The Daily Practice of Devotion, Part 11 – Part 21
A GENERAL FORM OF CONFESSION.
O Lord, the Great and Dreadful God,Dan. 9. 4, 5. keeping the Covenant, and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his Commandments; we have ſinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled: even by departing from thy precepts, and from thy judgments.
By our impious and godleſs thoughts of Thee;Pri. Form of Prep. our confidence in the arm of fleſh; by placing our affections on earthly things, and neglecting to love and delight in Thee; by preſuming of thy mercies, and yet continuing in our ſins,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day, Dan. 9. 7.
By our want of reverence to thy Service, not conſidering the awfulneſs of thy Preſence, and that honour due to Thee in thy Houſe; by our formal and hypocritical worſhip; by open profanation and ſacriledge; by ſhews and Pretences of piety to cover our worldly and wicked deſigns,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By our vain and raſh oaths, blaſphemies and perjuries; by our execrations on our ſelves, our brethren, and our enemies,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By undervaluing thy publick Service, and neglecting to bear a part in it; by miſpending that time either there or elſwhere in wanton or worldly thoughts or imployments; by not keeping the Spiritual Sabbath unto Thee, in ſerving Thee truly all the days of our lives; by not duly obſerving the times of Feſtivity or Faſting appointed by juſt Authority,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By not duly acknowledging thine ordinance and authority in the perſons of our Superiours; by ſpeaking evil of dignities, and reviling the Rulers of thy people; by groundleſs jealouſies and ſuſpicions, miſ-judging and cenſuring their actions; by being as a people that ſtrive with their Prieſts, and not ſubmitting our ſelves to thoſe who by thy appointment watch over our ſouls; by neglecting thoſe committed to our charge, not correcting thoſe ſins which have cried loud for examplary puniſhment,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By raſh anger, malice, hatred, revenge, and the bloudy effects thereof; by uncharitable contentions and diviſions, factions and animoſities; by cruelty and unmercifulneſs, and communicating in the ſins of bloud,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By the manifold ſins of uncleanneſs, by ſeeking or not avoiding the occaſions thereof; by idleneſs, intemperance and drunkenneſs, by immodeſt words and geſtures, by ſhameleſs boaſting or not bluſhing at thoſe ſins,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By thefts, rapines, and oppreſſions; by vexatious ſuits practiſed and countenanced; by exactions, and unjuſt gains in bargaining; by defrauding the labourer of his hire, by want of due care in expending what we have, and a good conſcience in acquiring more,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By lying, detraction, and contumely; by cenſuring and raſh judgment; by falſe witneſs, and perverting the courſe of juſtice,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee,
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By uncontentedneſs and deſiring change in our eſtates; by giving our ſelves over to luſtful, covetous, and inordinate affections; by neglecting acts of Charity, and doing as we would be done to, and not doing our duty in that ſtate of life unto which it hath pleaſed Thee to call us,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By fretting our ſelves becauſe of the ungodly, and being envious againſt the evil-doer; by not loving our enemies, not bleſſing them that curſe us, not doing good to them that hate us, nor praying for thoſe that deſpightfully uſe us, and perſecute us,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By preſuming to do evil that good may come thereof; by placing piety in opinions; by ſtraining at Gnats, and ſwallowing of Camels, ſcrupling at things indifferent, and making no conſcience of known ſins,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By running into open profaneneſs, under colour of avoiding Superſtition; by guiding our conſcience by humours and phanſies, and not by the certain rules of thy Law; by having itching ears, and heaping to our ſelves Teachers, and by having mens perſons in admiration becauſe of advantage,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face as at this day.
By impatience under thy correcting hand, not endeavouring our amendment by it, and reflecting on our own ſins as the cauſes of it; by deſpiſing thy chaſtiſements, and not rejoycing in tribulations, nor glorifying Thee that haſt counted us worthy to ſuffer for righteouſneſs ſake,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſneſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
By our want and neglect of thoſe neceſſary Chriſtian duties of Humiliation and godly ſorrow for ſin, of indignation and revenge upon our ſelves for it, of confeſſing and forſaking, of reſtitution and ſatisfaction to others; and not by bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance,
We have provoked and rebelled againſt Thee.
O Lord, righteouſnnſs belongs unto Thee, but unto us confuſion of face, as at this day.
WHO can tell how oft he offendeth? O cleanſe Thou us from theſe, and from our ſecret ſins, Pſal. 19. 22.
Try us, O good God, and ſearch the ground of our hearts; prove us and examine our thoughts.
Look well if there be any other way of wickedneſs in us; and lead us in the way everlaſting, Pſal. 139. 23, 24.
Behold, O Lord, we are here before Thee in our ſins; we ſtand guilty of theſe and many more, not only of all ſorts, but of all degrees alſo; and we know and confeſs, that the leaſt of theſe deſerves no leſs than the wages of eternal death.
But if Thou,Pſal. 130. 3. Lord, ſhouldſt be extreme to mark what is done amiſs, O Lord, who may abide it? If Thou ſhouldſt thus ſeverely proceed in judgment againſt us,Iſai. our ſpirits ſhould fail before Thee, and thoſe ſouls which Thou haſt made.
Deal thou with us therefore,Pſal. 103. 10. O Lord, not after the multitude of our ſins, but according to the multitude of thy mercies. Turn away thy face from our ſins, and behold that Son of thy Love in thine own boſom, that doth not only intercede, but hath ſatisfied; not only requeſt and intreat, but even require and challenge Thee to have mercy upon us.
For his ſake therefore, we beſeech Thee, have this mercy upon us, to make us capable of thy mercies. Send down the dew of thy Heavenly grace, that may melt and mollifie our frozen and ſtony hearts, that we may ſee and confeſs, and hate, and forſake, and ſincerely repent us of all our paſt ſins and abominations, and turn from the evil of our former ways, to Thee that art the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14. 6.
And then, O Lord, do Thou return to us alſo; forgive the Debt which hath been diſcharged by the precious bloud of thy dear Son, and ſeal to us our pardon by the gift of thy holy Spirit, which for the time to come may prevent, excite, and enable us to walk before Thee in holineſs and rigtheouſneſs all our days: that having caſt off the works of darkneſs,Rom. 13. 12. and put on the armour of light, we may like valiant Soldiers fight that good fight againſt all temptations of the world,1 Tim. 6. 12. the fleſh, and the Devil; that having finiſhed our courſe, we may receive of Thee that crown of life which Thou haſt promiſed to them that continue faithful unto death, Rev. 2. 10.
And all for his ſake, who by his death hath overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlaſting life. To him, with Thee, and the Holy Spirit, be all Honour and Glory, world without end, Amen.
OF THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE Lords Supper, AND THE PREPARATION Before it.
Pſal. 116. 12, 13.
What reward ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.
Pſal. 26. 6.
I will waſh my bands in innocency: ſo will I compaſs thine Altar, O Lord.
THere yet remains one principal piece of Devotion, and that without which there is indeed no Devotion; it being the Sacrifice, in the Smoke of which our prayers muſt aſcend up before him that ſitteth on the Throne.
Now although God being himſelf a Spirit, deſires alſo to be worſhipped in Spirit; Joh. 4. 24.and in his own reſpect cares not for theſe outward and ſenſible performances; yet becauſe the minds of men, being as it were ſhut up in this priſon of the Body, can receive little information or affection but what is conveyed to them by the Senſe, it hath pleaſed him to accommodate himſelf to our imperfection and infirmity, and appoint certain Ceremonies or outward actions which working immediately upon the Senſes, are by them conveyed in unto the Soul, and make on it a more powerful impreſſion of that which is ſignified by thoſe ſenſible actions.
Such are Looking up toward Heaven when we ſpeak to God, Kneeling when we pray to him, Standing up when we praiſe him, and Bowing at the mention of his Sacred Name; ſuch is the dipping in water, and ſigning with the Croſs in the Sacrament of Baptiſm: and ſuch is the receiving of Bread and Wine in this other, of which we ſpeak.
For though the eating of Bread and drinking of Wine are in themſelves actions ſo very ordinary, that they are alſo very inconſiderable; yet in this they are made uſe of to ſignifie to us the moſt extraordinary and excellent mercy that ever the Great King of Heaven beſtowed upon his poor Subjects and Servants here on earth. For,
I. It is the Commemoration of the death of his own only Son for the redemption of loſt Mankind; the wounding of his body ſignified by the breaking of Bread, and the ſhedding of his Bloud by the pouring out of Wine.
II. Beſides this, it is alſo an Evidence of Gods reconciliation and favour to us, and demonſtration that we are in League and Amity with him, in that we are admitted to his own Table, to eat of his Bread, and drink of his Cup.
III. It is a means and inſtrument of conveying grace and ſtrength to the Souls of Worthy Receivers.
IV. It is our Sacrifice of praiſe and thankſgiving for all his mercies and bleſſings; particularly temporal, the good things of this World, the fruits of the Earth, which we here offer unto him under theſe two Principal of Bread and Wine.
Of Frequent Receiving.
THis then being a Service ſo acceptable to God and ſo beneficial, ſo neceſſary for men, it were but reaſon to expect that all good Chriſtians would ſhew themſelves ready and forward to the performance of it.
And accordingly in the firſt Age of the Church, when Religion and Zeal were in their youth and vigour, it was the good cuſtom to celebrate this Sacrament (if not every day as it is thought, yet at leaſt) every Lords day.
But afterward as Piety began to grow more dull, and Love more cold, it was by little and little brought down to once a Month.
And this Order ſtill remains in the Church of God, (though now ſomewhat diſturbed by prevailing Sectaries among us.) And at thoſe times the Supper is appointed to be made ready, and the Table furniſhed for all ſuch as can think fit to ſpare ſo much time from their worldly buſineſs, to come to the Marriage-feaſt of the great King of Heaven. For herein they are yet left to more liberty, and not neceſſarily required to come oftner than thrice a year.
And truly ſuch is the negligence of many (who yet would be accounted Chriſtians) that they are not aſhamed to ſtretch this libetty to the utmoſt. Yea, and it were well if even then they would come meetly provided, and had not more reſpect to the Shame of the World, than to the Honour of God, or their own Good.
Certainly any ſober Chriſtian cannot conſider without ſhame and indignation how much Mankind are fallen from their firſt love.
But that which is ordinarily brought for an excuſe, is in it ſelf ſo unworthy and unreaſonable, that it makes this Neglect yet more abominable and intolerable.
And indeed it is ſomewhat worſe than that for which thoſe invited in the Goſpel received a ſevere Cenſure.Mat. 22. There it was,Luke 14. 18, 19, 20. they were taken up with their ſeveral Affairs, one had bought a farm, or a Yoke of oxen; another had married a wife; and therefore they could not come. But here one is engaged in ſuch a ſin, which he hath no mind to leave yet; another is not in charity; and in general they are not prepared, and therefore they cannot, that is, they will not come.
Such is the ridiculous madneſs of men in this barbarous and brutiſh Age, that they can think fit to excuſe and juſtifie one fault by pretending more and greater.
But if you are not prepared to meet your Saviour at his Table, to celebrate the memorial of his Mercy how would you appear before him at his Seat of Judgment, to which yet you know not but you may be ſooner called?
If therefore you could wiſh to be always provided for Death, which often comes ſuddenly, always uncertainly, think not much to beſtow a little time in preparing your ſelf for this Sacrament, as often as you may have an opportunity of receiving it.
And thoſe which in theſe days of Captivity have not that convenience of receiving from the hands of them who have authority to give it, may yet do well not to omit the Duty of Preparation. Let them do that which they can, and for that which they cannot God will accept the will for the deed.
Of Preparation.
THE beſt Preparation to this holy Duty is a continued habit of holy living, and frequent meditation upon Heaven and Heavenly things; particularly the great mercies of God in the Bloud of Jeſus Chriſt.
But becauſe the minds of men cannot be always ſo intent and circumſpect, but that they need ſome more ſolemn Excitations and Exerciſes, it will be requiſite to ſet apart ſome few days before to be imployed more particularly in this buſineſs.
I. Therefore Examine your ſelf, and inquire ſtrictly into the ſtate of your Soul, and take a view of your whole Life, eſpecially ſince the time of your laſt Recieving.
Obſerve and conſider how you have performed this duty formerly, whether worthily or unworthily, and what good or ill effect it hath wrought in you; what progreſs you have made in Grace and Goodneſs, or whether you grow worſe and worſe in ſin; and what are the Cauſes and Occaſions of either.
II. Confeſs and humble your ſelf before God, and earneſtly intreat and contend for his mercy, and pardon, and reconciliation, and grace and favour in the Merits of Jeſus Chriſt; that he will waſh you from all your Pollutions in his Bloud, and cloath you in the White robe of his Righteouſneſs, that ſo having on a Wedding garment, Mat. 22. 12.you may be a welcom Gueſt to his Table.
And here ſolemnly renew that Promiſe and vow which you formerly made in that other Sacrament of Baptiſm, and repeated ſince every time you have received this. That you will forſake Sin and Satan, and cleave to the Lord your God with all your heart, and by the aſſiſtance of his gracious Spirit walk before him uprightly, and ſerve him in holineſs and righteouſneſs all the days of your Life.
III. Conſider, that you are now to communicate not only with God, but alſo with the congregation of your fellow Chriſtians; and that the Rule and Eſſential Character, by which you are to know and declare that you love God is, that you love your brother alſo, I John 4. 21.
Therefore take care to reconcile your ſelf with the World; by freely forgiving and meekly deſiring forgiveneſs, and endeavouring to reſtore and eſtabliſh peace and charity, and brotherly kindneſs, aud right underſtanding between your ſelf and all with whom you have had any kind of difference.
IV. Recollect and raiſe up your thoughts from the earth and worldly things, and devoutly meditate on heavenly and ſpiritual matters; ſuch as,
1. The Creation and Fall of Mankind, and the great Miſeries which we were thereby engaged in.
2. The ineſtimable Mercy and Goodneſs of God in beſtowing his own only Son for our redemption, and reſtoring us again to a capacity and hope of his heavenly good things.
3. The incomparable love of Chriſt, in that he vouchſafed to be born meanly, to live in poverty and contempt, to die in ſhame and torment, and endure thoſe pains which were due to us for our ſins, that he might redeem and reſcue us from both.
Theſe and ſuch like are to be remembred, and conſidered with joy, and thanks, and praiſe.
Prayers before the Sacrament.
NOW for particular Forms of Prayers, Meditations, and other Exerciſes of Devotion, before, and at, and after the holy Sacrament, the many books deſigned peculiarly to that purpoſe will abundantly furniſh you with ſuch, and theſe ſhort ones following will not hinder the uſe of them.
Before the Sacrament.
DEpart from me, for I am a ſinful Man, O Lord, Luke 5. 8.
I am not worthy that thou ſhouldeſt come under my roof.
For the Houſe of my Soul, which thou hadſt made a fit Temple for thy Holy Spirit to inhabit in, I have defaced and defiled with all manner of pollutions and abominations. It is become a den of ravenous beaſts, and a cage of unclean Birds, and every corner ſo crowded with filthineſs, that Thou wilt not find where to lay thy head, Luke 9. 58.
But Thou, O Lord, which deſpiſeſt not a penitent Sinner, but haſt promiſed to dwell with the humble and contrite ſpirit, I beſeech Thee caſt me not away from thy preſence, but caſt out all profaneneſs and uncleanneſs out of my heart, and remove every thing that may offend the pure eyes of thy Glory, and the holineſs of thy Preſence: and then, O Lord, vouchſafe to come and enter in, and dwell there, and abide with me for ever.
Behold, O Lord, I am before Thee in my ſins, clothed with filthy garments, and Satan ſtanding at my right hand,Zach. 3. 1. accuſing me, and bringing my tranſgreſſions into remembrance before Thee, with loud clamours for juſtice againſt me.
O Lord I acknowledge and confeſs my ſelf guilty, and that I have deſerved the utmoſt of thy wrath and indignation.
But, O Lord, I appeal from thy ſeat of Judgment to thy Throne of Grace and Mercy, humbly beſeeching Thee to rebuke and repel the malicious Accuſer of thy ſervants, and hearken to the interceſſion of our Advocate in thine own boſom; For his ſake have mercy upon me, and pardon my offences, and blot out the Hand-writing that is againſt me, and put away all mine iniquities, and drown them in the depth of the Sea.
Waſh me throughly from all my pollutions in that fountain which Thou haſt opened for Judah and Jeruſalem to purifie in;Zach. 13. 1. and then cloath me in that white robe of thy Sons righteouſneſs, the Wedding-garment requiſite at this Feaſt, and admit me to thy Table which Thou haſt prepared for thy children.
And grant, O Lord, that when I have taſted of theſe thy Heavenly dainties, I may no more return like the Dog to his vomit,2 Pet. 2. 22. nor as the Sow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire; but I may keep my ſelf unſpotted from the world, and walk before Thee in all purity and holineſs.
And now, O Lord, Thou inviteſt and exhorteſt me to come to thy holy Table.
O my God, I know mine own unworthineſs: yet in the multitude of thy mercies I will humbly approach to thine Alter,Pſal. 5. 7. beſeeching Thee to behold me not with a ſevere, but a gracious eye.
Thou knoweſt the earneſt deſire of my Soul: be thou pleaſed to paſs by the weakneſs of the fleſh,Mat. 26. 41. and accept the willingneſs of the ſpirit; and grant that I may now receive this holy Sacrament to the Honour and Glory of thy Name, and the Good and comfort and Salvation of my own Soul.
The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to ſeek God,2 Chron. 30. 18, 19. the Lord God of his Fathers, though he be not according to the Purification of the Sanctuary.
Before the Bread.
O Bleſſed Lord God, who haſt given us thine only Son to lay down his life for our Sins, and his fleſh for the food and nouriſhment of our Souls; purge and purifie my vile and ſinful Soul, that it may be a fit habitation for his pure, unſpotted, and precious Body, and that no unclean thing may preſume to enter where his holy feet have trod, from henceforth for ever.
After the Bread.
BLeſſed be thy holy Name, O Lord my God, who haſt vouchſafed to feed me with that Bread from Heaven, the Fleſh of thy dear Son; grant that in the ſtrength of this food I may walk before thee in holineſs and righteouſneſs all the days of my life,1 Kings 19. 8. till I come to the Mount of God, the holy Hill, where thine Honour and our Reſt dwelleth.
Before the Cup.
O Bleſſed Lord God, who haſt given the Bloud of thine only Son to be ſhed for our ſins, and to refreſh and reſtore our weary gaſping Souls; cleanſe and ſanctifie me, O Lord, that I may receive this cup with a pure heart, and not with polluted lips, to the eternal comfort and refreſhment of my Soul.
After the Cup.
BLeſſed be thy holy Name, O Lord my God, who haſt vouchſafed me to drink of this Fountain of Living Water, the precious bloud of thy dear Son; grant that this holy Cup may be an Antidote and Preſervative againſt all ſin and evil, and may keep my Soul in health and ſtrength to the end of my days.
An Hymn.
O Lord,B. Andrews Man. p. 290. who didſt not deſpiſe nor forſake Man tranſgreſſing thy commandment and falling:
But as a tender-bowell'd Father didſt viſit him ſundry ways;
Giving him that great and precious Promiſe concerning the Bleſſed quickning Seed.
Opening unto him a door of Faith and Repentance unto life:
And in the fulneſs of time ſending the ſame Chriſt to take the Seed of Abraham:
And by the oblation of his life to fulfill the obedience of the Law,
And by the ſacrifice of his Death to take away the curſe thereof,
By his death to redeem the World,
And by his Reſurrection to quicken the ſame.
Who didſt all things to this end, to bring back Mankind to thee, that he might be partaker of the Divine Nature, and Eternal Glory.
Who diddeſt atteſt the Truth of thy Goſpel,
By many and manifold Miracles,
By the ever-memorable Converſation of thy Saints,
By their ſupernatural patience under torments,
By the moſt wonderful Converſion of the whole World unto the Obedience of Faith, without Strength, Rhetorick or Force.
Bleſſed, praiſed, and hallowed be thy Name, the Mention and Memory, and all the Monuments thereof, both now and for ever. Amen.
After the Sacrament.
LOrd, what is Man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of man that thou viſiteſt him? Pſal. 144. 3.
What is thy Servant, that thou ſhouldeſt look upon ſuch a dead dog as I? 2 Sam. 9. 8.
The Dogs eat of the crums that fall from their Maſters Table;Mat. 15. 27. but thou haſt fed me with the Bread of thy Children, and given me to drink of thine own Cup.
Thou haſt fed me in a green paſture, and leadeſt me forth beſide the waters of comfort, Pſal. 23. 2.
O taſte and ſee how gracious the Lord is: Bleſſed is the man that truſteth in him. Pſal. 34. 8.
What reward ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me; Pſal. 116. 12.
Lord, I offer up unto thee my ſelf, my Soul and Body, and all that I am and have, beſeeching thee graciouſly to receive me for thy ſervant, to dwell in thy Houſe, and praiſe thy Name for evermore, Pſal. 84. 4.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth,
THou art worthy, O Lord, to receive Glory, and Honour, and Power; For thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are and were created, Rev. 4. 11.
Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof for thou haſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to our God, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and people, and Nation; and haſt made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts, Revel. …. 9.
Salvation to our God, which ſitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb. Amen.
Bleſſing, and Glory, and Wiſdom, and Thankſgiving, and Honour, and Power, and Might, be unto God for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 7. 10, 12.
An Admonition after Receiving.
AND now you have thus ſolemnly devoted and conſecrated your ſelf to God and his ſervice, beware that you do not fall back, and return to your former courſe of ſin,2 Pet. 2. 22. like the dog to his own vomit; or as the Serpent, which caſts up his Poiſon when he goes to drink, and when he hath quenched his thirſt, returns and ſucks it up again.
And thus ſome are content to leave their ſins at the Church-door, but with an intent to take them up again when they come out.
But God will not be ſo mocked.
And know this, That if you have well and worthily perform'd this Duty to day, yet if you do not perſevere in Piety, as you have promiſed and begun, not only your former ſins, but even the piety of this day ſhall one day riſe up in judgment againſt you.
But a diligent Watching and warineſs over your ways after this, will be the beſt preparation againſt the next time.