to astonishment and venture on such proceedings Can you call to mind how he hath purged your Countrey of Divels and your Sick of their Diseases and suffer the Divel to enter into you O dreadful spectacle O that my Head were Water Who will rise with me against the wicked O thou that art purer then the Lillies purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean wash me and my filthiness shall not be seen O bathe me in the Fountain open'd for the House of Judah and Jerusalem and I shall look fairer then the Children which fed on the Meat of the King of Babylon's Table O my God I thirst for thee as dry Land after Water My Soul flies and flutters about like Noah's Dove and can find no rest till it gets into thy Ark. Great Gate of Mercy open to me hide me from the wrath of an offended God and make a covenant of Peace with me Ah! Who would not love thee that hears thee pray for thy greatest enemies O lovely Bridegroom of my Soul wound my Heart that it may be sick of Love How kind art thou even to thy most hard-hearted foes What a motive is this to love thee What needest thou care what becomes of stubborn sinners Why shouldst thou trouble thy self about wretches that will have none of Thee that will have their Dirt and Dung and Trash and Husks and prefer these trifles before Heaven and a Sea of Glory Thou canst live without the society of Men at least thou needest no such company yet thou longest for their Pardon and Happiness as if they had been thy greatest friends Was ever Goodness like this O that my Thoughts and Contemplations might be always busie about this Love This is no vulgar Love the love of David to Jonathan the love of Jacob to Rachel the love of Brethren Sisters Friends will bear no resemblance here Moses his love to the Israelites for whose sake and so they might but continue in Gods favour he was content to be blotted out of Gods Book and St. Pauls wish to be even accursed of Christ for his Kinsmen of the Jewish Nation these de monstrations of Love come somewhat nearer but still thy Love my dearest Lord surpasses all these as the light of the Sun doth that of the Moon and the lesser Stars They borrow'd their love from thine and lighted their Candle by thy brighter Fire that which was excess of Love in them was but a spark of that Charity which overspread thy larger Soul They did but wish to die for the People thou didst actually exspire for their good their Love was confined to a single Nation thine extended to the whole World These Men were still their friends that they wish'd to be miserable for but those thou sufferest for were thine enemies Their Love had great defects mingled with it but thine was pure and spotless Theirs had Clouds and Mists to darken it Thine was all Light and Glory Theirs was a suddain transport which might not last many days but Thine was constant to a miracle and those whom thou lovedst thou lovedst unto the end Great Emperour of Souls thou hangest betwixt Thieves and not without reason for thou stealest the Heart away What Heart can see thy Beauty and forbear being enamoured with it Thou dost ravish my Soul with thine Eyes of pity To see thee cast a favourable look on such a monster as I am Who can forbear falling in love with so much clemency I am a Captive in this World The Law of my Members makes me captive to the Law of Sin O take me by force from that prison O set me as a Seal upon thy Heart Rule thou in my Members Erect a Trophy over my Head and rejoyce in conquering me O let me be content to undergo the Cross and reproach with thee that thou mayst remember me now thou art in thy Kingdom O remember me with the favour thou bearest unto thy People O my Jesus Who can hear thee cry I Thirst and not wish for Rivers of Tears What canst thou Thirst for but the Salvation of Mankind Thou camest for that purpose from Heaven Leftst those brighter Mansions to invite poor sinners to the mighty Banquet there For this thou didst travel up and down and enduredst Cold and Hunger and Weariness for this thou wroughtest miracles for this thou didst Intreat Rebuke preach the Word in season and out of season for this thou couldst be content to want a place where to lay thy Head for this thou taughtest daily in the Temple sometimes on the Mount sometimes in a Ship sometimes in a Desart for this thy Soul did long for this thou sufferedst for this thou wast buffeted beaten bruised and wounded even because thou wouldst not give over calling poor deluded sinners to a sense of their Duty for this thou Thirstest here The rude multitude fancies it is either Water or some cordial thou wishest for They measure thy condition by their own sensual appetite but they were purer desires that glow'd in thy Breast It is Water indeed thou thirstest for but such Water as David made his Bed to swim in The Tears of a penitent Soul are the Wine thou longest for They are the Drink the Son of God thirsts after Weep weep mine Eyes that the Lord Jesus may Drink and be satisfied O Lord I have given thee Gall to Drink I have offered thee the cup of Trembling and Astonishment Ah bitter Ah wretched Drink worse then the foulest Ditch-water Drink my dearest Lord Drink of the Brook by the way Drink of these Tears Drink of this Holy Water I do shed O it is the Sweat of a grieved Soul of a Soul weary of Sin and heavy laden with the sense of it My Heart melts my Soul dissolves at the thoughts of my follies Drink up this Heart of mine and let it mingle with thy bowels of Mercy Here Lord accept of the Vows I offer thee Behold and visit this Vine which thine own right hath planted Shine upon it Lord let it bring forth pleasant Grapes no more Grapes of the Vine of Sodom but Grapes sweet and which may cheer the Heart of God and Man The Drink-offerings I bring to thee are insatiable desires after thee the most fervent breathings of my Heart after thy Grace and Mercy O receive them Graciously and love me freely I bring on Rivers of Oyl no Rams no Bullocks with Horns and Hoofs Thou desirest not Sacrifice else would I give it thee thou delightest not in Burnt-offerings Thou wilt take no Bullock out of my House nor He-Goats out of my Folds for every Beast of the Forest is thine and so is the Cattle upon a thousand Hills Thou knowest all the Fowls of the Mountains and the wild Beasts of the Field are thine if thou wert Hungry thou wouldst not tell me for the World is thine and the fulness thereof Thou wilt not eat the flesh of Bulls nor drink the blood of Goats but the offerings thou expectest are
Heart is Sacrifice which he that was broke upon the account of thy sins will not despise Nay he will comfort the humble Soul and the contrite Spirit he will pour Wine and Oyl into its wounds supple it with Balm heal it with his Death and make it whole by his Agonies See here O my Soul the Bread which is broke is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ see how many broken pieces are here which all make but one Loaf So thou and thy fellow-Believers make one mystical Body whereof the Crucified Jesus is Head and Governour who influences the Body by his Spirit and from his fulness dispences Grace for Grace Rejoyce O my Soul For now the waves and billows of Gods wrath are laid The storm of vengeance is husht The thunder is gone The clouds cleer up thy broken Saviour hath turn'd the sound of the Trumpet of War into a still small Voice O break with him no more O preserve that friendship which was so dearly bought A friendship purchased by Blood sure must never dye Thou art his Friend O do not become his Enemy again for fear he be never friends with thee again On the pouring out of the Holy Wine THus O my Soul thus flow'd the precious Blood of the tormented Jesus In such streams it issued from his wounded Body Thus was the costly Juyce let out Thus the rich Veins emptied themselves of their Treasure and all that thou mightst mayst be clean And O Jerusalem wilt not thou be clean When shall it once be When God makes use of his own Blood to purify thee O my Soul Wilt thou wallow still in thy Dung and Nastiness This would be inexcusable Arise wash thy self in this Jordan and thy Flesh shall come again like unto the Flesh of a little Child O my Soul had not this Blood been shed there had been no remission of Sins From the shedding of this Blood date thy happiness when God saw this Blood the tide turned and thy offended Father looked on thee with a merciful Face How sweet is this Blood it nourishes into Eternal Life How high the value of it it redeemed a whole World How wholsom it expels all Sicknesses What pity was it that the least drop of it should fall upon the ground It was fit to be receiv'd by the hands of Angels But the Earth on which sinful Men walk'd was defiled and cursed and therefore it must fall upon it to take away the Curse Man's Sin had made it subject to O precious Blood Drop drop upon my Soul Let me feel thy Virtue Drive out the Curse Water this barren Ground that hath brought forth Briars and Thorns and let it bring forth pleasant Fruit again 6. When I receive the Holy Bread my Mind must vent it self in some such breathings as these Either O My Lord I do remember with Joy and Grief that thy Body was Crucified for me the meanest of thy Servants I remember it with joy because thy Love is wonderful O how vehement how violent was it to love an Enemy and by that Love to charm me into Obedience I remember it with grief because my Sins were thy Murtherers O my Lord I will stand out against thy offers of Grace no longer Here take my Heart I solemnly resolve to dedicate my Self and all I have to thy Service Or O God! this Sacred Bread puts me in mind how the Lamb of God was offered for me Do I believe this and shall not my Soul make thee her highest and her chiefest good O my God I take thee here not only for my Saviour but for my King and Master too Come Holy Spirit rule my Heart for I will hence forward serve no other Gods but the Great Jehovah alone who loved me and gave himself for me Or O my Jesus My Life My Joy My Comfort Thou diedst that I might live I remember it and adore thy Majesty in misery O make me thine and as this Bread doth mingle with my Substance so let thy Spirit mingle with my Soul that the same Mind may be in me which was also in Christ Jesus Or Look upon this Bread O my Soul it represents the bleeding Body of thy dearest Lord. Bleed O my Heart Give thy self up to him that groaned for thee It 's done O God neither Death nor Life shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. 7. When I receive the Holy Wine my thoughts must still be at work and address themselves to God in Christ Jesus some such way as this Either O Jesu I thankfully remember that thy Blood was spilt for me What am I and what is my Fathers House that thou hast brought me thus far Thou hast loved me better than I have done my self O my Lord give me thy sweet thy tender thy free thy humble Spirit that I may be one with thee and may admire none in heaven but thee and desire nothing on Earth besides thee Or O blessed Balsom of my wounded Heart Welcome thou Sovereign Salve How seasonable is this Medicine I die if thy Blood relieve me not O wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow I have deserved to drink the Cup of Trembling and Astonishment and thou holdest out to me the Cup of Salvation O my Soul remember who it is that is so kind to thee O esteem adore magnifie and love him for ever Or O thou blessed Shepherd of my Soul How ought I to blush when I think of thy Blood which my Sins did spill Thou hast turned my Darkness into Light and my Treason into an Antidote Thou curest me by Contradictions and the Blood my Sins have drawn from thy flesh is become the only refuge I have in the day of Wrath. O look upon thine own Blood and hide me in thy Wounds I know not how to prize thy favour O do thou teach me to do great things for thee to deny my self to take up my Cross and to follow thee Or O my Lord By thy Tears and by thy Blood thou adjurest me this day to imitate thee in thy Graces in thy Meekness in thy Patience in thy Humility in thy Charity in thy Contempt of the World and in thy Heavenlymindedness My heart is fixed O God! my heart is fixed I will Sing and give Praise Thou shalt be my Pattern Here under thy Cross I promise Obedience and Conformity to thy Graces O do thou help me O assist me uphold me with thy free Spirit so shall I teach Transgressors thy Way and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Or Great Bishop of my Soul who hast left the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and art come to seek this straying Sheep Behold Lord the Prodigal is coming home again Thou comest towards me Bleeding Groaning Dying thou comest to receive him that hath forsaken thee to draw him that hath fled from thee to kiss him that did scourge thee to Crown him that did Prick thee to Embrace him that did
of Sores full of Weakness full of Errours full of Infirmities a prodigy of Frailty Here Lord here is work for thy strong Hand and for thy mighty Arm. In this Heart are Divels that must be expelled by thy Power Stretch forth thy Hand and save me Here is an object to exercise thy omnipotent hand upon My Cure requires Miracles It 's no ordinary Virtue that will set me to Rights again Thou Thou O Lord must come and strike thy Hand over the sore place and my Leprosie will be gone Thy Prophet cries by thy order Return unto the Lord your God for he is Gracious and Merciful slow to anger and repents him of the evil I believe Lord I believe My Heart is wounded within me I come I come Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants But then I desire no other hire no other wages but thy Self Thou art my exceeding great reward Oh! How bitter a thing is it to forsake thee What have I got by offending thee What have I gained by sinning against thee Nothing but Shame and Horror and Trembling and Confusion Darkness hath covered me the shadow of Death hath fallen upon me What fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now asham'd My Soul hath been divested of her innocence her Joy her Peace her Comfort and her Satisfaction And Oh my Jesus didst not thou stand my friend now Great Mediator didst not thou stand in the gap now and plead for me O my Redeemer Didst not thou intercede for me I must be prostituted and exposed to Eternal laughter and derision Good Lord How pitiful how wretched how trivial how impertinent how inconsiderable was that pleasure that profit that thing for which I did did affront and dishonour thee When I look upon thy Creatures either above or below I wonder how they were able to contain themselves and not vindicate their Masters Honour which they saw abused by me I wonder they did not not fall upon me and crush me into perdition when they saw how bold how presumptuous this Caitiff was O my Lord For this my Soul shall mourn in secret even for this that I have not loved thee better that I have not sought thee more that I have not approach'd thee with greater veneration Hence forward Lord if all the Pleasures all the Riches all the Honours of this World were concentred in this sin that formerly I lived in it should be no temptation to me I would tear the Tyrant out of its seat It should usurp thy place no more I would pull it out of its Throne it should find no harbour in me Thy Love should constrain me to part with it I will Crucify thee no more I have trampled too long upon thy Mercy I will make light of it no more O my Jesus Remember thy Agonies remember thy Pain remember thy Sufferings remember thy Death and forget my Sins Thy Servant David cryed once I have sinned and thou didst presently take away his Sin My sighing is not hid from thee O do not hide thy Face from me Manasseh look'd up to thee and thou hadst respect unto his Prayer O give ear to my Prayer too that goes not out of feigned Lips The Ninivites humbled themselves and thou wast intreated Oh repent thy self of the evil thou hast said thou wouldst do unto me and do it not Peter wept and thou gavest him a Gracious Look I water my couch with my tears Oh smile upon me too and say I have redeem'd thee thou art mine I love thee O Lord and would have every Creature love thee I would have all things that have breath praise the Lord. I would have every creature shew forth thy Glory Thou hast loved me from all Eternity Was ever such Love heard of as thine was To come from the Mansions of the Blessed into a Valley of Tears to advance such a creature from Death to Life Eternal Thou hast made my Death a harmless nay a gainful thing Thy Cross hath sweetned all there was Death in the pot but thou threwest in Meal and didst sweeten all O blot out the very footsteps of my Sins and set me as a Seal upon thy Heart so will I give thee thanks in the great Congregation my Lips shall praise thee O my Life I would prefer thee above all thy Creatures I would look upon all these outward Comforts as a drop in the Bucket and on Thee as the Ocean On these as the small dust in the Ballance on Thee as the Rock of Ages I would love Thee with all my heart I would love Thee more then my Self O that my whole Mind were united to Thee O that I might know nothing save Jesus Christ and him Crucified O that all the powers of my Soul might embrace Thee O that I might seek thy Glory with stronger desires then Worldlings do their Wealth or the Covetous the increase of their In-comes Oh! that I could adhere unto Thee inseparably O withdraw my Heart from every evil way Incline my Heart to all Goodness Let not my Affections be henceforth corrupted with the love of the Creature Let me not be weary of loving Thee Let nothing overcome my Love Let nothing damp it Oh enable me to say Who shall separate me from the love of God! O draw my Soul with cords of Love with this Love wound and pierce my Heart and make it sick that it may insatiably long for Thee Oh! I would love Thee without ceasing love Thee without bounds love Thee without measure Oh let my Soul melt with this Fire and purge away that filth which doth so easily beset me Take away from me all that doth displease Thee Refine in me all that pleases Thee Be Thou ever present with me Live in me thou Fountain of Life and let me live in Thee and let that Charity live in me which suffers long and is kind which envies not which vaunteth not it self which is not puft up which doth not behave it self unseemly seeks not her own is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth bears all things believes all things hopeth all things endureth all things through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for Faith O Thou from whom every good and perfect Gift descends who givest to all Men liberally and upbraidest not Thou callest Seek ye my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek Thou hast said O Lord Thy Mouth hath spoken it if ye had but Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed ye should say unto this Mountain Be thou removed and cast into the Sea and it should obey you O my Lord I have Rocks to be displaced Mountains to be removed vast loads to be freed from Rocks of Unbelief Mountains of Sin loads of Iniquity Oh lend me thy helping Hand None can give relief none can succour none can do me any good but thy self How
shall not I look up from the Creature to the Creator and give him my dearest Love I will love thee O Lord I must love thee for thou art sweet beyond comparison amiable without a parallel lovely to a miracle Thou art the true Father of my Soul thou providest for me thou takest care of me thou art exceeding tender of me thou bearest me on thy hands on thy wings thou carriest me as the Eagle doth her young nay thou offerest me to be thy Brother thy Sister and thy Mother for he that doth thy Will shall be all this in thy esteem He shall be as dear to thee as these Relations are to mortal Men Thou art my Friend indeed O my Lord whether doth thy Love carry thee Thou layest aside thy Glorious Titles and magnificent Names and becomest my Friend and never was a truer Friend then thou art and hast been to me No vicissitude hath changed thee no revolution hath altered thee no accident hath estranged thy Heart from me my Unworthiness doth not turn away thy Affections from me Though thou dwelleâ—â— on high yet thou humblest thy self to behold the ways of the Children of Men My Sores do not make thee loath me my Infirmities do not move thee to cast me away my Vileness doth not tempt thee to despise me Thou lovest at all times if I am wounded thou bindest up my wounds if I am broken thou healest me if I am grieved thou refreshest me if I am in danger thou deliverest me if under pain thou givest me ease if under trouble thou comfortest me O my Jesus Thou art gone up to thy Father and to my Father and hast made us Friends Thou hast reconciled him to my Soul Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world How often hast thou in Mercy look'd upon me How often hast thou pittied me I was unworthy of thy compassion yet seeing me lye in my Blood thou saidst Live in thy Blood Live What shall I say unto thee O thou great preserver of Men No Words no Language will reach thy Love or give a tolerable description of it yet still this increases my obligations to love thee And what a mercy is it that thou wilt give me leave to love thee That this Great this Glorious this Immense this Incomprehensible God will vouchsafe to be loved by a Worm What a favour is it Prize it O my Soul and think thou hearest every Creature that 's beneficial to thee calling upon thee to love him The Sun that shines upon thee calls to thee I give thee light that thou mayst admire the Father of Light so doth the Moon so do the Stars so do all those things whereby thou art fed maintained cloathed and preserved in Health these all call We serve thee that thou mayst serve thy God and do good to thee that thou mayst love him whose Hand hath placed us in these stations O my God! Shall I have such monitors to love thee and be deaf to the Call How will all these rise in judgment against me one day if I love thee not How justly do I fall a Sacrifice to thy wrath if under such exhortations I despise thy Love How many Souls have perish'd and I am yet alive How many have been struck dead in their Sins and I am yet called to pentance How many do yet walk in darkness and I have the honor to see thy marvellous Light Thou hast dealt more kindly by me then thou hast done by others O how am I bound to love thee I see the odiousness of that sin which others doat on I see the deformity of those Vices which others wallow in I see the Beauty of that Virtue which others scorn I see the charms of that Grace which others laugh at I taste of those Comforts which others continue ignorant of I see the reasonableness of thy Precepts which others count an intolerable yoak I have some sense of another world while thousands live as if there were none I see the necessity of Holiness while others make a mock of Sin What motives are these to love thee Shall I be afraid or ashamed after all this to love thee Every Sense I have bids me love thee I cannot smell to any thing but I smell the fragrancy of thy Love I cannot taste any thing but I must taste how Sweet and how Gracious thou art I cannot look upon any thing but I must see thy Goodness The oil of thy Love swims upon every Creature I touch or feel That Soul deserves to dye that doth not love thee In loving thee I live Thy Love is better then Life My days will have an end my Life ere long will pass from me My Riches my Glory my Wealth my Health my Liberty my Ease my Friends my Acquaintance they all will ere long expire but if I love thee that will remain with me to Eternity My love to thee makes me thine and makes thee mine By loving thee I shew that I am not mine own Thou hast made me for thy self and if I am not thine I cannot be mine own for at that instant that I would be mine own I cease to be thine Thou art to me all that heart can wish or reason can desire Thou art my Light my Pillow my Rest my Sun my Meat my Drink my Glory my Joy Thou hast given me thy Son and in giving him hast given me more then Ten thousand worlds And if this be not enough thou art ready to give me more Shew me thy Love and it suffices me Thou hast wounded me with thy Love I will follow thee O let me do thy Will Let me do that which thou wilt and not what I will Despise me not forsake me not O do not go far from me Draw me after thee and I shall run Wo is me that I must dwell in Mesheck and have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar O leave me not to my self I consecrate both my Soul and Body to thee employ them O Lord as it shall please thee best O forget me not and let me never forget thee let me rather die a thousand deaths then live without thee O let me love thee so that I may long to draw others to thy Love Let me be griev'd when Men do not keep thy Law Let it go to my Heart to see thee dishonour'd and affronted Thou threatnest me with Eternal Flames if the flames of thy Love cannot warm me now I am not worthy to love thee yet thou art most worthy to be loved by me O let me sigh let me pant let me breath after thee O my Life let me live to thee O my Glory let me be content to die for thee O my refuge let me ever run to thee O thou Eternal Love let me be always mindful of thee Let me embrace thee let me resolve not to let thee go till thou hast brought me to that place where I shall be for ever united to thee Withdraw mine heart from the
Crucifie thee to revive him that did kill thee and to Love him that did Hate thee O stupendous Mercy Henceforward no Vain Glory no Worldly Pomp no outward Riches no Smiles of great Men no outward Comfort shall have so much of my heart as thy sweet self O encrease my Faith my Hope my Love my Charity make my Soul a Temple of the Holy Ghost O come come thou Bridegroom of my Soul come and dwell in me for ever Consc. And is this all that is to be observed upon this occasion Christ. No. For after I have been made Partaker of these Mysteries and Tokens of God's Love I must 1. Bless God for the opportunity I have had of going with the Multitude to the House of God with the Voice of Joy and Praise with the Multitude which keeps Holy-day I must Magnifie his Goodness who so loved the World as to give his only Begotten Son to the end that all those that believe in him should not Perish but have everlasting Life I must summon my thoughts to enter into some such Meditation as this Whence is it that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in whose eyes the very Angels are not pure should come to visit such a Wretch as I O my Lord to whom doest thou stoop What is that Creature that thou bowest thus low to A Den of Thieves a Habitation of Vipers a Vessel of Dishonour O how often have I polluted my self even after thou hast washed me Is it possible that God will dwell in such a polluted House Is it possible that God will come and Feast and Sup with such an unprofitable Servant O my Soul It is not only possible but thy Lord hath done it to day Thine eyes have seen the mighty Works of thy Redeemer Thou hast seen him converse to day with a Wretch that hath undone what God hath done hath rendred him evil for good and hatred for his good-will Thou hast seen thy Lord this day vouchsafing to sit with one who is full of Bruises and putrifying Sores and those not bound up nor mollified with Ointment Alass my Lord I have abused the mighty Creator to please a Murtherer affronted the great Preserver of Men to please a Fiend and undervalued him that call'd me to Salvation to please a usurping Tyrant I can give no reason why I have offended thee except it be thy Goodness and Patience and could fair Weather make me angry What didst thou see in me Lord that should attract thee and make thee leave the highest Heavens to descend into an Abyss of Misery O my Jesus water my Soul with the Tears thou hast shed anoint me with the Myrrhe of thy Grief and Sorrow tye me by thy Bonds let thy Scourges soften my Heart let thy Derisions strengthen me let thy Cross raise me Reign over me do with me what seems good to thy Power Wisdom and Goodness O let me never depart from thee let not the Creature draw me more than the Creator Vanity more than Eternity Misery more than Felicity Filthiness more than Beauty Slavery more than Greatness Bitterness more than Sweetness My Beloved is mine and I am his he feeds among the Lillies O that thou wert as my Brother that suck'd the Breasts of my Mother I would kiss thee yea I should not be despised O Lord all my desire is before thee take away from me whatever doth displease thee Give me an humble heart that I may be content to be counted as Dung for thy sake give me an obedient heart that I may be entirely guided by thee give me a strong heart that I may cheerfully bear whatever thy hand lays upon me give me a tender heart that I may be kindly affectionate to my Neighbour give me a free heart that nothing may hinder me from running to thee give me a heart of Flesh that I may love thee perfectly Praise ye the Lord I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the Upright and in the Congregation The Works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His work is honourable and glorious and his Righteousness endureth for ever He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred The Lord is gracious and full of Compassion he hath given Meat to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant he hath shewed his People the Power of his Works that he may give them the Heritage of the Heathen The Works of his hands are Verity and Judgment All his Commandments are sure they stand fast for ever and ever and are done in Truth and Uprightness He sent Redemption unto his People He hath commanded his Covenant for ever Holy and Reverend is his Name He raises the Poor out of the Dust and lifts the Needy out of the Dunghill that he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Praise ye the Lord. 2. I must pray for the Congregation and my fellow Christians that do eat of the same Bread and drink of the same Cup with me that they may all be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness and their Souls may live I must beg that none of them may receive the Grace of God in vain That they may keep and stand to the conditions of the Covenant they have made or renew'd with God That they may indeed fight for the future against the World the Flesh and the Devil and be more than Conquerors through him that loved them the Lord Jesus Christ. My love to Christ must constrain me to wish and beg that every Man may love him else he doth not appear truly lovely to me I must entreat the Father of Mercies to dispense his Spirit abundantly at this time That the love of Christ prevailing may pull down in my fellow-Receivers all the strong Holds of Iniquity and all Imaginations which exalt themselves against the Obedience of Christ Jesus That Christ may Reign victoriously in every one of them live in them act in them govern them by his Spirit That they may indeed bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Love Joy Peace Goodness Faith Gentleness Meekness Temperance c. I must be importunate with God to make them all Partakers of the Benefits of Christ's Death and Passion even of that Pardon and Peace and Salvation he hath purchased and cause them to walk worthy of it like persons that are sensible of the greatness of the Favour and the depth and breadth and length and height of the Love of God and consequently may be fill'd with all the fullness of God 3. I must be thankful for the Honor I have received at such a time I must look upon 't as more than ordinary Preferment that God hath vouchsafed me a place at his Table admitted me into the number of his Children made me Partaker of the promises of the Gospel open'd his Bosom to me received me into favour assisted me with his Spirit given me a right to
How hast thou carress'd me while I have been careless How deep ought my Contrition to be How profound my Sorrow How profuse my Tears I have mourned for a dead Corps I have wept for a deceased Relation I have griev'd to see the Body of my Friend left without a Soul Yet have not mourned for God's departing from me nor wept for the deadness of my Heart nor griev'd to see my self depriv'd of thy Grace and Mercy O my Lord I see my folly I perceive I have gone astray I am sensible I have dishonour'd thee How different do my Sins appear to me now from what they did before They look more dismal more dreadful more bloody then once they did Now I would mourn now I would take on for them now I would deplore them Oh touch this frozen Heart that it may melt O Jesu Look upon these Eyes of mine that they may flow with Water O Behold me from the Cross that I may weep bitterly There is hopes that if I mourn I shall be comforted If I weep I shall laugh at last If I grieve I shall rejoyce O my God I long to hear thy joyful voice Be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee I long to rejoyce in thee I long to be Blessed with the light of thy Countenance But the Sun will not shine out till after the Rain O then water this Face of mine speak the Word bid the Waters flow bid penitential showers enrich this barren ground and I shall feel thy warmer beams thy Love will refresh me thy Presence will revive me and my Garments of Heaviness will be turned into Garments of Praise and Exultation O my Jesus Thou hangest naked on the Cross that I might be deck'd with thy purple Robes Thou wast wounded that I might be healed O Heal me and I shall be healed Come dearest Physitian and thy Servant shall be whole Behold Lord Here comes a poor Prodigal quaking and trembling to thy Throne I come from a far Countrey from the Land of Darkness from the borders of the burning Lake from the frontiers of Hell I come miserable and naked I come begging that thou wouldst put a Ring upon my Finger and betroth me unto thy Self in Righteousness The Mercy is too big for me to ask but not for thee to grant I have no merit I can plead no desert Here thou seest nothing but filthy Rags O throw thy Mantle over me I have heard that thou lovest to manifest thy greatest power in the greatest weakness thy greatest strength in the greatest infirmity I have heard thou lovest to spread thy skirts over those that are destitute and afflicted that are cast abroad have no Eye to pity them and know not where to address themselves for relief Thou hast promised to such to open Rivers for them in high places and Fountains in the midst of Valleys When the needy and thirsty seek for Water thou the God of Israel wilt not forsake them O my Lord If Misery be a motive to Mercy here thou seest it in the highest degree What mighty what marvellous things hast thou done for me Yet have I run away from thee What haste have I made to get out of thy sight how afraid have I been of serving thee Thou hast been my greatest friend and I have used thee like an enemy How have I shunn'd thy Counsels as if they had been big with Death and Thunder Ah foolish Creature How have I forsaken thee the Fountain of living waters How fond have I been of broken Cisterns How enamoured with muddy puddles Ah My Father how didst thou pity me How didst thou bewail my blindess With what sorrowful Eyes didst thou look upon my wilfulness Behold My Lord I do return I return that I may look upon thee I return that thou mayst look upon me I return Oh do thou rejoyce over me Oh! Let there be joy in the presence of thy Holy Angels over this sinner who repents I am troubled I am exceedingly troubled that I have made no answerable returns to thy Love that thy Grace hath been bestowed upon me in vain that thy Mercy hath been thrown away on such a wretch Oh the baseness Oh the ingratitude Oh the disingenuity that I have been guilty of Thou hast been my greatest Benefactor How freely how lovingly how candidly hast thou visited me yet I have resisted thy Power despised thy Wisdom undervalued thy Goodness Thou wouldst have torn down my strong holds of iniquity and I would not Thou wouldst have taught me my Duty to God and Man and I refused it Thou wouldst have made me Holy as thou art Holy and I scorned it Ungrateful Worm Do I thus reward the Lord my God! Could I recompence such Mercies with such Sins Such Favours with such gross neglects thy condescension with Pride thy Humiliation with Envy thy Love with Anger thy Bounty with slight and slovenly performances Thy Bowels with Disobedience thy Charity with contempt of my Neighbour Thy Blessings with Revenge Thy Benefits with averseness from Virtue and Goodness thy Munificence with Vanity and the showers of thy Grace with earthly-mindedness Ah! how are my sins multiplied How like a heavy burthen are they become too heavy for me to bear But Oh my God! Thy Mercy is over all thy Works Thy Mercy is greater then my Sins My Sins have taken hold upon me What shall I do I am a burthen to my self I am bow'd down with the weight of my Transgressions Whether O my Lord should I go but to thee who hast the words of Eternal Life Thou hast pity on sinners thou conversest with them thou eatest with them Receive me Graciously Love me Freely Think upon thy Mercy think upon thy Blood think upon thy Tears and accept of me I am surrounded with dangers incompassed with Enemies encircled with Hellish Monsters yet in the midst of these pressures I hear thee saying Come to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden Shall I hide my self as Adam did in Paradise Shall this word fright me away Shall I refuse to come when thou callest in this still voice No No I will confess my Transgression and thou wilt forgive the iniquity of my Sin I will harden my Heart no more I will turn a deaf Ear to thee no more I will stand out no longer I will resist thy Light no longer I will grieve thee no more I will afflict and vex thy Holy Spirit no more O infinite Goodness O wonderful Love though with the Publican I dare not lift up my Eyes to Heaven yet with the humble Magdalen I will come behind thee weeping and wash thy Feet with my Tears and kiss them Oh let me hear the blessed news of Pardon from thy Mouth Thou camest Lord thou camest not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance and of these I am chief If thou wilt converse with Sinners here is one that wants thy help and that stands in need of thy cure full of Diseases full
creature why should it go astray from thee I am sensible what hurt my love to the creature hath done me It hath alienated my Heart from thee it hath made thy Word a savour of death unto death to me It hath rendred thy promises insipid to me It hath made me slight thy Service It hath made thy ways nauseous and irksom to me It hath made thy Laws tedious to me It hath made me forget the Life I am to live for ever It hath made me weary of thy Love backward to Self-denial made me ashamed of Christ cool'd my Zeal damp'd my Religious desires and shall I harbour the viper in my bosom any more O throw this enemy out of my Soul Dispossess it of its habitation expel it by thy power make it vanish by thy Presence I beg not Grace to hate any thing that thou hast made but thy assistance that I may love the Creature less then Thee I would not have this love of the creature engross my Soul I would not have it usurp Authority in my Heart I would not have it take place of my love to thy sweet Self I would not have it engross my Affections I would have it subordinate to thy love I would have it to be a servant to my love to thee I would not have it rule in me I would not have it justle out thy Love I know my dearest Lord I must love my neighbour too I cannot love thee without I love him with unfeigned Love I lie if I say I love thee whom I have not seen when I love not my Brother whom I see but I would not love Man better then thee I would not obey him more then thee I would not comply with him to displease thee I would not prefer his smiles or frowns before thy Favour or thy Indignation I would love him for thee and in thee and O thou that hast loved me so as to die for me Grant me that Charity which is a necessary effect of my love to thee Thou hast loved my neighbour as well as my self My Jesus Thou hast died for him as well as for my self Though I must stand amazed at the particular Mercy thou hast shewn to me yet the light of thy favour hath shined upon my fellow-Christians too O let me love them with a pure heart fervently Hereby shall all Men know that we are thy Disciples if we love one another O my Lord I am resolved to be thy Disciple and therefore will not only love those that love me but even those that hate me O make me tender-hearted and compassionate to my neighbour Make me ready to forgive ready to bear with his Infirmities ready to relieve him ready to assist him ready to succour him O let all clamour and malice and hatred and evil-speaking and censoriousness be put away from me Rid me of all guile and hypocrisy and dishonesty Let it be known by my meek and humble and charitable temper that the same mind is in me which was also in Christ Jesus In vain do I call my self thy Follower if I tread not in thy steps or do not render good for evil and shew all meekness unto all men When I am reviled let me not revile again Let there not be any root of bitterness in me Banish from me base suspition Teach me to put a favourable construction on other means actions and to overcome Evil with Good Mortify in me the itch of contradiction Make me affable courteous kind gentle and let no provocation soure that disposition in me Make me patient and long-suffering peaceable and easie to be intreated Give me a temper as may make me rejoyce in the prosperity of others Let all Pride and Envy die in me Let me delight in works of Mercy in feeding the Hungry giving Drink to the Thirsty cloathing the Naked visiting the Sick comforting the Prisoners counselling the Weak supporting the Feeble directing the Erroneous reproving the Unwary guiding the Blind using hospitality to Strangers Make me circumspect in my Speeches that I offend not with my Tongue Give me presence of Mind upon all occasions that I may not speak or act rashly to my neighbours prejudice O let thy Love be always before me that I may have compassion on my fellow-servant O let thy Blood supple my Heart that it may melt at the sight of its wants and necessities O let that Word sound always in mine Ears That Though I speak with the Tongue of Angels and have no Charity it profits me nothing I shall see thy Charity in the Sacrament of thy Supper I shall see what thou didst for me and all the world I shall see what inconveniencies thou didst endure to procure our happiness I shall see how thou didst deny thy self for our sakes I shall see how thou didst not count thine own Life dear to save ours I shall see how gentle thou wast to thy enemies how thou pray'dst for them that persecuted thee how thou didst bless them that did curse thee I shall see what pains thou tookest what anguish thou enduredst to snatch us from damnation Oh let that charity prevail with me O let that Goodness produce bowels of Mercy in me that as much as in me lies I may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bound of Peace Make me willing to decede from mine own Right for Concords sake O root out that base selfishness which makes me so careless of my neighbours Good O thou Eternal Truth thou hast promised to write thy Laws in my Heart O write this Law of Love there with thine own Blood and make the Characters so lasting that nothing may blot them out O let me love my self less that I may love thee and my neighbour more O let the fire of thy Love put out the impure fire of my Lusts and Corruptions O let that Fire purify my Soul from those inordinate passions and desires which too often endanger it Thou art the God that answerest by Fire Let me feel thy Fire and the force of it Let it go through my Soul and scatter heat through every part that I may be transformed and changed into Love Let me love thee vehemently ardently superlatively constantly and my Neighbour chastely modestly purely sincerely and inviolably Whatever thou deniest me deny me not this Love Remember thy Word unto thy Servant in which thou hast caused me to hope Thou hast said I will give unto him that is a Thirst of the water of Life freely O give me this Love else I faint O spare me a little that I may recover strength before I go hence and be seen no more O thou spirit of Love blow upon me and these dry bones shall live O Jesu Come and live in me and if thou who art Love and Charity it self live in me I shall love all that thou wouldst have me love and be a monument of thy Love and share in thy everlasting Love Amen Let the King of Heaven hear when I call
an obedient Soul I bring it I offer it I beg thou wouldst be pleased to accept of it Thou deservest it thou may'st challenge it it 's thine thou gavest it me thy Spirit made it willing Thy Grace did melt it Thy Fire burnt away the Dross Thy Goodness purified it and thou wilt cleanse it more and more All the Good I have is thine from Thee it flows from Thee it springs Thou conveyest it to my Soul Thou openest mine Ears Thou awakenest me every good thought I have is thine every good inclination every good resolution every good intention is thine Thou influencest every good action I perform My praise shall be of Thee in the great Congregation I will declare thy Faithfulness and Salvation O how good is God to Israel even to them that are of a clean Heart O make me clean that I may feel thy Goodness Thou art my Phisitian I am thy Patient thou art my Father I am thy Son thou art my Master I am thy Servant thou art my Teacher I am thy Disciple Thy Spirit is Good O lead me in the way Everlasting God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ and him Crucified O that the World were Crucified to me and I unto the World I will rejoice in thy love my Dearest Lord I have seen thy Power Wisdom and Goodness I see what pains thou takest with my Soul to make it happy to drive away the night of ignorance from it and to make me know there is no true bliss no true comfort but in Thee Thou teachest me to overcome my Spiritual Enemies Blessed be the Lord my strength which teaches my hands to War and my Fingers to fight my Goodness and my Fortress my high Tower and my Deliverer my Shield and in whom I trust Thou preventest me with thy Grace Thou givest me the earnest of Eternal Glory by thy Spirit I am sealed unto the day of Redemption Thou art my past my present and my future good Let the People praise thee O God Let all the People praise thee O that all Men might know and love Thee O that all Mankind might feel thy Power and Glory O thou who art the chiefest among Ten thousand the Upright love Thee and among these I the unworthiest of thy Servants presume to love thy Name Thou hast made me to walk upon mine high places and in the bitterness of my Soul hast refresh'd my Spirit Thou hast pardoned I hope all my Sins and blotted out mine Iniquities as a thick Cloud I expect thou shouldst forgive me much and therefore sure I must love Thee much Thou hast born my Grief and carried my Sorrows thy Torments have given me ease thy Reproaches have procured my Glory and thy Misery is the cause of all my happiness Therefore I will put on the Lord Jesus Christ Thou shalt be my Garment my Crown my Diadem I will sing unto thee as long as I live I will sing praise unto my God while I have my being My Meditation of Thee shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord O my Lord I rejoice to hear that every knee bows unto Thee I would have all the World fall down before Thee and worship Thee I rejoice in all the good things that thou possessest not that I expect thou shouldst make me Partaker of all but because they are in Thee and they are thine and thou dost dispense them to thy Creatures according to thy pleasure I rejoice O Lord in all the glorious Gifts thou hast conferred on the Head of the Church The Man Christ Jesus I rejoice in all the Mercies thou hast bestowed on the blessed Angels in that Purity and Innocence in that Brightness and Splendor in that Bliss and Felicity they are crown'd withal in their care of thy People in their Ministerial Offices to those that shall be Heirs of Salvation I rejoice in all the Graces Thou hast dispensed to thy Holy Apostles in their Miraculous healing of the Sick in their Powerful Preaching whereby the World was converted in their Knowledge and Illumination in their Zeal and Fervour in their Patience and Humility in their Watchfulness and heavenly mindedness for in all these I see thy mighty Arm and thy strong Hand and the light of thy Countenance and all that they have done and said is written for my Learning I rejoice in all the Blessings thy Saints enjoy in thy calling them to thy marvellous Light in thy adorning their Souls with so many Resplendent Vertues in thy honouring of them with the lofty Titles of Children and Brethren and Friends and Kings and Priests in thy visiting of them with thy Salvation in thy assisting of them with thy Power thy Spirit and thy Influences in their Dangers and Necessities in thy Helping their Infirmities in thy Purifying of their Souls in thy enlivening their Spirits that they may not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ Jesus in thy keeping of them from all Evil in thy rescuing of them from Temptations in thy giving them a happy Death and Promise of a Glorious Resurrection I rejoice in all thy Mercies to Poor Sinners in thy calling of them to Repentance in thy entreating admonishing and beseeching of them to be reconciled to God in thy forbearing of them in thy Patience and Long-suffering toward them in thy waiting for their Repentance in thy adjuring of them by Bowels of Mercy by the Blood of Jesus by the Wounds of a Crucified Redeemer by the sweetest Calls and by the greatest motives to Seriousness and Holiness in thy receiving the Penitent in thy forgetting all their Unkindnesses and forgiving the Affronts they have offered unto Thee in thy remembring their Sins no more and drowning them in the depth of the Sea even in the Blood of the Lamb which was slain from the Foundation of the World I rejoice in all thy loving kindnesses to thy Church in thy giving her thy Word thy Ordinances thy Sacraments in thy making her thy Bride thy Spouse and thy Favourite in thy Ordaining the Lord Jesus to be her Head her Husband and her Protector and Nursing-Father O Jesu I rejoyce in thy Incarnation in the great Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preach'd in the World Believ'd on by the Gentiles receiv'd up into Glory I have reason to rejoyce in thy hypostatick Union in thy being the Prince of Men and Angels and in that all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are in thee I rejoyce in thy sending the Comforter into the world in thy Promises in thy Offers in thy Providences in the Provision thou hast made for our Souls and Bodies O give me a thankful Heart for my right shape for my Health and Strength and temporal advantages O what a mercy is it that thou hast caused me to be born in the Light in the true Religion in a Religion free from notorious Errours and Superstitions How am I beholding to
safe within the Gates of a Blessed Eternity which Love that it may become your Portion and Inheritance is and shall be the hearty Wish and Prayer of Your Faithful Friend And Minister in Christ Jesus A. H. THE TRUE NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN A Dialogue betwixt a Christian and his own Conscience Conscience ROuze Rouze thy self and awake thou slumbering Sinner and think What that Religion means thou dost profess and tell me ingenuously what it is to be a Christian Christian. It is not only to profess the Doctrine of Jesus Christ but also to Live as He lived to have the same Mind and Spirit in me that was in Him to act upon the great Principle of an unseen everlasting Glory and to neglect all things rather then the salvation of my Immortal Soul John 15. 10. Phil. 2. 5. Mat. 16. 26. Heb. 12. 1 2. Consc. Hast thou a Soul that 's in a possibility of being either eternally Happy or eternally Miserable Christ. I have for my Soul certainly is not of the same nature with my Body but is a Spiritual substance Rational and Intelligent as Angels are and therefore Incorruptible and signally differs from Beasts being capable of obeying and disobeying God Mat. 10. 28. Psal. 32. 9. Rev. 22. 8 9. Isa. 1. 19 20. Consc. What if thy Soul be capable of obeying and disobeying God doth that make it either Happy or Miserable Christ. Yes certainly For to the Obedient God hath faithfully promised Eternal Life and Glory when they leave this World and to the Disobedient He hath peremptorily threatned everlasting Anguish and Torment Rom. 2. 6 7 8. Heb. 5. 9. 2 Thes. 1. 6 7 8 9 10. Consc. What must thou then do to be saved Christ. I must necessarily obey the Precepts and Commands of my Lord and Master and Saviour Christ Jesus which he hath delivered and enjoyn'd either with his own Mouth or by His Apostles John 14 15 21. John 15. 14. 1 Thess. 4. 1. Consc. What Precepts are those thou art bound to obey in order to be saved Christ 1. I must necessarily curb mine Anger and Passion and be very Meek to all Men in my Speeches Answers and Actions gentle and not much concern'd under any Affront or Injury done to my Person or when any thing is said or done which displeases me and be ready to forgive and forget all Injuries I must not Revile when I am Reviled nor give ill Language to them that reproach me nor revenge my self when it lies in my power nor call Men Fools and Rogues upon trivial occasions I must so far love mine Enemies as to do good to them that hate me if they either desire or want it bless them that curse me and pray for them that use me ill Mat. 5. 22 44. Tit. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 17 19. 1 Pet. 2. 21 23. 2. I must be very humble and have low and mean Thoughts of my Self and of my Worth Knowledg Fortune Dignity Riches Means and Condition in the World I must when I address my self to God in Prayer or Praises be very vile and base in my own sight and be ashamed to lift up my Eyes and Hands to God I must esteem other Men in whom I see any goodness better then my self I must not commend my self nor take it ill if other People do not nor be fond of Worldly Respect and Honour but must be Civil Courteous and Obliging even to the Meanest and Poorest and regard the Honour that comes of God more then the Honour which comes of Men Mat. 11. 29. Mark 10. 15. John 5. 44. Gal. 5. 26. 2 Sam. 6. 22. 3. I must be kind and tender hearted and compassionate and love to do good to my Neighbour either by good Advice and Counsel or Reproof if he go on in any known Sin or by my means and Money and Goods if he be in want or by my Labour and Industry if I can do no more according as my ability and his necessity require and if I know none must seek out Objects upon whom and to whom I may do good Gal. 6. 6 9 10. 2 Tim. 1. 17. 4. I must shun all foreseen and known occasions of Evil. If by looking on a Man or Woman any dishonest Lust or desire rise in me I must crush it and look upon that Person no more I must not go into company where I am sensible I shall be tempted and drawn into Sin whether it be Drunkenness or Swearing or Passion or frothy or filthy Talk or the like I must not touch any thing that would raise any inordinate Appetite in me and must forbear Gaudy Cloathing and other External Ornamâ—â—â—â— if they prove temptations to Priâ—â— or Loftiness and vanity of Spirit Mat 5. 28 29 30. 1 Tim. 2. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. 5. I must labour to be very patient under any temporal Afflictions whether Sickness or Losses or other Crosses and Disappointments and neither murmur nor repine because God my Heavenly Father sends it and hath promised That if I love Him to turn all these Troubles unto my unspeakable good and designs an infinite recompense in Heaven for my Patience Jam. 5. 7. Rom. 8. 28. Heb. 12. 7 8 9. 6. I must study great simplicity in my Thoughts Words Actions Garb Cloaths Furniture Houses Meat Drink and the like and avoid all things that may put a stop to my progress in a Spiritual Life and particularly all such Recreations as may dull and damp good things in me or bring upon me an aversion from that goodness and simplicity which was in Christ and his Apostles and the Primitive Christians 2 Cor. â— 12. Matth. 10. 16. Phil. 2. 5. 15. 1 〈◊〉 5. 22. 7. I must in all places where-ever I am watch over my Thoughts and Speeches and Expressions and Actions because God hears and sees me and is every where present and take heed that neither any Temporal profit nor pleasure nor the favour of Men make me say or do or comply with any thing that is sinful and I suspect to be so Psal. 139. 1 2 3. Matth. 12. 36. Col. 4. 6. 1 Thess. 4. 4 5 6. Acts 5. 29. 8. I must not use equivocations or mental reservations when I speak or take an Oath or promise any thing or make a bargain nor teâ—â—â—â—ye wittingly or wilfully though I might gain all the Riches of the World or could save my life by it but speak the Truth whenever I think fit to speak or give an answer let the inconvenience be what it will or the danger never so great Ephes. 4. 28 1 Pet. 3. 15. 9. I must take special notice of the various dealings of God with my Soul and Body and praise and admire him for those providences whether Spiritual or Temporal as many as come within my cognisance I must praise him when I rise when I lye down when I sit up when I walk when I eat or drink or get any lawful gain or Men are kind and favourable to me
Thanksgivings and paying my humble Vows to thy Divine Majesty and calling upon thee in the day of trouble O my God! my Soul fainteth for thee when shall I come to appear before thee My Soul is cast down within me When wilt thou comfort me I long for thy Salvation I hunger and thirst after Righteousness I see Beauty and splendor and excellency in it and would fain be cloathed with that Ornament Thou deservest my strongest desires my most vigorous Breathings my most lively Pantings after thee not to long after thee is to be a stranger to real Bliss not to follow hard after thee is to be ignorant of thy Riches and the plenty of thy House But what do I talk of desires of a single Heart would to God that all Mankind might offer unto thee their reasonable service thou deservest it and deservest all the love of Angels too But thou desirest nothing so much as the Hearts of the Children of Men The Angels are happy already only Mankind lies ingulfed in misery and so great is thy Charity that having taken their Nature upon thee thou wouldst willingly make them equal with Angels Great Darling of the Holy Trinity What haste dost thou make to dye How dost thou run to redeem the Sons of Men Nothing can hold thee nothing can restrain thee not thine own Greatness not thy Majesty not thy being the Son of God not love to thine own preservation Thou didst love me better then thy self How didst thou fly to my deliverance How dost thou leap in to prevent my hurt No Divels can fright thee no danger terrify thee no pain discourage thee no anguish make thee afraid Thou longest till the great Work be done The other Malefactors that are crucified with thee What honour had these wretches and yet were not sensible of it One at last opens his Eyes and sees it and stands amazed these held out longer on the Gibbet but thou bidst Death come away and seize thy Life It 's a pleasure to thee to die Oh surprizing Mercy Other Men seek to escape Death as long as they can they run away from the sight of the Monster if they do but see the shadow of it they tremble and to them Death is truly a King of Terrors Thou goest out to meet it as that which must put an end to thy sufferings and my misery It 's death to thee not to die Thou chidest it for staying Tâ—â—â— hast a Baptism to be Baptized with and Oh what wouldst thou that it were accomplish'd Ah! My Lord I see thy dying Lips from which dropt Speeches sweeter then Honey and the Honey-comb Death is going to close them up yet O vouchsafe me a look that may refresh my Soul And now the Glory is departed from Israel The Saviour of the World gives up the Ghost O let me die with thee O draw me after thee and I shall live I wonder not that the Graves open at thy death and the Rocks rend and the Sun hides his Face but I wonder the whole Earth did not dissolve and nature it self did not run into its primitive chaos and confusion O my crucified Master How ill art thou rewarded for thy kindness Thou wert Eyes to the blind and Feet to the lame Thou wert a Father to the Poor and a Staff to the Aged Thou didst cause the Widows Heart to sing for joy Thou didst deliver the Poor that cryed the Fatherless and him that had no helper Unto thee Men gave ear and waited and kept silence at thy Counsel after thy words they spake not again and thy Speech dropt upon them the naked deck'd themselves with the Wooll of thy Sheep and thy Door was open to the weary Traveller But now they that are younger then thou have thee in derision and they that were Children of Fools Children of base Men Men viler then the Earth gape upon thee Thou art their Song and art become their By-word They abhorr thee and flee far from thee and spare not to spit in thy Face They marr thy Path they set forward thy Calamity Terrours are turned upon thee they pursue thy Soul as the Wind and thy welfare passes away as a Cloud O infinite Patience Yet these Sinners are offered Salvation by him whom they abused thus Salvation What do I hear O then there is hopes for me for I have been one of thy enemies I have mock'd thee by by my Sins I have derided thy sufferings by my contempt of thy Laws I have scorned thee by preferring mine own Will before thine I have spit upon thee by my filthy communications I have abused thee by sheltring my Sins under thy Cross I have dishonoured thee by my Life disgraced thee by my carelesness buffeted thee by my impatience affronted thee by my pride made light of thy Power and Goodness by my mistrust of thy Providence undervalued thy Love by my affection to vanity and yet thou stretchest forth thine arm to lay hold on me art loath to see me perish unwilling to see me undone and proclaimest mercy to a forlorn wretch Blessed news O King of Kings thou cryest It is fulfilled The work is done the vast work of redemption Now thy Fathers anger is broke now the Floodgates of indignation are shut Now Heaven stands open Now thy Fathers bosom is held out to all that thirst after thee Hear this all ye prisoners listen to this message ye guilty Souls Come all that are laden with a sense of sin Open the door Throw off your Chains Run to this Rock Make haste to this Fountain Kiss this Sun Make much of this Light Embrace this Mercy Do ye dispute the thing Do ye question whether ye shall do it or no Is it possible you can stand out Is it possible you can demur upon it Is it possible your Hearts do not turn within you Can you refuse your Cordial neglect the Medicine that must recover you slight the Remedy that must fetch you to life again O Jesu Thou hast done all things well Thou hast made the Blind to see and the Dumb to speak and the Deaf to hear O open thou my Lips and my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise Open thou mine Ears and let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the Morning O open thou mine Eyes and I shall see how Sweet and Gracious thou art O my Life thou diest and dying fulfillest thy Fathers Will for indeed it was fit that one Man should die for the People and that the whole Nation perish not Ah! What would Mankind have done if thou hadst not paid the Ransom Whether must they have fled for refuge if thou hadst not given thy self a Sacrifice They must have wandred about in Caves and Dens destitute tormented afflicted disconsolate lived in perpetual fear of death and the dreadful consequences of it Death must have been for ever a King of terrours to them if they had but look'd upon that Hell that death would have open'd into How could they
a Purple Robe How from thence he returned to Pilate and thereupon was scourged and crowned with Thorns How after this he bore his Cross and was actually crucified How he was made to drink Gall and Vinegar and at last bowed the Head and died But then I must not only barely survey these sufferings but reflect at the same time upon my sins that procured them and accuse not only my grosser sins if I have been guilty of any but my lesser errours of using the Son of God so barbarously I must not reflect upon his bloody Sweat without thinking of my proud Thoughts and Speeches and Actions that pulled it on him nor upon his wounds without beating my Breast for my Envy and Malice and revengful desires that caused them nor upon the Crown of Thorns without detesting my intemperance and sinister designs in doing good and affectation of vain Glory that set it on his Head nor on the Nails that tore his Flesh without taking a view of my pettishness and peevishness and impatience which struck them in nor upon the Spear that opened his side without entertaining some dismal Thoughts of my neglect of Meditation and Prayer and fervency of Spirit and Holy Discourses and bearing of Injuries and Heavenly Thoughts nor upon his Tears without looking stern upon my slight and superficial performances for all these help'd towards his Death and Agonies 5. I must shew my willingness to imitate Christ Jesus by doing some good Work if health and strength do give me leave This must be the first fruits of my future treading in his steps and will make my coming to the Holy Sacrament more comfortable I must in this imitate the Woman that poured out the ointment on Christ's Head before his sufferings began and Christ himself who wash'd his Disciples Feet before he refresh'd their Souls with the Holy Sacrament I must either free some prisoner to testify my resentment of the Mercy Christ shewed me in freeing me from the bondage of the Divel or relieve some poor Family to express my sense of Christ's relieving my Soul in the greatest strait or impart some good Counsel to a wicked and careless neighbour to shew how kind Christ was in visiting me with his Admonitions or visit some sick persons that are under great distress and comfort them or help them or give them or procure them some Physick that may do them good if they be needy to shew how sensible I am of Christ's being my Physician or forgive some small Debt a poor Man owes me to shew how I rejoyce at Christ's forgiving me Ten thousand Talents Or visit a man that hates me and behave my self most courteously to him to see whether his Heart will melt and come to a better temper thereby to express my sense of Christ's Love to me that have been his Enemy or give a good Book to one that hath no Money to buy one to shew my sense of Christ's feeding me with the word of Life or deny my self in a lawful Recreation or lawful Ornament or lawful Meal to shew I am sensible how Christ hath denied himself for mysake or pray earnestly for the conversion of a person I have no acquaintance with and whom I hear to be very vitious to express my sense of Christ's care of my Salvation 6. I must frequently pray that God would give me a Heart to breathe and pant after him and particularly a Heart to esteem and prize his Love manifested in this Sacrament above all the pleasures of this World that he would give me a Faith active and vigorous and which may press through all impediments and purify my Heart and Life and forget what is behind it That he would give me a contrite Spirit and Grace to tremble at his Word and threatnings that he would give me courage to undervalue and despise the World and the Glories and Vanities of it that he would give me a burning Zeal to his Glory a transcendent love to his Name and Ways and Ordinances that he would make me sincere in Devotion in Prayer and in all good Works and banish from me all sinister and worldly ends and designs in Holy performances that he would give me a firm resolution to imitate the Saints of old and the best examples at this day and to stop my ears against all the suggestions of Flesh and Blood to the contrary that he would give me a Mind which may delight in contemplating the Divine Goodness and Perfection and would teach me the great Art of Self-resignation of trusting him with my Soul and Body and of relying intirely upon his providence 7. I must resolve and unfeignedly upon my bended knees or in a very solemn manner resolve to watch and strive for the future against those particular sins and errors and sinful inclinations I am most inclined to If I have neglected such a Self-denial to neglect it no more if I have been guilty of such acts of pride and envy and ill nature to be guilty of them no more if I have been careless and slovenly in my Prayers to be so no more if I have pleased my self with vain Thoughts to please my self with them no more if I have delighted in fine Cloaths to delight in them no more if I have been false to my Vows and Promises to be false to them no more if I have made nothing of ill Names and ill Language to dread it like poison for the future I must resolve to mortifie such a habit of sin with rigors with being unkind to my flesh with Fasting and with mulcts of Money if I commit but a single act of the sin I must resolve to use the proper means to subdue such a corruption I must resolve to avoid that company where I am and have been apt to yield to a certain sin I must resolve to spend my time better and if I have spent too much of it in Dressing in Pleasure in Carding and Dice c. to do so no more whatever disgrace dis-respect or frowns I may meet with from the World or from mine Acquaintance and if I have been careless of meditating and being serious on the Lords day to make a better improvement of that day And I must so resolve as to think my self concerned to fulfil and perform my solemn Resolution unto which I have call'd God as a witness 8. I must watch against all things that would discompose and disorder my mind put me into a rage or passion and make me peevish and discontented and consequently unfit for the worthy receiving of this Sacrament I must labour to preserve a calmness and serenity of Mind and that neither multitude of worldly business do distract me nor injuries past and gone discompose me or put me into impatient Thoughts and expressions nor present disappointments rob me of my quiet I must watch against impediments that would tempt me to delay my coming to this Table and take heed I do not yield to Temptations that would
make me neglect the opportunity put into my hand of making Peace with God and mine own Conscience I must reject suggestions of this nature and regard more the necessary concerns of my Soul then things that at the best are but sensual satisfactions Consc. And what must thy Thoughts be and what frame must thy heart be in when thou comest to the Holy Table of the Lord Christ. I must 1. Employ my Soul in Holy ejaculations such as these O who will give me to drink of the Water of the Well of Bethlehem Wherewith shall I come before the Lord How shall I bow my self before the most high Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings with Calves of a year old O my Lord Thou hast shew'd me what is good and what dost thou require of me but to do justly to shew mercy and to walk humbly with my God! O my God I bring an humble Heart a Soul that desires to lye low before thee a Soul that longs to be clean and to be washed in the blood of the Lamb a Soul weary of Sin that sees no comfort no satisfaction no content in things below but behold's afar off the treasures of Consolation that lye hid in Christ Jesus These are things to be desired These are Mercies worth having These enrich banckrupt Souls with these Pardon is purchased and Heaven is procured O give me a Title to them Thou that art the true Morning Star O shine upon me O enlighten me O enlighten me O let me feel thy comfortable beams These burn not These scorch not but sanctify and polish and adorn I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Merits are exceeding broad They enlarge Heaven subue Death conquer Hell expel Divels and make God my friend How have I doted on the vanities of this World They are bubbles all but thou sweet Jesu art perfect Beauty a fountain of Joy which never wants Water never dries up never fails and never dies How much better is it to be here in the Courts of the Lord then in the Tents of the proudest Monarchs one day here is better then a thousand elsewhere Here God bows to poor sinners Here infinite Majesty converses with Dust and Ashes Here the King of Heaven is not ashamed to call such poor Worms as we are Brethren How different are the ways of God from the ways of Men They shun a Lazarus and a Beggar God receives them and the Soul that 's sensible of her poverty and begs to be enrich'd is refresh'd by him and invited into his bosom How Lovely art thou my Great Redeemer How Amiable How Kind How Beautiful Therefore do the Virgins love thee Could there be greater Love then to spill thy Blood for me Could there be greater Charity then to dye for me What miracles of Mercy are these I come to beg an alms at thine hands it 's too great a gift for me to ask but not too great for thee to give for it is thy self I beg O warm my Heart Touch it with a coal from the Altar O kindle Holy Fire in my Breast Burn up the dross and Tin there and let nothing but pure Gold remain Let Love prevail O change my Heart into fesrvent Love and turn all my faculties into Charity 2. I must joyn with the Congregation in their Prayers I must put my Perfumes into that common Genser that the Holy Smoak may go up with joyned force to the throne of Mercy I must not come behind my fellow-members in Zeal and Earnestness They pray for the prosperity of the Universal Church that God would guide her by his Holy Spirit so must I. They pray for all Christian Kings and Princes that they may promote the Glory of God and the Churches welfare so must I. They pray for the Ministers of God's Holy Word that they may be sound in the Faith and patterns of Holiness so must I. They pray for all distressed Members of Christ that the Consolations of Christ may abound in them so must I. They prostrate themselves in Holy Confessions of their Sins and pray for Remission and Pardon and Sanctification so must I. They pray to be made partakers of the benefits of Christ's Body and Blood so must I. 3. I must shew my compassion to the Poor by contributing to their necessities if I am able I must remember how poor how wretched how naked how miserable I was when the Son of God first took pity on me being yet in the Loins of my Father Adam I must consider that my self at this instant am lying at the pool of Bethesda waiting for the Angel of the Covenant to come down and stir the Waters that I may be healed I must look upon my self as a Person full of Sores and Sickness and reflect that I come to be cured for Gods sake by the Great Physitian of Souls From my Self I must look down on the Poor that want my help and as I would have my Great Master have compassion on me so I must have compassion on my fellow-Servants 4. I must at this time resist all worldly Thoughts and did my Oxen and my Farms and my Domestique Affairs stand aloof like Lepers that must not come near a place so full of Majesty and a Work so big with wonders I must with Mary chuse the better part and look upon Martha's serving as unseasonable I must lay aside contrivances how to make a bargain with my neighbour and know no other Covenant but what I am making with God in the blood of Jesus I must not think of my Trade and Trafick but remember it is for the Pearl of Price that I am Trading now and laying out my strength and labour I must not be disturbed with a desperate Debt that 's owing me but remember the Debts I owe to God and how I do expect that at this time they should be struck out and cancell'd for ever I must not now torment my self about a livelyhood when I come to get a Title to a Life of everlasting Glory I must not now think how to get Bread and make provision for my Family but rather reflect with joy what large provision the Almighty makes for my Soul and what care he takes to make me a Son of God an Heir of Heaven and Coheir with Christ. When sensual Thoughts fly through my Mind at this time I must continue to say to them Arise and Depart for here shall not be your rest 5. I must now make some Spiritual reflexions on the breaking of the Bread and upon pouring out of the Holy Wine On the breaking of the Bread BEhold O my Soul thus was thy Blessed Saviour's Body broken Thus was his unspotted Flesh torn asunder O my Sins ye did this barbarous act The Jews were but the External instruments ye were the fatal causes of that torture had it not been for you the Crown of Thorns had never wounded that Sacred Head Break my Heart Break it is a dismal sight A broken
the Tree of Life and visited me with his Salvation Here the Words of David may justly be applied My Soul shall joy in thy strength O Lord and in thy Salvation how greatly may I rejoice Thou hast given me my hearts desire and hast not withholden the request of my Lips thou hast prevented me with the Blessings of Goodness thou settest a Crown of Pure Gold on my head I asked life of thee and thou gavest it me even length of days for ever and ever My glory is great in thy Salvation Honour and Majesty hast thou laid upon me for thou hast made me Blessed for ever Thou hast made me exceeding glad with thy countenance Therefore will I trust in the Lord and through the Mercy of the most High I shall not miscarry Thine hand shall find out all my spiritual Enemies thy right hand shall find out all those that hate thee Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength so will we sing and praise thy Power 4. I must go home rejoicing and praising God Praise is comely for the Upright the poor Cripple did so when he was Healed and have not I far greater reason to do so Behold I am healed at this time from mine Infirmity and shall not his Praise be continually in my mouth I must say in my heart My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Salvation I will extol thee O God my King and I will Praise thy Name for ever and ever Every day will I Bless thee and Praise thy Name for ever and ever O all ye that fear the Lord come and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul His Love hath overcome my Corruption his fervent Charity my Coldness his Goodness my Sins and Follies Except the Lord had been on my side now might I say if the Lord had not been on my side when Temptations and Corruptions rose up against me then they had swallow'd me up quick when their Wrath was kindled against me then the Waters had overwhelm'd me the Stream had gone over my Soul Blessed be the Lord who hath not given me over as a Prey unto their Teeth My Soul is escaped as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowlers the Snare is broken and I am escaped My help is in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth 5. Being made whole I must for the future take heed and sin wilfully no more Having wash'd my Feet I must not defile them again I must stand upon my watch and shun those occasions which formerly led me into Sin I must be cautious and afraid of an ill Word as much as of an evil Action and my very Thoughts must be purged from that filth that used to cleave to them I must strangle an evil suggestion in its birth and when I find any motion rising in my mind that looks like Envy or Pride or desire of Vain Glory or greediness after the World I must check it upon its first appearance I must bid an Eternal farewel to Unbelief and mistrust of Gods Providence and shun those sinful compliances with Men which heretofore I was used to be guilty of I must not only watch against grosser Sins and such as Jews and Heathens can avoid but against the secret disorders and errors of my Heart which none sees but God who is over all Blessed for evermore 6. I must frequently compare my Actions and Behaviour with the Vow and Promise and solemn Resolution I have made in the Holy Sacrament whether my Deportment be agreeable to those Engagements Whether I stand in awe of those Vows and Promises and whether they influence my Thoughts and Words and Practices Whether my hatred of Sin increases and my love to Holiness grows steady and unmoveable Whether I check my self upon feeling an inclination or propensity to a sinful act with such Thoughts as these Is this the effect of my late Vow Is this to stand to the Covenant I lately made with God Is it possible I can be so perfidious as to break with God Hath the Cross of Christ so little power with me Shall it not restrain me from such a sin as this Foolish Creature shall a little profit or pleasure tempt me to please the Divel and wrong my immortal Soul I am tied by a solemn promise made in a most solemn place by a promise made to God by a promise Sealed with the Blood of Jesus not to do it and shall I presume to do it or hope for pardon after this presumption I must take notice Whether the Thoughts of Christs death make my passions weak Whether they lessen the heat of them Whether they repress their fierceness Whether they work in me that contempt of the World which was so signal in my dear Lord and Master I must ever and anon look how my Graces thrive Whether no weeds grow among them that are like to choak the wholsome Herbs 7. I must now study Self-denial even in things lawful and that seem to have no harm in them Self-denial in Eating and Drinking in my Cloaths in my Recreations in my Time in my Discourses in my Wit in my Reading in my Profit in my Ease and in my Sleep I must now take heed I do not Eat and Drink to satiety but labour still to rise from my Meals with an Appetite I must now and then humble my Soul with a Religious Fast and many times forbear eating of that Dish I have most mind to to bring my sensual Desires into order I must not imitate every vain fashion I see other people use but must be very modest and decent in my garb and having means and opportunities to buy me better reserve that Money I would have laid out upon a richer Suit for Pious uses I must not think every recreation lawful because it 's commonly used by Men who are none of the worst I must not encourage the vanity of Men and Women that are in love with Stage-Plays by my example as being things I abjured in my Baptisme but my recreation must be such as may fit me for Spiritual Devotions I must not spend my time as some luxurious and idle People do in needless and complemental Visits in playing at Cards and Dice but in Words and Actions and Discourses as may be useful and profitable either to the Souls or Bodies of my Family and my Neighbours I must not censure or judge my Neighbour rashly in my Speeches and Discourses and not be easily drawn to give a Verdict or Judgment of People except it be in their Praise and Commendation if they do deserve it I must not give my self too great liberty in jesting but forbear blurting out a witty Saying if it be smutty or abusive of my neighbours Credit and Reputation I must not give my self to reading of Romances and such Books as serve to render the Mind vain and the Affections loose and regardless of Spiritual things I must express my gratitude to God
thee that thou hast kept me from so many opportunities of sinning against thee from abundance of temptations from innumerable occasions of evil How many have been snatcht away by sudden death and I am alive yet How many have been denyed the grace of Repentance which thou still offerest to me That I have a heart to pray and praise thy Name What a mighty token of thy Love is this Let Heaven and Earth praise the Lord Let all the Angels in Heaven praise him Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord praise thou the Lord O my Soul I remember O Lord how when I have gone through the water thou hast been with me when I have passed through the Fire thou hast commanded the Flames not to kindle upon me I remember when for a small moment thou hast hid thy Face from me How with everlasting kindnesses thou hast visited me again O how often hast thou deliver'd me from the nethermost Hell When I have been ready to sink in the mire thou hast pulled me out of the horrible pit cut of the miry Clay and set my feet upon a Rock and establish'd my goings When the snares of death have incompassed me and the pains of Hell laid hold on me thou hast deliver'd my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living what reward shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits How loth hast thou been to behold my ruine How hast thou call'd after me Have mercy on thy self With what convictions hast thou follow'd me What checks of Conscience hast thou given me O my Lord Thou shalt have all the Glory Thou art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour and Majesty and Dominion How precious are thy Mercies How rich thy Loving kindnesses To do so much for dust and ashes for a Worm for a Grashopper for a Creature that hath abused thee and rebell'd against thee O what goodness is this My understanding is not big enough to comprehend it I 'll acknowledge thee for my God I 'll own thee for my Redeemer Thou shalt be my King my Master my Sovereign Lord I will consecrate all my Labours all my Services all I have and all I am to thy Glory O what a favour is forgiveness of Sin which I trust I have received this day Think O my Soul what a bondage thou art deliver'd from Think what slavery thou art freed from Now thou art at liberty now thou mayst serve God chearfully now thou mayst freely go on from Virtue to Virtue This is a day of Thanksgiving this is a day of glad tidings this is a day which ought to be remembred O my Jesus Thou hast this day visited the Earth and watered it Thou hast made it rich with thy showers thy Grace hath dropp'd upon me this day like the Rain on the mowen Grass O order my steps according to thy Word for the future Let me see thee in every Mercy Teach me to admire thee in every Blessing Let nothing seduce my Heart from thee When any afflictions come upon me let me receive them with Thanks and Submission When I stumble do thou support me when I fall do thou raise me when I go astray do thou seek me when I err do thou direct me When I slacken in thy service do thou strengthen me Keep the door of my Senses that no impure thing may enter there Let my Heart be thy Temple Teach me to enquire daily what progress I make in thy way Let thy Word be a lanthorn to my Feet and a Light unto my paths Let no evil company discourage me Let thy Providence direct me to persons that love thy Law and in these excellent ones let all my Delight and Comfort be O my Lord my Life is hid in thee But when thy Glory shall appear I shall be like thee Speak Lord for thy Servant hears Let none of thy Commandements be hence-forward grievous to me Open thy hand and feed my Soul When I am tempted lay no more upon me then I am able to bear Give me courage to strive to enter in at the strait Gate Let me ever look at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Thy Kingdom Lord is not in Meat and Drink but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Give me a taste of it Let Eternity be always in my mind Into thy hands I do commend my Spirit my Body and all the concerns of my Life Let thy Grace come down upon me plentifully Let me not do thy Will negligently Let me live in the thoughts of another life and let those Thoughts encourage me to follow after that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus O hear me O Answer me O pity me O relieve me O come in O succour me thou that art the God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousness all the day long Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say continually Let God be magnified I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God! thou art my Help and my Deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Amen Amen ERRATA PAge 51. l. 24. read liberty p. 169. l. 19 r. Repentance What literal Faults or Mistoppings may occur the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen. Books Printed for and Sold by Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand CLelia An excellent new Romance Parthanissa That most Fam'd Romance Dr. Greys Compleat Horseman and expert Farrier Two Sermons Preach'd at the Cathedral Church in Norwich By B. Rively Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumphatus with the Additions of Dr. More and Dr. Horneck Mr. Glanvil's Lux Orientalis Or the Opinion of the Eastern Sages concerning the Pre-existence of Souls Bishop Rust of Truth and Annotations on both Dr. Horneck's Great Law of Consideration Papismus Regiae potestatis Eversor Paul Festeau's French Grammar Maugers Letters in French and English The Mirror of Fortune The French Rogue Cambridge Jests or Witty Alarms for melancholy Spirits Kerhuel Idea Eloquentiae The Situation of Paradise
rest not in my own Labours but in thy Blood in thy Sweat in thy good pleasure O Glorious Son of God! Cursed is the Man that trusts in Man and makes Flesh his Arm. I will hope in thy Mercy my Heart shall rejoyce in thy Salvation Evening and Morning and at Noon will I Pray and thou wilt hear my voice Thou hast said Ask and ye shall have Seek and ye shall find Knock and it shall be open'd to you Who would not Hope after this Who would not rely upon thee after such a Promise O let me find Grace in the sight of my Lord I desire nothing else this is the height of my wishes this is it which engrosses the faculties of my Soul Thy Grace is the Jewel I want the Pearl I stand in need of the Crown my Soul longs for Thou art my witness O Lord That my Heart thinks so Thou hast Treasures of Mercy Thy Stores are large and inexhaustible Thou bidst me come and buy without Money and without price and my Soul shall live Thou dost promise me more then Kings can promise and no wonder for thou art greater and richer then all the Kings of the Earth Thou givest Rest to the weary Soul and Strength to the Faint Therefore mine Eyes shall be toward thee O let thine Eyes be open and thine Ears attent unto the Prayer of thy Servant Do thou chuse and sanctify this House that thy Name may be there forever and let thine Eyes and thy Heart be here perpetually Thy liberality and bounty is immense and infinite I cannot but hope in thee Oh my unbelieving Heart Couldst thou but trust him more what great things wouldst thou see His Mercy is upon thee according as thou hopest in him The more thou hopest the greater is his Mercy O my Lord What stupendous Gifts dost thou present me with What amazing Offers dost thou make to my Soul Thou art not only willing to impart thy Graces to me but in thy Supper givest me thy Self and here thou offerest to carry me in thy Arms to be my nursing Father and to be Food to my hungry Soul May it be unto me according to thy Word Come Lord Lodge thou in my Soul make it thy dwelling place anoint it with the Oil of Mercy I will go and take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Thy loving kindness shall be before mine Eyes and I will walk in thy Truth I will not sit with vain Persons neither will I go in with the Dissemblers I will wash mine Hands in innocency so will I compass thine Altar O Lord That I may publish with the voice of Thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works my Heart shall be inditing a good Matter and I will speak of things touching the King of Saints Into thy Hands I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed it O Lord God of Truth O make thy Face to shine upon thy Servant and O let me Hope unto the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto me at the Revelation of Jesus Christ A men A Prayer for Love and Charity O Thou who hast so loved the World as to give thine only Son to the end that all that Believe in him should not perish but have everlasting Life What shall I do to love thee What shall I do to be united to thee What shall I do to get a place in thy Bosom If I love thee not I am undone If thou dost not look exceeding lovely in mine Eyes I am lost If my Affections do not fix upon thee I perish I cannot be happy without loving thee My Soul is destitute of her proper Good if thou be not the object of my delight I am perfectly miserable if thou be not the Center of my Spirit Love is the greatest Gist that 's given to poor creatures Love enriches their Souls Love makes their Faces shine Love must brighten their Souls and make them appear lovely in the Eyes of God! O my Lord Thou hast given me faculties to love thee Understanding to contemplate thy Beauty and Mercy and Perfection memory to retain the lively apprehensions of thy Glory and a Will to prompt my whole Man into sutable Actions The more I love thee the Holier I am The more I love thee the more I am with thee for where I love there is my Soul where my Affections are there is my Spirit where my Treasure is there will my Heart be also Who would look upon a Dunghil that can view a Glorious Palace Who would hear the screeches of Owls and Night-Ravens that can hear melodious Musick And why should I be taken with the pomp and glory of the World which in comparison of thee is a meer Dunghil or with the caresses and praises of mortal Men which are perfect howlings compared with the harmony thy Love doth make Shall I love Honour and not love thee who art the Fountain of it Shall I love Pleasure and not love thee in whose Presence there is fulness of Joy Who can be likened unto thee O Lord And if nothing can be likened unto thee I must love nothing like thee And if I justly love that which is good I must necessarily love thee more then all things in this world for thou art infinitely better then all things in this world There is nothing so good nothing so precious nothing so rich nothing so amiable as thou art O my Jesus How great was thy condescension Thou knewest I could love nothing so well as what was like me and in compliance with my temper for thou knewest my frame thou becamest like me indeed The Immortal became Mortal The Eternal became an Infant If therefore I love Man who is naturally like me how much more am I bound to love thee who wroughst a miracle to become Man that thou mightst be like me Love desires the presence of its delightful object and can any thing be more present then thou art Thou art in me and with me and without me thou art present in all places at all times in all companies thou art willing to dwell in me and to make thine abode in me Thou art content never to depart from me Thou art strangely bountiful who would not love thee Who ever gave greater or larger Gifts either more in number or more in quantity or longer for duration then thy liberal Hand from thee every good and perfect Gift comes down whatever Gifts I receive from thy Creatures thou sendest them The Creatures are but the Channels or the Pipes through which they are conveyed and shall not I love the Fountain more then the Channel the Spring more then the Pipe through which the water runs and the great Giver more then the Messengers that carry it Thou workest in all thou inclinest the Hearts of the Bountiful Thou openest their Hands thou turnest their Hearts into Charity Thou seasonest their Minds with Thoughts of me and thou bendest their Wills to do me good And