of vanity what is my heart but a filthy prison of corrupt thoughts What is my mouth but a stinking chanel of vain words what are my feet but chariots to bloodshed what are my hands but battlers with charity what is my head but a castle of wicked devices and what is my life but a fardel of iniquity I am nothing better than a dead tree the root is perished the bough wither'd being good for nothing but for the fury of the flame what then good Lord shall it be so what shall I burn sweet Jesus O save me for thy Names sake and quicken â—me create a new heart within me that I may bring forth much fruit and for ever flourish like a Tree planted by a river side O pour the Oyl of Grace into my defiled heart and season it with the salt of thy mercy lest the fume of mine iniquities ascend up to thy nostrils and provoke thy fury against me Pour down some drops of thy precious blood from the clouds of thy Mercy to quench out the angry flame of sin which of my self I am not able to put out by the virtuous water of any merit O Lamb of God let me eat thy flesh and drink thy blood that I may live by thee and cloath me in the wooll of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul Thou O God art full of compassion and long-suffering which continuest thy mercy for thousands taking away iniquities sins and offences Thou callest us after thy wonted mercy by thy Word to repentance and hearty conversion for unto all and every one is repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in thy Name therefore unto thee O most merciful Father do I cry desiring thee to look back upon me thy unworthy servant with the eyes of pity even as thou looked'st back upon the sinful woman in the banquet likewise favour thou me O Lord as thou didst the Publican who standing afar off smote his breast and said Lord be merciful unto me a sinner And grant O Lord that among the fears and terrours of conscience I may take hold of thee by a lively Faith and never in the sight of conscience do yield my self and despair but upholden by the voice of the Gospel I may flee unto thee my Redeemer and have by faith peace with God And thou my Saviour which hast suffered for me in the flesh give me grace that likewise in the same mind I may be arm'd for the mortifying of my flesh that henceforth I may live not after the lusts of men but after the will of God and keep the Devil under O LORD that he compel not my troubled conscience to despair either by heaping or ripping up mine offences or extenuating thy mercy and grant that I may come unto thee by hearing thy word unto Repentance that thereby the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce before thee which livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer for the Aid of GOD's Holy Spirit O Dear Father forasmuch as every man living is of himself before thee but as a beast neither knowing thee nor the things concerning their duties unto thee I as one of the most perverse filthy and corrupt do here humble my self before thee begging at thy hands that thou hast promised to give unto as many as ask it of thee thy holy Spirit that heavenly Comforter which revealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant which also stireth up the minds and inward affections of thy children to call upon thee by preparing their hearts and opening their mouths to celebrate thy Name bestow it good Father bestow it upon me thy unworthy servant and upon all thy children and grant that although all of us are of corrupt affections and polluted lips yet we may be sprinkled with that Heavenly Hyssop that we may have our hearts cleansed of the corrupt affections of this World and the eyes of our understanding opened that we may see the good things we should ask and our feet that are fettered with the cares of vain things may be set at liberty that we may walk the right way unto the Kingdom of Heaven and that the hands of our souls may apprehend take hold of the Righteousness of thy Son Jesus Christ that by the aid of the same Spirit we may cast off all impediments letts and incumbrances that detain us from coming unto thee Sanctifie me within without wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soul that my prayers may enter into thy presence and that thine ears may incline unto my humble petition so shall I declare thy loving kindness in the morning and thy truth in the night season Thou knowest whereof we be made thou forgettest not that we are but dust and unprofitable children not fit apt nor able of our selves to pray unto thee and praise thy Name therefore good Lord allure me unto thee to seek thee and grant that with my whole heart and mind I may always rejoyce and be comforted by thee for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to acknowledg God in his Works O Most mighty and eternal God thou by the creation of the world and all that therein is hast sufficiently declared thy self to be the everlasting and Almighty God for that these things do far pass the reach of mans wisdom and not herein only hast thou declared thy self to be God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and govern the same and all things of thee created Seeing therefore O most merciful Father that we have both in our selves and also in thy creatures so manifest Testimonies that thou only O Lord art that eternal and loving God which dost reign in all thy creatures guiding and governing them by thy Heavenly Providence Grant I do beseech thee that my heart may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not only to be God eternal who hast created all things but also that I may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord dost govern all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can be done in the whole world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singular care over thine Elect so that not so much as an hair of their heads shall fall without thy Providence Grant therefore O Lord I beseech thee that I may hereof be fully assured in my Heart and Soul and that I may in all my doings set thee before mine eyes acknowledging thee to be my only Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in me I may be confirmed in Faith comforted in Soul and lightned in Understanding that always here on Earth I may glorifie thy holy Name and after the dissolution of this my mortal body I may attain thy everlasting joy with thy Elect in thy glorious Kingdom for ever and ever Amen A very fruitful Prayer to
for Jesus Christ's sake to deal with me and them according to thy mercy and loving kindness and not after our deserts be thou merciful unto me and evermore mightily defend me unto my lives end conducting me uprightly in all my ways for the glory of thy holy Name to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the opening of the eyes of our understanding O Sweet Jesus lighten me with the brightness of eternal light and drive all darkness as it were from the mansion house of my soul suppress the wandring thoughts and break in pieces these violent temptations fight thou my God for my defence and vanquish those evil beasts to wit the intieing desires of the flesh that by thy power I may get peace and sing out thy praises in the holy Court of my soul send thy light and truth which may lighten the earth for I am rude earth good for nought until thou enlighten me pour out thy favour from above and replenish my soul with thy heavenly grace O Lord lift up my mind which is pressed down through the weight of sin and stir up the same wholly to the desire of heavenly and celestial things that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness it may greatly grieve me even to think of this world take me O Lord or rather pluck me from all momentany pleasures of earthly and vain things and joyn me unto thee by an indissoluble band of good will for thou alone dost suffice thy friend and without thee all things are vain and of no price in my heart to whom O my Lord God be all glory for ever Amen A Godly Meditation or Prayer O Lord my God I altogether unhappy and comfortless have grievously offended thee how often have I trespassed against thee and how often have I deserved thy displeasure and yet how seldom hast thou punished me how often hast thou been good and merciful unto me how often have I promised and vowed amendment and how little and seldom have I performed it I dare not lift up mine eyes towards heaven because I have sinned against it and in earth I cannot look for refuge because I have been a slanderer and a shame unto it what then shall I despair no for God is merciful and a good Saviour he doth visit them that live in darkness and is a chearful light to them that sit in the shadow of death he willeth us to forgive our brother though he offend seven times yea and infinitely and is more merciful than any man can be return thee therefore unto thy Lord God pray unto him humbly for grace and continue thee to bewail thy sins past because he that loveth thee provoketh thee daily with his gifts to love him and will not leave till he have made perfect his work begun and brought his mercy to full effect in thee what natural cause beginneth his work and leaveth it in the half way imperfect and as by natural order and right course things do proced and increase by little and little from the less to the more even so doth God first dispose us to his mercy and then increasing his goodness daily bestoweth on us in the end the treasure of his grace the inheritance of everlasting joys yea very love worketh in natural causes to bring forth their effects to perfection which if it be so in creatures what will the Creator do which is love it self and infinite goodness he will withdraw thee from thy sins and make thee clean and pure and finally bless thee with eternal life O Lord I come unto thee humbly waiting for thy mercy thou art my hope and help according to thy great goodness and mercy in Jesus Christ have mercy on me now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for perseverance in Prayer O Lord my God according to thy Commandment in mine afflictions and necessities I seek to thee for succour by continual Prayer and calling upon thy Name therefore most dear Father strengthen me by thy holy spirit that I may still persevere in Prayer and with longing desires patiently wait for thee O Lord being assured that although it appear not as yet thou art always present with me and heardest my complaint and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy self manifestly in renewing my heart with spiritual joy stir up O Lord I beseech thee my sluggish nature to call upon thee continually appointing thee neither the time nor the means of my deliverance but leaving all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the mean time never cease by continual Prayer to call for thy merciful deliverance and when thou shalt mercifully take upon thee to deliver me I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodness towards me and that it never slip out of my heart but that I may continue thankful for the same all the days of my life whereby thy glory in me may be declared and my soul relieved though Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer O My Lord God and merciful Father I humbly beseech thee in Jesus Christ that thou wilt vouchsafe to hide and bury all my sins and transgressions whatsoever from my infancy unto this present time I have committed and done against thy divine Majesty O Lord be thou my light in darkness then shall my light be as clear as the day O heavenly Father bless me O blessed Son keep me O Holy Ghost three Persons and one God deliver me this night from all sin and evill that may be hurtful to my soul and body that so with confidence to thee I may lay me down to rest and none make me afraid because thou art my Protector O holy Spirit at my last gasp be thou my light yea when my strength faileth my sight departeth mine ears wax deaf and my mouth dumb and when all my senses for sake me then give me some sense of eternal life that I may taste in this mortal body the beginning of thine everlasting comfort and at my departure out of this world I may behold by faith thy divine presence and so sleep quietly to eternal life through Jesus Christ thine only Son my Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen Short Directions before the Receiving of Christ's Holy Sacrament His Blessed Body and Blood SAcraments should of all men be admired and honoured not so much respecting the service which we do unto God in receiving them as the dignity of the sacred and secret gift we thereby receive from God They are the visible signs of invisible graces which indeed is the very end these heavenly Mysteries were instituted for They are the powerful instruments of God to eternal life for as our natural life consisteth of the union of the body and soul so our life supernatural in the union of the soul with God His flesh is meat his blood is drink not by surmised imagination but truly
our contrition and repentance In affliction saith the Lord they will hear me Davids troubles made him pray Hezekiah's sickness made him weep and misery drew the Prodigal child home We have the Prophets examples and patterns of bearing afflictions patiently which though the punishment and shame is of sin God turns to be the subject of his honour and glory in saving a sinner that calls upon him in faith and true repentance to Heaven His chastisements are signs of his Fatherly love which though for the present seem grievous unto us afterward it bringeth quiet fruit of righteousness to those whom the Lord giveth grace to make a sanctified use of it for which he hath inflicted this sickness on you And know you certainly though your sins are many and grievous which you have committed by the temptation of the Devil yet upon your true repentance God hath promised to forgive the benefits of which are the escaping eternal death God's everlasting punishments and the attaining eternal salvation where sin abounds there grace much more abounds God calls all those that are heavy laden to refresh and ease them of all their trouble the Lord forsaketh no man till man forsaketh him Look not so much upon the greatness of thy sins as to the riches of his mercy and let thy soul be comforted in the All-sufficient atonement of the blood of Jesus Christ Let the wicked saith the Lord forsake his way the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto me and I will have mercy upon him and I will pardon him abundantly Let not your conscience be terrified at the remembrance of your transgressions for there is no sin bars a man from salvation but incredulity and impenitency Therefore lift up your hearts unto the Lord call unto him for mercy repent earnestly of your sins and have a lively considence in Christ's merits and doubt not but upon your humble contrition and sorrow for sin with sighs and tears the blood of a wounded soul God will receive your soul into everlasting happiness to live in eternal glory which he of his infinite mercy grant through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The sick saith O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon me miserable sinner O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon me miserable sinner O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon me miserable sinner c. By thine Agony and bloody sweat By thy Cross and Passion By thy precious Death and Burial By thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the coming of the Holy Ghost Good Lord deliver us In all time of our tribulation In all time of our wealth in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment Good Lord deliver us I Humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon mine infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turn from me all those evils that I most righteously have deserved grant that in all my troubles I may put my whole trust and considence in thy mercy evermore serve thee if I live in holiness and pureness of living to thy honor glory through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Advocate Amen The friends of the sick party shall exhort him to examine himself of his estate both towards God and towards man that so by the condemning of himself he may find mercy at the hands of God for Christ Jesus sake 1. Of the confession of his faith 2. Of his sins and offences both against God Almighty either publick or private or his Neighbor in word or deed 3. Of his considence and faith in Jesus Christ for the death and passion he suffered for all sinners 4 Advise the party to send for the Minister that he may pray with him for the Lord hath promised to hear the prayers of the Faithful for us and to forgive us our trespasses And that he may give him the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ the living Bread that came down from Heaven If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever the Bread that I give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the World for whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him at the last day Joh. 6. 51. 5. Advise him to call to mind what injury or wrong he hath done to any man in word or deed that he may like good Zacheus make satisfaction where he hath injuriously fraudulently taken and detained from any man by oppression or deceit his goods or money for without restitution there can be no Repentance and if no Repentance no expectation of salvation 6. Advise him also to set his house in order for death will not be long in coming and that the covenant of the grace is not revealed to any And to make a judicious distribution of his estate not forgetting the poor The sick saith 1. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. 2. I am fully perswaded and undoubtedly in my conscience believe and do confess and acknowledge before God and you here present that every Point and Article of this my belief is true and necessary to Salvation 3. I acknowledge that I have been a grievous sinner offending my God many ways both in thought word and deed and am guilty of the breach of all his Commandments deserving for the same his heavy wrath and indignation against me I am sorrowful and mourn in my soul for them trusting that the Lord for Jesus Christ his sake who sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for my sin will have mercy upon me and grant me forgiveness for the same and after this life ended receive me to his eternal habitation 4. I confidently believe that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator and Saviour of all mankind and that I shall be saved by the only merits of his precious Death and Passion which he suffered on the Cross for my Salvation denying all meritorious works of my own and that there is no name under Heaven whereby I may be saved but in the name of Jesus Christ 5. I do from my heart freely forgive all the World all those that have any way wronged injured or offended me by word or deed as I desire to be forgiven of God And I desire likewise all men whom I have often offended by committing any unjust unconscionable or uncharitable act or deed to forgive me being sorry for what I did to their prejudice or hurt O Lord I beseech thee hear my Prayer and spare me which do confess my sins that I whose conscience by sin is accused by thy merciful pardon may be absolved through Jesus Christ Amen O Lord my Redeemer have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O most mighty and eternal God which hast compassion on all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we
it obedient unto thee From suddain and unprovided death good Lord deliver me by the virtue of thy most excellent and glorious Divinity by the virtue of thine incarnation and by the merits of thy passion and resurrection grant me these supplications which I have made to thee And by thy own and only mediation purchase for me a gracious life and a blessed ending and after my bodily death give me everlasting life with endless bliss that I may reign with thee for ever and ever in the world to come Amen A Prayer for the attaining of a free and quiet mind O Most gracious merciful God keep me I beseech thee from the cares of â—his world that I be never too much inâ—angled therein by reason of the manifold â—hings which this body needeth nor taken with the vain delight of that which doth hurt the soul nor finally broken and overthrown with sorrow I say not from those things which the vain world doth greedily hunt after but from those miseries which suppress the mind of thy servant by a common and penal course of mortality and so withdraw me that I cannot enter into by the freedom of thy Spirit O my God which art sweetness unspeakable make all fleshly joy which withdraweth me from the love of eternal things to be grievous and odious unto me Let not flesh and blood O my God let not flesh and blood overcome me Let not the World and the vain glory thereof deceive me nor Satan with his subtilty supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to endure and constancy to persevere unto the end Grant me for the comfort of thy Word the most comfortable Oyntment of the Holy Ghost And for the lust of the flesh pour on me the love of thy Name The very meat drink and apparel with other things necessary for the nourishment of the body are even burthensome to a fervent spirit But grant O Lord that I may use those things moderately and never be snared with an over-greedy desire of them All things are now to be rejected for their nature would decay Again to covet superfluous and every pleasing thing thy sacred Commandments do forbid for the flesh would insult over the spirit Wherefore between those things let thy hand direct me O Lord and teach me to do nothing out of measure Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory Amen A Prayer for Hope O Eternal Father the author and giver of all Hope and Comfort I beseech thee to fill me with all joy and peace in believing that I may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost â—nd above hope in hope believing â—ay never doubt of thy Promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self â—he remission of my sins and believe veriâ—y that I please thee in Jesus Christ and â—oking in a certain and strong hope for â—e salvation of my soul in the life to â—â—me And albeit the helps and happiâ—ess of this present world appear not unâ— me yet I beseech thee O Lord let me â—â—â—â—tain a stedfast hope among all the terâ—rs of conscience and never suffer the same to be taken away from me by any snare of Satan O thou only begotten Son of God which hast loved me and given me everlasting comfort in hope through grace Comfort my heart and establish my heart in every word and good work that I stick not uncertain neither be tossed between hope and fear but may hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope unto the end And assist me O my God and Father I beseeh thee that in all the ways of temptation and troubles in this world I may patiently depend on thee looking for corporal deliverance according to thy will And though the same come not as I wish but be kept from me for a season yet let me never doubt of thine aid and deliverance but hope that coming it will come And I beseech thee O Lord to grant me thy grace that having this hope I may purge my self from all offensive things to thee and serve thee my loving God through Jesus Christ mâ— Lord and Saviour for ever Amen A Prayer against the Power of Satan O Lord my GOD how do we daily pass the limits of thy will We sin at least seven times a day and pledge Mother Eva in the dregs of nature This is the frailty of the flesh and this is the weakness of all Adam's issue A miserable case O Lord unless in thy mercy thou wilt wrap us and cover us with the white rayment of thy Grace that we being thine may never despair for any brunt of stormâ—ng Satan be it never so perillous O â—ord save me in thy mercy behold me â—ave pity and compassion upon me and â—ark not my steps that are crooked but â—ast the eye of thy favour upon thy Son Christ who was content to suffer the â—leeding pains of the Cross to satisfie thy â—rath and to deliver us from the sting of â—hellish conscience Wherefore I beseech â—ee O Lord and most dear Saviour not 〈◊〉 observe mine iniquities but to wash â—e from the guiltiness of sin in the â—â—ood 〈◊〉 thy mercies and so to save me that â—â—ing dead in iniquity and yet saved 〈◊〉 thine infinite pity I may give 〈◊〉 glory unto thee and sing with Our â—other the Church that Salvation belongeth unto thee O Lord to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the desire of a Godly Life O My Lord God how happy were I if I might never hereafter in thought word or deed commit the thing that should displease thy Divine Majesty That life is the longing of my soul and the substance of my wish and the effect of my desire my heart coveteth to see that blessed time and my joys then should be such as no mortal man can tell Truly Lord to know thee with the Son and the Holy Ghost is the true perfection of eternal life the end of all blessedness and the summ of all delights No eye hath seen nor ear hath heard nor hath it pressed into the depth of any mans understanding to value the inestimable charity delectation and pleasure of the same felicity when we shall behold the Majesty of God face to face And verily most glorious God I have reposed this hope in my heart and do assure my self through faith in thee that these eyes wherewith I read these lines shall see that Glory and this flesh wherewith I am cloathed in corruption and nouâ—led in mortality shall be a member of that immortal Kingdom Unto the which Lord at thy appointed pleasure bring me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Power and Glory for ever and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Omnipotent and eternal God Father Son and Holy Ghost three in Persons and one in Substance and from everlasting I extol thy sacred Majesty I praise thy unspeakable
strictly that I should believe without doubting so wouldst thou in all my needs I should come unto thee as a Father and make my moan without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make for thy glory and my comfort Lo therefore to thee dear Father do I come in thy Son Jesus Christ praying thee of thy great mercy and goodness to be merciful unto me that I may love thee with all my heart for ever that my works may be ever found holy in thy sight and that I may always not only strive against sin but also overcome the same dayly more and more as thy children do and above all things desire the sanctifying of thy Name the coming of thy Kingdom the doing of thy Will here on earth as it is in Heaven and that only through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to GOD to bless our endeavours O My Celestial Father be favourable unto me thy repentant servant fled from mine enemies to thy help and succour Impute not my sins unto me for Christs sake for I have heard thy fatherly voice and it soundeth daily in mine ears out of Heaven promising me and affirming constantly thy self to be appeased with me for thy Sons sake whom thou commandest me to hear and believe who is made of thee my righteousness my salvation my Peace my Mediator and intercessor my fulfiller of the Law my deliverer and my whole holy accomplisher of all my just desires and my Saviour Christ Jesus God and man in whose Name at this time I attempt and take in hand all my just doings according to my calling desiring thy gracious goodness O Lord God and Father to prosper it further it and give it happy increase that whatsoever I take in hand justly to finish the same O holy Father bless all my endeavours with thy blessed increase and let me not seek mine own will but ever to pray that thy will be fulfilled and let me not be led into temptation but deliver me from all evil for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to live uprightly in our Calling O GOD of all comfort and giver of all consolation forgive my sins cleanse and wash me from all iniquities which disable me to perform my calling in such sort as becometh me and through the blood of thy Son purifie my heart and my imperfections and sanctifie me with thy grace that my sins being forgiven I may rest in thy favour and continual comfort and be daily blessed with new gifts that I may be found perfect in my calling seasoned so with a lively faith in thee that thy holy Spirit may continually dwell and bear rule in me and lead me to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling that all unnatural affection being truly mortified I may only rest in thee and rely on thee and be ruled by thee in all things Good Father grant that I may take the direct and right course in my vocation to eternal life in which course consisteth the inward peace of the Soul which is only delighted in thy inviolable truth revealed by thy Son and is left unto us in His Word and last Will in which his last Will and Testament are comprehended all necessary Rules and the sacred discipline whereby thy children are to guide themselves in their several callings which directions are comprehended in three principal virtues by thee bestowed on them that seek them at thy hand in the Name of thy Son as Faith Hope and Love which three are so united and knit together in one in thine elect children that they through thy grace go not awry in their calling I therefore dear Father being of my self ignorant and of mine own power unable to comprehend the height of my calling instantly beseech thee in mercy to behold me an unperfect creature without these Virtues and so adorn me with them that I may be made perfect in all good works of the Spirit that my labours and endeavours be not in vain in thee and grant that I may joyn with all my travils desires and endeavors faith with â—aith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience with patience godliness with godliness brotherly kindness with brotherly kindness and with brotherly kindness that I be not unfruitful in my calling but may acknowledge thy Son Jesus Christ and in him have peace of conscience that I may be patient in troubles long-suffering in wrongs faithful in expecting hope in distress rejoycing in heart quieted in mind in hope to enjoy at thy hands and in thy good time whatsoever maketh for the true comfort of my soul and the relief of my body that in all true and inward feeling of thine aid my calling may be made perfect and sealed with the seal of thine own Spiritual Probation so shall I thy unworthy servant be directed in the true knowledge of Thee O blessed Lord and loving Father except thou thus direct me I cannot stand but shall fall into many miseries for no Estate no Degree no Calling Office Function or Trade of life can prosper or be rightly performed without thy continual aid direction and providence therefore good Lord guide me by thy Spirit increase my faith give me wisdom and ableness in all things to execute my calling as I ought and to the execution thereof bless all my members make them apt and ready instruments to perform their duties that in no point I fail in a Christain proceeding therein and bridle me in the nature of flesh and blood which unless thou season my affections by thy Spirit will so much the more glory by how much that thou hast exalted me and inabled me to live in this world in higher reputation than other men whereunto flesh and blood is ready to attribute chiefest hearts ease and by that subtil shift Stan many times moveth us to rely upon vain things Wherefore O good Father vouchsafe I beseech thee to ground all my affections upon thy fear that I be not miscarried in my calling from the true obedience of thee without which neither honour profit wealth wisdom or any other blessing of thine can stand relieve or comfort me be pleased therefore dear Father with me and grant that all things that I take in hand may begin in knowledge proceed in fear and end in love that the whole course of my life may be blessed with good effect in all mine enterprises that neither mine enemies rejoyce at my miseries the Godly be offended at my rashness nor my estate hindred by my foolishness grant this good Lord for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for even Amen Prayers for Thursday Night O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm GRacious is the LORD and righteous yea our GOD is
even so truly through faith we perceive in the body and blood Sacramentally presented the very taste of eternal life For the worthy receiving of this Sacrament these four things are very considerable 1. Preparation or Examination 2. Faith 3. Repentance 4. Thanksgiving 1. Preparation consisteth in self-examination and in an act of the soul reflecting upon it self in a general survey of our spiritual state in grace comparing our present condition which we find in our selves with the word of God by which will quickly appear what good we should have done and the evil we should not have done S. Paul's admonition is that before the receiving of this holy Sacrament there should be a strict examination Let a man examine himself and so let him eat and drink of this Cup. 1 Cor. 11. For he that drinketh unworthily drinketh his own damnation Therefore certainly great is the danger to us if premeditation precedes not this great undertaking Thus saith the Lord Consider your ways Hag. 1. 5. Consider well what you go about for this duty is no perfunctory imployment no exercise by the bye but such a work as ought to be done exactly seriously with deep meditation and study recollecting in privacy and calling to question all thy actions past the omission of good duties and the doing of evil sweeping as it were all the corners of thy heart and view thy self in the glass of God's Law by which quickly will appear thy great and many sins of all kinds whatsoever as want of love and fear of God abusing his mercies and blessings neglect of works of charity piety and justice offending thy God by blaspheming cursing and customary passion Intemperance by gluttony and drunkenness lust and uncharitable desires hatred malice back-biting and all manner of evil imaginations these are they that defile thy soul and except we do as the Prophet commands us Isaia 1. 16. Wash us make us clean put away the evil of our doings before the Lord's eyes and cease to do evil we shall at the last be rewarded with them that had not on the wedding garment Therefore laying aside all carnal security and self-dissimulation Commune with thy self and be still Psal 4. Search thy soul enquire of thy conscience and rip up thy bosome sins and confess them to the Lord in deep sorrow and contrition of heart imploring his mercy stedfastly purposing by his blessed assistance to lead a new life Accuse thy self and say with the Prodigal in the Gospel Good Father I have sinned I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies it is thy mercy I am not consumed And with Mary Magdalene cast thy self down at the feet of Jesus and wash them with tears in tokens of thy sorrow and signs of thy love and be truly sorrowful for so often offending so precious so merciful a God as our God the greatness of whose love can't be measured whose mercy hath no bounds Therefore O my soul contemplate of the great goodness of our good God which hath this day sent salvation to thy soul and calleth thee to this great feast to be partaker of the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ being prepared by humble repentance to receive in faith and joy thy blessed Redeemer giving thanks always to God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ whose mercy is everlasting whose truth endureth from generation to generation 2. Faith which is a certain knowledge with an assured confidence kindled in our heart by the Holy Ghost being assuredly resolved that the free remission of all our sins everlasting righteousness and life eternal is given unto us through the mercies and goodness of Almighty God for the alone merits of Jesus Christ For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and not of your selves it is the gift of God Ephes 2. 8. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ Rom. 13. 24. For as by one man's disobedience all were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 5. 3. Repentance which is a godly sorrow for sin wrought in the heart by the supernatural grace of the Holy Ghost turning from all our evil ways unto God is meekness and humility of spirit Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your hearts and be no more stiff-necked Deut. 10. 16. Wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4. 14. Return ye now every one from his evil ways and make your doings good Jer. 18. 11. Let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord Lam. 3. 4. Return again unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine own iniquities Hos 14. 1. Draw nigh to God clanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double-minded Jam. 4. 8. 4. Thanksgiving praising God the Lord for all his benefits and mercies especially for sending his only Son Jesus Christ to die for the remission of all our sins and always to be mindful of the greatness of his goodness and the unworthiness of our deserts Worthy is the Lamb that was stain to receive power riches wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5. 12. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will sing praises unto my God while I have a being Psal 104. Accept I beseech thee the free-will-offering of my mouth O Lord Psal 11. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name Heb. 13. 15. An humble confession before the Sacrament O Most mighty God and merciful Father which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost put away the sins of those which truly repent and remembrest them no more open O Lord I beseech thee the eyes of thy mercy upon me thy most unworthy servant who in heart earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and offences the number of which exceeds the ordinary expectation of mercy and such they are as cannot bear any conformity with excuse the total sum whereof is the breach of all thy Commandments both in thought word and deed thy blessings and benefits I have abused thy judgments and punishments not feared the means of my own salvation utterly neglected and most grievously by my wickedness have I provoked thy wrath and indignation against me my life that was appointed for the service of thee the living God hath been for the most part spent in the service of the Devil in the desires and sinful lusts of the flesh my doings have been evil my desires and thoughts wicked and so detestable hath the whole course of my life been that my soul trembleth to look up to Heaven for fear of thy displeasure shouldest thou therefore O Lord be extream to mark what is done amiss and take vengeance for my sins I were as dust before the face of the wind and in justice might be swept away
11. Thou shalt purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 12. Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 13. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness 14. For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great 15. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am destitute and in misery 16. Remember not O Lord mine iniquities nor the iniquities of my fore-fathers neither take thou vengeance of my sins but spare me good Lord whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood and be not angry with me for ever 17. Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered 18. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile 19. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble Spirit 20. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that putteth his trust in him 21. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy word Glory be to c. O Most gracious Lord God I beseech thee help thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created repair the ruins of my soul inlarge the frame of my understanding thereof cleanse it from all filthy corruption and garnish it with all heavenly graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee that thou mayst make thy entry and possess that which is thy own both by creation and redemption and merits of thy passion through Jesus Christ Amen Before the receiving Ex Liturg. GRant O most merciful Father I beseech thee that I receiving these thy Creatures of Bread and Wine according to the holy institution of our Saviour Jesus Christ in remembrance of his death and passion may be partaker of his blessed Body and Blood and that my sinful body may be made clean by his Body and my sinful soul washt through his most precious Blood which was shed for the remission of all my sins through the same Jesus Christ Amen Immediately before the Receiving Matth. 8. 8. Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed II. O Lamb of God let me eat thy Flesh and drink thy Blood that I may live everlastingly by thee and cloath me with the wool of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul III. O blessed Jesus let the Blood that ran from thy blessed Heart wash my soul from all sin and iniquity and purchase me thy heavenly grace and benediction Amen Immediately after Receiving PRaise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name and forget not all his benefits which saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness Psal 103. I will give thanks unto the Lord for he is gratious and his mercy endureth for ever Psal 106. Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power be unto the Lord our God Amen Revel 19. 1. Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament Ex. Liturg. O Almighty and everlasting Lord God I thy most humble servant according to my bounden duty and service do render unto thy Fatherly goodness all possible praise and thanksgiving for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with the holy mystery and spiritual food of the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son and my Saviour assuring me thereby of thy grace and favour towards me and that I am a member incorporate in thy mystical body the blessed company of faithful people and also heir through hope of thy everlasting Kingdom by the merits of his most precious death and passion and grant me O Lord for the time to come the assistance of thy grace and heavenly benediction that I may continue in all such good works as thou hast prepared for me to walk in to the glory of thy Name and my everlasting comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm 1. PRaise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy name which saveth thy self from destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven 2. I will always give thanks unto the Lord his praises shall ever be in my mouth 3. Thy merciful kindness is evermore towards us and thy truth O Lord is everlasting 4. Great is the Lord and marvellous to be praised there is no end of his greatness 5. He loveth Righteousness and Judgment the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6. Be glad O ye Righteous and rejoice in the Lord and be joyful all ye that are true of heart 7. I will give thanks unto thee with my whole heart I will speak of thy marvellous works 8. O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his holy name 9. Let my heart be filled with gladness and my mouth with praise that I may sing of thy glory and with the rest of thy Saints give honour to thy Majesty in the eternal fruition of thy presence through Christ 10. My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever Amen Vers Praise the Lord. Resp The Lord's name be praised O Almighty and eternal God what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I hope to be glorified and for all other thy blessings and benefits which I enjoy both in soul and body and especially for feeding me this day with the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercy conform my life confirm my faith and guide me by thy grace that thy servant may with strong assurance of thine infallible truth and promised mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will keep holy my soul and body and let them not be defiled through delectation of sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee 1 John 1. 17. If we walk in the light