A Petition for Peace with the Reformation of the Liturgy, Part 15 – Prayer 2

A Petition for Peace with the Reformation of the Liturgy · Part 15 – Prayer 2

p. 82A Form of Publick Admonition to the Impenitent.

A. B. you are convict of groſs and ſcandalous ſin, you have The ſin may be named and aggravated when it is Convenient.been admoniſhed and intreated, to repent. The promiſes of mercies to the Penitent; and the threatnings of God againſt the Impenitent, have not been concealed from you; wee have waited in hope for your repentance, as having Compaſſion on your ſoul; and deſiring your Salvation; But wee muſt ſay with grief, you have hitherto diſappointed us; Wee are certain from the Word of God, that you muſt bee penitent, if ever you will bee pardoned, and that except you repent, you ſhall everlaſtingly periſh. Luke. 13. 3, 5. Act. 5. 31. Luke 12. 47. To acquaint you publickly with this, and yet here to offer you mercy from the Lord, is the next duty laid upon us for your recovery. O! blame us not, if knowing the terrours of the Lord, wee thus perſwade you, and are loath to leave you in the power of Satan, and loath to ſee you caſt out into perdition, and that your blood ſhould bee required at our hands, as not having diſcharged our duty to prevent it.

Bee it known unto you therefore, that it is the God of Heaven and Earth, the great, the jealous, and the terrible God, whoſe Lawes you have broken, and whoſe Authority you diſpiſe; you refuſe his government, who is coming with ten thouſands of his Saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly of their ungodly Deeds, and ſpeeches, who hath told us that [evil ſhall not dwell with him] The Fooliſh ſhall not ſtand in his ſight; p. 83Hee hateth all workers of Iniquity (Jude 14, 15. Pſalm. 5. 4, 5.) The ungodly ſhall not ſtand in judgement, nor ſinners in the Congregation of the Righteous (Pſalm. 1. 5, 6.) God hath not made his Lawes in vain. Though the wicked contemn God, and ſay in their hearts, hee will not require it. (Pſalm. 10. 13.) Yet their damnation ſlumbereth not, they are reſerved to the day of judgement, to bee punniſhed (2 Pet. 2. 3, 9.) And hee ſeeth that their day is coming; (Pſalm. 37. 13.) If men cut off the lives of thoſe that break their laws, will God bee out-faced by the pride, and ſtubborneſs of ſinners? Hee will not; you ſhall know hee will not; Hee threatneth not in jeſt. Who hath hardened himſelf againſt him and hath proſpered (Job. 9. 4.) Are you not as chaffe and ſtubble, and is not our God a conſuming Fire (Pſalm. 1. 4. Iſa. 5. 24. Heb. 12. 19.) If Briers and Thorns bee ſet againſt him in Battel, will hee not go through them, and burn them up together (Iſa. 27. 4.) Can your heart endure, or your hands bee ſtrong in the day when God ſhall deal with you? It is the Lord that hath ſpoken it, and hee will do it. Ezek. 22. 14. What will you do, when you muſt bear wich the pains of Hell from God, that now, can ſcarce endure to bee thus openly & plainly warned of it; If wee to pleaſe you ſhould bee ſilent and betray you, do you think the God of Heaven, will fear, or flatter you, or bee unjuſt to pleaſe a worm. Do you provoke the Lord to Jealouſie, are you ſtronger than hee. (1 Cor. 10. 22.) O man! for your ſouls ſake, let not Satan abuſe your underſtanding, and ſin befool you, muſt you not die? And doth not Judgement follow, when all ſecrets ſhall bee opened, and God will no more intreat you to confeſs. (Heb. 9. 7. Matth. 10. 26.) Behold the Judge ſtandeth at the door; (Jam. 5. 9.) will ſin goe then with you for as light a matter as it doth now? Will you then deny it, or will you ſtand to all the reaſonings, or excuſes, by which you would now extenuate or cover it? Will you defend it as your friend? and bee angry with Miniſters and Reprovers, as your Enemies. Or will you not mourn at laſt (with weeping and gnaſhing of teeth) And ſay; How have I hated Instruction, and my heart deſpiſed Reproof? And have not obeyed the voyce of my Teachers, nor inclined mine Ear to them that Instructed mee. (Pro. 5. 11, 12, 13. Mat. 13. 4…. 50.) O that you were wiſe, that you underſtood this, and that you would conſider your latter End. (Deut. 32. 29.) beleeve Gods wrath before you feel it: bee convinced by the word and ſervants of the Lord, before you are confounded by the dreadfulneſs of his Majeſty; yet there is hope, but ſhortly there p. 84will be none, if you now neglect it; yet if you conſeſs and forſake your ſins, you ſhall have mercy, but if you cover them, you ſhall not proſper. (Prov. 28. 13.) And if being oft reproved, you harden your Neck: you ſhall ſuddenly bee deſtroyed, and that without remedy. (Pro. 29. 1.) Bee not deceived, God is not mocked: whatſoever you ſow, that ſhall you alſo reap. (Gal. 6. 7.) O man! you know not what it is to deal with an offended, and revenging God. Nor what it is to hear. Chriſt ſay, depart from mee yee workers of Iniquity; I never knew you, depart from mee yee wicked into everlaſting fire (Matth. 7. 23. and 25. 41.) You know not what it is to bee ſhut out of Heaven, and concluded under utter deſperation, and in Hell to look back upon this obſtinate Impenitence; and rejecting of the mercy that would have ſaved you; And there to have Conſcience telling you for ever, what it is that you have done; Did you not know what this is, could you think a Penitent confeſſing, and forſaking your ſin, to be a condition too hard for the preventing of ſuch a Doleful ſtate? O No! you know not what a caſe you are caſting your immortal ſoul into. The Lord give you repentance. that you may never know it by experience. To prevent this, is our buſineſs with you: Wee delight not to diſpleaſe or ſhame you. But God hath told us, [that if any do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that hee which converteth the ſinner from the errour of his way, ſhall ſave a ſoul from death, and ſhall hide a multitude of ſins. Jam. 5. 20.] I do therefore by the Command, and in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, require, and beſeech you, that you do without any more delay, confeſs your ſins and heartily bewail them; and beg pardon of them, and reſolve and promiſe by the help of God to do ſo no more, And bleſs God that you have an advocate with the Father Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous, whoſe blood will cleanſe you from your ſins; if you penitently confeſs them (1 John 1. 7, 9. and 2. 1, 2.) and that mercy may bee yet had on ſo eaſie terms. If you had any ſenſe of your ſin and miſery, or any ſenſe of the diſhonour done to God, or of the wrong that you have done to others, and of the uſefulneſs of your Penitent confeſſion, and amendment, to the reparation of all theſe, you would caſt your ſelf in the duſt in ſhame and grief before the Lord, and before the Church: To day therefore, if you will hear his voyce, harden not your heart, leaſt God forſake you, and give you over unto your own hearts luſt, to walk in your own counſels, and reſolve in his wrath, you ſhall never enter into his reſt; (Pſalm. 95. 8. 12. and 81. 11. 12.) And then God and this Congregation will bee Witneſſes that you were warned, and p. 58your blood will bee upon your own head. But if in Penitent confeſſion, you fly to Chriſt, and loath your ſelf for your iniquities, and heartily forſake them, I have Authority to promiſe you free Forgiveneſs, and that your Iniquitie ſhall not bee your Ruine (Luke 24. 4. 7. Ezek. 18. 30, 31, 32.)

A Form of Confeſſion, to bee made beeore the Congregation

I do confeſs before God, and this Congregation, that I have Joſ. 7. 19. Pro. 28. 13. Pſal. 32. 5. Exo. 10. 16. Gal. 1. 13. 2 Chro. 15. 2. Gen. 4. 16. Pſa. 51. 11. Mat. 27. 5. Luk. 15. 21. Mat. 22. 8. Pſal. 38 18. 4 & 40. 12. Luk. 13. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 1. Heb. 9. 26. Luk. 19. 10. Rom. 5. 10. Jam. 5. 16. Pſa. 51. 2 1. 9. Heb. 8. 12. …. 51. 11, 27. & 9. & 103. 10. Pſal. 51. 10, 12. 2 Cor. 2, 7, 10. John 8. 11. Mat. 13 37. Pſal. 73. 1, 15 Eccle. 8. 12. 2 Chron. 20. 20. Jam. 1. 13, 14. Pſal. 5. 5. 1 Joh. 3. 4. Gal. 6. 1.Josh 7:19Prov 28:13Ps 32:5Exod 10:16Gal 1:132 Chr 15:2Gen 4:16Ps 51:11Matt 27:5Luke 15:21Matt 22:8Ps 38:18Ps 38:4Ps 40:12Luke 13:131 Tim 1:1Heb 9:26Luke 19:10Rom 5:10Jas 5:16Ps 51:2Heb 8:12Heb 8:51Heb 8:11Heb 8:27Heb 8:9Heb 8:103Heb 8:10Ps 51:10Ps 51:122 Cor 2:72 Cor 2:10John 8:11Matt 13:37Ps 73:1Ps 73:15Eccl 8:122 Chr 20:20Jas 1:13Jas 1:14Ps 5:51 John 3:4Gal 6:1greatly Sinned, **Here the ſin muſt bee Named and aggravated, when by the Paſtor it is judged requiſite.I have offended, and diſhonoured God, wronged the Church, and the Souls of others, I have deſerved to bée forſaken of the Lord, and caſt out of his preſence and the communion of Saints, into deſperation, and remedileſs miſery in Hell, I am no more worthy to bée called thy Son, or to have a name or place among thy Servants: I do here declare mine Iniquitys, and am ſorry for my ſins; They are gone over my head as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for mée, they take hold upon mée, I am aſhamed, as unworthy to look up towards heaven, but my hope is in the blood & grace of Chriſt, who made his life a Sacrifice for ſin, and came to ſéek and ſave that which was loſt; whoſe grace aboundeth, where ſin hath abounded. The Lord bée merciful to mée a ſinner: I humbly beg of the Congregation, that they will earneſtly pray, that God will waſh mée throughly from mine Iniquity, and cleanſe mée from my ſin, that hée will forgive them, and blot them out, and hide his Face from them, and remember them no more, that hée will not caſt mée away from his preſence, nor forſake mée as I have forſaken him, nor deal with mée according to my deſerts: But that hée will create in mée a Clean heart, and renew a right ſpirit in mée, and grant mée the joy of his Salvation; and I beg pardon of the Church, and all that I have wronged: and reſolve by the grace of God to do ſo no more; but to walk more watchfully as before the Lord, and I deſire all that are ungodly, that they think never the worſe of the Laws, or waies, or ſervants of the Lord, for my miſdoings; For if I had béen ruled by God, and by p. 86his ſervants, I had never done, as I have done? There is nothing 1 Cor. 10. 11. 12. 2 Sam. 11. 2. Gen. 3. 6. Mat. 26. 41 75. Heb. 12. 28. 1 Cor. 9. 25, 26, 27. 2 Chron. 25. 16. Eph. 3. 16. John 5. 14.1 Cor 10:111 Cor 10:122 Sam 11:2Gen 3:6Matt 26:41Heb 12:281 Cor 9:251 Cor 9:261 Cor 9:272 Chr 25:16Eph 3:16John 5:14in Religion that befriendeth ſin, there is nothing ſo contrary to it, as God and his Holy Laws, which I ſhould have obeyed. Rather let all take warning by mée, and avoid temptations, and live not careleſly, and hearken not to the Inclinatious, or Reaſonings of the Fleſh, nor truſt not their weak and ſinful hearts, but live in godly fear, and watchfulneſs, and kéep under the Fleſh, and kéep cloſe to God, and hearken to the faithful Counſel of his ſervants, and Intreat your Prayers to God, that I may bée ſtrengthened by his grace, that I may ſin thus no more, leaſt worſe befal mée.

A Form of Prayer for a Sinner Impenitent, after Publick Admonition.

MOſt Gracious God, According to thy Command wée 2 Cor. 5. 11.2 Cor 5:11have warned this ſinner, and told him of thy threatenings, and foretold him of thy certain terrible Judgements, Mat. 3. 7.Matt 3:7that hée might ſly from the wrath to come, but, alas, wée perceive not that hée repenteth, or reſenteth, but Prov. …9. 1.Prov 9:1hardeneth his heart againſt reproof, as if hée were able to contend with thée, and overcome thy power; O let us prevail with thée 1 Cor. 10. 22.1 Cor 10:22for grace, that wée may prevail with him for Penitent confeſſion Luke 23. 24.Luke 23:24and reformation, O Pitty a miſerable ſinner! miſerable, as that hée laieth not to heart his miſery, nor Pittieth himſelf. O ſave Act. 8. 22. 23.Acts 8:22Acts 8:23him from the Gall of Bitterneſs, and from the Bonds of his Iniquity? give him …tance unto life; that hee may recover Act. 11. 18.Acts 11:18himſelf out of the ſnare of the Devil, who is taken Captive by him at his Will. Give him not up to a blinde minde, to a ſeared conſcience, 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26.2 Tim 2:252 Tim 2:26a heart that is paſt feeling, nor to walk in his own counſels, and after his own luſts; Let him no longer deſpiſe the riches Joh. 12. 40.John 12:40of thy Goodneſs, and forbearance and long-ſuffering, nor with a hardened impenitent heart, treaſure up wrath, againſt the day … Tim. 4. 2.of wrath and revelation of thy righteous Judgement, who wiſt render to every man according to his Déeds, even to them that are Eph. 4. 19. Pſal. 81. 12. Rom. 2. 4, & 5, 6.Eph 4:19Ps 81:12Rom 2:4Rom 5:6contentious and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteouſneſs, indignation, and wrath, Tribulation and anguiſh, upon every p. 87ſoul of man that doeth evil. Let him bée ſure that the judgement 8, 9. 2, 3.of God is according to truth, againſt them that commit ſuch things, and let him not think in his impenitency to eſcape thy judgement; O ſuffer him not, when hée heareth the threatnings of thy Word, to Deut. 29. 19.Deut 29:19bleſs himſelf in his heart, and ſay, I ſhall have peace, though I walk in the Imaginations of my heart, and add ſin to ſin, leſt thy 20 21. Mark 9. 44.Mark 9:44Anger and Jealouſie ſmoke againſt him, and thou wilt not ſpare him, but blot out his name from under Heaven, and all thy curſes lye upon him, and thou ſeparate him to Evil, even to the worm Math. 1. 21. Deut 9. 17.Matt 1:21Deut 9:17that dyeth not, and to the fire that is not quenched. O ſave him from his ſins, from his Impenitency, and the Pride and ſtubborn. neſs of his heart; O ſave him from the Everlaſting Flames, 2 Cor. 6. 2.2 Cor 6:2and from thy wrath, which hée is the more in danger off; becauſe hée féeleth not, and feareth not his danger; Let him know how hard it Luk. 19. 41. 42. Prov. 28. 14. Act. 9 5. Iſa. 45. 9.Luke 19:41Luke 19:42Prov 28:14Acts 9:5Isa 45:9is for him to kick againſt the Pricks, and how woful to ſtrive againſt his maker, lay him at thy footſtool in ſackcloath, and aſhes, in tears, and lamentation, crying out, Woe unto mée that I have ſinned, and humbling his ſoul in true contrition, and loathing himſelf, and begging thy pardoning and healing grace, and begging the Joel. 2 1. 2. 3 Lam. 5. 16.Joel 2:1Joel 2:2Joel 2:3Lam 5:16Prayers and Communion of thy Church, and reſolving to ſin wilfully no more, but to live before thée in uprightneſs, and obedience Pſal. 51. Jam. 5. 20. Luk. 32. 10Ps 51Jas 5:20all his daies; O let us prevail with thée for the Converſion of this Impenitent ſinner, and ſo for the ſaving of his ſoul from death, and the hiding, and pardoning of his ſins; that hée that Gal 6. 1.Gal 6:1is loſt may bée found, and hée that is dead may bée alive, and the Angels of Heaven, and wée thy unworthy ſervants here on Earth Luke 15. 27.Luke 15:27may rejoyce at his repenting, let us ſée him reſtored by thy grace, Ezek. 33. 14, 16Ezek 33:14Ezek 33:16that wée may joyfully receive him into our Communion, and thou mayeſt receive him at laſt into thy Heavenly Kingdome, and Satan 2 Tim. 2. 26.2 Tim 2:26may bée diſappointed of his Prey; for thy mercy ſake, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord and only Saviour,

Amen.

A Form of Rejection from the Communion, of the Church

IEſus Chriſt, the King and Law giver of the Church hath commanded Luke 19. 37. Mic. 4. 2.Luke 19:37Mic 4:2that [If a Brother treſpaſs againſt us, wee go and tell him p. 88his fault between him and us alone, and if hee will not hear us, wee Mat. 18. 15, 16.Matt 18:15Matt 18:16ſhall then take with us, one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three Witneſſes, every word may bee Establiſhed; And if hee ſhall 1 Cor. 5. 11.1 Cor 5:11neglect to hear them, that hee tell it to the Church, and if hee neglect to Tit 3. 10.Titus 3:10hear the Church, that hee bee to us a Heathen Man, and a Publican. Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17.] And that wee keep not company; if any that 2 Theſ. 3. 6,2 Thess 3:6is called a Brother, bee a Fornicator, or Covaious, or an Idolater, or a Raylor, or a Drunkard, or an Extortioner, with ſuch a one, no not 14, 15.to eat. 1 Cor 5. 11. And that wee withdraw our ſelves from every Brother, that walketh diſorderly, and note him, and have no company 2 Sam. 12. 14.2 Sam 12:14with him, that hee may bee aſhamed: 2 Theſſ. 3. 6. 14. According Act. 8. 24.Acts 8:24to theſe Laws of Chriſt, wee have admoniſhed this offending Brother, who hath greatly ſinned againſt God; and grieved and injured 2 Tim. 2. 252 Tim 2:25the Church, wee have earneſtly prayed, and patiently waited for his repentance, but wee have not prevailed. But after all, 26.hee continueth impenitent, and will not be perſwaded to confeſs and forſake his ſin: Wee do therefore according to theſe Laws of Chriſt 1 Cor. 5. 13.1 Cor 5:13Declare him unmeet, for the Communion of the Church, and reject him Matth. 18. 18.Matt 18:18from it; Requiring him to forbear it, and requiring you to avoid him, and wee leave him bound to the Judgement of the Lord, unleſs his true Repentance ſhall prevent it.

A Form of Abſolution, and Reception of the Penitent.

THough you have greatly ſinned againſt the Lord, and againſt 2 Sam. 12. 13.2 Sam 12:13his Church, and your own Soul, yet ſeeing you humble your ſelf before him, and Penitently fly to Chriſt 2 Ch 10. 33.for mercy, reſolving to do ſo no more: hear now the 12, 13.glad tidings of Salvation, which I am commanded to declare unto Rom. 10. 15.Rom 10:15you? 1 John 2. 1, 2. If any man Sin, wee have an advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous; And hee is the Propitiation for our 1 Joh. 2. 1. 2.1 John 2:11 John 2:2ſins. 1 John 1. 9. If wee confeſs our ſins, hee is faithful, to forgive us our 1. John 1. …. Iſa. 55. 6, 7.1 John 1Isa 55:6Isa 55:7ſin, and to cleanſe us from all unrighteouſneſs. Iſa. 55, 6, 7. Seek the Lord while hee may bee found, Call upon him while hee is near: Let the Wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and p. 89let him return unto the Lord, and hee will have mercy upon him, and Pro. 28 13.Prov 28:13to our God, for hee will abundantly pardon. Prov. 28. 13. Hee that covereth his ſin ſhall not proſper, but whoſo confeſſeth and forſaketh them Gal. 6. 1.Gal 6:1ſhall have mercy. Gal. 6. 1. Brethren, if a man bee overtaken in a Mat. 18. …8.Matt 18:8fault, reſtore ſuch a one in the ſpirit of meckneſs, conſidering thy ſelf leaſt thou alſo bee tempted. According to this word of Grace **This muſt bee omitted if the perſon was not firſt Rejected.do Luke 15. 2 Cor. 2. 7. 10. Act. 13. 38.Luke 152 Cor 2:72 Cor 2:10Acts 13:38looſe the bonds here laid upon you, and receive you again into the Communion of the Church] requiring them to receive you, and not upbraid you with Act. 8. 8. Luke 15. 25. 27.Acts 8:8Luke 15:25Luke 15:27your ſin, but rejoyce in your recovery. And I do declare to you the pardon of all your ſins Mat. 26. 41 Pſal 85. 8.Matt 26:41Ps 85:8in the Blood of Chriſt, if your Repentance bee ſincere. And I exhort & charge you, that you beleevingly and thankfully accept this Great, unſpeakable mercy, and that you watch more carefully for the time 1 Cor. 9. 25, 26, 27. Pſal. 141. …. 2 Pet. 2. 22.1 Cor 9:251 Cor 9:261 Cor 9:27Ps 1412 Pet 2:22to come, and avoid temptations, and ſubdue the Fleſh, and accept reproofes, and ſee that you return not to your vomit, or to wallow again in the mire, when you are waſhed, but obey the ſpirit and keep cloſe to God in the means of your preſervation.

A Form of Thanksgiving, and Prayer, for the Reſtored Penitent.

OMoſt merciful Father, Wée thank thée, that thou Rom 3. 25.Rom 3:25haſt brought us under ſo gracious a Covenant, as not only to pardon the ſuis of our unregenerate ſtate, but 1 John. 1. 9. & 2. 1. 2.1 John 1:91 John 2:11 John 2:2alſo upon our Penitent confeſſion, and return, to cleanſe us, from all our unrighteouſneſs, and pardon our falls by Pſal. 23. & 103. 3.Ps 23the blood of Chriſt, and to reſtore our ſouls, and lead us again in the Paths of Righteouſneſs, and command thy Servants to receive us. Wée thank thée that thou haſt thus reſtored this thy Mal 9. 3.Servant, giving him repentance and remiſſian of ſin **Leave out this if hee was not Rejected.and returning him to the Communion, of thy Church! Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3,Rom 5:1Rom 5:2Rom 5:3Wée beſéech thée comfort him, with the beleeving Apprehenſions of thy forgiveneſs and reconciliation Pſa. 51. 12.Ps 51:12through Jeſus Chriſt. Reſtore unto him the joy 1 Pet. 5. 10.1 Pet 5:10of thy ſalvation, and uphold him by thy frée ſpirit, ſtablish, ſtrengththen, p. 91ſettle him, that with full purpoſe of heart, he may cleave unto Act. 11. 23.Acts 11:23thée, and now thou haſt ſpoken peace to him, hée may not return again to Folly, as hée nameth the Name of Chriſt, let him depart Pſa. 85. 8.Ps 85:8from Iniquity, and never more diſhonour Thée, thy Church or 2 Tim, 2.truth, nor his holy profeſſion, but ſave him from Temptation, Let him watch and ſtand faſt, and ſin no more, leaſt Worſe befal 19him. Let him not receive this grace in vain, nor turn it into Wantonneſs, nor continue in ſin, that grace may abound. But Rom. 2. 23.Rom 2:23let this old man bée crucified with Chriſt, and the Body of ſin be deſtroyed; that henceforth hée may no more ſerve ſin, remembring Mar. 6. 13.Mark 6:13what fruit hée had in thoſe things, whereof hée is now aſhamed, 2 Cor. 16. 13.and that the Eud and waies of ſin is death, and let us all take warning by the falls of others, and bee not high minded but John 5. 14.John 5:14fear; And let him that thinketh hée ſtandeth, take héed leaſt hée 2 Cor. 6. 1.2 Cor 6:1fall. Let us watch and pray that wee enter not into Temptation remembring that the fleſh is weak; And our Adverſary the Devil, Jude 4.Jude 1:4walketh about ſéeking whom hée may devour. And let none of us hate our Brother in our hearts, but in any wiſe rebuke our neighbour, and not ſuffer ſin upon him, and confirm us unto the end, that wée may bée blameleſs, in the Day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to whom with thée, O Father! and thy Holy Spirit, bée Kingdome, and Power, and Glory for ever.

Amen.