I—Who am sinfull in the
To save sinners; of whom I am chief, 1 Tim. 1, 15.
greatest sence
Believe—In Heart, and place my Confidence
In—Him, who framed all things by his
He spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast, Psal. 33. 9.
word
God—IA H, all potent, all commanding Lord,
The—Life of all, hath
He giveth to all things life, & breath, and all things. In him we live, move, and have our being, Acts 17, 25, 28.
Motion, Being, Birth,
Father—Of all so call'd in
Ephes. 3, 15.
Heaven and Earth:
Almighty—Giving fashion to each Matter,
Maker—According to his Rules of Nature,
Deus & naturae creavit.
Of—All unseene, as of that which we name
Heaven—The Grace of the Created Frame;
And—Likewise made, as
For by him were all things created in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, Colos. 1 16.
of all things Beginner,
Earth—With those various Formes that flourish in her.
And—For assurance, there my Faith is fixt
In—Him was
Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soule, and humane flesh subsisting, Athan Symb.
God and Man, a Person mixt.
Iesus—Who
Thou shalt call his name Iesus, for he shall save his people from their sinnes, Mat. 1. 21.
did salvation to us bring.
Christ—The
God apointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power, Acts 10, 38.
Anoynted Prophet, Priest, and King,
His—Fathers
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleasd, Mat. 17, 5.
selfe, none able to subdue Him,
Onely—As having not a Second to Him.
Sonne—Of th' Eternall Father,
Light of light, very God of very God, Athan. Symb.
Light of Light,
Our—Churches great Protectour day and night:
Lord—Unto us by Nature, Grace, and Glory,
Which—Shewing he was more then transitory,
Was—Not as other Mortals are indeede
Conceiv'd—In sinne, but of immortall seede,
By—The
The Holy Ghost shal come upon thee. and the power of the Highest shal overshadow thee, Luke 1, 35.
overshadowing pow'r of God, or rather
The—Spirit came down, sent from th' Eternall Father,
Holy—To shew his Nature free from sinne,
Ghost—And not flesh, nor was, nor er'e had been.
Borne—When
Gal. 4, 4.
the fulnesse of the time was come
Of—One
Rom 1, 3.
of DAVIDS Line, of Maiden wombe,
The—Wonder of her Sexe, when she on Earth
Virgin—Remain'd,
Vugo fuit partum, post, in, & ante suum.
before, in, after's Birth,
Mary—Exalted
Mari & Martam, signifit exalted.
Maid; then by his Foes
Suffred—What Malice could on him impose
Ʋnder—The Roman Judge, t'injustice bent,
Pontius Pilat,—Yet
He tooke water & washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person, Mat 27. 24.
pronounc't him innocent.
Was—Flouted, scorn'd, expos'd to all dishonour,
Crucifi'd—Murdred, slaine in barb'rous manner:
Dead—And extended, of all life bereav'd,
And—Was that others might not be deceiv'd:
Buried—And
They went and made the Sepulcher sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch, Mat. 27, 66.
lockt in
He made his grave with the rich in his death, Is. 53, 9. Ioseph of Arimathea, an honorable Counsellour, went in boldly, and craved the body of Iesus, and layd him in a Scpulches, Mar. 15, 43, 46.
Honourable Tombe,
He—Whiles his Corps was resting in Earths wombe;
Descended—Far
Ephes 3. 9.
below in glorious manner
Into—That place, where with victorious Banner
Hell—Saw him triumph, Devils trembled when
The—Lord
Numb 16. 22.
of spirits and flesh appeared: Then
Third day—To
Mat. 16, 21.
shew his God head without striving,
He—As the Lord of Dead, and King of Living,
Rose—As a
Isay. 25. 8.
Conquerour, and then was seene
Againe—On Earth, as if he ne're had beene
From—Thence by Death remov'd; and then to shew
The—Truth of all his Enemies overthrow,
Dead—Men
Mat. 27, 52, 53.
appear'd, and testifi'd 'twas so.
He—Having Now on Earth Staid
Acts 1, 3.
forty dayes,
Ascended—Far
He ascended up far above the Heavens, Ephes. 4. 10.
beyond the Suns bright raies
Into—The place, where 'bove the Starry Skye
Heaven—Is the
Acts 7, 49.
Throne of Sacred'st Majesty.
And—There Coequall to the
Heb. 12, 9.
Father of Spirits,
Sitteth—As Heire, and Glory now inherits
On—Glories
Mat. 19 28.
seate, and being free from sinning,
The—Place his now; so 'twas before
Heb 7. 3.
beginning.
Right Hand—Hath ever been
Tux mihi Pa
[...]is erat dextram tetigisse Tyranni.
of peace the signe
Of—Ours it was, by Him who did conjoyne
God—And Mankinde, and freely
2 Cor. 5, 10, 19.
reconcil'd
The—Incensed Party, now by
Colos. 1, 20.
blood growne mild.
Father—By's Son is
In whom I am wel pleased, Mat. 3
ult
pleas'd the worke being done,
Almighty—Father by th'
The Father is Almighty, the Sonne Almighty. A
[...]han.
Almighty Sonne:
From—Which most glorious place, that ne're hath ending,
Thence—With
Dan 7 10.
ten thousand thousand Saints attending
He—That now sits to plead as
1 Iohn 7, 1.
Advocate
Shall—On the
Ps. 18, 10, & 104 3.
winged
Mat 26, 64.
clouds in pow'r & state
Come—Swiftly
Mat. 24, 27.
downe cloathed in
2 Thes. 1, 8.
flaming fire,
To—Give
Rev. 22, 12. Mat. 13, 41, &c.
the bad their doome, the good their hire.
Iudge—Just, and
Acts 10, 42.
universall He shall be
The—Unjust to captivate, the just to free:
Quicke—At his then appearing, being
1 Cor. 15, 52, 53.
chang'd,
And—Every person then in order
Mat. 25, 33, 34, 31.
rang'd:
The—Sentence (20) shall heare pafsed for their faults
Dead—All
Rev. 20, 12.
Surgite Mortui & venite ad Judicium.
first summon'd from their hallow Vaults.
I—Furthermore to shew I doe not erre,
Beleeve—On Him Christ calls the
Iohn 14, 16.
Comforter:
In—Th' spirit of Life, and
Iohn 14, 17.
Truth that cannot lye,
The—Blessed Third in Blessed Trinity:
Holy—And Pure, us Pure and Cleane to make
Ghost—And
A Spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me have, Luke 24. 39.
not Flesh and Bones, which Christ did take.
The—Limbs of Christ, which ever had a Being,
Holy—Are call'd, as with
Col 1, 18.
the Head agreeing:
Catholike—'Tis, as without Limitation,
Church—Of our
1 Tim. 3, 5.
God, the blessed Congregation.
The—Parts disperst are here, in Heav'n above
Communion—Proofe, made one by
Col 2, 2. Eph 4. 13. 1 Tim 1, 14.
Faith and Love:
Of—Whose sweet unity, this I believe
Saints—Shall be one in
Io. 16, 20. Ps 126. 5, 16.
Joy, though now they grieve.
The—Chiefest thing that I looke after, is
Forgivenes—For
Psal. 32. 6.
what e're I've done amisse:
Of—All for which I may be blam'd or shent,
Sinnes—Of
Though Searlet or Crimson sinnes, Isay. 1, 18.
all sorts; of this I'me confident.
The Resurrection—And the full Reviving
Of—All
2 Cor. 5, 10.
have been on earth since ADAM Living
The—Soule that may be parted long from this
Body—Of Mine, shall then both share of blisse:
And—When my Bodies rais'd and pardon seal'd,
The—Timelesse joyes of Heaven yet
1 Cor. 2, 9.
unreveal'd:
Life—Without dying, I shall then possesse
Everlasting,—In full growne Happinesse.
Amen, is not onely a wish or desire of a thing to be so; but also an argument that the thing is granted. Weem. in Mand. 3.
Amen—So be it when my Race is runne,
Amen—So verily it shall be done.
O—All sufficient, which didst first Create
Our—First Grand Parents Pure, Immaculate:
Father—Of Comfort, God of Consolation,
Which—Set'st them in a happy Habitation.
Art—Not thou he which at the first didst frame,
In—Just respect unto thy glorious Name,
Heavens—Goodly Piece, with Angels that doe sing
Hallowed—And prais'd be our all-great-good King:
Bee—As thou art, great, good, just, gratious, then
Thy—Praise shall Eccho by all sorts of Men:
Name—Who dare name, when, where, or whom he will?
Thy—Name's of power in Heaven, Earth, and Hell.
Kingdome—'Gainst Kingdome here their forces bend:
Come—What come will thy Kingdome nere shall end:
Thy—Gracious word the Quire that is above
Will—Aye performe in perfect purest Love.
Bee—Pleased then great God that we who have
Done—For thy Glory, may thy Mercy crave:
In—Perfect Faith and Love, and finde it, when
Earth—Shall to Earth restored be agen:
As—We are sure all things in Heaven being done,
'Tis—Thy good pleasure and thy will alone:
In—Earth therefore wee'l strive, thy word to obey,
Heaven—Is our patterne to direct the way.
Give—Freely Lord, who at thy Mercy stand,
Ʋs—Who implore it at thy gracious hand,
This—Small Petition for the Body fit,
Day—After Day having, wee'l pray for it:
Our—Food from Body-starving we desire,
Dayly—By Faith in Christ we this require,
Bread—Which is Mankinds Staffe, Lord nere deny us,
And—Thou shalt still be magnified by us.
Forgive—Especially Lord we intreate
Ʋs—Who appeale unto thy Mercy-seate,
Our—Crying Debts, which we doe justly call
Trespasses,—Sins, offences great and small:
As—From the bottome of our hearts for ever,
Wee—Those that in their Malice doe persever,
Forgive—Most freely, praying thee to blesse
Them—That against us any wayes transgresse:
That—In thy rigorous and severe decree,
Trespasse—Or sin may ne're revenged bee.
Against—Thee onely we have sinned Lord,
Ʋs—Therefore pardon we intreate thee afford.
And—'Cause we are in danger of the Devill,
Leade—Lord thy Flock from wickednesse, from evill▪
Ʋs—In especiall we intreate thee spare,
Not—Of us only, but of all take care:
Into—Old Sathans traps ne're let us fall,
Temptatiō—Sweetest baite he laies for all:
But—In thy tender Mercy and Compassion
Deliver—Lord thy Church from foule transgression.
Ʋs—Have respect unto, who by thy power
From—Sin and Sathan must be freed each houre,
Evill—Else pursues; from thee then lets not swerve,
For—All is thine, and all things thee doe serve:
Thine—In respect of glorious Scituation
Is—All this Fabrick, all thine by Creation;
The—Heavens above where God in Glory raignes,
Kingdome—Of Earth, which for a while remaines.
The—Providence of all is in thy Hand,
Power—And Protection are at thy Command:
And—Th' effusion of all Grace into
The—Hearts of Christians thou canst cause and doe:
Glory—Attends thee, Grace and Glory's thine,
For—Thus 'twas ordered by thy will divine:
Ever—'Twas so before that Man offended,
And—So't shall be when all by fire is ended:
Ever—Therefore wee'l praise thy Name, and say
AmenTo all: Thus let all Christians pray.
To the Old-Protestant-Christian Reader.
VVHen one of the Disciples of our Blessed Saviour begged this boone of his Master for himselfe, and his fellowes; Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his Disciples, Luke 11. 2. Christ did not then answer them, as he did upon another occasion, when they were to be brought before Kings and Governours for his sake: For then he bids them take no thought, how, or what they shall speake, because it shall be given them in that houre what they shall speake, Mat. 10. 19. But now although he were as well able to put words into their mouthes to pray to his Father, as the Holy Ghost was then to answer their Persecutors: Yet he doth not say, Take no thought, how, or what yee shall pray; for it shall be given you in that houre what yee shall pray: Neither doth he adde as he doth there, v. 20. For it is not yee that pray, but the Spirit of my Father that prayeth in you: He neither makes such an Answer, nor addes such a Reason, but tells them what things they shall pray for, and in what words present it; this being his Answer to the Petition, when yee pray, say, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c. From which Petition of the Disciple, and answer of the best skil'd Master,
I have these few things observable.
1. That John the Baptist (as it is very apparent) did prescribe and teach his Disciples a set Forme of Prayer, and did not bid them (as it is now said) pray by the spirit.
2. From this answer of our Saviour it may be gathered, that a set Forme of Prayer is lawfull for all Christians, as it was for the Disciples of Christ, and St John.
3. That this Prayer which Christ taught his Disciples is not to be neglected of any, but may, and ought to be used and practised of all, in obedience to Christ who commands it.
4. That both the Disciples of John, and our Saviour praying in that manner as they did, and were taught by their instructors, did pray by the spirit.
5. That all things necessary for man, either body or soule, this life, or that which is to come, are summed up in that Prayer, which Christ there prescribed.
6. That Publick Prayer is to be preferred before Private, because Christ taught them to pray in a Body together, not severally asunder, bidding them not to say My, but Our Father answering the Disciples request, not teach Me, but Us to pray.
Now, because the Liturgy, or Publick Service of the Church is laid aside, and decried as Popish and Superstitious (with other unseemely expressions) and that Christs owne Forme of Prayer is in particular villified by some irreligious and scurrilous tongues; some offering to God a worse then Pharisaicall Thanksgiving, for that they never could say it; others that they have forgotten it; a third sort publickly glorying, that they have not sayd it in so many yeares past; and in generall, that it is neglected and left to a carelesse tuition: And that the Apostles Creed is altogether expunged, the New Publick Service either as unnecessary, or imperfect, or fruitlesse.
I have thought good this versifying way to recall it into peoples mindes, especially those who
(stilo Antiquo) have been incorporated into the Body of Christs Congregation, and to remember all undertakers, how at the Holy Font they have ingaged themselves before God and the Church, to make provision that they may learne the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the ten Commandements in the Engl
[...]sh tongue.
Reader, this which thou seest of the Lords Prayer, was so done about 23 or 24 yeares since, and there are many Coppies of it abroad, the other of the Creed is newly conceived, and delivered to the Light:
I have nothing to Apologize for my selfe, but those Sinewy Lines of that Excellent man, Mr. GEORGE HARBERT in his Church Porch.
Thou whose sweet Youth and Early Hopes inhance
Thy Rate and Price, and marke thee for a treasure;
Hearken unto a Verser, who may chance
Rhime thee to good, and make a baite of Pleasure.
A Verse may finde Him, who a Sermon flies,
And turne delight into a Sacrifice.
So Farewell.
GEORGE DITTON.