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On the Week-days the Mini∣ster makes such an Exhor∣tation as seemeth good to him; accommodating it to the time, and to the subject which he treats of in his Sermon.
On the Lords-day before the Reader comes into the Church, the People usually sing some part of the Psalms, until he see it a fit time to begin in this manner:
OUR help is in th•• Name of God, wh•• hath made Heaven and Earth. Amen.
And after says these fol∣lowing words:
Let us give attention with reverence and fear to the holy Word of God contained in the — Chapter: which he read•• and sometimes one or two more, which are take•• out of the Old or New Testament.
Then he says these Prepa∣ratory words;
Let us sing to the praise and glory of God, for the Edification, and to the Consolation of our souls.
And upon that he gives out a Psalm, which is sung by him and the Congregation. That being ended he reads one or two Chapters more.
Thus reading and singing alternately, till the Church be full, and the Minister come into the Pulpit, then the Reader repeats these following words:
Hearken with reverence and faithful obedience un∣to the holy Command∣ments of God, contained
in the 20th Chapter Exodus, which he reads.
Then the Minister begi•• by this following Prayer:
Our help is in the nam•• of God, who hath ma•••• Heaven and Earth. Ame••
An Exhortation.
Brethren, let every o•• of you present himself be∣fore the Lord, hearti•••• confessing his sins, an•• saying after me.
The Confession.
Lord God Almighty
and everlasting Father, we sincerely confess and c••∣knowledge before thy ho∣ly Majes••y, that we are miserable sinners, concei∣ved and born in iniquity and Corruption, inclined to do evil, and averse to do good; and that by our sins we continually trans∣gress thy holy Command∣ments: whereby we just∣ly incur thy Divine Ven∣geance: But, O Lord, we are truly sorrowful for our offences, we condemn our selves, and are sincerely penitent for our sins, im∣ploring the assistance of thy Grace in this our mi∣serable condition.
Grant us therefore thy pity, O God, most graci∣ous and merciful Father, in the Name of thy Son Je∣sus Christ our Lord. Blo•• out our sins and iniquities bestow and daily increase in us the gifts of thy holy Spirit, that we heartily acknowledging our un∣righteousness, may be deeply affected with sor∣row, which begets a true repentance in us, whereby being dead to sin, we may bring forth such Fruits o•• Righteousness and Holi∣ness, that may be accept able unto thee by the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Vhis being done, the Mi∣nister saith, Let us sing to the honour and glory of God, and for the consola∣tion of our souls; and gi∣veth out part of some Psalm which is sung.
Afterward he begins a∣gain to pray, and to desire of God the grace of his holy Spirit, that his word may be faithfully ex∣pounded to the honour of his Name, and to the Edification of the Church; and that it may be receiv∣ed with such humility and obedience as is meet.
The Form of this prayer is left to the discretion of the Minister.
At the end of which h•• repeats the Lords Prayer and after that these fol¦lowing preparatory words
The word of God tha•• we are to explain, you shall find— an•• nameth the Text.
At the end of the Ser∣mon, the Minister having read the Bills for the sick and made some Exhortati∣ons to prayer, he begins in this manner:
Almighty God, and Heavenly Father, tho•• hast promised to gran•• our Requests that we
shall make unto thee in the name of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and we are also taught by him, and his Apostles, to assemble our selves together in his Name, promising he will be in the midst of us, and that he will be our Inter∣cessor towards thee, for the obtaining all those things that are needful for us, which we shall agree to pray for upon Earth.
We are first command∣ed to pray for those whom thou hast set over us, as Superiors and Governors: likewise in the behalf of
all thy people in necessi∣ty, and for all mankind; therefore trusting in thy holy Doctrine and Pro∣mises, for as much as we are here assembled in thy presence, and in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, we heartily beseech thee, good God and Father, in the name of thy Son our only Saviour, and Medi∣ator, to grant us, thro' thy infinite mercy, the free pardon of all our sins, and be pleased so to draw and raise our thoughts and desires to¦wards thee, that we may make our supplications with all our hearts, ac∣cording
to thy will, and which is only most just and good.
Then the Minister prays for the King and the Royal Family by name.
We pray thee there∣fore, O heavenly Father, for all Kings, Princes and Governours, thy Serv∣ants, unto whom thou hast committed the dis∣pensation of thy Justice, & particularly for W. &c. that it may please thee to endue them all with thy holy Spirit, which alone is the truly principal good. Increase those gifts
daily in them, that they acknowledging with a true Faith Jesus Chris•• thy Son our Lord, to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, as thou has•• given him all power i•• Heaven, and on Earth they may seek to serve him, and to exat hi•• Kingdom in their Domi∣nions, governing their Subjects, who are the works of thy hands, and the Sheep of thy Pasture according to thy will, so that we here, and all men through the whole Earth, being maintained in peace, and delivered from the fear of our E∣nemies,
may praise thee all the Days of our Lives.
A Prayer for the Ministry.
We also pray thee, O Father and Saviour, for all those whom thou hast appointed Pastors over thy faithful Flock, and unto whom thou hast committed the Charge of Souls, and the dispensati∣on of thy holy Gospel; that it may please thee to guide them by thy holy Spirit, that they may be found true and faithful Ministers of thy Gospel, always endeavouring that all thy poor dispersed
Flock may be gathered, and brought unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the principal Pastor, and chief Bishop, that through him they may daily improve in all Righteousness and Holiness. Moreover, we beseech thee to deliver all thy Churches from the mouths of Ravening Wolves, and from all mercenary men, who do only seek after their ow•• profit, and to gratifi•• their ambition, and have no regard to the advance∣ment of thy holy Name nor to the salvation o•• thy Flock.
We also pray thee; most gracious and mer∣ciful Father, for all man∣kind in general, and as thou wilt be acknowled∣ged Saviour of the whole world by the Redempti∣on thereof, purchased by thy Son Jesus Christ, grant that such as are still strangers to him, being in Darkness, Error and Ignorance, may by the illumination of thy holy Spirit, and by the preach∣ing of thy Gospel, be brought to the true way of salvation, which is to know thee the only true God, and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ,
that those whom thou hast already visited with thy grace, and enlightne•• by the knowledge of thy word, may daily increase in goodness, and being enriched with thy spiri∣tual blessing, we may a∣dore thee altogether with one heart, and one mouth and give honour and obe∣dience unto thy Christ, our Master, King and Legislator.
We likewise recom∣mend unto thee, O God of all Comfort, all those whom thou visits, and chastisest, by Crosses or Tribulations, and also those people whom thou
dost afflict by War, Pe∣stilence or Famine, and all such who do suffer by Want, Imprisonment, Sickness, Banishment, or any other Calamity in Body or Mind, and (es∣pecially all those for whom our prayers are desired) be pleased to make them sensible of thy Fatherly Affection, which is to visit them in order to their amendment, that they may be heartily con∣verted unto thee, and be∣ing converted, may re∣ceive perfect consolation, and be delivered from all evil.
We more especially re∣commend
unto thee all our poor Brethren who are dispersed under the Tyranny of Antichrist, being destitute of the Food of Life, and depri∣ved of the liberty of thy publick Service; and all those who are detained Prisoners, or persecuted by the Enemies of thy Gospel; that it may please thee, O gracious Father, to strengthen them by the assistance of thy holy Spirit, so that they may never fall from thy word, but may con∣stantly persevere in thy holy Religion; help and assist them according to
their several necessities, comfort them in their af∣flictions, preserve them from the rage of Wolves, and increase in them all the gifts of thy Spirit, to the end that they may glorifie thee both in Life and Death.
Finally, O God and Father, grant also to us who are here assembled in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ, for the sake of his word, and of his holy Communion, that we may sincerely, and without hypocrisie ac∣knowledge how misera∣ble we are by Nature, and what Condemnations we
deserve, and daily draw down upon our selves by our wicked and disorder∣ly Lives, that we seeing there is no good thing in us, and that our Flesh and Blood are not capable of inheriting thy Kingdom, we may with all affection and steadfast confidence, intirely surrender up ou•• selves unto thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer; that he dwelling in us, may mortifie our old A∣dam, and renew in us? better Life, whereby thy holy and glorious Name may be exalted and glo∣rified by all, and in all places.
Then he proceeds thus:
Hear us, O merciful Fath••r, for Jesus Christs sake, in whose Name and words we further call upon thee, Our Father, &c.
The Minister having said the Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed, he gives some part of the Psalms, which is sung; and before the Congregations g•• forth of the Church, he gives the following B••n••diction: (which is according to what our Lord commanded in the sixth Chapter of Num∣bers:)
The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make
his Face to shine upo•• you, and be gracious un∣to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon yo•• and give you peace. Ame••
A further Blessing th•• Minister says to the people
Go in Peace, and fo•• the Love of God remem∣ber the Poor.
This following Pray•• is added to the former i•• time of great danger an•• distress.
And also as thou ha•• the Dominion and Go∣vernment over us all
grant that we may daily learn more and more to submit and humble our selves before thy Majesty; and as thou art King and Ruler every where, we beseech thee to guide thy People by thy Word, and by the Efficacy of thy Spirit, confounding thy Enemies by the power of thy Truth and Justice, that so all Power and Do∣minion contrary to thy Glory, may be daily de∣stroyed, and brought to nought, until thy King∣dom be perfected, and fully established; when thou shalt appear in Judg∣ment in the Person of thy
Son. Grant that we and all Creatures may render thee true and perfect O∣bedience, even as th•• Heavenly Angels wai•• only to execute thy Com∣mands, so that thy Wil•• may be intirely fullfilled and that all may devot•• themselves to thy Service and Pleasure, and re∣nounce their own Wills and all the desires of thei•• flesh. Grant that we may walk in the love and fea•• of thy Name, and be nou∣rished by thy bountifu•• goodness that thou giv∣ing us all things which are needful and expedien•• for us, we may eat ou••
Bread in peace; and seeing that thou carest for us, we may the better acknow∣ledge thee to be our Fa∣ther, and expect all good things from thy hand; and by withdrawing our con∣fidence from all Creatures may place it wholly in thee, and in thy goodness, because in as much as du∣ring this mortal Life, we are poor sinners, so full of frailty that we continually fall, and go astray from the right way, be pleased to pardon all our sins, whereby we are liable to thy Judgment, and to de∣liver us by thy pardon from the Eternal Death,
in which we are; that may please thee not t•• impute to us our Iniqu••∣ties, as we according t•• thy Commandment pa••∣don all the Injuries w•• have received from ••∣thers, and instead of see••∣ing Vengeance, do goo•• to our Enemies.
Finally, we pray, tha•• it may please thee to sup∣port us henceforth by th•• power, that we may n•••• fall through the infirmit•• of our flesh; and for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much as we are so wea•• of our selves that we can not continue steadfast on moment, and on the othe•• side so continually sur∣rounded
and assaulted by so many Enemies, as the Devil, the World, Sin, and our Flesh not ceasing to war against us, grant we may be strengthned with thy holy Spirit, and so armed with thy grace, that we may constant∣ly resist all Temptations and persevere in that spi∣ritual Warfare, until we shall obtain a full Victory and Triumph at length in thy Kingdom, with our Captain and Protector, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Ʋpon such days as they celebrate the Lords Supper, they add to the former this following Prayer:
As our Lord Jesus Chris•• hath not only once offer'd his Body and Blood unto thee upon the Cross fo•• the remission of our sins but also communicate them unto us for our nou∣rishment to eternal life grant that we may with true sincerity of heart and ardent Zeal, receiv•• such benefits by a tru•• Faith, that we may par•• take of his Body an•• Blood, yea, and enjoy the•••• entirely: he being tru•• God and true Man, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 truly the holy Celesti•• Bread to quicken us, t•• the end that we may liv•• no more to our selves, ac∣cording
to our vicious and corrupt nature; but that he may live in us, and bring us to an holy, bles∣sed and eternal life; grant therefore that we may be made true partakers of the new and everlasting Co∣venant of Grace; being fully assur'd that thou wilt ever be to us a gracious Father, in not imputing our sins unto us; and as to thy beloved Children and Heirs, wilt provide for us all things necessary, as well for our Bodies as Souls, that we may conti∣nually give thee thanks, and glorifie thy holy Name by Words and
Works. Therefore, hea∣venly Father, give us grace this day to celebrate the blessed memory o•• thy Dear Son, in this manner, and to set forth the benefit of his Death; so that we receiving new increase and strength in Faith, and in all goodness, may with the greater con∣fidence call thee Our Fa∣ther, and glory in thee.
Amen.
After the holy Sacrament is ended, they use this fol∣lowing Thanksgiving, or the like.
Heavenly Father, we give thee Eternal Praise and Thanks, in that thou
hast bestowed upon us, poor sinners, so great a blessing, and brought us to the Communion of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, having delivered him un∣to Death for us, and given him for our spiritual nou∣rishment unto life everla∣sting. Grant that we may never forget thy mercies, but having them engraft∣ed in our hearts, we may continually grow and in∣crease in good works; and in so doing we may order all our lives to the ad∣vancement of thy glory, and to the Edification of our Neighbours, by the same Jesus Christ thy
Son, who in the Unity o•• the holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth with thee God eternally blessed. Amen.
For as much as the Scripture teaches, That Wars, Pestilence, and o∣ther such Adversities are Visitations sent from God, by which he punisheth us for our sins; when we see them coming, we must acknowledge that God is displeased with us, and as true Christians we must confess our sins, and be grieved in our selves, re∣turning unto the Lord by Repentance and Amend∣ment of life, and pray unto him with true humi∣lity,
that we may obtain pardon.
Wherefore if at any time we see that God threatens us, to the end that we may not tempt his Patience, but rather prevent his Judgments, which otherwise we may perceive to hang over our heads, it is meet that we should keep one day in e∣very week on which these things especially should be represented, and in which we must make Prayers and Supplications according to the Exigen∣cy of the times.
For which here follows a proper Form.
Before the beginning of the Sermon they use the ge∣neral Confession, as before written, and used on the Lords Day.
At the end of the Sermon, having remonstrated to the people, that God afflicts Men because of their Offen∣ces which are committed up∣on the Earth, and that the World is given up to al•••• Iniquity; having also ex∣horted the people to convert and amend their Lives, and to pray unto God to obtain mercy, they use this following Form of Prayer:
Almighty God, and Heavenly Father, we do acknowledge and confess
as the Truth is, that we are not worthy to lift up our Eyes to Heaven, to present our selves before thee; and that we ought not to presume so far as to think that thou wilt hear our prayers, if thou shoul∣dest mark what is amiss in us; for our Consciences accuse us, and our sins bear Witness against us, and we know that thou art a Just Judge, who dost not justifie sinners, but punishest the sins of those who have transgress'd thy holy Commandments; therefore, O Lord, when we consider our whole Lives, we are ashamed at
our hearts, and cannot but sink down in despair, as if we were already in the gulph of Death. But, Lord, since it hath pleased thee in thy infinite mercy to command us, that we should call upon thee; and the greater our Weakness and Misery is, we should with so much the greater Confidence betake our selves to thy Soveraign Bounty, since thou hast promised us to receive our supplications and requests not in respect of our own worthiness, but in the Name, and by the Merits of our Lord Jesus Christ whom thou hast made to
be our Advocate and In∣tercessor; we do therefore renounce all humane con∣fidence, and do altogether rely on thy sole goodness, and present our selves be∣fore thee to call upon thy holy Name for mercy.
First, Lord, besides the infinite benefits which thou hast in general be∣stowed upon all men in the world, thou hast done us so many singular Fa∣vours, that it is impossible for us to declare, or suffi∣ciently to comprehend them; and in particular it hath pleased thee to call us to the knowledge of thy Gospel, and to draw us
from the miserable slavery of the Devil, in which we were detained, delivering us from the Curse of Ido∣latry and Superstition, in which we were plunged, to guide us into the light of thy truth; yet by our Ingratitude we have for∣gotten the benefits which we have receiv'd from thy hand, and have gone a∣stray, and turned our selves from thee after our own Lusts; we have not given that honour and o∣bedience to thy holy Word which we ought, neither have we praised and glorified thee as it behoved us to do; and al∣though
though thou hast always faithfully admonished us by thy Word, yet we have not hearkned to thy Ad∣monitions; therefore we have sinn'd, Lord, and of∣fended against thee; this covers us with shame and confusion, confessing that we are grievously guilty before thy Judgment-Seat; and if that thou should'st deal with us ac∣cording to what we de∣serve, we might expect nothing but Death and Damnation; for when we would excuse our selves, our Consciences accuse us, and our Iniquities are be∣fore thee to condemn us;
and indeed Lord we see by the Punishments which are already come upon us, that thou art Justly dis∣pleased with us; for as thou art Just and upright, it is not without Cause that thou dost afflict thy People; having therefore been chastized with thy Rod, we acknowledge that we have provoked thee against us, and now we behold thy hand still lift∣ed up to punish us; for the Sword with which thou wert wont to execute thy Vengeance is unsheathed, and the threatnings which thou hast made against the wicked and ungodly are
ready to be executed. But tho thou should'st punish us much more severely than thou hast hitherto done, and that for one Plague we should receive an hundred; and should'st even suffer such Calami∣ties to fall upon us as thou didst afflict thy People of Israel with; yet we must confess that it were just with thee, and no more than what we have fully deserved.
However, Lord, thou art our Father, and we are but Dust and Ashes; thou art our Creator, and we are the works of thy hands; thou art our Pa∣stor,
and we are thy flock; thou art our Redeemer, and we are the people thou hast redeemed; thou art our God, and we are thine Heritage; therefore be not so angry with us as to cor∣rect us in thy fury, neither remember our Iniquities to punish them, but cha∣stise us lovingly in thy mercy. By reason of our sins thine Anger is infla∣med, but remember that we are call'd by thy name, and that we bear thy sign and Token. Maintain therefore the work thou hast begun in us by thy grace, that all the Earth may know that thou art
our God and Saviour; thou knowest that the Dead in the Grave, & those whom thou hast destroyed, can∣not praise thee, but sor∣rowful and afflicted souls, contrite hearts, and Con∣sciences oppressed with the sence of their sins, and longing after thy grace, shall give thee glory and praise. Thy People of Israel often provoked thee to Anger by their Iniqui∣ties; thou didst Justly afflict them by thy Just Judgments: but when they did return unto thee thou didst always in pity receive them: were their Offences never so heinous,
for the sake of thy Cove∣nant which thou mad'st with thy Servants, Abra∣ham, Isaac and Jacob, thou didst turn away those E∣vils, and thy Rods which were prepared against them; so that their Pray∣ers were never rejected by thee. We have by thy Grace a much better Co∣venant to rely on than they, which thou hast made and established in Jesus Christ our Lord, which thou wast pleased should be written with his Blood, and ratified by his Death and Passion; there∣fore, Lord, renouncing our selves and all humane
hopes, we have recourse unto that blessed Cove∣nant, by which our Lord Jesus, in offering his Body as a Sacrifice, hath recon∣ciled us unto thee; look then, Lord, on the Face of thy Christ, and not on us, that by his Intercession thy Anger may be appea∣sed, and thy Face may shine upon us with joy to our salvation, and grant we may henceforth be re∣ceived into thy holy con∣duct, and guided by thy holy Spirit, which may regenerate us into a better life, by which thy Name may be hallowed, thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, &c.
And altho we are not worthy to open our mouths unto thee for our selves, and to call upon thee in our necessities, yet since it hath pleased thee to command us to pray one for another, we pray thee for all our poor Bre∣thren and Fellow-mem∣bers, whom thou dost visit with the Rod of thy cor∣rection, beseeching thee to turn thine Anger from them, and more especially for N. N. that it may please thee, Lord, to re∣member they are thy Chil∣dren, as we are; and altho they have offended thee, yet cease not to extend
thy wonted goodness and mercy towards them; which thou hast promised should continue for ever to all thy faithful. Look down with pity, we be∣seech thee, upon thy whole Church and People at this time afflicted by War, Pestilence or Famine, and also upon all persons which do suffer by Sick∣ness, Imprisonment, or Poverty; comfort them all according to their se∣veral Necessities; make them to profit by thy Correction, endue them with patience, and let not thy whole Displeasure a∣rise against them, but in
the end deliver them, and cause them fully to rejoice in thy goodness, and to bless thy Name.
Especially that it may please thee to look down upon all, and every one of those who do labour in the defence of thy Truth, strengthen them with in∣vincible constancy, pro∣tect and assist them how∣ever dispersed or distres∣sed; defeat all the Plots & Practices of their & thy Enemies; restrain their fury, and confound all their wicked attempts a∣gainst thee and the Mem∣bers of thy Church; let not thy Inheritance be
brought to desolation, nor suffer the memory of thy Name to be abolished; permit not those to perish who call upon thy Name, nor the Turks, Pagans, or any other Infidels to re∣joice in blaspheming of thee.
Then followeth a part of the Sundays Prayer; where∣in they pray for the King, and the Royal Family, &c.