all sins past as present and always before him whilst to the sinner himself many are never known many once known quite forgotten Again He as being the person wronged by sin who is always a higher valuer of the offence than is the party offending justly aggravating it from the supreme dignity of his person his infinite love and numberless benefactions to the Sinner his former long patience toward Him his exceeding holiness and purity so opposite to its filthiness c. See Gen. 6.6 Where 't is said That man's sin grieved him at his heart and it repented our Lord that ever he had made him on the earth And again Mar. 3.5 That our most meek Lord Jesus was so provoked by it That he looked round about on them with anger being grieved for the hardness of their hearts But especially the hainousness of sins may be learnt from the many experienced stupendious Judgments upon them at which man is much troubled how to make them bear any just proportion to his Faults Which dreadful revenges upon Sin you may consider 1. In the faln Angels for one sin exiled from heaven and held in chains of darkness near upon ever since the Creation of the world besides what is to come made also for ever uncapable of any means of Reconciliation 2. In Adam for one sin ejected out of his most pleasant Habitation apparrel'd with the covering of Beasts condemned to eat his Bread in labour and sorrow and penance for near a 1000 years and then to return to Putrefaction and a curse laid on all his Posterity and on the ground they lived on for his sake 3. In the drowning at one time for their lusts and oppressions of all the men in the world except Eight persons their children and infants and all other living creatures for their sake 4. In the storm of Fire and Brimstone rained upon the five Cities for their Lusts and those pleasant Plains turned to a dead Lake till this day and yet these Cities to undergo a new Damnation at the day of Judgment as if they had as yet suffered nothing See Mat. 11.22 Where our Lord aggravating the punishment of Bethsaida saith it shall be then more intolerable than that of Sodome 5. In the severe punishments of David though otherwise a most holy person the sad story of which you may read in the 13.15 and 24. Chapters of 2. Sam. Concerning all which forenamed punishments this is a sufficient evidence that the sins deserved them because he who is Justice it self and from whom man learns the true notions of it inflicted them 6. Lastly In the precious Sacrifice of the only Son of God required by his Father for the Expiation of Sin This of the present temporal punishments But then consider also 2ly The future punishment for all sin here unrepented of and unforsaken before death in the world to come 27. 1 Immediately after death Of the Soul Exemplified in the deceased rich man tormented in fire whilst his brethren yet living in their jollity here on earth Luk. 16.24 And in the Beast and false Prophet their being cast into the Lake of fire before the Invasion of Gog and Magog and before Satan's being shut up there See Rev. 19 20. Comp. 20.8.10 Which also appears from our Lord 's declaring that a temporal death kills the Body but not the Soul Matt. 10.28 And St. Pet. 1. Ep. 3 4. adviseth the adorning of the hidden man of the heart because this not corruptible And Ibid. ver 19. makes mention of Spirits in Prison viz. the spirits of such persons as were preached-to in the days of Noah And if the Souls of the Righteous be then presently in Paradise Luk. 23.43 and with Christ their Lord and partake of God's mercy and glory the Souls of the Wicked must be then presently imprisoned and remain with the Devil their Master feel the lashes of God's Justice and begin their never ending misery and ignominy Whilst the Body descends into the Grave the poor Soul by the strength of Angels being forced downward into a far lower Dungeon an infernum inferius in the most innermost bowels of the earth from whence it shall never return again nor see light save at the last day that which flasheth from the face of the angry Judge when it is brought to his Bar to receive its last doom doubled torments and to make it much more sensible of them forc'd to take along with it its loathed Mate the Body into the same profound pit Who then can tell the agony of such person now come to the end of his days when scorched with Feavers he desires to dye and by death can remove only into a bed of fire when he cannot endure his present pains and hath no change save to far greater these he cannot suffer and the other if ceasing to suffer these he can no way avoid nor knows he what way to turn himself in this Labyrinth of Despairs These sufferings of the Soul having been by some endured already above 5000 years and those of the rich glutton in flames if this not made wholly a Parable suffered now above sixteen Centuries though he lived here not one 28. 2 After Dooms-day Of Soul and Body Where also weigh well the terrible description of these punishments mentioned in his Word who cannot lye The Body raised in dishonour A Carcass deformed stinking Chains binding hand and foot Prison depth of the Earth Dungeon Bottomless Pit A Fire and Brimstone-Lake Immobility Suffocation Worm or Serpent gnawing Fire devouring Thirst never refreshed Body never consumed Sense never stupified Weeping wailing gnashing the teeth Society of wicked men and Devils ugly stinking All hating cursing one another hating cursing God cast into a land of Oblivion Psal 88.12 None to comfort none to bemoan The ancient Compassion of Saints and Angels and God now turned into Hate and Derision No Mediator no Redeemer The Soul always in an Agony and sick to death restless hopeless despairing wounded to the heart with the sense of lost happiness as well as present misery And all her sufferings eternal eternal Eternal these pains God in his upright Justice not being so indulgent as to grant to that his wretched Creature the relief of an Annihilation And these pains unremitting the rich man sparingly begging of the beggar that before wanted his relief but only one drop of water falling from the dipped tip of his finger Luk. 16.24 and it would not be granted him The greatness of God's vengeance then answering the greatness of his person and of his patience when yet for the present so much hating sin which Patience abused at last turns to Fury and no wrath comparable to the wrath of the Lamb. See Rev. 6.6 Rom. 2.5 And from the magnitude of this wrath and punishment is chiefly learnt the magnitude of sin and what a Monster that must be that deserves such Torments for ever and ever from him that cannot do the least Injustice Digr Of the Degrees
this surely more effectual to ours 6. Doing which necessarily follows from the former of many things that which still tends to his greater glory whilst you endeavour to make all things besides his glory indifferent to you 7. Renewing an actual intention of his glory before every particular action else notwithstanding a general devotement of all your works to him at the beginning of the day nature will frequently relapse to minding her own good which actual intention will help us to undertake still greater things for his glory and to desert all those actions which serve not or less unto it 8. Procuring his praise from others in shewing or proclaiming any part of his wisdome or his works and in accustoming your self to attribute constantly all good things and that in the smallest as well as greater matters unto him since he certainly doth all good And especially since in this his dayly working all good in and by us many yet do rob him of his due glory to get some to themselves taking heed in your doing any thing commended to procure his praise always rather than your own and when any applause comes to you presently to offer it up to him remembring how Herod was stricken for not giving God the glory the people gave to him Acts. 12.23 9. Procuring his outward and visible glory in reverently observing celebrating adorning things amongst us that have more special relation and dedication unto him as places times persons holy and the publick service of him in and by them for all these things excessive love naturally doth 10. Often comparing the acts of your love to him with those of his love to you and the meanness of your service with the greatness of your Lord comparing his perfections and your defects Considering what a thing any man is to Angels what Angels to him what you amongst those multitudes of worthies amongst men on whom he may place his love and then concluding with St. Austine Quid tibi sum ipse ut amari te jubeas a me nisi faciam irascaris mihi §. 76. II. Believing and Hoping in him II. 1. Believing and hoping in Him In all purposes honest though temporal and those of small consequence But especially in spiritual whether concerning God your Self or your Neighbour See Ps 37.3.5.7 55.22 9 10. 27.14 Where you have no private secular interest and purity of conscience And in matters of greater difficulty and where as there is great reason to undertake so little humane likelihood to effect them For to hope in him where affairs are prosperous and where there is another hope besides is also the worldlings hope Job 13.15 Ps 27.3 Digr 1. Some degree of want of Faith the chief obstruction of all good and heroical resolutions §. 77. III. Wershipping him III. 2. Worshipping him First with Prayer In which 1. For our selves 1. Confession of Sins 1. With Prayer 1. Confession 1. Meditating on hell the punishment thereof and imploring pordon 2. Making your Confession of Sins very particular and not such and so general as the most righteous person in the world may truly say it after you Canfessing more specially your last sins after more promises of reformation The sins of the present day Some former greater sins of your life that more burden your conscience which ought continually to be remembred before the Lord Psal 51.3 Not only known sins forsaken but all those actions in which for the present by some excess or other vicious circumstances you doubt whether you may not have offended him desiring his further illumination and remembring Eccl. 9.1 and 1. Cor. 4.4 and professing a ready mind to alter what in them you shall know to be displeasing unto him 3. Begging grace of God to know all your sins and defects that you may remove out of his sight whatever offends him 4. Using several ways of helping to call them to mind By running over and examining 1. The Ten Commandments 2. The Apostles Catalogue of Sins Gal. 5.19 Rom. 1.29 Rev. 21.8 c. 3. The three faculties of the Soul Memory Vnderstanding Will and Affections 4. The five Senses and the Tongue 5. The three ways of sinning thought word deed 6. Against God our Neighbour our selves By reviewing the whole course of our life according to the time year after year places of our abode Societies we lived in imployments we have followed c. 5. Staying our meditation longer on those heads which have been more transgressed by us 6. Reviewing at certain times the greater sins of our former life written down and afflicting our Souls for them Digr Of the benefit of the often remembrance and re confession of old sins §. 78. 2. Thanksgiving 2. Thanksgiving and Confession of God's mercies 1. Meditating on paradise the purchase of Christ's merits for those who serve him and giving thanks 2. Imagining all God's and our Saviours benefits as particularly done for you Or considering them to you comparatively to many others who enjoy a less portion of them or perhaps suffer things contrary unto them 3. Considering our Lord not only as man but as God in all things he did and suffered for you which will make them still greater unto you as his person is and will produce great reverence adoration fear love admiration and praise in you 4. Dedicating some of his benefits still to his service in giving something to his poor or using some other acts of Charity Especially after any extraordinary favour received 2. Sam. 24.24 Digr Of the horrible crime of Sacriledge or robbing God of that which others have given unto him §. 79. 3 Petition 3. Petition Confessing to him 1. your necessities and wants spiritual and temporal your infirmities and present condition for every thing even as if he knew them not except from your relation but indeed that you may the better know them and may become affected accordingly Psal 142.2 Jer. 11.20 2. King 19.14 and so imploring his grace speedy assistance succour c. 2. In these requests remembring and repeating unto our Lord his own words his promises his life he led here as if he had forgot them but indeed to strengthen more your faith in them and adherence unto him Thus Nazianzen Orat. 11. describes the earnest devotion of his sick Sister Gorgonia Ad altare cum fide procumbit eumque qui super ipso honoratur cum ingenti clamore invocat omnibusque nominibus appellat atque omnia ea quae unquam mirifice gesserat velut in memoriam ei revocat c. 3. Beseeching him as for external necessities so for your internal for the good motions of our Soul which seem most in our own power but in which indeed we no less depend on his help 2. Cor. 3.5 for giving us affections suting to our present duty joy sorrow tears praying against our will to be made willing and to wish first that we may will Imagining our understanding as that of a natural fool's and every moment receiving new
my self that for that reason I have here so long stood upon it §. 105. I conclude He who would attain this profitable way of recollection because as I say with the help of God it lies in our own power let him not be weary to practice himself in what is here spoken because it is by little and little the getting the Mastership of himself he not thus losing his liberty in vain but rather gaining himself wholly to himself that is the having his faculties at command for interior matters If he will speak he must procure to remind himself that he hath one to speak-with within him if he hearken he hath to consider that he ought to hear one who speaks the most intimately to him in summe to make account that he may if he will never dis-joyn himself from so good company and to lament himself when for any long time he hath left there alone this his Father of whom he hath always so great need §. 106. If he can do this many times in a day let him do it and if not at least a few times because when he hath contracted a custome thereof he shall find himself much a gainer thereby either presently or within no long time And after our Lord hath granted it him he will not exchange it for any treasure whatsoever but nothing is acquired without some pains §. 107. For the love of God my Sisters count that endeavor well imployed which ye shall spend in this thing she saith of her self that in her first practice thereof few days passed that she made not many hours of Prayer but these I suppose more in affective than discoursive Prayer assisted with reading in Sterilities unless hindred by sickness or much business and she adviseth others to practice it at least for two hours every day in her Life Chap. 8th for I know that if you shall intend in one year and perhaps a half with the favour of God ye shall attain it Behold how small a time for so great a gain as this is to lay a good foundation that if the Lord will exalt you to greater matters he may see in you a good disposition in finding you so nigh unto him May his Divine Majesty never permit that we far-remove our selves from his most amiable presence Amen The same thing much-what is said Ibid. ch 26. §. 108. To the same purpose she speaketh also in the 13th Ch. of her Life Let them saith she set themselves in the presence of Christ and without tiring the understanding let them be discoursing and delighting themselves with him not wearying themselves in framing reasons and handsome expressions but in simplicity represent their needs and the reason he hath not to endure them before him One thing at one time and another thing at another time to the end the Soul be not cloyed with feeding always on one Dish When we set our selves to meditate on some passage of the Passion of Christ our Lord as for Example of his being bound to the Pillar here the Understanding goes searching out the reasons and ways whereby it may apprehend the excessive pains and torments that our Lord suffered in that Posture finding himself alone and forsaken of his friends and many other things which if the Understanding be active or the person learned may be drawn thence And thus it is good to discourse thereon a while thinking on the pains he suffered there and for whom he suffered them and who he is that suffered them and the love wherewith he suffered them but withal let not the Soul tire her self by going continually in quest of such discourse but stay her self there with Christ keeping the Understanding silent And if she can let her imploy it in thinking that he stands beholding her let her accompany him petition him abase her self before and solace her self with him and let her remember her self that she is unworthy to be there When she can do this tho it be in the beginning of her Prayer she will find great advantage thereby and this later kind of Prayer affords many benefits at least my Soul hath found it so §. 109. Thus she in that 13th Chapter and if you have now any further curiosity to know her first 1 beginnings in the practice of this Prayer 2 after her having read D' Ossuna's third Abecedary she describes them before in the 4th Chapter of her Life on this manner 3 I endeavoured saith she the best I could to carry Jesus Christ our Sovereign good and our Lord always present within me and this was my manner of Prayer If I meditated on any passage of his Passion I represented it to my self in my interior altho I spent most of the time in reading good Books wherein was all my recreation for God had not given me the talent of discoursing with my Understanding or of helping my self with the imagination which in me is so gross that when I have set my self to do it I could never obtain of it so much as perfectly to conceive or represent within my self the Humanity of our Lord. And altho some by this way that they cannot discourse with the understanding do sooner attain to contemplation if they persevere yet is it a thing very painful and of great difficulty especially to those who are not content with common and obvious matter of Devotion i. e. such as a Book or our memony easily affords but seek after subtiler Discourses For if the employment of the will by having no object present where her love may busy it self happen to fail the Soul is left as it were without a stay and exercise and her solitude and aridity do put her to great pain and likewise her wandring thoughts to a sore encounter For persons of this temper it is requisite to have greater purity of conscience than those who can discourse with the Understanding For he who can discourse What a thing the world is and how deeply he is obliged to God The great pains Christ hath suffered for him and the little service he doth his Majesty and What reward our Lord gives to him that loves him draweth matter from thence to defend himself from thoughts from occasions and from dangers but he that cannot help himself herewith is in greater peril and it is fit that he should employ himself much in reading since of himself he knows not how to draw out such Arguments For this manner of proceeding is so painful that if the Master who hath the guidance of such a Soul should restrain it to exercise Prayer without reading I say it is impossible it should continue therein very long being so deprived of this help of reading for reading helps him much to recollect himself who proceeds after this sort and is necessary for him tho it be but little which he reads and that only in the room of that mental Prayer which he cannot make Yea also it will much prejudice his health if he persist obstinately in
and backsliding to our former ways do again cancel our repentance and bring the account also of all our former sins repented of upon us See Ezech. 18.24 2. Pet. 2.20 Matt. 18.23 c. where as the Lord forgave to the servant upon submission many talents so upon his mis-behaviour after this he recalled him to account for every farthing of those talents before remitted See Matt. 5.26 Now these our works shall be judged according to the several talents that have been promulgated to us and which we have lived under whether it be that of Christ or that of Moses Where note that the law of Moses for a great part of it not only Morals but Ceremonials was revealed to the holy race from the beginning See The Benefits of our Saviour who may be said therefore to have been from the beginning under the law or under the Gospel only obscured by types or that of Nature Under one of which all the Sons of Adam have lived For it must always be some law received that worketh wrath Rom. 15. Jo. 9.41 because where no law is there is no transgression Therefore See Rom. 1.21 comp 18.24 how wrath was wrought against the Heathen upon a law Some therefore at that day shall be judged by the law and the words of Christ our Lord and by the New Testament See Jo. 12.48 Some by the law of Moses and the Old Testament See Rom. 2.12 Jo. 5.45 The rest by that of nature which is written in their hearts See Rom. 2.12 comp 14. which law to be given to and in all men the Apostle there proves from the testimony of Conscience and reflex thoughts in all men sometimes accusing sometimes excusing them which necessarily presupposeth a law Rom. 2.15 So that every one at that day is condemned for evil works committed not only against the power of that light and knowledge which had it not been their own default they might have acquired but against that light and knowledge which they actually were possessed of and did not walk according to it All condemned for those things which when they did their Conscience accused them for ill doing and therefore which when they did they might have forborn for conscience accuseth for none else and which some others living under the same law Suppose a Socrates or a Seneca did upon like temptations forbear So that all in that day are condemned ex ore suo Meanwhile though extra Christum there will be no Salvation no reward yet that Judgment shall be more tolerable by much for some offenders than for others for those who lived under Moses's Law than for those under Christ's Heb. 2,3 10.28 29. for those under the law of nature than those under Moses's for much shall then be required of him to whom much is here given and who knew not so much of his Lord's will and so committed things worthy of stripes shall be in that day beaten with few stripes See Matt. 10.15 11.22.24 Luk. 12 48. Act. 17.30 14.16 Matt. 3.10 Heb. 2 3. Jo. 15.22 Which law of nature and light given had any one entirely observed he should have been saved i. e. freed at least from all punishments as respecting his own actions though he would have stood guilty still of original uncleanness and must have incurred the same Condemnation with unbaptized infants though he had not been rewarded with any supernatural beatitude upon the vertue of the first Covenant Yet so it is that though for the single Acts of sin for some time those who live under this law have power to abstain yet through the depravation of nature and contagion of ill Example and in so much temptation reason not being always able to be vigilant without the help of supernatural Grace it could not be that any one at all times should perfectly abstain from all i. e. should do all which possibly he might 9. In this Judgment the righteous after that those whose works have been less pure have first endured the severe trials of the purifying sire of that day 1. Cor. 3.15 first absolved and separated by our Saviour from the wicked and placed on his right hand Matt. 25.32 33. then receiving their approbation and praise of God 1. Cor. 4 5. for all their righteous works and sufferings and embraced and acknowledged by the Lord Jesus for his sheep for his Brethren before his Father and all his holy Angels Luk. 12.8 Rev. 3.5 and all the world and so admitted every man according to the proportion of his labour and service here Luk. 19.17 to the reward and Crowns and Kingdome promised i. e. to be partakers with Christ of his Kingdome over all things See Matt. 24.47 Rev. 3.21 In which Kingdome first taking their places and set on thrones as mercy in that day also will prevent Judgment they shall judge with Christ the rest of the world and that not only men but Angels 10. The General 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and self conviction of the wicked in that day Matt. 22.12 Rom. 2.15 comp 16. especially shame and confusion of those that have professed the name of Christians who pleading this name Luk. 13.26 shall be denied by our Saviour before his Father and the holy Angels that he ever knew them for any of his followers and then he shall be ashamed of them as they of him here See Mark 10.38 Matt. 7.23 1. Jo. 2.28 3.16 c. Dan. 12.2 11. The dreadful sentence Matt. 7.23 25.41 And the outcries of that day and the woful separation the most joined being then parted asunder according to their contrary deserts Matt. 24.40 the cursed with weeping and gnashing of teeth to see others in the Kingdome they might so easily have acquired and themselves thrust out Luk. 13.38 descending into the abyss and land of forgetfulness Luk. 8.31 Psal 88.12 as the blessed with our Saviour ascending and being now filled with the perfection of despair and left to God's anger and indignation and vengeance which vengeance having been gathered together in all ages is now to be poured out in full measure upon all the sin that ever hath been committed since the beginning of the world and especially upon all the violence and wrong done to all his Saints by the executing now of all the Curses of the Holy Scriptures upon his and their Enemies 12. The holy Saints and Angels no more pitying no more praying for these miserables no more acknowledging any more alliance unto them but exceedingly approving Christ's justice and praising God's vengeance and triumphing in the destruction of his and their enemies like those Rev. 11.17 18. 16.5 6. 19.1 2. God himself also laughing at and having them in derision Psal 37.13 Prov. 1.26 and sending them into a land of eternal forgetfulness 13. After all these Consider the Paucity of the saved gathered from Matt. 7.13 14. Luk. 13.24 1. Cor. 9.24 2. Tim. 2.5 lawfully i. e. observing strictly the conditions upon which the Crown is given Matt. 22.14 Rom. 9.27 1.
Cor. 1.26 Matt. 19.23 24. 1. Cor. 9.27 1. Jo. 5.19 Joel 2.32 Zech. 13.8 9 spoken of the last times Luk. 13.27 And this also may be gathered from the small number of those saved in the flood and in the destruction of Sodome Types of the last destruction of the world and of the wicked 2. Pet. 2.5 6. comp 9. Matt. 24.38 And of those entring into the earthly Canaan 1. Cor. 10.5 a type of the Heavenly So in the Parable of the Seed Matt. 13. which was not sown every where where sown only one part of four fructified And experience shows most part of the world to be unbelievers of Christians wicked Luk. 18.8 21.35 14. For exciting affections meditate on 2. Pet. 3.11 1. Pet. 1.17 c. Luk. 21.36 §. 170. III. HEADS for Meditation on the Extreme and the Eternal Torments of HELL Use some of the Considerations p. 7 8. 27 28. p. 9. Digr §. 171. IV. MEDITATIONS on the unspeakable Joys of HEAVEN 1. Consider here that the greatest Saints and also our Lord himself have set before them this Contemplation as a most effective motive to encourage them against all present labours and hardships Inclinavi cor meum ad faciendas justificationes tuas in aeternum propter retributionem saith Holy David Psal 118. and Moses esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Aegypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward saith the Apostle of Him Heb. 11.26 And our Lord saith the same Apostle Ibid. 12. c. 2. v. for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross having despised the shame And Rejoyce saith our Lord Matt. 5.12 to his Disciples and be exceeding glad for your reward is very great in Heaven And again In this rejoyce not that the Spirits are subdued unto you but rather rejoyce because your names are written in the Heavens Luk. 10.20 2. Consider to ascend by degrees in the survey of this future bliss according as the Scripture in many fair Metaphors and Similitudes hath represented it unto us first at the resurrection the contemptible dust of these our vile bodies wherever scattered and dispersed by the four winds carefully gathered together again by God's holy Angels He shall send his Angels and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other Matt. 24.31 The harvest is the end of the world the reapers be the Angels Matt. 13.39 Raised again by the love and affection to us Of our omnipotent and dearest Saviour And this is the Fathers will That of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day c. And I will raise him up at the last day Jo. 6.39 40. And of God his and our Father For if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep by Jesus will God bring with him 1. Thess 4.14 Raised again by the sound of the Trumpet signifying our Lord's approach before or together with the change that shall be of the Saints also then living who then shall be caught up into the air and saved from the last flood of Fire that shall destroy the world as righteous Noah and his Sons were from the flood of Water that destroyed it See Matt. 24.36.40 41. comp Luk. 17.37 2. Pet. 3.6 7 12. 1. Thess 4.16 1. Cor. 15.52 2. Thess 2.1 These bodies then not built of corruptible flesh and blood Now this I say That flesh and blood cannot possess the Kingdome of God 1. Cor. 15.50 See 1. Cor. 6.13 But made like unto the Angels of God in heaven Matt. 22.30 Act. 6.15 Raised not in dishonour but in glory 1. Cor. 15.43 not in weakness but in power Immortal Spiritual 1. Cor. 15.44 Celestial vers 40. being an house of God An house from heaven 2. Cor. 5.2 bearing the image of the heavenly 1. Cor. 15.49 Fashioned like unto the Son of God's glorious body Who will reform our vile body that it may be configured to his glorious body Phil. 3.21 Glorious not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and unspotted Eph. 5.27 Like our Saviour whatever his Glory is 1. Jo. 3.2 Sons of God in a glory and fashion suitable to this Title Luk. 20.36 by being then Sons of the Resurrection And Adoption and Redemption of our Body saith the Apostle which as yet we groan and wait for Rom. 8.23 2. Cor. 5.2 These Eagles gathered together where our Lord is and our Bodies caught up as his was in the clouds to meet our dearest Lord in the highest regions of the air and so to be ever with him 1. Thess 4.17 Descending with him coming to Judgment and there after our receiving an Absolution before the Tribunal of Christ through the application of his merits to all his members informed with his Spirit and after the sentence Venite Benedicti sitting together with him or standing about his Throne in his passing Judgment upon the wicked Angels and Men. 1. Thess 4.14 Matt. 19.28 1. Cor. 6.2.3 2. Thess 1.1.8.10 Now all things made new Rev. 21.5 A new earth and a new heaven wherein inhabiteth no more sin but all purity and justice created for them 2. Pet. 3.13 And this new world enlightened by the glory of God himself Rev. 21.23 We here made partakers of the lot of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 Admitted to have fellowship with all the just men that ever were consummated and made perfect Heb. 12.22 Coming to the general Assembly and Church of the first born Heb. 12. Made fellow-citizens c. Eph. 2.29 Sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Matt. 8.11 To an innumerable company of Angels To Jesus the Mediator Heb. 12.24 Now making up altogether the measure of the stature of the fulness and compleatment of our Saviour's Body Eph. 1.23 4.13 To see him now as he is 1. Jo. 3.2 To God the Judge of all Heb. 12 23. To behold the face of God Matt. 5.8 Apoc. 22.4 Then to enter into a restored life Matt. 18.8 Life eternal everlasting In which life to enjoy rest from our labours Rev. 14.13 A perpetual Holy-day and Sabbath Heb. 4.9 to be comforted Luk. 16.25 having all tears wiped away from our eyes Rev. 7.17 21.4 Where there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying nor pain Rev. 21.4 No hungring nor thirsting any more They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more no more death neither sorrow nor crying nor pain quoniam priora transierunt And the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of water Rev. 7.16 17. 21.4 There to have our knowledge perfected 1. Cor. 13.12 And our Appetite satisfied Satiabor cum apparuerit Gloria tua Psal 17.15 To be rewarded with an open Matt. 6.4 full 2. Jo. 8. great Matt. 5.12 exceeding great Gen. 15.1 Reward pressed down and running over Which all the afflictions of
the flesh and delighteth in the severest afflicting and subduing thereof especially taketh pleasure in its Purity and Chastity and eminently opposeth all uncleanness and those risings of Concupiscence which sin first discovered in our first Parents Who also continually warreth against this world opposing the vain shews of this present life with the representation to the eye of Faith of the Glories of that to come Who also fighteth against Satan and being stronger than he hath cast him out and possessed his house from whose gracious descent upon our Saviour's ascension this evil Spirit hath suffered a great restraint of his former delusions by his Oracles being silenced and Idolatry destroyed §. 192. The Internal Intercessor and Advocate The Holy-Ghost the Paraclete our Intercessor and Advocate here on earth within us to the Father and as the Son is in heaven with God Who helpeth our Infirmities not knowing what we ought to pray for and maketh intercession within us for us with groans that cannot be uttered Who maketh intercessions according to the will of God because he knoweth the deep things of God and God that searcheth the heart knoweth the secret mind of this Spirit Who crieth in our hearts Abba Father and teacheth us to pray by which Spirit all our Prayers must be offered as they are offered through the Son that we may find any access unto the Father Who abiding here on earth with us is the effectual Reconciler and maker of our peace for any sins which we commit whether against the Father or the Son But when we sin against him also and make him depart from us we are desolate since there is no person any more left that can acceptably sue or make request for our pardon without this Spirit §. 193. The Internal Comforter The Holy-Ghost the Comforter whose Divine presence rendreth all sufferings not only supportable but pleasant that which is contrary to the flesh being so much the more grateful to the Spirit who graciously doth afford in all mortifications and sufferings sufficient ability internal peace and spiritual joy who freeing us from the former spirit of fear is the author of a lively constant hope and confidence in God whereby we always rejoyce in and long and wait for that blessed day of our Consummation and the appearance of our Saviour that so we may enter into the joy of our Lord. §. 194. The Spirit of Obsignation and Vnction The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of Vnction and Obsignation an Vnction and a nointing from the holy one whereby we are consecrated unto God as the Lord Jesus was and made Kings and Priests hereafter to reign under Him and to serve Him in his heavenly Temple who is the Seal of God upon us that we are already his adopted Sons and shall be Heirs of all his rich Promises in their due season who is the Earnest of his Covenant made with us and first fruits of the plentiful Harvest to come by whom we have now a foretast of those heavenly Gifts and of the good word and promise of God and of the power of Christ's Kingdome and of the world to come §. 195. The Spirit of Miracles and wonderful Works The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of Power and Might of all miraculous and wonderful Works over all the Creatures and over all the Works of Nature which at first he made Spiritual and Corporal over Satan and all his instruments expelling them and confining them at pleasure over all infirmities and diseases Who only doth great wonders upon the earth above and contrary to the course of Nature healeth the sick enlighteneth the blind strengthneth the lame restoreth the withered multiplyeth food raiseth the dead freeth the possessed cureth the wounded Soul and broken Spirit sanctifieth perverse inclinations to testify to men the power and presence of God amongst them §. 196. The Internal Seed of Immortality The Holy Ghost the Seed of Immortality in our corruptible Bodies and a fountain in us springing up unto eternal life By whose virtue and efficacy It being here sown in shame will hereafter spring up glorious weak shall come up in power natural shall come up spiritual and angelical Who dwelling in this our flesh will never forsake it until as it did raise the Body of Christ our Head from the Dead so it shall have raised up the Body of us his Members and until these Bodies also by the virtue of this Spirit shall ascend like unto his and be caught up in the Clouds to meet him Until this our vile Body shall be made like unto his glorious Body and until as we now bear the image of the earthly Adam so we shall bear the image of the heavenly into which we shall be changed by the Spirit of the Lord from Glory to Glory till with the Angels and Saints the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs we be all made one in God and God all in all To whom be given all Glory unto all Eternity Amen FINIS LITANIES The LITANY to the Sacred Trinity O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us O Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity three Persons and one God Have mercy on us Holy Holy Holy Lord God Omnipotent which art which wast and art to come Have mercy on us Who manifested'st thy Name I am that I am to Moses whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain and the whole Earth is filled with thy Majesty Have mercy on us Everlasting King Immortal Invisible who inhabitest that Light unto which no man can approach great in counsel and mighty in work and of whose wisdome there is no end Have mercy on us Who only dost great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number who workest all things according to the purpose of thy will and madest all things for thy self Have mercy on us One God and Father of us all who art above all and thro all and in us all from whom by whom and in whom are all things in whom we live and have our Being Have mercy on us Who hast disposed all things in number weight and measure who madest heaven and earth and all things therein who createdst the earth by thy power and the universe by thy wisdome Have mercy on us The Lord forming light and creating darkness making peace and creating evil in whose hands is the life of every living thing and the breath of all flesh Have c. The Lord that searchest the heart and triest the reins who quicknest the dead and callest those things that are not as if they were whose eyes are brighter than the Sun beholding all the ways of men Have mercy on us On whom the eyes of all wait and thou givest their meat in due season who openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing Have mercy on us Who executest judgment for the oppressed who givest food to the hungry
who healest the broken in heart and bindest up their wounds God of the Fatherless and Judge of the Widows which loosest the Prisoners and openest the eyes of the blind Have mercy on us The Lord God that killest and makest alive who sendest to the grave and bringest back again who increasest the nations and destroyest them who enlargest the nations and straightenest them Have mercy on us God who takest no pleasure in iniquity with whom is no accepting of persons terrible in thy Counsels concerning the Sons of men the strong and jealous God visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children Have mercy on us God whose anger none can withstand the just Judge strong and long-suffering and a consuming fire Have mercy on us The Lord who liftest up the meek and humblest the wicked down to the ground who hast power to cast body and soul into Hell who takest the wily in their own craftiness and scatterest the counsel of the wicked Have mercy on us The Lord compassionate long-suffering of great mercy and truth our Protector and exceeding great Reward Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Sacred Trinity Be merciful and hear us O Sacred Trinity From all evil Deliver us O Lord. From all pride and loftiness of mind from gluttony and surfeiting and all intemperance Deliver us O Lord. From envy hatred and malice from luxury and uncleanness from sloth and inordinate heaviness and anxiety Deliver us O Lord. By the Eternity of thy Glory and Majesty by the infiniteness of thy power by the abundance of thy goodness by the unspeakable greatness of thy love and mercy and by the abysse of thy justice and judgments Deliver us O Lord. In the day of Judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may adore our Lord God and serve thee only in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may never take thy holy Name in vain that we may keep holy the Festivals of thy Church in exercises of religion and devotion We sinners beseech Thee c. That we may obey and reverence with due honor our Parents Prelates Superiors and all thou hast set over us We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we injure no man's life good name or honor out of anger hatred or envy We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we keep our hearts clean from all inordinate lustings of the flesh and impure affections That we hurt none by stealing damage or any other wrong through cousinage or violence That we never speak a ly or bear false witness against our Neighbour nor covet his goods We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we love thee O God with all our heart with all our soul and with all our strength and that we do to others as we would should be done to our selves We c. That thou wouldest make us grow in all grace that we despise not the riches of thy bounty patience and long-suffering We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we present our bodies a living and holy Sacrifice well-pleasing to Thee that at length we may attain to that kingdome which thou hast prepared for us from the beginning of the world We sinners beseech thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Pacify thy Father towards us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world By thy merits and sufferings redeem us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Send thy holy Spirit into us O Blessed Trinity hear us O Adored Sacred Trinity hear us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. Blessed art thou O God the God of our Fathers Praise-worthy and glorious for ever All the Angels and Saints bless thee Praise and magnify thee for ever Bless we the Father Son and Holy Ghost Praise him and exalt him for ever O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee Let us pray ALmighty and everlasting God from whom descends every good and perfect gift mercifully grant that the serious consideration of thy incomprehensible Majesty may beget in us profound humility and constant obedience and the frequent meditation of thy infinite goodness may move our wills to love thee above all things that we may here in reverence to thy word believe what we do not see and may hereafter in the blissful Vision of thy glory see what now we cannot comprehend thro Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen The LITANY to God the Father O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father which art in Heaven Father of Glory whose face the holy Angels behold continually in heaven who hast life in thy self Have mercy on us Father of whom are all things who hast made us after thine own Image and gavest us dominion over the rest of thy Creatures Have mercy on us Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom all paternity is called and derived in heaven and in earth Have mercy on us Who art well pleased in thy Son who lovest him and hast given all things into his hands And who by a voice from heaven didst glorify Him Have mercy on us Who so lovedst the world that thou gavest thy only begotten Son that we should have life by him and would'st have thy Son take upon him the form of a Servant to redeem us that were in bondage Have mercy c. Who by thy Son hast predestinated us into the Adoption of Sons and hast elected us in him before the foundation of the world that we might be holy and unspotted before thee Have mercy on us Who would'st have us conformable to the Image of thy Son and hast called us into Fellowship with him and hast made us acceptable in thy beloved Son without whom none cometh to the Son unless thou O Father drawest him Have mercy on us O Father who sendest out thy Spirit and they are created and thou renewest the face of the earth who fillest the world with thy spirit and givest it to them that ask it of thee Have mercy on us Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift descendeth who hidest thy mysteries from the wise and revealest them to little ones Have mercy on us Father of mercies and God of all consolation by whom all the hairs of our head are numbred who comfortest us in all our tribulations and hast blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places Have mercy on us Who out of thy abundant charity hast vouchsafed to make us partakers of the inheritance of thy Saints and
hast translated us into the kingdome of the Son of thy love Have mercy on us Who without accepting of persons judgest every man according to his work Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Be merciful and hear us O Lord. Be merciful and deliver us O Lord. From all evil and from the power of Satan Deliver us O Lord. From anger hatred and malice from the imminent mischiefs of sin and from everlasting death Deliver c. By thine infinite wisdome whereby thou seest the most secret things by thine endless power by which out of nothing thou createdst all things by thy infinite goodness whereby thou filledst all things by thy gracious providence whereby thou sweetly governest and disposest all things and by thine eternal charity wherewith thou lovest the world Deliver us O Lord. In the day of Judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners do beseech thee to hear us O Lord. That thy name may be always and every where sanctified that thy Kingdome may come into us that thy Will may be done in and by us in earth as it is in heaven by the holy Angels We beseech thee to hear us That thou would'st vouchsafe to give us this day our dayly bread to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and to defend us under the shadow of thy wings and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil We beseech thee to hear us That our works may so shine before men that they may glorify thee our Father which art in heaven We beseech thee to hear us That what we faithfully ask may effectually be obtained We beseech thee to hear us O Father in the name of thy Son We beseech thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away sins Have mercy c. O Lord our Protector behold us And look upon the face of thy Christ Remember us O Lord with thy good pleasure And visit us with thy Salvation Convert us O Lord God of Hosts Shew thy face and countenance upon us and we shall be saved O Lord hear our Prayer And let our cry come unto thee See the Prayer Pag. 277. LITANIES to God the Son O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O only begotten Son of God who art in the bosome of thy Father the beloved Son of God in whom the Father is well pleased in whom the fulness of the Trinity inhabiteth bodily Have mercy on us Arm of God upholding all things by the word of thy power God by whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made Father of the world to come Have mercy on us The splendor of eternal light the brightness of the glory of God and the express image of his person whom he hath appointed Heir of all things Have mercy on us Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace in whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge the way the truth and the life the Sun of Justice and bright Morning-Star Have mercy on us The Alpha and Omega the beginning and end the first and the last who art who wast and art to come the Heir of all things the beginning and first-born of every creature Have mercy on us The Word made Flesh full of grace and truth Immanuel our God seen on earth and conversant with men the Messias the expectation of all Nations Have mercy on us The true light which enlightenest every man that cometh into the world the righteous branch of God truth sprung out of the earth Have mercy on us The great Prophet that was to come upon the earth mighty in word and deed before God and all the People Have mercy on us The anointed of God by the Holy Ghost with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Have mercy on us O Son of God who emptiedst thy self taking upon thee the form of a servant who wast sent to preach the Gospel to the poor to heal the broken in heart and to publish freedome to the captives Have mercy on us O Son of Man meek and humble in heart who camest to seek and save Sinners that were lost who camest not to be ministred unto but to minister a man of sorrows and acquainted with infirmities Have mercy on us O Son of God made obedient to thy Father even to the death of the Cross that wast led like a sheep to the slaughter and dumb before the shearers the good Shepherd that layedst down thy life for thy sheep Have mercy on us Who lovedst us and washedst us from our sins in thy own blood on whom was laid by thy Father the iniquities of all Have mercy on us Who truly barest our infirmities and by whose stripes we were healed who wast wounded for our trangressions and broken for our offences Have mercy on us O immaculate Lamb slain from the beginning of the world who takest away the sins of the world the propitiation for our sins the author and finisher of our faith the Mediator and Angel of the New Testament the faithful and true Witness Have mercy on us The Stone which the Builders refused and yet made the head of the corner who wast delivered for our offences and didst rise again for our justification who art the resurrection and the life and the first-born from the dead Have mercy on us Who art made unto us by God wisdome justice sanctification and redemption the great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls the Apostle of our profession and High-Priest of good things to come Have mercy on us Our Peace who hast made of two one Nation who hast made us Kings and Priests to God and the Father the Bridegroom of the Church beloved fair and ruddy chosen amongst thousands Have mercy on us Who art ascended above all Heavens a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech an High-Priest holy innocent unspotted and separate from Sinners one Mediator betwixt God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Have mercy on us Who sittest at the right hand of his Majesty in the highest at whose Name every knee doth bow both of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth to whom a Name is given above all Names Have mercy c. The Head of all Principalities and Powers the Lord of Lords and Prince over the Kings of the earth who hast the keys of hell and death who are constituted by God Judge of the living and the dead Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Be merciful and hear us O Lord. From all evil Deliver us O Lord. By thy eternal generation of the Father by thy Nativity in the fulness of time of thy Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary by thy most holy life and conversation and by thy death and most bitter
passion Deliver us O Lord. By thy glorious resurrection and ascension by thy coming to judgment by thy coeternal glory with the Father Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may learn of thee who wast meek and humble in heart that we may deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow thee We beseech thee to hear us That we lay not up treasures for our selves on earth but in heaven that we may lose our lives in this world that we may preserve them to eternal life and fear not those that can kill the body only but him that can throw both Body and Soul into hell-fire We sinners beseech c. That we freely and willingly take up thy easy yoke and light burthen that with all diligence we put out to usury our talents we receive from thee and receiving thy word into honest and good hearts may bring forth much fruit with patience We sinners beseech Thee c. That whatsoever we would that men should do unto us we do so unto them that we judge none rashly but love one another and do good to those that hate us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That being uncertain of the hour of death and thy coming to judgment we endeavour to watch and be always ready that we seriously provide to give up the account of our Stewardship We sinners beseech Thee c. That persevering thro thy grace unto the end we may be saved We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That asking the Father in thy name we may be worthy to be heard according to thy promise We sinners c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us c. Hear us c. Have mercy upon us Every day will we repeat thy perfections O glorious Jesus that every day we may grow in esteem of thee every day will we attentively reckon over thy mercies that every day we may still increase in thy love We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. All that we have and are we received from thy grace All we desire and hope we expect in thy glory O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplication come unto thee Let us pray ALmighty God and most merciful Saviour the light of this world and glory of the next vouchsafe we beseech thee to illuminate our understandings enflame our Wills and sanctify all the faculties of our Souls that whilst with our lips we recite thy praises we may inwardly with our hearts adore thy person and admire thy goodness and conform our lives to thy holy example till at length by frequent meditation on the bliss thou hast prepared for us hereafter we break off our affections from all irregular adherence to this world and place them intirely on the enjoyment of thee who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God world without end Amen See the other Litany and Commemorations below LITANIES to God the Holy Spirit O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son who art the intimate love communion and complacency of the Father and the Son Have mercy on us Who art the finger strength and power of God the omnipotent worker of what the Father decrees and the Son the Word of God commands Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit by whose inspiration the holy men of God formerly spake Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit by whose admirable vertue the Incarnation of our Lord was wrought in the Virgins womb and who descendedst in the likeness of a Dove upon our Blessed Saviour Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit who at Pentecost appearedst resting upon the Disciples in cloven tongues of fire and with whom the Apostles being replenished boldly confessed and preached our Saviour Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Promise of the Father and the Son who descendedst to abide with us and in us here on earth in the absence of our Lord until his second coming Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who having cast out the strong one Satan and possessed his house vouchsafest to inhabit in our persons as the Son of God in our nature and to make us thy Temples Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who finishest the internal work of our Salvation by our Sanctification as the Son of God did the external by our Redemption Have mercy on us Who descendedst to glorify our Lord to bring to our remembrance testify and confirm all his heavenly doctrine to us Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Paraclete abiding with us for ever our Intercessor and Advocate here on earth within us to the Father as the Son now is for us in heaven Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who art the Seed of God in us by whom we are born again and made new creatures partakers of the Divine nature and Sons of God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the earnest and first fruits and pledge of our future inheritance the foretast of the good word and promise of God and of the power of Christ's Kingdome and of the World to come Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry Abba Father bearing witness to our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and by whom we are sealed to the day of Redemption Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit the Seed of Immortality in our corruptible bodies by whose vertue and power after sown in dishonour they shall be raised again in glory Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit who guidest and preservest the Church of God in all truth illuminating its Doctors strengthening its Martyrs and perfecting its Saints Have mercy c. O Holy Spirit the bond of the mystical union between Christ our Head and us his Members and between all the fellow-members making them all of one heart and one soul as being all actuated by one and the same Spirit Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who enlightenest and leadest us into all truth by whom the Charity of God is poured forth in our hearts who writest the laws of God within us and inclinest our wills not out of servile fear but love and choice to obey his commands Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who helpest our infirmities we not knowing what to pray for as we ought and makest intercession for us with groans that cannot be uttered Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who knowest all the hidden things of God and makest intercession according to his will and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth there the mind of the Spirit Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who revealest the mysteries of Religion the secrets of men's hearts and things to come Have mercy on us
O Holy Spirit the Comforter in all afflictions and sufferings giving ability to bear them internal peace and spiritual joy in them and who art the author of a constant lively hope and confidence in God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who distributest and dividest thy gifts and graces variously to every one according to thy good pleasure Have mercy on us The Spirit of wisdome and understanding the Spirit of knowledge and truth the Spirit of counsel and fortitude Have mercy on us The Spirit of sobriety chastity and temperance the Spirit of modesty patience and prayer Have mercy on us The Spirit of humility benignity and meekness the Spirit of compunction sanctification and the fear of God the Spirit of peace and love Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart and reproving the World of sin of justice and of judgment Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Holy Spirit Be merciful and hear us O Holy Spirit From all temptations and deceits of the Devil from all sin and every evil Spirit Deliver us O Holy Spirit From all filthiness and uncleanness of soul and body from the Spirit of fornication from the Spirit of anger strife contention and envy and all uncharitableness Deliver us O holy Spirit From all presumption and despair from opposing the known truth from hardness of heart and final impenitency Deliver us O holy Spirit By thy eternal procession from the Father and the Son by the miraculous conception of the Son of God by thy operation by thy descent upon our Saviour at his Baptisme and by thy sitting upon his Apostles Deliver us O holy Spirit In the day of Judgment Deliver us O holy Spirit We Sinners beseech Thee to hear us O holy Spirit That thou would'st spare us That thou wouldst keep us from blaspheming thee O Holy Ghost and from doing any contumely to the Spirit of Grace We sinners beseech Thee c. That we may never quench grieve or neglect this Holy Spirit but may prepare our hearts for thy holy inspirations and may diligently hearken to discover and obey thy godly motions which lead us to all perfection We sinners beseech Thee c. That remembring how we are the Temples of the Holy Ghost we may take heed of violating them and that as we live by the Spirit we may walk in the Spirit and fulfil no more the lusts of the flesh but by the Spirit mortify the deeds thereof so that sowing in the Spirit we may of the Spirit reap life eternal We sinners beseech Thee c. That thou wouldst vouchsafe to stir up and cherish in us poverty of Spirit and enkindle in us a hunger and thirst after Justice that we may be peaceable and worthy to be called the Sons of God We sinners beseech Thee c. That thou wouldest infuse into us perfect charity and mercy and that we may constantly and manfully endure persecution for Justice sake We sinners beseech Thee c. That thou would'st vouchasafe us to continue unto the end in faith hope and charity and that we may be careful to keep the unity of the Spirit that is in all thy servants in the bond of peace We sinners beseech Thee c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Pour on us the holy Spirit O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Send us the promised Spirit from the Father O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant us the Spirit of Peace Our Father which art Heaven c. Create in us clean hearts O God And renew right Spirits in our Bowels Cast us not away from thy face O Lord And take not thy holy Spirit from us Restore unto us the joy of thy Salvation And confirm us with thy principal Spirit The Grace of thy Holy Spirit Enlighten our senses and hearts O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee Let us pray O Holy Ghost the Comforter we commend to thee our souls and bodies the beginning and the end of our lives give us grace to be heartily sorry for our sins for the love of God and to do true penance for them that we may be perfectly purified from them before we depart hence out of this mortal body Of our selves O Lord we are corrupt and blind in our affections and desires if we rely on our own judgments easily seduced into error easily overcome by temptation Wherefore to thee O Holy Spirit we wholly offer and commit the guidance of our Souls defend and keep us thy servants from all evil teach and illuminate our minds strengthen our weak Spirits against inordinate pusillanimity and superfluous scruples of conscience and keep us humble that we fall not into presumption Give us a right faith unmovable hope and perfect charity that we may sweetly delight in thee and every-where fulfil thy will and pleasure who livest and reignest with the Father and Son one God world without end Amen O Eternal God who didst send thy Holy Spirit upon thy Church and didst promise that he should abide with it for ever let the same Spirit lead us to all truth defend us from all sin enrich us with his gifts refresh us with his comforts and rule in our hearts for ever And grant O bountiful Lord the Doner of every good and perfect gift that we may prepare our hearts for his holy inspirations may diligently hearken to clearly discover believe and obey his godly motions may never quench never grieve this Holy Spirit but living in him may by him be sealed to the day of redemption through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord who liveth and reigneth world without end Amen O Blessed Spirit the Almighty Paraclete the communication bond and union of the Father and Son the conduit conveying to us all that we receive from the Father and the Son The dear pledge and token of our absent Lord until his blessed return by whose power all things are enlivened which do truly live and whose delight is to reside and converse in the hearts of the simple which thou vouchsafest to consecrate as Temples to thy self Come gracious Spirit have mercy upon us descend from heaven into our hearts waiting for thy comfort and so fit us for thine own self that through the multitude of thy compassions our meanness may be accepted of thy greatness and our weakness of thy strength Sanctify the temples of our bodies and consecrate them for thy own habitation Make glad with thy presence our Souls that long after thee make ready a mansion fit for thy self adorn thy bride-chamber furnish thy resting place with the variety of thy own gifts and graces drive out from thence whatsoever is old and fading renew in us thy own workman-ship with beauty incorruptible for ever convey into us heavenly light heat and motion that having tasted of the heavenly gift and the powers of the
obtain pardon and forgiveness of all our sins We sinners c. That the receiving thy Body and Blood may not be to us to judgment and condemnation but to life and salvation and that worthily receiving thy Body and Blood we hunger nor thirst any more nor dy eternally We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That through the worthy participation of thy Body and Blood thou in us and we in thee may abide for ever and that as many as eat of this Bread may be made one in peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That in innocence we may compass thine Altar O Lord and together with thy unspotted Sacrifice offer up our selves a living holy and acceptable Sacrifice to God We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That whom we believe to be in this holy Mystery really present tho veiled under the external elements we may behold at length with open face in everlasting glory We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. Son of God who takest away the sins of the world Hear us good Lord. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy on us He gave us food from heaven Man did eat Angels Bread Our Father which art Heaven c. O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee Let us pray WE adore thee O Lord Jesus with a true and lively faith in the Sacrament of the Altar with thy body and soul thy flesh and blood by the ineffable power of thy wisdome and goodness really present who at thy departure out of this world to the Father left us this Sacrament as a pledge of thy love that by a new and admirable way thou mightst still remain with us whose delight is to be with the Sons of men Cleanse our souls we beseech thee from all our sins and infirmities and feed them with the crums which fall from thy table that we may be filled with the marrow and fatness of thy heavenly blessings Come unto us dear Saviour and heal our sinful souls feed the hungry and refresh the weak Deliver us from all evil make us always adhere to thy commandements and never suffer us to be separated from thee Who livest and reignest one God world without end Amen O God who in this admirable Sacrament hast left us a memorial of thy Passion grant us we beseech thee so worthily to reverence the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood that we may daily find in us the fruit of thy Redemption Who livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen WE adore thee O Saviour of our Souls eternal word of the Father true Sacrifice offered for the sins of the whole world O most precious treasure replenished with all delight the resting place of pure and clean hearts O Angelical viand O Celestial bread O Eternal word of the Father which art for us made flesh and yet remainest God in the self same person We confess Thee most undoubtedly true God and Man consecrated in a most miraculous manner on our Altars to be there given to us and offered to thy Father for us Thou art the assured hope and only Salvation of sinners Thou art the Sovereign restorative of those that languish and the inexhaustible treasure of the poor distressed Pilgrims Hallowed be thy name O most sweet Saviour Jesus Christ may all thy Creatures sing forth praises and thanksgivings unto thee for the love wherewith thou tendrest our welfare by descending from heaven and offering up thy pure and innocent Body on the Cross for our Redemption Hallowed be thy name most blessed Jesus that after thy Resurrection and Ascension since thou wast to ascend into heaven there to sit at the right hand of the Father thou vouchsafest to leave us the self same immortal Body as a memorial of thy departure and a pledge of thy infinite love thou bearest us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy on us and grant us thy peace refresh our Souls with this spiritual and heavenly food and comfort us continually with thy graces that neither in life nor death we may depart from thee nor be deprived at any time of thy celestial benedictions who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost in all Eternity Amen O Most loving Father who sparedst not thy own Son but deliveredst him to death for us all who if we ask thee Bread will not give us a Stone or for an Egg a Scorpion Behold we offer up unto thee Eternal Father this Lamb thy only Son and the infinite merits of his Sacrifice performed on the Cross and beseech thee to give us this day our daily bread bread for the body and all necessaries for this present life whereby we may be the better enabled to serve thee but especially the bread of our Souls the gifts and graces of thy Holy Spirit and whatsoever is necessary to strengthen them lest we faint in the way that we are walking in toward our heavenly country where we shall be abundantly satisfied with the pleasures of thy heavenly table who livest and reignest with the Son and the Holy Ghost one God for ever and ever Amen O Most bountiful Father who givest us from heaven the corn of thine Elect and bread of Life who hast sowed them on earth and laid them up in the Granary of thy Church for the feeding of thy children Grant us frequently to be refreshed with this bread yea spiritually at least to receive it daily which is so useful for us every day and that we may be sustained by this heavenly Viaticum in this our Pilgrimage that in the strength of that food we may travel on to the Mount of God by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen O Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation who in the abundance of thy infinite Charity hath given us thy only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him may not perish but inherit eternal Life and that our necessities may be relieved out of the immense treasure of his Merits Behold me a wretched Sinner tho called by thy mercy into the Society of your Son now also partaking of his Body and Blood and therefore at this instant embracing him in my Breast and possessing him as my very self and what 's intimately united to me And as such in union of that love wherewith heretofore He gave himself for us on the Altar of the Cross and now communicates himself to us in the Sacrament of the Altar I offer Him to thee with all his merits and virtues to thine everlasting praise and glory that thou may'st be perfectly pleased in him and that we who by no action of our own can by the merits and patronage of thy most beloved Son may be compleatly acceptable to thee I present thee O Holy Father with that entire Charity Religion Humility Meekness
us Holy Mary whose voice made St. John Baptist leap in his Mother's Womb who when being found great with Child barest patiently the purpose of putting thee away Pray for us Holy Mary a Virgin conceiving and bringing forth a Son Immanuel who in one receivedst many Sons and thereby wast made the Mother of us all Pray for us Holy Mary that was turned out of the Inn and laid'st the Saviour of the world in a Manger Pray for us Holy Mary who at the Circumcision of thy only Son gavedst him that sweet and amiable Name JESUS Pray for us Holy Mary who most thankfully presentedst in the Temple that ever Blessed Jesus as a most precious Oblation to God his Father Pray for us Holy Mary that fled'st into Aegypt with thy new-born Babe and thy Husband St. Joseph Pray for us Holy Mary who soughtst thy lost Son three days sorrowing and with great joy foundst him in the Temple so early employed in his Father's business Pray for us Holy Mary who laidst up in thy heart all thou heardst spoken of thy Son Pray for us Holy Mary whose life was intirely dedicated to the constant serving of Jesus with the tenderness of a Mother the duty of a Handmaid and religion of a Votary Pray c. Holy Mary whose Soul was pierced as with a Sword at the crucifying of thy Son Pray for us We beseech thee By thy eternal Election to be the Mother of God Pray for us By the sweetness of thy love whereby thou embracedst thy Infant Son and suckledst him with thy Virgin Breasts Pray for us By the joy of the Angels rejoycing at the Nativity of thy Son Pray for us By the affections of love joy gratitude admiration and praise which thou conceivedst at the beholding of so many Miracles wrought by him Pray for us By all the hardships fears troubles and discommodities which thou didst undergo at Bethlehem in thy flight into Egypt and return from thence to Nazareth Pray for us By the sorrow of a heart of a Mother wherewith thou followedst thy Son going to Mount Calvary by the Sword of most bitter sorrow which pierced thy Soul standing by the Cross of thy Son Pray for us By that joy conceived at the Resurrection of thy Son and which now thou enjoyest for ever Pray for us We beseech Thee That thou wouldest vouchsafe to commend and reconcile us to thy Son Pray for us We c. That thou would'st help comfort and protect us like tender Sons with thy Motherly and most prevalent Intercessions Pray for us We c. That in all our necessities and straits especially at the hour of our deaths thou wouldst obtain for us the clemency of thy Son Pray for us We c. O Son of the B. Virgin which takest away the sins c. Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest c. Have mercy on us Our Father c. Hail MARY full of Grace c. Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Breasts that gave thee suck Blessed are they that hear thy Word and faithfully in their lives observe it O Lord hear our Prayers And let our supplications come unto thee MY Soul doth magnify the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Because he hath regarded the humility of his hand-maid Holy Virgin all generations shall call thee Blessed For he that is mighty hath done to thee great things and holy is his Name And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations He hath shewed strength in his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted the humble He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy As he spake to their Fathers Abraham and to his seed for ever Let us pray DEfend O Lord with the protection of peace thy servants trusting in the merits of Jesus and the patronage of the Blessed Virgin his Mother and keep us from all our enemies and from all dangers Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen GRant to thy servants O Lord to enjoy continual health of body and mind and that by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary we may be delivered from present sorrows and obtain eternal felicity thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God and most merciful Father who gavest thy only begotten Son to be born of an humble Virgin that we might be advanced to the adoption of thy children favourably regard the imperfect Prayers of thy servants which we here present unto thee by the efficacious intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and grant that as her Purity is exalted by thee to the highest degree of glory so her Charity may obtain for us the especial assistance of thy grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty Eternal God who didst so prepare the Body and Soul of the glorious Virgin Mary by the eo-operation of the Holy Ghost that it became a worthy habitation for thy Son Grant that in whose commemoration we rejoyce by her pious and prevalent intercession we may be delivered both from present evils and everlasting death thro Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour Amen LITANIES of the Holy Angels O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us Holy Mary Mother of God and Queen of Angels Pray for us Holy Angels who standing before the high and mighty Throne of God sing continually Holy Holy Holy Pray for us Holy Angels who always behold the face of God in Heaven and serve before his Throne and who always obey his word and do his will Pray for us Holy Angels who have committed to you from God the care and custody of Man ministring Spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of Salvation Pray for us Holy Angels Governors of Provinces Protectors of Kingdomes Defenders of the Church Conservators of the Elect Pray for us Holy Angels carrying up the prayers and services of men to God and bringing down God's blessings unto men Pray for us Holy Angels that excel in strength restraining the power of evil Spirits and malice of wicked men Pray for us Holy Angels that rejoyce in the Conversion of any one Sinner that doth penance Pray for us St. Michael Prince of the heavenly Host who castedst out of heaven the Dragon with his Apostate Angels mighty Prince who always standest to help the people of God Pray for us St. Michael the Receiver of the Souls of the faithful and Conducter of them into Paradise Pray for us St. Gabriel who revealedst to Daniel the sacred Visions who warredst against the Prince of the Persians for the people of
bottome of our hearts to assist us in this our difficult and dangerous Combat which we weak and infirm creatures are to wage with the same enemy that we may manfully resist and happily overcome him thro Jesus our Lord. Amen The LITANY of all Saints O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us Holy Mary chosen to be the Mother of God blessed among Women who art called Blessed to all Generations Pray for us O all ye holy Angels who always stand in the presence of God ready to praise and obey him and to minister for the good of men Pray for us O all ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets friends of God and lovers of Justice who with ardent desires and sighings expected the coming of the Messias and prefigured it by several Types and Prophecies Pray for us St. John Baptist the Fore-runner of the Messias and grand Exemplar of Penance Pray for us St. Joseph Husband to the Mother of God and Foster-Father of Christ Pray for us O all ye holy Apostles Evangelists and Disciples of our Lord who left all to follow him and abode with him in all temptations who were witnesses of all his actions and admitted to all his secrets Pray for us Who spread over all the earth the sound of the Gospel who were sent forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves and being infirm and ignorant and base according to the flesh confounded the power and wisdome of the world Pray for us Who endued with power from above and strengthened by the Holy Ghost boldly professed Christ and shed your blood for him Pray for us Who rejoyced in that you were counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus and who shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Pray for us St. Peter Prince of the Apostles who lovedst our Saviour more than the rest and to whom our Lord at his departure committed the feeding of his Sheep Pray for us St. Paul a chosen vessel Doctor of the Gentiles who labouredst more than them all Pray for us St. N. whose holy Memory and Festival we this day commemorate Pray for us St. John the Disciple beloved above the rest to whom our Saviour at his death commended his Mother who didst vindicate the Divinity of Christ and to whom were revealed things to come even to the end of the world Pray for us O all ye holy Martyrs who living godly in this world suffered Persecution and rejoyced in the Cross of our Lord who hated your own Souls in this world and preserved them to eternal life who suffered reproached and whippings bonds and imprisonments were stoned cut in peices and sundry ways tried Pray for us Who came out of great Tribulation and washed your garments in the blood of the Lamb and serve in his Temple day and night Pray for us Who neither thirst nor hunger any more neither doth any heat light upon you who follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth who leadeth you to the fountains of living water and hath wiped all tears from your eyes Pray for us St. Stephen the first Martyr of Christ whom full of the Holy Ghost thine enemies could not resist who prayedst for thy Persecutors Pray for us All holy Popes Bishops Priests Doctors and Confessors who being Souldiers for God did not intangle your selves with things of this world who were set over the Church of God by his Spirit Pray for us Who bore the heat and burthen of the day in the Vineyard of our Lord who watched over your flocks as those that were to give an account for their Souls who enlightened many in righteousness and now shine as lights in the Firmament and as stars in all Eternity Pray for us All holy Monks and Hermites who taking up your Cross followed Christ who not thinking that you had comprehended pressed on to that which was before you who bore chearfully the light burthen and easy yoke of our Lord Pray for us Who made your selves Eunuchs for the Kingdome of God who chastised your bodies and brought them into subjection who being dead to the world led a hidden life with Christ in God and who having put your hands to the Plow looked not back Pray for us All holy Virgins who imitating here the Purity of Angels now rejoyce in the perpetual enjoyment of your heavenly Bridegroom Pray for us All holy Virgins and Widows who with a constant purpose of Continency and Chastity offered up your bodies a living Sacrifice to God and now celebrate perpetual Nuptials with the Bridegroom Pray for us All holy Saints of God who strove to enter in at the strait gate which leadeth to life and took the Kingdome of Heaven by violence Pray for us Who thro many Tribulations and Persecutions have entred into the kingdome of heaven who first sought the Kingdome of God and its Justice who counted all things loss that ye might gain Christ Pray for us Who used this world as tho you used it not who being poor in Spirit merited the possession of the Kingdome of heaven who being meek and patient under injuries possess now the land of the living who hungred and thirsted after righteousness and are now satisfied with the pleasures of heaven who shewing mercy to your Neighbours have obtained abundant mercy who being clean in heart do see God Pray for us Who loving peace rejoyce now in the name and inheritance of the Sons of God who loved your enemies and did good to those that hated you who could do all things thro him that strengthened you Pray for us Who continued unto the end and therefore were saved who were inebriated with the plenty of God's house and satisfied with the torrent of his pleasure who dwell in the house of God and praise him for ever and ever who being secure of your own Salvation with abundant charity are solicitous for ours Pray for us JESU King of the Patriarchs and Light of the Prophets Master of the Apostles and Fortitude of the Martyrs The Sanctity of the Confessors and Purity of Virgins Pray for us Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Be merciful and hear us O Lord. From all evil Deliver us O Lord. By all thy Saints and Elect people Deliver us O Lord. By thy faithful servants who continually stand in thy presence by thy dearly beloved and friends who reign with thee in heaven Deliver us O Lord. By the holiness and intercession of all thine Elect by the death of thy Saints precious in thy sight Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst make us partakers of the fellowship with all those that fear thee and keep thy commandments that we together with thy Saints may strive to enter in at the strait gate that beholding the conversation of
Adam after his fall to the acknowledgment of his fault and who upon Moses's Prayer forgavest the transgressions of thy people against thee From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who frequently restoredst the Israelites after they had sinned when turning unto thee being penitent out of the hands of their enemies From thy great wrath c. Who puttedst away David's sin confessing and doing penance in sackcloth and fasting who sparedst Ahab humbling himself and doing penance From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who heardst Manasses repenting and restoredst him to his Kingdome who heardst Jonah crying unto thee out of the belly of the Whale after he had run away from thee who pardonedst the Ninevites doing penance in fasting sackcloth and ashes From thy great wrath c. JESU Son of the living God who camest into this world to save sinners the good Shepherd who camest to seek and to save that which was lost From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who being to redeem the world sent'st John the Baptist the Preacher of Penance and gavest him to be a wonderful pattern thereof in the severity of his diet and raiment From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us JESU who tho thou knewest no sin yet was frequent in fastings watchings and other acts of Penance From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who declaredst the Publican acknowledging his guilt with sorrow and humbly beating his breast to be justified who calledst the Publicans and Sinners and not the Just to repentance and broughtest Salvation to the houses of Matthew and Zacheus being penitent From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who deliveredst those that were afflicted with diseases by Satan first forgiving their sins who by the example of the Prodigal Son returning to his Father hast given poor sinners great hopes of pardon and forgiveness From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who mercifully absolvedst the Woman taken in Adultery and who forgavest much to Mary Magdalen a Sinner because she loved much From thy great wrath c. Who by graciously looking upon Peter after he had denied thee thrice broughtst him to confession of his Sin and bitter tears of Penitence and who miraculously calledst St. Paul when a great Persecutor and making havock of thy Church From thy great wrath c. Who didst bear our sins in thy Body upon the Cross and wast made a propitiation for us From thy great c. We confess unto thee O Lord our transgressions and the transgressions of our fore-fathers by which we with them have offended thee and walked contrary to thy commandments Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Behold we were conceived in sin and in iniquity did our Mothers bring us forth and as we have multiplied our days so have we multiplied the number of our transgressions Be merciful and spare us O Lord We have sinned by our vain thoughts and the unlawful desires of our hearts the idle and wicked words of our lips by our wicked works and our whole life spent unprofitably Be merciful and spare us O Lord. We have sinned against thee by unthankfulness for thy benefits by impatience under thy chastisements and our care to fulfil our own sinful lusts more than thy holy commandments Be merciful and spare us O Lord. We have sinned against our brethren not doing to others as we would have them do to us Be merciful c. We have sinned against our selves by preferring the profits of this present world before our eternal happiness Be merciful and spare us O Lord. We have sinned by deferring our Conversion and putting off our good purposes of amending our lives by exposing our weak nature to new temptations by neglecting many opportunities of doing good and even our best endeavours have been full of imperfections Be merciful and spare us O Lord. We have sinned by not improving those talents thou hast bestowed upon us by loosing our precious time and neglecting the means thou hast afforded us for the promoting of our Salvation Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Our iniquities have multiplied over our heads and our transgressions have grown up to the heavens to thee O Lord belongeth mercy and forgiveness but unto us shame and confusion of face Be merciful and spare us c. Just art thou O Lord in all the evils that have befallen us for thou hast dealt righteously with us but we have done wickedly and our destruction is from our selves Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Be merciful and spare us O Lord. From all Evil Deliver us O Lord. From all Sin Deliver us O Lord. From all profaness and contempt of Sacred things from all Superstition and Hypocrisy from Idolatry and worshiping of thee according to our own fancy from rash swearing perjury and cursing Deliver us O Lord. From neglect in coming to and irreverence in celebrating thy holy service Deliver us O Lord. From disobedience to our Superiors and doing injuries to our Neighbour from anger and contention from cousining and fraud from lying and back-biting Deliver us O Lord. From all wicked desires from wanton thoughts filthy concupiscences and uncleanness from lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes Deliver us O Lord. From pride covetousness and luxury from envy anger and gluttony from sloth in things concerning our eternal Salvation and all other mortal sin Deliver us c. From all impatience and murmuring against the righteous Dispensations of thy Divine Providence Deliver c. From all Schism and Heresy from presuming on our own judgments from all seducing of others into sin Deliver us O Lord. From relapsing into those sins of which we have once repented from hardness of heart and security of an evil conscience Deliver us O Lord. From the sight of the angry Judge from being placed at thy left hand and hearing that fearful sentence Deliver us O Lord. From the worm that dies not and the fire that is unquenchable from the bitter pains of eternal death from the gates of hell and power of darkness Deliver us c. By the paternal bowels of God the Father by the bloody wounds of God the Son by the ineffable goodness of God the Holy Ghost Deliver us O Lord. By that Name besides which there is no other given under heaven by which we can be saved by the blood of the New Testament and propitiation for the whole world Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring us to true Penance and that we may always bear in memory in the bitterness of our Souls the ill spent years of our forepast life We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thou wouldst be pleased to enlighten our minds to the finding out of our secret sins and of such as formerly known are now forgotten by us We sinners c. That we may duly perform the penances enjoyned us by our Ghostly Fathers and that we may judge our selves and so escape thy
just judgments We sinners c. That we may chastise our bodies and bring them into subjection and that we may no more live after the flesh but by the spirit mortify the deeds thereof We sinners c. That we may voluntarily forbear the pleasures and customes of this life to the end that we may give our selves without interruption to the painful exercises of penance We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may bewail our sins in sackcloth and ashes and humble our Souls before thee in watchings and prayers weeping and mourning night-exercises and solitude We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That taking revenge on our selves we may break off our sins by fastings and abstain from things grateful and pleasant to our senses We sinners beseech Thee c. That we may readily expose our selves to contempt and disgrace from men thereby to take revenge upon our pride and wickedness against thee We sinners c. That to the glory of thy name and shame and confusion of our own faces we may confess our sins to the Ministers thou hast appointed that we may more easily obtain pardon from thee We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may freely confess to our neighbours the wrong we have done them and humbly beg pardon of them restore what we have wrongfully taken or withheld from them and make reparation for any losses thereby to escape thy just revenge upon us We sinners c. That we may freely forgive others trespasses against us or any satisfactions due from them to us whereby we may have hope that thou wilt forgive ours against thee We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may break off our sins by alms and our transgressions by shewing mercy to the poor that we feed the hungry cloath the naked visit the sick forgive our enemies and shew mercy to all whereby we may the more easily obtain mercy from thee We sinners c. That putting on the whole armour of God we may hereafter be able to stand against all the wiles of the Devil We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may bring forth fruits worthy of Penance in due season and that we may work out our Salvation with fear and trembling We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thou wouldst be pleased to afflict and purge us here and spare us eternally hereafter We sinners c. That going with confidence unto the throne of Grace we may obtain mercy and find it in an acceptable time We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world Spare us good Lord. O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world Hear us good Lord. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy upon us O Christ hear us _____ O Christ hearken to us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us Our Father c. A Psalm O Lord deal not with us according to our sins Nor reward us according to our iniquities O Lord remember not our former transgressions Let thy mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O Lord our Saviour And for the glory of thy Name deliver us and be merciful to our transgressions Cleanse us O Lord from our secret sins And keep us from other mens sins Remember not our offences O Lord nor the offences of our Fore-fathers Neither take thou vengeance on our sins Deliver not our Souls to the devouring Beast And forget not the Souls of thy poor servants for ever O Lord turn away thy face from our sins And blot out all our iniquities Restore unto us the joy of thy Salvation And establish us with thy principal Spirit O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee O Benigne c. Or This. O Lord correct us not in thine anger neither chastise us in thy fury We acknowledge our iniquities against our selves unto thee O Lord that thou may'st forgive the hainousness of our sins O Lord all our desire is before thee and our sighing is not hid from thee Have mercy-upon us O Lord according to thy great mercy And according to the multitude of thy mercies blot out all our transgressions Thou shalt arise O Lord and have mercy upon us for it is time to have mercy upon us yea the time is come If thou shouldst be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord who can stand Enter not into judgment with thy servants O Lord for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified O Benigne c. Let us pray A Collect. MOst gracious God the Fountain of all mercy and blessing who desirest not the death of a sinner nor despisest the tears of the penitent favourably receive this our confession and effectually move our hearts to a true contrition that being pardoned the evils we have presumed to do we may be delivered from the evils we deserve to suffer and assisted by thy grace may bestow the short remainder of our days in a more perfect denial of our corrupt inclinations and more constant attendance to thy glorious promises thro our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen A Collect. O Benigne Lord pour we beseech thee thy grace into our hearts that we restraining our sins by voluntary chastisements may rather be afflicted with some temporal sufferings than deputed to eternal punishments thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen LITANIES for the Sick and those that are Dying O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation who comfortest us in all our tribulations who sufferest us not to be tempted above that which we are able to bear but with the temptation givest strength that we may be able to sustain Have mercy on us Who chastisest and scourgest those whom thou lovest who judgest and correctest us with weaknesses and sickness and death it self that we may not be condemned with the world Have mercy on us Who breathedst into man newly made after thy own Image the breath of life Have mercy on us Who madest not death nor delightest in the destruction of the living who plantedst in the midst of Paradise the Tree of life against the death of the body Have c. Who after our first Parents had contracted the guilt of death opposedst the seed of the Woman against the malice of the Serpent Have mercy upon us Who createdst Herbs growing out of the earth and innumerable other remedies for the use and necessity of man Have mercy on us Who turnest man to destruction and sayest Return ye children of men who woundest and healest strikest and bindest up with thy hand killest and makest alive
judge the living and the dead Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed O Lamb of God at whose presence the earth shall be moved and the heavens melt away Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed O Lamb of God in whose blessed book of Life their names are written Give eternal rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed The Antiphon DEliver us O Lord and all thy Faithful in that day of terror when the Sun and Moon shall be darkned and the Stars fall down from heaven in that day of calamity and amazement when heaven it self shall shake and the Pillars of the earth be moved and the glorious Majesty of Jesus come with innumerable Angels to judge the world by fire Deliver us O Lord in that dreadful day And place us with thy blessed at thy right hand for ever O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Supplications come to thee ALmighty God with whom do live the Spirits of the perfect and in whose holy custody are deposited the Souls of all those that depart hence in an inferior degree of thy grace who being by their imperfect Charity rendred unworthy thy presence are detained in a state of grief and from thy beatifical sight as we bless thee for the Saints already admitted to thy glory so we humbly offer our Prayers for thy afflicted servants who continually wait and sigh after the day of their deliverance Pardon their sins supply their unpreparedness and wipe away the tears from their eyes that they may see thee and in thy glorious light eternally rejoyce Thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Eternal God who besides the general precepts of Charity hast commanded a particular respect to parents kindred and benefactors grant we beseech thee that as they were the instruments by which thy providence bestowed on us our birth education and innumerable other benefits so our Prayers may be a means to obtain for them a speedy delivery from any privation of bliss which they may suffer for their sins and a free admittance to thy infinite joys Thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen MOst wise and merciful Lord who hast ordained this life as a passage to the future confining our Conversion to the time of our Pilgrimage here and reserving for hereafter the state of punishment and reward vouchsafe us thy grace who are yet alive and still have opportunity of reconcilement to thee so to watch over all our actions and correct every least deviation from the true way to Heaven that we be neither surprised with our sins uncancelled nor our duties imperfect but when our Bodies go down into the grave our Souls may ascend to thee and dwell for ever in the mansions of eternal felicity Thro Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen The LITANY of Christian Virtues O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Lord just and good and a rewarder of all those that seek thee diligently Have mercy on us Who createdst our first Parents in innocency and holiness after thine own image and gavest a testimony to the offerings of just Abel Have mercy on us Who savedst in the Ark from the Flood Noah a Preacher of Justice and deliveredst from the Fire just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked Have mercy on us Who gavedst the Promise to Abraham found faithful after many trials Have mercy on us Who deliveredst Jacob endued with a wonderful patience and confidence in adversities from all evils and gavest a joyful end to thy servant Job that pattern of patience Have mercy on us Who rewardest the singular modesty and chastity of Joseph with the rule over Aegypt Have mercy on us Who choosest Moses the meekest man upon earth to be Ruler over thy people and electedst Joshuah notable for valour and constancy to lead thy people into the land of Promise Have mercy on us Who gavest the Priesthood to the Sons of Levi for their great courage in vindicating thine honor and deliveredst from all dangers the Prophet Elias for his incomparable Zeal for thy true worship against the false Prophets and at length took'st him up into heaven Have mercy on us Who set'st Samuel Judge over thy people a lover of Justice and free from bribes And liftedst up David a man after thy own heart in the faithful service of thee to be King of Israel Have mercy on us Who replenishedst Solomon humbly begging Wisdome of thee both with it and many other Graces And adornedst Daniel and his Companions being singularly temperate and sober with wisdome and beauty Have mercy c. Who chosest the Blessed Virgin Mary adorned with singular chastity humility obedience and all other Virtues to be the Mother of thy Son Have mercy on us Who sentest John Baptist a fore-runner of thy Son a Preacher of penance and of great austerities and abstinence Have mercy on us Who sentest JESUS Christ thy only begotten Son into the world the pattern of all Holiness that we should follow his example Have mercy on us Who hast chosen us in him before the foundations of the world that we also should be holy and unblameable in thy sight Have mercy on us Who hast predestinated us that we should be made conformable to the image of thy Son and hast created us in him to good works which thou hast ordained that we should walk in them Have mercy on us Who hast redeemed us from our vain conversation by the precious blood of Christ and hast regenerated us by thy word unto a lively hope of an eternal inheritance Have mercy on us O Jesu who knewest no sin neither was guile found in thy mouth but appearedst to take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us JESUS who barest our sins in thy body on the Cross that we being dead unto sin may live unto Justice and Holiness Have mercy on us Who hast delivered us out of darkness into light from the power of Satan into thy Kingdome and hast bestowed upon us the remission of sins and an inheritance amongst thy Saints Have mercy on us Who promisedst thy Disciples that forsook all for thee twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel who committedst unto St. Peter notably confessing and loving thee the feeding of thy sheep Have mercy on us Who vouchsafest to St. John notable for chastity the singular priviledge of thy love Have mercy on us Who sendedst thy holy Spirit whereby divine Charity is spread abroad in our hearts Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Be merciful and grant unto us O Lord The virtue of humility and patience spiritual poverty and meekness longanimity and obedience to those that are set over us Grant unto us O Lord A quiet mind and contented with our present condition true peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Grant us c.
Temperance and modesty sobriety and chastity a true love of thee and our neighbours the contempt of our selves and the things of this world bounty and compassionate affections Grant us O Lord Diligence and constant vigilancy a hunger and thirst after Holiness zeal and fervour of spirit Christian fortitude and perseverance to the end Grant us c. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord That being reconciled to God by the death of Christ we may present our selves holy unspotted and unblameable before him that we may walk worthy of God in all things well-pleasing fruitful in good works and increasing in the knowledge of God We sinners c. That whatsoever we do in word or deed we may do all to the glory of God that we make not void thy grace or receive it in vain We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we be careful to sanctify our Lord Jesus Christ always in our hearts that we seek not our own things but before all the things of Jesus Christ We sinners c. That looking up to Jesus who suffered we be not wearied and faint in our minds but considering the conversation of the Saints imitate their faith and patience We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That as his Souldiers we entangle not our selves in the things of this world but having food and raiment we be content therewith We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That by good works we make our faith and election sure that we do good whilst we have time and faint not for that we shall reap in due season We sinners c. That we forbear one another in love being careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace that we bear one another's burthens and so fulfil the law of God We sinners beseech Thee c. That being strengthened in all virtue thro the power of his grace we give thanks to God with all patience and long-suffering We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That waiting for the coming of our Lord we be careful to be found in him pure and unspotted in peace that we may receive the end of our faith even the salvation of our Souls and in the mean time work out our Salvation with fear and trembling We sinners beseech Thee c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Increase our Faith O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Infuse Hope O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Enkindle Charity O Christ hear us Christ give Ear unto us Our Father which art in Heaven c. Let us pray IN flame O Lord our reins and heart with the fire of thy holy Spirit that we may serve thee with a chast body and please thee with a pure heart O Most gracious Lord vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct and order all our thoughts words and works according to thy blessed will and to the praise of thy great Name conform them according to the perfect example of thy most holy life and conversation Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen O God which justifiest the ungodly we humbly beseech thy Majesty graciously to defend with thy heavenly grace and assist with thy continual protection us thy servants relying on thy mercy that constantly running in the course of virtue we may at length receive the crown thereof and by no temptations be withdrawn from serving thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Father of mercies and God of all consolations propitiously regard the frailty of our condition and by thy grace strengthen our endeavours that thro thy mercy we may at length obtain plenary remission of our sins constancy in thy holy service and the reward promised to perseverance thro Jesus Christ thy only Son our Lord. Amen Concerning our SPEECH For Governing our Words O Almighty Judge of men who hast declared that for every idle word we must give account in the day of Judgment and by our words we must be justified or condemned and hast taught us by thy Holy Scriptures that he that keepeth his tongue keepeth his life and that if any offend not in word the same is a perfect man We beseech thee to set a continual watch before our mouth and keep the door of our lips that we may ever take heed unto our ways that we offend not in our tongue that unruly member which defileth the whole Body and setteth on fire the whole course of Nature O Lord protect and deliver thy servants by thy restraining Grace and by thy fear from the many evil and bitter fruits of this so small a member from blasphemy swearing or taking thy name in vain from lying slandering backbiting and speaking evil of our neighbour from railing reviling flattery tale-bearing or disclosing secrets from vain-glory and boasting from praising our selves or disparaging others from ostentation of our own science and wit from all filthy and corrupt communication from jesting foolish froward and idle words and unprofitable discourse And Thou who hast given this Member c. Thou knowest O Lord who knowest all our infirmities how slippery a member the Tongue is and how liable we are to some abuse of it which we are necessitated so often to use and have so often occasions ministred unto us of using it amiss which also it is not in another's power easily to restrain Grant that we may employ our uttermost endeavours to prevent the manifold evils thereof that we may not desire to speak where we may without loss be silent nor utter any thing which becomes not thy servants for fear of seeming stupid or ignorant melancholick or unsociable make us swift to hear and learn but slow to speak not intermedling in every discourse nor speaking at all times what we know but what is necessary remembring that a prudent man concealeth knowledge and that there is more hopes of a fool than of one hasty in his words And good Lord endue with such peaceableness and calmness of spirit that we may never passionately contend or dispute to maintain an unnecessary truth or to vindicate a small right or to justify our selves in slight defamations or affronts but may follow the pattern of thy most admirable silence O Lord even in the questioning of thy most innocent life and on all occasions vilifying and humbling our selves may in our hearts give the glory only to Thee Who livest and reignest c. But thou who hast given this member to thy creature Man as a special instrument of thy Praise grant that we may zealously employ it to promote thy glory and when ever occasion is given to vindicate thy honor to joyn in thy praises and to give thanks and to speak good of thy Name O Lord open thou our lips and let our mouth ever shew forth thy Praise And be pleased also so to sanctify us in our worldly converse that our Speech may be always
with Grace seasoned with Salt that we may know how to answer every man and our discourse such as may some-way edify and minister Grace to the hearers that this busy member being defiled with no filthy or vain communication here may be the more hallowed in the world to come to sing Hallelujahs Doxologies and Thanksgivings for ever and ever to the Blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen A DOXOLOGY to the Blessed Trinity GLory be to the Father of mercies the Father of Men and Angels the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Glory be to the most holy and eternal Son of God the blessed Saviour and Redeemer of the world the Advocate of Sinners the Prince of Peace the Head of the Church and the mighty Deliverer of all them that call upon him Glory be to the holy and eternal Spirit of God that searcheth all things even the depths and hidden things of God the Holy Ghost the Advocate the Comforter the sanctifying and life-giving Spirit All glory and thanks all honour and power all love and obedience be to the blessed and individual Trinity one God Eternal It is most just and right to praise and to glorify to worship and adore to give thanks and to magnify thee the great Maker of all Creatures visible and invisible the Treasure of all good temporal and eternal the Fountain of all life mortal and immortal the Lord and God of all things in heaven and earth the great Father of thy servants the great Master of thy children The Heavens and the Heaven of Heavens and every Power therein the Sun and the Moon and all the Stars of the Sky the Sea and the Earth the heights above all the depths below Jerusalem which is from above the Congregation celestial the Church of the first born written in the heavens the Spirits of the Prophets and just men made perfect the Souls of Apostles and all holy Martyrs Angels and Archangels Thrones and Dominions Principalities and Powers the Spirits of Understanding and the Spirits of Love with never ceasing Hymns and perpetual Anthems cry out night and day and let the humble voice of thy servants also be heard amongst them saying Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts heaven and earth are full of thy glory The Heavens declare thy glory the Earth confesseth thy providence the Sea manifests thy power and every Spirit and every understanding Creature celebrates thy greatness for ever and ever Especially thy miserable creature Man is bound to praise thee because thou mad'st him according to thy own Image because thou gav'st him the riches and the rest of Paradise and when he fell and broke thy easy Commandment thou didst not despise his folly nor leave him in his Sin but didst chastise him with thy Rod and restrain him by thy law and instruct him by thy Prophets and at last by the coming of the second person God the Son into the world did'st renew and repair this thy broken Image for which praised be the Lord God Almighty good and gracious dreadful and venerable holy and merciful to the works of thy hands Hosannah blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosannah in the highest for ever and ever Amen A DOXOLOGY concerning the Ways of God's Providence § 1 O The depth of thy Knowledge and Wisdome O God! how unsearchable are thy Judgments and thy Ways past finding out O Lord how great are thy works how deep are thy thoughts Who can utter thy mighty Acts O Lord Who can shew forth all thy Praise Even from the Creation thy Power delighteth to manifest it self in high and difficult matters and thou walkest contrary to the wisedome of men Thy whole work is to do wonders and by these thou being invisible in person declarest thy presence on the earth Thou bringest light out of darkness good out of evil and strength out of weakness Content and satiety out of poverty and glory and honour out of humility True wisdome and knowledge out of holy simplicity and self-disesteem the greatest consolations and joys out of adversities and sufferings Thou makest thy foolishness to be wiser then men and thy weaknes stronger then men By the foolish things of this world thou confoundest the wise and by the weak things of the world thou confoundest things that are mighty By the base and despised and things that are not thou bringest to nought things that are On the contrary thou bringest scorn and contempt out of the highest of pride ambition and glory covetousnes and unsatiableness out of plenty and abundance Extreme folly out of secular wisdome and cunning and sudden want out of ill gotten wealth Distraction out of the fulfilling our desires and sighing and mourning out of secular joys and pleasures Thou delightest to take the wily in their own craftiness and to deceive the deceivers To make his own net that he hath hid to catch himself and himself to fall into the same destruction he hath prepared for others Thou lovest to judge men by their own self-condemnation and to make the guilty pronounce sentence upon himself To punish men by their faults and to make their own way and not thy power to overthrow them Out of deep security and confidence thou bringest adversity and trouble and death when men think most enjoying life When they say Peace behold a sudden destruction and in the midst of War behold a sudden Peace Thou shewest strength with thy arm O Lord and scatterest the proud man in the imaginations of his heart Thou puttest down the mighty from their seat and dost exalt the humble and meek Thou fillest the hungry with good things and the rich thou sendest empty away Thou makest him who disperseth his goods to the poor to abound in wealth and those who heap them up to suffer penury The Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the strong nor Bread to the wise nor Favour to the skilful nor Riches to the Understanding but as thou distributest them O Lord to those who depend on thee § 2 The way by which thou appointest man to be happy is that which humane reason judgeth contrary to it Here repeat the Preface and which seemeth to render him most unhappy By his abondoning all things he comes to possess all things and by his desire of nothing he attains to want nothing By his being careful for nothing but the serving of thee he becomes provided of all things by thee and in his flying from the world the good things thereof follow him To cross and forsake his own will he finds the way to true tranquility of mind and to forsake his own reason with dependance on thee the way to true wisdome To be careless of and to lay down his life for thy sake the surest way to save it whilst others by seeking to preserve do lose it By his humility he attaineth to honour and in voluntary poverty he findeth content He taketh pleasure in infirmities in necessities in
that of possession which makes holy men have mortem in desiderio which others so fear vitam in patientia which others so value 7. Consider all the temporal blessings of holy and orderly living more health of body longer life serenity of mind a pleasure sedate pure and constant but at no time violent itching or discomposing the subject of it and rendring mirth uncapable of continuance or also declining suddenly into pain or anguish A joy not dwelling in the sense and lower felicities of beasts in eating and drinking and marriage these when it useth and rejoyceth in it is as though it used and rejoyced not but in more Angelick and Spiritual complacencies not consisting in having its carnal desires satiated but rather in not having and being freed from such desires which is a content equal to the enjoyment of them Cui Deus haec fecit Supervacua dedit A pleasure more retired and internal of the mind and spirit arising out of several noble considerations of the Soul which have no intercourse with or help from Sense A joy well consisting with and many times very great when the sense is in pain and of sense little or nothing perceived Nay A joying in grief and pains Rom. 5.31 and proportioned to them more joy to counterpoise them as the pains are more And Gaudet minus si minus dolet because the Soul cannot have those special considerations and passions which give it such a goust and delight but from such sufferings So St. Paul's joys still flowed the higher the greater his tribulations were And see a resemblance tho a very faint one of it in Seneca's Philosophy Ep. 18. Summa voluptas saith he in victa tenui Voluptaes autem non illa levis fugax subinde reficienda sed stabilis certa Non enim jucunda res est aqua polenta sed summa voluptas est adidse reduxisse ut c. Quanta enim animi magnitudo c. Digr Of the great blessing of long life 8. The blessings on their Posterity Associates c. for their sakes in all the contraries to those Judgments mentioned before § 3. n. 11. c. which are brought upon others for the sinners sake God not going less in his mercies than in his judgments Digr Of the great efficacy and benefit of the Communion of Saints 9. From doing to others all good and returning no evil much peace and a good name amongst the most or the best of men 1 Pet. 3 13. Matt. 5.5 And again when from contrary manners to and non-compaliance with the world he incurrs the hate and ill report thereof in lieu of the worldly a spiritual peace and divine consolations more abundant So that a good man suffers some trouble from humane and temporal solaces and endeavors to avoid them And every one as he groweth perfecter and deeplier wounded with the divine love and desire of conformity to his Good Lord takes a far greater delight in their contraries in sufferings persecutions injuries retiredness long devotions and hard mortification as being then most replenished with spiritual Consolations after the tasting of which already all the world's delights are become bitter and sowre These therefore he chooseth armeth for impatiently expects arrived to glories in wondring they are no greater which are to save such a sinner so well meriting damnation from such infinite torments to come and which are to gain to so vile a person such infinite joys and honor to come §. 9. 2 The great reward of it for the future 1. The happiness of the Souls of Saints immediately after Death Exemplified in the Soul of the H. Thief accompanying the Soul of our Lord in Paradise the same day he suffered In that of the H. Beggar Lazarus receiving in Abraham's bosome Consolations for his former sufferings in the life-time of Dives his Brethren as the Parable represents it wherein we may presume our Lord would hint to the people no mistaken Notions of the future life Who also elsewhere opposing the Sadduces that denied Spirits argues Abraham to live still at this present because God after his death stiled himself his God Again Exemplified in the Souls of the Martyrs who Rev. 6.9 10 11. 7.9.15 are clothed in white Robes and attending on the Lamb till the residue of the Saints their like sufferings for Christ being fulfilled they should all at once resume from present corruption their bodies glorified The same happiness of separated Souls instanced-in by St. Paul Heb. 12.23 where he numbers standing in the Divine presence amongst Angels the Souls also of just men consummate Therefore our Lord commends his spirit into the hands of his Father and St. Stephen again dying recommends his into the hands of Jesus And St. Peter 1. Ep. 3 4. chap. constitutes the hidden man of the heart or the righteousness of the Soul in that which is not corruptible Lastly this future happy State frequently represented in the joys which holy Souls sometimes receive in this life in the loss of the senses and cessation of the animal-functions and particularly shewed in that rapt of St. Paul into the third Heaven and Paradise and there receiving those unutterable Caresses from whose doubting language whether in or out of the Body I know not may be gathered that if his Soul did not yet it might have visited those places when it was separate from the Body Which Apostle after this short experiment of those other blisses pronounceth it much better to have this earthly tabernacle dissolved so to put on another celestial an house not made with hands a building of God eternal in the Heavens and much better to be absent from the Body so to be present with Christ And St. Peter using much what the same language speaks of deposing his present tabernacle or changing his habitation at his death 2. Ep. 1.14 As also he makes mention of Souls in Prison who were preached-to in the days of Noah 1. Pet. 3.19 2. The happiness of Soul and Body after the day of Judgment where you may entertain your thoughts on such contemplations as these promised in his word who is faithful and true The then renewed youth vigor beauty and agility of the Body The purity of the Soul from all Sin Our glorious Habitation Celestial The most amiable Society of the Saints Our vision and familiar acquaintance and conversation with Angels and Spirits One Holy Spirit and an ardent and mutual love flaming in all Christ our Spouse God our Father All Temples of the Holy Ghost Members of Christ Sons of God The heavenly City and Temple Kings and Preists White Robes Crowns and Palms Harps Songs and Festivals Life Rest and Peace for ever and ever Heu mihi quia incolatus meus prolongatus est Non sunt condignae passiones hujus Saeculi c. Momentaneum hoc leve Tribulationis quod in praesenti est operatur immensum supra modum gloriae pondus in sublimitate 3. The several Degrees of Glory
Nay When as our Lord took this way without any need on purpose to recommend to us his own Example Go on then If you keep the Precept and stand firm all is well but if you fall and miscarry know that because you have despised her Counsels Wisdome will laugh at your Calamity And That if you stand and all be well to you keeping the Precept yet to those who keep the Counsel too all shall be better For the higher degrees of the Precepts or of those vertues that are in Precepto as for Example the higher degrees of temperance are Counsels which though not observed they bring no guilt yet practised they are highlier rewarded And besides this the observance of the Counsels in one vertue very much conduceth to the performance of the necessary Precept in another as the higher degrees of temperance to the observance of necessary Chastity And hence upon a double account are Counsels recommended to your Christian Practice both as disposing you more easily to keep the Precepts and as in themselves rewardable beyond them and as to both these may advance your Perfection §. 13 The Practice of a holy and spiritual Life chiefly consists in these four 1. Humbling and judging and taking revenge on our selves for our sins past 2. Vsing all means for subduing and preventing sins for the future 3. Diligently practising all Christian Duties or doing good 4. Willingly undergoing all afflictions for Christ's and our Duty 's sake or Suffering evil Counsels Counsels for the more facilitating and advancing the performance of these Duties and especially of the two first §. 14 1. In forbearing many things not probibited 1. Forbearing the practice or use of many things permitted and lawful and the doing or using of which is no sin because considering humane nature corrupt they are very frequent temptations to sin and though lawful seldome lawfully used where know that forbearance and abstinence from them is far more easy t than moderation in them and constant forbearance than that which is sometimes intermitted Estava to do el danno en no quictar de raiz laes occasiones S. Teresa's life 6. chap. 2. And practising many things not commanded 2. Practising many things not commanded i. e. under guilt of sin because they are very expedient helps for the prevention of sin Or also advantages for the better exercise of Christian vertues and the more patient endurance of usual afflictions 3. Being always of the two more careful to avoid the temptations to evil than in a hazardous passage through them zealous perchance to do some good because innocence is far more acceptable than a good work without it Neither may we venture someway to offend God that we may some otherways please him These Counsels recommended to Practice especially in these Particulars following 1. In the matter of Riches and Wealth §. 15. In the Particulars 1. Of Riches and Wealth 1. Not seeking after or also freely parting with wealth and riches by riches I mean whatever exceeds St. Paul's sufficiency or competency or enough to satisfy just necessities 1. Tim. 6.6 8. Well weighing and often meditating on these and such like Texts 1. Tim. 6.9 10. Matt. 19.23 24. 13.22 Luk. 12.20 Prov. 1.32 Again these Luk. 6.24 25. 16.25 Rev. 18.7 Psal 17.14 Again these Matt. 19.21 Luk. 12.33 Act. 2.44 45. Luk. 19.8 19. Luk. 16.9 1. Tim. 6.19 Which Texts after you have well considered I suppose you will not so much wonder at this Advice as at the Christian 's common contrary Practice I said parting with them which at once cures all Trust in Cares for Quae possident homines student augere Temptations of them and removes by reason of these all those difficulties and only to God possibilities of a rich man's being saved mentioned by Christ Matt. 19.23 24. Especially if you suspect your self inclined to Avarice giving plentifully and often for as some Vices are best overcome by flying as Carnal lusts so others by resisting and fighting them amongst which is Covetousness 2. Practising at least sometimes the inconveniencies and sufferings of Poverty to try by the tolerableness of these the unnecessariness of Wealth The Philosopher's Advice Seneca Epist 18.20 3. Putting some bounds to unsatiable desires due respect being had to a competency by making a firm resolution after you have attained such a moderate proportion of Wealth for your self or for the Portions of your Children or other Relations for whom you are obliged to provide unless you may judge your present Estate sufficient to dedicate all future gain or increase to pious and charitable Uses Or alotting to God and his Poor constantly such a set Portion a fifth or tenth or some other part out of your Revenue and Gains to be unviolably observed and laid by for their service Recommendation of Poverty or a Competency only 4. Chusing or it already possessed continuing as the most happy the State of Poverty or competency and having only what is necessary which voids all the temptations and dangers of Wealth and is the most proper Nurse and Guardian of many excellent Vertues and Graces of the Holy Spirit Parens quaedam Generatioque vertutum saith St. Ambrose and therefore put the first amongst the Beatitudes Parent of humility the poor in fortunes being more commonly poor in Spirits Of Evangelical obedience and devotion dependance on God and consequently Prayer Of tranquility and contentedness cares always accompanying the possession of that which every one strives for si vis vacare animo aut pauper sis oportet aut pauperi similis Seneca Of Sobriety as it were necessitated in all the several kinds of it and consequently of better health and temper of Body and moderation of passions Of diligence in some imployment meekness gentleness patience the putting up and not revenging injuries and not gainsaying qualities more suitable to inferiors which State is always the most fitly prepared for divine favours both by the vertuous endowments of the Soul and also meaness of our condition God most magnifying himself in the lowest both least flesh should glory before him and that his power may be the more seen in our weakness For which see and meditate on these Texts 1. Cor. 1.26 27 28. 2. Cor. 12.9 10. Jam. 4.6 Matt. 11.5 Luk. 14.21 comp 18 19. Jam. 2.5 Luk. 6.20 21 22. 16.25 But above all this condition is the more amiable as being the chosen secular condition of our Lord Christ and of his holy Apostles See Matt. 8.20 Zech. 9.9 Matt. 10 9. 1. Cor. 4.9 c. 2. Corin. 6.4 c. 12.10 c. Jer. 35.7 comp 18 19. ver §. 1◠2. Of Honor Preferment 1. Not seeking Honor Preferments or publick Offices you having a competency and a present lawful imployment things of which few are destitute whether this proceeds from other Ambitions or as you think from that of doing more good thereby Not seeking them Because of a greater charge and duty always accompanying them for
which you must be accountable Because of the multiplied cares thereof leaving you less vacancy for attendance on Prayer and Celestial things which vacancy you ought by all means you can to preserve for the doing your chiefest business that of the next World for it may well be applied to this secular engagement what the Apostle adviseth concerning another 1. Cor. 7.33 Qui sine uxore est read it sine officio solicitus est quae Domini sunt quomodo placeat Deo qui autem cum uxore solicitus est quae sunt mundi quomodo placeat uxori divisus est And ver 35. Hoc ad utilitatem vestram dico quod facultatem praebeat sine impedimento Dominum obsecrandi The Apostles frequently advising us to whatever may further disswading from whatever may hinder Prayer the chief business in this life See this ch v. 5. 1. Pet. 3.7 Matt. 5.23 24. 1. Tim. 2.8 Jam. 1.6 And ver 32. Volo autem vos sine solicitudine esse Again Because of the many Temptations and great Sins to which secular Greatness and State joined with Wealth and Applause its two ordinary Hand-maids exposeth you Concerning which Temptations and Sins the former Counsels and Texts being as applicable to an honourable and a low condition as before to a rich and a poor need not here be repeated Lastly Because of the many changes to which secular Greatness is liable and from which though no condition whatever in this world is freed yet much the more stedfast and fixt and always equal are the lowest As for the invitement to all these hazards the doing more good consider that it is also most what a temptation proceeding from too much self-love and self-esteem that if indeed you be not so worthy and fit for the right discharge of such Office as some others your procuring it doth for so much hinder and diminish the publick Good Again being exposed to so many more Temptations by it your Humility ought to fear that the Sins you shall commit are likely to o're count the Good you may perform and that in this case you ought to prefer your own Innocence before your neighbour's Benefit and the not offending God by Sin before your pleasing him with some good Work he requiring Purity before Charity and Obedience before Sacrifice 2. Refusing also such Honors and Preferments when offered preserving due obedience to those who may command you because there are persons enow fitter than your self as you ought to think to possess them 3. Prescinding at once all ambitious desires and designs and the many vices that attend them after a due respect had to the sufficiency of your present condition by passing a firm Resolution never to solicite for or accept when freely offered unless constrained to it by authority not to be opposed any higher place or preferment in this world men much more freely and devoutly attending to their spiritual Progress when they have concluded their secular Recommendation of Humiliations and of a low Condition 4. Diligently practising frequent Humiliations of your self to mean persons and services below your condition See Rom. 12.10 16. Jam. 1.10 considering the many Vertues and Graces in us that receive great growth thereby and rise still higher as our Humility can descend still lower and this is the proper effect of such Humiliations considering also the Tranquility and Peace enjoyed by it whilst we seek that wherein we have no Competitor but wherein all are ready rather to further our design But especially imitating the Pattern of our great Lord in this Practice Matt. 20.28 And Jo. 13.4 c. where he professeth he did it for a Pattern ver 14 15. And obeying his Lessons Luk. 14.10 9.46 Matt. 18.2 23.12 Mar. 9.35 36. where he directs the Guest to take the lowest place that so he might be called higher and by an humble Child brought in amongst them teacheth his ambitious Disciples that the true way to be greatest was to be least and first was to be last Greatest for the present i. e. in Vertue and in the esteem of God and his good Angels even whilst he is last in Place and mens esteem But greatest too for the future this being in the rule of God's Oeconomy the only posture for Preferment he depressing the high and exalting the low and so such a State if it were only out of ambition to be chosen which God and Men love to advance §. 16. 2. And Reputation 1. And as for Honors Preferments and Offices so for Reputation and a Name which we may seek also even in the not-seeking the other Keeping ever a strict watch of not being tainted at least with this most subtle Evil never suffering the praise of men to be a motive to you of undertaking any Action The praise of men a thing so little worth which is but of a few of them only in some Corner only of this lower world most of these too of little judgment and this perhaps mis-informed or partial as is the praise of friends or dissembling and praising only from the lips outward when the heart despiseth and very mutable commending to Day condemning to Morrow See how it went with our Lord himself Benedictus qui venit on Palm-Sunday and Crucifige Crucifige within five days after the most being of a perverted judgment and commending things no way praise-worthy and so this drawing aside the ambitious thereof from doing what his conscience would tell him is most fit to what is most applauded the occasion of the Pharisees great miscarriage in their actions Jo. 12.43.5.44 And see Jo. 5.41 Lastly all in a short time swept away from the earth the praiser and praised and both forgotten and unknown to Posterity This praise of men therefore always rejected let your only motive be the Praise you shall have with God 2. Cor. 10.18 Rom. 2.29 1. Cor. 4.7 and with his Holy Angels infinitely more numerous persons more honourable of a constant being and in the next world our near Acquaintance and Associates never lost but to whom now also we are a spectacle as well as to men 1. Cor. 4.9 1. Tim. 5.21 and our present Actions discoursed of in the Court of heaven and laid up in their Memories Job 1.8 Zechar. 1.12 13. 3.2 Who see and rejoice for any good done to us Luk. 2.14 or done by us Luk. 15.7 and this our Reputation with them declared by our Lord to be worth the valuing See Luk 12.8.9 Rev 3.5 14.10 Matt. 25.31 Eccl. 6.5 1. Tim. 3.16 Who considers much and often that all his Virtues are seen and registred in the Court of heaven will little care to be applauded or known in the Village of this world or rather in but one Cottage of it Mihi pro minimo est ut judicer ab humana die 1. Cor. 4.3 Nay Si hominibus i. e. mundi placeo Christi servus non sum Gal. 1.10 This then often meditated on will animate you to worthy performances with
expression relates 1. Cor. 7.34 The Virgin careth that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit And for this reason it seems to be that we find abstinence from the acts of if I may so call it lawful Lust advised for the better performance of holy Duties or in times of Humiliation c. even to those who are in the State of Marriage as doubtless conjugal Chastity also hath many degrees in it and in some men is far more pure than in others and the permissions of Matrimonial Priviledges are very easily transgressed See Exod. 19.15 before the descent of the Lord upon Mount Sinai the people commanded three days sanctification and not coming at their wives 1. Sam. 21.4 Women kept from the young men for about three days and the vessels of the young men holy i.e. from their wives See Zechar. 7.3 in times of more earnest Addresses to God this separation from Carnality continued Neither is this only Old-Testament-Ceremonial-Holiness But see 1. Cor. 7.5 a place parallel to these Defraud ye not one another except it be with consent for a time that you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer where it may be noted that as Fasting hath no good correspondence with the acts of the conjugal bed sine Cerere c. so these acts also are as prejudicial to Fasting and its Companions And suitable to these Scriptures were the Decrees of the ancient Church Diebus orationis jejuniorum preparationis ad Eucharistiam a conjuge abstinendum And this because carnal pleasures are some way or other always enemies to Spiritual Exercises either proceeding to excess and so rendring us faulty or too much either heightning or also debilitating our temper and so making us undisposed or dividing and diverting some portion of that love and of those intentions to things inferior which are always all incomparably best spent upon and consecrated to God the supreme Good Again we find that after one Marriage the abstaining from a second is both commended see Luk. 2.36 and to some persons to wit those entertained in the pious or holy services of God or of the Church enjoined As appears in the Widows of the Church 1. Tim. 5.9 of whom it is there required That such Widow have been the wife of one man Which words being capable of several senses either that she have not had two husbands at once or not two successively again not two successively either by a Divorce from the former or upon the Death of the former Seeing that no Woman might have two Husbands at one time nor any Woman at all was allowed remarrying upon Divorce See 1. Cor. 7.11 It follows that the Apostles Widow must be understood to be such as had not had a second Husband after the first dead For this Injunction seems to have something singular in it the same caution being given no where to any but only to Church-Officers and Servants And the Apostle seems here rather to require something of extraordinary example and goodness above others in such as were thus to be devoted to the Churches Service and maintained by her Charity than only to caution that they should not be of the most wicked among Christians Which is further confirmed by St. Paul's displeasure against against those Church Widows that re-married ver 11. And if this Interpretation be admitted for the Widows so ought it to be upon the like expression a Husband of one Wife for the Bishops of the Church 1. Tim. 3.2 And for the Deacons 1. Tim. 3.12 2. Consider the great advantages spiritual and secular of a single life and forbearance of Marriage to those who can live continently for Prayer and Fasting and all other service of God without distraction and so for gaining the Kingdome of Heaven Matt. 19.12 For works of Charity to our Neighbour For avoiding Covetousness worldly Cares and Impediments and this in all not only in afflicted times For enjoying our Liberty 1. Cor. 7.4 which when we can have it we are rather to use it 1. Cor. 7.21 See for these 1. Cor. 7. Ver. 5. That you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer vers 28. Such the married shall have trouble in the flesh I spare you vers 35. I would have you without carefulness He that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord how he may please the Lord But he that is married careth for the things of the World how he may please his Wife and is divided as the Vulgar hath it The Virgin careth for the things of the Lord that she may be Holy both in Body and Spirit but She that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband Vers 35. This I speak for your own profit That you may attend upon the Lord without distraction Vers 38. Who giveth her not in Marriage doth better See Matt. 19.12 There be who have made themselves Eunuches for the Kingdome of Heaven's sake He who is able to receive it let him receive it See Luk. 14.20 1. Tim. 5.4 5 6.11.12 3. Consider its higher reward in the next life For tho Celibacy as it occasions other fruits of Righteousness hath no preeminence before this in Wedlock if a married condition also produceth the same Yet as in it self it is a stronger resistance of the lustings of the Flesh and a greater subduer of that natural Concupiscence which all have less or more whose importunities it heroically repelleth whilst the married only lawfully satisfies them thus it seems worthy of and so to have promised to it an higher Reward and Crown in the world to come and is one of the most eminent of all the Vertues as not moderating but subduing the most violent of Passions And those who grant in the Kingdome of Heaven several degrees of Glory proportioned to those here of Sanctity must give the highest to Virgins because if supposed only equal with the rest in all other Graces they are granted in one to be Superior 4. Consider I say not the actual possession always but the attainableness of this Grace of Continency by all using the means i e. much Prayer and Meditation Temperance constant Business remoteness from Temptations c. Proijce te in Illum Deum non se subtrahet ut cadas said St. Aust to himself about leaving his Incontinency Confes 8. l. 11. c. Where by the Grace of Continency I mean not a power of being freed from all Concupiscence and from the first motions of Lust for so none at all have this power but for a power to suppress these first motions and quench these lesser sparks before they break out into a flame i. e. either into 1 Fornication therefore 1. Cor. 7. ver 2. Marriage is opposed to Fornication as it is Ver. 9. to burning or into 2 Vncleanness which Uncleanness distinct from Fornication is no small Guilt but every where marcheth along with it as its fellow in the Catalogue of those Sins that exclude us from
and going into another life strongly invited to devotion and the making some acquaintanec beforehand with God and Heaven Is By reason of Sin 's appearing now no more unto him with a painted face but in its own natural colours and deformity after the Instruments of it decayed and goustless the pleasures spent and only a sting of conscience and fear of punishment left behind Is I say much more flexible to repentance of it and having a much greater aversion from it Is By reason of many Infirmities and diseases within contempts and affronts abroad inured also to much patience and necessitated to great mortifications So that if we measure the happiness of this life by attaining the end of our Creation the serving of God in Holiness Innocence and Vertue we find cross to the Poet That pessima quaeque dies miseris mortalibus aevi prima venit Subit hinc prudens pia docta Senectus Nor is the former virgour of the Body in youth so desirable as the imperfections of the Soul to be loathed nor would any wise man were it in his power be content to forego all the improvements of the one to have repaired to him all the decays of the other 'T is true indeed that the more miserable and blind and molested with temptations the days of our youth are the greater miracle and more estimable is a Holy young man and such happy in his death also when it prevents old age Ne forte malitia mutaret intellectum But yet he also by arriving to old age only if persevering is to be pronounced much happier as accumulating his reward and glories in heaven by his good works so much longer multiplied here §. 21. 7. Of Sleep 1. Not indulging your self much Sleep considering that if we may number our life by the full enjoyment and use of our sensitive and rational faculties we no longer truly live than we are awake and that it is in our power so much to lengthen our life as we shorten our sleep at least that so much of it only is beneficial to us as men and as Christians wherein we are awake to perform those duties here for which we live and to be rich in good works and execute the end of our Creation Considering also the strict account which must be made of time and the shortness of that time after which no man to all eternity can work the least thing to better his condition Lastly considering That watching and abridging sleep very much tames the flesh and in the deficiency or less activity of our Spirits produceth much what the same effects upon it as Fasting renders us less disposed to vain mirth and jollity and more inclined to silence gravity recollection c. much Activity being seldome innocent And Piety as to much secular entertainments and affairs resembles an holy Somnolency 2. Measuring your rest and sleep by time not satiety and then breaking it off with violence Sleep and Lust will not be treated with This time by no means to exceed Eight hours i. e. the third part of your life More than which he that spends in sleep unjustly complains of want of time especially if for Prayer our most important business Holy men have limited it for whole Societies within the Seventh And those in a higher degree temperate have contracted sleep I mean always such a proportion thereof as satifies nature for an undrowsy dispatch of our dayly business to yet fewer hours for themselves to Five Four or perhaps less for less sleep is necessary as our dyet is more temperate and fasting best remedies its excesses and by this means adds some hours each day to our life our life i. e. that short time which we are allowed here on earth to purchase for our selves a happy Eternity Sleep also as it is shortned after some practice becomes more profound and hath in depth what it wants in length and so also is freer from troublesome and foolish dreams To a moderate and equal Diet may be also added a hard bed for the same effect we being not so apt to exceed in that which supplies our necessities without delight 3. Beginning the time allotted for your rest as soon as you conveniently can in the evening that in those morning and best hours which the world abroad usually bestows on their repose you may enjoy the more freedome for your negociations with God not importuned with company or secular Business As going to bed at Nine or Eight at night and rising in the morning at Five Four or Three if in the Summer-season 4. Repelling secular thoughts and praying when in bed you are indisposed to rest or sleep which is perhaps to some by reason of our weakness and dis-affection to Spiritual matters the best art they can use to fall asleep quickly 1. Pet. 4.7 Col. 4.2 Psal 6.6 4.4 5. In the morning not keeping your bed longer than sleeping for fear of evil thoughts As also composing your self in bed with all decency and modesty as being in the presence of and beheld by God and his Holy Angels 6. Watching sometimes on nights to Prayer and Devotion tho you make some repairs of sleep for it in the day The less distraction of sense by variety of objects the silence of midnight and terror of darkness much helping devotion And most leisure then from business therefore night-devotions much used by our Lord by his Apostles by David and other Saints See Luk. 6.12 Mar. 1.35 Matt. 14.23.25 Act. 16.25 2. Cor. 6.5 11.27 Luk. 2.37 Act. 12.12 comp 6. Psal 63.6 7.3 16.7 119.62.148 Esa 26.9 Luk. 12.37 38. Matt. 13.37 Act. 20.31 Eph. 6.18 Performing this half-clothed upon your bed rather than omit it 7. The later your serious conversion to God happens to be using so much the more diligence these ways in redeeming so much former lost time §. 22. 8. Of Recreation and Vacancy from Employment 1. Not indulging your self much time of leisure and vacancy from business and no way predisposed of In desiderio est omnis otiosus 2. Easing tediousness with variety and change of labours Digr 1. Of the many dangers from Idleness and non-imployment Digr 2. The benefit of diligently following some constant Vocation by which all Sin is excluded §. 23. 9. Of Company and secular Converse 1. Not seeking acquaintance no way necessary to us nourishing idleness and the neglect of our Vocation a temptation to make visits and go much abroad an occasion of entertainments vain expence and intemperance and as many times an effect so a cause of ambition and desire to be known whereby we subject our selves to new obligations and laws I mean of secular Civilities pretended to belong to the duty of friendship not well consistent with those laws of God to which we owe an indispensable observance Ungrateful Friendship that to please a less Friend offends a greater 2. Abstaining from much conversation and frequenting of company Cavete ab hominibus for you will get no good by them
many times things of the greatest consequence and no external sins occur so often as those of the tongue knowing that there are two fountains within us of our thoughts and speeches Nature and Grace or the Spirit and their Dictates contrary and nature commonly preventing the other in her Suggestions and our second our better thoughts Weigh thy words in a ballance and make a door and a bar for thy mouth Prepare what to say and then shalt thou be heard bind up instruction and then make answer Ecclesiasticus 28.25 33.4 And The words of such as have understanding are weighed in a ballance Ecclesiasticus 21.25 And The heart of the Righteous studieth to answer saith the wise man Prov. 15.28 And lastly Seest thou a man saith he that is hasty in his words there is more hopes of a fool than of him Prov. 29.20 6. Not speaking verbously but as much as you can contracting your sense If silence ordinarily makes none less talk makes fewer oversights Let thy speech be short comprehending much in few words and be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his peace Ecclesiasticus 32.8 And A fool is known by multitude of words Ecclesiasticus 5.3 7. Not speaking vehemently or passionately but so as it may be accompanied with and mastered or checked by your judgment which much passion clouds and troubles Not using your self to exaggerate any thing to hyberbolize and exceed the truth though a common custome but moderating your expressions and rather speaking the least Not delivering things with much asseveration by this as it were to add more weight and authority to your words which if there be any fault in what we say makes it much greater All these things savour of pride self-love vain glory men-pleasing and the contrary of discretion moderation and humility For this often remembring our Lord's holy Lesson Matt. 5.37 Let your Communication be yea yea nay nay and his note upon it Quod autem his abundantius est a Malo est Iterated also by St. James 5. c. 12. v. with this Caveat least you fall into condemnation i. e. some guilt or other condemnable 8. Avoiding much ceremony and dissimulation and compliance the later corruptions of Christian simplicity When our words swerve from our hearts our actions again do so from our words and so we only fall at last into the more shame and confusion Avoiding these I say so far as this may expose you to any temptation or peril of offending God your best your highest friend and always one of your company not professing your self to be what you are not which is lying or what you ought not to be which is disloyalty to God to be loyal to your Friend Nihil deformius quam Scenam in vitam transferre especially for a Christian Membra Christi Templa Spiritus Sancti Filii Dei Nolite fieri servi hominum 1. Cor. 7.23 If we have so little esteem for the world within why shew we so much without or any further than Christian duty and charity obligeth us for God's sake See Jo. 5.41.44 12.43 Rom. 12.2 Jud. 1.6 v. Jam. 1.10 1. Cor. 7.22 2. Cor. 11.20 1. Cor. 9.19 St. Paul's becoming omnia omnibus was only omnia licita and not this done on any terms but first being a perfect Saint and running no hazard in using these licita ut plures lucrifaceret But we that are unperfect may not venter so far when we hazard instead of gaining others the losing our selves 9. 1 In company forbearing the relating or inquiring after news stories other-mens affairs impertinent and no way concerning us distractions of the mind and commonly ending in censure and detraction especially concerning great persons and publick Magistrates of whom we ought to think and speak with great reverence Carefully avoiding the first engagement in such discourses easilier wholly abstained from than discreetly moderated See 1. Tim. 5.13 1. Pet. 4.15 Psal 73.9 Meddle not with many matters for in medling much thou shalt not be innocent Ecclesiasticus 11.10 And If thou hast heard a word let it dye with thee and be bold it will not burst thee 9. 2 Forbearing any presaging of future events and reverencing in all things God's Counsels and Providence which often works contrary to probable conjectures and likeliest appearances of things 10. Not speaking reprehending or contradicting and disputing in your own or others anger or when you or they are any other way distempered 1. Not in your own anger because then you are apt to make a false judgment of things neither will your reprehension or contradiction be performed with that moderation and discretion it should be Nor if it be so yet doth it appear so to or hath the same weight with the reprehended because they see you angry but stay a little in silence and let your passion cool and by and by things will have another appearance and faults seem now of a less magnitude than they did before so that he who resolves not to find fault in his anger will much seldomer find fault and when he doth will do it more moderately and his reproof be more justly proportioned to the Sin 2. Nor replying or reprehending in anothers anger For neither then do their errors faults or oversights appear to them so great as they are and besides your reproofs at such time receive ill answers from them and these serve to kindle anger in your self also where there was none before But when their passion is cooled they more clearly see the greatness of their fault and so more profitably and patiently receive your reproof and counsel Much caution therefore hath the wiseman given concerning this passion The discretion of a man saith he deferreth his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression Psal 19.11 And He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his Spirit than he that takes a City Prov. 16.32 14.29 And on the other side A fool's wrath is presently known Ps 12.16 11. Not contending and striving in words with any one for any thing but abstaining from second answers and replies though most reasonable after that by some resistance made the person at that time seems indisposed and imagining that we look after victory hath shut the Gate to Reason It is not passion but gentleness on truth's side that overcomes passion on the other and in such meekness the victory is only deferred not lost And this to suffer our selves to be overborne when Reason is on our side rather than contend especially in truths not so necessary to be maintained is an act of great mortification and humility and whilst you yield to another the getting a great victory over your self and we shall receive that praise from God which we willingly for peace-sake lose with men Yielding to all the world as much as you can in point of opinion and doing their will sooner than your own 12. Not
may be holy both in Body and Spirit which is a transcendent Holiness of the Body beyond the Conjugal And 2. Cor. 7.1 after the Apostle had spoken of their being God's Temples in the 6th Chapter Wherefore saith he let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the Flesh and of the Spirit so perfecting Holiness And more expresly Flee Fornication saith he 1. Cor. 6.18 Why For every other sin that a man doth is without the Body i. e. without any proper infamy to the Body or giving the power and honour thereof to another besides our Lord Christ but he that committeth Fornication sinneth against his own Body i. e. in degrading it to so base an alliance as to become the same with that vile creature with which it sinneth Therefore Eph. 5.3 4. the Apostle also peculiarly concerning this sin or any filthy discourse tending to it giveth charge that it should not be once named among such as will go for Saints But Fornication saith he and all Vncleanness or Coveteousness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints Nor filthiness or foolish talking which are not convenient or which greatly mis-become such as you see the same phrase Rom. 1.28 And as God cast a special shame upon man in the committing of this Sin so in receiving him again after his fall into a new covenant of his Grace made with Abraham the Father of the faithful he caused the Seal thereof to be set particularly on those parts in a circumcision of them which were the instruments of Lust. In Rom. 1.26 c. We find God to abandon those who had otherwise much displeased him in their following Idols c whenas God hath left such manifest testimonies in all his creatures of himself were to the greatest disgrace and dishonour of humane nature that could be called there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in Apocal. 22.15 The Practisers of one Species thereof as if it did utterly depose us from our man-hood are called by the name of Dogs which see also in Deut. 23.18 and Phil. 3.2 for the Gnosticks stood guilty of such impurities And Job 36.14 This is pronounced as a Curse upon a Hypocrite that Vita eorum is inter effeminatos §. 40. n. 5. 3. The wrath also of God towards those Sins above others appears every where in these holy Writings most evident by whose revenge we may most rightly measure the greatness of these faults by many made so natural and excusable In 1. Thess 4.6 the Apostle warns the Thessalonians to abstain from the Fornication of the Gentiles Because the Lord saith he is the avenger of all such And Heb. 13.4 Marriage is honourable and the Bed undefiled But Whore-mongers and Adulterers God will judge And in detestation of such unlawful Lusts the Lord appointed Deut. 23.2 That a Bastard should not enter into the Congregation of the Lord until his tenth Generation And for these sins it was that God in the sacred Story inflicted those fearful Judgments to which none other can be compared For these that he drowned the world and washed away its pollution with the Flood Gen. 6.1 2. For these that he rained flaming Brimstone on Sodome and Gomorrah and purified their Land with Fire For these that all those mighty Nations were destroyed out of Canaan and their Land given to the Children of Israel See Levit. Chap. 18. Where after great variety of these sins rehearsed it follows Vers 27. For all these abominations for this name God gives to these Sins for their loathsomness have the men of the Land done that were before you and the Land is defiled and therefore in the Verse following this defiled Land is said to have spued out the inhabitants thereof For such Sin that Twenty three Thousand of the Children of Israel also fell in one day at Baal-peor before they entred Canaan See 1. Cor. 10.8 For such Sin that all the Tribe of Benjamin was cut off except only Six hundred men Judg. 20. I need not mention the Wars and Slaughter that followed upon David's Adultery and the ten Tribes rent from Solomon as a Judgment upon his being seduced to the Toleration of Idolatry by his Lusts and unlawful Marriages This is enough to shew that these Sins tho seeming most excusable and natural to Man are most abominable and loathsome to God especially since the new Contract that is made between Us and our Lord and since our Bodies are become the Temples of the Holy Ghost Which Temples 1. Cor. 3.17 saith the Apostle Whoso defileth him will God destroy §. 41. 3. Humility 2. The Purity and Sanctification of the Soul By 3. Humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Mortification of your Reason opposite to all self-conceit of your own perfections and especially that of your Holiness and Mortifications pride hypocrisy ambition envy wrath contentions of Argument disobedience to Superiors curiosity of Science Schism Heresy and what other Vices proceed from high-mindedness §. 42. Of its Opposites 1. Rational Pride of Wit and Judgment 2. Spiritual Pride of Purity and Holiness 3. Anger against Vice aggravating of other mens faults when as Charity covereth them 1. Pet. 4.8 and beareth and hopeth all things 1. Cor. 13.7 and considereth her self lest she also be so tempted Gal. 6.1 4. Anger against Error and contending vehemently to convince those that oppose us for truth when as the wrath of man c. Jam. 1.20 And the wisdome from above is gentle c. Jam. 3.17 And the man of God should not strive 2. Tim. 2.24 And God only in his good time may reveal and convince but ordinarily we cannot Phil. 3.15 2. Tim. 2.25 To prevent which anger not easily engaging your self in every discourse nor engaged contradicting Him with whom you contest in every thing that he saith amiss but only for a very necessary Truth nor seeking any way to exasperate his Spirit or to provoke him to speak something against his conscience or to disparage and shame him §. 43. The means to attain and preserve such Humility and avoid such Pride 1. Often comparing yours with the recorded lives of former Saints or of some persons living who are very eminent in holiness but carefully avoiding any comparison with others inferior 2. Often considering 1 the great imperfection of your holy duties 2 and the good in such imperfection proceeding totally from God we being rather moved than moving as to it 3. Never judging your self by the good opinion others have of you to whom we naturally hide our weaknesses and faults shew our perfections and vertues 4. Often meditating on any singular deformities or infirmities in your body or imbecility of any faculty of your soul fancy memory elocution of any great sins or disgraces of yours past or present or considering what a one you use to be in the times of desolation and the withdrawings of God's Spirit 5. Often comparing your sins with theirs who without like mercy shewed or means for their salvation offered
under the hand of God's wrath 7. Giving no scandal to the weak And supporting and tolerating them with all patience 8. Much compassionating and condoling the afflicted our partaking nay aggravating their grief to them much lessening it And comforting them tho smitten of God a temporal stroke many times saving and preventing an eternal 9. Admonishing reproving sinners Luk. 3.19 And in Reproof using what privacy you can yet in company not forbearing it when a sin committed before the company or when no likelihood of other opportunity to do it privately Reprehending rather in the close of your converse and discourse with them than at your first accost and rather at some distance from committing the fault because such reprehension is less offensive Not usually reproving without some pre-commendations as to other things Not reproving the fact without some excusing at least in part of the intention which only known to God is never by us to be judged or censured In Admonition and Reprehension using the first person including your self rather than the second We rather than You We should or should not do thus or thus We offend God in doing so and so Or sometimes using the third Men ought or ought not c. And in mentioning their faults delivering many times what you have to say rather as from a third person some say It is said I was told c. 10. Correcting the refractory when having authority to do it 11. Quitting men of their fears fear being many times a great torment 12. Reconciling Enemies and arbitrating and taking up differences between friends And procuring as much Charity the greatest virtue as you can between all men This being the greatest deed of Charity §. 72. II. CHARITIES to the Body 1. Feeding the Hungry Cloathing the Naked 3. Warming the Cold. Relieving with money or rather for Money is often mis-spent with victuals or cloths or in cold Seasons with fuel a certain number of poor at your door on certain days or also sending such alms to their houses Providing a private receipt for Tickets where the more bashful poor of honest families reduced to poverty may make known their wants and so be relieved Entertaining some poor at your table on certain days and exercising some acts of humility with and toward them In all supplying of the Poor's corporal endeavouring also to relieve their spiritual Necessities as if their alms were made their wages for saying our Lord's Prayer Creed or some part of their Catechisme where more secular wants there being commonly also more ignorance and poverty in Spiritual things 2. Visiting tending on the sick especially the poor and helpless those in Hospitals or in Prisons c. providing necessaries for them Physitians a stock of usual remedies for their diseases praying with reading to them and helping any way their repentance in a time when Souls are most humble pliant and best wrought upon and procuring by all means their dying in God's fear Especially not rashly comforting the sick with Hopes of their recovery whereby they may be hindered from a due preparation for their death or at least lose the benefit of their sickness in their performance of the Acts of Humiliation Confession Contrition Prayer c for which God sends it 3. Visiting Prisons and that with all indifferency to the distressed there that you may have a greater reward Relieving their present wants providing necessary helps in their Sickness the Divine Service to be celebrated among them and other needful instructions in Religion Making collections for their debts and purchasing their freedome when in restraint for some smaller summe Hearing their complaints and interceding to those to whom their sufferings relate soliciting their business where any injury seems done them Expediting their tryal and procuring a release or moderation of their punishment And accustoming your self to be frequent in such houses of mourning and mortifications and where your self also may incur some sufferings 4. Especially visiting the sick that are hopeless of recovery Prisoners and Malefactors after condemned to dye Moderating their sorrows and despairs helping their repentance Inviting them to confession and directing them how to make it especially in respect of wrongs to their Neighbours instructing where need their ignorance accompanying them to the place of execution and using all means to guard them from the Temptations of the Divel in that most perilous hour hoping that a broken and a contrite heart God will never despise If no way fit to do such office your self procuring some Holy man who abounds in Charity and Humility to assist them in such extremities and to comfort and prepare them for a penitent and happy end 5. Furnishing and maintaining Apothecaries shops abounding with all sorts of Druggs Compositions and Remedies for all sorts of Diseases gratis for the poor within such a parish or larger Circuit Or which is the practice of many charitable Ladies and Gentlewomen making a plentiful provision of such Medicines Cordials Balsomes in your own house for their relief according to the directions of the skilful 6. Redeeming Captive Christians 7. Entertaining and furnishing necessaries to the stranger and traveller Luk 10.33 8. Burying the Dead i. e. taking care of the decent burial of their body preserving of their good name and doing those favours in their unperfected affairs which you would do for them if yet living and which you would desire after your decease others should do for you III. CHARITIES to Him in his Estate 1. Lending Money without Interest and tho with hazard of losing it Matt. 5.42 Deut. 15.8 9.24.13 Eccl. 29.8 9. Luk. 6.35 2. Forgiving debts to the necessitous Remitting forfeitures and other your rights 3. Delivering the Poor from his Oppressors and defending his just cause against the rich and powerful Esai 1.17 58.6 Psal 82.4 Digr Of our obligation under the Gospel toward all Christians equal to that of the Jews toward their Brethren i. e. those of the same Nation And of the plentiful Alms enjoined to them by the law of Moses IV. CHARITIES more Vniversal 1. Building or repairing houses of God's Service High-ways Bridges 2. Endowing Churches wanting Meanes 3. And more Ministry in great Parishes or necessary places 2. Furnishing Divinity Lectures Catechists for Children Readers of the Divine Service dayly in Churches especially those in greater Towns 3. Erecting Schools of Learning with Orders of a strict Discipline Colledges of Retirement from the world with a more strict frequent and orderly practice of their Devotions and Sobriety of diet And these for both Sexes being single persons with clausure if need be for the women And it seems tending much to many mens Salvation if these Colledges were instituted not only for receiving the Aged or Insirm but young persons also in whom the crosses troubles or vanities of this world have wrought the same inclination to a retreat from it as old age or diseases have caused in others For if any extraordinary happiness may be thought in such a life
light as we beg it from him Digr That the abilities of the understanding and will to any good are infused from God and bestowed upon Prayer 4. Sanctifying the use of every creature to you by Prayer and by the imploring of his benediction 5. Observing in all temporal Petitions much moderation and indifferency §. 80. 4. Praise 4. 1. Praise and Confession unto him abstracted from our own particular obligations and relations to him of his excellencies 2. Contemplating praising glorifying admiring the infinite treasures of his purest holiness wisdome goodness and the rest of his attributes and benefits general to all his Creatures Mankind Christians and his Church 3. Yielding a distinct Doxology to God the Father to the Lord Jesus To the Holy Spirit running over their several benefits and offices 4. Giving always this part of Praise and Thanksgiving a due share in your devotions Knowing that God is much more delighted in our praising than in our praying unto him this being done for his glory the other for our benefit And that you have many more blessings considering your unworthiness for which to praise and thank him than wants not considering your lusts for which to petition him And that careless thanksgivings make successless requests Lastly knowing that this part of your devotions especially conduceth to the begetting and nourishing the love of God i. e. the utmost top of man's perfection in you §. 81. 5. Acts of love aspirations oblations union c. 5. Resolutions of serving him better in those duties wherein you find in your self the most and the last defects and Resignation Consecration devotement of your self and all yours eternally to his service and the making an oblation to him of all your i. e. his gifts Christian acts or sufferings of your Saviour and his sufferings and merits performed for you uniting and annihilating your self wholly into his will rejoycing wholly in him and in the joys to come with him §. 82. 6. Intercession 1. For others 6. 1. Intercession Thanksgiving c. Ps 119.136.139.158 35.13 2. Cor. 1.11 Especially for our fellow members the Saints Act. 12.5.12 2. Intercession in publick Prayers is the more effectually and also the more zealously performed if it be not only general but particular 2. Tim. 1.3 namely for such a person friend family applying the General intercessions in such publick Prayers unto them 3. Using intercessions for others not only in a short remembrance but in the same length and importunity and form of prayers as we use for our selves In them either changing me into us intending and including such a one particularly together with your self or changing me into him praying for him singly Either by saying the Lord's Prayer for him or any other As forgive him his trespasses Lead him not into temptation And it is a singular Charity not to desist from such Intercessions tho these unasked so long as we know such person hath need of them Jam. 5.16 Digr 1. Of the benefit of other men's prayers for us and that they are very much to be desired Even those of inferiors Especially those of Saints and those of the poor who are in many respects nearer allyed to God Digr 2. Of God's hearing the Prayers of some other men more holy for us when he will not hear our own and his directing sinners sometimes to procure some others to pray for them that he may grant their requests Gen. 24.7.17 Job 42.8 9. Digr 3. Of God's frequently blessing sinners for other mens sakes who are righteous Digr 4. Of the benefit of intercession to the Interceders Besides God's returning our good wishes for others upon our selves Matt. 10 11.13 Psal 30.13 This mentioning of them and their necessities before God rendring us also more tender-hearted and ready to help them for with what face can we beg of God to be good to them when we can and do refuse to be so our selves The Benefits of Prayer §. 84. The benefits of Prayer 1. The great power of Prayer with God and the rich promises made to it in Scriptures even in temporal requests and these the smallest 1. The great power of prayer with God 1. God's Spirit especially assisting Us in Prayer 2. God's extraordinary favours illuminations visitations usually either in or presently upon the time of Prayer 3. The fruit and effect of Prayer many times not sudden but after many days and long petitioning Eccl. 11.1 Jer. 42.4.7 Act. 12.5.6 where the Church's Prayers not answered till the night before St. Peter's execution 1. Pet. 5.6 Eccl. 7.8 And St. Monica's Prayers for her Son St. Austine were not answered till first many years spent in them Not hapning that way or by that means we expect it And often hapening with great intertextures and artifices of second causes which hide to the inobservant the agency of the first Tho in which the less his power and force appeareth the more doth appear his divine and wonderful and secret contrivance and wisdome 4. Upon the requests of your prayers comming to pass by the agency of second and ordinary causes taking heed of conceiting these rewards of Prayers to be the effects of the ordinary Providence and of translating your thanks from God upon his instruments and unless he work singly of thinking he worketh not at all But especially acknowledging his more immediate hand in four cases 1. When his visitations and answers tho by second causes happen upon the instant of your Prayers 2. Or in the very point and exigent of your necessity 3. When you find beyond your expectation an extreme facility in the prosecution of your desires 4. Or a continual victory in the midst of many difficulties and oppositions 'T is a safe error if any dares call it so in attaining things known certainly to be good to impute too much rather than too little to God's hand in it by which you give him the more praise and in gratitude bring forth more obedience 5. Upon the requests of your prayers and those long and earnest successless taking heed especially then of the surrepency of some degree of unbelief As the imagining that God hears not minds not Prayers or not yours a Sinner or that he hath made o're all our affairs to the contrivance of humane wisdome and the ordinary course of second causes c. But most assuredly assuring your self that his Majesty himself hath heard and also hath rejected your request in this either because he intends to give it you better in some other way or because it is some way hurtful and inconvenient for you or because you are yet unworthy offending him to receive it or because he hath absolutely otherwise decreed to dispose of things and this is one of those his purposes wherein he is not to be swayed by Prayer as especially for not sending temporal crosses here to those whom he means to glorify hereafter therefore we find some requests denyed even to the greatest Saints tho importunately begging them To Moses Deut.
acquiring Christian perfection §. 90. 1. Concerning Prayer Concerning Preparatives to Prayer 1. BEfore your appearing before God in Prayer clearing your self as God hath commanded so far as it is in your power from your sins towards your Neighbour and quitting all his toward you In satisfaction either already performed to him or seriously promised to God where injuring and in forgiveness presented likewise then to God where injured Matt. 5.23 24. 1. Tim. 2.8 Mark 11.25 Jam. 3.9 10. 2. Performing your devotions either when fasting or very temperate and at some reasonable distance from your meals and sometimes also preparing your self son them by some acts of mortification Nothing is so opposite to devotion and the Spirit as intemperance strong drink and excess in diet See Eph. 5.18 Act. 10.30 Matt. 17.21 Luk. 1.15 Psal 35.13 Dan. 10.1 2. 12. Act. 13.2 3. 3. 1 Not coming to them with your mind and thoughts already tired out and spent in other business which accordingly must needs be less serviceable to you in this your greatest duty and some little time before them if you can deserting other employments 'T is beneficial before you go to Prayer to read something pious or if you please to read some Prayer before praying so to retire your mind from secular thoughts and dispose it to Divine 3. 2 When you go to Prayer with an hour-glass measuring your time and taking some Book of Devotion or Saints life with which you use to be much affected to lye by you and for this also chusing a place of Prayer convenient for light and reading and when sterilities and dulness or much distraction of thoughts assault you reading so long till something affect you This hath been the practice of many great Saints And he who useth this stome will go much more chearfully to this spiritual exercise and spend longer time in it having these Arms about him to repel the ordinary disturbers of it 4. In the morning performing your Devotions first whilst the mind is clear and not engaged in other thoughts 5. In the Evening last when the mind hath for that day taken her leave of all other business and that so your time of Prayer also may not be limited by them 6. Since for every day you perform and renew them applying your Prayers Confessions Petitions c. more chiefly to the occurrences of the present day as that of our Lord Give us this day c. which will make your Requests as being for things near at hand more affectionate and your endeavours that day in the seconding of your Prayers and rendring them not frustrate more vigilant and earnest 7. Using all humble reverence of the Body Corporal Reverence in Prayer c where opportunity yet not confining your self for all the time of Prayer to any one posture thereof after it begins to be painful or tedious whilst you retain the same humility and devotion in all nor omitting the substance of the Duty of Prayer for being hindered perchance of such circumstances Freely expressing also and venting the holy passions of your mind and of the Spirit by the exterior indications and effects thereof As by sighing groaning weeping c. §. 91. Digr 1. Of the great impression the behaviour of the Body makes upon the Soul And that the devotion is much increased by the body's humiliation and the more if this sometimes varied Digr 2. Of the several postures and deportments of the body used by holy men in the time of Prayer As Standing up Prostration and falling on the face and lying on the ground Contemplating the heavens therefore going up to the house top to pray Lifting up casting down the eyes Lifting up spreading forth the hands Smiting of the breast Bowing down of the head Bowing baring the knee kissing the ground Covering the Body with sackcloth or raggs Sighing groaning weeping §. 92. Guard of the Eyes 8. In all places and business where you would enjoy a greater recollection of your mind and thoughts but especially in the service and meditations of God publick or private keeping a strict guard over your eyes which having liberty to wander the mind is filled with many fancies and very difficulty fixed Custodia Oculorum Custodia Cordis §. 93. Exciting of a suitable Passion 9. Striving before hand to excite in your self a passion suting to the particular act of your devotion As great sadness in confession of sin Great humility and lowliness and self-abjection in petitioning Chearfulness and joy in thanking and praising The passion of love in oblation and resignation c. Compassion in Intercession And observe that our intention much helpeth the production of such passion by the lively presentation of such an object to our mind as viz. Death Corruption Hell Heaven Light Glory Musick c. usually excites it the affections being thus subject to the understanding and the will as well as in other respects these faculties are to them Praying before to God to give you such a passion whereby you may be helped to do such a duty Not entertaining at the same time of prayer a contrary passion though it be very pious for so neither can it be so well prosecuted §. 94. Imagination of God's presence 10. In the time of Prayer Imagining God or our Saviour not a far off but present by or within Ps 16.8 you so speaking and discoursing with him hearkning to and attending upon him as one that is present in the innermost part of your soul and heart as indeed if our eyes were but opened as were those of Elisha and his Servant we should see him in all things and in our selves and all things and our selves also in him for these are both one compassing us round as the air or the light doth and again throughly penetrating all things and us as the light doth the air or the fire the glowing iron Omnia implendo continens continendo implens Austin and see our selves again moving in him as fishes or spunges in the Ocean or Atoms in a Sun-beam See Acts 17.27 28 For if the whole earth be but as a small point to the Sun how much less are we to God! But above all creatures more specially we should see him dwelling in the hearts of the faithful therefore called his Temple See 2. Cor. 6.16 1. Cor. 6.17.19 or see them dwelling in him for where things are perfectly united these two expressions are the same and promiscuously used See 1. Jo. 4.13 6.56 Rom. 8.10 comp 2. Cor. 5.17 1. Cor. 1.30 comp 2. Cor. 5.21 See him there speaking to the Soul and visiting it with frequent inspirations the signs of his presence and the interior language wherein God speaks to us and therefore is there to be attentively hearkened to by us Luk. 17.21 Jo. 16.32 8.29 Heb. 11.27 1. Jo. 14.13 4.16 As for those words in the Lords Prayer which art in Heaven they are not mentioned to direct the petitioner to him as a far off but to magnify to
dispositions produced in our selves for the reception of them he acting conformably to our exercises and pre-inclinations thereto And so it hath pleased God that many others their disciples having as it were learned from them so experienced this Art and been encouraged to undertake the predisposing assiduity of mental prayer have also arrived to the same perfections and heavenly visits and entertainments Jo. 14.23 so extreamly beneficial in the future course of their lives Now this pre-disposition is observed chiefly to be effected by operating in our selves which yet no doubt is not done without the aid of God's Spirit tho this imperceptible as near as we can something like them §. 99. And this is done chiefly by these three First By a firm and accustomed apprehension of God's or our Saviour's presence with before or within us or our presence with or before Him recommended before § 94. and below § 114. Secondly By a recollection of our selves and a suspension mentioned above § 95. and silencing as much as we can of all actions of our exterior senses agitations of the fancy discourse of the understanding and in general all work of the brain by an abstraction as much as we can from all things besides God not so much by a contest with them thought-on as by a forgetfulness of them or shutting them out of our thoughts that so by not using any of our Spirits in the service of our cognoscitive faculties we may give more place and afford more strength to the Action of the will and affections Now we may know that the hinderance of those introduceth a more intense Act in these because we find any vehement exercise of the will and affections naturally to stop and intercept the discourse of the Intellect Therefore in the height of her passions which seems to be a far more intimate faculty of the Soul than is the understanding we find reason to have no power or admittance nor access to the Soul As it is in intense anger love sorrow c. Affecting much and thinking much have a kind of opposition nor can the heart and brain be hot at once And it is true in divine as other loves Nemini contingit simul amare sapere I mean for the actual exercise of the brain and of prudential notions Yet note that the suspension of those faculties or acts is not so meant here as to render you wholly idle or asleep as it were in case the affections be not much moved in Prayer but that you ought still to use the help of the intellect for the raising and closer applying and fanning continually of your affections in short and unlaborious ejaculations such as that of St Francis Deus meus omnia My God my Saviour c. Psal 18.1 2. Psal 144.1 2. in considering God's presence and comforting your self in him and it entring into familiar colloquies with him making requests to him using a thousand acts of humility and vilifyings and annihilations of your self before him so keeping your amative faculties still in motion by a many not forced industries provided only that all those more laborious and difficult and tedious exercises of the brain be here excluded §. 100. Thirdly In this silence of the other cognoscitive faculties this is done by a strong and vigorous exercise of the will and the affectionate and amative powers by making a total introversion into the most intimate part of our Soul or Heart to enjoy God there and directing as it were all our thoughts and retiring our Spirits thither-ward and there practising the love suspirings c. above-mentioned See Eph. 3.17 18. 1. Jo. 4.16 And here it is observed that howbeit at the first neither this suspension of discourse and abstractions from by-thoughts nor the uniting of our affections to God are obtainable without some pain and difficulty yet after some practice and accustoming thereto such a habit and facility therein is acquired That the former viz. our busy thoughts and discourse will need no great charming but upon our beck be silent and all such advertisements depart from us the later likewise the affections need little or no exciting but an ardent love having been once accustomed to it transports us towards the embraces of God even in the beginnings also of our Prayers or also upon any light mention of God or heavenly things Only whilst many from this painfulness at first wherein the Soul is hardly kept from extravagancy and restrained from her liberty of thinking are disheartned from a patient perseverance in such practice therefore it is conceived that so few reap the happy fruit thereof And these three 1 The strong apprehension of God's intimate presence to us 2 The silencing of the discursive And 3 enlarging of the affectionate and amative faculties towards God our Sovereign our only good are the whole content as I conceive of that they call mystical Theology for as much as concerns our own work tho in the expressions hereof Authors much vary §. 101. I will recommend to you the reading on this subject of the fourth eighth and thirteenth Chapters of St. Teresa's Life And the 25 26.28 and 29. Chap of her Way of Perfection who was a head Scholar in this School of Prayer and saw frequent experience of the effect of these directions when well observed having taught many others this heavenly art who also by practising the same lessons failed not to attain it Howbeit were these practises as to such extraordinary communications of God's Spirit profitless yet can they not in themselves be any way not very commendable unless to love God or neglect the world extraordinarily be a fault §. 102. Concerning the apprehension of God's more intimate presence and recollection of the Soul from all other objects you may find this Holy Mother Way of Perfection cap. 28. instructing and encouraging her spiritual daughters on this manner She Commenting there on the Lord's Prayer Now weigh well this which your Master saith Which art in Heaven Think ye that it little concerns you to know what thing Heaven is and where ye are to seek for your most Holy Father I tell you then that for wandring Intellects it much imports them not only to believe this Article but to procure to understand it by experience For it is one of those things which strongly binds up the understanding and causeth the Soul's recollection of it self You already know That God is in every place and 't is clear also where the King is there is his Court In summe that where God is there Heaven also is and all Glory this without doubt may easily be believed by you Consider what St. Austine said That he went into many places seeking for God and that he came at length to find him within himself Neither needs the Soul any wings to fly with to seek him out but only to put her self into a posture of solitude and retiredness and to behold him within her self and not to leave so great
some danger of your life In an extraordinary storm of Thunder Earthquake Shipwrack in your last sickness Or as if the trumpet were sounding and the dreadful day of Judgment had surprized you Or as if you suffered the torments which Dives doth yet with some hopes of being delivered And such passion for pardon and resolutions for amendment as you would put on in such a case those presently entertain and so bespeak God for such things are no fictions but one day will come upon you Again addressing your self to our Saviour as Peter cryed out when sinking in the waves Or when he cryed Lord not my feet only Jo. 13.9 Or weeping as he when his good Master looked back upon him after he had denyed him Or as blind Bartimeus importuning him for the restoring of his sight Or as the Paralitick expecting that good word thy sins are forgiven thee c for instances are infinite such like addresses may profitably be used for acts of Confession and beging pardon §. 115. 2. Again in thanksgiving for his benefits and especially that of your redemption imagining your self standing before the Emperor of the whole world condemned to dye the most horrible death for treason against him and then this Emperor sending his onely Son that justice may not be defeated all others refusing to dye for you one of the vilest of all his subjects and then being thus delivered say to him what your heart shall tell you Or imagining your self to accompany our Saviour having first charged himself with your guilt and to answer justice for it quite through his passion Being behind him in the Garden at the time of his Agony and sweating of Blood When He tyed with cords and carried away Prisoner you with Peter and John following and beholding his usage in the Judgment-hall and weeping with Peter when he looks on you the Sinner he so suffers for Beholding his cruel whipping at a Post following him from thence and helping him with Simon when he faints with their hard usage to bear his Cross Then with his distressed Mother and Disciple standing before him hanging and bleeding on the Cross and then drawing nearer and with great compassion to his innocence and grief for your sins that caused such his pains desiring to bear part of his sorrows and resolving also to suffer all things for him say further what your heart shall teach you But then finding him after he is risen again and exalted over all still at his Prayers and Intercessions to the Father for you Say again and resolve what your heart shall teach you So also for other benefits imagining God sitting on the top of heaven compassed with all Celestial Courtiers looking down on millions of men and dispensing here judgments there mercies and amongst so many millions taking notice of you and before his Angels testifying his good will unto you and desire of your Salvation and sending by the chiefest of his train many gifts and tokens of his love and withal diverting his judgments from coming nigh your dwelling and then falling down see whether your heart can thank him §. 116. 3. In praising or giving glory to God or our Saviour imagining the Show Rev. 4.8 or 5.9 7.10.12 and your self amongst that Heavenly Quire crying Holy Holy c. Es 6.3 Or Bless the Lord with me all ye his Angels c. Psal 103.20 Or crying Glory in the highest with the multitude at our Saviours triumph Luk. 19.37 c. Or with Mary giving Glory to and worshipping him leading Captivity captive upon his Resurrection-day Or with Stephen him standing at the right hand of God §. 117. 4 In petitioning him for spiritual graces or temporal necessities Imagining our Saviour as at his last Supper giving his Body c or as sitting on Jacob's Well and you beging of him with the Samaritan Sinner Lord give me that water or with the Canaanitish Woman asking for some crums that may fall from the Childrens table or patiently sitting with Mary at his feet to receive his gracious answer or the unum necessarium So for making intercession for others Imagining a friend in prison or torments crying out for your aid as you pass by and that some few words spoken by you may procure his liberty or save his life Or some part of your body wounded and pained and that you are going to seek help for it Or rather that some member of your blessed Saviour as all true Christians are was some way distressed and that he after so much kindness shewed to and intercessions made for you would try now the return of your love to him in interceding for it c. Now who thinks such acts of imagination useless let him only consider the great effects of Imagination in another kind which he hath experienced in advancing his lusts and many false pleasures and conceited felicities sometimes in sometimes before the acting of a sin §. 118. Frequency of Prayer 19. Not omitting your Prayers when you find in your self little devotion or also much distraction of thoughts c. For if it be a fault to do them slightly it is a greater not to do them at all And God many times gives unexpected grace to those who endeavor and devotion is often acquired by entring into Prayer when we had it not before 20. Not omitting and thinking your self excused from your private dayly devotions by your presence at some common For besides that those are many times a necessitated these a more free will offering and worship who is there that hath not particular sins necessities mercies which are not in the publick prayers confessed or petitioned for 21. Vsing many times or hours of Prayer or Meditation in the day and that rather upon your knees for so you will be more observant what you are doing according to the best permittance of your ordinary employments custome of praying at length will make you in love with praying i. e. conversing with God Frater eamus paulisper precatum Aloys Gonzaga 22. Not omitting your set devotions for the intervening of ordinary business or ordinary works of Charity Because you stand more obliged in this duty towards God and greatest Charity towards your Soul than in some lesser towards your own or towards your neighbours temporal affairs And because also whether our own or our neighbours business it is much more furthered by our prayers procuring God's blessing than by our labours and indeed when we have most business then have we most use of Prayer 23. Vsing some set times annual monthly or weekly for your extraordinary devotions Confessions and reviewing your Spiritual Condition 24. Using extraordinary times of Prayer before and after extraordinary employments 25. Avoiding Taedium mentis as in all things so in your devotions For such who delight not in their work cannot long persevere in it This taedium is always relieved by variety of employment According to the old rule of the Religious Nunc lege nunc ora nunc cum
of God the benefit of whose prayers you partake consecration of the place c. 2. In such publick service applying the general praise petition c. to your own particular necessities benefits received c. Intercessions to those to whom you have more relation And in confession of sin and some other actions changing universals us our c. into me I which experience will shew you to make your prayers more affectionate and attentive excepting to those who have attained more perfection §. 132. 2. From holy places 2. 2. From holy places Choosing rather as oft as opportunity permits to offer up also your private prayers in a place that is holy and consecrated to God's name and appointed to be the house of prayer Matt. 21.13 And this not only because this place sequestred from transaction of worldly affairs hinders us from many secular disturbances and the reverence thereof makes us more considerate in our behaviour and fervent in our devotions and breeds in us as being his own house a much stronger imagination of God's presence whilst we pray But also because these places seem to have more peculiar promise of his extraordinary presence there and giving audience to our prayers and granting our requests See Exod. 20.24 2. Chron. 7.15 16. Which promises why should they not remain still in force since under the times of the Gospel the publick places of God's worship are not demolished but only multiplied And so of the presence of his Ministers the Holy Angels who are his ordinary train and attendants See 1. Cor. 11.10 Gen. 28.17.19 Psal 139.1 Gen. 4.12.14.16 Therefore hath it been the venerable custome of all Antiquity to repair to Churches to the Memorials of Martyrs and to recommend to God rather there also even their private devotions See Act. 3.1 Luk. 24.53 Act. 22.17 Luk. 18.10 §. 133. 3. From holy times 3. 3. From holy times In laying aside all your own both business and pleasures Isa 58.3.13 Using oftner and longer private devotions and begging some more special favour on those days than at other times 1. On the Lord's day the Christians Sabbath Being a type and pledge of that day to come of eternal rest and praising God in his Temple which is promised us See Heb. 4.9.10 and this seventh portion of our time being the tribute thereof which God hath set apart as for our more solemn service of him and prayers He having as a house so a day of Prayer so for a time when God gives as it were a more special audience unto them and dispenseth greater blessings 2. On the other Festivals of our Saviour Then always meditating for some little time on the action and mystery of the day When also you may advance your devotion by using imaginary composition of place and imaginary senses as if you were present at such action with such persons as in the feast of the Epiphany prostrating your self before Jesus with the wise men embracing him with Simeon c. and saw and heard the several passages thereof and imaginary addresses to our Saviour in such and such a posture saying to him what your heart will pour out As it is a day of his suffering or triumph so tuning your Soul to it in Suspirations or Hosanna's Elegies or Doxologies Using such Psalms c as were chiefly penned for these times as for the one viz. time of sorrow Psal 22. 69. 35. 38. Esa 53. altered to a speaking of them to our Saviour as Psal 22.1 Thy God thy God why hath he forsaken thee c. For the other time of joy Psal 45. 39. 72. c. Preferring to God some special petition with respect to the day See an Example in the Collects of these days 3. On the Festivals of the Saints the former leaders of our faith See Heb. 13.7 12.1 Performing the duty of an honourable Commemoration of that Saint to whose memory the day is dedicated See Luk. 1.48 Matt. 16.13 And saying and doing something in honor of them remembring the intimate communion and spiritual consanguinity you have with them so as you would do for one of near relation to you in the flesh and this not as to them dead but now living in Glory with Christ and as to those by the uncessant and most compassionate prayers of whom our fellow-members triumphant we receive continually great advantages whilst we are yet in the fight where if Dives remembred his brethren much more do they Meditating on the Life of that Saint and proposing some one thing therein for your imitation In that day beging of God some one of those graces and virtues which God had more eminently bestowed upon him See Examples in the Collects §. 134. Digr That those who more honour the Saints those friends of God that laid down their lives c. for him are by God made more partakers of the benefits of their prayers As in ancient time frequent experience hath shewed these our respects to them being only for their faithful service to him and this honouring of the servant finally redounding to the Master Matt. 10.40.42 and God not suffering as not any charity so not any honour done to his to go unrewarded 4. From holy 4 and consecrated persons presenting your Prayers to God 4. From holy persons Digr Of the Reverence to be had to Times Places Things Persons Consecrated §. 135. II. Concerning Meditation 1. Often using Meditation the greatest nourishment of Piety and Devotion And this upon some one particular subject At some set time And that time the space of an hour that you may attain some fervour in it or not less than half an hour And this time rather in the morning when your Spirits are most fresh and clear and undiscomposed This Meditation to be used then as you please as part or out of Prayer the greatest part of Meditation always being Prayers in any posture walking sitting or in bed where there is more privacy so it be toward the morning when you are free from all drowsiness 2. To make you more exact and experienced in all the particular heads of Devotion 't is recommendable to change dayly or often the subject of your Prayers imploying the most of your Prayer time upon some selected points of some one head of Meditation such as those following pag. 3. Concerning your Subject of Meditation always having some chief points upon it some for your reason others for your affections to work on whether composed by your self or borrowed from another See Introduct to a Devout Life and written down that your memory may not be burthened passing in your exercise in order from one of these to another as your thoughts multiply less or more upon them The more you collect and the fewer at one time you insist on the better And if also each point be grounded on or confirmed with some sentences of Scripture you shall find these much more to move you as being God's words than the wisest dictates of
forewarned us like a thief at a time when we are asleep and think less of it than at other times we do Now this imagined great distance still from our death chiefly ariseth from every ones reckoning his own end only from deficiency of nature which yet not one of 1000 dyes of and not from accidental distempers when as most commonly this our lamp goes out either choaked with its own nourishment or violently extinguished by some external accident before its Oyl is half consumed And since nothing is more common then example of this in others on every side what self love and dotage is it to promise our selves a better destiny till we also surprized become the like example to others 23. And consider likewise and think with your self how many are dying in that very time you are thinking and meditating of it 24. 2 When this time shall come your impotency and unfitness from your fears your pains and many times the want of your senses that will then be to order either the matter of your Soul or of your worldly affairs to do any thing with sufficient devotion or prudence and also your friends at that time hiding from you as much as they can the danger of your sickness Nay your self perhaps when decumbent under the stroke of death yet removing it a far off still and certainly presuming being loath to imagine the worst of a recovery only because some few so sick have not dyed of whom your unkind friends will not be wanting to mind you also because your self formerly have recovered 25. For exciting your resolutions and affections Indeavour to make the same judgment of things for the present and to have the same opinion now of your sins of the world and its pleasures and its cares and your designs in it and what you imagine you should in such a case at such a time purpose now resolve upon 26. Prepare your self for that terrible and dreadful hour in some of those Duties set down before 27. Avoid not but use and seek out all the sad memorials of death that may be as visiting Hospitals the sick sore and putrifying dying persons hearing their speeches their groans looking on the skeletons of the dead frequenting funerals Making many reflections on the passing of time decays of your own Body or other mens c. Remembring often Eccl. 7.2 3 4. Repeating often the 90 Psalm Recalling to mind and keeping a Catalogue sometimes to be reviewed of your friends and acquaintance deceased Considering what they were did are Thus much for Sickness and Death §. 169. For Consideration of the General day of Judgment some more particulars may yet be added Consider 1. That that is the proper day of justice and wrath as the present is of Grace and Mercy See Rom. 2.5.8 9. 2. Thes 1.7 8. Rev. 11.18 6.16 Luk. 18.7 2. Cor. 5.11 God's justice upon sin by Christ's Mediation being delayed till that time that many might come to repentance 2. Pet. 3.9 and these his present temporal punishments being inflicted chiefly not for vengeance but for other ends either for their good that suffer or other mens that behold it Therefore the present called our day Luk. 19.42 2. Cor. 6.2 wherein our free will doth as it pleaseth That the day of the Lord 2. Pet. 3.10 1. Thes 5.2 wherein removing this free power we yet enjoy God will gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and all that do iniquity and cast them into the furnace Matt. 13.41 2. The dreadful signs that shall be then of God's wrath and the terribleness of the appearance of that day beyond all other terrors and the alteration of Heaven and Earth and putting out of the Sun before the sitting in judgment Rev. 20.11 comp 12. tho not till after the resurrection 1. Thes 4.16 See 2. Pet. 3.10.12 Psal 18.7 c. Nahum 1.3 c. Esai 30.27 c. Matt. 24.29 c. Rev. 20.11 Joel 3.2.12 c. to 17. Zechariah 14.4 Luk. 21.36 3. As the Bodies of the righteous raised in great beauty and glory so those of the wicked in great filthiness and deformity 4. The horrible fear and trembling of the wicked then living Matt. 30. Luk. 21.25 26. Rev. 1.7 6.16 11.18 Rev. 1.7 this day coming upon them when full of sin and security Matt. 24.12.38 Luk. 18.8 21.35 1. Thes 5.3 2. Thes 2 3. And of the Souls of the formerly dead then being brought out of their prisons 1. Pet. 3.19 and reunited to their loathsome companion the Body Now to be sentenced together with the devil to eternal torments whom also we may suppose deprecating as the Devils Luk. 8.31 5. The confidence and joy of the righteous then living and of the Souls of the dead then coming out of the place of rest and bliss and reunited to their Bodies their Bodies carefully gathered up and brought together by the Angels and such as they are described 1. Cor. 15.42 c. 2. Thes 1.10 both these being then caught up in the clouds and having their ascension like our Saviour's and meeting the Lord coming in his Glory with his Blessed Angels to Judgment in the air 1. Thes 4.17 Luk. 21.28 1. Jo. 2.28 1. Cor. 7.7 2 Tim. 4.8 Tit. 2.13 1. Thes 5.4 2. Pet. 3.12 whom we may suppose singing together as in Rev. 19.6 7 8. 6. A particular appearance and examination of all the Sons of Adam assembled together Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham's time then confronting Corazin and Bethsaida in Christ's time c. And every one giving account of himself to God the Counsels of all their hearts being made manifest and secrets divulged Rom. 14.10.12 1. Cor. 4.5 Matt. 10.15 Rev. 20.12 Rom. 2.16 Ecclesiastes 12.14 7. Books kept containing all mens works then brought forth and opened Rev. 12.20 In which how many sins never thought of for Repentance shall be then brought to our Remembrance for Condemnation And besides them a peculiar Book of life called also a Book of remembrance Mal. 3.16 being not of actions but only of names i. e. of those who have here served and pleased God that none of them might be forgotten or unrewarded in that day All the rest who are not writ in that happy book being abandoned to eternal destruction Exod. 32.32 33. Phil. 4.3 Rev. 3.5 20.15 Luk. 10.20 Jo. 10.28 29. 8. The manifestation at that time of God's just judgment the manner whereof is set down by St. Paul Rom. 2. from 6. to 17. verse which shall be upon no other point but down-right according to works Rom. 2.6 Rev. 20.12 Matt. 16.27 c. In which works words Matt. 12.37 Jud. 15. and thoughts Rom. 2.16 are contained According to works either those that men have persevered in without any repentance of them at all or where any repentance of them hath been which cancels all the work before it Ezech. 18.21 22. according to the works done after it whether these be good or whether they be evil which being evil
this life were not the least worthy of 2. Cor. 14.17 There to possess all Riches Without fear of Moth or rust or thief Matt. 6.19 Having in Heaven an induring substance Heb. 10.34 Receiving for all our former Losses an hundred fold Matt. 19.29 To enjoy all Honour To be made Kings Coheirs of God's heavenly Kingdome with his only Son Possessed of an exceeding eternal weight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 Shining as the brightness of the Firmament as the Stars Dan. 12.3 as the Sun Matt. 13.43 having Crowns Palms Thrones Rev. 7.9 sitting with Christ in his Throne Rev. 3.21 Judging the Nations Angels 1. Cor. 6.3 ruling over the Nations Rev. 2.26 27. Made like unto the Son of God our B. Saviour 1. Jo. 3.6 To enjoy all Pleasures Arrayed in fine linnen clean and white Rev. 19.8 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Rev. 21.2 And there married unto the Lamb Rev. 19.7 The ravished spouse shall cry out I have found him whom my Soul loveth I will hold him and will not let him go Cant. 3.4 Blessed are they who are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb Apoc. 19.9 Blessed be those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Luk. 12.37 They shall come from the East and from the West and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of Heaven Matt. 8.11 I will drink no more of this fruit of the Vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers Kingdome Matt. 26.29 On either side of the River was the tree of life which had twelve manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month c. Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Apoc. 22.2 17. Entring into the never-ending joy of our Lord Matt. 25.23 In whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 Whether St. Paul was caught up and there heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter and of such a one saith he may I glory 2. Cor. 12.1 c. Where their Soul is to be satisfied with marrow and fatness that their month is still praising with joyful lips Psal 63.5 Where they are so ravished with his beauty and holiness that for ever they are doing nothing but gazing in his face Matt. 18.10 Rev. 22.4 and celebrating it and crying holy holy holy Rev. 4.8 Hallelujah Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb. Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Amen Blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 4.11 7.10.12 15.3 19.6 Happy are the men happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdome 1. King 10.8.1 Thou hast ravished mine heart thou hast ravished mine heart Tell my Beloved that I am sick of Love One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord c. Psal 27.4 How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts My Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house and are still praising thee Psal 84.1 2.4 Lastly filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.19 For Christ ascended into Heaven that so he might fill all things Eph. 4.10 Made all one with Christ and with God As thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Jo. 17.21.23 That God may be all in all 1. Cor. 15.28 Next view the City where this Society of Saints live A City of most firm Foundations not to be shaken whose builder and maker is God himself Heb. 11.10 12.28 8.2.5 In a better country the heavens Heb. 11.16 And those made anew for the purpose Rev. 21.1 Allusively described and painted to our imaginations by the most glorious and perfect things that here fall under the knowledge of sense Rev. 21 and 22. Chapters The City made in fashion of a Cube the most stable figure Rev. 21.16 The streets of it pure Gold as it were transparent Chrystal Rev. 21.21.11 4.6 The Foundations garnished with all manner of precious stones See Rev. 4.3 Jasper Saphire Emerald c. ver 19. The walls of Jasper clear as Chrystal c. ver 18.11 these stones too having the glory of God ver 11. shining upon them The 12. Gates 12. Pearls Every several Gate of one Pearl These always standing open because never night freely to receive all nations ver 24 25. And at the 12 Gates 12 Angels to guard them that nothing abominable or defiling enter in there at But only those that are written in the Lambs Book of Life Rev. 21.27 1. Within it a pure river of water of life proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 In the Piazza of the City Paradise watered with its streams ver 2. and in it the tree of life exposed always bearing fruit and ever flourishing with an unfading leaf having the cure of all evils in the leaves the yieldance of all delicacies in the fruits and variety of these for every month See ver 2. 2. The Glory of God and of the lamb not resident in one part of the Temple as formerly but the Temple thereof Rev. 21 22. And the glory of them likewise the Sun thereof ver 23. For what other light can transcend that of the glorified Saints who themselves shine as the Sun All things there Holy Nothing that defileth entring into it nothing wicked or abominable Rev. 21.8 27. No more Curse or Malediction there Rev. 22.3 And when you have viewed the City then look into it and view once more the inhabitants thereof All Sons of Nobles Kings with Crowns Triumphant with Palms Cloathed all in white bright radiating Robes and shining as the Sun Wonder at their endless inviolable Concord A City at unity in it self More united than Friends being all Brethren Then Brethren being Fellow-members all of one and the same Body And more united yet than Members In as much as the Spirit of God by which they are joyned hath a more excellent power and vertue in compacting the Members of Christ then the Soul hath in those of the Body By which union it is that all the honour glory inheritance in the
or approve you according to your doings 2. Making you most gracious promises upon obedience to his will and following his counsels and again grievously threatning you upon contempt of his laws and these promises And using all possible means your liberty being reserved and your will not forced to wean and fright you from the ways of death and allure you to the ways of life 3. Redeeming you after that in your natural condition you became dis-obedient when without strength Rom. 5 6 when a sinner ver 8. when an enemy ver 10. from sin death satan hell into whose cruel hands you were fallen by his own Son Him that was brought up with him his dayly delight Prov. 8.30 sent out of his own bosome Jo. 1.18 Even by him God that made the world to be given up to death to be hanged on the tree for you and in your stead Remitting all your Sin gratis for his sufferings without requiring of you so strict an account for offences how grievous soever committed in the time past before you were by the receit of the stronger iluminations of his Spirit converted unto him 4. Calling you by being born according to his good pleasure in a Christian Common-wealth to Grace i. e. To the hearing of his holy word To the use and benefit of his holy Sacraments the sure pledges of his love and seals of the future performance of all his promises of remission of sin of increase of Grace c. _____ To the guidance and assistance of his holy Clergy To the Example of many holy Saints 5. Having long patience and forbearance with you whilst notwithstanding these you continued still vicious ready to be reconciled whenever you would return unto him and with all patience waiting for your repentance and himself practising most exactly towards you all the rules of long-suffering and forgiveness which he hath enjoyned you towards others 6. In your Conversion preventing you with his Grace regenerating and making you a new Creature after the image of his Son by infusing into you a new principle the Spirit which remains in you during your whole life and sufficiently enabling you in all the parts of holiness if you be not wanting to it on your part 7. Giving you day by day many illuminations divine inspirations and admonitions and by his Grace in you making you capable of and rewardable with new mercies unto you 8. Ordaining you after a few days spent here on earth to an immortal condition and unconceivable joys in heaven and to have this your vile Body after its corruption raised again in great glory and beauty §. 174. 9. Affections and Resolutions Such as these 1. Admiring his Goodness Your Ingratitude 2. Sorrow for ever having offended him 3. Re-loving him 4. Indeavouring hereafter to serve him 5. Suffering any misery for him 6. Imitating his goodness to you in yours to others c. For Considerations are easily multiplied §. 175. VI. HEADS for Meditation on the Several Offices and Benefits to Mankind of Jesus Christ our Lord extracted out of the larger Discourse of our Saviour's Benefits Consider 1. The world being full of ignorance and sin Jesus Christ 1. Law giver and Apostle The Truth the holy one of God in the fulness of time anointed by the Father and sent into the world A new Law-giver ministring not the letter of the law but the Spirit An Apostle preaching the Gospel Remitting Sins Conferring the Holy Ghost having the Keys of and admitting some into and shutting others out of the Kingdome of Heaven And who before his necessary departure ordained others by succession of Ordination to be continued to the world's end Sending them as the Father sent him delivering over his doctrine and delegating his authority and embassy and keys unto them and unto the end of the world from heaven assisting their Ministry Matt. 28.20 Appellations relating unto this Office Shepherd Pastour Bishop 1. Pet. 2.25 1. Pet. 5.4 §. 176. 2. After thus teaching the Way of life Christ the Exemplar and Pattern to mankind in his life and death The Way 2. Exemplar of all obedience to God's commands and of all suffering for righteousness sake which God hath here required And in his Resurrection and Ascension of the reward which God hath for hereafter promised §. 177. 3. God's former Covenant of Works being found unprofitable unto us 3. Mediatour upon the breach thereof now liable to God's wrath and eternal death Jesus Christ the Mediator of a new Covenant and Testament founded in remission of sins reconciling sinners to God Sealing this Covenant with his Blood the blood of the New Testament Luk. 22.20 and ratifying this Testament with his death and after his Resurrection having put into his own hands by the Father the donation of the rewards promised to those that keep the conditions of this Covenant §. 178. 4. God's justice not pardoning Sin gratis Christ the Sacrifice 4. Sacrifice the lamb of God the true sin-offering for the world expiating our guilt and our passover delivering us sprinkled with his blood Heb. 12.24 from the destroying Angel And our peace-offering by eating whereof we have Communion with God with his Son and all that is his with the Saints and all that is theirs Lastly by eating whereof being the Bread of Life our Souls and Bodies are preserved unto everlasting life as in paradise they should have been by the tree of life §. 179. 5. Man being indebted to God's justice by him unsatisfiable and in bondage to sin 5. Redeemer to the law to death and to Satan the grand Executioner of God's justice and Prince of this lower world Jesus Christ the Redeemer by paying a ransome freeing us from our debt and by making a conquest delivering us out of our slavery By whom we are freed already from the dominion of sin from the condemnation of the law from the chains of Satan from the approach of death eternal from the hurt and therefore from the fear of death temporal that being now only a passage to happiness But when the good time is come shall be by the same Redeemer yet more perfectly freed from all these than as yet we are namely from any adherence or possibility of sin from any temptation of Satan from being restrained to any law from being capable of any mortality through Jesus Christ our Lord. §. 180. 6. God making a Covenant with the first Adam made of the earth involving his seed 6. Second Adam The Life 1. Cor. 15.45 and he by his pride transgressing it so both losing the reward and bringing death both on himself and his posterity Jesus Christ the second Adam descending from heaven assuming our nature entring a Covenant involving his seed fulfilling it by walking a contrary way to the first i. e. by humility and so receiving the reward for himself and for his seed Both the holy spirit and immortality which were lost by the first Adam being now in their due time
Governour and the Holy Ghost ever illuminating and sanctifying the members thereof With which Church was always established the same Covenant of Grace in Christ the same Sacraments for the substance the same way of Salvation under the same precepts through the like obedience and sufferings upon the same promises and threats of the same rewards and punishments See Heb. 11. Hence ever since the fall we find in the sacred Story as one Generation the Children of Works and born after the flesh as Cain Lamech Cam Canaan Aegypt Babylon c. so another the Children of Faith first Abel Martyr then Seth Father of the whole Race Enos Enoch Noah Shem Abraham to whom the Gospel was more fully preached and the Covenant of Faith published 430 years before the promulgation of the Law c. See all these things prosecuted at large in the forementioned Discourse §. 185. The Love and Power of the Father and the Son VII HEADS for Meditation on the several Offices and Benefits to MANKIND of the HOLY-GHOST The Holy-Ghost the Eternal Spirit of God The intimate Communion and Love of the Father and the Son the Finger of God the Strength and Power of the Father as the Son is the Wisdome of the Father the omnipotent worker of all that which the Father decrees and which the Son the word of the Father commands §. 186. The Spirit of Promise The Holy-Ghost the Holy Spirit of Promise who as the Son was a long time the Promise of the Father to this lower world so after the exhibition of our Saviour this Holy Spirit was a further promise unto it both of the Father and of the Son and at last upon the departure of the Son came down from heaven to abide and dwell with us here on earth in our Lord's absence until his second coming who as the Son was sent by the Father into the world to glorify the Father and to teach men what he had received and heard from the Father so the Holy Spirit descended to glorify the Son and to teach and bring to our remembrance to confirm and bear witness here on earth to all things that were taught and heard and received from the Son who was here pleased not only to be cohabitant with us but an inhabitant within us and vouchsafed to lodge in our persons as the Son did before to dwell in our nature making these our Bodies now the Temples of the Holy-Ghost By whom also both the Father and the Son do dwell with us and in us who put the last hand unto the great affair of our Salvation finishing the internal work thereof upon us in our Sanctification as our Saviour did before the external for us in our Redemption §. 187. The Spirit of Regeneration The Holy Ghost the Spirit of Regeneration who by his unspeakable power doth work the strange work of our second Nativity who is the seed of God by whom we are new Creatures by whom we are begotten and born again born of God and made partakers of the Divine Nature and Sons of God who is the heavenly principle derived into us from the second Adam Lord from Heaven conveying into our Soul Holiness and into our Body Immortality and Life as the flesh we received from the first Adam conveyed unto us sin and death Who being the same Spirit in us that also is in Christ is the bond of that mystical union between Jesus the Head and us the members and between us and all other fellow-members making all Christians but one and the same Body of the same temper of the same inclinations of one heart and one mind amongst our selves and with the head as being all actuated and moved by one and the same Spirit §. 188. The Spirit of Illumination The Holy-Ghost conveying its gracious Influences and Effects both into our Souls and into our Bodies Into our Souls both in our Vnderstanding and Memory and in our Will and Affections In our Vnderstanding and Memory The Spirit of Illumination who being the Spirit of God and knowing all the deep things of God as a man's Spirit doth the things of a man when as we by Adam's fall do remain miserably blinded and darkned in our Vnderstanding doth reveal unto us all the supernatural mysteries of our Redemption and Salvation and produceth in us a lively faith and credence of things not seen who beareth witness within us to all the doctrine of Christ to the truth of the Gospel and to all the promises and threats thereof by whom it is that we call Jesus Lord who is the Spirit of Truth to guide us into all Truth by whose unction we know all things beneficial to us and are every one taught of God from whom those who are his more diligent and worthy servants receive manifold revelations visions illuminations both in things of spiritual and temporal concernment both for their own edification and the edification of others knowledge of the mysteries of Religion and of the deeper sence of the word of God knowledge of things to come of the secrets of the heart of things done in absence and at the remotest distance The word of Wisdome and Counsel the gift of Eloquence and powerful perswasion Wisdome in Offices and Governments The Holy Spirit distributing unto men these several Gifts as seemeth good unto him and fit for the work wherein he imploys them And all our science being much perfecter and directed to nobler ends when this conferred by the Holy Spirit §. 189. The Spirit of Love Toward God The Holy Ghost in our Will and Affections the Spirit of Love Of Love first toward God and also towards our Neighbour Towards God who doth inflame us with an impatient love of God and things Divine who according to the promise under the Gospel writeth all God's laws in our heart and inclineth our will to obey his Commandments no more out of constraint and fear but out of choice and affection who dictateth to us all our acceptable prayers to and acceptable praises of God and leadeth the greater proficients in God's service into a perfect contemplation of and union with him Elevating them with rapts and extasies and consuming the Soul with the flames of Divine Love §. 190. Towards our Brethren The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of love to our Neighbour Who doth enflame us with a most ardent love towards our Brethren whose blessed fruits are love peace long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness by whom the Saints are rendred kind not envying not vaunting themselves above others not seeking their own not easily provoked thinking no evil bearing all things believing all things hoping all things enduring all things Who teacheth us to keep our Saviour's new Commandment of Love and bestoweth on us this most excellent gift of Charity §. 191. The Spirit of Corporal Parity and Mortification The Holy-Ghost conferring its gracious effects and influences as on the Soul so on the Body In it The Spirit of Mortification and Chastity Who continually warreth against
world to come we never be seduced by our own or any evil Spirit but inspired continually and lead by thee may be ready to every good work and relish those things which are hidden from the world Purify our minds by thy holy inspirations exhilarate them when sad with thy chast and innocent joys lead them when going astray into all truth inflame them when cold with the fire of thy charity and unite them when disagreeing by thy bond of peace Finally be thou the tye whereby we may love the Father and the Son and the sweet fruition unto us of the Father and the Son with whom we worship and adore thee in the unity of the same God-head for ever and ever Amen LITANIES of the Eucharist O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father who openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing Father to whom the eyes of all things look up and thou givest them their meat in due season Have mercy on us Who feddest Abraham the Father of the Faithful with bread and wine by the hand of Melchisedech thy Priest Have mercy on us Who appointedst to the Israelites the Paschal Lamb in remembrance of their deliverance from bondage under Pharaoh Have mercy on us Who feddest them travelling thro the wilderness with Manna from heaven the food of Angels and didst also severely punish them loathing that Manna Have mercy on us O Father who hast given us thy only begotten Son the true Bread from heaven Have mercy on us Jesu that heavenly Bread who descendedst from heaven and givest life unto the world the Word made flesh and inhabiting in us Have mercy on us Jesu who bestowedst thy self upon us at thy birth for our Brother at thy table for food at thy death for our ransome and at last in thy kingdome for our reward Have mercy on us Jesu who pitying the multitude not having what to eat didst miraculously multiply the five loaves for many thousands Have mercy on us Jesu who invitest all that labour and are heavy burthened to come unto thee that thou may'st refresh them Have mercy on us Jesu who at thy departure out of this world unto the Father left us a lasting monument of thy love in the Sacrament of the Eucharist Have mercy on us Jesu who institutedst this Sacrament for a dayly Sacrifice and pure Oblation of thy self unto God thy Father unto the end of the world Have mercy on us O spotless Lamb of God that wast slain from the beginning of the world Have mercy on us O Living Bread born in Bethlehem the House of Bread who gavest thy own flesh for the life of the world Have mercy on us Jesu the true food which lasteth to eternal life to whom whosoever cometh shall never hunger and in whom whosoever believeth shall never thirst Have mercy on us Jesu whose flesh and blood whoso eateth and drinketh shall never dye but hath life eternal and dwelleth in thee and thou in him and thou wilt raise him up at the last day Have mercy on us Jesu who in this blessed Sacrament givest us our dayly bread and the cup of blessing our Viaticum in the house of death and who hast prepared a table in my sight against all that trouble us Have mercy on us Jesu the tree of Life planted in the midst of Paradise whose fruit gives Immortality to those that eat it Have mercy on us Jesu the Paschal Lamb without spot eaten in remembrance of our deliverance from the bondage of Satan Have mercy on us Jesu the heavenly Manna that containest all sweetness food of Angels and bread of Pilgrims eaten by us in the wilderness of this world whilst we travel towards the heavenly Canaan Have mercy on us Jesu the true Vine which makest fruitful and nourishest with thy heavenly juice every branch abiding in thee Have mercy on us Jesu the mystical Pelican who feedest thy young ones with the blood of thy own breast the good Samaritan who pourest celestial wine and oyl into our wounds Have mercy on us Jesu an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech who offerest unto us bread and wine even thy own self Have mercy on us Jesu the good Shepherd who feedest thy sheep with thy flesh and blood Have mercy on us Be merciful O Jesu and spare us From receiving thy body and blood unworthily and to condemnation from all neglect in coming to thy living table from all prophane irreverence and negligence whilst we draw near to thine Altar Be merciful O Jesu and spare us From hungring and thirsting after earthly things from all sin and from everlasting death Be merciful O Jesu and spare us By that exceeding great purity and innocence thou requirest in all them that approach this Sacrament signified by thy washing thy Disciples feet Be merciful O Jesu c. By that enflamed charity wherewith thou institutedst that Divine Sacrament Be merciful O Jesu and spare us By thy Body broken for us on the Cross and bestowed on us in this Sacrament Be merciful O Jesu and spare us In the day of Judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may never waver in our faith and belief of the words of thy mouth who art truth it self and an omnipotent God with whom every word is possible We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may with all thankfulness adore thee in this blessed Sacrament and worthily commemorate thy Passion so full of charity and that our faith devotion and reverence thereto may dayly be increased We sinners c. That through a true confession of all our sins thou wouldst bring us to a more frequent receiving hereof so that at length as the Hart pants after the rivers of waters our souls may thirst after thee the living God present in this venerable Sacrament We beseech thee to hear us That thou would vouchsafe to turn in unto us miserable sinners to heal our souls which are sick unto death that by this celestial bread they may be sustained and satisfied with the fulness of thy house and inebriated with the rivers of thy bounty We sinners bessech Thee c. That in the strength of this food we may walk through this Wilderness to thy holy Mountain We sinners c. That thou wouldst wash us throughly from the filth of our sins when we desire to partake of thine Altar so that we may approach thereto with longing and gladness and not without a Wedding-garment We sinners c. That at the hour of our death thou wouldst comfort and arm us with this heavenly Viaticum We sinners c. That we may receive thee into our hearts with love and fear that thereby we may be made worthy to
a Spear came water and blood Have mercy on us Jesu the good Shepherd who laidest down thy life for thy sheep who lovedst us and washedst us from our sins in thine own blood Have mercy on us Jesu who wast not left in Hell neither did thy flesh see corruption who wast raised from the grave the bonds thereof being loosed for that it was impossible for thee to be holden with them Have mercy on us Jesu who art ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of God crowned with glory and honor King of Kings and Lord of Lords Have mercy on us Jesu who hast prepared a place for us in thy Father's house who art our Advocate with the Father who sentst the Holy Ghost the Paraclete upon thy Apostles Have mercy on us Jesu who shalt come to judge the living and the dead who shalt send the reprobate into everlasting fire and upon the elect shalt bestow the kingdome prepared for them Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Jesus From all evil from the snares of the devil and from a sudden death Be merciful and spare us O Jesus From anger hatred and malice and all uncharitableness and from eternal death Spare us O Jesus By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation by thy Nativity and Circumcision by the imposition of thy holy Name Jesus Be merciful and spare us O Jesus By thy Baptisme Fasting and Temptation by thy labours and watchings Be merciful and spare us O Jesus By thine agony and bloody sweat by thy buffeting and scourging by thy crown of thorns and purple garments by thy cruel mockings and reeden scepter Be merciful and spare us O Jesus By thy Cross and Passion by thy five sacred wounds by thy Death and Burial Spare us O Jesus By thy glorious Resurrection and by thine admirable Ascension and by the sending of the Holy Ghost Be merciful and spare us O Jesus In the day of Judgment Spare us O Jesus We Sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Jesus That looking to the pattern of thy most admirable life which thou hast left us we may follow thy footsteps that we may be holy as thou wert holy that when thou shalt appear we may be made like unto thee We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That following thee we may not walk in darkness and that we may think the same things that are in Christ Jesus We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may learn of thee who wast meek and humble in heart that looking up to thee the author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before thee enduredst the Cross despising the shame and art now set down at the right hand of the throne of God we be not wearied or faint in our minds We sinners beseech c. That we may desire to know nothing but Jesus crucified that we may take up our Cross daily and follow thee that we may crucify the flesh and the lusts and desires thereof We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy blood may cleanse us from dead works to serve the living Lord that dying to sin and being buried with thee we may henceforth walk with thee in newness of life We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being purged from dead works we never crucify to our selves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being bought with an inestimable price we may glorify God in our bodies and as we have been partakers of thy sufferings so we may be of thy consolations We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may know thee and the power of thy resurrection and the fellowship of thy sufferings being made conformable unto thy death if by any means we may attain unto the resurrection of the dead We sinners c. That we may count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord for whom we may suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung that we may gain Christ We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That our conversation may be in heaven from whence we look for our Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us good Jesu O Lamb of God that takest c. Hear us good Jesus O Lamb of God that takest c. Have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Collect. O Lord Jesus we beseech thee by that love wherewith thou lovedst thine own unto the end by that bloody sweat and agony which thou sufferedst in the Garden and by the injuries and sorrows which thou feltst by being betrayed and sold by thine own Disciple and bound and led away by the Jews absolve us from the bonds of our sins and bind our Souls to thee by the strongest cords of love which can never be loosed O dear Saviour who wast whipped with Rods and crowned with Thorns grant unto us thy servants that we subduing our bodies with voluntary chastisements may be made worthy members under such an Head And thou O dearest Lord who by thy death hast breathed into dying man whom thou at first createdst a new breath of life vouchsafe we beseech thee that we who owed our whole selves to thee for our Creation and again owe all we are to thee for our Redemption may no longer now live to our selves but unto thee who diedst for us To whom with the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all Praise and Glory for ever and ever Amen LITANIES of the Blessed Virgin O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Holy Mary the chosen and beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father Pray for us Holy Mary the Daughter of David Aaron's budding Rod Virgin of Virgins the Garden enclosed the Fountain sealed the flaming Bush unconsumed Pray for us Holy Mary Mother of God Mother of the Word made flesh who broughtest the Son of Justice into the world to them that sate in darkness Pray for us Holy Mary Spouse of the Holy Ghost and overshadowed by him the Woman cloathed with the Sun the Tabernacle of the Sacred Trinity Pray for us Holy Mary ordained from all eternity promised to the Fathers prefigured in mystical types and foretold by the Oracles of the Prophets who keptst inviolably the Vow of thy Virginity Pray for us Holy Mary full of Grace blessed amongst Women whose great Humility the most High had respect unto professing thy self the Handmaid of the Lord in all obedience whom all generations call Blessed Pray for
God who publishedst to Zachary the birth and office of St. John Baptist and sent from God to the Blessed Virgin wast the happy Messenger of the Incarnation of the eternal Word of God Pray for us St. Raphael one of the Seven which assist before our Lord the holy conducter of Tobias the restorer of sight and powerful expeller of evil Spirits Pray for us Holy Seraphin who with a burning coal purified the lips of Esaias Pray for us Holy Cherubin who wast set to keep the way of the Tree of Life Pray for us O Holy Angels who in executing judgment on Sodom deliveredst just Lot vexed with their filthy conversation Pray for us Holy Angels who ascended and descended upon Jacob's Ladder Pray for us Holy Angel who deliveredst Jacob from all evil Pray for us O Angel of God who in smiting all the first born of Egypt passedst over the houses of the Israelites who conductedst them into the land of Promise and deliveredst the Law unto Moses Pray for us O Prince of the Host of God who wast sent to aid Joshuah and who destroyedst of the Assyrians warring against God's people an hundred fourscore and five thousand in one night Pray for us Holy Angel who when Daniel was cast into the Lyon's Den shuttedst up their mouths that they might not hurt him Pray for us Holy Angels who joyfully sung Glory to God on high at the Birth of the Saviour of Mankind Pray for us Holy Angels who ministred to our Lord when anhungred in the Wilderness Pray for us Holy Angel who comfortedst our Lord in his Agony Pray for us Holy Angels who first declared the joyful news of our Lord's Resurrection Pray for us O ye Angels of God who brought out of prison and set at large the Apostles and St. Peter and struck with an ignominious death proud Herod not giving Honor to God Pray for us Holy Angels who carried the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosome Pray for us O Holy Angels who shall come with our Saviour in his Majesty to judgment and at the end of the world shall gather the Elect from the four winds and separate the wicked from amongst the just and gather all scandals out of the Kingdome of Christ Pray for us O all ye Orders of Blessed Spirits Angels and Arch-Angels Vertues and Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers Cherubin and Seraphin Pray for us O Christ who art placed above all Principalities and Powers and Thrones and Dominions and every name that is named not only in this world but that to come Have mercy on us From all dangers By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From the temptations snares and illusions of the devil By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From all filthy and unclean cogitations and suggestions By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From all filthy and unclean cogitations and suggestions By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From the counsels and malice of wicked men and all evil company By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From sudden and unprovided death By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst spare us and give thy Holy Angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways We sinners c. That thou wouldst direct and govern thy Church and grant to all Christian Societies unity peace and concord by the Ministration of thy Holy Angels We sinners c. That thou wilt be pleased at the hour of death to guard us with the defence and protection of thy Holy Angels We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wilt be pleased to transport our Souls when they depart out of our bodies into the heavenly mansions by their ministry We sinners beseech thee to hear us That thou wouldst grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed in the blessed Society of thy Holy Angels We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. O Lamb of God that takest away c. Our Father which art Heaven c. A Hymn PRaise our Lord from the Heavens praise our Lord from the heights Praise our Lord all ye his Angels praise him all his Hosts Bless our Lord all ye Angels of his powerful in strength doing his will fulfilling his word O all ye Powers of our Lord bless ye our Lord ye ministring Spirits that do his will Bless our Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who hath delivered thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with mercy and tender compassion For he hath given his holy Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder the young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under feet He shall send his Angels round about them that fear him and deliver them Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Before the Angels will I sing praise unto thee I will adore towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name O Lord. O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto Thee Let us pray O Eternal God who in thy wonderful providence hast made the Angels ministring Spirits and sendest them in mission for the good of thine Elect behold with pity the temptations and dangers to which the frailty of our nature is perpetually exposed and give thy holy Angels charge to bear us in their hands and cover us under the shadow of their wings that being guided thro the desert of this life by their safe conduct we may enter at last into the land of Promise and rejoyce for ever in their blessed Society thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty and everlasting God who madest us thy unworthy Servants after thy own Image and hast deputed thy holy Angels for our Keepers Grant unto thy Servants that by their defence and custody we happily pass thro all dangers of Body and Soul and after this life ended attain to everlasting joys together with them thro Jesus Christ Amen WE beseech you O Angelical Spirits our faithful Guardians and Keepers direct and guide us by the divine Bounty committed to your care and protection this day and for ever in the way of peace prosperity and safety defend us likewise from every evil spirit and dangerous temptation until we arrive to the blessed Vision in our heavenly Country and there together with you and all the Saints praise the common Saviour of us all for ever and ever Amen O Holy Michael the Arch-angel Prince of the Host of Heaven who standest always for the help of the people of God who foughtest with the great Dragon that old Serpent and threwest him out of Heaven and valiantly defendest the Church of God so that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it We beg of thee from the
thy Saints we may also imitate their faith and patience We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may keep inviolably the Catholick Faith so stoutly maintained by them that like as thine Elect in heaven so we may readily do thy will on earth that we may hate our own Souls in this world that we may preserve them to eternal life that thou wouldst vouchsafe to admit us into the inheritance of thy chosen in light We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may continually praise thee in thy Saints that we may laud thee with thy Saints in Heaven and magnify thee for ever We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Our Father which art in Heaven c. PRaise the Name of our Lord praise him ye Servants of our Lord. Who stand in the house of our Lord in the courts of the house of our God Praise our Lord for he is good sing unto his Name for it is sweet Sing unto our Lord a new Song his Praise in the congregation of his Saints For our Lord taketh pleasure in his people he will magnify the meek with Salvation Let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds Let the high Praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged Sword in their hand To execute vengeance upon the Nations and punishment upon the people To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron To execute upon them the Judgment written This Honor have all his Saints Hallelujah Let us pray WE give thee thanks O Lord with all our hearts for that thou hast chosen thy Saints and justified them by thy infinite grace for that thou hast prevented them with the blessings of thy sweetness and preserved them in their way thro all the impediments of their Salvation We give thee infinite thanks O God for all the Graces and Benefits which thou hast bestowed upon them in time and reserved for them to Eternity O ye blessed Servants and Friends of God who confirmed in all Grace and now have received the Crown of heavenly Glory and with joy behold the Sacred Trinity face to face praising him with unspeakable gladness everlastingly obtain for us your Supplicants free pardon of our sins and a perfect denial of our selves that we may follow your steps thro the narrow way as also an intimate and sincere love of God wherewith you being enflamed have valiantly and gloriously overcome the world the flesh and the devil with all the crosses of this present life pray for us now and at the hour of our death that when we are to pass hence and to appear before the fearful Tribunal of the great Judge he would not enter into judgment with us but judge us according to his infinite mercy that so at length we may be admitted into the blessed Fellowship in that supernal Jerusalem where we altogether may praise extol and magnify our Lord God for ever and ever Amen O Lord God multiply upon us thy Grace and grant us to follow in a holy profession the joy of thy Saints whose memories we celebrate through Jesus Christ thy only Son our Lord. Amen MOst gracious God the Author of all Sanctity and lover of Unity whose wisdome hath established an admirable communion between thy Church triumphant in heaven and militant on earth as members of the same mystical Body whereof thy Son Christ Jesus is the Head mercifully grant that as thy Blessed without ceasing pray to thee for us we may continually praise thee for them and in correspondence to their perfect Charity with pious observance celebrate their memories till we all meet before thy glorious Throne and with one heart adore the Saviour of us all who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen O All ye blessed Saints of heaven and Spirits Angelical whom God with the brightness of his presence makes everlastingly joyful pray for us We salute and honour you we give praise and thanks to our Lord who hath chosen you and made you eternally happy with his benedictions obtain from him for us forgiveness obtain for us grace that at the end of this frail life we may be admitted to the fruition of your heavenly Society thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God and most merciful Father favourably regard the imperfect Prayers of thy servants here on earth which we present unto thee by the most efficacious intercession of our fellow members the Saints in heaven and grant that as their Sanctity is exalted by thee to a supreme degree of glory so their Charity may obtain for us the especial assistance of thy Grace thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen GRant O Almighty God that we who celebrate the Memories and reverence the Holiness of all thy Saints may be assisted with Thee by their intercession and rejoyce in their protection thro Jesus Christ Amen O Almighty and Eternal God who vouchsafest us the Grace to reverence the Holiness of all thy Saints Grant us we beseech Thee the desired plenty of thy mercy by their multiplied intercessions thro our Lord Jesus Christ Amen The LITANY of Penitents O God the Father of heaven our Creator Have mercy on us O God the Son our Redeemer Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier Have mercy c. O strong just and jealous God taking revenge upon all sin and iniquity who sparedst not the Angels that sinned but castedst them down into hell to be tormented From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who hast appointed death the stipend of Sin who didst shut Adam after he had sinned out of Paradise and subjectedst him to many Curses From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who sparedst not the old world but punishedst it overwhelmed in sin by the flood From thy great wrath c. Who utterly consumedst Sodom and Gomorrah burnt to ashes and miraculously punishedst Pharoah and the Aegyptians hardening their hearts against thee From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who sparedst not thine ancient people the Jews rebelling against thee but deliveredst them up into the hands of their enemies and into the Babylonish Captivity From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who at last scatteredst them throughout all the world whilst persevering in their sins and gavest thy beloved City and thy Sanctuary to be trodden under foot of the Enemy From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us O God to the relenting and penitent gracious and merciful long-suffering and abundant in mercy and repenting thee of evil who lovest every thing and hatest nothing that thou hast made From thy great wrath c. Who pitiest all and winkest at the sins of men for their amendment of life who wouldst have none to perish but all be converted and in whose presence there is joy over one sinner that doth penance From all thy great wrath c. Who calledst
bringest down to the grave and raisest from thence again Have mercy on us Who savedst Noah from drowning in the Flood Lot from burning in Sodom and Isaac from imminent death who slaying all the first-born in Aegypt in one night preservedst safe the Israelites who deliveredst thy People stung with fiery Serpents by looking up to the Brazen one Have mercy on us Who at the Prayer of Elias and Eliseus thy Prophets restoredst the dead to life again who healedst Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosy by Eliseus the Prophet Have mercy on us Who freedst King Ezechias praying unto thee in his weakness with tears from his disease and death who at length restoredst Job most miserably afflicted in his body by Satan Have mercy on us JESU Son of the living God who wast sent to heal the broken in heart to preach enlargement to the captives and to comfort all that mourned who tookest upon thee our infirmities and barest our griefs who wentest about doing good and healing all that were sick and oppressed of the devil by whose power the blind received their sight the lame walked the lepers were cleansed and the dead raised Have mercy on us Who curedst with thy word the man that had been Paralytick eight and thirty years who healedst the woman that had been twelve years sick of her infirmity of blood and spent all she had upon the Physitians by the touch of the hemm of thy garment who restoredst to perfect health the woman vexed with a Spirit of infirmity and bowed down eighteen years Have mercy c. Who restoredst sight to him that had been blind from his birth who absent curedst the servant of the Centurion of eminent faith who deliveredst the woman of Canaan's daughter having respect to the faith of her mother Have mercy on us Who raisedst the daughter of Jairus Ruler of the Synagogue being newly dead who restoredst to life the only Son of his Mother that was dead and carried forth into the street who raisedst Lazarus after he had lain four days from the grave Have mercy on us Who in thine Agony being sorrowful unto death sweatedst drops of blood who praying that the cup of thy Passion and death might pass from thee submittedst thy self to the will of thy Father who dying commendedst thy Spirit into the hands of thy Father Have mercy on us Who by thy death destroyedst him that hath the power of death and diseases who by thy Resurrection procuredst us a lively hope of our rising also from death Have mercy on us Who sending the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles adornedst them with divers gifts of miracles and healings who by the shadow of St. Peter and the handkerchiefs and aprons brought from the body of St. Paul healedst many diseases Who gavest to them that believed on thee power to cast out devils in thy name to take up Serpents to lay their hands upon the sick and heal them Have mercy on us Who ascending into heaven art Lord of life and hast the power of death Have mercy on us O Father of mercies and God of all consolation who comfortest us in all our tribulations who sufferest us not to be tempted above that which we are able to bear but with the temptation makest away to escape Have mercy on us Who chastisest and scourgest those whom thou lovest who judgest and correctest us with weaknesses and sickness and death it self that we may not be condemned with the world Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest c. From the guilt and burthen of our sins Deliver us c. From all the temptations and wiles from all illusions and assaults of the devil Deliver us O Lord. From all impatience and murmuring against thy providence from all weakness of mind from distrust and despair of thy mercy from the fear of death and too great a desire of life Deliver us c. From distraction of mind about the things of this world and neglect of preparing for life eternal from grievous pain and agony which may withdraw our minds from thee Deliver us c. From thy wrath and heavy indignation from the terrible sentence of the supreme Judge from the gates of hell and powers of darkness from the bitter pains of eternal death Deliver us c. By the infinite and great mercies of God the Father by the infinite and great merits of God the Son by the grace and consolations of God the Holy Ghost Deliver c. By the pains of death which compassed thee about in the Garden at the approach of thy Passion by thine agony and bloody sweat Deliver us c. By thine affliction of heart on the Cross when thou criedst out unto thy Father by the ardency of thy love whereby thou undertookst our sorrows and with thy stripes curedst our wounds Deliver us c. By thy powerful Resurrection and glorious Ascension by thy gracious and most prevalent Intercession and Mediation Deliver us c. In the time of our necessities and straits in the hour of death and day of judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst not enter into judgment with thy servants for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified that thou wouldst not be extreme to mark our iniquities for who can abide it that thou wouldst lighten our eyes that we sleep not in death least at any time our enemy prevail over us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being delivered out of the hand of our enemies we may serve thee without fear in holiness and justice all the days of our life We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being made whole by thy grace from our disease we sin no more lest a worse thing come unto us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being uncertain of the time of our death and thy coming to judgment we may in time set in order our worldly affairs that thou wouldst vouchsafe us the grace to confess intirely and be sincerely contrite for our sins to forgive from our hearts all that have offended us and make satisfaction to all whom we have injured We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being reconciled to thee and all the world with a constant faith and firm hope we may reverently receive the Viaticum of thy Sacred Body and continue unto the end in thy grace and favour We sinners beseech c. That when and howsoever it shall please thee to dispose of us either for life or death we may most chearfully submit our selves to thy most holy will that as we have received good from the hands of our Lord so we may undergo evil with all patience We sinners beseech c. That we neglect not the chastisement of our Lord nor faint when we are reproved by thee but looking up to the Author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross may run with patience the race that is
set before us We sinners c. That according to the multitude of the sorrows in our souls and bodies thy comforts may refresh our hearts that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so also our consolation may abound by Christ We sinners c. That our diseases and all our bodily sufferings may work together for good to us that love God that these momentany and light afflictions here may work in us an eternal weight of glory We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That whether we live we may live unto God or whether we dye we may dye unto God that Christ may be glorified in our bodies whether we live or dye that neither life nor death nor any other creature may be able to separate us from Christ Jesus We sinners beseech c. That the earthly house of this our tabernacle being dissolved we may possess an eternal habitation not made with hands in heaven that walking in the midst of the shadow of death we may fear no evil because thou art with us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us c. An Exercise of CONTRITION HAve mercy upon us O Lord for we are weak O Lord heal us for our bones are vexed Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou us O Lord from our secret sins and preserve us thy servants from other mens sins O Remember not the sins and offences of our youth but according to thy mercy look upon us O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name 's sake O Lord be merciful to our sins for they are very great Behold our sorrow and affliction and forgive us all our sins O Lord our desire is before thee and our sorrow is not hid from thee O Lord take not thy mercy away from us let thy loving kindness and truth always preserve us For innumerable troubles are come upon us our sins have taken such hold upon us that we are not able to look up Have mercy upon us after thy great mercy Remember not Lord our offences but let thy loving mercies prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O Lord of our Salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver us and be merciful to our sins for thy Name 's sake Shew us thy mercy O Lord and grant us thy Salvation Enter not into judgment with thy servants for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Out of the depths have we called unto thee O Lord. If thou Lord should'st mark our iniquities O Lord who can endure it Let us pray O God who by the patience of thy only begotten Son hast broken the pride of the old Enemy grant us we beseech thee worthily to celebrate what he suffered for us and by his example patiently undergo all adversities thro the same Jesus Christ thy dear Son our Saviour Amen A Collect. O God the most gracious Maker and merciful Redeemer of Mankind fill us whom thou hast laid upon the bed of sickness with gladness of heart and contentedness of Spirit expel all the wiles of our enemy and send us the Physitian of health the Angel of peace who may raise us by thy consolations that are cast down with great afflictions that in this world we may receive succour and in the world to come everlasting reward thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The LITANY for the Dead Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions O God the Father Creator of the world Have mercy on the Souls of all the Faithful departed O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind Deliver the Souls of the Faithful departed O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect Accomplish the Bliss of the Faithful departed O Sacred Trinity three Persons and one God Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed Blessed Virgin Mary who by the special priviledge of Grace wast triumphantly assumed into the Kingdome of thy Son Pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed Blessed Patriarchs and Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Confessors and Virgins all ye holy and pure Saints who retaining at your deaths no irregular adherence to any creature were become of perfect capacity for immediate union to the Creator Pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed Be merciful O Lord and pardon their sins Be merciful O Lord and hear our Prayers From the shades of death where their imperfect Penance of their sins have deprived them for a time of the blessed light of thy countenance Deliver them O Lord. From all the evil to which their defective mortifications in this world have exposed them in the other Deliver them O Lord. From any bonds of sin wherein they remain entangled by their disorderly affections here and from thy anger which now they grieve to have provoked by their negligence and ingratitude Deliver them O Lord. From any pains now justly inflicted on them as the proper effects of their sins Deliver them O Lord. By the multitude of thy mercies which have always shewed compassion on the frailties of humane nature Deliver them O Lord. By the infinite merits of thy death upon the Cross when thou reconciledst the world to thy Father Deliver them O Lord. By thy victorious descent into Hell to break a sunder the chains of death and let the Prisoners go free Deliver them O Lord. By thy glorious Resurrection from the Grave when thou openedst the kingdome of Heaven to all Believers Deliver them O Lord. By thy triumphant Ascension into heaven when thou ledst Captivity captive and promisedst to prepare a place for thy Servants Deliver them O Lord. By thy dreadful coming to judge the world when the works of every one shall be tried by fire Deliver them c. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That it may please thee to visit such faithful as are detained in any receptacles of sorrow or privation of bliss and transport them to the City of eternal peace We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That it would please thee graciously to admit them into thy holy Sanctuary where no unclean thing can enter and to crown their hopes with everlasting fruition We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy beatifical Vision O Jesus may comfort them and the glorious light of thy Cross shine upon them We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy holy Angels and beatifical Saints may bring them into the land of the living and present them before thy throne We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That they may with Hymns of Joy and Triumph adore the glorious Author of their happiness and eternally sing Hallelujah's unto thee We sinners beseech c. Son of God fountain of Pity We beseech Thee to hear us King of dreadful Majesty who hast the keys of Death and Hell We beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God who shalt come with glory to
distress because when he is weak then he is strong He taketh upon him thy yoke that he may find rest and leaveth all that he hath that he may receive an hundred fold By election of some voluntary sufferings he procures freedome from much greater which others unwillingly do undergo He abaseth himself he mourneth he hungreth and thirsteth to obtain a kingdome and to be comforted and to be filled Because he is wise and knoweth thy ways therefore after this manner seeketh he thy blessings and rewards § 3 Thy ways are not as man's ways O Lord and thou infinitely excellest him Repeat the Preface in all perfections which thou requirest of him and who is there who in love pitty patience long suffering humiliation of himself remitting of his due and laying down his honour is any way comparable unto thee Thou hast shewed so far thy love even to thine enemies as to give thine onely Son to death to save their lives Thou makest thy Sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendest Rain on the just and on the unjust and art kind to the unthankful Thou pardonest the most notorious and malicious sinners even after a million of times that they have provoked thee that thou maist shew the vastness of thy mercy and compassion Thou aboundest so far in thy long-suffering and toleration even of the highest offenders that impatient men report of thee that there is no God to do Justice In thy corrections thou punishest us much less than we deserve and when thou punishest soon repentest thee of the evil and withdrawest them often out of meer pity before our amendment When thy chastisements profit us not thou ceasest from them and contendest not in judgment with us when we persevere in our wickedness Thou art not fond toward thy friends nor cruel toward thine enemies as man is Those whom thou most lovest for their perfection thou most afflictest and who beginneth to serve thee must prepare his Soul for temptations from thee Thou measurest out temptations according to our ability to bear them and those who suffer least are the weakest We would make this life for a time of comfort and thou designest it for a time of tryal Thou deliverest thy servants out of troubles rather then exemptest them from being at all troubled and who receives a Consolation from thee must presently expect a new Combat and thou sellest thy Graces for Sufferings Thou bringest evil upon thy servants to shew more thy power and love to them in their delivery and to encrease their joy thou preparest the way thereto through sorrows Thou bringest evils on them from things abroad to make them more love and adhere to thee and by looking on their sufferings also thou increasest thine own pity and tender affection towards them Contrary to the ways of men thy great love to humility causeth thee to converse most with those who seem most below thee Thy most intimate conversation and most familiar presence is with the poor and the sick the contemned the weak and desolate then thou most valuest them and drawest near unto them and lovest to be with them Thou hidest thy secrets from the wise and prudent and tellest them unto babes and such must they become who mean to be thy favorites Thou seest not as men seeth and that which is highly esteemed amongst men is an abomination in thy sight Thou art content to receive honour from a few and that thy wisdome be justified onely of its children whilst the greatest part of men dayly reproacheth thee as if there could be no God that governeth such a disorderly world or if any that thou hadst given man no sufficient evidence in what way of Religion thou wouldest have him to serve thee Thou art blasphemed and provoked every day and no Saint ever suffered in his honor and good name as thy most pure and holy name doth No mens actions are so much or so often blamed as thine none suffers so much detraction and calumny and being injured and having power doth so long or so patiently hold his peace But in the day of wrath thy anger is intollerable according to thy infinite power so is thy vengeance upon thine enemies infinite Man is astonished at the thought thereof and cannot comprehend the reason of thy Justice These things thou dost and sufferest O Lord that men may acknowledge and glorify thy all-excelling holiness and goodness These things thou dost O Lord that man may acknowledge and trust in thy all-ore-ruling power These are thy dayly works and for these we desire to praise thee and who so are wise and will meditate these things they shall understand the righteous ways ef the Lord. FINIS
eschewing evil follows the Third Viz. The positive Sanctity that God our Creator requireth of and in us consisting in the Practice of all Holy Duties and Christian Virtues Of these First In diligently doing all good we can Secondly In patiently suffering all evil together with the means to procure and preserve these Virtues For the former The practising all Holy Duties and doing Good The Duties required of a Christian are threefold 1. Towards your self Duties Moral 2. Towards your Neighbour Civil 3. Towards God Religious Living 1. Soberly 2. Righteously 3. Holily The three grand Duties mentioned in our Lord's Sermon 1. Fasting Matt. 6.16 2. Alms 6.1 3. Prayer 6.5 In the prosecution of which so far as the former Counsels are subservient to the promoting of them I shall refer you to them and forbear here a repetition §. 38. 1. To your Self 1. Then The Duties I have chosen more specially to recommend to you concerning your self and which may prepare you for the Duty you are charged with to your Neighbour and Service you owe unto God For the third depends on the second He that loveth not his Brother how can he love God 1. Jo. 4.20 And the second again depends on the first whilst your Neighbour is to be loved only as your self Matt. 22.39 are these 1. The purity and sanctification of Body By §. 39. 1. Temperance and Sobriety in Food in Apparel Lodging modest Deportment c. For the better attaining of some perfection in which Virtue I must refer you to review the former Counsels concerning diet sleep recreation sensual pleasures the avoiding usual and former occasions of sinning in § 17.20.21.22.26 Digr 1. Of the great influence the several treatment of the Body hath upon the Soul and all its actions Therefore much care to be spent upon a right government of It by him who aspires to any Holiness or Virtue Digr 2. Of the Vices opposite §. 40. n. 1. 2. Chastity where I remit you to what hath been said before of the Gift of Continency § 17. n. 4. Digr 1. Of its Contraries Adultery Fornication Self-pollution and Vncleanness unlawful and unnatural Lusts §. 40. n. 2. Of which it may be observed That with no other Passion men are so strongly assaulted as with lusts and sensual loves Therefore Hos 4.11 It is said to take away the heart No Passion that so much increaseth the desire of it the more we descend to a particular cogitation and discussion of it So that it is not to be conquered by wrestling with it but by running away from it None that in its acts so captivates and incarnates the Soul and restrains its liberty of reasoning or thinking of any thing else Therefore God in pitty to man hath provided him a lawful remedy thereof by Marriage But yet still left him under under great restraints confining him to one single person and most severely prohibiting the satiating thereof in any other way either with any other person or by himself And such sins great varieties of which are left in man's power we find above most other faults exceedingly aggravated both for the great offence they give to God's own Holiness and Purity and for the great dishonour and defilement they bring to the bodies of such persons whom he first created after his own Image and since hath made Members of the Body of Christ and Temples of the Holy Ghost and from the beginning hath cast a natural shame and modesty upon him as to the committing of these more than of any other Crimes And such carnal sins we also find beyond almost any other pursued with most severe judgments For all which I must recommend these Texts and Passages of Holy Scripture to your serious meditation §. 40. n. 3. 1. That amongst the works of the Flesh these sins of Vncleanness are usually set in the Front See Gal. 5.19 The works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness c. Again Col. 3.5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth that is Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence c. After which in the second place Vers 8. follow Anger wrath malice evil speaking or blaspemy Again 1. Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind c shall inherit the kingdome of God Rom. 1.29 Being filled with all unrighteousness Fornication See the like 1. Cor. 5.10 11. 1. Pet. 4.3 2. Pet. 2.10 Still you see these sins as the greatest darlings of the flesh lead the whole band And these sins of Lust are they with which the Gentiles every where stand principally charged before the Light of the Gospel shone amongst them See Rom. 1.25 26 27. 1. Thess 4 5. Eph. 4.19 and which are ordinarily linked together with that of Idolatry See 1. Cor. 5.10 11. 6 9. Rev. 22.15 being a usual companion of their Idol-feasts or with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether this be taken for the coveting of persons as some understand it or of riches which is said to be Idolatry too Eph. 5.3.5 Col. 3.5 These two Harlots and Money being the two great Idols in this lower world the one or the other of which steal away mens hearts §. 40. n. 4. 2. That in these Scriptures See 1. Thess 4.3.7 8. And 1. Cor. 6. from the 13. verse to the end These Vices of Carnal Lusts are aggravated as peculiarly opposite to a certain Holiness which ought to be in the Body as well as in the Soul of all those who profess themselves Members of Christ or Members of that chast Virgin as the Apostle calls her 2. Cor. 11.2 his Spouse the Church whom he bought and purchased to himself with his own blood and life and whom he cherisheth as the same flesh and bone Eph. 5.29 30. c. and as the same Spirit 1. Cor. 6.17 with himself and for whom now is our Body as well as the Soul and the Lord for it 1. Cor. 6.13 Therefore is this Holiness of the Body both conjugal and virginal as well as of the Spirit often mentioned by the Apostle 1. Thess 4.4 This is the Will of God saith he your Sanctisication that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel i. e. his Body See 1. Sam. 21.5 in sanctification and honour not in Lusts of Concupiscence For ver 8. God hath called us not to Vncleanness but unto Holiness And 1. Cor. 6.20 compared with Eph. 5.29 c. to the end Ye are bought with a price to be the Spouse of our Lord therefore glorify God in your Body and in your Spirit which are God's his Members now not yours according to 1. Cor. 7.4 The wife hath not power of her own Body No more then hath Christ's Wife or Spouse but the husband Ibid. vers 34. The Virgin saith he careth for the things of the Lord how she may please him that she