The fourth part of the true watch containing prayers and teares for the churches. Or A helpe to hold up the hearts and hands of the poorest servants of God, untill our Lord Iesus Christ shall have rescued his glorie, kingdome, and people in all the world, and fully prepared the way to his most glorious appearing.

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Author:	Brinsley, John, fl. 1581-1624.
Title:	The fourth part of the true watch containing prayers and teares for the churches. Or A helpe to hold up the hearts and hands of the poorest servants of God, untill our Lord Iesus Christ shall have rescued his glorie, kingdome, and people in all the world, and fully prepared the way to his most glorious appearing.
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Print source:	The fourth part of the true watch containing prayers and teares for the churches. Or A helpe to hold up the hearts and hands of the poorest servants of God, untill our Lord Iesus Christ shall have rescued his glorie, kingdome, and people in all the world, and fully prepared the way to his most glorious appearing. Brinsley, John, fl. 1581-1624. London: Printed [by I. Jaggard?] for Thomas Pavier, 1624.
Alternate titles:	True watch. Part 4
Subject terms:	Meditations -- Early works to 1800.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16892.0001.001
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title page

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS Ladies, the Ladie ZOVCH, wife to the Right Honourable the Lord ZOVCH, with her Noble Sisters, Ladie DVDLEY, and Ladie WINFIED, all Grace and hap∣pinesse.

TO ALL THE PLAINE AND simple-hearted people of our Land, seduced by Pope∣rie; that they may forthwith be∣thinke themselves, both from whom they have departed, and also upon what grounds; and to let them know that they must either returne to our Church againe, or professe themselves to be of Satans Religion, and so will re∣maine to fight under his ban∣ner against our Lord and Saviour.

TO EVERIE TRVE CHRISTIAN Soule, rightly taking to heart the estate of Christs poore Churches and disper∣sed Flocke.

The Contents in generall.

note

Rules to be observed in the use of all the Me∣ditations and Prayers.

Rules to helpe to keepe us from ever declining from the Lord, and from all de∣lusions, cheefely by Popery.

¶ Places of Scrip∣ture to be ever in our hearts, to quicken us and stirre up in us the pow∣er of prayer.

Errata.

A PREPARATIVE to instant Prayer, according to the necessity of the Times, by thinking day and night of these things following, untill wee have gotten them, or the summe of them into our hearts, and can have them ever as it were before our eyes; to cry instantly to our holy God, like as he hath direct∣ed vs.

The first general Meditation; How our Saviour lookes for some to helpe him, in the deli∣very & saving of his Church.

The second generall Meditation, concerning the present necessity of this worke, and the liuely feeling thereof, How euery one that lookes to be saued by Iesus Christ, & to stand at his right hand, must endeavour by all possible meanes to bee fitted for this service, to bee a helper to our Saviours poor Church heerein.

The first particular Meditation of this second generall point, con∣cerning the calamities & dan∣gers of our bretheren in all places, and those threatened towards our selves; and the chiefe meanes of deliverie and preservation from them.

The second particular Meditation of the second generall: How he hath beene wont principally to get himselfe glory in saving his Church by Princes and Gover∣nors.

The third particular Meditation of this second generall, That as Sathan and Antichrist haue set themselves to fight against Christ his kingdome so our Sa∣viour hath ordained Kings and Princes to hold up his Scep∣ter, and to defend and protect his Subiects and Gospell.

The fourth particular Meditation of the second generall; How Sathan and Antichrist set up themselves to be obeyed, and to destroy out of the earth all that seeke to obey the Lord.

The fifth particular Meditation of the second generall, Concer∣ning the innumerable miseries which our Brethren indure, de∣prived of the outward comforts of this & the better life, & how neere the like may be to us.

The sixt particular Meditation of the second generall, concerning the sinnes of the Churches, and namely, the generall abuse of the Gospell, and the blessings which accompany it, and that our sinnes are most hey∣nous for our unthankefulnesse.

The seuenth particular Meditati∣on, of the second generall: how Sathan exerciseth all his power and tyranny against all the Churches spiritually.

The eight particular Meditati∣on of the second generall: That the kindgome and glory are Christs, that Sathan and Antichrist fight principally a∣gainst him, and against his Church; onely for his cause, and therefore are sure to be o∣verthrowen.

The ninth particular Meditation of the second generall, how our Lord Iesus Christ is that everlasting Amen, and com∣ming quickly.

The third generall Meditation.

The first particular Meditation of the third generall, To make sure that wee bee the true children of our heavenly Fa∣ther.

More particular Meditations hereof.

The second particular Medita∣tion of the third general, That we can, and use to seeke his honor above all other things.

The third particular Meditati∣on of the third generall: That we seeke his honour chiefely in the aduancement of the Scep∣ter of Iesus Christ.

The fourth particular Meditati∣on of the third generall, That we seeke to honour him eer in the full accomplishment of all his heavenly will.

The fift particular Meditation of the third generall, That we be such as looke into, and de∣pend onely upon our heavenly Father for all good things.

The sixt particular Meditation of the third generall, That we be such as feele our sinnes and infirmities as a heavy burden, and travelling under them, doe fly ever unto Christ.

The seuenth particular Medi∣tation of the third generall, That we indeavour to pray continually. Lead us not into temptation.

The eighth particular Meditati∣on of the third generall, That wee can and doe use to sing the song of the 24. Elders, Glo∣rie, &c.

The fourth generall Meditation.

The first particular Meditation of the fourth generall, That we pray onely to our heavenly Father in the name of Christ.

The second particular Medita∣tion of the fourth generall, That above all and in all wee ayme at Gods glory, and the advancement of Christs scep∣ter.

The third particular Meditati∣on of the fourth generall, That wee seeke the doing of his heavenly will, for his glo∣ry and kingdome chiefly.

The fourth particular Meditati∣on of the fourth generall▪ That we seeke all good things from God alone, chiefly that wee may have wherewith to ho∣nour him, and advance his kingdome.

The fift particular Meditation of the fourth generall, and so of the sixt and seventh to∣gether.

The fift generall Meditation.

The first particular Meditati∣on of the fift generall, That when we can so pray, he will manifest himselfe our tender Father.

The second particular Medita∣tion of the fift generall, How hee will from heaven shew us his glory, when wee can so pray.

The third particular Meditati∣on of the fift generall.

The fourth particular Medita∣tion of the fift generall.

The fift particular Meditation of the fift general: How hee will then deliver and feed his people.

The sixt particular Meditation of the fift generall: How then he will clense his people from their sinnes, and write his law in their hearts.

The seuenth particular Medita∣tion of the fift generall, How wee shall see him delivering his flock from Sathan, and dissolving all his cursed workes.

The eight particular Meditati∣on of the fift generall, How then hee will declare himselfe sole Monarke, and to whom all glory belongs.

The ninth particular Meditati∣on of the fif generall: How we are never to rest, till wee can reioyce and triumph in the assurance of Faith, crying oyntly, Amen.

The Sixt generall Me∣ditation.

The First Meditation hereof, to be seriously pondered.

The first reason to be seriously meditated of.

The second reason to be seriouslie thought of.

The third particular reason hereof to be throughly medita∣ted of.

The 4. particular Reason hereof, to be thorowly laid to heart.

The Fift reason heereof to be se∣riously meditated of.

The sixt Reason to be rightly considered of.

The senenth reason to be serious∣ly Meditated of, That none can be admitted, who will not cest away their sinne, though as deere as their right eye.

The eighth reason hereof, That but inclining to any fin, God will not heare us.

The ninth reason hereof to bee e∣ver in our hearts, That who∣soever is not with our Savi∣our is against him.

The second particular Medita∣tion of this sixt generall, Who may with hope and confidence offer themselues.

Reasons to be seriously weighed; that onely such can looke, or hope to have acceptance here.

The seuenth generall Meditation.

Three more speciall Meditati∣ons to this end. That the wise consideration of them may ne∣ver go forth of our hearts un∣till we be of this number.

The first Meditation to this end to be seriously pondered That our Lord Iesus stands conti∣nually at the heart of every impenitent sinner to enter in.

More particularly.

The second Meditation, To thinke what it is for a man to forsake his owne happinesse▪ in refusing Christs gracious call, and to joyne with Sathan against him, to his endlesse perdition.

The third Meditation, How God herein sets before us all, life and death, blessing and cursing.

Prayers according to our Sauiours dire∣ction, chiefly for maintai∣ning and advancing of his glory and kingdome, against the rge of Sathan and Antichrist, and for helping his poore distressed Chur∣ches, with all the members of Iesus Christ, scattered over the face of the whole earth; and that the whole number of Gods e∣lect may be speedi∣ly gathered forth.

I. A prayer for our preparation, that wee may bee made meete to bee admitted, and may bee accepted as helpers, in this so great a worke.

II. A prayer for increase of our love to all the Children of the Lord, and for keeping a con∣tinuall fresh remembrance and feeling of their estate.

III. A prayer that wee may be a∣ble to seeke and finde this first, that God is our graci∣ous and tender Father in Christ, and that we may grow in this assurance daily.

IIII. A prayer that wee may not de∣ceive our selves in vayne con∣ceite, that we are Gods Chil∣dren, when wee are nothing lesse, as the greatest part doe, but that wee may come to strong assurance heereof▪ by feeling a totall change in our lives and conversations.

V. A prayer that wee may finde in our selves, not onely the ge∣nerall, but even all the parti∣cular markes of Gods Chil∣dren, namely, those which our Saviour hath taught us to beg in his prayer.

VI. A prayer for knowledge and right use of the meanes, whereby wee may bee made Gods Children, and grow up in the assurance thereof▪ and so b established in grace con∣tinually.

VII. A Prayer, that all may under∣stand how deere Gods Chil∣dren are unto him, that they may be so to us likewise.

VIII. A Prayer that we may all bee a∣ble to lift uppe our eyes and hearts unto our heavenly Fa∣ther alone, and to look beyond all earthly meanes in all the troubles and perilles of the Churches.

IX. A Thanksgiving to God, ac∣cording to the first petition of the Lords prayer, for causing his glorie to breake forth so wonderfully now in this last Age of the world, in delive∣ring his Churches, thus farre out of Egypt and Babilon, with a confession of our un∣worthinesse; and an earnest prayer, that wee may never dishonour him, by locking thi∣ther againe; nor provoke him by our sinnes to give us up to that heavie iudgement: and likewise for the diliverie of all the rest of his Israel in his due time, and that he may ne∣ver leave us untill hee have brought us all into his heaven∣ly Canaan.

X. A prayer, that wee and all the Churches in token of our thankfullnesse to our blessed God, for our deliverance from Babilon, & for making us his people and Children, and his Covenant with us, may set our selves to honour him more then ever wee have done, especially in a more con∣scionable and chearefull wal∣king in all his holy Lawes and Commandements, that hee may alwaies keepe us from that bloody tyranny.

XI A Prayer that Gods glorie may breake forth more and more, then ever heeretofore, in cau∣sing us and all his people in all the Churches, to set him up alone as our God, and make him great in our hearts, by having our hearts first sound∣ly replenished with all the parts of his inward worship, commanded in the first Com∣mandement, without which, we and all our outward wor∣ship, and whatsoever we do in his service are utterly in vain That thus all the Churches, and euery soule, may seeke to pacifie his Maiestie, by gi∣ving unto him his due glorie.

Another Prayer, according to the first Comman∣dement.

XII. A humble confession of the sinnes of the Churches, and an ac∣knowledgment of Gods righ∣teous proceeding for our un∣thank fulnesse and transgres∣sion of his Lawes: and for that though wee haue heard of all their miseries, and knowne our owne dangers▪ yet we haue not beene humbled, nor made our supplications as we ought, according to the 1. of Nehe∣miah.

XIII. A humble confession of the hey∣nous sinne of our lande, and namely in all the Popish sort, who have so fearfully polluted it, in reiecting the Lord and his pure religion, casting it forth of theis hearts, and set∣ting up the Pope of Rome with his abhominable Idola∣try and superstition in place thereof, to provoke his hea∣venly Maiesty against us: with prayer for pardon, and that they, and all other may in due time, see this fearfull sin, that casting out Sathan and Antichrist, they and all of us may againe set up our Lord Iesus Christ, to the pacifying of his sacred Maiesty, and the saving of us all▪

XIIII. An earnest prayer that the Lord would open the eyes of our brethren and sisters, seduced by the Iesuites and other Se∣minary Priests▪ that they may plainly see, how palpably they are, and have bene deluded by them: in what a fearfull e∣state they all stand under Sa∣than and Antichrist, and may speedily get them from under their Tyranny, and be∣take themselves to the banner of our Lord Iesus Christ, to e∣scape the orment which they must otherwise indure with them for evermore.

XV. A humble thanksgiving for our dread Soveraigne, our graci∣ous Prince, the Prince and Princesse Palatine, and all their royall progeny, and for all the great deliverances which our blessed God hath given unto them, and to us all by them: with an earnest prai∣er, that hee may make them (each in their times and pla∣ces) the happiest heades of the most prosperous and blessed Nations and people, that ever have bene in the world.

XVI. A humble thanksgiving, that the Lord hath already, begunne so graciously to heare our prai∣ers: with supplycation, that as we have made entrance in∣to this service, to helpe our Lord Iesus, and his poore Churches, by our prayers and teares; so wee may bee every day more fitted and inabled hereunto; untill wee shall see, not onely the deliverance of his Churches and Captives, but also the new Ierusalem, and the glory of his Sion, and in∣ioy the full happinesse of them for ever in the heavens.

Protestants helpes for Deuotion, and mat∣ters belonging to the stirring up of the same.

¶ See more concerning all these following in M. Maun∣sels Catalogue dedicated to Queen Elizaebeth, imprinted An. Dom. 1595 and sundry others since, not mentioned.

¶ A Table of the particular Meditati∣ons of each of the se∣uen generals.

summary of part two (forthcoming)