thy poore Child and Spouse who desires to love thee O be thou unto me all yea more than all unto me and that I may ever have thy love and care have thou mine ever I beseech thee and let neither world wooe nor Devill tempt nor flesh yeild it from thee let no lust defile my heart thy bed nor sinne blemish my body thy members let both be as thine undefiled before thee Where I have failed in either for time past Lord forgive me that for time to come I may keep more truly thine Lord strengthen me Behold the desires of my soule are after thee deare Jesus accept me let me live espoused by thy grace and at last be married to thy glory to that blessed day deare Saviour bring me and for it fit me and ever keep me deare Lord Jesus Amen Amen A Prayer for Fatherlesse-Children THou that art the Widowes Iudge and Orphans Father I commend to thy fatherly care my selfe and the Children thou hast given me Lord keep us from the evill of this world and bring us to the blisse of a better I beseech thee Holy Father take my Children to thy care and teach them thy feare be thou Tutor to their soules and Protector of their lives that by thy grace and mercy they may miscarry in neither let me serve thee in them and nurse them up in both for thee Assist me with wisdome and grace and power to doe it and give them grace in all duty and good obedience to suffer it let not my affections be too fiery or fond let me not neglect them nor distrust thee the love and care which is just let me give them and so expect thy blessing upon them And good Lord give it to them let the Fathers blessing be on them who is dead let a poore Mothers blessing be on them who lives let the blessing of their Friends be on them even all that pray it for them but above all let thy Blessing which is above all be upon them all I beseech thee Father of mercies Helper of the Fatherlesse blesse them Sonne of God that hadst little ones in thy armes on earth lay thy hands on them and blesse them Holy Spirit that didst appeare in the shape of a Dove behold their innocency and blesse them Holy Father Son and Spirit blesse them with thy grace and bring them to thy glory and me with them I beseech thee even for thy mercies sake for thy merits sake for thy goodnesse sake thou deare Maker Redeemer and Sanctifier of us all now and ever say Amen to the humble prayers which I put up unto thee in such words as thou hast taught me to say Our Father c. Prayer against sudden Death IF my repentance be daily no Death can be sudden to my Soule O Lord to make my Soule therefore surely thine let me be every day at a certaine with repentance And because the summes of my sinnes are vast and I may forget my debt and duty in the daily discharges of my sinnes and not repent for all or not enough O therefore give me a faire summons to my last end that I may die with a cleare soule and make so good an account as thou mayest acquit me of all my sins for his sake who paid the price of all in his blood even for the deare merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayers for one going to Sea 1. Prayer for a Voyage SEal thou my Passe O Lord and then I shal go safe yea do thou according to thy wonted goodnesse goe with me good God! guide me prosper me return me O let not my failings follow me but thy mercy put them from me and thy grace in Iesus Christ accept me And now save me and mine I beseech thee and all that by Land or Sea are in any extremity for his sake who is the Saviour of us all Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Prayer Gratulatory after a Voyage SAlvation is thine O Lord thine therefore be the glory that the flouds have not swallowed me up and the Deep shut her mouth upon me And now Lord who in thy great mercy and goodnesse hast been my Saviour at Sea be my Guide at Land lead me and shield me and blesse me that as I desire I may doe and in thy due time returne to live and serve thee in the place and way thou hast appointed for me on earth till I come to the place prepared in heaven for all that love thee through the merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen 3. Prayer at returne to Sea I Doe againe cast my selfe into thy armes deare Father embrace me for thy mercies sake hold my life in thy hand till thou hast brought me to the Haven where I would be and thence conduct me to the home where I should be there let me preserve the memory of thy mercies that thou mayest continue the possessions of thy goodnesse to me and mine till thou shalt please to translate us from our earthly Tabernacles to thy everlasting Habitations through the merits of Iesus Christ the blessed Purchaser of both for which ever fit us and prepare us by thy grace O God! Amen Amen A Prayer after returne home from Sea O God that hast been with me in my going out and comming in my Pilot by Sea Conduct by Land receive therefore the humble praises of my gratefull soule most sensible of thy goodnesse And still O Lord blesse me and mine and let thy holy Spirit so steare our course in the Sea of this sublunary world that we may escape those lusts which drowne souls in perdition and by the blessed guidance and assistance of thy grace arrive at last at the Land of everlasting life to live and dwell and love and laud adore joy in thee and enjoy thee for ever by the merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Thanksgiving for deliverance from a Storme O Lord thou hast made me to see the great dreads and dangers of the Deep and I am alive at this day by thy gracious deliverance O let this mercy be ever in my memory and let me never forget the service which I vowed and owe unto thee for that mercy Make me so mindfull of that Passe-over of the floods that I may better passe the time of my Pilgrimage in thy feare till at last I come to have a happy Passe-over to thy glory even for his sake who is passed to heaven before me and for me Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Thanksgiving for deliverance from a Storme With a holy Meditation against perills O Lord thy providence is above all perils thy power above all stormes thy mercy above all sins I have seen I have seen at once thy Greatnesse and Goodnesse O God! thou wast my Anchor and I am saved thou wast my Pilot and I am preserved when no hope but to perish for wants then I had it and am help'd from heaven praised for ever be thou the God of my help Praised for
by thy mercy obtaine everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Confession ALmighty and most mercifull Father I have erred and strayed from thy wayes like a lost Sheep I have followed too much the devices and desires of my owne heart I have offended against thy holy laws I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and I have done those things which I ought not to have done and there is no health in me But thou O Lord have mercy upon me miserable Offendour Spare thou me O God which confess my faults Restore thou me that am penitent According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord and grant O most mercifull Father for his sake that I may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy holy name Amen Prayer for Pardon ALmighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who desirest not the death of a Sinner but that he may turne from his wickednesse and live and hast promised pardon to them that truly repent unfeignedly believe thy holy Gospel of thy mercy I beseech thee to grant me true repentance and thy holy Spirit that those things may please thee which I doe at this present and the rest of my life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last I may come to thine eternall joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Lords Prayer OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our dayly bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill c. The Versicles Vers O Lord open thou my lips Resp And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Vers O God make speed to save me Resp O Lord make hast to help me Glory be to the Father c. Alleluiah Praise the Lord. ¶ Read the Psalmes for the Service of that day Then the Lessons appointed for it After say the Creed c. Then the Daily Prayers Animadversions to the devout Reader touching these Daily Prayers IF thou wouldest have reason why these Prayers are so short and in severall which use to make a long one all put together that thy Devotion may be quicker they are so short a little space being run with a greater speed and that thy Spirit may hold out fresher in severalls as so many rests all the way it runs If thou beest a Man of another Spirit take that course of prayer wherein thy soule speeds best This is propounded not prescribed to every Devotion and intended for help not the hinderance of any Morning Prayers 1. Collect for Grace O God! I can aske no greater gift than thy Glory and therefore beg no better gift than thy Grace yea even this consummate is nothing else but 1 Cor. 13. 10. that nor can I come at it but by the way of grace I doe therefore for Jesus Christ his sake beseech thee bestow on me that blessed gift Grace to doe thee service on earth that thou may'st give me thy salvation in heaven through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Collect for Peace MY poore Soule is an humble Suiter for peace O God! the Col. 1. 20. blood of Jesus is my plea thy Spirit my Advocate I deserve by my sinnes eternall enmity but for thy deare 2 Cor. 5. 19. Sonnes sake have favour for me by whom the world is attoned O let me be reconciled to thee I know not how Rom. 8. 26. to pray this as I ought but thy Spirit can make effectuall Intercession for me Lord let thy Spirit move and thy Son make my peace Subdue my lusts conquer Satan for me that my conscience may have peace with thee and I in it By thy grace through the mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 3. Collect for Health O Lord when I am sick let me thinke I may die when I am in health that I may be sick that I may not mispend the stock of my life but doe thee honour with my health and thou mayest give me comfort for it in my sicknesse Even this that sin hath not bound me to my bed but thy providence hast cast me downe which can and will lift me up or to health in this world or to happines in a better such an enjoyment of health give me I beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen 4. Collect for Safety O Lord so many daies as I live so Act. 10. 28. many lives I owe thee thou renewest my lease every day a poore Tenant at thy will I am and a fraile Isa 28. 5. cotage of clay by thy power I keep Job 4. 19. Deut. 10. 12. Lord that hast hitherto spar'd me still preserve me and let me pay as I can what I owe of service the onely rent thou requirest for tenement and appurtenances life health wealth and all the good things I have of thee for which thou both grantest terme of life and givest eternity This to that continue I beseech thee for his sake who was surety and is sole Purchaser for me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 5. Collect for Friends FOr all my Kindred and Friends Lord receive my prayers Doe thou good unto them all O God! To those that erre shew thy truth and those that see it keep from errour to those that doe amisse give grace to doe better and those that doe well continue in so doing to those that are afflicted give comfort and deliverance to those that prosper humility and temperance blesse the sick with health and the healthy from sicknesse supply those in want and let those that want not give supply to all grant thy grace O God! and shew thy mercy let love bind us one to another and Religion knit us all to thee that all who are of naturall kindred may meet in heavenly consanguinity Even so Esth 2. 31. Job 1. 13. Lord let the bloud of Jesus runne through all our veines and the Spirit of Jesus go along with the blood that the glory of Jesus may be the end of us all And how ever we suffer and scatter on earth we may live and joy together in the blisse of Heaven By the Union of that holy Spirit and communion of that blessed blood Amen Amen 6. Collect for the Kingdome O Lord we were the mirror of the world for mercy we are for misery a people wofully torn divided distressed distracted a multitude of headlesse heartlesse disordered men ready to be destroyed O thou great Physitian that canst as easily cure Jer. 4. 22. a Kingdome as a Man heale our Land for thy tender pities sake Lord have mercy on us and heale us In the blood of Jesus purge our sins the cause of all our maladies whether ours or of the Ages before us from their guilt and curse
of them all good Lord deliver us Deliver us from blood O God from all the innocent and pretious blood which lies upon us From our sins of peace which brought the warre and the sinnes of warre which brought and left us in that guilt of blood O Jesus that hadst mercy even for those that shed thine and Act. 2. 27. madest the matter of their sinne the meanes of their salvation let the virtue of thy blood expiate the guilt of all shed amongst us and the voice of Heb. 12. 24 it out-crie all the clamours which it makes in Heaven against us And by the grace of thy Spirit make our hearts bleed for our sins that it may crie so for us With our sinnes remove our woes Piece our rents and close our wounds with thy heavenly hands O God of peace that we perish not under them let us not make our selves a prey to foraigne force nor fall by an intestine fury Meet Body and Head in common safety meane while looke upon our languishings and keep life in the Body Lord who delightest not in the death of one Sinner pitty millions of poore sinfull miserable soules at the very point to perish pitty us good Lord and preserve us for thy great mercies sake in Christ Jesus Amen Amen 7. Collect for the Church 1 Cor. 11. 2. FOr thy deare Spouse and my best Mother I thy poore Child and Hers on bended knees hold up my hands and humbly pray all thy Goodnesse O God! Truth Love and Peace be with her For errour truth for schisme love for persecution peace Behold O Lord not what She is but was and not what She was for sin but thy Service And Heare Lord not the cries of her sins but groanes of her miseries And make her to be as Good as She was yea Lord make her be as Good as She should be Beautifull in Her selfe Unblemished in her Children Shining in truth Comely in order Holy in life Repair'd in her ruines Restored in her Rights Relieved in her injuries To Thy glory Her honour and the happinesse of us all through the Grace and Worthinesse of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 8. Collect for the Catholique Church O God of peace send Unity amongst all that professe thy Name As they have but one Head Ephes 4. 1 4 c. let them be but one Body as they are but one Body let them have but one Spirit the Spirit of truth and holiness in doctrine and life be in all Cease schismes and warres in the Christian world Let not them spill one anothers blood for whom thy Sonne shed His. Let there not be many Hearts under one Head nor more Heads with it lest they make a Massacre in thy Body or a Monster of it O let thy Scepter have obedience and thine Orders Observance every where Suffer none by delusion or depravation of mind or ambition of Spirit to pull downe thy Throne whilst they pretend for thy Scepter and let confusion and tyranny into the Church whilest they professe to bring in liberty and order and pull downe thy House to set up thy Glory From Violence avarice sacriledge schisme heresie Anarchy tyranny King of the Church keep us Do Thou governe us and let us obey thee doe Thou save us and let us serve thee Even all Christian souls save through out the world Dear Jesus Amen Concluding Prayer IT is thy promise to grant whatsoever I aske in thy Sons name Lord thou wilt not performe lesse because I BreviariuÌ„ totius Evangelii Tert. aske so in his Words In His blessed Breviary therefore I Summe and offer up all and say Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Blessing God the Father blesse me God the Son defend me God the holy Ghost preserve me and all mine and His now and evermore Amen So ends Morning Prayer A Charitable Prayer for these Miserable Times O Lord that dost not willingly afflict the Children of Men Behold from thy Holy Habitation of Heaven the Multitudes of miserable Souls Lives amongst us and have mercy upon us Have mercy on all Ignorant Souls instruct them On all Deluded Mindes and Enlighten them On all seducing and seduced Spirits and Convert them Have mercy on all broken Hearts and Heal them all strugling with Temptation and Rescue them All Languishing in Spirituall Desertion and Revive them Have mercy on all that stagger in Faith and establish them That are falne from Thee and Raise them That stand with Thee and Confirme them Have mercy on all that groan under their Sinnes and Ease them that blesse themselves and goe on in their wickednesse and curb and stop them Jesus that didst shed thy Bloud for all Soules to save them shed thy Holy Spirit on all and heal them And Lord have mercy on all miserable Bodies Those that are ready to Famish for want Feed them Those that are bound to Beds of pain Loose them Those that are in Prison and Bonds Release them Those that are under the fury of Persecution and cry under the yoke of Oppression Relieve them Those that lie smarting in their Paines and Wounds Cure them Thâ—se that are Distracted in their Thoughts and Wits Settle them Those that are in Perils of their Lives Preserve them Jesus that didst freely Distribute thy Comforts and Cures to all Miseries and Maladies of Men when thou wast on Earth Have mercy on all and Help them Far or near with us or from us Lord have mercy on all Even every Sonne and Daughter of Adam at this time in paine and anguish upon the face of the Earth where ever they are whosoever they be what help I would pray for my self from thee or Comfort from Man in their condition I beseech thee the God of all Help and Comfort to give it to them Take them to thy Care and Tender them Supply them and Succour them have Compassion on them and Heal them Jesus that didst give thy Bloud for them deny not thy bowels to them Thou that didst Redeeme them all preserve them Even all Miserable Souls and Bodies I beseech thee for thine Infinite mercies sake Amen A Prayer against the Temptations of the Time O God Who wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are 1 Cor. 10. 13. able to bear Succour me that the Temptations of the Time doe not overwhelme me Discover to me the wayes of thy Providence so far that I may see why I should neither deny it or doubt it And make me know Thy Judgements Job 11. 6. Rom. 11. 33. Job 40. 4. 41. 3. Jer. 12. 1. to be so unsearchable and thy wayes past finding out that I may humbly submit my wit to thy Wisdome and admire and adore the Justice which I doe not see Let me not be of so narrow a mind as to confine thy Worke to one World which thou dost not finish but in Two Nor let me be such a Creature of Sense as to believe thou
hast no other reward or punishment then what I see and feel O let my Eyes look to the end of all Heaven or Hell and let me envie no ill mans happinesse who shall end in Hell Nor bewaile any good mans wretchednesse who shall have Heaven for his end And let me understand that Prosperity of Psal 92. 7. Sinners is a heavy Plague because their Prov. 1. 32 spur to Hell the greatest punishment and Adversity of Saints a happy Mercy Psal 94. 12 because thy Rod to beat them into Heaven the Best Reward Meane while let me not give a Breast Psal 4. 8. full of thy Peace for an Armefull of that wealth which breeds nests of Vipers and Adders in their Hearts and continuall Job 20. 14. 16. stings in their Bosomes let me prefer the sufferings of Innocence before the Spoiles and Triumphs of Violence O God since a guilty Conscience is the greatest punishment on Earth because next to Hell And Accusing and Condemning thy Providence and forsaking Mal. 2. 17. 3. 13 14 15. my Innocence the greatest Guilt To that Extremity let no Temptation ever lead me Jesus Keep me from it by thy Grace and Mercy Amen Evening Prayers 1. Collect for Grace THou that hast promised Thy Holy Spirit to those that ask Luk. 11. 13. it give me Thy Grace O God with courage and constancy so to fight and subdue my flesh and ghostly enemy that I may passe my Pilgrimage in thy fear and at last receive my Triumphs in thy Glory Apoc. 3. 21 through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Collect for Peace O God of peace who art Incomprehensible give me thy peace Phil. 4. 7. which passeth all understanding Let me so live according to thy Rule that Gal. 6. 16. I may have peace with my Conscience Let me be so ruled by thy Will and Word that my Conscience may have peace with Thee Lord make an everlasting Jer. 6. 16. peace with me and let me never doe what will break that league with Thee Dear Jesus treat it for me in thy Bloud and maintaine it in me by thy Spirit Amen Amen 3. Collect for Health IT is the wonder of thy providence O Lord that a body subject to thousands of Frailties and casualties every day should enjoy health or life an hour yet through thy mercy I have both at this instant Lord continue to me what I have and let me so improve it to thy honour that thou maist continue it and for Christ his sake doe not for any wickednesse smite me with sicknesse Amen Amen 4. Collect for Safety FOrgive O Lord the forfeitures I Psal 19. 11. have made of thy protection by the wandrings of my life And though I have not beene as I should a dutiful Child yet be Thou O Lord as thou ever art a mercifull Isa 63. 16. Father Forget not thy fatherly goodnesse to me who pray thy pardon for offending Thee thy Grace to serve Thee and thy Providence to preserve me this night and evermore through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 5. Collect for Friends O Lord it is joyfull for Friends to Psal 3. 3. 1. Heb. 12. 22 23. love live together on earth but the joy of joyes all to live with thee in Heaven I beseech thee let this happinesse be the portion of all whom thou hast made more nearly and dearly mine Let us so live in thy service that we may die with thy Salvation Mean while what wants of earthly good to any give us what is amisse and offensive to thy Heavenly Majesty in any forgive us what is requisite to make us so to serve thee now as thou mayest save us then in thy bounty bestow upon us Truth and Grace aright to see and seek thy face in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 6. Collect for the Kingdome O Lord we lie all in broil and bloud Pity us Our distraction threaten desolation to us Preserve us Our sinnes cry loud for thy vengeance upon us Pardon us Thy mercies have been great to this Nation Lord remember them Thy deliverances of us have been many Lord renue them That iniquity be not our ruine let us repent ruine it The guilt bloud Ezek. 18. 13. upon us forgive our Breaches repaire The order which may bring peace establish The Government thou hast establish'd maintain what is just and right in thine eyes set up what thou seest evill cast down what makes the Nation miserable remove what may make it happy restore Lord for thy mercies sake say we have been miserable enough and make us more happy Let the light of thy countenance shine again upon us and grant us peace the Power and Authority which may procure it preserve and those to whom thou hast given that power blesse them to us and us in them and all in thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen 7. Collect for the Church Catholike BEhold O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I a Christian and child of his true Catholike Church pray thy mercies on my Good and Great Mother and all my Brethren and her Children in thee and thy Son For Errours amongst them send them Truth For Schisme Unity For Superstition warrantable worship For Confusion Order For Profanenesse Piety For Variance Concord For War Peace that all may as one Body with one mind and heart and mouth and knee believe love confesse adore and so serve thee and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ the Great Lord and common Saviour of us all as thou mayest save us all in the world to come O thou Head of the Church fave thy Body By thy Bloud cleanse it By thy Spirit sanctifie it By thy Power preserve it and every Limb of it dear Jesus Amen 8. Collect for the Church O Christ Head of thy Body the Ephes 1. 22 Church Let not this poor Member of it amongst us perish What it is thou seest Lord with pity behold us What it was thou knowest O Lord in mercy restore us Thy Primitive Order in Christian Truth and Worship for the saving of Soules cast down set up The present Confusions Distractions Innovations Errours which are got up cast down Set up thy Glory O Lord amongst us and what is set apart to support it doe thou maintaine and continue to us and our Posterities after us for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Amen Concluding Prayer BEhold Lord I have prayed thy Grace and Peace with Health and Protection for my Friends the Kingdome and this and thy Church Grant good God all the requests I have prayed of thee or what more I should have prayed from thee or what any else have prayed with me In whose name I have presented with whose words I desire to perfume perfect my Prayers Beseeching thee that his Spirit may breathe in those words in which I know I pray both what and as I ought And therefore as devoutly confidently say Our Father
thee as that is my state let this be my blisse Give me the blessings of the Womb a healthy and holy seed which may be Heires of thy blessings on earth after us and at last inheritance of thy eternall blessednesse in heaven with us even for the sake of thy onely begotten Sonne my deare and onely Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 1. Prayer for a Woman with Child LOrd who hast blessed me with a hopefull Conception crowne thy mercy in mee with a happy Deliverance From all frights and harmes which may cause miscarriage to me let thy providence shield me From all errors and ills which may draw thy displeasure upon me let thy grace preserve me And for all my faults and failings past let thy mercy pardon me And Lord let not the Child for the Parents sake be any way unhappy The blessing of shape and perfectnesse of Body and mind be upon it I beseech thee so shall the Church have a Child and thou a Servant my Family a pillar and thy kingdome an heire mine shall be the comfort but thine shall be the gaine O thou that thy selfe wast once enclosed in a Mothers womb conceived bred and born shew this mercy to me doe it for me deare Iesus thou holy Sonne of God Amen Amen Prayer against Miscarriage LOrd keep me from all harmes and frights this day * At Evening say this Night and that my Womb by no ill acccident may miscarry within me let not my heart by any ill act miscarry before thee Body and Soule let thy mercy grace preserve me now and ever deare Iesus Amen Amen Prayer for a Woman in Travaile LOe this is the fruit of the forbidden Tree our first Mother brought forth sin and we bring forth in paine for it justly O Lord for I am the Daughter of my Mother as I sinned in her loynes so since I came into the world I have justified often what she did once I have sinned O Lord I have sinned O how often have I coveted what thou hast forbidden done ill in thy eyes to doe what was pleasing to my owne and been both tempted and Tempter unto evill By inheritance therefore and purchase wrath is my due misery my portion and this paine my proper lot and thy great mercy it is in Christ my Saviour that the pangs of everlasting death are not my but O thou Judge of the world remember that thou art the Preserver of men preserve me in it support me under it make haste make haste good Lord to deliver me from it and comfort me after it O remember not what the first Adam hath done but the second suffered and by his immaculate Conception and holy Birth and Life by the bitter passion and pangs and death of the holy Child Jesus deliver me deare Father in this my extremity Let the paines of my Travaile end in the joies of a blessed Birth that may to the comfort of my soule live and be made an Heire of thy kingdome Amen Amen Prayer after Deliverance of Child LOrd that hast look'd downe on thy poore hand maid in her great distresse I looke up unto thee and blesse thy Name for my happy deliverance that thou hast made me the joyfull Mother of a hopefull Child without visible infirmity or deformity which might take from my joy Goe on good God in mercy to me and it Support me on my bed of weaknesse and in thy due time raise me from it with strength Let my Child live till thou by holy Baptisme hast made it thy Heire and in that holy and happy state of soule preserve it to thy kingdome and let it be my continuall care by all good meanes to preserve it And good Lord from the pangs of eternall death and paines of Hell keep me and it for ever And whatsoever burden of woe I shall travaile under on earth let me not despaire of mercifull deliverance whom thou hast so graciously eased of my late paine and burden Thy power mercy is the same for ever O Lord let it be shewed to thy Servant in all her extremity according as her hope and trust is in thee by the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayer after Christening the Child WHat an honour hast thou done unto thy Servant O Lord thou hast given me a naturall birth and my Child a new one what came polluted into the world is washed cleane in thy laver for the raggs of Adam thou hast put on it thy Sonnes robes My Child is made thy heire and what was borne by me to a Crosse thou hast begotten againe to a Crown of glory O Lord let it be my care to keep my Child thine thy Sonnes righteousnesse on him and Spirit in him and my ambition so to be thy Child that I may with it be Inheritor of thy Crowne By the merits of him who is the first-borne of his Brethren thy Son and Heire of all things Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer and Thanksgiving for our Birth-day I Thank thee O Lord for my Birth this day but especially for my new-birth By that I was made a Man by this a Christian from that I have a naturall life from this a spirituall that was to live on earth this in heaven nor was that to live for ever but a time on earth Lord let me not frustrate the end of my Birth nor apostate from the blisse of my Baptisme The state of grace in which this set me let me ever maintaine And if by sinne I ever fall from it let me by a true and timely repentance rise againe and recover it that when I shall go from earth I may come to heaven and when leave to live with men live with thee and thy Angels for ever for which end I am created redeem'd and preserved in this world Lord that gavest my life this day to begin let it so end for his sake whose birth life and death makes all ours blessed who is the beginning and end Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayer for New-years-day GOd of my life who hast given me this day to see a New-yeare begin let me live to see it at a happy end and thou who hast a New-heart in thy gift O give that to me that according to all the good purposes of my soule I may walke in good conscience before thee and have thy peace within me and thy blessing all the yeare upon me even for his sake who was content to be borne at this time and this day to be circumcised and shed his just blood for me Iesus Christ thy Son my deare Saviour and Lord. Amen Prayer for a Widow O Lord that hast taken my Head from me be thou Husband to me thou that boughtest my Soule by thy bloud to be thy Spouse doe not lose me doe not leave me guide and governe in me in all my waies in all my wants and straits supply me thou that art better than Friend than Father than Husband than all be unto
have had the Holy Communion Seale me my pardon And behold and accept thy Servant from a heart full of thy love pouring out praises to thee for the inestimable benefits received in those High and Holy Mysteries What am I O Lord or what is in me that thou shouldest doe this great honour and favour to me I am unworthy to touch the thresholds of thy House and thou hast taken me to thy Table I am not worthy to stand amongst thy Saints and thou hast made me sit with my Saviour I am not worthy to come before thee and fall down before thy Footstoole and thou hast beene pleased to come into me and make my heart thy Throne I am not worthy to eat the bread of Men and thou hast given me the bread of Angels Yea Lord The Angels hunger but have not this bread What they admire I have received whom they adore I have entertained The Body and Bloud of Jesus their Mirrour is my meat Christ and they are Two but I and my Saviour are One. Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone One Bloud one Body O unspeakable Mysterie O incomparable Mercy Lord I beseech thee since of my selfe I cannot enough praise thee make me some way worthy of thee Let my Hands which have received that Blessed Body and Bloud be henceforth Sacred and doe no deeds that may offend thee Let my Lips which have touched those Holy Mysteries be hallowed from all words that may displease thee And let my Heart the Habitation of my Lord and Saviour be hereafter holy and no vain thoughts lodge within me As I am one with Him in Body and Bloud let me be one in Spirit The spirit of Wisdome Love and Holyness truly to know Thee serve Thee and cleave unto Thee By the blessed Sacrament of his Body and Blood Convey it to me Confirme it in me Let it be to my soule the Signet of thy Love and Seale of thy Glory And even for the Precious Merits of that Bloud and Body receive me to it I beseech thee that I may be one in everlasting Union and Communion with Thee for Jesus his sake Amen Amen! A Thanksgiving to be said after the Communinn fit for one devoutly affected at it THou that hast given the Bread of Heaven to feed me O give me the tongue of an Angell to praise thee O Lord the very Angels are not blessed with such a Bread O! what an high Mystery and mercy is this that my Saviour is my Sustenance and their Maker my Meat The Body and Bloud of Christ the Eternall Sonne of Gods to be in an holy Communion eaten drunken by the mouth of a mortall man O the infinite condescending Goodnes of a gracious God to make my humble heart the habitation of his Holines To come to me enter in me and become one not by Reconciliation onely but heavenly Union and Communion with me O miraculous Union O mysterious Incorporation O happy Soule that art so neare to thy Saviour O blessed Saviour that art so neare to my Soule O wretched Soule if any thing be too deare with thee for such a Saviour That wouldst not give thy body and blood for his Truth that wilt not give thy life to his Glory O Lord let my Soule which by thy Sacrament is made so happie by my sinne be never made so wretched Thou that hast entred thy Bodie and Bloud into me by thy Spirit take possession of me Guide me leade me command me rule me move me Be thou the Spirit of my Soule and Soule of my Body Let not the Flesh World or Devill henceforth have any power in me Live O Live Thou in me O Christ in thy earthly House and let me live for ever with Thee in thy Heavenly Habitation Even by the Merits and vertues of thy pretious Body and Bloud Sweet Jesus my Deare Lord and Saviour I beseech thee Amen Amen! An Holy Rapture to be said by One having Devoutly Communicated O Lord Where thou doest dwell is Heaven Heaven then is not this day more Above me then Within me How then shall my Single Soule Honour thee and my Tongue extoll Thee who hast made for thy Servant a Double Heaven O Lord Let all that is within me and all that is without me minde heart tongue hand all Savour of that Heaven that is within me and set forth thy Glory And doe Thou who this day hast conveyed Heaven into me at my last houre Convey my Soule into Heaven That what is here wanting in thy due Praises I may pay there in everlasting Halleluja's Even so Lord Glory be to thee for ever for the Invaluable favour and honour thou hast done to thy servant For the unsearchable Riches and Treasures Conveyed in thy Sacrament even the Blessed Body and Blood of Jesus Christ my deare Redeemer and Lord and Saviour Amen Amen Meditations for the Holy Communion upon 1 Cor. 11. 24. 25. ¶ Doe this in Remembrance of me D Oe but for thee Dear Jesus I had been undone for ever for thee then and for Mat. 18. 11 thy sake what is it which I should not doe 2. Thy desires are my Commands There is Authority enough in thy love for me to doe what thou shalt please Speak Lord then thy Servant heareth what ever thy will is that will I doe 3. Since thou wouldst have no flesh but my Bodies I will have no will but Heb. 10. 5. thy Soules What is thine shall be my will O Lord and done which thou wilt hav◠me doe 4. I dare not say so to any man O Lord though never so Godly so much thy Man His will may have Errour for Guide and ill in Company But O thou Holy one of God! Thy mind knowes no Errour thy will no Obliquity I dare doe whatsoever thou dost will 5. Dare doe Dare not but doe it If thy desire once come out in an Injunction and thy will be signified by Command not onely upon my Obligation I ought But must upon my Mat. 17. 5. Act. 3. 23. Act. 9. 6. Allegeance to thee the King of the Church and Soveraign as well as Saviour of my Soul I must not dispute nor delay but doe and therefore ought may must doe This. For Lord what is it thou wouldst now have me do Is it to climb a Crosse to undergo a bitter Passion Act. 21. 19 Even for thy sake I should not think much to doe that who hast done more for mine What then when it is not so much as this not to goe to a Scaffold but come to thy Table not to goe to a Grave but a Feast not to Bleed or Burne but to to Eat and Drink not to Suffer that but to doe this 2. And what is that I am to Eat and Drink Bread of Affliction and Water of Adversity which flag my Spirits No Deare Jesus but Bread and Wine to confirme and comfort my Heart Not a Confessours Bread Tears nor a Martyrs Cup Bloud
I wear a Deaths-head in a Ring to preserve alive the memory of a Dead Friend And O thou Loving and Blessed above all Beloveds when thy Passion is Engraven by thy own Hand in an Holy Mystery for my minde to wear shall not the Ring be on my Finger shall not my Heart keepe and weare thy Ring 4. But is that all Dear Jesus Is that all I am to doe to give thee a Memory Surely then it must be the best of all O thou Manna that camest Joh. 6. 32. Heb. 9. 4. downe from Heaven a Golden Pot must keep thee My Soule must have most Pretious memory for thee Quick not Dull Humble not Bold Tender not Hard Active not Contemplative that 's Leaden Brasen Iron but Silver at best and reprobate at worst The Memory which moves all good Affections to thee and Promoves all good Abilities for thee that 's the Golden pot must keep thee So thou wouldst have this Memory because it will minde and doe all Duty Admire and Love thee Obey Endure Doe and Suffer for thee It will establish Faith excite Repentance enflame Charity maintain Constancy O thou Mirrour of the Godhead Heb. 1. 3. 4 Beauty of the World Excellent above Angels High above all Lord of Lords King of Kings Those are thy 1 Tim. 6. 15. Eccles 12. 1. Dues And Holy Memory is a Store-house full and Rich to Pay all therefore thou sayest Remember me I cannot but Believe Repent and Love to the last if thou be in minde If I Deut. 32. 18. fail payment of any Duty to God or Man it is because thou art out of my Memory But to thy Memory Dear Jesus what is it I should doe O Lord thou wouldst have me doe this In Remembrance of thee Thy Passion that that must be in my Memory and Thee I must Remember in 1 Cor. 11. 26. that Thy Sacrament then is an Obelisk to the Eternall Memory of thy Passion A Pyramide of everlasting date set up in the Church for a Solemne memoriall of thy Death And Lord So oft as I neglect it what doe I but pull downe thy Pyramide And Bury Thee and thy Merits as the Jews did thy Limbs but in a worser grave not in a garden but desert a grave of oblivion 2. And what Lord Shall I Remember of thy Passion What But that thou the Eternall Son of God wast made Man to endure it Moved Heb. 9. 14. by meer Love Infinite Love to undergoe it And I wretched Creature Sinfull Sonne of Man the Man that caused it who else had been for ever a Miserable and Damned Man And thus did Infinite Wisdome Mercy and Power in God wonderfully work the Salvation of Man This ineffable Mystery of Redemption by the Miraculous Passion of the Sonne of God which thou didst Suffer thou wouldst have me Remember And thy Sacrament is a Monument to last as long as thy Church that whilst I have Life and Soul I should perpetuate and preserve a Holy Memory of my Saviour 3. And what a Wretch am I that have neede of such a helpe to my Memory and Spur to my Duty as both a Commandement and a Sacrament for both It casts reproaches on me O Christ That thou should give thy Body for me and I scarce give my minde to thee That I should have so great a roome in thy heart and thou so hardly get any in mine That thou should be more ready to Bleed for me then I to Thinke of thee Dear Jesus That didst empty all thy Veines for me shall I not finde a vessell to Preserve thy Pretious Bloud Doe I not Spill what thou didst shed if I let it run out of my Memory Yet art Thou put to it to finde me both Bloud and Minde And when thou hast done all that out of Remembrance of me lest it should be forgotten ordainest a Sanction and Sacrament and sayest Do this in Remembrance of me 4. But more Wretch I if I doe not so doe and Remember For Lord If I doe thee Honour dost thou not doe me favour for it If I give thee glory is it more my Duty then Felicity to doe it If thy Sacrament is it not my Emolument Receive I not great Honours in it Reap I not good Benefits by it Conveyes it not the Bloud-Royall Concorporei Consanguinei Basil of Heaven into me and am I not Kinsman Brother of God an Heire and Prince of Heaven by vertue of that Bloud Is not the Godhead Bodily in Christ And is not his Body Col. 2. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 16. Mystically in me And I near Akinne to God by the Communion of that Body And can he want Demeans that is such a Prince Is not the Earth Psal 2. â— thy Gift and Heaven in thy Power Mat. 28. 18. Heb. 1. 2. Ephes 1. 7. 2 Cor. 1. 22. Rom. 8. 32 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Jesus thou Son and Heire of all And have I not thy Spirit thy Flesh to Pledge for all The Conveyance Sealed in thy Bloud and thy Merits made over and Assured in thy Body O Lord I am so much concern'd in Honour and Estate to doe what thou dost command that if I doe consider my Selfe I should do it to thy Memory in Remembrance of me as well as Thee 5. But what Lord Must I so doe Mat. 26. 26. Credi salubriter posest investigaâ—i saâ—ubrâ—iter non potest Lumb Believe Thee Present in thy Holy Sacrament Upon thy Word I doe But Determined in a Naturall and Corporeal way of prâ—sâ—nce for thy Word I doe not * Act. 3. 31 So thou art in Heaven and wilt be to the great day Not on Earth So. This Remembrance teacheth me that Absence If so present I should see thee not Remember thee Thou art Glorified in Heaven Thou wast Crucified on earth It 's this I remember I Remember but doe not Offer Heb. 9. 25 26 28. Heb. 9. 24. Col. 1. 20. this That thou didst once I Commemorate not Râ—iterate often The Propiatory Sacrifice is Thine the Eucharisticall Mine That was on the Crosse this is in the Eucharist This I 1 Cor. 11 26. doe that I Remember The Memory of that I offer the Tragedy I doe not act What was in Sacrifice is here in Sacrament This is all that I doe and neede to doe and can doe if all in Remembrance of thee 6. So then My Soule and Body have both to doe in this Businesse of thine But my Soule more then my Body My Soule is Chief Minister to wait upon thee in this Mysterie My senses but handmaids to wait upon my Soule Sight Touch Tast Smell all to bring the more to my minde and reach the better to my Memory Thy Bodily Presence makes a True 1 Cor. 11. 29. 1 Cor. 1â— 30 31. Eucharist Mine if minde be away to me but a Mock-Sacrament To thee but a Mock-Service and will convey to me a Reall Judgement but a Mock-Salvation What
Death 127 6. Of Judgement 130 7. Of Hell 134 8. Of the Pleasures of Piety 205 9. Of the Passion of Christ 231 10. Of the Holy Cummunion 262 The Services in this Book for the severall Dayes of the Weeks 1. Weekes Services of seven Subjects fit to Excite to a love of Godliness Sunday Service Of the Joyes of Heaven 112 Monday Service Of the Miseries of Earth 116 Tuesday Service Of the Vanities of it 119 Wednesday Service Of the Villanies of it 122 Thursday Service Of Death 126 Friday Service Of Judgment 130 Saturday Service Of Hell 134 2. Weekes Services against the seven Common Sinnes Sunday Service against Neglect of Gods Service 138 Monday Service against Procrastination 140 Tuesday Service against Presumption 143 Wednesd Service against Desperation 145 Thursday Service against Swearing 149 Friday Service against Lying 152 Saturday Service against Slandering 155 3. Weekes Services against the seven Deadly Sinnes Sunday Service against Idlenesse 158 Monday Service against Covetousness 161 Tuesday Service against Gluttony 168 Wednesday Service against Luxury 175 Thursday Service against Pride 178 Friday Service against Anger 182 Saturday Service against Envie 185 4. Weeks Services Against Seaven Vanities of the most valued things of the world Sunday Service against Pleasures 188 Monday Service against Honeurs 190 Tuesday Service against Riches 192 Wednesday Service against Beauty 194 Thursday Service against Strength 196 Friday Service against Wit 198 Saturday Service against Friends and Favour 200 Services upon other Particular Subjects and Occasions A Service Of the Pleasures of Piety 203 A Service Against Malice 209 A Service Against Revenge 212 A Service Penitentiall 215 A Service Against Impatience 223 A Service Of the Passion 230 A Service For the Holy Communion 251 A Service For sad Times 295 The Sinnes against which Prayers and Rules are made Alphabetically disposed Anger Remedies of it 183 Covetuousnesse Remedies of it 163 Desperation Remedies of it 147 Detraction Remedies of it 156 Envy Remedies of it 186 Gluttony Remedies of it 170 Idlenesse Remedies of it 159 Impatience Remedies of it 2â—6 Lying Remedies of it 153 Luxurie Remedies of it 176 Malice Remedies of it 210 Neglect of Gods Service Remedies of it 139 Presumption Remedies of it 144 Pride Remedies of it 179 Procrastination Remedies of it 141 Revenge Remedies of it 213 Slaunder See Detraction Sloth See Idlenesse Swearing and Takeing Gods Name in Vaine Remedies of it 150 The Use of the Services Delivered in Fower Rules Rule 1. When you would strengthen in you the Grace 1. Of Feare Vse the Service of Death Judgement Hell 2. Of Hope Vse the Service of the Passion The Joyes of Heaven Against Desperation 3. Of Charity Vse the Service against Malice Anger Revenge Envy Detraction c. 4. Of the Contempt of the World Vse the Service against the Vanities of it Of Honours Riches Pleasures Beauty Wit Favour or of the Miseries of it Villanies of it Of Death Of the Joyes of Heaven 5. Of any Virtue which you would strengthen in you Read the Service against the Contrary Vice As For Chastity The Service against Lust For Truth The Service against Lying For Humility The Service against Pride For Meeknesse The Service against Anger For Patience The Service against Impatience c. Rule 2. When you would strengthen your self against any of the Sinnes above-named Read the Service against that Particular Sinne for that Day Rule 3. When you read one Service you may use besides the Collect for it the Collects for another As for the Service against Pride That against the Vanities of the World In the Service against the Vanity of Pleasure That for the Pleasures of Piety c. Rule 4. When you see cause you may make use of the Collects or Prayers and Meditations and say fewer or more of them without the Services The severall Soliloquies 367 1. The Nobility of Piety 311 2. Domesticall-Devotion 325 3. Church Duty 332 4. Perpetuall Service 351 5. Remora's in Religion 367 6. Helps to Heaven 389 7. Remedies of Humane Frailty 411 The Particulars conteined in these Soliloquies Absolution if it encourage Sin is the Bond not Acquittance of a Sinner 371 Abstinence from ill makes not good 360 Accessory to others Sins why not how not 450 Actions helping to Heaven 439 Almes see Charity Assurance not Essence of faith 426 Attempting good things overcomes them 445 Beleife Right makes not Perfect 375 Cautions good Helps to Heaven 447 Charity all goodnesse 362 Church best place 336. For most Reverence 345 Church-rudenesse an Affront to Heaven 347 Christ all in all 435 Company ill way to Hell 375 Communion Neglect of it a Sin against Christ and the Soul 343 Confession how abused 371 Covetousnesse a Meditation destroying it 403 Credit Christian how to be maintained 449 Dayes to be numbred 384 Deeds good what which best 360 362 Delayes of Repentance Dangerous 414 To Death Desperate 415 Common pleas for it poore 421 Excellency of Soul 311 Everlasting Sinning 451 Eucharist see Lords Table Meat for Heaven 447 Faith The Grace in Chief 434 A Cordiall 423. The Ingredients Rare Christ Chief 424 Virtues Soveraign 425 Five Counterfeits of it Delusion Blind Resignation Idle Speculation Great Confidence Good Opinion of our selves Boldnesse to Sin 426 Grief for Sin not Repentance enough 413 Habits ill dangerous 373 Hand to be lookt to see Deeds Heart Spring of action all care of it 352 Honest not enough without life 369 Hearing a good help to Heaven 439 Helps to Heaven 309 Hours set to be kept 327 Eleventh Hours call no cause to delay Repentance 420 Idlenesse an enemy to Godlinesse 348 Innocence from ill not enough 360 At the day of Judgement how pretious 394 Integrity all not saving 430 Intentions not sufficient though good 369 Lords Day how to be kept 341 Table how to be frequented Reverenced 342 349 Lust what Meditation kills it 304 Meditations advancing piety Of Death 391 Judgment 393. Heaven 396. Hell 400 Of Christ His Birth Life Death Soveraign against Pride Covetousnesse Lust 402 403 404 Morning and Evening best Times for Devotion 329 Motions of God How known 406 Angels 406 From Heaven To it 407 Dangerously refused 408 New Obedience the Soules Preservative 428 What Wherein How Counterfeits of it 430 Obedience see new Prastice of Good makes it easie 445 Prayers Mans Helps 446 Gods Visits 327 Private When where how to be made 329 330 Publick In Church Best 334 At Home when we should be there Ill 334 To be made by all The Greatest 336 Pride Meditation destroying it 402 Principles pernicious to Piety 368 Publick Service Piller of Religion 340 Pulpit makes not a Sermon 439 Reading Scripture a Help to Heaven 440 Of power to Convert 443 Religious Course Bars to it 367 Not for Cloister onely 372 Repentance Sins Remedy 411 Requisites Vertues of it 411 412 Not to be done by Halves 414 Not to be Delayed 414 A Time set for it 420 Resolution will doe much to
which art in Heaven c. The Blessing THe God of Mercy and Peace be with me Body and Soul and blesse me and all mine and those that need his Mercy this night and evermore Amen So ends the Evening Prayer Particular Prayers Prayer of a Husband for a Wife O Lord Thou hast made the 1 Pet. 3. 2. Wife the weaker Vessel yet a necessary one Man the nobler Gen. 2. 18. 1 Cor. 11. 3 9. Prov. 12. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 7. of the two yet the Woman next the Man He is her Head but she is his Crowne let me then tender her as weaker and honour her as a Vessell of worth So weak let me never be as to give her my Power nor so wicked as to make her the Mistris of my Conscience So tyrannous 1 Kings 21. 9. Col. 2. 19. Gen. 21. 12. let me never be as to make her my Slave nor so imperious as not to allow her of my Counsell Let me value her well but my self better and love her much but thee more If she Mat. 19. 21. play Eve let not me be Adam take the forbidden fruit from her hand lest I give her ruine for respect let me not make her my Foot nor let her be my Head Thine Authority in me let me maintaine with love and hers under me with zeale that the yoke 1 Cor. 6. 14. which lies on both may be carryed with more comfort drawn on with more bliss to me and her all that is ours As thou lovest thy Spouse Lord Ephes 29. 22. let me love mine And as thy Church doth love reverence and obey thee let her love honour and observe me in thee and for thee Deare Jesus Amen Prayer of a Wife for her Husband FOr him I pray to thee O God Gen. 2. 23 24. whom thou by thy providence and Ordinance hast made most mine of all mankind my Husband and Head That I may pay him the Duty which by thy command I owe him with such conscience as thou maist acquit me and he behold me not as his Crosse but his Crown That he may Ephes 5. 22 25. return me that love and respect which by thy Law is due from him to me that I may embrace him as my Refuge not my storme Lord let me study by all 1 Pet. 3. 1. love and lowlinesse to make him mine and let him seek in all wisdome and kindnesse to make me his And let both unite Prayers and endeavours to make our selves and all ours thine That being espoused to thee on Earth we may at last be Married with thee in Heaven and dwell together in those mansions of blisse where is neither sin nor sorrow nor care nor discontent nor any distresse but a dower of Immortality and Joy and Glory for Body and Soul with felicity to all eternity even for ever and ever So be it dear Jesus Amen Amen Prayer of a Parent for Children O Lord who by thy favour hast given me Issue and in thy name Gen. 27. 4. 29. 1. power to blesse my Children Set thy seal I beseech thee to my Blessing Blesse them with grace to be thy Children me with grace by good example and education to keep them thine Blesse them with health and long and good life if thy blessed will and me with providence and due care by all right wayes to advance their good let me not allow my Children to be thy rebels and abhorre to make them so Let me not so distract my soul with care for them or load my Conscience with guilt as to convey thy Curse on me and them Let my care be Fatherly for their Lives and Christian for their Soules Believing all Psal 127. care to be vaine without thy blessing and Carking the way unto thy curse All blessings of this world so far good as they serve and help on to a better and unreasonable coveting of them a barre to that blisse O Lord my Children are more thine than mine Thou art Father of their Spirits I Heb. 12. 9. but of their Flesh Let me therefore trust thee for them as their best Father and my self with them as thy good Child taking care to doe our duty to 1 Pet. 5. 7. thee and casting all farther care upon thee So be it dear Father for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayer of a Child for Parents O Lord who hast made my Parents as Gods in thy stead under thee the Makers and Preservers of my life let me look at thy power and goodnesse in them and as thee love serve and obey them that I may give die Ephes 6. 1. to their life and length to their dayes And Lord who hast given them power to convey blessing on me give me leave from thee the Father of all to pray blessing on them And to my power to be ever dutifull and helpfull to them That so I may be as the Child of their love so the Heir of their blessing the blessing thou hast promised to loving and obedient Children theirs and thine give it me good Lord for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Prayer for a Family THat I have a Family to governe it is thy mercy O God but rule it aright I shall not without thy grace That grace Lord give me Wisdome to know what I am to doe and ability to do according to my knowledge by my instruction to lead it in thy fear Gen. 19. Deut. 6. 4. by my example to draw it by my Admonition to drive it on By my Providence to doe it right by my Protection to keep it from wrong As carefull to give to all their dues as to receive their duty Let me remember Ephes 6. 7. 9. Job 31. 13. 14. Col. 4. 1. that as my selfe my Servants are thine fashioned by thy hands and bought alike by thy Bloud that I may not despise them lest I despise thee Let me consider that my Children as mine are thine made after thine Image and born againe of thy Spirit that I may not neglect them lest I neglect thee And let them remember and consider that I stand in thy stead that as thy self they may serve and obey me and thine Authority in me And let me and them both be mindfull that I am thy Deputy I that I must account for my Charge and they that they must come to a reckning for their carriage both to thee the Soveraigne Judge and Lord of all That so I may so rule and they obey as all may be done in thee and for thee and all may reign at last in thee through the merits of him of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named the great gracious Master of us all Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephes 3. 13 Amen A Prayer for Issue O Lord who hast ordained Mariage the meanes to propagate Mankind and mak'st it fruitfull to that purpose by thy providence at thy pleasure I beseech
didst both live and die in virtue of thy blood that sole and soveraigne antidote and sanctuary of bleeding Sinners thy deare and pretious blood let my soule live if my body die but if thy blessed will both live to praise thy goodnesse to both Lord cast my sins behind thy back and hold me in thy Armes Into thy Armes of mercy I cast my self Body Soul my onely hope and refuge and rock of my salvation is in thy blessed merits and blood deare Jesus take me and keep me in thy Armes now and ever and especially in my last hower and agonie have mercy on me I beseech thee Amen Amen Thanksgiving for one recovered of the Plague THou hast smitten and thou hast healed me O my God! the blow was grievous thy help is greater the blow was just thy help more gracious my sinnes deserved death thy mercy hath spared my life O Lord with an humble thankfull soule I doe acknowledge as ever so now especially from thy good hand my present life and health And now I humbly beseech thee that my heart may smite me that I have ever rebelled against so good a Majestie and thy grace keep me that I never more lift up my hand against so great a goodnesse O let not the pestilence goe from my body to my soule let not Satan and corruption poyson perswade my spirit to sit in the chaire or stay in the house of pestilence Let not others be infected with sinne by me nor me by them lest thou be more provoked and the plague gone returne in a greater judgment My God my help my health my hope my life and comfort be thy Name ever blessed that hast spared my soule and life O let it be no more dishonoured by me that keeping from the infection of an evill world I may live in the blisse of a better where is neither sinne nor sicknesse to infect soule or body but perfect health strength grace and glory in thee and with thee to all eternity O Jesus my onely refuge and the horne of my salvation So be it Amen Amen Prayer for one at the Hower of Death to be said by the Sick or some for him altering the Person 1. Prayer of one at the point of Death GOd the Father his mercies be about me God the Sonne his merits be upon me God the Holy Ghost his comforts be within me Holy Trinitie preserve strengthen and support me that my Death may be pretious in the sight of the Lord and my Soule live with thee to all eternity Amen Amen 2. Prayer for one at the point of Death FAther of mercies let thy love be to him Saviour of the world let thy merits be on him Comforter of departing Souls let thy peace be in him Father Sonne and Holy Spirit defend a Child of thy Family save a Lamb of thy Flock keep a member of thy Church O thou One and onely Lord God of Heaven command thy holy Angels to tender him and forbid evill ones to trouble him Deliver his soul discharge his sinne seale his pardon heavenly Father by thy Holy Spirit in the blood of Jesus Amen Amen 3. Prayer for one at the point of Death LOrd Jesus Succour this Dying Soule make passage for him by death to a better life purge his sins in thy Blood and prepare his Soule by thy Spirit and receive it to the glory of thy Father Jesus that didst so deerly purchase it make haste to receive it from the pangs of present and paines of everlasting death Good Lord deliver it deliver it for thy mercies sake Amen Amen Thanksgiving after Death for one Departed ¶ Say this Scripture Psal 116. 7 15. Returne unto thy rest ô my Soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of the Saints Apoc. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours ¶ Then Pray thus THou that hast sent for this Soul out of the Prison of his Bodie to come to the Palace of thy Blisse receive our praises O Lord for his happy deliverance from pangs to joyes from Tryalls to Triumphs from Earth to Heaven O Lord we beseech thee admit our humble lauds to attend him into thy presence and with them let our prayers enter before thee that as he so we in thy good time may come and present our Halleluja's with our selves in thy sight And meane time lead a godly life to have a blessed death Lord let us not forsake thee now that thou mayest not leave us then in that last and great hower upon which followes an Eternitie of weale or woe Lord have mercy on us and doe not forsake us and therefore let us have the feare of it and thee now and ever before us that as we believed our Brother departed is we may be blessed in and by our death grant we may deare Iesus Amen Amen A generall Thanksgiving for Gods mercies O Thou high Majestie of Heaven how hast thou filled me with the favours of thy bounty how great hast thou been in thy goodnesse and mercy how gracious in thy providence to me thou hast poured the blessings of heaven and earth upon my head Thou hast loaden me with thy gifts bestowed upon me in Creating Redeeming and in Preserving me In my Creation thou gavest me thine Image and madest me more noble than all the Creatures of the earth In my Redemption thou gav'st me thy Sonne and madest me more glorious than the Angels of Heaven In my Baptisme and Regeneration thou gavest me thy Spirit and hast made me more happy than millions of men in the world Thou hast given thy self to me Lord what could'st thou doe more for me thrice blessed yea for ever be thy glorious Name for thine infinite grace mercy and goodnesse to me And in thy providence for this life how abundantly hast thou blessed me in health wealth body mind c. and many and many mercies vouchsafed me In my weaknesse thou hast strengthened me in my dangers thou hast delivered me in my distresses thou hast comforted me in my prayers thou hast heard me in thy judgments thou hast spared me to this day preserving my life and making it many waies joyfull to me And not for any good in me O Lord hast thou been thus gracious towards me My ills on earth hath been many my ingratitudes great against thee For them thou mightest for ever banish me from heaven and with my sinnes cast me into hell amongst those that offend thee for thy owne goodnesse and great Names sake hast thou been thus bountifull and mercifull to me O fill my heart with thy love that my mouth may poure ou◠praises to thee Ravish my soule with thy goodnesse that my heart may ever love thee Fill my life with thy feare that as my lips my thoughts deeds may ever honour thee let me not be so wretched as to forget thy
time with more comfort and contentment and setlement of minde to yeild up my life and soule unto thee Deare Saviour heare me that sheddest thy bloud to save me and sittest in Heaven to preserve me For my last houre fit me From sudden surprizall of it keep me To it and in it ever save me and by thy grace and holy merits make it a happie houre unto me that I may then die in thy armes and at the day of Judgment rise and stand joyfull before thee Lord Jesus for thy mercies sake grant all this to me Amen! Amen! THURSDAY A Prayer against Hypocrisie O Lord Make me abhorre to be prophane and feare to be an Hypocrite If I be a notorious sinner the world will condemne me and if a close offender Thou wilt not justifie me Let me therefore be a Saint in sinceritie that God and man may approve and blesse me O Lord God of truth that searchest the heart what will it availe me to have the world accquit me when my conscience shall be a thousand witnesses against me and Thy selfe more then ten thousand consciences to condemne me Keepe me therefore from the blot and follie of Hypocrisie And since Hypocrites are the first-borne of the damned let me have no part in that sinne that I may have no portion with such sinners Let me be the same wheresoever I am in the Closet and Church in secret and publike in the darke and day and let me be alwayes what I should be studying ever to approve my heart and wayes before thee that thou who seest in secret mayest reward me openly O let me set Thee every where before my eyes and my selfe before thine and accordingly walk uprightly before thee till I come to rest eternally with thee O Lord since thou requirest no more to have thy favour on Earth and glory in Heaven but a heart true unto thee and doest pardon and passe by many infirmities where thou seest such a heart Let me not give thee lesse then a sinceritie in thy service God of Truth give me a single heart to serve thee and accept it from me and a Monster of a double heart let Satan never make me From Hypocrisie and lyes of life Lord deliver me Thou that hadst no gaule in thy heart nor guile in thy mouth Blessed Sonne and Truth of God let me be Thine in truth sweet Jesus Amen! FRIDAY Prayer against Inconstancie in good O Lord Thou art immutable what thou art let me be unchangeable what I should be never ceasing to be thy good Child and Servant who ever continuest to be my good Father and Lord O Lord There is not one moment in which I can be or live without thy goodnesse and shall there be many dayes wherein thou art without my service The glory with which thou rewardest it is to all eternity and shall the duties of it faile and fall short of constancy O my God! had I the age of Angels to live I owe the service of all that life unto thee and now that I have but a span of time shall I keepe away a great part of that from thee O Lord let me not so much forget thee and my selfe as to doe thus by thee And should I so farre forget my duty let me remember my necessity It is constancie gets the Crown to thy service and shall I fall off from it and lose my Crowne O Lord In what a fearefull condition would my soule be if death should seize me when I am faln off and take me away in that time of sin and have I any assurance this howre the next not to see death And were I sure of life time should I so live and divide it best yeares to the devill and worst to my God Months to vanity minute to piety Day and night looke to this world and not spare an houre for a better Lord Let not the Devill and the World divide my time with thee lest not giving thee all thou takest none from me or giving thee the least share thou throwest it backe upon me Fix my heart on thy feare that no temptation of Devill or man may remove mee Bind my soule with such resolutions to thee that no strength of the flesh may loose me Since I cannot for my bodies frailty serve thee as an Angell without intermission continually let me as a Saint without failing constantly be devoted to thee not as a retainer but daily servant attending upon thee Keeping carefully my howres of devotion and consecrating all my dayes unto thee in a conscionable and constant endeavour in all places â—nd things and at all times to shun all evill and doe what may please thee O thou that art without shadow of change ever the same settle my fickle soule in thy feare and establish thy holy Spirit in me that I may serve thee on earth with constancie and in heaven to all eternity By the grace and merits of him who finished the work of Eternall Redemption for me living and dying to save me and now sits at thy right hand to uphold and keepe me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen SATURDAY Prayer against impenitence in ill LOrd keepe me from the fearfull sinne and judgment of an impenitent heart Since repentance for sinne is the onely remedy appointed to save me let me not neglect it lest I die for it irrecoverably O Lord what shall become of my guilty soule if thou doe not pardon me And how should I hope thy pardon if I goe on to provoke thee Give me therefore a sorrow for my sinnes past wherein I have offended thee and if I fall by frailty into sin let me not lye without remorse but rise by repentance that I may returne againe into favour with thee O my God if now I will not I shall repent in Hell if not on Earth if not with timely teares in hope in fires with everlasting horrour O let me weep for a time that I may not waile them for ever Let me mourne for them unto comfort rather then rejoyce into confusion From a heart hardned in sin and a conscience seared with guilt Lord keep me as from the threshold of hell And from continuance and custome in sin keep me that I grow not senselesse of it and seared And from multiplying and reiterating the acts of sin keep me that I get not a custome If I sin let my heart smite me that thy hand of vengeance may not touch me And for that hardnesse and habit of ill which I have already got by any acts of sin Deare Saviour help me and heale me Melt my heart in the fire of thy love to a tendernesse of offending thee and O blessed scape-goat * Leviâ— 16. 21. Goates blood melts Adamant Such is an hard heart Zach. 7. 12. mollifie my hardnesse by the vertue of thy blood that I may not stand stubborne against thee Bow me with thy mercies break me with thy judgments wound me with thy Word move me with
mayest as soone find it in Hell God is not in that heaven onely seek and solace thy self in the waies of God that 's heaven on earth indeed both a glimpse of the glorie above and a light to find heaven where it is in heaven and from the goods of the world raise up thy thoughts to a better blisse Say if so well on earth how much better in heaven so let it be not thy myrrour of blisse but perspective Not thy chaire but foot-stoole to take a better sight flight to thy Throne so thou shalt at once walke on earth and goe to heaven yea thou shalt divide thy selfe betwixt both Bodie to earth and Soule to heaven And God will in that day blessedly unite what thou dost devoutly divide and keep with him in heaven for ever both Bodie and Soule 2. Meditation see Soliloquie p. Monday-Service Of the Miseries of this World Morning Prayer Psal 120. 129. 137. Lesson Gen. 47. or Job 14. Luk. 21. or Act. 20. Evening Prayer Ps 39. 42. or 84. 102. Lesson Lam. 3. Rom. 7. Then after this following Collect the Daily Prayers ¶ Monday Collect touching the Miseries of Earth O Lord with us is miserie with thee is mercy on earth all ill in heaven all good O for thy mercies sake support me in all my miseries and deliver me from my sins the cause of them all And of thy goodnesse I beseech thee raise up my heart to covet and seek the good of heaven that my hold and hope of it may comfort me against all the ills of the earth Let the bitternesse which I feele below win me from this evill world and whet in me a holy appetite to the pure sweets and joies which be above And in thy good time fill my Soule with those blessed Solaces I beseech thee even for his blessed merits and mediation sake who is my onely joy hope in heaven and earth Jesus Christ my deare Redeemer and Advocate Amen Meditation of the Miseries of the World WHy so much wedded to the world when woe is her Dowrie entailed as a Portion by God Gen. 3. 17. on Adam and thee if his Son since he forfeited with his Allegiance his Paradise and thine by his default Earth ever since brings forth woes as Job 5. 7. fire sparks Within thee or without thee for thy self or others In Bodie or Soule woods will as soone want leaves as the world faile thee of woes thou art heire to all Inheritour at least of some never secure from any because alwaies in griefe or feare of all And least blest too when most secure most unhappy when least miserable bliss in this life being the greatest curse because the portion of a man markt out for everlasting unhappiness Psal 17. 14. Alas what a purchase is a little fickle worldly bliss with woes all and everlasting after it not without some in it My heart if thou hast so mis-caried in thy choice let this divorce the mariage love earth when thou art fond of woe and not afraid of hell Thou wilt find good Alimonie after this divorce Thou wilt live more well and die much better for it Thou wilt entertaine death as a deliverance from her ills whose goods thou scornest And receive and read a Summons to thy end not as an Archest and call to judgement but an Acquittance from calamitie Thou wilt eye heaven as thy harbour of rest and be weary of the world as a sea of trouble Thou wilt study to steer thy course by the Card and Compass of the Infallible word and rule to know and goe the right way to heaven So good is the Worlds wormwood above her honey for the souls health if we take and taste it right And even our miseries are made great mercies because good medicines for that happy health Did earth afford sinfulfalne man one Paradise he would scarce looke for two Now that he finds a Purgatorie of it it drives him to the true Paradise and bring him sooner to those joies by the hastening of those woes which hie more to heaven when most heavie on earth Tuesday-Service Against the Vanities of the World Morning Prayer Psal 4. 39. or 37. 102. 104. Lessons Eccl. 1. 2. or any Chap. of it Mat. 16. or Lu. 12. Evening Prayer Psal 52. 62. Lessons Eccles 3. 4. c. Hab. 2. 1 Tim. 6. Then the Daily Prayers after this folowing Tuesday-Coll against the vanities of the world O Lord who hast made this world for me and me for another let me not be caried away with the vanities of that world which cannot content my Soule and will not continue with me O! let my heart be fixed on higher things never to be moved with worldly vanities that when this world shall end to me or I to it I may enjoy those honours and joyes and goods which shall never end with thee thy Angels and Saints in a better world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then Daily Prayers Meditation of the Vanities of the World THe World is a shop of Vanities Honours Riches Pleasures the chief Commodities the Devil Master of the shop and Man his miserable Customer The common price is our Souls which we give him to get them and yet possesse nothing lesse worse than nothing by all we get which is the vainest of that vanitie of vanities O Man be not thou so vile and vaine why doth transitory good take thee who hast an Immortall Spirit why doth sensible joy carry thee away who hast a faculty for the highest intellectuall good capacity of Eternitie Alas thou wilt as soone fill a sive with water as thy Soule with the Isa 55. 2. world and couldst thou give her a fill of it a short time would to thy greater losse and grief run it all out again Let the world then be not thy Idol but thy scorne Believe it if worldly good be thy Deity her glory profit and delight thy Trinity they will not fill but faile and vex thy heart and so give thee for blisse a triple infelicity vexation is their fullest satisfaction and their end not thy content but torment It is infinite eternall goodnesse which must give man of an immortall Spirit content In that Deity is his rest and his felicity in that only Trinity Let God then be as he is thy Throne the world as it should be thy footstoole By her good climbe up to God get thus up Abundance of good here seems brave what is all indeed in heaven what is substance when the shew is such what to have all things when so valued to have nothing what blisse is to be found in the Trinity of uncreated goodnesse when so much is fancied in the Three poorpetty created Goods of that revised devised and fond-imagined Godhead What if thou hast senses by which they wooe and court thy love Hath not thy Soule a power to guide and governe those Handmaids O Man thy senses are in thy Soule Monster if thou
man from growing to the height of piety to SuÌ„ma Philosophia Chrys thanke God for Adversity making him as a Dwarfe of Hell giving Him if not Bans and Blasphemies Frets for Thanks 4. A Sinne which throws a man into the Depths of iniquity Tutor to despaire and Factor for Apostasie Luk. 8. 15. Heb. 12. 1. Lam. 5. 7 8. 5. A Sinne which opens a gap to all Temptation and Womb for all wickednesse Mother of all mans miscarriage Mat. 13. â—1 Malum impatientia est boni Tert. and mischiefe An Enemy to Heaven and Auxiliary to Hell 6. A Sinne which weakens and wastâ—s the Soule Breaking downe the Prov. 25. 28. wall of her strength Putting her shoulder out of joynt and body out of Luk. 21. 19. temper 7. A Sinne which weakens and worries life Depriving it of a Calme Lam. 3. 26 of Conscience in a Tempest of trouble Making the shelter that should be the more devouring storme and man Prov. 18. 14 flesh and spirit swallowed up in the misery of both 8. A Sinne so forbidding man to improve life to the best to die a Martyr that it allowes it not well to live Jam. 1. 20. â— a Saint This Sinne of so execrable and formidable a quality will be avoided or left if we shall 1. Know and believe Gods Providence Job 1. 21. Lam. 3. 39 Lam. 3. 22 governes all and well and our Sins deserve all ill and worse Sooner if we 2. See and Consider Calamity is a 1 Cor. 10. 13 Common lot from which Saints Jam. 5. 10. Heb. 5. 8. and Princes have no priviledge No not He that was King of Saints Kings Especially if we 3. Mind and study Christs Crosse A Present Cure No Water so bitter which this Wood wil not sweeten * Exo. 15. 23. no Meat which will not down with his Vinegar and Gall. No thing so hard which his Passion makes not easie a Bern. nullus cibus tam amaris qui si recordatione aceti fellis Christi temperâ—tur non statim fiat dulcior b Greg. Nihil tam aurum c. Luk. 23 41 Mat. 27. 46. Isa 53. 5 6 2 Pet. 2. 24 Mark 12. 50. Have in mind Who Suffered on it an Innocent man and God too God-man What more than all Mankind ever did or could beare Why for thy particular Guilts in the generalls of all Mankind How with a cheerfull Spirit and submissive Soule And if not for sinne for shame thou wilt have out of heart Impatience No such Physick to heale thy frets No such Booke to Teach no such Pulpit to Preach Patience Nor any Receipts Lessons Sermons more effectuall than those in that Course Book and Pulpit By the worke of his Spirit they will be so if thence we shall have grace to 4. Kill and Preserve What doth quicken and strengthen Impatiency in us And wil beget and nourish that life which will not let it quicken 1. Self-love and Pride give that Sinne life strength That 's the Womb this Father of it Deny my self and Mat. 16. 24. I will take up my Crosse love my self and I shall not endure it To crosse the flesh is the way to beare a Crosse And Humility will make me stoop and take it on Pride fume and throw it off or fret to Mat. 11. 29. have it on Not to be Proud is the way to be Patient And sooner 2. By Innocence Hope and Love which will give Patience a life 1. Innocency makes a quiet mind Isa 57. 21. as Guilt a troubled And Repentance helps to it since man once cast out comes not to a perfect state of innocence Martyrs therefore Penitents are the greatest Patients Because those are kept these wash't innocent 2. Hope makes a strong heart It Heb. 6. 19. anchors it in the storme and upholds it under evil Else it would drowne in griefe or breake and fall with misery 3. Love of God endures all for Him and much more especially from Him It looks as at the Heb. 2. 9. Joh. 18. 11. Scourge the Hand and takes the chastening quietly because a Fathers rod. Service of the Passion fit for Friday or Wednesday Morning Prayer Psal 22. Lessons Isa 53. or 63. Mat. 26. or Mark 14. Luke 23. John 13. Evening Prayer Psal 84. 112. Lessons Zach. 11. 12. Ephes 1. Col. 1. ¶ Collect or Prayer of the Passion O Incomprehensible Goodnesse Mercy who didst send thy owne Sonne to a Crosse to bring me to thy Crowne and at the price of a most bloody Passion to purchase my salvation O let this love be ever in my heart and the fruits of it abound with me in all holy carriage and conversation Make me therefore to hate my sinne more than death which made thy Son to die And let neither goods nor honours nor liberty nor life be deare unto me for my Saviours sake who made me so to live Lord let me sacrifice all that I have and am to thee who gavest thy Deare selfe a Sacrifice for me Let me thirst to shed my blood and die for thy truth and let it be my meat and drink all my daies to doe thy will and live to thy glory That I may at last by the merits of thy pretious blood and passion dwell for ever with thee with thy blessed Saints and Angels giving all lauds and worship and honour to thee even for ever and ever Amen Daily Prayers Letanie Ten Commandements Epistle Tit. 2. or Heb. 9. Gospel Mat. 26. or Joh. 3. Prayer for Catholique Church A Meditation of the Passion of Christ O Christ Thy Passion makes me full of all Passions I am in Love and Hate I have my Longings and Loathings I take Joy and Grief I cherish Hope and Feare I am Incen'st and Ravisht 1. I am in love And with whom but Thee O Jesus I am Enamoured Amor meus crucifixus est c. of thy Person God-man Sonne of God! The Beauty of Heaven and Earth Center of all Created and Increated Excellency Mirror of the Heb. 1. 2. Col. 2. 3. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 3 7. Godhead Wonder of Angels Glory of Mankind I am Enflamed with thy Love why so much too much O Lord Was it not enough to leave a Throne for my sake but Thou must lie in a poore Cratch stand at a base Nimius amor Pillar hang on a Cursed Crosse not for thy self but me by my birth lust life a beast a Villaine a Malefactor to my God! Thou didst write thy love to Lazarus Legible in thy teares shall I not read it in thy wounds Saw they Joh. 11. 36. it in thy Dripping Eye shall not I in thy Bleeding Side They in the Hot-water thou didst bestow on his Dead Body and not I in thy Reaking Blood shed for my Damned Soule * O duri indurati obdurati c. quos non emollit tanta
flamma c. Bern. O let my Heart never be so hard as to see those Wounds of so great love to me and have no woundings of affection for Thee for Thee And all in heaven and earth that have Relation unto Thee O Christ I am in love with the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ who would give His Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 8. 32 onely Sonne so to suffer on earth for a time that I might not frie in Hell for ever And I have love tâ— Thee O Holy Spirit of God who didst Anoint Jesus Isa 61. 1. to be my Christ and give Him Inauguration to his Crowne of Thornes and Blessed though most bloody Function O Holy Trinity I doe adore what I cannot comprehend as your Heavenly 1 Joh. 3. 7. Heb. 10. 7. Persons so your Counsels And with an humble love and holy reverence desire to behold and blesse your Designe for the Salvation of one World by the Passion of Him who is more worth than a Thousand I see and admire your wonderfull Wisdome Goodnesse and Power that could and did contrive such a Decree And next to your Persons that Blessed Trinity of your Perfections I will Ephes 3. 10 11. Col. 1. 27. for ever love admire and adore And next God I have love for thee O Man Son of man who ever thou art by His flesh and blood and bloody Passion made Gods Son and Brother of Christ Thy Heb. 2. 10 12 14. Ephes 2. 13. 19. Crosse O Jesus shall make all Mankind my friends and Thy Blood glue my heart to every man O Christ why should I hate any when Thou didst so love all How dare I slight any when Thou gavest thy Hearts-blood for every one shall he that is Mat. 25. 40. thy Brother be my hate or scorne And of all Mankind I love you ye Saints that are Twice his Brethren Rom. 12. 5 1 Cor. 12. 27. in Spirit and flesh so neer to Him in both as makes you His Limbs as well as Brothers And Thee O Holy 2 Cor. 11. 2. Col. 1. 18. Ephes 5. 23. Church Spouse of Him and Mother and Body of them yea the Body for which with specialty He gave His Blood and Selfe I have Passionate Ephes 5. 25. Act. 20. 28. Love for thee O thou Dearest Body of Christ shall I think any thing too good for thee for whom He gave Himselfe Preferring thee His Mysticall before His Naturall Body And shall I esteem friend or state or liberty or life or any thing or all things before thee And above all the world though no worship I have kindnesse for you you holy Angels of God who though you have no Ransome because no need of a Redeemers Blood nor had wherwithall as it needed not to pay and contribute at all to the Redemption yet for your Zeale to God and Love Luk. 2. 13. to Man gave it the joy as if it had been your Deliverance and Christ the Welcome as if He had come to be your Saviour Messengers of His Birth Ministers in his life Attendants at his Luk. 2. 11. Mat. 4. 11. Joh. 20 12. Luk. 24. 6. Act. 1. 11. Death Heraulds of his Resurrection and Ascension Giving to his Naturall Body all Due Services on earth and paying for him to his Mysticall your Heb. 1. 14. Holy Ministeries now he is in Heaven O you Pure and Holy Spirits of God! though you got not your Blisse you lost not by Him It is made more strong to you and you more High in Mediator Confirmationis it by the Numbers of Glorified Bodies filling the Rooms of Apostate Spirits to vour farre greater joy and Blisse You love Him and His Passion for it and I you for that You love Man above your owne Kind for that and I you for it Thus Lord I love all for Thee and Thee in all And now I will love my self amongst them O Lord I am One in whom is thy flesh a Man I am One in whom is thy Spirit a Christian I am One for whom thou didst Heb. 2. 12. Joh. 3. 5. Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 5. 5. Isa 43. 4. shed thy Blood On whom thou hast shed thy Spirit A Redeemed Esteemed Man by Thee And shall I be so poore as to value dirt to thy Blood the world before thee Shall I quit Phil. 3. 8. thy Spirit for luâ—t value thee after the Flesh Shall I be tempted to give my selfe from thee to the Flesh and World love Thee lesse than the Devill O Lord I will value thy Blood more I will keep thy Spirit better I will set a higher price on my Self than to sell thy Blessed Purchase to the Devill for a Base piece of flesh and small portion of the World So am I and let me ever be in love with thee O Lord 2. But O Sinne I am in hate with thee for my owne and for my Saviours sake That didst pose Heaven it selfe and put God to it one of the two to damne my Soule or doe thus to my Saviour O thou Enemy of God Man how execrable art thou more than heart can think that madest Him Lamentable more than Eye saw Lam. 1. 12. And O Devill I hate thee who didst tempt man out of Paradise and so draw Christ to a Crosse And could thy Temptations have prevailed and thy power have matcht thy malice wouldst have cast the Second Adam out too that so nor the First nor His Seed might ever have come in againe And O World I abhorre thee as the Imp of the Devill who of His Jewes and Gentiles couldst find hands for such horrid acts and Sinnes that Act. 5. 27. made those Bloody Passions Sinne Devil World for the Death of my King and Lord and Christ Have as you deserve my hate 3. I long for the Lord My Soule longeth for God even the living God! Psal 42. 1. yea even for the dying God! when shall I come and appeare in the presence of God God dying once yet Apoc. 1. 18. Heb. 2. 8. living-ever when shall I come before the dying-living God! I long for the Chariot which will bring me to Thee and will Kisse it 2 Tim. 2. 12. though it be a Crosse I long for the Inne which will lodge me neare Thee and will embrace Phil. 1. 23. it though it be a Grave I long for the Bed which will raise me to Thee and will climb it though Act. 21. 13. it be a Gibbet O Cup of Salvation I will not refuse Psal 116. 12 thee Though full to Martyrs Mar. 10. 39 measure of blood if from Him thou shalt be drunke and yet deem'd nothing to thy Saviours Blood And till my Soule can come to thy Glorified-Crucified Body in Heaven I long after thy Courts where Thou art present in Spirit on earth To be Psal 95. 6. Mat. 28. 20 in thy Holy Temple which is the Chamber At the Altar and
thy self and that 's all All that either Law or Gospell askes For all is but To live godly and righteously and soberly Tit. 2. 12. in this present world And as love is in summe all that so Charity is Mic. 6. 8. Rom. 13. 10. Mat. 9. 13. Mat. 5. 23 24. Heb. 13. 16. in short all love God himself makes it chief of all He will have mercy and not Sacrifice He gives it Place before Piety He loves thy Almes before his Offerings and had rather see an Empty Altar then an unreconciled Brother Nay for Gods sake to doe man good is to make a Sacrifice of mercy A most sweet and acceptable Sacrifice Phil. 4. 18. and most honoured Piety No marvaile then if it take place of justice The truth is it is a Piece of it and Prov. 3. 27 Deut. 15. 7 Psa 112. 9. so principall that in the Holy Tongue one word speakes both Almes are debts to the needy by his Law who is Lord of thee and thine and the payment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 5. 7. Luk. 11. 41. Dan. 4. 27. Mat. 25. 34 35. Prov. 19. 17. Mat. 25. 40 so good as procures from him a generall Acquittance though but a particular Duty Nay not a Cancell onely of the debt but a Crown to the Debtour And wonder not at it O my Soul since it makes thee Creditour to thy God and Benefactour to thy Saviour As if as all is nothing without 1 Cor. 13. 23. 1 Joh. 3. 17 nothing were all with charity the chief of all As then it is in thy power shew it 1 Cor. 16. 2 Abate something of Back and Belly rather then have nothing in thy power With thy Superfluities provide the poor of necessaries * Superflua divituÌ„ necessaria pauperum Eph. 4. 28. Ex. 32. 3. Job 31. 9. Did they give their Ear-rings to make a God wilt thou quit nothing to save a Man shall all be Lavished away that should Ezek. 16. 49. be so laid out All to Vanity nothing for Mercy O My Soul Tremble to think how such accounts will passe at the great Audit-Day If thou canst at Phil. 4. 17. Luke 16. 2 once Discharge thy self and oblige thy God why dost thou bind over thy self by such actions of wast to answer Mat. 19. 21 Mat. 25. 42. Divine Justice at the Dreadfull Day of Judgement Dear Soul Read and avert the Doome thou canst not answer it Yea see it in Execution and quake to see it Dives that would Luk. 16. 21 24 25. not give a Crumb of Bread hath not a Drop of Comfort How much better had it been to have fed Lazarus then fared so deliciously To have given Almes then received Torments not to have spent so much on the Flesh rather then end in Fire Dear Soul be thou more devoted to charity let that never be thy End look to all but to that above all thy workes as thou dost unto thy words and thoughts This my Soul makes thy Conscience Luk. 1. 6. good and thy Service great when it takes care to keep all thy wayes right Indeed it is that then which nothing is more pretious to give thy self a holy 1 Sam. 15. Rom. 2. 12 Psa 50. 23 Sacrifice unto his Service nothing is desired more I beseech you therefore by the mercies Rom. 12. 1 of God that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable ervice The summe of this Soliloquie God being our God even unto death must be served all our life Psal 48. 13 Our Conscience of all our wayes is his perpetuall Service To look to our thougbts words and deeds is to have care of all our wayes 1. The Heart must be strictly kept because the Spring of all ill is in the Heart First Motions must be repell'd and the Senses well watcht if we will keep the Heart Eyes and Eares must be chiefly watcht of all the Senses 2. The Tongue must be bridled as we love our life Gods Law and Threat and Mans Resolution make a strong Bridle The Tongue will be easily rein'd if the Heart be rul'd and hardly else It will flie out if God keep not the Door of the lips Taciturnity is a good lock to keep it in 3. The Hand must be bound from ill to good To God and Man it must doe no Act. 24. 16 evill but all good True love performes all Charity to Man is by God accounted as the Principall and totall of Love If we have to spare we must spend if not pinch rather then want to lay out on workes of Charity Thursday-Soliloquie Remora's in Religion OR A Soliloquie shewing the Soule the Errors and Dangers in the waies of Godlinesse and how to avoid them MY Soule To keep thy selfe continually Serviceable to thy God is a great and hard Government More to Rule thy litle then the Greater world but Prov. 16. 32. 25 28. will be easied by some Helps which are to be had If thou wilt Avoid what Hinders and Observe what Furthers thee in the way to Heaven And if thou dost survey all thou wilt see that false Principles Bad Customes Vile Companies Vaine Scruples and Ghostly Negligences are Principall Bars and Hinderances Conscience is Gods clock to teach thee how to know and Spend thy Time in his Service but given thee to Keep If then the wheels be ill that move it or Dialls false that guide it or it kept foule or thou forgetfull of it how should the motion possibly be rectified and it goe right And My Soule Principles and Habits are the Wheels Examples Dialls Scruples Dusts Rests forgettings of it Minde and Will are the Wheels on which Humane Actions move ill Principles and Habits Spoile the Wheels And of many as the very Pests and Perversions of all Regular life eye these as 1. Ill Principles To thinke thy selfe good because thou seest others worse For so there shall be but One man Bad in the world to wit the worst Nay not One because be he never so bad the Devill is worse Ephes 3. 8 Rather Judge thy selfe bad whilest thou â—eest a better because by the grace of God didst thou equally pray and endeavour it alike thou mightest be as good By leave of that thou maist be very naught That Principle therefore is bad And no better 2. To thinke thy selfe not bad because Particularly good So Abimelech had beene as good as Abraham God Gen. 20. 6 Psal 119. 6 knowes he did not Adulterate Sarah act or thought For that his heart was upright Yea but if it encline or leane to any ill the heart is not upright for then since there is some Sin which every 2 Kings 10 31. one hates because a contrariety of Sins and some he loves the World which hath many would not have One Hypocrite And since no man is universally ill there should not be one Sinner I may
lustfull eye or hand or foot of offense Rom. 8. 13 Mat. 5. 29. Heb. 11. 25 then or deniall of any Pleasure is it then Deare My Soule The Saints and Martyrs Pro hac emendâ Bartholomoeus propriaÌ„ pellem dedit Aug. Longo tempore tolerare Aug. Gal. 5. 24. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Heb. 12. 3. 2 Cor. 4. 17 1 Cor. 10. 13 Heb. 2. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 14. Heb. 1. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 10. thought themselves good Merchants that bought them at these rates Nay if thou shouldest daily Suffer torments on earth yea for a long time endure the torments of Hell the price would not be great for the purchase of Heaven My Soul he that said so to his was a Saint Be content then to Crosse a lust or Carry a Crosse for Heaven For this thy Christ endured his Great Crosse wilt not thou thy little one That hast his Shoulders to help thee to bear it too his Grace his Spirit his Angels for thy help My Soul let not the Difficulties conceived in a Course of Religion discourage thee from or in the way It is Mans Calumny and the Devils Policy To him that loves God as thou shouldst that hath his Grace as thou maist and his Favour as thou mightest all his Commands are easie and 1 Joh. 4. 3. Mat. 11. 29. 30. his Yoke but light For to him is given the staff of Peace a Psal 119 165. Phil. 4. 7. and stay of Hope b Ro 15. 13 and strength of Comfort c Heb. 6. 18. Heb. 3. 6. which besides the outward are great helps to the carrying of that Yoke And blind thoughts and affections set aside the Sinner toiles more then the Saint d Ec. 2. 23. Joh. 6. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Apoc. 14. 13. Aeterua quies aeterno labore meritò paratur and drudges more for Hell then he workes for Heaven And did the Saint droile more Heaven makes all nothing For what are Moments of paine and labour to Eternity of Joy and Rest which were worth the while if attained with eternall work and labour It 's a Slander then cast on the wayes of God Yes my Soul and a Stratagem too A Flie from Belzebub * Deus muscae Prov. 26. 13. Rom. 12. 11 12. Heb. 6. 10. 11. Heb. 12. 3. buzzing this into thy Eares that he may keep Heaven better out of thy Eyes And hold thy foot when he hath thus slackt thy heart from going or from comming thither My Soul against all such fainting take Saint Pauls Cordiall Whilest we not at the things which are seen but not 2 Cor. 4. 16. 18. seen for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seen are eternall And so there be Paines as well as Joyes Think of that O my Soul For to foresee is the way to avoid those paines and to Muse on it the means to escape 4. Hell Thou art not in love with Paine My Heb. 12. 11 Soule Who is All shun it Why not then that most which is greatest Why in Earth more then Hell Is Mat. 25. 30. Mat. 18. 34. Mar. 5. 43 44. Apoc. 6. 16 17. Apoc 14. 10. Mat. 16. 25 26. Mat. 25. 31. 41. Mat. 8. 12. Apoc. 14. 10 11. any Gaole like that Dungeon Any Keepers to Fiends Any Burning like that Fire Any Biting like that worme Any shame of face to the Confusion before men and Angels Can any losse on earth equall the losse of Heaven Or Exile from friends a Banishment from God and Angels To dwell in utter darknesse no light Amidst Infinite Tortures and no ease to all Eternity no end Tortures which make the Wheele a Sport the Furnace a Bower and the Rack a very Recreation My Soule Are these but Godly frauds to fright tender hearts from wickednesse If thou beest a Christian thou dost not believe so nay if 2 Pet. 3. 3. Plato Plut c. but a Heathen thou wilt not Endlesse and Extreme pains for evill deeds after this life even they beleive The very Devils doe though their torture Jam. 2. 19. Mat. 8. 29. Rom. 2. 15 16. to doe it Conscience which is in all men is an Apostle of this to all Nations The joyfull deaths of innocent men and Dreads of Guilty ones in death Preach it all the world over For what are these but summons to the great Barre where according to their works all shall râ—ceive the Sentence of Judgement O my Soule ponder this Is it grievous to endure extreme paine for an houre Is it nothing to suffer Extremity for ever So long as Omnipotency can preserve so much as Omniscience can devise what infinite Justice doth require Soul and body to suffer for ever and ever O My Soule Could thy Mind measure nay but sadly consider the length of Eternity How millions of Ages are not a Span to that time not all since the World an Inch of a Span And yet all the Tortures that Earth ever had or wits of men and Angels could imagine to have are but ease to those paines which are to endure to that Eternall length thou wouldest as soone burne as lust and take up a Serpent as Sin My Soule To save Ecclus. 21. 2. thy selfe be serious and consider it The greatest Temptation will not take if thou doe but remember it Thou wilt refuse the Apple for the worme in it The Sweets of Sin for the fire after it The hardest Duty will downe if thou thinke of it Thy Deare friend O my Soule That gave his blood to save thee from that death His Counsell is thus to avoid it If thine eye offend Mar. 9. 43. thee pluck it out c. It 's better for thee having one eye to goe to Heaven then having both to be cast into hell where the worme doth not die and the fire is not quenched Better a litle paine for a Time then all to Eternity My Soule These four are Cordiall 2. Division Isay 17. Verbum Incarnatum est verbum ad hominis naturam usque abbreviatum Bern. Phil. 3. 14. Considerations to carry thee to all Duety from all ill But the Royall one remains Thy Christ to be thy studie and thy Iesus to be thy Booke The Word Abbreviate Bible in Body Scripture in flesh Consider him and all good is done for he did it all ill is gone for he fled it All his Actions are thy lessons but my Soule His Birth Life and Death are the Chapters I would have thee Read For the whole World of wickednesse is conquer'd by those three Pride Avarice and Luxury 1 Joh. 2. 16 the three parts of that world 1. His Birth is the Death of pride Luk. 2. 7. His stable the Grave For if that was there why is this any where Or wherefore this For cloths His clouts Purpurae mea panni Salvaetoris Bern. are best purple For wealth It 's his straw For Retinue Beasts are his For
The Guide not followed will be gone The coale not kindled wil not warme And woe to thee if the good Spirit leave thee for then the Ill one will lead thee In stead of good Angels ill thoughts will haunt thee And thou knowest whither they goe whom he doth lead When God knockâ— at thy heart let him not stay at the doore when his Enemy at the first Motion is let in Doe not that for shame If so know that to keep out Gods Spirit is to shut dore on thy Blisse and doe not that for feare No My Soule In Prosperity or Adversity At thy Devotions or other occasions In Church or Closet By Day or night Well or Sick If thy minde be moved to some knowne good or against some evill God knocks doe thou open His Angel is at dore take him in His Spirit would enter bid him welcome Welcome blessed Spirit that Luc. 13. 36. Mat. 21. 19. comes to carry me to Heaven Welcome Holy Comforter that comest to keep me from Hell O come and never goe from me Holy Spirit of God My Soul thou hast seen what Heavenly Helpers Holy Meditations and Motions be Hear the God of all help and he will assure thee so If others Amos. 6. 3. put off the evil day it 's wisdome for thee to have it before thee If others Act. 24. 25 put by good motions it will be thy happinesse to entertaine them believe him who sayes both O that they were wise that they understood Deut. 32. 29. this that they would consider their latter end Wherefore Holy Brethren Partakers Heb. 3. 1. of the Heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus For consider him that endured such Heb. 12. 3. contradiction of Sinners lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds And Behold I stand at the doore and knock Apoc. 3. 20. if any man heare my voyce and open the dore I will come to him and Sup with him and he with me The Summe of this Part is Good Meditations are great Nurses Psal 119. 15. Psal 1. 2. Gen. 24. 63. of Gods feare Serious thoughts of Death Judgement Heaven and Hell are Meditations good against all Sins in the World Sober Considerations of Christs Birth Life Death are destructive to Pride Avarice and Lust which Three make all Holy Motions of God great Aids to the Practice of Godlinesse How they may be known to be Gods What good offices they have and doe from him to us as His Messengers and guides for our best good Why and how to be entertain'd as sucâ— and how foule and fearfull it is to neglect good and embrace Ill Motions Saturday-Soliloquie Remedies of Humane Frailtie OR A Soliloquie shewing the Soul What Provisions of Grace and Mercy God hath made to support her weakness in the way of Piety MY Soul For all thy Cares 1. Part. and Helps thou wilt fail in Eph. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 8. thy Perpetuall Service so long as Flesh and Devil cease not their Perpetuall Motion God Ez. 18. 23. Gal. 3. 11. Col. 2. 12. Rom. 6. 19. Jam. 2. 26. Psal 41. 4. therefore in tendernesse of mercy hath provided for thee Remedies of Grace Repentance that thou do not die Faith to make thee and it live And New Obedience to keep all alive Sin my Soul is ill humour to Heaven a disorder of Holy Spirit and just temper in thee For this Disease Repentance is Gods Remedy * Tert. de paenit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. And very sufficient to heal thee For it will Bleed a Act. 2. 37 thee in Contrition Vomit thee in Confession b Ezek. 18. 31. Orig. Purge thee by Conversion c 1 Cor. 5. 9. Sweat thee with Guilt d Act. 9. 10 Bath thee in Teares e Joel 2. 12. Diet thee from occasions of ill f 2 Cor. 7. 11. Cauterize the corrupt part with Threats g Jona 3. 4 5. and foment the weak with Promises h Joel 2. 13 And Exercise all in Almes i Dan. 4. 27. Fasts k Joel 2. 12 and Prayers l Luk. 18. 13. And of the healing vertues of all these Penitent Soules have had Blest Experiments For that Bleeding cured the Barbarous Jewes m Act. 2. 38. Vomiting David n 2 Sam. 12. 13. Purging Ephraim o Hos 14. 8 The Sweat did the Jailer good p Act. 16. 29. The Bath helpt Magdalen q Luk. 7. 38. The Cautery Saul r Act. 9. 16. Fomenting s Hos 6. 1 2. Israel The Exercise did Zacheus t Luk. 19. 8. Ahab u 1 King 21. 19. even the Publican w Luk. 18. 13. Ease O my Soul Admire and Adore that Great and Good Physitian that Isa 57. 18. Prescribes thee so faire and yet so Soveraigne Jer. 8. 6. Peccata commssa plangâ—re plangenda non committere a Medicine To Grieve thou hast done ill and desire thou maist doe better To be sorry for what was amisse and not doe again what will make thee Sorry When I have wandred to returne When I have been fool'd to Jer. 3. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 3. 2. Joh. 12. 40 Isa 1. 16. Paenitens ferè innocens est Eccl. 7. 29. Hos 14. 4. Isa 1. 18. Luk. 15. 17 Ezek. 18. 30 31. Luk. 15. 22 24. 2 Cor. 7. 10 Luk. 4. 18. Act. 11. 18. grow wise When I am sick to be well When I am foul to wash When I cannot be a Saint as good as Adam was fully Innocent to be as well as Enoch may be truly Penitent Was ever Prescript so faire And yet my Soul this Heales Sin Guilt and Staine Returnes thee both to God and thy self Recovers both Fall and Wit Restores both Tainted Bloud and Spirit Reduces to a Paradise both of Joy and Innocence Saves thee from Death sets thee in Health Disposeth thee to long even everlasting life Can any Medicine be more Soveraigne Take it then my Soul if thou lovest thy self And how and when thy Physitian gives it Not half for he appoints the whole Nor this hereafter for he wills it Now To Grieve for Sin and do no more Joel 2. 12. is to see not to lose thy Sicknesse And to amend what is not first griev'd to recover before thou art Sick To be Compunct and not Confesse is to bleed inwardly To Confess but not be Contrite to Vomit wantonly To Confesse and Pro. 28. 13 not Amend to cast and lick up the Vomit To be Frighted for Sin and not 2 Pet. 2. 22 bettered is to Sweat and take cold Joh. 5. 14. after it To weep for it and commit it 2 Pet. 2. 22 is with the Sow to wash and wallow To Abstain occasions and not acts is to fast it into a better Stomack To be Threatned into Despaire is instead of Gen. 4. 13. Sin to burne thy self And
of Gods Spirit a that 's 2 Tim. 1. 19 the true Preaching of the Word Tit. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 15. Neh. 8. 8. 2 Chrâ— 18. 21. 1 Tim. 4. 1 Joh. 4. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1. 10 11. Mar. 4. 24. Apoc. 2. 11. Act. 17. 11 Jam. 1. 21. Act. 10. 33 Mat. 13. 22 Heb. 4. 2. Errour and Ill are from the Devill though out of a Pulpit And if thou take heed how thou hearest this and have care to harken to that with an humble honest Heart prepossest with neither Errour nor Lust thou canst not chuse but be of better life because well taught by Gods Word Nor wilt thou be worse for giving thy self to Read it For therefore it is Writing as wel as Word to have it in thy Eye But my Soul avoid extremities Theirs who forbid it as a Mote in the Mat. 22. 29. Peoples Eye And theirs who abuse it as Dust under their Foot What is Sacred must not be too Common and Deat 29. 9 2 Pet. 3. 16 Heb. 5. 12. Joh. 5. 39. 1 Joh. 5. 13 Gal. 3. 2. what is Secret must not be Enquired Mysteries are Labyrinths which every Foot may not must not Tread Necessaries every mind ought and may know If thou wouldst not lose thy self then walk not in the Woods but Plaines If thou wilt not drown thy 2 Pet. 1. 10 Heb. 5. 14. Pontifex â—nter DeuÌ„ homines â—ons cst â—ern self Foard the shallowes not the Deeps And if thou canst not give thy selfe take direction how and where to goe and walk And so thou maist advance much in all Holy wayes The Pavement to Heaven is made there by Gods Phil. 2. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Act. 18. 26. Act. 16. 17. Hand and thy Foot will not goe more wrong because thy Eye sees the pavement Nay of that thou art more sure when thou dost Read then Hear Mans Breath comes in with Gods Word into 1 Joh. 4. 1. the Ear but Gods Pure Word and Spirit into the Eye Into the Eye yes and to the Heart too from it and to the Life from that For my Soul as many Saints have been made better so some have been made Saints by the meer Reading of the Word And the Desk as well as the Pulpit hath begot Converts And sure it is a good Nurse if a happy Mother of Spirituall life Tolle lege made Saint Augustine Saint Mat. 19. 2â— Athanas. And a Text read turn'd Saint Antony Angel My Soul I would not have thee make a Chapter keep thee from a Sermon nor a Sermon make thee slight a Chapter Use both right and thou wilt be much bettered by both And if with Eyes on Heaven and Knees on Earth * C. Boromaeus sic c. and Heart on Book thou dost at due times turne the Sacred Volumes thy Reading will be right Yea though leaves not inspiredly Sacred For when thy self readest Scriptures the flowers of Grace thou art the Bee that gettest the Hony by thy own Hand but in Good and Godly Bookes another hath Gathered and thou hast but to Eat the Hony Yea what is far sweeter and wholsomer to Holy and Heavenly Taste O my Soul be given to read Gods and Godly Comparate vobis Biblia animae pharmaca Chrys Bookes Good Aire breeds good Spirit and Gods Aire Holy Breath Where Flowers of Grace and Plants of Paradise grow as on Holy Grounds the Aire is good Nor is it ill to smell a Posie made of no worse Flowers Gods Bible is a Garden a good Book a Posie Take pleasure then and take Psal 1. 2. profit in both And so thou wilt if thou dost digest what thou dost see and hear For my Soul they bring meat into thy Mouth but that doth Prepare 1 Pet. 2. 2. and Distribute it to thy Nourishment They Convey Gods Word to the Dores Rom. 6. 17. Col. 3. 16. of thy House but thou must not let it lie there but lodge it in thy Heart and make it Commander of thy life And to entertain and observe it so is the work which without serious and strong Resolutions will never be done the proper act of The Heart It must resolve upon action for which thou seest reason and determine a Practice when it knowes Gods Will Act. 10. 30. and Word The Counsels of the minde do nothing without the Decrees of the wil. And Ear and Eye can do no more in the Word of God but furnish the minde with good Counsels Execution must come from the Heart the Great Governour of the little world of Man To it therefore is given the power to make such Decrees And my Soul there is nothing which thou canst not doe by virtue of that power It s wonderful what hath been done by a Romane Resolution Miraculous if any thing were impossible to a Christian not only to Scaevola Dan. 3. 28 burne the Hand and not shrink but to set the Body on flames and Smile at it And much more to quench the fire of burning lusts Resolutions are Cords if then weake Temptation if Num. 30. 13. Judg. 15. 13 strong as Sampson breaks them like Tow. But if well twist and made will bind and hold any though never so strong It did David to a Regular life Psal 119 116. to Gods Law because so stedfastly purposed Joshua from strange Gods The Jos 24. 15 Dan. 3. 28 Three Children from the Image-worship There is no good or ill which thou maist not doe or shun if thou resolve for or against it Have not some suffered their Bodies to be Cut their Limbs to be sawne their Throats to be parcht with thirst and their Stomacks Gnawn with hunger when no meanes else were left for saving of their Lives And might not the Intemperate doe as much for Sobriety and Abstinence and the Incontinent against his lusts if they did see and resolve this as necessary to save their Souls Vowes my Soul may be snares Eccles 5. 2 if not considerately made but Holy Purposes are innocent Bonds into which thou maist more commonly enter And bind thy self to better behaviour with them as wel as vowes in Psal 76. 11 Deut. 12. 11. some cases with both And surely God hath given thee that power of will and thy will that power that thou shouldst as a man made for God move by it to Godlinesse and if dull quicken thy self and strengthen it more fastly and firmly to move But when so set it must goe Thou sal 66. 12 sal 116. 6. must determine and doe Put to Practice what thou hast in Purpose and what thy heart doth resolve that must be done by thy Hand My Soul Experiments confirme Precepts much and want of good Attempts makes brave Exploits be thought impossible and left when else they might be done Of the Christian it is most true what glorious Conquests might be got over our lusts were they not thought Invincible To what