The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 21 · Saturday
Saturdayes Deuotion.
The Father resteth from the workes of Creation.
IN the seauenth day God ended his worke which he had made, and the seauenth day he rested from all his worke which he had made. Gen. 2. 2.
So God blessed the seauenth day, and sanctified it, because that in it hee had rested from all his worke which God had created and made. verse 3.
The Sonne resteth in the Sepulcher.
ANd when the euen was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Ioseph, who had also himselfe bin Iesus's Disciple. Mat. 27. 57.
He went to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus. And Pilate commanded the body to bee deliuered. verse 58.
So Ioseph tooke the body, and wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth. verse 59.
And put it in his new Tombe which he had hewen out in a Rocke, and rolled a great stone to the doore of the Sepulcher, and departed. verse 60.
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary sitting ouer against the Sepulcher, verse 61.
Now the next day that followed, the day of the preparation, the chiefe Priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, verse 62.
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiuer sayed while hee was yet aliue, After three dayes I will rise againe, verse 63.
Command therefore that the Sepulcher be made sure vntill the third day, left his Disciples come by night, and steale him away, and say vntounto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error will bee worse then the first, verse 64.
Pilate saide vntounto them, Yee hauehave a watch, goe your way, make it as sure as you can, verse 65.
So they went, and made the Sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch, verse 66.
For thine instruction meditate
In the morning, on the Father's rest from works of Creation.
In the euening on the Sonn's works of Redemption.
For thy comfort apply the benefits of both to thy selfe, which are A holy rest here. and happy rest hereafter. Euerlasting
For thy correction reprooue thy prophaning God's holy Sabbath by
First, Worldly businesse.
Secondly, Carnal pleasures.
Thirdly, Omitting holy duties.
Fourthly, Performing them
Negligently.
Vnwillingly.
Quicken thy
Preparation to holy duties by the Psalme.
Constancy in life and death by the Admonition.
Zeale, Deuotion, and resolution by the Prayer ensuing
The Hymne for Saturday Morning.
I HaueHave remembred thy Name ô Lord in the night season, and hauehave kept thy Law, Psal. 119. 57.
I thought on my waies, and turned my feete to thy testimonies, verse 59.
I preuented the dawning of the morning, and cryed; I hoped in thy Word, v. 147.
Heare my voice according to thy louing kindnesse ô Lord: quicken mee according to thy iudgements, verse 149.
Seauen times a day doe I praise thee according to thy righteous iudgement. v. 164.
Great peace hauehave they that louelove thy Law, and nothing shall offend them, verse 165.
I hauehave longed for thy saluation ô Lord; & thy Law is my delight, verse 174.
Deliuer me ô Lord from the wicked, which is a sword of thine, Psal. 17. 13.
From men which are thy hand, ô Lord, from men of the world which hauehave their portion in this life, and whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasures, verse 14.
My heart is pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen vponupon me. Psal. 55. 4.
Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vponupon me; and horror hath ouerwhelmed me. v. 5.
O that I had wings like a Doue, for then would I fly away, and be at rest. v. 6.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storme, and tempest. v. 8.
An Admonition for Saturday Morning, being an exhortation to perseuerance, the twelfth BEATITVDE.
All that expect the reward of Pietie must striue and pray for perseuerance and abhorre and shunne falling away from grace because in Scripture,
The one is
Commanded by God.
Commended in his Saints.
Encouraged vntounto by promises of
Certaine reward.
Saluation.
Assured cō fort.
An incorruptible Crowne of glorie.
The other is
Vehemently disswaded.
Seuerely censured.
Dreadfully threatned.
Eternally punished.
THE TEXTS.
VVAtch yee therefore,Precepts for perseuerance. and pray continually, Luk. 21. 36.
Continue yee in louelove, Ioh 15. 9.
Take heede to thy selfe, and to thy Doctrine; continue in them, 1 Tim 4. 16.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast bin assured of, 2 Tim 3. 14.
Let vsus hold fast our profession Heb. 4. 14.
Hold fast till I come, Reu. 2. 25.
Reioycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, Rom. 12. 12.
Dearely beloued and longed for, my ioy and crowne, stand fast in the Lord, Phil. 4. 1.
Paul and Barnabas perswaded them to continue in the grace of God, Acts 13. 43.
Confirming the soules of the disciple…, and exhorting them to continue in aith, Act. 14. 22.
But ye brethren be not wearie in well doing, 2. Thess. 3. 13.
Let brotherly louelove continue, Heb. 13. 1.
Stand fast in one spirit with one minde, striuing together for the faith of the Gospel, Phil. 1. 17.
Therefore my brethren be ye stedfast, vnmoueable, alwayes aboū ding in the worke of the Lord, 1. Cor. 15. 28.
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, acquit you like men, 1. Cor. 16. 13.
Stand fast therefore in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made vsus free, Gal. 5. 1.
Wherefore take vntounto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the euill day; and hauing done all stand fast. Eph. 6. 13.
Brethren stand fast: hold the traditions which ye hauehave beene taught, 2. Thess. 2. 13.
Whom resist steadfast in the faith, 1. Pet. 5. 9.
Ye therefore seeing ye know these things, beware lest yee also being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your owne stedfastnesse. 2. Pet. 3. 17.
He spake a parable, that we ought alwayes to pray, and not to faint, Luke 18. 1.
Shall not God auenge his Elect which crie vntounto him day and night,Examples. though he beare long with them? ver. 7.
He, Abraham.after he had patiently endured, obtained the promise, Heb. 6. 15.
O Lord God of my saluation,Dauid. I hauehave cried day and night before thee, Psal. 88. 1.
I hauehave called daily vponupon thee; I hauehave stretched foorth my hands vntounto thee, ver. 9.
He kneeled vponupon his knees,Daniel. and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 10.
And they which went before rebuked the blind man that he should hold his peace;The blind man. but he cried so much the more, Sonne of Dauid hauehave merciemercy on me, Luk. 18. 39.
And behold a woman of Caanan cried vntounto him saying,The Cananitsh woman. HaueHave merciemercy on me, &c. Mat. 15. 22.
But he answered her not a word; and his disciples besought him, saying; Send her away, for she crieth after vsus, ver. 23.
He answered, I am not sent, &c. ver. 24.
Then came she, and worshipped, saying, Lord helpe me, ver. 25.
But he answered, It is not meete, &c. ver. 26.
And she said, Truth Lord; yet the doggs eate the crummes, &c. ver. 27.
Then Iesus said, Woman, be it to thee as thou wilt, ver. 28.
Ye are they which hauehave continued with me in my tentations, Luk. 22. 28.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplications, with Marie the Mother of Iesus, Act. 1. 14.
We will giuegive our selues continually to prayer, &c. Act. 6. 4.
There were added to them about three thousand soules, Peters conuerts.&c. Act. 2, 41.
And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayer, ver. 42.
By the space of three yeares I ceased not to warne euerie one night & day with tears,Paul. Act. 20. 31
Since the day we heard, we ceased not to pray for you, Col. 1. 9.
For this cause, we thanke God without ceasing, 1. Thess. 2. 13.
A deuoute man,Cornelius. which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed to God alwaies, Act. 10 2.
And the foure beasts The beasts full of eyes.had each of them sixe wings vponupon them, and they were full of eyes within, and they ceased not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almightie, which was, and is, and is to come, Reu. 4. 8.
I declare vntounto you the Gospel which ye hauehave receiued,The Corinthians. and wherein ye stand,Cōtinuance is a note of Truth. or continue, 1. Cor. 15. 1.
Then said Iesus to those Iewes that beleeued on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye indeede my disciples, Ioh. 8. 31.
Who so looketh into the perfect law of libertie, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer, shall be blessed in his deede, Iames 1. 25.
They went out from vsus, but they were not of vsus: for if they had beene of vsus, they would no doubt hauehave continued with vsus, 1. Ioh. 2. 19.
Whosoeuer abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God, Ioh. 2. 9.
So runne that ye may obtaine, 1. Cor. 9. 26.
Let vsus not be weatie in well doing;Hath certaine promises of reward. for in due season we shall reape, if we faint not, Gal. 6. 9.
Hold that thou hast, that no man take thy crowne, Reu. 3. 11.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end, Heb. 3. 14.
He that endureth to the end shall be saued, Saluation.Mat. 10. 22.
Continue therein; for in doing this, thou shalt saue thy selfe, and them that heare thee, 1. Tim, 3. 8.
Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling, Phil. 4. 12.
Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end, Comfortable assurance.Heb. 6. 11.
To him that ouercometh I will giuegive to eate of the tree of life, which is in the middest of the garden of God, Reuel. 2. 7.
Let vsus labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after that same example, Heb. 4. 11.
Let vsus feare lest a promise being left vsus of entering into his rest, any of you should seeme to come short of it, Heb. 4. 1.
Ye hauehave continued with me, &c. Luk. 22. 28.
And I appoint vntounto you a Kingdome, as my Father hath appointed vntounto me, ver. 29.
Be faithfull vntounto death,A crowne of life. and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life. Reuel. 2. 10.
I hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finished my course, &c. 1. Tim. 4. 7.
Hencefoorth there is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giuegive me at that day; and not to me onelyonly, but to them also that louelove his appearing, ver. 8.
Take heede lest there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe in departing away from the liuing God, Apostasie and backsliding vehemently disswaded.Heb. 3. 12.
If after they hauehave escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Sauiou… Iesus Christ, they are againe intangled therein and ouercome;Seuerely censured. the latter end is worse then the beginning, 2 Pet. 2. 20.
For it had beene better for them neuer to hauehave knowne the way of righteousnesse, then after they hauehave knowne it to turne from the holy commandement deliuered vntounto them, ver. 21.
But it is happened vntounto them according to the true Prouerbe; The dogge is turned to his vomit againe, and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire, ver. 22.
When the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man, &c. Mat. 12. 44.
He taketh to himselfe seuen other spirits, and they dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse then the first, ver. 45.
Let him that standeth take heede lest he fall,Fearefully thr…a…ned with losse of reward 1. Cor. 10. 12.
Are ye so foolish, hauing begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect with the flesh? Gal. 3. 3.
HaueHave ye suffered so many things in vaine? it it be yet in vaine, ver. 4.
Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward, Heb. 10. 35.
If any withdraw himselfe,Of Gods fauour. my soule shall hauehave no pleasure in him, ver. 38.
We are not of them which draw backe vntounto perdition, ver. 38.
In the latter dayes some shall depart from the faith, 1. Tim. 4. 1.
Hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron,With a reprobate sence. ver. 2.
Holding faith and a good conscience,Infamy. which some hauing put away, concerning faith hauehave made shipwrack, 1. Tim. 1. 19.
Of whom is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, whom I hauehave deliuered to Sathan, ver. 20.
Hauing forsaken the right way, they are gone astray, following the wayes of Balaam the son of Bozor &c. 2. Pet. 2. 15.
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousnes,Death. and committeth iniquitie, &c. All the righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned; in his trespasse that he trespasseth, and in his sinne that he hath sinned, in them shall he die, Eze. 18. 24.
It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and hauehave tasted the heauenly gift,Eternally punished. and were made partakers of the holy Ghost, Heb. 6. 4:
It they shall fall away, to renew them to repentance, &c. ver. 5.
The Angels which kept not their first estate, he hath reserued in euerlasting chaines vnderunder darkenesse, vntounto the iudgement of the great day, Iud 6.
THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Morning
composed of
Petitions sutable to the rest, of the Father and the Sonne on this day.
Motiues to perseuerāce, agreeable to the subsequent exhortation.
ALmightie Creator of heauen and earth, and all things therein; who this day restedst frō all thy workes, and blessedst it: grant to me (after the painefull laboures and trauailes of this life are ended) a sweete, blessed, and comfortable rest with thee in heauen, where I may keepe a continuall Sabbath, hold a perpetuall feast, sing an euerlasting song, weare an incorruptible crowne, possess an eternall inheritance, and fully enioy thee in all things, and all things in thee, in endlesse quietnesse, ioy content, and rest. This rest is the marke at which all my desires aime; this is the price for which all my endeauou…s runne; this is the hauen to which (by the gales of thy spirit) my christian course driues. For in this rest there is perfect tranquillitie, and in this tranquillitie contentment; and in this contentment, ioy and pleasure, and in this ioy and pleasure, varietie, and in this varietie securitie, and in this securitie eternitie. This is the end without end, to which all my labours in thy seruice, and sufferings for thee through my whole life, tend vntounto. Here I hauehave labour without rest, there shall be rest without labour; here perturbations without tranquillitie, there tranquillitie without perturbations; here desire without content, there content without desire; heere paine and sorrowes, without sincere pleasures and ioy; there ioyes and pleasures without all paine and sorrowes: heere satiety of delights without variety, there variety without satiety; here feare without safety, there safety without feare; heere a sudden end without ioy, there ioyes without end. Wherefore I beseech thee heauenly Father, loosen my desires and affections from the things that are belowe, and knit them to the things that are aboue Breake and dissolue the vnlawfull contracts betweene my soule and the creatures, and marrte her to thee in righteousnesse. Breede in me more and more the loathing of the forbidden fruit; and a longing for the fruits of the tree of life. Let mee not leane vponupon the reedes of Aegypt which will breake vnderunder me, and the splinters run into my body. Let mee not repose my selfe vnderunder Ion…s's worme-eaten gourd, but the sollid wood of Christ's Crosse. Let me not set vp my rest on this side of Iordan, but passe ouer into the celestiall Canaan. And because death is the narrow passage betweene this life and the life to come, let mee not so much feare this cut as I doe; for on this side, I leaue labour, sorrow, sinne, shame, vexation, anxiety, paine, and mortality; and on the other side, I finde rest, righteousnesse, glory, contentment, pleasure, and immortality. It is but a short passage, and my Sauiour hath made it safe. All thy Saints either hauehave, or shall passe it ouer. I lose nothing in this passage; my soule is presently transported, and though my body stay a while heere, yet it shall follow in due time. And no sooner this darke world and the shadow of it goes out of sight, but the glorious light of heauen shineth vponupon me; I see streetes of gold, and gates of pearle, and foundations garnished with all sorts of pretious stones. I shall behold thee the Father in thy Maiesty, Christ thy Sonne in his glory, the Spirit in his sanctity, the Arch-angels and Angels in their excellency, and the Saints in their felicity. I shall then hunger no more, I shall labour no more, I shall trauell no more, I shall feare no more, I shall grieue no more, I shall desire no more. I shall need no more any house, for the heauen & heauen of heauens shall be my habitation; nor Temple, for God shall bee my Temple: nor light, for the Lambe shall be my light. O Lord let the hope and expectation of this euerlasting rest and happinesse, sweeten all my labours, and ease my torment, and mittigate my sorrowes, and comfort my heart, that I faile not in my labour, nor tyre in my trauell, nor sinke vnderunder my burdens, nor fall vnderunder my crosses, nor die for sorrow of my wounds receiued in the Lord's battailes; but hold on cheerefully, strenuously, and valiantly, till I ariue at the land of promise, and there receiue the lot of mine inheritance with the Saints in light. So be it, Amen.
The close out of Scripture.
The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding, preserue my heart and minde through Iesus Christ, Phil 4. 7.
The Deuotion for Saturday Euening.
THE HYMNE.
I Will blesse the Lord at all times, his praise shall bee in my mouth continually, Psal. 34. 1.
O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layed vp for them that feare thee! which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men? Psal. 31. 19.
Blessed be the Lord, for hee hath shewed mee meruailous kindnesse. v. 21.
Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth vsus with benefits, euen the God of our saluation, Psal. 68. 19.
What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? Psal. 116. 12.
O louelove the Lord all yee his Saints, for the Lord preserueth the faithfull, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer. Ps. 31. 23.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is vponupon them that feare him, and vponupon them that hope in his merciemercy, Ps. 33. 18.
To deliuer their soule from death, and to keepe thē aliue in famine, v. 19.
Though I hauehave layen among the pots, yet shall I bee as the wings of a Doue couered with siluer, and her feathers with yellow gold, Psal. 68. 13.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth him out of all, Psal. 34. 19.
He keepeth all his bones, so that not one of them is broken, v. 20.
Why art thou cast downe ô my soule, and why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope thou in God, for I will yet praise him who is the health of my countenance, and my God, Psal. 42. 11.
THE TEXTS.
IN. Adam all dye, 1 Death is common to all men.Cor. 15. 22.
It is appointed to men once to dye, Heb. 9. 27.
Death went ouer all, Rom. 5. 12.
Man that is borne of a woman is but of few dayes, Iob. 14. 1.
Hee commeth forth like a flower, and is cut downe; he flyeth away as a shadow, and continueth not, verse 2.
And where is he? verse 10.
When the breath of man goeth forth, hee shall turne againe to his earth, and then all his thoughts perish, Psal. 146. 3.
Man lyeth downe and riseth not, till the heauens be no more. Iob 14. verse 14.
They shall not be awaked, nor raised out of their sleepe, v. 14.
Thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long, Psal. 39. 6.
Wee are but as yesterday; our dayes on earth are a shadow, Iob 8. 9.
What man is hee that liueth, and shall not see death? Psal 89. 47.
All flesh is grasse; and the glory of it as the flower, 1 Pet 1. 24.
As the flower of grasse hee shall passe away, Iam. 1. 10.
What is our life? It is a Vapour that appeareth for a little time, and vanisheth away, Iam. 4. 14.
Man his dayes are determined; The time and houre is by God prefixed.the number of his months are with thee; thou hast appointed him his bounds that hee cannot passe, Iob. 14. 5.
Lord let me know mine end, and the number of my dayes, Psal. 39. 5.
I will adde vntounto thy dayes fifteene yeeres, Isa 38. 5.
O teach vsus to number our dayes &c. Psal. 90. 12.
Whether we dye or liue, wee are the Lords, Rom. 14. 8.
The right vse of Fasting consisteth in the
1 Manner, that it be sincere, not hypocriticall.
2 Measure, that it be not immoderate.
3 Cause or end, which must bee either
1 To tame and subdue the flesh: such was Paul's fast, I beate downe my bodie.
2 To testifie our humiliation, and sorrow for our sinnes; such was Ezra's and the Nineuites fast.
3 To quicken zeale and deuotion: such was Hanna's fast Luke 2.
The abuse of Fast likewise is seene in the
1 Manner, if wee abstaine from one kinde of meate, and feede daintily on another: forbeare one meale, and glut our selues another.
2 Measure, if we continue or fast so long, that we much impaire our strength, or endanger our health.
3 Cause or end-
1 If we abstaine from any kind of meat out of an opinion and erroneous scruple of conscience, that it is of it selfe vncleane, as the Tatians and Encratites did; or, as being now forbidden vsus vnderunder the Gospell, as some Iudaising Christians at this day.
2 If we abstaine from all or any kind of meate to merit, or satisfie thereby; as Papists doe.
3 If wee keepe a Fast to colour any vngodly or malicious purpose; as Iezebel did.
The second Table of Fasting.
The Lord is faithfull, God is an omnipotent and faithfull Creatorwho shall keepe you from euill. 2 Thes. 3. 3.
Commit the keeping of their soules to him who is a faithfull Creator, 1 Pet. 4. 19.
I know whom I hauehave trusted, and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I hauehave committed vntounto him against that day, 2 Tim. 1. 12.
For this end Christ dyed and rose, Christ himselfe died, and by death entred into his glorie.and reuiued, that he might be Lord both of the liuing, and the dead, Rom. 14. 9.
In that hee dyed, hee dyed to sinne once; but in that hee liueth, hee liueth to God, Rom. 6. 10.
If we be dead with Christ, wee belieue that wee shall also liue with him, verse 8.
I was dead,And destroyed death. I am aliue, and I liue for euer; and I hauehave the keys of death and of hell, Reu. 1. 18.
I am the resurrection and the life: Hee that beleeueth in mee, though he were dead yet shall he liue, Ioh. 11. 25.
Christ hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospell, 2 Tim. 1. 10.
Death is swallowed vp into victory, 1 Cor. 15. 54.
O death where is thy sting? O graue where is thy victory? v. 55.
The sting of death is sinne, and the strength of sinne is the Law, verse 56.
But thankes bee to God who hath giuen vsus victory through our Lord Iesus Christ, verse 57.
Hee also tooke part of the same,And changed it in that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death, euen the diuell, Heb. …. 14.
Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, Name.Ioh 11. 11.
And when hee had thus spoken, he fell asleepe, Acts 7. 60.
And many are fallen asleepe, 1 Cor. 11. 10.
Which are asleepe in Christ, 1 Cor. 15. 18.
Christ is risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleepe, verse 20.
Christ to me is life, Nature.and to die is gaine, Of a losse it is made a gaine.Phil. 1. 21.
Whosoeuer loseth his life for my sake shall saue it, Mar. 8. 35.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,Of a curse, a blessing and a d…scharge from Labour. Reu. 14. 13.
For they rest from their labours, verse. 16.
There remaineth a rest for the people of God, Heb. 4. 9.
God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes,Sorrow. Reu. 1. 17.
They shall hunger no more, nor thirst no more,Paine. neither shall the Sun light on them, nor any heate, Reu. 7. 16.
Hee that is dead is free from sinne, Sinne.Rom. 6. 7.
We looke for a new heauen, in which dwelleth righteousnesse, 2 Pet. 3. 13.
And there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth, Free from euill company.neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination, or maketh a lye, Reu. 21. 27.
For, without shall bee doggs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoeuer loueth, or maketh a lie, Reu. 22. 15.
The creature shall be deliuered from bondage, Bondage.Rom. 8. 21.
His (the tempters) place was no more found,Temptation. Reu. 12. 8.
Your ioy shall no man take away from you, Ioh. 16. 22.
Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace,Feare the Saints desire Death. according to thy word, Luke 2. …9.
I desire to be dissolued, and to be with Christ, for that is best of all, Phil. 1. 23.
For we know that if the house of this earthly Tabernacle were dissolued, we should hauehave a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall, in the heauens, 2 Cor. 5. 1.
For in this we groane earnestly, desiring to be clothed vponupon with our house which is from heauen, verse 2.
We are willing rather to bee absent from the body,Are comforted in death by Faith. and present with the Lord, v. 7.
So God loued the world, that he gaue his onelyonly begotten Son, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish, but hauehave euerlasting life, Ioh. 3. 16.
He that beleeueth on him is not condemned, v. 18.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for; and the euidence of things not seene, Heb. 11. 1.
There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, Ro. 8. 1.
I am perswaded that neither life nor death,By LoueLove. &c. shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord, v. vlt.
We know that wee are passed from death to life, because wee oue the brethren, 1 Iohn 3. 14.
Our conuersation is in heauen, from whence we looke for the Sauiour, the Lord Iesus Christ, Phil. 3. 20.
Hope maketh not ashamed,By Hope. Rom. 5. 5.
If we hope for that we see not, then doe we with patience waite for it, Rom. 8. 25.
Reioycing in hope. Rom. 12. 22
I would not hauehave you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleepe, that ye sorrow not as they which hauehave no hope, 1 Thes. 4. 13.
The full assurance of hope vntounto the end, Heb. 6. 11.
Let vsus hold fast the profession of our hope vntounto the end, for he is faithfull that promiseth, Heb. 10 23.
Which hope we hauehave as an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entereth to that within the veile, Heb. 6. 19.
A good conscience By a good conscience.is a continuall feast, Prouerbes 15. 15.
For our reioycing is this; the testimonie of a good conscience, 2. Cor. 1. 12.
We trust we hauehave a good conscience in all things, Heb. 13. 18.
If our hearts condemne vsus not, we hauehave confidence towards God, 1. Ioh. 3. 31.
Who shall change our vile bodies,The bodie resteth in hope of a glorious resurrection. and make them like vntounto his glorious bodie, Phil, 3. 20. See 1. Cor. 15. Entire.
If we beleeue that Iesus Christ was dead, and is risen; euen so them which are asleepe in Iesus, God shall bring with him, 1. Thess. 4. 14.
To the spirits of iust men made perfect, Heb. 12. 23.
The begger died,The soule immediatly enioyeth blisse. and was carried into Abrahams bosome, Luk. 16. 22.
This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, Luk. 23. 43.
We know that if our earthly tabernacle be dissolued, we hauehave a building not made with hands, eternall, in the heauens, 2. Cor. 5. 1.
We would not be vncloathed but cloathed vponupon, that mortalitie may be swallowed vp of life, ver. 4.
While we are at home in the bodie, we are absent from the Lord, ver. 6.
We are confident, that when we are absent from the bodie, we are present with the Lord, ver. 8. vid. supra, Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued, and to be with Christ.
There is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse,Body and sonle shall be crowned at the last day. which the righteous Iudge shall giuegive me at that day, and not to me onelyonly, but to all that looke for his comming, 2. Tim. 4. 8.
Then we which are aliue and remaine, shall be caught vp together with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the aire; so shall we be alwayes with the Lord, 1. Thess. 4. 17.
Then the righteous shall shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of my Father, Mat. 13. 43.
THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Euening,
composed of
Petitions sutable to the rest of Christ in the graue.
Motiues to perseuerance agreeable to the precedent exhortation in the Morning.
I Blesse and magnifie thy glorious Maiestie, wisdome, and omnipotencie, ô Lord, high possessor of heauen and earth, as for all thy wonderfull workes in the sixe dayes, so also for thy holy rest on this day, whereby thou assurest me of eternall rest in heauen. And I beseech thee of thy goodnesse which answereth thy greatnesse, to distill the dew of thy blessings as vponupon my daily labours, so vponupon my rest in the night, that it may recouer my spirits, and refresh my faculties, and repaire my strength, and put me in minde of that comfortable rest which they enioy, who lie in the bosome of Abraham, and sleepe in Iesus, who this day lay in his sepulchre, yet saw there no corruption. For thy promise thou madest good, not to leaue his soule in hell, nor to suffer thine holy one to see corruption. O Lord I entirely desire thee to burie all my sins, especially those (which this day and weeke hath added to the totall summe) in his graue; and teach me by it to burie in the pit of eternall obliuion. not onelyonly my brethrens trespasses against me, but also all those sinfull baites which hauehave heretofore allured me to any kinde of vicious leudnesse. Grant that I may more and more feele the power, as of Christs death in the mortification of my fleshly members; and so of his burial in the cōquering of the horror of the graue. For as thou hast threatned death saying, O death I will be thy death; so thou hast threatned the graue also, saying, O graue, or corruption, I will be thy corruption, or destruction And what though my flesh be all consumed to bones, yet thy spirit blowing vponupon dead bones can reuiue them, and couple them againe with sinnewes, and cloathe them with flesh. What though these bones be resolued into dust, yet thou which madest it of nothing, canst as easily restore it, and reare it out of that which is as lirtle or next neighbour to nothing. Thou which raisedst thy Sonne from death, sha…t raise and change my vile bodie, and make it like vntounto his glorious bodie, by that power whereby thou art able to subdue all things vntounto thy selfe. Make my heart hewen out of a harder rocke them thy Sonnes sepulchre was, a fit receptacle, not for dead, but for liuing Iesus. As that sepulchre neuer receiued any but Iesus; so let my heart entertaine nothing but thee. Make me a pure and chaste soule, that as thy Sonne was borne of a Virgins wombe, and lay buried in a virgine tombe: so he may abide in my virgin and vndefiled soule. Remoue the heauie stone from my heart, as thou diddest that great stone from his sepulchre. As he neuer returned to his sepulchre after he came out of it: so grant that when thou hast perfectly raised me out of the graue of sin, I may neuer returne to it againe. And as he kept Sabbath in his graue, and obserued thy statutes in life and in death, and fulfilled all righteousnesse: so grant I may both in life and death accomplish thy holy will. And as hee neuer rested till he had cried out, All is finished: so grant that I may not be wearie of well-doing, nor giuegive ouer my heauenly race of godlinesse, till I may say, It is finished. Endue me with power from aboue, and gird about me thy whole armour, that I may fight a good fight against the world, the flesh, and the diuell, and finish my course in the full discharge of my calling, and keepe the faith to the end; and in the end receiue that incorruptible crowne of glory which thou the righteous Iudge wilt giuegive to all that louelove the second comming of thy Sonne. And behold thou commest with the cloudes, and all eyes shall see, euen they that nailed thee; and all kindreds of the earth shall mourne before th…e, yea, and Amen. So be it.
The close out of Scripture.
Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy wills sake they are and hauehave beene created, Reu. …. 11.
Worthy is the Lambe that was killed to receiue power, and riches, and wisedome, and strength, and honour, and glory, & praise, Reu. 5. 12