endearments and noblest usages you have past upon me But so men in their Religion give a piece of Gum or the fat of a cheap Lamb in Sacrifice to him that gives them all that they have or need and unlesse He who was pleased to imploy your Lordship as a great Minister of his Providence in making a Promise of his good to me the meanest of his servants that he would never leave me nor forsake me shall enable me by greater services of Religion to pay my great Debt to your Honour I must still increase my score since I shall now spend as much in my needs of pardon for this boldnesse as in the reception of those favours by which I stand accountable to your Lordship in all the bands of service and gratitude though I am in the deepest sense of duty and affection My most Honoured Lord Your Honours most obliged and Most Humble Servant TAYLOR THE TABLE CHAP. I. Consideration of the general instruments and means serving to a holy life by way of introduction Page 1 Sect. 1. Care of our time and the manner of spending it Page 4 23 Rules for imploying our time Page 7 The 5 benefits of this exercise Page 16 Sect. 2. Purity of intention or purpose in all our actions c. Page 17 10. Rules for our intentions Page 19 8 Signes of purity of intention Page 22 3 Appendant Considerations Page 26 Sect. 3. The consideration and practise of the presence of God Page 27 6 Several manners of the divine presence Page 28 10 Rules of exercising this consideration Page 33 The 5 benefits of this exercise Page 36 Prayers and Devotions according to the Religion and purposes of the faregoing considerations Page 39 Devotions for ordinary dayes Page 40 CHAP. II. Of Christian sobriety Page 61 Sect. 1. Of sobriety in the general sence Page 61 5 Evil consequents of voluptuousnesse or sensuality Page 62 3 Degrees of sobriety Page 63 6 Rules for suppressing voluptuousnesse Page 64 Sect. 2. Of Temperance in eating and drinking Page 67 4 Measures of Temperance in eating Page 69 8 Signes and effects of Temperance Page 70 Of Drunkennesse Page 72 7 Evil consequents to drunkennesse Page 73 8 Signes of drunkennesse Page 75 11 Rules for the obtaining temperance Page 76 Sect. 3. Of Chastity Page 80 The 10 evil consequents of uncleannesse Page 83 7 Acts of Chastity in general Page 88 5 Acts of Virginal or Maiden Chastity Page 89 5 Rules for Widows or Vidual Chastity Page 91 6 Rules for married persons or maâ—rimonial chastity Page 92 10 Remedies against uncleannesse Page 95 Sect. 4. Of Humility Page 100 9 Arguments against pride by way of consideration Page 100 19 Acts or offices of humility Page 103 14 Means and exercises of obtaining and increasing the grace of humility Page 111 17 Signes of humility Page 117 Sect. 5. Of Modesty Page 119 4 Acts duties of Modesty as it is opposed to curiosity Page 119 6 Acts of Modesty as it is opposed to boldness Page 123 10 Acts of Modesty as it is opposed to undecency Page 124 Sect. 6. Of Contentednesse in all estates and accidents Page 128 2 General arguments for content Page 129 8 Instruments or exercises to procure contentednes Page 135 8 Means to obtain content by way of consideration Page 148 The Considerations applyed to particular cases Page 148 Of Poverty Page 156 The charge of many Children Page 163 Violent Necessities Page 164 Death of Children Friends c. Page 166 Vntimely Death Page 167 Death unseasonable Page 169 Sudden Deaths or violent Page 171 Being Childlesse Page 171 Evil or unfortunate Children Page 172 Our own Death Page 172 Prayers for the several graces and parts of Christian sobriety fitted to the necessity of several persons Page 173 CHAP. III. Of Christian Iustice. Page 180 Sect. 1. Of Obedience to our Superiours Page 182 15 Acts and duties of obedience to all our Superiours Page 183 12 Remedies against disobedience by way of consideration Page 187 3 Degrees of obedience Page 192 Sect. 2. Of Provision or that part of justice which is due from Superiours to inferiours Page 193 12 Duties of kings and all the supream power as Law-givers Page 194 2 Duties of Superiours as they are Iudges Page 197 5 Duties of parents to their children Page 199 Duty of Husbands and wives reciprocally Page 202 7 Duties of Masters of Families Page 203 Duty of Guardians or Tutors Page 204 Sect. 3. Of Negotiation or civil contracts Page 205 13 Rules and measures of Iustice in bargaining Page 205 Sect. 4. Of Restitution Page 211 7 Rules of making Restitution as it concerns the persons obliged Page 212 9 As it concerns other circumstances Page 216 Prayers to be said in relation to the several obligations and offices of Iustice. Page 220 CHAP. IIII. Of Christian religion Page 227 1. Of the internal actions of religion Page 228 Sect. 1. Of Faith Page 229 The 7 acts and offices of Faith Page 229 8 Signes of true Faith Page 231 8 Means and instruments to obtain Faith Page 234 Sect. 2. Of Christian Hope Page 236 The 5 acts of Hope Page 237 5 Rules to govern our Hope Page 238 12 Means of Hope and Remedies against despair Page 240 Sect. 3. Of Charity or the Love of God Page 246 The 8 acts of Love to God Page 248 The 3 measures and rules of Divine Love Page 251 6 Helps to encrease our Love to God by way of exercise Page 252 The 2 several states of Love to God Page 256 viz. The state of obedience Page 256 The state of zeal Page 256 8 Cautions and rules concerning zeal Page 257 2. Of the external actions of Religion Page 260 Sect. 4. Of Reading or Hearing the word of God Page 260 5 General considerations concerning it Page 263 5 Rules for hearing or reading the word of God Page 262 4 Rules for reading spiritual books or hearing sermons Page 264 Sect. 5. Of Fasting Page 266 15 Rules for Christian Fasting Page 266 Benefits of Fasting Page 272 Sect. 6. Of keeping Festivals and dayes holy to the Lord particularly the Lords day Page 273 10 Rules for keeping the Lords day other Christian Festivals Page 276 3. Of the mixt actions of Religion Page 281 Sect. 7. Of Prayer Page 281 8 Motives to Prayer Page 281 16 Rules for the practise of Prayer Page 283 6 Cautions for making vowes Page 291 7 Remedies against wandring thoughts in Prayer Page 293 10 Signes of tediousnesse of Spirit in our prayers and all actions of Religion Page 295 11 Remedies against tediousnesse of Spirit Page 296 Sect. 8. Of Almes Page 302 The 18 several kindes of corporal Almes Page 303 The 14 several kindes of spiritual Almes Page 304 The 5 several kindes of mixt Almes Page 305 16 Rules for giving Almes Page 305 13 Motives to Charity Page 313 Remedies against the parents of unmercifulness Page 316 1.9 Against Envy by way of consideration Page 316 2.12 Remedies against anger by
to their own voluntary concessions and ingagements their promises and Oathes when once they are passed from them The Duty of Superiours as they are Iudges 1. Princes in judgement and their Delegate Judges must judge the causes of all persons uprightly and impartially without any personal consideration of the power of the mighty or the bribe of the rich or the needs of the poor For although the poor must fare no worse for his poverty yet in justice he must fare no better for it And although the rich must be no more regarded yet he must not be lesse And to this purpose the Tutor of Cyrus instructed him when in a controversie where a great Boy would have taken a large coat from a little Boy because his own was too little for him and the others was too big hee adjudged the great coat to the great Boy his Tutor answered Sir If you were made a Judge of decency or fitnesse you had judged well in giving the biggest to the biggest but when you were appointed Judge not whom the coat did fit but whose it was you should have considered the title and the possession who did the violence and who made it or who bought it And so it must be in judgements between the rich and the poor it is not to be considered what the poor Man needs but what is his own 2. A Prince may not much lesse may inferiour Judges deny justice when it is legally and competently demanded and if the Prince will use his Prerogative in pardoning an offender against whom justice is required he must be carefull to give satisfaction to the injured person or his Relatives by some other instrument and be watchful to take away the scandal that is lest such indulgence might make persons more bold to do injury and if hee spares the life let him change the punishment into that which may make the offender if not suffer justice yet doe justice and more real advantage to the injured person These rules concern Princes and their Delegates in the making or administring Laws in the appointing rules of justice and doing acts of judgement The duty of Parents to their Children and Nephews is briefly described by S. Paul The Duty of Parents to their Children 1. Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath that is be tender boweld pitiful and gentle complying with all the infirmities of the Children and in their several ages proportioning to them several usages according to their needs and their capacities 2. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord that is secure their religion season their younger years with prudent and pious principles make them in love with vertue and make them habitually so before they come to choose or to discern good from evil that their choice may be with lesse difficulty and danger For while they are under discipline they suck in all that they are first taught and believe it infinitely provide for them wise learned and vertuous Tutors good company and discipline seasonable baptism catechism and confirmation For it is a great folly to heap up much wealth for our Children and not to take care concerning the Children for whom we get it It is as if a man should take more care about his shooe then about his foot 3. Parents must shew piety at home that is they must give good example and reverent deportment in the face of their children and all those instances of charity which usualy endear each other sweetnesse of conversation afâ—ability frequent admonition all significations of love and tendernesse care and watchfulnesse must be expressed towards Children that they may look upon their Parents as their friends and patrons their defence and sanctuary their treasure and their Guide Hither is to be reduced the nursing of Children which is the first and most natural and necessary instance of piety which Mothers can shew to their Babes a dutie from which nothing will excuse but a disability sicknesse danger or publick necessitie 4. Parents must provide for their own according to their condition education and imployment called by S. Paul a laying up for the Children that is an enabling them by competent portions or good trades arts or learning to defend themselves against the chances of the world that they may not be exposed to temptation to beggery or unworthy arts and although this must be done without covetousnesse without impatient and greedy desires of making them rich yet it must be done with much care and great affection with all reasonable provision and according to our power and if we can without sin improve our estates for them that also is part of the duty we owe to God for them and this rule is to extend to all that descend from us although we have been overtaken in a fault and have unlawfull issue they also become part of our care yet so as not to injure the production of the lawful bed 5. This duty is to extend to a provision of conditions and an estate of life Parents must according to their power and reason provide Husbands or Wives for their children In which they must secure piety and Religion and the affection and love of the interested persons and after these let them make what provisions they can for other conveniences or advantages Ever remembring that they can do no injury more afflictive to the children then to joyn them with cords of a disagreeing affection It is like tying a Wolf and a Lamb or planting the Vine in a Garden of Coleworts Let them be perswaded with reasonable inducements to make them willing and to choose according to the parents wish but at no hand let them be forced Better to sit up all night then to go to bed with a Dragon The duty of Husbands c. See Chapt. 2. Sect. 3. Rules for married persons 1 Husbands must give to their wives love maintenance duty and the sweetnesses of conversation and wives must pay to them all they have or can with the interest of obedience and reverence and they must be complicated in affections and interest that there be no distinction between them of Mine and Thine And if the title be the mans or the womans yet the use must be common onely the wisdom of the man is to regulate all extravagancies and indiscretions in other things no question is to be made and their goods should be as their children not to be divided but of one possession and provision whatsoever is otherwise is not marriage but merchandise And upon this ground I suppose it was that S. Basil commended that woman who took part of her Husbands goods to do good works withall for supposing him to be unwilling and that the work was his duty or hers alone or both theirs in conjunction or of great advantage to either of their souls and no violence to the support of their families she hath right to all that And Abigail of her own
discompose my duty or turn me from the wayes of thy Commandements O let thy Spirit dwell with me for ever and make my soul just and charitable full of honesty full of religion resolute and constant in holy purposes but inflexible to evil Make me humble and obedient peaceable and pious let me never envy any mans good nor deserve to be despised my self and if I be teach me to bear it with meeknesse and charity V. GIve me a tender conscience a conversation discreet and aâ—fable modest and patient liberal and obliging body a chaste and healthful competency of living according to my condition contentednesse in all estates a resigned will and mortified affections that I may be as thou wouldst have me and my portion may be in the lot of the righteous in the brightnesse of thy countenance and the glories of eternity Amen Holy is our God * Holy is the Almighty * Holy is the Immortal Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath have mercy upon me A form of Prayer for the evening to be said by such who have not time or opportunity to say the publick prayers appointed for this office I. O Eternal God Great Father of Men and Angels who hast established the Heavens and the Earth in a wonderful order making day and night to succeed each other I make my humble addresse to thy Divine Majesty begging of thee mercy protection this night ever O Lord pardon all my sins my light and rash words the vanity and impiety of my thoughts my unjust and uncharitable actions and whatsoever I have transgressed against thee this day or at any time before Behold O God my soul is troubled in the remembrance of my sins in the frailty and sinfulnesse of my flesh exposed to every temptation and of it self not able to resist any Lord God of mercy I earnestly beg of thee to give me a great portion of thy grace such as may be sufficient and effectual for the mortification of all my sins and vanities and disorders that as I have formerly served my lust and unworthy desires so now I may give my self up wholly to thy service and the studies of a holy life II. BLessed Lord teach me frequently and sadly to remember my sins and be thou pleased to remember them no more let me never forget thy mercies and do thou still remember to do me good Teach me to walk alwayes as in thy presence Ennoble my soul with great degrees of love to thee and configne my spirit with great fear religion and veneration of thy holy Name and laws that it may become the great imployment of my whole life to serve thee to advance thy glory to root out all the accursed habits of sin that in holinesse of life in humility in charity in chastity and all the ornaments of grace I may by patience wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Amen III. Teach me O Lord to number my dayes that I may apply my heart unto wisdom ever to remember my last end that I may not dare to sin against thee Let thy holy Angels be ever present with me to keep me in all my wayes from the malice and violence of the spirits of darknesse from evil company and the occasions and opportunities of evil from perishing in popular judgements from all the wayes of sinful shame from the hands of all mine enemies from a sinful life and from despair in the day of my death Then O brightest Jesu shine gloriously upon me let thy mercies and the light of thy Countenance sustain me in all my agonies weaknesses and temptations Give me opportunity of a prudent and spiritual Guide and of receiving the holy Sacrament let thy loving spirit so guide me in the wayes of peace and safety that with the testimony of a good conscience and the sense of thy mercies and refreshment I may depart this life in the unity of the Church in the love of God and a certain hope of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and most blessed Saviour Amen Our Father c. Another form of Evening Prayer which may also be used at bed-time Our Father c. I Will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help My help cometh of the Lord which made heaven and earth He will not suffer thy foot to be moved he that keepeth thee will not slumber Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand The sun shall not smite thee by day neither the moon by night The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth for evermore Glory be to the Father c. I. VIsit I beseech thee O Lord this habitation with thy mercy and me with thy grace and salvation Let thy holy Angels pitch their tents round about and dwell here that no illusion of the night may abuse me the spirits of darknesse may not come neer to hurt me no evil or sad accident oppresse me and let the eternal spirit of the Father dwell in my soul and body filling every corner of my heart with light and grace Let no deed of darknesse overtake me and thy blessing most blessed God be upon me for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen II. INto thy hands most blessed Jesu I commend my soul and body for thou hast redeemed both with thy most precious blood So blesse and sanctifie my sleep unto me that it may be temperate holy and safe a refreshment to my wearied body to enable it so to serve my soul that both may serve thee with a never failing duty O let me never sleep in sin or death eternal but give me a watchful a prudent spirit that I may omit no oportunity of serving thee that whether I sleep or wake live or die I may be thy servant and thy childe that when the work of my life is done I may rest in the bosom of my Lord till by the voice of the Archangel the trump of God I shall be awakened and called to sit down and feast in the eternal supper of the Lamb. Grant this O Lamb of God for the honour of thy mercies and the glory of thy name O most merciful Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen III. BLessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who hath sent his Angels and kept me this day from the destruction that walketh at noon and the arrow that flyeth by day and hath given me his Spirit to restrain me from those evils to which my own weaknesses and my evil habits and my unquiet enemies would easily betray me Blessed and for ever hallowed be thy name for that never ceasing showre os blessing by which I live and am content and blessed and provided for in all necessities and set forward in my duty and way to heaven * Blessing honour
such modesty and decency of treating each other that they never force themselves into high and violent lusts with arts and misbecoming devices alwayes remembring that those mixtures are most innocent which are most simple and most natural most orderly and most safe 4. It is a duty of matrimonial chastity to be restrained and temperate in the use of their lawful pleasures concerning which although no universal Rule can antecedently be given to all persons any more then to all bodies one proportion of meat and drink yet married persons are to estimate the degree of their license according to the following proportions * 1. That it be moderate so as to consist with health * 2. That it be so order'd as not to be too expensive of time that precious opportunity of working out our salvation * 3. That when duty is demanded it be alwayes payed so far as is in our powers and election according to the foregoing measures * That it be with a temperate affection without violent transporting desires or too sensuall applications Concerning which a man is to make judgement by proportion to other actions and the severities of his religion and the sentences of sober and wise persons For it is a sad truth that many married persons thinking that the floodgates of liberty are set wide open without measures or restraints so they sail in that channel have felt the final rewards of intemperance and lust by their unlawful using of lawful permissions Onely let each of them be temperate and both of them be modest Socrates was wont to say that those women to whom Nature had not been indulgent in good features and colours should make it up themselves with excellent manners and those who were beautiful and comely should be careful that so fair a body be not polluted with unhandsome usages To which Plutarch addes that a wife if she be unhandsome should consider how extreamly ugly she should be if she wanted modesty but if she be handsome let her think how gracious that beauty would be if she superads chastity 5. Married persons by consent are to abstain from their mutual entertainments at solemn times of devotion not as a duty of it self necessary but as being the most proper act of purity which in their condition they can present to God and being a good advantage for attending their preparation to the solemn duty and their demeanour in it It is S. Pauls counsel that by consent for a time they should abstain that they may give themselves to fasting and prayer And though when Christians did receive the holy Communion every day it is certain they did not abstain but had children yet when the Communion was more seldom they did with religon abstain from the marriage-bed during the time of their solemn preparatory devotions as anciently they did from eating and drinking till the solemnity of the day was past 6. It were well if married persons would in their penitential prayers and in their general confessions suspect themselves and accordingingly aâ—k a general pardon for all their undecencies and more passionate applications of themselves in the offices of marriage that what is lawful and honourable in its kinde may not be sullied with imperfect circumstances or if it be it may be made clean again by the interruption and recallings of such a repentance of which such uncertain parts of action are capable But because of all the dangers of a Christian none more pressing and troublesome then the temptations to lust no enemy more dangerous then that of the â—lesh no accounts greater then what we have to reckon for at the audit of Concâ—piscence therefore it concerns all that would be safe from this death to arme themselves by the following rules to prevent or to cure all the wounds of our flesh made by the poysoned arrows of Lust. Remedies against uncleannesse 1. When a temptation of Iust assaults thee do not resist it by heaping up arguments against it and disputing with it considering its offers and its danger but â—â—ie from it that is think not at all of it lay aside all consideration concerning it and turn away from it by any severe and laudable thought or businesse S. Hierome very wittily reproves the Gentile superstition who pictured the Virgin Deityes armed with a sheild and lance as if chastity could not be defended without war and direct contention No this enemy is to be treated otherwise If you hear it speak though but to dispute with it it ruines you and the very arguments you go about to answer leave a relish upon the tongue A man may be burned if he goes neer the fire though but to quench his house and by handling pitch though but to draw it from your cloths you defile your â—ingers 2 Avoid idlenesse and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and usefull imployment for lust usually creepes in at those emptinesses where the soul is unimployed and the body is at ease For no easy healthfull and idle person was ever chast if he could be tempted But of all imployments bodily labour is most usefull and of greatest benefit for the driving away this Devill 3 Give no entertainment to the beginnings the first motions secret whispers of the spirit of impurity For if you totally suppress it it dyes if you permit the furnace to breath its smoke and flame out at any vent it will rage to the consumption of the whole This cockatrice is soonest crushed in the shell but if it growes it turns to a serpent and a Dragon and a Devill 4 Corporal mortification and hard usages of our body hath by all ages of the Church bin an approv d remedy against the spirit of fornication A spare diet and a thin course table seldome refreshment frequent fasts not violent and interrupted with returns to ordinary feeding but constantly little unpleasant of wholesome but sparing nourishment For by such cutting off the provisions of victual wee shall weaken the strengths of our Enemy To which if we adde lyings upon the ground painfull postures in prayer reciting our devotions with our armes extended at full length like Moses praying against Amalek oâ— our blessed SAVIOUR hanging upon his painful bed of sorrowes the Crosse and if the lust be upon us and sharply tempting by inflicting any smart to overthrow the strongest passion by the most violent paine we shall finde great ease for the present and the resolution and apt sufferance against the future danger And this was Saint Pauls remedy I bring my body under he used some rudenesses towards it But it was a great noblenesse of chastity which S. Hierome reports of a Son of the King of Nicomedia who being tempted upon flowers and a perfum'd bed with a soft violence but yet tyed down to the temptation and sollicited with circumstances of Asian Luxury by an impure Curresan least the easinesse of his posture should abuse him spit out his tongue into
the spirits of one used to feed better yet the cheerfulnesse of a spirit that is blessed will make a thin table become a delicacy if the man was as well taught as he was fed and learned his duty when he received the blessing Poverty therefore is in some sences eligible and to be preferred before riches but in all sences it is very tolerable Death of Children or neerest Relatives and Friends There are some persons who have been noted for excellent in their lives and passions rarely innocent and yet hugely penitent for indiscretions and harmlesse infirmities such as was Paulina one of the ghostly children of S. Hierom and yet when any of her children dyed she was arrested with a sorrow so great as brought her to the margent of her grave And the more tender our spirits are made by Religion the more easy we are to let in grief if the cause be innocent and be but in any sence twisted with piety and due affections * To cure which we may consider that al the world must die therfore to be impatient at the death of a person concerning whom it was certain and known that he must die is to mourn because thy friend or childe was not born an Angel and when thou hast a while made thy self miserable by an importunate and uselesse grief it may be thou shalt die thy self and leave others to their choice whether they will mourn for thee or no but by that time it will appear how impertinent that grief was which served no end of life and ended in thy own funeral But what great matter is it if sparks fly upward or a stone falls into a pit if that which was combustible be burned or that which was liquid be melted or that which is mortal do die It is no more then a man does every day for every night death hath gotten possession of that day and we shall never live that day over again and when the last day is come there are no more dayes left for us to die And what is sleeping and waking but living and dying what is Sping and Autumne youth and old age morning and evening but real images of life and death and really the same to many considerable effects and changes Vntimely death But it is not mere dying that is pretended by some as the cause of their impatient mourning but that the childe died young before he knew good and evil his right hand from his left and so lost all his portion of this world and they know not of what excellency his portion in the next shall be * If he dyed young he lost but little for he understood but little and had not capacities of great pleasures or great cares but yet he dyed innocent and before the sweetnesse of his soul was deflour d and ravished from him by the flames and follies of a forward age he went out from the dining-rooms before he had fallen into errour by the intemperance of his meat or the deluge of drink and he hath obtain'd this favour of God that his soul hath suffered a lesse imprisonment and her load was sooner taken oâ—f that he might with lesser delayes goe and converse with immortal spirits and the babe is taken into Paradise before he knows good and evil For that knowledge threw our great Father out and this ignorance returns the childe thithe * But as concerning thy own particular remove thy thoughts back to those dayes in which thy childe was not born and you are now but as then you was and there is no difference but that you had a son born and if you reckon that for evil you are unthankful for the blessing if it be good it is better that you had the blessing for a while then not at all and yet if he had never been born this sorrow had not been at all but be no more displeased at God for giving you the blessing for a while then you would have been if he had not given it at all and reckon that intervening blessing for a gain but account it not an evil and if it be a good turn it not into sorrow and sadnesse * But if we have great reason to complain of the calamities and evils oâ— our life then we have the lesse reason to grieve that those whom we loved have so small a portion of evil assigned to them And it is no small advantage that our children dying young receive for their condition of a blessed immortality is rendred to them secure by being snatcht from the dangers of an evil choice and carried to their little cells of felicity where they can weep no more And this the wisest of the Gentiles understood well when they forbade any offerings or libations to be made for dead infants as was usual for their other dead as believing they were entred into a secure possession to which they went with no other condition but that they passed into it thorough the way of mortality and for a few moneths wore an uneasy garment And let weeping parents say if they do not think that the evils their little babes have suffered are sufâ—icient If they be why are they troubled that they were taken from those many and greater which in succeeding years are great enough to try all the reason and religion which art and nature and the grace of God hath produc'd in us to enable us for such sad contentions And possibly we may doubt concerning men and women but we cannot suspect that to infants death can be such an evil but that it brings to them much more good then it takes them from in this life Death unseasonable But others can well bear the death of infants but when they have spent some years of childehood or youth and are entred into arts and society when they are hopeful and provided for when the parents are to reap the comfort of all their fears and cares then it breaks the spirit to loose them This is true in many but this is not love to the dead but to themselves for they misse what they had flatterd themselves into by hope and opinion and if it were kindnesâ—e to the dead they may consider that since we hope he is gone to God and to rest it is an ill expression of our love to them that we weep for their good fortune For that life is not best which is longest and when they are descended into the grave it shall not be inquired how long they have lived but how well And yet this shortening of their dayes is an evil wholly depending upon opinion For if men did naturally live but twenty years then we should be satisfied if they dyed about sixteen or eighteen and yet eighteen years now are as long as eighteen years would be then and if a man were but of a dayes life it is well if he lasts till even long and then sayes his compline an hour before the time and we are pleased and call not that death
the publick wisdom and necessity shall impose upon me at no hand murmuring against government lest the Spirit of pride and mutiny of murmur and disorder enter into me and consigne me to the portion of the disobedient and rebellious of the Despisers of dominion and revilers of dignity Grant this O holy God for his sake who for his obedience to the Father hath obtained the glorification of eternal ages our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Prayers for Kings and all Magistrates for our Parents spiritual and natural are in the following Letanies at the end of the fourth Chapter A Prayer to be said by Subjects when their Land is invaded and over-run by barbarous or wicked people enemies of the Religion or the Government I. O Eternal God thou alone rulest in the Kingdoms of men thou art the great God of battels and recompences and by thy glorious wisdom by thy Almighty power by thy secret providence doest determine the events of war and the issues of humane counsels and the returns of peace and victory now at least be pleased to let the light of thy countenance and the effects of a glorious mercy a gracious pardon return to this Land Thou seest how great evils we suffer under the power tyranny of war although we submit to adore thy justice in our sufferings yet be pleased to pity our misery to hear our complaints and to provide us of remedy against our present calamities let not the defenders of a righteous cause go away ashamed nor our counsels be for ever confounded nor our parties defeated nor religion suppressed nor learning discountenanced and we be spoiled of all the exteriour ornaments instruments and advantages of piety which thou hast been pleased formerly to minister to our infirmities for the interests of learning and religion Amen II. WE confesse dear God that we have deserved to be totally extinct and separate from the Communion of Saints and the comforts of Religion to be made servants to ignorant unjust and inferiour persons or to suffer any other calamitie which thou shalt allot us as the instrument of thy anger whom we have so often provoked to wrath and jealousie Lord we humbly lye down under the burden of thy rod begging of thee to remember our infirmities and no more to remember our sins to support us with thy staff to lift us up with thy hand to refresh us with thy gracious eye and if a sad cloud of temporal infelicities must still encircle us open unto us the window of Heaven that with an eye of faith and hope we may see beyond the cloud looking upon those mercies which in thy secret providence and admirable wisdom thou designest to all thy servants from such unlikely and sad beginnings Teach us diligently to do all our duty and cheerfully to submit to all thy will and at last be gracious to thy people that call upon thee that put their trust in thee that have laid up all their hopes in the bosome of God that besides thee have no helper Amen A Prayer to be said by Parents for their Children O Almighty and most merciful Father who hast promised children as a reward to the Righteous and hast given them to me as a testimony of thy mercy and an engagement of my duty be pleased to be a Father unto them and give them healthful bodies understanding souls and sanctified spirits that they may be thy servants and thy children all their dayes Let a great mercy and providence lead them through the dangers and temptations and ignorances of their youth that they may never run into folly and the evils of an unbridled appetite So order the accidents of their lives that by good education careful Tutors holy example innocent company prudent counsel and thy restraining grace their duty to thee may be secured in the midst of a crooked and untoward generation and if it seem good in thy eyes let me be enabled to provide conveniently for the support of their persons that they may not be destitute and miserable in my death or if thou shalt call me off from this World by a more timely summons let their portion be thy care mercy and providence over their bodies and souls and may they never live vitious lives nor dye violent or untimely deaths but let them glorifie thee here with a free obedience and the duties of a whole life that when they have served thee in their generations and have profited the Christian Common-wealth they may be coheirs with Jesus in the glories of thy eternal Kingdom through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer to be said by Masters of Families Curats Tutors or other obliged persons for their charges O Almighty God merciful and gracious have mercy upon my Family or Pupils or Parishioners c. and all committed to my charge sanctifie them with thy grace preserve them with thy providence guard them from all evil by the custody of Angels direct them in the wayes of peace and holy Religion by my Ministery and the conduct of thy most holy Spirit and consigne them all with the participation of thy blessings and graces in this World with healthful bodies with good understandings and sanctified spirits to a full fruition of thy glories hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Prayer to be said by Merchants Tradesmen and Handicrafts men O Eternal God thou Fountain of justice mercy and benediction who by my education and other effects of thy providence hast called me to this profession that by my industry I may in my small proportion work together for the good of my self and others I humbly beg thy grace to guide me in my intention and in the transaction of my affairs that I may be diligent just and faithful and give me thy favour that this my labour may be accepted by thee as a part of my necessary duty and give me thy blessing to assist and prosper me in my Calling to such measures as thou shalt in mercy choose for me and be pleased to let thy holy Spirit be for ever present with me that I may never be given to covetousnesse and sordid appetites to lying and falsehood or any other base indirect and beggerly arts but give me prudence honesty and Christian sincerity that my trade may be sanctified by my Religion my labour by my intention and thy blessing that when I have done my portion of work thou hast allotted me and improv'd the talent thou hast intrusted to me and serv'd the Common-wealth in my capacity I may receive the mighty price of my high calling which I expect and beg in the portion and inheritance of the ever blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen A Prayer to be said by Debtors and all persons obliged whether by crime or contract O Almighty God who art rich unto all the treasure and Fountain of all good of all justice and all mercy and all bounty to whom we owe all that we are and all
love then I have to give but Lord do thou turn me all into love and all my love into obedience and let my obedience â—e without interruption and then I hope thou wilt accept such a return as I can make make me to be something that thou delightest in thou shalt have all that I am or have from thee even whatsoever thou makest fit for thy self Teach me to live wholly for my Saviour Jesus and to be ready to dye for Jesus and to be conformable to his life and sufferings and to be united to him by inseparable unions and to own no passions but what may be servants to Jesus and Disciples of his institution O sweetest Saviour clothe my soul with thy holy robe hide my sins in thy wounds and bury them in thy grave and let me rise in the life of grace and abide and grow in it till I arrive at the Kingdom of Glory Amen Our Father c. Ad. Sect. 7 8 10. A â—orm of prayer or intercession for all estates of people in the Christian Church The parts of which may be added to any other formes and the whole office intirely as it lyes is proper to be said in our preparation to the holy Sacrament or oâ— the day of celebration 1. For our selves O thou gracious Father of mercy Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thy servants who bow our heads and our knees and our hearts to thee pardon and forgive us all our sins give us the grace of holy repentance and a strict obedience to thy holy word strengthen us in the inner man with the power of the holy Ghost for all the parts and duties of our calling holy living preserve us for ever in the unity of the holy Catholick Church in the integrity of the Chrâ—stian faith and in the love of God and of our neighbours and in hope of life Eternal Amen 2. For the whole Catholick Church O holy Jesus King of the Saints and Prince of the Catholick Church preserve thy spouse whom thoâ— hast purchased with thy right hand and redeemed and cleansed with thy blood the whole Catholick Church from one end of the Earth to the other she is founded upon a rock but planted in the sea O preserve her safe from schisme heresy and sacriledge Unite all her members with the bands of Faith Hope and Charity and an external communion when it shall seem good in thine eyes let the daily sacrifice of prayer and Sacramental thanksgiving never cease but be for ever presented to thee and for ever united to the intercession of her dearest Lord and for ever prevail for the obtaining for every of its members grace and blessing pardon and salvation Amen 3. For all Christian Kings Princes and Governours O King of Kings and Prince of all the Rulers of the Earth give thy grace and Spirit to all Christian Princes the spirit of wisdom and counsel the spirit of government and godly fear Grant unto them to live in peace and honour â—hat their people may love and feare them and they may love and fear God speak good unto their hearts concerning the Church that they may be nursing Fathers to it Fathers of the Fatherlesse Judges and Avengers of the cause of Widowes that they may be compassionate to the wants of the poor and the groans of the oppressed that they may not vex or kill the Lords people with unjust or ambitious wars but may feed the â—lock of God and may inquire after and do all things which may promote peace publick honesty and holy religion so administring things present that they may not fail of the everlasting glories of the world to come where all thy faithful people shall reign Kings for ever Amen 4. For al the orders of them that minister about H. things O thou great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls Holy and Eternal Jesus give unto thy servants the Ministers of the Mysteries of Christian religion the Spirit of prudence and sanctity faith and charity confidence and zeal diligence and watchfulnesse that they may declare thy will unto the people faithfully and dispense the Sacraments rightly and intercede with thee graciously and acceptably for thy servants Grant O Lord that by a holy life and a true beliefe by well doing and patient suffering when thou shalt call them to it they may glorifie thee the great lover of souls and after a plentiful conversion of sinners from the errour of their wayes they may shine like the stars in glory Amen Give unto thy servants the Bishops a discerning Spirit that they may lay hands suddenly on no man but may depute such persons to the Ministeries of religion who may adorn the Gospel of God whose lips may preserve knowledge such who by their good preaching holy living may advance the service of the Lord Jesus Amen 5. For our neerest relatives as Husband Wife Children Family c. O God of infinite mercy let thy loving mercy and compassion descend upon the head of thy servants my wife or huâ—band children and family be pleased to give them health of body and of spirit a competent portion of temporals so as may with comfort support them in their journey to Heaven preserve them from all evil and â—ad accidents defend them in all assaults of their enemies direct their persons their actions sanctify their hearts and words and purposes that we all may by the bands of obedience and charity be united to our Lord Jesus and alwayes feeling thee our merciful and gracious Father may become a holy family discharging our whole duty in all our relations that we in this life being thy children by adoption and grace may be admitted into thy holy family hereafter for ever to sing praises to thee in the Church of the first-born in the family of thy redeemed ones Amen 6. For our Parents our Kinred in the flesh our Friends and Benefactors O God merciful and gracious who hast made my Parents my Friends and my Benefactors ministers of thy mercy and instruments of providence to thy servant I humbly beg a blessing to descend upon the heads of name the persons or thâ— relations Depute thy holy Angels to guard their persons thy holy spirit to guide their souls thy providence to minister to their necessities and let thy grace and mercy preserve them from â—he bitter pains of eternal death and bring them â—o everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Amen 7. For all that lye under the rod of war famine pestilence to be said in the time of plague or war c. O Lord God Almighty thou art our Father we are thy children thou art our Redeemer we thy people purchased with the price of thy most precious blood be pleased to moderate thy anger towards thy servants let not thy whole displeasure arise lest we be consumed and brought to nothing Let health and peace be within our dwellings let righteousness and holyness dwell for ever in our hearts