Euchologia: or, The doctrine of practical praying.: By the Right Reverend Father in God, John Prideaux, late Bishop of Worcester. Being a legacy left to his daughters in private, directing them to such manifold uses of our Common Prayer Book. As may satisfie upon all occasions, without looking after new lights from extemporal flashes.

CHAP. VII. Of Excitation, or Incouragements to all kind of Christian cheer∣fulness and Ala∣crity.

SUch is our stupid dul∣nesse since the Fal, and loathing averfenesse from all goodnesse, that though it be erected by grace and directed in the plainest

paths that lead to happiness, yet without continual goad∣ings on, it will look back with Lots wife, * 1.1 and be like the Horse and Mule, which will follow us no longer then they are drawn to it with the bit and bridle in our hands. * 1.2 Hence the Psalmist being ex∣ceeding sensible of this ori∣ginal Lethargy, no lesse then seven times in one Psalm sues to the Physician of our souls for spiritual quickning, A∣qua vitae, in these and the like expressions; Quicken me, * 1.3 O Lord, according to thy word;—in the way;—according to thy loving kindnesse. And the blessed Apostle thinks it not enough to put his Scho∣ler Timothy to indure hard∣nesse, * 1.4 except he joyned with it, the stirring up of the

gifts which God had given him, * 1.5 and improving them to the utmost in the vocati∣on the Church had set him. When the people told blind Bartimeus (whom they had blamed before for his bal∣ling) that our Saviour made a stand, * 1.6 and called for him, O how nimbly the blind beg∣ger bestirs himself! * 1.7 off goes his garment, up hee starts, scrambles to Jesus as well as he could, was presently heal∣ed and followed after with all alacrity, praising the heavenly Donor of so inesti∣mable a blessing. Such cheerful and confident ala∣crity, the Lord himselfe in peculiar manner gives in charge to General Joshuah, Have not I commanded thee? * 1.8 Be strong, and of a good cou∣rage?

be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whither∣soever thou goest. * 1.9 Amongst teeth, as spears, and arrowes, and tongues of his enemies as sharp as swords, and nets to entangle his foot, and pits to swallow his whole body, observe how the Prophet David chears up himselfe, My heart is fixed, O God, * 1.10 my heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise. Awake up my glory, awake Lute and Harp, I my self will awake right ear∣ly. And this is the ready, * 1.11 the willing, the cheerful Worship, the dancing of the heart for joy, * 1.12 the praising of God with the best member we have, that was prophesied to be performed after our Savi∣ours erecting his Church of

Jewes and Gentiles, * 1.13 In the day of thy power the people shal offer thee free-will offerings, with an holy Worship (or as our latter translation hath it) thy people shal be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holinesse. The dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning, gentle, for the descending in drops innumer∣able.

For putting life into, and hearting this Free-will Worship, which is only ac∣ceptable unto God, when it proceeds according to his own Directory, three things in the Scripture & our Church Book, are especially to be taken notice of.

1. Proclamations from God.

2. Excitations of our selvs.

3. Incitations of o∣thers.

I. Of those which may be termed cheerful Proclamati∣ons, you may take notice of these seven especially.

1. Of that wherof King Da∣vid is made the Herald, * 1.14 Come ye children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Your Teacher shall be a King and Prophet, your Teaching shall be gra∣tis; your Learning shall be such as shall make you eter∣nally happy.

2. And because (per∣chance) to some it may come more plausibly from the de∣liverance of a woman, Solo∣mon the son brings in wisdom bestirring her self, and send∣ing abroad her maidens to invite all desirous to learn, to

a great feast in her stately house, erected upon seven pillars, * 1.15 Whoso is simple (She proclaimes in the highest pla∣ces of the City, where it is like∣ly of the greatest Audience) whose is simple, let him turn in hither, and he that want∣eth understanding, come eat of my bread, and drink of my wine which I have min∣gled.

In the third place, that of the Prophet Isaiah would be diligently hearkned unto, Ho every one that thirsteth, * 1.16 come ye to the waters, (for spiritual refreshing, which is infinitely beyond all car∣nal comforts) come ye, buy and eat, come ye, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherrfore do ye spend money for that which

is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight it self in fatnesse.

And to prevent all sur∣mises that a pious life is ac∣companied with sadnesse, and lays a tye upon us, which would abridge us of all cheerful society, the Pro∣clamation of our Saviour himself, doth (fourthly) as∣certain us to the contrary, Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, * 1.17 and I will give you rest. Take my yoak upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for my yoak is easie, and my burden is light. This is taken into our Leitur∣gy

for a chief ground of the Excitations that are set before the partaking of the Lords Supper, Lift up your hearts, We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God, It is meet and right so to do. Up∣on this,

5. The great Kings Invi∣tation of all sorts to his wed∣ding Supper of his Son, * 1.18 would bee most seriously hearkned unto, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my Oxen and my fatlings are kil∣led, come unto the marriage: and not turn it off with ex∣cuses of absence, or profane it by irreverent intruding without a wedding garment, * 1.19 for this shall never passe without an heavy cen∣sure.

Neither is the sixth Pro∣clamation of lesse conse∣quence, Come out of her, * 1.20 my people, that ye be not par∣taker of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Take it how you will, either for clearing your selves from the Babylon or confusions of Popery, or of Schismaticks, or of wretched worldlings, the case is of such conse∣quence, that the not abando∣ning of such Societies, will make us uncapable of the priviledges of the

Seventh and last Proclama∣tion, * 1.21 And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and let him that heareth say, Come; and let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. What sense is so benummed, what

affection so bewitched, what heart so stupified, that such proffers, if they win not, yet at least will not retard from the desperate courses, which the world, the flesh and the divel continually put us up∣on?

To strengthen those gra∣ces so freely offered. These Memorandums or Mementoes may do well to bee had in a readiness.

1. * 1.22 Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth; while thou hast abilities and op∣portunities to do it; for thou knowest not how soon thou mayest bee deprived of them.

2. * 1.23 Remember Lots wife; fall not back from a good course wherein thou art, lest thou be at a losse, which

thou shalt never be able to recover.

3. Remember Dives, * 1.24 Lot and Lazarus. We must not think to fare well here, and never to be called to an ac∣count hereafter.

4. Remember the Sab∣bath to keep it holy; not in hearkning so much after o∣ther mens undertakings in speaking, as the worshipping of God our selves in the beauty of Holinesse: * 1.25 Con∣sidering one another to provoke unto love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of our selves together (as the man∣ner of some is) but exhorting one another; so much the more as we see the day ap∣proaching. This will draw on the

Fifth Memento, Remem∣ber

that Jesus, * 1.26 of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, having spoiled princi∣palities and powers, and made a shew of them openly; * 1.27 try∣umphing over them by himself in his Crosse; thereby free∣ing us from Satans slavery, and purchasing to us an im∣mortal Kingdom. In tra∣velling to the possession of which, we must labour to support the weak; and take the

Sixth Memento of our Saviour with us, It is more blessed to give, * 1.28 then re∣ceive.

And yet when all this is done, to keep us from undo∣ing all again, that Memento of Jude in the last place will be necessary, Beloved, re∣member the words which were

spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, * 1.29 that they told you, that there should be mockers in the last times; who should walk after their ungodly lusts. But how shall we discern them from honest men, seeing they varnish all their actions with the exqui∣site veile of holinesse, and hold forth their zealous pro∣jects with the most taking professions of Saintship? The nineteenth verse will there tell us in down right termes, These be they that seperate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit. The Separatists, Libertines, and Enthusiasts of this ages spaw∣ning, which some suspect to have affinity with the three frogs issuing out of the mouth of the Dragon, * 1.30 the

beast, and the false Prophets, which set Kingdomes and States against the Lamb, and his followers, until in the bat∣tel of Armageddon they be utterly defeated.

Here the like number of Caveats may be put in, and all from our Saviour imme∣diately. As

1 Take heed that no man deceive you by putting false Christs and false Prophets up∣on you. * 1.31

2 Take heed what you hear, * 1.32 and how you hear.

3. Take heed of vain∣glory in your best works, * 1.33 of Almesdeeds, Fasting, and Prayer.

4. Take heed that the light which is in you be not darknesse, * 1.34 by aiming at wrong ends, * 1.35 and over-prizing

your Sanctity in comparison with others.

5. Heed also must bee taken of men, * 1.36 by joyning the Serpents wisdome with the Doves innocency; which intimates that which the Prophet Jeremiah hath more at large, * 1.37 Take heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for eve∣ry brother will utterly sup∣plant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders.

6. Take heed and be∣ware of covetousnesse; * 1.38 for the abundance that a man hath makes him not happy, but the well bestowing of it; which basely neglected, proves oftentimes the bane of the owner, and a booty for those that will wickedly set it packing.

7. You that are better advised, Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, or drunkennesse, or cares of this life, and so that last day come upon you una∣wares: for as a snare shall it come on all them which dwell on the face of the whole earth.

But enough hath beene spoken, if it be well remem∣bred and practised. But what wil Caveats, Memento's, or Edicts from heaven avail, if we be wanting to our selves, and bend not an ear to hear, or a heart to entertain what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, and in them to us in particular?

II. Here then come in, these Excitations which a∣mong

Divines are called So∣liloquies, in which, by re∣flecting upon our selves in what condition soever we are, we set the superiour fa∣culties of our souls, that is, the Understanding and Will, to comfort and cheare up our drooping senses and con∣sciences, upon heavenly prin∣ciples that will never faile. And herein a Lanthorn to our feet, and a light unto our pathes, we have the Prophet David in so many passages, that it may distract us in which especially to in∣stance. * 1.39 In the midst of his devouring canibal enemies, that came upon him to eat up his flesh, how cheerfully doth he rowze up himself? The Lord is my light and my sal∣vation, whom then shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then should I be afraid. Upon the scoffs of his Adversaries, that having him at an advantage, would cast him in the teeth, * 1.40 Where is now thy God? he reflects upon himself, and without passionate retortion, makes good his ground against them. * 1.41 Why art thou so vex∣ed, O my soul, and why art thou so disquieted within me? O put thy trust in God, * 1.42 for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God. * 1.43 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is with∣in me. * 1.44 Praise the Lord, O my soul: While I live will I praise the Lord, as long as I have any being I will sing praises unto my God. Such a communing with her own

heart hath the poor woman troubled with the bloody-is∣sue. * 1.45 If I might but touch his garment, I shal be whole. And how calmly in this kind doth Job put off the losses of his goods and children, * 1.46 Na∣ked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I re∣turn again. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

III. Last of all, for in∣citing others; not only all sorts of people must be cal∣led upon in these and the like terms. O praise the Lord,] O give thanks unto the Lord,] O sing unto the Lord a new song.] which are as familiar as comfortable, but also beasts and senselesse creatures must be fetcht in to bear a

part, * 1.47 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord, is the close of the Psalms. Let the sea make a noise, let the floods clap their hands, Let the Hills be joyful toge∣ther before the Lord: And O be joyful in the Lord, all yea Lands: serve the Lord. These and like select pas∣sages set in our Leiturgy, made familiar to you and yours (my Daughters) may serve to make you heavenly melody in the greatest di∣stractions and affrightments this world may put upon you; * 1.48 for, the Lord will not fail his people, neither forsake his inheritance; but give them patience in the time of adver∣sity, until the pit be digged us for the ungodly. Bruised reeds shall not be broken, * 1.49

smoaking flax shall not bee quenched; * 1.50 Sheep shall find green pastures, when lions hunger: the meal shall not fail in the barrel, * 1.51 nor the oyl in the cruse, until there ap∣peare a more plentiful sup∣ply. Cast your care there∣fore upon God (my Daugh∣ters) in all your exigencies, for he careth for you, * 1.52 and be content with what he be∣stoweth upon you: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. And our Saviour who tels us that in this world we shall have tribulation, * 1.53 and be sha∣rers with him in his fufferings cheers us up notwithstanding with this conclusion, Be of good comfort, I have overcome the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 19.20
• * 1.2

  Psal. 32.10
• * 1.3

  Psal. 119.25, 37.88
• * 1.4

  2 Tim. 2.3.
• * 1.5

  Ibid. c. 1.6.
• * 1.6

  Mar. 10.46
• * 1.7

  Ver. 50
• * 1.8

  Josh. 1.9.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 57.5
• * 1.10

  Ver. 1
• * 1.11

  Psal. 108
• * 1.12

  Psal. 28
• * 1.13

  Psalm 110
• * 1.14

  Psal. 34.11
• * 1.15

  Prov 9.1
• * 1.16

  Isai. 55.1
• * 1.17

  Mat. 11.28
• * 1.18

  Matt. 22.4.
• * 1.19

  Matth. 7.
• * 1.20

  Rev. 18.4
• * 1.21

  Rev. 22.17
• * 1.22

  Eccles. 12.1
• * 1.23

  Luk. 17.30
• * 1.24

  Luk. 16.25
• * 1.25

  Heb. 10.25
• * 1.26

  2 Tim. 2.8
• * 1.27

  Gol. 2.15.
• * 1.28

  Act. 20.35.
• * 1.29

  Jude v. 17.
• * 1.30

  Rev. 16 1••
• * 1.31

  Mark 13.5.
• * 1.32

  Mat. 24.7.15
• * 1.33

  Mark 4.24 Luke 8.18.
• * 1.34

  Matth. 6.
• * 1.35

  Luk. 11.35
• * 1.36

  Mat. 10.16 17
• * 1.37

  Jer. 9 4
• * 1.38

  Luk. 12.15.
• * 1.39

  Psal. 27.2
• * 1.40

  Psal. 42.12.
• * 1.41

  Ps. 42.14, 15
• * 1.42

  Psal. 43.5, 6
• * 1.43

  Psal. 103.1.
• * 1.44

  Psal. 146.1.
• * 1.45

  Mark 5.26. Matth. 9.21
• * 1.46

  Job 1.21.
• * 1.47

  Psalm 150
• * 1.48

  Psal. 94.13, 14
• * 1.49

  Isai. 42.3.
• * 1.50

  Psal. 34
• * 1.51

  1 King. 17.
• * 1.52

  1 Pet. 5.7.
• * 1.53

  Joh. 16.33