THE FOVRTH PART OF THE TRVE WATCH: CONTAINING PRAYERS AND TEARES for the CHVRCHES. OR A helpe to hold up the hearts and hands of the poorest servants of God, untill our Lord Iesus Christ shall have rescued his Glorie, Kingdome, and People in all the world, and fully prepared the way to his most glorious ap­pearing.

In praying learne to watch, in watching pray; in watching and praying is our victorie.

Zech. 4. 6. Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Hos. 12. 4. He had power over the Angell and pre­vailed, he wept and made supplication unto him.

LONDON, Printed for Thomas Pavier. 1624.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS Ladies, the Ladie ZOVCH, wife to the Right Honourable the Lord ZOVCH, with her Noble Sisters, Ladie DVDLEY, and Ladie WINFIE [...]D, all Grace and hap­pinesse.

IT is too well knowne (Right Honoura­ble and Worthie Ladies) how both in Court and Countrey the hearts not onely of poore simple women loaden with sinnes, bu [...] of our chiefe Ladies and of all [Page] other, are stollen away (so much as the Lord permite) from all true allegeance and obedience to our Lord Iesus Christ and his Anoinced, to ioyne themselves to the Church of Rome, to the endlesse perdition both of their soules and bodies. This also is as evident, that this is wrought principally by this subtiltie of the old Serpent: That they in that Church haue moe holy de­votions, and doe also spend much more time therein, than wee in ours.

By this enchantment amongst others, Satan and his instru­ments seeke to deuoure not wi­dowes houses alone, as those did in the dayes of our Sauiour; but in time to swallow us all up quicke unlesse our mightie God stid deliver us from their iawes, as hither to he hath done. [Page] Considering therefore how the Romish Seducers swarme in everie place, to the present in­dangering of all the Churches and people of the Lord, & even this our nation amongst the rest; and having heard more­over (by one of speciall note inD. Wh. the Church of God, for his lear­ning able to silence the proudest Adversarie) that some of our most Honourable and chiefe Ladies, have in these & the like respects, earnestly desired that some amongst us would more seriously labour herein, that we might match them even in this kinde, not as theirs in blinde & vaine superstitions, but in true, sincere and holy devotions; I haue thought it my bounden du­tie, to tender for the good of all sorts, such meditations and prayers as the Lord hath in his [Page] mercie beene pleased to vouch­safe unto me in this behalfe.

This also the rather, for that he having long agoe put this verie same care into my heart, to seeke hereby as much to save us all, as they doe to destroy us all, hath now much more enfla­med it, with an ardent studie hereof: upon this religious mo­tion, and most honourable desire of those great Personages, men­tioned to me againe and againe, and that in Gods speciall provi­dence, as I have taken it, to stir me up more earnestly hereunto. Let me therefore herein (right noble and worthie Ladies) hum­bly beg pardon, if I presume up­on your truly renowned courte­sie, and tender and compassio­nate affection, to be more than ordinarie in this my dedication to your Honours, upon this im­portant [Page] and extraordinarie oc­casion, from this intolerable in­sulting of the common Adver­sarie, and the pitifull deluding and destroying of multitudes of poore unstable soules, and also the endangering of us all, to lie open daily more and more unto the butcherly cruelties of Rome, when they have thorowly pre­pared the way, by drawing enow unto their part, through this and other their cunning stratagems and strong delusions. Grant me leaue (deare Ladies) I beseech you (though a thing unusuall in such dedications, which are wont usually to bee verie briefe; yet (to manifest my long studie and earnest de­sire for the sauing of such of our brethren and sisters, as are en­dangeredRom. 9 2. 2 Sam. 5. 1. to be destroyed by this and the like subtilties of Satan) [Page] to helpe hereby, and by our in­stant prayers for them, to pull some of them backe againe from the subtill Serpent, unto our Lord Iesus Christ; and withall to keepe others from falling away from him, even so many of them as belong to the election of grace, and to leave the rest of them more without excuse. Now is the time that Michael and his Angels strive speciallyApoc. 12. 7. against the Dragon and his An­gels, about the whole bodie of his Church. Now is the time, that our Lord Iesus lookes for us all to helpe him and his poore Church, to remember our Bap­tisme vow in a speciall manner, to [...]ight manfully under his ban­ner, and to stand for him, for our selves, & for our brethren.

I haue therefore presumed upon the occasion of that their [Page] right Christian and tender com­miseration, to write a generall Epistle to all the plaine and sim­ple-hearted people of our land, seduced by those deceiuers, or in danger thereof: and not onely to them, but to all sorts: That all may take the better notice of the delusions of Poperie, the difference betweene the devoti­ons of the Romish Synagogue, and of the true Church of Christ, and to make fully known unto them all, that they must all either renounce Poperie, and professe the Gospell with us, or else professe themselues therein to be of Satan, and to stand for his religion against our Lord Iesus Christ. That thus all may get out of Baby [...]on, seeke to save themselves, and helpe to pull out and save all others.

And so much the rather, for [Page] that this verie service hath beene required of me particu­larly by a truly religious, wor­thie and ancient professour of Christs Gospell, in the behalfe of a great and honourable La­die, who hath beene drawen away by this same delusion prin­cipally; to wit, That they have moe holy devotions in their Church, than wee in ours, and doe spend more time therein. Whereupon hee requested mee to write some Epistle, to helpe to reclaime her, and to bring her backe againe unto us. Which service or a greater I could not well denie, as God should bee pleased to vouchsafe mee abilitie and op­portunitie, especially hauing beene long obliged by his anci­ent loue, though the unablest of thousand others.

[Page]And moreouer, for that I have likewise stood for many yeeres (after a sort) bound by promise, for the verie like ser­vice in effect unto a Gentle­man, much respected generally of all that are affected to that Romish Religion, for his speciall devotion in that superstitious kinde; one worthie indeed to be duely respected of all, in re­gard of his good parts of na­ture, learning, and also descent, if the Lord shall bee plea­sed to shew him that mercie to reclaime and bring him backe into the bosome of his owne true Church and people againe.

This have I therefore more heartily wished to accomplish, not onely for that I have remai­ned long thus bound by my par­ticular promise unto himselfe [Page] (as after shall more fully ap­peare) but likewise for that I was specially obliged in dutie, both to his father, being a wor­thie Iudge of our Land, and in love to his eldest brother, who was a rare hope in his time, even in his tender yeeres (as the Com­mons house of Parliament could then have borne witnesse) if our God had beene pleased to have prolonged his daies. And this the more cheerefully also, for that the Lord had formerly shewed mercie on that his hope­full brother, vouchsafing me, a poore and weake instrument, to helpe to pull him from Satan to Christ; out of deepe despaire, whereunto he had fal [...]e by rea­ding some part of their devoti­ons, even of Parsons Resolu­tion of the paines of hell, and to bring him to much assurance [Page] and comfort in Iesus Christ, by the right use of a little part of ours, viz. of the practise of some directions in the first part of the True Watch. My trust is therefore that your Ladiships and all others will iudge my boldnesse to bee borne withall, though I thus presume, because I know assuredly, that you will not onely ioyne your hands, but your hearts to the reclaiming and saving of them both, and of all other so deluded, and even enchaunted with their sorce­ries, and that they themselves will most praise the Lord for this service, if ever hee shall thorowly open their eyes; wher­as otherwise without unfained turning and speedie preven­ting it, they will undoubtedly fall into a farre more forlorne and irrecoverable despaire, [Page] when it will bee too late.

And who knoweth how far this service may prevaile, being both thus requested and also promised; and now thus un­dertaken in all dutifull and lo­ving affection, and also in up­rightnesse and singlenesse of heart towards them, and to­wards all other, as before our blessed God, who hath ever beene wont not onely to worke by the weakest and unlikeliest meanes, that himselfe alone may have all the glorie, but also to doe the greatest good to his Church, by the extremest rage, yea by the deepest and most mis­chievous plots of the Adversa­ries against it. Who knowes, whether his goodnesse may not make it an instrument, through your instant prayers, with the prayers and teares of many of [Page] his people furthered by this oc­casion, to pull not them two a­lone, but with them likewise many thousands, yea hundred thousands from hell, and to bring them to heaven, & with­all to keepe innumerable soules from ever declining from the Lord. Yea, what knoweth any one, whether he may not make it a meanes amongst others, to helpe to save us all, and with us, all Christs true Churches, from that common calamitie and de­struction, which Satan and his Agents doe fully assure them­selves in time to bring upon them all, and upon all the peo­ple of the Lord. Our bloudie enemies, having so resolved never to rest, untill, under the name of Heretiques, they have utterly rooted us all out, from off the face of the earth. My [Page] trust is therefore (Right Ho­nourable) that all who unfai­nedly love Christs Gospell, and the soules of these our deluded brethren and sisters, and desire the saving of the Church of God, will thinke it an acceptable service, to set before the eyes of all the world, the palpablenesse of this most notorious delusion: and to take away that forged imputation and shame from the true Church of Christ, and from all the Israel of God; viz. That our Adversaries of Rome have moe holy devo­tions than we, and also doe spend more time therein, than we in ours.

Accept then, I beseech your Honours, this poore service here now in this entrance into this fourth part of this Watch thus undertaken chiefly upō the occa­sion [Page] of that most Christian desire of those great Ladies, to whom yet I durst not presume to dedi­cate it, being unknowne unto them: albeit I have heard much good concerning them, & hearti­ly pray that all heavenly graces may be ten times more resplen­dent in them, to their everla­sting praise & happines. Accept it as one speciall use and appli­cation of all the three former parts of it, to the helping of the poorest and weakest Christians in all the land, that everie one herein may have the benefit of all the former, that all in pray­ing may learne to watch, and everie one in watching may learne to pray, & each in watch­ing and praying, may not onely helpe to save themselves, but also their owne native Coun­trey, with all the true Churches [Page] of our Lord Iesus Christ, and to pull all Gods Elect out of the mouth of the roaring Lion.

All may see (so farre as I am able to coniecture) that to bee true, which was mentioned, That the battle of the great day is come; That Satan hath open­ly, and even visibly entred the field with his armies to fight against the Lords most glorious Maiestie and his Armies, even against all his poore Church at once; for that this spirituall warre is set on by his principall Commanders, the Pope and his Cardinals, with their chiefe Agents the Iesuites, and other Seminarie Priests, and mana­ged and foughten by his most deadly weapons, lying and mur­der.

Wee are therefore ever to keepe in memorie, that wee are [Page] not now so much to labor to fight against flesh & bloud, as againstEphes. 6. 12. principalities and powers, the Princes of the darknesse of this world, and to that end to be ar­medVers. 11. with all the complete ar­mour of God, both defensive and offensive.

To this end, like as I have long travelled to helpe all our poore Countrey Schooles, and all of the inferiour sort, that the meanest of them, who will suf­fer themselves to bee directed, might not need to feare the in­sulting of any, or of all the proudest Iesuites, in regard of laying a sure foundation of all good learning in our Grammar Schooles (with all sweet delight both to Master and Schollars) neither doth it repent me, but I blesse the God of heaven, that gave me a heart so to abase my [Page] selfe; so have I here for all the poore people of the land, labou­red to prepare and fit them weapons against this great day. Which day all my labours will witnesse for me, that I have long feared, seeing the malice and rage of the Adversarie dai­ly growing more and more, with the increase of our iniquities to provoke the Lord to send it up­on us, like as upon all the other Churches; to the end to make us all to seeke him by unfained repentance, & that euerie one of u [...] may turne from our evill way unto his Covenant. That thus seeking him unfainedly, he may take our cause into his owne hand, fight his owne battles, and save us from these our merci­lesse enemies. The better in­structed sort of Christians, who are able to pray better of them­selves, [Page] need them not, I have therefore endevoured to fit them chiefly for all the younger and weaker sort, who would as faine learne to pray, to save themselves and the land with all the Churches, and long as much to be helpers in this worke, as any of those who are best in­structed.

Wherefore (deare Ladies) as you have so much reioyced in the former parts of this Watch, and to doe all things which may tend not onely to the saving of your selves, but also of our na­tive Countrey, and to make us a happie people; so I assure my selfe, that you will not disdaine these poore helps, though they bee composed in a plaine, easie, and homely stile; so as to leade the poorest by the hand, and to support their weaknesse, to [Page] helpe to confirme weake hands and wearie knees, that all here­in may helpe together. It is not any painted (much lesse Players) eloquence, that will pacifie our blessed God, and defend us, or put to flight our proud Adver­saries. Wee have had a great while too much experience of that, in too many both of our Sermons and Prayers; no, no, it must bee the evidence and power of the word of the Lord, sent forth by the sighs and groanes of his holy Spirit, though all heavenly eloquence rightly used, be his most graci­ous gift, and if ever, now speci­ally to be wished. Thus have I studied to fit weapons, as hee hath enabled mee against this time of need, meet for all sorts; that old and young, noble and ignoble, yea our most honourable [Page] Ladies may have their wea­pons from his Armourie; so as all, from the chiefe of them to the verie poore woman that grindes at the mill, may in thisIudg. 5. 23. battle helpe the Lord against the mightie, and so keepe that bitter curse from all our land. That Iael may strike the naile into theIudg. 4. 21. 5. 26. temples of Sisera. And that thus in the [...]ud, shee that sits at home may have part in the spoile, and all of us ioyntly toge­ther, when we shall see the Lord to have got himselfe the victo­rie with his owne right arme,Iudg. 5. 1. may sing the song of Deborah Exod. 15. 21. and of Miriam, yea of all the host of heaven, saying; Praise, Apoc. 5. 13. and honour, and glorie, and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lambe for evermore.

Pardon me (worthie Ladies) [Page] I humbly againe beseech you, if so much presuming upon your Ladiships patience, according to my assurance of your tender commiseration, and true Chri­stian humilitie, I have so farre passed the bounds of an ordina­rie Epistle in this matter of such extraordinarie moment and im­portance, so nearely at this pre­sent concerning the safetie and happinesse of your Honours, and of all the people of the Lord. If I may (by the worthy ensamples of your honourable Ladiships) provoke other of your noble ranke and condition (as who have most leisure and best op­portunitie) and so others of his servants and children to a holy emulation, seriously to meditate hereof, and to put all these in practise, onely so farre forth as his heavenly Maiestie cals all [Page] hereunto, and expects these du­ties at the hands of everie soule, I shall have an abundant reward of all my poore travels. Or if I may but helpe to awake such of his servants, as to whose view they shall be presented, to labour to be for all the rest, as the Angels for Lot, to pull all from Satan to our Lord Iesus Christ, and chiefly those of our owne native Countrey, who are so seduced by Antichrist, and by those who are sent abroad by him into the world to deceive, and to draw all to his part.

Reade and consider, and so farre as your Ladiships shall clearely see our Lord Iesus Christ leading you by the hand, so farre follow him, doing as he directs you. So you shall not onely be sure to save your owne soules, but also helpe to save all [Page] sorts, and more specially all the Honourable, and others; who either shall looke at, or heare of your worthie ensamples; yea, your native Countrey (as was said before) and all the true Churches of Christ, and shall in like manner be helpers, to ga­ther in all the remainder of his Elect, both Iewes and Gentiles, so to prepare the way to his most glorious comming. Thus shall you increase your owne eternall honour and happinesse, and shall shine more and more in all hea­venly graces and good works, and in greater glittering before the Lord, his Saints and An­gels, than by being adorned with all the gold, pearles and dia­monds, which the whole earth can afford.

In which humble desire, I take my leave, and commend [Page] your Ladiships unto that Cele­stiall grace, which performeth all the holy desires of them that feare him and trust in his mercie, and so shall ever re­maine

Your Ladiships in all service and intire affection, Iohn Brinsley.

TO ALL THE PLAINE AND simple-hearted people of our Land, seduced by Pope­rie; that they may forthwith be­thinke themselves, both from whom they have departed, and also upon what grounds; and to let them know that they must either returne to our Church againe, or professe themselves to be of Satans Religion, and so will re­maine to fight under his ban­ner against our Lord and Saviour.

BEloved in our Lord Iesus Christ, so many of you, as of whom we may hope that you belong to the election of grace, for whom my hearts desire and continuall prayer to our God is, that you may be saved; give me leave to shew my unfained affection towards [Page] you, in performing that service for you all, which hath beene requested at my hands, by such as wish much better to you, than you doe unto your selves. And that but only in these two things: First, in manifesting in what an estate and condition you presently stand, and so your danger eternally; and after, in helping to procure, that all the peo­ple of the Lord may cry instantly and joyntly for you, that he may shew you mercie, in opening your eyes, to see how palpably you have suffered your selves to be deluded, and in plucking you out of the verie jawes of that old Serpent. Howsoever, for the present, you take it at my hands, yet y• time will come, as I certainly assure my soule, that you will either blesse y• God of Heaven for the endevour of my ardent affecti­on towards you, if it shall be available for you, or cry out against your selves, wt wringing of your hands, and tearing of your haire, when it will be too late, and no more place found for your re­pentance. Vouchsafe me this favour, that being amongst the weakest of all my brethren, I may leave all matters of higher dispute, in maintaining the truth of Christ against the Iesuites and other Seminarie Priests, by whom you have beene so inchanted and abused, unto my more learned and reverend [Page] brethren, who have alreadie entred the lists with them, and to others ex­ercised in that kinde, whose bookes I acknowledge my selfe unworthie to beare; and that (sith what spare thoughts God hath vouchsafed mee from my necessarie calling, I have spe­cially employed in this kinde, to helpe his people in holy meditations, and other like devotions) I may thus farre onely presume without offence: First, to put you in minde of your Baptisme vow, and Covenant made with our blessed God, from which you have so farre departed. And in the second place, to advertise you, that you may consider well upon what grounds you have departed. And finally, whither you are come. Whether by their cun­ning sleights you be not gotten under the verie banner of Satan, to fight even against our Lord and Saviour Iesus▪ Christ, though you doe not imagine so much, but the cleane contrarie.

In everie one of these therefore, I desire to deale lovingly, plainly, and ingenuously, as in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ, before whom I stand: as he shall be pleased to assist mee with his grace, and according also to the weight of the businesse which wee have in hand, which concernes the saving of everie soule of you.

[Page]For our Baptisme vow & Covenant, (which wee are all bound to performe all our dayes, as wee looke to have the Lord our God, or any benefit by our blessed Saviour, or ever to appeare with boldnesse before his Tribunall) I referre you first unto it, as the summe of it is set downe expresly in our publike forme of Baptisme; and if you please, as it is (amongst other of our bookes) more particularly and largely explai­ned, but even in the first part of this Watch, The Rule of Life: In which little booke, I have laboured, so farre as the Lord hath enabled mee, to shadow out the same vow, and so to trace out the narrow path of life, as to direct everie soule from step to step, and as it were, to guide them by the hand, untill wee have finished our whole course, and shall have entred within the gates of the Celestiall Ierusalem: which, though it be but amongst the least and weakest of our helpes for our de [...]otions, yet I would wish everie one of you so drawne away from us, to reade, that therein you may first see and know our way of life, before you so condemne it; to try what iniquitie you finde in it,Ier. 2. 5. before you so utterly depart from it, and herewithall from Christs true Church and Spouse, your mother, which hath bred and borne you, and [Page] consequently, even from Christ him­selfe, so farre as I am any way able to conceive, judging as before his hea­venly Majestie. And having so read and thorowly weighed and compa­red it with your way of life, accor­ding to any of your bookes of the like kinde, then to give sentence (as before him to whom you must surely give an answer, even for this) whether is the better and more holy, your way or ours, whether more agreeable to his heaven­ly patterne.) And thus much for the first point, and your Baptisme [...]ow, which you seeme to have so far abju­red, in so departing from the bosome of your mother, and utterly casting her oft: and to leave it to your more seri­ous meditation and more mature deli­beration.

For the second: viz. Vpon what grounds you have departed; I will con­tent my selfe to have instanced but onely in this one; which, as is said, hath beene of late such a principall cause of your departure, and as I my selfe heard one poore soule, who had beene seduced, specially alleaging it (before sundrie witnesses, and some of them most learned) as a maine cause of her joyning to that religion, viz. That they have in their Church and Religion moe holy devotions than wee in ours, and spend [Page] more time therein. That by the palpa­blenesse of this delusion fully discove­red, you and everie one of you may judge of all the rest of their delusions, which have nothing the like power so to bewitch you, and to steale away your hearts.

And that I may proceed in order, to make all the mysteries of this de­lusion as cleare as the Sunne at the noone-day, even to the understanding and full capacitie of the simplest in the land, I will divide it into three parts, which are the three heads of this fell destroying Hydra, so maine a cause of your present departure from our Church and Religion, and of your turning to Poperie: To wit, Because The delusion what, and the parts of it. they have in their Religion moe holy and and better devotions, and doe also spend more time therein, than we in ours. The first head then of this poysoning Serpent is this; That they have moe helps for devoti­on in their religion, than we in ours. The second, That their many devotions are more holy and better than ours. And theThe first part of the delu­sion. third is, That they spend more time in these their holy devotions, than we doe in ours. That in Po­perie they have moe devotions than wee in our Religi­on.

For the first of these: That they have moe helps for devotions, that is, moe such as which those of our common sort may have, understand and use, it is as true as that which he, who lately writ [Page] the Gag for the new Gospeller, hath pub­lishedLike that in the Gag for the new Go­speller. in print to the view of the world, and which he hath not beene ashamed to set in the verie fore-front of his booke, in the Preface to the Reader, within twelve lines of the beginning to the verie same end, which this delusion tends: viz. to help more easily to deceive all the simple, & to make them more to abhorre all our Bibles, and thereby our Religion, whereof the sacred Bible is the ground [...]: and so to take away the verie life of their lives, and indeed to prepare the way the better for the full effecting of their bloudie designes and desires against us all. Which I would therefore desire all (who would not willingly be so palpably abused by these murdering Iesuites, or who would but know these deluders and their Religion aright, and also the danger that wee stand in perpetually by it) to take no­tice of. His words are these, that hee would advise all of, That England hath brought forth within these few yeeres▪ past, to the number of▪ This twen­tie is but one this two and fiftie yeeres, By this shamelesse lie judge all the rest. twentie severall sorts of Bibles sarr [...] different one from another. These are his owne verie words: for the truth hereof, let everie one enquire diligently, whether England ever brought forth any moe Bibles, since that translated by the Bishops, printed 1572. save that one appointed by our [Page] Soveraigne Lord and King to be most carefully translated, and that to satisfie the Papists, and to take away all their calumniations against our Translati­ons; and the same verie little differing from the former, but as may fall out with the best Translations. For mine owne selfe, I have enquired of the most learned, and can heare of none other.

But to passe over this most intolera­ble & shamelesse untruth, together with that which they had devised in like man­ner for the present hiding their owne wickednes in the Powder-Treason, for the dispatching us all, as it were, at one blow, like as it hath beene generally re­ported, and received from thence till this day: to wit, That the Puritanes had blowne up the Parliament house; intima­ting thereby, that they therefore were well worthie to be destroyed out of the earth: and so under the name of Pu­titanes, to have taken occasion here­upon, to have murdered all who truely professed Christs. Gospell in all the Churches. And also together with that like faire pretense of a mariage, under which they effected that most bloudie, detestable, and mercilesse massacre at Paris, in butchering of a sudden so ma­ny of the Flower of the Nobilitie, Gentrie, and principall professours in France. And likewise to omit that in­tendment [Page] 88. in a like treaty, and all other their stratagems of the same na­ture, by which they have so much pro­moted the Catholike cause, as they call it, and still doe to this very day, and so farre surprized the Church of Christ, and prevailed against us all, all of them being of the same nature, and from the same Author.

To passe over all these, and to leave them all, as rightly due to Popery; forIoh. 8. 44. that lying and murder, the two chiefe workes of the Deuill, are now well knowne to all the world (even to all, that will not wittingly put out their owne eyes) to be the t [...]o principall pil­lars, which have alwaies supported and promoted Popery and the kingdome of Antichrist, and must now specially, if ever heretofore, stand him in stead. And to come briefly to shew the palpa­blenesse of this first delusion, and that it is of the very same nature with all the former mentioned; namely when they say, That they have moe holy devoti­ons, What is to be under­stood by De­votions. that is, moe bookes and helps for devotions, viz. moe holy directions for a true Christian life, for the right pra­ctise of Christianitie and piety, moe helps for holy meditations and con­templations, for examining our hearts and lives soundly according to the word of the Lord; so for true humiliation [Page] & repentance, for holy praiers, thanks­givings, and the like, than we have, I refer all who are willing to know the truth, to that catalogue of our devoti­ons, even of those which are extant in Print, and may be had by all, who will use or see them, as it is set downe in the end of this booke, as it is gathered out of Master Maunsels catalogue, dedicated to Q. Elizabeth, printed anno 1595. and of those which have beene since. Which Catalogue alone (to compare it with all the English devotions of the like kindes, that For their devotions wherewith they cozen the world and extreme­ly oppresse the poore su­perstitious soules which will have them, see them in their Catalogue of their En­glish bookes dispersed within these two yeeres last past with their prices, as they are in Mr GEES late discove­rie, viz. Foot out of the Snare, p. 9 [...]. they have in the world much more of these which their com­mon sort can come by and make vse of) will I hope quite smite off this first head of this killing serpent. And espe­cially when the works of some one of our men there mentioned, alone, being well applied and practised, may afford sufficient matter in that kinde to any poore Christian, for his whole life, to make him a blessed man; yea much more blessed than all the devotions of Popery can, as will appeare after: and what may we thinke then of all the rest of them together?

And thus much briefly may suffice for the cutting off this first head of this Hydra.

But the second head of this subtleThe second part of the delusion. serpent may seeme more dangerous, as [Page] it is indeed, and more full of deadlyThat the Po­pish devoti­ons are holi­er than ours. poyson, to wit, that their devotions, viz. those commended most unto you by your Church and Iesuites, are more holy and better than ours. To cut off this therefore likewise, as it is a thing more necessarie, so it may seeme moreThe holinesse of devotions wherein. difficult. But that this may be as easi­ly and surely effected, we are wisely to consider, wherein the holinesse and goodnesse of all true devotions doe consist. This we may doe specially, by considering the matter, ends, and fruits of true devotions.

For the generall matter, those mustWhich de­votions are best in re­gard of the matter and forme in ge­nerall. Ephes. 2. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 19. 1 Ioh. 5. 47. Mat. 16. 18. Mat. 24. 35. needs be the holiest and best, which are most directly grounded upon the sa­cred Scriptures, that sure foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, whereof Iesus Christ is the chiefe corner stone; upon which as all the true Church is built, so all her devotions; against which foundation the gates of hell shall never prevaile more than against Christ him­selfe; they being holy as his owne Ma­iestie; and heaven and earth may passe, but not one jot or tittle in them, till all things in them be fulfilled; for that such devotions in regard of their matter are the Lords, so far forth as they are si [...]mely grounded upon that sacred word.In regard of the more par­ticular, mat­ter.

For the more particular matter like­wise, [Page] those must needs be the best, which tend most to advance the glory of our God, and the scepter and king­dome of our Lord Iesus Christ; which most magnifie him, giving all our salva­tion to the rich mercy of our heavenly Father, in and through our Lord Iesus Christ alone; and so which are most powerfull and effectuall to pull downe all the pride of sinfull man, and to make us to renounce all, but Christ IesusPhil. 3. 8, 9. Rom. 3. [...]7. 4. 2. alone; to account all but losse and dung, in regard of any reioycing in our selves, of any iustification or merit, but onely in Iesus Christ, and to be found in him alone, not having our owne righteous­nesse, but the righteousnesse of God in him. So those which most serve to cause us wholly to deny our selves, & thereby to be made fit to come unto and follow him, as his true subiects and disciples, and which make most to the saving of all his Church and chosen flocke, by him alone, and to leave all, who will not so receive and follow him, and heare his voice onely (as his enemies) more without excuse.

And as these, so those in like manner which give most full assurance of Gods favour and love, and of true pardon of sinne and eternall life by Iesus Christ alone, and which thus give most strong and most abundant consolation onely in him.

[Page]Those likewise which are most power­full and effectuall to increase our faith in him, and therewithall our love, and all the rest of the graces of God, even all parts of true sanctification and re­pentance, which are nothing else but the fruits of our holy faith in him, wrought in us by his blessed Spiri [...] when that we truly beleeve in Christ.

Or to speake all more shortly, those devotions must needs be best, which most frame all to the lively image of our Lord and Saviour, and so doe most forme Christ in us, to wit, which most fashion us to that absolute patterne of true holinesse, which is commanded in his blessed word, and not to superstition contrary to it and condemned in it.

And also those, whereby we may be best assured to receive most power to prevaile with the Lord, and to obtaine all good things from him alone.

Or yet more for the understanding of all: Those must needs be best, which doe best direct and help us to performe all our vowes & promises made to him, and so to walke with him all our daies, doing onely that which he requires in all things, that so we may be assured of all his promises, both for this and the better life, to be fully performed to us, for the saving our selves and all the people of the Lord.

[Page]Or most briefly, according to ourA most evi­dent triall according to our Savi­ours dire­ction. Saviours direction, which stands sure for ever, in the three first petitions. Those which most tend to advance his glory and kingdome, with the accom­plishment of all his heavenly will alone, and not the will of sinfull man, must needs be the best of all. The reason is, for that these three first being obeyed and sought first aright, will certainly bring the three latter petitions and blessings for our selves, both all things needfull for this and the better life, with forgiuenenesse of sins, deliverance from Satan, and from all the evils that he intends against us. That we shall see our Lord Iesus manifesting his king­dome, power and glory for us, and ma­king us partakers of the same for ever­more.

For the ends and fruits, those mustTriall by the ends & fruits of devotions. of necessitie be the best, which as they doe most directly aime at all these things mentioned, so doe likewise serve as Gods instruments to helpe us to worke these things most powerfully and effectually.

Finally (for the forme and mannerTriall by the manner. of sending them forth unto the Lord, or performing them any other way) those must needs be best and holiest, which are done with most understan­ding,1 Cor. 14. 9, 11, 14, 15. and so with the holiest and most [Page] fervent affections rising thereon; andMatt. 6. 7. which are also uttered or performed in best order and with fewest vaine re­petitions.

And contrarily those must needs be the worst which are contrary to these, in regard of their matter generall or par­ticular, and which conduce to contrary ends, and have most contrary effects and operations, and are done in a man­ner farthest differing from these.

Now having set downe these gene­rall rules and directions, which may serve for our discerning of the true and sincere holinesse and goodnesse of all devotions, and which are the best; we are in the next place to consider briefly, and in a generall manner, what is the most speciall and principall mat­ter of our devotions; and then what is the chiefest matter of theirs; and after in the third place, to compare them more particularly together, and so leave the discerning and iudgement of them, to every conscience, as in the presence of the Lord.

For our devotions they are such ge­nerallyOur devoti­ons what in generall. as agree to the former rules. Both that we may so keepe his watch, and walke with him here, as wee may be sure to finde him God all-sufficient, to live and reigne with him eternally. And also that we may so pray, as we may be▪ [Page] certaine to be heard, and to prevaile with his heavenly Maiesty for our selves and for all his Churches and people, in all that he shall see best for his owne glory, and the saving of all his chosen flocke, and in whatsoever he hath pro­mised to grant, even every thing in the due time, and especially whereby we may be sure to finde him a sanctuary, whatsoever come to passe.

But for those devotions of theirsTheir devo­tions of what sort. (whereof they glory so much, and wherewith they seeke to inchant not you alone, but if it were possible, all the people of the Lord, and even to pull all from Christ to Antichrist) See their bookes of their chiefe devotions as they are cal­led by Ma­ster G [...]E, who was best acquain­ted with them. what are they for the most part, but either meditations of their Legend stories, as of that materiall Crosse whereon, and those nailes wherewith our Saviour was nailed; or concerning the Virgin Mary her milke and merit: or their Ladies Psalter, all full of blas­phemies, and such like sluffe, as that is, which is in that booke so lately pub­lished See their Letanies to our Lady, in that booke, and namely, that sung at the intended [...]panish in­vasion. by the Spanish Monke; or tales of Saint Francis, of this Saint and that, of their Shrines, and the mi­racles done by them, or in the num­bring and oft repeating upon their Beades, their Pater nosters, Creeds, Ave Maries, Rosaries and the like, many of them in an unknowne tongue, and in [Page] a most superstitious and blasphemous manner; or praiers to the Saints, de­votions to the Crosse, and to all their holy reliques, with innumerable other fearefull superstitions. All of them be­ing to the great dishonour of the Lord, and the dreadfull provoking of his hea­vie wrath, in filling up the measure of their sinnes, in stead of any comfort that any poore soules shall ever finde in them.

Or which is farre worse, what areTheir more profound meditations and devoti­ons. their deeper and more profound me­ditations and devotions, I meane, of their holy Iesuites, and Iesuited Ca­tholikes? but what meritorious works they may doe, for promoting the Ca­tholike cause; how to hold up and to advance the throne of their holy Fa­ther, that he may be the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, opposing and exal­ting2 Thess. 2. 4. himselfe above all that is called God. Yea to advance their owne pompe and tyranny in all the world, that they may at their pleasure reigne over both soules and bodies of all, as they doe in all countries, where they prevaile and domineere.

And thus are their chiefe meditati­ons, how to take away whatsoever may be any hinderance hereunto, by mur­dering Kings and Princes, seeking to subvert whole states, so to bring all [Page] againe to adore that Romish Anti­christ,2 Thess. 2. 4. Apoc. 13. 11. &c. 14, 15, 16, 17. to cast Christ Iesus out of his Throne, and that that man of sin may seat himselfe every where as God; to destroy utterly all that will not worship him, and take his marke, yea all the people of the Lord, who truly worship Christ Iesus, and to root the remem­brance of them from off the earth.

So that whereas the scope and ef­fectScope of all their d [...]vo­tions. of all our meditations and devo­tions is onely to save the soules and bo­dies of all men; theirs are in very deed for the most part to destroy all, either soules, or bodies, or both; inten­ded chiefly by their Iesuites and Semi­narie Priests, to worke that zeale in men, as may make them ready to rui­nate their owne native countrey, to have their hands imbrued in the bloud of their mother that bred them, rather than to be hindered in their wretched designes. And not onely to take away the Lords anointed, with all his royall seed, and all not joyning to them, but even those of the same profession with them, and of the neerest of their kin, (so that they can doe it warily enough) if they be like to be any impediment to the accomplishment of their desires, as the powder furnace gave sufficient evidence. Yea the very best of their devotions (more than where they agree [Page] with the word of the Lord, and so with ours) are such as concerning which, the Lord himselfe doth in his word, and will one day demand of them beforeEsa. 1. 13. the whole world; Who hath required these things at your hands? For, for those me­ditations of Lewes de Granado and o­thers, so far as they agree with the word of the Lord and with ours▪ they are not properly Popish, but Christian devoti­ons, & so in deed ours, reserved amongst them, as the Scriptures and other parts of Gods truth, for the cause of the true Church, the little remainder of Gods people hid amongst them, even in the midst of Rome.

Now to take any of these devotionsComparing of them to­gether. of theirs, as they are theirs properly, and the very meanest of ours, but even these whereunto this is the entrance, (prepared of purpose to helpe the poo­rest and weakest Christians in our Church, and euen all those who have not yet entred into this way of pietie, but are only desirous to offer their best service to our Lord Iesus and his poore Church, if they may be fitted and ad­mitted hereunto) and to compare them to those of theirs in all or any of the former respects, I doubt not to refer them to any conscience, in all the world, if it be not altogether seared and starke dead: whether are more [Page] agreeable to the former rules, and so the better. But to come more particu­larly,Particular comparing of them for more evi­dence. to set them opposite, that thus they may the better appeare, as when white and blacke are set to be behol­den, light and darknesse both toge­ther; and to doe it so, as the simplest in all the land may see it plainly, and be able to iudge; and therefore with some little repetition.

1. Ours directly grounded upon the word of the Lord, theirs more than for a shew grounded onely and professed­ly vpon the doctrines and traditions of men, yea in deed on the doctrines of that man of sinne.

2. Ours tending wholly to advance the glory of our God, and giving all glory to him alone, excluding all rejoy­cing in our selves, that he that rejoy­ceth may rejoyce onely in the Lord; theirs robbing him of his honour, gi­ving it to creatures.

3. Ours tending onely to magnifie our Lord Iesus Christ and his merit alone, with the all-sufficiency of it, for our salvation, and for whatsoever else wee stand in need of, wee comming onely to our heavenly Father, as it were with his beloved sonne Christ Iesus in our armes, presenting him for us, as all-sufficient, that we may be accepted in and for him, so making him our [Page] alone Saviour, Mediatour, and Inter­cessour: they come putting many other things in the place of him, and of his alone merit and intercession; as name­ly, the Virgin Marie and other Saints, with their Merits, yea Crucifixes, Mas­ses, Indulgences, Reliques, and a num­ber of other things, which being in any sort put in the place of Christ Iesus, of his satisfaction or merit, and ha­ving his honour given to them in whole or in part, make all [...] devo­tions to be most abominable.

4. Ours tending altogether to hum­ble man in regard of any thing in him­selfe, and wholly to beat downe all the pride of sinfull man; to make him ut­terly to deny himselfe, and all con [...] ­dence in himselfe; thus to make him fit to fall downe with the poore Publi­can, and with Marie Magdalen at the feet of our Lord and Saviour, to lay fast and lively hold on him, to present him only for us to God his Father; theirs tending to puffe and lift up sin­full man like Lucifer, to cause him to be utterly thrust downe to hell.

5. Ours teaching and helping us in all things fully to vnderstand, yea to observe and keepe our Baptisme vow and Covenant made with our blessed God, according to his heavenly word; theirs to keepe all in blindnesse and ig­norance [Page] of that their Baptisme vow in regard of any true vnderstanding or holy performance of it.

6. Ours teaching and assisting us to fight manfully under the banner of our Lord Iesus Christ, against sinne, the world and the devill, and so to conti­nue Christs faithfull souldiers and ser­vants, to our lives end, according as we have vowed and bound our selves; theirs to fight Giant-like, or as the An­gels of the Dragon, under the banner of Satan and Antichrist, against our Lord and Saviour Christ Iesus, and against all his true Church; to main­taine all their abominable Idolatry and superstition, and all the bloudy and fil­thy sinnes of Sodome; To fight for all the worldly pompe and tyranny of their Popes and Cardinals, and of all the rest that persecute Christs Church. Thus to continue Sathan and Anti­christs faithfull souldiers and ser­vants to their lives end; to fight ever against us, untill they have utter­ly destroied us or themselves; and all indeed because wee will not falsifie our vowes and sacramen­tall oathes made to our Lord Ie­sus Christ, like as they themselves doe.

7. Our devotions teaching and stir­ring us up all our daies, to observe [Page] every particular part of our Covenant both for Law and Gospell; theirs not onely to hold all in ignorance of their Covenant, and so altogether in an un­possibilitie to keepe it, when they know it not, and every one of them necessarily liable to the wrath of God; but also in effect teaching the violating of all, both Law and Gospell, thrusting ou [...] some parts wholly, as the second Commandement in many of their bookes; adding and detracting at the Popes pleasure, and that nothing is to bee taken for Scripture and for Gods Word, but onely as it hath warrant and authority from him; in so much as a Papist dare not beleeve the Trinity from the infallible Testimonie of the written Word of God, without the au­thority of their Pope.

8. Ours teaching & helping to walke in the narrow path that onely leadeth to life, prescribed by our Lord and Sa­viour; theirs drawing from this nar­row path into by-paths devised by man▪ and so into the broad way leading to destruction; seeking to kill all, who resolve to obey our Saviour, in labouring to keepe the narrow way, and who will not runne those by-paths, and the broad way with them.

9. Ours directing & helping us to live the life of faith, living onely by the [Page] word of God, which together with the Spirit can alone give faith; theirs the life of unbeleefe, grounded meerely upon the word of sinfull man, for that they beleeve the word, not for it selfe, but onely so farre as it hath authoritie from the Pope, as was said, which in truth can never give any sound faith. Yea ours directing and assisting to live not onely the life of faith in generall; but of the true iustifying and saving faith, which is wrought onely by the particular applying of Christ and all his promises to our selves, from which particular applying of Christ procee­deth all true confidence, and every part of sanctification; theirs directing to beleeve, but without any such particular application; and onely in generall, and as the wickedest and the very Devils beleeve; for they beleeve there is one God, and quake and tremble. Now that this generall beleefe of theirs, and this implicite faith can never breed the true justifying, sanctifying and saying faith, I appeale to the consciences of all, any more than the most soveraigne plaister can heale, if it be not particular­ly applied and kept to the sore, or more than meat can nourish and strengthen, if it be not eaten and digested, and even turned into our nature: or yet any more than a graft can grow by the [Page] stocke, if it▪ be not grafted into the stocke by speciall application, conjun­ction and union to take sap from it.

10. Ours directing & helping to live the life of true godlinesse, being guided onely by his word and Spirit, which life alone hath all the promises, both for1 Tim. 4▪ 8. this and the other life; theirs for most part, in stead of this true godlinesse so guided by Gods word, directing to live the life of bodily exercises, as Paul cals them; in superstitious penance, fa­stings, whippings, with other will­worships, devotions and workes devi­sed [...]eerely by man; which bodily ex­ercisesCol. 2. 23. and devotions, have only a shew of wisdome from men vainely puffed up by their fleshly mindes, no promise at all; but contrarily all the threatnings in Gods booke for adding to his word, and detracting from it, in matter ofDeut. 4. 2. 22. 32. Prov. 30. 6. Apoc. 22. 18. his worship and service, and for reje­cting his Commandements, setting up mans in stead thereof; and so placing sinfull man in the roome of our most holy, blessed, and glorious God; the creature above the Creator, yea in truth, Satan above God, like as in all1 Tim. 4. 1. their devillish and lying doctrines.

11. Ours teaching & working by the practise of them full assurance of Gods favour and love in Iesus Christ, which onely brings with it joy unspeakable [Page] and glorious; theirs teaching and bringing but onely hope, without any ground of true faith, and therefore teaching doubting continually, which when the conscience is awaked, brings the very flashing of hell fire with it.

So that ours, in the right use of them, are heaven upon earth; theirs, when their consciences shall be awaked, or when they but see what they have done in them all, a very hell upon earth.

12. Our devotions are in the end the sweetest in the remembrance of them, and of all the time before that ever we have spent in them, since we beleeved in Christ; so as every one of our de­votions made in faith, as our Religion directeth, and every moment of time so spent in them, hath a certaine re­ward; theirs being done without war­rant of the word, yea contrary to the word, and therefore superstitiously and sinfully, not onely wanting all such ex­pectation of reward (for who required the best of those things at their hands) but also having an expectation of ven­geance, when the conscience begin­neth to be a little awaked. So that ex­perience teacheth, that then they are faine to renounce all but Iesus Christ, and so all confidence in these things, and to wish then with Balaam, to die the death of the righteous; toward [Page] which death of the righteous, we are alway going forward; and which life we striving to live, shall be sure to die the death thereof, and our last end to be like to our life.

13. Our devotions in so many of us as practise them aright, are as our Reli­gion, viz. that pure Religion and un­defiled before God even the Father, which Iames speaketh of, directing andIam. 1. 17. helping to visit the fatherlesse and the widow in their adversitie, and namely those of them who are of the houshold of faith, and the members of our Lord Iesus Christ, and to keepe our selves unspotted of the world. So as we pra­ctising rightly out devotions, there cannot be a lying tongue found in our mouthes, nor a hand or heart defiled with bloud, but we shall seeke by all meanes to save both soules and bodies of all sorts, even of our wickedest ene­mies, and the most bloudily-minded against us. Their Devotions contrarily are in truth, as their Religion, to de­voure widowes houses, under a pre­tence of long prayer, and to destroy all the innocent, the fatherlesse & widow, even al who are of the houshold of faith, & the members of Christ, which are in­deed the Innocents that save all the rest.Iob 22.

And by these, they make themselves notorious and infamous to all the [Page] world, to be the most polluted with execrable lying and the murder of in­nocents, of all other religions, that ever were in the world before, as will fur­ther appeare after, whereby all their chiefe professours, and namely their bloudy Iesuits have made themselves odious even to all Nations.

14. Yea and to passe by many other; our Devotions are as our Religion, to make us faithfull and loyall subjects, and not to be so bold, as to have an evill thought in our hearts against him, whom the Lord sets over us, but to be as David, whose heart smit him, for touching but the lap of Sauls garment, and so with that holy servant of God, and with the children of the Captivity, and with Daniel, yea with all the holy Martyrs to be content to endure what­soever from them, and from all in holy and lawfull authoritie under them, that in our patient sufferings, Kings, Princes and Rulers may see the truth, and what is pleasing to the Lord, and also what they ought to maintaine and doe for their owne salvation, and of their Royall Progenie and Dominions; theirs in all these things, to make all to be contrarily affected, viz. to arme and flesh all to rebellion, and the murdering of Kings and Princes when they can do it cōveniently. After that those their [Page] ghostly fathers have made them to drinke deepe enough of this cup, and to be truly devout in the manner of their devotions: though I hope better things of you, to whom I write, yet it cannot hurt you to be warned.

15. Moreover for the māner & forme of our devotions; All our devotions which are agreeable to our doctrine, are sent forth from understanding hearts, and so with a holy zeale, infla­med by the spirit of judgement, and theEsa. 4. 4. spirit of burning, mixt with the sweet perfume of Christs merit, and so offe­red up to our heavenly Father, as they may be most pleasing, comming to him,Apoc. 8. 3. as out of the hand of our Saviour, yea offered also in order without any vaineMatth. 6. babling or idle repetition: Theirs con­trarily are for most part and usually without any understanding at all; like as all the devotions of their ignorant sort are, especially those which are in an unknowne tongue; and so without all holy affection. For all holy affecti­ons must of necessitie be grounded upon knowledge, without which the heart cannot be good; neither canProv. 19. 2. there be any faith in such, nor anyRom. 4. end. thing but sinne, for whatsoever is not of faith is sinne. And not onely so, but also theirs are full of vaine and idle repeti­tions in that blinde manner, a matter [Page] directly condemned by our Saviour asMatth. 6. 7. hypocriticall and heathenish, when men thinke to be heard for their much bab­ling. Finally, for that theirs are usually sent forth in a proud opinion of their owne merit and worthinesse to be heard, or as they come out of the hand of some Saint or Angell; to whom therein they give this honour and pre­rogative, which solely belongs to our Lord and Saviour, viz. of presentingRom. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Apoc. [...]. 3. our praiers and supplications unto his Father alone.

I might prosecute these comparisons in many other instances, as namely, that our devotions make us still better, the more they are practised by us, and more like to Christ Iesus; theirs as they are theirs properly, as those which I named, make them still and ever worse and worse, and more like to Sa­tan, as he is transformed into an Angell of light; as namely in all their Iesuits, their chiefe professed holy men, being indeed deuils in carnate, and so accoun­ted to all States, and specially for those chiefe works of their lying and murder, which are manifest to all, to be their principall studie: Ours (to repeat it againe, that it may leave the deeper impression in every soule) tending to save all both soules and bodies; theirs to destroy all, not onely us whom they [Page] terme Heretiques, but themselves eter­nally, and all other whom they seduce by their delusions.

But to omit all further comparisons, for that it would bee too long, and one­ly to content our selves with these, and to come to a conclusion of this second point, viz. That these things being so, as every one who professeth Christs Gospell, and holdeth the Religion of our Church, must needs acknowledge, and even the very consciences of our Adversaries will surely doe, when they shall be awaked to answer as before the Lords Tribunall; I now here ap­peale to every soule, whether are more holy and so better, their devotions or ours.

And thus I hope this second headConclusion of this se­cond point. of this monstrous destroying and de­vouring serpent, is utterly smitten off for ever hereafter hurting any of Gods people, who uprightly weigh these things, and to whom it is given to be­leeve the Gospell of Christ, and withall to lay to heart that forewarning of Paul concerning the strong delusions2 Thess. 2. 11, 12. of Antichrist, amongst which these are not of the least. And for them to [...]rag of the number of them being such, is to boast of their store of poyson and pesti­lent infection enough to destroy not only themselves, but even all the world [Page] And thus much for the second head.The third part of the delusion: that they spend more time in their devotions than we in ours.

To come therefore to the last head of this deadly Serpent, which is yet more perillous and full of mortall poy­son than the former: viz. That they spend more time in their devotions than wee doe in ours, and therefore their religion is better. To cut off this likewise,

1. I answer, that their devotions being such as those which wee have heard, viz. Idolatrous, superstitious, and against the direction of the Lord, yea against his expresse charge, (like as all theirs are, so farre as they are pro­perly theirs) the more time they spend in them, the more they increase their sinne, and so the wrath of God against themselves, with their owne everla­sting miserie, so that to glorie of their many devotions spent in that kinde, is but to glorie in their shame and in their sinne, even in the launcing of their owne soules, in a devotion like to the devotion of Baals Priests.

2. Thus I answer, that a Papist, be­ing a right Papist, holding their usuall tenets, and following their practice, can never make one prayer which can be acceptable unto God, nor doe any worke which can be pleasing, for thatRh [...]m. on Rom. 3. vers. 22. sect. 7. they doe not onely condemne, but also scorne, yea persecute that true justify­ing [Page] faith, which consists in a particular applying of Christ, and in a peculiar and full assurance of Gods favour and love through Iesus Christ alone; without which faith there can bee no sanctification, for that all our sanctifi­cation flowes from our justification, and our justification from this particular saving faith, thus applying Christ to us, and making him ours, and so making us flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones; whereby all our good works flow from him by his Spirit, when wee are so united and incorporated into him thereby.

Now they denying and scorning that whereby they should bee made good trees, can never bring forth any goodMat. 12. 33. fruit pleasing and acceptable unto the Lord: For first, the tree must be good, and then will the fruit be good, & never before, but scorning that whereby they should be made good trees and living members of Christ, & have his Spirit, they can never do the works of Christ, or bring forth the fruits of the Spirit.

3. Though they could make never so many prayers, and those good prayers in regard of the matter, yet none of those prayers can ever be accepted; but God threats to hide his face fromEsa. 1. 15. them, because their hearts and hands are full of bloud, all of them, at least [Page] the most devout of them, wishing and seeking the bloud of all heretiques, and so of us whom they principally account to be such amongst all other.

For their verie hating of us so mor­tally they are murtherers, and much1 Ioh. 3. 15. more, hating and seeling to root us all out, onely for our love to our God, even for his names sake, and for our cleaving fast to him alone; and there­fore cannot have eternall life abiding in them, much lesse can any of their prayers be heard so long as they so re­maine.

4 Moreover, for all their canonicall and set houres, if they be either in such kinde of prayers as theirs are properly; or else if they bee with the neglect of that particular calling wherein everie one of them should walke, to eat their owne bread, and not to bee as Cater­pillers and idle bellies, to live of the spoyle of the Church or Common­wealth; & much more, if they be to de­ceive and to delude poore soules in an opinion of me [...] it thereby; and most of all in putting their works so done in place of the merit of Christ, as in ad­ding them to the treasure of the Church; though by them they afflict and humble their bodies never so much; yet all these the moe they are, the greater is their sinne and miserie, as [Page] was said before: for who required anyEsa. 1. 12. Psal. 50. 16. of the best of them done in this man­ner at their hands? And much more any of those which are in themselves idolatrous or superstitious.

5. For true and holy devotions, and which are pleasing and acceptable unto God, I doubt not constantly to affirme, but that the poorest and weakest true Christian in our Church (which rightly holding the doctrine of our Church, and justified by the bloud of Christ through a lively faith in him, makes conscience of all his wayes, and so useth to pray according to his will, in the name of Christ onely, both spends more time in true holy Devotions, and shall be more accepted with the Lord, yea shall have more power to prevaile with his Majestie for whatsoever hee seekes, and shall also bring more com­fort to his owne soule, and finde a farre greater reward from the Lord, than the proudest Pharisaicall Papist in all the world.

For that the prayers of such an one so made, are the prayers of faith, unto which all the promises are made; and contrarily all the prayers of the Pa­pists, so farre as they are Papists, and so made, can be no other but prayers of unbeleefe, and so can looke to receive nothing, because indeed they are no­thing [Page] but sinne, and displeasing to hisIam. 16. 7. Majestie.

And if the poorest Christian, and hee that spends least time doe this, what shall wee thinke of many thou­sands others, who have set themselves unfainedly to seeke and walke with God? Yea, what shall we thinke of all those, who knowing their owne sinnes and weaknesses, and the continuall endevours of Satan against them, with their owne necessities, and the necessi­ties of the Churches, are driven to bee instant with the Lord day and night? And chiefly what shall wee judge of all those, who doe at this day truely take to heart the dishonours done unto his glorious Majestie, the oppositions against Christs Gospell, his crowne and dignitie, with the state of his poore Churches and people therein; the rage and furie of Satan and Antichrist? who have therefore set themselves tru­ly to helpe our Lord Iesus in his mem­bers to pacifie his wrath, and for the re­storing of his captives with the glorie of his Sion.

Yet have we too just cause to accuseIust com­plaint a­gainst the greatest part of those who prosesse the Gospell. and condemne our selves herein, not onely all our Atheists and prophane sort, but also the multitude generally, that wee suffer our adversaries so farre to condemne the greatest part of us, [Page] who professe the Gospell, that they should labour farre more in their super­stitious devotions, to increase their sinne and judgement upon them all (though this have beene alwayes the nature of superstition) than we in our holy and true devotions to increase our owne happinesse, and for the saving of us all. Notwithstanding that whatso­ever deadnesse and want is amongst us in this behalfe, it is not through the fault of our Religion, which teacheth and enableth us otherwise when it is rightly knowne and practised, but it is the want of true knowledge, and of a sound and conscionable practice of our Religion.

Hence it hath beene, and is one principall end whereunto I have bent my studies in these poore labours, the better to awaken us, and to put more life into us, to begin more universally and joyntly, and also more incessantly to importune the Lord herein, being provoked by their ensample.

That thus we may labour as power­fully and as earnestly with the Lord hereby, for the saving of our selves ge­nerally, and of so many of them with us as belong unto his eternall election, as they doe by theirs, to destroy both us and themselves together.

And thus much also, for cutting offConclusion. [Page] the third head of this subtill serpent, which I trust shall thus fall with the rest. And now that this Hydra is so laid inThe further manifestati­on of that as­sumption, which fully demonstra­ted, all must renounce Po­pery or be professedly of Sathans Re­ligion. Se [...] Watch, Part 3. pag. 340. the dust, and all his heads taken utter­ly from him, for so poysoning and de­stroying any more; let me once againe come unto the further demonstration of that assumption, concerning which that learned Gentleman (of whom I made mention in the Epistle Dedica­tory) professed long agoe, that if it could be proved, viz. that Popery tea­cheth lying and murdering for the sup­porting of it, he would utterly re­nounce his religion and embrace ours. For that this doth in like manner, and as neerely concerne every Papist in the world, as it doth him. That they must needs every one either professe with him, that if it can be proued, they like­wise will utterly renounce Popery, and embrace the Gospell, or that they are of that Religion which is of Sathan, and will so remaine, whatsoever the Lord shall manifest to the contrary. Which point, as all may see, doth fitly come in to be yet more plainly demon­strated in this place, and upon this pre­sent occasion.

The Syllogisme whereby I endevou­redThe Syllo­gisme groun­ded upon our Saviours owne words. to let him see the danger wherein himselfe and all the rest of them who are of that popish Religion doe stand [Page] (because that Religion so farre as it is differing from ours, and properly Po­pish, holding their chiefe grounds, must needs bee of the devill.) was grounded upon the expresse words of our Saviour to the unbeleeving Iewes, who therefore sought by lies and all devices to kill him, even for the truth, which he declared unto them, as now they do [...] us all. The words are, Iohn 8. 44. Ye are of your father the De­vill, and the lusts of your father will you doe; He hath beene a murderer from the be­ginning, and abode not in the truth.

This I framed in the plainest manner that I could, for the easier understan­ding and triall of it, as now I do [...]; that every one may be better able to discerne of the truth and weight of it, thus:

That Religion which teacheth lying and murder for the supporting and advancing of it, is of the Devill; But the Religion of the Iesuited Papist it a Religion which teacheth lying and murder for the supporting and ad­vancing of it.

Ergo the Religion of the Iesuited Papists is of the Devill.

First the proposition I shewed to be strong from the expresse words of our Saviour, and not possibly to be gaine­saied; for [...]hat if liers and murderers are of the devill, then that Religion [Page] which teacheth lying and murdering to support and advance it selfe, must needs be so likewise.

He therefore being pressed with the Assumption, denied it, onely by di­stinguishing, that howsoever some of them had practised so, yet it was not their doctrine, and that if it could be proved to be their doctrine, he would utterly renounce his Religion, and ioyne himselfe againe to us.

This I undertooke to prove unto him: but living some miles dist [...]nt from him, and having my calling to follow, which I was necessarily to attend; the Lord our faithfull and most gratious Father, seeing my unfained desire for his reclaiming and salvation, under­tooke for me the proving of it, in such a manner, as whereby to give satisfacti­on for the truth of it to all the world, and for ever to stop his mouth, and the mouthes of all our adversaries, even of every one affected to that Popish Reli­gion, and that two waies.

First, this conference of ours, andHow the Lord mani­fested the truth of this Assumption, that this is their do­ctrine. so my promise being but a little before the powder Treason, it proved it selfe, or rather, his heavenly Majestie mani­fested it by themselves, leaving them up to themselves in that very powder Trea­son, wherein there was for the suppor­ting and advancing of their Religi­on, [Page] first such a murder intended as the world before that day never heard of.

And secondly, a lie as great as it, de­vised not only to cover that bloudy fact, for the present; but by it to have destroyed all the rest, who had escaped that blow, even all truly professing Christs Gospell; in all countreys of the earth, under the name of Puritans; for that they had commited such a fact, viz. That the Puritanes had blowen up the Parlament house: like as when it was discovered, they gave it forth, that the Puritans had intended it. That which should have beene their owne most detestable act, they father vpon the people of the Lord, whom they would have butchered by it, and blowne up for ever.

Now this whole act of this devillish and deadly preparation, we know, was proved to be done by the advice of Fa­ther Garn [...], and other their superiours. And therefore it being their doctrine, that they are to obey their Superiours and Ghostly Fathers, chiefly in all things which concerne the promoting of the Catholike cause▪ and therein to be ever ready to adventure their lives; I appeale to the conscience of this Gentleman, and the consciences of them and you all, whether it bee not [Page] their doctrine by necessary conse­quence.

2. His heavenly Majestie & good­nesse declared it thus further for me soone after, upon the same occasion of the Powder-treason; in causing Now L. [...]. of Lic [...]field. Mr. Doctor Morton (a man meet for his learning and knowledge of their workes) to proue it against them, in his booke called, An exact discouerie of Ro­mish doctrine in the case of conspiracie and rebellion, written by direction from our Su­periours; together with his Defence there­of in his Encounter against Parsons. In which he doth manifest this to be their plaine and direct doctrine, setting downe their places out of sundry of their chiefe Authors.

3. The Lord hath moreover cau­sed it to be published not to our Na­tion alone, but as it were to the whole world, in that booke which is called, Revelatio Cons [...]iorum qu [...] [...] Synod [...] Tridentinae [...]ant inita, & in hunc usqu [...] diem continuata: viz. I he revealing of Popish conspiracies, betweene the Pope, the Emperour, and other Popish Princes and States of the Christian world from the beginning of the Councell of Trent untill this day, for the utter rooting out of the Gos­pell of Christ, and destroying the pro­fessors thereof, either by fraud under [Page] pretence of peace, or other leagues, or by open hostilitie and cruelty, when­soever their time and opportunitie serves; which booke hath sundry of the Popes Buls annexed to it to the same purpose. And likewise the Lord hath caused it to be thus divulged by sundry other bookes and meanes. But this I have already set downe in thePart 3. c. 11. p. 340, 341. third part of this Watch, and namely in the Idolatry of Iudah hastning the Captivitie; which matter (if ever here­tofore) concernes our whole Nation, and even all the Churches seriously to lay to heart.

Now this one very fact of their [...] alone, might have beene fully sufficient to have caused all of them to have ac­knowledged the truth of that Assump­tion; and thereupon to have utterly renounced Popery, and embraced the Gospell againe; if God had beene so pleased to have opened their eyes, o [...] touched their hearts to have conside­red of it as in his presence, and much more those mentioned bookes, and many such like discoveries.

But sith that (notwithstanding all manner of convictions by such noto­rious practises formerly, such manife­stations by writings, and even from their owne bookes) most of them in stead of renouncing Popery, and joy­ning [Page] to us againe, are much more ob­stinate; and the number of them is in­creased, and that they doe daily grow in their induration against all the Lords most gracious warnings of them; and that all the Iesuits and Iesuited, doo set themselves as Pharaoh and Egypt, to pursue all his Israel at this once, into the very heart of the sea; and also seeing that all their simpler sort are so farre inchanted by their Iannes and Ia [...]bres, those their Iesuits and other Seminarie Priests through their illusions, and hopes at length to prevaile, at least by these their practises of equivocations and murders, I have thought it my dutie yet once againe to manifest here still further the evidence of this Assumption, viz. That Popery practiseth and teacheth lying and murder to support and advance it selfe; and there­fore is undoubtedly of the Devill.

Who can tell if yet at length our blessed God wil not be pleased to awake that Honourable Ladie, and that de­voted Gentleman, with others of them, (which I beg of his sacred Majestie even upon my knees) to consider bet­ter of their estate and courses, and get themselves out of the power and paw of Satan. At least my certaine hope in the Lord is, that it may bee a meanes to helpe to keepe many others [Page] from ever so comming under Satans banner:

And here I cannot but againe won­derThe Lord himselfe also daily more and more manifesting the truth of it, to leave all the obsti­nate more without ex­cuse. at the goodnesse of our God, and of his speciall providence answering for me, and performing also my poore desire herein likewise, above all that I could ever expect, at this verie instant of time, now that this my hearts de­sire towards them, and our prayers to God for them, are to come into the presse, and into the publique view of all, and but even as it were immedi­ately before. Which thing I cannot no [...] dare otherwise expound, but be­cause hee would have all sorts to take notice of his love and care for us, and for all that are his people, to warne and save us all; and also of his infinite mer­cie, even to them, if any warning may yet serve to prevaile with them: or else of his most just vengeance, if they will suffer themselves still to be so wilfully blinded, and carried against him, his truth and servants in such a furious rage to their owne certaine perdition, and will not yet turne and betake themselves unto the colours of our Lord Iesus Christ.

First, hee hath manifested it anew, in discovering againe, (even as it were to all the world) the wickednesse of [Page] that Religion in this behalfe, in cau­sing our whole nation, not onely to take more full and certaine notice of their dealing, and to bee enforced to seeke by all meanes to prevent the mis­chiefe and danger by it; but also all the Churches, even all the earth, to see how by delayes and faire pretences (which have indeed beene nothing, but meere untruths and guls, to speake plainly of them) they have devoured so great a part, and are readie presently to swal­low up all, under pretences of maria­ges, of more strong leagues, and more firme peace, according to their anci­ent devices and practices, & agreeably to their holy Councels at Trent, in the booke mentioned before: so as even all the world rings and cries out of it.

2. In the new French practice of theSe [...] the book intituled, An admirable discoverie of an horrible attempt; standerously [...]hered up­on them of Rochell. Iesuites, confirmed both in print, and also by letters to sundrie Merchants from men of credit, whereby they sought to make our Religion odious to Kings, Princes, and States, for treasonable plots: and so to set them all to band themselves to root it and us utterly out of the earth, and specially to make France once againe to flow with Christian bloud; for that such as they are, have not yet drunke bloud [Page] enough, though all their Iesuited sort are made drunke alreadie, with the bloud of the Saints, and Martyrs of Iesus.

3. By causing at this time their Art of equivocating and lying to come to light, and to bee published to the view of all sorts amongst us. How these Iesuites have beaten their braines, and even gone beyond Satan himselfe, in devising, maintaining, and practising this devillish Art, which wee may well call their new Blacke Art, for which I referre all to Mr. Masons booke of The new Art of lying, covered by Iesuites under the vaile of Equi­vocation. That all may see and bee for ever fully satisfied, that these are their doctrines, & the verie chiefest of them, in the refining and perfecting whereof, they bestow most paines.

4. By that late and notable Disco­verieSee Foot out of the Snare, pag. 25. out of their owne bookes, by Mr. Gee, who was one of them; wherein he hath set downe such impious tricks and devices of their Priests and Ie­suites, that (as hee there saith) all may justly hoot at them, for most abo­minable impostors and liars. The rea­ding but of some of which will mani­festly cleere whatsoever I have spoken in this behalfe, and this Assumption. [Page] This likewise comming forth in Gods speciall providence at this verie in­stant, for the more full conviction of all, or leaving all more without ex­cuse, and to stop everie mouth that shall plead for them.

Yet to passe over all these, and this also; that all sorts doe know, that their Iesuites and Confessours are the chiefe contrivers and abettours of all their chiefe stratagems, and that no­thing is done without them. And al­beit wee are nothing to regard words, when their deeds, according to their Doctrines and Constitutions, are ap­parent to all the world. And that al­though they may delude little chil­dren, by affirming that these are not their doctrines (if any dare still deny it against the witnesse of his owne heart) yet men, having their braines in their heads, can never bee so be­sotted, unlesse they will wilfully joyne hands with them, or suffer their eyes utterly to be put out.

For that which they say; That they are not their Doctrines, unlesse wee can shew them out of the Councell of Trent, or some of their chiefe Coun­cels; can any man imagine, that the Councels would openly professe them to proclaime to all the world, that they [Page] and their Religion is of Satan? or can wee thinke or imagine, that so many of their Iesuites should publish them unto the world, unlesse they were the advice of their Popes, and indeed their Doctrine.

But to passe all these things over,All their Do­ctrines lies in hypocri­sic. and to leave them to their further consideration, to worke better upon their consciences: what can they yet, or any other say to their Doctrines, which the Holy Ghost cals, Lies 2 Tim. 4. 2. through hypocrisie, devised to devoure us all?

Such as this here discovered, That they have moe holy devotions than we, &c.

And even for all their Doctrines joyntly to leave it to the consciences of all whether all of those wherein they differ from us, and for which they so contend, bee not Doctrines meerely devised to please the corrupt nature of man; to hold up that Hie­rarchie of the Pope, and tyrannie of that Sea of Rome, viz. of their Pope, Cardinals, Abbots, and the rest: And also for their bellies; and that they may keepe all the world in slaverie, and to hide their wickednesse. And more specially what their Doctrines are concerning Purgatorie, Masses, Indulgences, Pardons, even for the [Page] time to come; Miracles done by this Saint and that, and by this Relique and that: and concerning their holy Reliques themselves, and so all their doctrines of Equivocation, mentall Reservation, and the like, whether they be not all (to speake as the thing is) notorious lies to keepe the poore people in ignorance, & in their blinde devotions and slavery to them; yea to muzzle them in their murde­ring zeale against the true Church. Which if it be so, then the Assump­tion is most manifest to all the world, even to children, and almost to suck­ing babes: That Popery teacheth lying and murder, or that which tends there­unto, viz. to the destroying of all either soules, or bodies, or both.

Now for the truth of all these things,Appeale for the truth of the Assump­tion. I appeale first to the Lord Iesus, the Iudge of all, to iudge betweene us; and that I have written according to the perswasion of my heart, grounded upon the word of the Lord, and upon their writings and dealings.

  • 2. I appeale to the sacred Scrip­tures, by which we and they and all our doctrines must be judged.
  • 3. To the universall consent of all the true Church of Christ.
  • 4. To every one who professeth the [Page] Gospell according to the doctrine of our Church, and our good lawes.
  • 5. To their owne hearts and consci­ences, I meane of all the learneder, and cunninger sort of them, and to the consciences of all, when they shall be so awaked, as to thinke that they are to appeare before Iesus Christ to give an account.

For particular proofes of these and other disputes, I leave them to the Treatises mentioned before, and also to the more learned, and them who have better leysure. It may be suffici­ent for me to have made them mani­fest to all who professe Christs Gos­pell, and who judge indifferently, and to leave them and their consciences thus convinced unto the Lords Iudge­ment fea [...].Appeale for the evidence of sundrie Consecta­ries.

And now these things being so, I appeale againe to their consciences, and the consciences of all the world, concerning the evidence and necessitie of these Consectaries.

1. Whether the Assumption being true, that Religion of theirs be not of the Devill, by our Saviours owne reason, and therefore that all of them must either renounce, and even abjure it, or else professe themselves to be of Satans Religion, to maintaine it, and [Page] to fight for him against our Lord Ie­sus Christ, and that they will still doe it.

2. Whether all sorts are not bound to seeke to save themselves from that lying and murdering Religion, and to use all warrantable and holy means, both to reclaime all from it, to the end to save them, both soules and bodies, and also to deliver all the Churches and people of the Lord, from the danger of being suddenly surprized, and murdered thereby; and so far as God inables them any way, to take away all the dishonour and provocations of his sacred Majestie, which may come thereby, as by all other such hainous sinnes. This I humbly submit to the judgement of all; seeing whosoever is not with ourLuk. 11. 23. Saviour is against him, and that who­soever saves not, destroyes. That the Magistrates and all in authoritie are the keepers of both the Tables, each according to his place: and for that the bloud of all must be required at the Pastors and Watchmens ha [...]ds,Ezek. 33. 7, 8. according to the charge committed to every one of them, if they be not faithfull in their severall places de­signed to them by the Lord.

I could wish them & all other of the simpler sort to read such little treatises as shew how Popery is a­gainst the main groūds of Religion, and first principles of the Cate­chisme; as namely a lit­tle booke called a pill to purge out Popery, with the shifts of the Iesuits by Master MVLL [...]N and the like. Request to all oppo­nents. Wherefore I intreat them and all [Page] others seriously to thinke hereof, as in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ, before whom I have written, in duty to his heavenly maiesty, for maintai­ning his glory, and holding up the scepter of our Lord Iesus, and in love and duty to all sorts, chiefly to all in high place, for the saving of all, or to leave the obstinate utterly with­out excuse.

And thus much also for the proofe of the Assumption, and the shutting up of this inclosed Epistle.

Unto which, if this Gentleman, or any one for that Honourable Ladie, will offer to reply, let me but crave this of him, whosoever he be, which equi­tie and wisdome will require.

1. First, to doe it in love and with good advice, as in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ, without all shifts or devices against the light of his consci­ence, even as I have endevoured, and onely for the finding out and maintai­ning the truth, whereunto (God wil­ling) I shall ever yeeld, if any one in any thing shall rightly shew mee my error, and I shall moreover acknow­ledge my oversight.

2. And secondly, let me request of him, that hee will bethinke himselfe wisely, for what he pleades, and also [Page] for whom, whether he doe it not even for Satan, and for the upholding of his kingdome by his chiefe workes of lying and murder; and also to con­sider against whom he doth it, whe­ther it be not against our Lord Iesus Christ, and against all his Saints and people: and withall to thinke, how hard it is for him to kicke against the prickes, and that against the light shining clearely in his heart. And yetActs 9, 5. more also, to ponder wisely what it is to give Satan advantage, but by one lie only wilfully maintained, and especially such a lie, as tends but to the murdering of one soule. And how much more then, when it is to main­taine the Art of lying devised by and for the devill himselfe; to hold up his kingdome, and to overthrow the kingdome of Christ, and for the de­ceiving and destroying of innumera­ble soules, even of all bewitched by them; and tending to the destroy­ing of all the people of the Lord, and the rooting them out of the earth. How dreadfull it will be to stand be­fore Christ, to give answer but for the bloud of one soule alone; when Abels bloud, the bloud but even of his body alone, cries so loud from the earth, and makes Cain such a runna­gate [Page] all his daies, to be in hell whilst he was yet here in the earth; yea before hee came into that place of torment designed for him and for all other wicked men, and chiefly for all liers and murderers, to bee tormented there for ever.

4. And finally, let mee wish him for his credit (if he respect nothing else) to answer all these books which I have mentioned, as well for the cause of the learned as the vnlear­ned, because they are (as it were sent of God) to manifest the truth here­of; and then I have no doubt, but he our most blessed and onely wise God, will both reply and answer for us still, and so maintaine his owne cause, as to put them all to silence, at least in the pit which they are digging for us, and that for evermore.

Thus have I through the good hand of my God, made way to the satisfying of the holy desires of those worthy Personages, which wish so Honourably and Christianly unto you, & that we may match our chiefe Ad­versaries in our devotions; although we doe already (as all may plainly see) goe so far beyond them in this kinde; and also to the end that you who meane plainly, and have not [Page] your hearts yet tainted with their bloud-thirstie desires, & all others, may perceive, how you have been and are deluded, and even inchanted in every one of these respects: by which scale, all may measure the rest of their ly­ing doctrines and devices. And with­all I hope that I have made it evi­dent to the consciences of all, that all sorts must renounce Popery, and embrace the Gospell; or else professe themselves to be of their father the Devill, and that they will fight against Christ. To try if the Lord may be pleased yet to shew them mercy, to come out of the snares of Satan, ei­ther by the cleere manifestation of these delusions of his, or by the prai­ers and teares of many of his peo­ple, crying jointly for all, to hale andSee Peters enlargement, concerning the power of faithfull praier. pull them out of Egypt and Sodome, for what are not the joint praiers of Gods people able to doe?

Now these things being so, this de­lusion so laid open, and the Assumption so plainly proved and demonstrated to the convincing of everie of your con­sciences, as I am fully perswaded be­fore the Lord, give me leave in tender commiseration to turne my speech un­to you all, who dare still stand out against his Majestie.

[Page]Oh bethinke your selves in time, what it is to fight against the light of your owne hearts! what will follow the wounded conscience, when the Lord shall wake it and call it to an account, which hee will certainly doe, either in this life, or so soone as ever you shall depart hence. Remember the cases of Cain, Saul, Iudas, for fighting so despe­rately against the light, and so standing forth against the Lord and his most gracious offer of mercie.

Oh bethinke your selves in time of his terrible and most glorious Majestie, against whom you have so fearefully sinned, as to provoke him not onely against your selves, but against this whole Nation, even against us all, for your causes, in departing from him and his holy Religion, to a Religion of such abominations, and so manifestly con­victed and declared to be of Satan his sworne enemie!

Remember the dreadfulnesse of his wrath, so declared in the irrevocable pu­nishment of the Angels that so fell from him, of Adam, the old world, So­dome; and that which shall be so feare­fully2 Thess. 1. 7, 8, 9, 10. revealed when Christ shall come with thousand thousands of glorious Angels, in flaming fire, to render ven­geance to all who know him not, and [Page] who will not yeeld obedience to his heavenly Gospell, and much more to all his obstinate enemies.

Consider well how your sinne is in­creased not onely being committed so contrarily to your Baptisme vow, but also by all the evictions of the abomi­nations of that idolatrous, lying, and murdering Religion, especially in this Nation, since the time of the first ca­sting it forth so publikely by Parlament, and even untill this verie day, and now last of all by this Discoverie of this for­ged delusion, wherein so many others of yours like unto it are included.

Thinke what it is, not onely to bee barred out of Heaven, deprived utterly of all the joyes thereof, but moreover to be thrust into hell, to abide the tor­ment thereof with Satan and his An­gels for ever and ever: which must needs come upon you, if that Religion of Rome bee such, and have such sup­porters, as you have or may see set be­fore your faces.

If you will not reade this, but bee as the deafe adder stopping your eares, and in stead of Satan hiding away and blinding your owne eyes, yet I hope you have each of you some faithfull friends, who (beleeving the Gospell▪ and perswaded of your delusions as I am) [Page] will play the parts of faithfull Physiti­ans, & true loving friends towards such as are indangered by extreme distem­pers in burning fevers or the like, or in extreme perill of perishing by water or fire, or any way else; viz. which will make these things knowne unto you, & urge them upon you for your preserva­tion and recoverie, so to declare their uttermost love unto you, to the end to convert you, and bring you to us againe, and to our Lord Iesus Christ, and so save you from hell: though for the present they adventure your dis­pleasure, as I also must.

Howsoever, this shall bee my rejoy­cing and my witnesse for me before the Lord, for my dutie towards his heaven­ly Majestie, and towards his Vice-Gerent our royall Soveraigne, & of my love and dutie towards this Church and Nation, and even you all in this be­halfe. For which, entreating him in his rich mercie to make it effectuall, I com­mit it and you to his Grace, which works above all that wee can conceive, and shall rest ever striving with you,

I. B.

TO EVERIE TRVE CHRISTIAN Soule, rightly taking to heart the estate of Christs poore Churches and disper­sed Flocke.

CHristian Reader, if thou take to heart the dis­honours done unto our most holy God, the trampling vnder foot the Gospell and Scep­ter of our Lord Iesus Christ in so many parts of his Church, the miserable estate of his people and servants professing his name, under the slaverie and tyrannie of Antichrist; or the wofull conditi­on of the remainder of Gods elect not yet cal­led & gathered forth, but remainining under the power of Satan; or if thou regard but the saving of thine owne soule, afford some assistance to him and his poore people, espe­cially now that hee so graciously cals upon thee, and offers thee so much direction [Page] and helpe thereunto, even in these meditati­ons and prayers b [...]sides many others.

Consider of them well; and so farre as thou findest him calling on thee, to put them in practice, set thy selfe forthwith to helpe in this blessed worke. If any of them, either meditations or prayers, seeme unto thee weake, as they must needs be, having beene written for most part when many others slept; and that because of the industrie of Satan and his instruments, that they might not bee any hinderance unto my calling, yet are they such as thy Christ expects at thy hands, so far as they are soundly grounded upon his sacred truth, and agreeable to his heavenly will. Give him thy heart and best affections, and better the forme in th [...]ne owne devotion, re­membring ever for whom they are chiefly intended, viz to helpe the weaker sort, which are not able to pray of themselves, accor­ding to th [...]se occasions.

If they seeme over long for thy occasions, yet are they so divided, as thou mayest leave off and begin againe wheresoever thou pleasest, onely fitting some generall beginnings and ends of the prayers, according to the other, or according to thine owne holy meditation.

I [...] this offend thee, that they are s [...]t downe in a booke, remember the publique prayers, that in all ages have beene so in the Church, and yet most pleasing and available. Let the consideration of so many of thine owne nation, yea so many of the chiefe there­of, [Page] so fearefully seduced, and even bewit­ched by Iesuites, and other Seminarie Priests, and everie day more and more falling away, to the indangering not onely of themselves, but of the whole Land continually, pro­voke thee to this dutie: and especially see­ing they professe themselves to have beene drawne to that Romish Religion hereby chiefly; That they in their Church have moe devotions, and spend more time therein, than we in ours.

Let this move thee to take some pitie of them, and to helpe by thy prayers, to pull them out of the fire of Gods vengeance, and likewise to keepe others from falling from him. Let their blinde zeale and superstiti­ous devotions (which condemnes the coldnes and securitie of the greatest part of those, who professing Christs Gospell, yet pray so litt [...]e, and which is one principall cause of their stumbling, I speake upon certaine know­ledge, both concerning high and low, noble and mean [...]) let this, I say, provoke thee to more devotion in holy meditations and in­stant prayers, according to the word and will of thy God, and enforce thee hereunto, to spend daily some part of it, as God gives thee more [...]it opportunitie; or as thou hast more neglected these. They (as is said) use some devotions daily to pull soules out of Pur­gatorie; be thou instant for them, to pull them from the power of Satan to Christ.

Begin thus to redeeme thy time, so badly [Page] mis-spent, and that so long, untill thou shalt see Gods glory recovered, the scepter of his Christ set up againe in all places whence it is removed; with the deliverie of thy brethren in all forraine part [...]; and the dangers past which are so threatned to­wards all the Churches, and namely our ne [...] ­rest and faithfull neighbours, and even to­wards thy selfe. Suffer not these blinded soules to rise up in judgement against thee, that they have spent more time and paines in their devotion to serve Satan and Anti­christ, and to hold up his throne, to their endlesse perdition; than thou to serve our Lord Iesus, to the saving thine owne soule, and the lives of all his people.

If thou wouldst be ready to spend thy goods, and to adventure thy life for the glory of thy God, for thy Christ, and his Church, at his command; yea if thou woul­dest bestow any labour or cost, to save thy native Countrey or Countreymen being in danger, and much more the Lords Anoin­ted, with our Royall Prince, and that most illustrious Prince and Princesse Palatine, all of whom haue shewed so much love to Christs Gospell, and if thy heart be truly affected to that sweet and happy progen [...], then be ready to helpe them all by thy prayers: especially sith thou maiest doe this without any cost or losse, and hast helpe offered from his Majestie, and the same also, not onely put into thy hands, but, as [Page] it were, into thy mouth; and withall thy hands holden up by him to doe it. Doe it therefore as well as thou caust, if thou regard but thine owne case, either of soule or bodie, thy present or eternall estate.

I have purposely in many of the praiers, followed the order in the first part of this Watch, which I have taken for a good di­rection, both for that it hath beene so oft tried by the learned to be according to the true Rule of Life, and for that the places for proofes are there quoted to auoid further labour: and that thou and all the weaker sort may learne together both to watch and pray for your selves and all the people of the Lord, and so be sure to prevaile with his heavenly Majestie.

If thou shalt finde or suspect any errour, wherein thou darest not joyne, signifie it as in love and in the feare of the Lord; and I shall (as I have ever bound my selfe) be most ready either to give thee satisfaction, or to reforme it; and yet in the meane time proceed in the rest joyntly with thy brethren.

Let us all joyne as being of one heart and soule, wherein we all agree, crying unto our heavenly Father, compassing him about at his feet for our selves and all his deare children, and he will surely heare our cries, and in his due time reveale every diffe­rence unto us, and wherein the errour lieth.

I tie thee not to daies nor houres, but as thou observest the Lord offering thee fittest [Page] opportunities, and as he shall move thee thereto: though because of Satans subtlety, and the falsenesse and corruption of our owne hearts, we shall finde by experience, that all the bonds whereby we can binde our selves to holy duties, especially of this nature and im­portance, are farre too little, so we [...] doe it in an holy wisdome and wise consideration, that we bring not a snare upon our selves.

Wonder not that I so oft go [...] over that heavenly prayer of our Saviours, and so strictly tie my selfe unto it, for that I finde it the wisdome of God, and the power of God, ministring still now and most heavenly matter even to this our present purpose; and also am fully assured that all the true Chur­ches & people of the Lord both do & shall so finde it, and that more & more, as we more labour according to it; having also such sure directions and such undoubted promises; every part and pecce of it containing promi­ses to the prayer of faith, and to every true beleeving soule. Whereby we may have a certaine assurance from our Lord Iesus Christ the author of it, that he will accom­panie it to every soule (that shall be so pre­pared, and so use it as be hath directed) with the power of his owne spirit, and be won­derfull in granting all things which we so beg according to his heavenly will, above all that any heart can conceive.

Remember also for thy better incourage­ment, how every prayer herein tends to the [Page] appeasing of the Lords heavy indignation, which hath beene thus far declared against his people: and this by our joynt seeking to give him his glory in helping to reclaime and reduce us all to the obedience of his blessed Covenant of Grace, wherein is our life, and thereby to the deliver [...]e and saving of all the Churches, the eternall salvation of all be­longing to that his election of grace, be they now Atheists, Papists, wicked, profane, or whatsoever, and so to prepare the way in the universall repentance of the Churches to the comming of the new Hierusalem, and the eternall glory of Sion. So that every one of us striving to pray faithfully and fervently, and to put in practise whatsoever we thus pray for; so farre as it concernes us, shall in every prayer and petition be true helpers unto our Lord Iesus and his poore Church; and for every such a service, even every houre so spent, receive our pay, and in the end for all a rich and most full reward.

Let every prayer be a [...] the Sunne, begin­ning at thy selfe in thy meditations, but dif­fusing and spreading the b [...]ames into all the Churches, chiefly to those which stand in most need thereof, and to every one of Gods chosen in all the world, so far as he shall inable thee and it concerneth them, and from them ever reflecting to thy selfe againe.

Thou hast heard the sound of the cruell warres abroad, the late prevailing of the enemie, the overthrow of the Churches, the [Page] new threatnings of those bloudy intendments against all the rest, and the increase of their rage daily. In these poore helps, and the like, the Lord offereth thee weapons, and directs thee so to use them, that thou maist helpe them in the remotest parts; calls upon thee loud to come and helpe them, assures thee of a blessed victorie in the end, that then thou and all the true Church and people of the Lord shall sing the songs of Miriam and Deborah, and of the 24. Elders, and tri­umph with Christ eternally, when all who have refused to helpe, shall weepe and waile for evermore.

Thus intreating that the Lord may at length awake thee and all his people, that we may each give up a happy account, and escape the dreadfull doome and sentence, for neglecting his glory, kingdome, and peo­ple, and may hence forward carefully use all the meanes which his goodnesse af­fords unto us for our present and eternall happinesse, I commend thee to his grace, and rest

Thy fellow-souldier in Christ thus striving with and for thee, I. B.

The Contents in generall.

1. AN Epistle to all the plaine and simple hearted people of our land seduced by Popery, or in danger thereof.

2. A preparation to instant prayer, accor­ding to the necessity of the times, and the pre­sent estate of Gods poore Church.

3. The prayer it selfe, divided into seve­rall parts, according to the severall branches of that heavenly patterne which our blessed Saviour hath set before us all to follow; con­taining in it the principall part's of the Cate­chisme, and how to make right use of all, speci­ally for these times; and so in praying, better to imprint and remember the whole.

4. A continuall quickning and putting new life into our prayers, that we may never be weary, nor ever give the Lord over, untill we have prevailed with his heavenly Maiesty.

In the preparative this is ever to be had in fresh memory.

That all who are to helpe in this worke, are to labour to bring their hearts to a due consi­deration of all these things following, and to have a right feeling and practise of them, so farre as they concerne us.

  • 1. How the Lord hath bene wont to looke for some to helpe him, in all the great delive­rances [Page] and distresses of his Church: and how he expects the seruice of all his at this day.
  • 2. What necessity there is of servent pray­er at this time, aboue all former times: in what neede the whole Church, and every particular member stands of our prayers: what a right feeling of the miseries and estates of our poore brethren each of us ought to have; and how we ought to seeke to helpe them herein to the uttermost of our power.
  • 3. What ones wee must be, and how quali­fied in all things, if wee looke ever to be heard in our prayers for the Churches, and hope to have our persons accepted.
  • 4. How our prayers must be framed, that they likewise may be sure to be pleasing and a­vaileable with the Lord.
  • 5. What assurance we may have of the po­wer of our prayers, so sent forth to prevaile with our God, and to overcome.
  • 6. How without these things, and much more if we be of contrary minds, and dispositi­ons; our prayers are turned into sinne; and do helpe to kindle the wrath, and to draw downe the vengeance of the Lord more speedily and fiercely upon all.
  • 7. That every one must strive, to be of the [Page] number of them, who are helpers in this worke or perish, and how graciously the Lord cals every one of us hereunto.
  • 8. Particular prayers for helping the Churches, framed according to our Saviours direction: and the present necessity of all.

1 A Prayer that we may bee made fit and accepted into this service of prayer for the Churches.

2 A prayer for increase of love to all Gods Children, and that we may keepe a continuall fresh remembrance & feeling of the miseries of all our distressed Bre­thren, without which we cannot pray for them as we ought.

3 A prayer that we may know God to bee our gracious Father in Christ, and to grow in the assurance thereof daily, with­out which we cannot prevaile with him.

4 A prayer that wee may not deceyve our selves in our imagination, that we are Gods children (as most do) & so remaine unfit for this service.

5 A prayer that we may finde in us the particular marks of Gods children, for our [Page] further assurance and boldnesse in prayer.

6 A praier for knowledge and right use of the meanes, whereby we may be made Gods children, & so grow up in our confi­dence and power in prayer thereby.

7 A prayer, that al may understand how deare Gods children are to him, that they may be to us likewise, and we therby able to pray more earnestly for them.

8 A prayer, that we may be able to lift up our eyes to our heavenly Father, loo­king beyond all earthly meanes, in all the troubles and perils of the Church, with­out which we cannot pray as we ought.

9 A thankes giving for the deliverie of the Churches from Egypt and Babylon, with an earnest prayer for the full accom­plishment thereof, and that we may never looke backe to them againe, to provoke the Lord against us by the same.

10 A prayer, that in token of our thank­fulnesse for our deliverance, wee may all seeke to give him his glory in our unfeig­ned repentance, and walking consciona­bly in all his holy Commandements.

11 A prayer that we may all give God the glory of his inward worship, accor­ding [Page] to the first Commandement, to helpe to pacify his Majesty toward ye Churches.

11 A prayer to bee able to discerne the sin of the Churches, whereby he is di [...]o­nored & provoked even by the transgres­sion of the first Commandement.

12 A humble confession of the sinnes of the Churches; and an acknowledgement of Gods righteous proceeding agaynst them, for our unthankfulnesse and trans­gression of his lawe [...]; and for that though we have heard of the miseries of our Bre­thren, we have not beene humbled, nor made our supplications for them as vvee ought, according to Nehemiah.

13 A humble confession of the sinne of our Land, so polluted by all the Popish sort, rejecting the Lord, and setting up the Pope of Rome, with his idolatry & super­stition, in place of him, and his pure wor­ship, to provoke his Majesty against us.

14 A prayer for all the simple-hearted, seduced by the Iesuites, and other Semina­ry Priests, that they may see how they have bin deluded, to helpe thereby, to plucke them from sathan, and bring them to our Lord Iesus Christ.

[Page]15 A humble Thankesgiving for our dread Soveraigne, with our gracious Prince and Princesse, and all the Royall Progeny; and for all our deliverances and preservations by them: with an earnes [...] Prayer, that our sinnes being forgiven, they may bee each in their times and pla­ces, the happiest heads of the most blessed people, that ever haue beene in the world before.

16 A humble Thankesgiving, that God hath thus farre heard our prayers; with an earnest supplication, that he may goe on to perfect his worke; and that as we have made entrance into this service, so we may all proceede, vntill we shall see the ful de­liverance of all his Churches, the new Ie­rusa [...]em, and the eternall glory of his Sion.

The other Prayers, and that which (God willing) is to succeede, see in the end of all, after the Table of the par­ticular Contents.

Rules to be observed in the use of all the Me­ditations and Prayers.

REmember throughout to expect not excellencie of words, but the power of God. Remember Da­ [...] Sling, and I [...]suahs Trumpets of Rammes horne. Thine eye being on thy Booke, let the eye of thy soule be at thy Christ, making intercession at his Fathers right hand; labouring to feele all in thy heart, and e­specially to have a right sense of the necessities of all for whom thou prayest, and so praying in Faith thou shalt prevayle.

Rules to helpe to keepe us from ever declining from the Lord, and from all de­lusions, cheefely by Popery.

1 LAbour to walke with thy God, as Enech, ma­king conscience of all thy wayes, specially of thy particular calling, and every holy dutie, in the due time; fearing all occasions of evill, watching and ta­king forthwith, all occasions of good▪

2 Pray as he hath directed thee, respecting ever his glory and kingdome, and the generall state of his Church, before thine owne particular.

3 Strive to live under the best meanes, and vvith the best company which GOD shall vouchsafe thee.

4 Remember ever those strong delusions of Po­perie, sent in Gods iustice for contempt of the Gos­pell, [Page] in not receyving the love of his trueth, mentio­ned in the Epistle to the poore seduced people, and withall keepe ever in minde those principall suppor­ters and pillars of Popery, (viz) lying and [...]irther, the cheefe workes of Sathan, which shew that that Relig [...]on is of him likewise.

5 Consider well, how Popery overthrowes many of the cheefe Principles of the Catechisme. For this

See a Pill to purge out Poperie.

6 Be affraid of conferring with the Serpent, viz. inticers to Popery, or any evill, & of reasoning with temptations.

7 In all such doubts, first conserre with God, by holy Meditation and Prayer, as D [...]niel & his com­paaions, after, with thy faithfull Minister, or some of the worthiest servants of God, so farre as God of­fers thee any opportunity.

8 Strive to reioyce in the Lord alway▪ and in thy happy estate through Christ▪ Pray continually, by lifting up thy heart through him. In all things give thankes whatsoever come to passe. So thou shalt see the event happy, and thy selfe ever to prevay [...]e vvith God, and more then a Conqueror.

¶ Places of Scrip­ture to be ever in our hearts, to quicken us and stirre up in us the pow­er of prayer.

THe eyes of the Lord are up­onPsal. 34. 15. the Righteous, and his eares [are open] unto their cry.

Thou wilt prepare their hart:Psal. 10, 17. thou wilt cause thine eare to heare.

To iudge of the fatherlesse and18. oppressed, that [...]the man of the earth may no more oppresse.

Yea, before they call, I willEsay 65, 24. answer: And whiles they speake, I will heare.

But let him aske in Faith,Iames 1, 6. nothing wavering.

The effectuall servent prayerIames 5, 16. of a righteous man avayleth much.

Elias was a man subiect to17. [Page] the like passions as we are▪ and hee prayed earnestly that it might not raine, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three yeares and six moneths.

And he prayed again, and the1 [...]. heaven gave raine, and the earth brought forth her fruite.

[Concerning him when he was rapt up into heauen, thus cryed Elisha after him:] My2 Kings 2, 12. father, my father, the Chariots of Israel, and the Horsemen there­of.

[And for Elisha, the king of Israel comming downe to vi­sit him in his last sicknes, wept over his face with the same words,] O my father, my fa­ther,2 King. 13, 14. the Chariots of Israel, and the Horsemen thereof.

[Of him that makes and keepes peace with God, thus saieth the Spirit:] Thou shalt make thy Prayer unto him, andIob 22, 21, 22. he shall heare thee, and tho [...] shalt pay thy Vowes, &c.

[Page]The innocent shall deliver the3 [...]. Iland: and it is delivered by the purenesse of thy hands.

[But as for the wicked thus he speaketh, which he would have all men take notice of & ponder well, having set a dou­ble note upon it.]

The Lord is knowne by thePsal. 9, 16. iudgement which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the workes of his owne hands.

What hast thou to do to take myPsal. 50, 16, 17▪ Covenant in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to be reformed, and hast cast my words behinde thee?

Errata.

Amend these slippes following, with what is defective in this first draught through want of meete leysure, and our God will (I hope) bring it forth a­gaine with all the rest of it, much more polished, for his owne glory [...], and for the good of all his people: whereunto I trust, during life, I shall not be wanting, as his goodnesse shall vouchsafe to assist me.

PAg. 7. l: 7▪ put out those 7 lines twice re­peated. p: 8, l: 10. for our read this. p. 10 l, 16. & p. 91, l. 5. unto: p: 99, l, 3. but more­over: l 7, third general. p: 103. may. 109 l. 1. seeke all. p: 157, marg. for Deut reade Genes. p: 161. l: 2. for to do, [...]: as. p: 164, l. 1. admitted. l: 4. these. pag: 189. l: 5. as at Marg▪ l. 17 Deut: 30, 29. p: 220. marg: lin. 1. That. p: 291, l. 15. not onely. p: 300. l. 20. for [...] read may est. p: 306. l. 10. run on▪ p. 3 [...]6. l. 18. for best, most. pag. 348. l [...]9. and. p. 384. l. 2. have.

A PREPARATIVE to instant Prayer, according to the necessity of the Times, by thinking day and night of these things following, untill wee have gotten them, or the summe of them into our hearts, and can have them ever as it were before our eyes; to cry instantly to our holy God, like as he hath direct­ed vs.

The first general Meditation; How our Saviour lookes for some to helpe him, in the deli­very & saving of his Church.

FIrst, we are seriouslyTo meditate. to meditate, and to bring our hearts to a due consideration, how our blessed Saviour, likeEsay [...]9, 26, &c. 63. 3, 4, 5 a [...] in the redeeming and saving of his chosen slocke from hell; [Page 2] so in all the greatest extreami­tiesHow our Sa­viour hath bene wont to look for some to helpe his Church in all her extremi­ties. of his poore distressed Church, mentioned in his Sa­cred word, hath beene wont to looke long for some, that wold offer themselves to helpe it; and when he hath found none, to uphold or succour it, in his tender pitty and compassion, his owne arme hath saved it, his righteousnesse it selfe hath sustained it, in what sort hee hath seene it best.

And although he hath suf­feredHis usual ma­ner then, to find out some to stand in the breach, and by whom he migat▪ shew himself gloriously for it. it oft-times to be gree­vously afflicted, yea somtimes almost utterly consumed, yet how evermore, when he would deliver and save it from the violence and rage of the wick­ed enemies, or other imminent calamitles, by some great and glorious deliverance, his usuall manner hath bene to seeke and finde out some one at least, that should stand up in the gap be­fore him, in more special man­ner [Page 3] for it, that he might not de­stroy it; & by whom he might shew himselfe wonderfull for his people and chosen Flocke. Thus he found out Ioseph, Mo­ses, As Ioseph. Samuel, Dauid, Iehosaphat, Ezekiah, Daniel, Hester, Mor­decay, Ezra, Nehemiah, and o­thers.

Yea, how he hath moreouer euer sought & found out someSome to bee helpers by their prayers and teares. few, whom hee hath vouchsa­fed to be his helpers, at least by their prayers and teares, for saving the rest: such as of whom he hath saide, The inno­cent Iob 22. [...]0. shall deliuer the yland.

These he lookes and cals for at this day: And of this little number, every true beleevingThese henow lookes for. soule must needs desire to bee one, if hee love the Lord IesusEuery one must needes desire to bee of this little number. Christ, and his Church; yea, if he but love his native country, or his owne soule: or if he but onely feare that dreadfull curse denounced against Meroz, [Page 4] Curse ye Meroz, said the Angell Iude 5, 23. of the Lord: curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to helpe the Lord against the migh­ty. And much more must hee needs contend for this, if hee rightly consider what a high honour and happinesse it is, to be one of that little number, chosen and singled out hereun­to, to bee if it were but as any one of Gedeons three hundreth.Iudg. 7, 7.

Howbeit, every one havingYet everyone is not fitted for this ser­vice. some few good desires, is not fit to serve under, and to helpe our Lord Iesus in th [...] greatOur Saviour hath taught whom they [...]ust be. work. He himselfe hath taught and directed us plainely, both whom we must bee, and how we must be qualified and fitted every way, if we will bee his Souldiers, and so fight in this spirituall battaile, as that wee may hope to prevaile. That e­very one of us must learne, and have in our hearts these instru­ctions and directions follow­ing, [Page 5] which our Lord and Savi­our hath in his infinite Wise­dome set before our▪ faces, in that absolute forme & patterne of prayer, which for this end, and for every occasion of sup­plication to bee made to him, and to his Father in his name, he hath giuen as a perpetual di­rection vnto his Church: unto which patterne, as of all other the most effectuall, sufficient, and certaine to this purpose, I haue heerein still wholly tyed my selfe.

He then that desires to bee any one of those whom hee lookes for, to helpe him heere­in, and that will so pray, as that he may be sure to bee accepted and prevayle; must know, as first Gods usual manner of pro­ceeding in the deliuerie of hisTo medi [...]ate in the second place, of the necessitie of seruent pray­er at this time, aboue all former. Church, so secondly, the ne­cessity of servent prayer at this time, above all former times, in what need the poor Church, [Page 6] and euery particular member of it stands thereof, and must labour to have a true and lively feeling in his heart, of the mi­series and dangers which the Churches are in. Thirdly, what3. What a one hee must be. a one himselfe must be, & how qualified in all things, that his person may be accepted, if ever he looke to be heard. Fourthly,4. How his prayers must be framed. how our prayers must bee fra­med, that they likewise may be sure to be pleasing and a­vayleable with the Lord. Fift­ly,5. The power of such pray­ers. what power and assurance our prayers so sent forth, have to prevayle with God, and to overcome. Sixtly, that all o­ther but these are unmeete and6. All other unmeet. unable to help, and after a sort, excluded from this service, and much more all that are of con­trary dispositions. Seventhly,7. How yet e­very one must endevour to be an helper how every one that lookes to bee saved by Iesus Christ, and to stand at his right hand, must endeavour by all possible [Page 7] meanes, to be fitted for this ser­uice, to be a helper to Christes poore Church heerein.

The second generall Meditation, concerning the present necessity of this worke, and the liuely feeling thereof, How euery one that lookes to be saued by Iesus Christ, & to stand at his right hand, must endeavour by all possible meanes to bee fitted for this service, to bee a helper to our Saviours poor [...] Church heerein.

THat wee may know theTo see the necessitie of this dutie by considering. present necessity of this duty, and bee able to cry more instantly, the Lord cals vs seri­ously in the second place, to meditate day and night, ac­cording to every part and pe­tition of that heavenly prayer1. The estate of the Chur­ches, of our Saviours, concerning the distressed estate of his poor [Page 8] Churches at this day, and of all other poore soules belonging to his eternall election, living under the captivity & bondage of Sathan, and the tyranny of his cursed and crucll Instru­ments.2. How the Lord cals for our helpes, in teaching us to cry, Our Father▪ And withall, he would haue us wisely to consider how he, even our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe, calles for our duty by this very prayer, amongst ma­ny other meanes: teaching us heere to cry unto him for the rescuing and delivery of all hi [...] Children▪ Our Father▪ which art in heaven. And to this end, how we are to labour to bring our owne hearts, and the hearts of all other the people of the Lord, to a lively sense and ten­der feeling hereof, so farre as God enables us, and offers u [...] opportunity.

The first particular Meditation of this second generall point, con­cerning the calamities & dan­gers of our bretheren in all places, and those threatened towards our selves; and the chiefe meanes of deliverie and preservation from them.

FIrst wee are to lay to heart;Our Father which art, &c. 1. To lay to heart the ca­lamities aud perils of all the churches and people of God at this instant. how many of our Bre­theren, the deare children of our heavenly Father (for whom our Lord and Saviour hath taught us thus to cry, as for our selves, Our Father) are now in grievous calamities of all sortes; that many others of them are in extreame perill, to bee forthwith utterly de­stroyed, and devoured by the rage and power of Sathan, and of his bloudy instruments. That we also our selves, with all the rest of the Churches and [Page 10] sincere Christians in all the world, are in extreame danger every moment of time (as any of the designes of the Iesuits, or other mercilesse enemyes take place) if our heauenly Fa­ther doe not still protect and preserve us. And therefore as very many of our brethren a­broad are in continuall feeling of their miseries, and of our heavenly Fathers most heavy displeasure against them for all their undutifulnesse, crying at his feet, for his Fatherly pitty, love, compassion to deliver and saue them; so we ought likewise to doe for them, even so many of us as are alreadie as­sured, or ever will assure our owne soules, that wee are his naturall children, and hereby2. Pet. 1. 4. doe desire to declare our na­turall and childlike loue and feare, in seeking to appease his displeasure, that hee may spare his people.

[Page 11]And much more are wee to2 To seeke to prevent or mitigate the displeasure of our heavenly father. seeke to prevent or mitigate, the same heavy displeasure kindled against our selves, and hereby to stay the [...]age of Sa­than & Antichrist, all of us be­ing hated and devoted alike to destruction, by the malice of the Serpent and his cruell instruments; & all of us having provoked our heavenly Father alike (yea we more then any o­ther) to leave us into their hands, to be so tried by them, untill we be truely humbled, in feeling our disobediences, and be sensible of our provocations of him by our want of com­miseration towards them, and of not taking warning by their example; That thus wee may lift up our cryes to heaven, that hee in the tender bowels of his compassion, may both succour and rescue them, and also save us from the li [...]e miseryes, which seeme ready to rush up­on [Page 12] us for all our sinnes and pro­vocations. Wee are withall to labour to bring our hearts to a right consideration, that our heavenly Father hath inTo consider how God hath ordai­ned Kings & Queenes for nurses to his church. Esay. 49 23. the riches of his mercy ordai­ned Rulers & Governours and all in lawfull and holy autho­ritie, especially Kings and Queenes to bee in his place, as nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to his poore children, to deliver and pull them out of the iawes of the dragon; to carry them in their armes, and in their bosomes from the fury and violence of the Serpent, and to preserve and protect them that they may profess his name in peace and safetie; and that therefore Sathan must needs maligne them above all other, even for this especially. And likewise that hee hath or­dained the prayers of his peo­ple and children to obtayne this at his hand, so to incline [Page 13] the hearts of all Kings andAnd the prai­ers of his people so to incline their hearts. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. Princes and all in authority to pitty them.

The second particular Meditation of the second generall: How he hath beene wont principally to get himselfe glory in saving his Church by Princes and Gover­nors.Hallowed be thy name. As the Lord hath been wont to glo­rifie his name by Kings and Princes sa­ving his Church, so we may now expect.

SEcondly, wee are to labour to bring our hearts to a true understanding and feeling hereof, that as the Lord hath been wont to glorifie his great name in former ages, thus in his pittifull compassion saving his Church and Children by Kings and Princes, and other deliverers raised up for them, and like as hee hath magnified his power and Fatherly care so oft before our eyes in such miraculous and gracious pre­servations of us of this nation, [Page 14] and other our brethren a­broad unto this day, especial­ly when wee were in the midst of the fire: so hee can and will magnifie it againe in a most wonderfull manner, if we thatIf we can give Christ glory in our repentance. are his children can but give him glory in being unfainedly humbled for our owne sinnes and the sinnes of his people, and can meete him in faith by intreaty of peace, crying in­stantly unto him; Glorifie Lord thy great name; & doing onely as he commandeth. And seeing all the bloody enemyes ofAnd the ra ther for that the enemie seeketh to trample his glory under feete Christ and his Church seeke to trample his glory under foote, he will therefore the rather get himselfe glory upon them, as upon Pharaoh, before all the world, when we shall be right­ly prepared for the same.

The third particular Meditation of this second generall, That as Sathan and Antichrist haue set themselves to fight against Christ his kingdome so our Sa­viour hath ordained Kings and Princes to hold up his Scep­ter, and to defend and protect his Subiects and Gospell.Thy king­dome come. How the e­nemies set themselves a­gainst Christ.

THirdly, wee are to bring our hearts to a due consi­deration and deepe pondering hereof; how as the Gyants be­fore the floud: so Sathan, & his Souldiers haue set themselves to fight against heaven, and the hoast thereof, yea even against Iesus Christ our Lord & King, and how they have cast downe his Scepter, Throne, and Dig­nitie, and trample his crowne under their feet, in all the pla­cesHow they have prevai­led. where they have prevailed, and where they beare rule over Gods poore heritage. And [Page 16] that as they haue begunne and fearefully prevailed in manie places; so they haue resolued toResolued to proceed. proceed throughout the earth, to set up Sathan and Antichrist in the very Throne of our Lord Iesus Christ, to defile again his Temple, to make his house a­gaine a den of Theeves. ThatThat Anti­christ may fit again as God in his Tem­ple. Antichrist may fit againe as God, in the Temple of God; yea in those very places where he hath beene formerly long cast forth: so that the zeale of his house euen in this behalfe, should eate us up.

And also, wee are to bring our soules to a true sense here­of,That as they thus seeke to lead Christ & his armies captives. that as they thus seeke to tyrannize over his people and children, to leade in triumphes as captives, both our Lord Ie­sus himselfe, and his armies, and to keepe under all that belong to the Lord Iesus as slaves for ever; so our Saviour hath on the other side ordained and ap­pointed [Page 17] Kings and PrincesThat he hath ordained Kings to hold up his Scep­ter, under him to hold up his Scep­ter, even his heavenly Gospell; and that he hath likewise de­creed and ordained, that even those of them which before had given their power unto the beast to fight against his Sove­raigne Majesty, and against his people, should againe with­drawApo. 17. 16, 17 all their power from the beast, when they shall see his wickednesse fully discovered, and give it wholly unto his heavenly Majesty, to accom­plish all his will, in making theAnd to make the whore desolate. Whore desolate, and for the aduancement of his euerlasting Gospell, when they shall truly behold the power and glorie thereof.

The fourth particular Meditation of the second generall; How Sathan and Antichrist set up themselves to be obeyed, and to destroy out of the earth all that seeke to obey the Lord.

FOurthly, we are to endea­vour4. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heauen. to bring our hearts to a lively meditation and weigh­ing hereof; How Antichrist & How Sathan & Antichrist seeke onely to be obeyed all his limbes who persecute Gods Church, & all other wic­ked and vngodly men, are so farre off from obeying his hea­venly wil and commandement, that they haue set themselves to satisfie onely their owne wicked lusts and willes, and to disanull all the commande­ments of our blessed God, both of his Law and Gospel, and allTo destroy out of the earth all who obey the lord his holy and blessed will revea­led in the same; and with them, to destroy out of the earth, all those that desire to obey him [Page 19] according to his heavenly word; or that make any true and right conscience of his wayes and wil: yea, to put out all the true saving knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ, to set up their owne wicked inventi­ons in place thereof, and how they are in a dreadfull manner proceeding heerein. That, as was touched before, there isNothing but the power of our Lord Ie­sus Christ, & of his Vice­gerents, to hinder it. nothing but the mightie hand and power of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the holy care and vigilancie of his Vicegerents, whose hearts he shall in mercy raise up for himselfe, and for his poore Church, together with the prayers of his owne Chil­dren, to prevent the same.

And withall, we are to striveHow difficult for us to lay these things▪ to heart. to bring our hearts to a true feeling, how hard a matter it is for Gods owne deere people and children, being free from these trials, to lay these things to heart as they ought to doe, [Page 20] and as his people haue beene wont; and also how difficult it is for them which are tryed by these greevous afflictions,And for them who are vn­der the triall, to submit themselues. which they undergo, to submit themselves to Gods will, and to make a right use of them all, [...]nd to cry with our Saviour; Father, if it be thy will, let this cup passe from us, yet not our will, but thy heauenly wil be fulfilled. Bles­sed be thy holy name. That so we may the more commiserateThat we may more commi­serate them. their estate, and help them cry­ing heerein.

The fifth particular Meditation of the second generall, Concer­ning the innumerable miseries which our Brethren indure, de­prived of the outward comforts of this & the better life, & how neere the like may be to us.

WEe are yet further in theGiue us this day our dai­ly bread. fifth place by continuall [Page 21] and serious pondering of thē,To bring our hearts to a feeling of their mise­ries. to bring our hearts to a more right fellow-feelling of those innumerable miseries mentio­ned before, which our poore bretheren, the deare children of the Lord, do indure in every place, where Sathan and Anti­christ have prevailed, especial­ly by this late bloody sword, wheresoever it hath come; how they have been, and still are in so many places deprivedBoth bodily. of all the comforts of this life, of food, raiment, harbour, li­bertie, meanes of health and peace, lying under famine, nakednesse, slavery, sicknesse, perill, sword, and all the mise­ries that follow upon them where the mercilesse idola­trous souldier is made drunke with the blood of Gods Saints, having none to flie to to succour them, but onely to cry unto the Lord. And more also enduring the famine▪ of [Page 22] their soules, having none to feed them with the word of life, none to minister a word of comfort to refresh their fain­ting hearts.

And withall wee are wiselyTo thinke how neere the like may be to us. aforehand to lay to heart, how nere the like miseries may be unto our selves, how we haveHow we have deser­ved to drinke more deeply then any o­ther. deserved to drinke of the same cup in a deeper measure; for that wee haue not knowne the day of our long visitation which hath been in so much mercie; but have abused these, and all other our Blessings, so as never Nation more. And finally, that wee are the fasterHow we hale on these. haling and pulling these evils upon us, for our want of com­miseration; for that our bowels have not, nor yet doe earne o­ver them for their innumerable miseries which they abide; and that we have and doe so gene­rally by our impenitency and induration fat our selves as a­gainst [Page 23] the day of slaughter.

How by those principallyHow the Lord hath hitherto pre­served us by Kings and Princes. whom the Lord hath set over us for our foster fathers and mothers, wee have hitherto been preserved from these thus farre forth, through the tender mercy of our heavenly father, and may hope, that hee will so preserve us still, i [...] we shall once be awaked, to make a true and right use hereof.

The sixt particular Meditation of the second generall, concerning the sinnes of the Churches, and namely, the generall abuse of the Gospell, and the blessings which accompany it, and that our sinnes are most hey­nous for our unthankefulnesse.Forgive us our trespas­ses as we for­give them that tres­passe against us.

SIxtly wee are moreover to travell with our owne hearts to bring them to a right sense and feeling of our owne [Page 24] sinnes, and the sinnes of otherTo bring our hearts to a sense of the sinns so pro­voking the Lord. Churches, and chiefly the most heynous and crying sins there­of, which have provoked the Lord to so heavy displeasure, thus to begin to proceede a­gainst so many of his own deer children abroad, and amongstChiefly car­nal gospeling▪ other, that carnall Gospelling of barely professing the name of the Gospell, but without any power or life thereof, so much complained of in all the Churches.

That our blessed God, ha­ving committed unto us the hidde treasure of his heavenly Gospell, wee have not estee­med of it accordingly: that we have onely professed it i [...] word for the most part, but have not shewed forth any power of it as we ought. That wee have not caused our light to shine so before others, that yet sit in darknesse, and in the shadow of death, as that they seeing [Page 25] our good works, might come from the kingdome of Sathan to God, and glorisie our Fa­ther which is in heaven. ThatThat the Lord hath, & is stil so fear­fully proceeding for these sins▪ according to the denunci­ation in his blessed Law. Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. thus he hath now alreadie so fearefully proceeded against so many of our brethren in forreigne parts for these and other sinnes, according to the threatnings denounced in his Law, and is so still going on forward in the heighth of his displeasure, and yet wee for the most part, remain without any true sense hereof, and the best of us without that which we ought to have.

Then from them abroad, we are to come home untoOur sinne in not submit­ting our selvs and seeking to pacific the Lords wrath▪ who hath so [...] and so many [...] [...] with [...], that hee might spare us. our selves, and to our owne sinnes; and heerein to consi­der seriously, that our sinnes of this Nation, may justly s [...]eme more heynous then theirs, or of any other people under heaven, and therefore cry lowder for vengeance, [Page 26] both in that the Lord hath so long called us to repentance, not onely by the voyce of his Spirit in his heavenly Gospel, and by as many of his worthyBy his Mes­sengers. Messengers, as euer he sent to any Nation before; but also so long warned us, and striven with us, that he might spare us, by all the other meanes that ever he used to reclaime any people, both by merciesBy mercies & iudgements. and iudgements, and by his fatherly rods & corrections; more especially by such won­derfull preservations of vsWonderfull preservation & deliveran­ces. from our just feares, and so admirable deliverances, when we were in the middest of the fire, and when yet wee were without any sense or feare thereof, or power to helpe or save our selves.

Also, for that our outragi­ousThat our sins are so over­spred & com­mitted with so high a hand. sinnes and abominations are so generally overspred and committed with so high a [Page 27] hand; yea, that wee are so much worse and worse for being smitten, that we seeme desperately incurable, falling away more and more, thoughWee worse notwithstan­ding so many tokens of Gods displea­sure. we see so many tokens of the Lords wrath; the bloody e­nemies executioners of his vengeance on every side of us, and as we may justly fear, so many of these incendyaries the Iesuites, and Iesuited Pa­pists in the midst among us. Whereupon all sorts, even meere naturall men, have and do dayly more and more feare some terrible scourge from the Lord, and wonder at our peace, especially considering the lamentable estate of so many other poore Churches,No warning serving us. and the restlesse plots of the enemy, and most dangerous stratagems against them, and us all, thorow the Lordes mercy discouered dayly, and that yet we have not beene [Page 28] warned by their ensample; nor yet so much as in anyTo take their miseries o [...] our owne pe­rils to heart. meete measure as wee ought, take their miseries and perills to heart.

Yea, which is more thenTo labor for a feeling. all these, our gracious God would not have us to rest, un­till we have a due feeling, and a right consideration heereof, that we principally above allThat wee are the men prin cipally devo­ted to destru­ction. other, have bene the men de­voted to destruction, by the bloody designs of those most barbarous and merciless ene­miesMost en [...]yed by the ene­mies of the Church. of the Church, and have [...], and are, most en [...]yed and hated by them, for that from and by us heeretofore, God hath given them the greatest foyles, like as I trust, he will still do for euermore.

And which is a higher de­greeOur sinne of carnall Gos­pelling, grea­ter then of other Chur­ches, not one­ly shewing forth▪ of our danger, that wee are not onely guilty of their sinne of carnall Gospelling, & carelesse profession in shew­ing [Page 29] forth so litle power in the practise of true piety in our generall and particular cal­lings and duties, which is the very life and true power of godlinesse; but contrarily, by our ungodlinesse, our propha­nesse and abominations in e­very kinde, we haue in so ma­ny even utterly denied all theBut so much denying all power of godlinesse. true power thereof, which consisteth in the right perfor­mance of all holy duties; as being ashamed to bee notedAshamed to be noted for more carefull profession. for more sincere profession; yea, we have so scorned and trampled it under foot, as thatCausing gods enemies to blaspheme. wee have caused Gods ene­mies to blaspheme.

And which is yet also more to anger his heavenly Maje­sty, for that we so generally,Our sinne in­creased to the uttermost by our turn­ing against Christ Iesus, as against our greatest enemy. not onely our Papists and A­theists, and all our notorious prophane persons, which swarme almost every where, but even all sorts of Laodice­an [Page 30] luke-warme professors are so farre turned even agaynst Christ Iesus himselfe (we may speake it with greefe & trem­bling) and that as against ourThough hee haue so ui [...]i­bly protected us. greatest enemy: although he hath hitherto so miraculously, yea so sensibly, and as it were visibly defended and protect­ed us) and for that we do yet further dayly rise against him, still more and more.

That all this appeareth most manifestly heerein; in thatThis [...] ap­parent, that we so many of us seeme deadly to: hate all po­wer of godli­nesse. howsoever these can some of them a little indure the out­ward and common profession of his heauenly Gospell in word; yet the power of it, to wit, to submit themselves to live according to it (wherein chiefly his kingdom consists) they cannot indure, but ra­ther seeme to hate it most deadly. And also, how this heynous and crying sin shew­eth it selfe, as in the sight of [Page 31] the Sunne, in all the odious names wherewith true godli­nesseManifest in all the odi­ous names wherewith it is branded. is branded, which are so frequent every where, & cast upon those that seek thus un­feignedly to turne away the vengeance, by endeavouring to walke in all things in all the commandements of our blessed God.

Wee are therefore euer to be considering, and never toNot to rest till we have brought our hearts to a seeling of our sins, and hovv they are en­creased. rest, till we have brought our hearts unto a right feeling of those, and all other our most intollerable and lowd crying sinnes, and how they are eve­ry houre haling and pulling downe the vengeance of God upon us, as the like have done upon the other Churches, and do stil more and more, as they are thus dayly more and more encreased. And moreover, that there is nothing that kee­peth backe his vengeance, but onely his infinite mercies, and [Page 32] [...]ndlesse patience and compas­sion,That noth [...]g keepes b [...]ck his venge­ance, but his in [...]init mercy, which we haue so much abused▪ as that wee may all iustly wonder, that it is not turned into burning furie to consume us at once, and togi­ther with that his endlesse compassion, the lowd cries ofAnd the crie of his ser­vant▪ his poore children ever soun­ding in his eares: even the cries and sighs of th [...]se which are, and have beene so hated,Which are & haue bene so hated. contemned, greeved, and in­juried by all possible meanes, which the Lord hath permit­ted to bee exercised and pra­ctised against them, chiefely by all the Popish sort in eve­ry place, & namely, against his Prophets and Messengers sent unto us, in as much mercie as ever his Prophets were sent to Iudah. For which yet when they were so mocked & mis­used, the Lord could spare no longer, there could be no fur­ther remedy, but brought up­on [Page 33] them the King of Caldea, 2 Chron. 36. and all other the miseries of their long and wofull Capti­vity.

And yet further, [...] LordNothing can give us any true security, but our un­feigned re­pentance. cals on us to bee [...]ever ponde­ring, how nothing can pre­vent this wrath to give us any true security of our further es­caping, either generall on par­ticular, but onely our sound and true repentance; not in any formall fashion, but un­feignedly humbling our selves, and rightly endeavou­ring to take away all our cry­ing sinnes, and to stoope unto the Lord our heavenly father, doing in all things as hee re­quireth, that his wrath may be fully appeased towards us.Till this, no­thing but ex­pectation of some dread­full scourge. That untill this time wee live but under a continuall expe­ctation of the direfull execu­tion of all his terrible plagues denounced in his holy word against us; either some such [Page 34] sodaine blow of his venge­ance to fall upon us, as was intended at the powder Fur­nace, or some cruell or bloo­dy inuasion, as in 88. or some such ma [...]acring as was in the yeare 72. at Paris, and lately at Nigripelles in France, and Heidelberg [...] in the Palatinate; or such cruell and mercilesse proceedings as in Bohemia, and sundry other parts of the Church: from all which evils, and the like, we are ever to cry that the Lord may evermore in his endles compassion, pre­serve and keepe us.

And yet to proceed one de­gree higher: The Lord calles lowd upon us, to be think our selves wisely of that judge­ment which is heavyer then al the former, if for our con­tempt of his Gospell, and all other our sinnes, hee should suffer us, as he hath done o­thers, to have our Candlestick [Page 35] removed, the blessed GospellThe remoo­ving of our Candlesticke heavier then all other out­ward iudge­ments, & how we deserve it of his Sonne, the very life of our lives, to be taken from us, and the most abominable masse, even the abomination of desolation to bee set up in the place of it, with all the [...]abble of their cursed Idola­try,And to have their Idola­try set up. and all filthy abominati­ons of that Strumpet of Ba­bylon, and withal to have the bloody knives of outragiousKnives at o [...] throats. and mercilesse Idolaters, at our throats every moment of time, which Iesuites, and o­thers of them so affected, are so manifestly, yea so shame­lesly and impudently plotting and practising day and night, against all the Churches, and whereof they have thēselves so gloried and triumphed long agoe, as if it had beene already fully effected and dis­patched.

That some of these must of necessity come to pass (if wee [Page 36] judge according to the word of the Lord, or but to com­monSome of these to be feared, for want of performance of ou [...] Co [...]so oft renewed by vs▪ reason) wee haue just cause to fear; for want of per­formance of our promises of repentance. For that here un­to we have so oft, and so so­lemnly bound our selves eve­ry one, at least by those in our places, I meane by our Magi­strates and Ministers, as name­ly we did in those sundry and solemne Fasts by commande­mentAs in [...] in the yere eighty eight, when therupon our God she­wed himselfe from heaven to fight for us: as accepting our vowes and promises of true repentance and amendment, and upon that condition [...]a­ring us, to prove and t [...]ie us what we would do; and still from time to time, yea, from yeare to yeare, and even from day to day expecting the true and unfeigned accomplish­ment thereof.

[Page 37]And more also by renew­ingFasts since. our promises and vowes in all the Fasts which were af­ter in the dayes of our graci­ous Deborah▪ while we lived in feare of the time, when she shold be taken from our head, and of the many evils to fol­low thereuppon, even that whereof our enemies were wont so to bragge, that there would come a day, and con­cerning which wee were still crying to our tender Father, to save us from the danger and dread thereof.

Yea, and yet more since thatThe peacea­ble bringing in of our gra­cious Sove­raigne. time, when our God brought in our dread Soveraigne, and set him so over us, as if there had beene no change, but all had beene done for the perpe­tuall establishing of us & our posterity, at what time he cast such a feare upon all the ene­mies, that not a dogge wag­ged his tongue against any of [Page 38] the Israel of God. What pro­mises of thankfulnesse everie one of us did make, who in a­ny sort layd these things to heart; by promising repen­tance and amendment of all our wayes, and for ever to honor and obey our Lord Ie­sus Christ.

And most of all, when of al other times hee did most ap­parantly shew himselfe from heaven, as reaching down his hand, and plucking us all outAt our deli­verance from the hellish Furnace. of the very jawes of the devil, and out of the middest of the Furnace, where of all our holy and franke acknowledgments in our many Thankesgivings and Prayers extant in Print, and commanded to be used & practised generally, and most solemnly once every yeare, and all our good Lawes made thereupon, shall ever beareSo many wayes wit­nessed. witnesse against us before the Lord: besides, every one of [Page 39] our Covenants at our Bap­tisme, wherewith we all stand obliged, and multitudes of o­ther promises, whereby wee have also renewed our bonds unto this day.

So that wee are wisely toHow these must either worke the performance of our pro­mises, or arme the Lord against us. ponder, how now at length all these must either worke to bring us to a sound and un­feigned performance of what­soever wee have so promised, and to a true submission to our Lord Iesus Christ; or else arme him to come against us in his terrible vengeance, for all our falsi [...]ying of our vowes & promises unto him, and thus dallying with him, and most heynously abusing his sacred Maiestie.Not to rest till we have brought our hearts to consider our dissimulation with the Lord.

We are therefore never to rest untill wee have brought our hearts to a lively sence and true meditation of these things, and how wee have in­deed dissembled with his [Page 40] greatnesse and holinesse, as our forefathers did which the Lord so complaines of, so oft repeating it. Then they cry­ed Psal. [...]07. 6. 12. 19. [...]3. unto the Lord in their trou­bles, and he delivered them from their distresse: but they kept not his great goodnesse in re­membrance, but presently forgot his wonderous works, and with them all their vowes and promises, and did worse then their forefathers, yea then ever they had done be­fore.

And yet more then all the former, this ought more deep­ly to pierce into our hearts, that as wee have alwaies thus dealt with his heavenly Maje­stie, so wee are now instead of repenting, farre worse in every kinde, and much further offThat we are now so farre further off from repen­tance. from any hope of repenting or turning unfeignedly, or so much as of humbling our selves in any such publick [Page 41] manner any more; that the most godly and religious be­ginne to make doubt, nay ex­treamelyThat all be­gin to be al­most out of hope o [...] it. to feare, and to be as it were out of all hope of any sound humiliation, whereby to turne away the vengeance threat [...]ned, and each almost, onely seeking to save his owne soule.

Together with all these and above all of them, we are seriously and wisely to lay this to heart, how the peopleHow Iudah went further then we▪ of Iudah went farre further in performing their vowes both in the daies of that wor­thy Hezekiah, and that holy Iosiah, and in taking away all the abhominations whereby the Lord was provoked, and also in restoring and perfor­ming all things which hee re­quired in his Law, and which they had promised for pacify­ing of his wrath, even to a generall renewing the Cove­nant [Page 42] amongst all the peopleEven to a ge­nerall renew­ing the cove­nant out­wardly. outwardly at least consenting thereto; yet when the hearts of the people consented not so, as did the hearts of their Kings, and namely as did the heart of Iosiah which melted into teares for the abhomina­tions and plagues, nor yet continued, but started backeYet starting backe. from the Lord ever & anon, and fell to their ancient sinne againe; the Lord after all their warnings, brought upon themThe Lord brought that Captivitie. that terrible Captivitie for 70. yeares, without any fur­ther sparing or remedy.

This he did unto them not­withstanding their goodNotwithstan­ding all other meanes of their security. Kings, and some worthy Ru­lers: yea all their holy Pro­phets, namely Ieremy; so im­portuning him day and night, Ezekiel falling upon his face, and even expostulating with his Majestie for Ierusalem his owne Citty, and for his peo­ple [Page 34] (being as a brand pluckt out of the burning) and not­withstanding their mour­ners, mourning and crying for all the abhominations, and lifting up hearts and hands day and night unto the Lord, yea notwithstanding all his former indulgences and mer­cies, all their priviledges and prerogatives, and his cove­nant onely with them, and all his gracious promises made to them above all the people of the earth.

Finally, wee are ever to bee beating heereon, what justTo be thin­king of the removing the Candlestick from other Churches. cause wee have to thinke, that he having remooved the Can­dlesticke from other Chur­ches so sinning, wee cannot escape, but the longer his wayting and forbearing is, the severer his vengeance must needs bee when it comes.

And above all these, we are to labour to bring our hearts [Page 44] to a due consideration and wise fore-sight hereof: that howsoever it goe for the ge­nerall,Though God spare the w [...]ole at the [...] of [...]is deerest. that the Lord shall save us (which wee still and e­ver pray for) or doe still de­ferre his wrath, at the cryes of his owne deare children who stand in the breach; and though he may spare us in the bowels of his compassion, thus earning over us (as some­times hee did over Ephraim in like case [...]) O my people, how should I leave thee up to so many miseries, as thine enemies are devising and practising against thee? how shall I leave my great name to be blasphemed amongst my proud enemies? or though he doe still save us like as hee so oft saved and delivered his people for Moses alone, thus importuning him (albeit hee have over-just cause to say to us as hee said to Iudah before her Captivitie, though Noah, [Page 45] Iob, and Daniel were amongst us, yet they should neyther save sonne nor daughter, but even their owne soules) yet I say, howsoeuer he shall deale in mercy for the generall, wee must notwithstanding know undoubtedly, that every par­ticularYet everie particular soule not tur­ning and hel­ping, must perish. soule that turnes not to God by unfeigned repen­tance, and that prepares not himselfe to come thus to help by his prayers for pardoning the sinnes of the Land, and pa­cisying of the Lords wrath, must certainly perish.

And to conclude this point,Kings & Prin­ces ordained and used, to bring Gods people to re­pentance. As by Moses, &c. wee are to meditate likewise seriously, how GOD hath principally ordayned and ever used, when he would save his people, and call and bring them to true repentance, to do it in like manner by Kings and Princes, or other Rulers, stirred up extraordinarily, and by the voyce of his true Pro­phets, [Page 46] calling them, and his people by them thereunto, as by Moses, Ioshua, Iehosaphat, As by Moses, &c. Hezekiah, Nehemiah, the king of Nineuy, and others, even when he wold but save them from the present temporall destruction.

And therefore as we are toTo pray ther­fore as for all of them, so chiefly for our d [...]ead Soveraigne. pray instantly for all the Ru­lers in the severall Churches; so above all, for our dread So­veraigne, to whom hee hath given such excellent under­standing of his heavenly will, and whom he hath bound un­to himselfe by so many bonds of such great deliverances, & the like mercies and favours above all the Kings and Prin­ces of the earth; that they may all yet, whilst there is time, now the Lord calles soThat all may inquire wise­ly into the causes of all [...]heir evils. lowd vpon them, set them­selves to enquire wisely into the true causes of the evils al­ready upon the Churches, and [Page 47] of those which are further threatned.

That they may truly consi­der,That all is from the lord to bring us to repentance, that hee may spare us. that all this is from the Lord, in his everlasting com­miseration and fatherly pitty, tendering us as his deere chil­dren, thus calling us all to a generall and unfeigned repen­tance, that he may spare us;And he may take our caus in hand. and that himself may take our cause in hand against his own and our bloody enemies. That they may with holy Iosiah, first inquire rightly into all the crying sins in every state and degree within their Do­minions, and into all the pro­vocations of the wrath ofBy seeing how our sin is increased. God, and see how the sinnes of our time, seem to be above the sinnes of Iudah before the Captivity; our glorious light and all other meanes which he hath used to reclaime us, being rightly weighed.

And secondly, that they [Page 48] may consider wisely of the danger, which both them­selvesAnd our dan­gers. and all theyrs, yea all their Dominions stand in for the same, according to all the Lords most terrible warnings and denounciations.

And thirdly that they mayAnd by in­quiring the meanes to p [...]isie the wrath. thinke seriously as in the pre­sence of the Lord and inquire from his mouth of the meanes yet left to pacific and prevent the same.

And finally, that they may set themselves forthwith, to put all the same in executionAnd setting themselves to the spee­dy execution thereof. with holy Iosiah, and do in all things belonging thereunto, as the Lord himselfe directeth and commandeth; for that this alone can bring comfort and boldnesse to them and theyrs in assurance of the Lords mercifull love and fa­vour, and that they and theirs shall abide still, and ever be­fore the presence of the Lord. [Page 49] Thus are we to labour to pre­vaileTo labour to prevaile for all herein, cheefly for our dread So­veraigne bringing thus the greatest deliverance by his hand. espcially for our Sove­raigne Lord, and his, that our God may yet by him magnify the riches of his mercy above all former times, bringing thus to us & all his Churches a third greater deliverance and cause of rejoycing by his hand (through our unfeigned repentance, and the like re­pentance in all the Churches) then ever heretofore. And thus wee are earnestly accor­ding to our bounden dutie to stirre up our hearts by our due meditations to cry for him, and to doe what we can both by our prayers, and all other holy meanes, that all o­ther may ioyne with us here­in; and that we may never rest wrestling with him & weep­ing, untill he have heard us, e­ven in this behalfe, for the pardoning and taking away our sinnes, in what sort soever [Page 50] shall seeme best to his heaven­ly Maiestie to answere us. And thus much for this Meditati­on.

The seuenth particular Meditati­on, of the second generall: how Sathan exerciseth all his power and tyranny against all the Churches spiritually.

SEuenthly, wee are withallL [...]ad us not into tempta­tion b [...]t de­liver us from evill. to betake our selves to a serious Meditation, and to bring our hearts likewise to a right feeling hereof: That asTo Meditate how Sathan having got­ten the Church into the wildernes there exerci­seth his tyra­ny on it. the Lord hath in his iust and heavy displeasure left his poore afflicted Churches and children to be thus pursued by Sathan, and driven into the wildernesse; so Sathan having gotten them thither, he there principally exerciseth his po­wer & tyranny against them, [Page 51] even spiritually against their seules and consciences, so farre as God permits him, as well as against their bodies.

How hee thereby bestirres himselfe to bring them into allSathan seekes to cause all Gods people to fall away or to dissem­ble for fear [...], by their mi­series. spirituall miseries, & to cause them either to fall away from the Lord Iesus Christ, and the soundnesse and sincerity of his heavenly Gospell, which they have received & professed, or to vse dissembling, even to de­ny the Lord Iesus, or other vn­lawfull meanes for their reliefe and succour; thus to wound their weake cōsciences & [...]o get more advantage against them, both to accuse them before the Lord, and so to provokeTo provoke the Lord more against them. his Maiesty to leave them up into his hands; and even to drive many of them to utter and endless despaire of the Lords helpe & succour, which is the height of miseries, and the very entrance into the lake.

[Page 52]Or at least (which is his u­suallOr to doubt of Gods fa­vor & sound­nesse of their religion or faith. manner with every one of us, and wherein he can, and doth oft prevaile with manie of the deerest Saints and Chil­dren of the Lord) he settes on them day and night to cause them to doubt of the Lords favor and love, & of the truth of their Religion, the good­nesse of their cause, the sound­nesse of their Faith and repen­tance; or whether they have any Faith or no, seeing hee soOr whether they haue a­ny Faith. leaves them to so many mise­ries, which if hee loved them he would not doe. Then, hee makes them possess the verie sinnes of their youth, setting all of them before their faces, which ever they fell into in their whole lives, so much as he is able, and aggravating e­very least slip or fayling, as if it were the most heynous sin, that ever was committed.

Then, through melancholy [Page 53] passions and distempers intoThence to melancholy distempers. which hee can driue thee best by long affliction, and by still urging his temptations & ter­rors) hee can, and useth to cause them to accuse them­selvesTo accuse themselves falesly. falsely, and for those things wherein they are most innocent, or for ye best things that ever they have done, and so can increase their miseryes both bodily and spirituall. The right meditation of these and other like miseries whichThe effect of the right Me­ditation of these. he drives them into, m [...]st needs cause us to commiserate their poore and wofull estate, and the due consideration of the present danger to our selves of the like, will make us cry loud day and night, both for them and for ourselves.

Yea moreouer, heerein weeHow iustly God may leave Sathan to stand up a­gainst us as against Israel. are to striue to bring our harts to a right and wise considera­tion; That as the Lord being displeased against Israel, gave [Page 54] Sathan liberty to stand up a­gainst David, to move him to number his people, so to make a way to the just execution of his displeasure for their sinnes, and thereby to awake them, & bring them to repentance; so he might thus most justly for a long time have given him liberty to stand up against all the Churches, for our cold­ness and security, but against us especially of this sinnefullEuen against all the Chur­ches, but us p [...]ially. Nation, having so long gree­ved him by all our heynous prouocations, even these threescore yeeres and more; and much more may he doe it now most righteously, for our so unspeakeable impenitencie and senselesness at this day, & for that nothing els hath hi­therto, or can yet awake us.

And withall, we are to la­bour to bring our hearts to a wise and right consideration of the extreame rage and fury [Page 55] that Sathan now exerciseth,How Sathan roares uppon the Churches roaring upon all the true Churches of Christ, as if hee would devoure us at once, knowing he hath but a short time: and how he hath heere­upon thus lately begun to cast out this floud of bloody per­secution out of his mouth, to carry away all the Churches and Children of God at this once together, as he hath doneSee States­mysteries of the Iesuites. some already. How he and his bloody Instruments haue de­creed the certaine effecting heereof, as God hath made it manifest even by themselves, and that to all the world; I meane to every one whose eyes the God of this world hath not utterly shut up.

And to bee euer thinking heereof: That onely our bles­sedThe earth hitherto cau­sed to helpe the Church. God & tender Father▪ hath caused the earth hitherto, to helpe his Churches and all of us his Children, in [...]o opening [Page 56] her mouth and swallowing up the waters, albeit so very many of our Brethren abroad haue bin already carried away ther­by. That our course is now (as we haue just cause to feare)Iust feare left our course should bee comming thorow Sa­thans won­derfull pre­vailing. comming amaine like the ra­ging Sea: Sathan standing up day and night against every one of us, to tempt us all, each according to our places, cal­lings, & occasions to provoke him by our sinnes more and more, especially by our indu­ration and security dayly in­creased; that so the Lord may leave us likewise into his hand, which wee haue just cause to feare; according to all his se­vere denunciations and threats so neerely executed, and that to as great miseries, as they or any other Churches or people euer indured before, as he had almost done.

The right Meditation of all these will make us cry aloud: [Page 57] Lead us not into temptation but The right Meditation heereof will make us to cry loude. Leade us not &c. deliver us from euill. Lord de­liver us not over to the temp­ter for our sinnes, to bee thus indurate and prepared for de­struction, but deliver us from him and from the innumera­ble evils which he so furiously seekes to bring upon us and upon all our Brethren, and which so many other Chur­ches so groane under.

And yet more then all this,The fourih branch. wee are never to rest day nor night, till our heartes rightly understand and conceiue here­of, that as all the miseries nowAll the mise­r [...]es of the Church chief ly from the Dragon. upon or towards the Chur­ches, are wholly or principally from the Dragon, who hath thus inraged all those whom he hath deceiued to fight a­gainstPastors and Watchmen ordained to preserve Gods Chil­dren to bee stirred up heer [...]unto at their cries. them; so our God hath also heerein ordained Pastors and Watchmen both spiritu­all and temporall to preserve his Children from him; and [Page 58] those his Pastors and Watch­men to bee awaked and made more vigilant heereunto, by the instant Prayers and cries of his poore people committed to their charge.They that cannot cry to be delivered from the tempter, to helpe to de­liver their brethrē, must endure all miserie with him.

We are ever likewise to be thinking heereof; that he that cannot cry for himselfe, and for the Watchmen and Chur­ches to be delivered from the tempter, and from all these e­vils. Especially, from the evill of sinne, that it reigne not o­ver him, but suffers himselfe to be a servant, though it be but of any one sinne, and a slave of Sathan therein, must indure e­ternall evils and miseries with him in the Lake for ever and ever.

The eight particular Meditati­on of the second generall: That the kindgome and glory are Christs, that Sathan and Antichrist fight principally a­gainst him, and against his Church; onely for his cause, and therefore are sure to be o­verthrowen.

8. ANd yet more still to a­wakenFor thine is the King­dome, &c. us, & to prepare our hearts to this worke, wee are to f [...]iue to bring our soules on further to a rightTo meditate. and due consideration: thatThat the Kingdome is our Christs. our Lord Iesus Christ is abso­lute Lord and King; that all the kingdomes of the world are our Lords, and his Christs,Apoc. 11. 15. and that he must reigne for e­vermore. That ▪Sathan and Antichrist his eldest sonne, & all their Souldiers in all these bloody warres which they [Page 60] haue so dreadfully begun, and do so furiously pursue against all the Churches, doe fightSathan & An­tichrist [...] sight onely against him. onely against his glorious Ma­iestie, and even of hatred a­gainst him; howsoever these whom Sathan hath so enchan­ted thinke not so much, but ra­therApoc. 16. 23. 24. imagine that they doe God good seruice in it. That Sathan & Antichrist haue sentHow they have sent forth their croāking frogs. forth these croaking Frogs the Iesuits and Seminaries to stir up all the Kings and great men of the earth, to give awayTo stir up all to battle a­gainst Christ Iesus. their power and authority from Christ Iesus, (to whom it is wholly due, and whose they and all their power is) to take part and to fight on their side against our Lord Ie­sus Christ.

That it is indeed our LordTo thrust him out of his throne. Iesus Christ against whom they fight, even to thrust him out of his throne and to de­stroyAnd to de­stroy all his people. his people; and therefore [Page 61] that wee have just cause to thinke, that this same being thus eagerly pursued against him, and against all his true members in all the Churches, is the very battle of the greatWe may iust ly thinke this the battle of the great day day: for that it is so set as it was never in such sort before, all things being rightly con­sidered.

And therefore we are wise­ly to Meditate, that howso­everThat though the Lord thus permit them to prevaile to harden them to pursue his people into the Sea, to the end to harden them all, and all their Souldiers to their utter destruction, he hath permitted them to prevaile thus farre, and still raging to pursue his Israel into the heart of the Sea, yet we may haue good hope that there is the very place and time, where and when he will get himselfeYet there he will get him­selfe the victory. the victory; even when once his owne people and Chil­dren (seeing and feeling their miseries upon them, and that there is nothing remaining in [Page 62] regard of any helpe from man but present destruction) shallWhen his people shall cry unto him. cry aloud unto him as Israel at the Sea. That then hee will cause his owne people to stand still and see what he will doe. That then he will manifest his power, and get himselfe glory upon his owne and his Chur­ches enemies, even upon Pha­raoh and his hoast, and that by his owne right arme.

That howsoever there areThough there be mighty Kings against him, and for Anti­christ. multitudes & nations, mighty Monarches and Kings against him, and these have all one minde to give their power and authority from him unto the Beast, untill the words of God be fulfilled; so that they shall thus fight with the Lambe; yet the Lambe shall overcomeYet the Lambe s [...]all over come them. them▪ for he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings; and they that are on his side are called faithfull and chosen. And then, even those same Kings, [Page 63] the remainder of y• ten hornes, (which have so long before, and some of them do still fight against the Lambe, some more furiously, others less) shall all in the time appointed, hateThat they shall give their power to the Lambe to make the Whore deso­late. the whore, & make her deso­late and naked, and eate her flesh and burne her with fire: for that God will put into their hearts, thus to fulfill his will.To provoke our selves to more instant crying for the full accom­plishment of this.

And yet more also for our further assurance of this, and to provoke our soules to loud and instant crying unto the Lord in this behalfe for the accomplishment hereof; wee are to bring our hearts to a ioyfull Meditation and re­membrance,To consider how the whore is dis­covered to all how our blessed God hath discovered that scarlet-coloured Whore to all the world, and more now then ever heretofore, both in all this bloody rage against him, and against all his poore Chur­ches [Page 64] and Children, and their cruell intendments against all [...] myste­ries of the Iesuits, Layed forth to be visibly behol­den of all, to be of Sathan by his cheefe workes, viz. lying and murther. the rest, even against every soule of us truly professing his name. And also how he hath laide her forth to bee visibly beholden of all, in all her fil­thy whoredomes and intice­ments, to wit, all those abho­minable doctrines, devices, slanders, and blasphemies a­gainst him, and against his heavenly word; and above all in the Powder-treason, where­in Sathan shewed himselfe in his cheefest workes both of lying and murther, in a speci­allReceived her deaths wound by her owne hands in the Powder trea­son. manner to all the world, and above all former times; wherein wee are to hope that Antichrist received his dead­ly wound, which all the po­werAnd will fall being spent by her owne violent and bloody rage. of hell shall never cure a­gaine; and that in Gods due time, hee will fall downe of a sodaine, as a Deere, or other like beast, deadly smitten, [Page 65] when he hath by his owne vi­olence spent himselfe.4. branch. That our Sa­viour hath clearly fore­shewed her destruction, & of all who receive her marke.

That our Lord Iesus Christ hath clearly foreshewed the destruction of that Whore of Babylon, that childe of per­dition, than man of sin, and of all his followers, yea of every one that receives his marke on his forehead, or in his right hand, or that is any way on his side to fight against him. That hee hath not onely made all the hoast of heaven, even al his holy Angels and Saints bothRevel. 19. Made the hoast of hea­ven to re­ioyce there­at. in heaven and earth, to reioyce and sing Hallelujah, for the condemning of the great Whore, & the victorie given unto the Saints, but also hath made proclamation with a loud voyce (by the Angell inMade procla­mation to all to come to be inriched by her spoiles the Sunne) and this to all the Fowles that fly through the middest of heaven, viz. to all the Kings and Princes, Cap­taines and Souldiers, that shall [Page 66] fight under his glorious Maie­sty, and for him. That they should come & eate the flesh of Kings, and of great Cap­taines, and of all mighty men, and even of all those both great and small that followed the Beast, that is, to be enrich­ed with their spoyles.

That he will destroy every5. branch. one that hath not his name en­rolledThat he will destroy every one that is not on his side. in his booke, to bee on his side, that is, every one who is not of his called, chosen and faithfull flocke; yea every one that doth not so strive to prepare himselfe thus to fight for him, and under him, so as he may be sure to prevaile and overcome, and remaine with him faithfully fighting unto the death; untill hee have the crowne of life.

The ninth particular Meditation of the second generall, how our Lord Iesus Christ is that everlasting Amen, and com­ming quickly.

FInally, we are never to restAmen. untill wee have broughtTo reioyce that Christ is that everlast­ing Amen. our hearts to a comfortable reioycing, that our Lord Ie­sus Christ is that everlasting Amen, that faithfull and true witness, who will performeWho will performe e­very word which he hath spoken. every word that hee hath spo­ken▪ in his due time, and in such sort, as he hath revealed the same, though the particu­lar manner bee yet unknowne to us. That hee is commingAnd is com­ming quickly. quickly to render to every one according to his workes. That wee are not to give our hearts any rest untill we are able thus to cry in faithfulness with all the Saints, and all the hoast of heaven; Amen, Amen. [Page 68] Our Lord Iesus Christ onely reigneth for evermore,

Amen, Amen.

The third generall Meditation.
Thirdly, what manner of ones we must bee, whom the Lord so calleth, and whome hee will admit and accept to bee his helpers herein, and whose prayers shall be available with him, according to the same heavenly direction in Lords praier.

THus have wee done with these first points for our preparation, by bringing our hearts to a right consideration of the course which the Lord is wont to take in saving his Church, and a true feeling of [Page 69] the necessity of our prayers at this time. Now whēby our due pondering of all these things and the like, and never resting untill by our deepe Meditati­on of them, we can have them as it were before our eyes con­tinually, so to see lively the urgent necessity of these our Prayers, and that we can there­by heare the Lord crying loud unto us to helpe him and his Church herein; we are in theAfter our seeing the order which the Lord takes in sa­ving his Church and necessitie of prayer: to be carefull we be such as the Lord cal­leth to helpe him. next place as carefully to see, that we be such as he calleth, being qualified in all things accordingly, if ever wee will get sound assurance to our owne soules to prevaile or to be accepted. And this wee may learne likewise out of our Saviours direction in that heavenly patterne for prayerOur certaine direction by the Lords prayer. then which, all the wisedome of the world, can never give us a more sure and plaine rule. To which end also, as for all [Page 70] the other before mentioned, we ought the more diligently to looke unto it, and to Me­ditate of it: and that in this manner.

The first particular Meditation of the third generall, To make sure that wee bee the true children of our heavenly Fa­ther.

Here wee are to stirre upOur Father. our selves to this dutie.

1. That having the former view ever before our faces asThat having Christs call in our eares, much as we are able, and this true feeling ever also in our hearts; and withall this lively voyce of Christs loving call to helpe him and his Church stil,We make sure we be the true chil­dren of our heavenly Fa­ther, by the true marks thereof. 2. Pet. 1. 4. sounding shrill in our eares, wee labour day and night, to make sure that we be the true Children of our heavenly Fa­ther, full of Child-like and na­turall [Page 71] affections to his heaven­ly Majesty. That wee have thus put on the Image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and are hereby (as holy Peter speaketh) partakers of the divine Na­ture, not earthly but heaven­ly minded, burning in the love of his Majesty, of his word, or­dinances, and Children, full of faith in Christ Iesus, and of all dutie and holy obedience, that in all fulnesse of assurance through our Lord Iesus Christ, wee can by the power and witnesse of his holy Spi­rit, cry unto him Abba, O Father, and seeke to bee as in­stant for all our Bretheren as for our selves, labouring ever to grow herein, and in the ac­knowledgment of our owne vilenesse by nature, and of our unworthynesse, either to bee called his children or to make any petition to his heavenly Majesty.

More particular Meditations hereof.

MOre particularly for theThe first branch of this medita­tion more particularly to make this sure. better help and directi­on of every yong and weake Christian (because this is that whereupon all our hope for our prayers doth principally relye) that we in the first place meditate and ponder carefully of these things.That we may not deceive our selves herein we are to thinke

To the end that we may be able to cry thus in Faith, (O our Father which art in heaven) we must make sure, that we be his children indeed, & that we do not deceive our selves, as the greatest part do, even of those that live in the bosome of the Church. And therefore,

1. Wee must seriously be­thinke our selves, what weeWhat ones we are by nature. were by our naturall estate from our first Father Adam, 1. Cor. 15. 47. not heavenly but all earthly, [Page 73] wholly corrupt, both in ourEph. 2. 2. Iohn. 8. 44. Eph. 2. 3. nature, & in all our thoughts, words, and deeds, Children of disobedience, yea Children of Sathan, and even of the wrath of God.

2. What we are already,2. What ones we must be by grace. or must bee by grace, before we can have the favour of our heavenly Father, or can helpe in this worke; that wee must bee changed throughout, borne againe, made new Crea­tures, & so as was saide, Chil­dren of our heavenly Father, heavenly minded, that is, minding heavenly things, o­bedient Children, indeavou­ring to walke in all holy obe­dience before him, so decla­ring our selves hereby to bee ordayned not to wrath, but to the inheritance of the Saints in light.3. That we never rest in using the meanes un­till we be such.

3. If wee doe not fully and plainly finde our selves in this happy estate of Gods [Page 74] Children, but still remaining as we were borne, and there­fore Children of wrath, the Lord cals upon vs loud, that wee never rest day nor night, untill we finde our selves cer­tainly delivered out of that fearfull and wofull estate; and that we are made by grace the very Children of our heaven­ly Father, and are received in­to his favour and love. And this cheefly he cals us to seeke to attaine, by a deepe and con­tinuall Meditation of the mi­serable estate in which weeIn regard of our miserable estate we stand in till then. stand, even for the present, un­till this time, as was saide be­fore; and morespecially for that extreame horrour & mi­seryAnd more for the hor­ror which will come o [...] us when our consciences shall be a­waked. which will certainly come upon us, when our con­sciences shall bee throughly and soundly awaked, which will be undoubtedly either in his life, or so soone as ever we shall be taken hence.

[Page 75]And of the other side by aAnd our blessed estate of the con­trary when can we finde our selves Gods Chil­dren. due and serious Meditation and consideration of that bles­sed estate, wherein every one is that findes himselfe indeed in this manner the true Child of his heavenly Father, and can thereupon by the spirit of Adoption cry thus unto him, Abba, O Father.

And to these ends that wee never rest seeking to be in this happy estate, and that wee finde wee are in it undoubted­ly; by using conscionably and constantly all the meanesMeanes; chee [...]y the word and prayer. which God hath ordained thereunto; chee [...]y hearing of his blessed word, and earnest prayer for obtaining these two generall and principallFor obtai­ning the principall graces, Repentance, Faith. graces and [...]arkes of our re­generation, to wit: True re­pentance of all our sinnes▪ and a lively Faith in Christ Iesus.In ou [...] repen­tance to [...] ▪ a [...] [...] Change. And in our repentance that wee find a chang first in ou [...] [Page 76] whole nature, and after a change of all our courses and conversation from earthly to heavenly, not walking thence­forth according to carnall rea­son, but by faith in the word of the Lord.

4. If wee finde our selves4. If such yet to labour to increase in our assurance in walking before him in more hprightnes. such, yet the Lord cals on us still to labour daily to encrease our assurance, by increasing in our conscionable walking be­fore our heavenly Father, and as in his presence; that so wee may receive more favour in his eyes to bee accepted in our prayers for his Church, and to approach neerer and neerer unto him with faithfull Abra­ham. Two lessons to be ever in memory to this end. Remembring ever these two lessons.

1. That there is but onely one narrow way of life, by our1. That there is but one narrow way of life. cōscionable walking wherein, we can onely assure our selves of Gods favour and love; butI [...]numerable leading to destruction. almost ten thousand leading [Page 77] out of the same; all of them tending to hell and destructi­on. The impenitent walking in any of which paths pro­vokes his displeasure, especi­ally if we walke in it witting­ly or carelesly, thorow lacke of examining and trying our wayes.

2. That all this way is di­rected2. That one directed one­ly by Gods word. The generall whereof is comprized in the Catechis­me. and chalked out for the generall in the doctrine of our Catechisme, both for our Faith and for our repentance or obedience to bee continu­ally renewed and increased; more particularly for every step as it were, in the whole body of the Sacred Scrip­tures, the blessed word of the Lord.

1. For our Faith, by whichFor Faith. we must live and walke, that it is briefly comprized in the Articles of our Faith. 2. ForConuersation our life and conversation, and the ordering thereof in the [Page 78] Ten Commandements writ­ten by the Lords owne fin­ger; in each of which and e­very part whereof, wee must walke on forward in perfor­ming all duties to his heaven­ly Majesty, and also to our Brethren. 3. [...]or other helpesHelpes in ou [...] iourney, the Sacraments. in this our journey and stayes to our Faith; the right use and knowledge of the Sacra­ments. 4. to the end to ob­taine more strength so toFor more strength so to walke, ear­nest prayer. walke in Faith and obedience that wee are to use earnest prayer; the heavenly patterne whereof is set before us in that most exact forme, pre­scribed by our Saviour, called the Lords prayer. That wee may all learne to pray as with one heart and soule, accor­ding to that generall directi­on being used and applyed particularly, as occasions, times, and seasons require.

5. The Lord would haue [Page 79] us all to know, and ever to keepe in fresh memory, that5. To pray thus for our Brethren as well as our selves, that they may have the same assu­rance, and so manifest themselves for their hea­venly Father and for the good of all their Bro­thren as we doe. he cals on us continually in the use of this prayer, to strive not onely for our selves so to walke, but for all our Bre­thren, even all the Children of our heavenly Father, dis­persed over the face of the whole earth, both already called, and also all other of whom wee may hope that they doe belong to Gods e­ternall election, whether of the Iew, or of the Gentile, Pa­gans, Turkes, or Indians. That these being gathered forth, he may speedily hasten the ac­complishment of our happi­nesse by the glorious appea­ring of our Lord and Saviour.

And that wee never test vntill wee shall attaine heere­unto, to remember all theseTo remem­ber al ioyntly jointly in all our prayers, in some good measure, as be­ing of the same mysticall bo­dy [Page 80] of Christ with us, for that otherwise we cannot rightly pray. [Our Father.]

And further also amongst them, he would have us to6. To pray more special­ly for all in authority. pray in a more speciall man­ner for all those whom hee hath set in his owne place heere in the earth, for our suc­courAs in Gods owne place, and comfort, & the aide and the comfort of all the restFor the suc­cour & com­fort of all the rest of their Brethen. of these our Brethren, and for our joynt injoying of all these blessings which he hath pro­mised to his Church and cho­sen flocke, and which he hath beene wont by them to per­forme unto it. To whom for this cause hee hath giuen his owne name, calling themBearing his owne name and ordained for this end. Gods, and hath promised that to this end; they shalbe made foster Fathers & nursing Mo­thersEsay. 49. to his poore Church, when he will be gracious un­to it, in delivering, restoring, and beautifying of it, like as [Page 81] hee hath done in all former Ages.

And therefore wee are ne­ver to rest travelling with our owne hearts in this; untill we can principally labour with the Lord for them, that they of all other, and so all in their places may be indued with all excellent graces, not onely toThat they may chiefly be indued with all ex­cellent gra­ces. manifest themselves in the first ranke according to their high dignities, the true Children of our heavenly Father, thus shi­ningAs in the first ranke. before all the rest of their Bretheren, for the better pro­uokingBetter to provoke all the rest. and encouraging of all the rest, and the greater glory of the Lord; but also withAnd chiefly those peculi­ar to their places. those guifts which are proper and peculiar unto their places and callings. And that weeThat we may performe all duties to them of ho­nour. likewise may all of us be very carefull to performe unto them the duties belonging to them, in regard of those high places and callings, like as [Page 82] the honor and obedience ofObedience. right appertaining to them so with all true thankfulnesse forThankfulnes. all the blessings which wee in­joy by them.

And in our thankfulnesse,Therein those three. we [...]e never to rest untill wee can from our soules performe unto them these three special­ly.Acknowledg­ment. 1. Acknowledgment of their authoritie from God, and that they are in his place. 2. Hearty affections, as toHearty affections. Gods Lieutenants for his cause. 3. Above all instantInstant prayers. prayers for them day & night. And in these our prayers, that we can cry for them not onely as for every common memberThat they may be able to walke in their particu­lar callings as before the Lord & as liv­ing Lawes. (as was saide) to bee able to walke before all their people as living Lawes in all holy duties of Christianitie, but in those of their particular places and callings, and bee furnish­edFurnished with all guifts for managing the same happily. with all excellent giftes and endowments of Gods [Page 83] Spirit for their happy mana­ging of the same.

As first and principally, that they may bee made able1. For pro­moting Gods religion. and resolute to promote the Religion of the Lord alone, and all true godlinesse, and that with all their power; de­facing the contrary, and de­stroying all ungodnesse in all their Dominions, as did those Worthyes; David, Iehosaphat, Hezekiah, Iosiab, and Nehemi­ah; being thereby so renow­ned and set out for such bles­sed examples to all succeeding Ages.

And in the second place, that they may procure each2. Procuring the wealth of his people. way the good of the people committed to them, as ten­der Foster-fathers, repressing the wicked, being careful that all holy meanes be used every where, for the reclaiming and saving every soule in their Dominions, and of bringing [Page 84] them in their armes to the Si­on and Sanctuary of the Lord, and all hinderances thereof removed. And that to these ends, they may be all as [...] Exo. 18. [...]. Magistrates, men of courage, fearing God, dea­ling truely, hating covetous­nesse, no respecters of per­sons.

And next unto these, thatNext unto Magistrates to pray for all in any emi­nency. we rest not till we bee able to pray likewise for all excelling in any eminency, either out­ward or inward, wherebyWhereby they may doe any speciall service. they may doe any speciall ser­vice to our Lord Iesus Christ, to his Vicegerents, or to his poore Church and people: As namely, That their hearts bee not lifted up by theirThat their hearts be not lift up. guifts, favours, or places, as is ordinary in each estate, and so wrath come upon them, as it2. Chro. 32. 25. 26. did on that good Hezekiah for this very sinn [...]; but that con­trarilyBut contrarily [...]hore humb­led. they may both ever re­member [Page 85] and acknowledge all their preferments to be from his heavenly bounty, and so to be more humbled by them, as having more to answere & bee accountable for giving to his divine Majestie alone, all the glory thereof. And se­condly, that they may bee in­abled as thy deare Children to employ all those guifts care­fullyThat they may imploy all carefully as their ta­lents com­mitted to that end. as their talents commit­ted unto them by the Lord, to that end and purpose, as may make most for his glory, the furtherance of his Gospell, with the greatest benefit and good to our selve;, and to all the people of the Lord.

The second particular Medita­tion of the third general, That we can, and use to seeke his honor above all other things.

SEcondly, we must neverHallowed be thy name. give the Lord over, untill we have brought our harts in order, not to seeke our owneNever to rest untill we can onely seeke Gods honour honour or greatness: nor our selves, any way for our selves alone, but onely in all things to seeke the honour of our heavenly Father, being zea­lous of his glory. And that wee can pray earnestly, thatAnd be zea­lous for it to set it forth. our selves and all other, may studie to set foorth his glorie before all the sonnes of men, euen the glory of his Wise­dome, Goodness, Mercy, Iu­stice, Power, and Truth, shi­ning bright in all his workes: both in every creature, and al­so in all his judgements and mercies, and chiefely in his [Page 87] heavenly word: admiring and extolling his great name in every one of them.

That we can mourne with holy Moses, for all the disho­noursAnd mourne for all the dishonours done unto him, as Mo­ses. done unto him, and for all the provocations whereby he is provoked, choosing ra­ther to have our names put out of his booke, then that hisExo. 32. 31. 32. great name shold be blasphe­med by his malicious ene­mics, especially in their tri­umphes for the destruction orNum. 14. 13. 17. miseries of his people.

The third particular Meditati­on of the third generall: That we seeke his honour chiefely in the aduancement of the Scep­ter of Iesus Christ.

THirdly, we are never toThy king­dome come. rest untill we can rejoyce in the truth of our hearts, that we have se [...] our selves to seek [Page 88] by all our might, the advance­mentNot to rest till [...]e can most earnest­ly seeke the comming of Christs king­dome. of the Scepter of his heavenly kingdome, even of the heavenly Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ, and so the comming of his kingdome thereby with power; first the kingdome of Grace, and af­ter1. Of Grace. 2. Of Glory. the kingdome of Glory: desiring earnestly to that end the propagating and spread­ingDesiring the spreading of his Gospell, &c. of his Gospel over all the world, the gathering forth of all his elect from al parts, with the saving of all his people, & seeking all other things one­lyOnely for his honor. for him and for his honour, that he may reigne as Lord and King. That wee neverNot resting [...]ll we feele him reigning in our hearts. give him rest, until wee feele him reigning in our hearts by his blessed Word and Spirit:And can mourne for all the de­spight done to him. making us to mourne withall for all the despight done un­to his heavenly Majesty in the contempt of that his gloriousAnd Sathans prevailings. Gospel, and chiefly for all the [Page 89] prevaylings of Sathan and Antichrist, the setting up a­gaine of their abhominable Idolatry in any place, and so for al the outragious wicked­nesseWith all the wickednesse committed a­gainst him. committed agaynst our Lord Iesus Christ, his crowne and dignity, and also agaynst his poore people.

The fourth particular Meditati­on of the third generall, That we seeke to honour him e [...]er in the full accomplishment of all his heavenly will.

FOurthly, that our hearts beare us witness that weeThy will bee done. haue attayned to be such, as are wholly set not to seeke the execution of our owne lustesThat we are wholly set for the know­ledge and execution of of God [...] will. or will, but that the whole will and good pleasure of our heavenly Father may bee ful­filled by us and all other his Children; especially in all [Page 90] things wherein he hath or shal reveale himselfe what his good pleasure is. And that we have begun earnestly to inde­vor our selves to be as chear­ful in the right execution and accomplishment thereof in all parts, as his holy Angels. Moreover, that we can withAnd recei­uing thank­fully whatso­ever triall from his hand. all thankefulness receive from his hand, & yeeld unto what­soever chastisements or trials it shal please his heavenly wisedome to exercise us by;Mourning to see his Com­mandements trampled un­der foote. and that we can mourne with the holy Prophet David, to see his blessed wil and Com­mandements, both Law, and Gospel, so scorned and tram­pled under foote. That wee have atrayned thereto at the least in our inner man (to wit) in the full desire and resoluti­on of our soules, & are there­upon able thus to cry in truth and in the uprightness of our [Page 91] hearts, Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heaven.

The fift particular Meditation of the third generall, That we be such as looke into, and de­pend onely upon our heavenly Father for all good things.

FIftly, we must trauel withGive us this day our dai­ly [...]. our owne hearts, never resting until wee bee such as feele our selves in some goodNot to rest untill we can in Faith whol ly depend up­on our hea­venly Father. measure able in faith to looke up unto him as to our pittiful, gracious, and bountiful Fa­ther, and to depend whollie upon him with faithful Abra­ham, for accomplishment of all our desires, and whatsoe­ver else he hath promised, and for giving to us, and to the whole Church all things be­longing heereunto, so farre as shalbe best. To trust in him onely for all, and to give him [Page 92] the glory of al.

Also such as have attained in some good sort, a fellow­feeling with our Brethren, of al their wants and afflictionsAnd able to cry for our Brethren. both bodily and spiritual: and so are thereby able to crie for them, as for our selves, Giue us this day our daily bread.

Such as are ready to com­municate unto them in allReady to communicate unto them. things according to their ne­cessities, of what kinde soe­uer. And finally, such as strive to walke painfully and faith­fully in our places & callings, that we may not be chargea­ble to the Church, but may better supply the wants of our Brethren; and so shew forth our right dependance on his fatherly goodness for our selues and for them al, for bread and all other comfortes for bodies and soules, apper­taining both to this, and the better life.

The sixt particular Meditation of the third generall, That we be such as feele our sinnes and infirmities as a heavy burden, and travelling under them, doe fly ever unto Christ.

SIxtly, wee are seriously toFor give us our trespas­ses as &c. stirre vp our soules that we never rest vntill we be such at least in the longing desires of our hearts, as doe see andThat we feele our sins a burthen feele not onely our owne sins, infirmities, and corruptions, as a heavy burthen, making usTo drive us to Christ. daily to runne to our Lord and Sauiour to bee eased of them: but withall, that weeHaving some true feeling of the sins of the Churches which have so provoked the Lord. haue some true feeling of the sinnes of all sorts in the Church, which have so farre forth already provoked the Lord to execute his fierce wrath upon so many of our Brethren, to leave them into their enemies hand▪ and so to [Page 92] threaten all the Churches by the deadly malice and mis­chievous plots and prevailings of our bloody enemies. And also that we can and do begin to cry, That the Lord wouldTo try for forgivnesse & so for un­feigned re­pentance to all the Chur­ches. forgive us our sins, our hainous crying sins, & grant unto us unfeigned repentance for the [...]ame, & hearts to do whatsoe­ver hee hath commanded be­longing thereunto; & for the pacifying of his wrath both privately, & publiquely. WeThat we he such as have a continuall heavinesse in our hearts for the sinne [...] whereby our heavenly Fa­ther is so provoked. are withall to bethinke our selves, whether wee be such as unfeignedly wish with blessed Paul to have a continuall hea­vinesse in our hearts, for our owne sinnes, and for the sinnes of Gods people, whereby hee hath beene so provoked to so heavy a wrath, & so dreadfull proceedings even against his owne Children, which are so deere unto him; and for that his anger is daily more and [Page 93] more kindled and incensed.Such as can forgive and pray for our enemies.

Such as can freely forgive, and doe use to pray for our very enemies; that they, so many of them, as belong to the election of Grace, may like­wise come to repentance and escape his wrath & vengeance due unto their sinnes, and bee made with us partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.

The seuenth particular Medi­tation of the third generall, That we indeavour to pray continually. Lead us not into temptation.

SEventhly we are to medi­tateLead us not in [...]o tempta­tion. seriously, that if wee will be helpers unto our Lord and Saviour in this worke, weNot to rest untill we have brought our selves in awe. are never to give rest unto our soules, untill we have brought our selves to a true understan­ding [Page 96] sense and practice of that counsell, yea that precept of our Saviour (with which so few Christians are indeed rightly acquainted) to wit,To watch & pray conti­nually that we fall not into tempta­tion. to watch and pray continually that we fall not into temptati­on.

That we be such as doe not onely see the danger, that weeThat we doe not onely see our owne danger: our selves stand in of Sathans temptations every moment of time, and of the many and fearefull evils which by our sinnes hee seekes without cea­sing to bring upon us; and thence doe labour incessantly by watching and prayer to be preserved and delivered from the same: but doe also use toBut also mourne for the prevai­ling [...] of Sa­than and An­tichrist. mourne and be in heavinesse day and night for the prevai­ling of Sathan and Antichrist, and of all their limbes and in­struments, not onely against the poore people and children of the Lord, but also against [Page 97] his blessed Gospell at this day, by their craft and subtilties, and for the innumerable mise­ries bodily and spirituall which they have and doe daily more and more seeke to bring upon them, and therefore we do use daily to cry for them as for our selues. Lord lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from e­vill.

The eighth particular Meditati­on of the third generall, That wee can and doe use to sing the song of the 24. Elders, Glo­rie, &c.

SEventhly, wee are never toFor thin [...] is the king­dome, &c. give the Lord over, untill wee bee such as ever acknow­ledging in our hearts and con­sciencesSuch as have learned the song of the foure and twenty El­ders. the Soveraignty of our Lord Iesus Christ have attained hereto, to bow the knees of our soules, and fall downe upon [Page 98] our faces before him, having learned the Song of the foure and twenty Elders, Glory, Ho­nour, Praise, Dominion, Might, Rev. 5. 13. and Majesty, bee to him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lambe for evermore; and doeAnd sing the same in our soules use to sing the same in our soules; and also doe desire that it may bee sounded out by us, and by all the Church eternal­ly;Or mourne] for our fay­lings. at least such as can mourne for our continuall wants and failings herein.

Finally, that wee be such asAble to sound Amen in assurance of obtaining. use to stirre vp our hearts in faith to sound Amen, both begging and beleeving that through Iesus Christ, we shall obtaine whatsoever we have or shall desire, as our Lord and Saviour hath taught us, so farre as shall bee most for his glory, our salvation, with the good of all his Church; and herein can ioyfully repose our soules. And not onely that wee have [Page 99] attained the beginnings, or asHaving not onely the first fruites in all graces, but indeavouring to grow con­tinually. it were the first fruites in all these graces: moreover, that we indeavour to increase & grow in every one of them continual­ly. And thus much also for the second generall meditati­on (to wit) what kind of per­sons we must be, if we will bee sure to be accepted, as saithfull Abraham and Moses, in re­gard of the high favour in which wee are in through Ie­sus Christ, and that wee are so qualified and fitted, as our Sa­viour requireth of them who are to helpe him in this worke.

The fourth generall Meditation.
Concerning the frame and order of our prayers, that they like­wise may be well pleasing, and so we may bee more certaine to prevaile thereby: when wee fol­low in all things our Saviours direction.

FOr the frame and forme of our prayers, that the want therein may not any thing hin­der our certaine assurance, butTo Meditate. contrarily that our right man­ner, ordering & framing there­of may increase our strength and confident crying. TheyThat our prayers be framed ac­cording to our Saviours direction so neere as we can. must bee so framed as neere as wee can, at our great Master and Teacher our Lord Iesus Christ hath directed us; and then his Soveraigne Majesty [Page 101] who hath saide Pray thus, willThen he will make them powerfull. make them powerfull accor­ding to his gratious promise. Aske and you shall have, and will set to his seale, first in our hearts, and after manifest­ly before the world.

The first particular Meditation of the fourth generall, That we pray onely to our heavenly Father in the name of Christ.

FIrst wee are carefully to1. That we pray onely to our heavenly Father in the name of Iesus Christ. see, that our prayers bee directed onely to our heaven­ly Father, and none other, and that in the name and media­tion of our blessed Saviour; our hearts being lifted vp to heaven in confidence of faith through him, and in his name and mediation alone, and not by the mediation of any Saint or Angell; and also without the least looking at [Page 102] our selves, for any excellencyWithout the least looking at our selves▪ or any other creature. in our selves, or any matter of merit, worth or desert in our selves, or any other creature, for which wee should looke any way to bee heard, where­unto our hearts are wonder­fully prone; and wherein they are exceeding deceipt­full, and very hard to bee knowne, albeit wee have ta­ken long paines to bring them thereunto.

The second particular Medita­tion of the fourth generall, That above all and in all wee ayme at Gods glory, and the advancement of Christs scep­ter.

SEcondly, as hee hathThat we ayme onely at Gods glo­ry, not resting till our harts be inflamed with the zeale therof. taught us in the first place to pray, Hallowed be thy name; so in and above all things we must ayme at his glory, and [Page 103] never rest till wee have a bur­ning zeale thereof, so to seeke the advancement of his great name, and the comming of his kingdome, even that Ie­susThat Christ onely may raigne in all the world. Christ may raigne in all the world, all sorts stooping unto him, that thus his elect speedily bee gathered forth and saved; Sathan and Anti­christ with all his enemies be­ing utterly overthrowne and confounded. For seeking first his glory, kingdome, & righ­teousnesse, that is; seeking them cheefly and in the firstFor that then we have a certaine as­surance of all other things. place, wee have a certaine as­surance from his gracious and faithfull promise; That all o­ther things shall be cast uponMat. 6. 33. us, as an over measure, con­cerning our selves or ours.

And herein specially weeThis is a chiefe fay­ling of all Gods people. are to bee warned, for that in this is usually the cheife fail­ling of Gods people, and for which hee may justly send us [Page 104] empty away; even for look­ingIn looking more at our selves then his heavenly Maiesty. at our selves, more then at his Majesty and the things that concerne his kingdome and honour; preferring our selves and our owne particu­lars, and the care of them, before the things that con­cerne his owne glory, king­dome, and people. ThoughThough he hath directed us that this should be all in all. his wisedome hath in his goodnesse so plainly direct­ed us herein, beginning and ending with this. The seek­ing of the advancement of his glory and kingdome, as being all in all, like as indeed it is, for that then (as was saide) when we can so seeke him in order, hee will undoubtedly give us our hearts desire, and more then wee can imagine; neitheir can wee ever assure our selves of any thing as a blessing untill this time. For this purpose, and the certain­tie hereof, read carefully the [Page 105] first of Haggai, and con­siderHag. 1. it well, how this selfe­love makes us forget the first and great Commandement, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soule, Want of this deprives of many bles­sings. strength, and might, &c. and so to loose the obtaining of those things which otherwise we might certainly injoy.

The third particular Meditati­on of the fourth generall, That wee seeke the doing of his heavenly will, for his glo­ry and kingdome chiefly.That we seeke the do­ing of his heavenly will chiefly for his glory & kingdome.

THirdly, we are to labour to bring our hearts here­unto, That the accomplish­ing of his heavenly will▪ whatsoever he hath determi­ned, chiefly i [...] things that concerne his glory and king­dome, and the good of his Church and Children bee [Page 106] sought by us in the first place, and afterwardes in all thingsThat for these ends we may do it as the Angels do [...]. belonging to our selves. That to these ends, all his will and good pleasure, which he hath been, or shall bee pleased to make knowne unto us, may be done by us and all his peo­ple; and that as chearfully, wisely, faithfully, and coura­giously, as the Angels doe it in heaven.

The fourth particular Meditati­on of the fourth generall▪ That we seeke all good things from God alone, chiefly that wee may have wherewith to ho­nour him, and advance his kingdome.

FOurthly, in the fourth To seeke bread chiefly for these ends. place wee are to meditate how wee are to travell with our owne hearts to seeke our daily bread from him, not for [Page 107] our selves, but for these ends principally.

That he will be pleased to feed us and to minister unto us from heaven, all things needfull and behouefull here­unto, both for our selves and for all our brethren, that weeThat we may live onely to his heavenly Maiesty. may not live to our selves, but to his heavenly Majesty alone, who hath redeemed and saved us for this pur­pose.

The fift particular Meditation of the fourth generall, and so of the sixt and seventh to­gether.

FIftly, wee are seriously to5 consider how wee are to pray, That to these ends like­wiseTo seeke for­givnesse of our sins to these ends, & that they may not hinder his mercies. chiefly, and for these causes, hee will forgive our sinnes, and the sinnes of his people; that they may not [Page 108] hinder his mercy, nor these our prayers in any of the things which wee are taught to beg of his heavenly Maje­sty, nor yet provoke his wrath against us, but having put them away by his Christ, heeBut he may heare us in al things con­cerning his owne glory & our good. may for his sake tender us as his owne Children, and heare us in all things concerning his glory and kingdome, and also for our owne necessitie and happinesse, and the good of his people.6

6. And finally, that for his glory sake, hee will saveAnd that he will save us from Sathan that we may live to honor him. us from Sathan and from all the evils which hee intends, and seeks to bring upon us for our sinnes, and whereby he seekes to dishonour the Lord & provoke him against us, and to hinder all these mercies, and to bring all con­trary miseries and evils upon us, and upon the Church.7

7. How in all these, still [Page 109] wee are ever to seeke for hisAll still for his glory & for his Church. owne glory, and the merit of his dearly beloved Sonne, e­ver beginning and ending here with. And that our Lord Iesus Christ, may shew him­selfe gloriously both Lord and King, exercising all his Soveraignty, Dominion, and Power, for vs all; that so hee may bee glorified by us, and by all the Churches, and alsoThat he may be glorified in us, & we with him. glorifie us with himselfe for evermore. And thus much also for the order, that wee are ever, as neere as we can, to keepe in the desire of our hearts, and in all the requests which we make unto his glo­rious Majesty.

The fift generall Meditation.
Fiftly the power and efficacy of our prayers made and perfor­med in all things, according to the heavenly patterne.

VVE are in this Meditati­on, to have a due con­sideration & pondering here­of:To Meditate how the foure former performed a­right, we shal be assured of this, viz. to be heard. that the foure former things being performed ac­cording to the rule and di­rection of our Saviour, this fifth will follow of it selfe, that is to say; that our blessed God will give us a strong as­surance to be heard; and so, that wee shall see the power and efficacy of our prayers in all accordingly; which wee are seriously to meditate of, untill wee can feele our hearts [Page 111] to pray in faith, and in con­fident boldnesse of his good­nesse to grant our requests.

The first particular Meditati­on of the fift generall, That when we can so pray, he will manifest himselfe our tender Father.

FIrst, that when wee shallSo praying ioyntly he will give a witnesse to each soule and set to his seale that he is our Father. joyntly thus cry unto him, he will not onely give a witnesse to every one of vs in our soules, that hee is our Fa­ther, and set the seale thereof in our hearts (as was saide) making us able to call himRom. 8. Abba, O Father, which is ten thousand times more worth then all our labour herein can be; but will moreover shew himselfe to us so praying, not to each in particular alone,Shew him selfe to us all from heaven to be our Father. but also to all the Churches in generall, & that even from [Page 112] heaven; to bee our gracious and tender Father, yea that hee will so shew himselfe to us, as ever he shewed himselfe to Israel, or to any of his in former Ages, howsoever heeThough he more humble us first. may first humble us, and dreadfully awaken us all, to make us more earnestly and joyntly to cry unto him.

The second particular Medita­tion of the fift generall, How hee will from heaven shew us his glory, when wee can so pray.

SEcondly, that then wee2. That he wil also shew us his glory for his Church more then ever formerly in this last age. may truly hope, that hee will from heaven once againe shew his glory for his Church, more then ever in this last Age of the world, now that his owne gloriousNow that it is so opposed. Majesty and Children are so furiously fought against, and [Page 113] that so directly and manifest­ly, that all the world may take notice of it; chiefly by Sathan and Antichrist, and by all their forces. That he will then evidently declare the glorious riches of his Love, Wisedome, Mercy, Power, Truth, Faithfulnesse, and all his Goodnesse; both for the rescuing, the succouring, and saving of all his poore Church from the great red Dragon, the Beast and the false Prophet; and for main­tainingFor maintai­ning his owne great name, his owne honour and great Name, which they doe so oppugne; and also in get­ting himselfe a gloriousAnd getting himselfe a glorious victory. victory & triumph vpon them all, as hee did vpon Pharoah, Senacherib, Haman, or any o­ther of his proud enemies, or of the enemies of his Church. Yea, we may then expect thatThis we may expect he will do by themselves. hee will doe this, in fighting against them by themselves, [Page 114] making their owne rage their ruine, their owne counselles their owne confusion, and the covering of their faces, and in turning all to his owne glory,To their con­fusion: hap­piness of his. with the greatest joy and hap­piness to his chosen flock and children for ever.

The third particular Meditati­on of the fift generall.

3. VVE are withall toHow he will then give us assurance of his kingdome to come with power. meditate infaith; How when hee hath prepared and set our hearts in order thus to pray, he wil then from heaven cause his owne King­dome to come with power: how thē our Lord Iesus Christ whose the kingdome is, to whom the Father hath speci­ally committed the governe­ment of it, will then advance his owne Scepter, the true Scepter of righteousness, even his heavenly Gospell amongst [Page 115] his very enemies; that then, his greatest enemies shall fall downe before him & lick the dust, in acknowledgement of their owne natural wretched­ness, and of their willing sub­mission to Iesus Christ, or pe­rish for ever. How then ourRuinate the kingdome of Sathan and Antichrist. Lord and Saviour will once agayne cause Sathan to fall down from heaven like light­ning,Luke 10, 18. ruinating his kingdom, and specially the kingdom ofConsume An­tichrist. Antichrist; how he will con­sume that great Antichrist by the breath of his mouth, and utterly abolish him by the brightness of his comming. But the new Hierusalem heeCause the new Ierusa­lem to come from heaven, as a Bride prepared to meete her Husband. Apoc. 22. will cause to descend from heaven as a Bride trimmed & prepared to meete her Hus­band, and then will he set up and manifest before all the world the glory of his Maje­sty, and of the glorious King­dome of his Son our Saviour, [Page 116] with the felicity and glory ofAnd all in such sort as he hath fore­told. all his Saints, in that manner which he hath foretold in his heavenly word; and in all things which are not yet ac­complished concerning the same, every thing in their owne due time and season.

The fourth particular Medita­tion of the fift generall.

FOurthly, we are wisely toThy will bee done. &c. meditate in faith, How then he will accomplish andHe will then fulfill what­ever not yet accomplish­ed concer­ning his ene­mies, or his servants. fulfill all his holy will and counsell, even whatsoever he hath spoken by the mouthe▪ of any of his holy Prophets, which is not yet come to passe, executing both all his judgements upon all his and his Churches enemies, & per­forming whatsoever hee hath foretold and promised to his Saints. How then he wil cer­tainly put into the hearts of [Page 117] all, and namely of the Kings, which had formerly given their power vnto the Beast, to give all their power and au­thority to Iesus Christ, to ful­fill his will, for the full execu­tionAnd put new chearfulness into all the hearts of his, to do all his will. and performance hereof, and that cheerefully, wisely, & faithfully, like as i [...] is done in heaven: and more specially to every one that can so call up on his blessed name; accor­ding to the measure of Grace and Power given to each in his place. Then he will effe­ctually so encline our hearts as that this shall be our meate and drinke to do his will, and that wee shall never depart from him any more.

The fift particular Meditation of the fift general: How hee will then deliver and feed his people.

FIftly, then we are withallG [...]ve us this day our das­ly bread. heere to meditate in faith, and in all confident assurance,How hee will deliver his people from all their mi­series. how he will from heaven de­clare his fatherly and tender care for all his children thus crying to him, to deliver them from all their bondage, Fa­mine, Sword, and other mise­ries, which they have endured by their merciless enemyes, whether bodily or spirituall: thus wiping away all teares from their eyes, so far as shall be most for his owne glory, and for their good. Then will he feed them with bread, asFeede them from heaven. from heaven, ministring a­bundantly al good things un­to them, according to the dayes wherein they suffered [Page 119] adversitie, recompensing thē double into their bosomes in all joy and heavenly felicitie,Recompen­sing them double. heere to be begun, and in an unspeakeable mannar to bee accomplished in the heavens.

The sixt particular Meditation of the fift generall: How then he will clense his people from their sinnes, and write his law in their hearts.Forgive us our trespas­ses as▪ &c.

SIxtly, we are likewise seri­ously and ioyfully to bee pondering heereof: How thenTo meditate. he will forgive all the sinnes of his children according toHow then he will forgive the sinnes of all his people his gracious promise, and re­member their iniquities no more, when they shall cry un­to him by a lively Faith, as to their heavenly Father, burning with the zeale of his glorie and kingdome, and that all his divine wil may bee so ac­complished. [Page 120] That then he will open all our blind eyes to seeMake us see our pollutions our natural pollution and un­cleanness, yea to beholde all out filthy sinnes, whereby we are defiled and loathsome in the eyes of our heavenly Fa­ther▪ and will withall make usAnd the fountaine o­pen to u [...] all. Zach. 13. [...]. to behold the fountaine of his Sonnes blood open to all the house of Israel for sin and for uncleanness. Then vvill he make all sorts that are his, e­ven all his elect, as much toAnd to long after it. long after that Fountaine, as ever any did after the poole ofIohn 5, 3. Bethesda: and most gladlie to do whatsoeuer he hath apoin­ted for the purging and clen­sing of themselves, and of all his Church from all her ini­quities.How he w [...]l then make our Repen­cance sound.

And how to the end that our turning and repentance may be no longer formall (as it hath beene for the most part heeretofore, when wee [Page 121] have cryed unto the Lord in our troubles, to be delivered from our distresse▪ and after­ward have returned to our iniquities againe) but that it, and every part of it, may bee sound, and unfeigned, he will make every one of his owne cry with persecuting Saul, Acts. 9. 6. Lord what wilt thou that I should doe? Then hee will putPut his Law in our minds &c. Icr. 31. 33. his Law into our minds, and write it in our hearts, accor­ding to his most gracious and blessed promise, when hee in­tendes to save his Church in such sort, as wee have just cause to hope hee is about to doe. Hee will cause us ten­derlyCause us to forgive and pitty one an­other. Esay. 11. 6. to forgive and pitty one another; the Wolfe to dwell with the Lambe, and to desire to make all our very enemies partakers of the same mer­cies, and will keep us all that are his, that we may no more depart from him.

The seuenth particular Medita­tion of the fift generall, How wee shall see him delivering his flock from Sathan, and dissolving all his cursed workes.

SEuenthly, wee are more­overLea [...] us not into tempta­tion. to Meditate in faith, how then he will restraine the rage and power of the Temp­ter,To meditate how then he will restraine the tempter. reseuing his poore Lambs out of the jawes of the roaring Lyon. How he willDissolve his workes. then destroy and dissolve all the cursed workes of Sathan; discover his depthes, and allDiscover his depths of wickednesse. the wickednesse of his In­chāters, Sorce [...]ers, Charmers, Witches, aud of all the rest of his crafty, malicious, and ac­cursed instruments; making their madnesse manifest to all, and what practises they have used against all▪ even a­gainst [Page 123] Christian Kings andAgainst all nations. Princes, Nations and people, to harden & turne them from the faith, as Iannes and Iam­bres 2. Tim. 3▪ [...]. did to harden Pharaoh, and as Elimas against the De­puty, and Simon Magus a­gainstHow the Kings of the earth who have given their power to the Beast have been deluded. Apo. 9. 3. 4. &c. 16. 13. [...]4. Samaria. How these and the Locusts comming out of the bottomlesse pit, have caused them to give their power to the Beast, and to fight against our Lord Ie­sus Christ.

And furthermore how thenHow he [...] then cause their inchant­ments to [...]. hee will cause all their witch­crafts & inchantmēts to cease, as they began so to cease at y• first comming of our Saviour in the flesh, and chiefly at the comming downe of the holy Ghost, and at that powerfull and effectuall▪ spreading of the Gospell, in every coun­trey wheresoever it so came▪

Yea, how then all such de­ceivers shall curse their Gods, [Page 124] and gnaw their tougnes forHow all de­ceivers shall curse their Gods, and g [...]aw their tongues. sorrow, being inforced with that wretched Balaans, who loved the wages of iniquity, to acknowledge, that there is no sorcerie against Iacob, nor any divination againstNumb. 23. 23. Israel. How then wee shallHow Christ will be then wonderfull in saving his Church. see him whose name is Won­derfull, to shew himselfe won­derfull in the saving of his poore Church and Children from the power and fury of the great red Dragon, and in delivering us all in an admira­ble manner, from all these in­numerable evils, which he & all his instruments have so long practised, & so malici­ously & dreadfully intended & do still intend against his poor Church; whereupon he so castethout of his mouth all this huge flood of waters af­ter her, to cause her to be car­ried away of the same at once; and by which the proud [Page 125] enemies, have so cast lots up­onHester. 3. 7. all that truly love and be­leeve in his name, and as cer­tainlyState myste­ryes. determined and set downe our day, so soone as ever their opportunity shall serve, as Haman had against the Iewes.

The eight particular Meditati­on of the fift generall, How then hee will declare himselfe sole Monarke, and to whom all glory belongs.

EIghtly, we are yet furtherFor thine is the king­dome, &c. to Meditate according to this heavenly direction, howTo meditate how Christ will then de­clare his So­veraignety. then he will declare himselfe before all the earth, to be the onely absolute Soveraigne Lord and King, the sole and mighty Monarch of all the world, that all power▪ is his, and to him alone belongs all glory and honour, when hee [Page 126] shall thus shew himselfe so gloriously for his Church, in such a wonderful deliverance, in such unexpected and even incredible mercies to her (IAnd get him­selfe glorie upon his proudest ene­mies. mean incredible to all humane reason) and when hee shall so get himselfe glory uppon his proudest enemyes, and make all the world to see, that hee hath overturned all their wis­dome,Making all their coun­sels & power to serve him. power, and furie, ma­king it to serve hereunto; and finally, that hee hath in all things so farre forth, accom­plished whatsoever hee hath spoken ever since the begin­ning.

And likewise wee are ear­nestlyHow he will then maniseft that all the enemies have fought a­gainst him. to meditate, & to com­fort our selves heerein▪ That then he will make it manifest, that the greatest enemies of the Church, have in all their [...]age not fought agaynst his Children, poore wormes, dust and ashes, for then they had [Page 127] surely prevailed long agoe, to have destroyed his whole Church out of the earth; but that they have fought even a­gainst our Lord Iesus▪ Christ, this great King of kings, andThis will cause all to acknowledge his Sove­raignty. Rom. 14▪ Lord of lords. Thus will hee cause all, both men and deuils to acknowledge and [...]say▪ For thine is the kingdome, power, & glory: and all the Children of God to sing with all the holie Angels, and all the hosst of Heauen, Halleluj [...]h. Praise yeHis Angels & Sa [...]hts to sing Halle [...]. Apoc. 19, 6. the Lord: for the Lord▪ God omnipotent reigneth, ye [...], to fall upon their faces before the Throne, and to worship our God▪ saying Am [...]n. Bles­sing, glory, wisedome, thanks­giving, honour, power▪ andApo. 7, 11, [...]. might be unto our God for e­ver and ever.

The ninth particular Meditati­on of the fif [...] generall: How we are never to rest, till wee can reioyce and triumph in the assurance of Faith, crying [...]oyntly, Amen.

AND to conclude thisAmen. poynt, wee are ever to meditate seriously hereof, andNeuer to give over our Meditations and prayers untill we can by them [...] [...]n Faith, Amen: reioycing & triumphing in our assu­rance to bee heard in all. never to give our hearts any rest, untill we can through the [...] of our Faith, rejoyce and even triumph continually with the Holy Angels: That how impossible soever these things may seeme to flesh and blood, and how incredible in the eyes of the world yet he will certainly accomplish thē all, in what time measure, and manner shal seeme best to his wisedome, accordingly as he hath foretold. And that, even then, when so many of us, as have, or can but unfeignedly [Page 129] begin to set our selves in all things to walke hvmbly with him, shall likewise bee stirred up by his blessed Spirite, thus joyntly to cry unto him: for that, hee having taught andReasons of our assurance from his 1. Commande­ments. 2. Promises. 3. Inclining & preparing our hearts. commanded us thus to pray, and having given us so many assurances, that being such, & praying thus, he wil heare us: and finally, hee enclining and setting our hearts as with one accord, thus to importune him heerein, we can make no doubt of gracious audience, and a happy answere from his heavenly Majesty, even when we can joyntly crie in Faith, Amen. Euen so come Lord Ie­sus, come quickely,

Amen, A­men.

The Sixt generall Me­ditation.
How all but those that are thus qualified are excluded from helping the Lord, and doe ra­ther pull downe his wrath up­on his Church.

SIxtly, we are to bring our hearts yet further to a se­riousTo meditate, How al other are excluded Meditation hereof like­wise; That all other who are not so qualified, at least in the earnest desire and constant re­solution of their hearts: and much more all who are con­trarily affected in any of these things thus necessarily requi­red in our preparation: and so all that beleeue not the word of the Lord in such manner, as to be fully perswaded of the truth of his promises and [Page 131] threatnings, are excluded by the Lord himselfe, from be­ing any meete helpers in this worke.

The First Meditation hereof, to be seriously pondered.

1 THat all such as live se­curely in theyr owneFirst: As All living se­curely exclu­ded. wayes, without any due re­gard of the Lord, and of his poore Church, are exclu­ded hence; even all such, as who albeit the Lord shewe such manifest token [...] of his heavy displeasure agaynst his owne people and children for their sinnes; and although they see his Glory, Gospell▪ & People, to bee so generally trampled under foot, our lord Iesus Christ to be ready utter­ly to be thrust frō his throne, and his members in such mi­serable distress, or imminent perill▪ yet they care for none [Page 132] of these things, but only mind their owne courses, and seeke to satisfy their owne wils and desires, as all our worldlings▪ and all the prophane sort in generall do.

Yea, all such are shutte2 All who do not in com­miseration come to help him, and his poor church. out as unmeete, who are not now in a tender commiserati­on of the wofull estate of all the Lords people, de [...]irous to obey our Lord Iesus Christ, comming to helpe him and them all, in what thing soe­ver he shall make knowne un­to them, that he stands in need of their helpe, and so calls for it at their hands; and who en­deavour not unfeignedly to doe whatsoever he requireth, tending thereunto. And that this must needs be so for these reasons following, which are therefore every one of them to be seriously meditated of, and pondered, until we know our selves to have passed the [Page 133] danger of them.

The first reason to be seriously meditated of.

1 FOr that al such who re­gardReasons. him not in his poore and needy members,All such must be separated at the last day. must be separated from these whom our Saviour calles, The blessed of his Father, and must stand at his left hand among the Goats, and must then hear the wofull doome at that last dreadfull day; Go ye cursed in­to everlasting f [...]re prepared for the Divell and his Angels, when I was an hungrie you gave mee no meat: when I was thirsty you gave me no drinke; when I was s [...]ke and in prison, you visited me not; when I was naked, you cloathed me not; when I was a stranger and harbourlesse, you tooke me not in, &c. And there­fore if it shall be so with these at that day, then certainely [Page 134] they must needs bee rejected by him, as utterly unmeet for this service; who now that he calles for these duties at theyr hands, and that so lowd, as all the world doth ring thereof; yet are deafe in all, in regard of any commiseration. For what King▪ General, or Com­mander, will ever willinglie have any admitted into pay to fight under them, but onely such as they know to be loy­ally and faithfully affected to­wards them; and which doe lay to heart, their honours, causes, and quarrels, as if they were their owne: much lesse then can we thinke, that the Lord of heaven & earth (who needes none of our helpe, but can get himselfe the victorie over his enimies by the breath of his nostrils when it plea­seth him) will admit of any o­ther to be with him, and to helpe him in this great work, [Page 135] wherein he will so highly ho­nour them; but onely so ma­ny as shall bee loyally and heartily affected towardes his Majesty, his causes, and chil­dren.

The second reason to be seriouslie thought of.

SEcondly, we are seriouslie to lay to heart, and to be­thinke2. All exclu­ded living in any one gross sinne impe­nitently, for that they are both blinde and deafe. our selves in time if we would be helpers herein, That all such who live in any one gross sinne impenitently, and much more in any one of those notorious abhominati­ons which broght that dread­full Captivity upon Iudah; & which the Lord hath caused to be set so lively before the face of all by y• holy Prophets themselves, together with the vengeance denounced for them, are also utterly exclu­ded; especially, if they live [Page 136] therein scandalously, to the slander of the Gospell, or the offence of others, to harden them in their courses; for that all such are both blinde and deafe, and make others so.

Such cannot see the wrathThey see not Gods wrath rushing on themselves, much lesse can they see it rushing on others. and vengeance of GOD, cer­tainly rushing upon thēselves for their owne sinnes wherein they lye, much less can they see that which is rushing up­on all the Churches for theyr security, and abuse of the gos­pell; and least of all can they discerne of any wrath concei­ved agaynst our selves: forThey per­ceyve not our sinnes. that they consider onely, that we yet live in peace, but per­ceyve not at all the multitude and heynousness of our most odious and lowd-crying sins, agaynst which the Prophets so thunder out the vengeance of the Lord, and for which all who are wise-hearted indeed and whose eyes GOD hath [Page 137] rightly opened, doe feare and tremble.

They can neyther see anyNor any to­kens of Gods displeasure. Nor the furie of the Chur­ches Ene­mies. tokens of the Lords displea­sure, nor yet discerne the ene­mies raging so furiously a­gaynst all the Churches a­broad, as by their most deepe and bloody practises, threats, and intendments they daylie manifest to all the world; no not those enemies which bee in our very bosomes, such as all those are, who beare evill will against Sion. They per­ceiueNor the mul­titude of Lo­custs sent out of the bot­tomless pit. not the multitude of Locusts with such stinges in their tails, sent out of the bot­tomelesse pit to all the Kings of the earth, to draw them all if it were possible, & certainly every one of them, so farre as ever the Lord shall permit them) to take up arms against our Lord Iesus Christ, and his poore Church.

They are deafe, and cannot [Page 138] heare the cry of their pooreNor heare the cryes of Gods poore children, much lesse his call to repentance. brethren, though sounding daily in their eares, so as to take any true pitty of them; how then should they heare the cry of the Lord, calling to themselves and all other to repent, so to prevent and pa­cifie his wrath.

Concerning these so con­tinuing,Gods wrath upon all such in blinding their eies, & hardening their hearts. the holy Ghost oft declareth the heavy wrath of God that is upon them. That he hath blinded their eies, and made their eares dull of hea­ring,Esay. 6. 9. 10. hee hath hardened their hearts; least they should seeRom. 11. 8. with their eies, and heare with their eares, and convert and be saved. And yet more, for a further execution of his just and most heavy displeasure upon such as so harden and fatte themselves against his most terrible threats, thus dreadfully doth the holy Ghost bring in the Prophet [Page 139] David, denouncing Gods vengeance against them, say­ing, Let their table bee a snare Rom. 11. 9. and a net▪ and a stumbling block for a recompence unto them.

These therefore, especiallyEsay. 56. Esay. 22. all blind watchmen, crying Peace, Peace, and all is well,Especially upon all blind watch­men calling for all the beasts to de­stroy. and so lulling themselves and all others asleepe, call for all the Beasts of the forrest to de­stroy; even for all the cruell enemies of Christ, & his true Church, to invade and make havocke of all the rest of the Churches, as of some others they have done before. How then should these pray for the Churches, when they cannot either see or heare any token of Gods wrath, so as to cause them to seeke to appease it, or pray for themselves; how should they then pray for o­thers, especially for those whom in their hearts they scorne, onely because theyPsal. 14. 6. [Page 140] feare and put their trust in the Lord alone.

The third particular reason hereof to be throughly medita­ted of.

THirdly, wee are in feareAll the threatnings in the booke of God a­gainst such sins & sinners are against them. and trembling to Medi­tate, How all the threatnings in the booke of God, which are against those sinnes, wher­in they live impenitently a­gainst the light of their owne hearts, & against such sinners, are against them; and parti­cularly those which are a­gainst such, as will not sub­mit themselves to walke in obedience to all the Com­mandements and ordinances of the Lord, but will walke stubbornely against him, though it bee but in any one sin; That he will walke stub­bornly against them, and the like denuntiations; a [...] those, [Page 141] Levit. 26. 14. 15. 23. 24. Deut. 28. 15. 21. &c. 47. 48. Deut. 29. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. &c. But not soNot any one promise un­till they re­pent. much as any one promise from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation, which they can take hold of, as belonging to themselves, so long as they continue so to walke. They are manifestly excluded from medling with the Covenant of God. Psal. 50. from verse 16. to the end of it. But unto the wicked, said God, what hast thou to doe to take my Covenant into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to bee reformed, and hast cast my Co­venant behind thee? When thou sawest a theefe, thou didst runne with him, and thou hast beene partaker with the Adulterers, &c. Where he reckoning up some particular sinnes, shew­eth plainly, that every such sin lived in obstinately, and with [Page 142] delight, utterly excludes from all comfort in the Co­venant of Grace and mercy in Christ. And that they one­ly who offer to God praise, and unfeignedly indeavour to pay their vowes unto him, that is, to yeild to him a per­fect & intire obedience, have the promise and comfort of the Covenant.

These may call upon him in the day of trouble, com­mingPsal. 50, 14. 15 with confidence to the Throne of Grace, and lifting up pure hands without stag­gering or doubting; and hee will hear them, that they may glorifie him accordingly. But otherwise, be they never so forward in profession, and let them never so much thereup­on flatter themselves, yet they shall heare this insteed of any comfort, I know you not, depart from me ye that worke iniquitie. How then can they imagine [Page 143] to be accepted in this worke, or that God should vouchsafe so much as to heare others praying for them, that they may be saved, until they turne and submit themselves whol­ly unto him. We ought ther­fore to labour to bring our hearts, to be able with feare and trembling, to heare and receive that sweet counsell of the Lords, Psal. 50. 22. Oh con­sider this; ye that forget God, lest I teare you in peeces, and there be none that can deliver you. He that offereth me praise, shall glo­rifie me, and to him that dispo­seth his way aright, will I sh [...]w the salvation of God: That is, onely to such a one.

The 4. particular Reason hereof, to be thorowly laid to heart.

FOurthly, wee are in feare4. Reason. and trembling to lay this further to heart, How everie [Page 144] notorious sinner, though it beEvery notori­ous sinner helpes to pull downe the vengeance on all. but in one onely sinne, helpes to pull downe the vengeance of God upon all, and to hin­der the prayers of all the rest, so much as the sin of one man can do, as was noted before. Like as Achan did by his Sa­criledge: yea, if it bee but in flying for feare, from his of­fice injoyned by the Lord, for the saving of his people, or neglecting it, as Ionah: for whose sinne the storme could not be stayed, untill hee vvas cast into the Sea. And much more all they who wallowing in their wickedness, doe callEsay 5. good evill, and evill good; light darkness, and darkness light. For that these, as they hale on iniquity as with cart­ropes, so they violently draw downe the vengeance of God upon all, as much as such sin­ners can. Eyther the Waters of the old world, as did the [Page 145] Gyants before the Flood, if they be such, or fire & brim­stone, as did the filthie Sodo­mites, if they live in those sins of theyrs; as namely, in Pride, fulness of Bread, aboundance of Idleness, not regarding to strengthen the handes of the poore. Or finally, if they be but any way Oppressours or Spoylers of Gods people and Children, their sinnes crye for other Oppressors & Spoy­lers in Gods just vengeance to be sent to oppress and spoile them and theirs, as it came fearefully to pass in the Cap­tivitie. And therefore thus haling down vengeance, how can they pray to turne it a­way.

The Fift reason heereof to be se­riously meditated of.

FIftly, wee are to strive to bee thoroughly touched [Page 146] with the right understanding5. All exclu­ded who have no com­passion of their Brethe­ren in their miseryes. & lively feeling hereof, That they who have no mercie nor compassion on their Brethren in their miseries bodily or spirituall, can looke for no mercy nor compassion. And much more, they who add af­fliction to the affliction of them whom God hath woun­ded, whereas they should af­foord comfort to them as live­ly feeling members of ye same true mysticall body of our Lord Iesus Christ: yea all who do but stand on the other side in the day of their Brethrens miseries, and doe not at least with faithfull Abraham, pray earnestly for them, as hee for them of Sodome. Yea, which is more dreadfull, if they doe not to the uttermost of their power, as God cals them, and offers them opportunitie andIf they doe not adven­ture them­selve▪ for their brethrē meanes) adventure thēselves for their Brethren carryed a­way [Page 147] captives, to the dishonor of the Lord, and the shame of his whole Church and Gos­pell, they can looke for no commiseration, no not in their owne extreamest calamities; though they howl upon their beds in the feare or feeling of their miseryes; or roare and tumble as wilde Bulles taken in nets; much less can they hope to be admitted to this holy worke thus to helpe the Lord, before they have bene truly humbled for this sinne, and haue brought their hearts to such a lively sense and fee­ling of the miseryes of theyr Brethren, as that their bow­els can earne over them for the same.

The sixt Reason to be rightly considered of.

SIxtly, we are seriously to [...]. Reason. thinke heereof, and not to [Page 148] rest before we have brought6. None can be right hel­pers but one­ly those vvho can more lay to heart the causes of God and his people, then their owne. our hearts to a right conside­ration of it, That none but onely those who can so lay to heart the dishonors done un­to his Majesty, in the blas­pheming of his great and glo­rious name; the trampling under foot his Gospell and people, as that they can at least unfeignedly desire and labour to bee more troubled for the same, and more hum­bled in themselves for them, then for any private evill that can betide thēselves or frends, can possibly be meete for this worke. For that if we do not so highly esteeme and prefer his glory and Gospell, as that in regard thereof, we can even neglect and despise our selves we do exceedingly dishonour and despise him, and therefore must looke to bee despised of him, and so have all our pray­ers, and all service in this be­halfe [Page 149] untill that time utterly rejected.

The senenth reason to be serious­ly Meditated of, That none can be admitted, who will not cest away their sinne, though as deere as their right eye.None m [...]ete but they who indeavour to turne from every evill way.

THis is above all (though touched in part before) to bee deeply and duely pon­dered, to bring our hearts to a true beleeving and feeling of it: that not any but such as now harken to his loud cry to repent and turne from all their evill wayes, even in e­very particular can bee meete for this, though their sinne be as deere unto them as their right eye, if they love i [...] more then the Lord Iesus, they cannot bee worthy of him.Mat. 5. 29. Therefore sith God hath threatned all such, that they must be cast into hell fire, and [Page 150] so perish eternally from his presence; how can they ever imagine to bee admitted to this worke, seeing they can­not stand before him. Or ifAnd to re­ceive the love of every part of Gods truth. 2. Thess. 2. 10. they be such as have not, no [...] yet will receive the love of the truth, so as to obey it in what they know, that they may be saved; or such as whenRom. 1. 21. they know God, they will not set themselves to glorifie him as God; but contrarily will more and more dishonor him by going on obstinately in their sinnes; or such as haveEzek. 14. 3. set up any stumbling block of their owne wicked imaginati­on to worshipe it; how can they thinke to bee helpers herein unto the Lord for all others.Though they flatter them­selves God will not be mercifull to them. Deut. 29. 19.

Howsoever they flatter themselves that they shall do well enough, though they live in that sinne for a time, or at least a little, and that they [Page 151] shall have peace, that God will bee mercifull unto them, notwithstanding all that hee hath denounced to the con­trary: yet the Lord hath toldDeut. 19. 20. us plainly, that he will not be mercifull to any such but will make his wrath smoake a­gainst then, untill they bee consumed. Hee hath decla­redBut will give them up to be deluded. 2. Thess. 2. 11. to all the world, that such shall be either given up to be strongly deluded by Anti­christ, or by some other like delusion; that they shall beeAnd in the end to a re­probate sense. Rom. 1. 28. given up in the end to a re­probate sense▪ as hee gave up the very Gentiles for abusing but the light of Nature; yeaEzek. 14. 14. That Gods owne Pro­phets shall helpe to de­ceive such. that Gods owne Prophets shall helpe to deceive such, to sooth them in their evill way; answering them according to their owne evill heart. That thus the stumbling block which any one hath set up to worship, and wherein he hath [Page 152] preferred the obeying & ser­ving of his owne lusts before his obeying & serving of the Lord Iesus, shall be his ruine and destruction. And there­fore no such man so long as hee continueth obstinately in his sinne can hope to bee ad­mitted, or to have any hand or part in this holy worke.

The eighth reason hereof, That but inclining to any fin, God will not heare us.

ANd more then all this to awake our consciences yet more fully, the LordIohn. 9. 31. would have us further to thinke of this deeply, that hee which inclineth to any wick­ednesse in his heart; but to any one sinne, desiring to have hisProv. 28. 9. corrupt lust satisfied in it, contrary to the light of his conscience, his prayer even for that is a bhominable, soPsal. 66. 18. [Page 153] that God will not heare him, as David professeth of him­selfe.

The ninth reason hereof to bee e­ver in our hearts, That who­soever is not with our Savi­our is against him.

TO shut up all briefly,None but they who in all things in­deauour to be with our Saviour are true disciples this is never to be out of our hearts. That whosoever is not with our Saviour, is a­gainst him; whosoever indea­voureth not to bee so with him, so to follow and helpeMat. 12. 30 him, as a true Disciple and souldier, to be furnished with every of the former qualities; to bee armed with every part of the compleate Armour of a Christiain; to be in all things such a one as hee hath so pre­scribed; yea, who will not bind & set himselfe constant­ly to keepe his watch, but sometimes give liberty to his [Page 154] owne euill heart, hee cannot have any true hope to bee ad­mitted to this worke, but inOur danger in approach­ing neere to our God with out a warrāt. 2 Sam. 6, 7. pressing in, to helpe without a warrant, as Vzzah did to stay the Arke-tottering, is in danger of Gods heavy displea­sure, and to have his prayer turned into sinne. That it shal so come to pass unto him, as unto those who would go toNumb. 24, 40, 41, &c. Deut. 1, 41, 45. fight without y• Lord. He may looke for a curse in stead of a blessing, & to have the Lords hand stretched out agaynst him, to fall and flye before his enemyes. Till this time, eve­ry such a one may be afraid ofExod. 19, 24. comming neere the Moun­taine, of putting his hand to the Arke; of rushing into the battle without Armor, & may look to speed as he that came to the marriage, without hisMath: 22, 11, 12, 13. wedding Garment.

The second particular Medita­tion of this sixt generall, Who may with hope and confidence offer themselues.

NOW upon all these and the like grounds, we are to labour yet further to bring our hearts to a right under­standing, and a more thorovv apprehension of that second generall Meditation, togither with this which followeth:Onely they who are so qualified as the Lord re­quires, are the men whō he cals. to wit, That those and they a­lone who are so qualified, and every way so fitted as are be­fore described, are the men whom indeed the Lord at this day looks for: and which can say with the Prophet Esay, Esay 6, 8. Lord heere I am, admit me for one of those whose help thou wilt accept. For Lord, thou knowest, that to my poore power, and that measure of grace which thou hast vouch­safed [Page 156] me, I have in all things unfeignedly desired to be pre­pared and fitted to helpe thee and thy poore Church. Ac­cept of my feeble desires, and supply that which is wanting. Thy grace is sufficient for me. [...]. Cor. 1 [...], 9. Thy power is seene in the greatest weakness. Lord thou that seest all hearts, hast tryed my heart and my [...]eynes, how unseignedly I have sought thee heerein, contending to walke before thee, and as in thy presence continually, and to bee kept undefiled, from whatsoever might any vvay offend thy most holy eyes. Though I be weake and un­worthy, and have had excee­ding many slips, wants, and faylings, yet for the worthy­ness of thy Christ, admit of those (though so feeble) de­sires which thou hast vouch­safed me. Giue me my press­money, the earnest and seale [Page 157] of thy holy Spirit. My heart is prepared to doe thee the faithfullest service that ever thou shalt enable me. Lord, by such poore weake Wret­ches, and at their praiers, thou hast bin wont to get thy selfe the victorie, that no flesh should rejoyce in thy pre­sence, but that all glorie, ho­nour, and praise may be given to thee alone for evermore.

Reasons to be seriously weighed; that onely such can looke, or hope to have acceptance here.

1. THat these onely are in a true League & Co­venant with God; and there­uponThese only in a true league with God. Deut. 16, 17, 18, 19. are such as his heaven­ly Majestie doth not disdaine to call his Friends, as Abra­ham was called the Friend of God. And therefore they (though they be but dust and ashes) may presume through [Page 158] the merit of the Lord Iesus to intreat even for filthy Sodom; yea, to importune his heaven­ly Majesty, and expect to ob­taine of him, that if there bee but ten righteous persons in five wicked cities, he wil spare all for ten sake.

These onely are fit men toThese fit to helpe to res­cue their Brethren from Sathan. helpe by their prayers, to res­cue their Brethren out of the hands of Sathan, and of all their cruell enemyes, vvhich have carried them away Cap­tives, and who do so insult & triumph over all, and over the Lord himself, as thinking that they have already made a conquest of all. These are theTo stay the Lords hands. Exod. 32. 20. [...]4. men, and these alone vvhich can with Moses stay the lords hands, that he should not de­stroy his people. These areTo whom he can deny no­thing. they, to whom God can de­ny nothing. Onely these, who having thus put their shooes off their feet▪ are fit with that [Page 159] holy Moses to stand before the Lord▪ to be sent to fetchThese fit to fetch Gods people out of Egypt. his people their brethren out of Egypt from the Tile-killes, and to pull them out of the middest of the fire.

These are with Aaron, tho­rowThesemeet to pacific the Lord and to stand be­tweene the living and dead. the continuall intercessi­on of our great High-Priest, meete to helpe to pacifie the Lords displeasure towards the remnant of his people, to stand betweene the living and the dead. These being supportedTo hold up their hands a­gainst Ama­lek. by Aaron and Hur can holde up their hands, till God have got himselfe a glorious victo­ry against Amalek.

These, and these alone, areTo make all creatures to be for his people untill he haue got himselfe the victory. able with Iosuah to cause the Sunne to stand still (so farre as the Lord shall see it best for his owne glory) until he shall be avenged of all his enemies; and therfore much more may they be confident in matters of less moment. For, vvhat [Page 160] cannot the prayer of FaithHeb. 11. bring to passe? These men are able with Eliah, to moove the Lord (so farre as in his divine wisedome he shall see it best)1. King. 18, 38, 39. to send fire from Heaven to consume their Sacrifices, and to make knowne to all, that he hath accepted them. And moreover to move the Lord,To move the Lord to ma­nifest the truth of his religion. to manifest to all the World (and that as clearely as if hee spake from Heaven) who is the Lord, which is his true re­ligion, and which the false:1. King. 18, 36, 37, 38, 39. Dan 3, & 6. who they are that are the true children of Iesus Christ, and who they are of the otherside that are the Servants of Sa­than and Antichrist: who are with him, who against him.

These are they▪ who vvith Mordokey and Hester, and the rest of the faithfull amongestTo reuerse Hamans de­decree. the Iewes, are able to obtain the reversing of that most bloody decree procured by [Page 161] wicked Haman against GodsHest. 8, 5, 6. people, although it be to doe all the decrees of the Medes & Persians, such as to man see­meth impossible euer to beeHest. 7, 8. reversed; and to cause Haman to be hanged upon his owne Gallowes. To turne the plot devised agaynst Gods people to their joyfullest day, a day to be remembred for ever; a day of shame and confusionHest. 8, 18. to all Gods enemies.

These are they whose prai­ersThe prayers of these ever come up be­fore the Lord and they may surely expect an answere in his due time. Acts. 10, 10, 11, 12, &c, 30. Dan. 9, 20, 23, 24. come up before the Lord, as the prayers of holy Daniel, Cornelius, and Peter, and who may looke for an answer from heaven at the evening Sacri­fice, above all that they can imagine; even by the ministe­ry of Gods blessed Angels so farre as shall be best.These may hope with Paul to save them­selues and all in the ship.

These are they that in the greatest perils of the Church, may hope through their prai­ers, with holy Paul to saveActs. 27, 24. [Page 162] themselves and all in the Ship with them, in such sort as the heavenly Wisedome shall see it best, that at least they may swimme out, though for not hearkning unto the Lord in time, they may all first suffer shipwracke, and be [...] into the Sea.

These are they, with whomWith these will Christ Iesus be in the fiery Fur­nace, and the Lyons den. at their cryes, our Lord Iesus will be, as he was with those three Worthies of the Capti­vitie, in the middst of the hot fiery Furnace, and in the verieDan. 3, 24, 25. Dan. 6. 22, 23. Lyons den with holy Daniel, to stop the mouthes of those hunger-bitten Lyons, that the least hurt shall not come unto them, more then shal be for his eternall glory, with theAnd in their greatest try­als make their inno­cency, & his religion kno­wen. Dan. 3, 29, 30, 31, &c. Dan. 4, 33, 34 Dan, 6, 22, 23. greater good of his Church & People; and by whose trialles our blessed God and tender Father, hath made knowne the truth of his Religion, and of his causes, with the inno­cencie [Page 163] of his people, to Kings, Princes and Rulers, and to cause it by them to be publi­shed, as it were to the world, like as he did when it was commanded by them to bee spred and divulged in all the Dominions of the mightie Monarchs, and so from them to goe to all other Nations with whom any of them had any trafficke or familiaritie. And by whom he hath beene wont to effect & accomplish his owne glorious workes as he hath foretold, above all that any of his owne deerest Servants could ever imagine, o [...] could have beene perswa­ded of by any humane reason, that they could ever haue bin brought to pass.

And thus much for this ge­nerallConclusion of this gene­rall Medita­tion. Meditation; viz: who they be that exclude them­selves; and also who they are, and who alone, that can everWho meete. [Page 164] looke to be committed as ap­proved of the Lord for this blessed and glorious worke. And how wee must strive toHow we must strives heere­to. passe thorow all the difficul­ties, before wee can approach with any true confidence and assurance to put our hand hereto, and much more so as to bee able to preuaile with our God to bee made as his Israel: and what confident boldnesse we may houe here­in;And what confident boldness we may then have. for that if wee bee such as these, our God is stil the same, hee is not changed, neither is there with him any variable­nesseIam. 1, 7. or shadowing by tur­ning.

The seuenth generall Meditation.
That the Lord notwithstanding graciously cals all sorts to be his helpers herein, and there­fore every one who will not strive to bee of this number, and come to bee on his side must perish, and doth iustly bring upon himselfe swift damnation.

IN this seuenth place, theThe blessed estate and honour of all admitted to this worke and contra­rily. Lord would have us seri­ously to lay to heart out of all these Meditations, the blessed estate and honour of them, who are called and admitted to this great imployment; and of the contrary, the misera­ble and wofull condition of all who any way exclude themselves; yea of all who do [Page 166] not seeke to helpe herein. And withall, how notwithstan­ding all these things, the Lord excludes none, save on­lyGod ex­cludes none but who ex­clude them­selvess. But cals all. those who (as was saide) exclude themselves; but that he cals to all, and would have all to addresse themselves, and to be meete and ready to assist & joyne with him here­in▪ and that therefore all those who will not doe their utter­most indeavour to prepare and fit themselves, are justlyThat all are iustly dam­ned who come not to helpe. damned even for this, for re­fusing to come to helpe him and his poore people in their distresse, when hee so cals on them to come; and for joy­ning with Sathan and Anti­christ his sworne enemie, e­ven against his heavenly Majesty. To make it plaine to every soule, that he cals e­very one hereunto, [...]ach is to consider well these reasons following.

[Page 167]That hee cals all to everySome rea­sons shewing that he cals all to helpe if ever they will see his face with ioy. one of these dutyes mentio­ned, in all these Meditations before, and especially to these which now follow.

1. That he cals all to beeHe cals all to be with him. on his part in the earth, that ever will bee with him in glo­ry.He cals all to regard him in his members.

2. That hee cals all to re­gard him in his poore mem­bers to the end of the world,Mat. 25. as when he is hungry to feede him, &c. To shew mercie, if ever they will find mercy.

3. Hee cals all to repen­tance,To repent & turne from all their evill wayes that they may live every one to turne from his evill way in every kinde, and much more from all those notorious abhomi­nations, which brought the wrath of God uppon Iudah, and upon other impenitent sinners in former Ages. and for which hee denounceth his vengeance; and likewise hee calleth all to awake forth of [Page 168] all their security wherein they sleepe; if ever they hope to scape his heavy indignation, & so to meete him with intrea­ty of peace, y• they may be fit to helpe to stand in ye breach. That he cals to this end, even Publicans, Harlots, Scorners of all sorts; hee stretcheth out his hands, to gaine-sayers andRom. 10. 20. 21. rebels, yea to the most noto­rious sinners that live upon the earth, thus protesting to every particular soule. As I Ezek▪ 18. 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, &c. 33, 11. The Lords protestation. live I delight not in the death of a sinnor, but rather that hee re­pent and live.

4. Hee cals all to walkeHe calls all to his Cove­nant. Lev. 26. Deut. 28. humbly in his Covenant, that he may performe all hts pro­mises unto them, and turne a­way all his heavy denuntiati­ons. Of which Covenant these are the very principall parts, to love him above all, and our neighbour as [...] selfe.

[Page 169]3. Hee cals every one soHe calls all to pray as he hath directed to pray as hee hath directed and commanded, and that for all his owne causes chiefly, as namely, the causes which con­cerne his glory, kingdome, and people; and therefore e­very one should labour to be such a one as can so pray, whereby hee makes it mani­fest to all, that hee [...] none at all, but would have all learne so to pray and to bee fitted thereunto.

6. That every generallGod calls all to lay hold of all the pro­mises of mer­cy. promise of mercy in all the booke of God cals us hereto: as the promises of forgetting our sinnes, and not remem­bring our iniquities any more and this without limitationWithout limitation of time. Ezek. 18. 21. 22. Psal. 95, 7. of time, but at what time so­euer it be, that a sinner con­verts, or without any excepti­of any sinne (save only of that vnpardonable sinne, the mali­ciousOr excepti­on of sinne. Ezek. [...]8. oppugning, & persecu­ting [Page 170] of all the knowne truthEsay. 55. 3. Or person. Numb. 21. 8. 9. of God) and without excep­tion of any person; and bids all but harken, and their souleIohn. 3. 14. 15. 18. shall live; if they can but see ye brazen Serpent, beleeve in our Saviour, hunger, thirst, and cry after him.

7. So doth every exampleAnd calls all to behold all the examples in his booke of receiving poore sinners Luk. 15. 10. of Gods mercy in receiving repentant sinners, as of Ma­nasses, Saul, Mary Magdalen, the repentant Thiefe upon the Crosse; the joy that is in heaven for the conversion of a poore sinner; the high fa­vourThe favour such are in upon their repentance. Luke. 7. 47. that upon their unfeig­ned repentance such poore wretches may know them­selves to bee in with God.Never any such a one reiected. Rom. 5. 20. That where sinne hath aboun­ded, there grace abounds much more: and never any so com­ming rejected.

Three more speciall Meditati­ons to this end. That the wise consideration of them may ne­ver go forth of our hearts un­till we be of this number.

ABove all the former, theThree things to be thought of e­ver untill we be of this number. Lord would have every poore soule to meditate most seriously, and in their most secret thoughts, of these three things following, that ye wise consideration of them may never bee from before their eies, nor the sound of them out of their eares, untill they be of this number.

The first Meditation to this end to be seriously pondered That our Lord Iesus stands conti­nually at the heart of every impenitent sinner to enter in.

[Page 172]1 HOw our Lord IesusThat the Lord hath e­ver stood & still stands knocking at the heart of every impe­nitent sinner. Christ, hath stood at the doore of their hearts all the daies of their life, calling them to repentance, to know, feare, love, obey, & beleeve in him; and that by the loud voyce, both of every one of his Creatures, of his mercies, and iudgments. And more specially, at the hearts of allChiefly of all in his Church. in his Church by his heavenly word, which he hath sent un­to them; by all the admoniti­ons,By his word▪ exhortations, reproofes, threatnings, promises, & the like; that ever he hath vouch­safed unto them by the mini­stry of his Servants, grounded upon the same word, and alsoAnd Sacra­ments. by the holy Sacraments, as namely by their Baptisme, byAs Baptisme. which hee hath beene still teaching and calling upon them even from their cra­dles, to beleeve in him and to [Page 173] serve him only, according to his blessed Commandement: to fight under his banner, for that they are such as hee hath Redeemed with a great priceAnd the Lords supper and are not their owne: and also by the holy Communi­on of his body and blood; wherein as our Saviour gives, or at least offers himselfe wholly to them, so they give againe themselves wholly un­toAnd by the good moti­ons of his Spirit. him. And not onely so, but by the good motions of his blessed Spirit, and that so oft as they have felt in them­selves holy purposes of a­mendment and turning unto the Lord.And now at this time lou­der then e­ver.

How now at this very time he still stands & knocks louder and louder then ever heretofore, by all the tokensBy all the tokens of his displeasure. of his heavy displeasure a­gainst ye severall Churches; & Rage of the enemie. all the rage and malice, which is against the whole true [Page 174] Church of Christ; yea, against every soule professing his name sincerely as they ought. And so by every of those spe­ciallOur favours. favours which wee in­joy, or which wee hereafter looke for from him; and even by this very helpe, and all o­thersThis helpe. which he offers unto us for our right and unfeigned meeting him, before his wrath bee wholly powerd out upon us, and for our true humiliation under his hand, and stooping to him in all things.

More particularly.More parti­cularly.

THat hee stands at thy [...]e stands at the heart of every one reading this or the like admonition. heart whosoever thou art, that readest or hearest this or the like admonition, crying unto thee that thou wouldest now repent unfeig­nedly of each thy fearefull sinnes, & namely of thy hard­nesse [Page 175] of heart and impeniten­cyThat they would repent of their im­penitencie. in them, whereby thou hast so long kept out thy Lord and Saviour, and onely made thy heart an habitation for Sathan, and as a den of Dragons. And that thouTo have their soules clensed. wouldest seeke now to have thy soule & conscience whol­ly clensed and purged in the blood of the Lambe, and to wash the feete of thy deere Saviour with Mary Magda­len, by the teares of thy un­feigned sorrow, for all thy former unkindness, and for thy ungraciousness, in keep­ingChiefly of ungracious­nesse in keeping out the Lord Ie­sus. out thy Lord and Saviour so long; giving unto Sathan the whole possession of thy heart, and so the very chiefe roomes thereof, & not vouch­safing unto Christ Iesus so much as entertainment within thy threshold. Then will heChrist will come to such a one. Rev. 3. 20. come in to thee, how unwor­thy soever thou art, and Sup [Page 176] with thee, and thou with him.

This shall be the joy fullest day that ever shone upon thee; for hee being in thy heart, will by his blessed Spi­rit not onely teach thee thus to pray, but will certainly make thy prayers to pi [...]rce the very heavens, and finde happy audience at the throne of Grace, chiefly in all these causes which so highly con­cerne his Majesty, his poore Church and people. He will then bring unto thee that joy with him, that goes beyond all the joy of all worldly men, and farre beyond that which all things here belowe can ever bring unto thee: That 2. Cor. 3. 9. which eye never saw, nor eare heard, nor entered into mans heart to consider of. Yea, that which shall never be taken a­way from thee, but be a con­tinuall feast for evermore.

And contrarily, if yet thou [Page 177] wilt not harken unto him, butAnd contra­rily to them who harden their hearts against Christ Iesus. still harden thy heart against him, the time shall come, that every call of his which ever thou heardest before, and hastThe sound of his calls shall ever be in their eares affrighting them. contemned, shall sound so shrill in thy eares, when it will be too late, as thou shalt have it affrighting thee per­petually. That thou never shalt have rest day nor night, for the dreadfull noyse of these many cals, because thou wouldest not harken in time, but didst put off ye day of thy repentance; and so of harke­ning to his sweet voyce of mercy, thus calling thee stilto bee partakers of his mercy, and even of this high favour, and now at day in these dan­gers of the Church in a speci­all manner above all other.

Wherefore let the counselExhortation to all to heare now. Dan. 4. 24. of the holy Ghost be now ac­ceptable unto thee, breake off thy sinnes by repentance: be [Page 178] not as the deafe Adder anyPsal. 95. 7. longer; But whilst it is now called to day, heare his voy [...]. Contemne it not now; little knowest thou, whether ever thou shalt heare it any more thus in mercy, but onely in wrath and vengeance for de­spising his long suffering, and all the riches of his compassi­on.

The second Meditation, To thinke what it is for a man to forsake his owne happinesse▪ in refusing Christs gracious call, and to joyne with Sathan against him, to his endlesse perdition.

SEcondly, the Lord calsTo thinke what it is to refuse Christs call, to ioyne with Sathan and the dam­ned. loud to every soule to be­thinke him seriously in time, what it is for a man, not onely to refuse and contemne the gracious call and service of our Lord Iesus Christ, yea all [Page 179] his favours, all his sweet pro­mises and mercies concerning both this and a better life; all the glory and happinesse of the Celestiall Canaan, the heavenly Ierusalem, where is fulnes of joy in the presence of the Lambe and at the right hand of our heavenly Father, pleasures for evermore; but of the contrary, to choose to joyne himselfe with Sathan and with all the damned, to serve under him against our Lord and Saviour.Such to be­thinke them­selves what they will doe when Christ comes.

Likewise to thinke afore­hand what such a men will doe, when hee must appeare before his glorious Majesty, when all the greatest & prou­dest of the earth, that have so set themselves against him, shall cry to the Hils & Moun­taines to fall upon them and cover them from the presence of the Lambe: so terrible shall his very presence be un­to [Page 180] them then (though a Lambe to all beleevers whoApoc. 14, 4. have heere followed him in true obedience, & to all who yet shall harken to his voyce) yea, so dreadfull shall it bee, when whatsoever tormentWhen all threatned a­gainst them shall be fully executed. and misery is denounced a­gainst them in the booke of God, to bee inflicted upon them hereafter, shall be most certainly, and fully executed, in that lake burning with fire and brimstone.

For the unfallible truth andFor the evi­dence hereof undoubted certainty hereof, the Lord cals every soule al­waiesTo behold the fearfull spectacles. to behold with the eies of their minds, not only those fearfull spectacles mentionedOf men tor­mented with horror of conscience in the Scrip­tures. in his word, of that wofull horror of conscience, which hath so surprized and over­whelmed so many of the wic­ked, whom God hath left for ensamples to all posterity, e­ven for their malicious wic­kednesse, [Page 181] though but against some one of his Servants, as namely, in Caine, Saule, A­chitophel, Iudas, and others; when they did but onely con­sider the wrath of the Lord, and his vengeance due unto them, and which would over­take them, or felt it begin­ning to seize upon them for this sinne; but moreover heeIn daily ex­amples. cals them to thinke aright of the continuall examples that hee daily seteth before their faces in the miseries of so ma­ny of his deerest Children.

How they are tormentedHow they are tormen­ted in consci­ence for par­ticular slips or failings. when their consciences are a­wakened with a right appre­hension and feare of the wrath of the Lord for their sinnes, wherein they have served Sa­than; though not taking part against his Majesty and Chil­dren; no nor so much▪ as in forsaking him, or them, or a­ny his causes; but onely for [Page 182] some particular sl [...]ps, fai­lings and infirmities, as either for some spirituall pride, or timerousnesse in fearing men more then God; and thereup­on omitting some necessary confession, or other good du­ty; or for doing some small thing against their consci­ence; or for some unbeleefe, in not being able to rest upon the Lord his love and care in the failing of outward meanes, as it was with Moses at the waters of strif [...]; or for spirituall security, for decay­ing in their first love, neglect­ing the conscionable use of meanes of grace and saluati­on, or the like.

How even these, I say,How these [...] indure the flashings of hell fire. when their consciences are throughly awaked, doe in­dure, as it were, the very slashings of hell fire; and this so dreadfully, as their miseries astonish all that behold them, [Page 183] and that they themselves doe account all outward tortures nothing in regard thereof: so that many a time with holy Iob, they wish an end wereIob. 7. 15. made of them; being oft rea­dy through Sathans malice, to lay violent hands upon themselves. Also for that they indure this so long, as that Gods hand pursues some of them, throughout their whole life: that they are usually uncapable of any comfort (though the same be sent by a messenger of God e­ven one of a thousand) except it bee a little before their death, wherein the Lord commonly vouchsafeth unto them much heavenly assu­rance and consolation.

And if it be so with theseIf it be so with these heere. here, while yet the day of sal­vation remaines, and the ac­cepted time, and also whilst they have the most excellent [Page 184] meanes to comfort them, yea, though they bee such as have felt formerly the assurance of Gods love & favour in Christ, and many lively▪ evidences thereof; & which is the chie­festThough they be most deer unto the Lord. of all, though they▪ be such as are deere and pretious un­to the Lord, and who have his holy Spirit for their ear­nest, (albeit onely for a time they want the sense & feeling of it, as it hath beene in ma­ny a soule in our memory, and is at this day: whereupon they have bene, & are so usual­ly prayed for in many of our best Congregations, from whence they looke for some helpe & comfort by the prai­ers of Gods people:) if I say it bee so with them, what canWhat shall become of all impeni­tent sinners. wee thinke shall become of the ungodly and impenitent sinners; & especially, of thoseAnd chiefly of all Christs enemies▪ enemies of Christ and his Ser­vants▪ when their consciences [Page 185] shall bee throughly awaked, and much more after this life, when their case in regard of any comfort, shall be contra­ry to the estate of these poore Servants of the Lord. If the1. Peter. 4. 18. 19. If the righte­ous be scarsly saved how they. righteous shall scarsly bee sa­ved (as Peter speaketh, and as wee see how hardly it goes with these last mentioned) where shall the wicked and ungodly appeare? If the paineIf paine of a tooth be so great, what shall their to­tall torment be. of one tooth (alone) be oft so extreame, that it permits no sleepe nor rest day nor night, when wee have all kind of o­ther comforts to mitigate and ease it, what can wee thinke the torments of all the parts both of soule and body must needs be, in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone for e­ver, where the very hope of all other comforts shall be ut­terly taken away, which not­withstanding we are certain­ly assured must come upon [Page 186] all impenitent and ungodly sinners, because the word of the Lord doth tell us so most plainly, and so oft warnes us of it. The Lord cals from heaven continually upon all who doe not repent them of their sinnes, & come to helpe him, to thinke seriously here­of, as which alone shall beeThese suffi­cient to con­vince all. sufficiently able to convince and condemme all that ever have heard the holy Scrip­tures, or but these fearfull ex­amples alone.

The third Meditation, How God herein sets before us all, life and death, blessing and cursing.

FInally, we are to bethinkeDeut. 30. 19. 20. How God sets before us life and death, bles­sing & cur­sing. our selves, in our deepest and best Meditations, how the Lord here sets before e­very soule, life and death, blessing and cursing. Life if [Page 187] we will but now set our selvesLife if we will harken to his call. seriously with all our hearts to seeke to pass all these diffi­culties; never giving rest to our soules, untill by our Me­ditations and prayers, and the right use of all other holy meanes, which in his word he hath prescribed us, wee have attained so to beleeve, and so to obey, yea in all things so to doe as hee requireth at our hands, that wee may be fit to helpe him and his poore Church. Then we shall have boldnesse whatsoever comeThat we shall not need to feare to passe; we shall not need to feare, though all our enemies were so many Divels; weeNor be dis­maied for loosing all. Mat. 19. 27. Mat. 10. 37. 38. Luke. 14. 26. But contrari­ly have bold­nesse. Prov. 28. 1. Rom. 8, 35. 36. shall not be dismaid, for the adventuring and loosing of all, Houses, Goods, Friends, Parents, Children, no nor Life it selfe: but contrarily, in the middest of death, wee shall be bold and couragious as Lyons for our Lord and [Page 188] Saviour, knowing that no­thingRom. 8. 35. 36. can separate us from Gods favour; and in the losse of all, we shall gaine all, bee in all, even in the middest ofBe more then Con­querours. Ron. [...], 37. death more then Conque­rors, thorow him who hath so loved us, and hath given himselfe for us, and shall with him triumph over all our ene­mies eternally▪

Death and cursing he like­wiseDeath and cursing in not yeelding to him. sets before us, & threat­neth them unto us undoub­tedly, without unfeigned re­pentance,Deut. 30. 19. 20. whereof wee can have little hope, if he now calling upon us thus earnestly to helpe him, by the offer of so many mercies, and such blessednesse on the one side, we will not shew our true o­bedience and uttermost in­deavour therunto; and if hee denouncing so many miseries on the other side; wee still re­fuse to harken, living securely [Page 189] and doe not regard this gra­tiousOur estate when feare▪ shall come on [...]s of a sodaine. Prou: 1, 27. Prou: 28, 1. Iob 15, 20, 21, 22. Deut: 28, 63, &c. offer of mercy. That when our feare shal come up­on us like a whirlewind, wee shall fly at the shaking of a sword, even at the very report of our enemyes prevailing, & much more of their approch­ing so neere unto us. Our hearts shal be then as Nabals, 1 Sam: 25, 37, 38. as dead as a stone, and so wee shall live in a perpetuall expe­ctation of the just wrath and vengeance of God, to seize upon us everlastingly, so that we can never expect any com­fort after.

Yea, withall we are wiselyGod bids us choose life. Deu: 30, 25. 20 and deepely to meditate here­of, how he bids us to chuse life, that wee and ours may live, by loving him, obeying his voice, & cleaving fast unto him, because he is our life, and the length of our dayes. And also how hee bidding us, will also thereby give us strength to doe it, so [Page 190] farre as we shall be accepted. If we but beleeue his blessed Commandement, and his Co­venant of grace, shall set our selves in the name, and by the power of our Lord Iesu Christ to do what we can, in and by the use of all the means which he hath ordained, for obtay­ning this strength and grace so to helpe him: and if we wil be as earnest▪ as vigilant and industrious for attaining of this honour, as we would be for the attaining of any earth­ly honour or riches.

For we cannot thinke, that ever any man who sought this after this manner was reject­ed,We cannot thinke that any one was ever reiected who sought life as they ought. to wit, if hee sought it as for treasure, that is early, ear­nestly, and constantly. And therefore all who wil not thus set themselves to obey & help the Lord, have their mouths for ever most justly stopped, being left altogether without excuse.

[Page 191]And thus much also forHow we may all be prepa­red in some good mea­sure to helpe the Lord & his Church. this last generall Meditation, and how we may in all things be in some good measure rightly and fitly prepared to helpe in instant and powerfull prayer for the poore Chur­ches of Christ, according to all whereunto the Lord now calles us, thereby to have good hope to prevayle with him. To wit, when wee shall finde our hearts so affected towards his heauenly Maje­sty, as to preferre him, his glo­ry & causes before our selves, so truly shewing that we love him with all our heart, soule, strength, and might, and our neighbour as our selfe, as hee commandeth; being so affe­cted likewise towardes them, and doing so to them, as we would have them do to us, if wee were in their estate and case.

All which, we must everie [Page 192] one strive unto, or perish; ifAll must pe­rish if they but stand on the other side Obed. 10. 11. wee but onely as wee saw be­fore, stand on the other side in the day of our Bre­threns affliction: and much more, if we will not bee mo­ved by any one meanes, nor all the meanes together, whereby the Lord calls us,Iudg. 5. 23. thus to come to helpe him; now I say that hee, even our Lord and Saviour proclaimes to all our consciences, before all the world, that hee stands in such need of our helpe, and so expects it hourely at our hands.

And this may suffice toConclusion, to be thorow­ly layd to heart, to put some more life into eve­ry soule, & to each of these meditations. prepare us all, to this happy worke of true humiliation, and of instant prayer for the Churches: onely let mee put you in minde, that our Lord Iesus Christ, to the end that hee may yet put some more life into all these Meditati­ons, and quicken us in our [Page 193] crying to him according to all the prayers following; hee calls upon us all, to have this specially ever in our hearts; and his voyce in it sounding incess [...]tly in our eares; which was in part touched before. That as the Spirit, and theHow all the distressed Parts of Gods Church cry to us to come and helpe them. Bride, doe call to our blessed Saviour to come; so first, all the distressed Churches; yea, all the members of Christ, and all the elect of God, which are under the power of Sathan, or of any cruell Ty­rants, or under other miseries, doe call and cry to every oneActs. 16. 9, 10. of us, as the man of Macedo­nia did to Paul, come & helpe us. Come helpe us by your prayers, helpe us by your teares.

And secondly, as the An­gellAnd all ac­cursed who come not. Iudg. 5. 23. of the Lord said, Curse ye Meroz, because he came not to helpe the Lord; so now hee saith, Curse ye all and every [Page 194] one of them, who come not to helpe our Lord Iesus Christ; who come not to helpe him in his poore mem­bers. And tell every one who wil not set himselfe at least in the full purpose of his heart to come; that hee hath noExcluded from the priv [...]idges of God [...] poeple. part in that heavenly prayer of our blessed Saviour; nor of the glorious priviledges and promises conteyned in it; that hee hath no part or portion in the Brother-hood, Inheri­tance, Glory, Kingdome, Re­wardes, Promises of this and the better life, Remission of sinnes, Deliverance from Sa­than, & from the evils which hee seeks to bring on all▪ that hee can have no comfort in that everlasting & everliving Amen; to whom all King­dome▪ Power, and Glory, do onely appertaine; but that he is contrarily stripped of each of these, and that our Lord [Page 195] Iesus is comming quickly inHow Christ is comming to reward e­very one ac­cording to his works▪ all Majesty and Glory, to give to every one according to his workes; to all that come, the happinesse of all these blessings; to all now re­fusing to come when he calls, the misery of all contrary curses.

Wherefore hee saith to allHow our Sa­viour cals to all to come, notwithstan­ding all ob­iections of unfitnesse. Come. Come every one, thou though be in thy filth & loathsome ragges, & all Le­prous, worthy to be thrust out of y• campe of Israel▪ & exclu­ded for evermore, yet come; strip off those rags by repen­ [...]ance; wash in ye fountaine of my blood, which is opened to all the house of Israel, and be thou cleane. Put on the gar­mentEph. 6. 13. of the righteousnesse of thy Saviour, and be glorious; put on all the compleat Ar­m our of my Spirit, in the full resolution of thy soule & be valiant, & come & helpe me.

[Page 196]Though thou have no strength but meere desires, yet come, and thou shalt bee accepted; I will not quench the smoaking flax, therefore come. Though thy desires be never so weake, yet come; my power shall bee manifested and perfected in thy weaknes. Therefore come, yea, though thou have no grace at all, yet come; hee tels thee from hea­ven, his Grace is, and shall be sufficient for thee. And final­ly, though thou have no faith to apprehend this Grace of his, but art full of unbeleefe, yet ever remember him that said, I beleeve Lord, Lord helpe my unbeleefe, and how he sped, and then thou wilt come. Yea, though thou get others to carry thee, thou wilt cer­tainly doe it, if thou canst butMar. 2. 3. Luke, [...]. 18. set before thy face, the Palsy­man, thou wilt bee glad th [...]s to come.

[Page 197]Finally, be thinke thy selfe, if ever thou canst name but one, who thus desired to come to our Saviour, in the uprightnesse of his heart, neg­lecting no meanes thereunto, who was rejected of him; but contrarily, how every one so comming hath beene graci­ously accepted and imbraced of him: as the Prodigall Son was of his Father; and then try, whether his blessed Spi­rit will not give thee Davids Psal. 27. 8. Psal. 40. 8. Zac. 13. 9. Eccho to answer to him in thy soule, Lord I come, I come, I come to doe thy will; Thy will is within my heart. Ac­cept the worke of thine ownegrace, Amen, enen so Lord Iesus, I come, I come.

Prayers according to our Sauiours dire­ction, chiefly for maintai­ning and advancing of his glory and kingdome, against the r [...]ge of Sathan and Antichrist, and for helping his poore distressed Chur­ches, with all the members of Iesus Christ, scattered over the face of the whole earth; and that the whole number of Gods e­lect may be speedi­ly gathered forth.

I. A prayer for our preparation, that wee may bee made meete to bee admitted, and may bee accepted as helpers, in this so great a worke.

AH Lord, our mostTo pray. gracious and tender Father in Christ Ie­sus, wee thy unwor­thy children heere prostrate, [Page 200] beholding how thy heavenlyThat behol­ding the e­vils against the Lord & his people. Majesty is foughten against, thy honour trampled under foote, thy kingdome & peo­ple sought to bee destroyed out of the earth, and that by Sathan & Antichrist, & other thy cruell enemies; who car­rying a mortall hate against thee, and against thy Sonne Iesus Christ, and so against thy Gospell, and people for thy cause alone, do seeke that they alone may raigne over us, and over all the world in thy place; & seeing also howThe prevai­ling of the enemie. thou hast suffered them fear­fully to prevaile, and still to proceed because of our sins, and the sinnes of all other that professe thy name; andAnd hearing the Lord cal­ling as to h [...]lpe him. hearing withall, how thou now callest us all who are thine, and in any favour with thy Maiesty, to helpe thee, and the rest of our Brethren and Sisters, thy poore chil­dren, [Page 201] in these their extreame miseries, by our prayers and teares, doe humbly intreatWe may be prepared & be admitted to this ser­vice. thee, so to prepare and fit us, that through our Lord and Saviour, wee may be accoun­ted meete to bee admitted to this so great a service.

Lord open our blind eies,To pray to be rightly touched and affected with all these things. that we may have a right view of all these things; open like­wise our dease eares, that we may heare thee calling us un­to this duty; and touch our dead hearts, that they may be truly affected herewith: ina­ble us, that thus seeing, hea­ring, and seeling, we may cryThat we may be able to cry unces­santly, untill the Lord shal shew him­selfe from heaven for his great name, king­dome, and people. unto thee uncessantly, untill thou shalt shew thy selfe from heaven to come downe▪ maintaine, and defend thine owne causes and children to rescue all thine every where both from that bodily and spirituall tyranny, and from all other dreadfull miseries, [Page 202] under which they groane; and so to judge betweene them, & betweene thine and their enemies, and to get thy selfe a gloryous name and vi­ctory in thy due time, to thine owne everlasting prayse and glory.

Oh deere Father, perswadeTo be per­swaded how the Lord seeks out a man. our hearts effectually, how now at this very day, in these fearfull times and extremities of thy poore Church (as thou hast beene wont in all former Ages) thou seekest out a man, that may stand in the breach, and how thou lookest for some, that may specially bee singled out hereunto; to helpe thee and thy poore people.

Vouchsafe (good Lord)To strive to be if not that one man, yet as one of Gedeons three-hun­dred. that every one of us may strive to bee, if not that one man, yet as some one of Gede­ons three hundreth. And to this end, that all these holy Meditations following, and [Page 203] the like, may be in our heartsTo have these medita­tions in our hearts. continually. That we may never rest untill, hereby wee may know assuredly, that thou hast called us hereunto: that thou acceptest us and our ser­vice; and that wee may never give thee over, untill wee see the deliverance and felicity of thy Sion. Grant, that so many of us as unfeignedly de­sire to bee with thy Majesty, may never give any rest unto thee, nor unto our owne soules, untill wee finde ourTo be so qualified as Christ requi­reth in his prayer. selves so qualified in all things, as thou requirest of all such, in taking to heart the dishonours done unto thy heavenly Majesty, & the op­positions against thy most glorious Gospell, and also in feeling the necessities of thy Church & people; more spe­cially in considering aright, and sensibly feeling, the mi­serable estate of all them that [Page 204] are under the spirituall bon­dage & Captivitie of Sathan, worse ten thousand times then the Captivitie and slave­ry of the Turke, or under the cruellest Tyrants in all the earth.

Grant likewise, that wee may be such, in all holy faith and obedience, and so frame our prayers, that heerein wee may thus farre prevaile with thy holinesse, that thou maiestThat we may prevaile that God may raise up some Iosephs or Daniels. raise up for thy poore Church and Children, in every part of the world, some Iosephs, or some that may be as Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, or Hester, which may obtaine favourBy whom the hearts of all Kings and Princes may be inclined to become nursing Fa­thers to his Church. with the Kings and Princes of the earth, and by whom thou maiest prepare and incline the hearts, of all Monarks, Kings, and Princes, that they may all become Nursing-Fathers, and Nursing-Mothers, to thy religion and people; and that [Page 205] all those of them, who in thy mercy are such already, by the power of thy heavenly Spirit, may bee wholly deli­vered from all the power and delusions of Sathan and Anti­christ; and daily more and more inflamed with all holy zeale for thy glory and king­dome, and all tender affecti­on towards thy children and chosen flocke: as the rage and malice of the Dragon is grea­ter against them, knowing he hath but a short time.

Vouchsafe (Oh greciousThat these all conside­ring how God hath set them up. Father) that these all consi­dering aright, how thou hast set them up, and given them all their dominions, authori­ty and power, chiefly to this end; and the great and dread­full account they must all certainly make for the same, they know not how soone: may forthwith se [...] themselves as thy faithfull Servants, Mo­ses, [Page 206] Iosuah, David, Iehosaphat, May set themselves as all worthy rulers have do [...]e, for his glory and kingdome. Hezekiah, and holy Iosiah, for thy glorious Majesty, Gos­pell, and people, onely accor­ding to thy heavenly word and will.

Grant (good Lord) thatThat thus his great name may be mag­nified. thus thy great name may bee magnified, by the powerfull comming of thy kingdome in all the world, and by the full accomplishing of all thy heavenly will, and good plea­sure, which in thine eternall counsell thou hast decreed, for the speedy gathering forth of all thine elect, and finishing of these daies of sin, and so for preparing the way to thy glorious comming.

Good Lord perswade myThat every one may be perswaded of the pre­sent necessi­ty of this worke. poore heart, and the hearts of every one of thine owne faithfull people, of the present necessity of this worke; be­cause of the danger of the so­daine approching of thy ven­geance, [Page 207] ready each houre to rush upon u [...], (like as it hath done upon others which have so professed thy name as we [...] doe) for all our fearfull sinnes: and above all, for our hai [...]ous contempt of thy heauenly Gospell; and that, notwith­standing all thy Fatherly warnings and mercies, wee have beene worse and worse unto this day. And therefore vouchsafe me this grace, that I may not deferre it one day,Not to de [...]er it one day. nor houre, but now presently whilst thou my Lord and Sa­viour dost so graciously call me, and offer me this mercy, I may seeke to bee every way prepared and fitted for it, like as thou hast so plainly [...]aught me, & so lively se [...] it before my face in y• heavenly prayer of thine, so as the simplest may read and understand.

Oh Lord Iesus, perswade my heart, that refusing or de­ferring [Page 208] now to come to helpeTo feare the curse upon Meroz. Iudg. 5. thee, I cannot escape the curse of Meroz, howsoever I may escape the present and temporall vengeance, at theThat other­wise esca­ping the tem­porall, yet we cannot the eternall ven­geance. instant cryes of all other of thy deerest servants and chil­dren, yet I can never escape the spirituall and eternall wrath. Open mine eies that ITo have our eyes open to see against whom we are to wrastle. may see, y• I am not heerein to wrastle against flesh & blood, but against principalities and powers, and the Princes of darkness of this world, which have wrought all these evils chiefly, and doe seeke the ut­ter destruction of all thy peo­ple; and that I am not nowNot for our selves onely, but for all the Church. to enter the lists with Sathan for my selfe alone, but for all the Church: that so I may putTo put on all the compleat Armour of God & f [...]and fast. on all thy compleat Armour, to quit my selfe valiantly as one of thy worthyes, and e­ver be carefull to looke to my watch and stand fast, expect­ing [Page 209] Sathans extreamest rage and fury against me, especial­ly if hee get never so little ad­vantage.

Grant unto mee to knowTo know our honour set­ting our selves aright to this ser­vice, & our safety. undoubtedly, that being thus armed, and setting my selfe with all speed and cheerful­nesse unto this worke, to bee rightly fitted to helpe thee in this greatest service; I shall have this high honour to bee of their number, of whom thou hast spoken, & to whom thou hast promised. That the innocent shall deliver the land; or at least, that thou wilt bee to mee a Sanctuary whatsoever come to passe; and though I should neither save Sonne nor Daughter, yet I shall bee sure to save my owne soule. Heare me therefore (Oh gra­cious Father) & all thy poore children, in this our humble suite, and in all other things needfull for us, or for any [Page 210] member of thy whole Church, for the Lord Iesus Christ, whom thou hast given for our grand Captaine, our onely Mediator and Advo­cate,

Amen.

II. A prayer for increase of our love to all the Children of the Lord, and for keeping a con­tinuall fresh remembrance and feeling of their estate.Prayer to be humbled that we have not learned our first les son, to have a true feeling of the estate of our bre­thren.

[Our] HVmble us (Oh gracious Father) that whereas thou hast long taught us this, as one of our first lessons in our prayers, to cry [Oh our Father] to keep therby a continuall and ever­fresh remembrance & feeling of the estate and necessities of all thy children, our Brethren and Sisters, wheresoever dis­persed and distressed in all the [Page 211] world; and so to binde our hearts togither in the bond of love, to rejoyce with them that rejoyce, & mourne with them that mourne, and in all things to seeke the same good unto them, which wee do vnto our selves; yet so ma­ny of us notwithstanding, do never or very seldome, thinke of them or of their miseries: and the best of us, have so lit­tle true feeling and commise­ration of their estate, how wofull soever it bee, to cry unto thee for them as wee ought, so long as wee our selves are at ease, and in pros­perity.

Good Lord perswade ourTo be per­swaded that if we love our heavenly Father, we must needs love his children. hearts, that if wee truly love thee our heavenly Father, we must needs love thy children for thy cause, being as deere and precious unto thee as ourselves are, even all those that appertaine to thy eternal [Page 212] election, wheresoever they be in all the earth. Lord Ie­susIf we love Christ we must needs love his members. make us know, that if wee unfeignedly love thee, wee must of necessity likewise love thy members, even every one of that mysticall body whereof thou art the head: and whom thou hast redee­med with thy most precious blood, as well as o [...]r selves.

Make us to conceive a­right,That without this we can never assure our hearts that we are true children & members of Christ. that without this love, which is the badge of thy Disciples and Children, wee can never assure our owne hearts, that we are either the true and naturall children of our heavenly Father: or lively members of thy mysticall bo­dy, and thy very Disciples indeed, and that we deceiveBut deceive ourselves. our owne hearts, untill wee become thus truly affected, at least in the inward longing of our soules, and that wee can unfeignedly mourne for [Page 213] the want of the lively feeling heereof.To know that their sinnes are ours in some sort, and so their whole estate.

Lord cause us to know, that their sinnes are in some sort, our sinnes; their miseries, our miseries; as being of the same mysticall body of our Lord Iesus Christ: that both their sinnes, their calamityes, and their afflictions, may bee matter of heavinesse & mour­ning unto us: and their pro­sperity, both bodily and spi­rituall, may be our continuall rejoycing.To have this fellow-fee­ling of their estate where­soever they are.

Cause us to have this fel­low-feeling of their estate, wheresoever they be; though amongst the Indians, or in a­ny of the remotest and bar­barousest places in all the earth, and much more as thou hast united them unto us by neerer bonds, of profession, place, kinred, and the like: and hast made their estates more knowne unto us. More [Page 214] specially, make us to have aAnd as they are more neerly [...] unto us. more sensible feeling of the estate of those who are of our owne nation and stocke, and as they are yet linked unto us by neerer bonds.

Above all (good Father)And above all a [...] they are more specially or­dained to be nursing Fa­thers and Mothers to Gods Church. make us to bee most loyally, and hartily affected, towards those in all quarters & coun­tries, whom thou hast ordai­ned in thine owne place, to be Nursing-Fathers & Nursing-Mothers to thy Church, ei­ther presently, or in their due times, to succour and provide for all thy children commit­ted to them, as the faithfull Nurse for her tender Babes. And amongst them, for allChiefly who are such al­ready. those of them, yet in a more speciall manner▪ whom thou hast already vouchsafed this high favour, to bee such unto them▪ and to whom thou hast made knowne thy heavenly will in this behalfe, what thou [Page 215] lookest for at their hands; andAnd bound thereto by most bonds. whome thou hast bound un­to thee by so many bonds of thy heavenly and earthly fa­vours.That their hearts may be inclined to all Gods Children, chiefly to all committed to their charge.

Oh grant, that at our in­stant cries, their hearts may bee inclined accordingly to­wards all thy Children, espe­cially to all those whom thou hast to this end special­ly committed to their trust, that they may shew forth be­fore men and Angels, their tender affection towards all of them, chiefly all those of them, who in all unfeigned study of true holinesse and righteousnesse doe most live­lyAnd that as they more resemble their heaven­ly Father. resemble thee their heaven­ly Father, and most visibly carry upon them▪ the true I­mage of our Lord Iesus Christ.To have like affections to the Lord.

Oh give them like affecti­ons, to thy heavenly Majesty in this behalfe, that thy peo­ple [Page 216] and children may bee soTo give that which is dee­rest unto them for Gods people. precious unto them, that like as in thy tender love, thou gavest thine owne deere Son, and with him all good things also; yea, thine owne selfe for the saving and happinesse of thy Church; and namely of all blessed Kings, Princes, and Governours: so they againe, may not onely be willing to imploy all their thoughts and endeavours, but also be ready to spend & offer themselves, and also to bee offered up; so to give themselves, and all theirs most willingly for the saving and happinesse of thy people.

Lord perswade their andTo have all theirs and our hearts perswaded of the happines hereof, and contrarily. our hearts, that the lively e­vidence hereof, will upon our death-beds (if our consciences shall thorowly bee awaked) and so ever after bee more worth unto us, then ten thou­sand worlds, and the contra­ry [Page 217] more bitter and dreadfull then all the evils of this pre­sent life can possibly bee unto us. These things we humbly intreate thee to grant for thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake, our alone Saviour and Advocate.

III. A prayer that wee may be a­ble to seeke and finde this first, that God is our graci­ous and tender Father in Christ, and that we may grow in this assurance daily.

[Father] OH deere Father,To pray to be perswa­ded, that the assurance that God is our Father, is first to be sought, next his glory. and most bles­sed Lord God, perswade all thy people, that this is that which is first to bee sought of every one of us next thy glo­rie, & aboue all other things; to bee assured that thou art our gracious and tender Fa­ther, [Page 218] that so each of us may in faith call upon thee, saying truly as our Saviour hath taught us, Abba, Oh Father. That this assurance alone be­ing rightly considered of, that thou art our heavenly and lo­ving Father, will quiet ourThat assu­rance alone will quiet the heart, & fill it with ioy unspeakable. heart, or the heart of any be­leever in all the world, & will fill it with unspeakeable joy in the middest of the greatest troubles & temptations, that can possibly befall us.

And contrarily, make everyAnd the con­trary will fill it with ex­treame hor­ror. one of thy people to know for certaine, that the very doubting and want of assu­rance, whether we bee in thy favour and love or no, and much more, whether we bee thy Children, will worke ex­treame disquietnesse and hor­ror in our soules, when once our consciences shall bee a­waked, and will bee unto us as the unspeakeable torments [Page 219] of hell fire: and that this willAnd be a [...] the begin­nings of the flashings of hell. fall upon all the ungodly, most of all when their consci­ences shall tell them (as one day the conscience of every wicked and impenitent sin­ner will doe) that they are not thy Children, but thine ene­mies, and the Children of wrath, yea, of Sathan him­selfe:Iohn. 8. 4 [...]. and therefore that they are hated of thee, as Sathan their Father is, whose Image they have borne, and whose worke they have done.

To this end, good Lord, worke upon our hearts, and the hearts of all that belong to thy eternall election, who­soever, and wheresoever they be in all the earth, that we all may truly understand, and rightly know, our owne mi­serableTo this end to know first our owne mi­serable con­dition by nature. condition by nature; that wee are thorow the first Adam. by naturall genera­tion, and by the whole course [Page 220] of our lives, none other but the Children of disobedience, and so vessels of wrath, andThus we are but fire­brandes of hell untill we be true mem­bers of Christ. fire—brands of hell, untill such time as we are, or shall be re­generated and borne againe, and by a lively faith ingrafted into Iesus Christ the second Adam, and so made thy Chil­dren, and heires of thy king­dome, by thy grace in him.

Cause us all to knowThat we can­not attaine to this assu­rance untill we feele these two graces, repen­tance and faith. moreover, that we can never attaine heereunto to bee thy Children, much lesse to any certaine knowledge or assu­rance heereof untill wee feele these two graces of thine, wrought in our hearts by thy blessed Spirit, and the preach­ing of thy heavenly Gospell unto us; to wit, an unfeigned repentance for all our sinnes, and a lively faith in Iesus Christ: and likewise that wee have the same daily increa­sed, or at least continued with [Page 221] a true and earnest desire & in­deavour of the increase there­of; for that these two areFor that these are lively eviden­ces of our being in Christ. lively evidences to any man that hee is regenerate and in the state of grace, and that of a Child of wrath hee is made thine owne deere Child, [...]cceptable to thee his heavenly Father by Iesus Christ alone. Grant to us therefore, and to all thy Chil­dren, these lively evidences of thy favour, in our unfeig­ned repentance, and also our effectuall faith increasing dai­ly, for Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Saviour.

IIII. A prayer that wee may not de­ceive our selves in vayne con­ceite, that we are Gods Chil­dren, when wee are nothing lesse, as the greatest part doe, but that wee may come to strong assurance heereof▪ by feeling a totall change in our lives and conversations.

OH most holy, and most gracious Father, we in­treate yet further of thy di­vine Majesty, that neither we nor any other of thy people and Children, may deceiveThat we may not deceive our selves in a vaine ima­gination of faith and re­pentance. our selves in a vaine & coun­terfeit show and imagination of repentance and faith, as the greatest part of those do, who living under the sound, and in the light of the Gospell, doe imagine therefore that they have repentance & faith, and are well enough; when as a­alas [Page 223] they have nothing lesse, then any part of true, sound, and unfeigned repentance, or any power of a lively faith. Grant to this end, that nei­ther we nor they, may rest un­tillThat we may never rest untill we finde the new birth in our whole man & in all our conversa­tion. wee finde in our selves, the new-birth begun, and increa­sing daily, by a totall change wrought in us, since the time that we beleeved in Christ, as a speciall fruite thereof, and that in every part both of our soules and bodies, and also in the whole course of our life and conversation.

Stirre up all our hearts (Oh holy Father) to this purpose, that wee may never give thee rest, untill wee finde this thorow change and alterati­on, both in our mindes andIn our minds understandings, from igno­rance and blindnesse, to the true knowledge not onely of our selves, but also of thy heavenly Majesty, and so of [Page 224] thy Sonne Iesus Christ; like­wise in our memories, that in­steadMemories. of remembring vani­ties, we may be able to keepe a holy remembrance of the things which concerne thy glory, and our owne salvati­on, with the good of our Bre­thren. Good Lord workeWils. the like change in our wils, from following and obeying the will and lusts of our flesh, to bee ever pliant and obedi­ent to thy heavenly will.

Perswade our hearts that we may never give thee over, untill wee likewise finde the same change in our affecti­ons,Affections. that therein wee are con­formed daily more and more to the holinesse of Christ, both in our love & hatred, our joy & our greefe; in child-like feare & holy security, resting on [...] selves onely in thy love and favour.

Make us to labour to finde [Page 225] also the same in our Consci­ences,Consciences. that wee may never give any rest to our soules, untill wee finde our conscien­ces quieted in this assurance, that we are washed from our sinnes, in the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ; and that our owne hearts and consci­ences doe beare a continuall witnesse unto us of our up­right conversation, at least begun in us; with a settled re­solution ever to walke with thee our God, all our daies.

Good Father, never suffer us to bee at quiet, untill wee truely finde the same alterati­on, wrought by thy holy Spi­rit in like manner in our whole body; making everyIn our whole bodies. sense and member thereof in­stead of the service of sinne, to become servants of righte­ousnesse, even thine owne ser­vants.

Lord perswade us all, that [Page 226] all these parts being thine, Created, and Redeemed to these ends, thou dost not on­ly require this holinesse in e­veryTo be per­swaded that God both requires and workes this holinesse in all his elect in some mea­sure. one of them, but that thou likewise workest it ef­fectually in all thine, whom thou hast ordained to life and salvation, according to that measure of grace, which thou ar [...] pleased to bestowe upon every one, causing every one of them to strive forwards to­wards perfection; & that un­tillThat untill this change in some mea­sure never can any at­taine this assurance. such a change bee begun in us in some measure, never any one of us, can have any true comfort that wee are thy Children, or in thy favour and love; and that onely as this change and comformitie to Christ Iesus our head increa­seth,As this in­creaseth, so our assurance so doth our comfort likewise increase in thee: and contrarily, as it decreaseth, so doe we decay in our comfort and assurance. Hearken unto [Page 227] us therefore (Oh tender Fa­ther) and worke mightily by thy holy Spirit in us, & in all thy Children, that wee may never give thee any rest in our prayers, untill wee shall at­taine this full assurance, for our Lord Iesus Christ his sake, our onely Mediator and Advocate.

V. A prayer that wee may finde in our selves, not onely the ge­nerall, but even all the parti­cular markes of Gods Chil­dren, namely, those which our Saviour hath taught us to beg in his prayer.

OH Lord, who art the on­ly true perswader and se [...]ler of the hearts and con­sciences of all thine elect, per­swade effectually both us and all other thy people, that be­sides [Page 228] a whole change in ourTo pray to finde in our selves, not onely this change, but the peculi­ar markes of Gods chil­dren. selves, in all the qualities and faculties of our soules & bo­dies, thou hast given sundry peculiar markes and proper­ties, whereby thy Children may both certainly know themselves to bee thy Chil­dren, and also by which they may be so knowne, & ought so to be esteemed amongst all thy people; and that so much the more, as they more lively and evidently have these markes upon them.

And namely (good Lord) perswade us of those which thou in this praier hast taughtChiefly those which our Saviour hath taught us to cry for daily, & whereby we most live­ly beare his Image. all thine to pray, and to cry for daily, whereby wee carry most lively the Image of our Lord Iesus our elder Bro­ther. Vouchsafe that we may bee most zealous of the gloryTo be most zealous for Gods glory. of thee our heavenly Father, and that with a holy zeale, having the Spirit of burning, [Page 229] and the Spirit of judgement joyned together, which worldlings regard not, being little or nothing at all ac­quainted with it.

Grant that wee all may2. To seeke the kingdom of God, and his righteous­nesse first. seeke thy kingdome and righ­teousnesse first, before all the things of this life; whereas they that are of this world, seeke onely, or at least in the first place, the things of this world.

Helpe and inable us (good3. To seeke onely know­ing & doing the will of our heavenly Father, & not our owne. Father) heerein, to these ends, that, whereas carnall and un­regenerate men, seeke onely the satisfying of their owne lusts and pleasures, and by all meanes to have their owne wils fulfilled, little or nothing regarding to know, or to do thy heavenly will; we contra­rily may seeke to know and fulfill the will of thee our heavenly Father, as thou hast expressed it in thy holy and [Page 230] sacred word; and that this we may make our very meate and drinke, preferring it (as did our Saviour) before his daily foode.

Vouchsafe us thy holy Spirit, that whereas carnall and worldly men are wont commonly for whatsoever they desire, onely to use andTo use onely such meanes for obtaining all good things, as God him­selfe hath ordained. seeke worldly meanes; such as like themselves best, whe­ther warrantable from thee or no, they make no matter, seldome or never using to seeke and beg them, as they ought, from thy heavenly bounty▪ onely in and by the meanes which thou hast ap­pointed: and doe as seldome unfeignedly returne thee thankes & prayse, when they have received their desires, but are like the swine under the Acorne trees, never looking up from whence the Mast falls, sacrifising unto [Page 231] their nets, ascribing all to their owne wits and strength; wee contrarily may looke up unto thee our heavenly Fa­ther. Lord grant that we mayBegging and returning all thankes to him for all. first begge all from thy hea­venly bounty, using onely the meanes that thou hast ap­pointed to accomplish our ends, & after returning praise and thankes for all unto thy divine and sacred Majesty.

Teach and perswade us,To be ever mindfull of the rest of our brethren as of our selves. and all thy people, that wee may bee truly mindfull of the rest of our Brethren thy deere Children▪ wheresoever dis­persed, and that wee may bee rightly touched with a true and lively feeling both ofAnd as well touched with their estate as our owne. their bodily and spirituall e­state, and therefore like as thou ha [...]t taught & comman­ded us to pray for all other thy Children as for our selves, O our Father: And, give us this day our daily bread, and [Page 232] forgive us our trespasses. Lead us not into temptation, but de­liver us from evill, &c. Grant that wee may not onely thus pray for them, with the lips a­lone, but sigh and groane un­to thy Majesty for them in all these respects, and desire ear­nestly to seeke and to use all meanes for them in every one of these kinds, as lively fee­ling members of the same mysticall body of Iesus Christ with them. Make us to con­sider,To consider how the car­nall world­ling hath lit­tle or no sense of any of these things, how the carnall world­ling, hath little or no sense or feeling of any of these things, nay almost no understanding at all, as appeareth daily by all his carriage and affections towards thy deerest servants; whom for this cause hee prin­cipally hates, and makes a mocke of, even for their pie­ty, their care, and conscience, to feare and please thy hea­venly Majesty.

[Page 233]Make us all to have a trueTo have a lively sense of our sins. sense and feeling of our sins, and of the vilenesse of them, in regard of the nature of sin it selfe, and that it is so dis­pleasing, and so odious to thy holinesse. Inable us therefore by thy holy Spirit▪ to groaneTo groane under the burden of them. under ou [...] sinnes, as a burden heavier then the earth: yea, to bee oft-times grieved in­wardly and [...]ejected, in re­gard of our new and many slips and failings, & for them all to cry, Forgive us our tres­passes: and that we may neverNever to rest untill we be assured of the remission of our sinnes. give any rest unto our soules, untill wee bee fully assured of the pardon of them all, and that thou our heavenly Fa­ther ar [...] fully reconciled unto us in Iesus Christ, and thy displeasure wholly appeased towards us. Whereas the un­regenerate and carnall man hath usually no feeling of his sinnes at all, whereupon hee [Page 234] commonly makes but a sport of sinne, and drinke in iniqui­ty as water, so heaping uppeWhich the carnall man makes bu [...] a sport of. wrath against the day of wrath, making a scoffe at all the godly who are troubled with their sinnes, as at fanta­sticall and melancholly fools.

Teach and perswade our hearts, that whereas carnall men can hardly or never for­giveThat we may be able to forgive wrongs, and to pray for our enemies. wrong: done unto them, untill they bee revenged, or their corrupt mindes some way fully satisfied; wee con­trarily may labour to bee so farre off from reuenge, as we may be able to pray with our Saviour, and with Stephen, Fa­ther forgive them, they know not what they doe; and that if ourThat if our enemies hunger, wee may feede them. enemyes hunger, wee may feed them as thou [...]hast com­manded, yea, perswade our hearts, that wee may by allAnd seeke their conver­sion and sal­vation. meanes seeke the conversion and salvation of our greatest [Page 235] enemyes. And if thou shalt be pleased to convert any of them soundly, that wee may rejoyce therein, even as the heauenly Angels, and delight in such, above our owne na­turall brethren or sisters.

Lord worke so uppon us,6. To be al­wayes afrayd of Sathans temptations. that whereas the Worldling is seldome or never affraid of Sathan, and of his temptati­ons, or of sinning against, and provoking thy holiness, and therefore doth continvally or most commonly whatsoever Sathan and his owne sinnefull heart moves him unto, with­out any checke or controule­ment, or looking at thee, or without any feare or regarde of the evill which will follow upon that which he doth: we contrarily may desire to feare thee evermore.To stand al­wayes in awe of the Lord, least for our securitie, he leave us up to him.

Make us alwayes to stand in awe of thy Majesty with a holy reverence, least for our [Page 236] security, or for other our sins thou shouldest leave us to be tempted by Sathan and over­come; and therefore in the sense and privity of [...]ur [...]e­serts by all our sins, our [...]ay­lings, weaknesses, and for the corruption of our sinneful na­tures, with our inclination to hearken to the Serpent, [...]o be overtaken and circumvented by him, and in regard of the danger which thereby wee stand in continually, we may cry day and night, Leade u [...] not into temptation, but deliver us from euill; yea, that wee may strive, as our SaviourTo strive to watch and pray that we fall not into temptation. hath taught us, To watch and pray continually, that wee may not fall into temptation.

Good Father graunt, that7. To looke ever [...]o the Lords abso­lute Sove­raignty. whereas the carnall and unre­generate man in his actions lookes onely at the command and authority of man, and at his countenance and power, [Page 237] and what he can doe; and so gives to men the glorie due unto thy Soveraigne Maje­sty, or secretly takes it to himselfe; wee contrarily may looke higher, even unto thy Highness▪ and to thy absolute Soveraignty over all Kings and Princes, and at thy divine power, and so give unto theeAnd to give him the glo­ry of all. the glory of all abhorring all imagination of any excellen­cy, that we may any way con­ceyue to be in our selves; & therefore that wee may in all things desire ever with all thy holy Angels thus to acknow­ledge thee & thy Soveraign­ty alone, and to give thee all the glory, and to crie ever­more, For thine is the kingdom, power, and glorie. 8. To be ever and chiefely thinking of eternity.

And whereas the worldling lookes commonly, & thinkes onely of this present life, and seldome or never thinkes of eternity, but rather labors to [Page 238] put the remembrance thereof out of his heart, having his portion and so his meditati­ons onely heere below; grant that we contrarily may be al­wayes thinking and medita­ting of eternity, even of that life which is eternall, that so we may live with thee, and fully behold and enjoy thy kingdome, power, and glorie for evermore.

Finally, perswade us and all9. That we may not pray looking at a­ny thing in our selves, or any other creatures. thine, that whereas the unre­generate and carnall World­ling hath usually in all his prayers and dealings with thee, some eye unto himselfe, and his worthiness, for his de [...]otion and service, or for some other matter in himself, being little or nothing at all acquainted with thy Son our Lord & Saviour Iesus Christ and his intercession, and how to come and appeare before thy holiness, who art onely [Page 239] our father, in, and thorough him, and how to make his re­quests onely thorow him, and in his name alone, wee may come clea [...] other wise. Grant that we contrarily may in allBut stripping our selves, may come only in Iesus Christ. our supplications, prayers, & our giving of thankes, strip our selves of all such opinion of our owne merit or worthi­ness: and as wee account all but losse and dung, so that we may be found in Christ, not having our owne righteous­ness, but that which is of Christ; so likewise wee may make all our prayers and sup­plications with giving of thankes onely in and thorowOur everla­sting Amen. him, who is that everlasting Amen▪ and thorow whom a­lone all thy promises are Yea and Amen; who alone hath deserued this honor, and hath this office to make us and our prayers to be accepted; and therfore that we may in faith [Page 240] cry unto thee evermo [...]e tho­rowThat we may in Faith, cry Amen. him, Amen, Amen▪

Good Lord helpe us and all thy people, that by all theseThat we may never give the Lord o­ver till wee find all these in our selves. markes and the like, wee may thoroughly try and examine our selves whether we be thy children, or no; and that wee may never give ouer crying unto thee, untill we finde e­very one of these lively and sensibly in us. Cause us right­lyThat we may know our selves hereby to be thine, and in thy favour as we finde them. to understand, and to bee fully perswaded heereof, that in what measure we finde the former change wrought in us and every one of these marks, in the same we may know our selves like wise to bee in thy favour, and accepted of thee, and that contrarily vvithoutAnd contra­rily, every one of these at least be­gun in us in some measure, & a sound resolution with an earnest desire and longing of our soules to increase and grow heerein, vvee cannot [Page 241] assure our selves to bee any better then Hypocrites; andThat we can never finde sound com­fort. that wee shall never finde sound comfort, that thou wilt acknowledge us for thine, untill we finde these e­vident markes upon us. Grant unto us therefore, Oh tender Father, all the peculiar marks of thy Children, and all other, that hereby, we and all thine, may know our selves infalli­bly, to bee thine owne deere Children, for thy beloved Sonne our blessed Lord and Saviour,

Amen.

VI. A prayer for knowledge and right use of the meanes, whereby wee may bee made Gods Children, and grow up in the assurance thereof▪ and so b [...] established in grace con­tinually.

[Page 242]OH most gracious God,To pray to know the right meanes of getting Gods favour & growing therein. and mercifull Father, the onely fountaine of wise­dome and grace, forsomuch as every one who hath any sparke of grace or true wise­dome, desires to bee in the blessed estate of thy Chil­dren, to have thy love and fa­vour, to grow up in the as­surance thereof, as the chiefest happinesse in this world; per­swade us and all thy people aright, what are the ordinary meanes whereby thou beget­test thy Children to a lively hope: That thou dost it or­dinarilyAs in the daies of our Saviour and the Primi­tive Church. and usually, even by the same meanes, whereby thou diddest first gather thy Church in the daies of our Sa­viour: and after that, so won­derfully and speedily spreadBy the sin­cere preach­ing of his Gospell. it over the face of the earth, e­ven by the sincere preaching of thy heavenly word, and [Page 243] namely of thy sacred Gos­pell.

That howsoever the worldThough the world count it foolishne [...] ▪ accounts that foolishnesse, yet thou hast ordained it to be the immortall seede, wherebyThe immor­tall seed. thine are begotten anew, and thus made thy Children by grace, and to be thy mightyGods mighty power to sal­vation. power unto salvation, to make all thine to beleeve, and in beleeving, to make them partakers of thy favour and love, and so to give them e­ternall life. And that thisThat this stands not in the inticing speech of mans wise­dome, but in the plaine e­vidence of Gods Spirit. saving kinde of preaching stands, as the preaching of Paul did, not in the intising speech of mans wisedome, but in the plaine evidence of thy Spirit, & of power. ThatA [...]d why. so our faith may bee apparant to bee wrought, not by the wisedome of men, but onely by thy divine and mighty po­wer alone.

Perswade all thy people [Page 244] moreover, that as thou doest beget all thine a-newe by this thy heauenly voyce,That God nourisheth his children by the same meanes of the word. the sincere preaching of thy Gospell, and in calling them makest them thy Children; so thou feedest and nourishest them, and all thy Graces in them by the same principal­ly; and next therunto by the right use of thy holie Sacra­ments,Sacraments. the reuerent readingGood books. of the same blessed word, and other holy bookes groundedMeditations. thereupon, with sacred Me­ditations,Prayers. conference with the godly, practise of all holy duties, carnest supplications and prayers, for a right and sanctified use, & for thy bles­sing upon everie one of these meanes, and the like, to make them all effectuall heereun­to.

Good Father, perswade [...]ll who thus desire to bee thy Children, and in thy favour; [Page 245] and to have all others like­wise,To seeke to this end the establishing & advance­ment of thy sacred Mini­stery, and to depend thereon. partakers with them of the same mercy, to seeke by all holy meanes the establi­shing and advancement of thy sacred Ministery, & that them selves, and all others may de­pend upon the conscionable, faithfull, and sincere Mini­sters, Pastors, and Teachers, whom thou hast ordayned in this respect, to succeed in the place of holy Paul, and the o­ther Apostles for the gathe­ring together of the Saints,Ephes. 4. 11. for the worke of the Mini­stry, and for the edification of the body of Christ, and bee wholly affraid of all Anaba p­tisticall fancies or separations, or of any way vvithdrawing themselves from under the meanes ordayned by thee for their salvation, to lye open to Sathan, and his delusions.

Oh gracious Father, who so tenderest thy Children and [Page 246] chosen flocke, as thou hast setTo stirre up the hearts of Kings and Princes to this holy care. Kings & Princes in thy place for the care and comfort of them above all other of the earth; perswade, and move effectually the heartes of all those whom thou hast ap­pointed to be thus as Fathers to thy children; as namely, all Governours, and principally the cheefe whom thou hast specially ordayned to bee the prime foster-Fathers unto those thy deere Children, in al the parts of the world. That they by all the meanes & po­wer that thou shalt ever vouchsafe to put into their hands, may looke to see thyTo see their people fur­nished with holy & con­scionable Ministers. people committed to their charge, to be furnished with such conscionable, sincere, & faithfull Pastors and teachers, as by whom they may be first begotten, and after nourished and fed, so as they may grow up to the measure of the age [Page 247] of the fulness in Christ, and be provided likewise for all o­ther gracious meanes & helps belonging hereunto.

Thus in like manner, weeThat the Mi­nisters may study to make all the people the Children of God. humbly intreate thee most mercifull God, and tender fa­ther, that by the mighty ope­ration of thy heavenly Spirit, thou wilt thorowly perswade and move all those, whome thou hast in a peculiar manner separated unto this worke of winning of soules unto thee, or who have or shall any way enter heereupon; that they may wisely consider, that principall part of their Voca­tion and Function, namely, to endeavour to make al their. Congregations to bee thine owne Children, carrying live­ly thy image, and bearing up­on them the markes of thy Children.

Cause them to seeke ten­derlyTo nourish them as in his place. to nourish and comfort [Page 248] them as in thy place and pre­sence, and ever to preserve & To keepe them from Sathan and all his agents keepe them from Sathan, and all his cursed agents and in­struments; as from all sedu­cing Iesuites and Seminaryes, who compasse sea and land to make all sorts the children of the divell, worse then them­selves; and so from all other deceyvers, and all the delusi­ons of this evill world. Grant that thus they may study to be able, each according to their places, at all times whensoever thou shalt call them to an account, and chie­flyTo be able to present them with all confident boldness be­fore his Ma­iesty. at the great day, to present them with all confident bold­ness and joy before thy hea­venly Majesty, saying vvith the Prophet, Lord heere am I, and the children thou hast given me, by my Ministry, or any way cōmitted to my charge. Hearken unto us, Oh graci­ous Father in these our hum­ble [Page 249] supplications, & all other things which thou knowest to be needfull for us, or thy whole Church, or any part thereof, for Iesus Christ our Lord, and onely Saviour.

VII. A Prayer, that all may under­stand how deere Gods Chil­dren are unto him, that they may be so to us likewise.

OH Lord, most merciful, most wise, and tenderTo pray that God would make all to know how deere his children are unto him. Father, make all sorts to un­derstand and know in time, e­specially all those who so fu­riously rage agaynst thy Church and people at this day, how deere and precious every one of thy Children is unto thy heavenly Majestie, that they are unto thee as the apple of thine owne eye, and that therefore their blood is [Page 250] precious in thy sight: That they perishing for lacke ofThat theyr blood will cry for ven­geance as the blood of Abel. care to save and succor them, & much more being destroy­ed by them to whom thou hast committed them, as to their nursing Fathers in thy place, their blood will cry for vengeance, like as the blood of Abel did, and wil cause the murderers one day (without unfeigned repentance) to crie out when it is too late, My sin That God can no more beare with wrongs done to them then to Abraham. is greater then I can beare. Yea, cause all to know, that thou canst no more beare with wrongs done unto these thy Children (and especially to those of them, whom thou hast manifested by their child like obedience, and by the glorious image of our Lord Iesus thy deere Sonne, prin­ted visibly upon them, to bee so deere and precious unto thee) then thou couldst beare with the wrongs done unto [Page 251] thy servants, Abraham, Mo­ses, David, or any other of thine. That if for Abrahams cause, thou wast so severe a­gaynst Abimelech and hisThat if God was so ever against Abi­melech, hee will be more against them all, who shall hurt them, cheefely for his names sake. house (though hee was but a Heathen King, & that which he did agaynst Abraham hee did ignorantly, and with an upright heart as he sayth; yea and thorow Abrahams weak­ness, in saying of his wife, she was his sister) thou wilt then be much more severe agaynst all those, who being convin­ced in their consciences of the innocency of thy poore chil­dren (as all must needes be in a very great measure, in this most glorious shining light of thy heavenly Gospell) and ye [...] doe so vexe and mollest them, yea, and seeke to de­stroy them out of the earth, onely for thy names sake, for cleaving fast unto thee, and to thy sacred truth.

[Page 252]Lord perswade the heartsTo perswade all that these are as Noahs to the places where they are. of all sorts, that these, while they are in any place, are in some sort as Noah was to the old world, and as Lot to So­dome for keeping off the ven­geance from all the rest. Yea (good Lord) make all sorts understand and know, and e­specially set this ever before our eies, and the eies of all thy people every where, that thou madest poore Ioseph who wasAs Ioseph to his brethren. scorned and hated of his Bre­thren, for his religion and pi­etie, & for seeking to reforme their evill behaviour, to bee yet the preserver of his Bre­thren; yea, of all his Fathers house, and of the whole Church; and causedst his Bre­thren in their greatest extre­mity, and in the very anguish of their soules, to acknow­ledge how they had sinned a­gainst the Lad, chiefly in their lack of commiseration, [Page 253] and moreover to come and to stoope unto Ioseph, and hum­bly to seeke unto him that he would not remember the wrongs and evils that they had done to him.

Cause us all to consider well, how thou madest himGods instru­ments to save all from ma­ny temporall iudgments. to save them all, even him whom (for his dislike of their evill manners, for his care for their good, and for thy speci­all favour manifested towards him) they accounted the dreamer, plotted against, cast into the pit, sold to the Is­malites, thinking thereby they should never have bene trou­bled with him, no [...] have heard of him any more.

Grant good Lord, seeingThat he brings plagues for the wronges done unto them. thy Children are so deere un­to thee, that for their causes, and the wrongs done unto them, thon callest for a dearth upon the lands where they are, thou plaguest even KingsPsal. [Page 254] for their sakes; that thou wiltAnd will not spare any who hurt them, no not Miriam. not spare their owne Bre­thren or Sisters, if they wrong them, no not Miriam her selfe, though she be beloved of thee, a Prophetess, and Sister of Moses, but wilt make her feele her sinne, and her shame, if she dare but speake against thy servant Moses, especially for doing as thou hast commanded him; that they may be likewise, asThat they may be so deere to all as they are to the Lord. deere and precious unto all thy people.

Grant (Oh tender Father) that all sorts thus esteeming of them for thy cause, as thine owne deere Children, and so highly beloved of thee, mayThat all may acknowledge their si [...]nes concerning them. all joyntly acknowldge their wrongs against them, & their haynous sinne against thy Majesty for them, in all the rebukes, scornes, and taunts, cast upon thee, and thy sacred religion, thorow the evils [Page 255] done unto them. Vouchsafe that heereby all these may with faithfull Abraham, Mo­ses, and Samuell, pray for allThat they may helpe to make the at­tonement for Israel. thy people, and so helpe to make the attonement for them by the blood of the Lord Iesus, that all their sins may bee pardoned, thy anger appeased, thy people turnedAll the peo­ple of the Lord may be turned to him againe, to thee againe, thy hand may bee turned against thine ob­stinate and implacable ene­mies, and the enemy mayAnd the ene­mie given for their ransome. once againe bee given for the ransome of thy Children and people, as thou diddest some­times give Aegypt for thine Israel. To perswade this chiefly to all his Vicegerents that these being so deere unto the Lord, may be so unto them.

Lord, perswade this prin­cipally, to all thy Deputies, and Vicegerents, wheresoe­ver in the earth, that even for this cause alone, for that these are so beleved of thee, they likewise may in all tender affection, set themselves, as [Page 256] in thy place, to rescue, suc­cour,To rescue & succour them and protect them, from the rage of all thine and their cruell enemies; and that they may seeke withall, the uni­tingSeeke the uniting of them in Christ. of the hearts of all thy Children, in that firme bond of brotherly love, which is in Christ Iesus: that those of them, who most excell in ver­tue,And may be more de de [...]re to them as they more excell in vertue. as they are most de [...]re unto thy heavenly Majesty, may bee so likewise unto them, that they may respect and tender them, their wel­fare and prosperity, above all others.

That they may seeke toTo prevent whatsoever may dissolve this brother­ly knet. keepe all thine in this bond of holy love, and wisely to pre­vent whatsoever may dissolve this brotherly knot: or but breed any hatred, envy, grudgings, heart-burnnings, or unbrotherly censurings a­mongst them; or whatsoever may hurt or annoy them any [Page 257] way. That heereby all suchThat so they may get this seale to their consciences, thy Vicegerents may get this testimony and seale to their Consciences, that they them­selves are as thy first borne, and amongest the deerest of thy Children, and of all otherThat they are unto him as his first borne, and that hee will be a Father and prote­ctor to them and theirs. of the earth most precious unto thee, and that thou wilt shew thy selfe a Father and Protector unto them & theirs for evermore; when as thou wilt declare thy selfe full of vengeance against all of them who have any way wittinglie wronged or intended evill a­gaynst them.

Oh unite all the hearts ofTo unite the hearts of all Gods Chil­dren to them and theyrs. thine owne children unto them and theyrs in all loyall affection, as to their foster-fa­thers and mothers, whome thou hast in so much mercie to this end raised up for them, and committed them unto: as the hearts of all thine owne servants were united into thy [Page 258] faithfull seruant David, whom for this cause they accounted better then ten thousand of themselves, as the Candle of Israel; and as they were knit to that holy and melting har­ted King Iosiah, whose death they so lamented, as for the taking away of theyr shelter, and even the verie breath of their nostrils.

Heare us (Oh tender Fa­ther) and let the bowelles of thy fatherly compassion earn over thy deere children, in thus inclining the hearts of all unto them to favour and succour them, especially those of them who have alreadie suffered so much adversity, & bene so long humbled under thy hand, for thy deere Son our Lord Iesus Christ his sake our onely Mediator and Ad­uocate,

Amen.

VIII. A Prayer that we may all bee a­ble to lift uppe our eyes and hearts unto our heavenly Fa­ther alone, and to look beyond all earthly meanes in all the troubles and perilles of the Churches.

OH heavenly Father, whoWhich art in heaven. over ruledst the counsels of Herod, Pontius Pilate, andThat God who over­rules al coun­sels to bring to pass his own decrees, all the people of the Iewes, and madst them all to serve for bringing to passe thine owne eternall decree, for thine owne everlasting praise and the comfort of thine own chosen flocke. Lift vppe theWould lift up the eyes and hearts of all his faith­full people to him. eyes and hearts of all thy Children now in this extreme rage and fury which is against us, and especially the eyes & hearts of all those of us, who have endevoured to be faith­full with thee in these sinfull [Page 260] times, and to walke humbly before thee, as Enocke, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Da­niel.

Grant that wee may lookeThat we may looke to him onely. up to thee onely, who though thou art so gloriously exalted in the highest heavens, yet lookest upon all the Sonnes of men, and seest all theWho seeth all the wrongs done to his Chil­dren. wronges that are done unto thy Children, and hearest e­very of their sighes and groanes, writest them in thy booke, & puttest their teares in thy bottle, and in thy dueAnd will one day make it manifest. time wilt make this knowne before all the world; howso­ever the wicked and ungodly thinke not so, but have re­moved thee farre out of theirTo begge pardon for this sin speci­ally that we have all made flesh our arme, & with drawne our hearts from the Lord. sight.

Good Father, pardon this sinne unto all thy Children, that in the daies of our peace we and all thy Churches have amongst other sinnes, made [Page 293] flesh our arme, & withdrawn our hearts from thee the li­ving God; we have so much looked at our earthly fathers of all sortes, and to earthly meanes, as that we have sayd as they did of Iosiah, that un­der the shelter of those great trees, we should be safe from all the violent stormes which could be raised vp by Sathan, and from all scorching heate of persecution; so that in re­gard of them, we have thoght we should never be removed, thou Lord hadst of thy good­ness by them, made vs to stand so strong. Lord make us toTo see how iustly for this sinne some are taken 2▪ way from the Churches, o­thers weake­ned. see, how justly for this sinne thou hast taken away these earthly Fathers from some of the Churches, weakned them in others; and mayest now most justly even for this verie sinne alone, so infeeble the armes of all the rest, as that they cannot helpe thy Chil­dren: [Page 262] yea, that thou mayest contrarily so turn their hearts agaynst thy deerest ChildrenVntill wee shall all see▪ our sinne, & turne our eyes onely to our heavenly Father. for it, that insteed of helping them, they may rather joyne hands against them, until such time as we shall see our sinne even in this behalfe, amongst all other our heinous trans­gressions, and turne our eyes agayne onely to thee our heavenly Father, and cheefe Protector.

Oh grant unto us, that weeThat we may not rest il by our prayers and teares, we have cau­sed him to relent to­wards us. may never rest before that time, that by our unfeigned repentance for this and all o­ther our sinnes, and by our Prayers and teares, crying all about thy feete, we have cau­sed thee to relent towards us, & thy bowels of compassion to earne over us, in hearing our sighes and cryes, and in seeing so many of us so lef [...]e unto the hands of all thine, & our bloody & merciless ene­mies.

[Page 263]Lord make vs all able toThat by faith we may see him sit­ting at the great wheele looke up thus to thee, and by faith to behold thee sitting in heaven, laughing to scorne all the devises of thine enemies, guiding there the great wheele, and by it, ordering, turning, and over-ruling, all these inferiour & less wheeles heere below; that though they seeme to be carried vio­lently in a contrary motion, yet wee may see all of themMaking all to serve to the accom plishing of his owne e­ternall de­cree, for the saving of his Church. serve, and by thy infinite wisedome and power, made to helpe to accomplish thine eternall decree, in whatsoe­ver thou hast appointed, con­cern̄ing the gathering in of all the remainder of thine elect, both Iewes and Gentiles; the comming downe of the new Ierusalem, the present and e­ternall glory of thy Sion;The destructi on of his e­nemies to his eternall glory. with the vtter ruine & down­fall of Babel; the endlesse condemnation and destructi­on [Page 264] of that Whore of Baby­lon, and of all thine enemies for evermore.

Lord, make us rightly to understand▪ & fully to know, that as Herod, and Ponti [...]s Pilate, and all the people of the Iewes, did not, nor couldLike as all was which the enemies did against our Lord and Saviour. doe any other thing, against our eldest Brother, thy deere Sonne our onely Lord and Saviour, then that which thine owne counsell had de­termined;The benefits & blessings thereby. for his highest ad­vancement at thy right hand, for thine owne eternall praise, the sending downe of thy ho­ly Spirit in that wonderfull manner, the publishing of thine heavenly Gospell, the calling of the Gentiles, the in­largement of the Church, and spreading it over the wholeSo now at this present. earth; so at this present time, neither Sathan, nor Anti­christ, Mahomet, nor all the mighty and subtilest enemies [Page 265] of the world can doe any o­ther thing against thy Church or Children, then that which long before, even from before the foundation of the world was laid, thou hast ordained; and that forFor the full accomplish­ment of all things fore­told. the full accomplishment of whatsoever thou hast fore­told, concerning both thy Church and Children, and al­soFor prepa­ring the [...]ay to Christs glorious comming. concerning thine enemies, and for preparing the way to thy glorious appearing.

Lord helpe us in this, that looking over all things heere below, wee may not onely stand still to see what thou wilt doe, but that we may re­joyceThat we may by faith be able to re­ioyce herein. in faith, beholding thee thus ordering and disposing all things to these blessed ends; and that thou art ma­king, all Angels, Principali­ties, Powers, yea, Sathan, and all his instruments; with all their rage, malice, might, and [Page 266] subtilty, in the very extrea­mest butchering & slaughte­ring of thy Saints, to worke together for the effecting heereof; that so wee may re­joyce even heerein with joy unspeakable & glorious, and in this our blessed estate.

Lord make us to glorifieThat in all we are more then Con­querours. thee in this confident assu­rance, that though we should be killed all the day long, as many of our Brethren thy deere Children lately have bene, for thy name sake, and as wee are indeed in the de­signes of thine and our ene­mies, accounted as sheepe for the slaughter, yet that in all wee shall ever bee more then Conquerors thorow that blessed one in whom thou hast loved us.

Yea (deere Father) makeThat no thing can separate us from his love. Rom. 8. 35. us to triumph in this, that whatsoever wee shall, or can suffer in the meane time, for [Page 267] thy names sake, as other our Brethren do at this day, and Sathan threatneth us; that yet neither tribulation, an­guish, persecution, famine, nakednesse, bonds, imprison­ment, perill, or sword, can e­ver seperate us from thy love in Christ Iesus our Lord, if once we have the full eviden­ces in our soules, that wee are thy Children in him, being so begotten by that lively word, and having upon us all the evident markes of thy Children.

Grant us therefore (Oh gra­ciousTo this end to make this sure that we are his Chil­dren. Father) now in these our daies of peace, & whilst thou vouchsafest us the meanes of thy heavenly Gospell, to give all diligence to make it sure, that we are thy Children, thy deere Children, yea, thy Chil­dren to whom thy heavenly kingdome appertaineth, ha­ving and bearing upon us, all [Page 268] the lively markes and badges of thy Children.

Above all, grant us thisTo have this▪ heavenly mindednesse. heavenly mindednesse, that our chiefe thoughts may bee upon thee our heavenly Fa­ther, our care may bee above all things how to please thee, doing in the meane while on­ly the things which thou re­quirest, casting all our cares, for those daies, and for what­soever the enemie can do, up­on thy Majesty alone, and in­to thy bosome; learning e­very day more and more to waine our affections from this world, and the things of this world, and to set them wholly above, where thy Sonne sitteth at thy right hand.

Lord perswade our hearts,To perswade us, that in all the troubles of the [...]hurch, God [...] preparing [...]is [...] meete him, as obe­dient chil­dren, with in­treaty of peace. and make us able to per­swade one another, that by all the power and liberty that thou hast permitted unto Sa­than, [Page 269] & to all his instruments, and by all the persecutions, and afflictions, that are upon all the Churches; and also by whatsoever threatnings of thine against thy Children, yea, whatsoever mischievous designes are intended against thy poore Church, or what danger soever it is in, thorow that extreame fury of Sathan and Antichrist, and all their instruments, thou art yet still preparing all thy Children to meete thee, in a sound humili­ation, with strong cries and teares, for all our offending thee, and for grieving thy ho­ly Spirit, by all our former security, and neglect of thee, and of the riches of thy fa­vours vouchsafed unto us.

Grant us all this grace therefore, as thine obedient and loving Children in all things, to submit our selves under thy Fatherly hand, to [Page 270] turne joyntly to thy Cove­nantSubmitting our selves ioyntly to his Covenant. and renew the same in all faithfulnesse, to take away all the divisions that haveAnd having our hearts united in brotherly▪ love. bene amongst us; which tho­row our long peace and wan­tonnes, Sathan hath wrought to the destroying of us all, if it were possible.

Vouchsafe (good Father)That God may be as much pleased herein as e­ver displea­sed in our di­visions. that we may doe this so effe­ctually, that thou maist be as much pleased, in reuniting us againe, and in our Brotherly love and agreement, as ever thou hast beene displeased, in our divisions, and dissentions: and Sathan and his instru­ments,And Sathan and his in­struments as much dis­maid hereby. in seeing our holy uni­ty and agreement, may bee as much dismaied, and put out of heart, for ever prevailing against us: as by the contrary, and by all their prosperous successe (as they imagine) they have bene animated and incouraged, to our ruine and [Page 271] destruction. That so weeThat we may all sing, Be­hold how good &c. Psal. 133. may all sing, with one heart and voice, Behold how good and happy a thing it is, Brethren, to dwell together in unity. Lord manifest thy glory, even the glory of thy▪ wisedome, po­wer, mercy, and truth heere­in, in making us joyntly to looke and cry to thee, for all these things, and whatsoever thou in thy infinite wisedome knowest necessary for us in this behalfe, or for any mem­ber of thy whole Church, for Iesus Christ his sake, our on­ly Lord and Saviour.

IX. A thanks­giving for our delive­rance from Babilon. A Thanksgiving to God, ac­cording to the first petition of the Lords prayer, for causing his glorie to breake forth so wonderfully now in this last Age of the world, in delive­ring his Churches, thus farre out of Egypt and Babilon, with a confession of our un­worthinesse; and an earnest prayer, that wee may never dishonour him, by locking thi­ther againe; nor provoke him by our sinnes to give us up to that heavie iudgement: and likewise for the diliverie of all the rest of his Israel in his due time, and that he may ne­ver leave us untill hee have brought us all into his heaven­ly Canaan.

OH Lord, most holy andHallowed be thy name. most glorious, open our blinde eies, & touch our hard [Page 273] and stony hearts, and theTo pray to see our ho­nour to be called forth to be Gods peculiar peo­ple. hearts of all thy true Chur­ches and people in all the world, whom thou hast cal­led forth to bee thy people, that wee may bee able to see and consider aright the ex­ceeding honour and dignity, which thou hast laid upon us, and to shew forth our thank­fulness to thy heavenly Maje­sty accordingly.

Make us able to consider, show thou hast vouchsafed to take us so nere unto thy selfe, as to make vs thine owne pe­culiar people of all the peo­ple of the earth, to set andTo set and confirme his Covenant with us. confirme the Covenant with us of life and glory; and how to this end thou hast broughtHow he hath brought us out of Aegypt & Babilon. us out of that spirituall Ae­gypt and Babilon, from that bondage and tyranny of Sa­than and Antichrist.

Make us to consider, and rightly to understand, how [Page 278] by great deliverances and iudgements, thou hast carriedHow he hath carried tho­row the sea & wilderness. us thorow the sea and thorow the▪ wildernesse, and shewed thy selfe unto us in thy glo­riousLeading us by his sta­tutes. ordinances, leading us by thy statutes and comman­dements, and by the workes of thy providence, protecti­on, direction, chastisement▪ blessings, as thou diddest thyAs he did Is­rael by the piller of fire and the cloud. people Israel, by the pillar of the fire, and the pillar of the cloud.

Give us hearts ever to re­member,How hee hath sought for us from heaven. how thou hast sought for us from heaven; so as all the earth hath s [...]ene and heard of thy glory; and hast carried us as upon EaglesBrought us to the fron­tiers of the heavenly Ca­naan. wings, and now brought us to the very frontiers of thy heavenly Canaan, and made us to see & tast of the riches, happinesse, and glory of it in thy sacred Gospell.

Oh our blessed God, most [Page 279] gracious, and most dreadfull,To be a fraid of having a thought of looking back towards Aegypt, to­wards Po­pery or Po­pish supersti­tion. make us and all thy people, to bee afraid of ever having any thought of turning backe, so much as in our hearts, or of e­ver having a looke towards Aegypt, or Sodome againe, towards any part of that Po­pery or Popish superstition and Idolatry, that abhomina­ble drudgery, under Sathan and Antichrist, from which thou hast so graciously deli­vered us.

Oh never suffer us to ad­mitThat we may never admit of any com­parison of their leekes with our Manna▪ of any imagination, or so much as one motion, of com­paring the Leekes, Onions, & Garlicke of Aegypt, with the hid Manna, of thy sacred Law, and heavenly Gospell. Albeit we heare and see theirThat not­withstanding all their rage we may ne­ver distrust the Lords presence or power. [...]age and fury, and the power of all their armies, banding themselves against us, either to swallow us up at once, or els to persue us into the heart [Page 280] of the sea; yet keepe us that wee never rebell against thee, thinking to turne backe from thee, to goe into Aegypt a­gaine, distrusting thy truth, thy presence, and power.

Cause us, Oh gracious Fa­ther,That God can least in­dure this sin. wisely to consider of, and ever to have this as before our eies, that of all dishonors done unto thy heavenly Majesty, thou canst least in­dure this, chiefly after so long triall and experience, which thou hast given us of thy po­wer, goodnesse and mercy to­wardsThat this may make him sweare in his wrath we shall ne­ver enter in­to his rest. us. That this sinne a­lone, may justly make thee sweare in thy wrath, that wee shall never enter into thy rest.

Make all them that haveTo make all such to know that this sin without re­pentance will cut them off from e­ver entring the heavenly Canaan. dishonoured thee in this high kinde, sinning thus against thy glorious Majesty, to know for certaine, that without speedy and unfeigned repen­tance [Page 281] thou wilt cut them off [...] from ever seeing thy celesti­all Canaan; and much more,Chiefly them who as the ten spies have brought an evill re­port upon this good land. make all them to know this specially, who with the tenne spyes, after they have not on­ly searched out the good land, tasted, and brought to others, the fruite of it, but fil­led them selves, at least with the outward blessings, and daynties thereof, have yet ei­ther turned backe, or brought an evill report upon it, even upon thy sacred religion and Gospell, to discourage their Brethren thereby, to cause them to be faint-hearted, and as much as [...]veth in them, to turne into Aegypt againe.

Oh Lord most holy, mostTo remem­ber that of all who tempted the Lord by their unbeleefe never any could enter into Canaan. dreadfull, and most terrible, make us all ever to remem­ber, that of all those hundreth thousands, who so tempted and dishonoured thee, by their unbeleefe, in the way to­wards [Page 282] the earthly Canaan, ne­ver any one could enter in, but thou causedst their cat­kasses to fall in the wildernes, untill they were utterly con­sumed; and for those thatAnd those who brought that slander died by a fearfull plague. brought that vile slaunder up­on the good land, thou cau­sedst them to die by a terrible plague, and that therefore these may justly expect aThat these [...] may expect a more heavy vengeance. more heavy wrath and ven­geance from thy Majesty.

Oh gracious Father, give all thine owne faithfull peo­pleTo have the sound hearts of Caleb & Iosuah. and children, the same hearts of Caleb & Iosua, espe­cially all them, who as those thy two worthy servants, have unto this day constantly stucke unto thy sacred Maje­sty, in the conscionable pro­fession of thy heavenly truth,To give con­stant testimo­ny to the ho­linesse of his religion. that we may all couragiously and boldly give testimony, unto the happinesse of this good land, into which thou [Page 283] hast brought us, & this good way of life, wherein thou hast set us: that this indeed, to wit, the sincere profession of thy name, according to thy sacred word, and as it is confirmed by our good Lawes, is a land that floweth with milke and hony: and the Lord, if he love us, will continue it unto us, and increase the glory and happinesse of it, untill he have brought us into his heavenly Canaan.

Inable us (good Father)To incourage our hearts & perswade our brethren that none of us e­ver rebell a­gainst the Lord, nor feare the proud ene­mye. thus to incourage our owne hearts, and the hearts of all our faithfull Brethren; and for all other to perswade them by all meanes out of thy blessed word, that they rebell not against thee, the Lord of hoasts, neither feare the proud enemies of the Church; butBut onely be humbled be­fore him for all our sins. onely that we may joyntly be truly humbled before thy glorious Majesty for all our [Page 284] sinnes, whereby we have thus provoked thy greatnesse, and holinesse, & thus caused thee to muster thine armyes, and to strengthen thine and our e­nemies against us, to cause thine owne people in so many places to fly before them.

Oh Lord inable us by thyTo pray that we may ne­ver leave wrastling with the Lord, untill he have in­clined all our hearts, chiefly of all in authority for saving his Church and appeasing his wrath. holy Spirit, that wee may ne­ver leave wrastling with thee, untill we have prevailed with thy Majesty thus farre, that thou shalt incline the hearts of all, especially all those, whom thou hast set in thy place, for the saving of thy people, that they and all their dominions, even all the Chur­ches, and every soule of thine, may seeke thee, in sack cloth and ashes, in fasting, weeping, and mourning, never giving over crying to thee, through thy Christ, untill thine anger be appeased, and thou bee re­conciled to thy people a­gaine; [Page 285] for that then undoub­tedly (as thou hast bene wont to doe in former Ages) thou wilt make thine, and thyFor that then his enemies shall be but bread for his people. Numb. 14. 9, Churches enemies, to be but bread for thy people, that all the world shall see, that their sheild is departed from them, and that thou the Lord ofThat we shal not neede to [...]eare them any more. hoasts art with us, and that wee shall not need to feare them any more.That we may know that God hath spared us hetherto of his rich mer­cy. Numb. 14. 13. 19.

Oh gracious God, & most tender Father, cause all the Churches to know, and espe­cially us of this sinfull nation, that hitherto we, and so ma­ny as have beene preserved, thou alone hast spared and sa­ved us, of thy rich mercy, and at the instant requests & im­portuningsAnd at the cryes of his faithfull ser­vants. of thy Moseses, which have bene amongst us.

And more specially, cause all unbeleevers to know, that thou now speakest to them, as thou diddest to thy people in [Page 286] the wildernesse. That not­withstanding thy great mer­cies, and the sparing of us at the cries of thy faithfull ones, yet all the earth shall be filledPsal. 21. with the glory of the Lord.That none who still tempt him shall ever see the hea­venly Cana­an. that all those who have seene thy glory, the good land, and great deliverances, which thou hast given to thy peo­ple, and yet have so oft, and doe still tempt thee, not obey­ing thy voyce, shall never see that thy heavenly Canaan, which thou hadst so promised and offered unto them, nor a­ny other that so provoked thee by their unbeleefe. ThatOnely those who remaine constant with the Lord shal enter in. onely thy faithfull servants, who as Caleb and Iosuah, ha­ving another Spirit, doe fol­low thee still, remaining still more constant and faithfull, e­ven in the greatest timerous­nesse and backsliding of the multitude, these onely thou wilt bring into the heavenly [Page 287] Canaan, and they alone shall inherit it for evermore.

Heare us, Oh most gra­ciousTo pray that remembring Gods mer­cies & our e­states, we may strive fast forward towards the heavenly Canaan. God. and loving Father, and keepe us by the mighty power of thy blessed Spirit, that alwayes remembring what thou hast done for us, and considering aright of the miserable estate of all under Sathan and Antichrists tyran­ny, and our owne happy e­state and condition, under our Lord & Saviour Iesus Christ, we may all joyntly strive fast forward towards the full fru­ition of thine owne glorious Majesty in the heavenly Ca­naan; and in the new Ierusa­lem eternally.

Grant, that in the meaneThat the un­feigned re­pentance of all the true Churches. time, the unfeigned repen­tance of all thy true Chur­ches and people, for all our sinnes, may bee one of thy ef­fectuall and principall instru­ments, for the pulling of the [Page 288] remainder of thy people forthMay helpe to pull all out of So­dome and Aegypt and to cause them to fly speedyly out of Babilon. of Sodome, and of Aegypt, and to cause all thine, to fly speedily and get themselves out of Babilon, that by esca­ping her sins, they may like­wise escape her plagues: and finally, that it may thus pre­pare the way to the calling and conversion of the Iewes,And to pre­pare the way to Christs glorious comming. the gathering in of all thy Is­rael, the speedy comming of our Lord and Saviour for our eternall deliverance, the ever­lasting glory of thy Sion, and of us all for evermore. Heare us, Oh most gracious Father, in these our requests, and ac­cept of this our poore thanks­giving, for this inestimable favour, even for Iesus Christ his sake, our onely Lord and Saviour.

X. A prayer, that wee and all theA prayer that we may glorifie God by walking more consci­onably in all his Lawes & Commande­ments. Churches in token of our thankfullnesse to our blessed God, for our deliverance from Babilon, & for making us his people and Children, and his Covenant with us, may set our selves to honour him more then ever wee have done, especially in a more con­scionable and chearefull wal­king in all his holy Lawes and Commandements, that hee may alwaies keepe us from that bloody tyranny.

OH Lord, most holy, mostHallowed be &c. great and glorious, who hast made all things for thine owne sake, even the wickedProv. 16. 4. for the day of evill. Perswade the hearts of all thine owneThat God would per­swade all that he hath created all for his owne glory. people, that thou hast thus created & formed all things, for thine owne honour, that [Page 290] thy great name might ever be magnifyed in all the world: and especially by thine owne children; and to this end, thou hast caused the glorie of thyCaused his glory to [...] s [...]ine in eve­ry creature. wisedome, power, and good­ness to shine in all thy works, even in every creature of the world, to convince all theThat all may give him his glory, or be left utterly without ex­cuse. earth, that every soule that will not give thee thy glory, may bee left utterly without excuse, and all the disobedi­ent may have theyr mouthes stopped, and be forever con­founded before thy Tribu­nall.

Above all, make all thyThat this glory is more visibly upon the Chur­ches rescu­ed and deli­vered from Sathan and Antichrist. people to understand and know, that thou hast caused this thy glorie to be more vi­sibly uppon the Churches, (which thou hast so mightily rescued and delivered from the power of Sathan and An­tichrist, and whom thou hast taken into so neere a Cove­nant, [Page 291] as to bee thy onely people, to whom thou hast committed thy heavenly word and ordinances) then it is upon all other people andThat we may set forth his glory by keeping his S [...]atutes. places of the world besides; and that this thou hast done chiefly to this end, that wee might set forth thy glory in this, by keeping all thy Sta­tutes, and observing all thy Lawes.

Lord cause all to know moreover, that to this end,To this end he hath set before us life & death. thou▪ hast not delivered us, & set us out of that bondage, to serve thee in holiness, but hast set before us also life & death, blessing and cursing, and hastDeut. 30, 19. bidden us to choose life, thatBidden us to choose life. we and ours may live, and hast assured us heereof, and that onely by loving thee, the Lord our God, by obeying thy voice, by cleaving fast unto thee, because thou (tho­row thy Christ) art unto us [Page 292] our life, and the length of ourHow we may do it. dayes, and whatsoever thou bidst us, thou wilt enable us to doe, we onely beleeving in thy beloved Sonne, and usingIos. 1. 8. the holy meanes which thou hast appointed.

Make us all to this pur­pose, ever to remember, how thou hast charged us all, thatCharged us that the booke of the Law shall never depart out of our hearts. the booke of thy Law, thy sacred word should never de­part out of our mouthes, but that we should meditate in it day and night; that wee may all observe and doe, accor­ding to all that is written in that booke: for that then thou wil [...] make all our wayes (in this our journey) prospe­rous; no enemy shall bee ableThen no e­nemy shall be able to withstand us. Ios. 1. 5. to withstand us, much lesse to surprize us of a sudden, but thou wilt bee with us, andWe shall in all have good success. thou wilt then give us good success.

Yea good Lord, let this [Page 293] ever be before our faces, how to incorage [...]s better h [...] [...] to, thou hast assured us, that if wee will thus thinke and meditate of thy Lawes and Commandements day and night, to observe & do them, and honour thee thereby; thou wilt honour us herein, that wee shall bee a blessedBe a blessed people. Psal. 1. 2. 3. people, and like the trees plainted by the rivers of wa­ter; that we shall bring forth our fruite in due season, and that so, as our leafe shall not fade, but looke whatsoeverProsper in all we do, shal prosper. How thenBe wiser then our enemies. we shall be wiser then our e­nemies; yea wee shall havePsal. 119. 98. 99. 100. more understanding then our teachers, and then all the aun­cient; when wee can set our selves thus to honour thee, by keeping all thy Commande­ments, like as thou diddest veryfie thy gracious promises in this [...]alfe, to thy faith­full [Page 294] servant David, to Daniell, Like as Da­vid, Daniell, and others. Dan. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. to those worthyes of the Captivitie, whom thou did­dest so highly honour, for that they so honoured thee, as that they would rather chuse to bee cast upon all mi­series, yea▪ the cruellest death, then voluntarily to defile themselves, by transgressing but the very least of all thy holy Commandements.God will be with us as we are with him. 2. Chro. 15. 2.

Make us all therefore that are thi [...]e, rightly to under­stand, that whilest wee thus honour thee, in being thusEzra. 8. 22. with thee (in faith and all ho­ly obedience to these thy blessed Commandements) thou wilt likewise honour us (in being with us in mercyHeb. 10. 38. and truth) thy good hand shal bee so sensibly upon us, that we shall live by faith, in assu­ranceWe shall be able to live by faith and experience, that thou wilt accomplish unto [...]s every one of thy [...] pro­mises, [Page 295] and that thus perseve­ring in faith and obedience, we shalbe saved eternally.

Make us to know for cer­tayne, that so long, & so long onely as we watch and strive heereunto, seeking cheerful­ly to receyue the Law of thy mouth, and to lay uppe thyIob 22. 21. 22, 23, &c. words in our soules, we shall be able to lift up our heartesTo lift up hearts and hands in assu­rance to be heard. L [...]m. 3, 39, 40, 41, 42. with our hands, in undoubted assurance, that wee shall be heard, in whatsoever shall be best for us, and for thy Church.

Cause us to know and be­leeueOnely such as wholly en­deavour to walke with God, are the innocent that shall deliver the Iland. for certayne, that so ma­ny of us, and so many onely as thus seeke to make & keep peace with thy Majesty, in turning and submitting our­selves thus wholly to thy Co­venant, as holy Noah, Moses, and Abraham did, are those whom thou accountest the innocent, and to whom thou [Page 296] hast promised that they shall deliver the Iland.Iob 22, 30.

Lord at length perswadeTo be per­swaded that all Gods pro­mises are made to an endeavour of an intire o­bedience. us all that are thine, and make every one of us to seeke to perswade all others, that unto this intire endeavour of obe­dience to all thy Commande­ments both of thy Law and Gospell, are all thy promises made: and that contrarily a­gainst all contempt and de­spisingAnd contra­rily. of the heavenly Com­mandements, yea against eve­ry wilful disobedience, thogh it be but to one Commande­ment, thy cursings and th [...]e t­ [...]ings are denounced, which thou dost dreadfully execute accordingly, because men will not thus give thee thy glory.

Good Lord awaken all the Churches, and open the eyes of all thine own people right­ly to conceyue & understand these things, and how SathanHow Sathan knowing this, [Page 297] that old Serpent, that arch & bloody enemy of thy Church knowing all this wel enough, hath sought in all the prospe­rityHath labored to make all to content themselves onely with a bare outward profession, destroying all the power of godliness, to the Lords di­shonour. of thy Churches, to cause thine owne people to disho­nour thee, by making onely a bare outward profession of honouring thee, by receyuing and setting up thy heavenly Religion & Commandements to obey them in word, but trampling them all under foot generally, according to the evill customes and manners of the Countries and places where they live; that thouThat he might leaue all into his hand. mightest leave thy people in­to his hand, & into the hands of all his cruell instruments, as thou hast most righteously done in so many parts of thy Church already, and threat­nest all the rest of thy people for the same.

Oh deere Father, how ma­ny of thy faithfull servants; [Page 298] who have lived in those partsThe acknow­ledgement of Gods righteousnes heerein, by many of his faithfull ser­vants. of thy Church, which are now left into the enemyes handes, do heerein iustifie thy procee­dings, acknowledging thy righteousness in all that thou hast brought upon them, even for this very cause of carnall Gospelling, and loose profes­sion.

Oh tender Father, make usTo pray, that we may be able likewise to iustify the Lord, and ne­ver to rest until he give thee all un­feigned re­pentance for it. all able likewise to iustifie thee in this behalfe; and ne­ver to rest crying unto thee for them, untill thou shalt o­pen their eyes to see and ac­knowledge thy righteousnes, and that they shall unseined­ly repent of their most hey­nous dishonour done to thy sacred Majesty herein, in cau­sing thy name heereby to bee blasphemed amongst thine e­nemyes.

Yea cause us (good Lord)That we may be warned by their en­sample. by their fearfull ensample, e­ven us specially of this sinfull [Page 299] Nation, to meet thee speedi­ly by our unfeigned repen­tance for this dreadfull sinne, whereof we are generally no less guilty then any of them, co [...]dering the gracious meanes which wee haue so long time enioyed above all. Oh make us to doe it foorth­with,To do it forthwith. before it be too late, & that thy wrath be powred on us as upon them, and that there bee no remedy. CauseTo be war­ned heereof by the very Heathen. 1 Sam. 6, 5, [...]. us at least to be warned by the very Heathen, who acknow­ledged this giving glory thus to thee the God of Israel, to be the onely meanes to appease thy wrath, and prevent thy fur­ther judgements.

Lord smi [...]e the hearts of all thy Lieutenants, and of all toTo smite the hearts of all Gods Lieu­tenants with a true sense heereof. whom the charge of thy ho­nour, the saving of thy people, are specially committed, that they may be thorowly awa­ked and touched with a right [Page 300] Meditation and sense hereof, and of their account to be gi­ven even for this dishonour before thy heavenly Majesty, that thy people should thus fall away, or thus flye before thine enemyes. And for allTo perswade us that our Adversaries are raised up to humble us to walk with our God. thine and our proud aduersa­ries perswade our hearts, that thou hast raised them up thus against us all, as thou diddest Pharao against Israel, that when thou hast humbled us by them, so as to turne us to thee againe, by causing us to submit and humble our soules to walke lowlily with thee▪ in all these thy blessed Com­mandements, and so to honorHow then he will get him­selfe glorie on them. thee, thou wilt then get thy selfe glory uppon their pride and furie, and in our finall de­liverance from them, giving them for our ransome.

Yea (good Father) for e­very particular soule of us, make us to know in our very [Page 301] hearts, that thou as thou hastTo know, as we are made for his glory, so he will be glorifyed in each of us. made us for thine owne glo­ry; so thou wilt be glorifyed in us and by us, and that in endless mercy and eternallIn mercy, compassion upon so manie of us, as thou having ordayned to be vessels of glorie, givest hearts unto, thus to humble our selves, to seeke to walke obediently in all thy blessed Lawes and commandements: & of the other side, that thou wilt bee glorifyed in decla­ring thy wrath and everlast­ingOr venge­ance. vengeance, which thou wilt in thy due time execute upon all thy disobedient and stubborne enemyes, who shal declare themselves manifest­ly by rebelling against thee, to be vessels of wrath prepa­red for destruction.

Lord; by the due meditati­on and consideration heereof, awaken and rowze up all thy people to learn to make more [Page 302] true conscience of all thy blessed▪ Commaundements, then ever we have done here­tofore, for the appeasing of thy Majestie; that thy glorieThat his glo­ry may shine in our deli­verance. may shine in all the world, in pardoning the sinnes of thy people, delivering us from our cruell enemies, and getting thy selfe honour upon Baby­lon,And getting himselfe ho­nour upon Babylon. who hath chiefly for this bene, and is, the staffe of thy wrath and indignation.

Heare us therefore heerein, and cause us at length, even in token of our thankfulness, & in the zeale we have for thy glory, yea in a vehement de­sire, that thy glory may bee set uppe, and thy great name may by us be magnified in all the world, thus to seek to re­new and performe all our vowes, to walke more obedi­ently in all thy blessed Com­mandements then ever here­tofore, even for our Lord Ie­sus [Page 303] Christ his sake, our onely Redeemer & Saviour,

Amen,

XI A Prayer that Gods glorie mayA praier that we may give God the glo­ry of his in­ward worship according to the 1. Com­mandement, and so helpe to pacifie his Maiestie to­wardes the Churches. breake forth more and more, then ever heeretofore, in cau­sing us and all his people in all the Churches, to set him up alone as our God, and make him great in our hearts, by having our hearts first sound­ly replenished with all the parts of his inward worship, commanded in the first Com­mandement, without which, we and all our outward wor­ship, and whatsoever we do in his service are utterly in vain That thus all the Churches, and euery soule, may seeke to pacifie his Maiestie, by gi­ving unto him his due glorie.

OH Lord God, who art most glorious in thy [...] [Page 304] Majesty [...] To pray that we may set up God in our hearts, giving him there his in­ward wor­ship. in all thy Attributes, and hast made this glorie of thine to shine bright in every one of thy workes, and chief­ly in thy heavenly word, that thou mightest bee glorifyed accordingly by all thy peo­ple, and chiefly by them, whom thou hast redeemed from Egypt and Babylon to this end and purpose; set up this thy glory in the hearts & consciences of everie one of thine elect, that all of us may know and acknowledge theeIn knowing and acknow­ledging him. such a one as thou hast revea­led thy selfe in thy most bles­sed word.

Lord graunt, that all of us may be knowen heereby, toIohn 6, 45. be taught by thee, and that the earth may be filled with the Heb. 2, [...]4. knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, according to thy grāci­ous promises made unto thy [Page 305] Church in the flourishing e­state thereof: yea, perswade us good Lord, that without the true knowledge of thee, and thy heavenly will, our hearts cannot be good, how­soever wee may deceive our selves, as the world doth ge­nerally.

More specially, inable us to set thee up in our hearts, not onely by knowing thee in a generall manner, but by be­leeving that thou art our God; that wee may bee ableIn faith be­leeving him to be our God. Iohn. 20. 28. in faith each of us with Tho­mas▪ to call thee▪ My God, and my Lord, and so to beleeve e­very thing, contained in thy heavenly word, as that this power of our faith in thee▪ may shew it selfe, in each part and action of our whole life, both in readily obeying every one of thy blessed Commandements, as thy ser­vants, Abraham and Noah [Page 306] did, and also in fearing every one of thy threatnings and jvdgements, & finally in lay­ing lively hold of every one of thy gracious promises made unto us in the same word; that so wee may al­waies cheare up our hearts, and incourage our selves, and also one another, to run out more joyfully in all the nar­row way of life.

Lord perswade all ourTo be per­swaded that this peculiar faith was the faith of Abra­ham & all the faithfull. Rom. [...]3. hearts, that this particular and powerfull faith (howsoe­ver it be scoffed at by all thine and thy Churches enemies) was the very faith of our Fa­ther Abraham, and of all the faithfull recorded, in thy booke, even that whereby allHeb. 11. 2. the Fathers, received good report; and that without this lively working faith, it isHeb. [...]. 6. impossible for any one ever to be pleasing, or ever to doeRom. 14. 23. any thing acceptable to thy [Page 307] heavenly Majesty.

Good Lord, make vs all able upon th [...] our right & saving knowledge of thee, that thouVpon this our faith to hold fast the Anchor of our hope. art faithfull and true, and this our faith in thee, that thou art our God, to hold fast the Anchor of our hope, and to manifest it, by our wayting and looking stedfastly, for the full accomplishment of every promise that thou hast made, either cōcerning thy Church in generall, or els any of us particularly: & also of what­soever thou hast denounced, concerning thine and thy Churches enemies, and that thou wilt doe every thing in thy due time, for thy Church, and against thy enemies, howsoever for the present, all things may seeme to goe a­gainst thy Church and peo­ple.

Yea, inable us withall (good Father) ever to honour [Page 308] thee, by shewing forth thisTo honour the Lord by manifesting our faith by our confi­dence. our faith, by the confidence which wee have in thee, even then when wee may seeme to bee most forgotten, and for­saken of thee, both by cast­ing all our burdens upon thee at all times, and also by our rejoycing alwayes in thee as in our good God, that thou takest care for us; and by be­ing heereby full of Christian chearfulnes and courage, a­gainst all the oppositions and feares, that ever wee shall, or can mee [...]e with, in this our journey towards Can [...]an, as thy worthiest servants have bene wont to be.

Oh magnifie thy powerTo manifest our faith by our love to the Lord, his Commande­ments and ordinances. and goodnesse, in shedding out thy love so aboundantly upon all thy Churches, and e­very member thereof, and so manifesting it before the world, that in the true sense and feeling of it in our hearts, [Page 309] and our lively faith in thee, wee may all joyntly manifest the fervent love wee returne unto thy Majesty, by our un­feigned love of every one of thy blessed Commandemēts, and our fervent desire to thy statutes, to walke in them all without reproofe, yea, by our ardent affection towards all thy ordinances and servants, onely for thy cause.

Good Lord, cause the fer­ventBy our zeale for his glory. zeale that wee have to­wards thy name, to appeare before the world, in the vehe­ment griefe and indignation, that we have for all y• disho­nors done unto thy heavenly Majesty, by trampling under feete thy blessed Commande­ments, thy religion, and ser­vants, and the injuryes and contumelyes done against a­ny of them; and so likewise by our study and holy indea­vour, by all meanes to, pro­mote [Page 310] thy true religion and causes, and by our vehement hatred, of whatsoever is of­fensive to thy holinesse; that we may set up nothing in our heartes but thy Majesty, and those things which thou lo­vest, accounting all other as drosse and dung, in regard of thy holinesse, yea, even life it selfe, if it hinder us from in­joying or obeying thee.

Cause thy glory to rest herein, upon all the Churches,That we may honour him shewing forth all holy patience. and upon all thy poore affli­cted servants, that upon the assurance of thy love, and that thou art our gracious God, we may honour thee in shew­ing forth all holy patience, with all cheerfullnesse, even in the middest of all our try­als; that howsoever▪ thou maiest seeme to be displeased with us, and to frowne upon us, yea, to favour our ene­mies in all their proceedings, [Page 311] and to give us up into their hands, to let them to be lords over us, and make us a prey to their teeth; yet our eye may bee still at thee, at thy love, wisedome, and faythful­ness knowing that whatsoe­uer thou doest to us, thou do­est it but to humble us for our security, and for all other our greevous sinnes, and to prove us, that thou art certainely disposing all to our greatest comfort in the end: and thus to prepare our way unto thy heavenly Ierusalem.

That thus we all may ever possess our soules in patience, and waite for the happy issue,That we may possess our soules in pa­tience, way­ting for the happy yssue. Iob 13, 15. both of all our owne trialles, and of all the trialles of thy Church and people, and bee alwayes able to say with ho­ly Iob, though thou shouldst kill us, or leave us utterly and wholly unto the pleasures and lustes of our enemyes; yet we [Page 312] will still trust in thee, approo­ving our wayes in thy sight, that heereby we may make it manifest to the faces of all our enemyes, that we are certain­ly assured, that nothing can separate us from thy love, and that thou canst not forsake, faile, or forget us, whatsoever [...] the present thou doe unto us.

Ye [...], oh most blessed God,That we may give him glo­ry in our childlike fear cause thy glory yet to shine more clearly uppon all the Churches, and upon everyone of us that are thy true ser­vants and children indeed, in this behalfe, that though the wicked feare thee not, but seek to drive all the true feare of thy Majestie even out of our hearts likewise, as out of their owne, and do therefore hate and persecute us, so farre as thou permits them, onely because we feare thee, and put our tru [...]t in thy mercy: yet we [Page 313] may feare thee so much more with a true, holy, childe-like feare; that we may ever, and especially now in these evill dayes, labour to live alwaies as in thy presence, and as in the verie eye of thy all-seeing Majestie.

Grant good Lord, that weWalking constantly withou [...] God in holy feare. may bee able thus to walke with thee constantly, until we shall be translated hence, and with holy Noah, to endevour to be still more righteous in our generation, and to be dai­ly building our Arkes to save our selves and Families, and all other that we can get into the same, from the floud of thy vengeance, that is rushing upon al the world of the wic­ked.

And albeit the world scornAlbeit the world scorne and hate us for it. and deride us dayly for it, and though we be the onely talk and hatred of the wicked, and as men appointed and desig­ned [Page 314] to death onely for this our feare of thee, in the bloo­dy hopes of thine and our proud enemyes, yet cause us heerein to honour thee, that we may not feare the faces of them while we walke in thy blessed Commandements, and do onely as thou requirest of us, but that by the might and power of thy heavenly Spirit, we may bee more full of all Christian corage, as the three worthy Children of the Cap­tivitie, & as good Daniel and holy Nehemiah.

And yet more also enable us heerein likewise to honourTo shewforth our honour towards the Lord by our Humility. thee before the world, and to shew openly before men and Angels, that we have set thee uppe in our hearts to be our God, even by walking hum­bly with thee, that thogh the world regard thee not, but thou art farre above out of their sight, and though they [Page 315] doe band themselves agaynst thee, against thy heavenly word and servants; yea thogh they scorne al thy judgments and threatnings, as the Gy­ants before the flood, and as proud Pharao and Herod did, yet we may all walke ever in all humility and lowlinesse of Spirit before thee.

Make us ever to have be­foreTo this end, to have ever before our eyes Gods excellency & our own vile­ness and dan­ger by Na­ture, and Sa­thans malice. our faces thy glorious excellencie, and our own vile­nesse; thy holinesse, and our sinnefulnesse, and that not on­ly by the fall of our first Pa­rents, and by the whol course of our sinful lives, and also the power, subtilty, and malice of Sathan against us to destroy us each moment, without thy speciall preservation & mer­cie; but even for the very cor­ruption of our sinfull natures which still dwell in us; that bodie of death which would carrie us to destruction▪ yea▪ [Page 316] even to hell it selfe every mi­nute, if thou in the riches of thy mercy shouldest not re­straine it, and shouldest not cover all our sinnes, yea, keep and uphold us.

Oh give us hearts, thatThat we may give to the Lord all the glory of our standing and perseverance in grace & of each good thing. herein wee may all magnifie thy great name, in giving un­to thee, as is thy due, all the glory of our standing & per­severance in grace, and of e­very good thing that ever we enjoy, acknowledging from our soules, that they are all the free gifts of thy rich mer­cy, and that we are not wor­thy any of them, nay that we are much lesse then the least of them, as thy deerest ser­vantsThat we may withall give him his glory mourning continually for all the dishonours done unto his name, & all provocati­ons against the Chur­ches. have beene wont to do.

And good Lord, heerein make us specially able to give thee thy glory, in being tho­rowly humbled, and in mour­ning continually for all the heynous sinnes, whereby thou [Page 317] hast bene, and art still, dayly more and more provoked a­gainst the Churches, for all the dishonours done unto thy great name; that we may bee every one as righteous Lot in Sodome, and as the mourners before the Captivitie, and as those worthy servants of thine, both Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, untill we shall see againe the setting up of thy glory and Gospell▪ thy graci­ous countenance shining up­on all the Churches, and the full delivery of thy deere Children, out of the hands of their most mercilesse & bloo­dy enemies.

Oh grant, that hereby ourTo pray to be able to see hereby who they are that truly ho­nour the Lord▪ & have set him up for their God. eyes may bee open, to see a­right both who they are, that truly honour thee, by having thee their God, as they ought, in setting thee thus up in their hearts, in every one of these respects, and who are [Page 318] heereby truly thankefull for their great deliverance from Aegypt and Babylon; yea, from Sathan and eternal dam­nation. Heare us for Iesus Christ his sake our only Lord and Saviour.

Another Prayer, according to the first Comman­dement.

OH Lord, most glorious,To discerne of the great­nesse of the sinne of all the Chur­ches, where­by he is di­shonored & provoked. and most blessed, as we intreate thee to manifest who they are which truely honour thee, having set thee uppe in their harts as their God: make us able by these likewise, to discerne of the greatnesse of the sinne of all the Churches, when after so long a time, there yet appeareth so little true saving knowledge of thy Majesty; but that such aBy palpable ignorance & blindness in them. grosse and palpable darkness is upon the most congregati­ons [Page 319] and places, that the peo­ple are ready to receyue any errors broached amongest them, and that so great a part of thy people seeme now much more ready to receyve Popery and superstition a­gayne, then to stand forth for the maintayning thy heaven­ly Gospell, with the losse of any thing for it; and so verie many thereby so forward, to put their neckes under the yoake of Antichrist againe, rejecting the sweete yoake of Iesus Christ.

When there is also such aBy Atheisme world of Atheisme, as that so many both in Court & Coun­trey live as if there vvere no God, no heaven, no judge­ment, no place of torment. Such multitudes perishing daily for lacke of this know­ledge, living as without Christ, being ignorant of all saving knowledge of him, and [Page 320] so goe hoodwinked to hell: worse then the Oxe that kno­weth his owner.

Make us able heereby, toVnbeleefe. consider aright, how justlie thou mayest bee provoked a­gaynst the Churches for our wonderfull unbeleefe, and mayest even give us up into our enemies hands for the same, when there are so mer­uailous few to be found in all the Churches, who shewe forth their saving knowledge of thy Majesty, and faith in thee, by their conversations, by making a right conscience of every one of thy blessed Commandements to obey them; or of thy judgements or threats to restrayne them from sinne; or of thy sweete promises and mercyes to bee encouraged thereby to runne more cheerefully in the nar­row way of life; but all sorts, except the small remnant, full [Page 321] of prophanenesse, or extreme licentiousnesse.

Oh make us to behold, that carnall confidence, which soCarnall con­fidence. possesseth all almost general­ly that (in steed of honouring thee, by having set thee up to bee our onely confidence and strength) we do trust in vani­ty, making flesh our arme; ei­ther relying upon our wit, our policy and counsell, or other like meanes; by all which, as our hearts are withdrawne from thee, so we have and do bring a fearefull curse uppon our selves, making these our gods.

Lord make us able to con­sider of this more seriously, & of the truth heereof by this one thing, that in all our straites and feares, we so little run unto thy Majesty to seeke thy face and helpe in the first place, by humbling our souls before thee, and seeking to [Page 322] pacifie thy wrath as wee ought; but only looke to the outward meanes, as relying uppon them alone or princi­pally.

And Lord we intreat thee to shew us in our harts, and to set plainly before our faces, how in all the rest of these ho­ly duties, we have provoked thee alike; how in steede of taking to heart the dishonors done unto thy heavenly Ma­jesty, and being zealous for thy glory, we have bene, and are so generally, either starke cold, or luke-warme as theLukewarm­nesse. [...]odicean, that thou mayest justly spewe us out of thy mouth, or at least, that wee are so mervailously decayed and falne from our first love.

Lord give us harts to con­sider of our most heynous sin in this behalfe, that in steede of so loving thee, thy truth, and servants as we should do, [Page 323] if we had set thee up truely in our soules and consciences, as our God; we have almost e­verieLoving other things more then Gods Maiesty. one set up some other thing, which wee manifest plainly, that we have, and do love, and preferre before thy glorious holinesse, as having our affections set thereon much more, then on thy hea­venly Majesty, and for obtai­ning or injoying whereof, we are not afraid to indanger our selves to loose thy favour, as some of us our children and friends to make them great; others, our pleasures to take our delight, and satiate our selves in them; others of us, and that very generally, the riches, pompe, honour, and wealth of the world; and all of us, except some little rem­nant, preferring our owne selves, our owne honor, [...]ase, peace, and safety, and whatso­ever is most pleasing unto us, [Page 324] before thy glorious Majestie, and thy heavenly Comman­dements.

Lord make us able to see, how we have and do prouoke thee generally, to powre out thy wrath upon us all: some of us by grosse disobedienceDisobedience and obstinacie against some one or other of these thy Sa­cred Commandements, if not all of them (wherein soever they crosse the corruption of ou [...] owne hearts) and that a­gainst the verie light of our owne consciences; although thou hast told us plainly, that this hath bene, and is, nothing els but rebellion against thee,1 [...] ▪ 15, 22, 23 and as the sinne of witch craft in thy eies.

How others of us, disho­nour thee by our timerousnes,T [...]ousnes. fearing the faces of men more then thy glorious face; and thereuppon doing or forbea­ring good or evill onely, for [Page 325] feare of man; wherein wee have and do commit manifest Idolatry, making Gods of men, and setting them up in thy place. How others of us tempt thee by presuming up­onPresumption. thy mercy, to bee bold to sin, because thou art so mer­cifull; though thou hast told us directly, that thou wilt notDeut. 29, 19, 20, 21. be mercifull to such.

Yea, which is yet a higher degree (good Lord:) Make us to see how many amongst us, in [...]teed of having so set thee up as our God in our hearts, & of being continually hum­bled before thy glorious Ma­jestie, for all our sinnes and provocations, have added fu­ell to the kindling and infla­ming thy wrath against us; asPride against God. all amongst us, who have set our selves against thy Word, thy judgements, or servants, even with an high hand, as if it were in despight of thy Ma­jesty, [Page 326] and even in defiance of thee.

O [...] make us to see and ac­knowledgeTo see that as the Popish sort have set up their false Gods out­wardly▪ all our sinnes, and withall, that as the Popish sort in every place, have set up other Gods to anger thee, as chiefly their holy Father the Pope (whose word and ordinances they reverence a­bove thine; rejecting thy word utterly in regard of their Popes decrees and tradi­tions) and with him have set up all their Saints and Idols, to whom by their invocation of them, they give his glory; so every one of us, who albe­it in words wee professe thee our God, have yet in ourSo we in our hearts. hearts set up other things, which wee preferre before thee, and on which we spend moe of our thoughts, & more of our love and care to enjoy them, then on thy Majesty; even wee likewise have set up [Page 327] so many false Gods in our hearts, to provoke thee to the uttermost.

And finally, good Lord,To see even by this first Commande­ment how few doe truly honour the Lord. make us all able to see by this first commandement of thine, how wonderfull few they are, so farre as we are able to conceive, who by the light of their good workes, doe in­deed and truth glorifie thee their heavenly Father, by shewing forth before men and Angels, that they have so set thee up in their [...] as their God: and those few thatAll wicked men malig­ning all who have so set him up, so to glorifie his great name. doe so indeed, are the men principally maligned of all the people of the world, e­ven for this cause principally, because they shew in their lives, that they have thus in their hearts set thee up to bee their God, although that they be ye onely blessed people, ha­ving thee their God, all other being in a most miserable e­state; [Page 328] and that they are there­fore the onely men in honour and favour with thee, and by whom chiefly, as by Abra­ham, Noah, and Moses, thou saves [...] and preservest▪ all the rest of us.

Make us Lord to under­standTo be able to conceive aright hereo: and conceive aright hereof, and that for this very [...] alone, whereby we haveThat we may wonder how even for this sinne God hath spared us so long. so generally se [...] our selves, not onely to maligne and disho­nour the [...], but even to fight against thy heavenly Majesty; wee may wonder how thou hast spared us of this nation hither to, and not left us up as the other Churches, untill we shall see and acknowledge what wee h [...]e done against the [...], our most gracious and out most blessed God in this behalfe.That we may never [...]est untill we have so set up the Lord in our hearts.

Heare us, Oh tender Fa­ther, [...]nd suffer us never to [...]est, untill wee have repented [Page 329] particularly, of this our most heynous and crying sinne; and that all of us, that ever looke▪ to have a strong assu­rance that we belong to thy eternall [...]lection, have thus truly se [...] the [...] up in our hearts, as our Lord and God. That so by our unfeigned re­pentance, thou maiest once a­gaine manifest thy selfe in the deliuerance of all thy Chur­ches and people, in a more glorious manner, to bee still our God graciously reconci­led to vs againe in Iesus Chrst, & maiest so renew thy Covenant to remaine our God, and the God of our po­sterity, through him, and for his sake alone, for evermore,

Amen, Amen▪

XII. A humble confession of the sinnes of the Churches, and an ac­knowledgment of Gods righ­teous proceeding for our un­thank fulnesse and transgres­sion of his Lawes: and for that though wee haue heard of all their miseries, and knowne our owne dangers▪ yet we haue not beene humbled, nor made our supplications as we ought, according to the 1. of Nehe­miah.

OH Lord God of heauenAn importu­ning of the Lord by his iustice and mercy. and earth, who art the great and terrible God, pro­ceeding most fearfully in thy dreadfull judgements, even a­gainst thine owne deare peo­ple and children, as thou did­dest against thy people of Is­rael, for their unthankfuluesse, & for their despising, & trans­gressing thy blessed Lawes [Page 331] and Commandements: and yet art withall full of mercy and tender compassion to thy people, repenting of their sinnes, and truly humbled for their provocations; thou, who keepest, Covenant and mercy for ever, for all that truly love thee, and who desire unfeig­nedly to observe all thy Com­mandements: heare us and alTo heare his people cry­ing ioyntly to him. thy poore Churches and peo­ple in all the earth, at this day looking up to thee alone and crying loude unto thee.

We pray thee (Oh tenderTo behold the miseries and dangers of all his poore people Father) that thine eyes may be open, and thine eares may bee attent, both to behold the miseries and dangers, and to heare the prayers of thy poore servants which wee all joyntly poure out before thee day and night, for our bre­thren thy servants and chil­dren which are in such great affliction; and doe now un­cessantly [Page 332] confesse all our sins, and the sinnes of all thy peo­ple, which we have sinned a­gainst thee. Both we, and our Fathers, all of us have grie­vously provoked thee now this threescore yeares and a­boue, even since thou first tooke us by the hand to bring us forth of Egypt & Babilon; and diddst also carry us out as uppon Eagles wings by thy▪ mig hty hand and o [...]t-stret­ched arme.

Oh Lord, wee have heardA humble confession, how hearing the miseries of our bre­thren and, their perils, yet we have not bene humbled for them. long, & do dayly heare more and more, of the innumerable miseries which thou brough­test uppon our brethren and sisters in the Palatinate, it be­ing a principall member even of our owne selves; Aud so in Bohemia and the Countries adioyning to it, though fur­ther remote from vs, yet our deare brethren and sisters in Christ Iesus; and so likewise [Page 333] in the Churches of France, hard at our doores, in all the direfull slaughters, and but­cherly cruelties, which thine & our merciles enemies haue executed upon them in their bloody rage, without any pit­ty. We have also heard, and do still daily heare ringing in our eares, the miserable state and condition of the residue of them that have escaped the bloody sword: some of them induring all kind of violence and calamities of all sorts, li­ving in all reproach, the wall of their Ierusalem being bro­ken downe, the gates there of being burnt with fire, all the rest of them living in conti­nuall feare, because of the deadly fury, and hellish plots against them to destroy them all. And yet though wee have long heard, & do dayly heave of these things, and of the rage of thine and our enemies still [Page 334] increased against them all and against our selves, have wee not with thy holy servant Ne­hemiah, Neh. 1. 4. sit downe, wept, and mourned for them; muchlesse fasted and prayed before thee the God of heaven in their be­halfe, in any such manner as we ought.

Oh thou our most holyA further confession how we have all sinned in our extreame unthankful­nes & breach of our Cove­nant with the Lord. God, and pittyfull Father, we humbly confesse and acknow­ledge, that wee have all grie­vously sinned against thee, wee have not kept thy great goodnesse in remembrance, which thou shewedst unto us in delivering our fathers and us so wonderfully from Ae­gypt & Babilon by so mighty a hand; nor the many great preservations and deliveran­ces, which since that time our eares have heard, and our eies have seene; how thou hast res­cued us from their jawes, nor yet have we kept in memory [Page 335] how thou tookest us to bee thine owne peculiar people of all the people of the earth; made thy Covenant with us to bee our God, and that wee should be thy people, so that wee would but walke in this thy Covenant.

But this our Covenant with thy Majesty, though all of vs who professe thy Gospell, have solemnly entred into, for our selves, our chil­dren, and posterity, and every one bound our selves by thy holy Sacraments, chiefly by our Baptisme vow; yet wee have all heynously transgres­sed, wee have cast it behinde o [...]r backes, trampling under foote thy blessed Comman­dements, thy statutes & judg­ments.

Hereby (good Lord) have wee most justly brought all this thy fierce wrath upon so many parts of thy Church, [Page 336] and also provoked thee to threaten most righteously the like, or more heauy, to come upon us all, untill wee all see our unthankfulnesse and our breach of Covenant: and that we do all joyntly humble our selves under thy most mighty and most fatherly hand, to give thee thy glory, by re­newing and confirming this our Covenant in our true and our unfeigned repentance.

Wee therefore doe most freely acknowledge, that wee have all most grievously and fearfully transgressed, even in all the Churches, against that first and great Commande­ment; yea indeed, against eve­ry one of thy most sacred Commandements, in a high degree, in one kinde or other, and that in a speciall manner, and (as it were) with a high hand.

For concerning thy in­ward [Page 337] worship, and givingHow concer­ning Gods inward wor­ship, multi­tudes amon­gest us have set up Sathan to adore. thee thy due glory, by setting thee up as chiefe in our harts, to adore and worship thee as our glorious God. We hum­bly confesse for our selves and brethren, even against us all, that all of us who in the mid­destAs all living in blindnesse or any hey­nous sinne. of this shining light of thy heavenly word, doe still content our selves to liue in ignorance and blindnesse, or in any heynous sinne, and e­specially in Athiesme or pro­phannesse, have set up Sathan the God of this world, in our hearts to be our God; and that hee it is that ruling there, so blindes the eyes of all such, least the light of thy heavenly truth should shine unto them, and they should be conuerted and saved thereby.

Multitudes of vs (O LordAll who have set up the world in any kinde. thou knowest) have set up the world as our God, very ma­ny of us the riches, other the [Page 338] pleasures, and others of us the honour and pompe of it to a­dore; many other, that Anti­christ the Pope of Rome, as al who are Popishly affected in all the Churches, who all pre­ferre his decrees and ordinan­ces before thy heavenly word; for that all these, and likewise all others, who adore or honor any creature with that honour which is due to thy heavenly Majesty alone, or above thee, have and do preferre all these before thee, and set them up in thy place.Very few who have set up the Lord as we ought.

But very few there are a­mongst us (Oh most holy Fa­ther) who have so set thee up as wee ought to doe our most glorious Lord and God; that is, so as to set our whole heart upon thee, and to put our whole affiance and confi­dence in thee, to love thee with all our heart, soule, strength, and might; to bee [Page 339] zealous for thee, for thy sin­cere worship and truth; but we are rather (good Lord) ve­ry generally as the Laodicean luke-warme, worthy to bee spewed out of thy mouth. Yea Lord, wee have in verie many of us increased our sin in this, in hating and scor­ning all such, as have beene more zealous for thee and for thy truth, then our selves are: & in that so many of us have sought utterly to destroy all power of true godlinesse, in whomsoever it hath appea­red, yea that so very many of us have opposed our selves, as it were fighting even against thine owne sacred Majestie, like the Gyants before the Flood.For his out­ward worship in the second Commande­ment, how we have [...]in­ned.

And for thy outward wor­ship, the sinne of multitudes of us (Oh Lord) hath beene, and is no lesse to prouoke thy holines, as in all those in each [Page 340] of the Churches, who insted of worshipping thee onely, ac­cording to thy blessed word in Spirit and truth, have and do worship and do adore thee by Images, Crucifixes, & the like Idolatrous or superstiti­ous devises, or by any will­worship whatsoever, devised by man, without ye warrant of thy sacred word: although those worships have beene most goodly in shew, and pre­tended to most faire and holy ends. And much more, in and by all those who have or doe worship Sathan, thy sworne enemy in thy place, using divellish Arts, to effect their desires, and to bring to passe strange things by his helpe. This wee confesse likewise, what multitudes there are in the Churches, who have and doe worship thee hypocriti­cally, meerely in outward ce­remonies and bare shewes of [Page 341] religion, and also of those who halt between thy pure and sincere religion, and the religion of Antichrist.

And so likewise of such as worship mereely as the Pha­rifes, being forward in small matters, in tithing Mint and Cummin, omitting in the meane time, the most weigh­ty; and namely, all true faith, and unseigned repentance, and true turning unto thy Cove­nant.

But for those (Oh graci­ous Father) who by their con­scionable walking, doe mani­fest to the world, that they sincerely worship thee in spi­rit and truth, when we consi­der of them aright how few they are, wee may wonder at thy goodnesse in sparing us for their sakes; seeing they have beene not onely so few, but also so hated, scorned, & abused, for thy sake alone.

[Page 342]Moreover, for taking thyConfession how we have increased our guiltines by taking Gods name in vaine. glorious name in vaine (Oh holy Father) we acknowledge againe to our owne shame, that we have made our selves extreamly guilty, and worthy of all thy plagues, for that be­sides all the fearfull oathes and blasphemies, daily bel­ched out against thy greatnes, thou hast so sensibly spoken unto us by thy blessed word, and by all thy glorious workes, chiefly by threat­nings and judgements, upon our selves more mildly, and upon our brethren in a more fearfull manner, and yet wee have not hearkned unto thee. And moreover for that be­sides all these, thou hast spo­ken unto us, by the voyce of thy mercies in all thy great deliverances and miraculous preservations of us in this Na­tion specially, and through the incredible continuance of [Page 343] all thy blessings; still by them all calling us all to know thee and to meete thee, by an un­feigned humiliation, before thy vengeance be poured out upon us for all our sinnes. And for that yet we have not heard to tremble before this glori­ous name, The Lord our GOD, and unfeignedly to turne unto thee by our unfeigned repen­tance, but have hardned our hearts, to increase and hasten thy wrath by all our blasphe­mies and sinnes, whereby wee have caused thy great name to bee blasphemed amongst the enemies unto this very day.And princi­pally for pro­phaning his Sabbath, which might iustly make all our coun­tryes to rest and keepe Sabbaths to him in that dolefull man­ner, that some do already.

And finally, for our Sab­baths, Lord wee have and do [...] confesse againe to the cove­ring of our faces, that we have so polluted them in all the Churches▪ as that all of us do [...] and must needs acknowledge, that even for this sinne alone, [Page 344] had wee no other, wee have most righteously deserved, that thou shouldst so begin to kindle such a fire of thy vengeance in the gates of all our chiefe Cityes, as should not be quenched; like as thou hast so fearfully done in for­raine parts, & so often threat­ned us our selves heere at home. Yea (holy Father) we have made our selves worthy, that thou shouldest thus pro­ceed in thy fierce wrath, to cause all our lands to keepe such dreadfull Sabbaths, be­ing possessed by thine and our enemies, as so many of them doe already, and seeing wee would not serve thee in our owne good lands, under thine owne servants with cheerfull & glad hearts, that we should serve thine and our enemyes, not onely in our owne, but e­ven in forraine Countrye [...] with heavinesse and terror all [Page 345] our daies. And as wee have sinned, rebelling against thee in every one of these: so like­wise against all the rest of thy holy Commandements: and even against thy heavenly Gospell and ordinances, as that wee have justly forfitted them all, and all other our pri­viledges and promises.

Wee therefore acknow­ledgeAcknowledg­ment of Gods righte­ousnesse in all that he hath done to the Churches & threatneth. in the behalfe of all thy people, that thou art righte­ous in all that thou hast done unto us: and if thou still fur­ther execute whatsoever thou hast denounced in thy blessedNeh. 1. 8. Law against us. And yet not­withstanding we do humbly beseech thee, to remember the word, that thou comman­dedst by thy servant Moses, saying, Ye will transgresse and I will scatter you among the people. But if you turne to mee and keepe my Com­manddments, and doe them, [Page 346] though your scattering were to the ut [...]ermost part of the heaven▪ yet will I gather you from thence, and will bring you to the place, which I have chosen to place my name there.

Now these (deere Father)A humble prayer for them and for us all. are thy people, yea, thy ser­vants and children, our owne brethren and sisters, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, & by thy migh­ty hand as well as our selves, & some of them of the chiefe of us all, any one of whom is worth many thousands of the [...] of us. Therefore (Oh good Lord) we beseech thee, let it be enough to awaken us all, that thou hast so far stret­ched out thy hand against these our brethren, being thine owne children and inhe­ritance, and let thine eare now at length hearken to the prai­ers of thy servant, and to the [Page 347] fervent supplications and loud cryes of all thy servants, who desire to feare thy great name, and give us favour in thy presence, and in the pre­sence of all those, whom thou hast set in thine owne place, to bee nursing-Fathers and nursing-Mothers to thy poor Church and people.

Grant that their first care may bee, to bring us all to un­feigned repentance for our sinnes, that thou mayest bee pacified towards us: and then (good Lord) put into their hearts a holy submission to cast downe their crownes be­fore thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ, and to give all their power and authority unto him, to helpe by all holy meanes to redeeme and re­store his Captives, that they may againe serve thee in their owne places, each under their owne vine and fig [...]ree, & un­der [Page 348] the authority and com­mand of thy de [...]re servants, as ever they did before. Oh let this prevaile with us all, to make us all to remember our vowes, to [...]urne to the obedi­ence of thy blessed Comman­dements, and especially to turne heereby to keepe thy Sabbaths, and to reuerence thy Sanctuary; y• thou mayest as much lift them and us al up in mercy, as thou hast former­ly cast them downe: and that thus wee and all future Ages may learne to feare thy great name, and evermore sound out thy praises, both in word dn [...] deed, expressing our thankfulnesse in all holy and new obedience, that so thy glory may shine in all the world. Heare us most merci­full Father, in these our hum­ble requests and al others, &c.

XIII. A humble confession of the hey­nous sinne of our lande, and namely in all the Popish sort, who have so fearfully polluted it, in reiecting the Lord and his pure religion, casting it forth of theis hearts, and set­ting up the Pope of Rome with his abhominable Idola­try and superstition in place thereof, to provoke his hea­venly Maiesty against us: with prayer for pardon, and that they, and all other may in due time, see this fearfull sin, that casting out Sathan and Antichrist, they and all of us may againe set up our Lord Iesus Christ, to the pacifying of his sacred Maiesty, and the saving of us all▪

OH Lord, most holy, and most glorious, who canst not beare with any kind [Page 350] of impuri [...]y or other wicked­nesse in thy people which pro­fesse thy name, & whom thou hast chosen to set thy Taber­nacle amongst, and much lesse that they should reject thee, and cast thee forth from r [...]ig­ning in their hearts, & should set up Sathan and Antichr [...] to obey them in thy [...]lace: o­pen [...] that God may [...] pen out eyes to se [...] what we have done▪ in so [...]arre retur­ning to Po­ [...]ery againe especially of [...] [...] ▪ the eyes of all them, who are superstitiously minded, and even the eyes of us all, to see what we have done in suf­fering that religion to th [...]ive▪ and so farre to grow up a­gaine, thrusting thee out with thy sacred truth, as in all who obey the Pope of Rome, re­ceiving and reverencing hi [...] word and ordinances above thy heavenly word▪

Oh grant to all them, who [...]. have so fallen away from thee rejecting thy glorio [...] [...] ­sty, and also to all who [...] in a mammering; and much [Page 351] more all those who have soTo dote so upon it a­gaine after such notori­ous discove­ries of the vilenes of it. begun of late to dote after Popery, to bethinke them­selves seriously, what they will answer unto thy sacred Majesty, for their so casting thee off, and thy Religion af­ter the time that thou hast so lo [...]g, so clearly, and fully dis­covered the basenes and vile­nesse of Popery, and so to cast it out of our land, by such a generall consent of our Prin­ces, Nobles, and Commons, and so good Lawes made a­gainst it▪

Cause them, and all sorts,How all sorts had seene be­fore how they had bene deluded by i [...]. wisely to weigh and consider well with themselves, that this our whole state did not so cast it out at once, without iust cause, nor our whole land so renounce it, without a most palpable discovery of the fil­thynesse thereof. How before that time, even very Idiots and little children saw how [Page 352] all had beene deluded and rob'd by it, through all their Masses, Purgatory, Pilgrima­ges, Pardons, with all kinds of their jugling [...] ▪ and how all was but to get mo­ney, to make themselves fa [...], and Lords of all, both bodies and soules of men; that all might be their slaves and vas­sals, like as it is in all the Po­pish Countryes at this day. Make them all to understand and know, how all those, whose eyes thou hast not shutHow Gods vengeance was most iust­ [...]y co [...] upon those their [...] us houses. up, did tken plainly perceive and acknowledge thy ven­geance most justly uppon all those places, called their reli­gious houses; as their Ab­beyes, [...], Nunneries, and the like, in their ruines & desolation, for all the abhomi­nations committed in them. How notorious this filthynesHow [...] ­ous [...] were for fil­thynesse. of them was, even more loath­some and abhominable then [Page 353] the sinne of Sodome, through their fulnesse of bread and a­boundance of idlenesse. HowBlood. they we [...]re al red with blood, with the cruell and unnaturall murder [...] of Infant [...] to hide those their odious sinnes.

Cause them all at length [...]o understand and lay to hart, that those houses wherein was the chiefe practise of their religion, were nothingBeing no­thing else but dens of theeves. else but dens of theeves, couzening and robbing the whole land, and every day by their new devises fetching in new spoyles. How all this which is charged upon them in this behalfe, was most ap­parant in this one thing, that heereby they had got into their hands, most of the plea­santest & fartest things of the Land to uphold their king­dome, and to support their wickednesse, and so all other their delusions evident by [Page 354] most notorious discoveries, remayning uppon perpetuall record to all posterity.

Lord at length make them,That all may know what their religi­on wa [...] [...], b [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...]. and all sorts wisely to under­stand, before it bee too late, that if the continuall practise of Sodommy, Whoredome, Murder, Lying, Robbing, swallowing up whole Nati­ons, and all under a cl [...]ake of devouon and pi [...]y, could de­monstrate a religion most ab­hominable and accursed, then surely Popery must needs bee it.

That this was then a chiefe [...] [...]ere was then one part of that Babylon the mother of whoredomes and abhomi­nations. part of that Babylon, which is called the mother of whore­domes and abhominations of the earth, and that in the f [...]ll hereof was a part of that ven­geance verified. That BabilonApoc. [...]7. 5. is falne, it is falne, and is be­comeAnd [...] the ruine [...]f it a part of the fall of Baby­lon verified. an habitation of devils, a hold of all foule Spirits; when as the most of them [Page 355] were afterwards hanted with devils in one roome or▪ other of them.

Good Lord, cause themHow God hath as from hea [...]en pro­claimed the [...] of his approba­tion of his religion pro­fessed amon gest us. moreover to bethinke them­selves how evidently of the contrary (as if it were from heaven (and how mightily thou hast maintained & pro­claimed thy sacred truth, and convinced them all, and all the whole land, concerning the evidence of thy religion professed amongst us, by the blood of so many learned and most faithfull Martyes; yea, by so many of thy Prophets and worthy Preachers in eve­ry part of our land, so many learned writers unanswer­able.To thinke what they can answere for not being warned by so many & such notorious discoveries of their bloo­dy rage and practises.

Make them, and all of us, to lay to heart at length, what they can answer: into thee, who [...]ast discovered frō time to time, such, & so many most barbarous and unnaturall- [...], [Page 356] eyther done or inten­ded by their Iesuites and Se­minary Preists, and other of that religion, and especially [...] of their [...]ligion to be the fruits of their religi­on, and the practise of their owne grounds and principles. Such continuall plotting, at­tempting, and practising of murdering of Princes, [...] ­sion of States, butchering e­ven their owne friends and kinsmen▪ desolating their owne native Countryes, mer­cilesse massacring old and young, noble and ignoble, men, women, and children.To keepe e­ver in [...], memory▪ that insolent in­vasion of our nation. Lord cause them and all sorts ever to keepe in memory▪ that which was so much triumph­ed of by them before the vi­ctory, that outragious inso­lent and most savage invasion of this our Nation, and at the time of a treaty about a marriage and amity, chiefly managed by her owne chil­dren [Page 357] and native subjects, de­luded by the principall Fa­thers and spreaders of that re­ligion.

Oh let that hellish PowderThe hellish powder Treason dis­covering the cursednesse of that reli­gion. treason, ever be before our fa­ces▪ that wickednesse, unto which no name can ever bee found out meete and suffici­ent to expresse it, or able to set forth the nature of it. That which was so compact of all the principall workes of the devill, both lying, murdering, and all kinds of cruelty, that thou (Oh Lord) madest them themselves, to be trumpeters and publique proclamers by it, of the abhominable ini­quity of that accursed religi­on, whereby it was contrived and managed; and that they themselves should shew to all nations, that it is come out of the bottomlesse pit, and the very principall religion of Sa­than in all the world, under [Page 358] such a [...] [...] of holinesse. Lord give all thy servants grace, wisely to consider of these things, and to thinke how fearfull it is, not onely for them, who adjoyne them­selves, or turne to a religion of such abhominations, but e­ven for us all (who have bene so warned thereof so many waies, and that from thine owne Majesty▪ in such aboun­dant compassion, and by so many infallible evidences) that wee through our negli­gence in our severall places have suffered it so to grow up againe, [...]s thus to indanger us by it, and our whole Nation, yea, even all the Church and people of the Lord, besides the dishonouring and provo­king thy heavenly Majesty to the uttermost.

Oh gracious God, makeTo consider the [...] ­nies granted to the Gos­pell in the miraculous continuance of it, and pre­servation of our Princes. them and u [...] all, wisely to con­sider the wonderfull Testimo­nyes [Page 359] which thou hast contra­ [...]ly granted to thy Gospell, in the miraculous continu­ance of it, preservation of our Princes, and us; with all our peace, notwithstanding so in­numerable stratagems to have taken them away for so many yeares together, & how these have beene as infallable argu­ments of thy favour and love towards us for thy Gospell sake, and for thy faithfull ser­vants amongst us, as the like were tokens of thy favour to­wards Iudah or Ierusalem.

Oh make us to call to mind, how many a time thy people amongst us have even won­dered at our incredible deli­verances and preservations, with the defeating of their new hopes and long expect­ed daies, and also the new and almost continuall discoveries of their wicked intendments, which even they themselves [Page 360] at this day, so many as i [...] whom [...] the light of nature [...] do [...] acknowledge, and wonder at the miracu­lous o [...]turning of all the [...] counsels, to wor [...] for us, and against themselves [...] this [...]e­ry day, so [...] [...] thy [...] and watchfull eye over us, & hatred of their wicked [...]. Wherefore (Oh blessed Fa­ther)To beg true repe [...]tance for this and all our loud crying sinnes. we humbly in-treat thee, to great unto us al, true repen­tance for this amongst all o­ther our fearfull and crying sinnes, & daily [...] up more and more, the [...] of thine Anoyn [...] our [...] Sove­raigne, with all other in high place and chiefe authority un­der him, and all thy faithfull Ministers, and whomsoever it specially concernes, to la­bourThat our land may be purged of it and the evils threa [...]ed prevented. that our sinfull Land may be fully purged of it, and the evils prevented, which thou threatnest against us, by [Page 361] the increase and spreading of it. Grant that thus wee all joyntly and generally, set­ting thee up in our hearts to worship and adore, and to re­ceive thy sacred religion a­lone, may utterly extirpate and abolish all conceite of giving thy honour and sove­raignty to that man of sinne, or setting up his Idolatry or superstition in place thereof. That so wee may remayne thine owne obedient people, that thou mayest likewise continue our most gracious God and loving Father, and so our most watchfull protector for ever; and mayest never repent of the good that thou hast done, or further intended towards us; but mayest thus make us a most blessed and happy nation and people, a­mongst whom thou alone mayest solely relgne, untill thy blessed Sonne shall come [Page 362] in the clouds, that then all we who are thine, may reigne with thee in the highest hea­vens for [...]vermore. [...] us oh most gracious God, h [...]ere­in, and in all other things needfull for us, or for any member of the whole Church for our Lord Iesus Christ,

Amen, Amen.

XIIII. An earnest prayer that the Lord would open the eyes of our brethren and sisters, seduced by the Iesuites and other Se­minary Priests▪ that they may plainly see, how palpably they are, and have bene deluded by them: in what a fearfull e­state they all stand under Sa­than and Antichrist, and may speedily get them from under their Tyranny, and be­take themselves to the banner of our Lord Iesus Christ, to e­scape the [...]orment which they must otherwise indure with them for evermore.

OH Lord God, most holy, and most righteous, thou hast said thou wilt bee sanctisied in all that draw nee [...]e unto thee; and there­fore as thou ar [...] infinite in mercy towards all those who [Page 364] unfeignedly feare thy holy name, and [...]mble at thy word; and w [...]t [...]eale thy secrets unto them, and make them of thy privi [...] counsell; so thou art most dreadfull & terrible unto all other, who regard thee not, in any such holy manner as to [...] thee, and to receive the lo [...] of thy most sacred truth.

Awaken we beseech t [...]ee,To pray for all [...] with t [...]e wine of po­pery and [...] other [...] ­gered by i [...]. all those who are drunke with the wine of Popery and superstition; that [...]t length they may behold in what [...] fearfull and desparate state they stand under the power of Sathan and Antichrist, ready to bee [...]st into hell every moment of time. Make themTo consider of the righ­teousnesse of God [...] upon th [...]. able to consider aright of the just [...] which thou hast threatned to follow the contempt of thy Gospell, chiefly in the dayes of Anti­christ, and whether for that [Page 365] very [...] [...] have not de­served it to come upon them.2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. That therefore thou wilt send upon them strong delusions, that they shall beleeve lyes and be damned; because they would not receive the love of thy sacred truth, so as to obey it that they might be saved.

Make them to bethinkeTo bethinke themselves what it is so so renounce thei [...] [...]other and their Baptisme [...]. themselves wisely, & seriously, and as [...] [...] presence, what iniquity they have found in thee, [...] in our way of life▪ or [...]n [...] [...]ow they [...]de in Baptisme, that they have so [...] renounced and abjured it, and depar [...]d from the bo­ [...] of their mother to ca [...]t her [...] [...], and with her [...]hine owne [...]jesty [...]o fear­fully [...]o [...] [...] [...]. [...] [...] [...] [...] of their [...] blindnesse and [...] [...], through [...] strong [...]; where­ [...] [...]o many [...] [...] [...] [Page 366] bene, and are dayly so carried away to that Idolatrous reli­gion.

Go [...] Lord, make them a­ble [...] [...] Epistle pre­fixed to our sed [...]eed bro­ [...] ▪ to discerne, how grosse & palpabl [...] those lyes are, wher­by the [...]cers doe bewitch them; as [...]amely, that so late­ly divulged, of the Twenty severall sorts of Bibles, which within th [...]se s [...]w yeares past▪ England hath brought forth▪ Cause them by this one, toTo [...] of their in­toil [...]able ly [...] devised to deceive the simple. discerne of all the rest of their delusions, when they dare proclai [...] such notorious lyes before al [...] the world, as every poore simple body may un­derstand & see, an [...] [...]ust needs [...]. [...] [...] them all t [...]t [...] [...]nto [...] ▪ [...] con­ceive in due time, that this is [...] [...] all other, their most deep [...] and [...] [...]entions, whereby they seek [...] [...]o raise a sland [...]r upon thine owne Me­ [...], [...] truth, and people [Page 367] to make their poore seduced Pros [...]lites to abhor [...] them, and so to roote out both the remembrance of thy great n [...]me, of thy Religion, and people, from the face of the [...].

Make them to weigh well,How they a­buse all the simple in per­swading them that they have mo [...] holy de­votions, then w [...]. how they have & do deceive, and most shamefully abuse them all, in perswading of them that they have moe de­votion in their Church then we in ours, and that therefore they are to joyne themselves to t [...]em; when as they have hardly the tenth part of the bookes of devotion, and o­thers tendi [...]g thereunto, viz: to [...]orther Religion and god­ [...], which the ignorant [...]ort can come by, which w [...] [...] [...] ours, and much less of [...] S [...]mons tending to [...] [...] ­ding them that their de­votions are more [...] ▪ [...] better th [...] ou [...]. the [...]ame.

Cause them to have a true sense of that delusion, that [Page 368] they tell them that their de­votions are more holy then ours: when as ours are groun­ded directly upon thy most blessed and eternall word;1 Tim. 4. [...]. theire upon doctrin [...] and tra­ditions of men; [...] the do­ctrines of [...] of sinne, [...] [...]. thy glory, th [...]t [...] may [...] thee; their [...]o [...] thee of thine honour▪ [...] gi­ving it to [...] tend onely to [...] Lord Iesus Christ, [...] and [...] many other thing [...] place of him, [...] which [...] wholy to [...] pride of m [...]n, [Page 369] theirs [...]o [...] him up like Lu­cifer.

Make them to concelve a­right how ours helpe us to un­derstand and keepe our Bap­tisme vow & Covenant with our God; theirs to keepe them in ignorance of it all their dayes. Ours teach us to sight [...]anfully under the ban­ner of our Lord Iesus, and for him o [...]ely; theirs to sight de­sparately against him, and all his armies: ours teaching and helping us to walke in the narrow path prescribed by [...]hee our blessed Lord and Sa­viour; theirs to kill all who will not runne with them into by-paths and the broad way leading to hell.

How ours instruct and guide us to live onely the life of faith, directed by thy hea­venly word▪ theirs the life of unbeleefe; having nothing for the ground, but the meere [Page 370] word of sinfull man; how ours teach and direct us to live the life of faith by a particul [...] [...] ­plying of Christ [...] his [...], so truly ingrafting [...]d in co [...] ­porating us into Christ [...] by his holy Spirit▪ and there­by making us good trees, [...] wee may bring forth good fruite; [...] [...] to beleeve in generall, and as the Church beleeves, without any such particular application: which [...]aith of theirs can neuer bring forth the [...]ound fruites of [...]an­ctification, and true righte­onsnesse, especially when they scorne and persecute this true and saying faith as fantasticall and vaine.

Good Father, [...] these poore soules to understand and know, how ours directe us to live the life of true god­linesse; guided by thy word and Spirit, which alone [...] all the promises, for this and [Page 371] [...] [...] life; theirs teach­ing chiefly to live ye life of su­perstition by bodily exerci­ [...] themselves in such works [...] [...] never required in any such manner.

O [...] perswade them all how our [...] bring to y• true practisers of them, full assurance of thy [...] and love; and thereby [...]oy unspeakable & glorious; theirs bringing nothing but onely a [...]aggering hope, & so still doubting whether they be in thy favour or not; which very doubting, when the conscience shall bee tho­roughly awaked, will bring ye very flashings of hell fire upon them. How ours are heaven upon earth, theirs hell upon earth; ours the sweetest in the end, when as each of them done in faith hath a reward promised thereunto; theirs the bitterest in the end, when instead of reward, thou wilt [Page 372] demand concerning the best of them▪ done without war­rant of the word, who hath required these things [...] your hands.

Good Lord, [...] hearts according [...] the [...], that our devotion [...] [...] [...] our Religion, to [...] [...]o­ly and un [...], [...] [...] the widdow and the [...] [...]; [...]. theirs to make them polluted with lying and all filthy [...]; (as in their [...] and other chiefe perswa [...] to that Idolatry) yea, with the blood of Innocents; to destroy the widdow and the fatherlesse out of the earth, even all truly professing Christe name▪ [...]o that their religion i [...] the most polluted with lying and mur­der of [...]nnocents, of all other Religions that ever [...] in the world, whereby their [...] ▪

[Page 373]Lord bring to their under­standings, and cause them to thinke of it, and ponder it wel, that all our devotions, as our Religion, [...]end wholly to [...]ke us faithfull and loyall subjects, to pray for our Kings & Princes, and to have them in our hearts, to dye and [...] live with & s [...]r them; and that we dare not have an evill thought against the Lords Annoynted; but y• in our pa­tien [...] sufferings they may see their duties; their devotions [...]ending through the subtilty of Sathan and the Iesuites, to make them cleane contrary, and to carry false and tray to­ [...] hearts against the Lords Annoynted, unlesse the Lord [...] wondefully over-rule [...]hem by his holy Spirit. For they must of necessity bee so [...], for maintaining [...] [...] devotions, and o­beying their directors, and [Page 374] ghostly fathers, as to [...] to destroy whatsoever [...] hin­der it, & to acco [...] [...] a most meritorious act, to destroy all [...], & principally the chiefe of them.

Make them to weigh this with themselves, how our de­votions are made with under­standing, and so in faith, and with a holy zeale without vaine repititions; theirs with­out all understanding, in a blinde devotion, with [...] babling, & repetition, which thou condemnest and [...].

Finally (Good Lord) cause them all at length, in mercy to understand, how our devo­tions are such as helpe us to live a true Christian life, in the practise of all the duties of piety and righteousnesse, in examining our spirituall groweth in grace, in heavenly meditations and contemplati­ons, [Page 375] praiers, thanksgivings, and the like, all directing us to place our whole confidence for our salvation, and whatso­ever else, onely upon thy rich mercy in Iesus Christ: ascri­bing all our salvation to him, and his merite alone; theirs instead of these workes of pi­ety,See the Spa­nish Monke. are in their Masses, Dir­ [...], and Letanies, even to Saints, numbring and repea­ting upon their beads, their [...] Nosters, Creeds, Ave Maries, and such other, and that in an unknowne tongue, without any understanding, or right edification.

So likewise (good Lord) make them to see and consi­d [...] withall, how they set their confidence in these and other their superstitions workes, & namely and principally, in the merite of the virgin Marie, and of other Saints; in Indul­gences and Pardons, even for [Page 376] th [...] [...] a num ber of such [...] lying vani­ties; whereupon when they come to their death [...] beth [...]ke themselves a [...] H [...] [...]om­ming to [...]ve [...]eir eyes [...] they are in forced to cast away al these with [...] [...]ion, and he of our Reli­gion in their death: Then Christ onely. more se [...]ously they are f [...]igne to c [...] away all [...] all these, and to accoun [...] [...] losse and dung▪ & [...] onely upon [...] Christ; if then they [...]y [...] [...]er­cy by him.

Yea, [...] to consi­der well [...] tim [...] ▪ [...]w if ever thou open [...] eyes & [...] they [...] then cast all these away [...] ▪ detestation, as [...] i [...] [...] ▪ and rest onely upon Christ, [...] Christ [...] ever thou [...] that me [...]y.

[...] all (good [...]) [...] more time they [...] o [...] [...] spend in these [...] more they ha [...] [...]nd [...] [Page 377] increase their sinne, and make their condemnation the hea­vier; and that one houre, yea, one minute, spent in true de­votion, onely in the name ofLuke. [...]3. [...]. Christ, calling upon him, or thee the Father through him, with the repentant Theefe upon the crosse, shall bee better unto them, then a thousand yeare spent in their superstitious manner.

And for this cause (O [...] [...]ere Father) seeing by their doctrines and devotions, they can neuer have that true iusti­sying and saying faith, where­by they might bee made par­taker [...] of [...]esus Christ, and so [...]e thy children, having thyRhem. upon Rom. 3. 22. Sect. 7. [...] and love, and doing such workes as are pleasing & [...] unto thee: but [...], they doe by all [...] scorne and persecute [...] [...]aith▪ make them all which belong to thy eternall [Page 378] election, to know their wo­full estate, how they must all needs still remaine in the e­state of nature, and so of dam­nation, untill they repent and turne to our Church againe.

Cause them (Oh most ho­ly [...]. and gracious Father) to ap­prehend this, and to bee war­ned in time, that seeing their Religion cannot stand or con­tinue, [...] it bee supported and holden up▪ by lying and murder and that these two, are, and have beene ever the principall ad [...]ancers of it i [...] a [...] Ages and Countryes, & that this is notoriously knowne to all who will not sh [...]t their eyes. And moreover, [...]eing th [...] this is also their doctrine, so to promote and advance it: That, that Religion is un­doubtedly of the devill, and that our Saviour himselfe hath in mercy so forewarned them of it, that they may get [Page 379] them out of Babylon, and stand farre from it; for feare of her burning, and that they may escape her torment.

Lord, make them able toThat they must of ne­cessity re­nounce it, or professe them selve [...] to be of Sathan their father. conc [...], that these things being so (as their owne hearts must needs beare witnesse, if they will suffer their eyes to be opened) they must of ne­cessity renounce that Religi­on; or else prosesse themselves to bee of their father the de­vill;Iohn. 8. 44. as much as ever were the Iewes who sought so to kill our Saviour, and that they will [...] his workes wittingly and obstinately, fighting a­gainst thee our blessed Lord and Captaine, and against all thy armyes, to their utter per­dition.

Good Father, make themTo thinke what they will do when Christ shall come to take vengeance of all his ene­mies. able to thinke what they will do at that day, when thy Son Christ Iesus, shall come to take vengeance of all his ene­mies, [Page 380] when all the Kings and greatest Monarchs of the earth, who have not helped him, and his [...] ▪ to the ad­vancement of his heavenly Gospell, shall [...]ry to [...] [...] and mountaines to fall upon them, and cover them▪ fromApoc. 6. [...] ▪ [...]. [...]7. the face of the Lambe, and of him that [...] upon the throne; [...]hen the [...] their [...]ther, [...] [...] [...], and all his children that have bene deceived by him: [...]nd especi­ally they w [...]o ha [...] [...] forApoc. 20. 10. him, against ou [...] [...] Iesus Christ▪ and his [...], must be [...] [...] and bo [...] and [...]ast [...] him into th [...] [...] that [...] with [...] and brimstone, to bee [...] with him for evermo [...]e.

Lord, make them to con­siderTo weigh & [...] [...] way and the [...] in the [...] of the [...]. of all these things in time, to weigh well our [...] of life, and their way of life; our rul [...] of [...] [...] [...] [Page 381] devotions, and their rule of prayers and devotions; to weigh and try them in the [...] of the Sanctuary, whether will outweigh, and whether are more agreeable to thy holy word, whereby they and wee all must bee weighed and judged.

So vouchsafe this grace to all other, who are wavering or doubting, to thinke seri­ously of all these things, to try them all by thy blessed word, by that true weight, that hea­venly fire, which will con­sume2 Cor. 3. 2 [...] all their timber, hay, & stubble. Make them to bee a­fraid of conferring with, or hear [...]ening to the Serpent, their Iesuites, or other Semi­ [...]ary Prests, who all holding the same head, their holy Fa­ther the Pope, must needs bee [...]ll l [...]d and inspired by the same spirit, whatsoever sh [...]wes they make of the con­trary. [Page 382] Give them grace to be warned by the example of our first mother; and keeping thy watch, to goe to thee first by instant praier, in all doubtsDan. 9. 2. & 2. 17. 19. and difficulties, as Daniel did, and after to conferre with thy heavenly word, and with thy faithfull Ministers & servants for resolution therein.For all to be alwaies growing in grace, for feare of be­ing given up t [...] their de­lusions.

Above all, grant unto all of us who yet stand by thy mercy, to labour to growe dayly in the love of thy truth, and in a conscionable obedi­ence to thee in all thy waies: watching and praying conti­nually, that we may never bee given up with them to these strong delusions; but that contrarily by our faith and o­bedience, we may have bold­nesse to draw neerer and nee­rer unto thy holinesse, withThat we may have more power in prayer to helpe to pull every Lot out of Sodom. that thy faithfull servant A­braham, and may helpe by our prayers, though not to [Page 383] save that filthy Sodom, which thou wilt have burnt downe to hell, yet to pull out all thy Lots before, even all amongst them, that belong to thy e­ternall election, before the fire and brimstone rayne downe from heaven upon them, to consume all the wic­ked scorners amongst them eternally.

Make us all likewise, toTo consider who they are that are car­ried away to them thinke with our selves, whe­ther we can name a man, that was first truly grounded in the principles of our Religion, and after coutinued to make conscience of his wayes ac­cording to the same, that ever the devill or the Iesuites have bene able to seduce: but only such, as either were never well grounded, or never tru­ly made conscience of their waies: or such at least, as ha­ving fallen by little and little from their first conscience and [Page 384] childlike feare, and so from the love of thy truth, having yeelded to bee overcome by uncleannesse or some notori­ous sinne, and so given way to Sathan to bee deluded by him.

Cause all to understand, how by this meanes they lye open to Sathan, and are here­by made fit for a Preist to ab­solve them, and make them as cleane as when they were first borne, as they will beare them in hand; and thus to be reconciled to the Church, which hath this holy power, and can thus pardonand ac­quit them whatsoever they doe, or howsoever they live, and that without any paine or trouble: especially if it bee so, that they have money enough to purchase their pardons and the like.

Grant us therefore this grace, to use all meanes for [Page 385] our selves and all ours, and e­venTo use all meanes for our selves & all others that we may be kept. for all those whom wee would save from hell, that we may all first be soundly instru­cted in the grounds of the Catechisme, & in every prin­ciple and part of thy sacred truth; & after learne to make such a conscience of all thy blessed wayes and Comman­dements that thou mayest ne­ver give us or them up to these delusions; but wee may for ever remaine under thy safe protection, untill thou shalt translate us into the hea­vens, from all the danger of the Dragon.

And for these our seducedSo for all se­duced by any sinne. brethren, and all others delu­ded dy Sathan through im­penitency in any fearefull sin; make us able, first to consider wisely of their estate: second­ly, of the meanes how to save them, and to pull them from it: and lastly, never suffer us [Page 386] to rest, till wee have shewed our uttermost love unto them to bring them to our Lord Ie­sus Christ.

Oh open our eyes, andThat they may be able to see in what estate they stand. helpe us, that we may see how they are under the power of Sathan, and thine enemies; e­very moment of time ready to bee cut off in thy just ven­geance, and to bee cast into hell.

Make us able to have the like tender commiseration of each of them, as of a Captive under the cruelleft tyrant; and as of one in a dead sleepe, in the middest of a dreadfull fire, ready each minute to seize upon him; or in a deepe water sinking downe: or as of a poore Lambe in the mouth of a roaring Lyon, ready to bee devoured each moment: cōsi­dering that the case of never a one of these, can possibly bee the thousand part so bad, as of [Page 387] them that are ready each mo­ment to bee cast into the lake of fire, and there to bee tor­mented for evermore.

Inable us withall, to thinkeHow they are deluded. ever of their estate, and to keepe in memory these things and the like, which demon­strate to all the world, how palpably they are deluded & bewitched: and so to use them and all other helpes, wherby they may be rescued.

Assist us so with thy hea­venlyThat we may not rest untill we have a­waked them or used all holy meanes, for them. grace, that wee may ne­ver rest, till wee have awaked them out of that dead sleepe, and convinced their consci­ences some way, of their wo­full case and estate, and after used all holy meanes, which thou hast, or ever shall reveale unto us, to pluck them out of the fire; at least thus praying and crying unto thee our blessed and gracious God for them, as the Christians did [Page 388] for Peter in prison.

Lord, make them to knowThat the Lord will pluck them forth if he haye orday­ned to save them. for certaine, that if they bee thy Lambs thou wilt rescue and pull them out of the Ly­ons mouth; if thou have or­dained to save them, thou wilt pluck them out of the fire, and out of the water; thou wilt make all the chaines & fetters of the devill to fall off from them: no doores shall keepe them, no sorcery shall preuaile against them, beyond the time that thou hast appointed.

Cause us all to know, andThat all that seek not to save them are g [...]y. fully to vnderstand, that hee that saveth not, destroyes; so every one of us, that doth not according to our places and callings, seeke thus by all holy meanes to save them all▪ and to preserve all thy Chur­ches, from the dangers threat­ned by thee, are guil­ty of the neglect hereof, and [Page 389] so of the blood of all before thy heauenly Majesty, and so much more, as wee are more neerly tyed, by any more spe­ciall bon [...] of place, calling, or otherwise.

Heare us (Oh tender Fa­ther)That all may herein shew our loves. for them all, and all so bewitched, and deluded by Sathan, and that heerein wee, chiefly all our Pastors, and watchmen, according to their places, may shew all love, and holy obedience to thee: and to all thy tender Lambs which belong to thy fould; even all thy deere and preci­ous ones, committed to their trust, never leaving thee, till thou hast rescued and reco­vered them: for the full assu­rance of all our owne soules heereby, that wee are indeed truely thine, filled with thyFor our full assurance. holy Spirit, the Spirit of faith and love, and thereby sealed against the day of our Re­demption: [Page 390] and that thou maiest shew thy selfe stronger then Sathan, and that hee is but thy vassall, and also that thou art more mercifull to save, then he can be malicious to destroy, for thy infinite pit­ty, and endlesse compassion, through our blessed Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ:

Amen, Amen.

XV. A humble thanksgiving for our dread Soveraigne, our graci­ous Prince, the Prince and Princesse Palatine, and all their royall progeny, and for all the great deliverances which our blessed God hath given unto them, and to us all by them: with an earnest prai­er, that hee may make them (each in their times and pla­ces) the happiest heades of the most prosperous and blessed Nations and people, that ever have bene in the world.

OH. Lord our God, in­finite inithy mercy, and endlesse in thy compassions, who by thy wonderfull pro­vidence, orderest all things in heaven and earth, disposing all to the right ends, which before the world thou hast ordayned to thine owne glo­ry, [Page 392] and the good of thine e­lect; wee doe with all thank­fulnesseAn acknow­ledgement of Gods mer­cies in our dread Sove­raigne & his royall proge­ny, with all our blessings & ho [...]es con­tinued by them. of heart, humbly ac­knowledge before thy sacred Majesty, how wee especially in this sinfull Nation, & with us many other, and namely, all thy chosen flocke among us are bound unto thy sacred Majesty, for the admirable setting up, and the wonder­full preservation of thine An­noynted servant our dread Soveraigne, & of all his Roy­all progeny, with every of thy deliverances and mercyes, which thou hast heeretofore vouchsafed by them, or as yet dost through them, most gra­ciously offer unto us all, upon our unfeigned repentance and true turning to thee. Lord make us ever to bee wisely pondering, of thy divine and Fatherly providence, even in every one of these (which hath bene so sensible that our [Page 393] very enemies have taken no­tice of it) and so give thee glo­ry, acknowledging thy hand in them. Diddst thou not (Oh good Lord) at the very na­ming of thy Royall Servant toAs namely our delive­rances at his entrance. be our Lord and King, deli­ver us all from the hand of our Brother Esau, even from all those who had long vow­ed our death, and thirsted af­ter our blood? Diddest thou not thereby, cast such a terror upon all thine, and all thy Churches enemies, as that the feare of him, and of thy peo­ple fell upon them all, that not so much as adogge wag'd his tongue against any of thy ser­vants: though our sinnes had long before cryed for such a vengeance as they had threat­ned.

And afterward, when weeAt the Pow­der Treason from Ne­buchadnez­zars furnace. had so provoked thee againe, by our impenitency, and by al our unthankfullnesse, mani­fested [Page 394] in the breach of our re­newed vowes and Covenants, as that wee were indangered to bee consumed at once by that fiery furnace, made like Nebuchadnezzars, large and wide, or much more terrible, by thine and our most merci­lesse enemies (stirr'd up a­gainst us in thy wrath:) yet diddst not thou againe deli­ver us and pluck us forth, e­ven as the three children of the Captivity, and cast in sun­dry of our enemies for us? Diddest thou not also princi­pally, worke this as by the hand of thine Annoynted, not suffering him to rest, untill all our deliverance was wrought? And hast thou not both before and since thatAnd all o­thers. time, given unto him many great deliverances: and in all his preservations still preser­ved us all, especially us of this Nation, together with all our [Page 395] blessings of so much peace and prosperity, as wee still in­joy, in the middest of the ca­lamities of the other Chur­ches.

And above all, hast thou not thus continued thy hea­venly Gospell, the life of our lives, which hath bene so re­moved from other Countries, together with their outward blessings: so as thou hast made him to this day the very breath of our nosethrils, and that through him wee injoy all these our mercies, as under our vine and figtree, and by him givest us new and most blessed hope, that wee shall injoy them perpetually. Lord these are mercies and favours never to bee forgotten of us: Good Lord set them ever be­fore our eyes.

And for our gracious Prince, besides all his and our former deliverances, & hopes [Page 396] in and by him, hast thou notPreservation of our graci­ous Prince, & us all with him, and the reioycing of all [...] soules through him. made him to bee to us as Io­seph▪ and disposed of all his journey and of his dangers in it, to the greatest discovery of the devices of our adversaries, and overturning the hopes of all our wicked enemies. Never suffer us to forgett, how thou revivedst the hatts of us all, making us to breake out into joyfull Triumphes & praises, when thou hadst cau­sed us to see his face againe, delivering him from so many perils, as our sins had brought him and [...]s into: and those dangers of all sorts, both by sea and land, yea both bodily and spirituall.

Lord make us able to giveThe dispo­sing of all that iourny to so preat ioy to all Gods Church and people. thee thy due glory heerein, that thou sitting at the sterne, hast disposed of all that jour­ney, and all those adventures, to the admired improvement of all thy rich guifts and gra­ces [Page 397] in thy Royall servant: caused him to see the vilenesse of that most odious superstiti­on and Idolatry, which thy soule so much abhorreth, and which hee otherwise had ne­ver so well understood. That thou hast taught us all to know by most happy experience, what the power of the prayers of thy people is, when they are sent up with an united force; that they are able to open the Iron doores,The experi­ence therein of the power of prayer. and to breake in sunder the gates of brasse, to make way for thy children and chosen clocke, to passe through the middest of all thine and their mortall enemies. Lord make us to lay it wisely to heart, how thou hast made him so much more hereby, the future expectation and rejoycing of Israel, under thine Annoynted servant.

And likewise for that pere­lesse [Page 398] Princesse, Lord make usFor our peerelesse Princesse the crowne of glory renew­ed upon her head. all able wisely to consider, what another crowne of glo­ry thou hast set upon her head, even in her lowest abase­ment (which thou hast brought her unto for the sins of thy people) that she should thus excell in al true renowne and fame, of all Christian and truely Heroike vertues, above all the Princes of the earth: that thou hast made her a Mirrour to all of her sex, at this day in all the world.

Oh suffer us never to for­getFor her deli­very from the Nimrods of the earth. that wonderfull preserva­tion of her, when thou deli­veredst her [...] at the Powder Treason, from those cruell Nimrods the bloody hunters, the reedifiers of Babell, who had in their account, made a prey of her in a speciall man­ner, by her to have accompli­shed all their hellish ends, and most mercilesse designes a­gainst [Page 399] our whole Nation, and against all thy poore Chur­ches and people. Let it never slip out of our minde, that howsoever thou hast suffered her againe to be chased, and pursued, as a Doe before theHer preser­vation in the second pur­suite, toge­ther with that illustri­ous Prince & all their [...]. hunters, yet thou preservedst her in a miraculous manner, with that illustrious Prince, and all their Royall seed, and hast made them most fruitfull in the midst of all their trialsTheir fruit­fulnesse in thir greatest trvals, to the astonishment of all their enemies. and temptations; to the ter­rour and astonishment of all thine, and thy Churches ene­mies, and the greater securing and comfort of thy people: to cause all thine to lift up their heades, in an expectati­on of a more glorious Age & time yet to come in all the world then ever heretofore.

And above all, let this e­ver be before our faces, how thou hast thus wonderfully kept them all alive, against [Page 400] all the plots and layings in waite of Sathan, and all his in­struments, by all their strata­gems, devises, and bloody pursuites, and hast preserved those thrice happy pawnes & pledges of our peace and safe­ty, though out of their owne Countryes and people, and in forraigne parts.

And finally, how thouOur wished and happy [...]ion begun. hast begunne this wished and happy union, amongst thy Churches and servants, & the cutting off the long wished hopes of the enemies of thy Church, under their preten­ded leagues of peace and ami­ty, whereby they had so much undermined us, and expected our surprizall of a sodaine, whilest we remained yet most secure.

Not unto us (Oh Father) not unto us, but to thy great name, wee give all the glory, humbly consessing, that by all [Page 401] our impenitency, and breachConfession of our deserts, that both they and we should have bene left in­to the hand of the ene­my. of vowes and Covenants, which we have so oft renew­ed, and that neyther judge­ments nor mercyes could pre­vaile with us, and especially for making flesh our arme, & withdrawing our hearts and confidence from thy heavenly Majesty, wee had long agoe deserved, that both they and wee, with all our blessings, should have bene wholly left into the hands of thine & our enemies, which have and doe so eagerly thirst after our blood; and that nothing at all hath kept us to this day, but onely thy endlesse compassi­ons, and the yearning of thy bowels at the cryes and sighes of thy poore Saints and chil­dren in all the Churches, loo­king up to thee alone, and lifting up their hands unto thee.

Awaken us therefore gra­ciously [Page 402] now at length (OhPrayers to be awaked to understand the thing; which con­cerne our peace. thou that hast kept thy Israel, and neither slumbrest nor sleepest) and cause us yet in time, to understand the things that concerne our peace, and whereby thou mayest bee wholly pacified towards us in this Nation, with all thy Churches and people.

Oh grant unto us (most tender Father) to know and throughly to conceive aright, that, [...]hat which wee have so oft and so many a time pro­mised unto thee, and so bound our selves unto, in all our perils, and which thou hast so long expected▪ thou now ex­pectest at our hands above all former times: now that thou hast added this above all for­mer mercies, thus farre to de­liver us from our feares, and to vouchsafe unto us such hopes for all future times; & every day to renew the same, [Page 403] in that heavenly union and harmony of thy Annoynted, and his whole most honou­rable Parliament, for thy Church & causes, and against thine enemies.

Oh give us all such hearts,To performe truely what­soever we have former­ly promised. that wee may yet now at length performe whatsoever thou requirest of us, to make our repentance unfeigned & sound, and our full reconcili­ation thereby: in being hum­bled before thee, both pub­liquely and privately, and in taking away all our abhomi­nations and crying sinnes, and in doing whatsoever may tend to the giving of thee thy due glory, with the greatest ad­vancement of thy heavenly Gospell, and doing whatsoe­ver thou requirest of us; for the ratifying and confirming all thy mercies towards us, and our making a firme union with thy Majesty, & amongst [Page 404] us all in Iesus Christ, accor­ding to the right tenour of thy sacred truth.

That thus, as thy handThat as the Lords hand hath bene stretched out against us, so how it may be as appa­rantly for us. hath formerly bene stretched out against us, and against thy Churches, and that the ene­mies have so sarre prevailed in their designes; so now at last their joy may he as the joy of an hypocrite, and that they may see their confidence as a spiders web. Oh grant such hearts unto us all, that thou seeing ou [...] true repentance, maiest give to us, and to thy people, the upper hand; that we-may be above and not be­neath, that we may not onely stand valiantly, as one man of one hart and soule, for thee, & for thy heavenly Gospel, with thine Annoynted, his royall progeny, and Dominions, and each for our selves and ours, our children & posterity, and for the true liberty of us all: [Page 405] but also that all of us may be as bold as Lyons, and beingFilling us with heaven­ly courage. strengthned by thee, and the power of thy might, five of us thy servants, may chase a hun­dreth (according to thy pro­mise made to the true turning of thy people to thee) and a hundreth of us, may put tenne thousand to flight.

That thus thine Annoyn­ted, and all his Royall Pro­geny and posterity▪ may be­come the happyest heades of the blessedest progeny and dominions, that ever were formerly in all the earth: and all theirs, and our sinnes, and the sinnes of all the Churches may be freely forgiven, never to be remembred against us, or against any of thy true Churches any more, accor­ding to thy heavenly pro­mise,Ier. 31. 34. and that for thy endless glory and praise, & the ever­lasting triumph of us all; that [Page 406] wee may for ever sing praises unto thy great name, through Iesus Christ, that King of Kings, our only Lord and Saviour,

Amen.

XVI. A humble thanksgiving, that the Lord hath already, begunne so graciously to heare our prai­ers: with supplycation, that as we have made entrance in­to this service, to helpe our Lord Iesus, and his poore Churches, by our prayers and teares; so wee may bee every day more fitted and inabled hereunto; untill wee shall see, not onely the deliverance of his Churches and Captives, but also the new Ierusalem, and the glory of his Sion, and in­ioy the full happinesse of them for ever in the heavens.

OH Lord God, most ho­ly, and most gracious, most faithfull and true; who remembrest alwaies all thyA giving glo­ry to God for remem­bring his promises. gracious promises, which thou hast ever made to thy Churches and people in thy [Page 408] blessed word, and wilt in thy due time performe every one of them, even to all of us who are thine, when thou hast first truely humbled and prepared our hearts to pray, and impor­tune thy sacred Majesty, see­king thee in order. We mag­nifieSo declaring himselfe to us. thy great name, that thou hast so visibly begunne to declare thy selfe to bee mindfull of thy promises, in so graciously inclining thy care unto our cryes.

We praise thee, and blessProclaiming his mercy before us. thee, that as thou diddest pro­claime thy name before thy servant Moses, to bee The Exod. 34. 6. Lord, The Lord strong, merci­full, gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodnesse and truth: so thou hast done it before us all, especially us of this sinfull Nation, that thou herein hast made it manifest, to the con­vincing of every conscience amongst us, in sparing us, at [Page 409] the praiers of some few of thy people unto this day.

We glorifie thee (Oh good Lord) that as thou hast caused it to bee registred in thy booke, for all the Ages of thy Church, how according to thy gracious promises, thou e­ver diddest heare thine aunci­ent people of Israel in their miseries, and when they cryed to thee in their troubles, thou then deliveredst them fromCausing his gracious fa­vours to­wards us in our delive­rances to be registred for all posterity. their distresse; so thou hast heard us of this sinfull Nati­on, delivering us not onely at our publike humiliation, from the mercilesse intended inva­sion, but also pluckt us from Nebuchadnezars furnace, at the private sighes & groanes of thy secret ones, and that so as that thou hast made these deliverances to bee recorded for all succeeding times.

Yea, we praise and magni­fieFor still re­newing his mercies. thee, that thou still renew­est [Page 410] these thy wonderfull and fatherly mercies, to us a peo­ple so vnworthy of any mer­cie, that thou hast hitherto continued, and evidently de­clared the riches of thy com­passion in saving us from all our feares, first so graciouslie preserving and bringing backPreserving and bringing backe our Prince. our most Royall and hope­ful Prince, disposing of all his dangers, and our feares, as thou diddest to Ioseph▪ to the greatest comforts and hopes of thy Church: and that thou hast since so lately manifested such riches of thy love and kindnesse, in such a heavenlyConfirming such a hea­venly union, for the ad­vancement of his glorie▪ Gospell, and people. union, among thy worthyest servants, our Soveraign Lord and King, with all his fayth­full Peeres, and true-hearted Nobility and Commons, for the advancement of thy glory and Gospell, and the saying of thy people, with the fru­strating [Page 311] the hopes, and daun­ting the hearts of all thine, & thy Churches Adversaries: and in beginning to grant all things according to the cryes of thy poore people, and even above our expectations, con­sidering the heynousnesse of our sinnes.

Oh Lord, who are we▪ thatSith he hath bin so graci­ous at the prayers of a few. even at the prayers of a few of us (in regard of the mul­titude that know thee not, and therefore do not, nor can seeke thy face) thou shouldest be so gracious to us. Lift upWhat hopes we may have when we shal more gene­rally & ioynt­ly cry unto him. our hearts (good Father) that we may conceive aright what thou wilt doe at our generall cries, when we shal be joynt­ly humbled before thee, and all seeke thee as thou hast ap­pointed.

Grant specially this grace to every one of us (who have already, or shall heereafter [Page 410] [...] [Page 311] [...] [Page 412] give our names unto thee, to serve thee heevein, and helpe thy poore distressed Church and people) that uppon this happy experience, wee mayTo pray for more inte­grity & sound nesse of hart to be more able to per­severe and prevaile with God. labour every day to attayne unto more integrity & sound­ness, in walking uprightly and constantly before thee, in all thy holy commandements. Vouchsafe, that heereby wee may get more boldnes, wher­by we may approach neerer unto thee, and even to im­portune thee with holy A­braham, Moses, Ezra, and Nehemiah, untill wee have obtained the pacifying of thy Majesty, by the taking away all the abhominations & cry­ing sinnes out of the Chur­ches, the delivering of thy Captives, the restoring and re-edifying of thy Ierusalem; and that all the hopes of our wicked enemies shall bee at [Page 413] an end, and our dreadfull dan­gers▪ and feares past, and that we shall visibly beholde thy glory therein, and also injoy thy glorious presence for evermore.

To this end (deere Father)To use all meanes here­of more con­scionably. enable us by thy blessed Spi­rit, to use all the meanes fur­thering heereunto, and that much more carefull & con­scionably then ever wee have done▪ for confirming our weake hands, & for strength­ning our wearie knees. Make us all ever to keepe a fresh re­membrance of thy goodness and mercy, how readie thou art to heare the cryes of thy people, and of the power of our prayers, thorow our Lord and Saviour; how farre they have already prevayled with thy Majesty. Cause us ever to have a [...]arefull and watchfullTo look ever at the word. eye to thy blessed Word, that [Page 414] in all things we may have that for our guide, and our dire­ction.

Worke in each of us a ho­ly resolution, to cleave fast unto thee, without any de­partingTo have a holy resolu­tion. or staggering, wal­king continually in all thy blessed Lawes and Comman­dements for ever, even unto the end.

Teach and helpe us to feareTo feare al­way. alway the offending of thy Sacred Majestie, and thatFor the Iords eye. with a true childe-like feare, because of thy holinesse, who canst not abide any iniquity, no not in thy deerest Chil­dren, and because of the ex­treame rage and subtiltie of Sathan against all thine, dog­gingFor feare of Sathan. us continually at the heeles, to provoke us to sinne agaynst thee, that hee may accuse us, and incense thy Majesty against us, if it may [Page 415] bee, to leave us unto his ma­lice, or at the least, to hin­der thy love and blessing;For our selves And also, because of our owne vile corruption, which is ready alwayes to hearken unto him, and to betray us in­to his hand.

Assist us to watch ever a­gainstTo watch a­gainst all oc­casions, and over all parts all occasions of temp­tations, keeping strict watch over all our senses, our thoughts, motions, wordes, and actions. Make us everieTo grow bet­ter dayly. day to waxe better and bet­ter, still growing on toward that perfection, which we doe dayly waite for in the Hea­vens.

Cause us ever to keepe in fresh memory, that wee are thorow our cursed Natures, and the industrie of Sathan, like him that is in a boare vp­pon a strong streame, that if wee bestirre not our selves [Page 416] constantly to go forward, we certainely goe backeward; if wee but forget our selves, or withdraw our hands never so little.

Make us able to observe wisely, all our slippes and faylings; and euer to be care­full forth with to seeke the re­covery of our selves by unfey­ned repentance, and by doo­ing our first and best workes. Graunt unto us this grace,To look well unto our par­ticular cal­ling [...], that sa­than take us not out of our wayes. that every one of us may have our owne particular & war­rantable callings, that wee may know them well, and what speciall duties thou re­quirest of us in them, and that we may labour to walk faith­fully therein that thy blessed Angelles may rejoyce to at­tend upon us, and protect us alwayes, and Sathan may ne­uer take us out of our way, to get any advantage against us thereby.

[Page 417]Lift up our eyes evermoreTo have an eye to the re­compence of reward. to the recompence of reward, that therein wee may cheere­fully follow our Lord and Saviour, running fast towards the marke, untill we shall at­taine the Crowne, which hee ever holdeth forth unto us in his right hand.

Helpe us to set thee ever be­foreSetting God at our▪ right hand. our faces, and at our right hands, as thy seruant David, that we may never sin against thee; but that we may go on couragiously with holy Mo­ses▪ as seeing thee with us e­ver that art invisible.

Make us able to rejoyce al­wayes in our happie estate,To goe on reioycing in the happines of our estate. thorow Iesus Christ, by com­paring it with the estate of the greatest Princes and Mo­narkes, who are enemies vn­to thee, and whether vvee wold change with the migh­tiest of them▪ Cause us to [Page 418] goe [...] cheerefully, not one­ly contented with our con­dition, but also rejoycing heerein, that the lines are fal­lenPsalme 16, 6. unto [...]s in so fair a ground and that we haue so goodlie an heritage.

Make us able in prayingIn praying to [...]ive thankes for that which [...] we have. continually for what we stand in neede of▪ for our selves, and for all the Churches and peo­ple of the Lord, ever withall [...] give thankes for that mea­sure which we have alreadie, and for whatsoever deliveran­ces, hopes, or other [...], which we have formerly [...]; or do [...]ow injoy [...].

And finally, enable us inIn [...] [...] Gods▪ glo [...]y. whatsoever▪ we beg, to ayme [...] a [...] the advancement [...] glory, and of the kingdom of thy▪ Sonne, with the saying of thy people▪ that thus going on in the zeale▪ of thy glorie▪ and in the [...]owels of commi­seration [Page 419] towardes thy poore Ioseph, in a tender feeling ofConstant in the meanes. his affliction, and in the con­stant use of all holy meanes, we may be assured, that wee shall be as Caleb, everie dayAs Caleb, Ios. 14, 10, 1 [...]0 stronger and stronger, in all grace, and in the power of prayer; and as the greene O­live in thy house, bringing forth more fruite to our olde age and last dayes, that our last daies may be our bestLast dayes best. dayes, & our last breath may be spent for thy Majesty, that so we may see the sel [...]citie of thy chosen, and may reigne and triumph with thee in hea­ven for evermore.

Perswade all thy people,To perswade all of the necessitie of this comming to helpe. that every one vvho comes not thus to helpe thee & thy poore Church by their pray­ers, must perish; & that none can helpe indeede, but they onely who seeke to attayne [Page 420] this integrity, and to abideIntegrity in Gods [...]. aud grow therein perpetual­ly. Hearken unto us (O most tender Father) in these our humble suites, and in whatso­ever else thou knowest need­full for us, for thy poore di­stressed Churches, or for any member of thy whole vni­uersall and Catholike church, even for the Lord Iesus Christ his sake, thy most beloved Sonne, our onely Mediator and blessed Redeemer and Saviour,

Amen.

FINIS.

Protestants helpes for Deuotion, and mat­ters belonging to the stirring up of the same.

A
  • AVgustines Meditations.
  • Allisons Meditations.
  • Art of happinesse.
  • Abba Father.
  • Abrahams Tryall.
  • Alphabet of Prayers.
  • Anatomy of the Soule.
  • Andersons prayers.
  • Anker of Faith.
  • Art of meditation.
B
  • Bradfords Meditations.
  • Bezaes Prayers.
  • Banes Letters.
  • Banes his holy helper.
  • [Page]Banes his spiritual Armour.
  • Bifields Marrow.
  • Bifields signes of Saluation.
  • Bifields signes of a Wicked man.
  • Bound, of Fasting.
  • Banes on true Happinesse.
  • Banes his direction.
  • Bifields Treatises.
  • Bifields Principles.
  • Burning bush.
  • Boaring of the Eare.
  • Benefit of Affliction.
  • Battell between Vertues and Vices.
  • Beautifull Baybush.
C
  • Christian dayly Sacrifice.
  • Crashewes prayers.
  • Crowne of life.
  • Christian watchfulnesse.
  • Chaine of Graces.
  • Christian mans walke.
  • Christian Combat.
  • [Page]Christian Sacrifice.
  • Contemplations, 7. parts.
  • Converts Catechisme.
  • Couenant betweene God and Man.
  • Christians Touchstone.
  • Conquest of Temptations.
  • Combate betweene Man and Death.
  • Christian prayers and medi­tations.
  • Conduite of Comfort.
  • M. Cusuerwe [...] of [...]aith.
  • Christian Armour, by M. Gouge.
  • Caluins prayers.
  • Castle of the soule.
  • Conawayes prayers,
  • Cases of Conscience.
  • Cases of Conscience.
D
  • Dauids Sling.
  • Diamond of Deuotion.
  • Daily exercise of a Christiā.
  • [Page]Deerings prayers.
  • Delights of the Saints.
  • Discourse of true happinesse.
  • Dauids Key.
  • D. Duns Deuotion.
  • Death subdued.
  • Dialogue betweene the Lord and the Soule.
  • Dike on the deceiptfulnes of mans heart.
  • Dike of repentance.
  • Dike of Conscience.
  • Dauids Cast.
  • M. Dod on the Commande­ments.
  • M. Dod on the Lords Supper
  • M. Dods houshold gouerment
  • Dents pathway to Heauen.
  • Dents sermon on repentance
  • Dauids Vow.
  • Defiance to death.
  • Dauids repentance.
  • Directions to the waters of Life.
  • [Page]Directions in our dutie to God and man.
  • Diuine Meditations.
E
  • Euery dayes Sacrifice.
  • Eye to heauen.
  • Enemy to Security.
  • Enemy to Atheisme.
  • Estate of a Christian.
  • Exercise for Christian Fa­milies.
  • Exercise of the faithful soule
F
  • Fields prayers.
  • Foot-path to Faith.
  • Lady Fane her Meditations
  • Fountaine or Well of life.
  • Flower of godly Prayers.
  • Fruite of Faith.
  • Freemans Comfort.
G
  • Glasse of Vainglory.
  • Grounds of Diuinity.
  • Grounds of Religion.
  • [Page]Granadoes Meditations.
  • Godly Garden.
  • Godly mans assurance.
  • Garland of godly Flowers.
  • Garden of spirituall Flowers
  • Gods Husbandry.
  • Growing in grace
  • Golden Chain, by M. Rogers
  • Gouernance of vertue.
  • Garden of Felicity.
H
  • Helpe to Deuotion.
  • Hundred heavenly thoughts
  • Heavenly progresse.
  • Heavenly Mansion.
  • Handful of wholsome hearbs▪
  • Harbour of Christianity.
I▪
  • Imitation of Christ, 3. parts.
  • Iewell for Gentlewomen.
  • Ioy of a good Conscience.
K.
  • Kings Bath.
  • Key of Knowledge.
  • [Page]Kings Psalmes.
L
  • Linacars Consolations.
  • Life & death of M. Stubbs.
  • Learne to liue.
  • Learne to dye.
  • Load starre of life.
  • Love of God.
  • Life of Religion.
  • Lampe of Virginity.
M
  • Manuel of Prayers.
  • Markes of Salvation.
  • Meditations and Vowes.
  • Martyrs Prayers.
  • Melancthons Prayers.
  • Marlorats Prayers.
  • Markes of Gods Children.
O
  • Oyle of Scorpions.
P
  • Practice of Piet [...].
  • Practice of Christianity.
  • Practice of Quietnesse.
  • [Page]An Inuitation to prayer, and the practice of Piety.
  • Poore mans rest.
  • Poesie of Prayers.
  • Pensiue mans practice.
  • Princes Prayers.
  • Pilgrimes profession.
  • Pathway to Paradise.
  • Practice of the faithful.
  • Pathway to Salvation.
  • Pathway to Felicity.
  • Pearle of the Gospell.
  • Preservatiue against sinne.
  • M. Perkins his Treaties.
  • Pars Grounds.
  • Perfect path to Paradise.
  • Path to penitency▪
  • Progresse to piety.
  • Poore mans Pater nostey.
  • Pomander of Prayers.
  • Paradise of the Soule.
  • Pathway to please God.
  • Precious Pearle.
  • Poore mans Staffe.
Q
  • [Page]Queene Katherines Prayers.
R
  • Righteous mans evidence.
  • Reward of Religion.
  • Rocke of Religion.
  • Resolves divine.
  • Rogers seven Treatises.
  • Right godly rules.
  • Rosary of Christian Prayers.
S
  • Sicke mans Medicine.
  • Sanctuary of a trobled Soule.
  • Supplication of Saints.
  • Seaven helpes to heaven.
  • Scudder on the Lords prayer
  • Spirituall detraction.
  • Simpson on the Psalmes.
  • Simeons Sacrifice.
  • Suttons Meditations.
  • Safegard of the Soule.
  • Sicke mans Salve.
  • Solace of the Soule.
  • Soules watch.
  • [Page]Spirituall Garden.
  • Samuels encounter.
  • Samuel Smiths Workes.
  • Saints by Calling.
  • Ship of Salvation.
  • Sacrifice of a Christian soule.
  • Seven sobs of a sorowful soule
  • Shield of Salvation.
  • Sampsons Prayers.
  • Sicke mans Comfort.
T
  • True Watch.
  • Twines prayers.
  • Topsels Meditations.
  • Treasure of Gladnesse.
  • Triall of Faith.
  • Trumpet of the Soule.
  • Lad: Tirwits prayers.
  • Troubled mans Medicine.
  • Treatise of Conscience.
FINIS.

¶ See more concerning all these following in M. Maun­sels Catalogue dedicated to Queen Elizaebeth, imprinted An. Dom. 1595 and sundry others since, not mentioned.

  • HElpes for suffering adversity and af­fliction. Pag. 2.
  • Preparatiues against Apostacie. 4. Col. 2
  • Catechismes▪ Pag. 28. Col. 2
  • Treatises and helpes for keeping the Ten Commandements. Pag 35. Col. 2
  • Confessing of Christ. Pag. 37. Col. 2
  • Treatises of Conscience, with comforts for an afflicted Conscience. 37. col. 2
  • Treatises of the Creed, for helpes for our faith. Pag. 40. Col. 2.
  • Helpes against the feare of death, & how to dye well. Pag. 42
  • Helpes against desperation. pag. 43
  • Directions for a Christian life. 44
  • Of the end of the world, and the second comming of Christ. 47
  • [Page]Exercises for a Christian Family, and a Christian life. pa. 48
  • Helpes for true Fasting. 49
  • Spirituall preservatiues against the Pesti­lence. 59
  • Imitation of Christ. 62
  • Prayers. 83
  • Of Repentance. 90
  • Helpes for preparation vnto the Sacra­ments of the▪ Lords Supper. 93
  • Holy Sermons in print, a multitude. 96
  • Comforts for the sicke. 107, 108
  • True Confession of sinne. 108
  • Restitution of a sinner. ibid.
  • Of good workes, and exhortation to them. Pag. 113.

¶ A Table of the particular Meditati­ons of each of the se­uen generals.

1. Generall Meditation.
HOw our Saviour looks for some to helpe him in the deliverie and saving of his church: and what things are necessary for euery such a helper to know. Pag. 12.
2. Generall Meditation.
2 Of the present necessitie of this worke, and of the lively fee­ling thereof, and how the Lord cals all sorts thereunto. 7
Heere in these particular Meditations.
  • 1. Concerning the calamities [Page] and dangers of our Brethren in all places, and those which are threatned towardes our selues, with the chiefe meanes of delivery and preservation from them. pag. 9
  • 2 How God hath beene wont to get himselfe glorie in saving his Church, by Princes and Governours. pag. 13.
  • 3 How as Sathan & Antichrist have set themselves to fight against Christ and his King­dome, so our Saviour hath ordained Kinges and Princes to hold up his Scepter, and to defend and protect his subiects & Gospell. pa. 15
  • 4 How Sathan and Antichrist set up themselves to bee obey­ed, and to destroy all out of the earth, who seeke to obey Christ truely. pag. 18
  • 5 Concerning the innumerable miseries which our Brethren indure, being deprived of the outward comforts of this and [Page] the better life, and how n [...]e the like may be to us. pag. 20.
  • 6 Concerning the general sinnes of the Churches, so provoking the Lord, and namely the ge­nerall abuse of the Gospel, and blessings accompanying it, and that our sinnes are of all o­thers most heynous for the same. pag. 23
  • 7 How Satan exerciseth all his power and tyranny against the Churches spiritually, like as he doth outwardly. pag. 50
  • 8 How the Kingdom and Glory are our Christs: how sathan and Antichrist fight against him, and his Church, for his cause onely and therefore are sure to be overthrowne. pag. 59
  • 9 How our Lord Iesus is that everlasting Amen, and com­ming quickely, for the reioy­cing of his Church. pag. 67
[Page]The third generall Me­ditation.
3 What manner of ones wee must bee, whom the Lord now calleth, and whom he will accept, and adm [...]t to bee his helpers, in this Worke, and whose Prayers shall be avayleable with him, ac­cording to our Saviours directi­on and warrant. pag. 68
Heerein these particular Me­ditations and marks.
  • 1 To make sure, that we be the true Children of our heaven­ly Father, and the meanes thereunto. pag. 72.
  • 2 That we be▪ such as can, and use to seeke Gods honour, a­bove all other things whatso­ever. pag. 86
  • 3 That we use to seeke his Ho­nour chiefely, in the advance­ment of the Scepter and Gos­pell [Page] of our Lord Iesus Christ. pag. 87
  • 4 That we seeke also to honour him [...]ver, in the full accom­plishment of all [...] Heavenly will. pag. 89
  • 5 That we bee such as looke un­to, and depend upon our hea­venly Father alone, for all good things. pag. 91
  • 6 That wee be such as feele our sinnes and infirmities, as in heauie burthen, and travai­ling vnder them, do flye ever unto Christ. pag. 93
  • 7 That wee endeavour to pray continually, Leade us not into temptation. pag. 95
  • 8 That we bee such, as can and doe use to sing the song of the 24 Elders: Glory, Honor, &c. pag. 97
[Page]The fourth generall Me­ditation.
4 Concerning the frame and or­der of our Prayers, that they may be well pleasing as wel as our persons, and so wee may be more certaine to prevayle thereby, when we follow in all things our Saviours directi­on. pag. 100
Heerein these particular Meditations.
  • 1 That we pray onely unto our heavenly Father, in the name of Christ. pag. 101
  • 2 That above all, and in all, we ayme at Gods glorie, and the advancement of Christs scep­ter. pag. 102
  • 3 That we seeke the dooings of his heavenly will, for his glo­ry and kingdome chiefly, not for our selves. pag. 105
  • 4 That we seeke all things from [Page] him alone, chiefely that wee may have wherewith to honor him, and advance his King­dome. pag. 106
  • 5 That wee seeke forgivenes for the same ends, viz. for his glory and Kingdom, and that our sinnes doe not hinder his mercies, and so likewise deli­verance from Sathan, and from all evils. pag. 108
The fifth generall Me­ditation.
5 The power and efficacy of our Prayers made and performed in all things, according to the heavenly patterne. pag. 120
Heerein these particular Meditations.
  • 1 That when wee can so' pray, he will manifest himselfe our father, setting his seale to our [Page] soules, that hee is our tender father. pag. 111
  • 2 How hee will from Heaven, shew us his glory, when we can pray so, and that more then ever in this last Age. 112
  • 3 How hee will then cause his Kingdome to come with po­wer, and ruinate the kingdom of Sathan and Antichrist. pag. 115
  • 4 How he will then fulfill what­soeuer is not yet accomplished concerning his enemies, or his servants, and put new chear­fulnesse into our hearts, to doc his wil. pag. 116
  • 5 How he will then deliver his people, feede them from Hea­ven, and recompence double unto them. pag. 118
  • 6 How then hee will cleanse his people from their sinnes, and write his Law in their harts. pag. 119
  • 7 He will deliver his stocke from Sathan, and dissolue all his [Page] cursed works, discovering the depths of all his wickednesse. pag. 122
  • 8 How then he will declare him selfe sole Monarch, to whom all glory belongs, and cause all to acknowledge his Sove­raig [...]ty. pag. 125
  • 9 How we are never to rest, till wee can trium [...] in the assu­rance of faith, crying ioyntly, Amen. pag. 128
The sixt generall Medi­tation.
6 How all but those who are so qualified as is mentioned, are excluded from helping the Lord, and do rather pul down Gods wrath upon his Church.
Herein these particular Meditations.
  • 1 How all living securely, are excluded hence, and so all who [Page] doe not in commiseration strive to come to helpe him, and his poore Church. 131
    Reasons heere of to be seri­ously thought of.
    • 1 All such must be separated at the last day.
    • 2 All living in any grosse sinne, impenitently are excluded hence, for that they are blind and deafe. pag 1 [...]5
    • 3 All the threatnings in Gods Book against such sinnes and sinners are against them, not any prom [...]se to them untill they repent: and therfore they are excluded. pag. 140
    • 4 For that every notorious sin­ner helpes to pull down wrath on all. pag 143
    • 5 All excluded, who have not so much compassion of theyr Brethren in their miseries▪ as to be re [...]d to adventure them selves for them. pag▪ 145
    • [Page]6 All but those, who can more lay to heart the causes of God and his people, then their own. pag. 148
    • 7 All reiected who will not cast away their sinne, though as deere as their right eyes, and receive the love of every part of Gods truth pag. 150
    • 8 All excluded from this ser­vice, who but incline to any evill in their hearts. pag. 152
    • 9 All but they who endevour in all things, to be with our Sa­viour, for that none else can be his true disciples. pag. 153
  • 2 The second particular Medi­tation of the sixt general, who may with hope and confidence offer themselves, onely they who strive in all things to bee so qualified as hee requireth. pag. 155
  • Reasons, that onely such can hope to have acceptance heere. pag. 157
[Page]The 7. generall Meditation.

7 That the Lord notwithstan­ding, g [...]ciously calles all sorts to helpe herein, & there­fore every one who will not strive to bee of this number, must perish. pag. 165

Reasons shewing, that he cals all to helpe, if ever they will see his face with ioy. pa. 167

Three speciall Meditations to be ouer in our hearts, untill wee be of this number. pag. 172

  • 1 That the Lord Iesus standes at the heart of euery impeni­tent sinner, to enter in [...]knock­ing lowder now, then ever heeretofore. pag. 172
  • He knockes at the heart of everie one, reading or hearing this or the like admonition, offe­ring mercy to them who will admit him in, and having in­finite wrath against all who will still repel him, 175
  • 2 To thinke what it is for a man [Page] to forsake his owne happinesse, in reiecting Christs gracious call, and to ioyne with sathan against him, to his endlesse perdition, Pag. 178
  • 3 How God sets heerein before the faces of all, life & death▪ blessing and cursing: life to each one hearkning to his call, and comming to helpe: death to euery one still hardning his heart. pag. 188
Conclusion.
  • How all the distressed partes of Gods Church, do cry to euery one of us to come and helpe them. pag. 192
  • How our Saviour himselfe calls each to come, notwithstand­ing all obiections of vnfitnes, or disability, with the answer of euery true Christian heart to his call: Lord, I come, I come. pag. 195

These with the prayers mention'd before in the generall Contents, are the sum [...]e of this first Part.

The Second Part, to suc­ceede in the next place; containeth Prayers like­wise for all the Churches and people of God, scat­tered thorough the whole world: that wee may all seeke to pacifie the Lord, by giving him his glorie, in returning and submit­ting our selves wholly un­to his Covenant; and that we may obtaine by our instant prayers, that w [...]e may ioyntly honour him; so walking and beleeving as his heavenly wisedome hath appoynted. For this is a thing notoriously ob­served and acknowledged by all, who rightly under stand the state of forraigne parts; that as it [...] amongst [Page] us▪ for the most part; so it hath beene very generally amongst them in all the Churches, that they have had onely a bare forme of godlinesse, a naked out­ward profession of the Gospell in word, but al­most without any power or life thereof, more then for a fashion. And that this hath not onely thus fleshed our Adversaries to the destruction of the whole Church (as dooing a thing meritorious unto God heerein▪ for that they conceyve us to bee but a company of Heretiques in professi [...]n, very Atheistes in our lives) but also pro­voked our blessed God, so farre aire [...]die to leave so [Page] many of the Churches in­to their hands, and thus to threaten all the rest, even us our selves, seeing his kingdome is not in word, but in power. And there­fore, so many of us as have made such a carnall profession, have not onely shewed foorth a manifest contempt of his heavenly Maiesty, and his holy Co­venant; but put a Scepter of Reede into the hand of our Lord Iesus Christ; smitten him uppon the face, and trampled his Crowne under our feete, and indeede made his and our enemies to blaspheme and thus farre to prevayle and insult over us.

Whereupon, hee hath iustly begunne, and threat­ned [Page] us all, to take his king­dome from us, to give it to another people, which would bring foorth the fruite of it; and to leave us all to bee trampled un­der foote by these our E­nemyes, untill we know by wanting, the blessinges which wee have formerly inioyed, and the difference betweene his service, and the slaverie of his Ene­myes.

As these prayers there­fore, according to our Sa­viours direction, may serve to prepare the way for all other our prayers, and our right accesse unto his glorious Maiestie, to come with confident assu­rance, and do proceed un [Page] to the first petition of the Lords Prayer, and the end of the first Commaunde­ment, that we may all give him his due glory, perfor­ming unto him his inward worshippe, which is the fountaine of all true obe­dience; so those that are to follow in the second part (the Lord assisting) are to go according to the te­nour of the same heavenly rule of our Saviour; tho­row the whole Covenant made with our God, both for all his Law and Gos­pell, beginning at the se­cond Commandement, & so thorow the Law, and thorow all the Articles of faith, with the doctrine of the Sacraments, and other [Page] things belonging thereun­to. That thus all, even the poorest servants of God, may have matter enough of prayer to be exercised in continually, and all to this very end for appeasing the Lordes wrath, and recon­ciling him to all his Chur­ches and Children againe. First, every one for him­selfe, and his owne parti­cular, to be assured of his own reconciliation to the Lord by the blood of his Son, when he can so pray and obey in truth. And se­condly, that every one ha­ving attained to this assu­rance and favour with the Lord, may bee exercised dayly, as those worthy ser­vants of God, Nehemiah, [Page] Ezra, and Daniel, in con­fessing their owne sinnes, and the sinnes of all the Churches and people of the Lord, and in so crying unto him, and importu­ning him▪ untill wee shall see the ful deliverance and restoring of the Churches in Bohemia, Palatinate, & the rest: yea the enlarge­ment of them, by the ga­thering in of the Iew, and the remainder of his Israel from the uttermost partes of the earth, with the ut­ter razing of Babel: and untill we obtaine whatsoe­ver else the Lord hath ey­ther promised to his peo­ple, or denounced against his enemies. And finally, untill we shall everie one [Page] see the heavenly Ierusa­lem, and the eternall glory of his Sion. The third & last part, is (God willing) to containe principally Prayers for this our sinfull Nation, that we may first all see, and lively appre­hend the danger wherein wee stand every moment, of drinking at the Lords hand, after those other Churches, which have ta­sted so deepely of the cup of his displeasure, seeing our sinnes are no lesse, but farre greater then theyrs; and that specially sith their ensample hath no more prevayled with us. Se­condly, that we may all in time wisely understand the meanes which in his wise­dome [Page] and mercie hee hath yet left unto us to prevent the execution ready to come forth against us. And thirdly, that we may euery one use all the meanes thereto, each according to our place and calling, by turning unfeignedly to the Covenant of our God, not onely to prevent, and for ever to turne away all the calamities deuised against us by our deadly & bloo­dy enemyes; but also so to reconcile the Lord unto us, that insteede of those miseries which our Ene­mies so long for, to rush upon us, hee may make us the happiest and blessedst Nation that ever was, in this last Age of the world▪ [Page] so to remaine to his eter­nall glory, the comfort & example of all the other Churches for evermore.

To these are also to bee added some speciall Pray­ers for our particular purposes and oc­sions.

FINIS.

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