our Neighbour And in these two words is the Summe of the Gospell contained In Father our Faith In Our our Charity Which art in Heauen There are Earthly Fathers These leaue and forsake vs Their hands bee shortned Wee call not to them but to thee which art in Heauen Esa 66.1 Mat. 5.34 Psal 19.1 Heauen is thy Throne The Heauens declare the Glory of God Not that thou art only included in the Heauens for as Solomon said the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but as if that were thy Royall Palace where the Elect shall enioy thy Blessed presence Thou art euery where By thy presence Ier. 23.23 Esa 66.1 In Heauē By thy excellence Jn Heauen A word of Hope For if thou be our Father and Lord and King of Heauen then our hope is that our Inheritance is there also That thou wilt not denie vs an Inheritance that hast vouchsafed to vs the Title of Sonnes Let vs therefore take the wings of the Eagle and bee lifted vp in our meditations to Heauen being made heires thereof Let vs looke vp to Heauen while we are on Earth By Hope By Meditation Psal 25.1 Vnto thee O Lord doe I lift vp my Soule Psal 121.1 123.1 I will lift vp mine Eyes to the hills whence cōmeth my helpe Psal 130.1 Out of the deepe haue I called to thee O Lord. A word of Power Jn Heauen For thou art in that place from whence at all times Thou canst send vs helpe in danger good things in our need plagues for our offences Let vs therefore be respectiue of his awfull Maiestie and make our petitions to him in feare and trembling in all humilitie and reuerence And let vs not beerash with our mouthes Eccles. 5. nor our hearts hastie to vtter any thing before him for God is in Heauen and we poore creatures vpon earth which is but his footestoole Hollowed be thy Name Being thus intituled and dignified with the Honour of Sonnes wee ought presently to consider our Duties what we should render backe And what can a Son desire more then the Honour of his Father Blessed bee thou our Lord who hast giuen this power to men To Hallow To Magnifie To Glorifie Thy Name which in it selfe is Holy Which all thy workes in generall doe sanctifie Psal 103.22 104.31 145.10 Esa 43.20 Psal 97,5,6 Which all the vnreasonable Creatures doe hallow and praise Which all reasonable Creatures as Angells and Men doe glorifie The Angels and hosts of heauen Esa 6.2,3 Psa 103.20,21 Men. In Heauen already In Earth By their works Mat. 5.16 In the Congregations In Afflictions Iob 1.20 Let vs therefore doe it And that not contemptibly or sleightly but Holily and Carefully in Thought Word and Profession Thine And Lord Ezech. 36.23 let thy Name bee sanctified by others beside vs dilate this Power of Sanctifying thee communicate thy Name more and more to the Gentiles Exod. 9.16 make thy Gospell to spread to the ends of the earth from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same let thy Name be great among the Gentiles Psal 115.1 Not to vs Lord not to vs but to thy Name be the Glory Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue Honor and Glory Reuel 4.11 And thy Name ought to bee sanctified by vs aboue all things for all other things are for vs and we for thy Glory only Not that God shall get any thing thereby or that hee hath neede of our sanctifying But in regard of the Benefit which will accrew to vs by it for this honour will be an honour to him that giueth it Them that honour me I will honour 1. Sam. 2.30 saith God 2. Thes 1.12 Thy Kingdome come In this Petition wee pray First for the comming of Gods Kingdome That hee only may rule ouer vs. Secondly for the destruction and euersion of the kingdome of Sathan The Kingdome of God is threefold First of Glory Secondly of Grace Thirdly of Power 1. Of Glory hereafter which indeede should bee the scope of our desires for wee ought so to liue here that we may desire without feare the comming of this Kingdome So to be affected at our death that we may say Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Luc. 2.29 So to bee affected in our life that we may often say when shall I appeare before the Lord I desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 Come Lord Iesus come quickly Reuel 22.20 2. Of Grace in this life in vs. Luc. 19.11 That wee be not of their mindes who said wee will not haue this man raigne ouer vs. But subiect vs O Lord to this Kingdome that easie yoake of thine that in all things wee may be obedient to thee Gouerne vs and raigne in vs that Sathan or sinne raigne not in our members If thou be pleased so to rule in vs here wee shall raigne with thee hereafter 3. Of Power for there are many Rulers in this world which oppose thy Kingdome Arise O Lord and take the Rule into thine owne hand Raigne thou ouer vs. Gouerne vs within and without Let thy Kingdome come and that it may come in vs let it come into our Rulers Make them like to thee in their gouernment Let them rule to thee not to themselues Let thy Kingdome be in them And because when this earthly Gouernment is at the best it is laborious and vnperfect Hasten thy Kingdome of Glory wee beseech thee in which will bee no cause of complaint but all things will be absolute and perfect To which all the Creatures together with vs Rom. 8.18 earnestly waite euen with groanes For all the votes and desires of the a Esa 64.1 Luc. 10.24.2.19 Old Testament were pitched vpon the first comming of Christ and all of the b 2. Tit. 13. New vpon the second looking for that blessed Hope 2. Tim. 4.8 and Glorious appearing of the great God Reuel 22.20 and our Saniour Iesus Christ Come Come to vs but not vpon vs. Certainely it will come will we nill we Let it come to vs not against vs. Let vs feele the happinesse of it O Father in comming not the violence of it in rushing vpon vs. In the meane time let it come to vs here though not in the full fruition yet in the certaine hope and expectation say vnto each of our soules Psal 35.3 I am thy saluation Thy will be done Thy absolute and Eternall Will which none can oppose or withstand Esa 14.24,27 Thy reuealed Will which wee may contradict Let both be done Let vs shew our obedience to thee here Psal 103.20 as the Angells doe in Heauen All other Creatures obey thy Will Mat. 18.10 only Man is disobedient to it Thy Reuealed Will which commandeth vs to be humble in conuersation firme in faith
Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
this bread 1. Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. I am in such a streight that I know not what to doe For gladly would I receiue this Sacrament being desirous to liue but fearefull I am to take it vnworthily trembling at thy Commination I come therefore to thee the fountaine of mercy hoping that thou wilt wash me I come to thee the good Samaritan Luc. 10.34 hoping that thou wilt cleanse my wounds I open my griefe and discouer my iniquities to thee I looke vpon my finnes great and grieuous and thereupon tremble Yet beholding thy mercies great and plentifull I am therewith againe refreshed Remember O Lord how many drops of Sweat and Bloud thou didst shed How many Paines and Sorrowes thou didst sustaine to expiate my sins I entreate thee therefore by them to purge and purifie me that I may worthily bee incorporated into thy body which is thy Church and may worthily also receiue this blessed Sacrament that so together with thy whole Church I may giue thee praise euerlastingly Or thus O Mercifull Lord Iesus I confesse my selfe to be a most grieuous and wretched sinner not worthy to approach into thy presence altogether vnfit and vnmeet Luc. 7.6 to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule in respect of the staynes and pollutions thereof and that it is not decked and fitted with such good graces as thy Maiestie and presence requireth and therefore am afraid to come neere vnto thee Yet O Lord considering thy comfortable saying that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner Mat. 11.28 but that he should turne vnto thee and liue and thy blessed inuitation how louingly with the armes of thy mercy stretched out thou hast called all that are heauily oppressed with the burden of their sinnes to come to thee for comfort and ease And lastly thy vsuall practize in pitying and releeuing those which were cast downe with the thought of their misdeedes as the a Luc. 23. Theefe on the Crosse b Luc. 7. Mary Magdalen c Ioh. 8. The woman taken in adultery the d Luc. 18. Publican e Luc. 26. Peter and Paul all of them grieuous sinners I am comforted and emboldned to come vnto thee assuredly trusting that thou wilt of thy goodnesse supply my defects and make me a worthy receiuer of the high mystery and benefit of thy blessed Sacrament whereof of my selfe I am altogether vnworthy Stretch out thy right hand O sweete Iesu to me thy poore seruant and giue out of thy rich store-house of mercy what I want that thereby I may be made a liuing Temple to thee and an acceptable habitation for thine honour to abide in And grant that being cleansed by thy mercy and goodnesse I may by thy grace and power perseuere in all godlinesse and holinesse of conuersation to the end of my dayes and attaine to that blessed place where thou raignest with the Father and holy Spirit world without end Amen Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament receiued IF all the Creatures in the world should offer themselues together with me to praise thee O Lord yet is it certaine that we could not giue thee sufficient thankes for the least of thy mercies and if together we cannot sufficiently praise thee for the least how much lesse can I alone performe so great a duty for such inestimable blessings as I haue at this time receiued for vouchsafing to visite me comfort me honor me with acceptance and admittance of me to thy blessed Table Luc. 1.43 If Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist vpon the Virgin Maries entrance to her house said Whence is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me What shall I say whom the Lord himselfe hath visited and vnited to him by his blessed Sacrament being a vessell and receptacle of all impuritie who hath so often offended despited and neglected him King Dauid wondred Psal 8. why God should so esteeme of or visite man But I wonder much more why hee should be made man for man abide with him suffer death for him and giue himselfe to him for spirituall food Salomon after he had built a Temple to God reasoned thus 1. Kings 8.27 But will God dwell indeed on the earth Behold the heauen of heauens cannot contayne thee how much lesse this house that I haue builded May not I much more maruell that God will not disdaine to come and abide in this my poore and wretched soule What greater benefit or grace what greater argument of his loue is there can there be shewed to me Oh my soule if thou wouldest but throughly conceiue the happinesse that commeth to thee by this holy Sacrament then consider and well weigh what benefits it bringeth with it By it the sonnes of men are made the Sonnes of God and all that is earthly or carnall in vs is mortified that the Deity may liue and abide with vs. What therefore O my Lord shall I doe What thankes shall I render to thee with what feruency shall I loue thee For if thou so mightie a Lord hast vouchsafed to loue me poore wretched creature how should it be but that I should returne loue againe to thee And how shall I expresse my loue better then in forbearing those things which thou dost abhorre and following those things which thou dost command Giue O Lord to this end thy concomitant grace to mee whereby I may returne a reciprocall loue to thee and loue those things which are acceptable to thee and auoide those things which are to thee vnpleasing Giue me a heart which may loue thee with so true faithfull and constant affection as that nothing vnder the Sun may separate me from the loue of thee Rom. 8.39 Let me not follow the loue of the world or delight in the vanities of it any longer but giue me power to kill and quench all other loue and desires and to loue thee onely desire thee only and only thinke of thee and thy Commandements that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee that in all tentations and aduersities I may haue recourse to thee onely and receiue all comfort from thee alone who liuest and raignest one God world without end Amen Another I Humbly thanke thee O sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou hast so plentifully refreshed my dry and fainting soule with the holy Sacrament of thy pretious bodie and bloud I earnestly entreat thee further that whatsoeuer is in me vicious or contrary to thy blessed will may by vertue of this Blessed Sacrament bee rooted out of me that my soule may become a fit habitation for thy holy Spirit Let it be to me the absolution of my sinnes the confirmation of my faith an encrease of all thy graces in me the viands of this my peregrination and pilgrimage the only delight of my soule peace and ioy in tribulation health and
iust and charitable in workes true in words to loue thee with all our hearts as a Father to feare thee as a God to preferre nothing before Christ who preferred vs before all things and the like Thy Will and all thy Will without exception Thy Will and not our Will a Act. 21.14 The Lords Will be done b Iam. 4.15 If the Lord will Thy Will be done in all things as well in things pleasing as displeasing to vs but especially let it be done in vs. That our blinde and peruerse will may be led by thy most holy Will If our wills be refractory to thine roote out dissipate ours and establish thine Turne our Nill into thy Will Jn earth as it is in heauen In earth as in Heauen Hallowed bee thy Name In earth as in Heauen Thy Kingdome come In earth as in Heauen Thy Will bee done Let Heauen bee the paterne and Rule to Earth in all things Let vs begin to be on Earth as we would be in Heauen hereafter In earth In Earth in all the Earth But especially in this part of the earth where we liue Wee are of this Earth let thy Will be done in vs. As in heauen As in Heauen not as much or as well But let vs imitate though we cannot equall We beg thy grace to doe thy Will as thy Angels and Saints do it But because many things hinder vs wee say with Saint Aug. Aug. Giue vs power and ability to doe thy commands and then command vs what thou pleasest And if our condition in this life will not admit so much yet Lord accept our desires which crie to thee Thy Will be done And if our desires be also vnperfect yet heare our cry in the Prophets words Our soules haue longed to desire thy Lawes and Commandements alwaies Psal 119. Giue vs this day our daily Bread Here we may consider the excellent Order of this Prayer for what ought a Sonne before all things with more feruency desire then the Honour of his Father the prosperitie of his Kingdome and obedience to his Will And in the next place what is more proper to children then to aske Bread of their Father There is in vs a double nature or substance which requires two sorts of Bread 1. The Soule hath her viands to be prouided a Esa 55.2 The Bread of Angels b Ier. 15.16 Psal 65.4 Heb. 5.13.14 The Bread of heauen the Word c Ioh. 6.33.35.48 The Bread of Life Christ Iesus in the flesh Lord giue vs of this Bread euermore Ioh. 6.3.4 2. The Body also cryeth for her sustenance her Bread that is all the necessaries of this life Psal 132.15 for except it bee satisfied likewise it draweth our mindes from thee Thou hast promised O Father to adde all other things to vs Mat. 6.33 if we first seeke thy Kingdome Behold we haue sought it giue vs therefore Bread either fine middlesort or course which of them shall seeme good to thee And which may feed and not choake vs either with the care of them or neglect of thee With Bread giue vs O Lord a Leuit. 26.26 1. King 19.8 The staffe of Bread b Psal 6.2.91.16 Health of Body Wholesome Ayre c Pro. 15. Content in minde Conuenient dwelling Peace in our daies and the like Our Bread Ours gotten either by a Mat. 7.7 Prayer or b Gen. 3.19 Labour Ours 2. Thes 3.8 as first Thine Thine by Gift Ours by Vse Not due to vs but of thy mercy and bounty giuen to vs. Ours 1. Thes 5.14 So as if we haue more then we need we are to communicate it to those which want Ours that being contented with our owne we couet not other mens Daily Bread That we dayly wanting might dayly pray for it and that we daily receiuing might daily praise thee for it To put vs also in minde of the the vncertainty and shortnesse of this life that begging Bread but for a day it may bee perhaps enough for the time we haue to liue Bread For our necessity not for superfluity Which may profit the Soule and not hurt the Body Which may nourish the Soule and not destroy the Body If the Lord will bee with mee Gen. 28.20 and will keepe me in the way that I shall goe and will giue me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I returne in peace then the Lord shall be my God Two things haue I required of thee Pro. 30.7,8,9 deny mee not them before I dye Remooue farre from me vanity and lyes giue me neither pouerty nor riches feed mee with food connenient for me lest I bee full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord or lest I bee poore and steale and take the Name of my God in vaine Giue Giue it thou Blesse the labours of our hands Breake it thou and giue it Let not vs take it for if thou giue it thou wilt giue it in time place and measure Whereas if we take it our selues wee obserue none of these rules but take it to the destruction of our owne soules and bodies To vs. Not only to mee and my family but to all thy seruants that need it This day That is this day of our life This time For we being vncertaine of our Dayes Heb. 3â—… why should wee begge bread for vncertaine times For we are not assured of an age a yeare or a day Our life is but a day and a day is the resemblance of our life Yet for all this Prouidence is not hereby forbidden or that none should lay vp with a Gen. 41. Ioseph or with the b Pro. 6.6 Ant. Giue vs O Lord Bread conuenient and meet to serue vs to day and to morrow also And forgiue vs our trespasses Esa 27.9 This is all the fruite to take away sinne Esa 59.2 Our iniquities haue separated betweene vs and our God and our sinnes haue hid his face from vs that he will not heare vs. Ier. 5.25 Our iniquities haue with-holden good things from vs. Lam. 3.44 Thou hast set our sinnes as a Cloud that our prayers might not passe through Ioh. 9.31 We know that God heareth not sinners As long as our sinnes stand vp against vs and are not forgiuen we are out of hope of receiuing any good at Gods hands Forgiue Therefore O Lord not only giue but forgiue also The Guilt The Punishment And in this thy mercy is manifested that thou giuest to those who after they haue receiued must craue forgiuenesse Giue vnto vs who are thine enemies and when thou hast giuen forgiue vs also Thou hast not dealt so with Angells Their sinnes are not Iude 6. will not be forgiuen ours may in thy good pleasure We are vnworthy Let vs not be vnthankefull Our trespasses or debts We become debtors or trespassers as often as
desire that thy Name may be Hallowed glorified and magnified from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof euen through all parts of the world and that it may the better spread from one Nation to another giue vs grace who haue receiued the adoption of Children so to walke before thee Eph. 1.4 in holinesse and righteousnesse that the Heathen Mat. 5.16 who haue not knowne thy Name seeing our good workes may glorifie thy Name together with vs. Thou seest O Lord Thy Kingdome come that we haue many Tyrants amongst vs in this life as the Deuill malicious and cruell the World vaine and curious the flesh fraile and deceiptfull and our owne Will vile and corrupt all which doe impetuously tyrannize ouer vs and oppose themselues against thy Kingdome Arise therefore O Lord and suppresse these Tyrants and rule ouer thine and our enemies by thy power and in vs by thy Grace that we may hereafter be subiects in thy Kingdome of Glory Let thy Kingdome come and gouerne vs by thy Prouidence defend vs by thy Might lead vs by thy Spirit and teach vs by thy Word Driue farre from vs the Prince of this World and doe thou only Rule in vs. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs grace to follow the example of thy Blessed Angels and all other thy Creatures who readily and ioyfully doe thy Will Let our wills follow thine in all things and let nothing be displeasing to vs which thy Will hath decreed either for our prosperitie or aduersitie Let vs doe nothing contrary to thy Will but let the performance and execution of thy Will be the whole scope and aime of our thoughts words and actions And to this end giue vnto vs thy holy Spirit which may direct our Wills enlighten our vnderstandings mollifie our hearts and make them obedient to thy Will Giue vs this day our daily Bread We further crie vnto thee O Lord who giuest foode to euery liuing Creature and feedest the young Rauens that call vpon thee and pray thee Psal 145.15.147.9 that thou wouldest likewise giue vnto vs this day our dayly bread First and aboue all the Bread of Life which may nourish vs spiritually and after that Bread for our bodies to sustaine nature Giue vs we beseech thee all things necessary not superfluous for this life and graunt that we vsing thy blessings as becommeth vs may be strengthned and enabled to passe this life quietlie and soberly and at the end of these our dayes by the merits and intercession of our Sauiour Iesus Christ obtaine life eternall And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And for as much O Lord as wee know that thou hearest not vnrepentant sinners and that our sinnes haue long since preuented our prayers and ascended into thy presence to stop the current of thy mercies and to call for vengeance against vs O Lord behold that we earnestly repent vs of them and are heartily sorrowfull for them Wherefore we humbly pray thee for thy great mercies to mankinde in thy Son Christ Iesus that thou wouldest be pleased to be reconciled vnto vs and to forgiue vs our trespasses Enter not into Iudgement with vs Psal 130. for if thou doe no man is able to abide the mildnesse of thy Iustice much lesse the seueritie of it Giue vs also grace to follow the Example of our blessed Sauiour who forgaue his enemies and prayed for them that wee may forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lest when thou comest to Iudgement thou dealest as seuerely with vs as thou didst with him Mat. 18. who had much forgiuen and would not forgiue a little And lead vs not into temptation Thou knowest O Father how vnapt wee are of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to resist so great enemies as are hourely ready to assaile vs suffer vs not therefore to bee tempted aboue our abilities Neither by forsaking vs or withdrawing thy hand of protection from vs Lead thou vs into tentation but Lord so strengthen vs that although it be not good for vs to be altogther free from tentation yet by thy aide and Grace wee may haue a happy issue and ioyfull deliuerance from it But deliuer vs from euill And as wee haue humblie prayed thee not to leade vs in So we further desire thee to deliuer vs out of all euill For as long as we remaine in this flesh we shall haue continuall striuings wrestlings with diuerse euils but especially with the Euill spirit the enemie to Mankinde who omitteth no opportunitie to bring vs into his bondage But wee are comforted O Lord with the assurance of thy mercy which can effect worke more to our Saluation then his Malice to our Destruction Graunt therefore O Lord that wee may be deliuered from all euill and from all our enemies spirituall and temporall that so wee may serue thee euer hereafter in holinesse and righteousnesse Luc. 1.15 all the dayes of our life Amen Hauing thus discouered and laid open our necessities to thee O Lord in that forme and manner which thy Sonne directed vs wee humbly pray thee to say Amen to all our petitions In his Name and for his merits sake we pray thee to grant them For though wee haue no deserts to challenge them yet his Merits are numberlesse by which wee plead for them And with this Sacrifice and Oblation wee are bold to come vnto thee not only crauing pardon for our sinnes but supply of our necessities Wee come not to thee of our selues presuming of any thing in vs but wee are sent by thy Sonne Iesus Christ who hath commanded vs with confidence to presse vnto thy Throne and in his Name to aske whatsoeuer we shall need either for this life or the life to come And as hee hath sent vs so hath hee also put into our mouthes words meete for our requests O Lord take notice of the Stile it is his owne and for his sake say to what we haue required Amen So be it And thou O Blessed Sauiour God and Man intercead we beseech thee for vs for thou only art our Aduocate Mediator and Intercessor to the Father Couer our imperfections and nakednesse with the Robes of thy Righteousnesse and supply our pouerty with the Riches of thy Merits and cast not those from thy fauour and grace whome by Nature thou of thy goodnesse hast vouchsafed to make thy Brethren Who liuest and raignest with the Father and Holy Spirit now and for euer Amen Petitions for Spirituall Graces Psal 119.5 OH that my waies were directed to keepe thy Statutes O Lord. Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou teachest out of thy Law Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal 143.10 Teach me to doe thy Will for thou art my God let thy good spirit lead me into the
dwellings vnto health and safetie Keep those which are well and release those vpon whom thou hast laid the rod of thy afflictions Thou hast promised O Lord that if at any time thou sendest the Pestilence among the people 2. Chro. 7.13 14. If that people doe humble themselues 1. Kings 8. and pray and seeke thy presence and turne from their wicked waies thou wilt heare in Heauen and be mercifull to their sinne and heale their Land wee humbly pray thee O Lord to make good thy promise and ease vs of our afflictions For behold O Lord wee humble our selues vnder thy mighty hand we bewaile and lament our sinfull liues past and humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy assisting Grace that we may henceforth order our waies to please thee Then shall no Contagion hurt vs Dan. 9.18 but we shall liue to praise thy Name and all the world shall know that thou art our God and that thy Name is called vpon by vs. Heare vs O Lord and be mercifull to vs euen for Iesus Christs sake the Righteous To whom with thee and the Blessed Spirit be ascribed all honour and zpraise now and for euer Amen Confession of Faith Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue Helpe thou my vnbeleife In God The father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth In which words I consider his naturall affection his sauing power his Prouidence in disposing preseruing gouerning all things Eph. 1.10 Who in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times will gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heauen and earth In Iesus Our Sauiour Christ The Anoynted His onely Son Euen of God the Father Our Lord By creating and redeeming vs. 1. Who was conceiued by the holy Ghost To purge the vncleanesse of our conception 2. Borne of the Virgin MARY To purge the vncleanenesse of our Birth 3. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Those thinges which wee should haue suffered that we might not suffer them 4. Was crucified To take away the Curse of the Law 5. Dead To take away the Sharpenesse of death 6. Buried To take away the corruptiō of the Graue 7. Descended into Hell Whither wee ought to haue gone that we might not goe thither at all 8. The third day he rose againe from the dead That hee might raise with him our nature being made the first fruites of them which sleepe 1. Cor. 15.20 9. He ascended into Heauen To prepare vs a place whereto we had no right 10. Hee sitteth at the right hand of the father Incessantly to intercede for vs. 11. From thence he shall come To receiue vs 12. To iudge both the quicke and the dead Euen to the consummation of all things In the Holy Ghost In whom I consider a power sanctifying frō aboue and quickening to immortalitie working powerfully and inuisibly in vs. By the Illumination of knowledge Luc. 12.12 And Infusion of grace 1. Ioh. 2.27 b Io. 16.8 In reprehending things euill in vs c Io. 14.26 Teaching vs things we know not Suffering and forbearing vs. d Gen. 20.6 Preuenting vs from doing euill Ro. 8.26 Encouraging vs vs to doe good Assisting vs in our Prayers Striuing for our good Ioh. 14.16 Comforting vs in our necessities  All these being Graces and fruits of the Holy Spirit 4. The Holy Catholique Church Which is the mysticall body of the head Christ Iesus composed of all people throughout the World which are called by the Spirit to the Beleife of Diuine Truth and holinesse of Conuersation And of all these members of his body there is a reciprocall participation to the Communion of Saints and Forgiuenesse of Sinnes For the present To the hope of The resurrectiō of the body and Life euerlasting hereafter Lord I beleeue Helpe the defects of my faith That I may loue thee as a Father Reuerence thee as Almighty Commend my selfe to thee as to a faithfull Creator That I may be mindefull to giue thankes to Thy only Sonne As to the purger of our nature In his Conception and Birth As to our deliuerer In his Passion Crosse and Death As to the triumpher ouer Hell In his Descension Ouer death In his Resurrection As to our fore runner In his Ascension As to our Aduocate In his Session As to the establisher of our faith In his Second Comming That he may be fashioned in me That I may be made conformable to him To his Conception To his Natiuitie In Workes In Faith In Humility That for his Passions 1. I may Sympathize with him as with one that suffered for me and be ready to suffer of him and for him when it shall be his good pleasure 2. I may haue an Antipathie with sinne as being the cause of his Sufferings and bee Reuenged of Crucifie Mortifie Bury Sinne in my selfe 3 I may conforme my selfe 1. To his descension into Hell By often descending thither in meditation 2 To his Resurrection By rising to newnesse of life 3. To his Ascension By sauouring and seeking those things which are aboue and neerer to my Saluation 4. To his Iudgement By Iudging my selfe least I bee condemned with the World That when I am cold in Prayer and want any Spirituall grace or comfort I may remember thy Session and Intercession And when I am feruent in any euill affection or concupiscence I may not forget thy fearefull and terrible Iudgement Seat and the sound of the last Trump That for thy only Son Christs sake I may also receiue thy Vnction euen thy sauing grace the vnspeakeable guift of the Holy Ghost and neuer a 1. Thess 5.19 extinguish b Eph. 4.30 grieue c Act. 7.51 resist or d Mat. 12.32 reproach it That so I may bee called into thy Catholique Church where I may be partaker of the Persons Actions prayers and Examples of Saints To the assured beliefe of Remission of sinnes To the hope of Resurrection and Translation to Life euerlasting Lord increase my Faith Luc. 17.6 Mat. 17.20 as a graine of mustard seed Not Dead Temporary or Hypocriticall But a 1. Tim. 1.5 Pure and vnfeigned most b Holy c Eph. 3.11 Liuely and d Ia. 2.26 working by Charity Confession of Faith O Almighty and Eternall Lord God I poore vnworthy and wretched sinner and bold to renew that couenant of Faith which in my Baptisme I made vnto thee I beleeue and confesse that all those things which thy most beloued Sonne Christ Iesus did suffered and taught while he was conuersant in the Flesh here vpon the Earth are most most true and certaine I professe that I beleeue all the Articles of the Apostles Creed and the Holy Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which is preached through all the World To this Faith I binde my selfe and purpose Gods grace assisting mee neuer to depart from it and acknowledge that without beleeuing thus I cannot be saued I am heartily glad O Heauenly Father euen in my
still remaine in my pollution I am hardned as well with thy punishments as with thy blessings being rebellious to the one and vnthankefull for the other And what shall I further say but that my heart soule thoughts and body are all impure and defiled and that of all sinners I am the chiefe 1. Tim. 1.15 vnworthy that the Earth should any longer sustaine me or that I should expect any thing from thee but thy seuerest Iudgements For it thou sparedst not Lucifer and his Angels for one only sinne of Pride but didst cast them from Heauen Iude. 6. to bee reserued for euerlasting chaines of darknesse vnto the Iudgement of the great day what can I hope or looke for that haue offended thee not in one offence alone but in all kinde of transgressions For my sinnes are in number numberlesse in so much that I hate my selfe for my madnesse that from so noble a liberty I am fallen into so base a seruitude and finde my selfe ouerwhelmed with the horrible dread of thy fearefull Iudgements Psal 55.5 Yet when I behold and consider that infinite mercy of thine which surpasseth all the rest of thy workes Psal 145.9 I am a little refreshed and my soule is a little comforted and reuiued for as by the examination of the haynousnesse of my sinnes and the strictnesse of thy Iustice I did almost despaire so considering and weighing the testimonies of thy Seruants left vpon record Ezech. 18. Ioel 2. for the cōfort of poore distressed soules I am some-what againe cheered and raised vp For besides those places of consolation and many more I finde by diuerse Parables and similitude of thine owne how ready and propense thou art to receiue and pardon the penitent As Luc. 15. by the lost peny the lost sheepe and by the Prodigall Son whose Image I finde in my selfe and whose life mine doth fully paralell Wherefore O Lord I humbly intreat thee to restore me thy lost Sonne to thy fauour and withall to giue mee true sence and knowledge of the Innocency I haue lost I doe not desire that thou shouldest deale so kindly with mee as that Father did with his Son but I shall be happy and glad if thou wilt entertaine me as one of the meanest of thy hired Seruants My hope and confidence is that thou wilt pitie mee because thou art the fountaine of pittie and compassion Behold mee therefore with the eyes of pitie looke on me and ease me who come vnto thee laden with the heauy burden of my sinnes pardon them Mat. 11.28 and saue mee for thy infinite mercie and remember not my sinnes but thine owne sufferings thinke not on me as a proud and rebellious malefactor but as an humble and penitent conuert Looke on mee with those eyes of compassion wherewith thou didst sometime behold a Luc. 7.48 Mary Magdalen b Luc. 22.62 Peter and c Luc. 23.43 the good Theefe giue mee true knowledge of my sinnes with the first true contrition with the second and receiue mee with the third into thy Heauenly Paradice Let thy obedience satisfie for my rebellions thy innocency for my guilt thy humility for my arrogancy thy fasting for my intemperance and thy Iustice for my iniquity Mat. 26.39 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me whole and rerestore mee to thy former grace Purifie purge and cleanse mee from my offences opē mine eies that I may clearely see mine own pollution and make me to grieue that I haue not grieued for my sinnes as I ought to haue done And as thou hast by thy long suffering hitherto expected my repentance so of thy infinite mercy and goodnesse pardon mee repenting and grant mee grace that I may bee affraid to offend thee hereafter Heare me O sweet Sauiour and make intercession for me to the Father with whom and the Holy Spirit thou dost liue and raigne coequall and coeternall Lord God World without end Amen Confession of sinnes I confesse O Lord That Iob 14.4 I was borne in vncleannesse That Psal 51.5 I was shaped in wickednesse and in sinne my mother conceiued me Deut. 29.18 That I am a roote of bitternesse Deut. 32.32 A wilde Vine of Sodome Rom. 11.24 A branch of the wilde Oliue Eph. 2.3 The childe of wrath A Vessell of dishonour and perdition That Osee 7.16 my heart is rebellious like a starting Bow That Psal 5.10 my throat is an opē sepulchre venting all folly That Esa 6.5 I am of polluted lippes That Psal 144.11 my tongue talketh nothing but vanity That Mat. 7.22 mine eyes are euill proue to lust That Psal 58.4 mine eares are vncircumcised and like to the deafe Adder That Ier. 3.3 I haue a Forehead of brasse and a necke of yron That Heb. 12.12 my hands are slow to good That Rom. 3.15 my feete are swift to euill I haue sinned against thee O Lord and in thy sight not fearing thy Maiestie My sinnes are In quantitie Esa 57.8 Psal 25.11 Large and of a great size Of long continuance From my mothers breasts Hos 9.9 Deepe Heauy Like a Psal 38.4 Burthen Like Zach. 5.7 Lead Stretching to heauen with their cry Ier. 30.14.15 Many in number Like the Starres Psal 40.12 More then the hayres of my head Esa 57.20 Oftentimes reiterated Ier. 6.7 As a Fountaine casting out water Till they become as a habite Esa 1.18 As red as Scarlet and Crimson Rom. 7.14 1. King 21.25 I am sold vnder sinne Till they become naturall to me Ier. 13.23 Like the Aethiopians skin The Leopards spots In qualitie The worst of sinnes Strong Esa 5.18 like Cords Cart-ropes Rom. 6.21 Gaining nothing thereby For Ezech. 13.19 a handfull of Barley a little bread Committing Eph. 4.19 sinne with greedinesse sinne vpon sinne Ier. 3.3 with impudence 6.15 not being ashamed Gal. 2.18 Ia. 4.17 knowing it to be sinne Mat. 18.7 giuing offence thereby Rom. 1.21 vnthankefully 2. Pet. 2.22 like the Dog to his vomit the Sow to the mire Psal 119.137 Therefore O Lord because thou art Iust and thy iudgements true I reape the fruit of my foolishnesse Rom. 6.21 For what fruite haue I in those things whereof I am ashamed My dayes are consumed in vanity and my yeeres in the bitternesse of my Soule Psal 38 3. And now there is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne My heart trembleth also with remembrance of thy Iudgements I feele bitternesse aboue the bitternesse of death in that I haue forsaken thee O God and that thou hast forsaken me Woe vnto me rebellious wretch for thus doing See and consider O Lord how vile I am become for my soule abhorreth to liue Psal 38.8 I haue roared for the
towards God then presently God will withdraw his hand of mercy and bounty from vs. Thankesgiuing I Thanke thee O mercifull Father Lord of heauen and earth for all thy mercies and fauours continually heaped vpon me for that thou hast not onely created me after thine owne Image and likenesse Gen. 9.6 and giuen to me a body with all the parts and members thereof and a soule with all the powers and faculties thereof that with them and by them I might know loue and serue thee but that thou hast so gratiously preserued both body and soule from time to time from all dangers Thou hast alwayes beene my refuge in tribulations and my defence and succour in aduersities When I went astray thou didst reduce me into the right way when I offended thee thou didst gently correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort me and when for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes I was ready to despaire thou of thy mercy and compassion didst strengthen me and keepe me from vtter ruine I acknowledge O Lord thy more then fatherly indulgence toward me from my birth to this present time for volesse thou of thy goodnesse hadst vpheld me I had long ere this time beene drowned and ouerwhelmed in the bottomlesse gulfe of my sinnes But thou hast deliuered me from the iawes of the roaring Lyon who hath daily sought to deuoure me 1. Pet. 5.8 and hast defended me from al his snares and assaults And as thou hast of thy mercy preserued my soule from destruction so thou hast oftentimes deliuered my body from the gates of death when many sickenesses and infirmities tooke hold of me I thanke thee also O Lord for all other thy temporall blessings which thou in plentifull manner hast heaped vpon me as foode rayment wealth possessions and children For my health and liberty for the prerogatiue which thou hast giuen mee ouer all thy creatures in their subiection to my seruice and vse I thanke thee also O Sweete Sauiour for the infinite worke of my Redemption and for thy exceeding great loue in accomplishing that great worke that thou wouldest suffer so many torments sorrowes labours and griefes yea so bitter and disgracefull a death euen the death of malefactors to Redeeme me from a most desperate and certaine state of damantion which I must iustly haue fallen into to a state of Glory and Immortality which I by no meanes could haue deserued I thanke thee also O Lord most holy for all other thy Spirituall graces and blessings as my Regeneration Vocation Sanctification for thy blessed Sacraments for my preseruation and hope of glorification O Lord I am not sufficient to render vnto thee condigne thankes and praises for all these thy mercies yet accept I humbly pray thee these poore and weake thankes which I offer vnto thee according to my bounden duty and Seruice For as there is no houre of my life wherein I doe not enioy thy fauours and taste of thy goodnesse so if my frailty would permit I should spend no time of my life without remembring them and praising and blessing thee for the same Glory bee therefore to thee O Lord my Creator Glory be to thee O Iesus my Redeemer Glory be to thee O Holy Ghost my Sanctifier Glory to the high and vndiuided Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and whose dominion endureth world without end Another ALmightie and euer-liuing God I humbly thanke thy heauenly Maiestie for all thy blessings which thou hast vouchsafed to mee poore and sinfull creature that thou hast created me and giuen to me a body the worke-manship and excellency whereof when I behold and well consider I finde so many seuerall benefits receiued as I haue members veines ioynts sinewes and nerues all which discouer and manifest the wisedome and power of the Maker of them The benefit of which seuerall parts none can so well know as they which want any of them or are grieued with the infirmitie or weakenesse of them I therefore blesse thee that thou hast not created me blinde lame deafe or dumbe euill-shaped or weake in my sences but hast giuen me a sound and right minde in a healthfull body I further praise thy name O Lord for that thou hast infused a soule into this my body a worke so glorious and transcendent that if I were not altogether stupid and void of all Iudgement I would not by my actions account so basely of it as I seeme to doe nor defile it with such impure contemptible and vucleane workes as I daily commit I thanke thee O Lord that I was not borne among Infidels and amongst those who doe not truely call vpon thy Name but in that part of the world where thy Gospell is truely preached and thy Sacraments duely administred I thanke thee also for thy gratious preseruation of me from my birth to this present houre I confesse O Lord that it is of thy mercy and goodnesse that I am thus preserued for if thou shouldest but with-draw thy hand of preseruation from me it could not be but that in the twinckling of an eye I should miserably perish and returne to nothing I thanke thee that thou hast of thy prouidence appointed all thy Creatures for my sustenance and seruice some for health and some for delight Grant O Lord that I may vse them to those ends for which thou hast created them and that by them I may be mooued truely to meditate on thy goodnesse and seriously praise thee for them I further thanke thee O Father that when as by our first parents fall all mankinde was in the state of damnation it pleased thee not to deale with vs as thou diddest with Lucifer whom thou vtterly expelledst thy presence but to send thy onely Sonne from thy bosome into this world that by his bitter death we might be restored to our former estate I acknowledge O Lord that I owe much vnto thee for my Creation but much more for my Redemption For what would it haue profited me nay what misery should I not haue suffered to haue beene borne and afterward to be condemned for euer I thanke thee O Lord that thou hast also vouchsafed to call me out of the depth of darkenesse and shadow of death wherein I lay by the admirable light of thy Iustifying Grace to the true knowledge and loue of thee It is not the least of thy benefits O Lord it sheweth not the least part of thy power that thou hast called me from so vile an estate whereinto I had cast my selfe after Baptisme and in the same had continued many yeeres rebelliously to the estate of Saluation For it must needs be acknowledged that thy mercy is great in pardoning sinners their offences but withall it cannot be denied but that thy power is greater in making sinners righteous and iust Great was the benefit of my Creation but by that act I was only made the Son of man but greater is the benefit of Iustification for thereby in Christ I am made the
Sonne of God Great is the benefit of Redemption and indeed the greatest of all others but without Vocation and Iustification it had auailed me nothing Great is the benefit which ariseth by the Expectation of Glory and no lesse is this of Iustification for it is a worke of no lesse power to make a Iust man a sinner then to make a Iust man happy and blessed for as much as the difference betweene Sinne and Grace is more then betweene Grace and Glory I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefits which arise by these Heauenly guifts and graces are so great that my toung faileth and my heart wanteth ability wherewith sufficiently to praise thee for them I praise thee also O Lord for thy Blessed Sacraments for that of Baptisme whereby I was cleansed from the guilt of originall sinnes and regenerated and adopted into the number of thy Children and for the other of the Blessed body and Blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sacrament of Grace Vnitie Charity and Remission of sinnes the foode of our Soules in this Pilgrimage and the Conduit through which all graces are conueighed to our fainting Soules Lastly I thanke thee for thy preseruation of me in thy Grace by which I am restrained from returning to the mire with the washed Sowe 2. Pet. 2.22 and to the Vomit with the Dogge and by which I am strengthned to doe something acceptable and pleasing vnto thee I confesse O Lord that whatsoeuer good I haue done is wrought in mee by thee and whatsoeuer tentation or euill I escape is meerely by thy prouidence O Lord continue and keepe me still in this Grace that I may so vse all thy blessings and so keepe them in minde that they may stirre vp in mee a more ardent desire to magnifie thy Blessed Name and a great care of ordering my waies hereafter that I may no more grieue thy Holy Spirit who with thee Eph. 4.30 and thy Blessed Sonne our alone Sauiour liueth and raigneth one God world without end Another ALL praise honour and glory be giuen to thee O Lord God Father almightie for all thy inestimable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankinde whether priuate or publique generall or particular spirituall or temporall Who is able to reckon vp or declare the seuerall kindes or parts of them for creating the world for beautifying enriching and making it fruitfull for the vse of man for giuing vnto vs soules and bodies and adorning them with infinite faculties and gifts and which exceedes the rest of thy blessings for deliuering vs from the power and seruitude of sinne and the Deuill for forbearing and expecting our repentance so long preseruing vs from all dangers and furnishing vs with all things necessary for this life What praise shall we render to thee O Sweet Iesus for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs we praise and blesse thee for thy Incarnation and Birth for all the labours paines sorrowes wounds and disgraces together with the vile and ignominious death which thou didst suffer to reconcile vs to thy Fathers fauour from which our sinnes had iustly excluded vs for which thy great loue to the Sonnes of Men Blessed be thy holy Name O Holy and Blessed Spirit who in the beginning of time didst moue vpon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 at our Sauiours Baptisme Mat. 3.16 in the shape of a Doue Act. 2.3 and on the Apostles in the shape of fiery tongues we praise and worship thee for inlightning our vnderstandings for fitting and making vs apt to conceiue the mysteries of life eternall for conuerting vs from euill conuersation to newnesse of life and for Sanctifying vs to life euerlasting for directing vs in the works of truth and gouerning vs in our temporall affaires O Glorious and Sacred Trinity infuse into vs we beseech thee such measure of thy Grace that we may bee dayly mindefull of all these thy Blessings Pardon all our former ingratitude and negligence in that we haue beene no more zealous to loue thee nor more carefull to serue thee and so forgetfull to thanke thee for all thy benefits and mercies Illuminate our hearts that wee may firmely beleeue in thee deuoutly call vpon thee and obediently execute thy Holy Will that at the last wee may by the merits and passion of thee O Sauiour attaine to that heauenly Mansion where thou O blessed Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnity in Trinity abidest world without end I thanke thee O Lord For my Creation my Being my well being That I am endued with Reason That I am A Ciuill man A Christian. Free borne Ingenious Of honest Parents That I am sound in minde Senses Body That I am well brought vp taught I thanke thee For thy guifts of Nature Grace Estate For deliuering me from Danger Infamy Trouble For the health of my Body A Competencie of Estate Friends Children Kindred I thanke thee O Lord For my Redemption Regeneration Instruction Vocation Consolation Illumination Iustification Hope of Glorification For thy Patience toward me Grace preuenting me Gouerning me Continuall care ouer me Strengthning me in tentation Reprouing me in ill Assisting me in good For the Compunction of my heart The hope of pardon for my sinnes For the Benefits I haue receiued For any good done by me For all those that haue done me good by their Writings Sermons Conferences Prayers Examples Reproofes Iniuries For all and euery of these and for all other knowne or vnknowne remembred or forgotten I confesse and will confesse thee I blesse and will blesse thee I thanke and will thanke thee as the Author and Giuer of them all SEVEN PSALMES OF THANKESGIVING analysed 1 Psalme 8. 1 O Lord our God Creator and Preseruer of all things how excellent glorious and reuerend is thy great and holy Name not in one particular nation onely but in all the Kingdomes of the earth who as thou hast magnified thy Name in the earth so hast thou set and extolled thy glory aboue the heauens also 2 Out of the mouthes and tongues of babes and sucklings euen very infants hast thou because men of riper yeeres and vnderstanding neglect thy Glory ordained strength and giuen little children abilitie to praise thee because of the malice of thine enemies the principalities of this world that thou mightest by this thy great wisedome and power still the tongues and suppresse the blasphemous speeches of the enemie and auenger when he shall see that by such weake meanes thou canst effect so great matters 3 When I consider and duly weigh thy Heauens and the Glorious frame thereof the worke of thy fingers made and created only by thee togither with the Moone and the Starres and other beautifull lights of Heauen which thou at the beginning of time hast ordained of nothing I cannot but in the depth of admiration say 4 What is man for whose vse and seruice thou hast made them and all things in this world and him to serue thee That thou so
that I might come safe into this World and receiue the Marke and Badge of all thine euen the Sacrament of Baptisme whereby I was cleansed from the guilt of originall sinne Amongst a multitude of Infidels dispersed ouer the face of the Earth thou wouldst haue me in the number of the faithfull euen of those to whom so happie a lot hath fallen to be thine regenerated with the water of Baptisme from which time I was taken to be Thine and that admirable and happie contract was made betweene vs that thou shouldest be my Lord and I thy Seruant thou my Father and I thy Sonne that thou shouldst performe and shew to me the Loue of a Father and I to thee the Duty of a Son Further O Lord thou didst descend from heauen to earth for my sake seeking me in all the wayes wherein I had lost my selfe With thy Humanity thou didst enoble my nature and by thy bonds didst deliuer me from bondage Thou didst chalenge me frō the power of the Deuill by deliuering thy selfe into the hands of sinners and didst destroy sinne by taking vpon thee the forme of a sinner With what reuerence shall I speake of that other Blessed Sacrament which Thou also O Lord hast instituted and ordained for a remedy of all the miseries which haue befallen me and the many sinnes I haue committed since my Baptisme and for a Salue and cure for all my spirituall diseases euen the Sacrament of thy most pretious Body and Bloud And as thou hast bestowed on me all these diuine and heauenly blessings so likewise in plentifull manner hast thou heaped on me temporall fauours Thou hast from my birth to this houre preserued nourished cloathed fed me in most abundant manner giuing to me the vse of all thy creatures for my sustentation Nay what couldst thou haue done more for mee then thou hast done Or what couldst thou haue giuen me more then thou hast bestowed vpon me either of Blessings of this World or of the World to come Now hauing receiued all these mercies and fauours from thee how haue I on my part behaued my selfe in thankefulnesse to thee for them Haue I returned due praise vnto thy Maiestie for them or carried my selfe and ordered my life like to one that might any way deserue them O Lord I confesse that I haue not for such hath beene the malice and corruption of my heart that in stead of shewing my selfe conformable to thy will I dayly adde sinne to sinne and iniquitie to iniquity Rom. 2.5 heaping vp wrath for my selfe against the day wrath How can I without teares remember how often thou mightst iustly haue slaine mee and yet notwithstanding my sins which call for vengeance no euill hath happened vnto me How many soules burne in Hell fire which haue sinned farre lesse then I and yet I remaine aliue What had become of me if thou hadst taken me away with those at the same time How strict had my Iudgement beene if thy Iustice had laid hold on me laden with so many sinnes Who then O Lord hath bound the hands of thy Iustice who hath deprecated for me when I lay thus lulled a sleepe in the securitie of my sinnes What hath pleased thee in me that thou shouldest deale more mercifully with me then with those who in the midst of their dayes in the heate of their youth are taken away from amongst vs My sinnes cryed out against me and thou stoppedst thine eares my offences daily encreased against thee yet thy mercy dayly abounded towards me I sinned thou didst expect me I fled from thee and thou followedst me I was weary in offending thee and thou not weary in expecting me And in the midst of all my sinnes I euer receiued many good inspirations and godly reproofes from thy holy Spirit which checked me in the dissolute course of my life How often hast thou called me with the voyce of Loue How often hast thou terrified me with threates and feares laying before me the perill of death and the rigor of thy diuine Iustice How often hast thou followed me with thy Word preached inuited me with thy Blessings chastened me with thy Scourges compassing me about that I could by no meanes flie from thee And lastly which is not the least of thy mercies with what patience hast thou wayted for my serious repentance Psal 116.13 What then O Lord shall I render backe to thee for all that thou hast done vnto me In that thou hast created me I owe thee all that I am created In that thou hast preserued me and thus long expected my returne to thee I owe thee life and all that I am But in that thou hast regenerated sanctified and redeemed me and left those excellent pledges for my Saluation I know not what to render vnto thee For if the liues of all men and Angels were in my power and that I could offer them vnto thee for a Sacrifice of praise and thankes yet were it nothing being compared to the least of all thy Spirituall blessings bestowed on me Who therefore will giue a floud of teares to mine eyes that I may lament my great Ingratitude and vniust retribution for for all these thy manifold blessings heaped vpon me Helpe me thou O Lord helpe me and giue me grace that I may heartily confesse and grieuously bewaile my hainous offences and transgressions against thee that thou mayest be reconciled to me and in thy abundant Mercies shew some pitie to me for them I am thy Creature O Lord made after after thine owne Likenesse and Image acknowledge thy workmanship for it is thine owne In taking away the soyle and filth wherewith it is defiled and stained thou shalt soone perceiue it to be thine owne handy-worke Art not thou a Father of mercies 2. Cor. 1.3 which haue neither number end nor measure Although I haue shaken off the dutie and obedience of a childe towards thee yet cast not thou off the Loue of a Father toward mee I beseech thee Although I haue done many things whereby thou mightst iustly condemne me yet thou hast not lost the meanes whereby thou mayest mercifully saue me If thou forsake me to whom shall I flie who is there to helpe me besides thy selfe Acknowledge O Lord a straying Sheepe Behold I come to thee all wounded thou canst heale me blinde thou canst enlighten me full of leprosie thou canst cleanse me and am wholly dead yet thou canst reuiue me Thy mercy is greater then my sinne thy clemensie more then my wickednesse and thou canst remit more then I can commit Doe not then O Lord put me backe from thee looke not so much vpon my sinnes as vpon thy infinite mercies who liuest and raignest God of all mercies world without end Another O Almighty Lord God great in thy Power Exo. 34. and terrible in thy Iudgements who madest the Heauen the Earth the Sea and all things in them by thy Word whose Power cannot bee resisted and
whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Psal 145.9 All things are vnder thy Power and Rule both in Heauen and Earth Thou shewest mercy on whom thou wilt and art pitifull to whom thou pleasest and wouldest not the death of a sinner neither delightest in the destruction of any O God rich in mercy who Eph. 2.4 out of thy extraordinary Loue to mankinde euen when wee were thine enemies Rom. 5.10 didst send thine onely Sonne into the VVorld that euery one that beleeued on him might not perish but haue life euerlasting Haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vpon me according to thy mercy and according to the multitude of thy mercies Psal 51. doe away my offences Holy Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee Luc. 15.18 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne I haue turned from thee and haue broken all thy Commandements I haue not walked aright but haue gone after mine owne lusts Esa 65.2 choosing those waies which thou hast forbidden me to tread in Neither O Lord haue I feared thine anger but haue beene in all things disobedient vnto thee and haue hardned my heart against thee I haue hated Instruction and cast thy sayings behinde me Truth hath found no place in mee and my hands haue been the workers of much wickednesse I haue spoken vainly idly and wickedly haue brought forth deceit and meditated the way of vntruth I haue prouoked thy wrath against me by accustoming my selfe to doe the workes of the flesh and reiecting the good motions of the Spirit Woe vnto mee rebellious wretch Esa 30.1 that I haue committed these wicked acts against thee so louing so good so gratious a God to the vtter destruction of my soule without thy mercy in Christ Iesus In remembrance and confidence whereof O Lord I come to thee and humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not reiect a contrite humble miserable and repentant sinner who at this time earnestly inuocateth thy Name Psal 7.9 Returne a little O Lord and bee intreated for my manifold sinnes doe not vnto me according to the multitude of them neither reward me according to my transgressions Let my humble prayers sighes and groanes come into thy presence and according to thy promises receiue me againe into thy fauour For O Father I am one of those whom thy only Sonne redeemed with his most pretious bloud O Lord my soule doth loath my life by reason of my manifold sinnes and I humble my selfe vnder thy mighty hand 1. Pet. 5.6 because I know that in thine anger thou shewest mercy Abac. 3.2 and in time of trouble thou dost forgiue offences And behold O Lord that I confesse my sinnes beseeching thee for thy goodnesse to doe vnto me according to thy wonted mercy I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee because my sinnes haue preuented my prayers and haue ascended vp to thee before them Against thee O Lord haue I sinned Psal 51. and done much euill in thy sight yet wherefore should I dye in my sinnes seeing it is not thy pleasure that any sinner should dye Ezech. 18. but turne vnto thee and liue For thou art good and gracious and sauest those who are altogether vnworthy out of the abundance of thy mercy in Christ Iesus the Righteous For although thine anger against sinners is vnsufferable and who may abide it yet thy mercy towards offendors is vnsearchable and who can finde out the depth thereof or describe it Psal 22. Our Fathers in their troubles cried vnto thee and thou diddest deliuer them they put their trust in thee and were not confounded And though they by their offences had iustly prouoked thine anger yet vpon their humiliation thou diddest remember thy couenant and ease them of their afflictions O Lord be mercifull also vnto me for I am miserable and wretched Heale my soule Psal 41.4 for I haue sinned against thee Psal 6.3 My soule is very much disquieted within me how long Lord will it be Psal 13. ere thou looke vpon mee and deliuer it Lighten mine eyes Psal 13.3 for I haue too long slept in death and my sinnes haue too long had domminion ouer me Returne O Lord at the last and be gratious vnto me O deliuer my soule and haue mercy vpon me And all my bones shall say Lord who is like vnto thee To thee be all Honour Praise and Glory world without end Amen Another O Lord Iesus Christ the only Phisition of sicke soules who in the fulnesse of time came into this World not to call the Iust but sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 Behold me the most wretched of all sinners who with as much humility as I am able in the confidence of thy great goodnesse cast my self before the footestoole of thy Maiestie confessing my great and grieuous offences And if the Publican in the Gospell durst not lift vp his eyes to Heauen Luc. 18. but stood a farre of and smote his brest saying Lord be mercifull to me a sinner what shall I doe whose sinnes surpasse the greatest sinners offences For all my inward and outward parts are wholly depraued and nothing that is good remaineth in mee And when I looke into the booke of my conscience I finde that I haue abominablie polluted that garment of innocency which I receiued at my Baptisme I haue put all my strength to offend thee with all the members I haue For my feete Rom. 13.15 haue beene swift to euill and slow to good mine eyes open to Vanity and shut to that which is truely amiable My hands stretched to couetousnesse and closed from the workes of mercy mine eares ready to heare euill and stopped to the good motions of the Spirit and my Soule the noblest part in mee which hath eyes to contemplate the Glory of thy Maiestie I haue turned away from the consideration of thy Excellency to vaine and transitory things of this life I haue giuen liberty to whatsoeuer mine eyes haue desired and haue not resisted the vncleane passions of my heart so that the whole course of my life hath beene a continuall warfare against thee How often haue I returned as a dogge to the vomite and as a Sow washed 2. Pet. 2.22 to the myre I am that Foote which hath said in his heart Psal 14. there is no God For I haue liued so dissolutely that I haue made plaine demonstration by my behauiour that I beleeued Thou either wert not at all or else couldest doe nothing at all Thou O Lord hast often called me and I haue neglected thy voice Thou hast expected me and I haue abused thy patience Thou hast giuen me the treasure of a long time to repent and I haue consumed it wastefully Thou hast stricken me and I haue not beene sensible of thy hand Thou hast afflicted me and I haue made no vse of thy correction Thou didst sweate to make me cleane and I