thee that thou hast kept me from so many opportunities of sinning against thee from abundance of temptations from innumerable occasions of evil How many have been snatcht away by sudden death and I am alive yet How many have been denyed the grace of Repentance which thou still offerest to me That I have a heart to pray and praise thy Name What a mighty token of thy Love is this Let Heaven and Earth praise the Lord Let all the Angels in Heaven praise him Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord praise thou the Lord O my Soul I remember O Lord how when I have gone through the water thou hast been with me when I have passed through the Fire thou hast commanded the Flames not to kindle upon me I remember when for a small moment thou hast hid thy Face from me How with everlasting kindnesses thou hast visited me again O how often hast thou deliver'd me from the nethermost Hell When I have been ready to sink in the mire thou hast pulled me out of the horrible pit cut of the miry Clay and set my feet upon a Rock and establish'd my goings When the snares of death have incompassed me and the pains of Hell laid hold on me thou hast deliver'd my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living what reward shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits How loth hast thou been to behold my ruine How hast thou call'd after me Have mercy on thy self With what convictions hast thou follow'd me What checks of Conscience hast thou given me O my Lord Thou shalt have all the Glory Thou art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour and Majesty and Dominion How precious are thy Mercies How rich thy Loving kindnesses To do so much for dust and ashes for a Worm for a Grashopper for a Creature that hath abused thee and rebell'd against thee O what goodness is this My understanding is not big enough to comprehend it I 'll acknowledge thee for my God I 'll own thee for my Redeemer Thou shalt be my King my Master my Sovereign Lord I will consecrate all my Labours all my Services all I have and all I am to thy Glory O what a favour is forgiveness of Sin which I trust I have received this day Think O my Soul what a bondage thou art deliver'd from Think what slavery thou art freed from Now thou art at liberty now thou mayst serve God chearfully now thou mayst freely go on from Virtue to Virtue This is a day of Thanksgiving this is a day of glad tidings this is a day which ought to be remembred O my Jesus Thou hast this day visited the Earth and watered it Thou hast made it rich with thy showers thy Grace hath dropp'd upon me this day like the Rain on the mowen Grass O order my steps according to thy Word for the future Let me see thee in every Mercy Teach me to admire thee in every Blessing Let nothing seduce my Heart from thee When any afflictions come upon me let me receive them with Thanks and Submission When I stumble do thou support me when I fall do thou raise me when I go astray do thou seek me when I err do thou direct me When I slacken in thy service do thou strengthen me Keep the door of my Senses that no impure thing may enter there Let my Heart be thy Temple Teach me to enquire daily what progress I make in thy way Let thy Word be a lanthorn to my Feet and a Light unto my paths Let no evil company discourage me Let thy Providence direct me to persons that love thy Law and in these excellent ones let all my Delight and Comfort be O my Lord my Life is hid in thee But when thy Glory shall appear I shall be like thee Speak Lord for thy Servant hears Let none of thy Commandements be hence-forward grievous to me Open thy hand and feed my Soul When I am tempted lay no more upon me then I am able to bear Give me courage to strive to enter in at the strait Gate Let me ever look at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Thy Kingdom Lord is not in Meat and Drink but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Give me a taste of it Let Eternity be always in my mind Into thy hands I do commend my Spirit my Body and all the concerns of my Life Let thy Grace come down upon me plentifully Let me not do thy Will negligently Let me live in the thoughts of another life and let those Thoughts encourage me to follow after that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus O hear me O Answer me O pity me O relieve me O come in O succour me thou that art the God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousness all the day long Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say continually Let God be magnified I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God! thou art my Help and my Deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Amen Amen ERRATA PAge 51. l. 24. read liberty p. 169. l. 19 r. Repentance What literal Faults or Mistoppings may occur the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen. Books Printed for and Sold by Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand CLelia An excellent new Romance Parthanissa That most Fam'd Romance Dr. Greys Compleat Horseman and expert Farrier Two Sermons Preach'd at the Cathedral Church in Norwich By B. Rively Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumphatus with the Additions of Dr. More and Dr. Horneck Mr. Glanvil's Lux Orientalis Or the Opinion of the Eastern Sages concerning the Pre-existence of Souls Bishop Rust of Truth and Annotations on both Dr. Horneck's Great Law of Consideration Papismus Regiae potestatis Eversor Paul Festeau's French Grammar Maugers Letters in French and English The Mirror of Fortune The French Rogue Cambridge Jests or Witty Alarms for melancholy Spirits Kerhuel Idea Eloquentiae The Situation of Paradise
the Characters How bloody were the Lines yet thy Blood makes them as white as snow O my Lord I hear thy words sharper then any two edged Sword and piercing to the dividing asunder of the Bones and Marrow I hear thy complaints I mean which broke the Rocks and shook the Earth and shall not my heart be moved at them For Thee the Son of God to cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Who can hear this Who can think of it and not stand confounded For Omnipotence to sink thus For infinite Perfection to faint thus For him that sate on the circle of the Earth and before whom all Nations were as Grashoppers for him thus to Swound thus to Weep thus to Mourn What could be the reason Oh thou Prince of Peace For the iniquity of thy People thou vast struck for the sins of the World thou didst suffer banishment and wast used as if thou hadst not been anointed with Oyl or been guilty of the crimes thy foes accused thee of The snares of death did encompass thee thy friends forsook thee and thy heritage like a Lion out of the Wood did roar against thee O my Bowels be ye troubled at this remembrance O my flinty Heart canst thou see thy Lord as it were crucified before thine eyes and not break out into floods of Tears O Jesu Thou cryest to thy Father and he hears thee not He seems to be cruel to his Son and deaf to thy lamentations The windows of Heaven seem to be shut and a vail to be drawn over all the Joys and Comforts and Consolations that formerly water'd and enrich'd thy Soul See how dry and barren and burnt up this precious Soil appears No showers from above come down no Sun shines upon it the Stars of Heaven with-hold their influence and scarce an Angel will stir to thy assistance O Thou who art all Glorious within and art thy self the Glory of the Universe Were my Sins laid in a ballance they would weigh heavier then the Sand on the Sea-shore and then what need I wonder that thou cryest so loud under the heavy load for the arrows of the Lord stick in thee and his hand presses thee sore O Blessed Nazarite whiter then Snow brighter then the Sky purer then the Sun How is thy Face disfigured with Grief How do thine Eyes languish How dismal dost thou appear Is this the Face that was the perfection of Beauty Is this the Face that was once the desire of all Nations Is this the Face which so many Prophets and Righteous Men have desired to see Is this the Face that Abraham long'd to behold and the Patriarchs were ambitious to have a view of Is this the Face admired by Angels and dreaded by Divels What is thy Beloved more then another Beloved O thou fairest among Women Is this the mighty Bridegroom of the Church who was once transfigured on the Holy Mount and his Face did shine as the Sun and his raiment became white as the light Is this he whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows whose garments smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia and cast such a scent that the Daughter of Tyre came with a Gift and the rich among the People entreated his favour How is he alter'd How is his Countenance chang'd How is the Gold become dim and the fine Gold changed Yet still thou art lovely to a Soul that sees farther then the outside Still thou art a Cordial to fainting Spirits Still thou art a fountain of living waters Still thou art the Joy of the whole Earth the Light of Heaven and the Song of Sion My thoughts O Lord shall follow thee to the Cross. Methinks I see how thou art going to die thou lookest back on thine Enemies and notwithstanding all their Affronts offerest them Mercy O incomprehensible Goodness Even then when thou art lifted up to the infamous Tree Thou drawest and invitest all Men to thee Thou Preachest on the Cross and thy very wounds are Sermons to the Children of Men and thy Blood trickling down is an exhortation to Repentance Surely it is good for me to adhere unto thee and to count it death to be separated from thee O whether shall I go but to thee who hast words of Eternal Life Thou art my Sun by Thee I shall be enlighten'd by Thee my Soul shall be warm'd O how comfortable are thy beams What a progress must that Soul make on which thou shinest and dartest thy Glorious Rays Thou art that lofty Cedar whose boughs over-spread the Believing World Under the shadow of that Tree will I rest It is for the healing of the Nations I will be glad in the Lord and rejoyce in my bleeding Jesus While the World despises thee I will honour thee While Great Men pass by and regard thee not I that am poor and needy will wait to be refreshed by thee Go ye fools be enamoured with your Trifles admire your Butterflies doat on your sensual Pleasures Here is one that looks charming in his Tears lovely in his Blood amiable in his Wounds and is more beautiful in the midst of all his distresses then the brightest Virgins Face adorned with all the glittering Treasures of the East O my Strength by Thee I desire to be comforted and supported O anoint my Eyes with thy Sovereign Eye-salve and I shall see and live O that the Clouds which dwell on my Understanding were dispersed that I might look upon thee sredfastly Oh! then thou wouldst appear more lovely to me on the Cross then Croesus in his Throne or Solomon in all his Glory God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ. In this lie hid vast treasures of Sweetness O my Jesus make me conformable to thy death and give me leave to carry thy marks in my Body Let me be crucified with thee and let Christ for ever live in me Canst thou live in a Soul that hath abused thy Mercy slighted thy Patience and so often baffled the stratagems of thy Compassion I believe Lord O help mine unbelief Thou camest to call not the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Oh! then my Husband will love me my Redeemer will come and live with me for my repentings are kindled I hate the sins that have defiled my Soul Away ye Swine Here are no Divels to enter in I am to receive my Bridegroom into my Heart Come Lord Jesu Come quickly Thou art the welcomest Guest I know How happy shall I be if thou wilt lodge in this earthly Tabernacle Happier then if all the Angels of Heaven took up their Habitation here O ye besotted Jews what makes you run so fast to kill the Lord of Life ye cannot live without him and what evil spirit doth possess you to kill and murther him Can you think of his miracles and do so Can you reflect upon his Doctrine and attempt such villanies Can you remember how he taught you in the Temple even
for the Temporal Gain and Profit his Hand sends me by consecrating some part of it to good uses nor must I be fond of that Profit which arises from undermining my neighbour I must not study the ease of my Flesh much but take opportunities to use it to some hardships that it may become more obedient to my Reason I must not stay at my sport so long as my sensual desires crave but use only so much of it as may render me serviceable to God and Man Consc. And dost thou verily believe that this is the way to Eternal Life Christ. Yes certainly for this is the way that the Primitive Believers walked in They did not think that Heaven was to be gained at a cheaper rate and why should I Thus did the Apostles thus did their Followers and without such Self-denial they thought there was no arriving to Happiness Besides this is most agreeable to the Precepts of the Gospel and why should I think that I may be-Saved another way then God himself hath appointed Consc. If thou art perswaded that this is the way Lord Why dost not thou set about it Why art thou so loth to come to it Why dost thou act so contrary to it when every moment thou art in danger of death and upon thy death there depends Eternity Christ. O this base this wicked World hinders me the ill examples of my careless Neighbours care of getting a livelyhood the many crosses and disappointments I meet with hopes of having more time hereafter the company I converse with the people I have to deal with fear of Want and the Calling and Condition I am in are such impediments I know not how to shake off Consc. Is it not possible to live in the World and to keep thy self unspotted from it If it be not live a Beggar rather live despised live contemptible live dis-regarded by all Men rather then not enter into these everlasting Joys Shall a pleasant sinful Life hinder thee from the everlasting enjoyment of God! Shall the fawnings or applauses of Men hinder thee from the Eternal applause of Angels Think if thou wert standing at the great Tribunal trembling at the Eternal horror thou art condemned too Think whether thou wouldst not wish that thou hadst lived in Caves and Holes poor destitute afflicted for a few years rather then have come to this miserable end Why should the examples of thy careless neighbors move thee when thou knowest there are but few that will be saved Canst not thou get a livelyhood except thou art rich and greedy after the glories of the World If thou canst but get Food and Raiment content thy self and that most certainly thou wilt get if thou art industrious in thy lawful Calling and darest but trust God Crosses Losses and Disappointments are necessary for thee to drive thee from Earth to Heaven and if all this while thou dost not lose thy Soul thou art safe enough Do but look upon thy Soul as worth more then a thousand Worlds and none of these things will deject thee Thy hopes of having time to repent hereafter is a meer cheat and if thou trust to that thou wilt never be saved A Spiritual life is a thing of labour and pains and circumspection and canst thou be so silly as to think a few careless Prayers at last will plant it in thee Alas These are childish reasonings The company thou conversest withal if they are thy bane must be shaken off whatever comes on 't There is no dallying in a thing of this consequence and if other men will poison themselves why shouldst thou Let the People thou dealest with be never so bad tha't 's no example for thee to follow If they are unreasonable why shouldst thou lose thy Wits and thy Salvation for their sakes If they cheat or abuse thee they do themselves more wrong then thee nor will thy fuming and fretting at them convert or bring them into a better temper Why shouldst thou be afraid of Want when thou doest not see a Bird starve or die for want of Food and can Want be grievous when the Author and Captain of thy Salvation was in want and his followers were so too and yet did live in Heaven Either thy Calling is honest or dishonest if dishonest and an inevitable occasion of sinning away with it and turn Ploughman or Servant rather then live in it If hohonest do not involve thy self in too much business for that will certainly hinder thee from frequent Prayer and Meditation and looking after the concerns of thy Soul and as for necessaries thy God will not suffer thee to want them Lift up thine Eyes look upon this World The greatest part of the Men thou seest will certainly be Eternally miserable Why shouldst thou venture with them Doest thou think that howling with them at last will give thee any comfort There is a prize put in thy hand Why shouldst thou slight it and lament thy contempt for ever Neglect not the present time Do not let this opportunity slip Thy God waits for thee Come in before the door be shut believe in good earnest and nothing will seem difficult Christ. I am convinced I yield I have nothing to say against all this Great God! Help me Draw me after thee and I will run Up up my lazy idle sleeping Soul Open thine Eyes put on Resolution wash away thy filth shake off thy prison Garments gird up thy Loins make haste run to God break the chains of Sin and present thy Heart to the living God Lift up thine Eyes Look into Heaven Listen with thine Ears view the Holy Angels hearken to their Hallelujah's chase away thy darkness cleanse thy self become an humble Spouse of the Lord Jesus Feed thy self with his Beauty Kiss him with the Lips of Faith make him thy Darling receive him into thy bosom Quench thy Thirst with his Blood Hold him fast Do not let him goe Sing his Praises Admire his Love Meet him by Repentance Keep him by Holy Fervours Honour his Name Dare to speak for him Be not ashamed of him Confess him before Men and he will confess thee before his Father and his Holy Angels PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS To be used Before and after Receiving of the Holy Sacrament OF THE LORDS SVPPER A Confession to be said by way of Preparation O Thou Great Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier of Men When I reflect upon my Life how contrary to thy Holy and wholsome I aws how unlike the Lives of thy Saints How unworthy of thy Mercies and Favours it hath been how can I forbear blushing How can I forbear prostrating my Self before Thee How can I forbear falling into the humblest postures my Soul and Body is capable of How have I abused thy Goodness How have I affronted thy Charity How have I trespassed upon thy Patience How have I resisted thy tender Calls How hast thou waited for me while I have been stubborn How hast thou courted me while I have been vain
How hast thou carress'd me while I have been careless How deep ought my Contrition to be How profound my Sorrow How profuse my Tears I have mourned for a dead Corps I have wept for a deceased Relation I have griev'd to see the Body of my Friend left without a Soul Yet have not mourned for God's departing from me nor wept for the deadness of my Heart nor griev'd to see my self depriv'd of thy Grace and Mercy O my Lord I see my folly I perceive I have gone astray I am sensible I have dishonour'd thee How different do my Sins appear to me now from what they did before They look more dismal more dreadful more bloody then once they did Now I would mourn now I would take on for them now I would deplore them Oh touch this frozen Heart that it may melt O Jesu Look upon these Eyes of mine that they may flow with Water O Behold me from the Cross that I may weep bitterly There is hopes that if I mourn I shall be comforted If I weep I shall laugh at last If I grieve I shall rejoyce O my God I long to hear thy joyful voice Be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee I long to rejoyce in thee I long to be Blessed with the light of thy Countenance But the Sun will not shine out till after the Rain O then water this Face of mine speak the Word bid the Waters flow bid penitential showers enrich this barren ground and I shall feel thy warmer beams thy Love will refresh me thy Presence will revive me and my Garments of Heaviness will be turned into Garments of Praise and Exultation O my Jesus Thou hangest naked on the Cross that I might be deck'd with thy purple Robes Thou wast wounded that I might be healed O Heal me and I shall be healed Come dearest Physitian and thy Servant shall be whole Behold Lord Here comes a poor Prodigal quaking and trembling to thy Throne I come from a far Countrey from the Land of Darkness from the borders of the burning Lake from the frontiers of Hell I come miserable and naked I come begging that thou wouldst put a Ring upon my Finger and betroth me unto thy Self in Righteousness The Mercy is too big for me to ask but not for thee to grant I have no merit I can plead no desert Here thou seest nothing but filthy Rags O throw thy Mantle over me I have heard that thou lovest to manifest thy greatest power in the greatest weakness thy greatest strength in the greatest infirmity I have heard thou lovest to spread thy skirts over those that are destitute and afflicted that are cast abroad have no Eye to pity them and know not where to address themselves for relief Thou hast promised to such to open Rivers for them in high places and Fountains in the midst of Valleys When the needy and thirsty seek for Water thou the God of Israel wilt not forsake them O my Lord If Misery be a motive to Mercy here thou seest it in the highest degree What mighty what marvellous things hast thou done for me Yet have I run away from thee What haste have I made to get out of thy sight how afraid have I been of serving thee Thou hast been my greatest friend and I have used thee like an enemy How have I shunn'd thy Counsels as if they had been big with Death and Thunder Ah foolish Creature How have I forsaken thee the Fountain of living waters How fond have I been of broken Cisterns How enamoured with muddy puddles Ah My Father how didst thou pity me How didst thou bewail my blindess With what sorrowful Eyes didst thou look upon my wilfulness Behold My Lord I do return I return that I may look upon thee I return that thou mayst look upon me I return Oh do thou rejoyce over me Oh! Let there be joy in the presence of thy Holy Angels over this sinner who repents I am troubled I am exceedingly troubled that I have made no answerable returns to thy Love that thy Grace hath been bestowed upon me in vain that thy Mercy hath been thrown away on such a wretch Oh the baseness Oh the ingratitude Oh the disingenuity that I have been guilty of Thou hast been my greatest Benefactor How freely how lovingly how candidly hast thou visited me yet I have resisted thy Power despised thy Wisdom undervalued thy Goodness Thou wouldst have torn down my strong holds of iniquity and I would not Thou wouldst have taught me my Duty to God and Man and I refused it Thou wouldst have made me Holy as thou art Holy and I scorned it Ungrateful Worm Do I thus reward the Lord my God! Could I recompence such Mercies with such Sins Such Favours with such gross neglects thy condescension with Pride thy Humiliation with Envy thy Love with Anger thy Bounty with slight and slovenly performances Thy Bowels with Disobedience thy Charity with contempt of my Neighbour Thy Blessings with Revenge Thy Benefits with averseness from Virtue and Goodness thy Munificence with Vanity and the showers of thy Grace with earthly-mindedness Ah! how are my sins multiplied How like a heavy burthen are they become too heavy for me to bear But Oh my God! Thy Mercy is over all thy Works Thy Mercy is greater then my Sins My Sins have taken hold upon me What shall I do I am a burthen to my self I am bow'd down with the weight of my Transgressions Whether O my Lord should I go but to thee who hast the words of Eternal Life Thou hast pity on sinners thou conversest with them thou eatest with them Receive me Graciously Love me Freely Think upon thy Mercy think upon thy Blood think upon thy Tears and accept of me I am surrounded with dangers incompassed with Enemies encircled with Hellish Monsters yet in the midst of these pressures I hear thee saying Come to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden Shall I hide my self as Adam did in Paradise Shall this word fright me away Shall I refuse to come when thou callest in this still voice No No I will confess my Transgression and thou wilt forgive the iniquity of my Sin I will harden my Heart no more I will turn a deaf Ear to thee no more I will stand out no longer I will resist thy Light no longer I will grieve thee no more I will afflict and vex thy Holy Spirit no more O infinite Goodness O wonderful Love though with the Publican I dare not lift up my Eyes to Heaven yet with the humble Magdalen I will come behind thee weeping and wash thy Feet with my Tears and kiss them Oh let me hear the blessed news of Pardon from thy Mouth Thou camest Lord thou camest not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance and of these I am chief If thou wilt converse with Sinners here is one that wants thy help and that stands in need of thy cure full of Diseases full
passes understanding It goes beyond my Cognizance It confounds my Reason I admire the love of a Prince to a Subject but that will bear no resemblance to this Love God might have triumph'd in my Groans Glorified his Justice by my stripes but pity abounds in him it hath no Banks it flows at large it s extended even to the most abject Creature as I am O Love How humble art thou How violent art thou Thou breakest through all the Clouds of Heaven to come down Thou forgoest the Rules of Greatness and Majesty to shew thy Glory That the Eternal Son of God should take Flesh upon him and dye to give life to the World Oh where can I parallel this Love I will sing of Love I will speak of Love I will think of Love my very Dreams shall be employ'd about it O that I could write Panegyricks of it Were not my Tongue confined it should do nothing else but talk of Love Here is Love to which all natural sympathies must vail I see no end thereof The farther I go in the search the more I lose my self But how should a creature find out the end of that which is infinite Where shall I find out the spring of this mighty stream Where shall I find the beginning of it Alas The line of Reason is too short There is no fathoming of this depth Who can search into the recesses of Eternity In that vast Abysse the head of this great River lies but who shall dive into it It 's enough that I am so happy as to be acquainted with it It 's enough that the Almighty hath revealed it unto Babes Even so Father it seemed good in thy sight I can give no reason of it Thy Love Lord was the cause of this Love thy Love was the motive Nothing else could be any inforcive I am sensible thou art merciful because thou wilt be merciful O thou Eternal Wisdom whom the Lord possessed in the beginning of his way before his Works of old who wast set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the Earth was when there were no depths thou wast brought forth when there were no Fountains abounding with Water before the Mountains were setled before the Hills wast thou brought forth while as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the Dust of the World who wast there when he prepared the Heavens when he set a compass upon the face of the depth when he establish'd the Clouds above when he strengthned the deep when he gave to the Sea his Decree that the Waters should not pass his Commandement O thou who wa st by him as one brought up with him who wast daily his delight rejoycing always before him enlighten my Mind that I may have clearer apprehensions of this Charity Arise my Thoughts Awake up my Glory See O my Soul how that Love smiles upon thee See how bright how clear how charming it is See how Divels tremble at it See how they grin and fret to think they must have no share in it See what Glorious Beams it darts on penitent sinners See how it warms their Hearts See how it follows them how loath it is to leave them See how it adjures them and how importunate it is with them to suffer themselves to be conquer'd by it 2. I must examine my self not only what and where and when and how I have especially of late been acting against God and affronted his Goodness Mercy and Patience and what Sorrow Grief and Fear these particular offences have caused in me but whether I am unfeignedly resolved to part with all these particular sins I am most prone and inclined to whether my Heart and purpose be fix'd to know the Will of God and to do it Whether I do sincerely and without reservation intend for the future to prefer God's Will before my Will and his Favour before the Favour of Men and whether I do in good earnest design to forgoe my profit gain or interest in the World rather then do any thing that is displeasing to God Whether I do truly prize the love of God above all the Riches of this World and see greater Beauty in that Holiness to which I am invited by this Love then in all the gaudes and satisfactions of of the World And if I do and my Conscience bears me witness of it I may chearfully go to the Lords Table and expect the benefits that are offered there 3. If I have done any signal wrong to my Neighbour I must make him either restitution or satisfaction I must either restore to him what I have cheated or wronged him in or have secretly and against his Will taken away from him or if I am not able to restore make confession of the fault and beg his forgiveness I must be reconciled to him if I have offended him or given him just occasion to be angry and if after that attempt he will still keep his anger I have deliver'd my own Soul I must let my neighbour know that I do as truly forgive him as I hope to be forgiven of Christ Jesus and be as ready to give as my neighbour to ask my pardon I must remember how God hath entailed his Pardon upon mine and if I forgive not from my Heart neither will my Heavenly Father forgive my Trespasses If I have abused my neighbour either in Words or Deeds and he either hath receiv'd or is like to receive any prejudice by it I must not be ashamed to acknowledge my error but prefer a quiet Conscience before my Reputation in the World 4. I must survey the bitter sufferings of my Blessed Saviour as they are laid down and described by the Evangelists I must follow him into the Garden of Gethsemane and go up with him to the Mount of Olives and there behold how his Heart was troubled and how the fears of death fell upon him how his Soul was filled with sorrow and how his Life drew near unto the Grave How he trode the Wine-press of Gods anger alone and humbled himself before his Father How as Man he begg'd that the Cup might pass from him and yet as Mediator freely consented to his Fathers Will. How distress and anguish came upon him and in the midst of those miseries the weary Disciples fell asleep how he wept and mourned and sweat drops of Blood and how Hell open'd her Mouth upon him how he bore our Griefs and took the chastisement of our Peace upon him How he drank the bitter Cup and his Heart within him became as melting Wax How he was led to Annas and he to whom all the Angels in Heaven bow'd stood before a sinful Man How from Annas he was dragg'd to Caiphas and like a Lamb led to the slaughter How he was accused before Pontius Pilate and there bespattered with all the ill language that Men or Divels could invent How he was set at nought by Herod and in scorn deck'd with
dark how dull how doubtful is my Faith sometimes it blazes then it disappears again sometimes it 's vigorous then slacks and grows remiss again I believe thee in Sun-shine and faint in a Storm sometimes I get a sight of thy Glory then I lose it again Oh how uneven is my Faith When thy Candle shines over my Head and I wash my Feet in Butter I believe but where is my Faith in the dark when the Fig-tree doth not blossom when there is no Fruit in the Vine when the labour of the Olive doth fail Oh how it sinks at such times how weak it grows Lord I believe help mine unbelief O thou Sun of Righteousness thou bright Morning-Star Thou mighty Star of Jacob shine upon me shine upon this dark Soul of mine press in by thy piercing beams scatter the Clouds of my unbelief Dispel those mists as chaff is driven away by the Wind so drive them away O thou Holy One of Israel I Believe but my Faith doth not rouze me from my Spiritual slumber I believe but my Faith doth not overcome difficulties I believe but my Faith doth not put me upon Self-denial I believe but my Faith doth not engage me to that cautiousness of offending thee which is necessary to Salvation I believe but my Faith doth not make me laborious doth not make me strive and fight and work and enter in at the strait Gate I do not believe as if I saw My Faith is not the substance of things unseen I do not represent that future Glory to my mind in such lively Characters as if it were present to my sight I seem to rejoyce in thy Promises but when I am to apply them what doubts what scruples what perplexities arise in my mind I believe thou hast overcome Death yet how do I tremble at its approaches I believe thou art present with me in affliction yet how often do I lose thy Image I believe my dearest Lord that thou camest from Heaven to reveal to me thy Fathers Will yet I do not so readily obey it as I would I believe but am too often overcome by a Passion too often by a Temptation too often by the World O my Lord Give me an active Faith a working Faith a vigorous Faith a lively Faith an effectual Faith A Faith which may oblige me to shake off all dulness all drousiness all laziness and which may make me awake to Righteousness Give me a Faith that may surmount all hardships may be afraid of nothing of no Bear no Lion in the way Give me a Faith which may make me bold as a Lion couragious in Danger resolute in the greatest Trials and magnanimous under the greatest burthens A Faith I want which may make all that is within me stoop to the yoak of Jesus which may cross my Flesh and Blood cruicfy my vain Desires and dash mine inordinate Affections O give me a Faith which may make me tender of thy Glory loth to do any thing that may be offensive to thee unwilling to displease thee the Author of my Being Give me a Faith which may oblige me to labour in thy Vineyard and work out my salvation with fear and trembling A Faith that may look into Eternity Survey the Glorious Mansions prepared by the Son of God live there and converse there and draw Comforts and Consolations from that perfection of Glory A Faith which may live upon thy Promises lay hold on them in despite of opposition and claim them as my Heritage for ever A Faith which may look Death in the Face defy its Power support it self with Christs victory and sing with Triumph over it Oh Death Where is thy sting A Faith which may make Affliction easy my Burthen Light and sweeten all my Troubles A Faith which may purify my Heart constrain me to Obedience and compel me to a cheerful running at thy Command and Order A Faith which may controul all my Lusts check my inordinate Desires bear down all before it set up the Lord Jesus Sovereign in my Soul and make every imagination subject to him who must Reign till he hath put all enemies under his Feet O Blessed Light which enlightnest every Man that comes into the World Direct my steps illuminate my Understanding shew me the way I must walk in that no Errour may mislead me no false Doctrine corrupt me no Heresy deceive me no false Fire beguile me stretch forth thy Hand and hold thou up my Goings in thy path that I may get safe to my Journeys end I am a Traveller and Pilgrim here goe thou before me and I 'll follow thee lead me through this barren Wilderness and leave me not till I enter into Canaan It is not Lord of him that Runs nor of him that Wills but of thee who shewest Mercy As Flesh and Blood could not have revealed these things unto me so thou alone must enable my Faith to quench all the fiery Darts of the Divel Arise O God and let thine enemies be scattered O how am I beholding to thee What Thanks what Praises do I owe thee that thou hast call'd me to the light of thy Gospel That thou hast discover'd to me those Errours which Persons of other Religions in the world lie involv'd in That I have liberty to read thy Word to peruse it and to know the things belonging to my Peace Thou hast not dealt so with other Persons and as for thy judgments they have not known them But what will this knowledge profit me if my practice be not sutable or my Belief strong and firm and vigorous I tremble to think how many thousands are like to perish for want of this Faith Ah! How few do believe in good earnest How few believe with any lively Affections How few act and live as if they did believe O most patient God pity pity that vast multitude of Christian Unbelievers See how Hell hath open'd her Mouth to swallow them up O thou that hast redeemed them with thy Blood Why should the enemy run away with thy purchase See how these poor creatures wander like Sheep without a Shepherd O Gather them O seek them that thou mayst find them Undeceive them let them see how far they are from the Kingdom of God! O my Lord I believe that thou art and wilt be a rewarder to them that diligently seek thee I believe if any man will do thy Will he shall know of thy Doctrine whether it be of God or no! I believe that not the least tittle of thy Word shall fail O encrease my Belief Let not my Faith rest upon thy Doctrine only but let it have regard to all thy Laws O let me so believe an approaching Eternity as to be concerned at the Thoughts of of it O let me not only talk of it but let my Belief rouze my Affections from their slumber O my Jesus I believe thou wast crucified for my sins How then should I live in sin Assure me that if I do I do
Priest for ever Do I believe this and scruple fighting the good fight Do I believe this and am I afraid of the worlds frowns Do I believe this and am I ashamed of the severities thou callest me to Why should I mistrust thee when I see thee use the same mortifications thou biddest me chuse If a Soldier see his King use the same Pains Habit and hard fare which the meanest man in the Army uses what courage doth it infuse into him to endure hardship and other difficulties that may attend the various enterprizes he is engaged in O my Lord That very contempt of the World that Meekness and Humility that severity of Life that aversion from sensual Pleasures that enmity to Sin that hatred of Vanity that indignation against brutish Delights that Sincerity that Simplicity thou requirest of me thou didst observe and practice and perform thy self so that thou layst the same burthen on my Shoulders that lay on thine and if I die with thee I shall live with thee too if I suffer with thee I shall reign with thee Oh then I will not tarry I will make haste and conform to thine example I shall not fare worse then my King and Master did and as I have born the Image of the Earthy so I shall bear the Image of the Heavenly too I will walk as my Jesus walked O my Lord Make me Holy as thou art Holy Perfect as my Father which is in Heaven is Perfect O my Lord there is no other way to Glory but by thee Thou being exceeding rich becamest poor to enrich my Soul Thou camest not to do thine own Will but the Will of him that sent thee Put thine Arms under me and I will not do mine own Will I will follow thee through Fire and Water I will follow thee through Bryars and Thorns through good Report and evil Report O chace away all slavish fear from my Soul Let me not be afraid of difficulties What can be difficult where thou art both the guide and the encourager Thou canst not deceive me Thou canst not delude me It must be so as thou hast said All things are possible to him that believes I 'll chuse some hardship here so I may rest in thy bosom hereafter I 'll be content to pass through a dirty way for some time that I may lye down in the green pastures of thy Mercy for ever The sight of thy Cross in the Holy Sacrament shall be my motive I 'll draw Arguments from that Remembrance of thy death to die to the world I will travel with thee I will sail through the boisterous Sea of this Life with thee And O my Jesus let me arrive safe at last in the Everlasting Harbour Amen Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the Lords Supper to be said either at Church or at home ANd now what Reward shall I render unto Thee O Holy Blessed and incomprehensible Trinity for all the benefits I have receiv'd at thy hands this day Awake up my Glory Awake my outward and inward Man I will Sing and give praise Whence is it that so poor a wretch as I am is crowned with all this Mercy and loving Kindness O my Soul thou hast been water'd this day with the streams that flow from the Paradise of God! I that was worthy of Gods hatred how have I this day been advanced What great things hath God done for me What Honour hath he laid upon me What Majesty What Glory hath he conferr'd upon me I feel the Fire of God within me My Heart grows hot within me I will Sing and give Praise Who would not praise thee that hath seen thy goings in the Sanctuary as I have seen them this day Holy Father thou hast this day embraced me Holy Jesus thou hast this day poured out Blessings upon me Holy Spirit thou hast this day manifested thy self unto me Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Thou hast humbled thy self this day to a dead Dog O how often have I returned to the vomit How often have I gone a whoring from thee Yet behold the Lord instead of the Bread of affliction hath given me the Bread which came down from Heaven instead of the cup of Trembling hath given me the cup of Salvation I will remember thy Name O Lord I will speak of thy wondrous works O my Lord I see thy hand is not shortned neither is thy strength abated Thou that hadst mercy on the vilest sinners formerly extendest thy goodness to such miserable creatures still I have drawn Water this day from the Well of Salvation even from thy wounds O crucified Redeemer Thou hast look'd upon this Prodigal this day thou hast run and fall'n on my Neck and kissed my polluted Soul Oh Honour Oh Dignity Oh Compassion Oh Charity Oh Love Oh Mercy Oh Goodness which the Redeemed of the Lord must speak of Even they whom he hath Redeemed from the hand of the Enemy and gathered them out of the Lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South they wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Soul fainted in them then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he deliver'd them out of their distresses and he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a City of Habitation O that Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men Open to me the Gates of Righteousness I will go into them and I will praise the Lord. This is the Gate of the Lord into which the Righteous shall enter I will praise Thee for thou hast heard me and art become my Salvation The Stone which the Builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes If I forget Thee O my Jesus let my Tongue cleave to the roof of my Mouth Thou hast regarded my Tears thou hast taken notice of my Supplication Thou hast given me my Hearts desire thou hast not withheld from me the requests of my Lips Thou hast given me leave to come to thine Altar this day and to lift up mine hands towards thy Holy Oracle Thou hast fed my Soul this day with Royal Dainties with Peace and Pardon with a right to thy Promises and offers of Eternal Life with assistances of thy Holy Spirit and the Riches of Grace and Mercy This is the Food which the Holy Bread and Wine have represented to me this Day and with this Food thou hast blessed my Soul In this Food will I glory of this will I make my boast This is Food for Immortal Spirits This preserves Souls through the power of God unto Salvation This is bread which fades not away this is Wine which may be had without Money and without Price O my God! thou requirest no Price but a wounded Heart No Gold no Silver no Jewel but