angels saying Holy Father I am prostrate at thy dreadful Tribunal I humble my self both soul and body before thee and bowe down my grieved head at thy Footstool as once my Meek and Dying Saviour did My God my God forsake me not Look O heavenly Father on the Scars and Merits of Jesus O hear his Mediation receive his Intercession and be merciful unto me a sinner a vile and ungrateful sinner What I have neglected what I have ignorantly or wilfully committed against thy Majesty most Holy most Mighty and Long-suffering from my Birth and Baptism unto this moment by sundry sorts of vain Thoughts and irregular Imaginations by inordinate Desires and Affections by injurious and corrupt Discourses and by innumerable evil Actions Follies and Provocations for Christs sake forgive me Such is my Condition so many and great my sins and relapses that unless thy mercy were infinite I could have no hope no comfort I have transgressed beyond all humane pardon beyond seventy seven times For the Bowels of the Saviour that were opened on the Cross for me for thine own immense Goodness which embraceth Heaven and Earth Holy Father have mercy upon me and pardon me Consider my Sorrow and Contrition Accept most merciful God my Tears my Subjection my Repentance my Vows and resolved Amendment And then speak Peace to my Conscience through Jesus Christ my onely Hope and Redeemer Amen Call to remembrance O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses which have been ever of old Oh remember not the sins and offences of thy servants Spare us all good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with the Blood of thy dear Son. Amen Psal. 25.5 6. See CHAP. XVI of this Book III. At the Absolution O Lord God almighty most gracious and merciful Father will all Humility Faith and Thankfulness I receive and embrace this Absolution as pronounced upon my Repentance from the Throne of thy Eternal Glory Amen Hallelujah Amen Amen Here then I have laid down my burden and fear the stain and disquiet of my life by name my Anger Lust Pride Envy Covetousness and the rest of my grievous sins never never to take them up again Blessed be God for this salvation Most holy Father assist and forward the Vows and Resolutions of the meanest of all that serve thee Let a man examine himself and so let him eat saith S. Paul. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made haste and prolonged not the time to keep thy commandments saith king David I look for the Lord in his word is my trust in the Lords word will I comfort me Psal. 56.10 My soul longeth for thy salvation Psal. 119.81 I here humbly wait for the Grace and Benefits of my dying Saviours Institution and Legacy for the Precious Treasure of Heaven Visit me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people that I may see the felicity of thy chosen and give Thanks with thine Inheritance The Lord pardon me and every one that prepareth his heart to seek God the Lord God of his fathers the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of the Sanctuary though he fall short of the frame and disposition due to this holy and tremendous Mystery 2 Chron. c. 30.18.19 I come to a known Altar This Sacrament hath often corrected restored and comforted me Thy Benediction holy Father is always ready thy hands ever open to the sincere and humble Client and I now pray for thy wonted Goodness through Jesus Christ the sum and substance of this Office. IV. At Lift up your Hearts YEa I lift up my Eyes and my Heart unto thee O Eternal my Mediation my Desire my Hope my Faith my Affection my Invention and Design all my Soul and Strength are now with thee most high and most gracious Father I have past this Altar unto the sublime and pure seat of thy Majesty which all orders of holy Angels and blessed men ever fear and adore Let me O let me there behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world Shew me Jesus and it sufficeth Behold O my Faith reach and embrace what the Prime Martyr saw at the right hand and eminence of Eternal Blessedness the Prince of Peace the mighty Saviour the triumphant Jesus lifting up his glorious and gracious Arms to bless and to defend me the vilest and unworthiest of all living Blessed and most loving Saviour by thine inestimable blood wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin by the ardor of thy soul towards mankind in the dark hour of thy Passion commiserate me and rid me of all my evil habits customs and practises I most humbly beseech thee Now Lord remember me in thy kingdom as thou didst the penitent companion of thy cross and dolours And say to my soul This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise thou shalt by faith see my glory to which from the obedience of the Cross and the humble grave the Almighty Father hath exalted me hath exalted thy naturâ— My heart is ready O Lord my heart is ready for this sacrifice of Praise and Gratitude Like as the hart desireth the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my hope my refuge my rest my life and my happiness O Saviour of the world who by thy Cross and precious blood hast redeemed us save us now and help us we humbly beseech thee that we may all receive these holy and dreadful mysteries without condemnation and ruine and to our grâ—at consolation and benefit for the mortifying all our inordinate passions repressing all sinful temptations and occâ—sions conquering the devil encreasing our hope and faith correcting and beautifying our conversation for the abolishing our guilt and for the attaining eternal life Amâ—n Dear Jesus I address to thy holy Altar with great desire I come as near thee O blessed Redeemer as mortality will let me I come with a penitent earnest and open heart to praise thee to adore thee and to kiss by faith thy wounded feet as once thy astonisht disciples did Matt. 28.9 I behold by faith the prints of the nails by faith I touch the wound in thy side whence flowed water and blood my sanctification and my pardon O fill me with thy influence and vertues Luk. 8.46.1 Cor. 11.29 now I apprehend discern and embrace thy precious body thy all saving passion My â—ord and my God Confirm thy word unto thy servants Blessed are they that see not and have believed Merciful Saviour at this most noble and pious mystery remove and banish from my mind all worldly cares all vain imaginations means thoughts errors and misconceits Unite I most humbly beseech thee the sundry powers and facultyes thou hast given me and point and direct them all unto the instant office Govern now O Lord and bless my apprehension Exalt my Faith enlarge my affections and devotion and then Consign to my
will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord and offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving through Jesus Christ. Amen Psal. 116.11 12 15. AT RECEIVING THE CUP· CHAP. XIII I. AMen Jesus Master have mercy on us Luke 17.13 Let this Blood purge my Conscience from dead works to serve thee the Almighty and most gracious Father to honour thee the Everliving Saviour and for ever to obey and fear thee most holy and quickning Spirit Amen Lord I will serve thee better I will obey thee Succour my weakness pity my infirmity Dear Lord. Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iohn 21.17 What honour hath Almighty God done me that I should be the vessel of this divine mystery and bear within my breast the Lord Jesus I adore I give thanks II. Thou art made whole go and sin no more no more by anger lust excess fraud slandering c. Ioh. 8.11 Our God is a consuming fire to the perverse and impenitent Our God is a merciful Father to the humble and relenting Orator As is his Majesty so is his mercy Ecclus. 2.18 Both infinite and incomprehensible both to be acknowledged admired and adored O Majesty everlasting I fear thee I worship thee I trust in thee through Jesus Christ. Amen Let me not O let me not again pollute this body and soul with my habitual and grievous sins as c. after I have received thy body and blood O Lord who hast created me and redeemed me Grant me thy grace O God that I may fulfil the places and offices thou callest me to in this life Amen III. Lord bless these and the rest of my brethren and let us live eternally together ever praising and Adoring thee For by this great and attractive sacrament we all become one bread one bloud one soul and consent have all one faith one hope one heaven one Lord the blessed Lord Jesus the knot and center of this most immense and pious fraternity and eminently one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all to whom be glory and obedience everlasting Amen in heaven Amen on earth From thy one precious body O wonderful Saviour thou feedest and revivest five thousand and five thousand thousand millions of thy disciples and followers Aeternae tanta est opulentia mensae Prudent Say O Lord and thy word is omnipotent This day salvation is come unto this house Luk. 19.9 IV. The bread of God is he that came down from heaven and giveth light to the world Lord evermore give us of this bread Ioh. 6.33 34. Thus thus will we shew sorth thy death O Jesus till thou comest again and blessed are those servants whom at the end of the world the Lord shall find so doing yea verily blessed is he that eateth meat in the kingdom of God. Luk. 12. 43. c. 14.15 He that solemnly and faithfully and seriously contemplates my Passion and Philanthropy and amends his life for that consideration He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Amen Holy Jesus who art the Resurection and the life Ioh. 6.54 56. Master it is good for us to be here Mark. 9.2 Do not our hearts burn within us while the Lord opens to us the scriptures opens to us his precious side Full is the satisfaction inexpressible the joy of those that love thee O Jesus Angels and men consent heaven and earth joyn together to praise thee serve and worship thee and with these my poor soul the meanest of all thy creation Good Lord accept us I will give thanks unto thee among thy people and sing praises unto thee among the faithful My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed For thy â—ercy is greater then the heavens and thy truth reaâ—heth above the clouds Set up thy self O Lord above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth Thou hast wrought redemption in the midst of the earth O Jesus and vanquisht all the enemies of guilty mankind and art seated at the right hand of Father the Lord and worship of angels Hosanna in the highest The right hand of the Lord hath the preeminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass The word was made flesh the beloved Son of God died for us Let them now that fear the Lord confess that his mercy endureth for ever V. I â—ill read Ioh. c. 18. and c. 17. the security and consolation of the Church and also Rom. c. 8. and the hymn Come holy Ghost our souls inspire c. In the ordering of Priests Almighty God who hast given thy onely Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of Godly life Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also daily endeavour our selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Most holy spirit the efficacy and life of this mystery bless me with these thy gifts and fruits meekness modesty sobriety prudence diligence honesty fidelity constancy chariâ—y kindness and devotion from the time of this holy Sacrament For I have now dedicated and given up entirely my soul senses and affections my will wit and reason to the glory and service of Jesus Christ who dyed for me I must I will obey him in all things Lord forgive Lord help me My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Psal. 21.21 I am altogether confounded and swallowed up with the immense grace of God I am throughly possest glorious Lord with thy love and boundless favour to me I long I here endeavour yet cannot tell how to express my thankfullness and obedience My thoughts and contrivance and my words and lauds my action and zeal cannot do it to any fitness or content Lord still excite and still direct my gratitude I would be as thankful to thee as humble as obedient as any creature in heaven or earth Father Almighty make me so Amen Now Lord Jesus who wast expanded on the cross for me command me what thou wilt Use me in the hazards and difficulties of thy Church thy purchase and thy glory Bid me walk upon the sea I will obey thee and thy right hand shall hold me up And I will not deny thee in the Court or in the Garden I am ready to lay down my estate my liberty and also my life would to God it were a clean and entire sacrifice for Christs religion and to be obedient unto the death Assist and strengthen my mind O blessed Saviour by thy grace thy intercession thy example Amen All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth faith the ascending Jesus Go ye therefore
works thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever VI. UTmost obedience fear love hope and affiance continual praise and thanksgiving glory and Adoration be to the one GOD Almighty the Creatour the Redeemer and the Sanctifier as it was in the beginning is now accept O Lord my affection and devotion and ever shall be world without end Amen As long as I live I will serve thee with all my soul and with all my might As long as I live I will magnifie thee in this manner and lift up my hands with my heart in thy name And let heaven and earth give thanks unto thy Holy Majesty for ever and ever Amen Hallelujah VII THis day I will do as I would be done to This day I will do some good God helping me This day I will set the Lord before my face that I may not sin against him The Lord bless my going out and my coming in and all my employments from this time forth for evermore through Jesus Christ. Amen CHAP. II. AT Noone Every day I will say the Lords Prayer and Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen DAILY PRAYER CHAP. III. The Evening Office. I. Before Supper I Will say the Lords Prayer and the Collects for the Week and for the day as before Dinner II. ALmighty God who seest we have no power of our sâ—lves to help our selves keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen III. THen looking up to heaven I will think and Meditate with all seriousnesâ— and serenity of mind with fear and reverence with firm belief good affection and admiration upon the chief articles of the Christian Faith Most especially upon the Eternal everlasting invisible omnipresent almighty omniscient incomprehensible immutable most perfect most excellent most high most happy most holy most just and infinitely merciful and gracious GOD and Father Lord and King Creatour Preserver and Governour of Men and Angels and of all things in Heaven and Earth I fear thee I bless thee I thank thee I adore thee with all submission of soul and body I put my whole trust in thee I love thee I will obey thee Author of all good and endless fountain of life and wisdom and power and peace and felicity I will likewise meditate with all thankfulness upon our most gracious Lord and all sufficient Saviour Iesus Christ the eternal Son of the Father who hath lovâ—d us and taken our nature and washed us from our sins in his own bloud the perfect rule and pattern of holiness and the perpetual and ever prevailing Advocate at Gods right hand for all the penitent and believing I will also meditate upon the pure and glorious Majesty the quickning piercing enlightning and burning power the prophecies and miracles the long-suffering warning and instruction the sanctification prevenâ—ion assistance and consolation and the manifolâ— gifts and vertues of the Holy Ghost Pardon I most humbly beseech thee O God of love and mercy my too frequent neglects of thy grace and presence Glory be now to the Eternal Trinity which innumerable spotless Angels and souls of righteous men and all the powers of heaven incessantly do serve and praise and worship with fear and trembling To these I joyn my humble voice and my willing but polluted heart saying Amen Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts heaven and earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high Moreover from daily experience and example I will Reflect on the breviâ—y vanity various temptations sinfulness and sorrows of this mortal life upon which the eternal dependeth I will also Contemplate with faith fear and solicitude the general Resurrection and final Judgment of all mankind according to our works words and designs at Christs most glorious most dreadful most righteous and all-searching Tribunal Lord Iesus have mercy upon us all and prepare us for thy coming Finally I will Ponder and congratulate the present satisfaction anâ— internal peace and the future everlasting joy and happiness O unâ—xpâ—essible and everlasting happiness both in soul and body for all the faithful and obedient thâ—ough the inestimable merits of Christ Jesus Amen Hosanna in the highest IV. Furthermore I will constantly use Self-examination Oh my soul what have I done this day what have I omitted How have I offended against God or man in thought word or deed O Lord Almighty God most holy thou Judge eternal have mercy upon me a vile sinner and for thy inâ—inite goodness forgive me the transgressions of this day in particular c. together with the rest of the sins of my life especially the more heinous and presumptuous as c. I am heartily sorry for these my misdoings The remembrance the stain the guilt the burden of them is grievous unto me For Christ's sake pity and pardon me and establish my heart by thy grace that I may hereafter more earnestly and faithfully pursue those necessary and solemn vows of a cautious sober honest and godly life which I have often made unto thee especially at thy holy Sacraments Amen V. I now render most humble and hearty thanks unto thâ—e Almighty and most gracious God fâ—r all thy Blessings vouchsafed me this day especially c. Thanks be to the Divine grace that I have passed this day without scandal and without trouble Blessed be God my strength and hope that I have done any thing this day which I ought to do Here I am O Father do with me as seems best in thine own eyes O let my service be acceptable to thee while I live and my soul ready for thee when I die Amen Lord God Almighty who hast created me and redeemed me Hallelujah VI. Going to bed I will say THe Lord bless and keep me and mine all this night Oh keep our souls Amen For Christs sake Here endeth the Shorter Office for every day See the Larger at Rising and Râ—posing Chap. ix and x. PIOUS RESOLUTIONS CHAP. IV. I. I Will frequently say The Lord sees me in all my waies Or if I have time I will repeat Psal. 139. II. I Will love and fear and serve the Lord my God by his grace and help with all my heart and affection with all my soul and intention with all my mind contrivance and understanding and with all my might faculties and industry And I will love my neighbour as my self For saith the Gracious Saviour on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets Matt. c. 22. Luke c. 10. Deut. c vi 5. and x. 12 20. c. 11.3 III. I will often recite Tit. c. 11.11 12. The Saving grace of God hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should
When I awake I am alwayes with thee thanking and praising and adoring thy Majesty who continually keepest the world from returning to nothing from whence thou first mad'st it Unto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens with the affection and reverence of a child with the fear and solicitude of a servant Psal. 123.1 2. Holy holy holy Lord God Omnipotent which was and is and is to come glory and honour and worship be to thee world without end Amen Rev. 4.8 Keep thy servant by thy grace O Lord that Hypocrisy Pride Envy Anger Gluttony Covetousness or Sloth or any other grievous sin may never have the dominion over me and become habitual and customary to me and ever keep me O Lord most holy from Fornication Drunkenness Theft and Dishonesty Idolatry Manslaughter Cursing Swearing and Lying Extortion and Oppression and all other scandalous and heinous actions and practices But engraft in my heart the contrary fruits of thy holy Spirit Piety Humility and Mildness Faithfulness and Honesty Modesty Temperance and Chastity Content and Quietness Compassion Charity and Liberality Prudence Care and Diligence and let this be my habit my custom and my life for Jesus Christ his sake Amen V. Thursday THe Lord is my strength and my praise There is none holy as the Lord neither is there any rock like our God. The Lord killeth and maketh alive he bringeth down to the bed and to the grave and bringeth up He keepeth the feet of his saints and exalteth the horn of his anointed Hallelujah My heart rejoyceth in his salvation 1 Sam c. 2. Thou art my hope in the land of the living thou art the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that dwell in broad sea yea thou O God art my hope and joy to all eternity Amen Psal. 141.4 The Providence of the Father almighty guide me the Wisdom of his eternal Son enlighten me and the Power of his holy Spirit quicken me Amen What now shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits â—or my Birth my Education my Baptism Catechism and Confirmation What for the blessed Eucharist for the Sermons and the Prayers of this Church What for Sundry Deliverances and special Blessings through so many years of living Yea what shall I render unto thee holy JESUS for thy expiatory Blood for thy grand Example for the Mission of the Holy Ghost with various and unexpressible Grace and for the reserve of everlasting Blessedness O Lord what shall I render unto thee Take O take again most merciful Lord these Gifts together this Soul and Body and their abilities which I now kneeling humbly and faithfully offer to thy everadored Divinity O despise not but take again the works of thy own hands and receive all into the bosom of perpetual happiness Amen Hallelujah Or Is not this to be my last day and then Eternity O prepare me for thy self holy JESUS I know not the day nor the hour of thy Judgment Matth. 24.30 Or receive to thee in peace or visit this dearly purchased soul this piece of Immortality drencâ—t in thy Blood. Yea come quickly Lord Jesus Amen I will magnifie thee O God my King and praise thy name for ever and ever Every day will I give thanks to thee and bless thy name for ever and ever Great is the Lord and marvelous worthy to be praised There is no end of his Greatness no end of his Mercy Hallelujah Psal. 145.1 23. c. Grant me I humbly beseech thee Almighty and most merciâ—ul Father a quiet Mind and a â—ound Body a good Report and a liberal Conversation in all Piety Prudence Charity Honesty and Chastity and at last if I may not be a Martâ—r for thy Truth grant me a mild Death and happy Immortality for Christ Jesus his sake the Source of all Blessings as well visible and secular as invisible inconceivable and everlasting Amen Christ is ascended up on high hath led captivity captive and given gifts unto men that God might dwell amongst us Set up thy self O JESUS above all the heavens and thy Glory above the earth I now worship thee with all humility and affection as thy Apostles did when thou departedst from mount Olivet to the Joy of supercâ—lestial Glory The fowls of the air are thine O bountiful Creatour and the fishes of the sea and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea and thou feedest them and multipliest them Wherefore I will seek the kingdom of God before food and rayment For our heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of these things Matth. 6.25 VI. Friday I Awakt and lookt up and my sleep was sweet unto me Blessed be the Lord our God the God of our fathers who satisifieth the weary soul and replenisheth every sorrowful heart who converteth the shadow of death into the morning and daily renews the face of the earth and maketh the evening and the morning alternately to praise him Ier. 31.25 26. Psal. 104.30 and 65.9 Who holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to slip who ruleth with his power for ever Hallelujah On this day O crucified Saviour have mercy on me and all mankind Amen I will walk this day God being my helper soberly chastly decently humbly and in diligence and content as a child of light and of God. Sufficient to the day is the evil and trouble of it I fully trust in the perpetual Grace of my heavenly Father through his Eternal Son. Amen Or I have remembred thy name O Lord in the night and have kept thy law Psal. 119.55 Our help standeth in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth Psal. 124.8 O Lord God of hosts blessed is the man who putteth his trust in thee yea blessed is the man to whom thou imputest no sin Psal. 84.13 All the world doth worship thee sing of thee and praise thy name which is great wonderful gracious and holy Hallelujah Praise the Lord O my soul. O Father Eternal Almighty God Lord and Possessor of infinite perfection Majesty and mercy Maker and Upholder of all things visible and invisible O blessed Jesus Lamb of God Son of the Father who hast loved us and dyed on the cross for us O most holy Spirit founder and fountain of light and knowledge of vertue and grace of liâ—e peace and bliss everlasting with utmost humility intention of mind and affection I adore and glorifie thee All power and riches and wisdom and salvation and glory and honour and blessing be to the eternal Trinity now and for ever Amen Hosanna in the highest Hosanna I bless thee O Lord Almighty that thou hast made the world out of nothing and created me and all mankind after thy own image and hast set us over the works of thy hands and given thy holy angels charge of us to keep us in all thy ways and that after the early loss of paradise c. many and late transgressions and presumtions thou yet openest
and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world Amen Matth. 28.18 The doctrine attested when needful by sundry miraculous works the discipline the sacraments the preservation the piety the zeal and the patience of thy Catholick Church hath indeed sufficiently demonstrated thy gracious presence O Saviour And he lift up his hands and blessed them and while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy And were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen Luke 24.50 AT HOME AFTER THE COMMUNION CHAP. XIV I. IT is finished Blessed Sacrament the Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation the Feast of God the Taste of Eternal Bliss and the Strength Comfort and Life of my Soul. This hath united me to all the Faithful on Earth and to all the Blessed in Heaven This hath joyned me in Affection and Gratitude in Interest and Inheritance unto thee most blessed Jesus the head and defence the ruler and Saviour of the Church the first fruits and security of the resurrection and glory and immortality of this nature Now Lord whether I live oâ— die I trust I am thine I verily believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the region of the blessed through infinite mercy and indulgence Psal. 27.13 O keep me ever Dear Jesus in this good condition by constant and cheerful obedience and observance of all Christian duties by an awful reverence of the Divine name and presence by imitating the best examples living or dead and most especially by following thy meek and immaculate life thy pure and heavenly doctrine and admonitions by caution and frequent meditation by daily examination and prayers and by all other means of a pious and innocent life O Lord I thank thee I bless thee I glorifie thee because by this sacrament thou hast confirmed me in the Catholick faith in reverence duty and love to thy Eternal Majesty in charity towards all mankind friends or enemies in meekness pity humility patience contentedness industry sobriety chastity honesty and integrity And hast thereby given me new and lively hopes of endless felicity both in soul and body against all the malice and attempts of men or devils and against the terrors of death and my sinful life past So great is thy mercy to me for the merits of Jesus Christ thy eternal Son my everlasting Saviour and advocate my Lord and king II. O Stupendous Grace and Piety of the Eternal that I should be I fear I tremble â—o say it the work of Gods hands the image of his wisdom and power the price of Christs blood the temple of the holy Ghost a part of the Catholick and perpetual Church and an heir of immortal glory What now ought my life to be if this be my portion and my priviledge Holy Father let the intercession of Jesus that poured out his tears and sweat and precious blood for us be nigh unto thee day and night that thou mayest have mercy upon us and bless us and prevent our falling from so great salvation Amen Dearest Saviour I desire still to râ—â—lect and meditate on thy humble life thy birâ—h circumcision presentation in the Temple domestick Obedience Baptism Fasting Temptations Hunger Thirst Uncertain abode Travails Watching Prayers Sermons Miracles Dangers Abuses Tortures Bloodshedding and review the â—hole map of thy condescensions griefs and compassions from the Manger to the Cross until I become my self averse separated and cruciâ—yed and dead to the world Amen III. PRaise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Who forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thine infirmities who saveth thy soul from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works of Creation Providence and Redemption that they ought to be had in perpetual remembrance Thou art my God and I will thank thee thou art my God and I will praise thee All the works of the Lord are verity and judgment He hath sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever Holy and Reverend is his name Thus long have I lived upon thy bounty thus and thus c. hast thou nourished protected delivered and advanced me and now O Father thou confirmest to me the expectation of everlasting life in thy heavenly kingdom Wherefore I give thanks unto thee with my whole heart Glory Worship Obedience and Praise to God the Father Almighty and most beneficent that sitteth on the Eternal throne and to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and to the most holy Spirit the Lord of life and peace for ever and ever O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious I have tasted that he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever Hallelujah Salvation is of the Lord again Hallelujah Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift Lord hasten the glory of the General Resurrection Amen So come Lord Jesus Into thy hands thy pierced hands O Lord I commend my spirit PREPARATION FOR DEATH AND ETERNITY· CHAP. XV. Forgivenesss and Charity I. HAving lately perused CHAP. VI. of this Booke and also received the Holy Communion in this Apostolick Church I am the more ready and willing to set my self in order to depart this world for the vision of Christ humbly commiting the time and manner of my Dissolution to the Providence of God which hath hitherto defended and sustained me II. Wherefore I freely and fully forgive all that have in any sort wronged and injured me as I desire that God most just and omniscient should now for Christs sake forgive me Amen And I humbly beseech God to forgive them those wrongs and all other their sins Amen I farther desire that it may be certified to them namely to c. that I do remit and release to them all satisfaction and amends in word or deed onely entreating their prayers for me that my humiliation and repentance may be accepted in heaven Yea I wish I could shew more indulgence and forgiveness towards men who need and implore so much of God for my innumerable and most ungrateful offences against his Eternal Majesty III. I likewise humbly and heartily beg pardon and forgiveness of all those whom I have wronged in any manner particularly of c. and do earnestly desire that this my request be signified to them Furthermore forasmuch as slander and fraud and the like scandalous sins are not remitted before God without all possible restitution I am most willing and ready to my utmost power to restore and repay whatever I have couzened and defrauded without delay and without deceit I
am also ready to make reparation of fame and credit together with an ingenuous and humble acknowledgement to all that I have slandered and calumniated namely to c. And accordingly I forthwith take order that Restitution and Satisfaction be made to them all to the utmost of my ability and that their Release and Acquittance for all injuries done to them be obtained or else most justly and verily presumed before I adventure to crave the benefit of Absolution If I am ashamed of such a Confession and Restitution I am not ashamed nor afraid to be the everlasting contempt and scorn of the most holy Creator and of all that is blessed I am not ashamed nor affrighted to be the companion of devils and all villanous men that ever lived in darkness horror and torment Let no father patron or master think of bettering the worldly condition of his successours by his own dreadful condemnation for finally concealing and retaining his illgotten estate or frauds IV. Moreover with a charitable heart according to the bâ—st of my understanding and enquiry imploring the assistance of Gods Holy Spirit I â—ave made my Last will and Testament disposing the goods and estate God hath given me for his greatest glory Namely amongst my Relations and likewise in a due acknowledgment of sundry precious benefiâ—s received by me in this Apostolick Church of which â— hope to continue a part to my lifes end and also for the poor Blessing Almighty God for enabling me to give them some relief and so to lend unto himself his own temporal blessings to obtain far better riches in heaven Amen I rest upon thy merits and upon thy word O Triumphant Saviour Forgive and ye shall be forgiven Give and it shall be given into your bosom good measure pressed down shaken together and running over Luk. c. 6.37 and c. 11.9 Amen Finally I have given my Relations and Friends the best advise and counsel I could for the good of their neverdying souls and for their well-living in this world V. Having thus rid my self of all the cares and troubles and concerns of mortality having now perfectly done with this world with a clear and humble heart I address my self to thy Grace Almighty and most merciful God and Father beseeching thee to instruct exerâ—ise and prepare me for the succeeding gloâ—ious and immortal life to which by the Chrisâ—ian Profession thou hast advanced my hope and awful expectation Hallelujah through the glorified Jesus Hallelujah to all Eternity Amen But I foresee the passage to this Beatitude to be very dark and Dismall full of Thorns and Tears full of Confessions Remorse and Contrition for the many faults of a short life and also full of disease and pains and anguish reaching unto dissolution insensibility stench and rottenness By all thy agonies and experience help me O holy Jesus through this terror Amen REPENTANCE· CHAP. XVI See CHAP. VI. §. 5. and CHAP XI §. 2. I. Consession I Have sinned O Lord I have dealt wickedly I have led an unequal untoward and polluted life I have sinned before thee when ashamed of humane view before thee my Father my Judge my Benefactor my Worship and my God. O absurd and stupid wretch In thought word and deed with all the powers and abilities thou hast given me with affection and design have I sinned against thee most Mighty and most Holy Ungratefully and basely grievously and presumtuously particularly c. have I sinned and Lord how often secretly and openly in the chamber as c. anâ— in publick as c. treading upon thy earth and covered with thy heavens yea â— have sinned in the House of God and in the midst of my Prayâ—rs and Invocations as c. Is this then the Image of God is this a Christian an heir of eternal Life â—his a Priest and Dispenser of the pure Word and Sacraments of the Lord Jesus Ah this is nothing but clay and dirt uncleanness and misery II. Contrition THe soul that is troubled and the spirit that is vexed cryeth unto thee O Lord. I Relent I grieve I am heartily sorry for this demerit and irritation of thy Divine justice I am ashamed I abhor my self I am perfectly weâ—ry of this corrupt life What shall I do whiâ—her shall I turn I am ashamed to look up to heaven that behâ—lds my vileness to heaven which I have abused and despised I will bowe my self to the earth and the grave that waits to hide and devour such a wretch I will sâ—ite upon my breast with the conscious publicane upon my breast the box and origine of all this mischief And do thou strike this rock O holy Jesus that the waters may freely flow that my tears may mingle with thy blood my humble and sincere repentance reach thy propitiation and remission Dissolve thou sinful clod tremble thou earth earth earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence and vindication of the God of Jacob who turned the â—lint stone into a springing well I wish for the tears of David pierced with the matter of Uriah the mourning of Jeremiah and the dejection of Manasseh I recollect and confess in particular unto thee my more grievous sins the rest are without number in the bitterness of my soul. Thus and thus have I done c. I give glory to thee as Achan I confess and am confoâ—nded at the enormity and presumption and villanous circumstances of my offences as c. I hide not my unrighteousness as Adam in the garden who led the way of sinning and of repentance I hide not I cannot hide but with tears and dread remorse acknowledge to thy most pure and omniscient Majesty my faults my follies yea rather my wilfulness my hardness my vices my criminal and deplorable life And lo here I judge and reprove and condemn my self at the bottom of thy throne and yet I am not enough abased He cannot fall too low whose merit is hell My deformation and destruction is only from my self from my perverse and incorrigible self my relief and salvation is from thee only Father thou knowest my sins and thou knowest my anguish It is not easy to transgress thy commands and reflect upon the transgressions My flesh trembleth for fâ—ar of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments O Lord. I dread that great day when the thrones shall be set the books opened and my shameful life recited and all my works of darkness exposed in perfect light I tremble lest the blessed Jesus who shed his blood for my redemption and hath so earnestly urged and offered me pardon and peace and eternal life should then condemn me and the mighty angels and holy men of all ages and nations newly clothed with immortal and illustrious bodies hiss me from the righteous Tribunal and the mouth of hell receive my body and soul into exquisite torments without light or pity My present horrour and confusion is great but what is this to everlasting burnings III. Supplication GReat
and gracious God Father and fountain of mercies have mercy upon me anâ— spare me Out of the depths do I cry unto thee I have depressed by staind and miserable soul to the brink of hell Out of the depths do I cry unto thee Father spare me Father pity me I am oppressed I am in great misery my soul is exceeding sorrowful as unto death Eli Eli hear me and pardon me Enter not into â—udgment with me who am dust and ashes sin and weakness Let not the storm overwhelm me nor the depth of sorrow swallow me up nor the sence of thy anger destroy me Psal. 69.15 Father I am no more worthy to be called thy son or to be reckoned in thy creation But according to the infinity of thy mercies O Lord do away my iniquity and blot out my transgressions Psal. 51.1 2. My heart faileth me O Lord make hasts to help me Psal. 40.30 By thy cries and pains O Jesus deliver me from the guilt and burden of my sins from the terrors of my wakned conscience and from the unconceivable torments of hell By thy wounded head thy bored hands they lanced side thy pierced feet thy tortured body and afflicted soul by all the disgraces and passions of Gethsemane Gabbatha and Golgotha save me and deliver me O Christ at this hour and at the hour of death and in the day of judgement Amen Father and Saviour and Comforter let this bitter cup pass from me I humbly beseech thee Look upon me O precious Saviour Lamb of God in my sorrow and distress as once thou didst on Peter that denied thee and wept bitterly Compassionate me as thou didst the sinful Magdaleâ—e and as thou didst the penitent thief who confessed and believed in the anguish and paroxysme of the Cross. I deserved all their griefs and ten thousand pains and punishment more Intercede now for me Holy Jesus with thy dying petition Father forgive them for they know not what they do O Lord of glory I look unto thee I earnestly look unto thee whom I have pierced whom not so much Herod and Pontius Pilate and the Roman souldiers as sinful and wretched I have dishonoured pierced and crucified Lord forgive Lord save me or I perish for ever The Christ of God hide me in thy wounds By the blood of thy testament revive and release me I hope in thy merciful intercession For thy Fatherly tenderness and the numberless blessings already received from thy bountiful hand and through the passion and mediation of thy beloved Son and by the unutterable groans and suggestions of thy holy Spirit pardon and deliver me Lord God Almighty Amen IV. Resolution I will never adventure more to try and weary the grace and patience of Almighty God the righteous judge and avenger I now break off my sins by repentance and resolved amendment I see what brought me to this shameful and perillous defection it was this occasion that invitation that excess that eye this rashness that supinity Wherefore I now solemnly Renounce cast off and abominate the wicked and wounding practises of my life as c together with all their inducement and principles From this very hour and blessed be God who hath granted me this hour by prayer temperance charity industry fear and caution in all my actions and enterprices I fully purpose and now begin God helâ—ing me of his infinite goodness and pity to alter and Reform my life according to the gospel and example of Jesus Christ my Lord and also by kindness charity and almsdoing I will manifest to the world the sincerity and vigour of my Repentance and renovation V. Petition for grace HOly Father incline direct and fortifie my heart to pursue this pious and necessary Resolution that iniquity be not my ruine Ezek. 18.30 Thy grace is sufficient for me Lord soften bruise change and reform my soul according to thy own will according to thy own image and after the likeness and innocence of Adam when thou first breathest into him life and reason yea according to the same tâ—mper and purity I most humbly beseech thee wherein by thy grace I once ascended from the laver of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 Amen for Jesus Christ his sake Pardon and destroy not Amâ—nd and destroy not Most merciful Creator the work of thy own hands by me presumptuously and shamefully profaned Destroy not O blessed Saviour the purchase of thy precious blood the decaying part of thy mystical body Destroy not O Holy Spirit the subject of thy regeneration and various bounty Destroy not O everblessed and everadored Trinity the humblest and meanest of all that believe and worship thy Majesty Oh break not this bruised reâ—d Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon for Jesus's sake Isa. 55.7 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden alas I feel my transgressions heavy and numberless as the sands of the sea and I will give you rest saith the compassionate Saviour Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls Matth. 26.28.29 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief I the vilest 1. Tim. 1.15 Such gracious sentences of the Holy Scriptures are my last hold are my plank O Lord make haste to help me Sickness and Pain CHAP. XVII I Will bear thy indignation O Lord till mercy prevaileth against judgment because I have sinned against thee Micah 7.9 Why should I yet living I complain for the punishment of my sin for any thing short of unquenchable fire Thou knowest whereof we are made Remember O Lord that I am but dust a fading flower and a transient blast remember for his sake who out of infinite condescension and pity bore our nature and our infirmities Amen Psal. 103.14 15 16. All my desire is before thee O Lord and my groaning is not hid from thee Turn unto me O Lord and deliver my soul for thy mercies sake Enlighten and cleansâ— and heal and revive thy servant that my ways may please thee that I may see the goodness of thy chosen and rejoyce with thine inheritance Amen Though the outward man perish alas I perceive I feel it perishing yet good Lord renew the inwarâ—â—an day by day Secure the part immortal that which understands thee loves thee praises thee and now aspires to thy beatifick presence for Christs sake See CHAP. VI. § 1. of this Book Hope in God and Resignation to his Pleasure CHAP. XVIII See CHAP. VI. §. 8. of this Book O Wretched creature that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Rom. c. 7.24 The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory