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.
O Eternal God, and heavenly Father, if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel, and the examples ofa Peter, bMary Magdalen, the cPublican, dthe Prodigal child, and many other penitent sinners; that thou art so efull of Compassion, and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners, who aref heaviest laden with sin, at whatg time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts, lamenting their sins, and imploring thy grace: I should despair for mine own sins, and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence; considering the hardness of my ⟨p. 196⟩heart, the unruliness of my affections, and the uncleanness of my conversation, by means whereof I have transgressed all thy laws, and deserved thyh curse, which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease, 9my soul to languish with the death of sin, my good name to be traduced with scandalous reproaches, and make mine estate liable to all manner of crosses and casualties And I confess, O Lord, that thy mercy is the cause that I have not been long ago confounded.
brazen Serpent, that can cure that poison, wherewith the fiery Serpent of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul. And give me, I beseech thee, thine holy Spirit, which may assure me of mine adoption, and that may confirm my faith, increase my repentance, enlighten my understanding,
may be kept unblameable until the glorious •oming of my Lord Jesus Christ. And now, O Lord, I give thee most hearty thanks, •nd praise, for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harms and perils, notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts.
O Eternal God, and heavenly Father, if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel, and the examples ofa Peter, bMary Magdalen, the cPublican, dthe Prodigal child, and many other penitent sinners; that thou art so efull of Compassion, and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners, who aref heaviest laden with sin, at whatg time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts, lamenting their sins, and imploring thy grace: I should despair for mine own sins, and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence; considering the hardness of my ⟨p. 196⟩heart, the unruliness of my affections, and the uncleanness of my conversation, by means whereof I have trangressed all thy laws, and deserved thyh curse, which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease, 9my soul to languish with the death of sin, my good name to be traduced with scandalous reproaches, and make mine estate liable to all manner of crosses and casualties And I confess, O Lord, that thy mercy is the cause that I have not been long ago confounded. 10But, O my God,11 as thy mercy only staied thy judgment from falling upon me hitherto; so I humbly beseech thee, in thea bowels of the mercy of Jesus Christ, (b in whom only thou art well pleased) that thou wilt not deal with mec according to my deserts, but that thou wouldstd freely and fully remit unto me all my sins and transgressions: and that thou wouldste wash them clean from me, with the vertue of that most precious blood, which thy Son Jesus Christ hath shed for me. For he alone is thef Ph• sician, and his blood only is theg medicine that ean heal my sickness. And he is the true hbrazen Serpent, that can cure that poison, wherewith the fiery Serpent of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul. And give me, I beseech thee, thine holy Spirit, which may assure me of mine adoption, and that may confirm my faith, encrease my repentance, enlighten my understanding, 20purifie my heart, rectifie my will and affections, and so sanctifie me ⟨p. 197⟩•hroughout, that my whole body, soul, and spi•it, 21may be kept unblameable until the glorious •oming of my Lord Jesus Christ. And now, O Lord, I give thee most hearty thanks, •nd praise, for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harms and perils, notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts.
And I beseech thee likewise defend me •his night from the roaring Lyon, 1which •ight and day seeketh to devour me. Watch •hou, O Lord, over me this night, to keep •e from his temptations and tyranny; and •et thy mercy shield me from his unappea•ble rage and malice. And to this end, I commend my self into thy hands and pro•ection,2 beseeching thee, O my Lord and God, not to suffer Satan, nor any of his evil members, to have power to do unto me •ny hurt or violence this night. And grant, •ood Lord, that whether I sleep or wake, •ve or die, I may sleep, wake, live and die •nto thee, and to the glory of thy name, •nd the salvation of my soul. Lord bless •nd defend all thy chosen People every •here. Grant our King a long and happy •eign over us. Bless our gracious Queen Mary, with their Princely Progeny, the •ady Elizabeth, the King's only Sister, and •er Princely Issue; together with all our magistrates and Ministers: comfort them •ho are in misery, need, or sickness: good •ord give me grace to be one of those •ise Virgins, 3which may have my heart •repared like a Lamp furnished with the […] of faith, and light of good works, to meet ⟨p. 198⟩the Lord Jesus the sweet Bridegroom of my soul, this second and sudden coming in glory. Grant this, good Father, for Christ Jesus sake, my only Saviour and Mediator, in whose blessed Name, and in whose own words, I call upon thee, as he hath taught me. Our Father, which art, &c.
And I beseech thee likewise defend me •his night from the roaring Lyon, 1which •ight and day seeketh to devour me. Watch •hou, O Lord, over me this night, to keep •e from his temptations and tyranny; and •et thy mercy shield me from his unappea•ble rage and malice. And to this end, I •ommend my self into thy hands and pro•ection,2 beseeching thee, O my Lord and God, not to suffer Satan, nor any of his e•il members, to have power to do unto me •ny hurt or violence this night. And grant, •ood Lord, that whether I sleep or wake, •ve or die, I may sleep, wake, live and die •nto thee, and to the glory of thy name, •nd the salvation of my soul. Lord bless •nd defend all thy chosen People every •here. Grant our King a long and happy •eign over us. Bless our gracious Queen Mary, with their Princely Progeny, the •ady Elizabeth, the King's only Sister, and •er Princely Issue; together with all our •agistrates and Ministers: comfort them •ho are in misery, need, or sickness: good •ord give me grace to be one of those •ise Virgins, 3which may have my heart •repared like a Lamp furnished with the 〈…〉 of faith, and light of good works, to meet ⟨p. 198⟩
Thy Grace, O Lord Jesus Christ; thy love, O heavenly Father; thy comfort and consolation, O holy and blessed Spirit, be with me, and dwell in my heart, this night, and evermore. Amen.
1. That the day is coming, when thou must be as barely unstripped of al• that thou hast in the World, 1as thou ar• now of thy Clothes: thou hast therefore here, but the use of all things, as aa Steward, for a time, and that upon accounts Whilst therefore thou art trusted with thi• Stewardship, bbe wise and faithful.
1. THat the day is coming, when thou must be as barely unstript of al• that thou hast in the World, 1as thou ar• now of thy Clothes: thou hast therefore here, but the use of all things, as aa Steward, for a time, and that upon accounts Whilst therefore thou art trusted with thi• Stewardship, bbe wise and faithful.
2. When thou seest thy Bed, let it pu• thee in mind of thy* grave, which is now the bed of Christ: for Christ (by laying hi• holy body to rest three days and three nights in the† grave) hath sanctified, an• (as it were) warmed it for the bodies o• his Saints, to rest and* sleep in, till th•⟨p. 199⟩morning of the Resurrection: so that now unto the faithful, death is but a sweet sleep; and the grave is but Christ's* bed, where their bodies rest and sleep in peace, until the joyful morning of the Resurrection-day shall dawn unto them.5
*Job 17. 13. Ut somnus mortis, sic lectus imago sepulchri.
Let therefore thy Bed-clothes represent unto thee the mould of the Earth that shall cover thee; thy sheets, thy winding sheet; thy sleep, thy death; thy waking, thy resurrection. And being laid down in thy bed, when thou perceivest sleep to approach, say, I will lay me down and sleep in peace, for thou, 1Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Thus religiously opening every Morning thy heart, and shutting it up again every Evening, with the Word of God and Prayer, as it were with a Lock and Key, and so beginning the day with God's Worship, continuing it in his fear, and ending it in his favour: thou shalt be sure to find the blessing of God upon all thy days labours and good endeavours: and at night thou mayest assure thy self, thou shalt sleep safely and sweetly in the arms of thy heavenly Father's providence.
Thus religiously opening every Morning thy heart, and shutting it up again every Evening, with the Word of God and Prayer, as it were with a Lock and Key, and so beginning the day with God's Worship, continuing it in his fear, and ending it in his favour: thou shalt be sure to find the blessing of God upon all thy days labours and good endeavours: and at night thou maist assure thy self, thou shalt sleep safely and sweetly in the arms of thy heavenly Father's providence.
Thus far of the Piety which every Christian in private, ought to practise every day. Now followeth that, which he (being an Householder) must practise publicly with his Family.
Thus far of the Piety which every Christian in private, ought to practise every day. Now followeth that, which he (being an Housholder) must practise publickly with his Family.
1. IF thou beest called to the government of a Family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God, and live uprightly in thine own person, unless thou causest all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty, God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel. For (saith God) I know him, 1that he will command his sons, and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham, that he hath spoken unto him. And Abraham had 318 Men servants,2 which were thus born and catechized in his house. With whose help he rescued also his Nephew Lot from the captivity of his Enemies.3 And religiously valiant Joshua protesteth before all the people, That if they all would fall away from the true Worship of God, yet that he and his house would serve the Lord. And God himself gives a special charge to all Householders, that they do instruct their Family in his Word, and train them up in his fear and service. These words which I command thee this day, 4shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt whet them continually upon thy Children, and shalt talk of them when thou tarriest in thine house, and as thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up, &c. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him. ⟨p. 201⟩David according to this Law, had so ordered his Family,5 That no deceitful person should dwell in his house, but such as would serve God and walk in his way: 6and religious Esther had taught her Maids to serve God in fasting and prayer. And (the more to further thy family in the zeal of religion) settle ever thy chiefest affection on those whom thou shalt perceive to be best addicted to true Religion. This also will turn to thine own advantage in a double respect. First, God will the rather bless and prosper the labour and handy-work of such godly servants. For Laban perceived,7 that God blessed him for Jacob's sake: 8And Potiphar saw, that the Lord made all that Joseph did, to prosper: in his hand: yea, when innocent Joseph was cast into prison his keeper saw, 9that whatsoever he did, the Lord made it to prosper: and therefore the keeper committed all the charge of the Prisoners into Joseph's hand. 2. The trulier a man doth serve God, the faithfullier he will serve thee.
1. IF thou beest called to the government of a Family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God, and live uprightly in thine own person, unless thou causest all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty, God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel. For (saith God) I know him, 1that he will command his sons, and his houshold after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham, that he hath spoken unto him. And Abraham had 318 Men servants,2 which were thus born and catechized in his house. With whose help he rescued also his Nephew Lot from the captivity of his Enemies.3 And religiously valiant Joshua protesteth before all the people, That if they all would fall away from the true Worship of God, yet that he and his house would serve the Lord. And God himself gives a special charge to all Housholders, that they do instruct their Family in his Word, and train them up in his fear and service. These words which I command thee this day, 4shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt whet them continually upon thy Children, and shalt talk of them when thou tarriest in thine house, and as thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up, &c. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him. ⟨p. 201⟩David according to this Law, had so ordered his Family,5 That no deceitful person should dwell in his house, but such as would serve God and walk in his way: 6and religious Esther had taught her Maids to serve God in fasting and prayer. And (the more to further thy family in the zeal of religion) settle ever thy chiefest affection on those whom thou shalt perceive to be best addicted to true Religion. This also will turn to thine own advantage in a double respect. First, God will the rather bless and prosper the labour and handy-work of such godly servants. For Laban perceived,7 that God blessed him for Jacob's sake: 8
2. If every Householder were thus careful, according to his duty, to bring up his Children and Family in the service and fear of God in his own house, then the house of God would be better filled, and the Lord's Table more frequented every Sabbath day; and the Pastor's public preaching and labour, would take more effect than it doth. The streets of Towns and Cities would not abound with so many drunkards, swearers, whore-mongers, and profane scorners of true Piety and Religion. Westminster-Hall ⟨p. 202⟩would not be so full of contentions, wrangling suits, and unchristian debates: and the prisons would not be every Sessions so full of Thieves, Robbers, Traitors, and Murderers. But (alas) most Householders make no other use of their Servants, than they do of their Beasts. Whilst they may have their Bodies to do their service, they care not if their Souls serve the Devil. Yet the common complaint is, that faithful and good servants are scarce to be found. True, but the reason is, because there are so many profane and irreligious Masters: for, the example and instruction of a Godly and Religious Master, will make a good and a faithful servant, as may witness the examples of Abraham, Joshua, David, Cornelius, &c. who had good servants, because they were religious Masters, such as were careful to make their servants God's servants.
2. If every Houshoulder were thus careful, according to his duty, to bring up his Children and Family in the service and fear of God in his own house, then the house of God would be better filled, and the Lord's Table more frequented every Sabbath day; and the Pastor's publick preaching and labour, would take more effect than it doth. The streets of Towns and Cities would not abound with so many drunkards, swearers, whore-mongers, and prophane scorners of true Piety and Religion. Westminister-Hall ⟨p. 202⟩would not be so full of contentions, wrangling suits, and unchristian debates: and the prisons would not be every Sessions so full of Thieves, Robbers, Traitors, and Murtherers. But (alas) most Housholders make no other use of their Servants, than they do of their Beasts. Whilst they may have their Bodies to do their service, they care not if their Souls serve the Devil. Yet the common complaint is, that faithful and good servants are scarce to be found. True, but the reason is, because there are so many prophane and irreligious Masters: for, the example and instruction of a Godly and Religious Master, will make a good and a faithful servant, as may witness the examples of Abraham, Joshua, David, Cornelius, &c. who had good servants, because they were religious Masters, such as were careful to make their servants God's servants.
It is the chief labour and care of most men, to raise, and to advance their house; yet let thema rise up early, and lie down late, and eat the bread of carefulness, all will be but in vain; for except the Lord build an house, (that is, raise up a Family) they labour in vain. For God hath sealed this as an irrevocable decree, That he will bpour his wrath upon the Families that call not upon his name: yea,c God will take the wicked, and pluck him out of his tabernacle, and root him out of the land, &c. Yea, when hisd iniquities are full, he will makee the land to spue out every Canaanite. Religion then, ⟨p. 203⟩and the Service of God in a Family, is the best building, and surest entailing of House and Land, to a Man and his Posterity; for the righteous Man shall inherit the Land, 6and dwell therein for ever.
the Lord Jesus the sweet Bridegroom of my soul, this second and sudden coming in glory. Grant this, good Father, for Christ Jesus sake, my only Saviour and Mediator, in whose blessed Name, and in whose own words, I call upon thee, as he hath taught me. Our Father, which art, &c.
And Potiphar saw, that the Lord made all that Jeseph did, to prosper: in his hand: yea, when innocent Joseph was cast into prison his keeper saw,
that whatsoever he did, the Lord made it to prosper: and therefore the keeper committed all the charge of the Prisoners into Joseph's hand. 2. The trulier a man doth serve God, the faithfullier he will serve thee.
