke for all gud things at thy gratious hands allanerlie, trauelling faithfully and diligently in our vocations, & to returne also the lawful and right vse thereof againe, with thankfull heartes to thine honour & praise. Lord, teach vs sa to compt & number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts to heauenly wisedome, and seeke after the life euerlasting, and fill vs sa with thy mercies this morning, and euery morning, that we may repose and be glad in thee al the dayes of our life; and finally, make vs sa to spend this day: and all the dayes and times of this miserable pilgrimage, in thy feare, loue, and obedi­ence, that when it sall please thee, whair and how wee may happely end it in Iesus Christ, beginning that joy­full morning in saule, first after the departure from the bodie, and thereafter baith in saule and body, rejoyned in ane immortall estaite, at the resurrection of the just, that neuer sall haue evening fallowing.

Lord, as in our prayers we haue alwaies before our eyes thy glorie, whereof aboue all thinges wee beseike thee to make vs zealous, that we may therby kenne our selues to be thy seruants & children; sa we recommend to thy loue and mercie, the caire and protection of thy haill Kirk, our common mother and thy deare spouse, and the Kirkes in special that trauailis vnder the crosse of thy Christ, for g [...]d and faithfull Pastours and Magi­strates, to be steired vp and assisted bee thy grace for their comfort; & for thy fauour, power, and wisdome, to be [...] to the malice, force, & craft of their enemies, [Page 10] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page 12] and for comfort, patience, & constancy to them whereby they may glorifie thy name in suffering, and moue vthers by their gud example to doe the same. Hasten Lord their deliuerance, and make vs baith to joy and sorrow with thy people and children: that we may finde our selues louing & feilling members of the body of thy Christ, wee beseik thee for euery member of that body in particular: specially, sik as are vnder thy correcting hand: to giue them the assurance of thy fa­uour in Christ, patience, strength, & comfort, acknaw­ledging, that it is the hand of thee their louing father, working for their weil-faire, whose gud-will is their weill, and fra whome na hurte or euill can come vnto them, make them therefore gladly to giue ouer them­selues in thy hands, abiding patiently thy will and lea­sure, with assured hope of a sweet & comfortable ende of all their sufferings: and prepare vs Lorde against the day of our tryall and visitation, and giue vs grace to vse the examples of thy warks set before our eyes, and in­structions, & admonitions of thy word sounding in our eares fruitfullie for that effect. That dutie of remem­brance in our prayers, quhilk we haue promised to sik as are by acquaintance, knitte with vs in the bowels of Christ Iesus, and the estate wherof is communicat and recommended vnto vs, we discharge it Lorde before thee, and earnestly committeth them and their estate to thy grace, beseiking thee maist effectually for them as for our selues. Lord, our prayers are imperfit, & when we haue prayed, we haue neede to crie mercie, for that we haue not prayed aright, for neither knaw wee what thy glory requires in particular, nor the necessity of thy kirk, or any member theirof, na not our awin neids, nor [Page 13] can wee be mooued for the samin as wee ought. Make vs therefore Lorde with vnderstanding and right dis­position of thy Sprit to commend al vnto thee, & rightlie to glorifie thy name, by incalling the same in that forme of praier maist perfit, that thy son our sauiour Ie­sus Christ hath teached vs to vse, saying, Our father, &c.

Forme of blessing before meate.

BE mercifull to vs, O our gud God and father, and blesse vs, and make the light of thy countenaunce to shine vpon vs, sanctifie vs thy seruands mair & mair vnto thee in thy Christ, and blesse thy gud creatures to our vse: giue vs grace to take them thankfully fra thy handes, & vse them moderately, that we being refresh­ed therby, may be inhabled to go for-ward in the iour­ney of this life, seruing thee alwaies in Iesus Christ our onelie Lorde and Sauiour: in whose name we humblie and reuerently intreate thee for all things to be prayed for as he hath teached vs, saying, Our father▪ &c.

Grace or thanksgiuing after meate.

THe Lord our gud God maist mightie, wise, grati­ous, and bountifull father: wha hes elected vs be­fore the foundation of the warld was layed: wha hath made vs all of a blood in our father the first Adam at the beginning of time, and at the acceptable fulnes of time, when we were vtterly lost, of his free mercie piti­ing our miserie, hes made vs new againe, and redeemed vs from the Diuell, death & hell, be the precious blood of the second Adam, his awin only begotten sonne, the [Page 14] Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour: wha hes translated vs out of darkenes, into this maruellous light of the gos­pell, whilk we sa lang enjoy: wha hes justified & sanc­tified vs in sum measure, by his halie spirit of adoption, to ane assured hope of the life euerlasting: wha hes kee­ped vs vnto this houre, and furnished to vs aboundant­ly all thinges needfull, and comfortable for body and saule, as he hath now presently refreshed and fed vs: & sa ceases notto powre mair and mair the plentifulnes of his rich graces and blessings vpon vs: euen this our gud God & maist gratious father be blessed, praised, hono­red, and sanctified, now and for euer. Amen.

Prayer after meate.

DEare and bountifull father, as thou hast refreshed our bodies, that mon decay and turne to dust, with thir things earthly, whereof we haue sa greate an appe­tit, desire, and pleasure: sa wee beseik thee to giue vs a greater care of our selues & inward man, that mon liue for euer, that we may hunger & thirst for the nuriture thereof, and take delight and pleasure therin, to wit, the Lorde Iesus Christ, that bread of life that came downe from the heauens, and is offered to vs in thy haly Gos­pell. Lord, make vs sa to feede vpon him be a liuely faith and warking of the spirit of sanctification; that our in­ward man may daylie mair and mair bee nurished, re­freshed and strengthned, for the exercise and discharge of all the dewties, quhilk thou requires of vs to be done for thy seruice and honour. Mortifie wee beseik thee farther and farther, the lustes and earthly affections of our outward man; that likes alwaies to liue here, to eate [Page 15] and drinke and injoy the pleasures of this world, and that till he be euen vtterly abolished, and quicken and augment our inward man, till he come to that full and ripe age in the stature of Christ: that is, meete to injoy the kingdome, and blisse euerlasting. Amen

Euening Prayer.

VVE humbly present vnto thee in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ, euerlasting praise and thanks (almightie God and father maist mercifull) for all thy benefites and blessings sa largely bestowed vp­on vs, all the dayes and times of our life, preseruing vs in saule and bodie from all euill, and prouiding for vs aboundantly all things needefull & comfortable baith for the ane and vther, blessing the warkes of our hands in that measure that thou hes thought meetest, like as we haue found these benefits in fresh and new experi­ence this present day. Lord, let not our sinnes commit­ted against thee this day, nor na day heretofore, pro­cure the withdrawing of thy blessings, and powring of thy plagues vpon vs, as we cōfesse, that they maist just­ly deserue, bot as of thy free mercie and grace in Iesus Christ, thou hes bin vnto this houre, a gratious & bountifull Lorde and father vnto vs, sa of the same grace and mercie in Iesus Christ, wee earnestly beseike thee, to warke amendement in vs, bee a mair effectuall force of thy haly Spirit, and sa to continew thy bounty and fa­uour toward vs. And now Lord, this night vouchsafe to receaue vs vnder thy gratious protection and saife­gard, for we commend and giue ouer our saules and bodies, our houses, guds, geare, and whatsumeuer per­teins [Page 16] to vs into thy hands, watch therefore ouer vs gud Lord, & make thy holy Angels to campe about vs; that we may sa safely rest & refresh our wearied bodies with sleepe; that in the meane time our saules hauing their conuersation with thee, may await for the glorious ap­pearing of Christ our King to the last judgement. And grant O father, that when hee fall come to judge ather the world in generall or in particular, to call any of vs from this life, we be not found sleeping in cairles secu­ritie, nor drunken with surfeit of sinne or loue of things temporall, nor blinded in the darkenes of ignorance with the miserable multitude of the warld, that fall pe­rish eternallie: bot weil occupied, watching & praying in sobrietie, prepared with the precious oyle of faith & loue in the lampes of our hearts burning, that wee may readely and gladly meete our Lord Iesus, and accom­panie him to the rest and joy euerlasting. O Lorde our life is bot as a day; and a thousand yeare is bot a day be­fore thee, the euening is as the end of our life, our sleep as death, our bed a graue, our sheittes winding sheittes, the cocks wakning bels, as the arch-angels trumpetes sounding to judgemēt. And luke how surely we knaw that we man die, sa vncertaine are we, whair, when, & how. Make vs therefore we beseik thee gud Lord sa re­solued, that we may end this day as wee wald ende our life, enter in our bed as in our graue, resting in the peace of our conscience, and assurance of thy loue with a stedfast hope of that joyfull resurrection amangs thy saincts, and that by true and sure faith in the resurrec­tion of our Christ, quha in that pleasand morning, fall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like vnto his glorious body, to be placed with him in the presence [Page 17] and at the right hand of his father, whair the fulnes of joyes and pleasures ar for ever. Graunt vs thir thinges deare Father, and whatsoeuer els thou knowis to be for thy awin glorie, the weill of thy Kirk of this Con­gregation, and all the members thereof, of this familie, and euerie ane of vs, and sik in speciall as we haue pro­mised to remember in our prayers, asking all in that forme maist perfite, that CHRIST hes commanded vs saying, Our father, &c.

The maner how to vse the Catechisme in verse, pleasandly and fruitfully.

HEre I wil insert the manner how ye may vse the Catechisme in verse, pleasandly & fruitfully: as I haue some experience in my awin familie. The night before the Sabboth (whilk I wauld ye suld haue al­waies free from your warldlie turnes, except in necessi­ties, and that for a preparation to the Sabbothe) ye sall expone to your servands and children some part of the said Catechisme, as a petition of the prayer, or artickle of the Beleefe, or ane of the Commandements, to mak it cleir in proofe to them, whilk is shortly packed vp in verse: syne injoyne that to sik as can reade, to be tu­ned perquere the Sabboth following, of the whilk at night thou sall take account; and on the first day of the oulk following, after morning prayer, thou sall enter in conference be questioning therevpon with thy chil­dren and servands, shortly, to assay their vnderstanding and cleir and helpe the [...]amin: the whilk when thou hes done, then let sik as can reade, sing clearely and distinctly the same part, that sik as can not, may tak tent [Page 18] & folow, & so learne: And in conclusion, prayse God with these verses taken out of 68. and 89. Psalmes.

Thereafter vse the prayer for working of the spirite to mak the word fruitfull, as ye haue it hereafter, & end with the blessing, to be alwayes pronounced by the Fa­ther, Mother, or maister of the familie or companie. And siklik, after evening praier the same pairt, & so con­tinue all the oulk, gif they he hard to learne, till it be­come familiar, but gif they be able to learne, and haue beneanes or twise through, then may ye haue a pairt euer-ilk day. This ordour, or the like being daily vsed without intermission, and cairfull over-sight of disci­pline joyned therewith, by the Father and Maisters of familie and companies, for a godlie and honest conver­sation: but question, by the grace of God, thou sal finde great grouth, baith of knawledge, and godlines: and sa of al vther blessings, in thy familie or companies.

A maist pithie prayer, for obteining of the working of the halie spirit, be the word and Sa­craments, taken out of the 1. &. 3. Eph. & Phil. 3.

VVE bow our knees vnto thee, O God of glorie, and father of our Lord Iesus Christ, of whom is named the halie familie of thy Kirk in Heauen & in earth; beseik and thee according to the riches of thy glo­rie, to lighten the eyes of our mindes with the spirit of wisedome and knawledge, that wee may vnderstande what is the hope of thy calling, and the riches of the glorie of thy inheritance amangst the Saints, & what is the excellencie of the greatnes of thy power amangst them that beleeue, according to that efficacie of thy strong power, whilk thou shewed forth in Christ, when thou raysed him from the dead, and set him at the right hand in the heauens. And grant, Lord, that we may be strenthened by thy Spirit in the inwarde man, that thy Christ may dwell in our hearts be saith; that we being rooted and grounded in loue, may be able to compre­hend with al the faints; what is the breadth & length, the deapth & height of that inestimable grace, redemp­ption, and glorie, that thou hast prepared for them, and to embrace that loue of Christ, whilk passeth all vn­derstanding, that wee may be filled with all fulnesse of God. Graunt O Lord & Father, that thy spirit, the true and inward teacher and comforter, wauld by the fruit­full vse of thy word and sacraments, mak our faith and loue to grow and abounde yet mair and mair in knaw­ledge and feeling, that wee may rightly discerne, be­tuixte gud and evill, thy will, and our will, thy Loue, and the loue of this warlde, that wee may bee pure, [Page 18] [...] [Page 19] [...] [Page 20] and without offence, vnto the day of our CHRIST, fil­led with the fruites of righteousnes, whilk at by IESVS CHRIST vnto the glorie and prayse of thee our God, & thir things, as for our selues, euen sa in hearty affecti­on, we ask for al thyne, with whom in thy CHRIST, we gladly professe that maist happy communion & blessed vnitie. Therefore vnto thee, O Father, wha is able to doe exceeding aboundantly, aboue all whilk wee can aske or thinke, according to the power of thy spirite, whilk worketh in vs, be prayse in the Kirk by IESVS Christ throughout all generations for euer. Amen.

A Praier for the Sabboth day at Morne.

BLessed God and bountifull father, wha hes com­manded vs to keip holie the Sabboth, absteyning haliley from our awin warkes, for vsing of thy warkes, worde, sacraments, and vther meanes of thy worship­ping holelie and rightly, for thy honor and prayse, and the life and weill of our saules and inward man euerla­sting. We acknowledge and confes, as the truth is, that we ar altogidder, wicked, corrupt, vnhalie, vaine, wan­dring, profane, and earthly; and that thou art gud, puir, holie, constant, and full of heigh & heauenly majestie; sa that we ar vn-worthie, and maist vnmeit to tred in thy courtes, or approch to thy presence; yea, to behold the light of thy heauens a moment, to let be to set our selues to sanctifie and keip holie a Sabboth vnto thee: neverthelesse, since it hath pleased thee sa to command vs, and promise to accept of vs in thy Holy ane, the Lord IESVS our Mediatour, and of thy vn-speakable mercie and gudnesse, to giue this libertie, occasion▪ [Page 21] health of body, and vther things neidful for the samin: We humbly beseik thy grace to be mercifull vnto vs, and purge vs in the precious bloud of the Lamb the Lord IESVS; to wound our hearts with vn-fayned sor­row for our sinnes; & heal the samin againe by a plaister of his heart bloud, applied by faith vnto our consciēce, and sa to sanctifie vs by that holie comforter, that wee may come before thee rightlie prepared, for all the ho­lie & spirituall exercises of thy Sabboth: Disposed ac­cordingly in the mean while thereof, & finde in end the effectual and solide fruites of the samin, to our growth in godlines and direction aright in all thy holie waies, with heauenly strength and vigour, to follow out the samin this oulk, and all the dayes and oulkes of our jor­neying in this wretched wildernesse, till we atteine till that comfortable Canaan and heauenlie inheritance, whair halelie and holelie but any corruption, impedi­ment, or interruption, we fall sanctifie to thee a Sab­both and rest everlasting. Lord furnish to thy servands that thou sends out this day to speake in thy name vn­to thy people, sik store of sound and holsome doctrine, prayer, prayse, and thanks-giuing, with the grace of vttering the samin, with sik force, evidence, zeale, and weight of thy spirite, as may baith instruct thy people clearely, and ravish and mooue them mightely, to the feruent reverence, feare, and loue of thee their God, de­testation of them selues for their sin, and feilling of the sweitnes of thy grace in Iesus Christ, that sa they may rightlie serue and worship thee their God and Father, and earnestly seik thy face, & not depart there [...]a, with out a spirituall comforte and blessing. Lord resist Satan and stay all his impediments, and purge vs in speciall [Page 22] from this vennome of hypocrisie, whilk is maist de­testable in thy sight, when outwardly comming before thee in our bodies, and yet the heart is far from thee; and keip vs Lorde from that curse pronunced vppon sik as dois thy work negligently. Lord draw vs awaie from this earth and thought of thinges earthlie, that wee may bee haillie set vppon thee, and things hea­uenlie and incorruptible. Lighten our vnderstanding whilk is darke and blinde in the selfe, stablish our wan­dring mindes, confirme our slipperie memorie, bow our rebellious willes, purge al our corrupt affections, & grant sufficiēt ability of the inward man, both to will & do according to that measure of grace, that thou thinkst meit for vs, & for that effect we beseik thy majesty, yet againe to work in our harts be the force of that inward teacher, disposer & mover, & let alwaies our intentions, meditations of our harts, & words of mouthes, & al our actions & doings be acceptable in the name, & for the merites of our high law-giuer, King & Priest, the Lord Iesus Christ. In whose name wee ask thir and all vther things thou kennis to be meit this day and alwaies for thy glorie, the weill of thy Kirk, of vs, and all the mem­bers thereof, praying as he hath teached, Our father, &c.

For the Sabboth at Night.

NOw Lord of thy great mercie, we haue enjoyed this Sabboth, and the maist comfortable exercises thereof; for the whilk we offer to thee in the name of thy son Iesus, what thanks our harts ar able to conteine & present vnto thee. But alas, O Lord, if thou suld enter in judgement with vs, thou might lay maa and greater sins to our charge this day, nor any day of the oulk: for­sa-meikle [Page 23] the halier a thing it is, to sanctifie thy holy name aright on the Sabboth; sa meikle the greater guil­tines doe they contract wha takes the same in vaine, setting themselues to the exercise therof without right preparation, disposition, & seiking of fruit & comfort, and luik how meikle the higher & greater ar thy warks nor our awin, so meikle the mair heauie is the curse vpō sik as dois the same negligently. And alas, ô lord, if thou try vs, what sal we be found to haue done this day, but taken thy haly name in vaine. In hearing of thy worde, meditating on thy warks, vsing of praier & thāksgiuing without right preparation, dispositiō or fruit, & so done thy wark negligently. O Lord therefore be merciful vn­to vs, and giue vs grace to wey this great sinne that we commit against thee, euen when we ar about to be best & maist hailely occupied, to be sorie for it, & humblie beg thy mercy, for Iesus Christs sake, & freith vs for thy mean grace from that curse of neglegence, for of a truth when we haue done all that we can, we ar but vnprofi­table, & vnworthie servants. And yet Lord, whatsoeuer hes flowed from thy gud spirit working in vs, accept it as fra vs, for thy Christs saik, as the markes & dueties of thy servands & children, assuring & comforting our saules and consciences thereby. And make the instruc­tions, admonitions, comfort, and consolation that wee haue heard of thy word, and found in mutual example and conference, amang our selues to hide in our me­mories, and shew forth the fruite in our liues and con­versation this oulk following, and all the time of our life; yea Lorde, if it bee thy pleasure, make vs sa ear­nest and deepe in meditation thereof this Night, that euen in our sleepe, wee may finde our saules filled [Page 24] and occupied with the thought & consideration ther­of, and taken with the delight, comfort and joy of the samin, that when we awaike, we may finde our selues with thee, and that thy word be the working of thy spi­rit, hath transformed and changed vs in the verie na­ture thereof, in wisedome, veritie, cleannes, halines, and sanctification, to stand and abide in happines and permanent felicity for euer. Now for Iesus Christ sake, wha is Lord of the Sabboth, graunt vs this, and what e­uer thou knawis to be gud for thy selfe, for vs, and for al thine, adding his perfite prayer, Our father, &c.

A prayer before the halie Communion.

MOste mercifull God, and gratious father, wha knawis the weakenes and vnabilitie of man, to conceaue the mysteries of thy grace, hes not onely ap­pointed thy word to instruct him be hearing: but also the vse of thy haly Sacraments, wherein his haill senses being outwardly occupied, the minde within might clearely conceaue, and the heart firmely beleeue and imbrace the samin. That be the right vse of these signes & seilles of thy couenant of grace; to wit, the outward and inward matters and actions coupled togidder bee the Sacramentall vnion, that is, be vertue of the institu­tion, command & promise of Christ declared and be­leeued, and be the prayer and obedience of the Kirk in doing as is required, Christ Iesus with his hail blessings may not onely clearely be represented, bot giuen and receaued for life and saluation, yea, euen verelie, really, and with maist mightie force and effect applyed, con­voyed into,& sealed vp in the saules of the beleeuer, as [Page 25] bee a maist commodious and effectuall instrumente of the halie Ghaist. Graunt we beseik thee, that as thou in halie and secreit vnitie and substance of nature and trinitie of persons in on Godhead, presents thy Christ a sanctified and perfite mediator, consecrate and perfy­ted be his awin prayers and suffering, euen in thir ac­tions of thy Sacraments, ordaned bee thee for that ef­fect, and sa offers and exhibits him with all his merits & blessings on that ane part. Sa it wald please thee on that vther part, to giue vs a trew and liuely faith, be the vse of thir actions and power of thy halie spirite, mair and mair quickned, steired vp, confirmed, & augmen­ted, wherby we may receaue and apply, grippe injoye, and possesse Iesus Christ mair and mair, for righteous­nes and sanctification, and sa for life and Saluation euerlasting. O Lorde prepare vs aright therevnto, be an ear­nest and diligent tryall of the knawledge of the poincts of thy heauenly veritie, and practise thereof, in fayth & repentance: that finding out and feiling our wants in the ane and vther, we may be reconciled with thee, and our neighbours, & seeke confirmation, & increase of that small measure we haue, in the vse of thir actions according to thy ordinance: that in the meane time therof, we may be wounded and humbled with a sense and conscience of our sinnes, and yet raised vp againe and healed with an assurance, and feiling of thy mercy grace and loue in Iesus Christ, sa that moued with ex­ceeding ioy and gladnes of spirite, we may burst out in thy prayses. And namely now Lord in this Sacrament of the holie Supper and present action thereof, graunt that we may seale vp our continuall growth, & increase in that blessed communion and fellowshippe of Iesus [Page 26] Christ, that we may be nurished and fed mair & mair in our saule and inward man, be declaring the death of thy sonne Iesus Christ, constantly beleeuing his bodie to haue bin broken, and his precious blood shed, yea, him to haue suffered whatsoeuer might satisfie the ju­stice of thee our God, for our sinnes and safetie. And sa to magnifie and extoll thy gudnes, loue, mercie, and grace, thy justice, power, and wisedome, quhilk are in­finite, passing the reatch of all consideration. And final­ly, that we may set our selues thus waies, fed & strengh­ned in the inwarde man, to doe the dewties of thy re­deemed seruants and children, in loue, fear, obedience, and holines al the dayes of our life. Amen.

A meditation of the faithfull saule with God, after the receauing of the holy Communion.

VVE might vtterly dispaire in consideration of our manifold sinnes and infinit offences, had not thy word, O Lorde our God, bin made fleshe, and dwelt amang vs: But now all praise be vnto thy merci­full grace, we neither neede, nor dare dispaire: for gif when I was thy enemie, I was reconciled to thee by the death of thy Sonne, how meikle mair being recon­ciled, sall I be saued by his life: For all mine hope and my confidence is reposed, in that precious blood whilk was shed for me and for my saluation. In that blood I reviue wha before was dead, I take my hearte againe wha before was heartles, & resting therevpon▪. I couet to come to thee, wha before hated thee, & followed af­ter Sathan, I cum to thee putting no doubte, but now I [Page 27] sall be acceptable, not hauing my awin righteousnesse, but whilk is through faith of my Lorde Iesus Christ. Wherefore, O most gratious and mercifull God, louer of all mankinde, and louer of thy faithfull Saincts: but louer of me in speciall, wha through Iesus Christ thy sonne my Lord, euen when I was in the estate of dam­nation be reason of sinne, hast deliuered and faued me after sik a way, as neither man nor Angel could dreame off: what craues thou againe for this thy loue that thou hes kythed vpon me pure wretch but thankfulnesse? I therefore, vnworthie to thinke vppon thee, vnworthie that thy holines suld be conceaued in my prophane & filthie heart, yet fra my hearte, whilk in sum parte is re­newed by thy halie Spirite, I thank thy gratious gud­nes; yea, I highly thank thee for that thou hast sent thy onely begotten sonne, from thy awin bosome to saue sinners, and to saue me, of all sinners the greatest, the ve­ry childe of wrath; I thank thee for his holy incarnati­on, & byrth of his blessed mother, of whome he vouch­safed to take my flesh for my saluation; that as hee was very God of God, sa he might be verie man, of man: I thanke thee for his bitter passion, crosse, and death; I thanke thee for his glorious resurrection, and ascension to heauen, and sitting at thy right hand, powring down the haly Spirite according to his promise, vpon me his childe of adoption. I thank thee, both for the shedding of that his precious blood, wherwith we are redeemed, and also for his instituting of his holy and liuely Sacra­ment of his body and blood that was giuen for mee, where withal thus in thy Kirk I am nurished, refreshed, sanctified, strengthned & quickned in my inward man, and made pertaker of ane heauenly and diuine nature: [Page 28] againe, I thanke thee for thy vnmeasurable loue, wher­with thou hes so loued me, miserable and catiue wretch in thy onely weil beloued sonne Iesus Christ, in whom I haue this reconcilation, with thee my God & Father, this redemption, forgiuenes of all my sinnes, righteous­nes, adoption, sanctification, and finally assured life, and heritable infeftment of the kingdome of glorie. O pittie vnspeakeable! O wonderfull loue, to saue thy vn­worthie seruand, thou hes giuen thy deare sonne▪ God was made man, that I of the wretched seede of man, might be plucked out of the snare of the diuell, how deerely hes thou Lord Iesus my sweete Sauiour loued me, wha thoght it not enough to humble thy selfe from the most heigh and glorious majestie of the Godhead, to take on my slauish nature, vnles that for me also, and for my saluation, thou hadst shed thy precious blood, and suffered the most shamefull death of the crosse. O rare loue! O tender kindnes! Wha had hard the like at any time, wha rightly considering, will not be amazed at sik bowels of mercie. O strange judgement! O vn­speakeable disposition of the mysterie of God. The sinner offended, the just is punished: the guiltie trans­gressed, the innocent is struken. The wicked sinned; the Godly is damned: that whilk the euill deserueth, the gud suffers, the seruand dois amisse, the master makes the mends, man commits the sinne, and God bears the punishmēt. Ah, O sonne of God, how hes thou abased thy selfe, how hes thou burned in affection? how far is thy mercies stretched out? how great is thy kindnesse? how large is thy loue? for I did wickedly, and thou was punished: I sinned and thou was afflicted: I offended and thou was tormented: I lifted vp my selfe proudly, [Page 29] & of a vile worm made a God of my selfe, but thou was humbled, and of the euerlasting God made thy selfe a worme: I was disobedient, but thou obediently bare the punishment of my disobedience: I serued the belly, but thou endured hunger: the forbidē tree, allured me to vnlawful concupiscence; but perfite charity led thee to the crosse: I tasted of pleasure, but thou suffered tor­mēts: I felt the sweetnes of sin, bot thou tasted the bit­ter gall. Loe, O King of glory, this is my vngodlines & thy mercy manifest, this mine vnrighteousnesse & thy innocencie is euident. And now O my Kinge and my God, what sall I rander vnto thee for all thy benefits to­wards mee? for mans hearte cannot conceaue that whilk may worthily recompence these thy sa ample graces. Can the witte of man finde out any thinge an­swerable to Gods loue and mercie? Na: It is not for a creature to enterprise to recompense and meete God his creator. Notwithstanding sweete Sauiour in this sa wonderfull dispensation, sumthing any frailtie by the force of thy spirit is able to do: namely, gif by thy visi­tation the minde being pricked, it crucifie the flesh with the affections and lustes thereof: whilk thou hauing wrought, I begin then as it were to suffer with thee, be­cause thou died with meikle paine for me: and sa throw the conquest of the inner man, I sal be armed, thou be­ing captaine, and thy spirite furnishing strength vnto the attaining of the outward victorie: In asmeikle as I feare not hauing ouer-cum the spirituall battell, to bee subject for thy sake, euen to bodilie torments, to the sworde, to the fire, to the crosse, to prison, banishment, or whatsumeuer els: in whilk respect the weakenes of my conditione, gif it like thy gudnes, sall be able accor­ding [Page 30] to the power it hes to answer to the greatnesse of thee the Creator. And this is heauenly Phisick, O sweet Iesus, this is the preseruation of thy loue. Now I beseik thee, by thy wonted mercies, to make that this oyle and wine poured in the wounds of my saul in this haly Sa­crament, it may purge all corrupt contagion of venou­mous humours, and may restore mee againe to my first health and holy jmage of God, whereto I was created: and hauing tasted of the sap of thy sweetnes, may make me fra the very hearte, to dispise the intisments of the world: abhor the wickednes, lustes & vanities theirof, yea, nor to fear na aduersitie theirof for thy names sake, but being alwaies mindfull of thy euerlasting life and glorie, thus wayes by thee my Christ purchased to me, may boldly contemn the death, and be readie to gif my life againe for thy loue and glory. Deare Christ, seeing I haue here sealed vp this conjunction and vnion with thee: make me by thy spirit to abide in the same to the ende, and eternally, and make me daylie maire & mair to finde thee my Christ by faith dwelling in my heart; the whilk I may perceaue be the vndoubted fruits and markes thereof, in the exercise of all gud warkes in so­bernes, piety, and righteousnes fra time to time encrea­sing. And seeing I am thus, not onely receaued within thy houshold, O my God and father, but also refreshed nurished and susteined theirin; I maist humbly beseik thee for a mair and mair effectuall working of thy Spirite, whereby I may carefully, reuerendly, and faithfullie, doe the dewtie of thy childe and seruand within the same. And being thus redeemed from the deuill & the seruitude of sin, be my greate and strong Sauiour, to be the free Citiziner, and heir of his king­dome [Page 31] of justice & life. Grant O Lord, by this renewed force of the quickning spirite of thy Christ, that nie­ther the pairts, faculties nor powers of my saule, nor the instruments and members of my body, bee any mair employed to serue Sathan and sinne, conformed to the facions of this world, but that both saule & body, with­all the powers and members thereof, may be presented and consecrated vnto thee, as a liuing sacrifice, pure & holy, & being transformed by the renewing of the in­ward man, may be alwaies bent, and intend to discerne and obey the will of thee my God, whilk is gud, accep­table and perfite: I beseik thee, Lord my God, let no­thing seeme sweet to me without thee, and let nothing that can fall out, seeme sowre & hard to me, gif I haue thee, let nothing please me, nor warldly thing like mee, besid thee: let me not loue that whilk thou dois abhor, and let thy gud pleasure be all my desire continually, let it be a greefe to me to rejoyce without thee, & make me glad to be afflicted for thy names sake, let thy name be my joy, and thy rememberance my consolation: let the law of thy mouth be better to me, then thousands of gold and siluer; and finally, Lorde my God, bee thou all in all vnto me, thy word and holy worshipping my comfort and pleasure, and thy sweete Christ my onely vantage and gaine, both in life and death. To whome with thee, the father, and that holy spirite my comforter, be glorie infinit and eternall. Amen.

Ane short exhortation anent tryall.

FOr want of tryall and consideration of their awin estaite, the greater multitude perishes in ignorance, they of knawledge carrie with them the greater con­demnation, [Page 32] for not doing the will of him whom they know; and sik as hes begun to doe, relents, leaues off, and falles on sleep, til God waken them by some crosse, least they shuld fal with the former in vtter condemna­tion. Men in publick charge in Kirk & pollicie, sleuthis, perverts & misfaris al, and men in private occupations, runnes loose without feare of God, or aequitable and charitable dealing with their neighbour, & sa the heap of this common confusion of sin, growes huge out of measure; that it is the wounderfull mercie and long suffering of God, that stayes the consuming fire of his wrath, from finding out sik mater, and burning there vpon, to the bottome of hell. My counsel and warning is therefore to all in the loue of Christ, that they caste aside the busines & cares of this warld, wherewith they are haillelie occupied, to the wrak and losse of their saules, and esteeming the chief earand and turne, whilk they haue to doe in this warld to be, how, that after a miserable, short, and vaine life, they may liue happelie hereafter for euer: That in this consideration, I say▪ they take large time, and great paines in this exercise of try­all and examination of the estaite wherein they stande before God: sa that they neither sleepe nor eat ane day or night, before they haue spente some peece of time, fectfullie and fruitfully, in the wark of tryall; that fin­ding out their wants, danger and miserie, they may be mooved earnestly to seik and embrace the furniture and remedie, whilk God of his superaboundant grace, vouchsafes daily to offer by the preaching of his word, and profitable writings of his godlie and learned ser­vants. And that this be done by speedy redeeming time without farder delay: for it is now high time, and fuire [Page 33] dayes, our day of the Gospell is past noone, and the Sun thereof tendes toward going downe: Yet then to day if ye will heare his voice, hardin not your harts, neither sleipe in ignorance, infidelitie, and sinne, least being de­barred, yee perish with the multitude of the foolish, ignorant, faithlesse and rebellious. For this purpose then, I exhort and earnestly beseik all and euerie ane, (specially of you deare flock) after your verie names, to wey and considder the Scriptures following, whilk now and then ye heare opened vp and intreated for this effect; and that with grace and sanctification of your saules, the quhilk onely God is able to giue, by the working of his spirite, and hes promised to sik as will seik for the samin: Aske therefore the samin earnestlie, and seik him carefullie, that ye may receiue and finde, and by all meanes, quicken and steir vp the measure of that gift whilk ye sall get of your bountiful God. Now seeing manie things appeir that is not, and Christ him­selfe as man was deceiued with the Figge-tree, weill busked with leaues, & fruitful-like a far-off, but found barren and fruitles when it was ryped nearely, and therefore accursed. We are blinde in our awin faultes, we passe ouer lightly, we easelie forgiue them, and flat­ter our selues therein, as though we were gud ynough, yea, and better nor our neighbours. Therefore see that this tryall be taken not cauldlie, negligently, flouthful­lie, but grauely, carefully, and diligently, not as before men, but before God, wha sees the secreet of thy hart: not in maters knawin to men onely, but to thy awin hart and conscience, yea to God wha is greater nor thy heart and conscience; neither mon this be done gene­rallie, but particularlie, ryping out all the hirnes and plyes of thy heart, and calling narrowlie thy memorie [Page 34] to a counte of all thoughts, wordes and deedes; and fi­nally, not suddenly as a thing fectles, and of small im­portance, that may be easelie past ouer, or vsed for a fashion of religion or halinesse; but grauely, with lang time & weightie attention, as the greatest matter thou hes to do in the world, for the honor of thy God, and thine awin salvation eternall.

Now thought but doubt, if thou try thy selfe aright, thou sall see ane ouglie sight, whilk may terrifie thy conscience exceedinglie, yet dispaire not, but assure thee there is infinite store of mercie and grace in God, offered in the Lord Iesus Christ, to all that humbly ac­knowledge their miserie, hungers and thirstes for his grace, and embraces the faithfull promises thereof, be a liuelie faith.

That Christians ought to try themselues alwaies, and namely, before they come to the Table of the Lord: For thir reasons easie to be gathered of the Texts following.

• 1 Sa God commandes, therefore if they be his children and servants they mon obey.
• 2 They sall haue great and everlasting profite and honour in sa doing.
• 3 They sall incurre great and everlasting skaith and shame in omitting and not doing:

Textes of Scripture.

TRy your selues,2 Cor. 13. 5 if ye be in the faith, proue your selues: do yee not acknowledge your selues that Christ Iesus is in you, and if not, that year reprobates.

[Page 35] If any man think himselfe to be some thing,Gal. 6. when he is na­thing, his awin heart deceaues him, let ilk man therefore trye himselfe.

Be commoo [...]ed and sinne not,Psal. 4. examine your hearts in your bed and leaue of to do euill.

Wash your selues,Esay▪ [...] purge your selues, cast away the wicked­nes of your actions from before my face, leaue off to doe euill, learne to do gud, seeke right, come and let vs reason togidder. If your sinnes were as Scarlet, they sall be white as snaw: If yee apply and heare, ye sall inioy the gud things of the land: but if ye refuse and rebell, ye salbe consumed by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hes spoken it.

Thou hes heard mee recken my waies,Psal. 119. teach me thy sta­tutes.

I take count of my waies, that I may bring againe my feete to thy testimonies.

Blessed is that man,Psal. 1. that walkes not in the counsaile of the wicked, and insists not in the way of sinners▪ & sittes not in the seate of scorners, if sa be his delight be in the law of the Lord, & in that law meditates day and night.

For he sal be as the tree planted by the riuers of water, whilk brings forth fruct in the awin time, whase leafe fades not & whatsoeuer he dois sall prosper.

Bot the wicked sal not be sa, bot as the chaffe whilk the wind driueth, therefore the wicked sall not stand in that Iudgement, nor the sinners in the company of the iust, for the Lord acknaw­ledges the way of the iust, bot the way of the wicked sall perish.

The lute,Esay. 5 the harpe, the timbrell, and shalme, and gud wine aboundeth in your bankets: bot the warks of God, you respect not, nor yet haue ye consideration of his doings. Therefore hes hell enlarged her selfe, and opened her mouth without al mea­sure, and the stoute, high, and glorious of the people sal discend thereinto.

[Page 36] The heart is a deceatful and deadly thinge aboue all,Ier. 17. wha can knaw it, I IEHOVAH the searcher of the heart & reines, that I may giue to euerie ane according to their waies, accor­ding to the fruite of their actiones.

My little children,1. Ioh. 3. let vs not loue in word, neither in tongue onelie, but indeede and in trueth, for thereby we knaw, that we are of the trueth, and sall assure our hearts before him, for if our heartes condemne vs, God is greater then our heartes, and knawes all things.

Beloued, if our hearts condemn vs not, then haue we bald­nes toward God, and vvhatsoeuer we aske we receaue of him, because we keepe his commandement, and do the things quhilk are pleasand in his sight.

This is then his commandement, that yee beleeue in the name of his son Iesus Christ, and loue ane another, as he gaue commaundement, for hee that keepes his commaundements dwellis in him, & hee in him, hereby knavv wee that hee a­bides in vs, euen be that spirite whilk he hes giuen vs.

Deerely beloued, beleeue not euerie spirit, bot try the spirits if they be of God.

Aboue all things that thou takes heed to keepe thy hearte, for thereout springs the actiones of life,Prov. 4. remooue from thee the peruersitie of the mouth, & set far from thee thrawardnes of the lippes.

Let thy eyes luke right before thee, & thy eye-liddes behauld things that are right before thee, wey the pathes of thy feete that all thy waies may be streight.

Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left, set away thy feete from euill.

Let vs try and ripe out our waies,Lament. 3. & turne vnto the Lord, let vs lift vp our hearts with our hands, vnto the strong God of heauen, and say, we haue made a defection & rebelled, therfore thou spares not.

[Page 37] When the Pharisees saw the Disciples eate with vnwashen hands.Mark. 7. &c.

Christ calling togidder the haill multitude: Saide, heare me all and vnderstand, there is nathing without a man, that entring within him can pollute him, bot the things that comes out of him, thy are the things that pollute him. If any hes eares to heare, let him heare.

Then the disciples asked him the parable; and he said, vnderstand yee not? The things that outwardly comes into man, cannot pollute him, for it enters not in his heart, but in his womb, and goes to the closet, purging all meates: bot he saide, that whilk comes out of man defiles him, for from within, out of the heart of man, comes out euill thoughts, adulteries, harla­tries, slaughter, thifts, couetousnes, wickednes, deceitfulnes, vn­cleannes, a wicked eye, pryd, backbiting, foolishnes, all these euil things comes from within, and defiles the man.

Verely, verely, I say vnto you (sayes Christ) of euery ydle word that comes out of mans mouth,Math. 12. they sall rander a compt thereof, at the day of iudgement.

We mon all appeare before the tribunall of Christ, that e­uery ane may receaue in his body,2. Cor. 5. according to that he hes done whidder euill or gud.

Behauld,Reul. 3. I stand at the dore, if any heare my voice & open, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me.

Behauld, I come shortly, hauld that whilk thou hes, that nane take thy crowne fra thee.

We mon fight, we mon big, Luck. 14, we mon giue a compt of our talent, we mon haue our lampes light to meete the brid­groome. Mat. 25. & therefor prepare, try, & take heede to your selues, with watching sobrietie, and cairfull consideration: finally for special tryall & searching out of thy sinnes, vse thir texts quoted. Rom. 12. and 3. Ephe. 4. & 5. Col, 5. 3. 2. Pet. 2

Before the Communion.

I Wald not ye should bee ignorant brethren,1. Cor. 10. that all our fa­thers were vnder that cloud, and all past throw the sea, and all were Baptised in Moyses, with the cloud & sea, & al eate the same spiritual fude, & al dranke the same spiritual drink, for they drank of the spirituall rock that followed, & the rocke was Christ, but God approued not manie of them: for they were casten downe in the desart. Now thir vvere exampls vnto vs, that we suld not couet euill things as they coueted, be not ther­fore Idolaters as some of them, nether let vs commit fornicati­on as some of them did, and fell in a day three and twenty thou­sand, neither tempt Christ as some tempted & perished be ser­pents. Neither murmure ye, as some of them murmured & pe­rished be the destroyer, al these things came on them for exam­ple, and are written for our admonition, on whome the endes of the warld are fallen; therefore let him that thinks he standes, bewar he fall not.

Let euery ane proue himselfe, and sa eate of that bread, and drink of that cup. For who so eates & drinkes vnworthily, ea­teth and drinketh damnation to themselues, for not discerning the Lords bodie.

Therefore is there many weake amang you and diseased,1. Cor. 11. & manie sleepe, for if we suld iudge our selues, we suld not be pu­nished, but when we are punished, we are chastised be the Lord that we be not condemned with the warld.

Follow the forme of tryall in particular, of miserie and mercie, be thir seuerall pointes and columnes.

1 COnsider the happie and halie estate, wherein Adam was first made and his filthie defection and fall, and vnderstand, that God may justly lay to thy charge his sin, & all the sins of thy forefathers, betwixt thee & him: because thou art a pairt of their substance, and be them all begotten in sinne, sa that their sinne is thy naturall heritage.

2 Examine thy originall corruption in thy minde, conscience, memorie, will, and in all thy affectiones, as in gladnes, sadnes, pitty, confidence, hope, despair, fear, cair, shame, desire, leathing, loue, hatred, disestiming, e­steeming, anger, contentment, miscontentment, zeal, cauldnesse. &c.

3 Try out thy actuall sinnes, in thought, word, and deede, and to that effect, goe through the commaunds with right vnderstanding, and diligent examination of thy life thereby, in the particular circumstances of time place, persons, and maner of doing in all thy actions & proceedings: namely, gif flowing from faith, they haue bene directed be lawfull meanes vnto the right ende.

4 Examin all thy senses, whereby sinne is sa drunken in, as the beast drinks water be the mouth; thy sight, hearing, smelling, taisting, tuitching, how thou hes vsed them, and in like manner, all the members of thy bodie inward & outward, whilk are the weapons and instru­ments of committing of sinne.

[Page 40] 5 Examine thy life throughout al the ages thou hes past, bairn-head, youth-head, man-head, and aulde age, how thy God hes delt with thee therin, and how thou hes recompensed him againe.

6 Try thy estate, occupation, calling, and trade of life, if thou hes walked in the feare of God, faithfully and rightlie therein. And here is the tryall of Magistrates, Pastours, Elders, Fathers, Mothers, Maisters, husbands, wiues, people, flock, children, servantes, occupations, trades and craftes: be land, be Sea, in Cittie & countrie.

7 And last, wey the foulnes of the guiltinesse of sin, how odious and detestable it is before God, and what punishments in his justice he hes laid thereon, from the beginning of the world, and weight of wrath he hes to lay thereon, eternally in the hell; and questionles, thou will see sik an ouglie and terrible sight of thy miserie, that will sa affray and moue thee, that thou will neuer be blythe, til thou haue gotten a grippe of the remedie thereof in the mercie of God.

Miserable man that I am, wha sall deliuer me from the bodie of this death.

1 COnsider the infinite gudnesse, loue, grace, and mercie of God, wha pittying our miserie, provy­ded a remeid theirfoir in the pretious blood of his awin sonne, the Lord Iesus Christ, in whome he elected his awin, before the foundation of the warld.

2 Try and considder, if thou haue the right knaw­ledge and possession of Christ in thy hart, be faith in his natures, & their personal vnion, in his offices, prophecy, Priest-head, and Kingdome.

3 Try if thou hes founde those benefites of Christ, whilk be the perfite fulfilling of the office of mediator, [Page 41] he hes purchased to his awin, to witte, redemption, re­conciliation, justification, adoption, sanctificatiō, mor­tification, newnesse of life, intercession; and in sum, de­liuerance from al euill, and perfyte felicitie.

4 Considder and examine thy selfe if thou hes the knawledge, faith, feeling, and injoying of the haly ghaist, wha calles the chosen effectually, applyes Christ vnto them, and makes them to apprehend and receiue him, and all his blessings be a true faith.

5 Then try thy faith, if thou be assured that God sent his Christ in the warld to saue thee, and vnlade thee of the haill burden of thy miserie, and ladin thee with the rich store of his blessings and perfite happi­nesse.

6 Try thy repentance the chiefe effect of faith, if thou haue a true sorrow for thy sinnes committed, that hes made the halie Lambe of God to suffer sa shamefullie and cruellie for them, & ane earnest purpose of amend­ment and newnes of life in time to come.

7 And finally, because there is great hypocrisie in flesh, and counterfetting of calling, faith, and repen­tance, be the craft of Satan, as also terrible assailzeing of the conscience, by his fyrie tentationes. Therefore, there is great neede here, of a diligent and accurat try­all, to finde out the true markes of thy election: & sa of salvation. First, be the testimony of the spirit: Second­ly, by the motiones & working therof. Then try weill, if at any time thou hes found the halie spirit, to speake, as it were within thee, & testifie to thy spirit, that thou art the childe of God. If thou hes found in thy hart the loue of God and Christ, and of the things that he loues, and the hatred of the Deuill and his warkes. If thou hes founde a hart to pray and thanke God, to meditate and [Page 42] delyte in him and his worde, to loue his servands and children, and delyte in their companie. And finally, if thou findes hope with patience, and a continuall battel against sinne, and the intysements of the warld: then may thou be certaine, that God hes giuen thee to Christ, na power salbe able to take thee from him, or separate thee from his loue, or stay him from giuing thee life everlasting. And here is the joy and peace of conscience, that continuall feast.

I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 7.

The forme of tryall and examination, taken of all sik as ar admitted to the Table of the Lord.