The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 21 · Monday
Munday's Deuotion, being the second day from the Creation.
The Father worketh. The worke of Creation on this day.
AGaine God said, Let there be a Firmament in the middest of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters Gen. 1. 3. Then God made the Firmament, and separated the waters that were vnderunder the Firmament from the waters that were aboue the Firmament, and it was so; and God called the Firmament Heauen, ver. 7. So the euening and the morning were the 2. day. ver. 8.
And I worke. THe worke of redemption this day prophesied of in the Epistle,
Isa. 50. 6. I gaue my backe vntounto the smiters, & my cheeks to the nippers: I hid not my face from shame & spitting, &c. Related in the Gospell, Mat. 27. 1, 2. When the morning was come, all the chiefe Priests and the Elders of the People tooke counsell against Iesus to put him to death.
For thine instruction meditate
In the morning vponupon the worke of Creation.
In the euening vponupon the worke of Redemption.
For thy comfort apply the
Vse of the one.
Benefit of the other.
For thy corrction reproue thy
Abuse of the one.
Vnthankfulnesse for the other.
Quicken
Thy thankes by the Hymne.
Thine obedience by the admonition.
Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing.
THE HYMNE.
HAueHave I not remembred thee in my bed, and thought vponupon thee when I was waking. Psal 63. 7.
Because thou hast beene my helper, therefore vnderunder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce. ver. 8.
My soule hangeth vponupon thee, thy right hand hath vpholden me. ver. 9.
Saue me, O God, for the waters are come in, euen to my soule. Psal. 69. 1.
I stick fast in the deepe mire where no ground is: I am come into deepe waters, so that the flouds runne ouer me. ver. 2.
My misdeeds preuaile against me; O be thou mercifull vntounto my sinnes. Psal. 65. 3.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vntounto thee, he shall dwell in thy Courts, and shall bee satisfied with the pleasures of thine House, euen of thy holy Temple. ver. 4.
Thou shalt shew vsus wonderfull things in thy righteousnesse, O God of our saluation, thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remaine in the broad Sea. ver. 5.
Thou stillest the raging of the Sea, and the noise of the waues, and the madnesse of his people. ver. 7.
They that dwell in the vttermost parts of the earth shall bee afraid of thy tokens, thou that makest the our goings of the Morning and Euening to praise thee. ver. 8.
Thou visitest the earth and blessest it; thou makest it very plenteous. ver. 9.
Thou waterest her furrowes, thou sendest raine into the little Vallies thereof: thou makest it sofi with the drops of raine, and blessest the encrease of it. ver. 11.
Thou crownest thy yeeres with thy goodnesse, and thy clouds drop fatnesse. ver. 12.
They shall drop vponupon the dwellings of the wildernesse, and the little hils shall reioyce on eueryevery side ver. 13.
Hee gathereth the waters of the Sea together, and layeth vp the deepe as in a Treasure-house. Psal. 33. 7.
O praise the Lord of Heauen: praise him in the height. Psal. 148. 1.
Praise him all ye Heauens, and ye waters that bee aboue the Heauens. ver. 4.
Praise the Lord vponupon earth yee Dragons and all deepes. ver. 7.
Fire and Haile, Snow and vapours, wind and storme fulfilling his Word, ver. 8.
Sing vntounto God, ò ye Kingdomes of the earth: ô sing praises vntounto the Lord, Psal. 68. 32.
Which sitteth in the Heauens ouer all from the beginning: loe he doth send out his voice; yea, and that a mighty voice. ver. 33.
Ascribe ye power vntounto God: his worship and strength are in the Clouds. ver. 34.
The Admonition for Munday, being an Exhortation to humility or pouerty in Spirit, Wherunto our Sauiour ascribeth the first. BEATITVDE.
THE ANALYSIS.
The speciall motiues to humility set down in the Scriptures are;
1 God's infinite Majestie, puritie, perfection.
2 Mans vilenesse, sinfulnesse, wretchednesse, wants; of vvhichwhich before: See the Preparation to Prayer.
3 Diuine Precepts.
4 Holy patterns of this vertue in
God the Father. Christ.
The Saints vnderunder the—
Lawe.
Gospell.
5 Gratious promises made to the humble, of
1 Neerenesse & societie with God.
2 Sauing knowledge.
3 Sanctifying grace.
4 Honour and preferment.
5 Eternal blessednes in heauen.
THE TEXTS.
TAke my Yoake vponupon you,Diuine precepts. and learne of me, that I am meeke and lowly in heart, and you shall finde rest to your soules, Mat. 11. 29.
Vnlesse yee become as one of these little ones yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God, Mat. 18. 23.
Cast downe your selues before the Lord, and he will lift you vp, Iam. 4. 10.
Decke your selues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde, 1. Pet. 5. 5.
Humble your selues vnderunder the mighty hand of God, that he may raise you in due time, verse 6.
Who is like to the Lord our God that hath his dwelling,Holy examples. on high, and yet, humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and in earth, Psal. 113. 5.
I am among you as hee that ministreth, ChristLuke 22. 17.
And he began to wash his Disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towell wherewith hee was girded, Iohn 13. 5.
He emptied himselfe, or made himselfe of no reputation, Phil. 2. 7.
He humbled himselfe, and became obedient to death, euen the death of the Crosse, Phil. 2. 8.
I will speake vntounto the Lord who am but dust and ashes, Abraham.Gen. 18. 17.
I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all thy truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant, Gen. 32. 10.
And he said,Gedcon. wherewith shall I saue Israel? Behold my Father is poore in Manasseth, and I am the least in my fathers house, Iude 6. 15.
Lord I am not high-minded, &c. Psal. 131. 1.
And Dauid said vntounto Saul,Dauid. who am I, and what is my life, and my father's family in Israel that I shall bee sonne in Law to a King, 1. Sam. 18. 18.
And now,Salomon. O Lord my God, thou hast made thy seruant King, in stead of Dauid my father; and I am but a little child, I know not how to goe in and out, 1. King. 3. 7.
Notwithstanding,Ezekiah. Ezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart, both hee and the inhabitants of Ierusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not vp them, 2. Chron. 32. 20.
Then Iob arose and rent his Mantle,Iob. and shaued his head, and fell downe vponupon the ground, and worshipped, Iob 1. 20.
O Lord God, Daniel.righteousnesse belongeth to thee, but to vsus confusion of face at this day, Dan. 9. 7.
He that commeth after me is greater then I,Iohn Baptist whose shoo-latchet I am not worthy to vnloose, Math. 3. 11.
When hee was not farre from the house, the Centurian sent vntounto him,The Centurian. saying; Master trouble not thy selfe, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnderunder the roofe of my house, Luke 7. 6.
When Simon Peter saw it,Peter. hee fell downe on his knees, saying; Goe from me, Lord for I am a sinfull man, Luke 5. 8.
The Publicane standing a farre off would not lift vp his eyes to heauen,The Publicane. but striking his breast said; Lord be mercifull to mee a sinner, Luke …8. 15.
I am the least of the Apostles not worthy to be called an Apostle,Paul. &c. 1. Cor. 11. 9.
Iesus Christ came to saue sinners, whereof I am chiefe, 1. Tim. 1. 15.
I am the Rose of the field,Promises to the humble of the fauour with God. and the Lilly of the valleys, Cant. 2. 1.
I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble & contrite heart, to reuiue the spirit of the humble, Is. 57. 15
To this man will I look, euen to him that is poore, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word, Isa. 66. 2.
When pride commeth,Wisedome. then commeth shame: but with the lowly is wisedome, Prou. 11. 2.
Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and reuealed them vntounto babes, Math. 11. 21.
Hee giueth more grace,Sanctifying grace. wherefore hee saith, God resisteth the proud, but giueth grace to the humble, Iam. 4. 6.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;Preferment but before honour is humilitie Pro. 18. 1….
Hee that humbleth, himselfe shall be exalted, Luke 14. 11.
He raiseth the poore out of the mire, and lifteth the needie out of the dunghill, Psal. 113. 7.
That he may set him with Princes, euen with the Princes of his people, verse 8.
Blessed are the poore in spirit▪ for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen,Blessedness▪ Mat. 5. 3.
THE PRAYER FOR Munday morning
composed of
1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day.
2. Motiues to humilitie agreeable to the precedent exhortation.
The Prayer it selfe.
The second dayes Deuotion.
FAther Almighty, maker of heauen and earth, who createdst the Euening and the Morning the second day as wel as the first, Continue, I beseech thee, vntounto mee as well the comfortable rest of the Euening to refresh mee after my labour and trauaile, as the most needfull light of the Morning to manage my affaires and businesses. But especially perpetuatt vntounto mee the repose of a quie… conscience, and the cleare light of the Gospel; to guide my feete into the way of peace. This light conuinceth the errours of my vnderstanding, the deprauation of my will, the disorder of my affections, the impurity of my thoghts, the vanity of my desires, the deceitfulnesse of my heart, & the wickednes of all my wayes. This light sheweth mee what I was in my birth, slime and filthinesse; what in my life, vanity and folly; and what in my death, stench & rottennesse. This light discouereth vntounto me that I hauehave nothing which I hauehave not receiued; that without Christ I can doe nothing; that in me (that is in my body) dwelleth no good; that I am not able of my selfe, as of my self; think a good thought: that I cannot desire to thinke, nor hauehave wil to desire; nor grace to will any good. My comforts are rare; my crosses frequent; my pleasures momentary; my paines permanent; my gifts small; my wants and infirmities great; my helpes weake; my assaults strong; my good deeds few, and they tainted with imperfections, my sinnes infinite. Let these considerations, O Lord, humble me in my selfe, that Christ may raise me, wound mee in my selfe, that Christ may heale me; burden mee in my selfe, that Christ may ease me; kill mee in my owne conceits that Christ may quicken me; make mee most vile in mine own eyes that I may bee most deare and precious in his. O Lord which as vponupon this day createdst the clouds to raine vponupon the earth; showre downe thy graces abundantly into my heart to mollifie it, that the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility, and spring vpward in hope, and spread abroad by charity, and fructifie in all kindes of good workes. Lord who this day separatedst the waters from the waters, separate, I beseech thee, and distinguish betweene the waters of teares which I shed for my sinnes, and those others which I shed for worldly crosses and calamities. Cast away the one, and put the the other into thy bottle. Lord who this day madest the heauens (or ayre) without which I cannot liue naturally, no not for a moment; infuse into my heart the Spirit of grace, without which spiritually I cannot breathe in my prayers, nor sigh, nor so much as moue any facultie or part of soule or body vntounto thee. As oft as I take in, or let out the aire which I breathe, let mee receiue in grace from thee, and breathe out praise vntounto thee. Amen.
The close out of Scripture.
The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the louelove of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with me, 2. Cor. 13. vlt.
The Euening's Deuotion for Munday.
THE HYMNE.
Heare me, O Lord, in the multitude of thy mercies; euen in the truth of thy saluation, Psal. 69. 14.
Let not the water floods drowne mee, nor the deepe swallow me vp: and let not the pit shut her mouth vponupon mee, verse 16.
Thou diddest diuide the sea through thy power, and brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters, Psal. 74. 14.
Thou smoest the heads of Leuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse, verse 15.
Thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard Rocks; thou driedst vp mighty waters, verse 16.
Thou art the God that doth wonders, and hast declared thy power among the people, Psal. 77. 14.
The waters saw thee O God, the waters saw thee and were afraid, the depths also were troubled, verse 16.
The clouds powred out water; the aire thundered, and thine arrowes went abroad, verse 17.
The voice of thy thunder was heard round about; the lightnings shone vponupon the ground; the earth was moued, verse 18.
Thou bringest forth clouds from the ends of the world, and sendest forth Lightnings with the raine, bringing the windes out of his treasures, Psal. 135.
The springs of water were seene, and the foundations of the round world were discouered at thy chiding, O Lord; at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure, Psal. 18. 15.
Thy way is in the Sea, and thy pathes in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not knowne, Psal. 77. 19.
THE ADMONITION for Munday's Euening, being an exhortation to meeknes.
THE ANALYSIS.
The speciall Arguments to perswade meeknes, set downe in Scripture, are drawne from
1. The causes
Impulsiue
1 Diuine precepts.
2 humane frailty.
Exemplary:
God the
Father.
Sonne.
H. Ghost.
The Saints.
The creatures in Wch nature hath patern'd this vertue.
2 The effects
1 Peace
With God.
With men.
2 Wealth.
3 Wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding.
4 Sanctifying graces, the fruits of the Spirit.
5 Blessednesse.
THE TEXTS.
PVt them in minde,God commandeth meekenesse. &c. Tit. 3. 1.
That they be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekenesse to all men, verse 2.
If any man bee ouertaken in a fault, ye which are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse, Gal. 6. 1.
I beseech you that yee walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with lowlinesse, and meeknesse, with long suffering, forbearing one another in louelove, Ephes. 4. 2.
Put on therefore, as the Elect of God, holy and beloued, the bowels of mercy, kindnesse, humblenesse of minde, meeknesse, long-suffering, Col. 3. 12.
Forbearing one another, forgiuing one another; if any man hauehave a quarrell against any, euen as Christ forgaue you, so also doe ye, verse 13.
But thou, O man of God, flye these things, and follow after righteousnesse, godlinesse, faith, patience, meekenesse, 1. Tim. 6. 11.
Dearely beloued auenge not your selues, but rather giuegive place vntounto wrath; For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord, Rom. 12. 19.
Wherefore, my beloued Brethren, let eueryevery man bee swift to heare, slow to speake, and slow to wrath, Iam. 1. 19.
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God, verse 20.
Look diligently, least any man faile of the grace of God; least any root of bitternesse spring vp and trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Heb 12. 15.
Consider thy selfe, Our condition requires it.least thou also be tempted, Gal. 6. 1.
Let him among you that is without sinne, cast the first stone, Ioh. 8. 7.
Hee shall hauehave iudgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy; Examples of mecknes.and mercy reioyceth against iudgement, Iam. 3. 13.
And they heard the voice of the Lord in the coole of the day, God the Father.walking in the garden, &c. Gen. 3. 8.
And after the earthquake there was a fire, but God was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice, verse 12. (in which voice God was)▪ And it was so when Eliah heard it. &c. verse 13.
Neuerthelesse, for thy great mercies sake, thou diddest not vtterly consume them, nor forsake them, for thou art a gracious and mercifull God, Nehem. 9. 31.
God said to Ionah, Doest thou well to be angry for thy Gourd? Ion. 4. 9.
Thou hast pitie on the Gourd for which thou hast not laboured, which came in a night, and perished in a night, verse 10.
And should not I spare Nineueh that great Citie, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left; and also much cattell, verse 11.
Tell the daughter of Soon Behold the King commeth vntounto thee,The Sonne. meeke, Mat. 21. 5.
He shall not striue nor crie; neither shall any man heare his voice in the streets, Mat. 1…. 19.
A bruised reede shall hee not breake, nor smoking flaxe shall hee not quench, verse 20.
I beseech you by the meeknesse and gentlenesse of Christ, 2. Cor. 10. 1.
The said,The Spirit. Lord wilt thou command that wee call for fire from heauen, &c. Luk. 9. 54.
But hee turned and rebuked them, and said, yee know not of what spirit yee are made, verse 55.
Loe the heauens were opened vntounto him, and hee saw the Spirit descending like a Doue, and lightening vponupon him, Math. 3. 16.
The Saints. Moses.Now Moses was a very meeke man aboue all the men that were vponupon the face of the earth, Num. 12. 3.
Let him curse, Dauid.seeing the Lord hath said vntounto mee, Curse Dauid: who shall then say; wherefore hast thou done so? 2. Sam. 16. 10.
My soule is euen as a weaned child, Psal. 131. 3.
But I was like a Lambe, Ieremiah.or an Oxe that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had deuised deuises against me, Ier. 11. 19.
Iesus said, it is not meet to take the childrens bread, and cast it to Dogs, Mar. 7. 27.
And shee said vntounto him,The woman of Canaan. Yes Lord; yet the dogges vnderunder the table eate of the childrens crums, verse 28.
But wee were gentle among you;Saint Paul. euen as a nurse cherisheth her children, 1. Thes. 2. 7.
Thy name is as an ointment powred out,Resemblances in the creatures. Cant. 1.
The anointment which ye hauehave receiued of him abideth in you, 1. Ioh. 2. 27.
I will giuegive them hearts of flesh. Ezek. 11. 19.
I send you as Lambes among wolues, Luke 10. 3.
Behold the Lambe of God, &c. Ioh. 1. 29.
Hee was led as a sheepe to the slaughter, and like a Lambe dumb before the shearer, so opened hee not his mouth, Acts 8. 32.
Be wise as Serpents, and innocent as Doues, Mat 10. 16.
Learne that I am meeke, Meekenesse bringeth peace.and ye shall finde rest vntounto your soules, Math 11. 29.
The meeke shall prosper in the earth, Wealth.and shall delight themselues in the aboundance of peace, Psal. 37. 11.
The Lord lifteth vp the meeke,Honour. Psal. 147. 6.
The meeke shall hee guide in iudgement, Wisedome.and the meeke will he teach his way, Psal. 25. 9.
Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge among you, let him shew out of a good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisedome, Iam. 3. 13.
Receiue with meekenesse the word ingraffed in you, which is able to saue your soules, Iam. 1. 21.
The wisedome which is from aboue, is first pure, then peaceable, Iam. 3. 17.
And the fruits of righteousnesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace, The fruits of the spirit.verse 18.
Blessed are the meeke, Blessednessefor they shall inherit the earth, Mat. 5. 5.
The Prayer for Munday-Euening. Composed of
1 Petitions sutable to the worke of the day.
2 Motiues to meeknesse, agreeable to the precedent exhortation.
O Lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the world, who as vponupon this day wert led as a sheepe to the slaughter, and as a Lambe before thy Shearers, openedst not thy mouth; who gauest thy back to the smiters, and thy cheeks to the nippers, and thine armes to the binders, and thy face to the spitters; apply, I beseech thee, vntounto mee these thy meeke sufferings. Make that profitable to mee which thou enduredst for me. Let thy bonds, O meeke Redeemer set me free; let thy silence pleade for me, let thy spittle cure my blindnesse, let thy stripes heale me, let thy nakednesse cloth me, and let thy meekenesse in all discipline me. If thou who in the forme of God thoughtest it no robbery to be equall with God, yet humbledst thy selfe, & didst become obedient to death, euen the death of the Crosse, shall not I meekely submit my necke to the yoke? If thou who art God didst empty thy selfe and become of no reputation, shall I that am but a worme of the earth fill my selfe, and swell with pride? If thou suff… redst blowes, shall not I an affront? If thou, the Beauty of Heauen, enduredst spitting vponupon, shall not I endure the fome of a loose tongue? Shall I for a word of disgrace venter my owne life and assault the life of my brother? Doe I value the life of my body and soule so low, that I will pawne it for a toy, a triflle, a mocke, a word? God forbid. Thy Law, O God, commandeth meekenesse; thine example (my Lord) perswades meekenesse; my condition requires meekenesse; my frame and temper (after a sort) preacheth meekenesse. Why hast thou giuen me a soft skinne, but to patterne in my body this vertue of the minde? Why hast thou giuen me a tender heart, but to receiue deepe the impression of compassionate griefe? Why hast thou giuen me melting eyes but to weepe for mine owne infirmities, and my brethrens calamities? Why am I brought into the world disarmed, without any offensiue Weapon, but to teach me that I should not fight with, nor hurt any? Thou, O Lord, hast created me a Lambe, shall I by rage and cruelty make my selfe a Tyger? Thou madest me as a soft rose of Sharon▪ and Lillie of the Vallie, shall I turne my selfe into a thorne and thistle? I know Anger dis-figureth the body, much more the soule. It hurteth and endangereth others, much more my selfe. It is very offensiue to man, much more to thee. Wherefore I beseech thee, let thy peace alwaies rule in my heart, and quell and subdue all my rebellious affections, especially this of wrath, the most violent and impetuous of all the rest. Weede out of my heart all accursed Thornes and Thistles, that the seedes of thy Word may bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse, which are sowne in peace of them that louelove peace. O let not the Sunne goe downe on thy wrath against me, or my wrath against my brethren, but grant that hauing made my peace with thee, by faith in thy bloud, with my brethren by forgiuing them from my heart, and reconciling my selfe to them, I may lay me downe in peace and take my rest. And let thy hand, O Sauiour, which shall protect mee this night from all perills and dangers, raise me the next morning to serue thee in my calling, and magnifie thy goodnesse for all thy mercies and fauours vouchsafed vntounto me. So be it. Amen. I
The close out of Scripture.
BLessing, honour, glory, and power bee vntounto him that sitteth vponupon the Throne, and vntounto the Lambe for euer and ouer, Amen. Reuel. 5. vlt.