Duties I have formerly neglected and imitate Holy Men and Women in their virtuous practises Es. 58. 6 7. Matth. 6. 17 18. 1 Cor. 7. 5. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Consc. Wherein doth the Conscientious use of the Holy Sacraments consist Christ. In entertaining right and sutable notions of the nature of these Sacraments and using them to those ends and purposes for which they are designed Matth. 6. 22. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Consc. What Notions must thou entertain about these Sacraments Christ. 1. That these Sacraments are in the nature of solemn Vows and Protestations that I will be faithful to God in Christ Jesus by the assistance of the Holy Ghost or in the nature of Covenants where God and Man do mutually engage themselves one to another or in the nature of outward visible signs whereby some Spiritual thing is represented Rom. 4. 12. Exod. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 20. 21. 2. That these Sacraments are ordained and instituted by the Son of God my Saviour and that Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are all the Sacraments that are either given by Christ to the Church or need to be receiv'd by the Church of Christ Matth. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 3. That Baptism is a significant Ceremony whereby Children Men and Women are washed with Water which washing imports Gods pardon of our sins and our Duty to keep our selves pure from Sin for the future God promising the one and we the other 1 Pet. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 6. 11. 4. That though Children can make no such promises yet it 's fit they should be Baptiz'd because they are part of the Nations which Christ would have Baptiz'd and are Disciples and in the Covenant of Grace and it 's enough that other persons promise for them as their Guardians which promise they are bound to perform when they come to be of age Acts 2. 38 39. 5. That coming to the Lords Supper is the strongest engagement to a Holy Life because I do there personally freely and solemnly remember the death of Christ and that my sins caused his death and do protest to allow my self no longer in them but to imitate Christ Jesus in his Meekness Patience Humility Charity and Goodness 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Consc. How must these Sacraments be used in order to thy present and everlasting Comfort Christ. 1. As to Baptism I must be baptized but once because that initiates and admits me into the fellowship of Christians and gives me a Right and Title to the use of the means of Grace and this need to be done but once All that is to be done after this is to keep a good Conscience towards God and towards Man in the use of those means according to the promise made for me when I was washed with water Eph. 4. 5. 2. As to the Supper of the Lord that requires my frequent coming because I stand in need of frequent renewing not only of my Repentance and love to God and Charity to my Neighbours but of the motives and enforcives to these Graces whereof the remembrance of the love of God in the death of Christ is the greatest and most remarkable 1 Cor. 11. 26. The FIRE of the ALTAR OR DIRECTIONS Concerning the worthy Receiving OF THE LORDS SUPPER Conscience IS it not fit O my Soul thou shouldest pause a little on thy Redeemers death before thou goest to remember it with the Congregation there are those charms in that Death which if rightly viewed will be invincible motives to thee to die to a sinful Life and to embrace the Holy Life of Jesus Shouldst not thou Think Shouldst not thou Cry O that I had wings like a Dove that I might fly away to Golgotha and behold the dreadful spectacle of God crucified for the sins of the children of men A mighty mystery this To the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness What all the Jewish Rabbins could not see what the greatest Heathen Sages could not find out that hath God revealed O God! thy Ways are not as our Ways nor are thy Thoughts as our Thoughts We entertain mean apprehensions of Thee such as our narrow understandings yield but thou lovest to do all things contrary to the measures we poor mortals take This hath been thy method ever since thou hast thought fit to plant a Church in the world Thou didst send Lot into Sodom and contrary to Mens imagination didst preserve him from the infection of that beastly crew In the midst of an idolatrous Countrey thou didst bid Elijah stand up and declare thy Name to the besotted Israelites a place where to own the true God was fatal and to make mention of thy worship Heresie where to profess thy Faith was counted madness and not to imitate the Luxury of the age a crime unpardonable among the wicked Men of Anat hoth thou didst separate Jeremiah for the Prophetick Office and in the land of Vz crouded with Pagans and Infidels gavest Job a heart to fear thy Providence Out of Vz the Metropolis of Chaldean Superstition thou didst call the Beloved Abraham and vouchsafedst to him the knowledge of thy Will in a crooked and perverse Generation Thou didst fill the bashful Moses with courage to talk to Kings and a timorous Aaron by thy Order can controul Atheists and Idolaters Thou lovest to create a World out of nothing and to call things that are out of those which do not appear Thou lovest to do things which to us seem impossibilities and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom lovest to produce most pleasant Fruit When calamities are become dangerous and past remedy thou lovest to shew thy healing hand and when no probabilities of help appear declarest thy Power and Glory Thou lovest to bring forth Grapes from Thorns and Figs from Thistles and out of a barren soil or cursed ground many times lettest the richest Spices grow When all mankind lay in darkness and was covered with the shadow of death When Divels plaid about them and the furies of the burning Lake laid hold of them When the fiery Dragon was ready to devour them and the old Serpent going to swallow up their Souls Behold thy Son appears from Heaven frights the powers of darkness and all immediately disappear Ah! My dearest Jesu Meekest of Kings and fairer then all the children of men I behold thee Reigning and hanging on the Cross Reigning for in despight of all the reproaches of of thine enemies thou wast still the everlasting King and Saints and Angels bowed to thee When thy Body was torn bruised and wounded on the Tree Their reproaches could not dethrone thee their virulent Tongues could not make thee less then thou wert These impotent wretches might bark at the Sun but could not ecclipse its Glory Thou couldst have destroyed their Tongues but wouldst not and it was a Royal act not to punish them when thou hadst the greatest provocations O my Lord I see thee blotting out the Hand-writing which was against me How red were
Priest for ever Do I believe this and scruple fighting the good fight Do I believe this and am I afraid of the worlds frowns Do I believe this and am I ashamed of the severities thou callest me to Why should I mistrust thee when I see thee use the same mortifications thou biddest me chuse If a Soldier see his King use the same Pains Habit and hard fare which the meanest man in the Army uses what courage doth it infuse into him to endure hardship and other difficulties that may attend the various enterprizes he is engaged in O my Lord That very contempt of the World that Meekness and Humility that severity of Life that aversion from sensual Pleasures that enmity to Sin that hatred of Vanity that indignation against brutish Delights that Sincerity that Simplicity thou requirest of me thou didst observe and practice and perform thy self so that thou layst the same burthen on my Shoulders that lay on thine and if I die with thee I shall live with thee too if I suffer with thee I shall reign with thee Oh then I will not tarry I will make haste and conform to thine example I shall not fare worse then my King and Master did and as I have born the Image of the Earthy so I shall bear the Image of the Heavenly too I will walk as my Jesus walked O my Lord Make me Holy as thou art Holy Perfect as my Father which is in Heaven is Perfect O my Lord there is no other way to Glory but by thee Thou being exceeding rich becamest poor to enrich my Soul Thou camest not to do thine own Will but the Will of him that sent thee Put thine Arms under me and I will not do mine own Will I will follow thee through Fire and Water I will follow thee through Bryars and Thorns through good Report and evil Report O chace away all slavish fear from my Soul Let me not be afraid of difficulties What can be difficult where thou art both the guide and the encourager Thou canst not deceive me Thou canst not delude me It must be so as thou hast said All things are possible to him that believes I 'll chuse some hardship here so I may rest in thy bosom hereafter I 'll be content to pass through a dirty way for some time that I may lye down in the green pastures of thy Mercy for ever The sight of thy Cross in the Holy Sacrament shall be my motive I 'll draw Arguments from that Remembrance of thy death to die to the world I will travel with thee I will sail through the boisterous Sea of this Life with thee And O my Jesus let me arrive safe at last in the Everlasting Harbour Amen Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the Lords Supper to be said either at Church or at home ANd now what Reward shall I render unto Thee O Holy Blessed and incomprehensible Trinity for all the benefits I have receiv'd at thy hands this day Awake up my Glory Awake my outward and inward Man I will Sing and give praise Whence is it that so poor a wretch as I am is crowned with all this Mercy and loving Kindness O my Soul thou hast been water'd this day with the streams that flow from the Paradise of God! I that was worthy of Gods hatred how have I this day been advanced What great things hath God done for me What Honour hath he laid upon me What Majesty What Glory hath he conferr'd upon me I feel the Fire of God within me My Heart grows hot within me I will Sing and give Praise Who would not praise thee that hath seen thy goings in the Sanctuary as I have seen them this day Holy Father thou hast this day embraced me Holy Jesus thou hast this day poured out Blessings upon me Holy Spirit thou hast this day manifested thy self unto me Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Thou hast humbled thy self this day to a dead Dog O how often have I returned to the vomit How often have I gone a whoring from thee Yet behold the Lord instead of the Bread of affliction hath given me the Bread which came down from Heaven instead of the cup of Trembling hath given me the cup of Salvation I will remember thy Name O Lord I will speak of thy wondrous works O my Lord I see thy hand is not shortned neither is thy strength abated Thou that hadst mercy on the vilest sinners formerly extendest thy goodness to such miserable creatures still I have drawn Water this day from the Well of Salvation even from thy wounds O crucified Redeemer Thou hast look'd upon this Prodigal this day thou hast run and fall'n on my Neck and kissed my polluted Soul Oh Honour Oh Dignity Oh Compassion Oh Charity Oh Love Oh Mercy Oh Goodness which the Redeemed of the Lord must speak of Even they whom he hath Redeemed from the hand of the Enemy and gathered them out of the Lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South they wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Soul fainted in them then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he deliver'd them out of their distresses and he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a City of Habitation O that Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men Open to me the Gates of Righteousness I will go into them and I will praise the Lord. This is the Gate of the Lord into which the Righteous shall enter I will praise Thee for thou hast heard me and art become my Salvation The Stone which the Builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes If I forget Thee O my Jesus let my Tongue cleave to the roof of my Mouth Thou hast regarded my Tears thou hast taken notice of my Supplication Thou hast given me my Hearts desire thou hast not withheld from me the requests of my Lips Thou hast given me leave to come to thine Altar this day and to lift up mine hands towards thy Holy Oracle Thou hast fed my Soul this day with Royal Dainties with Peace and Pardon with a right to thy Promises and offers of Eternal Life with assistances of thy Holy Spirit and the Riches of Grace and Mercy This is the Food which the Holy Bread and Wine have represented to me this Day and with this Food thou hast blessed my Soul In this Food will I glory of this will I make my boast This is Food for Immortal Spirits This preserves Souls through the power of God unto Salvation This is bread which fades not away this is Wine which may be had without Money and without Price O my God! thou requirest no Price but a wounded Heart No Gold no Silver no Jewel but
the Characters How bloody were the Lines yet thy Blood makes them as white as snow O my Lord I hear thy words sharper then any two edged Sword and piercing to the dividing asunder of the Bones and Marrow I hear thy complaints I mean which broke the Rocks and shook the Earth and shall not my heart be moved at them For Thee the Son of God to cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Who can hear this Who can think of it and not stand confounded For Omnipotence to sink thus For infinite Perfection to faint thus For him that sate on the circle of the Earth and before whom all Nations were as Grashoppers for him thus to Swound thus to Weep thus to Mourn What could be the reason Oh thou Prince of Peace For the iniquity of thy People thou vast struck for the sins of the World thou didst suffer banishment and wast used as if thou hadst not been anointed with Oyl or been guilty of the crimes thy foes accused thee of The snares of death did encompass thee thy friends forsook thee and thy heritage like a Lion out of the Wood did roar against thee O my Bowels be ye troubled at this remembrance O my flinty Heart canst thou see thy Lord as it were crucified before thine eyes and not break out into floods of Tears O Jesu Thou cryest to thy Father and he hears thee not He seems to be cruel to his Son and deaf to thy lamentations The windows of Heaven seem to be shut and a vail to be drawn over all the Joys and Comforts and Consolations that formerly water'd and enrich'd thy Soul See how dry and barren and burnt up this precious Soil appears No showers from above come down no Sun shines upon it the Stars of Heaven with-hold their influence and scarce an Angel will stir to thy assistance O Thou who art all Glorious within and art thy self the Glory of the Universe Were my Sins laid in a ballance they would weigh heavier then the Sand on the Sea-shore and then what need I wonder that thou cryest so loud under the heavy load for the arrows of the Lord stick in thee and his hand presses thee sore O Blessed Nazarite whiter then Snow brighter then the Sky purer then the Sun How is thy Face disfigured with Grief How do thine Eyes languish How dismal dost thou appear Is this the Face that was the perfection of Beauty Is this the Face that was once the desire of all Nations Is this the Face which so many Prophets and Righteous Men have desired to see Is this the Face that Abraham long'd to behold and the Patriarchs were ambitious to have a view of Is this the Face admired by Angels and dreaded by Divels What is thy Beloved more then another Beloved O thou fairest among Women Is this the mighty Bridegroom of the Church who was once transfigured on the Holy Mount and his Face did shine as the Sun and his raiment became white as the light Is this he whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows whose garments smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia and cast such a scent that the Daughter of Tyre came with a Gift and the rich among the People entreated his favour How is he alter'd How is his Countenance chang'd How is the Gold become dim and the fine Gold changed Yet still thou art lovely to a Soul that sees farther then the outside Still thou art a Cordial to fainting Spirits Still thou art a fountain of living waters Still thou art the Joy of the whole Earth the Light of Heaven and the Song of Sion My thoughts O Lord shall follow thee to the Cross. Methinks I see how thou art going to die thou lookest back on thine Enemies and notwithstanding all their Affronts offerest them Mercy O incomprehensible Goodness Even then when thou art lifted up to the infamous Tree Thou drawest and invitest all Men to thee Thou Preachest on the Cross and thy very wounds are Sermons to the Children of Men and thy Blood trickling down is an exhortation to Repentance Surely it is good for me to adhere unto thee and to count it death to be separated from thee O whether shall I go but to thee who hast words of Eternal Life Thou art my Sun by Thee I shall be enlighten'd by Thee my Soul shall be warm'd O how comfortable are thy beams What a progress must that Soul make on which thou shinest and dartest thy Glorious Rays Thou art that lofty Cedar whose boughs over-spread the Believing World Under the shadow of that Tree will I rest It is for the healing of the Nations I will be glad in the Lord and rejoyce in my bleeding Jesus While the World despises thee I will honour thee While Great Men pass by and regard thee not I that am poor and needy will wait to be refreshed by thee Go ye fools be enamoured with your Trifles admire your Butterflies doat on your sensual Pleasures Here is one that looks charming in his Tears lovely in his Blood amiable in his Wounds and is more beautiful in the midst of all his distresses then the brightest Virgins Face adorned with all the glittering Treasures of the East O my Strength by Thee I desire to be comforted and supported O anoint my Eyes with thy Sovereign Eye-salve and I shall see and live O that the Clouds which dwell on my Understanding were dispersed that I might look upon thee sredfastly Oh! then thou wouldst appear more lovely to me on the Cross then Croesus in his Throne or Solomon in all his Glory God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ. In this lie hid vast treasures of Sweetness O my Jesus make me conformable to thy death and give me leave to carry thy marks in my Body Let me be crucified with thee and let Christ for ever live in me Canst thou live in a Soul that hath abused thy Mercy slighted thy Patience and so often baffled the stratagems of thy Compassion I believe Lord O help mine unbelief Thou camest to call not the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Oh! then my Husband will love me my Redeemer will come and live with me for my repentings are kindled I hate the sins that have defiled my Soul Away ye Swine Here are no Divels to enter in I am to receive my Bridegroom into my Heart Come Lord Jesu Come quickly Thou art the welcomest Guest I know How happy shall I be if thou wilt lodge in this earthly Tabernacle Happier then if all the Angels of Heaven took up their Habitation here O ye besotted Jews what makes you run so fast to kill the Lord of Life ye cannot live without him and what evil spirit doth possess you to kill and murther him Can you think of his miracles and do so Can you reflect upon his Doctrine and attempt such villanies Can you remember how he taught you in the Temple even
Thanksgivings and paying my humble Vows to thy Divine Majesty and calling upon thee in the day of trouble O my God! my Soul fainteth for thee when shall I come to appear before thee My Soul is cast down within me When wilt thou comfort me I long for thy Salvation I hunger and thirst after Righteousness I see Beauty and splendor and excellency in it and would fain be cloathed with that Ornament Thou deservest my strongest desires my most vigorous Breathings my most lively Pantings after thee not to long after thee is to be a stranger to real Bliss not to follow hard after thee is to be ignorant of thy Riches and the plenty of thy House But what do I talk of desires of a single Heart would to God that all Mankind might offer unto thee their reasonable service thou deservest it and deservest all the love of Angels too But thou desirest nothing so much as the Hearts of the Children of Men The Angels are happy already only Mankind lies ingulfed in misery and so great is thy Charity that having taken their Nature upon thee thou wouldst willingly make them equal with Angels Great Darling of the Holy Trinity What haste dost thou make to dye How dost thou run to redeem the Sons of Men Nothing can hold thee nothing can restrain thee not thine own Greatness not thy Majesty not thy being the Son of God not love to thine own preservation Thou didst love me better then thy self How didst thou fly to my deliverance How dost thou leap in to prevent my hurt No Divels can fright thee no danger terrify thee no pain discourage thee no anguish make thee afraid Thou longest till the great Work be done The other Malefactors that are crucified with thee What honour had these wretches and yet were not sensible of it One at last opens his Eyes and sees it and stands amazed these held out longer on the Gibbet but thou bidst Death come away and seize thy Life It 's a pleasure to thee to die Oh surprizing Mercy Other Men seek to escape Death as long as they can they run away from the sight of the Monster if they do but see the shadow of it they tremble and to them Death is truly a King of Terrors Thou goest out to meet it as that which must put an end to thy sufferings and my misery It 's death to thee not to die Thou chidest it for staying Tâ—â—â— hast a Baptism to be Baptized with and Oh what wouldst thou that it were accomplish'd Ah! My Lord I see thy dying Lips from which dropt Speeches sweeter then Honey and the Honey-comb Death is going to close them up yet O vouchsafe me a look that may refresh my Soul And now the Glory is departed from Israel The Saviour of the World gives up the Ghost O let me die with thee O draw me after thee and I shall live I wonder not that the Graves open at thy death and the Rocks rend and the Sun hides his Face but I wonder the whole Earth did not dissolve and nature it self did not run into its primitive chaos and confusion O my crucified Master How ill art thou rewarded for thy kindness Thou wert Eyes to the blind and Feet to the lame Thou wert a Father to the Poor and a Staff to the Aged Thou didst cause the Widows Heart to sing for joy Thou didst deliver the Poor that cryed the Fatherless and him that had no helper Unto thee Men gave ear and waited and kept silence at thy Counsel after thy words they spake not again and thy Speech dropt upon them the naked deck'd themselves with the Wooll of thy Sheep and thy Door was open to the weary Traveller But now they that are younger then thou have thee in derision and they that were Children of Fools Children of base Men Men viler then the Earth gape upon thee Thou art their Song and art become their By-word They abhorr thee and flee far from thee and spare not to spit in thy Face They marr thy Path they set forward thy Calamity Terrours are turned upon thee they pursue thy Soul as the Wind and thy welfare passes away as a Cloud O infinite Patience Yet these Sinners are offered Salvation by him whom they abused thus Salvation What do I hear O then there is hopes for me for I have been one of thy enemies I have mock'd thee by by my Sins I have derided thy sufferings by my contempt of thy Laws I have scorned thee by preferring mine own Will before thine I have spit upon thee by my filthy communications I have abused thee by sheltring my Sins under thy Cross I have dishonoured thee by my Life disgraced thee by my carelesness buffeted thee by my impatience affronted thee by my pride made light of thy Power and Goodness by my mistrust of thy Providence undervalued thy Love by my affection to vanity and yet thou stretchest forth thine arm to lay hold on me art loath to see me perish unwilling to see me undone and proclaimest mercy to a forlorn wretch Blessed news O King of Kings thou cryest It is fulfilled The work is done the vast work of redemption Now thy Fathers anger is broke now the Floodgates of indignation are shut Now Heaven stands open Now thy Fathers bosom is held out to all that thirst after thee Hear this all ye prisoners listen to this message ye guilty Souls Come all that are laden with a sense of sin Open the door Throw off your Chains Run to this Rock Make haste to this Fountain Kiss this Sun Make much of this Light Embrace this Mercy Do ye dispute the thing Do ye question whether ye shall do it or no Is it possible you can stand out Is it possible you can demur upon it Is it possible your Hearts do not turn within you Can you refuse your Cordial neglect the Medicine that must recover you slight the Remedy that must fetch you to life again O Jesu Thou hast done all things well Thou hast made the Blind to see and the Dumb to speak and the Deaf to hear O open thou my Lips and my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise Open thou mine Ears and let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the Morning O open thou mine Eyes and I shall see how Sweet and Gracious thou art O my Life thou diest and dying fulfillest thy Fathers Will for indeed it was fit that one Man should die for the People and that the whole Nation perish not Ah! What would Mankind have done if thou hadst not paid the Ransom Whether must they have fled for refuge if thou hadst not given thy self a Sacrifice They must have wandred about in Caves and Dens destitute tormented afflicted disconsolate lived in perpetual fear of death and the dreadful consequences of it Death must have been for ever a King of terrours to them if they had but look'd upon that Hell that death would have open'd into How could they
Heart is Sacrifice which he that was broke upon the account of thy sins will not despise Nay he will comfort the humble Soul and the contrite Spirit he will pour Wine and Oyl into its wounds supple it with Balm heal it with his Death and make it whole by his Agonies See here O my Soul the Bread which is broke is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ see how many broken pieces are here which all make but one Loaf So thou and thy fellow-Believers make one mystical Body whereof the Crucified Jesus is Head and Governour who influences the Body by his Spirit and from his fulness dispences Grace for Grace Rejoyce O my Soul For now the waves and billows of Gods wrath are laid The storm of vengeance is husht The thunder is gone The clouds cleer up thy broken Saviour hath turn'd the sound of the Trumpet of War into a still small Voice O break with him no more O preserve that friendship which was so dearly bought A friendship purchased by Blood sure must never dye Thou art his Friend O do not become his Enemy again for fear he be never friends with thee again On the pouring out of the Holy Wine THus O my Soul thus flow'd the precious Blood of the tormented Jesus In such streams it issued from his wounded Body Thus was the costly Juyce let out Thus the rich Veins emptied themselves of their Treasure and all that thou mightst mayst be clean And O Jerusalem wilt not thou be clean When shall it once be When God makes use of his own Blood to purify thee O my Soul Wilt thou wallow still in thy Dung and Nastiness This would be inexcusable Arise wash thy self in this Jordan and thy Flesh shall come again like unto the Flesh of a little Child O my Soul had not this Blood been shed there had been no remission of Sins From the shedding of this Blood date thy happiness when God saw this Blood the tide turned and thy offended Father looked on thee with a merciful Face How sweet is this Blood it nourishes into Eternal Life How high the value of it it redeemed a whole World How wholsom it expels all Sicknesses What pity was it that the least drop of it should fall upon the ground It was fit to be receiv'd by the hands of Angels But the Earth on which sinful Men walk'd was defiled and cursed and therefore it must fall upon it to take away the Curse Man's Sin had made it subject to O precious Blood Drop drop upon my Soul Let me feel thy Virtue Drive out the Curse Water this barren Ground that hath brought forth Briars and Thorns and let it bring forth pleasant Fruit again 6. When I receive the Holy Bread my Mind must vent it self in some such breathings as these Either O My Lord I do remember with Joy and Grief that thy Body was Crucified for me the meanest of thy Servants I remember it with joy because thy Love is wonderful O how vehement how violent was it to love an Enemy and by that Love to charm me into Obedience I remember it with grief because my Sins were thy Murtherers O my Lord I will stand out against thy offers of Grace no longer Here take my Heart I solemnly resolve to dedicate my Self and all I have to thy Service Or O God! this Sacred Bread puts me in mind how the Lamb of God was offered for me Do I believe this and shall not my Soul make thee her highest and her chiefest good O my God I take thee here not only for my Saviour but for my King and Master too Come Holy Spirit rule my Heart for I will hence forward serve no other Gods but the Great Jehovah alone who loved me and gave himself for me Or O my Jesus My Life My Joy My Comfort Thou diedst that I might live I remember it and adore thy Majesty in misery O make me thine and as this Bread doth mingle with my Substance so let thy Spirit mingle with my Soul that the same Mind may be in me which was also in Christ Jesus Or Look upon this Bread O my Soul it represents the bleeding Body of thy dearest Lord. Bleed O my Heart Give thy self up to him that groaned for thee It 's done O God neither Death nor Life shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. 7. When I receive the Holy Wine my thoughts must still be at work and address themselves to God in Christ Jesus some such way as this Either O Jesu I thankfully remember that thy Blood was spilt for me What am I and what is my Fathers House that thou hast brought me thus far Thou hast loved me better than I have done my self O my Lord give me thy sweet thy tender thy free thy humble Spirit that I may be one with thee and may admire none in heaven but thee and desire nothing on Earth besides thee Or O blessed Balsom of my wounded Heart Welcome thou Sovereign Salve How seasonable is this Medicine I die if thy Blood relieve me not O wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow I have deserved to drink the Cup of Trembling and Astonishment and thou holdest out to me the Cup of Salvation O my Soul remember who it is that is so kind to thee O esteem adore magnifie and love him for ever Or O thou blessed Shepherd of my Soul How ought I to blush when I think of thy Blood which my Sins did spill Thou hast turned my Darkness into Light and my Treason into an Antidote Thou curest me by Contradictions and the Blood my Sins have drawn from thy flesh is become the only refuge I have in the day of Wrath. O look upon thine own Blood and hide me in thy Wounds I know not how to prize thy favour O do thou teach me to do great things for thee to deny my self to take up my Cross and to follow thee Or O my Lord By thy Tears and by thy Blood thou adjurest me this day to imitate thee in thy Graces in thy Meekness in thy Patience in thy Humility in thy Charity in thy Contempt of the World and in thy Heavenlymindedness My heart is fixed O God! my heart is fixed I will Sing and give Praise Thou shalt be my Pattern Here under thy Cross I promise Obedience and Conformity to thy Graces O do thou help me O assist me uphold me with thy free Spirit so shall I teach Transgressors thy Way and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Or Great Bishop of my Soul who hast left the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and art come to seek this straying Sheep Behold Lord the Prodigal is coming home again Thou comest towards me Bleeding Groaning Dying thou comest to receive him that hath forsaken thee to draw him that hath fled from thee to kiss him that did scourge thee to Crown him that did Prick thee to Embrace him that did
the Tree of Life and visited me with his Salvation Here the Words of David may justly be applied My Soul shall joy in thy strength O Lord and in thy Salvation how greatly may I rejoice Thou hast given me my hearts desire and hast not withholden the request of my Lips thou hast prevented me with the Blessings of Goodness thou settest a Crown of Pure Gold on my head I asked life of thee and thou gavest it me even length of days for ever and ever My glory is great in thy Salvation Honour and Majesty hast thou laid upon me for thou hast made me Blessed for ever Thou hast made me exceeding glad with thy countenance Therefore will I trust in the Lord and through the Mercy of the most High I shall not miscarry Thine hand shall find out all my spiritual Enemies thy right hand shall find out all those that hate thee Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength so will we sing and praise thy Power 4. I must go home rejoicing and praising God Praise is comely for the Upright the poor Cripple did so when he was Healed and have not I far greater reason to do so Behold I am healed at this time from mine Infirmity and shall not his Praise be continually in my mouth I must say in my heart My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Salvation I will extol thee O God my King and I will Praise thy Name for ever and ever Every day will I Bless thee and Praise thy Name for ever and ever O all ye that fear the Lord come and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul His Love hath overcome my Corruption his fervent Charity my Coldness his Goodness my Sins and Follies Except the Lord had been on my side now might I say if the Lord had not been on my side when Temptations and Corruptions rose up against me then they had swallow'd me up quick when their Wrath was kindled against me then the Waters had overwhelm'd me the Stream had gone over my Soul Blessed be the Lord who hath not given me over as a Prey unto their Teeth My Soul is escaped as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowlers the Snare is broken and I am escaped My help is in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth 5. Being made whole I must for the future take heed and sin wilfully no more Having wash'd my Feet I must not defile them again I must stand upon my watch and shun those occasions which formerly led me into Sin I must be cautious and afraid of an ill Word as much as of an evil Action and my very Thoughts must be purged from that filth that used to cleave to them I must strangle an evil suggestion in its birth and when I find any motion rising in my mind that looks like Envy or Pride or desire of Vain Glory or greediness after the World I must check it upon its first appearance I must bid an Eternal farewel to Unbelief and mistrust of Gods Providence and shun those sinful compliances with Men which heretofore I was used to be guilty of I must not only watch against grosser Sins and such as Jews and Heathens can avoid but against the secret disorders and errors of my Heart which none sees but God who is over all Blessed for evermore 6. I must frequently compare my Actions and Behaviour with the Vow and Promise and solemn Resolution I have made in the Holy Sacrament whether my Deportment be agreeable to those Engagements Whether I stand in awe of those Vows and Promises and whether they influence my Thoughts and Words and Practices Whether my hatred of Sin increases and my love to Holiness grows steady and unmoveable Whether I check my self upon feeling an inclination or propensity to a sinful act with such Thoughts as these Is this the effect of my late Vow Is this to stand to the Covenant I lately made with God Is it possible I can be so perfidious as to break with God Hath the Cross of Christ so little power with me Shall it not restrain me from such a sin as this Foolish Creature shall a little profit or pleasure tempt me to please the Divel and wrong my immortal Soul I am tied by a solemn promise made in a most solemn place by a promise made to God by a promise Sealed with the Blood of Jesus not to do it and shall I presume to do it or hope for pardon after this presumption I must take notice Whether the Thoughts of Christs death make my passions weak Whether they lessen the heat of them Whether they repress their fierceness Whether they work in me that contempt of the World which was so signal in my dear Lord and Master I must ever and anon look how my Graces thrive Whether no weeds grow among them that are like to choak the wholsome Herbs 7. I must now study Self-denial even in things lawful and that seem to have no harm in them Self-denial in Eating and Drinking in my Cloaths in my Recreations in my Time in my Discourses in my Wit in my Reading in my Profit in my Ease and in my Sleep I must now take heed I do not Eat and Drink to satiety but labour still to rise from my Meals with an Appetite I must now and then humble my Soul with a Religious Fast and many times forbear eating of that Dish I have most mind to to bring my sensual Desires into order I must not imitate every vain fashion I see other people use but must be very modest and decent in my garb and having means and opportunities to buy me better reserve that Money I would have laid out upon a richer Suit for Pious uses I must not think every recreation lawful because it 's commonly used by Men who are none of the worst I must not encourage the vanity of Men and Women that are in love with Stage-Plays by my example as being things I abjured in my Baptisme but my recreation must be such as may fit me for Spiritual Devotions I must not spend my time as some luxurious and idle People do in needless and complemental Visits in playing at Cards and Dice but in Words and Actions and Discourses as may be useful and profitable either to the Souls or Bodies of my Family and my Neighbours I must not censure or judge my Neighbour rashly in my Speeches and Discourses and not be easily drawn to give a Verdict or Judgment of People except it be in their Praise and Commendation if they do deserve it I must not give my self too great liberty in jesting but forbear blurting out a witty Saying if it be smutty or abusive of my neighbours Credit and Reputation I must not give my self to reading of Romances and such Books as serve to render the Mind vain and the Affections loose and regardless of Spiritual things I must express my gratitude to God
thee that thou hast kept me from so many opportunities of sinning against thee from abundance of temptations from innumerable occasions of evil How many have been snatcht away by sudden death and I am alive yet How many have been denyed the grace of Repentance which thou still offerest to me That I have a heart to pray and praise thy Name What a mighty token of thy Love is this Let Heaven and Earth praise the Lord Let all the Angels in Heaven praise him Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord praise thou the Lord O my Soul I remember O Lord how when I have gone through the water thou hast been with me when I have passed through the Fire thou hast commanded the Flames not to kindle upon me I remember when for a small moment thou hast hid thy Face from me How with everlasting kindnesses thou hast visited me again O how often hast thou deliver'd me from the nethermost Hell When I have been ready to sink in the mire thou hast pulled me out of the horrible pit cut of the miry Clay and set my feet upon a Rock and establish'd my goings When the snares of death have incompassed me and the pains of Hell laid hold on me thou hast deliver'd my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living what reward shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits How loth hast thou been to behold my ruine How hast thou call'd after me Have mercy on thy self With what convictions hast thou follow'd me What checks of Conscience hast thou given me O my Lord Thou shalt have all the Glory Thou art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour and Majesty and Dominion How precious are thy Mercies How rich thy Loving kindnesses To do so much for dust and ashes for a Worm for a Grashopper for a Creature that hath abused thee and rebell'd against thee O what goodness is this My understanding is not big enough to comprehend it I 'll acknowledge thee for my God I 'll own thee for my Redeemer Thou shalt be my King my Master my Sovereign Lord I will consecrate all my Labours all my Services all I have and all I am to thy Glory O what a favour is forgiveness of Sin which I trust I have received this day Think O my Soul what a bondage thou art deliver'd from Think what slavery thou art freed from Now thou art at liberty now thou mayst serve God chearfully now thou mayst freely go on from Virtue to Virtue This is a day of Thanksgiving this is a day of glad tidings this is a day which ought to be remembred O my Jesus Thou hast this day visited the Earth and watered it Thou hast made it rich with thy showers thy Grace hath dropp'd upon me this day like the Rain on the mowen Grass O order my steps according to thy Word for the future Let me see thee in every Mercy Teach me to admire thee in every Blessing Let nothing seduce my Heart from thee When any afflictions come upon me let me receive them with Thanks and Submission When I stumble do thou support me when I fall do thou raise me when I go astray do thou seek me when I err do thou direct me When I slacken in thy service do thou strengthen me Keep the door of my Senses that no impure thing may enter there Let my Heart be thy Temple Teach me to enquire daily what progress I make in thy way Let thy Word be a lanthorn to my Feet and a Light unto my paths Let no evil company discourage me Let thy Providence direct me to persons that love thy Law and in these excellent ones let all my Delight and Comfort be O my Lord my Life is hid in thee But when thy Glory shall appear I shall be like thee Speak Lord for thy Servant hears Let none of thy Commandements be hence-forward grievous to me Open thy hand and feed my Soul When I am tempted lay no more upon me then I am able to bear Give me courage to strive to enter in at the strait Gate Let me ever look at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Thy Kingdom Lord is not in Meat and Drink but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Give me a taste of it Let Eternity be always in my mind Into thy hands I do commend my Spirit my Body and all the concerns of my Life Let thy Grace come down upon me plentifully Let me not do thy Will negligently Let me live in the thoughts of another life and let those Thoughts encourage me to follow after that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus O hear me O Answer me O pity me O relieve me O come in O succour me thou that art the God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousness all the day long Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say continually Let God be magnified I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God! thou art my Help and my Deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Amen Amen ERRATA PAge 51. l. 24. read liberty p. 169. l. 19 r. Repentance What literal Faults or Mistoppings may occur the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen. Books Printed for and Sold by Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand CLelia An excellent new Romance Parthanissa That most Fam'd Romance Dr. Greys Compleat Horseman and expert Farrier Two Sermons Preach'd at the Cathedral Church in Norwich By B. Rively Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumphatus with the Additions of Dr. More and Dr. Horneck Mr. Glanvil's Lux Orientalis Or the Opinion of the Eastern Sages concerning the Pre-existence of Souls Bishop Rust of Truth and Annotations on both Dr. Horneck's Great Law of Consideration Papismus Regiae potestatis Eversor Paul Festeau's French Grammar Maugers Letters in French and English The Mirror of Fortune The French Rogue Cambridge Jests or Witty Alarms for melancholy Spirits Kerhuel Idea Eloquentiae The Situation of Paradise
but have lived in perpetual horror There could have been no hope of Mercy no probability of Bliss their Souls would have been in Eternal confusion always doubting always afraid always upon the Rack O my Jesus Thou through death hast deliver'd them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject unto bondage Thou hast knock'd off their shackles loosed their Bands freed their Souls set their Spirits at libery I feel the power of thy death My Heart takes courage O let me rise with thee to Eternal life O let me not lie in the mire but set my Feet upon a Rock and establish my goings I have gone astray like a lost Sheep O seek thy servant that I may not forget thy Commandements Thou art the Bread which came down from Heaven and with the Bread in thy Sacred Supper thou offerest me all the benefits of thy death and passion such a Feast hast thou prepared for me such a Table hast thou spread for me my Soul is invited to Sup with the Lamb that was slain What an honour is this What a condescention is it In this Sacrament thou erectest a Banner for me bidst me sit under thy Vine and strenghthen my self with the Fruit that drops from it Were all the Fishes of the Sea and all the Fowls of the Air and all the Beasts of the Field drest for my entertainment it would not be so much as this plain but Heavenly Diet is Tell not me of Belshazzer's Banquet nor of Ahashuerus's Feast nor of the rich mans curious Dishes they are all scraps and Offals to this Entertainment Here my Blessed Redeemer courts my Soul Here he makes love to a miserable Sinner Here he presents me with the Riches of his Merits No African Gold no Eastern Pearls no Indian Stones are to be compared with these Here the Lord of Glory offers to marry me to unite me to him to make an everlasting Covenant with me to be flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones promises to endow me with all his Goods puts a Ring on my Finger and bids me lie in his bosom This is Honour this is Glory this is Preferment which no Royal Courts can give no Solomon can afford no Emperour Grant no Monarch Conferr no King bestow This is the mighty Wedding-Feast at which the blessed Angels wait how should not they be there when their Master is President and Director of the Banquet This puts me in mind of all the admirable things thou hast done for me in this Bread are contracted all the Dainties and Delicacies imaginable O wonderful Love that wast not content to be known to me but art willing to give thy self for Food to me What pains dost thou take to melt my stubborn Heart Thou art willing to live in me Thou art willing to be one with me that I may not warp from thee Thou art willing to be my Meat and Drink not only my King to protect me not only my Father to tender me not only my Master to take care of me not only my Saviour to snatch me out of the burning Lake not only my Mediator to secure me against Heavens vengeance but my Diet too Thou seest my Soul wants Meat proper for her nature Alas the World cannot be that Meat That 's a Heterogeneous thing as well may Angels feed on Hay or Grass as my Soul on things that profit not That which my Soul must feed on must be something Spiritual Thou O Jesu art that Great Spiritual Object my Soul must fix on nothing else will content it and when my Thoughts contemplate thee when my Soul Meditates of thy Charity when my Affections love thee when my Desires long for thee When my Will submits to thy easie yoak When all my Faculties delight in thee when thou appearest lovely and charming and amiable to my mind Then then my Soul hath its proper food then it 's like to live then it 's in a way to thrive then it prospers then it grows then it gets a cheerful look then the Angels visit it the World perfectly soures it Sensual pleasures ruine it carnal satisfactions make it meager Thou O Lord thou alone canst make it flourish like the Palm-tree and satisfy it with the Rivers of thy Pleasures O my Lord how sweet is it to suck Honey out of this Rock Thy Bread strengthens to a miracle and thy Blood makes Souls Drunk It is as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that descends on the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even Life for evermore O my God I care not for Abana and Pharpar now nor for the Rivers of Damascus I will stand under thy Cross and open my Mouth O do thou fill it while others go to rejoyce in their Corn and Wine and Oyl I will go to the Supper of the Lamb. Here Lord here is my Heart ready to receive that Heavenly Food thou offerest me Awake thou Eternal Spirit awake blow upon my Garden that the Spices may flow out O let this Maenna satisfy my taste that I may forget the Fleshpots of Egypt Behold Lord here I make a vow that if thou wilt give me this Bread to eat which endures to everlasting life Thou shalt be my God I will serve no other Gods but thee Thou shalt command my Heart my Desires and my Affections and without thee no passion shall lift up its Hand or Foot in all the land of Goshen I will set thee over all that I have and all shall be at thy dispose Christ. I feel my Heart warmed with this consideration I will now turn aside and see this great sight who it is that hangs upon the Cross and bleeds for my Sins Oh! it is the Son of God he that was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and became obedient to the death of the Cross that I might be made the Righteousness of God through him Consc. But is there nothing else to be done by way of preparation for this Blessed Sacrament Christ O Yes For I must First Retire sometimes and celebrate and admire the love of God to me in Christ Jesus in some such reflections as these Be astonish'd ye Heavens stand amazed ye Quires of Angels at the condescension of my God I have betray'd him to the Philistines yet he loves the miserable Wretch and so loves him that he gives his Son to redeem him O God what dost thou see in me Nothing but misery nothing but rags nothing but poverty and yet thou lovest me I am but Dust and Ashes and will God vouchsafe a Gracious look to so mean an object O Sovereign Being Didst thou ever behold a viler creature then I am and wilt thou goe out of the common road of Love and spread thy Garments over me and offer me thy friendship O Love which Cherubim admire and Seraphim adore It
for the Temporal Gain and Profit his Hand sends me by consecrating some part of it to good uses nor must I be fond of that Profit which arises from undermining my neighbour I must not study the ease of my Flesh much but take opportunities to use it to some hardships that it may become more obedient to my Reason I must not stay at my sport so long as my sensual desires crave but use only so much of it as may render me serviceable to God and Man Consc. And dost thou verily believe that this is the way to Eternal Life Christ. Yes certainly for this is the way that the Primitive Believers walked in They did not think that Heaven was to be gained at a cheaper rate and why should I Thus did the Apostles thus did their Followers and without such Self-denial they thought there was no arriving to Happiness Besides this is most agreeable to the Precepts of the Gospel and why should I think that I may be-Saved another way then God himself hath appointed Consc. If thou art perswaded that this is the way Lord Why dost not thou set about it Why art thou so loth to come to it Why dost thou act so contrary to it when every moment thou art in danger of death and upon thy death there depends Eternity Christ. O this base this wicked World hinders me the ill examples of my careless Neighbours care of getting a livelyhood the many crosses and disappointments I meet with hopes of having more time hereafter the company I converse with the people I have to deal with fear of Want and the Calling and Condition I am in are such impediments I know not how to shake off Consc. Is it not possible to live in the World and to keep thy self unspotted from it If it be not live a Beggar rather live despised live contemptible live dis-regarded by all Men rather then not enter into these everlasting Joys Shall a pleasant sinful Life hinder thee from the everlasting enjoyment of God! Shall the fawnings or applauses of Men hinder thee from the Eternal applause of Angels Think if thou wert standing at the great Tribunal trembling at the Eternal horror thou art condemned too Think whether thou wouldst not wish that thou hadst lived in Caves and Holes poor destitute afflicted for a few years rather then have come to this miserable end Why should the examples of thy careless neighbors move thee when thou knowest there are but few that will be saved Canst not thou get a livelyhood except thou art rich and greedy after the glories of the World If thou canst but get Food and Raiment content thy self and that most certainly thou wilt get if thou art industrious in thy lawful Calling and darest but trust God Crosses Losses and Disappointments are necessary for thee to drive thee from Earth to Heaven and if all this while thou dost not lose thy Soul thou art safe enough Do but look upon thy Soul as worth more then a thousand Worlds and none of these things will deject thee Thy hopes of having time to repent hereafter is a meer cheat and if thou trust to that thou wilt never be saved A Spiritual life is a thing of labour and pains and circumspection and canst thou be so silly as to think a few careless Prayers at last will plant it in thee Alas These are childish reasonings The company thou conversest withal if they are thy bane must be shaken off whatever comes on 't There is no dallying in a thing of this consequence and if other men will poison themselves why shouldst thou Let the People thou dealest with be never so bad tha't 's no example for thee to follow If they are unreasonable why shouldst thou lose thy Wits and thy Salvation for their sakes If they cheat or abuse thee they do themselves more wrong then thee nor will thy fuming and fretting at them convert or bring them into a better temper Why shouldst thou be afraid of Want when thou doest not see a Bird starve or die for want of Food and can Want be grievous when the Author and Captain of thy Salvation was in want and his followers were so too and yet did live in Heaven Either thy Calling is honest or dishonest if dishonest and an inevitable occasion of sinning away with it and turn Ploughman or Servant rather then live in it If hohonest do not involve thy self in too much business for that will certainly hinder thee from frequent Prayer and Meditation and looking after the concerns of thy Soul and as for necessaries thy God will not suffer thee to want them Lift up thine Eyes look upon this World The greatest part of the Men thou seest will certainly be Eternally miserable Why shouldst thou venture with them Doest thou think that howling with them at last will give thee any comfort There is a prize put in thy hand Why shouldst thou slight it and lament thy contempt for ever Neglect not the present time Do not let this opportunity slip Thy God waits for thee Come in before the door be shut believe in good earnest and nothing will seem difficult Christ. I am convinced I yield I have nothing to say against all this Great God! Help me Draw me after thee and I will run Up up my lazy idle sleeping Soul Open thine Eyes put on Resolution wash away thy filth shake off thy prison Garments gird up thy Loins make haste run to God break the chains of Sin and present thy Heart to the living God Lift up thine Eyes Look into Heaven Listen with thine Ears view the Holy Angels hearken to their Hallelujah's chase away thy darkness cleanse thy self become an humble Spouse of the Lord Jesus Feed thy self with his Beauty Kiss him with the Lips of Faith make him thy Darling receive him into thy bosom Quench thy Thirst with his Blood Hold him fast Do not let him goe Sing his Praises Admire his Love Meet him by Repentance Keep him by Holy Fervours Honour his Name Dare to speak for him Be not ashamed of him Confess him before Men and he will confess thee before his Father and his Holy Angels PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS To be used Before and after Receiving of the Holy Sacrament OF THE LORDS SVPPER A Confession to be said by way of Preparation O Thou Great Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier of Men When I reflect upon my Life how contrary to thy Holy and wholsome I aws how unlike the Lives of thy Saints How unworthy of thy Mercies and Favours it hath been how can I forbear blushing How can I forbear prostrating my Self before Thee How can I forbear falling into the humblest postures my Soul and Body is capable of How have I abused thy Goodness How have I affronted thy Charity How have I trespassed upon thy Patience How have I resisted thy tender Calls How hast thou waited for me while I have been stubborn How hast thou courted me while I have been vain
How hast thou carress'd me while I have been careless How deep ought my Contrition to be How profound my Sorrow How profuse my Tears I have mourned for a dead Corps I have wept for a deceased Relation I have griev'd to see the Body of my Friend left without a Soul Yet have not mourned for God's departing from me nor wept for the deadness of my Heart nor griev'd to see my self depriv'd of thy Grace and Mercy O my Lord I see my folly I perceive I have gone astray I am sensible I have dishonour'd thee How different do my Sins appear to me now from what they did before They look more dismal more dreadful more bloody then once they did Now I would mourn now I would take on for them now I would deplore them Oh touch this frozen Heart that it may melt O Jesu Look upon these Eyes of mine that they may flow with Water O Behold me from the Cross that I may weep bitterly There is hopes that if I mourn I shall be comforted If I weep I shall laugh at last If I grieve I shall rejoyce O my God I long to hear thy joyful voice Be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee I long to rejoyce in thee I long to be Blessed with the light of thy Countenance But the Sun will not shine out till after the Rain O then water this Face of mine speak the Word bid the Waters flow bid penitential showers enrich this barren ground and I shall feel thy warmer beams thy Love will refresh me thy Presence will revive me and my Garments of Heaviness will be turned into Garments of Praise and Exultation O my Jesus Thou hangest naked on the Cross that I might be deck'd with thy purple Robes Thou wast wounded that I might be healed O Heal me and I shall be healed Come dearest Physitian and thy Servant shall be whole Behold Lord Here comes a poor Prodigal quaking and trembling to thy Throne I come from a far Countrey from the Land of Darkness from the borders of the burning Lake from the frontiers of Hell I come miserable and naked I come begging that thou wouldst put a Ring upon my Finger and betroth me unto thy Self in Righteousness The Mercy is too big for me to ask but not for thee to grant I have no merit I can plead no desert Here thou seest nothing but filthy Rags O throw thy Mantle over me I have heard that thou lovest to manifest thy greatest power in the greatest weakness thy greatest strength in the greatest infirmity I have heard thou lovest to spread thy skirts over those that are destitute and afflicted that are cast abroad have no Eye to pity them and know not where to address themselves for relief Thou hast promised to such to open Rivers for them in high places and Fountains in the midst of Valleys When the needy and thirsty seek for Water thou the God of Israel wilt not forsake them O my Lord If Misery be a motive to Mercy here thou seest it in the highest degree What mighty what marvellous things hast thou done for me Yet have I run away from thee What haste have I made to get out of thy sight how afraid have I been of serving thee Thou hast been my greatest friend and I have used thee like an enemy How have I shunn'd thy Counsels as if they had been big with Death and Thunder Ah foolish Creature How have I forsaken thee the Fountain of living waters How fond have I been of broken Cisterns How enamoured with muddy puddles Ah My Father how didst thou pity me How didst thou bewail my blindess With what sorrowful Eyes didst thou look upon my wilfulness Behold My Lord I do return I return that I may look upon thee I return that thou mayst look upon me I return Oh do thou rejoyce over me Oh! Let there be joy in the presence of thy Holy Angels over this sinner who repents I am troubled I am exceedingly troubled that I have made no answerable returns to thy Love that thy Grace hath been bestowed upon me in vain that thy Mercy hath been thrown away on such a wretch Oh the baseness Oh the ingratitude Oh the disingenuity that I have been guilty of Thou hast been my greatest Benefactor How freely how lovingly how candidly hast thou visited me yet I have resisted thy Power despised thy Wisdom undervalued thy Goodness Thou wouldst have torn down my strong holds of iniquity and I would not Thou wouldst have taught me my Duty to God and Man and I refused it Thou wouldst have made me Holy as thou art Holy and I scorned it Ungrateful Worm Do I thus reward the Lord my God! Could I recompence such Mercies with such Sins Such Favours with such gross neglects thy condescension with Pride thy Humiliation with Envy thy Love with Anger thy Bounty with slight and slovenly performances Thy Bowels with Disobedience thy Charity with contempt of my Neighbour Thy Blessings with Revenge Thy Benefits with averseness from Virtue and Goodness thy Munificence with Vanity and the showers of thy Grace with earthly-mindedness Ah! how are my sins multiplied How like a heavy burthen are they become too heavy for me to bear But Oh my God! Thy Mercy is over all thy Works Thy Mercy is greater then my Sins My Sins have taken hold upon me What shall I do I am a burthen to my self I am bow'd down with the weight of my Transgressions Whether O my Lord should I go but to thee who hast the words of Eternal Life Thou hast pity on sinners thou conversest with them thou eatest with them Receive me Graciously Love me Freely Think upon thy Mercy think upon thy Blood think upon thy Tears and accept of me I am surrounded with dangers incompassed with Enemies encircled with Hellish Monsters yet in the midst of these pressures I hear thee saying Come to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden Shall I hide my self as Adam did in Paradise Shall this word fright me away Shall I refuse to come when thou callest in this still voice No No I will confess my Transgression and thou wilt forgive the iniquity of my Sin I will harden my Heart no more I will turn a deaf Ear to thee no more I will stand out no longer I will resist thy Light no longer I will grieve thee no more I will afflict and vex thy Holy Spirit no more O infinite Goodness O wonderful Love though with the Publican I dare not lift up my Eyes to Heaven yet with the humble Magdalen I will come behind thee weeping and wash thy Feet with my Tears and kiss them Oh let me hear the blessed news of Pardon from thy Mouth Thou camest Lord thou camest not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance and of these I am chief If thou wilt converse with Sinners here is one that wants thy help and that stands in need of thy cure full of Diseases full
of Sores full of Weakness full of Errours full of Infirmities a prodigy of Frailty Here Lord here is work for thy strong Hand and for thy mighty Arm. In this Heart are Divels that must be expelled by thy Power Stretch forth thy Hand and save me Here is an object to exercise thy omnipotent hand upon My Cure requires Miracles It 's no ordinary Virtue that will set me to Rights again Thou Thou O Lord must come and strike thy Hand over the sore place and my Leprosie will be gone Thy Prophet cries by thy order Return unto the Lord your God for he is Gracious and Merciful slow to anger and repents him of the evil I believe Lord I believe My Heart is wounded within me I come I come Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants But then I desire no other hire no other wages but thy Self Thou art my exceeding great reward Oh! How bitter a thing is it to forsake thee What have I got by offending thee What have I gained by sinning against thee Nothing but Shame and Horror and Trembling and Confusion Darkness hath covered me the shadow of Death hath fallen upon me What fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now asham'd My Soul hath been divested of her innocence her Joy her Peace her Comfort and her Satisfaction And Oh my Jesus didst not thou stand my friend now Great Mediator didst not thou stand in the gap now and plead for me O my Redeemer Didst not thou intercede for me I must be prostituted and exposed to Eternal laughter and derision Good Lord How pitiful how wretched how trivial how impertinent how inconsiderable was that pleasure that profit that thing for which I did did affront and dishonour thee When I look upon thy Creatures either above or below I wonder how they were able to contain themselves and not vindicate their Masters Honour which they saw abused by me I wonder they did not not fall upon me and crush me into perdition when they saw how bold how presumptuous this Caitiff was O my Lord For this my Soul shall mourn in secret even for this that I have not loved thee better that I have not sought thee more that I have not approach'd thee with greater veneration Hence forward Lord if all the Pleasures all the Riches all the Honours of this World were concentred in this sin that formerly I lived in it should be no temptation to me I would tear the Tyrant out of its seat It should usurp thy place no more I would pull it out of its Throne it should find no harbour in me Thy Love should constrain me to part with it I will Crucify thee no more I have trampled too long upon thy Mercy I will make light of it no more O my Jesus Remember thy Agonies remember thy Pain remember thy Sufferings remember thy Death and forget my Sins Thy Servant David cryed once I have sinned and thou didst presently take away his Sin My sighing is not hid from thee O do not hide thy Face from me Manasseh look'd up to thee and thou hadst respect unto his Prayer O give ear to my Prayer too that goes not out of feigned Lips The Ninivites humbled themselves and thou wast intreated Oh repent thy self of the evil thou hast said thou wouldst do unto me and do it not Peter wept and thou gavest him a Gracious Look I water my couch with my tears Oh smile upon me too and say I have redeem'd thee thou art mine I love thee O Lord and would have every Creature love thee I would have all things that have breath praise the Lord. I would have every creature shew forth thy Glory Thou hast loved me from all Eternity Was ever such Love heard of as thine was To come from the Mansions of the Blessed into a Valley of Tears to advance such a creature from Death to Life Eternal Thou hast made my Death a harmless nay a gainful thing Thy Cross hath sweetned all there was Death in the pot but thou threwest in Meal and didst sweeten all O blot out the very footsteps of my Sins and set me as a Seal upon thy Heart so will I give thee thanks in the great Congregation my Lips shall praise thee O my Life I would prefer thee above all thy Creatures I would look upon all these outward Comforts as a drop in the Bucket and on Thee as the Ocean On these as the small dust in the Ballance on Thee as the Rock of Ages I would love Thee with all my heart I would love Thee more then my Self O that my whole Mind were united to Thee O that I might know nothing save Jesus Christ and him Crucified O that all the powers of my Soul might embrace Thee O that I might seek thy Glory with stronger desires then Worldlings do their Wealth or the Covetous the increase of their In-comes Oh! that I could adhere unto Thee inseparably O withdraw my Heart from every evil way Incline my Heart to all Goodness Let not my Affections be henceforth corrupted with the love of the Creature Let me not be weary of loving Thee Let nothing overcome my Love Let nothing damp it Oh enable me to say Who shall separate me from the love of God! O draw my Soul with cords of Love with this Love wound and pierce my Heart and make it sick that it may insatiably long for Thee Oh! I would love Thee without ceasing love Thee without bounds love Thee without measure Oh let my Soul melt with this Fire and purge away that filth which doth so easily beset me Take away from me all that doth displease Thee Refine in me all that pleases Thee Be Thou ever present with me Live in me thou Fountain of Life and let me live in Thee and let that Charity live in me which suffers long and is kind which envies not which vaunteth not it self which is not puft up which doth not behave it self unseemly seeks not her own is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth bears all things believes all things hopeth all things endureth all things through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for Faith O Thou from whom every good and perfect Gift descends who givest to all Men liberally and upbraidest not Thou callest Seek ye my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek Thou hast said O Lord Thy Mouth hath spoken it if ye had but Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed ye should say unto this Mountain Be thou removed and cast into the Sea and it should obey you O my Lord I have Rocks to be displaced Mountains to be removed vast loads to be freed from Rocks of Unbelief Mountains of Sin loads of Iniquity Oh lend me thy helping Hand None can give relief none can succour none can do me any good but thy self How
dark how dull how doubtful is my Faith sometimes it blazes then it disappears again sometimes it 's vigorous then slacks and grows remiss again I believe thee in Sun-shine and faint in a Storm sometimes I get a sight of thy Glory then I lose it again Oh how uneven is my Faith When thy Candle shines over my Head and I wash my Feet in Butter I believe but where is my Faith in the dark when the Fig-tree doth not blossom when there is no Fruit in the Vine when the labour of the Olive doth fail Oh how it sinks at such times how weak it grows Lord I believe help mine unbelief O thou Sun of Righteousness thou bright Morning-Star Thou mighty Star of Jacob shine upon me shine upon this dark Soul of mine press in by thy piercing beams scatter the Clouds of my unbelief Dispel those mists as chaff is driven away by the Wind so drive them away O thou Holy One of Israel I Believe but my Faith doth not rouze me from my Spiritual slumber I believe but my Faith doth not overcome difficulties I believe but my Faith doth not put me upon Self-denial I believe but my Faith doth not engage me to that cautiousness of offending thee which is necessary to Salvation I believe but my Faith doth not make me laborious doth not make me strive and fight and work and enter in at the strait Gate I do not believe as if I saw My Faith is not the substance of things unseen I do not represent that future Glory to my mind in such lively Characters as if it were present to my sight I seem to rejoyce in thy Promises but when I am to apply them what doubts what scruples what perplexities arise in my mind I believe thou hast overcome Death yet how do I tremble at its approaches I believe thou art present with me in affliction yet how often do I lose thy Image I believe my dearest Lord that thou camest from Heaven to reveal to me thy Fathers Will yet I do not so readily obey it as I would I believe but am too often overcome by a Passion too often by a Temptation too often by the World O my Lord Give me an active Faith a working Faith a vigorous Faith a lively Faith an effectual Faith A Faith which may oblige me to shake off all dulness all drousiness all laziness and which may make me awake to Righteousness Give me a Faith that may surmount all hardships may be afraid of nothing of no Bear no Lion in the way Give me a Faith which may make me bold as a Lion couragious in Danger resolute in the greatest Trials and magnanimous under the greatest burthens A Faith I want which may make all that is within me stoop to the yoak of Jesus which may cross my Flesh and Blood cruicfy my vain Desires and dash mine inordinate Affections O give me a Faith which may make me tender of thy Glory loth to do any thing that may be offensive to thee unwilling to displease thee the Author of my Being Give me a Faith which may oblige me to labour in thy Vineyard and work out my salvation with fear and trembling A Faith that may look into Eternity Survey the Glorious Mansions prepared by the Son of God live there and converse there and draw Comforts and Consolations from that perfection of Glory A Faith which may live upon thy Promises lay hold on them in despite of opposition and claim them as my Heritage for ever A Faith which may look Death in the Face defy its Power support it self with Christs victory and sing with Triumph over it Oh Death Where is thy sting A Faith which may make Affliction easy my Burthen Light and sweeten all my Troubles A Faith which may purify my Heart constrain me to Obedience and compel me to a cheerful running at thy Command and Order A Faith which may controul all my Lusts check my inordinate Desires bear down all before it set up the Lord Jesus Sovereign in my Soul and make every imagination subject to him who must Reign till he hath put all enemies under his Feet O Blessed Light which enlightnest every Man that comes into the World Direct my steps illuminate my Understanding shew me the way I must walk in that no Errour may mislead me no false Doctrine corrupt me no Heresy deceive me no false Fire beguile me stretch forth thy Hand and hold thou up my Goings in thy path that I may get safe to my Journeys end I am a Traveller and Pilgrim here goe thou before me and I 'll follow thee lead me through this barren Wilderness and leave me not till I enter into Canaan It is not Lord of him that Runs nor of him that Wills but of thee who shewest Mercy As Flesh and Blood could not have revealed these things unto me so thou alone must enable my Faith to quench all the fiery Darts of the Divel Arise O God and let thine enemies be scattered O how am I beholding to thee What Thanks what Praises do I owe thee that thou hast call'd me to the light of thy Gospel That thou hast discover'd to me those Errours which Persons of other Religions in the world lie involv'd in That I have liberty to read thy Word to peruse it and to know the things belonging to my Peace Thou hast not dealt so with other Persons and as for thy judgments they have not known them But what will this knowledge profit me if my practice be not sutable or my Belief strong and firm and vigorous I tremble to think how many thousands are like to perish for want of this Faith Ah! How few do believe in good earnest How few believe with any lively Affections How few act and live as if they did believe O most patient God pity pity that vast multitude of Christian Unbelievers See how Hell hath open'd her Mouth to swallow them up O thou that hast redeemed them with thy Blood Why should the enemy run away with thy purchase See how these poor creatures wander like Sheep without a Shepherd O Gather them O seek them that thou mayst find them Undeceive them let them see how far they are from the Kingdom of God! O my Lord I believe that thou art and wilt be a rewarder to them that diligently seek thee I believe if any man will do thy Will he shall know of thy Doctrine whether it be of God or no! I believe that not the least tittle of thy Word shall fail O encrease my Belief Let not my Faith rest upon thy Doctrine only but let it have regard to all thy Laws O let me so believe an approaching Eternity as to be concerned at the Thoughts of of it O let me not only talk of it but let my Belief rouze my Affections from their slumber O my Jesus I believe thou wast crucified for my sins How then should I live in sin Assure me that if I do I do
but mock thee How can I believe my sin odious while I embrace and cherish it How can I believe it kill'd thee while I make much of it How can I believe it drew Sweats of Blood from thee while I water it and keep it warm Oh! I am weary of this vain Belief Rid me of it Deliver me from it Let all my neighbours see that I believe these things indeed Let the World see by my Conversation that these things work upon me Oh! Let me not only believe these great things but live them over Come forth my dearest Lord and meet me No Man can come to thee but he whom thou drawest to thee Oh let me touch but the hem of thy Garment and I shall recover Let me so Believe in thee that it may appear thou livest in me that I may at last obtain the end of my Faith even the Salvation of my Soul Great Author and Finisher of my Faith hear me for thy Mercies sake Amen A Prayer for a lively Hope O Thou in whom my Fathers hoped They hoped in thee and thou didst deliver them Thou art all Goodness all Sweetness all Clemency Who would not hope in thee Thy Mercies bid me hope Thy Promises bid me hope and all thy Revelations bid me hope O thou Hope of Israel Here I am Here I lie prostrate before thy Face Here my Soul intends to breath out her desires O my Lord When will that happy day come that Glorious day which shall have no Night no Clouds no Darkness Thou hast spoke of it thy Prophets have seen Visions of it Thy Apostles have Declared it One was wrapt up above the Clouds to take a view of it The Son that came out of thy bosom hath assured me of it It is the bright day when I shall enter inter into thy Joy be made a Co-heir with Christ be cloathed in White shine as the Stars look upon thee and not be ashamed Thou hast promised it and shall not I hope for it Oh my Lord that seest me that art present with me and knowest my Heart my Sighs my Desires thou knowest I hope for it Oh let this Hope be lively let it be a Hope which may purify me even as God is pure Nay my very flesh shall rest in Hope and thou wilt not suffer my Body to see everlasting corruption Thou wilt raise me from the Dust at last All my Bones shall say Lord Who is like unto thee I know that my Redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another and having this Hope O assist me O perswade me O prompt me to cleanse my self from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect Holiness in the fear of God Deck my Soul with Humility with Patience with Constancy that no Rods no Stripes no Prison no Torment no Shipwrack no perils of Waters no perils of Robbers no perils among my own Countrey-men no perils among Heathens no perils in the City no perils in the Wilderness no perils in the Sea no perils among false Brethren no weariness no painfulness no Watchings no Hunger no Thirst no Cold no Nakedness no Weakness no Infirmity no Honour or Dishonour no good Report or evil Report may discourage me from trusting in thee Though the Lord should kill me yet let me hope in him If in this Life only I have Hope in Christ I am of all Men most miserable The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid Though an Host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though War should rise against me in this will I be confident for in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavilion in the secret of his Tabernacle he shall hide me he shall set me up upon a Rock Thou art he that took me out of the Womb thou didst make me Hope when I was upon my Mothers Breasts O let it not be in the power of Men or Divels to shake this Hope Let it be my Anchor sure and stedfast which no Waves no Billows no Storms no Tempests can move Whatever evils befall me let me think they come from a Fathers Hand Let no prosperity no Sun-shine no Calmness no smiling Fortune subvert this Hope in my Soul Let me look upon all these outward Comforts as Vanity Vanity of Vanities which can give no Ease no Comfort no satisfaction to a Soul of a Spiritual Appetite Let me thirst after nothing so much as after thy Love as after Spiritual Blessings as after the hidden Manna as after the white Stone which no man knows save he who receives it I will not hope in any creature I will arise and depart for here is not my rest Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my Countenance and my God My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him He ony is my Rock and my Salvation he is my Defence I shall not be moved In God is my Salvation and my Glory the Rock of my Strength and my Refuge is in God Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Hearts before him Thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong Tower from the Enemy From the end of the Earth will I cry unto thee when my Heart is overwhelm'd O my God my Goodness extends not to thee The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance and of my Cup thou maintainest my Lot Who was ever confounded that trusted in thee Who was ever forsaken that hoped in thee Who was ever despised that in good earnest called upon thee All Hail my dearest Lord my Hope I love thee I embrace thee I renounce all those lesser Goods which are in the World that I may make thee my highest and my chiefest Good It 's true Lord I am a sinner and have been a very ungrateful wretch The least of thy Mercies is more then I have deserved My very Righteousnesses have been as filthy Rags but I will not trust in my Bow neither is it my Sword that shall save me but thy Mercy O Lord thy Mercy and the palmes of thy Hands on which thou hast engraven my Name shall be my refuge I have no merits no deserts to trust to I can claim nothing as my Right all I am and all I have is thy Charity What Goodness there is in me is entirely owing to thy Grace and Compassion With this thou crownest me with this thou enrichest me with this thou anointest my Head that I may work in thy Vineyard and receive the Penny at night I confide not in my Works I depend not upon my Industry I