DAILY DEVOTIONS OR THE Christians Morning and Evening SACRIFICE Digested into Prayers and Meditations for every day in the week and other occasions With some short Directions for a Godly Life By JOHN COLET D. D. Dean of St Pauls London and Founder of that Famous School near adjoyning The Nineteenth Edition with a brief Account of the Authors Life by Dr. Fuller LONDON Printed for Nath. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey and Edw. Evets at the Green Dragon in St Paul's Church-Yard 1684. The Effigies of IOHN COLLETT Dr of Divinitie and Some time Dean of St Paules Church London who departed this Life Ano Dom 1519 Aged 53 years The Life of that Reverend Divine Dr. Colet sometimes Dean of S. Pauls JOhn Colet Son of Sir Henry Colet Mercer and twice Lord Mayor of London was the only surviving Child his Parents had of two and Twenty Thus GOD though He breaks the Ring left them the Diamond in preserving him alive In his Youth he visited Foreign â—arts and the scattered Perfections â—f several Nations he collected and â—istilled into himself returning home in Oxford he publickly expounded all Saint Paul ' s Epistles with no less profit to others than Applause to himself He taught the Learned there to beat their Swords into Mattocks and their Spears into Pruning-hooks to turn disputes into Doctrines Controversies into positive Divinity Then began the beams of his worth to shine in the Court and King HENRY the Seventh a knowing Prince who generally grounded His favour on Desert for his well Expounding Saint Paul ' s Epistles made him Dean of Saint Pauls in London Here Colet read his former Lectures over again preferring rather to set on the Table wholsome cold meat which had been there once before than to feed his Auditors with flesh half raw though hot from the spit But day shall as soon be without Night as a grand merit without envy attending it Some accused him as not thorow paced in his Religion and confining on Heresie in some Opinions as denying due reverence to Images and Saints c. But as our Colet preferred the immediate going to GOD before mediation of Saints so GOD gave him the happiness to have direct access to his Earthly King without applying himself to the favour of Courtiers King Henry the Eighth had the hearing of his Cause and dismiss'd him with this worthy Testimony Let other men chuse what Doctor they please this Man shall be my Doctor He was as I may say a Luther before Luther for his Doctrine A strict shunner of vice in himself and punisher of it in those that were under him Look in this Treatise to behold his Faith and on Saint Pauls School which he Founded to see his Charity By T. F. D. D. A fruitful Direction and Order of a good Christian Life very profitable to be regarded of all people With sundry fruitful Precepts to be followed made by that worthy man Dr. Colet sometime Dean of S. Pauls REmember first of all virtuous Reader that it is high wisdom and great perfection thy self to know and then thy self to despise thou must know that thou hast nothing that good is of thy self but of GOD for the gifts of GOD's nature and all other temporal gifts of this world which be lawfully and truly obtained well considered are come to thee by the infinite goodness and grace of God and not thy self Wherefore and in especial it is necessary for thee to know that GOD of his great Grace hath made thee his Image having regard to thy memory understanding and will and that GOD is thy Maker and thou his wretched Creature and thou art redeemed of God by the passion of Jesus Christ and is thy helper thy refuge and thy deliverer from all evil and to consider and know the Goodly order which GOD of his infinite wisdom hath ordained thee to be ordered by as to have these temporal goods for the necessity of the body the body and sensual apperites to be ordered by the Soul the Soul to be ordered by reason and grace to know thy duty to GOD and to thy Neighbour and by all common reason if thou do keep this convenient order to GOD and his Creatures they shall keep their order to thee but if thou do break thy order to thee of likelihood they shall break their ordeâ— to thee for how should thy Wife Children Servants and other Creatures with thee which thou hast doing do their duty and keep their order to thee if thou dost not so to GOD and to them And also think thou of a surety that if thy sensual appetite be not ordered by reason and grace thou art worse ordered than a beast for thou then livest out of order and so doth not a Beast which is a great shame and rebuke to thee being a reasonable creature and without the great mercy of GOD it shall be thine eternal destruction wherefore I say consider what thy sin is in the ignorance of God of thy self and of thine own evil and of his holiness and search thine impenitency in this that thou makest too light account of GOD's justice and therefore thy heart waxeth hard it is far without feeling of faith either toward God or love towards thy Neighbour so that thou likest and lovest sin and hast no grief nor hatred for it examine further whether thou hast not neglected GOD's Word either not in diligent hearing of it preached or read or when thou hast heard it in not regarding it nay whether thou hast not had more delight to read unprofitable blessings savouring altogether of the flesh such as thou shouldest â—e afraid once to think of as it would have beseemed thy holy profession and whether thou hast not rebelled against it whilst thou hast withstood the working of it that thou shouldest mortifie the old man changing it and gaining upon it daily till it be framed to Gods most holy will and if thou shalt find these things in thee then judge thy self of sin that thou be not judged of the Lord for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Moreover judge thy self for putting no difference between Gods will and thy corrupt will through which thou hast neglected Gods will and love thine own to fly from his and follow thine own which then hath plainly shewed it self when his was plainly taught to be contrary to thine and yet thou didst yield to it in breathing forth unseemly and ungodly pangs rageings and murmurings against it and therefore judge thy self of this intolerable pride of mind and stubbornness of heart and of those unbridled affections rebelling and murmuring against God and mis-judging of him that reproveth thee Further see whether thou hast judged thy self for neglect of Prayer when thou hast omitted many days never regarding it but as a prophane person hast not once thought of tâ—â— duty therein and when thou hast prayed hast done it in the ceremony without tast or
remorse of faith or sin in such coldness and broken sort that there hath been no life nor comfort in it Judge thy self whether in Prayer thou hast practised the exercises of a broken heart healed in Christ and changed into righteousness whether the just mediation of God's goodness moveth thee to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and worketh in thee the love thereof that thou mightest be stirred up to love him and to walk in that obedience that he requireth of thee And because the abusing of Gods Creatures is a great sin examine thy self whether thou dost misuse them in forgetfulness of God in pride of life to please thy self in the creature more than in the Creator seeing with the abuse of them to set forth thy self in pride to please thy self and the fleshly eyes of others rather than in humbleness to use them to the pleasing and praising Almighty God the Creator In the use of all which things the love of God which appeareth unto thee to a continual meditation to make thee to spie out sin in thy self and to judge that to be sin which is sin indeed and in no wise to mince or diminish it or to cover it with the figg-leaves of thine own vain excuses but to lay it open before the Lord nakedly and plainly as it is so that thou call not sin righteousness nor righteousness sin good evil nor evil good but condemn that which thou knowest to be sin to abhor it to flee from it without all hypocrisie and cloaking of it with self-love or nourishing it or else with lightness and contempt to dwell in it and therefore thou must examin this sin throughly of not applying thy heart and mind to meditate and understand to believe and taste of the work of thy salvation wrought in Christ crucified through which thou walkest in security wanting faith and yet not feeling thy want wanting the food of life and the tast of God and yet hungrest not after it but thinkest thy self full when thou art empty and nevertheless art empty and poor indeed to beg it at Gods hands the supplyer thereof through which thou feelest not the incorporation into Christs body feel the effect thereof in CHRIST's Death to Die from sin in his Resurrection is to live no Righteousness in his Ascension to ask after Heavenly things and to leave the Earth and flesh at his coming again to be ready with faith and joy to meet him Anâ— here withal weigh what a great sin it is not to hearken to the Spirit of God when 〈◊〉 might work in it whereby thou dost grieve in and quench it when thou dost not gladly obey it and yield to the motions of it and therefore judge thy self for not putting off the old man with all his works and for not putting on the New Man in bringing forth the fruits of regeneration for not considering thine exile in the flesh from GOD or in this World from Heaven to lament it and the cause of it and to extol the Providence of GOD by which thou livest and for being idle vain â—roud in thinking speaking and doing Again for not feeling the estate of GOD's afflicted Church to sorrow in the affliction of it for not seeking zealously to glorifie his Gospel through which thou art not throughly touched for any false Doctrine Idolatry or sin for standing against which the Saints of God have been and still are persecuted and killed and yet thou livest carelesly without feeling of it and art at a good point sink it or swim it To conclude then I mean by sin whatsoever is declared to be sin in the word of God which lyeth either seen or unseen in our hearts of what estate soever we be 〈◊〉 appeareth in life which is found out 〈◊〉 the word of God and so adjudged which thou oughtest to lament before God in the â—xercises of a broken heart to beat down thy heart with humbleness to cause thee to beg mercy with aking heart and very need to seek that heavenly Physician Jesus Christ and of eager desire to feed on him by faith to the assurance of life and Salvation that the sweetness thereof may work in thee the love of thy God to praise him the love of his written Word to do it and in doing it to deny thy self thy will affection and life that with humbleness thou maist walk always with and before the Lord in the holiness and righteousness that pleaseth him knowing that His eye doth search thy heart and life to see in it his will done and obeyed and always practising that which is good that thou maiest please Him and therefore must ask mercy and so if thou continually strive and labour to do it He doth accept of thy imperfect doings in Christ to encourage thee to take better hold and to do better c. Wherefore think and thank God and utterly despise thy self and think thy self a wretch in that God hath done so much for thee and thou hast so oft offended his Highness and also done him so little service and surely it is also great wisdom for thee to think that if it had pleased God for to have given to all other men grace as he hath given to thee that they would have served him better than thou hast done wherefore by his mercy and grace call unto thy remembrance thy degree or dignity which Almighty God of his goodness hath called thee unto and according thereto yield thy debt and do thy duty First and principally honour God as thy Maker love him as thy Redeemer fear him as thy Judge Secondly thy Neighbour which is thy superiour obey have concord and peace with them which be like with thee in degree and have mercy on thy inferiors Thirdly provide thee to have a heart purged and a good custody of thy tongue and in all thy words and deeds have ever in thy mind that thou shalt die shortly and that God heareth and seeth every thing and that nothing is so privily done but it shall be made open And every morning among other Meditations and Prayers pray unto the Lord God that the day following thou mayest use this wretched world in thy thoughts words and deeds that thou mayest by the merits of Christ's passion eschew the pains of Hell and come to the Joy everlasting And 〈◊〉 executing thereof keep truth in words 〈◊〉 deeds defend no man nor no matter against the truth In all things think and trust in God and he shall direct thy ways Trust not to thine own wit but fear God and he will keep thee from evil Be content to hear good counsel though it be contrary to thy will for he is a very fool that will hear nothing gladly but what is according to his own mind do no man harm lest thou suffer the same as thou wouldest be done unto so do thou unto others be such to others as thou desirest they should be unto the. If thou be Religious remember that the due execution of
Merciful The Lord preserveth the simple I was in misery and He helped me Turn thou again unto my rest O my soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee And why thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me I will offer unto Him the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon his Name For why the Lord is on my side therefore I will not fear what man can do unto me The Lord taketh my part with them that help me Therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in man it is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in Princes The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my salvation The right hand of the Lord hath the preeminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass I will not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastned and corrected me but he hath not given me over to death Thou art my God and I will thank thee thou art my God and I will praise thee O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever Glory be to the Father c. A devout Prayer to GOD the Father O Most blessed LORD and loving Father I wretched sinner do here ask at thy hands mercy and grace who am in thy sight most weak to stand in thy truth and most frail to fall and to break thy holy commandments by the keeping of which we are known to be thy true servants and by nothing else O most merciful LORD GOD I acknowledge my self daily to break the same but where I have thus offended I humbly ask of thee mercy and forgiveness and Lord for the true performance of the same I humbly ask of thee strength to make me stand strong in faith knowledge to work thy blessed will the power to resist all errour and wicked imagination thy wisdom to know the truth for I confess and know O LORD that all the worldly wit policy knowledge and strength is but foolishness in thy sight Therefore I ask and continually crave O Lord that thy holy Spirit may guide all the imaginations thoughts and desires of my heart so that it may be my spiritual heart and not my fleshly heart for the most perfect among the children of men lacking the wisdom shall not be regarded for the thoughts of mortal men are miserable and our forecastings are uncertain and why this corruptible body is so heavy to my soul that it keepeth down my understanding that it museth most on vain things wherefore good Lord I beseech thee comfort my sick soul that it may walk in thy wayes and work thy will and like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart and the desires of the same and how I would walk in thy truth and work in the works of the same truth so Lord I beseech thee refresh my soul according to thy merciful calling that I may be sted fast in the true faith and that I may never swerve from the holy and most blessed Ordinances of the Church but that I may use them receive them and honour thee in them according to thy most holy will as in things which thou hast left to declare thy love unto us and to assure our hope and exercise our faith that it should not be idle or wavering for all things are possible unto thee though they seem never so impossible unto us O most loving Father I know that by my sins I am not worthy thy blessed comfort and help in this troublesome time of temptation and trying of our faith for that I am as one laden with ignorance not knowing the height of thy high mysteries nor the deceitfulness or subtil arguments of my Ghostly enemy which daily doth assault my sinful soul that I can find no rest therefore O LORD like as thou knowest my will and hearts desire is to serve thee and live and die in thy perfect faith so I beseech thee never to suffer the subtil perswasions contrary to thy truth to take place or root in my heart but like as thou hast created my heart and given me a will to order the same so Lord I most humbly yield the same again into thy hands desiring thee by thy holy Spirit so to direct my ways that they may be acceptable in thy sight now and for ever through Jesus Christ my Saviour to whom with the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to obtain the true love of GOD. O Lord my God teach me thy humble servant teach my heart I beseech thee with what reverence it should think of thee tell my Soul with what delight it should love thee give my tongue some power to pour forth praises unto thee correct my weakness recreate my hope direct my desires finish the work thou hast begun and bring me to the fulness of thy mercy O LORD my GOD I bow the neck of my soul under the feet of thy Majesty and in the lowest degree of reverence do give thee most humble hearty thanks I yield thee praises O LORD although base and bare far unanswerable to thy deserts yet something my weakness is bound to perform namely to settle my mind to be hold and love thee O that my heart did so languish with thy love that it might melt the moisture of my body into tears that the bowels of my soul were so inflamed with thy love that it might consume all drossie desires dry up the very marrow of my bones O that I were sick for the love of Him who dyed for the Love of me LORD although I be not worthy so to love thee yet art thou much more to be loved than I can express therefore do not so deny me of that whereof I acknowledge my self unworthy that thy self be deprived of that thou art most worthy and grant O Lord I beseech thee for thy mercies sake to my soul that it may love thee as thou hast deserved that I may be worthy to give that which thou art worthy to receive so shall I then be worthy of that whereof now I am most unworthy O most dear Lord I feel in my heart a weak warmness of thy love but my prayer is that the coals were throughly kindled with desire and blown with delight into a full flame O sacred fire how comfortably dost thou burn O heavenly Light how sweetly dost thou shine how desirous are they more and more to burn whom thou dost inflame how are they delighted whom thou dost enlighten hear O my God hear O light of mine eyes increase my desire and grant my request stop not thine ears against me because of my sins endue my soul with thy love subdue my flesh with thy fear that I may always think
of thee joyntly both with trembling and trust settle the love of thee in me and the care of me in thee let my prayer come unto thee and thy mercy unto me let the joy of thy happiness remain with me and the compassion of my miseries with thee let my heart love thee let my flesh fear thee and let my whole substance in this world joy wholly in thee that I may enjoy thee wholly in the world to come by thee O Christ who art my Saviour and Deliverer to whom belongeth all power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer in heart to feel spiritual comforts O Lord GOD and most dear Father now I fully know the heart of man is not in his own power for thou hast taught me by thy dâ—minishing the Spirit of comfort in my heart that it is thou only which makest joyful the heart of man and which diminishest the same joy according to thy good pleasure and will therefore O dear Father I beseech thee to send me thy most blessed comfort and strength of Faith into my heart to fill the same with spiritual joy and that by the working of thy holy Spirit in me the comfortable promises of thy merciful Protection may be sealed in my heart and sink deep into my soul that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rock and house of defence that thou dost keep me as the apple of thine eye and that thou wilt not lay more upon me than thou wilt give me strength to abide but that thou wilt assuredly at thy appointed time renew my heart and the whole power of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy Name Thy Holy Spirit O Lord in me which is the assurance of my Salvation doth continually send forth unspeakable sighs and longings for thy full and joyful presence I beseech thee therefore O dear Father for thy Son JESUS's sake hearken to my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottom of my heart acknowledge thee to be my most merciful God and Father and all things in thy holy Word to be most certain and true and reverently embrace the same and in my soul to take comfort and joy of the same that I may even to my lives end walk before thee in sincerity of heart being assured of my salvation through that one alone sacrifice for my sins made by thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A fruitful petition to GOD. O LORD GOD of infinite wisdom inspire my heart and direct my voice that I may not think nor utter any thing before thy Maiesty but that which thou knowest to be expedient for me to ask and glorious for thee to give Turn not my prayer Good Lord into perdition nor my suit into sin for thou art the God of my Fathers on whom I wholly depend save me for thy mercies sake O save me as I have always put my trust in thee and when through the perverseness and froward inclination of my nature I fall into any wickedness and sin leave me not good Lord unto them acquit me from the inordinate lust of the body let no desire of uncleanness take hold upon me and give me not over to an unshamefast and obstinate mind Lord here I stand vile wretch before the throne of thy dreadful presence hoping that I shall be heard not in the faintness of my faith but in the power of thy promises O weigh my weakness and grant my desires as thou knowest most meet for me then can I want nothing and my conscience shall be comforted with all spiritual consolation in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be ascribed all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be ingrafted into Christ O LORD it is mercy without merit that I am a branch of the Vine Jesus that I am the house and Temple of the Holy Ghost It is of Justice that thou hast appointed thy house to be a place of prayer and of duty therefore that we should pray unto thee For this O Lord I thank thee that thou hast made me thy child to lodge me and I acknowledge that of duty I am bound to serve thee but give me O Lord the grace of thy Spirit to conduct me in the way of thy will cleanse or create a new heart within me that I may be a fit lodging for thee and yield up the savoury sacrifice unto thee which thou requirest of every Christian I mean the sacrifice of prayer the sacrifice of the heart which savoureth sweetly unto thee And at this time in hope of the assistance of thy holy Spirit I desire thee that as thou hast of mercy covered me under thy wings of safety so thou wilt defend and keep me from all the storming rages of Satan who is wont not only by day but also and that especially by night to undermine man when his senses are fettered in bands of rest but I hope O good Lord that as I am then most unable and at all times else to withstand the buffets and assaults of Satan so thou wilt be most ready to succour me and partly because thereby thou shalt unlock the riches of thine infinite mercy and pity and partly because thou lovest every thing which thy hands have made For which and for all other thy blessings I yield thee all honour power and glory which is due only to thy blessed Majesty for ever world without end Amen A Prayer against evil imaginations O Lord cleanse my heart I do beseech thee from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughts give me a clear conscience shame-fac'd eyes modest hands and a tongue to tell the truth and seeing there is nothing hid that shall not be discovered good Lord I beseech thee to search my thoughts and renew in me thy holy Spirit direct my feet in thy ways that walking after thee in the path of the righteous I may pass through this vail of misery bearing thy banner stoutly in my warfare and in the end obtain everlasting joy the promised hire of such as have born thy Cross and valiantly fought with the armour of faith against temptations and all evil vouchsafe O Lord to grant all these my supplications and petitions for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power and glory for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I yield thee most humble and hearty thanks not only for keeping and preserving me this day but all my life that neither my enemies have prevailed against me as they sought nor any other danger which in this world is incident unto mankind hath overcome me but hast like a loving Father and careful purveyor given and
the wind and as stubble against a flaming fire Though I have sinned grievously in thy sight preferring my wicked desires before thy holy Commandments esteeming the pleasure of a moment before eternal and everlasting joys yet am I bold O merciful Father to prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Majesty heartily to beseech and humbly to intreat thee that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts for I have none in heaven to fly unto but thee nor in the earth of whom I may receive any comfort but at thy fatherly hands which are stretched out day and night to receive all that by earnest repentance turn unto thee and to refresh their distressed consciences wherefore O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies I approach unto thee desiring thee to look down from the height of thy sanctuary upon me poor and wretched sinner and to wipe away mine offences and to blot out my misdeeds especially all those my ungracious unclean and ungodly acts that they may not come up in remembrance with thee nor be imputed to me for ever For thy Sons sake O Lord in whom thou art well pleased and in whom thou wast fully satisfied upon the Cross for my sins grant me free pardon and remission in that I have so foolishly by my exceeding frailty committed against thee but quicken thou me O Lord that art the fountain of life and call thou out of heaven thy dwelling place that my wandring soul may hear the voice of her shepherd and follow thee wheresoever thou leadest O give me thy helping hand and by thy Spirit cast down subdue and mortifie my raging â—usts and affections let me not any longer be occupied in ungodliness lest mine enemies triumph over me pluck up O my good Father these roots of bitterness that no unsavoury fruit may come of the Tree which thou of thine own hand hast planted I desire I look I call I cry for thy assistance that I may conquer and subdue all the sinful and unruly motions of my heart O blessed Saviour that hast granted so many petitions upon earth to them that were careful for the body fulfil 〈◊〉 pray thee this my desire mortifie good Father in me the old body of sin and give unto me a new body purged from these works to serve thee the living God â—enew my spirit daily that I may cast away these works of darkness why should my body made by thy hands and my soul framed according to thy Image be given over as a prey into the hands of Satan Deliver me O Lord from the snare of the hunter and preserve me from the hand of mine enemy who lieth in wait for my spiritual life and laboureth for my everlasting destruction To thee I fly O Lord for succour hide me therefore under the shadow of thy hand that none of the fiery darts of Satan take hold on me And so good Lord to conclude for the love thou bearest unto mankind for thy Sons sake Jesus Christ who hath taken our nature upon him grant that I may not be tempted above my strength but that in all temptations I may fly unto thee as mine only comfort and salvation and that thou wilt of thy mercy and goodness give me grace and desire to withstand all the motions of my sinful flesh and affections which word of thine I beseech thee O Lord to perfect and fully accomplish in me that I may do all things pleasing in thy sight for ever Amen A Prayer for redress of a sinful life O Most merciful God and dear Father grant that with heart I desire thee with desiring seek thee in seeking find thee in finding that I love thee and by loving thee that I turn not again to my former sins which thou hast redeemed give me O Lord a repentant heart and a contrite spirit quench in me O King of glory the lust of my flesh and kindle in me the â—ire of thy love O my Redeemer take from me the spirit of pride and most favourably enrich me with the measure of humility remove from me O my Saviour the fury of anger and graciously arm me with the shield of patience O my Creator root out of me all rancour and endue me with a chearful and meek heart and bestow upon me a perfect faith right hope and constant love preserve me from all vanity inconstancy of mind wavering of heart scoffing of tongue wicked slandering from the vice of hypocrisie the poyson of flattery contempt of the poor oppression of the weak from greedy avarice cankered envy and deadly blasphemy root out of me O my Lord and Maker rash boldness contumacy frowardness negligence idleness blindness of heart obstinacy of mind savage conditions contempt of that good is rigour towards my neighbour O my God and merciful Father I beseech thee in Jesus Christ to bless me with the works of mercy and zeal of godliness to suffer with the afflicted to minister to the needy to counsel them that go astray to comfort the sorrowful to pardon them that trespass against me to love them that hate me to render good for evil to imitate the good to beware of the evil and to embrace vertue to guard the door of my mouth to watch the enemies that compass my lips to despise worldly things and earnestly to thirst after the Heavenly through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for continual remembrance of our end O God the only giver of life and the maintainer and preserver thereof and the life after death grant me true consideration that this body of mine is builded upon an earthly foundation and framed of the substance of dust and clay which is not durable the glory whereof vanisheth like the flower of the field which is soon cut down and withered the body is the mansion or rather the prison of the soul and the same so frail weak and feeble subiect to so many causes that procure the dissolution of body and soul that death often happeneth when we think least thereon wherefore grant O God of my life that I may have such continual care foresight and diligent respect unto the direction of my doings cogitation and words as I load not my poor Soul so much with the burthen of sensless security sin and iniquity that the body being suddenly intangled with the snares of death be carried where there is no rest nor joy but continual mourning and anguish of mind O my most loving Father lighten mine Eyes that I sleep not in sin nor wander in darkness according to the will of the flesh but make me always willing to come unto thee even with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me let not me as it were draw backward when thou invitest me to the sweet banquet of thy Heavenly Kingdom as by thy Word and Gospel preached and revealed unto us which is an especial calling of us and when I feel my self grieved or
Worship of Israel 5. Call to remembrance O Lord thâ— tender mercy and thy loving kindneâ—â— which have been ever of old 6. Shew thy servant the light of thâ— countenance and save me for thy mercâ—â— sake 7. Thou hast been my succor leave mâ— not neither forsake me O God of my salvation 8. My time is in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies 9. O keep my soul and deliver me leâ— me not be confounded for I have put my trust in thee 10. O my soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my God my goods are nothing unto thee 11. The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance I have set God always before me for he is on the right hand therefore I shall not fall 12. Wherefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiced my flesh also shall rest in hope 13. For why thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither shalt thou suffer me to see corruption 14. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. O spare me a little and suffer me to recover my strength O Lord before I go from hence and be no more seen Now O my soul look upon Christ Jesus the Righteous thy Advocate and Redeemer who is ready to receive thee therefore be glad in him and give thanks rejoycing in the visitation of the Lord by which he hath prepared thee for the heavenly Jerusalem and everlasting bliss 〈◊〉 acknowledge O Lord I have deserved to die and the desire I have to live is for the amendment of my life and in some better measure to set forth thy glory therefore good Father if it be thy pleasure restore me to health again and grant me long life But if thou hast in thy eternal decree appointed this sickness to be a preparation to my immediate dissolution and by it to call me out of this transitory life I resign commit and willingly commend my spirit into thy hands and holy pleasure beseeching thee to bless me from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul Let my soul throughly consider of the account I have to make to thee my God and how few minutes soever it hath to remain in my body let the power of thy Spirit recompence the shortness of time and perfect my account before I pass away Be pleased O Lord in the reconciliation of thy Son for my sins Let the infiniteness of my offences rely upon the infiniteness of thy mercy by his sufferings breath inward comfort to my heart and confidence in thy gratious promises that though my body be going the way of all flesh yet my soul may go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if it be thy determination to lay my body in the grave to receive my soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen The Sick saith O My soul thou which art endued with the image of God redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ enlightened by the Holy Ghost adorned with vertue and accounted with Angels Love thou him who loveth thee trust in him who careth for thee seek thou him who seeketh thee My soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such things are spoken My heart longeth my soul thirsteth till I enter into my Masters Joy To which everlasting joy O Lord receive my soul where all thy Saints rejoyce in eternal joy and thanksgiving singing praises and Allelujas to thee the Lord our God Eye hath not seen nor ear hath heard neither entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for those that love him Glory be to the Father c. Directions for the SICK MAN for the violation of that great Command which God his Creator gave him in the beginning hath exposed him and his posterity to a certain and sure doom in these words Thou shalt dye the death For the wages of sin is death the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. Variable and therefore miserable is the condition of man this hour this minute in health in the next by a sudden change and alteration at the point of death In the morning flourishing like a Palm like a green Bay-Tree in the evening cut down dryed up and withered for we consume away in thy displeasure and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation Psalm 90. All flesh is grass and the glory thereof as the flower of the field Psal 40. The glory of man is as the flower of the field which withereth and falleth away 2 Pet. 2. 4. He considereth we are but flesh and as the wind that passeth away Psal 78. Our life is but of a short continuance and full of trouble man cometh up like a flower vanisheth like a shadow falls sick and dyeth sleepeth and riseth not until the heavens be no more Job 14. As soon as thou scatterest us we are even as asleep and sade away suddenly and in thy anger all our days are gone and ended as a tale that is told And what man living shall not see Death Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3. 19. Thy body shall return to earth the center of the body and thy soul to Heaven to God which gave it to everlasting glory who at the last day the day of the Resurrection will re-collect re-unite thy Body though turned to Atoms to thy soul at the voice of the Angels Trumpet Arise ye dead and come to Judgment the Righteous to receive everlasting happiness and the wicked eternal torment Wonderful and great hath the love of God been unto mankind in our Creation Redemption Preservation and giving us assured hopes of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord for being fallen from blessedness by the sins of our first parents into the snares of Satan and thereby become his bondslaves and servants overcome by sin Job 8. and being servants of sin we are freed from Righteousness Rom. 6. God so loved us that he sent his only Son to be reconciliation for our sin Joh. 4. 10. Rich is his mercy whereby he loved us Eph. 1. Christ suffered for our sin to bring us unto God being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the spirit 1 Pet. 3. He sent redemption to his People Holy and Reverend is his Name Psa 111. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity Tit. 2. Therefore blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he raised up a mighty Salvation for us in the House of his servant David Luke 1. 68. Our Life here on Earth is a warfare full of trouble misery and vexation of spirit a daily tempest and continual strugling between the mind and the flesh the Law
may see the mysteries of thy profound and excellent truth increase O Lord all holy desires in me to attain the knowledge of thy will let my whole delight be in it to meditate therein day and night that it may be more precious unto me than Gold and Silver many times fined Further howsoever thy graces and gifts O Lord are to be acknowledged in men yet because thy good pleasure is so that all men should carry the scars of ignorance and infirmity draw in my whole delight I beseech thee and kindle all my affections to the love of thy Law and Testimonies and to those Scriptures that were written and indited by thine own self and thy spirit for those good Lord contain thy whole will in that everlasting Covenant that thou hast stricken with thy Saints This O Lord is that well spring of wisdom and grace that shall make us wise before thee howsoever the world condemn it of madness and folly Teach thou me O Lord and I shall be taught open thou mine eyes that I may see the excellent things of thy Law reform my heart that self-love and vain-glory may be quite vanquished and slain in me that I may only set before mine eyes thy glory O gracious God spoil this power of Satan in me that by thy means thy good gifts of knowledge and wisdom be not abused against thee thy Gospel and Glory that I be not carried through emulation spite or envy of any mans credit or gifts to set my self against thy truth but give me true humility that above all things I may rejoyce in the advancement and praise of thy Name whether it be with my honour or shame with my peace or trouble with good report or evil report I know O Lord that true wisdom is from thee alone and that thou hast so ordained thy servants in so gracious a dispensation of thy gifts that they who have the greatest need of theirs that are the least the greatest Master-builders of them that are but labourers basket-bearers in thy Church The unity of thy Spirit and the bond of Peace knit us fast together and hold us in to reverence each other and to be at one in thy work O knit our hearts together that we may all seek thee to thy eternal Praise to whom only belongeth Renown Glory and Honour for ever c. A fruitful Prayer to God ALmighty and Eternal God my Creator and lover I praise adore and bless Thee for that in my offences and ungratefulness thou hast so mencifully and leisurably forborn and suffered me to live even to this hour whereunto thou by thy benefits hast brought me giving anto me thy wretched servant life and necessaries thereunto belonging appointing Angels to be my keepers O my good God who knoweth whether till evening my life shall be prolonged or what death is appointed for me O merciful God and Heavenly Father grant that I may with hearty repentance truly repent my sins and inwardly bewail that ever I offended thy Godly Majesty suffer not my soul to depart this body before it be through thy mercy perfectly reconciled unto thee by grace bedeck'd with thy merits and vertues O merciful Saviour if these things I desire stand with thy Pleasure and Will grant them I beseech thee although I be not worthy to be heard And in thy mercy grant that by the merits of thy passion I may be purged from all my sins and that at the hour of my death I may be stricken with true and vehement contrition and being knit with thee in perfect charity I may immediately fleet unto thee my sweet Redeemer safely from all damnation desiring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragility unworthiness unstableness and miseries together with thine own goodness and most charitable mercy praying thee never to forsake me or leave me but that thou wilt always possess and govern me according to thy will to whom be all glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to be restored to Gods Favour O Almighty and everlasting God and Father which hast made Heaven and Earth and all things therein contained O incomprehensible unity O always to be worshipped most blessed Trinity I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ that thou wouldest drive from me all kind of wickedness and sin creating in me a clean heart and a right spirit O Lord Jesus I beseech thy goodness for the exceeding great love which drew thee out of thy fathers bosom in the womb of thy holy Virgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it pleased thee to save me and to deliver me from eternal death That thou wouldst draw me out of my self unto thee my Lord God And grant that this my love may recover again to me thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise up in me that is fallen to restore to me that which I have lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should live That so I may become conformable unto thee in all my life and conversation Thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being suppled with thy grace and settled in thy Faith for ever O my God loose and set at liberty my Spirit from all inferiour things govern my Soul and so work that both in soul and body I may be holy and live to thy Glory world without end Amen A Prayer to Christ to rest in his Love O My most loving Saviour I have chosen thee I wish and look for thee I run to meet thee I do renounce all things that are not of thee whatsoever thou wilt I will and whatsoever thou wilt not I forsake utterly detest in my heart and whatsoever shall hereafter happen unto me contrary to this present choice of my mind not to impute the same unto me but according to this choice of my soul judge me For all things which I ought not to do I utterly forsake them and if at any time hereafter I shall chance by any sinister occasion to agree to any thing that may be a cause to withdraw thy mercy from me I do now at this present hour utterly detest them And here O my sweet Saviour and Redeemer if it please thee or stand with thy Glory grant I beseeeh thee in this my present life that I may be delivered and preserved from all offences wherein I have offended and from all the pains whereunto deservedly I ought to come after my death and that thou wilt with the hands of thy mercy immediately after this life receive my soul into everlasting joy and felicity there to raign with thee for ever Amen A Prayer to God to grant our Petitions O Christ which art the strength of the weak the salvation of all believers and an aider of the oppressed yea our life and safe-guard in the peril of death I beseech thee that pitying mine Afflictions
kind of way offended thee blot them out of thy remembrance and let the Blood of that immaculate Lamb JESUS Christ wash them away let mine old offences decay and die in me that I never commit them any more or by any means renew them in thy sight and in the mean time do not withdraw thy grace from me but cause me to do all that good is O Father remove thy wrath away from me and restore me to thy favour turn thou thy loving countenance unto me and plentifully pour forth thy mercy upon me Guide thou my foot-steps in thy paths and suffer me not at any time to stray from thy ways let me always have the fear of thee in my heart and if at any time through weakness and frailty I do transgress thy Commandments yet do thou not therefore good LORD reject me but be thou that good Samaritan and pour the oyl and wine of mercy and forgiveness into those wounds which sin shall make in me make me thy servant and so endue me with thy grace that I may unfeignedly with heart and voice serve honour and praise thee through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer setting forth the power of GOD's Grace O Lord my GOD who hast created me after thine own Image give me Thy Grace which is most excellent and necessary unto all Salvation that I may subdue my wicked nature drawing me always unto sin and destruction for I see in my flesh the Law of sin rebelling against the Law of my mind and leading me captive to the satisfying of my vain desires in many things so that without the assistance of thy most heavenly grace poured zealously into my mind I am unable to resist the assaults thereof Yea LORD I take thy grace and that much grace of thine whereby my nature prone to all impiety even from my youth may be subdued and overcome for Nature being fallen through the offence of the first Man and desiled through sin the punishment whereof hath redounded unto all mankind so that that nature which at the first thou didst make good and righteous is now counted for the sin and infirmity of the corrupt nature insomuch as the motions left unto it tend always unto evil and inferiour things hence O Lord it is that touching the inward man I am delighted with thy Law knowing that thy statutes are good righteous and holy and that they reprove wickedness and teach that which is to be avoided but in my flesh serve the Law of sin whilest I obey the appetite more than reason hence it is that to will is present with me but alas I find no means to perform hereof it is that often times I purpurpose to do many things well but because thy heavenly favour and grace is wanting which may help mine infirmity I flee back and retire yea hereof it is that I know indeed the way of righteousness and see as it were in a glass what my duty is but through the weight of my sin I have no power to arise unto perfection O Lord how greatly do I lack thy grace both to begin what good is and also to proceed throughly in goodness for without it I can do nothing but through the help thereof I can do all things in thee O Heavenly Grace without which neither the merits of Man nor the gifts of Nature are of price whatsoever For the gifts of Nature are common as well to the wicked as to the good but thy Grace is a gift peculiar only to the Elect which whoso have are counted meet and worthy eternal life Finally it is so excellent that without doubt neither the gift of prophecy nor the working of Miracles is any thing worth yea neither faith nor hope nor any other virtue are of price or accepted of thee without love and grace O blessed Grace which maketh him rich with vertue who is poor in spirit Come O come down unto me and fill me early with thy comfort that my mind with weariness and hunger faint not O Lord I beseech thee impart thy grace unto me that is sufficient for me though I have nothing in me else that nature would require yea I protest if that be with me I will dread no temptation nor trouble whatsoever this is my strength that bringeth counsel and help yea it is both mightier than all enemies and wiser than the prudent it is the Mystery of Truth the teacher of Discipline the light of the mind the comfort in affliction the expeller of sadness the remover away of care and the nourisher of Religion At a word without it what am I but withered wood and a root most unprofitable to be cast away Wherefore O Lord let this thy grace both go before and also follow me whereby I may continually apply my self to well-doing through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for a competent living O Almighty GOD and loving Father who of nothing hast created all things living thy Providence is so great over them all that thou sufferest not the most vile and simplest of them all to perish for want of relief and things requisite for them seeking the same at thy hands yea and such is thy favour O Lord towards Man that thou dost most miraculously provide for him in that all the rest of thy creatures thou hast ordained for his use and service and yet not for all alike for it hath pleased thee to make some poor and some rich some thou exaltest and some thou keepest low some to live at case and some by labour and yet none live without thy Providence and I among the rest of thy creatures do acknowledg my self greatly bound unto thee for helping me hitherto and as thy silly creature and work of thy hands I humbly prostrate my self in heart before thy Majesty beseeching thee favourably to look down upon my necessity and grant me whatsoever thou seest necessary for me even a competent and necessary portion here not over-much lest I wax proud and disdain my inferiours and if it be thy will vouchsafe unto me not over little lest urgent necessity drive me to over-much care and over-much care carry me to unlawful means and so I run headlong into thy displeasure but by truth in my calling I may be able to live and wade through the hardness of this world and be rather helpful to the poor than burthensome to the rich O Lord bring it thus to pass for without thy blessing and Fatherly furtherance I cannot sufficiently execute neither can that prosper thereupon the whole state of my longing and maintenance dependeth wherefore good Lord bless my understanding and endeavours to the prosperous execution of all things which concern my vocation and calling and grant O Lord that whatsoever doth happen unto me as poverty or Riches I may be of a patient mind that in
JESUS Saviour of the world whose mercy cometh unto us like a stream who art my eternal happiness I do from the botto mof my heart beseech thee to increase establish hope and strengthen patience within me for this certainly is true that one little drop of thy sacred Blood shed for us is of more power to save us than all our enormous sins to condemn us wherefore O sweet Saviour look upon me with the eyes of mercy as thou lookedst back upon Peter in the Hall of the High-Priests Palace after he had both renounced thee and cursed himself O God the holy Ghost be thou present with me in mine extream need when the Devill will accuse me and my conscience bear witness against me when I shall be environed with horrible danger and temptations and all things set themselves against me Strengthen my heart at that time O comfortable Spirit with the Zeal of thy Testimony that undoubtedly I may believe the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life which shall be given to all believers O blessed Trinity and eternal God of one essence give grace that in every combate especilly at the point of death being mindful of thy Covenant made with me in Baptism and of thy most comfortable promise annexed which is that all that believe and are baptised shall be saved I may never doubt either of thy merciful good will towards me or of the free remission and forgiveness of my sins but by often remembrance of this Sign and Covenant I may daily more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of eternal happiness and here O holy Trinity lift up my sorrowful heart and pour upon me the wholsome comfort of thy Heavenly bliss and at the point of death refresh me with the sweet light of thy chearful countenance that with exceeding joy I may desire to depart and come to thy heavenly house where Thou livest and reignest as my eternal GOD and Father for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the Power of GOD's Spirit to abide in us O Omnipotent and eternal GOD and Father which comfortest such as be sorrowful and who givest all good gifts thou of thy free favour and love hast willed us in all our affairs and necessities and as often as we stand in need of any of thy blessings or feel our selves burdened with any kind of tribulation or affliction either of body or mind to call upon thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ and thou wilt grant what we want most humbly I beseech thee to send down upon my dark understanding the bright beams of thy most holy Spirit to lighten me and to direct me in all my supplications and prayers and especially at this time O Lord for that thou knowest my weakness and ignorance to be such as I am altogether unable to frame my requests according to thy will or to seek that which is for mine own souls health wherefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord in the Name of him thy Son to address and prepare my heart to the true understanding and unfeigned calling on thy Name for such things as thy wisdom shall think most expedient for me both to the obtaining of thy heavenly Kingdom which is before all things to be sought for and for temporal blessings best known to thee which in respect of my ignorance my dulness my corruption my weakness and the guilt of mine own conscience I cannot crave in such due and faithful manner as I ought and therefore most dear Father I here beseech thee in the Name of thy Son Christ that thou wilt aiâ— me with thy holy Spirit in my prayers that being of my self dull I may be made Zealous and whereas I am of my self cold I may be thereby made fervent and faithful that my Prayers be not as a smoke which vanisheth or as the wind which passeth away being only in the lips and not firm in the heart let it be effectual and an acceptable sacrifice sweet and pleasing in thy sight and that nothing pass the bounds of thy unfeigned lips that which may beseem a single heart always sounding thine honour and setting forth of thy most glorious praise let thy holy Spirit O Lord come unto me let it continue with me work and prevail effectually in me unto the end that I may both at this time begin and for evermore continue as thou will est I should namely in Faith that I fall not into any temptation in hope that I may constantly look for and faithfully attain unto perfect understanding of thy will and ableness in all things to fulfil the same make me also good Lord fervent in love that I may freely and unfeignedly even from my very heart forgive and forgot all injuries wrongs and evil doings of such as by any means have offended me with hearty prayer for their amendment that I approaching unto the Throne of thy mercy in a pure and single heart may heartily as well for all others as for my self for things necessary both for my soul and body make my humble petitions unto thee and in thy good time tast that most sweet fruit of my humble desires according unto thy will so shall I shew forth thy praise and give glory to thy Name for ever and ever world without end Amen A Prayer for the victory against sin O LORD there is no Victory without Fighting nor any Crown without Victory give me therefore power O Lord that fighting valiantly I may be crowned gloriously in Heaven with thee to live for ever minister strength unto me that I may over-master mine enemies and give me the spirit of patience that continuing unto the end I may be found and taken as a faithful Souldier of thy Son Jesus Christ and so be blessed let me not faint in fear but let me fight in a lively saith which over-matcheth all the whole world plant me a natural branch by the power of thy holy Word in the Vine Jesus and make me able to endure every crack let no canker of sin eat me let no worm of a guilty conscience gnaw me let no blast of the world overcome me but stay me up with thy mighty hand and be ever at my elbow that I may be crowned though I be crossed and saved though now soused in extream misery in this is all my hope for surely of my self I am but a vapour a worm I am born of a woman in sin a sinful child by nature and to my power wage battel with Satan against my self to my utter undoing O Lord unless thou regenerate me and assist me with thy Spirit always to resist him which do O gracious God I beseech thee for thy great mercy to whom be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be mindful of death O GOD in whose hands consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Son Christ's sake vouchsafe to give me grace to set before mine eyes as a most certain mark whereto
this frail body of mine must tend it self the Image of that which is to the faithful the end of pain and the begining of pleasure the end of misery and the beginning of bliss but to the secure and careless the end of their pleasures and beginning of eternal pains And vouchsafe good LORD that I may have an earnest desire of serving thee and leading my life according unto thy will that whensoever it shall please thee to call me out of this life I be not through fear stricken with doubt of condemnation but even at the last gasp through unfeigned Faith in Jesus Christ may take and have taste of eternal Salvation that death be not bitter or terrible unto me but rather when it cometh I with joy receive the same in the Name of thy Son JESUS Christ Bless me good Lord from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul and justifie me in the death of thy Son that my Name may be registred in the Book of Life O Lord comfort my guilty conscience with the everlasting light of thy bountiful savour and let me have place among thy Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom LORD for thy mercies sake after this my bodily death give me the fruition of thy presence in the rich Palace of endless bliss to whose merciful Protection I commend with all humility and reverence my soul and body Lord Jesus preserve me Lord Jesus comfort me Lord Jesus pray for me for only into thy hands that hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I commend my soul both now and for ever Amen A Prayer for a happy departure out of this life O Most gracious and eternal GOD thy years endure throughout all generations and thy days are without end or beginning but the days of Man are determined which he cannot overpass and the number of his Months are foreknown unto thee wherefore instruct me O LORD that being always mindful of my mortality I never promise unto my self many years nor long life in this pilgrimage of mine so shall I not live securely deferring my conversion to thee from day to day nor yet put confidence in this frail and uncertain life as that rich man spoken of in the Gospel but give me grace that in thy fear I may dayly prepare my self to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certain than death though nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof therefore I beseech thee O Lord to let me have always before mine eyes an image and mediation of my departure the better to know the fleeting and vanity of this srail and cumbersome life that I may live to thee my God being sound in faith and strong in hope looking with cheerfulness for the day of my departure and the joyful appearing of thy Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer and make me I beseech thee O LORD a faithful and wise servant looking for the coming of my Lord for that I know not when he will come lest by a sudden hour of death being overtook I being found unready but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conversion and repentance I may covet to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST my Redeemer and grant also O LORD that at the point of death having escaped all hardness and temptations I may triumph like a Conquereor and behold the power and presence of thy holy Spirit and let my last word be that which thy Son did utter upon the Altar of the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear O God the groanings of my heart and the hour of death being come let thy servant depart in peace through JESUS Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Petition to GOD the Father O Omnipotent GOD and Father I have asked here at this time many things of thee and yet not deserved any I confess alas that not only those things which I require be not due unto me but in stead of them most grievous punishments yet O LORD lay not my sins to my charge for if thou shouldest I were not able to abide or stand in thy sight but O LORD I most humbly beseech thee that thou wilt forgive me all that is past and grant that I may never hereafter offend in the same again and vouchsafe I beseech thee of thy goodness O Lord to direct sanctifie and keep my heart and body my senses and doings my talk and communication in thy most holy Laws and Commandments and that thy holy Angel may be with me to direct my feet unto the way of peace truth and health that I may be whole safe and free in thee and by thee both here and in the world to come O Christ hear me and save me which livest and reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God in perfect unity to whom be praise for ever world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father I with all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseech thee this night which thou hast ordained for man to rest in that thou wilt guard and protect me with thy good guiding Spirit and albeit my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my soul may continually keep watch and ward let not the enemy find me slumbering and sleeping as careless in the cradle of sinful security lest that whilst I am unarmed that is naked and destitute of thy help and favour he enter in and break up the house of my sinful body and make such havock and spoil and that my infected leprous soul deformed by means of mine iniquity and wounded with the dangerous darts of transgression be thrown with the body of sin unto the lake of destruction make me still O good Lord to consider that the bed is the plain pattern of the grave make me to understand that when I am laid of my self without thy Heavenly Providence I cannot be able to rise again make me also to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure of death to whose stroke at thy appointed pleasure I must submit my self endue me with love and charity to all men let my lamp O Lord be garnished with oyl that whensoever thy messenger death shall draw nigh and knock at the gate of my body I may at his summons in the day of the Resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my burning lamp that is with a stedfast faith when as by Faith I shall be cloathed with a new for my mortal body shall be then covered with immortality and the corruption of my sinful and rebellious flesh then changed to incorruption and perfect purity thy righteousness shall be mine thy merits shall make me perfect and holy by vertue whereof hell shall lose his victory death shall lose his sting my faith and hope shall have its end and reward and I with thy Saints continually dwell in love and
strictly that I should believe without doubting so wouldst thou in all my needs I should come unto thee as a Father and make my moan without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make for thy glory and my comfort Lo therefore to thee dear Father do I come in thy Son Jesus Christ praying thee of thy great mercy and goodness to be merciful unto me that I may love thee with all my heart for ever that my works may be ever found holy in thy sight and that I may always not only strive against sin but also overcome the same dayly more and more as thy children do and above all things desire the sanctifying of thy Name the coming of thy Kingdom the doing of thy Will here on earth as it is in Heaven and that only through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to GOD to bless our endeavours O My Celestial Father be favourable unto me thy repentant servant fled from mine enemies to thy help and succour Impute not my sins unto me for Christs sake for I have heard thy fatherly voice and it soundeth daily in mine ears out of Heaven promising me and affirming constantly thy self to be appeased with me for thy Sons sake whom thou commandest me to hear and believe who is made of thee my righteousness my salvation my Peace my Mediator and intercessor my fulfiller of the Law my deliverer and my whole holy accomplisher of all my just desires and my Saviour Christ Jesus God and man in whose Name at this time I attempt and take in hand all my just doings according to my calling desiring thy gracious goodness O Lord God and Father to prosper it further it and give it happy increase that whatsoever I take in hand justly to finish the same O holy Father bless all my endeavours with thy blessed increase and let me not seek mine own will but ever to pray that thy will be fulfilled and let me not be led into temptation but deliver me from all evil for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to live uprightly in our Calling O GOD of all comfort and giver of all consolation forgive my sins cleanse and wash me from all iniquities which disable me to perform my calling in such sort as becometh me and through the blood of thy Son purifie my heart and my imperfections and sanctifie me with thy grace that my sins being forgiven I may rest in thy favour and continual comfort and be daily blessed with new gifts that I may be found perfect in my calling seasoned so with a lively faith in thee that thy holy Spirit may continually dwell and bear rule in me and lead me to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling that all unnatural affection being truly mortified I may only rest in thee and rely on thee and be ruled by thee in all things Good Father grant that I may take the direct and right course in my vocation to eternal life in which course consisteth the inward peace of the Soul which is only delighted in thy inviolable truth revealed by thy Son and is left unto us in His Word and last Will in which his last Will and Testament are comprehended all necessary Rules and the sacred discipline whereby thy children are to guide themselves in their several callings which directions are comprehended in three principal virtues by thee bestowed on them that seek them at thy hand in the Name of thy Son as Faith Hope and Love which three are so united and knit together in one in thine elect children that they through thy grace go not awry in their calling I therefore dear Father being of my self ignorant and of mine own power unable to comprehend the height of my calling instantly beseech thee in mercy to behold me an unperfect creature without these Virtues and so adorn me with them that I may be made perfect in all good works of the Spirit that my labours and endeavours be not in vain in thee and grant that I may joyn with all my travils desires and endeavors faith with â—aith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience with patience godliness with godliness brotherly kindness with brotherly kindness and with brotherly kindness that I be not unfruitful in my calling but may acknowledge thy Son Jesus Christ and in him have peace of conscience that I may be patient in troubles long-suffering in wrongs faithful in expecting hope in distress rejoycing in heart quieted in mind in hope to enjoy at thy hands and in thy good time whatsoever maketh for the true comfort of my soul and the relief of my body that in all true and inward feeling of thine aid my calling may be made perfect and sealed with the seal of thine own Spiritual Probation so shall I thy unworthy servant be directed in the true knowledge of Thee O blessed Lord and loving Father except thou thus direct me I cannot stand but shall fall into many miseries for no Estate no Degree no Calling Office Function or Trade of life can prosper or be rightly performed without thy continual aid direction and providence therefore good Lord guide me by thy Spirit increase my faith give me wisdom and ableness in all things to execute my calling as I ought and to the execution thereof bless all my members make them apt and ready instruments to perform their duties that in no point I fail in a Christain proceeding therein and bridle me in the nature of flesh and blood which unless thou season my affections by thy Spirit will so much the more glory by how much that thou hast exalted me and inabled me to live in this world in higher reputation than other men whereunto flesh and blood is ready to attribute chiefest hearts ease and by that subtil shift Stan many times moveth us to rely upon vain things Wherefore O good Father vouchsafe I beseech thee to ground all my affections upon thy fear that I be not miscarried in my calling from the true obedience of thee without which neither honour profit wealth wisdom or any other blessing of thine can stand relieve or comfort me be pleased therefore dear Father with me and grant that all things that I take in hand may begin in knowledge proceed in fear and end in love that the whole course of my life may be blessed with good effect in all mine enterprises that neither mine enemies rejoyce at my miseries the Godly be offended at my rashness nor my estate hindred by my foolishness grant this good Lord for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for even Amen Prayers for Thursday Night O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm GRacious is the LORD and righteous yea our GOD is
come Amen A Prayer for the increase of Faith O Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by thy Word we are taught to love thee fear thee and serve thee and in true godliness and sincerity of life is the only way and means to continue thy love and favor towards us without the which we cannot but perish and that belief and confidence in thy Son Jesus Christ is the only means of our redemption and atonement with thee and the only hold of our salvation whereof we cannot be sufficiently assured without thy special gift of faith which is the anchor whereto the cable of our salvation is fastened which being broken the hope of our salvation cannot but decay and be of none effect vouchsafe therefore O most merciful God to plant one spark of true faith in my heart and that it may grow to such perfection that I may know thee perfectly love thee duly fear thee and unseignedly acknowledge Jesus Christ to be sent into this wretched world to save us miserable sinners O Lord grant me to take such hold of his Death and Passion Resurrection and Ascension that by his Death I may have pardon and by his Re surrection rise to righteousness and by his Ascension ascend with him to thy celestial glory and finally attribute the cause and means of my salvation to proceed only of his Passion increase this faith in me good Lord daily more and more that it may grow by the working of thy holy Spirit to full perfection accompanied with good works and godly behaviour without the which I confess that faith cannot be withhold not from me good Lord that singular gift of thine which is the stay of my happiness and the want thereof a most certain token of my perdition no good thing is wanting to him on whom thou vouchsafest to bestow this gift to him all things are light and in him remaineth no darkness at all banish most sweet Lord therefore all misbelief all wavering and doubting out of my heart and plant instead thereof unfeigned faith that applying the same to every affliction both of body and mind I may vanquish and overcome Satan withstand the delights of this world and suppress the corruptible motions of the flesh and enjoy at thy good pleasure health of body and soundness of mind and all things requisite for me A most precious jewel is faith for thou hast said that whosoever heareth the Word and believeth in Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent shall have everlasting life then on the contrary he that believeth not is in danger of everlasting death O Lord increase my faith wherein I may believe in that thy Son and take hold of all his promises who said that whosoever believeth in him shall want no manner of thing that is good Lord I believe help my unbelief and give me faith yea but as a grain of mustard-feed and I shall be able to remove Satan out of his desired habitation and to expel him and his ministers and walk no longer according to the will of the flesh but casting away the works of darkness enjoy the pure light of the Gospel and persevere and abide therein without fainting in any tribulation or vexation of spirit going forward in hope in fear in love and unfeigned zeal towards thee and obtain at thy merciful hands whatsoever is necessary in this life and after this life ended enjoy thy celestial inheritance which grant me for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake to whom be all honour c. A Prayer or Thanksgiving for the Passion of Christ O Lord Jesus Christ God and man we thank thee for that of thy only and free mercy without any works or worthiness at all of ours thou hast redeemed us miserable sinners through thy most innocent and holy Passion O sweet Jesus how bitter and great were thy pains how horrible and cruel thy punishment how grievous and lamentable thine afflictions how bloody thy wounds thy dolours how divers and thy death how shameful which thou suffered for us O how inestimable was thy love that moved thee to endure such and so great torments to reconcile us to thy Father in the Mount of Olives through our infinite sins lighting upon thee thou didst sweat contrary to our nature blood that the drops like blood trickled upon the earth and so after a marvellous manner blood came out of thee being expelled by the resolutions of the Spirits nature being broken and languishing by reason of thine intolerable sorrows and torments and thy Disciples being fled thou wast and also didst most voluntarily commit thy self into the hands of most cruel Jews which brought thee most rigorously bound without compassion fromthe presence of one corrupt Judge unto another more cruel where thou wast most unjustly condemned thy blessed body was so mangled that even an Ethnick pitying the same uttered these words Behold the man Finally for our enormous offences thou wast afflicted with a most odious kind of death and so in the extremity of pain thou didst give up the Ghost commending the same unto thy Father in wonderful patience that so by thy torments having quitted us from all guiltiness as well of fault as of punishment we might be healed to this end thou didst bear the burden of our sins upon the wood of the Cross that thou mightest recover the peace of souls and obtain the true righteousness for as many as believe in thee wherefore O Jesus Christ thou Son of the living God for these torments and all other thy passions I will honour and praise thee for ever beseeching thee most humbly that thy passions may work and take effect in me and that always being mindful of the same I may rejoyce therein and make it a comfort for my self against all the temptations of Satan and the fear of sin and the Law and that thy Cross may be an example unto me that walking in thy steps I render not rebuke but for rebuke may imitate thy long-suffering praying for such as persecute and offend me and finally that I may so think upon and celebrate the cause of thy death that the consideration thereof may utterly extinguish all the flames of unlawful concupiscence and bury the inticements of the flesh and nourish the love of vertue within me that so being wholly dead unto sin I may live unto righteousness and serve thee which barest our sins in thy body upon the Cross which livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost one God for ever Amen A Prayer for mercy for our offences O Lord I am a grievous sinner I have passed and broken the banks of thy Commandments from the womb to this day I have with the Pirate Satan sailed in the ship of iniquity so that I may say with Paul I am chief of all sinners This must I needs confess to thee thou God of Justice and this worm of conscience biteth me what then good Lord shall the worm devour me
for Jesus Christ's sake to deal with me and them according to thy mercy and loving kindness and not after our deserts be thou merciful unto me and evermore mightily defend me unto my lives end conducting me uprightly in all my ways for the glory of thy holy Name to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the opening of the eyes of our understanding O Sweet Jesus lighten me with the brightness of eternal light and drive all darkness as it were from the mansion house of my soul suppress the wandring thoughts and break in pieces these violent temptations fight thou my God for my defence and vanquish those evil beasts to wit the intieing desires of the flesh that by thy power I may get peace and sing out thy praises in the holy Court of my soul send thy light and truth which may lighten the earth for I am rude earth good for nought until thou enlighten me pour out thy favour from above and replenish my soul with thy heavenly grace O Lord lift up my mind which is pressed down through the weight of sin and stir up the same wholly to the desire of heavenly and celestial things that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness it may greatly grieve me even to think of this world take me O Lord or rather pluck me from all momentany pleasures of earthly and vain things and joyn me unto thee by an indissoluble band of good will for thou alone dost suffice thy friend and without thee all things are vain and of no price in my heart to whom O my Lord God be all glory for ever Amen A Godly Meditation or Prayer O Lord my God I altogether unhappy and comfortless have grievously offended thee how often have I trespassed against thee and how often have I deserved thy displeasure and yet how seldom hast thou punished me how often hast thou been good and merciful unto me how often have I promised and vowed amendment and how little and seldom have I performed it I dare not lift up mine eyes towards heaven because I have sinned against it and in earth I cannot look for refuge because I have been a slanderer and a shame unto it what then shall I despair no for God is merciful and a good Saviour he doth visit them that live in darkness and is a chearful light to them that sit in the shadow of death he willeth us to forgive our brother though he offend seven times yea and infinitely and is more merciful than any man can be return thee therefore unto thy Lord God pray unto him humbly for grace and continue thee to bewail thy sins past because he that loveth thee provoketh thee daily with his gifts to love him and will not leave till he have made perfect his work begun and brought his mercy to full effect in thee what natural cause beginneth his work and leaveth it in the half way imperfect and as by natural order and right course things do proced and increase by little and little from the less to the more even so doth God first dispose us to his mercy and then increasing his goodness daily bestoweth on us in the end the treasure of his grace the inheritance of everlasting joys yea very love worketh in natural causes to bring forth their effects to perfection which if it be so in creatures what will the Creator do which is love it self and infinite goodness he will withdraw thee from thy sins and make thee clean and pure and finally bless thee with eternal life O Lord I come unto thee humbly waiting for thy mercy thou art my hope and help according to thy great goodness and mercy in Jesus Christ have mercy on me now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for perseverance in Prayer O Lord my God according to thy Commandment in mine afflictions and necessities I seek to thee for succour by continual Prayer and calling upon thy Name therefore most dear Father strengthen me by thy holy spirit that I may still persevere in Prayer and with longing desires patiently wait for thee O Lord being assured that although it appear not as yet thou art always present with me and heardest my complaint and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy self manifestly in renewing my heart with spiritual joy stir up O Lord I beseech thee my sluggish nature to call upon thee continually appointing thee neither the time nor the means of my deliverance but leaving all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the mean time never cease by continual Prayer to call for thy merciful deliverance and when thou shalt mercifully take upon thee to deliver me I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodness towards me and that it never slip out of my heart but that I may continue thankful for the same all the days of my life whereby thy glory in me may be declared and my soul relieved though Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer O My Lord God and merciful Father I humbly beseech thee in Jesus Christ that thou wilt vouchsafe to hide and bury all my sins and transgressions whatsoever from my infancy unto this present time I have committed and done against thy divine Majesty O Lord be thou my light in darkness then shall my light be as clear as the day O heavenly Father bless me O blessed Son keep me O Holy Ghost three Persons and one God deliver me this night from all sin and evill that may be hurtful to my soul and body that so with confidence to thee I may lay me down to rest and none make me afraid because thou art my Protector O holy Spirit at my last gasp be thou my light yea when my strength faileth my sight departeth mine ears wax deaf and my mouth dumb and when all my senses for sake me then give me some sense of eternal life that I may taste in this mortal body the beginning of thine everlasting comfort and at my departure out of this world I may behold by faith thy divine presence and so sleep quietly to eternal life through Jesus Christ thine only Son my Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen Short Directions before the Receiving of Christ's Holy Sacrament His Blessed Body and Blood SAcraments should of all men be admired and honoured not so much respecting the service which we do unto God in receiving them as the dignity of the sacred and secret gift we thereby receive from God They are the visible signs of invisible graces which indeed is the very end these heavenly Mysteries were instituted for They are the powerful instruments of God to eternal life for as our natural life consisteth of the union of the body and soul so our life supernatural in the union of the soul with God His flesh is meat his blood is drink not by surmised imagination but truly
as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Eph. 5. 1 2. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5. Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. See then ye walk circumspectly redeeming time because the daies are evill Jude 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen Prayers for the Sick REmember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our Forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with us for ever Spare us good Lord. O Lord I beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy servant that I which am rightly punished for my offences may by thy goodness be mercifully delivered for the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth world without end Amen ALmighty and everlasting God in whose hand consists the life of all mankind which correctest those whom thou receivest mercifully I beseech thee to hear my complaint and despise not the prayer that I make now in the time of my trouble in the vexation of my spirit and the anguish of my soul I remember thee and cry unto thee for mercy O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and redeemed me from the bondage of sin death and everlasting destruction by the most precious blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the Cross for the ransom of all my sins Have mercy upon me O Lord have mercy upon me bow down thine ear unto my cry and cast me not away in thine anger though for my wickedness I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me And now for my transgressions in thy indignation thou hast stricken me with grievous sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet are thy punishments less than my deservings But of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of life for thine own sake for thy holy Names sake for Christ Jesus sake be merciful unto my sin for it is very great and there is no rest in my bones by reason of my transgression Spare thy Servant O God which confesseth his sins pour thy sanctifying Grace into my heart and work thereby true and immediate repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious promise in Jesus Christ Let thy merciful providence so govern all this sickness that I never fall into utter dakness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self let the faintness of my spirit and the condemnation of my self be overcome with thy irresistable light thou God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account that I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the image of that which is to be faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal pain Strengthen my faith accept my repentant tears speak peace to my soul and conscience and say thou art my salvation My grace is sufficient for thee then shall my heart rejoyce and my soul shall be right glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this my bodily death I may enjoy the eternal fruition of thy heavenly presence Let me not O Father in this my trial be stricken with fear of condemnation or distrust thy promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self the remission of my sins that at the last gasp by faith in Jesus Christ I may have a taste of eternal salvation let not death if thou please to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may with joy receive the same and having escaped the hardness of temptation and the peril of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the power and presence of thy holy spirit let my last words be those which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear the groanings of my heart and the desire of my soul that thy servant may depart in peace through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom be all Praise Power Might Majesty and Dominion now and for ever Amen The Sick saith Job 14. 1. MAn that is born of a Woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery he cometh up and is cut down like a flower He fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one state In midst of life we are dying of whom shall we seek for succour and comfort but of thee O Lord God our Maker A Psalm 1. IN thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness incline thine ear to me and save me 2. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure 3. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord â—eal me for my bones are vexed 4. Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake for in death no man remembreth thee and who shall give thee thanks in the pit 5. Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death shew me thy marvellous loving kindness thou art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee 6. Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation look upon my affliction and pain and forgive all my sins 7. O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery 8. Preserve thou my soul therefore O my God and save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee 9. O comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul 10. O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thy handmaid 11. Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me 12. O satisfie me with thy mercy and that soon so shall I rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life 13. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart is like wax it melteth in the midst of my bowels 14. Help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for
our contrition and repentance In affliction saith the Lord they will hear me Davids troubles made him pray Hezekiah's sickness made him weep and misery drew the Prodigal child home We have the Prophets examples and patterns of bearing afflictions patiently which though the punishment and shame is of sin God turns to be the subject of his honour and glory in saving a sinner that calls upon him in faith and true repentance to Heaven His chastisements are signs of his Fatherly love which though for the present seem grievous unto us afterward it bringeth quiet fruit of righteousness to those whom the Lord giveth grace to make a sanctified use of it for which he hath inflicted this sickness on you And know you certainly though your sins are many and grievous which you have committed by the temptation of the Devil yet upon your true repentance God hath promised to forgive the benefits of which are the escaping eternal death God's everlasting punishments and the attaining eternal salvation where sin abounds there grace much more abounds God calls all those that are heavy laden to refresh and ease them of all their trouble the Lord forsaketh no man till man forsaketh him Look not so much upon the greatness of thy sins as to the riches of his mercy and let thy soul be comforted in the All-sufficient atonement of the blood of Jesus Christ Let the wicked saith the Lord forsake his way the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto me and I will have mercy upon him and I will pardon him abundantly Let not your conscience be terrified at the remembrance of your transgressions for there is no sin bars a man from salvation but incredulity and impenitency Therefore lift up your hearts unto the Lord call unto him for mercy repent earnestly of your sins and have a lively considence in Christ's merits and doubt not but upon your humble contrition and sorrow for sin with sighs and tears the blood of a wounded soul God will receive your soul into everlasting happiness to live in eternal glory which he of his infinite mercy grant through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The sick saith O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon me miserable sinner O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon me miserable sinner O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon me miserable sinner c. By thine Agony and bloody sweat By thy Cross and Passion By thy precious Death and Burial By thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the coming of the Holy Ghost Good Lord deliver us In all time of our tribulation In all time of our wealth in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment Good Lord deliver us I Humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon mine infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turn from me all those evils that I most righteously have deserved grant that in all my troubles I may put my whole trust and considence in thy mercy evermore serve thee if I live in holiness and pureness of living to thy honor glory through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Advocate Amen The friends of the sick party shall exhort him to examine himself of his estate both towards God and towards man that so by the condemning of himself he may find mercy at the hands of God for Christ Jesus sake 1. Of the confession of his faith 2. Of his sins and offences both against God Almighty either publick or private or his Neighbor in word or deed 3. Of his considence and faith in Jesus Christ for the death and passion he suffered for all sinners 4 Advise the party to send for the Minister that he may pray with him for the Lord hath promised to hear the prayers of the Faithful for us and to forgive us our trespasses And that he may give him the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ the living Bread that came down from Heaven If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever the Bread that I give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the World for whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him at the last day Joh. 6. 51. 5. Advise him to call to mind what injury or wrong he hath done to any man in word or deed that he may like good Zacheus make satisfaction where he hath injuriously fraudulently taken and detained from any man by oppression or deceit his goods or money for without restitution there can be no Repentance and if no Repentance no expectation of salvation 6. Advise him also to set his house in order for death will not be long in coming and that the covenant of the grace is not revealed to any And to make a judicious distribution of his estate not forgetting the poor The sick saith 1. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. 2. I am fully perswaded and undoubtedly in my conscience believe and do confess and acknowledge before God and you here present that every Point and Article of this my belief is true and necessary to Salvation 3. I acknowledge that I have been a grievous sinner offending my God many ways both in thought word and deed and am guilty of the breach of all his Commandments deserving for the same his heavy wrath and indignation against me I am sorrowful and mourn in my soul for them trusting that the Lord for Jesus Christ his sake who sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for my sin will have mercy upon me and grant me forgiveness for the same and after this life ended receive me to his eternal habitation 4. I confidently believe that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator and Saviour of all mankind and that I shall be saved by the only merits of his precious Death and Passion which he suffered on the Cross for my Salvation denying all meritorious works of my own and that there is no name under Heaven whereby I may be saved but in the name of Jesus Christ 5. I do from my heart freely forgive all the World all those that have any way wronged injured or offended me by word or deed as I desire to be forgiven of God And I desire likewise all men whom I have often offended by committing any unjust unconscionable or uncharitable act or deed to forgive me being sorry for what I did to their prejudice or hurt O Lord I beseech thee hear my Prayer and spare me which do confess my sins that I whose conscience by sin is accused by thy merciful pardon may be absolved through Jesus Christ Amen O Lord my Redeemer have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O most mighty and eternal God which hast compassion on all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we