The elements of the beginning of the oracles of God Containing the whole grounds of Christian religion, in a short catechisme for yong children, and a larger method of catechising.

Instructions for worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper.

THe Lord commandeth his people Israel, (Exo. 12.) to eate the Paschall Lambe with bitter herbes, and vnlea∣uened bread, hauing their shooes on their feete, their staues in their hands, and their loynes girded vp, as readie prepared, to take iourny out of Egypt to Canan. In the which institution, they were instructed, to consider the tyme by∣past, their present dispositiō, & their resolution for the time to come. In respect of the time by-gone, they were to eate their Lambe with bitter herbes; to put them in remem∣brance of their bitter captiuity, & seruitude in Egypt. In re∣spect of the time present, al they that did eate were circum∣cised, and all Leauen was remoued; to shew that all Gods sealed people, they must presently depart, not hauing space nor leasure to leauen their bread. And as for the time to come, they must bee resolued instantly to leaue Egypt, and take theit iourney to Canaan.

Now Christ our Passeouer is sacrificed for vs, and who would worthily eate this Passeouer, must of necessity consi∣der these same things; His by-past life, his present disposi∣tion, and his resolution for the time to come. First, if thou wilt runne the backe, tread of thy life, and remember what thou hast bin, and what thou hast done; questionlesse thou shalt finde much occasion of bitter mourning. When thou seest thy many & great offences, what in thought, what in word, what in deed; what of omission, what of commission; what of ignorance, what of knowledge: in remembrance of this thy vile seruitude, in the Egyptian darknesse of sinne, and ignorance, vnder that spirituall Pharao, prepare to thy selfe the bitter herbes of remorse and sorrow; that there∣with thou may eate thy Passeouer. For the better effectua∣ting hereof, examine the by-past time of thy life, according

to all the commandements, and finding thy sinnes to bee many and greiuous, and thy God to be very angry with thee, and all the curses of the Law iustly to belong vnto thee for them, with griefe of heart, and contrition of Spi∣rit, Pray in this forme, or sense.

A Prayer.

O Lord, to fulfill the commandements of thy law is impossible, to sustaine the curse of thy law is intole∣rable. And I, alasse, miserable wretch, haue broaken all thy commandements, yea, and many of them wittingly, and willingly: therefore as a seruant knowing his Ma∣sters will, & not doing it, I deserue to be beaten with ma∣ny stripes: if one transgression of one commandement deserues thy fearefull curse, O what a burden of wrath haue I drawne on my silly soule, by my infinit transgres∣sions? But what shall I doe, Lord? shall I drowne my soule in the deepest gulfe of desperation? No good Lord, thy Word is my comfort; there thou calls them vnto thée that are weary and loaden, promising to ease them, to refresh them, to release them. Lift vp thy head, O my soule, and tast of the sweetnesse of this consolation; the Lord calles on thée, promises to relieue thée and to re∣fresh thée; for thy Lord sées thée not onely burthened with thy sinnes, but also weary of thy burden. Thou bids me come, O Lord; behold here am I ready at thy gracious call: but how shall I come to thée, except thou draw mée? draw me, O Lord, and I shall follow thee: the burden of my sinnes, more heauy then a mountaine, so beares me down, that I cannot stirre one foot towards thée, till thou put vnder thy hand and frée mee of my loa∣ding. And if I might créepe to thée-ward vnder it, how durst I present my selfe before thée in my sinnes? should I not be consumed as stubble before the fire? Lord I do beléeue thy owne testimony, thou so louedst the world,

that thou gaue thy only Sonne for the world, that who∣soeuer belieueth in him should not perish, but haue eter∣nall life: Lord I beleiue in him, kéepe thy promise to me, let me not perish as I deserue; but giue me life, that my poore soule may liue by thée, in thée, and with thée: through Iesus Christ my blessed Lord and Sauiour, Amen.

Secondly, wee must consider the time present, how wee are, and how we eate; we must take heede both to the di∣sposition of our person, and to the manner of our eating; all they that did eate the Passouer, were circumcised, and did eate with vnleauened bread. So must we be, so must we doe; except we be circumcised in our hearts, wee can haue no fellowship with Iesus Christ: if any man bee in him, he must be a new Creature, for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his. Ahimelech would not giue of the shew bread to Dauid his seruants, till hee vnderstood that the yong man were sanctified; but here is a more holy bread then that: here is the Bread of Life, which was sent downe from Heauen, to giue life vnto the World: No man, sayes our Sauiour, putteth new wine in old vessels; this is new wine, this is the Lords blood of the new Couenant. See therefore that the vessell of thy soule be not geisned, for then it will runne out; see it be not foisted, for then it wil turne this wholsome medicine into poyson. Thus touching the disposition of thy person. Next, for the manner of thy eating, thou must eate thy Passouer with vnleauened bread. The Israelites did put all leauen out of their houses; thou must search the corners of thy heart, and cast forth all sorts of leauen. First, cast out the leauen of the Pharisies, that is, false opinions; next, cast forth the leauen of ma∣lice, that is, foule affections: a little leauen will leauen the whole masse. One false opinion in the grounds of Religion, as that of transsubstantiation; one soule affection, as hypo∣crisie or malice will make all thy seruice vnprofitable, yea,

abominable. Therefore that thou mayest be holy both in thy person and carriage, as becometh one that bankets with the Lord at his Table; put vp thy humble suite vnto the Lord, in this manner, or sense.

O Lord, thou wilt bee sanctified in all them that ap∣proach vnto thée, yea, without sanctification none can sée thée: therefore, good Lord, sanctifie my heart, that I may draw neare vnto thee; sanctifie my minde, that I may see thee; circumcise the foreskin of my heart, remoue from me all leauen of ignorance, of malice, and hypocrisie; that I may eate my Passeouer, euen the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world, with the vnlea∣uened bread of truth, of loue, and sincerity: that in the strength of that heauenly foode, my soule may grow in faith, in hope, in patience, and all spirituall graces; to the glory of thy great Name, and the saluation of my poore soule, through Iesus Christ, my blessed Lord and Saui∣our, Amen.

In the third place, take good heede to thy Resolution, in respect of the time to come; in regard whereof, thy feete must be shodde with the shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of peace; the staffe of Gods promises must bee in thy hand, to sustaine thee in thy iourney; & thy loynes must be girded vp with the girdle of verity, to make thee expedite for thy iourney. Thus thou must be readie prepared and re∣solued, to take thy iourney out of Egypt, to thy promised Canaan.Thou must resolue to make no longer stay in Egypt,to serue Sathan that spirituall Pharao there: for it is too∣much, and more then toomuch, that thou hast misspent any part of thy by-past life, in that filthy and miserable ser∣uitude. Now must thou make a couenant with thy eyes, that they behold no vanity; with thy hart, that it follow not the waies of thy eyes; and with thy feete, that they neither stand, nor walke in the way of the wicked. That thou may attaine hereto, pray as after followeth.

ALasse, Lord, I haue béen a great sinner in times past, and woe is mée that I haue so long continued in a sinfull course of life, to the great offence of thy Maiesty: Now am I resolued by thy grace to take vp a new course, to make no longer stay in Egypt, to serue sinne and Sathan no longer, but to goe from strength to strength, till I come to the Land of promise: only Lord, as thou hast giuen mée a heart to resolue, so grant mee grace and power to performe; for it is thou alone that workest both the will and the déede, through the effectuall power of the Spirit of Iesus Christ my Lord, to whom be glory for euer, Amen.

A Prayer to be said immediatly before the Receiuing.

MY heart is prepared, O God, my heart is prepared; my Lampe is dressed and trimmed, that I may méet my Sauiour, who is graciously pleased to call mée to the wedding. But alasse, neither is the preparation of my heart, nor the cléernesse of my lampe, nor the measure of my oyle answerable to that that thou requirest, or to that that I desire: Yet thou, O merciful God, that quenchest not the smoaking, flaxe, and breakest not the bruised réede; for Iesus Christs sake, accept, I humbly beséech thée, of these small beginnings of grace, as of the first fruits of thy owne Spirit: and when it shall please thy goodnesse to enlarge my heart, and to bestow vpon me a larger mea∣sure of grace, I vow to offer vp vnto thée a fatter Sa∣crifice. In the meane time according to thy gracious pro∣mise, accept of the will for the déede, and let me be accep∣table, not for that that I haue not, but for that that I haue. I presently sacrifice my soule, my body, my affecti∣ons, my words and actions, my goods and all to thée, promising and vowing henceforth to bestow my selfe and all that I haue on thée and thy glory, because thou hast

bestowed thy onely and well beloued Son on mee and my saluation. Onely Lord, as thou hast giuen mee a heart to promise, so giue me also helpe for to performe, for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake. Amen.

Thanksgiuing, and Prayer after the Com∣munion.

WHat shall I render vnto thée, O Lord, for all thy benefits towards mée? for giuing thy Sonne to die for mée? for couering my shamefull nakednesse with his glorious righteousnesse; for healing my wounded soule with his stripes; for giuing his flesh to mee for meate, for giuing his bloud to me for drinke? What can I render, O Lord, for thy vnspeakable loue toward mee? If Nathans poore man loued his shéepe well, that he fed with his owne bread and water. (2 Sam. 12. 3.) O what a loue hath my good shepheard borne to mee his silly lost shéepe, which he féedeth with his owne flesh and bloud? What then shall I render, O Lord? surely I shall loue thée, who hast loued mée, and washed me from my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne; surely I shall prayse thy goodnesse so long as I liue; surely I shall henceforth liue to thée, who hast giuen thy Sonne to die for mee. Here I renounce my selfe, my owne wit, my owne will, my owne affections. Here I consecrate and sacrifice my selfe, and all that is in me or belongs vnto me, to thée my God, and to the glory of thy Name. O Lord, in token of thy acceptation of my offering, kindle thou it with a coale from thy Altar, that it may smell swéetly in thy presence. Lord suffer not my soule againe to goe a whooring from thée, after any thing beside thée: let mee feare none but thée; loue none but thée; delight in none beside thée. Be thou alwayes at my right hand, that I fall not, and that I may rise when I fall. As I haue receaued Christ Ie∣sus my Lord this day, so make mee walke in him from

henceforth euen for euer. Lord make me alwaies féele the powerfull effects of his presence: I know my Lord is not idle in the heart where he dwelleth. If the bones of a dead Prophet could reuiue a dead carkase, (2 King. 13. 21.) shall not the liuely Spirit of Iesus, quicken the hart wherin he remaineth? O Lord thou blessedst the house of Obed-Edom, because of the presence of thy Arke; (2 Sam. 6. 11.) much more then shalt thou blesse my soule, because of the presence of thy Sonne. The poore Woman with the bloudy issue was cured, not by touching the hem of his Garment; but because shée touched him by faith, therfore she drew Vertue out of him, & was made whole: (Mar. 5. 28.) Lord Iesus my blessed Sauiour, it is not the participation of these earthy elements, which are but as it were the hem of thy Garment, that will stanch the bloudy issue of sinne in my soule; if my soule hath touched thée by faith, it hath drawne vertue out of thée. Let mee know, Lord, by thy Vertue curing the bloudy issue of my soule, that by Faith I haue touched thée. My Lord, thou art the Bread of Life, let me féele thée liuing in my soule, that thereby I may know that I haue truely eaten of that bread: Lord let me féele the power of that Spirit of life, which is in thée, quickning my soule to eternall life, and mortifying sinne in my soule. As thou, O Lord, this day hast renewed thy Couenant with me, so here I vow vnto thée amendment and newnesse of life: Onely, Lord, as by a holy resolution, thou hast entred me this day in a good course, so giue mee grace to perseuere therein vnto the end, that I returne not as a dogge to my vomit; or, as a sowe that is washed, to wallow in the mire of my filthinesse. O Lord, make me at all times hereafter to bemoue, to distaste, and abhorre my former iniquities; knowing that the vncleane spirit, if euer he can get into my soule againe, after that it is swept and garnished, hee will enter with seauen other diuels worse then himselfe;

and my end shall bee worse then my beginning. Onely thou, O Lord, the stronger man, who hast disarmed that strong armed man, and thrust him out of his possession, thou onely canst hold him out, and kéepe my soule, thy darling, to thy selfe. Thou therefore, my swéet Sauiour, who art the Author and finisher of my faith, who giuest not onely to will, but also to performe; accomplish thy good worke in me, which thou of thy goodnesse hast be∣gunne, to the glory of thy blessed name, and the saluation of my poore soule, Amen.

Morning Prayer for a Family.

OH Lord our God, let our Prayers ascend into thy presence like swéet incense, and in the name of Christ let this our morning sacrifice of thanksgiuing, bee accep∣table vnto thée. Great cause haue wee to praise thée, O God; for thy mercies towards vs in number passe our reckoning, and in greatnesse surmount our estunation; and wee poore Creatures are lesse then the least of them. We blesse thy holy Name, for making vs to thy Image, when we were noght, for redéeming vs with the precious blood of thy beloued Sonne, when wee were worse then nought; for reuealing vnto vs that great redemption in thy blessed Gospell, and for making vs partakers of the saluation of the Gospell by thy holy Spirit, Wee yéeld thée hearty thanks also for all thy temporall benefits, for giuing vnto vs foode, raiment, health, and peace. O Lord, the current of thy compassions doth neuer faile to∣wards vs, but thy mercies are renewed euery morning; whereas this last night, thou mightest haue suddainely surprised vs by death, and brought vs to iudgement, be∣cause of our manifold offences against thy holy Maiesty: thou hast not onely mercifully spared vs, but hast also giuen vs quiet rest, and brought vs to the light of this

day. O Lord, thou art a gracious God, slow to anger, and rich in mercy; and the more blessings thou bestowest vpon vs, the more bent are we to begge for further: ther∣fore as thou hast raised our bodies from sleepe, so be thou graciously pleased, to raise our soules from sinne and se∣curity; and as thou hast made the light of the day to shine on our bodily eyes, so let the light of thy Word and Spirit illuminate the eies of our vnderstanding, that we as the children of Light, may walke in all thy holy com∣mandements this day. O Lord let thy gracious pre∣sence accompany vs, that we this day may keepe faith and a good conscience towards thée, and towards all men, in all our thoughts, our words, and déeds. O Lord, blesse vs; blesse all our purposes and actions, which wee shall take in hand, that they may tend to thy glory, to the good of others, and to the comfort of our owne soules, in that day when wee shall make our finall accounts vnto thee for them. O Lord, thou knowest how many snares Sa∣tan laies for vs to entrap vs, when we resolue to walke in thy wayes: Therefore, O God, bee thou not farre from vs: let thy fauour compasse vs as a shield; giue thy Angels charge ouer vs, to guide vs in all our waies, that we may be saued from the malice and cruelty of that euill one. Into thy hand, O Lord, we doe cōmend our soules, our bodies, our affaires, and all that we haue, to bee gui∣ded by thy grace, and guarded by thy power. Lord, thou art a faithfull Creator, and wilt suffer nothing to take harme that is committed into thy tuition and custody. Therefore our very soules doe rest and repose in the as∣surance of thy mercifull protection. Good Lord, mortifie the old man more and more in vs; giue and increase in vs, faith, hope, loue, humility, patience, méekenesse, chastity and all other Christian vertues. Turne our hearts from the loue of earthly things, & set them on things that are aboue, where Christ is at thy right hand. Furnish vnto

vs solid comfort in all our tribulations, and in thy strength at last let vs be victorious ouer all tentations whatsoeuer: make vs spend this life in purity, and end it in peace, that we in the last day may ryse in ioy to life e∣uerlasting, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Gracious God be mercifull to thy whole Church and chosen Children, wheresoeuer they bee vpon the face of the earth: defend them from the rage and tyranny of the Diuell, the world, and Antichrist: Giue thy Gospell frée passage through the World, for the gathering of thy Saints, and the conuersion of al those that belong to thy Election and Kingdome: Blesse the Churches & King∣domes wherein wee liue, with continuance of Iustice, Peace, and true Religion. Defend the Kings M. from all his enemies; grant him a long life, in health, and hap∣pinesse to raigne ouer vs. Blesse the hopefull Prince Charles, Prince Palatine of the Rhene, the vertuous Lady Elizabeth, his wife, and their Progenie. Grant that all Magistrates and Subiects, husbands & wiues, fathers and children, masters and seruants, may faithful∣ly doe their duty, and thy will. Lord continue the light of thy glorious Gospell, with vs and our posterity: increase the number of the faithfull Preachers of thy Word; and open thou the hearts of their hearers, that they may be∣léeue and obey the same vnto saluation. Lord wee com∣mend vnto thée all our kinsmen and acquaintance, all our friends and benefactors: recompence abundantly vnto them all the good they haue done. Let our waies please thée, O Lord, that all our enemies may bee at peace with vs. Comfort the comfortlesse, bee néere all them that call vpon thy Name. Hasten thy comming, our blessed Sa∣uiour, & make vs ready with the oyle of grace and faith in our lampes to méet thée our swéete Bridegroome at thy comming. These and all other things thou knowest to be néedfull, we begge at thy hands for our selues, and all thy

Saints on earth, in the name of thy beloued Son, our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ, according to that most perfect forme of prayer, which he hath taught vs: Our Father which art in heauen, &c.

Euening Prayer for a Family.

O Lord God, who art infinit both in might and mercy, in greatnesse and goodnesse: we thanke thée from the very bottome of our hearts, for mightily and mercifully protecting vs from our mothers wombe, to this present houre: And we beséech thee, howsoeuer this day we haue sinned against thée, by the deceit of the flesh, the euill ex∣ample of the world, or the sleight of Satan; in thought, word, or deede; in omitting of good, or committing of euil; of ignorance, or knowledge; let it please thy Maiestie graciously to forgiue vs, in the bloud of Iesus Christ. Good Lord, let not our iniquities separate betwixt vs and thy fauour, or spoyle vs of thy fatherly protection: But vnder the couerture of the wings of thy mercifull safegard, let vs rest this night frée from all dangers of body and soule; that to morrow we may rise in safety to praise thy name, and may serue thée with ready mindes, with pure hearts, and chast bodies, in true ioy and hear∣ty thanksgiuing: through Iesus Christ our Lord: in whose name we humbly beg these, and all other blessings thou knowest to bee expedient for vs, and all thy cho∣sen children on the earth, in that perfect forme of Pray∣er, which hee hath taught vs: Our Father which art in heauen, &c.

FINIS.