apart to thy self And O Lord since thou art a God that wilt not clear the guilty let the dread of thy Justice make me tremble to provoke thee in any thing O let me not so mis-place my fear as to be afraid of a man that shall die and of the Son of Man who shall be made as grass and forget the Lord my Maker but replenish my soul with the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom which may be as a bridle to all my brutish appetites and keep me in a constant conformity to thy holy Will Hear me O Lord I beseech thee and put this fear in my heart that I may not depart from thee but may with fear and trembling work out my own salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen For Thankfulness O Most gracious and bountiful Lord who fillest all things with goodness and expectest no other return but praise and thanksgiving let me O Lord never defraud thee of that so easie tribute but let my heart be ever filled with a sense and my mouth with the acknowledgment of thy mercies It is a joyful and pleasant thing to be thankful O suffer me not I beseech thee to lose my part in that Divine pleasure but grant that as I daily receive blessings from thee so I may daily from an affectionate and devout heart offer up thanks to thee and grant that not only my lips but my life may shew forth thy praise by consecrating my self to thy service and walking in holiness and righteousness before thee all the daies of my life through Jesus Christ my Lord and blessed Saviour Amen For Chastity O Holy and Immortal Jesus whose first descent was into the Virgins Womb and who didst love to inhabit only in pure and Virgins hearts I beseech thee send thy Spirit of purity to cleanse me from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit My body O Lord is the Temple of the Holy Ghost O let me never pollute that Temple with any uncleanness and because out of the heart proceed the things that defile the man Lord grant me to keep my heart with all diligence that no impure or foul thoughts be harboured there but enable me I beseech thee to keep both soul and body pure and undefiled that so I may glorifie thee here both in body and soul and spirit and be glorified in both with Christ hereafter Amen For Contentedness O Merciful God thy Wisdom is infinite to chuse and thy Love forward to dispence good things to us O let me alwaies fully and entirely resign my self to thy disposals have no desire of my own but a perfect satisfaction in thy chusings for me that so in whatsoever state I am I may be therein content Lord grant I may never look with murmuring on my own condition nor with envy on other mens and to that end I beseech thee purge my heart of all covetous desires and affections O let me never yield any corner of my soul to Mammon but give me such a contempt of these fading riches that whether they decrease or increase I may never set my heart upon them but that all my care may be to be rich towards God to lay up my treasure in Heaven that I may so set my affections on things above that when Christ who is my life shall appear I may also appear with him in glory grant this O Lord for the merit of the same Jesus Christ. Amen For Perseverance O Eternal and unchangeable Lord God who art the same yesterday to day and for ever be thou pleased to communicate some rayes of that excellency some degree of that stability to me thy wretched creature who am light and unconstant turned about with every blast My understanding is very deceivable O stablish it with thy truth keep it from the snares of seducing spirits that I may not be lead away with the errours of the wicked and fall from mine own stedfastness My will also O Lord is irresolute and wavering and doth not cleave stedfastly unto God My goodness is but as a morning cloud and as the early dew it passeth away O strengthen and confirm me and whatsoever good thou hast wrought in me be pleased to accomplish it and perform it until the day of Christ. Lord thou seest my weakness and knowest the number and strength of those temptations I am to struggle with O leave me not to my self but cover thou my head in the day of battel and in all spiritual combats make me more than Conquerour through him that loved me O let no terrours or flatteries either of the world or my own flesh ever draw me from my obedience to thee but grant that I may continue stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord by patient continuance in well doing seeking and at last obtain glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament O Most merciful God who hast in thy great goodness prepared this Spiritual Feast for sick and famished souls make my desires and longings after it answerable to my needs of it I have with the Prodigal wasted that portion of grace thou bestowedst upon me therefore do infinitely want a supply out of this Treasury but O Lord how shall such a wretch as I dare to approach this holy Table I am a Dog how shall I presume to take the Childrens bread or how shall this spiritual Manna this food of Angels be given to one who hath chosen to feed on husks with Swine nay to one who hath already so often trampled these precious things under foot either carelesly neglecting or unworthily refusing those holy precious Mysteries O Lord my horrible guiltiness makes me tremble to come and makes me not dare to keep away for where O Lord shall my polluted soul be washed if not in this fountain which thou hast opened for sin and for uncleanness hitherto therefore I come and thou hast promised that him that cometh to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out This is O Lord the Blood of the New Testament grant to me so to receive it that it may be to me for remission of sins and though I have so often and so wickedly broken my part of that Covenant whereof this Sacrament is a seal yet be thou graciously pleased to make thine good to be merciful to my unrighteousness and to remember my sins and my iniquities no more and not only so but to put thy Laws in my heart and to write them in my mind and by the power of thy grace dispose my soul to such a sincere and constant obedience that I may never again provoke thee Lord grant that in these holy Mysteries I may not only commemorate but effectually receive my blessed Saviour and all the benefits of his passion and to that end give me such a preparation of soul as may qualifie me for it Give me a deep sense of my sins and unworthiness that being weary and heavy laden I
ingenious and free from sordid ends or servile flattery a modest gravity in my deportment affability a fair courteous demeanour towards all men austerity in condemning my own sins sweetness in fraternal correction and reprehending others mature judgment a chast body and a clean soul patience in suffering deliberation in my words and actions good counsels in all my purposes make me just in performing promises and in all my duties sedulous in my calling profitable to the Commonwealth a true Son of the Church and of a disposition meek and charitable towards all men Amen O Lord let thy grace be so present with me that though my body sleep yet my soul may for ever be watchful that I sleep not in sin or pretermit any opportunity of doing thee service Let the remembrance of thy goodness and glory be first and last with me and so unite my heart unto thee with habitual charity that all my actions and sayings may be directed to thy glory and every motion and inclination either of soul or body may in some capacity or other receive a blessing from thee and do thee service that whether I sleep or wake travel or rest eat or drink live or die I may alwaies feel the light of thy countenance shining so upon me that my labours may be easie my rest blessed my food sanctified and my whole life spent with so much sanctity and peace that scaping from the darkness of this world I may at last come to the land of everlasting rest in thy light to behold light and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and ever more Another Prayer for the Evening VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this habitation with thy mercy and us thy servants with thy salvation and repel far from us all the snares of the enemy Let thy holy Angels dwell here to keep us in peace and safety and thy blessing be upon us for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord Jesus Christ the lively Image of thy Fathers mercy and glory the Saviour of all them that put their trust in thee we offer and present to thee all our strength and powers of our souls and body and whatsoever we are or have to be preserved governed and possest by thee preserve us from all vitious vain and proud cogitations unchast affections from all those things which thou hatest grant us thy holy charity that we may love thee above all the world that we may with all sincerity of intention and zealous affections seek thee alone and in thee alone take our rest inseparably joyning our selves unto thee who art worthy to be beloved and adored of all thy creatures with lowest prostration and highest affection now and for ever more Amen O Father of mercies and God of all comfort let thy blessing be upon us and upon all the members of thy holy Church all health and safety both of body and soul assist us against all our enemies visible and invisible now and for ever more send us a quiet night and a holy death in the actual communion of the Catholick Church and in thy charity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now and in all dangers and afflictions of soul and body in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment save and deliver us O sweet Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen Short Prayers for several Occasions for the King O Lord our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings who in thy hands hast the heart of Kings and canst turn them as the Rivers of water send the light of thy countenance and abundance of blessings upon thy servant our Soveraign Lord King Charles make him as holy valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon zealous for the honour of thy Law and Temple as Josiah and give him all sorts of great assistances to enable him to serve thee to glorifie thy holy Name to protect thy Church to promote true Religion to overcome all his enemies to make glad all his people that he serving thee with all diligence and utmost of his endeavours his people may serve him with honour and obedience in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For the Queen O God of Heaven Father of all mercies have mercy upon our most gracious Queen unite her unto thee with the hands of faith and love preserve her to her lives end in thy favour and make her instrumental of glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of Joy to the all faithful people of this Kingdom and crown her with an eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For our Children O Father of Heaven God of all the creatures by whose providence mankind is increased I bless thy Name for bestowing on me that blessing of the righteous man the blessing of children Lord bless them with health with life and good understanding with fair opportunities and advantages of education society tutors and governours and above all with the graces of thy holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy protection grow in grace and be in favour with God and man and at last make up the number of thine elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband O My God who hast graciously been pleased to call me to the holy state of Matrimony bless me in it with the grace of chastity with loyalty obedience and complacency to my husband and bless him with long life with healthful body with an understanding soul with abundance of thy graces which may make him to be and continue thy servant a true Son of the Church and a supporter and guide to his Wife a blessing and a comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Of a Husband for his Wife O Merciful God who art a Father to us thy Children espouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and a Redeemer to all mankind have mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endow her with all the ornaments of thy heavenly grace make her to be holy and devout as Hester loving and amiable as Rachel fruitful as Leah that being filled with grace and benediction here she may be partaker of thy glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For safety in Childbirth O Blessed Jesu Son of the Eternal God who according to thy humility wert born of a holy Maid who conceived thee without sin and brought thee forth without pain have mercy upon me thy humble servant and as by thy blessing I have conceived so grant that by thy favourable assistance I may be safely delivered Lord grant me patience and strength and confidence in thee and send thy holy Angel to be my Guardian in the hour of my travel O shut not up my soul with sinners nor my life with them that go down to the
of thy blood to perish O Spirit of grace I have by my horrid impieties done despight unto thee yet O blessed Comforter though I have offended thee and often grieved thy Holy Spirit be thou pleased to succour and relieve me and say unto my soul I am thy salvation Mine eyes look unto thee O Lord in thee is my trust O cast not out my soul. O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded O blessed Lord who scourgest every Son whom thou receivest let me not be weary of thy correction but give me such a perfect submission to thee the Father of spirits that this chastisement may be for my profit that I may thereby be partaker of thy holiness O thou Captain of my salvation who wert made perfect by sufferings sanctifie to me all the pains of body all the terrours of mind which thou shalt permit to fall upon me Lord my sins have deserved eternal torments make me cheerfully and thankfully to bear my present pains chasten me as thou pleasest here that I may not be condemned with the world Lord the waters are come in even unto my soul O let thy Spirit move upon the waters and make them like the Pool of Bethesda that they may cure whatsoever spiritual disease thou discernest in me O Christ who first sufferedst many and grievous things and then enteredst into thy grave make me so to suffer with thee that I may also be glorified with thee O dear Jesus who humblest thy self to the death of the Cross for me let that death of thine sweeten the bitterness of mine When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers I believe that thou shalt come to be my Judge I pray thee therefore help thy servant whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood make me to be numbred with Saints in glory everlasting Thou art the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in thee though he were dead yet shall he live Lord I believe help thou my unbelief My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better Lord I groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with that house from Heaven I desire to put off this Tabernacle O be pleased to receive me into everlasting habitations bring my soul out of prison that I may give thanks unto thy Name Lord I am here to wrestle not only with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness O take me from these tents of Kedar into the heavenly Jerusalem where Satan shall be utterly trodden under foot I cannot here attend one minute to thy service without distractions O take me up to stand before thy Throne where I shall serve thee day and night I am in heaviness through many tribulations O receive me into that place of rest where all tears shall be wiped away from my eyes where there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor pain I am here in the state of banishment and absence from the Lord. O take me where I shall for ever behold thy face and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of glory O blessed Jesu who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in thine own blood receive my soul. Into thine hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Most mighty and gracious God full of incomprehensible Power and Majesty whose glory the very Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain look down from Heaven upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of grace not as I am in my self but look upon me O Father through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased for of my self I am not able to stand in thy presence or to speak with my unclean lips to so holy a God as thou art for thou knowest that in sin I was conceived and born and that I have lived ever since in iniquity so that I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting many of those duties of piety which thou requirest for thy service and committing many of those vices which thou under the penalty of thy displeasure hast forbidden here thou mayest confess to God thy secret sins which most burden thy conscience with the circumstances of the time place person and the manner how it is committed saying but more especially I do here with grief of heart confess unto thee for these my sins O Lord I stand guilty of thy curse with all the miseries of this life and the life to come namely everlasting torment in Hell fire when this wretched life is ended If thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts yea Lord I confess thy goodness which endureth for ever is the cause I have not been long ago consumed and confounded but with thee O Lord there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and confidence in Christs merits I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wouldest not enter into judgment with thy servant neither be extream to mark what I have hitherto done amiss for if thou dost then no flesh can be justified in thy sight nor any living stand in thy presence but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all the uncleanness of my sins in the merits of that precious blood which Jesus Christ hath shed for me and seeing that he hath born the burden of that curse which was due for my transgression O Lord deliver me from my sins and from all those Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for them and separate them as far from thy presence as the East is from the West bury them in the burial of Christ that they may never rise up in this world to shame me nor in the world to come to condemn me And I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thy Immaculate Lamb but also to purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit from the dross of my natural corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing my sins in the power and practice thereof so that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee the ever living God in Righteousness and true Holiness this day and give me grace that by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I may persevere to be thy faithful and unfeigned servant unto my lifes end and when this mortal life is ended I may be made partaker of immortality and everlasting
Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE Soul Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating the whole duty of Man or DEVOTIONS COMPILED by R.A. Gent. in his solitudes London Printed by T. Snawden for Gabr Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the post-office over against the Muse at the sign of the King's-head 1678. Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE SOUL Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating The whole Duty of Man OR DEVOTIONS compiled By R. A. Gent. in his Solitudes Non bove mactatô coelestia numina gaudent Sed quae praestanda est sine teste fide LONDON Printed by T. Snowden for Gabr. Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the Post-Office over against the Muse at the Sign of the King's-Head 1678. Licensed William Jane Nov. 19. 1677. TO THE READER WEre Man self-sufficient and independent thoughts of this nature would be impertinent and unseasonable but seeing there are hopes and fears blessings and curses scattered in this vail of misery and laid up in heaps against the time of the revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God how stupid and forlorn must that soul be which lives without God in the would though a spacious curtain be drawn over the globe of this Earth though we cannot perceive the regular motions of the several wheels of Providence yet in all Estates flourishing or decaying we ought to confide in and depend upon his goodness and power and wisdom who is the fountain of all Beings and the Great Governour of the World under whose conduct the good man is safe and to the Throne of whose Grace there may be a fair access if our prayers are managed aright in which way I leave thee and if these following papers can assist thee bless God for the occasion which is the End of the Author's Hope in this undertaking Farewell To the Honourable Mary Mountague Wife to the Right Honourable Lord cheif Baron Madam SEeing it is the heart which God alone accepts as a Sacrifice of retribution I humbly crave you would be pleased to take a view of the counterpart of my Soul wherein is set down the joyful correspondency it has had with Heaven and the rather because joy and immortality our entrance into the Blessed Mansions above is the common interest and design of all who appeal to Heaven in the name of Christ I know your Closet is plentifully stor'd with holy Ejaculations that Sacred perfume which sweetens the very breath of the Soul and is more acceptable to God than costly odours the scent of Myrrh and Frankincense yet these Papers possibly may find entertainment because they are pen'd by one whose Soul has been many years travelling that way and therefore chiefly endeavours to speak the dialect Language of that Kingdom no friendship is so strong as that which is contracted by Travellers in this journey and though I have the honour to have the same blood of R. A's running in my veins yet I esteem my self more happy in the beginnings of our Christian allyance and eternal duration of it when we shall pass from this state of grace to that of glory How glorious must your entrance be into the Holy Land for Persons placed in so high a station by holy example command their attendants when you enter into the land of promise your numerous train must follow in which retinue to be admitted is the humble and hearty Prayer of Madam Your Ladyships most humble Servant and Relation R. A. THE PREFACE I Chose the Psalms of David for the Platform of my Devotions because nothing can be supposed more acceptable to God in duties of this nature than to follow his steps who was a man after God's own heart The Original is so well penned so full and lofty in its expressions that Cowley when he gave his censure of the Translators says that Shimei hardly reviled David more than some of them have done However I reckon not my self concerned in that charge seeing I follow the best Translation our Language bears Were this Book of Psalms duly weighed and considered men might find materials for their addresses to Heaven fitted for all states and conditions as if it were a mirrour of the Passages of Humane Life and comprehended all the desires and offices of a good man Though David's Composures were elegant and harmonious in their native dress yet 't was not the Instrument but the strings of his heart made the sweetest melody Nothing is more charming than a soul so well tuned so well skill'd in all the parts of Divine musick Thus we joyn consort with the harmony of the sphears we may be assured that the Eccho is rebounded with the exultation and Hallelujahs of Heaven it self CHOICE MEDITATIONS Out of the PSALMIST SErve the Lord with fear and rejoyce unto him with reverence 2.11 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself the Lord will hear me when I call upon him 4.3 Offer the sacrifices of Righteousness and put your trust in the Lord v. 5. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee 5.4 For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield 12. God judgeth the Righteous and God is angry with the Wicked every day If he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready 7.11 12. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God For the Needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever 9.17 18. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but the Wicked and him that loveth violence his Soul hateth For the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright 11.56.7 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that pusseth at him The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a furnace of Earth purified seven times in the fire 12.5 6. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of Men to see if there were any that would understand and seek after God 14.2 Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his Heart 15.1 2. In whose eyes a vise person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord he that sweareth to his neighbour and disappointeth him not Thou wilt shew me the path of Life in thy presence is the fulness of joy at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore 16.11 I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies 18.3 I was upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore the Lord hath recompenced me according to my Righteousness and according to the cleanness
call O God of my Salvation for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble have mercy upon me and hearken to my Prayers Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me ponder my Words O Lord O Lord consider my Meditations O hearken thou unto the words of my calling my King and my God for unto thee will I make my Prayer my Voice shalt thou hear betimes in the Morning O Lord early in the morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in Wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Lead me O Lord in thy Righteousness because of my Enemies make my way plain before my face Let all them that put their trust in thee rejoyce they shall ever be giving of thanks because thou defendest them they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee O Lord rebuke me not in thine Indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed my soul also is sore troubled how long wilt thou punish me turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul and save me for thy mercies sake my Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer O let the wickedness of the Ungodly come to an end but guide thou the Just my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his Righteousness and will pray in the Name of the Lord the most High have mercy upon me O Lord consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me thou that liftest me up from the gates of death Why standest thou so far off O Lord and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble Arise O Lord God lift up thine head forget not the poor How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy Servant away in displeasure thou hast been my succour leave me nor neither forsake me O God of my Salvation O Son of Righteousness who comest from the bosom of thy Father the Fountain of Glory and Light to enlighten the darkness of the World I praise thy Name for that thou hast preserved me from the dangers of this Night and continued still the opportunities of serving thee and advanceing my hopes of a blessed Eternity Let thy mercy shine brightly and dissipate the Clouds and Darkness of my Spirit and Understanding rectifie my Affections and purifie my Will and all my Actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole Life my Word and purposes and thoughts may be Sanctified and acceptable to thy Divine Majesty And all this I beg for thy mercies sake Amen A Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the Supplications of thy Servant and grant me thy Grace all the days of my Life and Peace through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen The Second Collect. ALmighty and Everlasting God mercifully look upon mine Infirmities and in all my dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend me through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen A Prayer for a penitent Person for Remission of his sins HOw long shall I seek Counsel in my Soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall my Enemies triumph over me consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten my eyes that I sleep not in Death least mine Enemies say we have prevailed against him If I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at me but my trust is in thy Mercy and my Heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Lord most high Preserve me O God for in thee have I put my trust O hold up my going in thy path that my footstep slides not I have called upon thee O God for thou shalt hear me incline thine Ears unto me and hearken unto my words shew thy marvellous loving kindness unto me thou that art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee from such that resist thy right hand keep me as the Apple of thy Eye hide me under the shadow of thy wing from the ungodly that trouble me mine enemies compass me round about to take away my Soul disappoint him and cast him down deliver my Soul from the ungodly which is a Sword of thine I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies in my trouble I will call upon the Lord and complain unto my God so shall he hear my voice out of his holy Temple my complaint shall come before him it shall enter even into his Ear the Lord shall reward me after my Righteous dealing and according to the cleanness of my hand shall he recompence me but Lord deal not with me according to my sins neither reward me after mine Iniquities who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret sins keep thy Servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the Dominion over me so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence save Lord and hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee the Lord is my Shepherd therefore shall I lack nothing but be not thou far from me O Lord thou art my succour haste thee to help me unto thee O Lord will I lift up my Soul my God I have put my trust in thee let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me shew me thy ways O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me forth in thy Truth and learn me for thou art the God of my Salvation in thee hath been my hope all the day long call to remembrance O Lord thy tender mercy and thy loving kindness which hath been ever of old O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think upon me O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name sake O Lord be merciful to my sin for it is great turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and in misery the sorrows of my heart is enlarged O bring thou me out of my trouble look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins consider mine enemies how many they are that bear a tyrannous heart against me O keep my Soul and deliver me let me not be surrounded for I have put my trust in thee let perfect and righteous dealing wait upon me for my hope hath been in thee deliver
through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bondage of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving to God for all his benefits and mercies O Most merciful God whose mercies are as high as the Heavens as many as the moments of eternity thou hast opened thy hand wide to me with thy blessing and the sweet effects of thy loving kindness Thou art pitiful as a Father tender as a Mother careful as a Guardian and exceeding merciful to all them that fear thee I pray thee to fill my soul with apprehension and impresses of thy unspeakable mercy that my thankfulness may be as great as my need of mercy is and let thy merciful loving-kindness endure for ever and ever upon thy poor servant that putteth his trust in thee Keep no anger in store for me Chide me not in thy displeasure Satisfie my mouth with good things Remove all my sins from me as far as the East is from the West Heal all my infirmities and save my life from destruction for all these are mercies that thou delightest it and because I cannot praise thee according to thy excellencies take my soul in thy due time into the land of everlasting praises that I may spend a whole Eternity in ascribing to thy name praise and honour and dominion grant this for Jesus Christ his sake my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God absolve thy people from their offences that through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bonds of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for deliverance from misery and danger O Lord God gracious and good whose mercy endureth for ever in my trouble I cry unto thee for when my heart is brought down through heaviness there is none to help me up or to deliver me out of my distress but only thou O Lord I have sinned I have rebelled against thee and lightly regarded thy counsel I have walked and sate in darkness and in the shadow of death being fast bound in the captivity and misery of sin O bring thou me out of darkness and break my bonds in sunder Guide me through the desert of the world in which grows nothing but sadness and discontent still the tempest and smooth the floods of misery which are ready to overwhelm me and in thy due time bring me to eternal rest and to the Haven where I would fain be that in the Congregation of thy holy people I may praise thee for thy goodness and declare thy wonders that thou hast done for me in delivering me from sins misery and death and bringing me to a City to dwell in where there is life and light and joy eternal in the beholding the face of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. GRant I beseech thee O merciful Lord to thy faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and fear thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for all the mercies and salvation which are given us in Christ Jesus O Most gracious God and most merciful Father my strength and my salvation for thy mercy endureth for ever be thou on my side take part with them that help me and forsake me not in time of need let the voice of joy and health be in my dwelling and when thou chastenest and correctest me for my sins give me not over unto death but fix my faith and hopes upon the head stone in the corner even my Lord Jesus Christ that in all the assaults made against me by my ghostly enemies the right hand of the Lord may have the preheminence and bring mighty things to pass even victory and deliverance unto thy servants that I putting no confidence in the best of men may trust in thee O Lord till at last when thou openest the everlasting gates of righteousness I may enter in and give thee praise and thanks through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would be pleased to pardon my many and great sins and direct me in the waies of Righteousness O Lord my Judge and my Redeemer hearken unto me for thy Truth and Righteousness sake and deliver me from the guilt of all my sins and from those great punishments which are due unto me for the same enter not into judgment with me for in thy sight no man can be justified by any worthiness of his own Endue my soul with a righteousness of a holy life living and working by charity Shew me the way that I should walk in Teach me to do whatsoever pleaseth thee Quicken my soul in the path of life and so continue the conduct of thy Spirit in me that it may never leave me till I be brought forth of this world into the Land of Righteousness to dwell with thee eternally through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready I beseech thee to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which I ask faithfully I may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for the benefit of the holy Gospel particularly of the blessed Sacrament O Blessed Jesu whose Righteousness endureth for ever thy work is worthy to be praised and had in honour for that thou hast been merciful to us and hast given meat even the fruit of a blessed Sacrament unto them that fear thee that by the participation of thy holy Communion we should have thee in remembrance and ever be mindfull of thy Covenant plant in our hearts the fear of thy Name give us wisdom and good understanding make us to have pleasure in thee and all thy works that we obeying the precepts of thy holy Gospel and performing the conditions of thy Covenant which thou hast established for ever in truth and equity in verity and judgment we may worthily praise and adore thy reverend and holy Name among the faithful in this life and in the Congregation of thy Saints in the life to come through thy mercies O blessed Jesu to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory now and for ever more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the supplications of thy people and grant us thy grace all the daies of our life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
have not loved thee with my whole heart nor feared thee with all my soul nor served thee with all my might according to thy holy precepts nor loved my neighbour as my self Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I Have been an unprovident Steward of the good things thou hast given me I have loved them inordinately and sought after them greedily and unjustly dispenced them idly and parted with them unwillingly I have not been so charitable to the poor or so pitiful to the afflicted or so compassionate to the sick or so apt to succour and give supplies to the miseries of my neighbours as I ought but have too much minded things below not seting my affections upon Heaven and heavenly things but have been unlike thee in many things I have been unmerciful and unjust Lord be merciful unto me a sinner MIne Eyes O Lord have wandred after vanity beholding and looking after things unseemly without displeasure despising my neighbours prying into their faults but have been blind not seeing mine own sins and infinite irregularities Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I Have employed all my members and faculties both of soul and body in the waies of unrighteousness I have transgressed in all my relations and in all my actions and traverses of my whole life even when I might have had most confidence I find nothing but weakness and imperfection Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I Have broken my vows and purposes of obedience and holy life I have been inconstant to all good refractory to counsels disobedient to commands stubborn against admonition churlish and ungentle in my behaviour mindful and revengful of injuries forgetful of benefits seeking my own ends deceiving my own soul. Lord be merciful unto me a sinner MY secret sins O Lord are innumerable sins secret to my self through inadvertency forgetfulness wilful ignorance or stupid negligence secret to the world committed before thee only under the witness of mine own conscience I am confounded with the multitude of them and the horrour of their remembrance Lord be merciful unto me a sinner O Son of David blessed Redeemer Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Jesu be a Jesus unto me thou that savedst thy servant Peter that denied thee thrice thou that didst cast seven Devils out of Mary Magdalen and forgavest the woman taken in adultery and didst bear the converted Thief from the Cross to the joyes of Paradice have mercy upon me also for although I have massed together more sins than all these in conjunction yet not their sins nor mine nor the sins of all the world can equal thy glorious mercy which is as infinite and eternal as thy self I acknowledge O Lord that I am vile but yet redeemed with thy precious blood I am blind but thou art the Light of the world I am weak but thou art a strong Rock I have been dead in trespasses and sins but thou art my Resurrection and my Life thou O Lord lovest to shew mercy and the expressions of thy mercy the nearer they come to infinite the more proportionable they are to thy essence and like thy self Behold then O Lord a fit object for thy pity my sins are so great and many that to forgive all will be but an act of glorious mercy and all the praises which did accrew to thy Name by the forgiveness of David and Manesseh and St. Paul and the Adulteress and the Thief and the Publican will be multiplied to thy honour in the forgiveness of me so vile so unworthy a wretch that I have nothing to say for my self but that the greatness of my misery is a fit object for thy miraculous and infinite mercy Despise me not O Lord for I am thy Creature Despise me not for thou didst die for me Cast me not away in thine anger for thou comest to seek me and to save me Say unto my soul Thou art my salvation Let thy Holy Spirit lead me from the errours of my waies into the paths of Righteousness to great degrees of Repentance through all the parts of a holy life to a godly and a holy death grant this O blessed Jesus for thy mercy for thy pity sake Amen A penitential Prayer for the Morning with particular Confession of sins desiring God earnestly to free him from the guilt and punishment that is due unto him for his many and great sins and to give him grace to lead a new life O Eternal God most gracious and merciful Father look not upon me as I am in my self but look upon me in the face of Jesus Christ in him and through him be merciful unto me according to thy Word for I have done amiss and dealt wickedly I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy Son or numbred amongst the meanest of thy servants yet my sins are but the sins of a mortal man but thy mercy is the mercy of an Infinite God therefore have mercy on my sinful soul pardon and forgive me all my known and secret sins which in thought word and deed I have done and committed against thy Divine Majesty for it repenteth me of my evil deeds therefore O Lord have mercy upon me pardon and forgive the sins of my youth and age which are many and great namely the wicked sins of my pride anger dissimulation lying lust unjust dealing too much love of the world and the vanity thereof too little love of thee and thy Kingdom but empty and void of all spiritual grace be merciful unto me O Lord for these are the sins wherewith I have grieved thy Holy Spirit O Lord the remembrance of them is grievous unto me and the burthen of them is intollerable too heavy for me to bear therefore O Lord God be merciful to me according to thy tender compassion bury them all in the burial of Christ set the weight of thy mercy upon them so that they may never rise up in this world to shame me nor in the world to come to condemn me O Lord give me an assurance of the free pardon and forgiveness for these many sins that I may rejoyce in the greatness of thy mercy and magnify thy holy Name to all Eternity for the future give me greater measure of grace to serve honour and humbly obey thee with all the strength of my heart soul and body Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may express all faith in thee Mercifully hear the humble supplications of thy poor servant and grant me thy peace all my daies graciously pardon all mine infirmities and defend me from all dangers of soul and body this day and for ever more O Lord guide me in this world with thy counsel and after this bring me to thy glory O Lord bless all thine all the world over all mankind especially this sinful Land and Nation wherein we live turning from us those plagues which the sins of this
that we may derive from thee by this mystery grace to expel our sins to mortifie all our lusts to exterminate all concupiscence to crucifie all inordinate irregularities to produce in us humility and chastity and obedience and meekness of spirit and charity and let us not be harmed by the violence invasions of all our ghostly enemies and temporal disadvantages and give us grace and favour that we may not die in the commission of a sin without repentance nor without receiving the blessed Sacrament but that we may so live and die that we may at last rest in thy bosom and be embraced with the comprehensions of thy eternal Charity who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen Prayers preparatory to Death A Prayer for a Blessed Ending to be said in time of Health or Sickness O Blessed Jesu fountain of eternal Mercy the life of the soul and glorious Conquerour over Death and Sin I humbly beseech thee to give me grace so to spend this transitory life in vertue and holy exercises that when the day of my death shall come in the midst of all my pains I may feel the sweet refreshings of thy holy Spirit comforting my soul sustaining my infirmities and relieving all my spiritual necessities and grant that in the unity of the holy Catholick Church and in the integrity of Christian Faith with confidence and hope of thy mercy in great love towards thee in peace towards my neighbours and in charity with all the world I may through thy grace depart hence out of this vail of misery and go into that glorious Country where thou hast purchased an inheritance for us with the price of thy most precious blood and reignest in it gloriously in the unity of thy Father and ours of thy Holy Spirit and our ghostly Comforter ever one God world without end Amen All blessing and praise and honour be unto thee O blessed Redeemer and to thee I the banished and miserable Son of Adam do call for mercy and defence in this needful time of trouble to thee I sigh and cry in the valley of tears O dearest Advocate turn those thy merciful eyes towards me and shew me thy glorious face in thy heavenly Kingdom where no tears or sighing or fears or sadness can approach Amen sweetest Jesu Amen A Prayer to be said in the beginning of Sickness O Lord my God who chastisest every one whom thou receivest and with thy fatherly correction smitest those whom thou consignest to the inheritance of Sons write my soul in the book of life and number me amongst thy chosen children whom thou hast smitten with the Rod of Sickness and by thy chastisements hast brought me into the lot of the Righteous Thou O blessed Jesus who art a helper in the needful time of trouble lay no more upon me than thou shalt enable me to bear and let thy gentle corrections in this life prevent the unsupportable stripes of thy vengeance in the life to come Smite me now that thou mayest spare me to all eternity and yet O blessed High Priest who art touched with a sense of our infirmities smite me friendly and reprove me with such a tenderness as thou bearest unto thy children to whom thou conveyest supplicatory comforts greaten not the pains of thy chastisements and in due time restore me to health and to thy solemn Assemblies again and to the joy of thy countenance Give me patience and humility and the grace of Repentance and an absolute dereliction of my self and resignation to thy pleasure and providence with a power to do thy Will in all things and then do what thou pleasest with me in health or sickness in life or death let me feel thy comforts refreshing my soul and let thy grace pardon all my sins grant this O heavenly Father for thy dear Sons sake my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for a sick person in danger of Death O Lord Jesus Christ our health and our salvation our life our hope and our resurrection from the dead I resign my self up to thy holy will and pleasure either to life that I may live longer to thy service and my amendment or to death to the perpetual enjoyment of thy presence and of thy glory into thy hands I commend my spirit for I know O Lord that nothing can perish which is commited to thy mercy I believe help thou my unbelief I believe O Lord that I shall receive my body again at the resurrection of the Just I relinquish all care of that only I beg of thee mercy for my soul strengthen it with thy grace against all temptation let thy loving kindness defend it as with a shield against all violence and hostile assaults of Satan let the same mercy be my guard and defence which protected thy Martyrs crowning them with victory in the midst of flames horrid torments and most cruel deaths There is no help in me O Lord I cannot by my own strength or power give a minutes rest to my wearied body but my trust is in thy mercies and I call to mind to my unspeakable comfort that thou wert hungry and thirsty and wearied and whipt and crowned with thorns and mocked and crucified for me O let that mercy of thine which made thee suffer so much pardon me and save me let thy merits answer for my impieties let thy Righteousness cover my sins thy blood wash away my stains and thy comforts refresh my soul as my body grows weaker let thy grace be stronger let not my faith doubt nor my hope tremble nor my charity grow cold nor my soul be afrighted with the terrours of death but let the light of thy countenance enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death eternal and when my tongue fails let thy Spirit teach my heart with strong crying and groans that are unutterable O let not the enemy do me any violence but let thy holy mercies and thy Angels repel and defeat his malice and find that my soul may by thy strength triumph in the joys of eternity in the fruition of thee my life my joy my hope my exceeding great reward my Lord and and my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer for a dying person in or near the Agonies of Death MOst merciful and blessed Saviour have mercy upon the soul of this servant remember not his ignorance nor the sins of his youth nor age but according to thy great mercies remember him in the mercies and glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers O let the everlasting gates be opened and receive his soul let the Angels who rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner triumph and be exalted in his deliverance and salvation Make him partaker of the benefits of thy holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Ascension and all the Prayers of the Church that the Joy of the Elect and the Fruits of the blessed Communion of the
despairing a sight of thy mercies and do thou O Lord for every one abundantly above what they can ask or or think Forgive my enemies persecutors and slanderers and turn their hearts Pour down thy blessings upon all my friends and benefactors all who have commended themselves to my prayers here thou mayest name particular persons and grant O most merciful Father that through this blood of the Cross we may be presented pure and unblameable and unreprovable in thy sight that so we may be admitted into that place of purity where no unclean thing can enter there to sing all eternal praises to Father Son and Holy Ghost forever Amen A Prayer in time of Affliction O Just and holy Lord who with rebukes dost chasten man for sin I desire unfeignedly to humble my self under thy mighty hand which now lies heavy upon me I heartily acknowledge O Lord that all I do all I can suffer is but the due reward of my deeds therefore in thy severest inflictions I must still say Righteous art thou O Lord righteous are thy Judgments but O Lord I beseech thee in Judgment remember mercy although my sins have enforced thee to strike yet consider my weakness and let not my stripes be more heavy or more lasting than thou seest proportionable for my soul Correct me but with the chastisement of a Father not with the wounds of an enemy and though thou take not off thy Rod yet take away thine anger Lord do not abhor my soul and cast not away thy servant in displeasure but pardon my sins I beseech thee and if yet in thy fatherly wisdom thou seest fit to prolong thy corrections thy blessed will be done I cast my self O Lord at thy feet do with me what thou pleasest try my as silver is tryed so that thou bring me out purified And Lord make me even my flesh also to subscribe to this Resignation that there be nothing in me that may rebel against thy hand but that I may suppress all repining thoughts and may cheerfully drink of this Cup how bitter soever thou art pleased to make it Lord let it prove medicinal and cure all the diseases of my soul that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruit of Righteousness that so these light afflictions which are but for a moment may work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ. Amen A Thanksgiving for Deliverance O Blessed Lord who art gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repentest of the evil I thankfully acknowledge before thee that thou hast not dealt with me after my sins nor rewarded me according to my iniquities my Rebellions O Lord deserve to be scourged with Scorpions and thou hast corrected them only with a fatherly Rod neither hast thou suffered me to lye long under that but hast given me a timely and gracious issue out of my late distresses O Lord I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversity Thou hast smitten and thou hast healed me O let these various methods have their proper effects upon my soul that I who have felt the smart of thy chastisements may stand in awe and sin not and that I who have likewise tasted the sweet refreshings of thy mercy may have my heart ravished with it and knit to thee in the firmest bands of love and that by both I may be preserved in a constant entire obedience to thee all my daies through Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer for a Sick Person O Merciful and righteous Lord the God of health and of sickness of life and of death I most unfeignedly acknowledge that my great abuse of those many daies of strength and welfare that thou hast afforded me hath most justly deserved thy present visitation I desire O Lord humbly to accept of the punishment of the Lord for my iniquity and to bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him And O thou merciful Father who designest not the ruine but the amendment of those whom thou scourgest I beseech thee by thy grace so to sanctifie this correction of thine to me that this sickness of my body may be a means of health to my soul. Make me diligent to search my heart and do thou O Lord discover every cursed thing how close soever concealed there that by the removal thereof I may make way for the removal of this punishment Heal my soul O Lord which hath sinned against thee and then if it be thy blessed will heal my body also Restore the voice of joy and health into my dwelling that I may live to praise thee and to bring forth fruit of Repentance but if in thy wisdom thou hast otherwise disposed if thou hast determined that this sickness shall be unto death I beseech thee to fit and prepare me for it Give me that sincere and earnest Repentance to which thou hast promised mercy and pardon Wean my heart from the world and its fading vanities and make me to gasp and pant after those more excellent and durable Joyes which are at thy right hand forever Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me and in all the pains of my body in all the agonies of my spirit let thy comforts refresh my soul and enable me patiently to wait till my change come and grant O Lord that when my earthly Tabernacle is dissolved I may have a building not made with hands eternal in the Heavens and that for his sake who by his precious blood hath purchased it for me even Jesus Christ. Amen A Thanksgiving for Recovery O Most gracious Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh in whose hand my time is I praise and magnifie thee that thou hast in love to my soul delivered me from the pit of destruction and restored me to health again It is of thy mercy alone O Lord that thou hast preserved my life from destruction thou hast chastened and corrected me but thou hast not given me over unto death O let this life which thou hast thus graciously spared be wholly consecrated unto thee Behold O Lord I am by thy mercy made whole O make me strictly careful to sin no more lest a worse thing come unto me Let not this reprieve thou hast now given me make me secure as thinking my Lord delayeth his coming but grant me I beseech thee to make a right use of this long-suffering of thine and so to imploy every minute of that time thou hast allowed me that when thou shalt appear I may have confidence and not be ashamed before thee at thy coming Lord I have found by this approach towards death how dreadful a thing it is to be taken unprepared O let it be a perpetual admonition to me to watch for my Masters coming and when the pleasures of sin shall present themselves to entice me O make me to remember how bitter they
yea thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever despise not then the work of thine own hands O God thou art my God early will I seek thee My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and a dry Land where no water is Like as the Hart desireth the water-brooks so longeth my soul after thee O my God My soul is athirst for God even for the Living God When shall I come and appear before the presence of God How amiable are thy dwellings O Lord God of Hosts my soul hath a desire a longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord. My flesh and my heart rejoyceth in the Living God O that I had wings like a Dove for then would I flee away and be at rest O send out thy Light and thy Truth that they may lead me and bring me to thy Hill and to thy dwelling for one day in thy Court is better than a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness I should utterly have fainted but that I believed verily to have seen the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Thou art my Helper and my Redeemer O Lord make no long tarrying A Prayer at the Receiving of the Communion O Lord I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee for my iniquities are increased over my head and my trespass is grown even unto Heaven I have wrought all these great provocations and that in the most provoking manner they have not been only single but repeated acts of sin for O Lord of all this black Catalogue of sin which I have now brought before thee how few are there which I have not often committed nay which are not become even habitual and accustomary to me and to this frequency I had added both a greediness and obstinacy in sinning turned into my course as a horse rusheth into the battel doing evil with both hands earnestly yea hating to be reformed and casting thy words behind me quenching the Spirit within me which testified against me to turn me from my evil waies frustrating all those outward means whether of judgment or of mercy which thou hast used to draw me to thy self Nay O Lord even my Repentances may be numbred amongst my greatest sins they have sometimes been feigned and hypocritical alwaies so slight and ineffectual they have brought forth no fruit to amendment of life but I have added the breach of resolutions and vows to all my former guilt Thus O Lord I am become out of measure sinful and since I have thus chosen death the lake and brimstone this O Lord is in justice to be the portion of my Cup to me belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face eternally but to thee O Lord God belongeth mercy redemption and forgiveness Though I have rebelled against thee O remember not my sins and offences but according to thy mercy think upon me O Lord for thy goodness Thou sendest thy Son to seek and to save that which was lost behold O Lord I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant and bring me back to the Shepherd and Bishop of my soul. Let thy Spirit work in me a hearty sense and detestation of all my abominations and true contrition of heart which thou hast promised not to despise and then be thou pleased to look on me to take away all my iniquity and receive me graciously and for his sake who hath nothing amiss be reconciled unto me wash away the guilt of my sin in his blood and subdue the power of them by his grace and grant O Lord that I may from this hour bid a final adiew unto all ungodliness and worldly lusts never once more cast a look towards Sodom or long after the flesh pots of Egypt but consecrate my self entirely unto thee to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life reckoning my self to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord and blessed Saviour Amen The 51 Psalm is fit to be read upon this Occasion Ejaculations O Lord of whom may I seek for succour but of thee who for my sins art justly displeased yet O Lord God most holy O Lord most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour deliver me not at my last hour into the bitter pains of eternal death Thou knowest Lord the secrets of my heart shut not thy merciful eyes upon my prayer but hear me O Lord most holy O God most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour thou most worthy Judge Eternal suffer me not at my last hour for any pains of death to fall from the Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy child yet O Lord do not thou cast off the bowels and compassion of a Father but even as a Father pittieth his own children so be thou merciful unto me Lord the Prince of this world cometh oh let him have nothing in me but as he accuseth do thou absolve he laies many grievous things to my charge which he can too well prove I have nothing to say for my self do thou answer for me O Lord my God O Lord I am cloathed with filthy garments and Satan stands at my right hand to resist me O be thou pleased to rebuke him and pluck me as a brand out of the fire Cause mine iniquity to pass from me and cloath me with the Righteousness of thy Son Behold O Lord the Devil is coming towards me having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time O save and deliver me lest he devour my soul like a Lion and tear it in pieces while there is none to help O my God I know no unclean thing can enter into thy Kingdom and I am nothing but pollution My very Righteousnesses are as filthy raggs O wash me and make me white in the blood of the Lamb that so I may be fit to stand before thy Throne Lord the snares of death compass me about O let not the pains of Hell also take hold upon me but though I find trouble and heaviness O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. O dear Jesus who hast bought me with the precious price of thine own blood challenge now thy purchase and let not the malice of Hell pluck me out of thine hand O blessed High Priest who art able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by thee save me I beseech thee who have no hope but by thy merit and intercession O God I confess I have defaced that Image of thine thou didst imprint upon my soul yet oh thou faithful Creator have pity on thy creature O Jesu I have by many and grievous sins crucified thee afresh yet thou who prayest for thy persecutors intercede for me also and suffer me not O my Redeemer my soul the price
from that curse and judgment which is due unto me for them Thou that didst justifie the contrite Publican for four words of confession and receivedst the prodigal Child when he had spent all the stock of grace into favour upon his repentance pardon all my sins likewise O Lord and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions O spare me for thy mercy sake and receive me unto favour again Wilt thou O Lord reject me who hast received all Publicans and sinners that upon repentance sued unto thee for grace Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy far be it from me to think so for thou art the same God of mercy unto me that thou wast unto them and thy compassion never fails wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits but according to thy great mercy execute not thy severe justice against me a sinner but execute thy long-sufferance in forbearing thine own creature I have nothing to present unto thee for a satisfaction but only those bloody wounds bitter death and passion which thy blessed Son my only Saviour hath suffered for me him in whom only thou art well pleased I offer up unto thee for all my sins wherewith thou art displeased he my Mediator the request of whose blood speaking better things than that of Abel thy mercy can never gainsay illuminate my understanding and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that it may bring to my remembrance all those good and profitable lessons which this day or at any other time hath been taught unto me out of thy holy Word that I may remember them thy Commandments to keep them thy Judgments to avoid them and thy sweet promises to rely upon them in time of misery and distress and now O Lord I resign my self to thy most holy Will O receive me into thy favour and so draw me by thy grace unto thy self that I may as well be thine by Love and Implantation as by Calling and Creation and give me grace so to keep holy thy Sabbath in this life as that when this life is ended I may with all thy Saints and Angels celebrate an eternal rest of joy and praise to the honour of thy most holy Name in thy heavenly Kingdom for ever more Amen Devotions for several Occasions In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer O Eternal Son of Righteousness who camest from the bosom of the Father to enlighten the darkness of the world I praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me from the danger of this night and hast continued to me still the opportunities of serving thee and advancing my hopes of a blessed eternity let thy mercies shine brightly upon me and dissipate the clouds and darknesses of my spirit and understanding rectifie my affections and purifie my will and all my actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole life my words and purposes my thoughts and all my intentions may be sanctified and be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty Amen Grant that my understanding may know thee my heart may love thee and all my faculties and powers may give thee due obedience and serve thee preserve me this day from all sin and danger from all violences and snares of mine enemies visible or invisible let thy holy fear be as a bridle to my distemperatures and thy love so enkindle and actuate all my endeavours that no pleasures or allurements of the world may draw me from thy service nor any difficulty or temptation may be my hinderance let the profound humility and innocence of my blessed Saviour keep from me all pride and haughtiness of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all fraudulency and hurtful dissimulation and let the graces of the Holy Ghost take such absolute possession and seisure of my soul and all his faculties that I may bring down and east out the spirit of uncleanness and intemperance of malice and envy idleness and disdain that I may never despise any of thy creatures but my self that so being little in my own fight I may be great in thine Amen An Evening Prayer In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. O Lord God who art the light and splendor of souls in the brightness of thy countenance is eternal day that knows no night in thy arms and in thy protection is all quietness tranquility and everlasting repose while the darkness covers the face of the earth receive my body and soul into thy custody let not the spirits of darkness come near my dwelling neither suffer my fancy to be abused with the illusions of the night Lord I am thy servant and the sheep of thy pasture let not the Devil who goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour abuse my body or make a prey of my soul but defend me from all those calamities which I have deserved and protect my soul that it consent not to any work of darkness lest mine enemy say he hath prevailed over me or do mischief to a soul redeemed with thy most precious blood Amen Pardon and forgive me all the sins and offences of my youth and age the errours of mine understanding the inordination of mine affections the irregularity of all my actions and particularly of whatsoever I have transgressed this day in thought word or deed Lord let not thy wrath arise for although I have deserved the extremest pressure of thine indignation yet remember my infirmity and how thou hast sent thy Son to reveal thy infinite mercy to us and convey pardon and salvation to the penitent I beseech thee also to accept the heartiest devotion and humble acknowledgment of a thankful heart for all thy blessings and preservation of me this day for unless thy providence and grace had been my defence and guide I had committed more and more grievous sins against thee and had been swallowed up by thy just wrath and severest judgments mercy sweet Jesus Amen Grant unto thy servant true humility great contrition a tender conscience and obedient heart an understanding alwaies busied in honest and pious thoughts a wiling tractable heart and ever prone to do good affections even and moderate a watchful custody over my senses that by those windows sin may never enter in nor death by sin make me to watch over my tongue and keep the door of my lips that no corrupt or unseemly communication proceed out of my mouth that I may never slander calumniate or detract from the reputation of my neighbour that I be not busie in the faults of others but careful to correct my own being gentle and merciful to others severe towards my self that I may speak much of thy praises and what I can for the edification of my Brethren Amen Give me a soul watchful in the service of Religion constant in holy purposes
more and more to loath the world and desire to be loosed and to be with Christ and when that good hour and time shall come wherein thou hast determined to call for him out of this present life give him grace peacefully and joyfully to yield up his soul into thy merciful hands and do thou receive him unto thy mercy and let thy blessed Angels carry him into thy Kingdom make his last hour his best hour his last words his best words his last thoughts his best thoughts and when the sight of his eyes is gone and his tongue shall fail to do his office grant O Lord that his soul with Stephen may behold Jesus Christ in Heaven ready to receive him and that thy Spirit within him may make requests for him with sighs that cannot be expressed Teach us in him to read and see our own ends and mortality and therefore to be careful to prepare our selves for our last end and put our selves in readiness against the time that thou shalt call for us in the like manner Thus O Lord we recommend this our dear Brother or Sister thy sick servant unto thy eternal grace and mercy in that prayer which Christ our Saviour hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy Spirit be with us all and especially with this thy sick servant to the end and in the end Amen LEt them read often unto the sick some special Chapters of the holy Scriptures as the 14th and 19th chapters of Job the 34th chapter of Deuteronomy the two last chapters of Ioshua the 17th chapter of the first of Kings the 2d 4th and 12th chapter of the 2d of Kings the 38th 40th and 65th chapters of Isaiah the history of the passion of Christ the 8th chapter to the Romans the 15th chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians the 4th of the first to the Thessalonians the first of the second Epistle to the Corinthians the first and the last of St. James the 11th and the 12th to the Hebrews the first Epistle of Peter the three first and the three last chapters of the Revelations or some of these exhorting the sick to wait upon God by faith and patience till he send for him and praying the Lord to send them a joyful meeting in the Kingdom of Heaven and a blessed resurrection at the last day that then they may depart at their pleasure in the peace of God A Prayer in time of imminent Danger O Most merciful Father though my sins are many and grievous that I may rather expect the effects of thine anger than so great a deliverance as to deliver me from my present great danger yet O Lord since thy mercies are over all thy works and thou never failest to relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to thee for succour it were to multiply not to diminish my transgressions to dispair of thy heavenly favours wherefore I humbly desire thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not only forgive all my sins but also free me out of the hand of mine enemies and protect me from the malice of my cruel adversary but if thy wrath and my hainous sins and offences will not otherwise be satisfied than by suffering me to fall under my present afflictions thy will be done yet with humble importunity I do and shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly Spirit that my cause as I am thy distressed servant may not suffer through my weakness or want of courage O Lord so strengthen and enlighten all the faculties of my mind that with clearness I may shew forth and manfully endure this bloody tryal that so my sufferings may not only glorifie thee but likewise be a furtherance to my salvation hereafter grant this O heavenly Father for his sake who suffered for me even Jesus Christ the Righteous Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for any great Deliverance O God my God and Father thou hast strangely preserved and rescued me from all evil and for the glory of thine own Name thou hast diverted the Arrow that was directed against me what am I O Lord and what can I do or what have I done that thou shouldest do this for me I am O God a miserable sinner and I can do nothing without thy mighty grace and I have done nothing by my self but what I am ashamed of and I have received great mercies and miracles of providence I see O God that thy goodness is the cause and measure of all my hopes and all thy good and upon the confidence and greatness of that goodness I humbly beg of thy sacred Majesty to keep and defend me from all evil by thy wise providence to lead me into all good by the conduct of thy Divine Spirit and where I have done amiss give me pardon and where I have mistaken give me pity and where I have been injured give me thy favour and a gracious exchange that I may serve thee here with diligence and hereafter may rejoyce with thee and love thee as I desire to love thee and as thou deservest to be loved even with all the powers and degrees of passion of essence to eternal Ages in the inheritance of Jesus Christ whom I love for whom I will not refuse to die to whom with thee O gracious Father and the holy Spirit be all glory and honour love and obedience for ever and for ever Amen A Prayer wherewith to conclude all our Devotions ALmighty God who hast promised to hear the Petitions of all them that ask in thy Sons Name I beseech thee mercifully to encline thine ears unto me who have now made my prayers and supplications unto thee and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked in thy Sons Name according to thy Will may be effectually obtained to the relief of my necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Blessing THe Peace of God which passeth all understanding the blessing of God Almighty the Father Son and the Holy Ghost the Vertue of Christs blessed Cross and Passion be with me and all mine now and at the last hour Amen FINIS Here thou mayest confess thy particular sins