A05817:844
The Practice of Piety
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
A05817:844
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
5 To be an assured pledge unto us of our Resurrection. The Resurrection of a Christian is two-fold; first▪ the aspiritual Resurrection of our Souls, in this life, from the death of Sin, called the first Resurrection: because that by the Trumpet-voice of Christ, in the preaching of the Gospel, we are raised from the death of sin, to the life of grace: bBlessed and holy is he (saith ⟨p. 707⟩Saint John) who hath part in the first Resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power. The *Lords Supper is both a mean and a pledge unto us of this spiritual and first Resurrection. cHe that eateth me, even he shall live by me. And then are we fit Guests to dsit at the Table with Christ, when like Lazarus ▪ we are raised from the death of sin to newness of life.
5 To be an assured pledge vnto vs of our Resurrection. The Resurrection of a Christian is two-folde; first▪ the aspirituall Resurrection of our Soules, in this life, from the death of Sinne, called the first Resurrection: because that by the Trumpet-voyce of Christ, in the preaching of the Gospell, we are raysed from the death of sinne, to the life of grace: bBlessed and holy is he (saith ⟨p. 707⟩Saint Iohn) who hath part in the first Resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power. The *Lords Supper is both a meane and a pledge vnto vs of this spi•rituall and first Resurrection. cHee that eateth mee, euen hee shall liue by mee. And then are we fit Guests to dsit at the Table with Christ, when like Lazarus ▪ wee are raysed from the death of sinne to newnesse of life.
The truth of this first resurrection vvill appear by the motion wherewith they are internally moved: for if, when thou art moved to the duties of Religion, and practise of Piety, thy heart answereth, with Samuel, 1Here I am, Speak Lord for thy servant ⟨p. 708⟩heareth. 2And with David, O God my heart is ready. And with Paul; 3Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Then surely thou art raised from the death of sin, and hast thy part in the first Resurrection: but if thou remainest ignorant of the true grounds of Religion, and findest in thy self a kind of secret loathing of the exercises thereof, and must be drawn, as it were against thy will, to do the works of Piety, &c. then surely thou hast but a name that thou livest, but thou art dead, as Christ told the Angel of the Church of Sardis, 4and thy Soul is but as salt to keep thy body from stinking.
The truth of this first resurrection vvill appeare by the motion vvherewith they are internally moued: for if, when thou art moued to the duties of Religion, and practise of Pietie, thy heart answereth, vvith Samuell, 1Here I am, Speake Lord for thy seruant ⟨p. 708⟩heareth. 2And vvith Dauid, O God my heart is ready. And vvith Paul; 3Lord, what wilt thou haue mee to doe? Then surely thou art raysed from the death of sinne, and hast thy part in the first Resurrection: but if thou remainest ignorant of the true grounds of Religion, and findest in thy selfe a kinde of secret loathing of the exercises thereof, and must be drawne, as it were against thy will, to doe the workes of Pietie, &c. then surely thou hast but a name that thou liuest, but thou art dead, as Christ tolde the Angell of the Church of Sardis,
Secondly, the corporal ⟨p. 709⟩Resurrection of our bodies at the last day which is called the second resurrection, which freeth us from the first death. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, 1hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For this Sacrament asignifieth and sealeth unto us that Christ died and rose again for us, and that his bflesh quickeneth and nourisheth us unto eternal life, and that therefore our bodies shall surely be raised to eternal life at the ⟨p. 710⟩last day. For seeing our head is risen, all the members of the body shall likewise surely rise again. For how can those bodies which (being the weapons of Righteousness, Rom. 16 13. Temples of the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6.19. and Members of Christ.) have bin *fed and nourished with the body and blood of the Lord of life: but be raised up again at the last day? And this is the cause that the bodies of the Saints, being dead are so reverently buried and laid to sleep in the Lord. And their burial places are termed, the beds and dormitories of the Saints. The reprobates shall arise at the last day. But by the Almighty power of Christ, as ⟨p. 711⟩he is Judge, bringing them as malefactors out of the goal, to receive their sentence, and deserved execution: but the Elect shall arise by virtue of Christs resurrection, and of the Communion which they have with him, as with their head. And his resurrection is the *cause, and assurance of ours. The a
6 To seal unto us the assurance of everlasting life. 1Oh what more wished or loved then life? Or what do all men more, either fear, or abhor, then death? Yet is this first death nothing if it be compared with the second death; neither is this life any thing worth in comparison of the life to come. If therefore thou desirest to be assured of eternal life, prepare thy self to be a worthy receiver of this blessed Sacrament. For our Saviour assureth us, That if any man eat of this bread, 2he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the ⟨p. 713⟩world. He therefore who duly eateth of this holy Sacrament, may truly say, not only, Credo vitam aeternam, I believe the life everlasting: but also, Edo vitam aeternam, I eat life everlasting. And indeed this is the true tree of life ▪ which GOD hath planted in the middest of the Paradise of the Church. And whereof he hath promised to give every one that overcometh, to eat. 3And this tree of life by infinite degrees excelleth the tree of life, that grew in the Paradise of Eden; for that had his root, in the earth, this from heaven; that gave but life to the body, this to the soul, that did but preserve the life of the living, this restoreth life to the dead. ⟨p. 714⟩The leaves of this tree healeth the Nation of believers,4 and it yields every month a new manner of fruit, which nourisheth them to life everlasting. Oh, blessed are they who often eat of this Sacrament! at lest, once every month, taste anew of this renewing fruit, which Christ hath prepared for us at his Table to heal our infirmities, and to confirm our belief of life everlasting▪
6 To seale vnto vs the assurance of euerlasting life.
17 To bind all Christians, as it were, by an oath of fidelity, to serve the one only true God: and to admit no other propitiatory sacrifice for sins but that one real sacrifice which by his death, ⟨p. 715⟩Christ once offered, and by which he finished the sacrifice of the Law, and effected eternal redemption and righteousness, for all believers. And so to remain for ever a public mark of profession, to distinguish Christians from all sects and false religions. And seeing that in the Mass, there is a strange Christ adored, not he that was borne of the Virgin Mary: but one that is made of a wafer Cake: and that the offering up of this breaden-god is thrust upon the Church; as a propitiatory sacrifice for the Quick and the dead: all true Christians upon the danger of wilful perjury before the Lord chief-Justice of heaven and ⟨p. 716⟩earth are to detest the Mass, as that Idol of indignation which is most derogatory to the all-sufficient World-saving-merits of Christs death and passion. For by receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, we all swear that all real sacrifices are ended by our Lords death: and that his body and blood once crucified and shed, is the perpetual food and nourishment of our Souls.
17 To binde all Christians, as it were, by an oath of fidelity, to serue the one onely true God: and to admit no other propitiatory sacrifice for sinnes but that one reall sacrifice which by his death, ⟨p. 715⟩Christ once offered, and by which he finished the sacrifice of the Law, and effected eternall redemption and righteousnesse, for all beleeuers. And so to remaine for euer a publike marke of profession, to distinguish Christians from all sects and false religions. And seeing that in the Masse, there is a strange Christ adored, not hee that was borne of the Vigin Marie: but one that is made of a wafer Cake: and that the offering vp of this breaden-god is thrust vpon the Church; as a propitiatorie sacrifice for the Quicke and the dead: all true Christians vpon the danger of wilfull periury before the Lord chiefe-Iustice of heauen and ⟨p. 716⟩
A Man shall best perceive his own unworthiness by examining his life according to the ten Commandments of Almighty GOD. ⟨p. 717⟩Search therefore what duties thou hast omitted, and what vices thou hast committed, contrary to every one of the Commandments: remembering that without repentance and Gods mercy in Christ,1 the Curse of God (containing all the miseries of this life, and everlasting torments in Hell fire when this is ended) is due to the breach of the least of Gods commandments. And having taken a due survey both of thy sins & miseries, retire to some secret place, and there putting thy self in the sight of the Judge as a guilty malefactor standing at the Bar to receive his sentence, bowing thy knees to the earth, smiting thy breast with thy fists and ⟨p. 718⟩bedewing thy cheeks with thy tears, confess thy sins, and humbly ask him mercy and forgiveness, in these or the like words.
A Man shall best perceiue his owne vnworthinesse by examining his life according to the tenne Commandements of Almighty GOD. ⟨p. 717⟩Search therefore what duties thou hast omitted, and what vices thou hast committed, contrary to euery one of the Commandements: remembring that without repentance and Gods mercy in Christ,1 the Curse of God (containing all the miseries of this life, and euerlasting torments in Hel fire when this is ended) is due to the breach of the least of Gods commandements. And hauing taken a due surueigh both of thy sins & miseries, retire to some secret place, and there putting thy selfe in the sight of the Iudge as a guilty malefactor standing at the Barre to receiue his sentence, bowing thy knees to the earth, smiting thy breast with thy fists and ⟨p. 718⟩bedewing thy cheekes with thy teares, confesse thy sins, and humbly aske him mercie and forgiuenesse, in these or the like wordes.
O GOD and heavenly Father, when I consider the goodness which thou hast ever showed unto me, and the wickedness which I have committed against heaven and against thee, 1I am ashamed of my self, and confusion seems to cover my face as a veil: for which of thy commandments have I not transgressed? ⟨p. 719⟩Oh Lord, I stand here guilty of the breach of all thy holy Laws. For the love of my heart hath not so entirely cleaved unto thy Majesty as to vain and earthly things:* I have not feared thy judgements to debtor me from sins, nor trusted to thy promises, to keep from doubting of my temporal, or from despairing of mine eternal state. *I have made the rule of thy divine worship, to be what my mind thought fit, not what thy word prescribed: finding my heart more prone to remember my blessed Saviour in a painted picture of mans devise: rather then to behold him crucified in his Word and Sacraments after his own ordinance.4 ⟨p. 720⟩Where *I should never use thy name (whereat all knees do bow) but with religious reverence, 6nor any part of thy worship, without due preparation and zeal: I have blasphemously abused thy holy name to rash and customary oaths, yea I have used oaths by thy sacred name, as false covers of my filthy sins. And I have been present at thy service oft times more for ceremony then conscience, 7and to please men, more then to please thee, my gracious GOD.
O GOD and heauenly Father, when I consider the goodnesse which thou hast euer shewed vnto me, and the wickednesse which I haue committed against heauen and against thee,
*Where I should sanctify thy Sabbath day, by being present at the public exercises of the Church, 2and by meditating privately on the word and works of GOD, and by visiting ⟨p. 721⟩the sick,3 and relieving of my poor brethren. Alas,4 I have thought those holy Exercises a burden, because they hindered my vain sports: yea, I have spent many of thy Sabbaths, in my own profane pleasures, without being present at any part of thy divine worship.
*Where I should sanctifie thy Sabath day, by being present at the publike exercises of the Church, 2and by meditating priuately on the word and workes of GOD, and by visiting ⟨p. 721⟩the sicke,3 and relieuing of my poore brethren. Alas,4 I haue thought those holy Exercises a burden, because they hindred my vaine sports: yea, I haue spent many of thy Sabbaths, in my owne prophane pleasures, without being present at any part of thy diuine worship.
Where I should have given all due reverence to my Natural, Ecclesiastical, 1and Politic Parents, I have not showed that measure of duty and affection to my Parents which their care and kindness hath deserved. I have not had thy Ministers in such singular love for their works sake, as I ought,2 but I have taunted at their zeal, and hated them because they ⟨p. 722⟩reproved me justly. 3And I have carried my self contemptuously against my Magistrates & Ministers, though I knew that it is thine ordinance, that I should be obedient unto them.
Where I should haue giuen all due reuerence to my Naturall, Ecclesiasticall, 1and Politique Parents, I haue not shewed that measure of duetie and affection to my Parents which their care and kindnesse hath deserued. I haue not had thy Ministers in such singular loue for their workes sake, as I ought,2 but I haue taunted at their zeale, and hated them because they ⟨p. 722⟩reproued mee iustly. 3And I haue carryed my selfe contemptuously against my Magistrates & Ministers, though I knew that it is thine ordinance, that I should be obedient vnto them.
1Where I should be *slow to wrath, and aready to forgive offences, and not suffered the Sun to go down upon my wrath, but to do good for evil, loving my very enemies for thy sake:4 I alas, for one sorry word have burst out into open rage, & harbouring thoughts of mischief in my heart, I have preferred to feed on mine own malice, rather then to eat of thy holy Supper.
1Where I should be *slow to wrath, and aready to forgiue offences, and not suffered the Sunne to goe downe vpon my wrath, but to doe good for euill, louing my very enemies for thy sake:4 I alas, for one sory word haue burst out into open rage, & harbouring thoughts of mischiefe in my heart, I haue preferred to feede on mine owne malice, rather then to eate of thy holy Supper.
Secondly, the corporall ⟨p. 709⟩Resurrection of our bodies at the last day which is called the second resurrection, which freeth vs from the first death. Hee that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, 1hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp at the last day. For this Sacrament asignifieth and sealeth vnto vs that Christ died and rose againe for vs, and that his bflesh quickneth and nourisheth vs vnto eternall life, and that therefore our bodies shall surely be raised to eternall life at the ⟨p. 710⟩last day. For seeing our head is risen, all the members of the body shall likewise surely rise againe. For how can those bodies which (being the weapons of Righteousnesse, Rom. 16 13. Temples of the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6.19. and Members of Christ.) haue bin *fedde and nourished vvith the body and blood of the Lord of life: but be raised vp againe at the last day? And this is the cause that the bodies of the Saints, being dead are so reuerently buried and laid to sleepe in the Lord. And their buriall places are termed, the beddes and dormitories of the Saints. The reprobates shall arise at the last day. But by the Almighty power of Christ, as ⟨p. 711⟩he is Iudge, bringing them as malefactors out of the goale, to receiue their sentence, and deserued execution: but the Elect shall arise by vertue of Christs resurrecti•n, and of the Communion which they haue with him, as with their head. And his resurrection is the *cause, and assurance of ours. The aResurrection of Christ, is a Christians particuler faith: the Resurrection of the dead, is the childe of Gods chiefest confidence. Therefore Christians in the Primitiue Church, were wont to salute one another in the morning with these phrases. *The Lord is risen: and the other would answere, True. The Lord is risen indeede.