Priest for ever Do I believe this and scruple fighting the good fight Do I believe this and am I afraid of the worlds frowns Do I believe this and am I ashamed of the severities thou callest me to Why should I mistrust thee when I see thee use the same mortifications thou biddest me chuse If a Soldier see his King use the same Pains Habit and hard fare which the meanest man in the Army uses what courage doth it infuse into him to endure hardship and other difficulties that may attend the various enterprizes he is engaged in O my Lord That very contempt of the World that Meekness and Humility that severity of Life that aversion from sensual Pleasures that enmity to Sin that hatred of Vanity that indignation against brutish Delights that Sincerity that Simplicity thou requirest of me thou didst observe and practice and perform thy self so that thou layst the same burthen on my Shoulders that lay on thine and if I die with thee I shall live with thee too if I suffer with thee I shall reign with thee Oh then I will not tarry I will make haste and conform to thine example I shall not fare worse then my King and Master did and as I have born the Image of the Earthy so I shall bear the Image of the Heavenly too I will walk as my Jesus walked O my Lord Make me Holy as thou art Holy Perfect as my Father which is in Heaven is Perfect O my Lord there is no other way to Glory but by thee Thou being exceeding rich becamest poor to enrich my Soul Thou camest not to do thine own Will but the Will of him that sent thee Put thine Arms under me and I will not do mine own Will I will follow thee through Fire and Water I will follow thee through Bryars and Thorns through good Report and evil Report O chace away all slavish fear from my Soul Let me not be afraid of difficulties What can be difficult where thou art both the guide and the encourager Thou canst not deceive me Thou canst not delude me It must be so as thou hast said All things are possible to him that believes I 'll chuse some hardship here so I may rest in thy bosom hereafter I 'll be content to pass through a dirty way for some time that I may lye down in the green pastures of thy Mercy for ever The sight of thy Cross in the Holy Sacrament shall be my motive I 'll draw Arguments from that Remembrance of thy death to die to the world I will travel with thee I will sail through the boisterous Sea of this Life with thee And O my Jesus let me arrive safe at last in the Everlasting Harbour Amen Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the Lords Supper to be said either at Church or at home ANd now what Reward shall I render unto Thee O Holy Blessed and incomprehensible Trinity for all the benefits I have receiv'd at thy hands this day Awake up my Glory Awake my outward and inward Man I will Sing and give praise Whence is it that so poor a wretch as I am is crowned with all this Mercy and loving Kindness O my Soul thou hast been water'd this day with the streams that flow from the Paradise of God! I that was worthy of Gods hatred how have I this day been advanced What great things hath God done for me What Honour hath he laid upon me What Majesty What Glory hath he conferr'd upon me I feel the Fire of God within me My Heart grows hot within me I will Sing and give Praise Who would not praise thee that hath seen thy goings in the Sanctuary as I have seen them this day Holy Father thou hast this day embraced me Holy Jesus thou hast this day poured out Blessings upon me Holy Spirit thou hast this day manifested thy self unto me Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Thou hast humbled thy self this day to a dead Dog O how often have I returned to the vomit How often have I gone a whoring from thee Yet behold the Lord instead of the Bread of affliction hath given me the Bread which came down from Heaven instead of the cup of Trembling hath given me the cup of Salvation I will remember thy Name O Lord I will speak of thy wondrous works O my Lord I see thy hand is not shortned neither is thy strength abated Thou that hadst mercy on the vilest sinners formerly extendest thy goodness to such miserable creatures still I have drawn Water this day from the Well of Salvation even from thy wounds O crucified Redeemer Thou hast look'd upon this Prodigal this day thou hast run and fall'n on my Neck and kissed my polluted Soul Oh Honour Oh Dignity Oh Compassion Oh Charity Oh Love Oh Mercy Oh Goodness which the Redeemed of the Lord must speak of Even they whom he hath Redeemed from the hand of the Enemy and gathered them out of the Lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South they wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Soul fainted in them then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he deliver'd them out of their distresses and he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a City of Habitation O that Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men Open to me the Gates of Righteousness I will go into them and I will praise the Lord. This is the Gate of the Lord into which the Righteous shall enter I will praise Thee for thou hast heard me and art become my Salvation The Stone which the Builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes If I forget Thee O my Jesus let my Tongue cleave to the roof of my Mouth Thou hast regarded my Tears thou hast taken notice of my Supplication Thou hast given me my Hearts desire thou hast not withheld from me the requests of my Lips Thou hast given me leave to come to thine Altar this day and to lift up mine hands towards thy Holy Oracle Thou hast fed my Soul this day with Royal Dainties with Peace and Pardon with a right to thy Promises and offers of Eternal Life with assistances of thy Holy Spirit and the Riches of Grace and Mercy This is the Food which the Holy Bread and Wine have represented to me this Day and with this Food thou hast blessed my Soul In this Food will I glory of this will I make my boast This is Food for Immortal Spirits This preserves Souls through the power of God unto Salvation This is bread which fades not away this is Wine which may be had without Money and without Price O my God! thou requirest no Price but a wounded Heart No Gold no Silver no Jewel but
Heart is Sacrifice which he that was broke upon the account of thy sins will not despise Nay he will comfort the humble Soul and the contrite Spirit he will pour Wine and Oyl into its wounds supple it with Balm heal it with his Death and make it whole by his Agonies See here O my Soul the Bread which is broke is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ see how many broken pieces are here which all make but one Loaf So thou and thy fellow-Believers make one mystical Body whereof the Crucified Jesus is Head and Governour who influences the Body by his Spirit and from his fulness dispences Grace for Grace Rejoyce O my Soul For now the waves and billows of Gods wrath are laid The storm of vengeance is husht The thunder is gone The clouds cleer up thy broken Saviour hath turn'd the sound of the Trumpet of War into a still small Voice O break with him no more O preserve that friendship which was so dearly bought A friendship purchased by Blood sure must never dye Thou art his Friend O do not become his Enemy again for fear he be never friends with thee again On the pouring out of the Holy Wine THus O my Soul thus flow'd the precious Blood of the tormented Jesus In such streams it issued from his wounded Body Thus was the costly Juyce let out Thus the rich Veins emptied themselves of their Treasure and all that thou mightst mayst be clean And O Jerusalem wilt not thou be clean When shall it once be When God makes use of his own Blood to purify thee O my Soul Wilt thou wallow still in thy Dung and Nastiness This would be inexcusable Arise wash thy self in this Jordan and thy Flesh shall come again like unto the Flesh of a little Child O my Soul had not this Blood been shed there had been no remission of Sins From the shedding of this Blood date thy happiness when God saw this Blood the tide turned and thy offended Father looked on thee with a merciful Face How sweet is this Blood it nourishes into Eternal Life How high the value of it it redeemed a whole World How wholsom it expels all Sicknesses What pity was it that the least drop of it should fall upon the ground It was fit to be receiv'd by the hands of Angels But the Earth on which sinful Men walk'd was defiled and cursed and therefore it must fall upon it to take away the Curse Man's Sin had made it subject to O precious Blood Drop drop upon my Soul Let me feel thy Virtue Drive out the Curse Water this barren Ground that hath brought forth Briars and Thorns and let it bring forth pleasant Fruit again 6. When I receive the Holy Bread my Mind must vent it self in some such breathings as these Either O My Lord I do remember with Joy and Grief that thy Body was Crucified for me the meanest of thy Servants I remember it with joy because thy Love is wonderful O how vehement how violent was it to love an Enemy and by that Love to charm me into Obedience I remember it with grief because my Sins were thy Murtherers O my Lord I will stand out against thy offers of Grace no longer Here take my Heart I solemnly resolve to dedicate my Self and all I have to thy Service Or O God! this Sacred Bread puts me in mind how the Lamb of God was offered for me Do I believe this and shall not my Soul make thee her highest and her chiefest good O my God I take thee here not only for my Saviour but for my King and Master too Come Holy Spirit rule my Heart for I will hence forward serve no other Gods but the Great Jehovah alone who loved me and gave himself for me Or O my Jesus My Life My Joy My Comfort Thou diedst that I might live I remember it and adore thy Majesty in misery O make me thine and as this Bread doth mingle with my Substance so let thy Spirit mingle with my Soul that the same Mind may be in me which was also in Christ Jesus Or Look upon this Bread O my Soul it represents the bleeding Body of thy dearest Lord. Bleed O my Heart Give thy self up to him that groaned for thee It 's done O God neither Death nor Life shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. 7. When I receive the Holy Wine my thoughts must still be at work and address themselves to God in Christ Jesus some such way as this Either O Jesu I thankfully remember that thy Blood was spilt for me What am I and what is my Fathers House that thou hast brought me thus far Thou hast loved me better than I have done my self O my Lord give me thy sweet thy tender thy free thy humble Spirit that I may be one with thee and may admire none in heaven but thee and desire nothing on Earth besides thee Or O blessed Balsom of my wounded Heart Welcome thou Sovereign Salve How seasonable is this Medicine I die if thy Blood relieve me not O wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow I have deserved to drink the Cup of Trembling and Astonishment and thou holdest out to me the Cup of Salvation O my Soul remember who it is that is so kind to thee O esteem adore magnifie and love him for ever Or O thou blessed Shepherd of my Soul How ought I to blush when I think of thy Blood which my Sins did spill Thou hast turned my Darkness into Light and my Treason into an Antidote Thou curest me by Contradictions and the Blood my Sins have drawn from thy flesh is become the only refuge I have in the day of Wrath. O look upon thine own Blood and hide me in thy Wounds I know not how to prize thy favour O do thou teach me to do great things for thee to deny my self to take up my Cross and to follow thee Or O my Lord By thy Tears and by thy Blood thou adjurest me this day to imitate thee in thy Graces in thy Meekness in thy Patience in thy Humility in thy Charity in thy Contempt of the World and in thy Heavenlymindedness My heart is fixed O God! my heart is fixed I will Sing and give Praise Thou shalt be my Pattern Here under thy Cross I promise Obedience and Conformity to thy Graces O do thou help me O assist me uphold me with thy free Spirit so shall I teach Transgressors thy Way and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Or Great Bishop of my Soul who hast left the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and art come to seek this straying Sheep Behold Lord the Prodigal is coming home again Thou comest towards me Bleeding Groaning Dying thou comest to receive him that hath forsaken thee to draw him that hath fled from thee to kiss him that did scourge thee to Crown him that did Prick thee to Embrace him that did
Crucifie thee to revive him that did kill thee and to Love him that did Hate thee O stupendous Mercy Henceforward no Vain Glory no Worldly Pomp no outward Riches no Smiles of great Men no outward Comfort shall have so much of my heart as thy sweet self O encrease my Faith my Hope my Love my Charity make my Soul a Temple of the Holy Ghost O come come thou Bridegroom of my Soul come and dwell in me for ever Consc. And is this all that is to be observed upon this occasion Christ. No. For after I have been made Partaker of these Mysteries and Tokens of God's Love I must 1. Bless God for the opportunity I have had of going with the Multitude to the House of God with the Voice of Joy and Praise with the Multitude which keeps Holy-day I must Magnifie his Goodness who so loved the World as to give his only Begotten Son to the end that all those that believe in him should not Perish but have everlasting Life I must summon my thoughts to enter into some such Meditation as this Whence is it that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in whose eyes the very Angels are not pure should come to visit such a Wretch as I O my Lord to whom doest thou stoop What is that Creature that thou bowest thus low to A Den of Thieves a Habitation of Vipers a Vessel of Dishonour O how often have I polluted my self even after thou hast washed me Is it possible that God will dwell in such a polluted House Is it possible that God will come and Feast and Sup with such an unprofitable Servant O my Soul It is not only possible but thy Lord hath done it to day Thine eyes have seen the mighty Works of thy Redeemer Thou hast seen him converse to day with a Wretch that hath undone what God hath done hath rendred him evil for good and hatred for his good-will Thou hast seen thy Lord this day vouchsafing to sit with one who is full of Bruises and putrifying Sores and those not bound up nor mollified with Ointment Alass my Lord I have abused the mighty Creator to please a Murtherer affronted the great Preserver of Men to please a Fiend and undervalued him that call'd me to Salvation to please a usurping Tyrant I can give no reason why I have offended thee except it be thy Goodness and Patience and could fair Weather make me angry What didst thou see in me Lord that should attract thee and make thee leave the highest Heavens to descend into an Abyss of Misery O my Jesus water my Soul with the Tears thou hast shed anoint me with the Myrrhe of thy Grief and Sorrow tye me by thy Bonds let thy Scourges soften my Heart let thy Derisions strengthen me let thy Cross raise me Reign over me do with me what seems good to thy Power Wisdom and Goodness O let me never depart from thee let not the Creature draw me more than the Creator Vanity more than Eternity Misery more than Felicity Filthiness more than Beauty Slavery more than Greatness Bitterness more than Sweetness My Beloved is mine and I am his he feeds among the Lillies O that thou wert as my Brother that suck'd the Breasts of my Mother I would kiss thee yea I should not be despised O Lord all my desire is before thee take away from me whatever doth displease thee Give me an humble heart that I may be content to be counted as Dung for thy sake give me an obedient heart that I may be entirely guided by thee give me a strong heart that I may cheerfully bear whatever thy hand lays upon me give me a tender heart that I may be kindly affectionate to my Neighbour give me a free heart that nothing may hinder me from running to thee give me a heart of Flesh that I may love thee perfectly Praise ye the Lord I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the Upright and in the Congregation The Works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His work is honourable and glorious and his Righteousness endureth for ever He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred The Lord is gracious and full of Compassion he hath given Meat to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant he hath shewed his People the Power of his Works that he may give them the Heritage of the Heathen The Works of his hands are Verity and Judgment All his Commandments are sure they stand fast for ever and ever and are done in Truth and Uprightness He sent Redemption unto his People He hath commanded his Covenant for ever Holy and Reverend is his Name He raises the Poor out of the Dust and lifts the Needy out of the Dunghill that he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Praise ye the Lord. 2. I must pray for the Congregation and my fellow Christians that do eat of the same Bread and drink of the same Cup with me that they may all be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness and their Souls may live I must beg that none of them may receive the Grace of God in vain That they may keep and stand to the conditions of the Covenant they have made or renew'd with God That they may indeed fight for the future against the World the Flesh and the Devil and be more than Conquerors through him that loved them the Lord Jesus Christ. My love to Christ must constrain me to wish and beg that every Man may love him else he doth not appear truly lovely to me I must entreat the Father of Mercies to dispense his Spirit abundantly at this time That the love of Christ prevailing may pull down in my fellow-Receivers all the strong Holds of Iniquity and all Imaginations which exalt themselves against the Obedience of Christ Jesus That Christ may Reign victoriously in every one of them live in them act in them govern them by his Spirit That they may indeed bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Love Joy Peace Goodness Faith Gentleness Meekness Temperance c. I must be importunate with God to make them all Partakers of the Benefits of Christ's Death and Passion even of that Pardon and Peace and Salvation he hath purchased and cause them to walk worthy of it like persons that are sensible of the greatness of the Favour and the depth and breadth and length and height of the Love of God and consequently may be fill'd with all the fullness of God 3. I must be thankful for the Honor I have received at such a time I must look upon 't as more than ordinary Preferment that God hath vouchsafed me a place at his Table admitted me into the number of his Children made me Partaker of the promises of the Gospel open'd his Bosom to me received me into favour assisted me with his Spirit given me a right to
the Tree of Life and visited me with his Salvation Here the Words of David may justly be applied My Soul shall joy in thy strength O Lord and in thy Salvation how greatly may I rejoice Thou hast given me my hearts desire and hast not withholden the request of my Lips thou hast prevented me with the Blessings of Goodness thou settest a Crown of Pure Gold on my head I asked life of thee and thou gavest it me even length of days for ever and ever My glory is great in thy Salvation Honour and Majesty hast thou laid upon me for thou hast made me Blessed for ever Thou hast made me exceeding glad with thy countenance Therefore will I trust in the Lord and through the Mercy of the most High I shall not miscarry Thine hand shall find out all my spiritual Enemies thy right hand shall find out all those that hate thee Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength so will we sing and praise thy Power 4. I must go home rejoicing and praising God Praise is comely for the Upright the poor Cripple did so when he was Healed and have not I far greater reason to do so Behold I am healed at this time from mine Infirmity and shall not his Praise be continually in my mouth I must say in my heart My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Salvation I will extol thee O God my King and I will Praise thy Name for ever and ever Every day will I Bless thee and Praise thy Name for ever and ever O all ye that fear the Lord come and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul His Love hath overcome my Corruption his fervent Charity my Coldness his Goodness my Sins and Follies Except the Lord had been on my side now might I say if the Lord had not been on my side when Temptations and Corruptions rose up against me then they had swallow'd me up quick when their Wrath was kindled against me then the Waters had overwhelm'd me the Stream had gone over my Soul Blessed be the Lord who hath not given me over as a Prey unto their Teeth My Soul is escaped as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowlers the Snare is broken and I am escaped My help is in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth 5. Being made whole I must for the future take heed and sin wilfully no more Having wash'd my Feet I must not defile them again I must stand upon my watch and shun those occasions which formerly led me into Sin I must be cautious and afraid of an ill Word as much as of an evil Action and my very Thoughts must be purged from that filth that used to cleave to them I must strangle an evil suggestion in its birth and when I find any motion rising in my mind that looks like Envy or Pride or desire of Vain Glory or greediness after the World I must check it upon its first appearance I must bid an Eternal farewel to Unbelief and mistrust of Gods Providence and shun those sinful compliances with Men which heretofore I was used to be guilty of I must not only watch against grosser Sins and such as Jews and Heathens can avoid but against the secret disorders and errors of my Heart which none sees but God who is over all Blessed for evermore 6. I must frequently compare my Actions and Behaviour with the Vow and Promise and solemn Resolution I have made in the Holy Sacrament whether my Deportment be agreeable to those Engagements Whether I stand in awe of those Vows and Promises and whether they influence my Thoughts and Words and Practices Whether my hatred of Sin increases and my love to Holiness grows steady and unmoveable Whether I check my self upon feeling an inclination or propensity to a sinful act with such Thoughts as these Is this the effect of my late Vow Is this to stand to the Covenant I lately made with God Is it possible I can be so perfidious as to break with God Hath the Cross of Christ so little power with me Shall it not restrain me from such a sin as this Foolish Creature shall a little profit or pleasure tempt me to please the Divel and wrong my immortal Soul I am tied by a solemn promise made in a most solemn place by a promise made to God by a promise Sealed with the Blood of Jesus not to do it and shall I presume to do it or hope for pardon after this presumption I must take notice Whether the Thoughts of Christs death make my passions weak Whether they lessen the heat of them Whether they repress their fierceness Whether they work in me that contempt of the World which was so signal in my dear Lord and Master I must ever and anon look how my Graces thrive Whether no weeds grow among them that are like to choak the wholsome Herbs 7. I must now study Self-denial even in things lawful and that seem to have no harm in them Self-denial in Eating and Drinking in my Cloaths in my Recreations in my Time in my Discourses in my Wit in my Reading in my Profit in my Ease and in my Sleep I must now take heed I do not Eat and Drink to satiety but labour still to rise from my Meals with an Appetite I must now and then humble my Soul with a Religious Fast and many times forbear eating of that Dish I have most mind to to bring my sensual Desires into order I must not imitate every vain fashion I see other people use but must be very modest and decent in my garb and having means and opportunities to buy me better reserve that Money I would have laid out upon a richer Suit for Pious uses I must not think every recreation lawful because it 's commonly used by Men who are none of the worst I must not encourage the vanity of Men and Women that are in love with Stage-Plays by my example as being things I abjured in my Baptisme but my recreation must be such as may fit me for Spiritual Devotions I must not spend my time as some luxurious and idle People do in needless and complemental Visits in playing at Cards and Dice but in Words and Actions and Discourses as may be useful and profitable either to the Souls or Bodies of my Family and my Neighbours I must not censure or judge my Neighbour rashly in my Speeches and Discourses and not be easily drawn to give a Verdict or Judgment of People except it be in their Praise and Commendation if they do deserve it I must not give my self too great liberty in jesting but forbear blurting out a witty Saying if it be smutty or abusive of my neighbours Credit and Reputation I must not give my self to reading of Romances and such Books as serve to render the Mind vain and the Affections loose and regardless of Spiritual things I must express my gratitude to God
of Sores full of Weakness full of Errours full of Infirmities a prodigy of Frailty Here Lord here is work for thy strong Hand and for thy mighty Arm. In this Heart are Divels that must be expelled by thy Power Stretch forth thy Hand and save me Here is an object to exercise thy omnipotent hand upon My Cure requires Miracles It 's no ordinary Virtue that will set me to Rights again Thou Thou O Lord must come and strike thy Hand over the sore place and my Leprosie will be gone Thy Prophet cries by thy order Return unto the Lord your God for he is Gracious and Merciful slow to anger and repents him of the evil I believe Lord I believe My Heart is wounded within me I come I come Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants But then I desire no other hire no other wages but thy Self Thou art my exceeding great reward Oh! How bitter a thing is it to forsake thee What have I got by offending thee What have I gained by sinning against thee Nothing but Shame and Horror and Trembling and Confusion Darkness hath covered me the shadow of Death hath fallen upon me What fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now asham'd My Soul hath been divested of her innocence her Joy her Peace her Comfort and her Satisfaction And Oh my Jesus didst not thou stand my friend now Great Mediator didst not thou stand in the gap now and plead for me O my Redeemer Didst not thou intercede for me I must be prostituted and exposed to Eternal laughter and derision Good Lord How pitiful how wretched how trivial how impertinent how inconsiderable was that pleasure that profit that thing for which I did did affront and dishonour thee When I look upon thy Creatures either above or below I wonder how they were able to contain themselves and not vindicate their Masters Honour which they saw abused by me I wonder they did not not fall upon me and crush me into perdition when they saw how bold how presumptuous this Caitiff was O my Lord For this my Soul shall mourn in secret even for this that I have not loved thee better that I have not sought thee more that I have not approach'd thee with greater veneration Hence forward Lord if all the Pleasures all the Riches all the Honours of this World were concentred in this sin that formerly I lived in it should be no temptation to me I would tear the Tyrant out of its seat It should usurp thy place no more I would pull it out of its Throne it should find no harbour in me Thy Love should constrain me to part with it I will Crucify thee no more I have trampled too long upon thy Mercy I will make light of it no more O my Jesus Remember thy Agonies remember thy Pain remember thy Sufferings remember thy Death and forget my Sins Thy Servant David cryed once I have sinned and thou didst presently take away his Sin My sighing is not hid from thee O do not hide thy Face from me Manasseh look'd up to thee and thou hadst respect unto his Prayer O give ear to my Prayer too that goes not out of feigned Lips The Ninivites humbled themselves and thou wast intreated Oh repent thy self of the evil thou hast said thou wouldst do unto me and do it not Peter wept and thou gavest him a Gracious Look I water my couch with my tears Oh smile upon me too and say I have redeem'd thee thou art mine I love thee O Lord and would have every Creature love thee I would have all things that have breath praise the Lord. I would have every creature shew forth thy Glory Thou hast loved me from all Eternity Was ever such Love heard of as thine was To come from the Mansions of the Blessed into a Valley of Tears to advance such a creature from Death to Life Eternal Thou hast made my Death a harmless nay a gainful thing Thy Cross hath sweetned all there was Death in the pot but thou threwest in Meal and didst sweeten all O blot out the very footsteps of my Sins and set me as a Seal upon thy Heart so will I give thee thanks in the great Congregation my Lips shall praise thee O my Life I would prefer thee above all thy Creatures I would look upon all these outward Comforts as a drop in the Bucket and on Thee as the Ocean On these as the small dust in the Ballance on Thee as the Rock of Ages I would love Thee with all my heart I would love Thee more then my Self O that my whole Mind were united to Thee O that I might know nothing save Jesus Christ and him Crucified O that all the powers of my Soul might embrace Thee O that I might seek thy Glory with stronger desires then Worldlings do their Wealth or the Covetous the increase of their In-comes Oh! that I could adhere unto Thee inseparably O withdraw my Heart from every evil way Incline my Heart to all Goodness Let not my Affections be henceforth corrupted with the love of the Creature Let me not be weary of loving Thee Let nothing overcome my Love Let nothing damp it Oh enable me to say Who shall separate me from the love of God! O draw my Soul with cords of Love with this Love wound and pierce my Heart and make it sick that it may insatiably long for Thee Oh! I would love Thee without ceasing love Thee without bounds love Thee without measure Oh let my Soul melt with this Fire and purge away that filth which doth so easily beset me Take away from me all that doth displease Thee Refine in me all that pleases Thee Be Thou ever present with me Live in me thou Fountain of Life and let me live in Thee and let that Charity live in me which suffers long and is kind which envies not which vaunteth not it self which is not puft up which doth not behave it self unseemly seeks not her own is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth bears all things believes all things hopeth all things endureth all things through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for Faith O Thou from whom every good and perfect Gift descends who givest to all Men liberally and upbraidest not Thou callest Seek ye my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek Thou hast said O Lord Thy Mouth hath spoken it if ye had but Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed ye should say unto this Mountain Be thou removed and cast into the Sea and it should obey you O my Lord I have Rocks to be displaced Mountains to be removed vast loads to be freed from Rocks of Unbelief Mountains of Sin loads of Iniquity Oh lend me thy helping Hand None can give relief none can succour none can do me any good but thy self How
but mock thee How can I believe my sin odious while I embrace and cherish it How can I believe it kill'd thee while I make much of it How can I believe it drew Sweats of Blood from thee while I water it and keep it warm Oh! I am weary of this vain Belief Rid me of it Deliver me from it Let all my neighbours see that I believe these things indeed Let the World see by my Conversation that these things work upon me Oh! Let me not only believe these great things but live them over Come forth my dearest Lord and meet me No Man can come to thee but he whom thou drawest to thee Oh let me touch but the hem of thy Garment and I shall recover Let me so Believe in thee that it may appear thou livest in me that I may at last obtain the end of my Faith even the Salvation of my Soul Great Author and Finisher of my Faith hear me for thy Mercies sake Amen A Prayer for a lively Hope O Thou in whom my Fathers hoped They hoped in thee and thou didst deliver them Thou art all Goodness all Sweetness all Clemency Who would not hope in thee Thy Mercies bid me hope Thy Promises bid me hope and all thy Revelations bid me hope O thou Hope of Israel Here I am Here I lie prostrate before thy Face Here my Soul intends to breath out her desires O my Lord When will that happy day come that Glorious day which shall have no Night no Clouds no Darkness Thou hast spoke of it thy Prophets have seen Visions of it Thy Apostles have Declared it One was wrapt up above the Clouds to take a view of it The Son that came out of thy bosom hath assured me of it It is the bright day when I shall enter inter into thy Joy be made a Co-heir with Christ be cloathed in White shine as the Stars look upon thee and not be ashamed Thou hast promised it and shall not I hope for it Oh my Lord that seest me that art present with me and knowest my Heart my Sighs my Desires thou knowest I hope for it Oh let this Hope be lively let it be a Hope which may purify me even as God is pure Nay my very flesh shall rest in Hope and thou wilt not suffer my Body to see everlasting corruption Thou wilt raise me from the Dust at last All my Bones shall say Lord Who is like unto thee I know that my Redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another and having this Hope O assist me O perswade me O prompt me to cleanse my self from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect Holiness in the fear of God Deck my Soul with Humility with Patience with Constancy that no Rods no Stripes no Prison no Torment no Shipwrack no perils of Waters no perils of Robbers no perils among my own Countrey-men no perils among Heathens no perils in the City no perils in the Wilderness no perils in the Sea no perils among false Brethren no weariness no painfulness no Watchings no Hunger no Thirst no Cold no Nakedness no Weakness no Infirmity no Honour or Dishonour no good Report or evil Report may discourage me from trusting in thee Though the Lord should kill me yet let me hope in him If in this Life only I have Hope in Christ I am of all Men most miserable The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid Though an Host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though War should rise against me in this will I be confident for in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavilion in the secret of his Tabernacle he shall hide me he shall set me up upon a Rock Thou art he that took me out of the Womb thou didst make me Hope when I was upon my Mothers Breasts O let it not be in the power of Men or Divels to shake this Hope Let it be my Anchor sure and stedfast which no Waves no Billows no Storms no Tempests can move Whatever evils befall me let me think they come from a Fathers Hand Let no prosperity no Sun-shine no Calmness no smiling Fortune subvert this Hope in my Soul Let me look upon all these outward Comforts as Vanity Vanity of Vanities which can give no Ease no Comfort no satisfaction to a Soul of a Spiritual Appetite Let me thirst after nothing so much as after thy Love as after Spiritual Blessings as after the hidden Manna as after the white Stone which no man knows save he who receives it I will not hope in any creature I will arise and depart for here is not my rest Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my Countenance and my God My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him He ony is my Rock and my Salvation he is my Defence I shall not be moved In God is my Salvation and my Glory the Rock of my Strength and my Refuge is in God Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Hearts before him Thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong Tower from the Enemy From the end of the Earth will I cry unto thee when my Heart is overwhelm'd O my God my Goodness extends not to thee The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance and of my Cup thou maintainest my Lot Who was ever confounded that trusted in thee Who was ever forsaken that hoped in thee Who was ever despised that in good earnest called upon thee All Hail my dearest Lord my Hope I love thee I embrace thee I renounce all those lesser Goods which are in the World that I may make thee my highest and my chiefest Good It 's true Lord I am a sinner and have been a very ungrateful wretch The least of thy Mercies is more then I have deserved My very Righteousnesses have been as filthy Rags but I will not trust in my Bow neither is it my Sword that shall save me but thy Mercy O Lord thy Mercy and the palmes of thy Hands on which thou hast engraven my Name shall be my refuge I have no merits no deserts to trust to I can claim nothing as my Right all I am and all I have is thy Charity What Goodness there is in me is entirely owing to thy Grace and Compassion With this thou crownest me with this thou enrichest me with this thou anointest my Head that I may work in thy Vineyard and receive the Penny at night I confide not in my Works I depend not upon my Industry I
A Prayer for imitation of the Holy Life and example of Jesus O Thou who art the way the Truth and the Life I know thee who thou art the Son of the living God! who shall lead me into Edom who shall bring me into the strong City into that City which hath foundations whose Builder and Maker is God wilt not thou O Lord Strong and Mighty Hear O my Soul Thy Redeemer calls If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be O my Lord I had need of a guide in this age when the world lies in wickedness how many ways to ruin do I see How many Nets do I see spread for me what a snare are even these outward Comforts How do they entice and draw the heart away O Father of Mercy How many thousands do I see beguiled by the Riches and Pleasures of this Life How insensible do they grow of that life they are to live for ever How forgetful of God! How enamoured with the Gauds and Glories of this World How does the beauty of their Souls decay and wither away And one teaches the other to go to Hell O my God! what shall I do among so many enemies What shall I do in all this darkness What shall I do among all these Precipices Without thy light I must needs be lost Rise rise thou glorious morning Star that I may be able to see my way Thou art the light of the World He that follows Thee cannot walk in darkness Why should I be afraid of going astray Thou art my way How can I be deceived Thou art Goodness it self How can I mistrust Thee when thou hast spilt thy Blood for me Though naturally thou dwellest in a light inaccessible yet of invisible thou becamest visible on purpose that I might follow not the Father of Lies not Lucifer not that Enemy who transforms himself into an Angel of Light but Thee in whom all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are Great Physitian of Souls thou camest down to prescribe me physick and that I might not be afraid to take it didst take it before me and of God becamest Man that I might imitate Thee in the Holiness of thy Humane Nature This is it O my Lord that my Soul desires even to set Thee before mine Eyes to represent Thee in lively colours before my Mind and to conform to thy great example O my Jesus thy Spirit I want which may change me into thy Image from Glory to Glory from one degree of Brightness to another and enable me to comprehend with all Saints what is the depth and bredth and height and length of the Love of God and may be filled with the fulness of God! O my God! My Soul longs to say with thy Apostle I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Once thou didst create me after thy Image but I defaced it those curious lines I darknen'd and dash'd yet thou hast given me hopes to recover that Jewel and O my Lord do thou place it in its Throne again How do I long to have my Mind renew'd and my Soul transform'd that I may mind the things of the Spirit with sincerity and earnestness Who but a Fool would not tread in thy steps my dearest Lord yet such a Fool such a Sot such a Beast I have been I have seen Thee lighting me to Heaven and yet have loved Darkness better than Light O thou Eternal Wisdom I hate this Folly I abhor this Stupidity I will follow the Lamb whether soever he goes Thy Apostles follow'd Thee why should not I who le Armies of Primitive Beleevers follow'd thee Why should not I why should I become behind them why should I have a less esteem for thee than they had My very Name obliges me to follow Thee What am I a Christian for if I do not imitate Thee O let me not blaspheme that worthy Name whereby I am called I blaspheme it if by my vain conversation I give thine Enemies occasion to speak ill of thy Religion Do I call my self by thy Name and am loath to tread in thy steps My Heart is stubborn My Will perverse O do thou bow it make me ready make me willing make me expedite for this Work Thou tookest up thy Cross Oh let me not dream of Beds of Roses Thou wast Subject to thy Parents Oh make me submissive to my Superious Thou didst resist Temptations O let me not be overcome by them Thou didst despise the VVorld Oh let me not be enamoured with it Thou wentest about doing good O let me not be backward to works of Charity Thou didst deny thy self O let me not indulge my vain desires Thou didst work while the day did last Oh let me not harden my Heart in this my day Thou wast humble Oh let the same humility take root in my Soul Thou wast meek Oh let this meekness be the rule of all my actions Thou didst not aim at vain-Glory Oh let no such pitiful end defile my Soul Thou didst bear with the weak Oh let me be tender-hearted and gentle too Thou didst patiently endure injuries Oh let me not fret and murmure under them Thou wast faithful in all thy Fathers House Oh let me be so in the duties of my Calling and Relations Thou didst receive and embrace the penitent Oh let me reioyce over those who are sorry for their faults Thou didst encourage Goodness and Holy Inclinations Oh let me cherish them wheresoever I find them Thou didst do thy Fathers Will Oh let me not pretend impediments Thou didst good for evil Oh let me not recompence Sin with Sin A sense of Gods Goodness was Meat and Drink to thee Oh let it be my Diet too Thou wast a pattern of Gravity Oh let me not be vain and foolish in my Conversation Thou didst spend thy self for the good of Mankind Oh let me not indulge my Ease too much Thou didst entirely resign thy self to thy Fathers pleasure under the severest Trials Oh teach me this Art of Self-resignation too Thou wast zealous for the House of God Oh let not Luke-warmness spoil my Soul Thou wast not taken with the Pomp and Glory of the World Oh let me not be gull'd with these empty shews The frowns and contempt of Men could not make thee weary of being strictly conscientious Oh let not these pitiful things make me ashamed of thee and thy Gospel O my Jesus Thy Kingdom must suffer violence and whoever enters there must force his way through all impediments and what if I offer violence to my Lusts and Passions for a time How sweet will it be to lie encircled in thy Arms one day and to hear thee say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Thou dost promise me that if I will fight for thee thou wilt give me to eat of the Tree of Life and to sit down with thee in thy Kingdom at thy Table and to be a King and a
thee that thou hast kept me from so many opportunities of sinning against thee from abundance of temptations from innumerable occasions of evil How many have been snatcht away by sudden death and I am alive yet How many have been denyed the grace of Repentance which thou still offerest to me That I have a heart to pray and praise thy Name What a mighty token of thy Love is this Let Heaven and Earth praise the Lord Let all the Angels in Heaven praise him Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord praise thou the Lord O my Soul I remember O Lord how when I have gone through the water thou hast been with me when I have passed through the Fire thou hast commanded the Flames not to kindle upon me I remember when for a small moment thou hast hid thy Face from me How with everlasting kindnesses thou hast visited me again O how often hast thou deliver'd me from the nethermost Hell When I have been ready to sink in the mire thou hast pulled me out of the horrible pit cut of the miry Clay and set my feet upon a Rock and establish'd my goings When the snares of death have incompassed me and the pains of Hell laid hold on me thou hast deliver'd my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living what reward shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits How loth hast thou been to behold my ruine How hast thou call'd after me Have mercy on thy self With what convictions hast thou follow'd me What checks of Conscience hast thou given me O my Lord Thou shalt have all the Glory Thou art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour and Majesty and Dominion How precious are thy Mercies How rich thy Loving kindnesses To do so much for dust and ashes for a Worm for a Grashopper for a Creature that hath abused thee and rebell'd against thee O what goodness is this My understanding is not big enough to comprehend it I 'll acknowledge thee for my God I 'll own thee for my Redeemer Thou shalt be my King my Master my Sovereign Lord I will consecrate all my Labours all my Services all I have and all I am to thy Glory O what a favour is forgiveness of Sin which I trust I have received this day Think O my Soul what a bondage thou art deliver'd from Think what slavery thou art freed from Now thou art at liberty now thou mayst serve God chearfully now thou mayst freely go on from Virtue to Virtue This is a day of Thanksgiving this is a day of glad tidings this is a day which ought to be remembred O my Jesus Thou hast this day visited the Earth and watered it Thou hast made it rich with thy showers thy Grace hath dropp'd upon me this day like the Rain on the mowen Grass O order my steps according to thy Word for the future Let me see thee in every Mercy Teach me to admire thee in every Blessing Let nothing seduce my Heart from thee When any afflictions come upon me let me receive them with Thanks and Submission When I stumble do thou support me when I fall do thou raise me when I go astray do thou seek me when I err do thou direct me When I slacken in thy service do thou strengthen me Keep the door of my Senses that no impure thing may enter there Let my Heart be thy Temple Teach me to enquire daily what progress I make in thy way Let thy Word be a lanthorn to my Feet and a Light unto my paths Let no evil company discourage me Let thy Providence direct me to persons that love thy Law and in these excellent ones let all my Delight and Comfort be O my Lord my Life is hid in thee But when thy Glory shall appear I shall be like thee Speak Lord for thy Servant hears Let none of thy Commandements be hence-forward grievous to me Open thy hand and feed my Soul When I am tempted lay no more upon me then I am able to bear Give me courage to strive to enter in at the strait Gate Let me ever look at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Thy Kingdom Lord is not in Meat and Drink but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Give me a taste of it Let Eternity be always in my mind Into thy hands I do commend my Spirit my Body and all the concerns of my Life Let thy Grace come down upon me plentifully Let me not do thy Will negligently Let me live in the thoughts of another life and let those Thoughts encourage me to follow after that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus O hear me O Answer me O pity me O relieve me O come in O succour me thou that art the God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousness all the day long Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say continually Let God be magnified I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God! thou art my Help and my Deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Amen Amen ERRATA PAge 51. l. 24. read liberty p. 169. l. 19 r. Repentance What literal Faults or Mistoppings may occur the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen. Books Printed for and Sold by Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand CLelia An excellent new Romance Parthanissa That most Fam'd Romance Dr. Greys Compleat Horseman and expert Farrier Two Sermons Preach'd at the Cathedral Church in Norwich By B. Rively Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumphatus with the Additions of Dr. More and Dr. Horneck Mr. Glanvil's Lux Orientalis Or the Opinion of the Eastern Sages concerning the Pre-existence of Souls Bishop Rust of Truth and Annotations on both Dr. Horneck's Great Law of Consideration Papismus Regiae potestatis Eversor Paul Festeau's French Grammar Maugers Letters in French and English The Mirror of Fortune The French Rogue Cambridge Jests or Witty Alarms for melancholy Spirits Kerhuel Idea Eloquentiae The Situation of Paradise