Thee Reform my life that I may serve Thee and be saved by thee Cleanse me from my secret Sins and let no Presumptuous Sins have Dominion over me Wean me from the world let my Heart my Treasure my Conversation be in Heaven Turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Set a watch O Lord before my Mouth and keep the Door of my Lips that I offend not with my Tongue Let me delight in that which is Good eschew and abhor that which is Evil set thee always before me that I may not dare to Sin against Thee Make me peaceable and contented in my self useful and beneficial to others well-pleasing and acceptable unto Thee Mind me frequently of my latter end while I live let me live unto thee when I die let me die unto thee living and dying let me be thine Be very merciful to all Mankind especially those that are called Christians Inlarge and Bless thy Holy Catholick Church with more abundant Peace Purity and Concord Pardon the Crying Sins of these three Nations let us search and try our ways and turn unto thee our God make us a People peculiar to thy self zealous of good works Bless our Soveraign with all our Magistrates and Ministers let them discharge their Duty as those that must give an account Be with me this Day and all my Days where-ever I am and whatsoever I am doing let me awefully Remember God made me God preserves me God redeemed me God sees me and God will Judge me Never leave me nor forsake me Guide and direct me by thy Counsel Assist me by thy Holy Spirit Prosper me in all my ways and at last Receive me unto Glory through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father c. Evening Prayer MOst Holy and ever Blessed Lord God Thou hast Commanded me to Pray and so it is my great Duty and hast stiled thy self a God hearing Prayers and so it is my great Privilege In Obedience to thy Command and in Confidence of thy Promises I desire in all Humility and holy Confidence to wait upon thee at this Time in and through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his sake beseeching thee for Mercy and Grace Mercy for the Pardon of my Sins without which I am of all Creatures most miserable and Grace for the sanctifying of my Nature and amendment of my life Search me O Lord and Try me and whatsoever is displeasing in me unto thee remove it thence and lead me in the way everlasting Let me value and mind the things that are not seen more than the things that are seen because the things that are seen are Temporal and those that are not seen are Eternal Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not to any Evil way Let not the Pleasures nor Troubles of this world allure or hinder me from serving thee with Chearfulness and Delight Prepare me for every Condition for every Change especially for my great and last Change give me Grace so to live that I may be neither asham'd to live nor afraid nor unfit to die that when thou shalt Call me hence thou may'st Receive me unto the Eternal Enjoyment of thy self in Heaven Be very Gracious and Merciful to all Mankind to all Jews Turks Pagans and Infidels bring them to the Knowledge and Obedience of the Truth Bless Prosper and Protect thy Church and every Member of it be with it unto the End of the World and let not the Gates of Hell prevail against it Reform whatsoever thou seest amiss in the Belief and Lives of Christians especially in these Three Nations Continue unto us Peace with the Gospel of Peace for thy Name sake Bless our Soveraign and all in Authority with Holiness here and Happiness hereafter Let all his Subjects live under him quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty I et the Ministers of thy Gospel Preach both by their Lives and Doctrine and daily turn many unto Righteousness Let none of my Relations be Strangers unto thy self nor any of thine Afflicted Servants be forgotten by Thee Relieve them according to their several Necessities and the Riches of thy Grace in thy Son I Praise Thee for what thou hast afforded me Thy good Creatures thy Blessing with them thy Provision for me and preservation of me this Day and all my Days Let me lie me down and take my Rest and Sleep because thou Lord makest me to dwell in safety Whether I sleep or wake live or die let me be found thine own to thine Eternal Glory and my Everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ who hath taught me when I pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Grace before Meat BLess and Sanctifie most Merciful Father These thy good Creatures to my use and me unto thy Service give them strength to nourish me and me grace to serve Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Grace after Meat BLessed be thy Holy Name O Lord for all thy Mercies for these thy good Creatures make them healthful for my nourishment and me thankful for all thy Mercies Inable me by them to live to thy praise through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen How to spend the Lord's Day REmember the Lord's Day before it come so as to prepare for it by suitable Meditations Go seasonably to your Rest to prevent heaviness or drowziness Prudently dispose and dispatch your Earthly Affairs that they may be off your hands and out of your mind as much as possible on that Day that so your Heart may be more free and fit for the Duties of it Seek Remission for the Miscarriages of the Week past that you may not come with guilt or trouble upon your Consciences before the Lord. Think not your worldly Business more worthy of your Early Rising than your spiritual Imployment Let your first Thoughts be not only Holy but suitable to the Day With gladness consider how Early your Redeemer arose what a Day of Mercy you are awoke to to wait upon God for Receiving and Exercising of Grace in order to Glory to Cast off the Distracting Thoughts and Businesses of the World and what a Happy opportunity of Good is put into your Hands to get more in one Day than this World can afford you in all your lives Spend it as a Day of Thanksgiving for the greatest Mercies Therefore let the manner of it and the frame of your Hearts be holy Joy Gratitude and Love stirred up by the exercise of Faith and Hope Inlarge your Personal Devotions on this Day and let not Secret Prayer be slubbered over slightly but performed with Seriousness Reverence Alacrity and sutable to the nature and end of the Day Go to the solemn Assembly with Joy and Gladness as to the receiving of a great Blessing with desires after and hope to speed not with unwillingness as to an unpleasant Task and Burden as Carnal Hearts that love not God his Grace or Service are weary of all they do and glad when it
is over Think how Damned Souls would Hear and Pray if they might with you be tryed again and how unfit unbecoming a Careless a Drowzy Body dull Affections dead Services are for the living God Compose your selves with all Reverence as considering with whom you have to do and for what Beware of a wandring Eye and Mind or slighting what you Hear Be seriously imploy'd all the Time And while others are quarrelling with the Imperfections of the Speaker or Congregation be laying up the Word in your Heart Be Reverent Solemn and Serious in every Duty be sure your Heart be in them In Confession Humiliation Petition Thanksgiving Singing when the Word is Read or Preacht whether Commands Promises Threatnings Calls Invitations be answerably Affected with them as if you heard God speaking from Heaven Haste not away while the Minister is pronouncing the Blessing but hope desire and believe it shall Descend upon you Leave not the Assembly until you have lift up your Heart for Pardon and a Blessing upon the Ordinance to your self and all present In these or the like words A short Prayer I Adore and Magnifie thee O merciful Father for this opportunity of hearing from and waiting upon thee O pardon whatever thou hast seen amiss in us and let the Fruit of it be unto Holiness and the end Everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After your Attendance in Publick with that Concern and seriousness the work requires and deserves let not your self loose the rest of the Day to secular Diversions and Concerns and thereby choke and stifle those good Instructions and devout Affections that have been raised and excited in you Let your Diet be moderate lest it make you drowzy and your Hearts Heavenly at it your Discourse savoury seasoned with Grace suitable to the Company and the Day in the chearful Remembrance of the love of your Redeemer the special work of the Day being to Celebrate the Memorial of his Resurrection and the whole work of our Redemption by him we ought to speak as much as possible of it under a sence of our Natural misery and in stirring up lively Apprehensions of Infinite Condescending Goodness in the special exercise of Faith and Love and Joyful Praises Having spent as much of the Day as you can in Publick Worship and in Reading the Word and ruminating upon it Review the Duties Mercies and Miscarriages of the Day Call over what you have Heard and Read and urge it upon your Heart Beg the Divine Blessing and Assistance for the Advantage and Improvement of it and Pardon for your failings Bless God for any Enlargement or Good received Recommend your self unto him for the Ensuing Night and let your last Thoughts be in the thankful joyful sence of the Mercies you have and hope for and the goodness of God in your Mediator Confidently trust your self and yours in his Hand longing for your nearer approach unto him and full Enjoyment of him in Glory Morning Prayer on the Lord's Day MOst Holy and Infinitely glorious Lord God Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints and to be had in Reverence by all that draw nigh unto Thee It 's an Infinite Condescention in thy Majesty to suffer such a despicable Worm as I am to come before Thee to wait upon Thee to speak unto Thee to have any thing to do with Thee in a way of Grace and Mercy Had'st thou dealt with me according to my Deserts and Rewarded me after mine Iniquities I had been long ago in that place of Torment where Prayer and the means of Grace could do me no good at all O Pardon my abuse of thy Mercies mispending my Time Prophaning thy Sabbaths Polluting thine Ordinances the unworthy Returns I have made unto Thee for all thy Benefits which might justly cause thee to withdraw thy self from me and thy Blessing from thine Ordinances Make me truly sensible of the worth of the Opportunity thou this Day puts into my hand for the good of my Immortal Soul let it not be as a prize put into the hand of a Fool that hath no heart to use it Help me to make a wise a right Improvement of the same for the Glory of Thy Name and for the preparing my self for my Eternal Rest Let my Thoughts this Day be much upon it and upon that wonderful love in my Redemption Take away my Heart of Stone that 's so insensible of my own Vileness and thy abundant Goodness and give me a Heart of Flesh write thy Laws upon it put thy Fear within me that I may never depart from Thee Let not thy Sabbaths nor thine Ordinances be continued in vain unto me but let me grow in Grace under all the means of Grace I enjoy The older I grow the better let me be the nearer I come to my end let me be the fitter for thy self Let me love the Habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour Dwelleth and Esteem one Day in thy Courts better than a Thousand elsewhere and that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness Let it be my Meat and Drink the Joy and Rejoycing of my Soul to do thy Will and to be Imployed in thy Service Visit the dark Corners of the Earth with the light of thy glorious Gospel and let all that enjoy it walk worthy of it Make our Soveraign and all our Superiors thy faithful Subjects and Servants Let thy Priests be Cloathed with Righteousness and thy Saints shout for Joy Be in all our Solemn Assemblies Accompany thine own Institutions with thine own Blessing Make thy Word in the mouths of thy Ministers very effectual for turning many unto Righteousness Be with me this Day let my Confessions of Sin Increase my Hatred against it my Praises and Thanksgivings be the Inward sense of my Soul Let my Conversing with Heavenly things have an Influence upon me for the bettering of me Go along with me into the Assembly of thy Servants unite and compose my Thoughts in thy Presence let me attend upon thee without Distraction Let me Consider thou hast an Eye upon me at all Times especially when I draw nigh unto Thee in the way of thy Worship Let me Pray unto Thee in Spirit and Truth because thou art a Spirit and requirest so to be worshipped Give me a Hearing Ear a seeing Eye an understanding Heart Let me hear thy Word as thy Word as that Word by which I shall be Judged and which is able to save my Soul by believing and obeying of it through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Evening Prayer on the Lord's Day MOst great and Infinitely glorious Lord God who hast Exalted thy self far above the Heavens and above the Praises and Apprehensions of the best of thy Creatures Unto thee be all possible Praise Honour and Glory for what thou art in thy self
possible Praise that though I have deserved nothing but Trouble and Affliction thou hast been so careful of me so good unto me all my dayes In particular as to the Choice thou hast made for me O Pardon the Vanity the Follies the Errors the Miscarriages of my younger and riper years and punish them not upon me with those extream Troubles Disquiets Dissatisfactions those find in this state who have provoked thee Give me Prudence and Discretion to know and do my Duty with a chearful Heart and willing Mind Let it be my study and delight to please Thee and Him thou hast set over me To bear with his Infirmities To Help and do Him good all his days Free us from all peevishness sinful passions mistakes causless Jealousies and endue us with such meek quiet chast Dispositions as may encrease each others Joy and lighten each others Sorrows That in all the Changes and Alterations of our Condition we may preserve a sincere love unto Thee and one another Make us always mindful of the sacred Vow and Covenant wherein we stand engaged to Thee and each other and to stir up one another to the love of Thee and our Neighbour That in the sence of a good Conversation we may leave the world under well grounded hopes of dwelling together with Thee in Heaven Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour the Head and Husband of his Church to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and for ever Amen For Safe Child-bearing MOst great and only wise God who sanctifiedst Marriage in Innocency for the Propagation of Mankind If it be thy good Pleasure make me Partaker of that Blessing Prevent a Barren a miscarrying Womb and dry Breasts Make me a Joyful Mother of Children That I may serve Thee in increasing and bringing up thy Faithful ones Deny not due Parts Senses Reason and Comfortable use of the same in thy own due Time Mitigate and Asswage the sharpness of that Curse and inevitable pain upon my Sex for the Offence of our first Parents Be not far from me when Trouble is nigh O Lord make hast to help me Give me Patience Submission Resignation to thy Will a seasonable easie safe Delivery Keep me from all sad Accidents and Passions from all Undecency of Deportment and unquietness of Spirit Impatience or Distrust from doing any thing sinful or feeling any thing intolerable Give me the expected fruit of my Womb and a thankful Heart to Consecrate it and my self to thy Service Punish us not in or by it nor it for our Sins assure us of the Pardon of them Increase my Faith support and strengthen me by thy Holy Spirit vanquish my Fears and Sorrows But I wholly submit all unto thy Holy Will and Pleasure whose Wisdom is Infinite whose Counsel is secret and knows what 's best for me and hast promised all Things shall work together for my good However thou dealest with me Give me not up to a Barren unfruitful heart Beget Preserve Encrease Confirm in me good Purposes and Resolutions Let them not prove Abortive but bring forth continually the fruit of good Living Give me Contentment in every Condition and Grace to Discharge the Duties I am or shall be called unto to my own and others Comfort the Credit of Religion the Praise of thy great Name thorough Jesus Christ Amen Thanksgiving after Deliverance ALL possible Thanks and Praise be given unto thee most gracious God and Heavenly Father for all the Instances of thy Goodness unto me all my Days Particularly for not turning away my Prayer nor thy Mercy from me for supporting me in the time of my Distress and Extremity when I might have perished in it O Sanctifie this great Deliverance that it may be in Love and Mercy unto me Keep me from all evil and further Danger of Childbed Give me a quiet Spirit increase of Strength a healthful Body ability for my Duty stedfast Confidence in thee a lively and lasting sence of thy Mercy a thankful Heart inlarged Affections to Praise thee to be joyful in thee to speak good of thee chearfully to serve thee all my Days Let this Experience of thy Power Mercy and Goodness learn me for ever to Trust in thee to rely cast all my Burden upon thee in a sincere observance of thy Holy Commandments Let me be as solicitous to glorifie thee for delivering of me as I was in calling upon thee for it That this great Mercy may not be in vain unto me but a fore-runner of my Deliverance from the pit of Eternal Destruction through my Lord and Saviour who was Born and Suffered the pains of Death for me to whom be Glory Honour and Praise now and ever Amen Parents Duties BE deeply sensible of the miserable state your Children have derived from you and of the gracious Terms offered by God for your and their Salvation Resign and Dedicate them to Him and Solemnize the same by Baptizing of them Nothing but the want of Milk or Ability excuses the Mother from Nursing them upon her own Breast (w) Ce. 21.7 1 Sa. 1.24 Ps 22.9 Lu. 11.27 The neglect of which is a great wrong to the Child who too often inherits the Diseases Humours and Dispositions of the Nurse and occasions less love to her who ought to have done it Lay not too much stress on the forward beginnings of wit and memory which often fail in their Age of all their Childhood promis'd But we can never hope too much of the timely Blossoms of Grace whose spring is perpetual and whose Harvest begins with our End Check the first appearings and buddings forth of Sin in them and encourage all good beginnings of Virtue when they are able to learn any thing it 's high time to reach them that which is good Stop their little Undecencies keep them from the Confines of Evil. Train them up to those things which are Immediate Dispositions of Virtue and Religion As Meekness Gentleness Patience Modesty Diligence Pity Compassion Mercifulness Government of their Tongue and Passions Silence Sobriety Comly speech to speak the Truth at all times which are great Preservatives against Impudence Unchastity Idleness Malice Hatred Revenge Oppression Injustice and all kind of Vices when we see a Child strike a Servant rudely jear the poor or silly Person Cheat his Play-fellow talk light Things little Boldnesses wrangling and lying for Trifles c. we encourage laugh at and are delighted with his wanton Wit and Confidence please our selves to see him displease God not considering these beginnings are growing up to Impudence and Revenge Injurious Actions false Witness Perjuries Tyranny Treason Education even alters Nature and moulds a Man a-new Instill Goodness betimes into them as they are capable Learn them and see they understand the Creed the Lord's Prayer the Ten Commandments and all the Principles of the Christian Religion in a familiar way according to their Capacities Teach them to Pray constantly and
Temper and hainousness of the Crime Forgive them often in things not sinful Take not notice of every small Offence Passion makes Severity look like Revenge Reforms not but provokes and exasperates Be rather lov'd than fear'd a Master than a Tyrant a Lion in thy Family Let your Dominion be that of the Soul over the Body not for its hurt but help advantage edification guidance and instruction Reward allure them praise them openly reprehend them secretly Be chearful and pleasant with them that they may love not avoid or be weary of your Company Have a great care of your Carriage Nothing will please from one whose Person is distasted Give them good Example by a Prudent Pious Honest unblameable Conversation which much tends to the bettering of them and maintaining your Respect Esteem Authority over them Betray not your Natural weaknesses by Passion or Imprudent words and deeds Command your selves if you expect they should obey you Suffer not that in your selves which you discountenance in Them Conscience of our own Crimes Choaks the Accuser and not like to amend the Offender An Inferior cannot but stoop in Heart to that Superior in whom God's Image appears The heaviest work is made light by seasonable enjoyning it As much as possible settle a constant order in your Family and of your Business that every ordinary work may know its Time and Confusion and Distraction may not shut out or hinder Godliness which is much furthered and made easie by skill and foresight Be in your Family as a Prophet to Teach and Instruct them as a King to govern and take care of them as a Priest to offer up the daily Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving with and for them Always Remembring who hath committed them to your Charge and that at your Hands it will be Required His Morning Prayer with his Family MOst Holy and Infinitely glorious Lord God who art in thy self a Consuming Fire but in thy Son a Reconciled Father We desire in all Humility to Prostrate our Souls before thee acknowledging our selves far less than the least of all thy Mercies unworthy to breath in thy Air to tread upon thy Earth to lift up our eyes to Heaven to have any thing to do with thee in a way of Grace and Mercy Thou hast nourished and brought us up and we have Rebelled against thee Requited thee Evil for Good and Hatred for thy good will It 's a wonder of thy Patience and Forbearance that we are alive before thee Praying unto thee and Praising of thee and not spending a sad Eternity in that place of Torment from whence there is no Redemption O glorifie thy Mercy in the Pardoning and Saving of us and not thy Justice in our Destruction Justifie us freely by thy Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ and sanctifie us by thy Holy Spirit Let the time past of our lives be too too much that we have been so Careless in serving thee and saving our Souls for the Time to come let us work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and give all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure And in our several Relations and Places give us Grace to behave our selves as becomes thy Children and Servants with Care and Conscience and Soberness of Mind as having thy Law writ upon our Hearts and thy fear always before our Eyes and a sence of thine Omniscience and Omnipresence that thine Eye runs too and fro through the whole Earth that thou art the Witness and wilt be the Judge of all our Thoughts Words and Actions And seeing thou hast been pleased to Encourage us to our Duty by many great and precious Promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in thy fear Let this be our great Care notwithstanding all Temptations that we never leave thee nor forsake thee and this our great Comfort in all Conditions that thou hast said thou wilt never leave us nor forsake us Let us not be weary of well-doing knowing in due season we shall reap if we faint not Let the End of our Dayes be often at the End of our Thoughts Give us Grace so to live now as we shall wish we had done when we come to Die that then we may be able to Reflect upon a well-spent life and on good Grounds to resign up our Souls into thy Hands as into the hands of a Faithful Creator and Merciful Redeemer Remember all Mankind in much Mercy Send thy Gospel where it is not Preached make it very successful where it is Pardon our Crying Sins in these Three Nations Reform our wicked Lives Continue our forfeited Mercies prevent our deserved Judgments Let our Soveraign and all our Magistrates be Terrors to Evil Doers Incouragers of those that do well Make the Ministers of thy Gospel faithful painful religious their labours successful Let all our Relations be related to thy self and all thine afflicted Servants relieved by thee according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies We Praise thee for our last Night's Preservation and Refreshment and for all the Instances of thy Goodness to us all our Dayes Go along with us this Day Bless us in all our ways preserve us from all Evil especially from the Evil of Sin Work in us a greater Care of pleasing and fear of offending thee that living this Day and all our Dayes in thy fear we may dye in thy favour thorough thy Son who hath taught us when we Pray to say Our Father c. His Evening Prayer with his Family ETernally Blessed and Infinitely glorious Lord God the great and terrible Majesty of Heaven and Earth at whose Dreadful Appearance all Impenitent Sinners shall e'er long in vain call to the Rocks and the Mountains to cover them for fear of thy Wrath and for the glory of thy Power So often as we come into thy Presence we have abundant Cause to be covered with Shame and Confusion of face for the vileness and sinfulness of our Natures Hearts and Lives We are by Nature Children of Wrath and by our Lives Children of Disobedience have broken all thy Holy Laws in Thought Word or Deed so that it were Righteous with thee to make us miserable in this World and that which is to come But O deal not with us according to the multitude and hainousness of our Provocations but according to the multitude and tenderness of thine own Compassions for thy Goodness sake Remember us O Lord. And for the Time to come make us to amend our Lives according to thy Word Enlighten our dark Understandings subdue our Wills and Affections wholly to thy self Let us know and do the things that belong to our Peace before they be hid from our Eyes Let us chearfully perform what thou requirest of us and patiently bear what at any time thou shalt lay upon us Be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord for as much as we know our labour shall not
that I am brought out of the base Bondage of Sin and Satan to partake of the glorious liberty of thy Children thorough Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further pray unto thee saying Our Father c. Another MOst gracious God and mercifull Father who art no Respecter of Persons but in every place and station he that feareth thee and worketh Righteousness is accepted of thee In an humble Sence of thy Soveraign greatness and my own meanness and unworthiness I cast down my self at the Footstool of thy Grace begging Pardon and Forgiveness of my manifold Sins and Iniquities That I have no more chearfully and faithfully obey'd thy Commands and theirs thou hast set over me Give me Grace for the future to be thy and their faithfull Servant Let me disdain no Office but shew all mildness pliableness reverence and fidelity to him though harsh and froward accounting him worthy of all Honour as bearing the Image of thy Soveraignty a Contempt of him being a Contempt of thy Majesty Bless him and his and all his Affairs Make me so carefull and circumspect in all the Particulars of my Duty that neither he nor any other may suffer through my Ignorance or Neglect and that at the last Day when the Servant shall be free from his Master thou may'st say unto me well done good and faithfull Servant enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord for his sake who to set me free from the slavery of the Devil humbled himself made himself of no Reputation and is now exalted at thy Right-hand in whose holy Name and Words I further pray Our Father c. Duties of the Aged BE Examples of Wisdom Gravity and Holiness to the Younger and draw forth those Treasures of Knowledge and Experience which you have been so long in laying up to instruct the Ignorant and warn the Unexperienced and Ungodly that are about you Tell them what you have or might have suffered by the Deceits of Sin the Danger of Temptation and Delay what Comfort you have found in God the Scriptures and a Holy Life and how good he hath been unto you Be not peevish or froward to those about you but patient under all the Infirmities and Inconveniences of Old Age. Be blessing God for your former days of strength health and ease and for that endless undisturbed Rest he hath provided for you Let the Ancient Mercies and Experiences of God's Love through all your Lives be fresh upon your Minds and inkindle your Love and Thankfulness Delight and Comfort and help you to submit to Uneasiness and Death Be accurate in examining the state of your Soul and making your Calling and Election sure Be frequent and particular in reflecting upon your past life that you may be deeply humbled for all your Sins and thankfull for being preserved from those you might and others have fallen into Redeem with double Diligence your little Remains of Time set a great value on every moment of it lose none in Idleness or unnecessary things being always doing or getting some good and that with all your might Let your Thoughts of Death and Preparation for it be as if it were just at Hand Their Prayer OFather of Lights and of all Consolation from Everlasting to Everlasting thou art God a never-failing Support an Eternal Reward to thy persevering Followers thy old Disciples I have lived upon thee and by thee all my days thou hast been my help from my Youth cast me not off now in the Time of old Age forsake me not when my strength faileth O pardon the Follies of my Childhood the Miscarriages of my riper Years that I have done and receiv'd so little Good spent so little Time in it and so much in Vanity Give me grace to husband and improve the Remainder of my few Sands for my Eternal Advantage Amidst the Infirmities of my Body preserve me from Covetousness Frowardness Impatience whatsoever Vices are so frequently found in old Age. Grant I may be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in Patience a Teacher of good things Let my former Experiences of thy Goodness learn me still to trust in thee not to be distrustfull of thy Providence nor negligent of my Duty Let not my Graces wither but flourish more and more with my declining Days nor my Zeal for thy Glory cool but be inflamed with the decay of my bodily Heat That bringing forth fruit in old Age I may go to my Grave as a Shock of Corn in its Season meet for Glory and in the joyfull Expectation of a happy Resurrection thorough Jesus Christ to whom be all Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen Another I Humbly prostrate my self before thee who art the High and Lofty one that inhabitest Eternity in a deep Sence of my manifold Sins and Iniquities that I have lived so unprofitably unto others so careless of my own Soul so much without Thee my God in the World It 's a Wonder of thy Mercy that thou hast not cut me off in the midst of my days that have so long cumbered the ground but afforded me so much space to prepare my self for a happy Eternity O wash away all my Sins in and by the Blood of Jesus the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World and that lives for ever to make intercession for us And help me to spend my short Span of Time to the best Advantage So quicken and actuate O Spirit of Life this sluggish Soul that the last part of my Race may be run with more Vigour likelier to the Heavenly Imployment than all the rest have been The more my outward Sences decay vouchsafe the quicker and livelier Sence of thy past-loving Kindness and endless Love and of those good things thou hast laid up for me to support and refresh me now all the Comforts of this Life fail and the years are come wherein I have no pleasure in them That having no other Burden but that of old Age my Soul may be still magnifying of thee and my Flesh also may rest in Hope When this crazy earthly Tabernacle is dissolved let me have a Building of God an House not made with Hands Eternaâ— in the Heavens through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I conclude my Imperfect Prayers saying Our Father c. Duties of the Young LEarn to understand the Covenant and Vow which by others you made in Baptism with God the Father Son and Holy-Ghost your Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier and Renew it in your own Persons Resolvedly renounce the Devil and all his works and absolutely resign up your selves to God Openly with Thankfulness own so great a Blessing and your Duty thereupon the Happy Covenant you are engaged in and live in the Comfort and Performance of it all your days Remember God demandeth his Right so soon as you are capable of understanding it and that you are entered into a place not of Happiness or Continuance but of Tryal and Preparation for
with undaunted undismayed Courage and Constancy under all the Uneasinesses of a rugged way Lift up the Hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble Knees Let the weak say I am strong and the lame Man leap as an Hart (e) Heb. 12.10 Isa 35.3 c. These are the Days of Conflict and Conquest that admit not of Repose untill the Evening when he that hath been eminently good chearfully patient constant and couragious under great Disadvantages and Discouragements shall be proportionably rewarded When all Distempers and the Causes of them shall be wholly removed No more Hospitals nor Diseases No more seeking for or need of Cure or Remedy when the Mountebank's Stage shall be pulled down and all Physicians of no value The Doctor and Apothecary consulted no more They shall give over acting Experiments upon afflicted Mortals And the great Physician of Soul and Body who himself took our Infirmities and bare our Sicknesses (f) Mat. 8.17 perfected his undertaken Cure And God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things that disturbed them are passed away (g) Rev. 21.4 The thoughts the belief of this is the chief Refuge and Delight of all true Christian Sufferers Whilst this Cordial is next their Hearts they are healthfull secure and satisfied The Comfort of that day heals and redresses all their Wounds their Wrongs their Injuries Asswages and allays all their Pains and Perplexities expells all melancholy Thoughts banishes all Sadness from their Hearts stills all their Murmurings and Complaints stifles innumerable Sighs stops Rivers of unprofitable Tears from flowing from the Afflicted raises the Minds of the Miserable and Unfortunate supports and refreshes the Spirit of Heaviness makes the Cross of Christ a light Burden As being both consistent with his love and the Effects of it influential upon their Happiness Prayers for the Sick O Thou great Creator and Wise Disposer of all things in whose Hands are our lives and breath and all our ways in all Humility we prostrate our Souls before thee acknowledging it of thy Infinite Mercy and Goodness that we have access unto thee and may find acceptance with thee in and through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his sake pardon all our Sins and receive us into thy Favour In much Mercy and tender Compassion O thou that delightest not in the Miseries of thy Creatures regard this thine afflicted Servant Thou woundest and thy Hands make whole thou bringest down to the Grave and raisest up again Direct to proper means we humbly beseech thee and accompany those used for his health with thy Blessing Speak the Word and thy Servant shall be healed If it may stand with thy good Pleasure let him not die but live and declare the Works of the Lord However fit him for whatsoever thou hast designed for him Give him a true Sence of and Repentance for all his Sins and a well-grounded Faith in our great Redeemer of Souls Sanctifie this thy fatherly Visitation to him let the sickness of his Body tend to the health and good of his Soul Mitigate his Pains increase his Patience Give him a quiet contented resigned Spirit unto thy blessed Will Lay no more upon him than thou wilt inable him to bear let thy Grace be sufficient for him In the multitude of his thoughts within him let thy Comforts delight his Soul When his Body returns to the Earth as it was let his Spirit return unto God that gave it and be glorified together with thy self thorough Jesus Christ our Lord in whose Blessed Name and Words we further pray Our Father c. Another ALmighty and most Mercifull Father the God of the Spirits of all Flesh thou sendest forth thy Breath and we live thou recallest it and we die and return to our dust O pardon unto us we humbly intreat thee our unthankfulness for our former health and all thy Mercies that we have made so little use of the same for thy Glory Give us grace for the future to be more sensible of more fruitfull under them In particular look with an eye of favour on this thy suffering Servant Let thy Power appear in his weakness strengthen him on his Bed of languishing make all his Bed in his sickness Rebuke remove his Distempers in love to his Soul deliver him from the Pit of Corruption and cast all his sins behind thy Back Let not his sickness be unto Death but thy Glory if it may stand with thy good pleasure but if thou hast otherwise determin'd fit and prepare him for thy self As his outward Man decays let his in ward Man be renewed day by day Take him not hence untill thou hast made him meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in life Give him an easie and comfortable Passage out of this Vale of Misery and receive him to the Eternal enjoyment of thy self in Heaven And give all of us grace in Health to provide and prepare for sickness in our most prosperous and best Estate to consider how frail we are in a full perswasion of thy unerring Providence over us and Infinite love towards us let us resign our selves intirely unto thee resolving by thy gracious Assistance to rest satisfied with thy Appointment That we may rejoyce in hope of that Immortal Life and Happiness when thou shalt wipe away all Tears from our Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying nor any more Pain but that after Death hath parted us we may meet together and acknowledge with Eternal Praises thy wise and mercifull Providence which by ways contrary to our desires hath brought us to endless and undisturbed Rest through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thy blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and for ever Amen Another EVer blessed Lord the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation who art not willing any should perish but that all should come to Repentance We praise and adore thee for thy Patience forbearance and goodness to us all our days that we have enjoyed so much Health and Ease Peace and Plenty so many Mercies to sweeten our Passage through this Vale of Tears O forgive our Ingratitude for our Abuse of thy Bounty and Kindness to us and be at Peace with us in and through our Lord and Saviour and for the time to come give us grace to carry our selves well-pleasing in thy sight In particular we now recommend unto thee this thy Servant beseeching it may please thee to restore him unto Health unto thee no Cure is difficult no Case desperate but all things possible O command create Deliverance direct to sutable means and super-add thy Blessing to them O spare him that he may recover strength before he goes hence and be no more But however thou dealest with him let it be in love and mercy unto him pardon all his Sins
will be unto us we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies let us serve thee without fear in Holiness and Righteousness all our Days through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose Holy Name and Words I further pray Our Father c. How to Prepare for a Comfortable Death I. BE sure your State and Condition your Nature Disposition and Inclinations are changed That you have an Interest in Christ the only Ark that can carry us safe to shore after that General Shipwrack made in Adam An inward principle of Piety and Holiness a renewed Soul a reconciled mind to God and True goodness which is nothing else but an Harmony or Right order of Heart and Life That you are possessed of the Sanctifying Spirit made partaker of the Divine Nature and Image Temper and Dispositions resembling Him in his Imitable Perfections of Justice Truth Goodness Kindness Clemency Bounty Benevolence c. Absolutely and Intirely resigned and devoted to him without Reserve or Exception to be govern'd wholly by his Laws You are then reconciled to God you have the Judge for your Friend and Advocate and the Earnest of your Future Inheritance He deserves not the Name of a Christian saith St. Jerom who lives in such a state in which he would not die Good men neglecting clearing up their Evidences and Hopes Their Claim and Title to Heaven hath made them live Comfortless and die Heartless 'T is dreadful entering Eternity upon loose Hopes and fluid Peradventures To die and not to know how we shall speed in another world To fall into the Hands of Death as the Lepers into the Syrians not knowing whether we shall meet with Kindness or Cruelty like that dying Philosopher Dibius vixi Anxius morior nescio quo vado But what is it to be put into the Bill of Mortality when our Names are written in the Book of Life where Guilt is Removed Death is disarmed We may well desire to be dissolved when we know our Redeemer liveth That He shall be our Judge who hath taken upon Him our Flesh who hath given us his Spirit upon whom we have fixed our Expectations of Happiness for whom we have suffered from this vile world whom we always looked on as our Treasure and Portion whose coming we have so long looked for and desired who hath the Keys of Heaven Hell and Death our Friend our Brother our Husband our Head He will not endure to have his own Members cast off He will never disown those that shall be found in Him He will vindicate his own Claim and Title to us He will not lose his own Purchase not deny his own work not condemn us for that Debt himself hath undertaken to pay for whom He came to be Surety was Sentenced Condemned and Suffered There is no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit (d) Rom. 8.1 If upon Gospel grounds our Hearts Condemn us not but Testifie we are reconciled to Him we may be sure He is reconciled to us and may have Confidence in the Day of Judgment II. In your several places and stations Imploy well your Talents your Trust your Stewardship your Time fill up every space of it by well spending it Do all the good you can while you are Here not only by a daily Exercise of Publick and Private Devotion but by being in any kind useful and beneficial to others which is a great part of our Business in this world by a Charitable helping the necessitous and distressed allaying their Sorrows removing their Burdens supporting them under their Calamities by all Offices of Kindness and Friendship hindering Injurious Contentions promoting Love Peace good will amongst Men by furthering their welfare by being Courteous and Affable long-suffering mild easie to be intreated and reconciled of a Benign Compassionate Sympathizing Temper assisting and standing up for the injured and oppressed Contributing as much as we can that every one may live as Happily by us and be as good as may be More especially doing good to Mens Souls by seasonable frequent Reproofs and Admonitions good Advice and Example to bring them into love with Goodness and Virtue and Rescue them from the Dominion of Sin and Satan and an Intollerable Damnation A good and generous man is Ambitious and heartily glad of an Opportunity to save a Man's Life or Estate when in Danger but He that 's an Instrument of Anomer's Eternal Salvation saves the most precious thing in the world and furthers his own (e) Dan. 12.3 Jam. 5.19 We may do a great deal of good in a little Time Husbanded well and suffering none of it to be swallowed up without endeavouring to do some real good to our selves or others We account Him Happy that 's taken hence whilest He 's well Imploy'd and every man wishes to Die so we cannot choose the Circumstances of our own Death but may certainly make it Comfortable by imploying our selves so that when God shall call us we cannot be accused of any gross mis-spence of our Time or the neglecting any Opportunity of doing or receiving good the Providence of God hath put into our Hands One of the most principal Rules of solid Devotion saith St. Cyprian is that we let not pass the least occasion of serving God III. Exercise Charity and Mercy according to your Opportunities and Abilities Alms delivers from Death (f) Isa 1.17 Dan. 4.27 Ecl. 3.9 Tob. 4.10 Come up for a Memorial before God (g) Act. 10.4 Charity covers the multitude of Sins (h) 1 Pet. 4.8 Forgiving others Intitles us to the Pardon of our Offences (i) Mat. 6.14.15 We can challenge no Reward from God for our Duty because the Service of our whole Lives is Antecedently due to him and we Receive all from him but a good life qualifies and disposes us for that Happiness He hath promised to Holy and pure Souls and no Grace or Virtue more immediately prepares and fits us for it than works of Mercy which are like to have a greater Influence on the last Day 's Proceedings than most are aware of (k) Lu. 12.33 and 16.9 1 Tim. 6.17 c. All the Actions of Men shall be brought to account but Christ Representing to us the process of the last Judgment and instancing only in Works of Mercy (l) Mat. 25.32 c. signifies at least thus much to us that he hath a peculiar Regard to those in acquitting or condemning men at that Day He looks upon the Performance or Neglect as Redounding upon himself and Intimates there 's something peculiar in the Exercise or Neglect of this Grace to intitle us to his favour or expose us to his wrath The marble-hearted Cruelty of wicked men is the only thing mentioned that makes the Bill be found against them whilst the Righteous are strangely surpriz'd when told they had shewed savour to their Judge to him that sat on the Throne whom they had never seen in
are restless and distracted Horrours and Regrets of Conscience rouls and works within and draws the dismal Picture of their own Guilt in dreadfull Colours Then are the proud Boasts of the Atheists and Debauche's quell'd and baffled by the King of Terrors The very thoughts of whose approach surprises them with fear and consternation whilst good men insult over it The guilty Prisoner dreads every Noise and trembles when the door opens for fear of his deserved doom whilst the Innocent upon the same Account is both calm and joyfull expecting deliverance The Divine Majesty sitteth or abideth at the sick Man's Beds-head saith a Jewish Writer on Psal 41.3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the Bed of languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness Guilt makes us shy of a holy Presence kindles the Sparks of Hell in our Souls and renders Death terrible indeed while a Sabboth of Rest Ensues Innocence and a well-spent life makes the Righteous as bold as a Lyon to receive Death with open Arms for its sting is taken away to Hug and Embrace the Promises afar off as actually Existent and present as a man doth his Intimate Friend who hath been long absent in another Country Remember now O Lord I beseech Thee how I have walked before Thee in Truth and with a perfect Heart and have done that which is good in Thy sight (q) Is 38.3 VI. Lay up and secure every day something against your last i. e. The Comfort of a well-spent life and provisions sutable and proper to the Necessities of that great Day of Expence a strong active well tryed Faith a deep large exercised Repentance a mind well furnished with wise Considerations an unconstrained Charity a firm Hope a profound Submission to the Will of God a well grounded Expectance of a Blessed Eternity And this not only by overcoming and despising the world accustoming your self to suffer Injuries and Affronts Losses and cross Accidents in it a delight in by Conversing with God and Heavenly things getting sweeter Thoughts of it than of the most prosperous state on Earth But by considering with what Arguments then to fortifie your Soul what graces and defences are requisite to render Death easie safe and happy And more particularly by daily assiduous fervent address to God to be with you stand by you assist you at that Time to resist and subdue the Assaults of Satan to strengthen you against Impatience and Infidelity to quicken you to Diligence and sincere Endeavours for obtaining what you pray for else you play the Hypocrite with and mock God Common Acquaintance will not do it 's not enough to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence (r) Luk. 13.26 There must be frequent Interviews a spiritual Intimacy between Him and us He that hath had an intire Conversation with God cannot fear to go to him No marvel they Tremble that know him not or know that he will not know Them Had the Fiery Chariot fetched away Elijah unlooked for we had doubted of the favour of his Translation Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man (s) Luk. 21.36 VII Put not the Evil day far from you Familiarize Death unto your Soul by frequent Meditation of it Look not upon it at a distance but even at the door let the Thoughts of it dwell with you O how soon how suddenly will winged Time rush into Eternity Our Lord comes not only in a Day but in an Hour we think not of (t) Mat. 24.44.50 and none but He could ever say Mine Hour is not yet come We are not sure to be further from our Grave on our Feet than on our Sick Bed Serve up a Skeleton at your Table walk upon Mount Calvarie Present to your Soul a frequent view of the Black Scene you go through when you go off the Stage Be still stooping down and looking into your Sepulchre Fancy you see a Grave gaping for you your crazy Tabernacle falling upon your Head your Breath growing Cold your Eye-strings breaking The vitall Lamp just spent and ready to go out How fast Time is Eating you out of Possession of all here Such Thoughts will not only cool our passionate fondness to Earthly things make us sober and indifferent in their use and habitually ready to part with them but take off the Horror of the Apprehensions and approach of Death we shall find it not a Stranger but an intimate Acquaintance an expected Friend we shall make no more of it than of going through a dark Entry to our Father of falling into the Arms and Embraces of our Mother and Sister No guest comes unlookt for to him that keeps a Constant Table A little warning serves a Tenant that 's provided for who is often thinking of a Remove VIII By all means strengthen and confirm your Belief in the Promises of This and another Life Live walk by Faith and not by Sight Dwell on the Believing Thoughts of Everlasting glory and Inure your self to the daily Exercise of the Imployment of it of Love and Joy and chearful Praising God which will much prepare incline dispose you to be There Converse chiefly with those that shall be your Companions for ever A Stranger Rejoyces when he meets with his own Countrey men In your Pilgrimage enjoy as much as you can of Heaven which begins Here let your Treasure your Heart your Conversation be in it Think what others are Enjoying whil'st you are Here and what a life it will be to see and enjoy the Blessed God your glorified Redeemer To be perfectly taken up in the full fruition thereof among Saints and Angels in the new Jerusalem O Could we but realize that how would our Hearts be affected and ravished with the prelibation and foresight of it as Marriners in a Tempest at Sea when by a Perspective-glass they discern their Harbour afar off how do they Rejoyce Embrace and make towards it 'T is utterly the fault of Christians when they see the Earth Cut out among its Possessors to measure Themselves by the standard of the World and value their Estates by the Creatures Rate-Book so they are always poor whil'st they Inventory what Goods they have not what they Hope for and expect for then they could see no end of their Riches That they have their Portion to Receive when all the Treasures of this World shall be exhausted Enter upon their Estate when the Inhabitants of it shall become Bankrupts turn'd out of all and have nothing to look for but Wrath and Vengeance They exceedingly wrong their Souls and hinder Themselves from a willingness to be with God in spending their days in doubts and drooping worldly Dulness and neglecting so much the Graces and Work of Heaven IX Review daily your Heart and Life by a solemn Scrutiny Summon your self before the Bar of Conscience Reckon for your
Market A Thousand Blossoms fall to the Ground for one Ripe fruit gathered into the Basket The Glass runs whilst we are idle The swiftest things in the World have been staid but the life of man that went a Days Journey forward while the Sun stood still (m) Jos 10.12 13. we ought therefore to be always ready else when we are most unready or least think of it our Lord may come (n) Matt 24.44 Righteous Abel is slain by his bloody Brother whilst friendly talking with him in the Field (o) Gen 4.8 Zimri and Cozbi died in the Act of Lust (p) Num. 25.8 suddain Death seases upon Eglon sitting in a Summer-Parler which he had for himself alone (q) Judges 3.15 c. Sampson dies upon a Theatre making sport and Thousands with him seeing it (r) Judges 16. Rebellious Absolon meets with his Gallows a Tree in the Forrest which heard not his Father's Caveat for his Life (s) 2 Sa. 18.8 9. Elah slain drinking himself drunk in his Steward's House by his Servant Zimri who finishes his own Royalty by Fire burning the House over his own head and dies (t) 1 K. 16.8 9.18 Job's Children give up the Ghost eating and drinking in their Elder Brother's House His Table became their snare (v) Job 18.19 In the Time of our Saviour's greatest Joy and Glory when the Fashion of his Countenance was altered and his Rayment white and glistering Moses and Elias appear and talk with him about his Decease (w) Lu. 9.29 Elijah walking with Elisha is taken up into Heaven (x) 2 Kin. 2.11 and St. Stephen while he 's preaching Jesus and calling upon God (y) Acts 7. Moses is called away whilst busie about what God had set him bringing the Children into Canaan (z) Deut. 32.49 John Baptist's Head is given away at a grand Festival (a) Matt. 14.6 The Ten Virgins are summon'd at Midnight when all was silent and at rest (b) Matt. 25.6 The Rich Fool 's Soul that Night was required of him when he dream'd of many Years and that nothing could prevent them but starving (c) L. 12.16 c. Herod while glutting his aspiring Humour with popular Applause gives up the Ghost in the Midst of his vain-glorious Harrange (d) Acts 12.21 Thou shalt be King over Israel and I shall be next unto thee said true hearted Jonathan to David not knowing he was to die in the next Battle (e) 1 Sam. 23.17 c. The great Arbitrer of all things needs not Death's usual Messenger Sickness to prepare his way who can thunder the proud Emperour under his Bed And write the great King at 3 or 4 Words into trembling (f) Dan. 5.5 c. send a Fly to fetch the Tripple-Crown before his Tribunal Make a small Scratch or Bone a Crum a Hair or the Kernel of a Grape or Raisin as mortal as Goliah's Spear Unspeak the whole World into nothing Blow down a great Bubble the stateliest Building with an easie Breath undress our Souls by unpinning one Pin. By withdrawing his Hand take away the Aiery difference between Sleep and Death And oh what a sad Appearance will the Face of Death have to those that have loitered unthriftily trifled away their Time that never knew the worth of it until their last hour and then have their Work to do Eternity at Hand gives value to all Holinesâ— and Sense of God in spite of the World and lessens all things else into less than nothing and Vanity imprints a ghastliness and horror upon wickedness and sensuality The Thirty pieces are nothing worth and the Innocent Blood above all value when Men suffer in the Agonies of Conscience and fears of the approaching Judge An House-full of Silver and Gold will not buy a Man to resist God when the Terrible Majesty appears to him nothing is so precious then that a man will not fling to the Bats and Moles When the Breath is going out of the Nostrils how precious is sincere Holiness to those that have slighted it as a thing of nought As if the great Truths of God's Word were never true till a day or two before we die But these things are always so rich and valuable True Wisdom is always so precious that it disdains to borrow Esteem from a Minute of Extremity And therefore it mostly falls out that those who would have none of its Counsel and despised all its Reproofs when they come to seek it now cannot find it but it laughs at their Calamity and their Misery confutes their Confidence A good Death is the natural consequence of a Holy Life else there 's no such thing in Nature nor Grace neither except by a Miracle of Grace The most profligate and obdurate cannot but think that they must repent and acknowledge the Prudence and Safety of the Religious whom they contemned They own their own folly and mistake when it 's too late to remedy They desire to die the Death of the Righteous and promise to live their life too if they recover from sickness And if a Holy life be then looked upon necessary to be lived it cannot be sufficient meerly to resolve it Religion never gave any a Dispensation to Sin that 's one thing We have entered into a Covenant with God to forsake the Devil and all his Works The Conditions of our Salvation are our giving up our selves Bodies and Souls not a dying but a living Sacrifice unto God (g) Rom. 12.1 To deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World (h) Tit. 2.11 12. The wicked must not only forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts return from all his wickedness that he hath committed unto the Lord but keep all his Statutes and do that which is right (i) Isa 55.7 Ez. 18.21 And 33.14 acquire and exercise the Habits of everlasting Grace as well as mortifie and overcome all corrupt Affections and vitious Inclinations Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good works (k) Tit. 2.14 He bare our Sins in his own Body upon the Tree that we being dead to Sin should live unto Righteousness (l) 1 Pet. 2.24 And is it reasonable that this should be wholly frustrate by those supposed to be redeemed by him we dishonour and endeavour to make void the purpose and design of his Sufferings and Redemption if we think them to be a shelter for our ungodly Living The Gospel the highest display of Mercy is not a Salvation of men in but from Sin and by Repentance means a Reformed course of life and only by very silent Intimations the Tract of which is hardly discerned leaves it possible that he should pluck some as brands out of the Fire by giving them Repentance at last whereas this is now become the only Repentance in use the
only the Person hâ— assumed had been the better for it But the Divine Person assumed to himself the Humane Nature So that the Manhood subsists in the Godhead and they are so inseparably united that the same Person which is God is also Man Thus as God he is Eternal born in Time as Man Creator as God a Creature as Man Invisible as God visible as Man Immortal as God Died as Man Had he not been God and Man in One Person the Sufferings of his Humane Nature could not have derived that Infinite Value and Merit from the Divine nor his Bloud been called the Bloud of God (l) Acts 20.28 i. e. It was the Bloud of that Man that was God He was 1. God That he might bear the Wrath of God without sinking under it Give Worth and Efficacy to his Sufferings Obedience and Intercession Satisfie Divine Justice Purchase his Favour and Eternal Happiness for his People Overcome Death and the Devil Be the Head of his Church Recommend Infinite Love in the Abasement of himself for us 2. Man that he might obey suffer and intercede for us in our Nature have a fellow-feeling of our Temptations Passions Infirmities that we might have Access to the Throne of Grace and receive the Adoption of Sons As Creatures we were bound to the Precepts of the Law which we had broken and were without strength unable to perform And as Transgressors under liable to the Curse of the Law the Wrath of God which we were unable to bear Christ by his Active and Passive Obedience of Infinite Merit fulfilled all Righteousness purchased for us Pardon Grace and Eternal Life satisfied Divine Justice paid our Debt wrought out our Redemption procur'd our Liberty by giving a satisfactory Ransome to the Justice of God for our Life and Deliverance from the Captivity of Sin Satan and Death according to the Covenant made between the Father and Him from Eternity Of the Sacraments THE Two standing Sacraments of the Church of God of Old were Circumcision and the Passover Under the Gospel we have Baptism and the Lord's Supper wherein by visible signs the Benefits of the New Covenant in Christ's Bloud is represented sealed and applied to those that are within the Covenant who partake of them as Pledges of his Love and profess themselves thereby bound to all thankfull Obedience Baptism confirms and signifies 1. Our publick Initiation Entrance or Admission into the visible Church and Covenant of Grace distinguishing us from those out of it 2. Our being sprinkled washed and cleansed by the Bloud and Spirit of Christ from the guilt and filth of Sin our Dying to it and rising again unto Righteousness 3. Our having taken upon us the Badge and Livery of our Christian Profession That we have listed our selves as Soldiers to fight under Christ's Banner against the World the Flesh and the Devil which we have hereby renounced and resigned up our selves to Him and his Government to become his faithfull Subjects and Servants unto our lives End By the Minister's baptizing us In or into or unto the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is meant his doing it by the Authority and Command of the Three Persons in the Divine Essence to be in and by this Rite publickly consigned devoted or consecrated unto the Faith Profession and Obedience of Them or separated unto their Service We ought to improve our Baptism in the whole Course of our Lives especially in the Time of Temptation and when we see others baptized by frequent Consideration of the Nature Use and Ends of it Institution Priviledges and Benefits sealed by it and our solemn Vow and Engagement made therein Endeavouring to live in newness of Life and brotherly Love as those that have given up their Names unto Christ and been baptized by the same Spirit into one Body The Lord's Supper Of that afterwards The Apostle's Creed SO called either because 1. Made by the Twelve Apostles every one an Article and the whole approved of by all of them before they separated themselves to Preach the Gospel Or 2. Agreeable to and a Summary of their Writings and collected out of them Article I. I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth I Believe in one Eternal most glorious Being infinite in all Perfections The Fountain Soveraign and Disposer Creator Sustainer and Governor of Heaven and Earth and all things therein II. And in Jesus Christ The Second Person of the Trinity Called 1. Jesus which signifies a Saviour or Salvation because he saves his People from the guilt defilement dominion and punishment of their Sins 2. Christ which signifies Anointed as of old were Priests Prophets and Kings when consecrated for those Offices which he took upon him was Anointed set apart unto fully furnished with all Authority and Ability As a Prophet he made known all things necessary for our Salvation by his Word and Spirit As a Priest he offered up himself a Sacrifice for our Sins and makes continual Intercession for us As a King he governs provides for rewards his People reduces them to his obedience rules in them by his Spirit restrains subdues or destroys their Enemies Jesus is a Hebrew Christ a Greek or Gentile Name or Appellation which Names he obtained by becoming the Saviouâ— of both i. e. the whole World Jesus point out and imports his Mediatorship Christ his Offices Jesus that he became our Saviour Christ which way i. e. by being our Priest Prophet and King His only Son By Eternal inconceivable Generation Begotten of the Father before all Time Our Lord By Right of Creation Preseâ—vation Dominion Purchase Redemption and particular Covenant III. Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary I believe that Hâ— came down from Heaven and was by thâ— Power of the Holy Ghost after a wonderfull manner conceived and made Man in the Sanctified Womb of a Virgin and born of her so being not begotten of the corrupted finfull Seed of Adam free from Original Sin and as foretold â—he Seed of the Woman (m) Gen. 3.15 of the Tribe of Judah (n) Heb. 9.14 of the House and Family of David (o) Luc. 1. 27. IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried He endured many Bitter Things in the whole Course of his Life but the Weight and Extremity of his Sufferings were immediately before and by his Crucifixion a painfull shamefull accursed Death to which he was adjudged by Pontius Pilate Governour of Judea under â—he Roman Emperour Tiberius to whom â—he Jews were then subject He died to â—edeem and ransome satisfie and make aâ—onement for us to take away Sin the sting â—nd fear of Death to take from us upon himself the Curse of the Law to confirm â—he Testament or Covenant of Grace for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the Death of the Testator (p) Heb. 9.16 He was Bury'd â—s prefigured and foretold (q) Ps 16.9 10.
so much our Deliverance exceeds the which was a Type and faint shadow of thâ— And therefore we being delivered ut of Hands of our Enemies must serve him wâ—â— out fear in Holiness and Righteousness beâ—â— him all the Days of our Life Commandment I. THE First Commandment requireâ— That we have the only true God a none other for our God and that 〈◊〉 worship and glorifie hima ccordingly Tâ—â— we acquaint our selves with him thâ— frequently of him love and highly Esteâ—â— him delight rest satisfied in him oâ—mit all unto him trust and depend uâ— him place our whole Happiness in 〈◊〉 looking upon all things as nothing wâ— out him honour and adore fear and verence him yield all Praises and Thaâ— Obedience and Submission unto him 〈◊〉 and acnoweldge him be zealous for hâ—â— walk humbly with him be carefull in things to please him and sorrowfull wâ—â— in any thing he is by our selves or othâ—â— offended II. The Second forbids us worshipping or giving any Religious Adoration to any Creature in Heaven Earth or Water which particular Places are named besides which there are none other or the true God In or before or by any Representation Likeness or Image who being infinite and invisible is not to be represented by any visible thing (w) Deut. 4.12 15 c. Isa 44.10 c. Rom. 1.23 and enjoyns the serving him by such means and in such a manner as is agreeable to his Nature and Word And this because he is our Soveraign and Proprietor tender of his own Worship will severely punish Idoâ—aters and their Posterity as those that hate him and be mercifull to true Worshippers as those that love him to many Generations III. The Third forbids us thinking or speaking prophanely vainly slightly of him careless irreverent Attendance upon him in his Worship unadvisedly crying O Lord or O God! c. without a due sence of him Cursing our selves or others Swearing by any Creature or by himself except before a Magistrate in weighty and true Cases which cannot otherwise be determined And requires of us a Holy and Reverent Respect unto and Use of his Name Attributes Ordinances Word Works all things whereby he makes himself known And this because the great Soveraign is most highly provoked by Prophaneness and Contempt of him and will deal with those that are guilty of it accordingly IV. The Fourth requires us with those under our Charge to consecrate keep Holy the Sabbath-Day That we bear it in mind to fit our selves for it Rest from those Works which are properly called Ours Set our selves apart for the Duties of it Spend it not in Idleness Worldly Recreations or Imployments except of necessity and mercy but in the publick and private Worship and Service of God in Prayer Hearing Reading the Word Religious Meditation and Discourse accounting the Sabbath the holy of the Lord honourable and honouring him therein (x) Isa 58.13 And this from 1. the Equity of it God's allowing us sâ—â— days of seven for our own warrantable Imployments and reserving but one for Himself 2. His challenging a special Propriety in it setting it apart from common to holy Uses so it 's Theft and Sacriledge to alienate it to any others than he allows 3. His own Example resting on it not from doing good or preserving what he had made but from creating any more diversities or kinds of Creatures And 4. from that Blessing he hath put upon it in advancing preferring inriching that Day above the rest in choosing ordaining setting it apart sanctifying it to be a Time for his Service and a means of Blessing to us in sanctifying it Which is not upon the Seventh but First Day of the Week from the Resurrection of Christ on that Day the Practice of the Apostles Primitive Christians and Church of God in all Ages since together with the Command of our Rulers in Church and State V. The Fifth requireth under the sweet Relation between Parents and Children the preserving the Honour and performing the Duties belonging to every one in their several Places Stations and Relations That Inferiors reverence and obey their Superiors that Superiors carry themselves worthily towards and be carefull of those under them that Equals render due Respect towards each other More particularly as to our Superiors in Family Church and State that we pray for them honour and reverence them chearfully submit to and obey them not envy or grudge the Preheminence God hath given them that we do not neglect or despise them for their wants or weaknesses but rather support assist them cast a covering of love over them stand up and plead for them against those that abuse disparage or speak evil of them To which obedience prosperity and length of days as God sees good is promis'd in the Old Testament and not reversed but rather confirmed in the New (y) Ep. 6.2 3. VI. The Sixth condemneth any hurt done threatned or intended to our own or other's Soul or Body Forbiddeth our being actually guilty of or of whatsoever tendeth to our own or others death Together with all sinfull Anger Strife Malice Hatred Revenge denying necessary means for preservation of life but not lawfull War necessary Defence or the Execution of publick Justice And requireth our Endeavours to â—ender all men's lives as safe and comfortable as we can VII The Seventh forbiddeth all Impurities and fleshly Pollutions in Thought Word and Deed unchastity in Mind Speech Behaviour And withall enjoyneth the shunning and avoiding all Occasions Provocations Temptations thereunto as to our selves or others VIII The Eighth forbiddeth all defrauding over-reaching dishonest Actions or whatsoever Abuses unjustly lessens or hinders our own or others Estate and requireth the lawfull procuring and furthering of the same IX The Ninth forbiddeth all false or evil speaking or surmising lying slandering back-biting dissembling reviling tale-bearing detracting from or prejudicing another's Esteem or good Name And requireth our defending preserving promoting advancing the same X. The Tenth forbiddeth dissatisfaction with our own Estate envying repining at desiring of any thing that is another's And requireth a full Contentment with our Enjoyments furthering of and rejoycing in our Neighbours The Lord's Prayer SO called from the Author our Lord Jesus Christ It 's a compleat Directory and Summary of all Prayer And contains 1 A Preface of Compellation the Person we pray to not Saints or Angels but God described by our common Interest in him our Relation to him his Habitation 2 Six Petitions The three first more especially respect God's Glory Advancement of his Kingdom Obedience to his Will which must be first sought The three last our own and others Temporal and Spiritual good 3 A Doxology or Conclusion for Confirmation containing Praise and Thanksgiving and Arguments for our Petitions for Thine is the King dom which we desire to come thy Power alone can effect these things the grant of them tends unto and will end in thy Glory Our Father Implies We ought to call
Burdensom Prepare for the worst If it come the labour 's well bestow'd if not well lost Think not every day will be a wedding-day In Matrimony God marries Comforts and Crosses together as well as Man and Wife such shall have trouble in the flesh (o) 1 Cor. 7.28 Study to please not to be pleased then all the fault you find will be with your selves Let all your strife be which shall love and please God and one another most and upon any difference who shall first seek for Reconciliation Construe words and Actions in the best sence Stifle little things Abstain from whatsoever is found contrary to each other A Prudent observation of each others Tempers and forbearance of what may provoke will prevent many fallings out Think not much less do any thing that may tend to lessen but whatsoever may knit what God hath Tied with his own Hand If Passion arise in one let the other be silent If Satan hath sown Discord sleep not until the Tares be plucked up Two Cholerick Persons living together many years were never heard to fall out because said one of them being asked when one was angry t'other had the wisdom to forbear Cross not each other in the spring Tide of Passion but stay till ebbing Water then mildly argue it and that not so much to condemn one another as to acquit your self we are more Tractable in Cold than Hot Blood it portends Ill luck when two Fire-Balls meet Be helpfull to each other's Health Comfort and Advantage as to your Bodies Estate good Names Souls Bear one anothers Burdens Personal and Domestical Discover not but bear with one anothers Infirmities yet so as to quicken one anothers Graces and not to suffer Sin upon you Share in each others Joys and Sorrows Jointly endeavour to make the Weight of the Family the more tolerable the Load is lightned by carrying it evenly equally Speak one to not one of another It ought to be so amongst Christians much more York-fellows Debate it between your selves not before your Families or Strangers 'T is a lessening of your selves when standers-by take notice of your Grievances Dissents between Man and Wife are uncomely Differences intolerable I would suffer much before I would make my Complaint to another They are ill Birds that defile their own Nests In case of Correction or Rebuking any of the Family though there be an Errour in the Application let not one Yoke fellow contradict the other before the offending Party but debate the Mistake when you are alone least you abate due Fear and Reverence and teach others to despise your Discipline and your selves 'T is not safe for one Yoke-fellow to receive an Appeal from any of the Family nor to take the Rod out of the other's hand Improve your Conjugal Converse for Spiritual Ends. Let not the Body Rob the Soul nor the Elder serve the Younger Redeem the Time that you may bless God you ever met and not as too many do Curse one another for silently advancing each others Ruine So when the Land-flood of youthfull violent Affections is dried up the Fountain of Spiritual Love will still run with a more sober and moderate but more constant and lasting stream Season your Natural Society with Spiritual Communion in secret serving God and you 'll avoid the Surfeit of Society which choaketh Love Reckon your selves one anothers more than your own and the Lord 's more than one anothers Let your Fellowship together be such as you both in it may have Fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ whose Image and Superscription this Relation bears Be holy in all manner of Conversation Possess your Vessels in Sanctification and Honour Defile not the Marriage-Bed Be not drunk with your own Wine All things are sanctified by the Word and Prayer Be much in Prayer for and with one another you will then blame your selves not one another and be ashamed to jar considering you must shame your selves before God for it As to Children pray not only for due Parts Proportion and safe Delivery but Children sanctified that your Families may be the Enlargement of Christ's Kingdom and of the Houshold of Faith As God encreases your Relations enlarge your Requests for every one in particular Those Petitions will not suffice when you are many that did when you were one Make God's House as yours and yours as God's Join with Elkanah and Hannah in giving up your Children to God's Service and in going together to sacrifice (p) 1 Sa. 1.21.28 Account that the greatest Riches not which you lay up for your selves or yours but out for God He is mercifull and lendeth and his Seed is Blessed (q) Ps 37.26 Their Prayer O Thou that art the great Creator and wise Disposer of us and all things in Heaven and Earth who hast ordained Marriage for our good and made us two one Flesh We give thee all humble and hearty Thanks for preserving us in our single State so innocent and chast so free from Shame and Reproach For conducting us through the Temptations of this Life so mercifully so wisely for keeping us from the effects of thy Wrath and our own Infirmities O forgive whatsoever might cause thee to Imbitter this state unto us and accept us in the Beloved Indue us with a Spirit of Love of Kindness of Condescension and prevent whatsoever might Disturb our Happy Union Let our chief love and delight be grounded upon the Hopes we have of being Heirs together of the grace of Life Let us walk Hand in Hand to our Father's House in a chearful and faithful discharge of our respective Duties to each other and those Committed to us and be still provoking one another to Love and to good Works That after Death which shall e're long separate us for a little while we may with Comfort meet together where they neither Marry nor are given in Marriage but are as the Angels perpetually praising thee for all the Instances of thy Kindness and Endless Love Through Jesus Christ to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and evermore Amen Another WE come unto thee most gracious God and merciful Father who in Infinite Wisdom and Goodness hast brought and united us together and do prostrate our Souls before thee in all Humility under a deep sense of our unworthiness and unbecoming Demeanure in thy sight O Pardon it unto us that we have liv'd no more to the great Ends of our coming into the World and into this state which thou Institutedst in Innocency Let it not be a state of Temptation or Sorrow by occasion of our Sins and Infirmities but of Holiness and Comfort as thou intendedst it to all that love and fear Thee Allay in us all sensual Bruitish love Purifie and sanctifie our Affections that we may not Dishonour or Pollute the Bed thou hast called Undefiled But use it so as Carnal Lust may be slacked and subdued not provoked
increased or inflamed that thy self and others may see our Chast Conversation coupled with Fear Let us keep up the Honour and Ends of Marriage Be linked together in one common Care and live together in one Spirit to thy Glory the Edification and Benefit of others the real Comfort Advantage and Contentment of each other the Promoting and Advancing thy Kingdom that we may together enjoy thee Eternally through Jesus Christ Amen The Husband's Duty TO be the Head bespeaks not only your Dignity but Duty to study and design your Wife's Comfort and Welfare to be the Seat and Fountain of Reason Understanding and Discretion to her to excel her in Knowledge Patience Christian Courage and Resolution Chief in bearing Trials and Infirmities with all privacy love and mildness guiding directing reproving her Let love sweeten your Speech Carriage Actions and Advices to her Let not your Commands be unreasonable or imperious but lawfull managed with Meekness Gentleness Familiarity and Discretion that she may see as well Love and Reason as Relation binding her to Obedience Avoid all bitter Language or such as may argue disaffection which sinks deep into the Mind and is hardly obliterated with any after-excuse giving Cause to suspect 't was the Issue of a festered Heart and that a precipitated Passion did not produce but discover it In her Houshold-affairs if you interpose let it be rather by Advice and Assistance than Superiority Avoid Passion Frowardness Austerity and Reservedness towards her Stand by and for her on all Occasions Keep up her due Authority and Honour in the Family Chearfully and willingly not grudgingly or by constraint allow her Necessaries and Conveniences according to your Place and Ability Render her life as comfortable as may be She is thine own flesh so is to be nourished and cherished hath forsaken all for thy Love and is come under thy Roof for Protection Love and respect her as your Yoke-fellow not as a Slave or Servant The Woman was taken out of the Side near the Heart The Wife of thy Bosome to be valued as far more excellent than any other Member under the Head and almost equal to it Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them (r) Col. 3.19 Let her be as the loving Hind and pleasant Roe let her Breasts satisfie thee at all Times and be thou Ravished always with her Love (s) Pr. 5.18 19 His Prayer MOst gracious and merciful Father who hast been my God and Guide from my Birth and by thy disposing Providence brought me into this state Forgive whatsoever I have done or thought displeasing unto thee before and since my entrance into it Mortifie in me every Inordinate Affection and Desire Give me Grace still to Remember that those that have Wives should be as if they had none Let not my love unto her swallow up greater unto thy self Let me not prize the Spouse of my Bosom above the Bridegroom of my Soul Now I have Married a Wife let me give a Bill of Divorce to all other Lovers but true Goodness and make it appear thou hast given me a Help-meet not a hinderer therein now I have most need of it As her faithful head Indeed let me guide and instruct her see and speak to and for her nourish and cherish her love her not only as my self but as Christ the Church Bear her Burdens defend her in Danger cover her Infirmities sympathize with and Comfort her under Crosses that I may be better to her than Ten Sons that she may find all those Relations and far more she hath left to cleave unto me in me That when I am as I trust I shall e'er long be happy in Heaven my other part may not through my sin unworthiness or neglect be miserable on Earth But after we have enjoy'd the Comfort of a sweet Society here and been a Blessing to each other and all near unto us we may be translated to a place of perfect Love and Joy to all Eternity Through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Another ALmighty God who of thy great Goodness hast given Man dominion over the Works of thine hands putting all things in Subjection under his feet and Man to be the Head of the Woman Furnish me with suitable Abilities for the place thou hast set me in Make me a Teacher and an Example of well doing Give me a right Judgment in all Things and a perfect Command over my Passions and Affections that I may not be amazed at Trifles nor discompos'd at every Contrariety of Accidents and Disappointments nor passionate for the things of this world nor discontented if thou should'st smite me in any part nor suffer any Undecency or violent Transport But may pass through all the Accidents of my life with meekness and a sober Spirit Patience and Charity Prudence and Holiness and with an even mind do my Duty in all things Comply with every variety of thy Providence be useful to and careful of mine ever approving my self to thee in a holy hearty obedient Piety and Devotion Wisdom and Humility Chastity Purity and a Holy Conversation Preserve me and mine from all Danger accept of us in and through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Glory Honour and Praise now and ever Amen The Wife's Duty GIve to your Husband due Honour sweetned with Love and Familiarity and expressed by an inward Esteem and outward Reverent Respect Speech and Carriage towards him in regard of his Superiority by Creation and God's Institution thy desire shall be to thy Husband and he shall Rule over thee (t) Gen. 3.16 Be voluntarily subject to his Will in all lawfull things as unto the Lord (v) Ep. 5.22 Col. 3.18 From which Nobleness of Birth Greatness of Portion Excellency of Parts cannot exempt A Son may have more wit than his Father and a Subject than his Prince yet both must obey They may advise perswade intreat not be sullen scornfull disdainfull scold reproach taunt or disobey The Place if not the Person is to be regarded Live in a chearfull Contentedness with your Condition Avoid tedious curious gaudy Dressing all lightness and immodesty in your Behaviour and Attire Affect not Vanity in Apparel or Curiosity in any thing about you Be willing and diligent in your proper part of the Care and Labour of the Family Be a constant meet Help both as to his Person Estate Houshold and Holy Education of Children Dispose not of his Estate without his Consent Consider not only whether the Work be good you lay it out upon but what power you have to do it Avoid an impatient murmuring unquiet Disposition and maintain a holy peaceable meek and quiet Temper which is in the sight of God of great Price Her Prayer IN all Humility of Soul and Body I Prostrate my self before thy Divine Majesty most gracious and merciful Father It 's of thy great goodness for which I render unto thee all
an Eternal state which will be happy or miserable according to your Carriage Here. Make it therefore without delay the design of your whole lives with a resolved Chearfulness to be happy for ever and to escape those endless pains which are the Portion of the slothful careless and secure Rest not until you are Born again your Corrupt Natures changed into a love of God and Goodness your wills and desires subdued into the Will of God and your Superiors and not eagerly set on any thing they deny you Be serious sober-minded humble modest chast avoid the occasions Provocations and Temptations to Sin especially evil Company that great Snare of the Devil which hath ruin'd Thousands And acquaint your selves with serious sober-minded experienced Christians Wast not your precious time in reading vain Romances or other Obscene Prophane or Blasphemous Books or Plays Neither Spend it as too many do in Alehouses Tayerns and Debauchery with Lewd Women Which courses will destroy Body Soul Estate and good Name Remember the difference which you will shortly find between Serving the Lord from your youth and daily making Work for Sorrow in old Age at Death for Repentance or Despair Beware of and avoid their Mischief Sin and Folly that Delay a Holy Life that think it time enough to prepare for Death when they are Arrested by Sickness or withered by old Age. That think tho' they neglect God in their Youth they shall be Happy after Death if before it they Repent and Call for Mercy They consider not the terrible Doom denounced against the negligent and disobedient and that the Absolutely necessary Condition and qualification for a Happy Eternity is a Holy Life without allowing any liberty to Sin If there be any single Instance of God's Receiving late Penitents they are back'd with no Promise we may not live to old Age or may not have space or grace to Repent or not be accepted God saith to day if you will hear my Voice we limit no certain day God saith now is the accepted Time we say we shall be accepted at any Time The longer we delay the more unfit unable indispos'd discouraged the more sin hardens the heart the World and the Devil gets stronger possession the more we provoke God to give us up to our selves to leave us to become our Enemy to take from us that which we have abused instead of giving us any extraordinary assistance at last Is it Prudence to expose our precious Immortal Souls to so many hazards as there are Accidents and Diseases to surprize our Bodies to lay the greatest Burden upon the weakest Back to put off our main Business to that Instant when we have least Time and Strength to do it in to begin our work when it should be finished and we entering upon our Reward To have our Oil to Buy when the Bridegroom comes To trifle away our precious hours and neglect our main Errand for which we came into the world whenas we may be hurried away without any space between our Health and Death or when we shall have enough to do to Conflict with a Disease and to bear up under it To trust to a Death-bed Repentance which will not be in our Power except God follow us with his grace when we have given him so much Cause to forsake us and he hath no where promised that if we neglect him in our health he will Remember us then but protested the contrary Because I have Called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man Regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsels and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear Cometh when your fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction cometh as a whirlwind when distress and anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not Answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me c. (i) Pro. 1.24 to the end The Foolish Virgins when they should have entered their Oyl was to get and when they would have entered â—he door was shut How can we think it enough for God to ask him forgiveness with the Remainder and last drawing of our Breath To serve him when we have no Inclination or Temptation to Sin can follow it no longer To present him only with the Ruins and Spoils of Vice the leavings of the Devil the World and the Flesh with that only which we know not where else to bestow Consider further Is not he a Fool that withstands his Market neglects his Seed-time sows Tares and expects to reap Wheat learns not to Trade goes not to School till Old and Blind of Age That hath received a Mortal wound or drunk deadly Poison and saith he 'll endeavour Recovery next Winter That hath a long Journey to go and sets not out till the Sun is setting his strength spent his vigour exhausted That intends to do the work of a whole life in one Day That begins the Christian Race when that of Nature is almost finished to fight the good fight of Faith in old and decrepit years under Aches and Infirmities which attend the Ruins of Nature That thinks not of drawing Water out of the Wells of Salvation till the Silver Cord is loosed and the Pitcher broken at the Cistern That lays not up in Harvest because of Heat so starves in Winter when others live upon their hoarded Store That expects Heaven should meet him and save him the labour of a long Pilgrimage That God should be so fond of him as to be always working Miracles for his sake and that when he will not be saved God should save him whether he will or no They dislike the Punishment not the Sin grieve not so much because they are wicked as that God is just and when they see they are Condemned Repent Think Is it Reasonable to give unto Sin Satan the World the Flower the Fruit the Strength of our Age A quick Understanding lively Affections a tenacious Memory subtilty of Wit solidity of Judgment an Eloquent Tongue active Hands clear Eyes nimble Feet and reserve for God only the old withered dry sapless decayed leaves a baffled benummed Understanding broken Intellects flat and low Affections a slippery Memory a dull Wit a tired Judgment a stammering Tongue paralitick Hands lame Feet feeble Knees trembling Joints putrified Lungs dazled Eyes a fainting Heart that Age which is the sink of Life a Center of all Misery i. e. what the World hath cast off May he not justly say offer it now unto thy Prince see if he will accept it perswade him to turn his Court into an Hospital to make up his guard of Cripples to be attended by nothing but Infirm Diseased Age and Impotency As if the Service of the great God was nothing else but the Refuse of Sin and Satan's leavings only then to be done when we can do nothing and Repentance so easie a work that he who
may be found to have made unto my self Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness and when they fail be received into everlasting Habitations through Jesus Christ to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and ever Amen Another MOst glorious Creator of all things and liberal Benefactor to all thy Creatures That art pleased out of the Freedom of thy Bounty to deal out so largely to me of those good things which many others want Give me Grace to be duly sensible of thankfull for and to make a right Use of them Let them not be occasions of my Sin and Ruine but Incentives and Encouragements to love and serve thee Keep me from Pride Haughtiness Intemperance Covetousness Remisness in thy Service despising others loving the World trusting in uncertain Riches Give me Humility lowliness of Mind love and an open-handed Charity a fellow-feeling of others Necessities and to relieve them as I ought Let me not be of the number of those Fools that lay up Treasures for themselves and are not Rich towards thee But to make a true Use of all thy Blessings that when the Judge of all the World shall call me to give an Account of the same he may say unto me Well done good and faithfull Servant thou hast been faithfull in a little I will make thee Ruler over much Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord In whose Holy Name and Words I further pray unto thee saying Our Father c. Duties of the Poor BE truly Religious and bring up your Children so too that you may leave them with God who will take Care of them when you can leave them nothing else And that you may not be miserable for ever as well as Poor here miss of both the good things of the Life that now is and of that which is to Come Be Diligent and Painful Frugal and Provident Repent of and avoid those Sins that have brought you or tends to Poverty as Pride Idleness Intemperance Falshood Deceit unjust getting c. without which you can never expect your Condition should be Sanctified unto you Be not more Cruel to your selves than uncharitable men are if they keep you Poor keep not your selves ungodly and miserable The less Comfort you have or hope for here the harder the World uses you the more fervently seek after the Heavenly Treasure those that want that are Poor indeed and none but those Envy not but give due Respect to those above you let not your Eye be Evil because God's is Good Let your low Condition teach you to Contemn the World to be Humble Holy Heavenly-minded Take heed of Murmuring and Repining against the Will of God Bring and keep your Minds in a chearful contented frame with your present state well pleased with the Station and Condition he hath placed you in who must Dispose of us and ours and should be our Rest Learn to depend contentedly upon him alone for a comfortable supply of all needful things without Anxiety or Distrust Study his Provident Care Goodness Faithfulness and All-sufficiency When you have not a place or Friend on Earth Comfortably betake your selves to him for Relief who hath obliged himself to give Necessaries to all his faithful Servants his Dependent Children Those that follow Christ profess they want nothing (m) Lu. 22.53 Bethink how unfit you are to be choosers of your Condition That 's best for you which brings you to Happiness which he knows better than you and how dangerous what a great hinderance the world would be to you How few of the Rich and Rulers of it are Humble Heavenly Self-denying Mortified men and no wise man hath Reason to long for a hinderance of his Salvation or to Pray to God to make it as hard a Thing for him to Enter into the Kingdom of Heaven as for a Camel to go thorough the Eye of a Needle (n) Mat. 19.24 Remember your Fore-runners Christ and many of his faithful followers chose or were contented in a life of Poverty that had not where to lay their Head A state so Tolerable and Advantageous that it hath been Courted and Elected by many before ever any particular Providence pointed out the Necessity or lay'd the Constraint and Recommended by such as have dedicated their lives to Wisdom and Philosophy Nor hath Christ spoken a much harder thing in the Gospel than what relates to a Confidence in Riches allowing only a possibility with God for the Refuge and Salvation of the wealthy as it were not Receiving them within the ordinary Extensions of his love and tenderness but referring them to the Omnipotency and last reach of his Mercy (o) Mat. 19.26 You little know the Troubles Cares Fears and Vexations of the Rich who in a little while dye as Poor as Naked as you but usually with more guilt unwillingness discomfort and regret The Thirst of Greatness and Riches is the Root of Wars Factions Slaughters Disguises Disquiets Toils Dangers Hazards and Ruin You have no Cause to fear the Rumors of Wars unfaithful Servants the sly Thief crafty Lawyer abuse of Flatterers bloody Designs spiteful Machinations no Man whets his Ax to cut down a shrub Be not sorry that your Condition subjects you to Contempt rather than Envy Flattery and those Temptations opportunities and assistances to be wicked Pride Intemperance oppressing and despising others abusing God's Creatures trouble and noise of Company Vanity and loss of Time by Impertinent Ceremonious Visits Mutual Entertainments perpetual Dreads and Suspitions Sutes and Turmoils of a great Family declension of Estates Impatience of Losses and Disgrace the neglect or scorn of some great one makes all their grandure unsatisfying Your Condition Exercises you in man-like Labour renders you and yours more healthy strong able to abide Cold and Hardship furnishes you with a pleasant Appetite sweet unmolested Rest brings you acquainted with Truth and Plainness teaches you to place your Hopes only in God and to Contemn all other things frees you from Surfeits and many Diseases presses you to be more certain in your Devotion more resolved in Danger more undaunted to maintain the Truth fitter to flie in Times of Persecution better disposed at all times to welcom Death without casting a back look upon the World having nothing to lose or leave but trouble no Lands to settle no Executors to mistrust no answerable Portion to raise no Cry of Orphans Widdows Tears Complaints of the Oppressed to disquiet you in your passage which use to follow the Oppressor to the Gates of Hell Their Prayer MOst Gracious and All-sufficient Lord God who art the Maker of the Rich and the Poor and no Respecter of Persons In an humble sense of my own vileness and unworthiness 〈◊〉 prostrate my self before thee acknowledging it thy Infinite Mercy and Goodness that I am on this side Hell and the Grave and have any of the Necessaries of this Life O Pardon my unthankfulness for so many Mercies that
I have forfeited and yet enjoy and for the Time to Come suppress in me all inordinate Desires and Cares as to the things of this World all Repinings at or distrust of thy good Providence not doubting of thy Fatherly Affection to those that study in all sincerity to approve themselves unto thee Let me count all things as Loss and Dung in Comparison of the Excellency of the Knowledge and Service of thy blessed self Work my Evil unbelieving Heart to a stedfast Faith in thy faithful Promises that I shall want nothing that is good and that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me Let me consider more how little I deserve than how little I have that nothing is due unto me but perpetual shame and misery that thou knowest and art able to supply my wants that thy love will not suffer thee to leave me destitute of what thy wisdom knows convenient for me Increase my dependancâ— on thee frame my Mind and Desires 〈◊〉 my Portion Keep me from envying â—thers abundance Inrich me with Coâ—tent with Spiritual Blessings and thâ— Enjoyment of thy self Let me so livâ— that I may have the continual Comforâ— and Satisfaction of a good Consciencâ— and of having thee always for my Frieâ—â— and Gracious Father in Jesus Christ whâ— hath taught me when I Pray to say Oâ— Father which art in Heaven c. Another WHat shall I Render unto thee most merciful Father for thâ— unspeakable Goodness unto me all mâ— days that though I have deserved Iâ—finitely worse than a life of Affliction and Misery to have lived in perpetuaâ— want pain and Torment spending all my days in Sighs and Lamentations thou do'st thus sweeten my passage thorough the world giving me Food and Rayment and Contentment with the same with the means and Comfortable â—opes of being for ever free from Labour Sorrow Care and every thing that is a Burden or uneasie O Pardon all my Sins and Sanctifie all thy Dispensations to me in order to a better life Amidst all â—he Hardships and Inconveniences I meet with here let me not be dejected or discouraged but have Respect to the Recompence of Reward laid up for those that Endure Make me Patient in all Afflictions unfeignedly thankful for all thy Mercies fully satisfied with my State and Condition Let thy word and ways be my Delight thy Power and Wisdom Care and Faithfulness Providence and Promises my stay Support and Comfort to submit unto thee and serve thee the Rejoycing of my Soul and Heaven my Resting place While others are joyning House to House and Cumbering themselves about many things let me be adding one Degree of Grace to another and making sure of that good part that shall never be taken away Conduct me safely through all the Troubles Changes and Temptations of this Life in a Holy Composure Tranquility and Contentedness of Mind in a chearful doing and suffering thy Will and after Receive me unto Glory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray unto thee saying Our Father c. Duties of the Sick THat worldly Matters may not Distract or Discompose you or break love amongst those you leave behind prudently settle your Estate betimes as may be most serviceable to him that lent it If you have fallen out with or wronged any in word oâ— deed be thoroughly reconciled to them and do all you can to make them satisfaction Labour to get the Benefit of Sicknessâ— speedily seriously and Impartially Examinâ— your state heart and life Recollect youâ— Particular Errors be deeply humbled foâ— them and firmly resolved in the strength oâ— God to live a Holy Life if you Recoverâ— Renew your Repentance for Sin and your believing thoughts of the love of God and of your Eternal Happiness Apply your Saviour's All-sufficient satisfaction and purchace for Returning Sinners to your own Souls Confidently cast it upon your merciful Father your Redeemer his Merits and Mediation without further Fear or Distrust He will not Condemn his Friends his Followers his own Flesh (p) Joh. 15.14.15 Nothing can reasonably make us doubt of Pardon but the Insincerity of our Repentance and Faith in Christ Tell Standers-by of the worthlessness vanity and deceitfulness of all worldly things and how miserable all men are that are not good Bear pains with a becoming Christian Patience Remember Passive obedience is that God now in special Calls you to in which you must Serve and Honour him in the Conclusion of your Labours 'T is a great Error of the Sick and Impotent to wish for Death as if they were utterly unserviceable to God it 's no small Service they may do him not only by their Prayers and Praises and secret love unto him but by being Examples of Faith and Patience Heavenly-mindedness and Joy in God to all about them To that End Consider what a vile Body is going to be dissolved that hath been so great an Enemy pressure and hinderance to your Soul which shall be so no more for ever and what a world a life you are leaving and entering upon How near you are off a perilsome dangerous troublesome Pilgrimage and at endless Ease and Rest Look upon it as a singular mercy that Death hath so suitable a Harbinger and Fore runner whose Messenger it is that comes for you even the wise Disposer of all things that loves you that never meant you harm in any thing he hath done unto you that hath provided for you a Saviour and Eternal Happiness and done so much to bring you thither Pray more earnestly and fervently than ever Stir up in your hearts the love of God and all Goodness with raised Expectations and longing Desires after the Felicity to which you are going even to your Dying Buried Raised Ascended Glorified Lord who is concerned interceding for you ready to receive you and what ground of Joy it must needs be to your departing Soul to think that your Head and Saviour is in Possession of the Kingdom you are passing unto Get right Apprehensions take away the disguise of Death Look not upon its formidable Appearance and pompous Solemnity attended with Groans Convulsions gastly Visage doleful Elogies black Obsequies only as a Debt due to Nature or a Punishment due to Sinners but as a Privilege granted to Believers as part of our Christian Charter an Enemy Conquered and made our Friend in what mild Phrases the Scripture mentions it an un-Cloathing a Departure a going to Rest an entering into our Master's Joy a sleeping in Jesus c. Did we really believe this methinks it should be as hard to perswade a Saint to live as a Sinner to die a Believer to keep on his Earthly Tabernacle as a wicked Man to put it off Ruminate upon those precious Promises and melting Expressions to the sincere He shall feed his Flock like a Shepheard he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with
and evidence the same unto his Soul give him seasonable Ease Rest and Sleep and patience under his Sufferings and let these light Afflictions that are but for a Moment work out for him a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory let the Lord Jesus be unto him both in Life and Death great Advantage Take him not out of this Life untill thou hast fitted him for a better Let not the Enemy have any Advantage over him or be able to shake his Faith and Confidence in thy Mercy through Jesus Christ to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and evermore Amen Another WE prostrate our selves before thee O great Physitian of Soul and Body in a deep sense of our own vileness and unworthiness acknowledging it of thy free grace and mercy that thou hast not cut us off in the midst of our Sins without giving us space to beg thy Pardon and Mercy Beseeching thee for the sake of our All-sufficient Mediator to be reconciled unto us and at Peace with us Wash us throughly from our Iniquities and cleanse us from our Sins In particular be very gracious and mercifull to this thy Servant Thou hast all Distempers at thy Command if thou sayest go they go come they come unto God the Lord belong the Issues from Death O raise him up from his Bed of languishing Return O Lord deliver his Soul O save him for thy mercies sake for in Death there is no remembrance of thee in the Grave who shall give thee Thanks O let him live that he may bless thee and be instrumental for thy Glory But if his days are determined to end now prepare him for leaving the World Make him truly sensible of all his Offences and accept of the Death and Passion of thy beloved Son as an Expiation for them Let him sleep in Jesus die in the Lord and rest from his Labours Take away all sad disquieting discouraging perplexing thoughts Quiet compose support his Spirit Inable him to wait in an humble Submission for that peaceable joyfull Repose and Rest which thou hast prepared for thy Servants for his sake who subjected himself to Mortality who died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification and intercedes for us at thy Right-hand the Anchor of our Hope and Foundation of our Happiness in whose Holy Name and Words we further pray unto thee saying Our Father c. How to spend every Day well WAste not your precious Morning hours sluggishly in your Bed Allow your selves so much sleep only as is necessary for your Health Begin the day with God Offer up unto Him who giveth his Beloved sleep and careth for you when you cannot for your self the first of your Thoughts and Affections As soon as you awake lift up a Thankful Heart for your Comfortable Rest and Sleep and Preservation Let not the Continuance and Commonness of the Mercy make it seem less but Encrease your Thankfulness Beg of Him to preserve you from all Evil especially Sin To Protect direct assist and Bless you in all your lawful undertakings and ingage in none wherein you cannot expect it Resolve not to lose or mispend the Day before you which when gone you shall see again no more for ever Think what a Blessed Rest you shall have in the presence of his Angels and of the Happiness and Privilege of being in his Love and under his Protection Let the naked ness of your Body mind you to avoid Sin the Cause of Shame your Rising out of Bed of the general Resurrection at the last Day before the Judge of all the World The light of the Day of the Sun of Righteousness the several parts of your Cloaths of taking unto you the whole Armour of God c. This is the way to keep out vain Thoughts and your selves in a Better frame all the Day which is usually spent well or ill according as we set out in the beginning of it Let your Apparel be Modest Decent according to your Place Condition and Station and not Expensive of Time in putting on not to nourish Pride or occasion Lust It 's not enough to look to our own Thoughts except we beware also of provoking others Affectedness in any thing is Commendable in nothing Night and Morning Devotion keeps the fire of the Altar always alive Enter upon no Business until you have offered up your Morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving Recommend your self and your Affairs unto God by Solemn Prayer and Return him Thanks for his Care of you and goodness unto you the last Night and all your Days And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (b) Mat. 6.6 Call to mind and arm your selves against the Temptations and failings you are liable to by-Reason of your Company Imployment Inclinations and watch over them continually Look for Evils every day and cast all your Cares and Fears upon God Let your Carriage be such all the Day as those that must appear before him at Night In all Difficulties ascend to him for Counsel and Direction in all Troubles for Support in all your Undertakings for a Blessing Be still asking whose am I what do I here am I in my way Is this my last Day or do I look for another Entertain not vain Desires or worldly Lusts but resist reject them Turn and fix your Thoughts upon something that is good frequently lift up your Souls to God in mental Praises and Supplications Make a Covenant with your Eye and Ear the Inlets of Lust and Vanity Set the Lord always before you Do nothing that may Create sorrow at Night or Confusion at the great Day Resolve to spend the day as usefully as possible to God others your self to speak for God and his Glory what ever it cost you not to be terrified from or ashamed of him or his Service so as the Testimony of a good Conscience may be ground of your Rejoycing Your Heavenly work is to run a Race to fight a good fight to strive and wrestle which cannot be done without giving all Diligence Care and Watchfulness Follow your Earthly Imployment though Difficult with Chearfulness and a Heavenly Mind Be Industrious in your Business and Honest in your Dealings Take no Advantage of any oversight work not upon the Ignorance Unskilfulness Weakness or Necessity of others Do as you would have done to your selves or yours It 's better to suffer wrong than do it Use not many words and those understood by the Contractor All the Business of a Bargain is summed up in a few He that speaks least usually means fairest and He that deceives by speaking what is true in a sence not intended or understood by the other is a Liar and a Thief Avoid not only what is false but that also which deceives all Equivocating Intricate Crafty speeches speak the sence of your Mind a Bargain may be as unmerciful as a Robbery God still takes the weakest part and
am and have unto thee to be sanctified guided saved disposed of by thee Beseeching thee to make me willing and obedient patient and contented humble and submissive chearfull and believing stedfast and unmoveable in thy Service unto the End Let me approve my self actually reconciled unto thee by my Hatred of my Enmity with Sin which made the first Separation between thee and us and for which thy Son was made a Sacrifice and be afraid of offending thee not only because thou hast Power to punish but because of thy Love wherewith thou hast loved me And the Conditions of our Peace which are so reasonable so comfortable that we repent of and forsake our Crimes Receive thy Son as our Mediatour serve thee which are such desirable Priviledges our Happiness as well as our Duty O make good the gracious Promises of the Covenant unto me that thou wilt be my God forgive my Sins give me a new Heart sanctifie my Nature put thy fear within me that I shall never depart from thee that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me O free me from the listlesness and backwardness of my Will to give up my self wholly unto thee who so willingly gavest thy Son an offering for my Sins Let this Love make us more and more affectionate in our Attendance upon thee to approach thee with Alacrity and Delight that wa' st so solicitous and at so much Cost to be at Peace with us to combine all our Thoughts and Affections together to serve thee who hast done so much to reduce us honourably and successfully unto thy ever blessed self With great Thankfulness let me accept of the smartest Dispensation and be contented in every Condition now I am reconciled Meekly enduring the Chastisements of a Father since they are all for my Profit since I am not like to feel his Stroaks as a Judge Blessed is he whose Iniquities are pardoned unto whom the Lord imputeth not Sin Let me never more harbour any hard thoughts of thee after so signal a Discovery of thy self in thy Son If so willing and desirous to make Reconciliation by his Blood for our Sins when they lay before thee in their crimson Aggravations much more on a particular fall that we are truly humbled for How can we refuse Peace so tenderly and importunately offered by Thee who shuts out none that shut not out themselves Art more willing to receive us into favour to embrace us than we to go to thee to receive thee Extend thy Mercy O Father of Mercies to all Mankind Give Repentance unto Sinners increase of Grace and Strength to all thy Servants reduce those that are out of the way raise up those that are fallen confirm and strengthen those that stand relieve and comfort all that are in distress pity the Follies the Degeneracies of Mankind deliver them from their Sins and from their Miseries Hear the daily Prayers and Groans of thy Holy Catholick Church and every Member of the same enlighten those that are out of it with the Knowledge of thy Truth make us in these three Nations a Holy People a Habitation of Righteousness a Place where thy Honour dwells Reward and Recompence all our Friends grant Forgiveness and Charity to all our Enemies continue good Will among our Neighbours support the Sick in Faith and Patience be with those who are leaving the World fit them and us for a better receive the Souls which thou hast redeemed with thy Son 's most precious Blood to whom with thy blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen A Prayer after the Sacrament ALL possible Praise and Thanks be given unto thee most gracious God and mercifull Father for all the Instances of thy Goodness unto me for my Health Peace Safety Food and Rayment the Society Kindness and love of Friends Success of my Labours and good Endeavours after the things of this life and a better for all the Blessings I have enjoy'd for preserving me from those Evils I have deserved and escaped for the means of Grace the Assistances of thy Holy Spirit any Inclinations towards thee any care to please thee any fear of offending thee for the Fountain and Foundation of them all the Lord Jesus Christ for thy wonderfull Love in sending him to save us from Sin and Misery to reveal and lead us to Eternal Happiness and for giving me this Day the Pledges and Assurances of the same My highest Praises fall infinitely short of thy most Excellent Majesty and I am ashamed of the most affectionate Thanks I can render unto thee for those inestimable Benefits thou hast conferr'd upon me and so long continued unto me How much Cause then have I to be abased for my shamefull Disobedience forgetfulness of thee and Ingratitude to thee to whom I owe all I have in this World or hope for in the next I humbly implore thy tender Mercies in the forgiveness of all my sins for his sake who hath born the Burden of them and satisfied thy Justice for them Let me have such a lively sence of thy marvellous love and of my Redeemer's sufferings always possessing my Soul as may oblige me for ever unto thee Constrain me to love thee to obey thee to trust in thee to be always content with the Portion thy Wisdom and Love allots unto me and to rejoyce in the midst of all the Troubles of this Life now thou hast given me the Earnest the Pledges of my Eternal Salvation Preserve in me a constant sence of the great value of my Soul for which he hath paid so dear and a great Esteem of that Purity and Holiness for the restoring of which he was obedient to the Death of the Cross Let the same mind be in me that was in Christ Let that Lowliness and Humility Tenderness and Compassion Love and Meekness Heavenly-mindedness and Submission Holiness and Delight to do thy Will Patience and Forgiveness that shone in his Life and Sufferings appear also in mine That living in the Imitation of his Holy Example I may be made partaker of the Benefits of his Death and Passion his gracious undertakings for me Let me live in the daily Thoughts and Praise of his exceeding love Let it be the Care and Business of my life to serve please and enjoy thee for ever Let many be daily brought in to understand and partake of this great Salvation purchased by our Redeemer let him be made known and faithfully obey'd all the World over Enlarge reform unite thy Church more especially in these three Nations let every Member of it be sanctified supported and saved by thee Let all of us that have waited upon thee this Day at this solemn Ordinance be pardoned and accepted in the beloved be mindfull of the Vows and Engagements that are upon us Let us love one another as Christ hath loved us and given himself for us and live as thy Redeemed ones that have tasted how good the Lord is and
more Comfort than all the Mirth and Jollity of the Earth A Holy Life give more satisfaction than all the licentious Humours of this Jovial Age. When God shall give Relaxation and Rest to his troubled Saints When all their Burthens of Persecution Temptation and Sin shall be removed All their bodily Diseases and Infirmities end in perfect Vigour Agility Spirituality Incorruption and Glory All their Ignorances in a perfect Intuition and Vision of God All their Troubles of Conscience in perfect Peace All their Distempers of Sin in perfect Subjection to the Will of God All their exorbitant Affections in a regular and harmonious Motion towards the Supream good All their Distractions and deadness in Duty in a vigorous Activity and uninterrupted Exercise of Grace All Church-Divisions in perfect Union and Communion of Saints When they shall have no misgiving Thoughts no remaining Depravity in their Nature or new contracted Guilt to eclipse the Face of God or deject theirs and make their Countenance fall before him Nothing taken from them but their Prison their Chain their Clog their Shame their Sting their Poyson their Burden their Misery The Consideration of Judgment to come is enough sure to perswade us to a strict and diligent Care of our Lives and Actions to cast a damp upon all youthfull Dalliances and Solaces to check them in their eager pursuit of their most delicious Pleasures (y) Ec. 11.9 To make the Judge upon the Bench tremble at a few words of a Prisoner at the Bar (z) Act. 24.25 The Drunkard to let fall his Cups and the Busie Worldling to stand at gaze the Prophane Atheist to hide his Head and the sleepy Sot to start up into Anxious Wonder to hush the loud Companions into Silence and the merry Droll into a carefull Look No Sinner knows how soon he may be reduc'd to the very last opportunity of making his peace with God and brought into those straits that no wise considerate man would be in for all the World Into such a Condition as to have nothing to save him from perishing but a sudden Repentance to have but this Plank left which is a Thousand to one whether ever it will bring him safe to shore Now he apprehends himself in danger he is infinitely troubled for his neglecting Preparation for that which he could not for his life but believe would come He thinks and it 's to be fear'd very right it 's somewhat too late to set about it to little purpose to gird up his Loins when he can do no Service to light his Lamp when all his Oil is spent He 's afraid he shall have no time to do any thing considerable in this work that God will not accept of any thing he doth at such a time he vainly wishes for some of those Hours he was sick of hung upon his Hand he foolishly wasted and mis spent and nothing hinders him now from setting about the Work with all his Might but that â—â—e hath neglected it so long and that it 's â—ow too late But is it not better to preâ—ent the occasion of it To take away the ground of such vain Wishes such sad Complaints Why should we not resolvedly do that now which so many when they come to die heartily wish they had done The Foundation of our Peace and Comfort at Death must be laid in our youth and health living in a continual Expectation and Preparation for it doing all things in order to it getting a stock of habitual Grace and keeping our Souls in a vigorous vigilant Posture Let your loins be girded about and your lights Burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately Blessed are those Servants Luke 12.35 36 37. whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching A Prayer for a Comfortable Death To be added to our daily Devotions ALmighty Creator and most mercifull Redeemer who hast made me as the Clay and wilt bring me to Dust again Have Mercy upon me now and at the Hour of my Death By a Holy Conversation and habitual Performance of my Duty let me be always ready for it Let it not be unprovided or untimely having in it nothing extraordinary but an extraordinary Piety and the Manifestation of a great and miraculous Mercy Hide thy Face from my Sins and blot out all mine Iniquities Let me pass through the Valley of the shadow of Death with safety and a well-grounded Peace a meek and quiet Spirit and a Sence of thy Love and Mercy let me then fear no Evil because thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comforts me when my Flesh and my Heart faileth me be thou the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Give me a right use of â—â—y Sences and Understanding an unâ—â—gned Repentance a strong Faith and â—â—tience a firm Hope a sincere Love 〈◊〉 thee and all the World Be thou â—â—e Portion of all my Relations and â—â—iends and our exceeding great Reâ—â—rd When our Earthly House of this â—â—bernacle is dissolved let 's have a Builâ—â—g of God an House not made with â—â—nds Eternal in the Heavens while â—â—ive let me live unto thee when I 〈◊〉 let me die unto thee living or dyâ—â—â— let me be thine through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord. Amen Another O Judge of all the World and Father of Mercies In all Humility I â—strate my self before thee O Reâ—â—mber not against me the Sins of my â—â—th nor of my riper Years but acâ—â—â—ding to the Multitude of thy tender â—â—â—cies blot out all my Transgressions 〈◊〉 me not in a short life create to my 〈◊〉 Horror Amazement and Eternal Torment but be every day doing that which will be matter of Triumph and Rejoycing when I come to die All the days of my appointed Time let mâ— wait till my Change come Preservâ— me in thy Faith Fear and Love to my Life's End Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirâ—â— from me Deliver me whom thou haâ— redeemed with thy most precious Blood from the Power and guilt of Sin from offending thee or others by an impatâ—â—ent uneasie Spirit from the Assaults 〈◊〉 Satan from an immoderate Fear 〈◊〉 Death from Eternal Damnation Thâ—â— when I have served thee in my Generâ—tion I may have an abundant Entranâ—â— into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savâ— our Jesus Christ to whom with thâ— Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be a Glory Honour and Praise now and eveâ— more Amen Another O Thou that art the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation receive and keep me in thy Favour in the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Faith and Peace and in Righteousness of Life Make me always sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of my Life and of the suddainness and certainty of that Day when thou wilt bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether
it be Good or whether it be Evil. Lead me in thy way sanctifie and support me by thy Holy Spirit now and all my Days Bind up my Soul in the Bundle of Life Redeem me from Sin and Death and the Power of the Grave and bring me to thine everlasting Kingdom Let not any Neglect Temptation Pain or Passion discompose my Thoughts or Duty or hinder me from a well-grounded Confidence in thee Let neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord who hath taught me when I pray to say Our Father c. FINIS ERRATA PAge 75. line 12. for our read your P. 85. l. 1. for hnd r. and. The CONTENTS OF the Scriptures Pag. 1 Of God Pag. 4 Of the Trinity Pag. 6 Of Creation Pag. 7 Of Providence Pag. 8 Of the Angels Pag. 9 Of Man by Creation Pag. 11 Of the Fall of Man Pag. 15 Of Man's Recovery Pag. 16 Of the Sacraments Pag. 19 Of Baptism Pag. 19 Of the Lord's Supper Pag. 173 Of the Creed Pag. 21 Of the Ten Commandments Pag. 28 Of the Lord's Prayer Pag. 35 Husbands and Wives Mutual Duties Pag. 46 Their Prayer Pag. 51 Husbands Duties Pag. 54 Their Prayer Pag. 56 Wives Duties Pag. 59 Their Prayer Pag. 60 Prayer for safe Child-bearing Pag. 62 Thanksgiving after Deliverance Pag. 64 Parents Duties Pag. 65 Their Prayer Pag. 71 Childrens Duties Pag. 74 Their Prayer Pag. 76 Masters Duties Pag. 78 Their Morning and Evening Prayer with their Families Pag. 81 Servants Duties Pag. 88 Their Prayer Pag. 91 Duties of the Aged Pag. 94 Their Prayer Pag. 96 Duties of the Young Pag. 99 Their Prayer Pag. 105 Duties of the Rich. Pag. 109 Their Prayer Pag. 115 Duties of the Poor Pag. 118 Their Prayer Pag. 122 Duties of the Sick Pag. 126 Support for the Sick Pag. 131 Prayers for the Sick Pag. 136 How to spend every Day well Pag. 143 Morning Prayer Pag. 152 Evening Prayer Pag. 154 Grace before and after Meat Pag. 157 How to spend the Lord's Day Pag. 158 Morning Prayer for the Lord's Day Pag. 162 Evening Prayer for the Lord's Day Pag. 166 Directions as to Prayer Pag. 169 Direction as to Reading and Hearing the Word Pag. 171 Directions as to the Lord's Supper Pag. 173 Duties Before At and After Receiving Pag. 174 A Prayer Before or At Receiving Pag. 177 Meditations and Prayers before we receive the Bread Pag. 180 When we receive the Bread Pag. 182 When we receive the Cup. Pag. 184 A Prayer after receiving Pag. 190 How to prepare for a comfortable Death Pag. 193 Prayers for a comfortable Death to be added to our daily Devotions Pag. 216 Some Books Printed for and Sold by W. 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