gave him the Crown and he soon perceived that there was no Rest for the Sole of his Foot till he had taken the Coronation Oath and had sworn to maintain their Laws and Properties Some little Irregularities must be admitted in a time when things are unsettled but it will scarcely be found that any man was disceased of his Freehold but only such whose Demerits render'd them unworthy of them and from his time the Norman Government proceeded upon the Saxon Principles for King William by the Advice of his Nobles caused a select number of Men out of every County to be summoned who were to set down their Laws what they were in Edward the Confessor's time for it was he who had collected the Laws which at this day is called the Common Law Then after him William II. and Hen. I. succeeded each other and their Title was by Election of the People for Robert their elder Brother was alive and saw them both preferred to the Crown and he never enjoy'd it for he died a Prisoner at Cardiff Castle in the time of Hen. I. The next was K. Stephen who was second Son to Adela Daughter to William the Conqueror he was chosen by the People for he had an elder Brother whose Name was Theobald and there was Maud the Empress Daughter to Henry I. and both these were nearer by descent than he After him came Hen. II. he came in by Compact between K. Stephen himself and the Nobles and the good liking of the People for Maud his Mother was alive and by descent it belonged to her Then Richard I. was elected in his Father's Life-time and received Homage from the Peers King John was chosen by the People or else Arthur his elder Brother's Son who was then living would have succeeded Richard I. Henry III. came in by Election for Lewis the French Prince pretended to the Crown several of the Nobility having called him into their aid against King John and had sworn to him but the Fall of Pembrook who had married Henry's Aunt stuck to him and got him crowned by the consent of the Nobles and People after that he had taken the Coronation Oath and made other promises to the People Edward I. being out of the Land when his Father died was chosen by the consent of the Lords and Commons and I find that the Nation was sworn to the Succession of Edward I. before he went to the Holy Land Edward II. being mis-led by his Favourites was deposed and his Son Edward III. was declared King in his Life-time Richard II. Son to Edward the Black Prince was deposed for his Evil Government Henry IV. came in by Election of the People and though upon occasion sometimes he might pretend to several other Titles yet he found them unstable and to make sure he got the Crown entailed by Act of Parliament and so came in Henry V. and then his Son Henry VI. but he being found unmeet for Government enclining too much to the Counsels of his Wife who was a Foreigner and neglecting the Advices of his Parliament he was deposed and Edward IV. who was E. of March whose Father the D. of York by Act of Parliament was declared Heir apparent to the Crown and afterwards slain in the Battel at Wakefield He I say was Elected and afterwards Henry was restored and Edward set aside but at last Edward was setled and dies and the Crown came to his Son Edward V. who lived no longer than to be put into the Catalogue of our English Kings and then Richard III. was confirmed King by Act of Parliament for Elizabeth Daughter to Edw. IV. was living who afterwards was married to Henry VII and by right of descent the Crown belonged to her and he had no Title but what the People gave him Henry VII came in by Election for his Wives Title preceded his and there was also Edward Plantaginet Son to George D. of Clarence had an unquestionable Right before him if Descent might take place but to clear all doubts he got the Crown setled by Act of Parliament upon him and the Heirs of his Body successively for ever and upon that came in Henry VIII and in his time the Crown was limited three several times by Act of Parliament and there succeeded upon those limitations first Edward VI. then his Sister Queen Mary by Katherine Widow to Prince Arthur and then Q. Elizabeth by Ann Daughter to Sir Thomas Bullen and in the thirteenth year of her Reign a Law was made whereby it is made penal if any say that the Parliament cannot limit the Succession And now Sir I have given you a just account how the Crown has been disposed and if I should say no more I think that this of it self might convince any impartial man that the Crown till King James was in the Peoples dispose But that I may leave no place for doubt I will say something to those things which are so frequently objected and I will begin with that which says as follows Although there be many Instances where the Crown has leaped over the right Heir by descent and has lit upon the Head of another yet say they there are several Instances both before the Conquest and since where the Son has succeeded to the Father and that these are chiefly to be regarded because most agreeable to the Word of God which tells us That by me Kings reign c. and that the presidents that are otherwise are no better than Usurpation and not to be esteemed as legal but to be forgotten as Errors in the Government I acknowledge there is such a Text of Scripture but I must deny that it is to be taken in the literal sence for otherwise the King must be look'd upon to receive his Soveraign Power immediately from God without any regard had to our Laws and Constitutions and then he is King Jure divino and no Bounds or Limits of Humane Contrivance can be set to his Will but we are wholly at his Mercy and Pleasure and Magna Charta and the Petition of Right are waste Paper nay it not only destroys our Government but it puts an end to all other Constitutions in the World But the true meaning of the Words are That Kings are to be obeyed and that they are to govern under God according to the Laws of that Government and that they are to administer the Laws and Justice according to the Rules and Directions of that Constitution and not that Kings hereby shall have a Warrant to be unjust or govern arbitrarily But because there are some Instances where the Son has succeeded to the Father that therefore the Crown comes by descent I cannot grant for this Island has seldom been free from War and then the People are not at leisure to regard every Particular of their Right but are willing to have it at an end upon any terms and are not then so regardful under whom they enjoy their Liberties and Properties as that they
Francis Hargrave THE WORKS OF THE Right Honourable Henry late L. Delamer AND Earl of Warrington CONTAINING His Lordships Advice to His Children Several Speeches in Parliament c. WITH MANY OTHER Occasional Discourses On the AFFAIRS of the Two Last Reigns BEING Original Manuscripts Written with His Lordships own Hand Never before Printed LONDON Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel and John Dunton at the Raven in the Poultrey 1694. TO The Right Honourable THE EARL OF WARRINGTON My Lord SInce my late Lord Warrington your Father trusted me with the care of your Education your Lordship has made so great a Progress in all things which I Taught you that I am now forced to procure you another Tutor You are become in a little time a great Master of several Languages and most parts of Philosophy and I may say without flattery that your Lordship hath Genius Learning and Piety enough to make one of the Best and the most Accomplish't Gentleman in England But yet your Quality requires something more for it is not enough for one in your Lordships High Station to be Humanist Geographer Historian and I may add a good Man too he must be also a States-man and a Politician but being neither my self I must repeat the same thing over again to my Shame and to your Credit that your Lordship wants a better Master Amongst several of the most Eminent Men which I could recommend to your Lordship I found none so Learned nor indeed so fit to make deep Impressions upon your Mind as your Lordships Noble Father whose Writings belongs to you as well as his Estate I don't doubt but you will strive to get the best share of his Learning nor can you fail of an Extream Delight by drawing Sciences but of the same Spring from whence your Noble Blood did flow His Book then being yours both by Inheritance and by the particular gift of its Authour it would be unjust to present it to any other but your Lordship and needless to recommend it or beg your acceptance for 't Therefore omitting any longer Preface in Recommendation of these Golden Remains I 'll only take leave to make this Observation upon them That as there is nothing wanting in them for your Lordship's Instruction both by Humane Learning and Solid Devotion I have fitted you with the Master that I look't for and whom you wanted From whom having obtained all the Qualifications which your Noble Soul is capable of you have no more to wish for but that you may live and practice 'em and it will be to me both a great Satisfaction and Honour to see my Work finisht by the same Artist who put it first into my hands and trusted me with the beginning of it It will be enough for me that I have put my hands to such a Master-piece and shall be highly honoured if your Lordship take notice of my Endeavours and sufficiently Rewarded if you grant your Protection to him who has no other Ambition than to be Your Lordships Most Humble most Obedient and most Devoted Servant J. Dela Heuze THE CONTENTS I. HIS Lordships Advice to his Children page 1 II. An Essay upon Government p. 36 III. Reasons why King James Ran away from Salisbury p. 56 IV. Observations upon the Attainder of the late Duke of Monmouth with some Arguments for the Reversing thereof p. 70 V. Of the Interest of Whig and Tory which may with most safety be depended on by the Government on the account either of Fidelity or Numbers In a Letter to a Friend p. 82 VI. A Discourse shewing who were the true Incouragers of Popery Written on the occasion of King James 's Declaration of Indulgence p. 88 VII A Speech in Parliament for the Bill of Exclusion That the next of Blood have no Absolute Right to the Crown p. 94 VIII A Speech against Arbitrary and Illegal Imprisonments by the Privy Council Several Laws for the Restraint of this Power Instance of the Exercise of this Power on Sir Gilbert Gerrard about a Black-Box An Objection answered p. 100 IX A Speech against the Bishops Voting in case of Blood Lord Coke 's Opinion against it An Act of Parliament Good to which their Consent is not had Bishops no Peers though Lords of Parliament p. 107 X. A Speech against the Pensioners in the Reign of King Charles II. p. 115 XI A Speech for the sitting of Parliaments and against King Charles the seconds Favourites p. 121 XII A Speech in Parliament on the occasion of some Justices being put out of Commission in the said Reign p. 129. XIII A Speech for the Banishing the Papists p. 133 XIV A Speech on the Corruption of the Judges Laws to prevent it Some Instances thereof particularly Sir George Jeffreys when Judge of Chester p. 138 XV. Some Observations on the Prince of Orange's Declaration On the Exit of King Charles II. and Entrance of the late King whose Administration becoming Exorbitant brought on the Present Revolution The Arbitrary Proceeding of K. James excellently set forth by the Declaration c. In a Charge to the Grand Jury p. 353 XVI A Speech against the Asserters of Arbitrary Power and the Non-Swearers p. 385 XVII A Perswasive to Union upon King James his design to Invade England in the Year 1692. p. 401 XVIII Some Reasons against Prosecuting the Dissenters upon the Poenal Laws p. 412 XIX A Discourse proving the reasonableness of the present Revolution from the Nature of Government p. 421 XX. Whether a Conspiracy to Levy War is an Overt Act of Conspiring or Imagining the Death of the King p. 437 XXI Reasons for an Union between the Church and the Dissenters p. 457 XXII Of the Absolute Power Exercised in the late Reigns and a Defence of King Williams Accession to the Throne Election the Original of Succession Succession not very Ancient Division among Protestants a step to Arbitrary Power Enemies to the Act of Indulgence Disaffected to the Government p. 467 XXIII A Speech concerning Tyranny Liberty Religion Religious Contentions Laws of Advantage to the State cannot hurt the Church Of Conquest Of God's ways of Disposing Kingdoms and against Vice p. 483 XXIV The Legality of the Convention-Parliament though not called by Writ p. 509 XXV A Resolution of Two Important Questions 1. Whether the Crown of England be Hereditary 2. Whether the Duke of York ought to be Excluded p. 541 XXVI The Case of William Earl of Devonshire for striking Collonel Culpepper p. 563 XXVII Arguments against the Dispensing Power p. 583 XXVIII Prayers which his Lordship used in his Family p. 597 XXIX Some Memoirs of the Methods used in the Two last Reigns The Amazing Stupidity of those that would reduce us again into the same Condition p. 613 XXX Some Arguments to prove that there is no Presbyterian but a Popish Plot and against the Villany of Informing in 1681. p. 627 XXXI Monarchy the best Government and the English beyond all other With some Rules for the Choice
or the King being found unmeet to sway the Scepter is therefore laid aside and another chosen into his place or else the Government is changed into a Commonwealth The first of these that is when the King by a new agreement is continued to Reign is the easiest and surest come at because the irregularities in such a case are not many so that remedies are as obvious as the grievances are sensible and the King finding what it is to provoke the Nation readily complies with whatever is proposed lest he should make the people desperate and there is this farther in the case that being jealous of the King's intentions the people no longer depend upon his Word and Promises but take care to have effectual remedies As to the second thing that is a Regency this is a kind of a mysterious thing for the King is neither altogether Deposed nor does he Govern but the Administration is committed to another who in nature of a Guardian does all in his name yet under the Survey and subject to the Controul of the two Houses of Parliament But this seldom continues for either the King is restrained or the Government is changed into a Common-wealth So that this not answering the and proposed it oftentimes happens that when the King is found unmeet to govern by himself that he is laid aside for good and all and another is elected in his stead which is done when his administration is become exorbitant and that he is deaf to the Petitions and Complaints of his people for such a change is not made for the sake of him to whom the Crown is given but that the Government may be amended Now tho this is seldome done but for very good cause yet through the folly of some and knavery of others it does not often answer expectation For tho there is much to do and a great deal that is needful yet what through the unskilfulness of those who have the conduct of Affairs and the unfair proceedings of others who out of favour to the Deposed King make it their business to lay rubs and difficulties is the way and to render every thing impracticable whereby the work is very often left imperfect But besides this tho the people have then every thing in their power yet a very little matter takes off the dread and apprehension of any danger either for the present or time to come and consequently makes them remiss if not altogether to neglect to make such provisions as are necessary and this for two reasons First Because as soon as the King is deposed the minds of the people are put at ease either from a belief that all the Calamities which befell them during his reign proceeded directly from himself without the advice or improvement of any other Or else because that no other man will be wicked to such a degree as he was which certainly are two very great mistakes For it was never yet seen where the irregularities of a Reign were many but that some about the King put ill thoughts into his head or helpt to improve that which he had conceived And in the next place he that succeeds is more likely to do as the other has done than that no man will ever be guilty of the like mis-behaviour Secondly Because it is the nature of mankind to be transported with every change that is with their consent and especially in such cases as these where it makes so great an alteration so that for some time their consideration departs from them and they depend so implicitly upon words and promises as if there needed nothing more to settle the Nation and then as an unavoidable consequence of it the best construction is put upon all that is done even to look upon the irregularities of the new elected Prince if he shall commit any to proceed from his care of the Publick Nay altho he do imploy the Ministers and Creatures of the Deposed King this shall be imagined to arise from the same regard to the Nation because it will be supposed that he either finds or has made them fitter than any other to serve him and the publick till the ill effects are felt of having such persons near the King But it is not easily to be imagined that such persons are imployed for the sake of the publick unless their parts and abilities eminently exceed the rest of mankind which would be little less than a miracle or else at least that they are become new men to all intents and purposes and that ought to be as evident as the Sun at Noon-day If a Prince entertain such men and knows what they are such evil Ministers are more likely to make him a bad Prince than that he can make them just and faithful Councellors to him and the publick If none of these things I have mentioned happen upon a Revolution then there remains nothing but to change the Government into a Commonwealth But that is seldome done till the case is so desperate as that nothing else will do yet it most commonly happens either when the Father and Son successively have governed Tyrannically or else when one Prince is deposed and the next proves as bad as he indeed unless it be at the last extremity it ought not to be thought on because it is easier to repair an old Government than to make a new one and besides there needs a great deal of time to bring the latter into shape and especially a Commonwealth where so much Vertue in the people is requisite to make and continue it such of which sort of Government I will only say That no doubt but it has its particular excellency for as no Government is altogether perfect so every Government has something that is particularly good in it And here give me leave to say a word in my own vindication I find I have been accused to be a Commonwealths man but were I permitted to speak for my self I would say That I like this Constitution under King Lords and Commons better than any other and I defie any man to mention that thing which can give just occasion to think otherwise of me I am sure there is no man so hardy as to tell me so to my face yet I say withal That if through the Administration of those who are trusted with the Executive Power or by any other means my liberty shall become precarious I will then be for any other form of Government under which my Liberty and Property may be more secure and till then I don't desire to change And in this I think I am not much in the wrong but this only by the by Now to apply what I have said to our present case I think King James was justly deposed for what part of the Constitution had not he put out of order and then how can such a man be meet to sway the Scepter and in the next place as things stood at that time all circumstances considered who was so
may have them And hence it might come to pass that the Son succeeded the Father as it befel in the case of Henry III. his Father K. John had been quarreling with his Barons and they called in Lewis the F. Prince to their aid and several swore to him but K. John dying and the Nation being willing to be at rest they chose rather to have Henry III. being a Child whom they had hopes to train up in the Principles of an English King than to admit Lewis who was a Foreigner Or else that out of Gratitude to the memory of their deceased King who had done good things for the Nation they chose his Son believing him to inherit his Father's Vertues and therefore deserved the Crown better than any other person as it befel in the case of Edw. II. and Rich. II. and Hen. VI. who all deceiv'd them and therefore were deposed I think the rest of the Instances where the Son has followed his Father into the Throne are where the Succession was continued to them by Act of Parliament or by Election in the life-time of the Father as it happen'd in the case of Rich. I. and Edw. I. But I think it is without all dispute a known Custom in England that where a man has any Estate either real or personal if it came to him by Descent although he has no further power of it yet during his Life he may dispose of it as to him shall seem meet and divest himself of it to all intents and purposes And therefore if the Crown of England comes by descent what hinders that he who enjoys it cannot alien or dispose of it during his own life for whenever it has been attempted the People has still opposed it as in the case of K. John when he laid down the Crown at the Feet of Pandulphus the Pope's Legate and he kept it three days for the Pope's use this being done without the Consent of the Nation the King was told He could not make any conveyance of it without the leave of the People and although he had the Pope for his Second who was obliged to stand by him in maintaining what he had done not only out of the advantage he would gain hereby against King John and his Successors but also to encourage his other Sons to the like Dutifulness and Obedience yet the People were Victors and the King fairly gave up the Cudgels Which methinks clears the Point very well for our Lawyers tell us That a President where the thing has been disputed is worth a thousand where there was no Contest I will give you another Instance though not the very same yet I think not impertinent to be mentioned Q. Mary upon her first enjoyment of her Husband Philip was very fond of him and thinking nothing to be too good for him she had a great desire to have him crowned but notwithstanding her Importunities the Parliament would not consent and she never had her Desire Whereas if the Crown had come to her by descent she need not have asked the Parliament leave nor had K. John been to blame to give away that which was absolutely his own It is true that in the life-time of H. II. his eldest Son was crowned but he first acquainted his Lords with his purpose which implies that he asked their consent which is very probable because they swore Allegiance to him which they would never have done had it not been with their good liking for the Lords were more sturdy in those days than they are in ours for they would yield no further than they saw there was Law and Reason for it I have heard it objected That the three Children of Hen. VIII succeeded to the Crown by his Will it may be so and yet not clear the point That the Crown comes by Inheritance for Hen. VIII had shaken off the Pope's Authority and the People might be very willing to accept his Son Edward for their King and it had been a wonder if they had refused him seeing he was a Protestant and one like to perfect the Reformation But in his Successor Q. Mary we find the President of bequeathing the Crown by Will overthrown for Edw. VI. by his last Will had given the Crown to Jane Seymour and to make the thing more valid he caused the Nobility Bishops and Judges to set their Hands to it and yet Q. Mary prevailed against this Will but Arthur Son to Jeoffery who was Brother to Rich. I. and K. John was not only Son to the elder Brother but was designed by Rich. I. to be his Successor to the Crown So that if any thing would have prevailed against the Election of the People without doubt Arthur would have had the Crown and John must have waited longer But if the Crown of England comes by Descent or Inheritance I desire to ask by what Title all the Kings and Queens since the Conquest have possessed the Throne for no man can have the face to say that the first William came in by Descent but that his Title was either by Election Conquest or Vsurpation and all that have succeeded him out of his Loins are upon the same bottom with him and if his Title was not by Election then he and all his Successors can be termed nothing but Vsurpers who came in by force and have maintained it by might against Law for it is very well known that a Possession which is illegal at first cannot be better by continuing it nor does it mend the matter if they hold it never so long the Right remains the same And therefore having said this I do presume it will be as difficult to understand those things mentioned in the 30th Chapter of Proverbs Verse the 19th as it is to prove that the Crown of England comes by Descent But possibly when there shall be a Man so much wiser than Solomon that can unriddle those four things he may be able to clear this first and resolve all other Doubts that may be proposed to him but till that be I hope the People will hold their Right in disposing of the Crown and not be bound to admit the next of Blood if he be not fit for it I will now Sir proceed to your second Demand Whether the Duke ought to be excluded and to that I do answer affirmatively That he ought to be set aside for if he had not deserved it very justly the late House of Commons would not have been so vigorous and intent upon the Bill neither would the preceding mercinary House of Commons have said a word against him if his Faults had not been very plain but the whole thing is so evident that there needs nothing more to enforce the Reasons for his exclusion for Is it a small thing to hold a Correspondence with the Pope and the French King the two great Enemies to our Religion and Government to procure Pardons for Papists and keeping none about him but Papists or Popishly
every one of us make let us never forget how short and uncertain our Lives are that we know not the number of our days that a time is set which we cannot go beyond and that we are not sure of our lives one moment that as the Tree falls so it lies that as Death overtakes us so Judgment will find us Therefore let us be so prepared for our change that whenever Death comes it may neither surprize us nor be unwelcome Wean our Hearts and Affections from the things of this World and fix them upon those that are more solid and permanent let us see how vain uncertain and unsatisfying they are let us remember that they are only lent and not given us and that when they are taken from us no wrong is done and therefore so long as thou art pleas'd to allow us the enjoyment of them let us thankfully receive them and carefully employ and improve them and when we are depriv'd of any of them let us not repine but in all things learn and practice a Submission to thy good pleasure Good Lord we beseech thee to bless our King and Queen in making them ever mindful for what end they were raised to so high a dignity as to sit on the Throne of these Kingdoms namely to promote thy Glory and the good and welfare of their People let them see that this only is their best Interest and that nothing can make them so great and happy as by being zealous therein Let them with their Eyes drive away from their Throne all those that would draw them aside from thy Glory or the Good of their People and teach them the things that belong to their Peace And be gracious we humbly beg of thee to this poor Land and Nation make it happy in a long and prosperous reign of our King and Queen let all their Subjects conscientiously do their Duties in their several stations uphold every man in his Integrity that seeks thy Glory or wishes the Good of his Country let them not be dismaid when they see things go contrary to what they apprehend or wish they should do let them remember that though there be many Devices in a Man's Heart yet that the Counsel of the Lord that shall stand that God will bring about his own work in his own way and accomplish his pleasure in his appointed time and when that time is come he will not want Instruments to effect his purpose and let us learn that the wisdom of Man is foolishness with God for he can take the Crafty in their own Devices Therefore howsoever publick Affairs may move for the present let every one of us be diligent in our stations as we have opportunity let us patiently stand still and see the Salvation of God and submit to his good pleasure whatever it shall be And let thy Blessing rest upon this Family lift up the light of thy Countenance upon us and love us freely as it is a Family of note and eminency so make it remarkable for sobriety and good order and as it is above others so let it be exemplary for the good Conversation of every Member of it and thereby give occasion to others to glorifie thee our Father which is in Heaven Let us all be disposed to do that which is good and acceptable let those that are to instruct others be careful to walk suitable to the Precepts which they teach and those that are to learn let them be enclined and willing to receive Instruction Let us all do our Duties faithfully and honestly not with Eye-service like Brutes but as Rational Creatures that know how to chuse the good and refuse the evil And visit with thy Mercy we beseech thee all the Sons and Daughters of Affliction relieve them according to their several necessities lay no more upon them than they shall be able to bear sanctifie thy Hand to every one of them and in thy good time put an end to their Sufferings Let thy Correction be that of a loving Father for their amendment but not for their destruction and sanctifie all thy Visitations to us in particular Let us not repine at thy good pleasure if thou with-holds any thing we want or deprive us of any thing we already possess let us still say the Lord is righteous but we are less than and unworthy of the least of his Mercies the Lord gives and the Lord takes away and blessed be the Name of the Lord. Make us of a holy and humble Temper let it be our chief care to glorifie thee knowing that those that love and fear God are sure to want no good thing which he finds to be meet and convenient for them Teach us O Lord to order our Conversation aright Let us daily press after the price of the High Calling that is in Christ Jesus so that at the last we may attain to that blessed place of Rest where we shall have no more Want or Sorrow but to all Eternity sing Praises and Hallelujahs with the Father Son and Holy Ghost to whom for ever be ascrib'd as is most due all Honour Glory Might Excellency and Dominion both now and for evermore Amen OH Eternal Lord God thou art holy just and upright and of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with the least approbation how then shall we dare to presume to lift up our Eyes or Hands unto thee which are so full of all manner of Defilement and Vncleanness Our ways have been perverse and crooked before thee and the Thoughts and Imaginations of our Hearts have been evil only evil and that continually with the ungrateful Lepers we have neglected and forgotten to return thee praise and thanks for thy Mercies and Benefits which thou with so open and plentiful a hand hast bestowed upon us We have not been careful to improve to thy glory the opportunities and talents that thou hast put into our hands we have forgot our vows and promises of better obedience have dealt deceitfully with thee in thy Covenant and started aside like a broken Bow by all which we have forfeited all the right and title that we might otherwise have laid claim to in thy favour and have rendred our selves the objects of thine eternal wrath and displeasure But thou O Lord who hast declared thy self to be a God pardoning Iniquity and to delight in Mercy not willing that any should be damn'd but that all should come and be saved regard us we beseech thee not as we are dead in Trespasses and Sins but look upon us in and through the Merits of our Saviour Christ Jesus who has paid a sufficient price for the Offences and Transgressions of us and of all the World having redeemed us by his most precious Blood give us such a steddy Faith in him that we may with considence approach the Throne of Grace oh pardon our Sins and do away our Offences for his sake we acknowledge we have offended and done that which is exceeding sinful in
thâ— sight yet be not extream to mark what we have done amiss and enter not into Judgment with thy Servants but in Mercy consider whereof we are made and remember that we are but Dust encompass'd with Frailties and Infirmities and so prone to Evil that of our selves we are not able so much as to think a good Thought therefore cleanse and purifie us both in Body and Mind that we may be able to do that which is acceptable in thy sight take away the reigning power of Sin that our Wills and Affections may be brought into obedience to the Law of Christ and let the time past suffice us to have wrought the will of the Flesh raise up our thoughts and desires Heaven-wards and convince us of the emptiness and vanity of these sublunary Enjoyments that we may not be drawn aside by them let us use this World as if we used it not and consider it but as a Passage into Eternity let us ever be mindful of the Snares and Temptations that lye in our way and that the Devil as a roaring Lyon walks about continually seeking whom he may devour that he is crafty and subtile and knows how to suit his alurements and wiles to the temper and inclination of every one of us give us Grace to resist him and Power to withstand and conquer all his Devices strengthen us with Grace in the inward man that we may be able to present our selves before thee at the great day of account holy and acceptable in thy sight And to that end let us be daily searching and trying our ways and doings that we may find out our weaknesses and infirmities and discover the Sin that does the most easily beset us and then let us meekly and earnestly beg thy gracious assistance against them and be thou found of us we humbly pray thee oh most merciful Lord God Let us be daily making an even reckoning with thee by Repentance and let it be sincere and from the Heart convince thou us of the danger of a late or Death-bed Repentance make us mindful of our short and uncertain stay and abode here let us be ever mindful that the young dyes as well as the old the healthy as well as the diseased let us not presume upon our Constitution or Youth but remember that the time of our departure is set and that after death there remains no more atonement for Sin Therefore O Lord we entreat thee to make us wise unto Salvation that at what hour soever the Master comes we may be found doing his Will and then receive the Reward which thou hast promised to those whom thou shalt find so doing Look down in mercy upon this poor Nation prevent those Judgments which our Sins and Transgressions have called loud for against us and cause thy Face to shine upon us and to that end be merciful to the King that he may see his true Interest and let all his Designs and Consultations be directed to the advancement of thy Glory and setling the Peace of this Land let no weapon formed against this ancient Government prosper and turn the designs of all those who have Evil to our Sion upon their own Heads with shame and confusion to the manifestation of thy Glory and the Comfort of those who wish her well and to all those whom thou shalt call out to have a share in the administration of affairs give them Understanding to see what they ought to do and say and Courage to reveal what thou shalt put into their Hearts and do it with an honest and upright intention that they may have cause to hope for thy Blessing upon their Endeavours and let us all learn to fear thee and in our greatest difficulties to look up unto thee and not to depend on an Arm of Flesh make us a People zealous of good works and let Holiness to the Lord be engraven upon us And bless us also of this Family all those that are related unto it and those for whom any of us may be in a particular way concerned for give us Grace to walk humbly and with obedience before thee let us in our several employments and stations study to do our duty conscientiously setting thee before us in all our Actions add unto us the good things of this Life bless our Basket and Store and so thankfully receive and carefully bestow them that they may be Blessings and not Snares to us let us whilst we are here live to thy praise and glory and be such eminent Patterns of upright living that others seeing our righteous conversation may also glorifie thee our Father which is in Heaven And remember we beseech thee all the Sons and Daughters of Affliction visit them with thy Kindness as their several wants and necessities do require support them under thy Hand lay no more upon them than they shall be able to bear and let the chastisement of their Bodies turn to the health of their Souls and enlarge thou our bowels and charity to every Object that needs it let us give without grudging and bless thy Name that we are not in their stead And now O Lord from the bottom of our Hearts we return our praise and thanks for all the Mercies and Favours we have received at thy hands we acknowledge that we are unworthy of the least of them and have not been sensible of our obligations to thee but oh Lord as thou hast hitherto conferr'd them upon us without any Merit on our part so we beseech thee to continue them to us for thy Son's sake Jesus Christ and we desire at this time in particular to offer up our tribute of Praise and Adoration for thy unspeakable goodness to several of this Family in that thou hast deliver'd us from those Fears and Apprehensions we had concerning them Death seem'd to threaten them and the Grave ready to devour them but blessed be thy great Name that didst rebuke their Distemper and hast given us such hopes of their perfect recovery thou wert the needful Help in time of trouble and let us learn by this to look up unto thee in all our distresses Take us this night into thy protection let no Evil approach us but let our Beds be places of ease and of refreshment to every one of us and raise us up in the morning fitted for our several Callings and Duties Hear us O Lord and answer us not according to our demerits and unworthiness or coolness in asking but according to thy love in Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and Holy Ghost be all Praise and Adoration both now and for evermore Amen These following were some Occasional Additions GRacious God who out of thine infinite Goodness dost allow us the favour of coming into thy presence and to make our Supplications unto thee possess us we beseech thee with such a sense and dread of thy Divine Majesty that our Thoughts may be so entirely intent upon the service that we are now to perform that