universal Refuge But the goodly price of a Death-Bed-Repentance at which God is prized by most even then when Religion is at the lowest is rejected with Indignation and the Everlasting State purchased by it may be sadly called an Aceldama a Field of Blood It 's in vain to ask whether God cannot save a Man after a vitious life since his own Will seems to restrain his Power that he will not save men without a recovery to Holiness He is Holy Just and True as well as Mercifull The same word that informs us He is mercifull and gracious likewise tells us He will by no means clear the guilty (m) Ex. 34.6 7. That if we live after the flesh we shall die (n) Rom. 8.13 That He cannot lye nor deny Himself I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live (o) Ez. 18.34 Implying except we turn to him his Mercy will do us no good What Reason have we to expect it which we have used to evil purposes and his dishonour that he should work Miracles for us while we despise the means Cause the Sun to stand still for us because we have trifled away our day Turn Stones into Bread for us who have been slothful and are ready to perish That he should stand ready for us with that grace at last which we have so long refused and rejected God is as peremptory for the Time and Season as for the Duty it self There 's a Time when he will not be found nor accept our Offering The Day of Grace lasteth not so long as the Day of his Patience The fruitless Fig-tree stood still in the Vineyard uncut down but presently withered away under that fatal Curse Never fruit grow on thee more (p) Matt. 21.12 Though he will pardon the Infirmities of the sincere yet there 's a certain Period set for the return of Sinners beyond which all their Industry is ineffectual (q) Gen. 6.3 Isa 6.9 10. Ez. 24.13 Rom. 11.8 Rev. 22.11 Jerusalem neglected the day of her Visitation and the things of her Peace were irrevocably hid from her Eyes Esau found no place of Repentance in his Father though he sought it carefully with Tears The foolish Virgins saw and were troubled that they wanted oil and endeavoured after it but too late the door was shut and no knocking powerfull enough for their admission The design of the Parable of the Vineyard (r) Matt. 20.1 c. so grosly abus'd where those that went into it at the last hour were rewarded equally with those that bore the burden and heat of the day was to teach the Jews that though God had chose them first to be his People yet at the Eleventh hour i e. in Gospel Times or end of the World He would call in accept of and reward the Gentiles as largely as they notwithstanding their repining and murmuring at this his Grace and Mercy the Reward being to all of Grace and not of Debt At least it 's no Advantage or Encouragement to those that are early call'd upon and ingaged yet refuse and delay coming in till old Age Adjourn their serving God to their going out of the World for those that went in at the Eleventh hour a time rather to discharge than admit Servants were not call'd before but found standing idle because no man had hired them And for the Thief upon the Cross that hath stole away so many Souls for the Devil it 's a bare Example Lu. 23.33 c. not confirm'd by any Premise It 's a fingle Example without a parallel in the whole Word of God It 's an extraordinary Example ranked among the Miracles Christ wrought when he left the World It 's an Example impertinently alledg'd to warrant delay in us who have the sound of the Gospel continually in our Ears yet wretchedly cheat our selves of the Remedy of our miserable Condition by adjourning the use of it to a late and uncertain Futurity which seldom or never succeeds well Vain Men to conclude an Vniversal Law from one single Instance a personal Grace and Privilege extended to that one Person that stood close to that Sacrifice that was offering it self up to God when the Conqueror was Triumphing over Principalities and Powers and making a shew of them openly upon the Cross Col. 2.15 and displaying the Power of the dying Mediator to forgive Sins in his lowest Humiliation The Scriptures that are an History of more than Five Thousand years have but this one Instance of one accepted upon a Death-Bed-Repentance and in that such an extraordinary Conjunction of Circumstances as will never fall out again No man professing Christianity hath any Reason to expect to fare as this Thief did till Christ come into the World and suffer again and that between two Thieves and he be alive at that time and place where he suffers and be one of the Thieves and the good one too exercising so many Acts of a true Repentance and lively Faith in Christ when probably first preached to him when he saw him in so despicable a state amidst insulting Infidels under all the Infamy and Misery of a shamefull and painfull Death and nothing to make such a greatness as he ascribed to him probable which will never be They dreadfully mistake themselves that crowd up Repentance into so narrow a Room as a Sick-Bed when men have scarce time to reckon up all the particular Duties that make it up That imagine the Tree that hath been always Barren should bring forth good Fruit now it is a cutting down That a man should live a life of Holiness when he is just a dying That a weak infirm Person of disabled disturbed faculties should build that in Three days which others notwithstanding all their Abilities and Diligence find hard enough to do in Forty years That those who have had the knowledge of God and been call'd upon all their lives to give up themselves to him should be accepted when they pour out to him instead of the generous Spirits of life the Lees and Dregs of it When the Blood cools in the Veins and the Spirits are ready to stand still the Season of the Pleasures of Sin are over and a man is no longer to live where they are to cast himself upon Religion when there 's nothing else to vie with it when all things else fail That he must take us in at Night though he hath in vain stretched out his hand to us all the day long As if this state were prepared only for a Stage for Men to act their Vices and Exorbitances upon and then God should remove them to Heaven that have but just begun to acknowledge him by some weak Devotion extorted even out of Necessity and given the Bulk of their Time to Sin That have sacrificed the Male of their Flock to Lust and even with impious Designs kept the corrupt thing for him That the easie Yoak the
and evidence the same unto his Soul give him seasonable Ease Rest and Sleep and patience under his Sufferings and let these light Afflictions that are but for a Moment work out for him a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory let the Lord Jesus be unto him both in Life and Death great Advantage Take him not out of this Life untill thou hast fitted him for a better Let not the Enemy have any Advantage over him or be able to shake his Faith and Confidence in thy Mercy through Jesus Christ to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and evermore Amen Another WE prostrate our selves before thee O great Physitian of Soul and Body in a deep sense of our own vileness and unworthiness acknowledging it of thy free grace and mercy that thou hast not cut us off in the midst of our Sins without giving us space to beg thy Pardon and Mercy Beseeching thee for the sake of our All-sufficient Mediator to be reconciled unto us and at Peace with us Wash us throughly from our Iniquities and cleanse us from our Sins In particular be very gracious and mercifull to this thy Servant Thou hast all Distempers at thy Command if thou sayest go they go come they come unto God the Lord belong the Issues from Death O raise him up from his Bed of languishing Return O Lord deliver his Soul O save him for thy mercies sake for in Death there is no remembrance of thee in the Grave who shall give thee Thanks O let him live that he may bless thee and be instrumental for thy Glory But if his days are determined to end now prepare him for leaving the World Make him truly sensible of all his Offences and accept of the Death and Passion of thy beloved Son as an Expiation for them Let him sleep in Jesus die in the Lord and rest from his Labours Take away all sad disquieting discouraging perplexing thoughts Quiet compose support his Spirit Inable him to wait in an humble Submission for that peaceable joyfull Repose and Rest which thou hast prepared for thy Servants for his sake who subjected himself to Mortality who died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification and intercedes for us at thy Right-hand the Anchor of our Hope and Foundation of our Happiness in whose Holy Name and Words we further pray unto thee saying Our Father c. How to spend every Day well WAste not your precious Morning hours sluggishly in your Bed Allow your selves so much sleep only as is necessary for your Health Begin the day with God Offer up unto Him who giveth his Beloved sleep and careth for you when you cannot for your self the first of your Thoughts and Affections As soon as you awake lift up a Thankful Heart for your Comfortable Rest and Sleep and Preservation Let not the Continuance and Commonness of the Mercy make it seem less but Encrease your Thankfulness Beg of Him to preserve you from all Evil especially Sin To Protect direct assist and Bless you in all your lawful undertakings and ingage in none wherein you cannot expect it Resolve not to lose or mispend the Day before you which when gone you shall see again no more for ever Think what a Blessed Rest you shall have in the presence of his Angels and of the Happiness and Privilege of being in his Love and under his Protection Let the naked ness of your Body mind you to avoid Sin the Cause of Shame your Rising out of Bed of the general Resurrection at the last Day before the Judge of all the World The light of the Day of the Sun of Righteousness the several parts of your Cloaths of taking unto you the whole Armour of God c. This is the way to keep out vain Thoughts and your selves in a Better frame all the Day which is usually spent well or ill according as we set out in the beginning of it Let your Apparel be Modest Decent according to your Place Condition and Station and not Expensive of Time in putting on not to nourish Pride or occasion Lust It 's not enough to look to our own Thoughts except we beware also of provoking others Affectedness in any thing is Commendable in nothing Night and Morning Devotion keeps the fire of the Altar always alive Enter upon no Business until you have offered up your Morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving Recommend your self and your Affairs unto God by Solemn Prayer and Return him Thanks for his Care of you and goodness unto you the last Night and all your Days And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (b) Mat. 6.6 Call to mind and arm your selves against the Temptations and failings you are liable to by-Reason of your Company Imployment Inclinations and watch over them continually Look for Evils every day and cast all your Cares and Fears upon God Let your Carriage be such all the Day as those that must appear before him at Night In all Difficulties ascend to him for Counsel and Direction in all Troubles for Support in all your Undertakings for a Blessing Be still asking whose am I what do I here am I in my way Is this my last Day or do I look for another Entertain not vain Desires or worldly Lusts but resist reject them Turn and fix your Thoughts upon something that is good frequently lift up your Souls to God in mental Praises and Supplications Make a Covenant with your Eye and Ear the Inlets of Lust and Vanity Set the Lord always before you Do nothing that may Create sorrow at Night or Confusion at the great Day Resolve to spend the day as usefully as possible to God others your self to speak for God and his Glory what ever it cost you not to be terrified from or ashamed of him or his Service so as the Testimony of a good Conscience may be ground of your Rejoycing Your Heavenly work is to run a Race to fight a good fight to strive and wrestle which cannot be done without giving all Diligence Care and Watchfulness Follow your Earthly Imployment though Difficult with Chearfulness and a Heavenly Mind Be Industrious in your Business and Honest in your Dealings Take no Advantage of any oversight work not upon the Ignorance Unskilfulness Weakness or Necessity of others Do as you would have done to your selves or yours It 's better to suffer wrong than do it Use not many words and those understood by the Contractor All the Business of a Bargain is summed up in a few He that speaks least usually means fairest and He that deceives by speaking what is true in a sence not intended or understood by the other is a Liar and a Thief Avoid not only what is false but that also which deceives all Equivocating Intricate Crafty speeches speak the sence of your Mind a Bargain may be as unmerciful as a Robbery God still takes the weakest part and
more Comfort than all the Mirth and Jollity of the Earth A Holy Life give more satisfaction than all the licentious Humours of this Jovial Age. When God shall give Relaxation and Rest to his troubled Saints When all their Burthens of Persecution Temptation and Sin shall be removed All their bodily Diseases and Infirmities end in perfect Vigour Agility Spirituality Incorruption and Glory All their Ignorances in a perfect Intuition and Vision of God All their Troubles of Conscience in perfect Peace All their Distempers of Sin in perfect Subjection to the Will of God All their exorbitant Affections in a regular and harmonious Motion towards the Supream good All their Distractions and deadness in Duty in a vigorous Activity and uninterrupted Exercise of Grace All Church-Divisions in perfect Union and Communion of Saints When they shall have no misgiving Thoughts no remaining Depravity in their Nature or new contracted Guilt to eclipse the Face of God or deject theirs and make their Countenance fall before him Nothing taken from them but their Prison their Chain their Clog their Shame their Sting their Poyson their Burden their Misery The Consideration of Judgment to come is enough sure to perswade us to a strict and diligent Care of our Lives and Actions to cast a damp upon all youthfull Dalliances and Solaces to check them in their eager pursuit of their most delicious Pleasures (y) Ec. 11.9 To make the Judge upon the Bench tremble at a few words of a Prisoner at the Bar (z) Act. 24.25 The Drunkard to let fall his Cups and the Busie Worldling to stand at gaze the Prophane Atheist to hide his Head and the sleepy Sot to start up into Anxious Wonder to hush the loud Companions into Silence and the merry Droll into a carefull Look No Sinner knows how soon he may be reduc'd to the very last opportunity of making his peace with God and brought into those straits that no wise considerate man would be in for all the World Into such a Condition as to have nothing to save him from perishing but a sudden Repentance to have but this Plank left which is a Thousand to one whether ever it will bring him safe to shore Now he apprehends himself in danger he is infinitely troubled for his neglecting Preparation for that which he could not for his life but believe would come He thinks and it 's to be fear'd very right it 's somewhat too late to set about it to little purpose to gird up his Loins when he can do no Service to light his Lamp when all his Oil is spent He 's afraid he shall have no time to do any thing considerable in this work that God will not accept of any thing he doth at such a time he vainly wishes for some of those Hours he was sick of hung upon his Hand he foolishly wasted and mis spent and nothing hinders him now from setting about the Work with all his Might but that â—â—e hath neglected it so long and that it 's â—ow too late But is it not better to preâ—ent the occasion of it To take away the ground of such vain Wishes such sad Complaints Why should we not resolvedly do that now which so many when they come to die heartily wish they had done The Foundation of our Peace and Comfort at Death must be laid in our youth and health living in a continual Expectation and Preparation for it doing all things in order to it getting a stock of habitual Grace and keeping our Souls in a vigorous vigilant Posture Let your loins be girded about and your lights Burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately Blessed are those Servants Luke 12.35 36 37. whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching A Prayer for a Comfortable Death To be added to our daily Devotions ALmighty Creator and most mercifull Redeemer who hast made me as the Clay and wilt bring me to Dust again Have Mercy upon me now and at the Hour of my Death By a Holy Conversation and habitual Performance of my Duty let me be always ready for it Let it not be unprovided or untimely having in it nothing extraordinary but an extraordinary Piety and the Manifestation of a great and miraculous Mercy Hide thy Face from my Sins and blot out all mine Iniquities Let me pass through the Valley of the shadow of Death with safety and a well-grounded Peace a meek and quiet Spirit and a Sence of thy Love and Mercy let me then fear no Evil because thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comforts me when my Flesh and my Heart faileth me be thou the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Give me a right use of â—â—y Sences and Understanding an unâ—â—gned Repentance a strong Faith and â—â—tience a firm Hope a sincere Love 〈◊〉 thee and all the World Be thou â—â—e Portion of all my Relations and â—â—iends and our exceeding great Reâ—â—rd When our Earthly House of this â—â—bernacle is dissolved let 's have a Builâ—â—g of God an House not made with â—â—nds Eternal in the Heavens while â—â—ive let me live unto thee when I 〈◊〉 let me die unto thee living or dyâ—â—â— let me be thine through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord. Amen Another O Judge of all the World and Father of Mercies In all Humility I â—strate my self before thee O Reâ—â—mber not against me the Sins of my â—â—th nor of my riper Years but acâ—â—â—ding to the Multitude of thy tender â—â—â—cies blot out all my Transgressions 〈◊〉 me not in a short life create to my 〈◊〉 Horror Amazement and Eternal Torment but be every day doing that which will be matter of Triumph and Rejoycing when I come to die All the days of my appointed Time let mâ— wait till my Change come Preservâ— me in thy Faith Fear and Love to my Life's End Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirâ—â— from me Deliver me whom thou haâ— redeemed with thy most precious Blood from the Power and guilt of Sin from offending thee or others by an impatâ—â—ent uneasie Spirit from the Assaults 〈◊〉 Satan from an immoderate Fear 〈◊〉 Death from Eternal Damnation Thâ—â— when I have served thee in my Generâ—tion I may have an abundant Entranâ—â— into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savâ— our Jesus Christ to whom with thâ— Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be a Glory Honour and Praise now and eveâ— more Amen Another O Thou that art the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation receive and keep me in thy Favour in the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Faith and Peace and in Righteousness of Life Make me always sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of my Life and of the suddainness and certainty of that Day when thou wilt bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether
incur thereby The Purity and Holiness of Religion in the truly good is by the scurrilous Reflections and bitter Sarcasms of the profane made contemptible which is as foolish and malicious as if a Slave should reproach the Son of a King for being like his Father But oh how will these abject wretches be confounded they will chuse rather to be covered under the Ruins of the World then to be a Spectacle of Abhorrence and Scorn before that Vniversal glorious Confluence when the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels (h) Mark 8.38 Sin carries with it so much Shame and Horrour that many of the Poets believed there was no Fury like the Conscience of having done Evil To avoid the worm of which so insupportable many have found it as to cast themselves into the Fire that is not quenched And the Ease the obdurate gain by being delivered from the Remorse and Regrets the Reproaches and Rebukes of Conscience is far over-ballanced by the Loss that cannot be divided from it Namely the Loss of the Joys of Innocence and of the Sense of God's Favour and Hopes of a happy Futurity There 's not an eminent Man among the Grecians saith one of the Ancients that dies an Heathen or an Infidel though they lived so If there be Atheists in company there are none in Hell or alone They tremble at that in private and at Death which they laugh at among the Jovial Crew All sorts of men in all Ages that have gone before us into an Eternal State of all Conditions Perswasions Opinions Tempers Ages Dispositions upon Experience have found that whatsoever vain thoughts men in the Heat of their Youth and Lust entertain of Religion when they come to leave the World they give Testimony unto it They confess at last that it had been their Prudence and Interest to be good betimes and not to stay till Necessity or Experience force them to it And that a strict and serious Life is not the Humour of some conceited singular Persons but the opinion of all men when they are most impartial and serious That they are wise indeed who make hast and delay not to keep God's Commandments though they expect to save no more by it but their Souls Religion abridges us of nothing but sin which is Rank poison to our Souls and exchanges the momentary Pleasures of it for the perpetual peace of a good Conscience The Pleas sinners use for their vitious Lives are all such as any man who will be but faithfull to his own Soul may as easily answer as invent and see abundant Reason to be singular rather than sinfull and careless Ask them if they ever knew any carry the Comfort of his sins out of the World with him and what themselves will be like to think of their doings when they shall think them over at Death and in Eternity If the pleasures of sin for a season be worth the venturing endless Torments and if the number of sinners that run so great a hazard are well satisfied in their minds that it will moderate all their Sufferings to remember what they have enjoy'd That Hell is not so hot nor so lasting as to keep them out of it and to be preferr'd before the necessary means of their prevention which would bring them as near Immortal Joys as their next Heir is to their Earthly Inheritance and is the better Estate for being out of this World which is of so uncertain so short a continuance Did Heaven but stand in the same account with them now as it will when that great Gulph shall obstruct their passage they would pursue it with such vigorous and continued Endeavours as never proved unsuccesfull The difficulties of Religion are insuperable only to the slothfull the coward the inconsiderate who are not to be consulted with in our Christian warfare who have never made a thorough Trial of it nor duely considered its Reward who would attain the end without the means go to Heaven by descent without discomposing themselves in putting off Dispositions and Affections incompatible to that Holy place There is no Lion in the way to a resolved mind and if there were little David grappled with and slew both a Lion and a Bear and from thence was encouraged to enter the List with the Uncircumcised Philistin and overcame him 2. Beware of that infinite hazard of a Death-Bed-Repentance of venturing Eternity upon your last Breath Makè Religion your early your continual Business your Duty your Obligation which will administer a delightfull Reflection on your following years prove the truest Frugality and Improvement of Time the greatest ease quiet comfort and safety both of Life and Death Those that now load themselves with guilt under the delusion of Pleasure that gives them secret disquiet while they are laying it on treasure up shame and sorrow for the time to come horrour and despair for a dying-hour All men seek the Lord some time or other only wise men betimes while he may be found Old Age is the Lot but of a very few grievous and burthensome enough of it self but disconsolate and opprest indeed when men come to possess the Diseases and Infirmities of it together with the Iniquities of their Youth bitter if not fruitless Repentance for their mispending it Yet Death observes not the Course of Nature but the Determination of God Boast not thy self of to Morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth (i) Prov. 27.1 Possibly this day may bring forth thy Death how then shall to Morrow bring forth thy Repentance or make thee another Tender of this day 's rejected Salvation Every day puts a Period to many Lives as well secured as ours and who have had the same Reason of Hope with our selves No man ever miscarried because his life was short but bad 't was no loss to Gideon that he returned from Victory before the Sun was up (k) Jude 8.13 There 's no danger of being wise and good too soon but all the wisdom to be learnt in another World comes too late to remedy any final miscarriage in this We may be instantly surprized by Death or a Disease that incapacitates us to call for Mercy in general much more to make our selves meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in life Such as delay shall have more cause to repent hereafter but less power and will Preparation for Death which requires the whole of man in his best vigour is oh how sad and deplorable usually delay'd till the melancholy Evening of Age or Twilight of Death The Trifles of this World divert them from that main Business to which all others should be subordinate No man hath a lease of his life as Hezekiah had (l) Isa 38.5 In Golgotha are Sculls of all sorts and sizes We see few Hoary Heads most Children die before their Parents The old Cammel saith the Arabian Proverb carries the young Cammels skin to the
Service of Christ into the Communion of Saints Keep them from the Loss or Injury of any Sence or Member from every sad Accident from Evil Temptations or Examples prevailing upon them from being useless unprofitable or vitious that they prove not a Curse but a Blessing and Comfort to us and others and attain what thou hast promised to those that Honour and Obey thee and their Parents and not provoke thee to visit the Iniquity of their Fathers upon them Give us grace to carry our selves so as we may be able with Confidence so leave our Fatherless Children with thee and bid them trust in Thee O thou that hast sent forth thine Angels for Ministring Spirits to the Heirs of Salvation give them Charge over us and them for Preservation and Safety thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Childrens Duties LOve and Honour your Parents in your Thoughts Speeches and Behaviour be they never so mean in the World or Understanding though you cannot as Rich Wise or Religious you must as Parents Think not contemptuously of them speak not dishonourably irreverently saucily to them or of them Deride not their failings or miscarriages but conceal lament cover them Bear with their Infirmities of Mind and Body when old Age makes them Troublesome to others let them not be so to you Carefully lay up all their wholsome Precepts Imitate them in all that 's good while they live and when they are dead Remember what Grief of Mind your Miscarriages will be to them and how much your Happiness will be theirs Make not their lives miserable by undoing your selves Bear with them when froward and twice Children as they did with you when you were theirs Murmur not but willingly and thankfully be instructed and reprehended by them Obey them in all lawfull things Chearfully submit to any labour they injoyn you or Correction they lay upon you Be content with their Allowance and Provision for you and disposal of you Marry not without their Consent Children are so much their Parents Goods and Possessions that they cannot without a kind of Theft give away themselves without their Approbation that have a Right in them If they be in want relieve and maintain them and that not as Servants or Inferiours but Superiours See they fare as well or better than our selves Though you got not your Riches by them you can never requite them for what you have received of them Pray and do what in you lies for their Health and Life Peace and Comfort Remember how much you owe them for all their Cares and Fears their Cost for you and pains with you Be far from those who imbrue their Souls in bloody Wishes for their Parent 's Death Though they wish them in Heaven it 's not so much that they may have Ease and Rest at their Journey 's End as because they must needs take Death in the way If long Life be promised as a Reward for honouring Parents such may expect untimely Death as a Punishment on the contrary Reverence Kindness and loving Respects to them never went unrecompensed even in this Life Their Prayer MOst Merciful and Heavenly Father who Invitest little Children to come unto Thee and lovest those that do O take me into the Arms of thy Mercy and Bless me who am dedicated to thee in Baptism Make me always mindful of my Vow and Promise to forsake the Devil and all his works to believe in thee and to serve thee to be Dutiful Obedient and Thankful to my Parents and Instructers Humble Reverent and Meek to my Superiors gentle sober and Temperate all my Dayes Keep and defend me from all Evil lead me into all Good Bless me and my Parents O my Heavenly Father The longer I live the better let me be Let me increase in Wisdom and Stature and favour with thee and men to the Glory of thy great Name the Delight of my Relations my own Happiness in this World and that which is to come thorough Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another MOst Gracious and Merciful Father who madest preservest and providest all Necessaries for me Pardon whatever I have done amiss and grant I may do so no more Give me Grace to obey Thee and my Parents to be helpful and a Comfort to them Keep me from slighting of them Irreverence Undutifulness Disobedience to them Let me never forget or slightly Remember my many Bonds and Obligations of Duty Obedience and Thankfulness to them their Sorrows Pains and Care for me that I may never make their Hearts sad or bring down their grey hairs with Sorrow to the Grave Increase the Number of their Dayes and thy Graces in them to thy Glory in their Generation Watch over us for good all our Dayes through Jesus Christ who hath Taught me when I Pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Masters Duties LEt your first Care be to admit none into your Service but such as will serve God with you (y) Ps 101.4 c. A wicked Person is a dangerous Infection in a Family Disobedience is from Irreligion There can be no true Fidelity and Subjection but out of Conscience Keep your Servants from Evil Company and from being Temptations to one another Watch over them for their good Encourage the Obedient Rebuke convince admonish the Contrary so as their own Consciences may Condemn them without Bitterness Reviling Sharpness which oftner hardens than Reforms Defend and Protect them in doing their Duty Bear them not out in wronging any but right them when they are wronged Refuse not their just Apologies Hearken to and Redress their Grievances (z) Job 31.13 Deny not necessary wholsom sufficient Food and Rayment if the Contract be so Physick Lodging Wages Think not much of maintaining them when by Providence disabled from serving you Oppress them not with too much Labour Let your Commands be lawful feasable necessary convenient that they may Obey with chearfulness Your Reproofs and Admonitions short plain material prudent sober private seasonable familiar with good Advice according to their different Tempers when it 's most like to do good and to convince them of it with such winning Mildness and Concern as they may see you 're more ingag'd for their welfare than themselves Rule with Wisdom and Discretion Love Gentleness Tenderness not Rigour and Severity Looking on them not as Slaves but fellow Pilgrims fellow-Servants fellow-Christians and Brethren (a) Phil. 1. Knowing you have also a Master in Heaven (b) Ep. 6.9 Col. 4.1 An austere Master makes Eye-Servants his Person hated his Business neglected No Servant will do his Duty except out of Conscience or Love to his Master Fairness sweetens Advice and purchases Love without which there can be no true Fidelity and Respect Constraint is for Extremity when all other ways fail Let your Corrections be prudent moderate unpassionate joyn'd with Instruction proportionable to the Person 's
an Eternal state which will be happy or miserable according to your Carriage Here. Make it therefore without delay the design of your whole lives with a resolved Chearfulness to be happy for ever and to escape those endless pains which are the Portion of the slothful careless and secure Rest not until you are Born again your Corrupt Natures changed into a love of God and Goodness your wills and desires subdued into the Will of God and your Superiors and not eagerly set on any thing they deny you Be serious sober-minded humble modest chast avoid the occasions Provocations and Temptations to Sin especially evil Company that great Snare of the Devil which hath ruin'd Thousands And acquaint your selves with serious sober-minded experienced Christians Wast not your precious time in reading vain Romances or other Obscene Prophane or Blasphemous Books or Plays Neither Spend it as too many do in Alehouses Tayerns and Debauchery with Lewd Women Which courses will destroy Body Soul Estate and good Name Remember the difference which you will shortly find between Serving the Lord from your youth and daily making Work for Sorrow in old Age at Death for Repentance or Despair Beware of and avoid their Mischief Sin and Folly that Delay a Holy Life that think it time enough to prepare for Death when they are Arrested by Sickness or withered by old Age. That think tho' they neglect God in their Youth they shall be Happy after Death if before it they Repent and Call for Mercy They consider not the terrible Doom denounced against the negligent and disobedient and that the Absolutely necessary Condition and qualification for a Happy Eternity is a Holy Life without allowing any liberty to Sin If there be any single Instance of God's Receiving late Penitents they are back'd with no Promise we may not live to old Age or may not have space or grace to Repent or not be accepted God saith to day if you will hear my Voice we limit no certain day God saith now is the accepted Time we say we shall be accepted at any Time The longer we delay the more unfit unable indispos'd discouraged the more sin hardens the heart the World and the Devil gets stronger possession the more we provoke God to give us up to our selves to leave us to become our Enemy to take from us that which we have abused instead of giving us any extraordinary assistance at last Is it Prudence to expose our precious Immortal Souls to so many hazards as there are Accidents and Diseases to surprize our Bodies to lay the greatest Burden upon the weakest Back to put off our main Business to that Instant when we have least Time and Strength to do it in to begin our work when it should be finished and we entering upon our Reward To have our Oil to Buy when the Bridegroom comes To trifle away our precious hours and neglect our main Errand for which we came into the world whenas we may be hurried away without any space between our Health and Death or when we shall have enough to do to Conflict with a Disease and to bear up under it To trust to a Death-bed Repentance which will not be in our Power except God follow us with his grace when we have given him so much Cause to forsake us and he hath no where promised that if we neglect him in our health he will Remember us then but protested the contrary Because I have Called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man Regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsels and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear Cometh when your fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction cometh as a whirlwind when distress and anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not Answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me c. (i) Pro. 1.24 to the end The Foolish Virgins when they should have entered their Oyl was to get and when they would have entered â—he door was shut How can we think it enough for God to ask him forgiveness with the Remainder and last drawing of our Breath To serve him when we have no Inclination or Temptation to Sin can follow it no longer To present him only with the Ruins and Spoils of Vice the leavings of the Devil the World and the Flesh with that only which we know not where else to bestow Consider further Is not he a Fool that withstands his Market neglects his Seed-time sows Tares and expects to reap Wheat learns not to Trade goes not to School till Old and Blind of Age That hath received a Mortal wound or drunk deadly Poison and saith he 'll endeavour Recovery next Winter That hath a long Journey to go and sets not out till the Sun is setting his strength spent his vigour exhausted That intends to do the work of a whole life in one Day That begins the Christian Race when that of Nature is almost finished to fight the good fight of Faith in old and decrepit years under Aches and Infirmities which attend the Ruins of Nature That thinks not of drawing Water out of the Wells of Salvation till the Silver Cord is loosed and the Pitcher broken at the Cistern That lays not up in Harvest because of Heat so starves in Winter when others live upon their hoarded Store That expects Heaven should meet him and save him the labour of a long Pilgrimage That God should be so fond of him as to be always working Miracles for his sake and that when he will not be saved God should save him whether he will or no They dislike the Punishment not the Sin grieve not so much because they are wicked as that God is just and when they see they are Condemned Repent Think Is it Reasonable to give unto Sin Satan the World the Flower the Fruit the Strength of our Age A quick Understanding lively Affections a tenacious Memory subtilty of Wit solidity of Judgment an Eloquent Tongue active Hands clear Eyes nimble Feet and reserve for God only the old withered dry sapless decayed leaves a baffled benummed Understanding broken Intellects flat and low Affections a slippery Memory a dull Wit a tired Judgment a stammering Tongue paralitick Hands lame Feet feeble Knees trembling Joints putrified Lungs dazled Eyes a fainting Heart that Age which is the sink of Life a Center of all Misery i. e. what the World hath cast off May he not justly say offer it now unto thy Prince see if he will accept it perswade him to turn his Court into an Hospital to make up his guard of Cripples to be attended by nothing but Infirm Diseased Age and Impotency As if the Service of the great God was nothing else but the Refuse of Sin and Satan's leavings only then to be done when we can do nothing and Repentance so easie a work that he who
will Reckon with them who Injure the unable to Resist no man makes an unjust gain without a certain loss He can never do or fare well who thinks there can be more profit in any thing than in obeying God Let no man go beyond to defraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the Avenger of all such (c) 1 Th. 4.6 Hereafter at the great Day of Recompence Here by making Injustice as a Canker-worm to Eat up all the other Increase Let your Meals be with Thankfulness Temperance Sobriety so as not to Disfit but Inable you for the Imployments of your Body and Mind Use Food as Physick sparingly for Health rather than Pleasure Season your Meals with a sence of God's Bounty and your unworthiness of the least Mercy Forget not to Pray and give Thanks but not with that carelesness and affected Brevity as too many do as if they intended rather a Scoff of the Divine Majesty than otherwise Wast not much Time in Recreations be sure they be Seasonable Lawful Harmless Moderate of good Report Conducive to Health to sweeten Rest and Labour Being necessitated to take the World iâ— your passage to Heaven walk through it aâ— fast as may be Remember all your Business by the way is to make your self and other Happy Seek rather to be than seem strict to do Courtesies than Profess them Look upon all things without Passion because without Interest not overmuch concern'd how the Scene varies knowing when the Play is ended the Conqueror puts off his Crown in the same Wardrobe where the Fool puts off his Cap. Take up your Cross daily (d) Luke 9.23 i. e. Bear the Evils of every day with composed Minds In vain and to no purpose we gather a stock of patience against the greatest Tribulations and resolve to bear them while in the mean time we are fretfull and angry for every trifling Loss or Accident that goes against our humours The wrongs and vexations we meet with in our intercourse with others as well as great Calamities are our proper Cross which our Christian Profession obliges us to submit to Carefully secure your duty and afterwards care no more but let God's Will take place Maintain a chearfull and sedate Temper of Mind under all outward dispensations though contrary to your particular hopes or desires as being secure of your Interest in him who hath the management and disposal of all Persons Times and Events the Hearts of all Men are in his hands and he hath engaged himself that they shall all work together for your good Associate your self with the most blameless serious practical Christians who will be stirring you up in your way and not play the Devil's Part to lead you out of it or provoke you to Evil. Improve your Company in receiving good from or doing good to them Assist and Encourage those whose faces are set Heaven-ward and rescue perishing Souls who are falling into the flames of an Intollerable Hell Keep your Tongue from Evil and your Lips from speaking guile Let your ordinary speech be for Edification not Applause without any thing like Oaths Imprecations vain Asseverations or Protestations Let no lying equivocating vain obscence scurrilous unchast frothy unsavory corrupt Communication or what may minister to Vice proceed out of your Lips but such as may Administer Grace to the Hearer Avoid Detraction or Inquiring into other mens Concerns He that loves Tale-bearers shall never be beloved or Innocent Speak Eviâ— of no man or any thing that may tend to his Disgrace Disparagement Disadvantage Be as much afraid to discover a Blemish in another's Eye as to suffer one in your own rather Charitably lick it out with your Tongue than deridingly talk of it Out of Piety to God and Compassion to their Souls let their Infirmities be the object of your Charity and Pity not mirth and derision Every one is bound to preserve his Brother's Reputation Let your Ear be the Sanctuary of your absent Friend's Name of your present Friend's Secrets let neither miscarry in your Trust Avoid those things your self which in others displease you Esteem those your best Friends that least spare you a watchful Conversation and faithful Admonitions are the most necessary and best expressions of Friendship Be of a mild compassionate affable courteous Temper and Behaviour not of a froward peevish churlish ruggid Carriage Put the best Construction on all things pity the Infirmities forgive the Injuries of all Men. Account that day lost wherein you have not done or received some good Take a view how you have spent the Day according to the fore-going Directions alone in Company in your general and particular Calling what Evil you have committed what Good received done or omitted what failings in your best Performances be humbled for every Miscarriage and thankful for every Mercy By daily summing up our Estate with God we shall know what we have to expect and answer for not letting our Score run so long but by making Even with him that we shall not be Ignorant of our Debts or fear an Audit or despair of Pardon Having waited upon God by Solemn Prayer and committed your self and yours to his Protection Close your Eyes with a Holy Confidence of it but not without a serious Meditation of your last Hour let the Night Represent to you the many Days of Darkness your Bed your Grave your Sleep your Death and so Compose your Soul as if you looked not to awake till the Morning of the Resurrection Thus on a pale sheet I extended shall Become e're long a lifeless Course and all These too much prized Trifles which Retard My Soul in her best flight without Regard Or Relish must be left Then in my Grave Where all things are forgotten I shall have A Cool and loanly Lodging on the Earth Lock't up from all this world 's miscalled mirth If thou O Blest Creator shalt Restore The Peace Ease Plenty I enjoy'd before Let not these over-valu'd Blessings move My Earth-bred Thoughts to slight the things above Here 's no Abiding City but thy Grace Can make the House of Death a Resting-place Morning Prayer ALmighty and most Merciful Father who knowest my down-lying and up-rising and art acquainted with all my ways Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation 'T is of thy Infinite Mercy that in stead of Praying unto Thee and Praising of Thee I am not Blaspheming thy Name in Endless Torments For I am of the degenerate Posterity of our first Parents and have daily broken Thy Laws and Commandments which are all Holy Just and Good O Remember not against me what I have done against Thee but what thy Son hath done and suffered for me and accept of me in him to the praise of thy Grace Work a Through Change in my whole Soul Inlighten my dark understanding that I may savingly know Thee Spiritualize my Affections that I may love Thee Bow and Incline my will wholly to submit unto
and unto all thy Creatures for thy Infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness so apparent in Creating Preserving of Providing for them That the Heavens Declare thy Glory and the Firmaments shew thy Handywork that the Eyes of all wait upon Thee and that thou openest thy hand and fillest them with Good that thou hast not left thy self without witness where thy Gospel is not Preached in that thou doest them good and sendest them Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons and fills their Hearts with Food and Gladness But what shall I render unto thee for thy unspeakable goodness to Mankind not only in making us capable of serving and enjoying thee but in providing for us a Saviour to Reconcile and Renew us when we had forfeited thy favour which was our Happiness and lost thine Image which was our Excellency and Glory That so many have enjoy'd thy Gospel and been translated out of the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of thy Dear Son That I live in a place where thy Gospel is Preached the way to Heaven so clearly Revealed where I have so many opportunities of hearing from thee of waiting upon thee that this Day I have enjoyed the means of being Happy with Thee for ever O accompany the same with thy Blessing to that End Let me live the Sermons that I hear the Ordinances I enjoy the Duties I am Imployed in Let my Thoughts be much upon that Happy state where I shall offend thee and my self no more but Reap my Redeemer's Purchase for those that sincerely serve Thee Look in much Mercy upon all Mankind Say Behold me Behold me to the People that have not known thee that have not call'd upon thy Name Let all the Ends of the Earth see the Salvation of our God Encrease the number of true Believers daily add to thy Church such as shall be saved Forgive the crying Sins of these Three Nations turn us unto thee by a speedy and unfeigned Repentance and Reformation that Iniquity may not be our Ruine Compose our Differences make up our Breaches heal our Divisions Endue our Severaign with all necessary qualifications for his present and future Happiness Let none of our Magistrates bear the Sword in vain but be faithful to that Trust committed to them Remove not thy Candlestick let not our Teachers be driven into Corners let their Doctrine be pure and their Lives exemplary for the good of Souls accompany their Endeavours with thy Blessing Bring unto my Remembrance that part of thy Word I have Read or Heard this Day let me hide it in my heart that I may not dare to Sin against thee As I am one day nearer my End let me be so much nearer keeping an Eternal Sabbath with thee in Heaven Smell a sweet savour from the sincere services of thy Servants Return gracious Answers to their Prayers Pardon what thou hast seen amiss in me and them this Day through Jesus Christ who hath taught us to Pray Our Father c. Directions as to Prayer STir up in your Souls the most lively Apprehensions Reverence Faith and Love as to him before whom you are going to Appear and upon what terms he is engaged and hath resolved to Answer or deny you Be throughly sensible of your Sins and wants and of the worth of those Mercies you are going to ask Come always in the Humility that becomes a worthless Condemned Sinner and in the belief and boldness that becomes a Son a Member of Christ Disclaim all worthiness of your own but be as Confident in every lawful Request as if you saw your Crucified Mediator interceding for you with his and your Father Pray with Understanding Attention Abhorrence of your Sins a deep sence of your Necessities a holy Confidence of Assistance and Audience through your Redeemer God's merciful Nature and gracious Promises with holy and lively Affections with Charity a Heart filled with good will to all your very Enemies with uprightness and sincerity Beware you love not Sin but resolve to leave it when you Pray against it that you truely Desire and Endeavour for the Grace and Mercy you ask and ask not for that you would not have Keep your Heart all the while in a reverent serious fervent frame as if God's Glory was visible to your Bodily Eye Suffer it not to wander grow Remiss Cold Formal It 's said of Luther that he used such Reverence and Humility as in the presence of Almighty God but such fervency and Faith as if he had been talking with his Friend he that asks with a doubting listless mind begs for nothing but to be denied Make your Prayers your Rule all your Duties are there set down what you are bound to do for the doing whereof you beg the Divine assistance God loves to Bless and Reward Industry but not to support Idleness As we must ask of God what we need so we must labour for all we ask by the Use and Improvement of what we have He that would Pray with Effect must live with Care and Piety Directions as to Reading and Hearing the Word AWefully Remember that the Scriptures are the Word of God full of many gratious Promises Encouragements and Supports the Doctrine of unseen things and of the greatest Mercies the Rule by which you must live and be Judged Therefore Read and Meditate upon it with Humility Reverence Love and great Delight Submission and a full Resolution to obey it If â—ny thing seem Difficult or Improbable â—uestion not suspect not it but your own â—gnorance and Understanding and Pray â—hat the Spirit which Indited it may expound 〈◊〉 to you Before you go to Hear Pray for the Minister the Congregation and your selves for the Divine Assistance and Blessing Lay side all worldly Cares and Thoughts all â—thiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save your Souls Come not with an Irreverent Careless unbelieving Heart as if it were a light matter that â—ittle concern'd you but with Faith Love and Reverence with a deep an â—wakened sence of its unspeakable weight â—ecessity Consequence and Concernment to you Come on purpose to get Direction and Strength against your particular failing Hear with Attentive willing humble Honest Teachable Hearts and Applicatioâ— of it to your selves with a design to Profiâ— with Resolution to obey all that shall bâ— Commanded you of God As new boâ—â— Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that you may grow thereby Despise it no in the plainness of it Hear not to Censure or Cavil but to be taught and Ruled Suâ—fer not vain Thoughts or drowzy careles Negligence to hinder your Attention Chieâ—ly mark the drift and design of the Discoursâ— and those things that are of the greate weight and concernment to your selves When you come Home Meditate oâ— what you have heard Lament a stupiâ— careless unbelieving Heart Pray over an endeavour to practise what you have learn Reason and Plead with your own Heart and let
Conscience Repeat and Do the worâ— of the Minister again Make Conscience oâ— Teaching and Provoking others Piâ—â— Careless Ignorant Souls God usually Blessâ— the Grace that 's Improved in doing hiâ— Service The Lord's Supper THis Sacrament is so Called with Reference to the Time of its first Institution and Administration at our blessed Lord and â—aviour's last Supper Immediately before his Passion shewing whereunto it Related for 〈◊〉 Remembrance of him the Chief Subject and Inward part of it It is 1 A standing Memorial of his great Love in offering up his Life a Sacrifice for our Sins and a Seal of the Covenant of Grace 2 A Commemoration of his Passion and Sacrifice the Benefits of which are were assured to every worthy Receiver 3 A Renewing and Confirmation of the Vow â—â—ve made in Baptism to be his faithful Servants unto our Lives end 4 To testifie our Inion with him and Communion with one â—nother 5 A Seal and means of our Spiritual nourishment and growth in the mystical Body of Christ the Church and of our being strengthned with Divine Grace and Refreshed highly satisfied and pleased with the sence of God's Love and Mercy through the Sufferings of our Blessed Redeemer as the Pallat is with wholsom agreeable food The Body and Blood of Christ is signified by the Bread and Wine All the Spiritual Change is wrought by the Faith of the Receiver not the intention or words of the Giver to him that believes they are the very Body and Blood of Christ who as in his Sufferings as undertaking and accomplishing our Reconciliation with God accepted in full Discharge for all our Sins iâ— Received by the Believing Soul for its life and support Comfort and well-being to all Eternity The Ministers Consecrating them so setting them a part from a Common to a Spiritual Use signifies God's setting hiâ— Son apart to the work of our Redemption Breaking of the Bread and pouring out the Wine signifies the Sufferings Christ endured for us His giving them to the Communicants signifies God's giving his Crucified Son to and for every Believing Receiver a their Redeemer and Saviour His saying Take Eat c. fignifies God's Will for applying Christ unto our selves Before we Receive we must Prepare our selves by examining and awakening our Knowledge of the Principles of Religion particularly of the Sacrament Our Faith Repentance of all our Sins Our sincere Obedience which we must fully Resolve upon else we are false and play the Hypocrites with God in the Covenant we are going to renew and Seal Our love to God and the Brethren Our Forgiveness of all Men and Charity to them Our Sins and wants sueing for Pardon and Supply Our earnest desire after the Graces of the Spirit Renewing the Exercise of them by serious Meditation and Earnest Prayer Taking a strict account of the Miscarriages of our Hearts and lives as to God and Man and our selves in publick and secret and being deeply humbled for them especially since the last renewal of our Covenant with God cleansing our selves from every new Pollution seriously considering all the Work we are going to do and all the Mercies we are going to Receive and what Graces and Exercises of them are necessary to all this In Receiving our Behaviour must be humble and reverent as to the outward Gesture of our Bodies and inward frame of our Souls We must seriously mind the Elements and Actions and the things signified represented exhibited thereby We must Meditate on Christ's Death so Disgraceful so painful for us grieving for hating loathing our Sins the Cause of it Hungering and Thirsting after him and the Benefits purchased by him Applying the Promises of the New Testament which is of full force through the Death of the Testator wholly Trusting our miserable Souls upon him as our All-sufficient Help and Saviour Drawing nourishment and all needful supplies from Him in whom all fulness Dwells Rejoycing in and giving thanks for his Love Renewing our Covenant mingling all with Faith and most indeared love to him and his Servants with a firm Resolution of future Obedience and unfeigned Consent to our Covenant with him After Receiving we must Examine our selves as to our Carriage and Behaviour Mourn for our Defects in Preparation and Performance be Earnest for Pardon by after Pains endeavour to obtain the Benefits of the Ordinance Be very Thankful for any Assistance and Enlargement labouring to retain the sweet relish still upon our Spirits Encourage our selves in Attendance upon God in this and all other Duties Endeavour to draw more and more Virtue from Christ for Crucifying our Inordinate Desires Irregular Passions and Affections and every thing displeasing to him Be very watchful against Sin and Carnal Security that we let not In his and our Enemy but preserve our Souls his Temple clean and undefiled Carefully perform our Vows and keep the Covenant we have Renewed and Sworn to A Prayer before or at the Sacrament LOok down from Heaven the Habitation of thy Holiness and Glory most gracious Father upon a vile sinfull worthless Creature that desires in all Abasement and Humility to prostrate himself before thee To serve thee is my highest Honour and to enjoy thee my greatest Happiness yet how apt am I to look upon thy Service as my Burden And how oft do I draw near unto thee with my Lips and seem to honour thee with my Mouth when my Heart is far from thee Which of thy Mercies have I not abused Which of thy Corrections have I not despised or been impatient under Which of thy Sabbaths have I not prophaned Which of thine Ordinances have I not polluted Which of thy Promises or Threatnings have I not slighted undervalued disbelieved Which of thy Commandments have I not broken in Thought Word or Deed Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in Dust and Ashes God be mercifull to me a Sinner Thou mayest justly inflict upon me all the Curses that are writ in thy Law and give me my Portion with Hypocrites and Unbelievers But there is Mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared that my Sins may be pardoned and my Soul saved Thou hast exalted thy Son to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance unto Israel and Remission of Sins He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance O for his sake pardon all mine Iniquities accept of me graciously and love me freely look favourably upon me be mercifull unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love and fear thy Name Receive me into thy favour Give me an unfeigned Consent and the necessary Conditions of my Right to that Covenant which I am going to have sealed unto me by thee Let Christ be formed in me and altogether desirable unto me Indue me and all that celebrate thy love at this Institution with sutable dispositions and qualifications for so solemn an Ordinance a through Sence of our own vileness and deserts and of thy Infinite love and goodness A stedfast belief
am and have unto thee to be sanctified guided saved disposed of by thee Beseeching thee to make me willing and obedient patient and contented humble and submissive chearfull and believing stedfast and unmoveable in thy Service unto the End Let me approve my self actually reconciled unto thee by my Hatred of my Enmity with Sin which made the first Separation between thee and us and for which thy Son was made a Sacrifice and be afraid of offending thee not only because thou hast Power to punish but because of thy Love wherewith thou hast loved me And the Conditions of our Peace which are so reasonable so comfortable that we repent of and forsake our Crimes Receive thy Son as our Mediatour serve thee which are such desirable Priviledges our Happiness as well as our Duty O make good the gracious Promises of the Covenant unto me that thou wilt be my God forgive my Sins give me a new Heart sanctifie my Nature put thy fear within me that I shall never depart from thee that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me O free me from the listlesness and backwardness of my Will to give up my self wholly unto thee who so willingly gavest thy Son an offering for my Sins Let this Love make us more and more affectionate in our Attendance upon thee to approach thee with Alacrity and Delight that wa' st so solicitous and at so much Cost to be at Peace with us to combine all our Thoughts and Affections together to serve thee who hast done so much to reduce us honourably and successfully unto thy ever blessed self With great Thankfulness let me accept of the smartest Dispensation and be contented in every Condition now I am reconciled Meekly enduring the Chastisements of a Father since they are all for my Profit since I am not like to feel his Stroaks as a Judge Blessed is he whose Iniquities are pardoned unto whom the Lord imputeth not Sin Let me never more harbour any hard thoughts of thee after so signal a Discovery of thy self in thy Son If so willing and desirous to make Reconciliation by his Blood for our Sins when they lay before thee in their crimson Aggravations much more on a particular fall that we are truly humbled for How can we refuse Peace so tenderly and importunately offered by Thee who shuts out none that shut not out themselves Art more willing to receive us into favour to embrace us than we to go to thee to receive thee Extend thy Mercy O Father of Mercies to all Mankind Give Repentance unto Sinners increase of Grace and Strength to all thy Servants reduce those that are out of the way raise up those that are fallen confirm and strengthen those that stand relieve and comfort all that are in distress pity the Follies the Degeneracies of Mankind deliver them from their Sins and from their Miseries Hear the daily Prayers and Groans of thy Holy Catholick Church and every Member of the same enlighten those that are out of it with the Knowledge of thy Truth make us in these three Nations a Holy People a Habitation of Righteousness a Place where thy Honour dwells Reward and Recompence all our Friends grant Forgiveness and Charity to all our Enemies continue good Will among our Neighbours support the Sick in Faith and Patience be with those who are leaving the World fit them and us for a better receive the Souls which thou hast redeemed with thy Son 's most precious Blood to whom with thy blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen A Prayer after the Sacrament ALL possible Praise and Thanks be given unto thee most gracious God and mercifull Father for all the Instances of thy Goodness unto me for my Health Peace Safety Food and Rayment the Society Kindness and love of Friends Success of my Labours and good Endeavours after the things of this life and a better for all the Blessings I have enjoy'd for preserving me from those Evils I have deserved and escaped for the means of Grace the Assistances of thy Holy Spirit any Inclinations towards thee any care to please thee any fear of offending thee for the Fountain and Foundation of them all the Lord Jesus Christ for thy wonderfull Love in sending him to save us from Sin and Misery to reveal and lead us to Eternal Happiness and for giving me this Day the Pledges and Assurances of the same My highest Praises fall infinitely short of thy most Excellent Majesty and I am ashamed of the most affectionate Thanks I can render unto thee for those inestimable Benefits thou hast conferr'd upon me and so long continued unto me How much Cause then have I to be abased for my shamefull Disobedience forgetfulness of thee and Ingratitude to thee to whom I owe all I have in this World or hope for in the next I humbly implore thy tender Mercies in the forgiveness of all my sins for his sake who hath born the Burden of them and satisfied thy Justice for them Let me have such a lively sence of thy marvellous love and of my Redeemer's sufferings always possessing my Soul as may oblige me for ever unto thee Constrain me to love thee to obey thee to trust in thee to be always content with the Portion thy Wisdom and Love allots unto me and to rejoyce in the midst of all the Troubles of this Life now thou hast given me the Earnest the Pledges of my Eternal Salvation Preserve in me a constant sence of the great value of my Soul for which he hath paid so dear and a great Esteem of that Purity and Holiness for the restoring of which he was obedient to the Death of the Cross Let the same mind be in me that was in Christ Let that Lowliness and Humility Tenderness and Compassion Love and Meekness Heavenly-mindedness and Submission Holiness and Delight to do thy Will Patience and Forgiveness that shone in his Life and Sufferings appear also in mine That living in the Imitation of his Holy Example I may be made partaker of the Benefits of his Death and Passion his gracious undertakings for me Let me live in the daily Thoughts and Praise of his exceeding love Let it be the Care and Business of my life to serve please and enjoy thee for ever Let many be daily brought in to understand and partake of this great Salvation purchased by our Redeemer let him be made known and faithfully obey'd all the World over Enlarge reform unite thy Church more especially in these three Nations let every Member of it be sanctified supported and saved by thee Let all of us that have waited upon thee this Day at this solemn Ordinance be pardoned and accepted in the beloved be mindfull of the Vows and Engagements that are upon us Let us love one another as Christ hath loved us and given himself for us and live as thy Redeemed ones that have tasted how good the Lord is and