Milk for Babes
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/B07540.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Milk for Babes.
OR, A North-Country Catechism.
Made plain and easiy, to the Capacitie of the Country people.
The second Impression.
By WILLIAM CRASHAW, Batchellor in Divinity, and Preacher of the Word.
LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES, and are to be sold by Thomas Langley, at his shop over against the Sarazens head without Newgate. 1618.
TO The Right Worshipful, Sir Henry Griffith, of Agnes Burton, Knight, one of his Majesty's Counsel in the North, and Deputy Lieutenant, in the East-Riding, and William Saint-Quintin of Harpham Esquire, Grace and peace.
GENTLEMEN,
SEeing they that live under you for their estates and bodies, are under my cure and care for their souls, you will give me leave (nay thanks I am sure) to be as careful for the better part as you I hope are and will be for the worse: You know it were a shame to you, if they could justly say they were not able to live and eat their bread under you their Lord's: and more were it to me their Pastor, if they wanted either the Milk, or the Meat fit for their souls.
To this end seeing I find, that Catechising is the life of Preaching, and such a means of knowledge as without it all preaching is to little purpose, I have here dressed them their first dish, even a mease of Milk (the old, plain and good meat of our forefathers) I mean this short and easy Catechism: Not as making a new one, for hat were a needless presumption but as a help to understand that good Catechism given us already in the Common Prayer Book.
Now seeing your experience in your families, and mine in the whole Parish hath found the benefit of Catechising to be so extraordinary, we have cause to acknowledge the godly wisdom and care of our Church Governors in commanding the performance of that duty in every Parish: which if it were duly observed over all the Land, I dare say, where there is no Preaching the want would be less hurtful, and where it is, the benefit much more abundant. And let it work in you a care, not only as good Abraham's, to command your families, but (seeing you are here Magistrates and Lord's) like zealous David's, to take order that your people and tenants do frequent this godly exercise, which by God's good blessing shall by me, or my sufficient Deputy be continually kept up, as the time and season of the year will permit. This will make our Sermons at home, and our Exercises abroad much more profitable and effectual, your Servants and Tenants more faithful to God, and more serviceable to yourselves. And when they find themselves mercifully dealt withal by you their Land-lords for their bodies: and good provision, both of Milk and strong meat for their souls: Their Loynes (as Job saith) shall bless you, their hearts love me, and their souls and all within them shall praise God for us both: and their Neighbors about them shall say. Blessed are the people that be in such a case, yea thrice happy the people that have the Lord for their God. Now praying that both you and I, and they that follow us may strive to deserve this honor, and enjoy this comfort; and our people receive this double blessing by us,
I rest Your Pastor and servant in Christ, WILLIAM CRASHAW.
The Chapters of this Catechism.
CHAP. 1.
| WHat man is. | pag. 1. |
| 2 What God is. | pag. 2. |
| 3 Of God's Word. | p. 3. |
| 4 Of the knowledge of God out of his word. | p. 4. |
| 5 Of God's worship, and the kinds of it. | p. 6. |
| 6 Gf the parts or duties of it. | p. 7. |
| 7 Of God's works and the Creation. | p. 9. |
| 8 Of the work of Gubernation. | p. 11. |
| 9 Of the work of Redemption, and first of sin that caused it. | p. 13 |
| 10 Of the Law of God, | p. 14 |
| 11 Of the first Table, and first Commandment. | p. 16. |
| 12 Of the second, third, and fourth commandments. | p. 17 |
| 13 Of the second Table. | p. 19. |
| 14 Of the seventh, eight and ninth commandments. | p. 21 |
| 15 Of the last commandment, and the use of the whole Law. | p. 23 |
| 16 How the Law doth drive us to Christ. | p. 25 |
| 17 Of Jesus Christ the Redeemer. | p. 26 |
| 18 Of the means to take hold of him: and first of Faith, and of the Creed. | p. 28 |
| 19 Of saving Faith. | p. 31 |
| 20 Of the Sacraments, and of Baptism. | p. 32 |
| 21 Of the Lord Supper. | p. 34 |
| 22 Of the works of Sanctification. | p. 36 |
| 23 Of Repentance and good works, the fruits of Sanctification. | p. 38 |
| 24 Of works of Piety, and of Prayer. | p. 39 |
| 25 Of the circumstances of Prayer. | p. 41 |
| 26 Of the Lord's prayer. | p. 42 |
| 27 Of the Petitions of the Lord's Prayer. | p. 44. |
| 28 Of the works of Mercy or Charity. | p. 46 |
| 29 Of works of Justice or of Righteousness. | p. 48 |
| 30 Of the reward of good works. | p. 50 |
| The end of the Catechism. | |
| An household prayer for the Morning. | p. 53 |
| A prayer for the Euening. | p. 58 |
Saint Paul's words appliable to many of the people and professors in England.
WHereas in regard of the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you the first principles of the Oracles of GOD, and are such as have need of Milk, and not of strong Meat: for everyone that useth Milk, is unskillful in the Word of Righteousness, for he is a Babe. But strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those which by reason of use, are exercised to discern of good and evil Heb. 5, 12, 13, 14.
Saint Peters exhortation, which I direct chiefly to the people of the North.
LAy aside all Malice, all Guile and Hypocrisies, and Enuies, and evil speakings. And as new borne Babes, desire the sincere Milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, now that you have tasted how gracious the Lord is. 1. Pet. 2. 1, 2, 3.
Milk for Babes. OR, A short Country Catechism.
CHAP. 1.
What Man is.
Question. WHat art thou?
Answer. A Christian man.
Q. Tell me then, what is man?
Ans. A principal Creature of God, consisting of a reasonable soul, and human body .
CHAP. 2.
What GOD is.
Q. What benefit is it to man to know God?
A. Exceeding great, for it is though only sure way to attain eternal life and happiness.
CHAP. 3.
Of God's Word.
Q. WHat is God's Word?
A. God's Word is contained in that blessed Book that is called the Holy Bible .
Q. Why is that Book called God's Word?
A. Because GOD made it, and it contains God's will, as a man's words declare his mind .
Q. But why is it called the Holy Bible, or holy Scripture?
A. Most worthily, for 1. The most holy God made it . 2. Holy men wrote it . 3. The matter it handles is holy . 4. It makes them holy, that love to read it .
CHAP. 4.
Of the knowledge of God out of his Word.
Q. WHat is revealed of God in the Scriptures?
Ans. Two things, the one touching God himself, the other touching his service and worship.
Q. What is then revealed to us, touching God himself?
Answ. These points. 1. That there is but one true God . 2 That there be three persons in Trinity, yet but one God . 3. That this God is Infinite, Invisible, Omnipotent, most Wise, Just, Merciful, and Holy .
Q. What be these three persons called in the Scriptures?
Q. How can there be three Persons, and yet but one God?
Ans. We cannot comprehend it by reason, but we must believe it by Faith, seeing God's Word saith so .
CHAP. 5.
Of God's worship, and the kinds of it.
Q. WHat is revealed in the Scriptures, touching God's worship?
Ans. The matter and the manner of it.
Q. What is there taught us touching the matter of God's worship?
A. Three things, the kinds, the degrees and the duties of it.
Q. What is the Internal worship of God?
A. That which is performed by the Inner man: the soul, spirit and affections .
Q. And what is 〈…〉 ?
A. That worship 〈…〉 which is performed with the 〈…〉 parts of it , being the outward man.
Q. What be the degrees of God's worship?
A. Three: public, private and personal.
CHAP. 6.
Of the paerts and duties of God's worship.
Q. WHat be the parts or duties of God's public worship?
Ans. To meet together duly with •••• ation, in time and place 〈…〉 ▪ And there, First and chiefly to call on God by prayer and thanksgiving . Secondly, to hear God's words read and preached Thirdly, to partake in the Holy Sacraments q.
Q. And what be the duties of God's private worship in the family?
A. For the family daily to meet together . And first to call on God by prayer and thanksgiving . Secondly, to read God's word . Thirdly, to instruct one another in Religion . Fourthly, to call to mind what was taught in the Church, and apply it to themselves .
Q. To whom belongs this duty?
A. To the chief in the family, or else he is to appoint one fit to do it .
Q. And what is the personal worship that everyone is to perform by himself?
A. To retire himself every day into secret, and there betwixt God and himself . First, to lay open his heart, and confess his sins Secondly, to call on God, and give him thanks for his mercies . Thirdly, to read God's Word . Fourthly, to call to mind what was preached, and make use of it to himself .
CHAP. 7.
Of God's works, and the Creation.
Q, WHat be the works of God, by which he hath especially made known himself?
A. Four: Creation, Gubernation, Redemption, and Sanctification.
Q. How are these the works of God?
A. Thus. God created all things by his power, Gouernes them all by his wisdom and providence, Redeemes mankind in his love and mercy, and sanctifies them he redeems, by his grace and holiness.
Q. What is the work of Creation?
A. A work of God's power, by which he made the world, and all things in it, visible, and invisible .
CHAP. 8.
Of the work of Gubernation.
Q. WHat is the work of Gubernation?
A. A work of God's providence, by which he maintains and governs all things created .
Q. What need is there of the work of Gubernation?
A. Because as the world had never been, if God had not made it, so it would not continue, if he did not uphold it .
Q. But if God govern all things, how then came sin and mischief into the world?
Q. But why then suffers he it in the world?
A. Because he knows how to make good use of it, as a good Physician can make of the vildest poysan .
CHAP. 9.
Of sin, and the necessity of the work of Redemption.
Q. WHat is the work of Redemption?
A. A work of God's mercy, by which he recovers and saves a portion of mankind .
Q. What are the kinds of sin?
A. Two, Original and Actual.
Q. How do these differ?
A. Original sin, is the sin of our nature, Actual, the sin of our lives.
Q. What is Original sin?
A. A deprivation our nature in all the parts and faculties, whereby we are prone to all evil, and unfit for all good .
Q. What be the kinds of actual sin?
Ans. Two: Commissions, and Omissions.
Q. What is the sin of Commission?
A. By which we do in thought, word, or deed, that we ought not.
Q. And what is the sin of Omission?
A. By which we fail in thought, word, or deed, that we ought not to do.
CHAP. 10.
Of the Law of God.
Q. How be God's Laws distinguished?
A. God's Laws are either Ceremonial, Judicial, or Moral.
Q. How differ these Laws?
A. Thus. Ceremonial and Judicial belonged to the Jews alone, the Moral to them and us, and all mankind.
Q. How did they belong to the Jews?
A. Thus. The Ceremonial belonged to the ordering of their Church, the Judicial, to the governing of their common wealth .
Q. What is the Moral Law?
A. The declaration of God's perfect Justice, as the Gospel is the Revelation of his mercy.
Q. What doth the Moral Law contain?
A. Perfect righteousness, that is, a commanding of all goodness, and a prohibition of all evil.
CHAP. 11.
Of the first Table, and first Commandment.
Q. HOw is the Law divided?
A. Into two tables, the one containing four Commandments, the other six.
Q. Why into two, and no more?
A. Because all righteousness is reduced to two heads, namely towards God, or towards man .
Q. What doth the first Table contain?
A. Perfect righteousness, and all holy duties, touching God and his worship.
Q. What is the substance of the first Commandment?
A. The choice and inward worship of the true God.
Q. What is the affirmative part of the first Commandment?
A. Choose and worship the true God for thy God.
Q. What is the negative part of this Commandment?
A. Account not that to be God, which by nature is not God.
CHAP. 12.
Of the second, third, and fourth Commandments.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
A. The sacred and solemn worship of the true God.
Q. What is the affirmative part of it?
A. Thou shalt worship the true God as he hath commanded.
Q. What is the negative part of this Commandment?
A. Thou shalt neither worship a false god, nor the true God falsely.
Q. What is the substance of this third Commandment?
A. The magnifying and glorifying of the true God in all things.
Q. What is the negative part of this Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not bereave God of his honor due unto him.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
A. It sets down the time allotted, and consecrated to the worship and glorifying of God.
Q. What is the affirmative part of this Commandment?
A. Keep holy the Sabbath day of the Lord.
Q. What is the negative part of it?
A. Pollute not the Sabbath of the Lord.
CHAP. 13.
Of the second Table.
Q. WHat doth the second Table contain?
A. True love, and perfect righteousness towards our neighbor.
Q. How is it divided?
A. Into six Commandments, which contain all duties of man to man.
Q. What is the substance of the fifth Commandment?
Ans. The preservation of our neighbors honor and excellency with our own.
Q. What is the affirmative part of it?
A. Preserue by all means the dignity of thy neighbors persons.
Q. What is the negative part of this Commandment?
A. Debase not thy neighbor.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
Ans. The preservation of our own, and our neighbors life and health.
Q. What is the negative part of this negative Commandment?
Answ. Do not hurt, nor hinder thine own, nor thy neighbors life nor health.
Q. What is the affirmative part of it?
A. Preserue thy own and thy neighbors life and health.
CHAP. 14.
Of the seventh, eight, and ninth Commandments.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
Ans. The preservation of our neighbors chastity and our own.
Q. What is the negative part of this negative Commandment?
Ans. Thou shalt not hurt, nor hinder thy neighbors chastity nor thy own.
Quest. What is the affirmative part of it?
Ans. Preserue thy neighbors chastity and thine own.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
Ans. The preservation of our neighbors estate and our own, and the maintenance of Justice in all dealing.
Q. What is the negative part of this negative Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not hurt nor hinder thy neighbors goods.
Q. What is the affirmative part of it?
Ans. Thou shalt preserve and help to increase thy neighbors goods.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
Ans. The preservation of our Neighbors good name, and our own.
Q. What is the negative part of this Commandment?
A. Hurt not thy neighbors good name, nor thy own.
Q. What is the affirmative part of it?
A. Preserue thy neighbors good name, and thy own.
CHAP. 15.
Of the last Commandment, and the use of the whole Law.
Q. What is the substance of this Commandment?
Answ. The rectifying of our thoughts, as the other were for ordering our consents, words and deeds.
Q. What is the negative part of this negative Commandment?
Answ. Thou shalt not hurt thy neighbor, no not in thought.
Q. What is the affirmative part of it?
Ans. Wish and desire thy neighbors good in all things.
Q. In which of the Commandments is original sin forbidden?
Q▪ What doth the Law bestow on the keepers of it?
CHAP. 16.
How the Law doth drive us to Christ.
Q. WHat doth the Law lay upon the breakers of it?
A. Eternal death , and as Harbongers to it, all infirmities, sicknesses, plagues, and curses on body, goods, name, state and soul, that God's Justice can inflict .
Q. What shall then become of all mankind?
A. The Law finds them under sin, and therefore leaves them subject to damnation .
Q. Is there then no hope of the salvation of mankind?
Ans. None at all in the Justice of GOD, but in his mercy there is hope .
Q. How hath God revealed his Mercy in the Gospel, or Covenant of Grace?
Ans. By allowing mankind a Surety and Savior, even Jesus Christ, to whom we must fly to escape the curse of the Law, and thus the Law is a School-master, to drive us to Christ .
CHAP. 17.
Of Christ Jesus the Redeemer.
Q. WHo is the Redeemer of mankind?
A. The second person in Trinity, now called by God his Father, Jesus Christ .
CHAP. 18.
Of Faith, and of the Creed.
Q. HOw do we know all this to be true?
A. By the Gospel, which brings the good news of this Redeemer .
Q. What are the things a Christian man ought by his Faith to believe for salvation?
Ans. They be contained in the Creed.
Q. Which is the Creed?
Ans. I believe in God the Father Almighty, &c.
Q. What are the principle points contained in the Creed?
Ans. Four.
-
The
- 1. Touching God the Father our Creator.
- 2. God the Son, our Redeemer.
- 3. The holy Ghost our Sanctifier.
- 4. Concerning God's Church.
Q. What is laid down concerning God the Father?
A. That he is God Almighty who made & maintains all things .
Q. What is to be believed touching the second person?
Ans. Two things, one that he wrought out our salvation: the other y e he will give us possession of it.
Quest. How did Christ work out our salvation?
A. By this order, & these degrees.
Q. And when will he give us possession of glory and salvation?
Q. What is to be believed touching the Holy-Ghost?
Ans. That he is true God, and the sanctifier of all holy men .
CHAP. 19.
Of particular, and saving faith, and how it is wrought.
Q. What is that Faith more then the former?
Ans. A special grace of God in the soul, by which a man believes his own reconciliation with God, and salvation by Christ .
Q. How doth God work this Faith in men?
Ans. By preaching the Word, and by his holy Sacraments, which are his own Ordinances .
Q. How differ these two?
A. Thus, the Word contains the covenant of God: and the Sacraments are seals, confirming the covenant .
CHAP. 20.
Of the Sacraments, and of Baptism.
Q. WHat be the Sacraments?
A. Outward visible signs, evidences, and assurances of inward and invisible blessings .
Q. Who ordained the Sacraments?
A. Only God: for they be parts of his worship, and seals of his Couenants .
Q. How many Sacraments be there in the New Testament?
Ans. Two, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, which succeed Circumcision, and the Passover in the Old Testament .
Q. What are the essential parts of every Sacrament?
Ans. Two, the one outward and visible, the other inward and invisible represented thereby .
Q. What is the Sacrament of Baptism?
Ans. The Sacrament of our admission & entrance into the Church and household of God .
Q. And what is the inward and spiritual blessing?
CHAP. 21.
Of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Q. WHat is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper?
A. The Sacrament of our communion and fellowship with Christ, and with God by Christ .
Q. Why is this Sacrament often administered, and Baptism but once?
A. Because it sufficeth to be once borne, but we must often be fed .
Q. What is the outward thing in this Sacrament?
A. To eat and drink Bread and Wine, set apart for that use .
Q. What must we do before we receive?
A. Be reconciled to God by repentance, and to our neighbors by charity .
Q. What gesture is fittest to receive in?
A. That which is most humble, because then we show the Lord's death .
CHAP. 22.
Of the work of sanctification.
Q. WHat is the work of sanctification?
Answ. A work of the Holy Ghost, by which such as are redeemed, are made new creatures, and enabled to do good and Holy works .
CHAP. 23.
Of Repentance, and good works, the fruits of Sanctification.
CHAP. 24.
Of the works of Piety, and of Prayer.
Q. WHat be the kinds of good works?
A. Three.
-
Works
- of Piety towards God.
- of Charity towards the poor.
- of Justice towards all men.
Q. What be the works of Piety?
Ans. The duties of God's worship, which are commanded in the first Table, a chief whereof is prayer.
Q. Why do you call Prayer, a chief work of Piety?
A. For two causes. First, Prayer sanctifies all the rest : again, the rest are but sometimes to be done, but prayer continually .
CHAP. 25.
Of the Circumstances of Prayer.
Quest. In whose name are we to pray?
Ans. Only in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ the Son of God .
CHAP. 26.
Of the Lord's Prayer.
Q. HAue we any direction or pattern for our prayers?
A. Yes, the best that can be, one of Christ's own making, called therefore the Lord's prayer, Our Father, &c .
Q. What is contained in the Lord's Prayer?
A. Three things.
-
A
- Preamble.
- Prayer.
- Confirmation of all.
Q. Which is the Preamble?
Ans. This. Our Father which art in Heaven.
Quest. What contains the Preamble?
Ans. A description of God our Father, to whom we ought to pray.
CHAP. 27.
Of the Petitions in the Lord's Prayer.
Q. WHat is contained in the prayer?
A. Two things, Petitions and Thanksgiving.
Q. What be the Petitions?
A. Six in all, and they be of two sorts.
Some concerning God.
The rest our selves.
Q. Which be they that concern God?
A. Three. The first wisheth that his Name may be hallowed, that is, honored and used reverently .
The second, that his Kingdom and Gospel may be advanced .
The third, that his will may be fulfilled of us and all creatures .
Q. And what are they that concern our selves?
A. Three more. The first asks all things needful for this life, under one most principal, namely Bread .
The second prays for forgiveness of our sins, conditionally, as we forgive others .
The third prays for Deliverance from the devil, and the danger of temptation .
Q. And what is the Thanksgiving?
Ans. In these words, where we acknowledge the Kingdom, Power and Glory, belong to God forever and ever .
Q. And what is the seal or confirmation of this prayer?
A. The word AMEN, whereby our Faith subscribes and saith, So be it Lord, or it shall be so .
CHAP. 28.
Of works of Mercy, or Charity.
Q. ARe the works of Piety sufficient for salvation?
Ans. No, Christians must also perform works of Mercy and Justice .
Quest. Where be they commanded?
Ans. In the second Table of the Moral Law.
Quest. What be works of Mercy or Charity?
Ans. Such as we ought to do to them that be poor, or in some distress .
Quest. How many be the works of Mercy?
Ans. Of two sorts, either to the souls or bodies of our brethren.
CHAP. 29.
Of works of Justice, or Righteousness.
Q. WHat be the works of Justice?
A. Such works of honesty and fair dealing, as we are bound to perform to every man .
Q. When are works of Justice to be performed?
A. In the works of our callings, and in all our bargains and dealings with men .
Q. With whom must we deal justly?
Ans. With every man, friend or foe, superior, or inferior, good or bad, or of what religion soever he be .
Q. What rules doth the Holy Ghost give us for our direction in Justice, and in doing right to all men?
Ans. These in the Old Testament.
Q And what rules or directions have we in the New Testament?
A. These. First, Owe nothing to any man but love .
Secondly, Give to everyone his due .
Thirdly, Let no man defraud or go beyond his brother in any matter .
Fourthly, Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you the same to them .
CHAP. 30.
Of the reward of good Works.
Q. WHy should Christians do good works?
Ans. For these causes.
Q. May we then merit by our good works?
Answ. No, but the reward is given in God's mercy, through Christ's merits .
Quest. What reward doth God give us by his merciful Covenant in Christ?
Q. What reward have we in this life?
Ans. Three, First, his love and favor .
Q. What shall we enjoy there?
A. Perfect happiness, consisting in two things.
Q. And what is the portion of the wicked that want Faith, and fear of God, and do no good works?
A. A double portion, part in this life, and part in that to come.
An household Prayer for the Morning.
O Thou most mighty Creator, Preserver and Savior of our souls and bodies, we here acknowledge to thy Glory, that it is only through thy Power and Mercy, we have enjoyed the rest, and escaped the dangers of the night past: for, we confess we have deserved, that the darkness of Death should have seized on us, and given us up into the hands of eternal darkness, because we have spent our lives in the deeds of darkness: Blessed therefore be thy holy Name, for that thou hast not dealt with us according to our deservings. And now we humble our selves before thee, and pray thee on the knees of our hearts, that as thou hast delivered us from the darkness of the Night, so thou wouldest deliver our souls from the spiritual darkness of Sin, Error, Superstition and Prophanenesse, that so we may never come within the danger of eternal darkness: And as thou hast restored to us the light of this life, so good LORD vouchsafe to enlighten our hearts with the better light of thy heavenly truth, and holy Grace: that as the light of this world sufficiently shows us our way, and directs our steppes and actions of the body: so the Spirit and Grace of Christ Jesus, shining in our souls, may show us the way to walk in, lead us in the way everlasting, and guide our feet in the way of peace. And thou most merciful God, who hast given our bodies rest and sleep, we beseech thee in thy greater mercy, give rest to our souls, and sweet peace unto our consciences this day, and all our days: and thou that hast delivered us from the perils of the night, save us from the sins of this day, and deliver us from the far greater dangers, which our sins may pull upon us.
O Lord we go into the world, and can hardly have to do with it, but the contagion of sin, will catch hold of us, Lord teach us with heavenly wisdom, to see and avoid the same: arm us with heavenly courage, to break through the snares which sin and Satan, and the wicked world shall lay in our way. And thou that art the God of blessing, vouchsafe to bless us this day in our souls and bodies, in the use of both our callings, general as we are Christians, and members of thy Church, and personal, as we are members of this common-wealth: In our personal callings Lord enable us to love our Neighbor as our selves, and to do to everyone as we would have them do to us: and give us a conscionable care of such duties as belong unto us, make us faithful, laborious and diligent in the discharge of them, yet suffer us not so far to be carried away with the cares of the world, and the labor of our callings, as that we should neglect the duties of Piety and godliness, commanded unto us in our general calling; but teach us gracious GOD, to join the practice of these both together, and never to separate them whilst we live in the world, but that in the one we may labor faithfully to serve our brethren, and in the other, zealously to serve and glorify thee our God; That thus we may with cheereful hearts, and good consciences, spend our days, and wait for our consummation in Heaven, when our days on earth shall be accomplished: And when these days and nights, which now eat up our lives, shall have an end, we may then escape the everlasting night, and enjoy the blessed fruition of that bright and over-shining Day in thy Kingdom, where all our cares and cumbers, our toils and troubles, our wrongs and oppressions shall have an end, where all tears shall be wiped from our eyes, and where with thee, the blessed God, the Father, the Son, the Holy-Ghost, and with Jesus Christ, in our own flesh, and with all the Holy Angels, and the Saints gone before us, we shall receive the reward of our labors, the issue of our hope, the end of our faith, and salvation of our souls, through the blessed and glorious merits of our only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose most holy Name we recommend to thy mercy, thy whole Church: and these especially, whereof thou hast made us members and beseech thee for thy special blessing upon our gracious Sovereign the King, the Queen, the Prince, the Prince and Princes Palatine: This whole State and all whom thou hast set over us in Church or commonwealth: upon the Ministry, with our Universities, the Magistracy, with the Judges, and Inns of Court, upon our brethren in Virginia, and Sommers Islands, and all that help to bear thy name unto the Gentiles: whose conversion Lord we beseech thee hasten as also the restoration of the Jews, thy ancient and beloved people. As for the Turk and Pope and all the known enemies of thy Grace and Glory, convert them Lord if they belong to thee, else remove them out of the way, and let them go to their own place. Remember all thy Children afflicted in mind or distressed in body, and all those whom we ought peculiarly to pray for: Lord bless them and us, and hear us for them, and them for us: and Christ Jesus our glorious Mediator for us all: In whose Name we offer to thy Majesty our souls and bodies, and this our poor Morning sacrifice, in that most holy and perfect prayer that he hath left us.
Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name: Thy Kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven: Give us this day our daily Bread: And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us: And lead us not into temptation: But deliver us from evil: For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. AMEN.
THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of GOD our Father, and the comfortable fellowship of God the Holy-Ghost, &c.
A household Prayer for the Euening.
MOst Mighty Lord GOD, and merciful Father, the day is thine, and the night is thine, thou hast created the Light and the Sun, and calls for darkness at thy pleasure: blessed forever be thou, who gives us the rest of the night, and comforts of the day: And now we confess to thy glory, O Lord, that even for the sins of this day, if thou shouldest call us to account, we were not able to abide it, for we have sinned against thee this day, both in Omission of good, and in doing of evil, both towards thee, and towards our brethren, we have not dealt with others, as we would have them deal with us, we have taken unlawful liberty to our selves, in thoughts, words and deeds, we have abused thy good creatures to gluttony, drunkenness, wantonness, or excess, we have dealt either negligently or unfaithfully in our callings: and all this, O Lord, and much more, because we have not set thee before our eyes, nor nourished thy fear in our hearts. To us therefore in justice, belongs nothing but shame and confusion. For thou art a righteous and a powerful God, and we confess there is good cause, that thy justice should condemn us, and thy power confound us; Have mercy therefore upon us O merciful Father, even for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past, and remember that he came into the world, to save sinners: we have sinned, O Lord, and have need of thy mercy: O Lord, show thy mercy upon us, and grant us thy salvation: And seeing thy promises are effectual to none, but them that believe, O LORD, increase our Faith in thee, and in all the sweet promises of thy Word, let us take hold of them, believe them, and rest upon them in life and death. And forasmuch as pardon is not given but to the penitent, O LORD work in us true repentance for all our sins past. Let us sorrow more for sinning against thee, then for all the wants and miseries, crosses and losses of this world: And Lord make us new creatures, work in us reformation and amendemnt of life, and every day we live, let us grow in grace and spiritual strength, that as we are daily elder, so we may be better, and the nearer we draw to our ends, grant Lord, we may draw the nearer to thee, and to everlasting happiness with thee in Christ Jesus. And now being reconciled to thee our God, give us leave to call for a blessing upon us and our labors in our callings this day, for without thee O Lord all is in vain, though we rise early and go late to bed, and eat the bread of carefulness: Bless us therefore most blessed God, and all the works of our hands, Lord reward what is well done, and pardon what is amiss, give us also good Lord hearts humbled under thy Judgments, thankful for thy mercies and contented in our places with the portion thy providence assigns unto us, and teach us to wait on thee and on thy good providence in all our needs and necessities of soul and body. And let nothing of this world trouble our hearts, O Lord our God, but let us have grace to believe that thou who hast given Jesus Christ to save us, canst deny us nothing: thus good Lord let us live the life of Faith, whilst we are here, that after this life ended, we may receive the end of our Faith, the salvation of our souls, through Jesus Christ our Lord. In whose Name and mediation we recommend to thy mercy, thy whole Church, and all whom we any way ought to pray for, as well as if we had named them particularly: for thou knowest them all O Lord, better then we, and what they need for soul and body, Lord be merciful; to them and bless them, as our selves, make us partakers of their prayers, and them of ours, and let thy protection be over them and us, and all ours this night following, giving us the rest and sleep thou knowest needful for these poor and vile bodies, and thereby enabling us to the duties and burdens, which the day following shall bring upon us. Hear us for our selves good Lord, and for all thine, and for everyone of us in this family, from the highest to the lowest, (for with thee is no respect of persons) and answer us in these, and all other good blessings, which thou knowest good for us, and make us truly thankful for thy many good blessings, this day, and all our days, bestowed on us, even for the merits and blood-shedding of Jesus Christ. To whom blessed Father, with thee, and the Holy Spirit of Grace, our only and Eternal God, be praise and glory, now and evermore. Amen.
THe Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God our Father, and the comfortable fellowship of God the Holy-Ghost, be with all God's children, and us in this family, in our souls and bodies, this night, and evermore. Amen.