thing is Man how frail and brittle How seeming great how truly little We rise securely with the Morning Sun But unregarded Die e're Day be done Yet his Estate was level and he hath Free-will To stand or fall unforst to Good or Ill. Such is the State Man was created in Within his Power a Power not to Sin His life 's a bubble full of seeming Bliss The more it lengthens the more short it is The swelling of his outward Fortune can Create a prosperous not a happy Man. 'A peaceful Conscience is the true content ' But Wealth is only her Golden Ornament ' I care not so my Kernel relish well ' How slender be the substance of my shell ' My Heart being Virtuous let my Face be wan ' I am to God I only seem to Man. To him the searching of Mens Hearts belong Mans Judgment sinks no deeper than the Tongue Let shame prevent our Lips recant and give To the Almighty his Prerogative He overlooks thee and in one space Of Time his Eye is fixt on every place A Disswasive from placing our Hopes in transient Happinesses BUild not your Bliss upon the blaze of Glory Can perfect Happiness be transitory Nor in the use of Beauty place your end Nor in the enjoyment of a Courtly Friend These if injoy'd are crost with Discontent If not in the pursuit yet in the event Apply thy Heart to Wisdom with good attention For 't will inrich thy Soul with fair prevention That no foul Treason against thy Blood intended Thy Life thy State will Loyally be defended For Worship Honor and true respect Shall be done to him whom the Heavenly King do affect Peerless Honours and Princely Rights Be done to them in whom this King delights The highest Heavens will still conspire to Bless All faithful Seed and with a fair success Their Enemies he 'll ty they shall not make reply Not daring to answer nor deny The Heavens grown great with Age must soon decay â—â—e pondrous Earth in time shall pass away â—â—t yet his Sacred Words shall always flourish Though Days and Years and Heaven and Earth do perish â—an sees like Men and can but comprehend â—â—ings as they present are not as they end Man wants the Strength to sway his strong affections What Power he has is from Divine direction Which oft unseen through dulness of the Mind We Nick-name Chance because our selves are Blind And that 's the cause Man's first beholding Eye Oft Loves or Hates and knows no reason why If he be Poor that wanteth much how Poor he that hath too much and yet wants more â—â—ice happy he to whom the bounty of Heaven â—fficient with a sparing Hand hath given â—e fairest Crop of either Grass or Grain â—ot for use undew'd with timely Rain The Wealth of Crcesus were it to be given Were not Thank-worthy if unblessed by Heaven 〈◊〉 Riches which fond Mortâ—â—s so imbrace â—re not true Riches it not enlightned with true Grace Wealth interpos'd with too too gross a Care â—hey lie obscur'd and no Riches are Let not the fawning World to pleasure then invite Thy wandering Eyes the Flesh presents delight â—sist me in my Combat with the Flesh â—elieve my fainting Power and refresh 〈◊〉 feeble Spirit I will not wish to be Casâ—t from the World Lord cast the World from me To be afraid to die or wish for death Are Words and Passions of disparing Breath But wretched Man were thy condition mine I 'de not dispair as thou do'st not repine But offer up the broken Sacrifice Of an humble Soul before his gracious Eyes Whose Works are Miracles of Admiration He mounts the Meek amidst their desolation Confounds the Worldly Wise that blindfold they Grope all in darkness at the Noon of Day But guards the humble from reproach of wrong And stops the current of the crafty Tongue Thrice happy is the Man his Hands correct Beware lest fury force thee to reject The Almighties Tryal he that made thy Wound In Justice can in Mercy make it sound â—ear not tho multiply'd affliction shall Bâ—siege thee he at length will rid them all In Famine he shall feed in War defend thee Shield thee from Slander and in Griefs attend thee Thy House shall thrive replenisht with Content Which thou shalt Rule in prosperous Government For Man â—â—licted by the Almighties Hand His Faith doth flourish and securely stand Yet the worst I 'le look for that I can project If better come 't is more then I expect If other ways I am Arm'd with preparation No Sorrows sudden to an expectation Lord to thy Wisdom I submit my Will I will be thankful send me Good or Ill. If Good my present state will pass the sweeter If Ill my Crown of Glory will be greater All this experience tells when I advise Those who have taught many may themselves bâ— Wise Tho rising early with the Morning Sun Yet unregarded die e're Day be done No Gold is pure from dross tho oft refin'd The strongest Ceder's shaken with the Wind. The â—est of Men have Sins none lives secure In Nature nothing's perfect nothing pure â—â—om mudded Springs can Crystal Water come 〈◊〉 some things all Men Sin in all things some Since that my Vesture cannot want a stain Assist me lest the Tincture be in Grain To thee my great Redeemer do I fly It is thy Death alone can change my Dye Tears mingled with Blood can scowr so That Scarlet Sins shall be as white as Snow But wretched Man be not in thought too sure Sin steals unseen when we sleep most secure By Craft there are who season error with the taste of truth And tempt the frailty of our tender Youth What pleasure is in Dainties if the tast Be in it self distemper'd better fast Lord in my Soul a Spirit of Love create me And I will Love my Neighbour tho he Hate me I Love the World to serve my turn and leave her Tho I 'll not say 't is no Deceit to cozzen a Deceiver She 'll not miss me I less the World shall miss To loose a World of Gâ—ief to injoy a Life Bliss By thy Mercy Lord to Glory receive me in Aâ—though my Soul is burthen'd with my Sin For thou art Just and bent to a Wise Decree Which certain is and cannot alt'red be It seems a Paradox beyond belief Tâ—â—t Men in trouble should prolong relief We poor weaklings when we sleep in Sin Knock at onr droâ—sie Hearts and never lin Till thou 〈◊〉 our sin congealed Eyes Lest drown'd in 〈◊〉 we sink and never rise The approaching 〈◊〉 might be at once prevented With Praâ—rs and Pains râ—â—â—red reattented We try new ways dispairing of the old Love quickens Courage makes the Spirits bold Our God bids go our Credit bids us stay Our guilty fear bids fly another way O Earthy Men make not your Righteous Laws A trick for gain let Justice râ—â—e the Cause ' O worthless Man arise and see ' There 's not a twiny
again 2 Sam. 14 41. Then let not the place of thy Death trouble thee for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Death lost her Sting in the Side of our Saviour The Day of Death is the Day of Jubilee and frees us from all these Evils God kisseth the Righteous in their Deaths and as it were sucks in those Souls which he breathed into them Deut. 34. 15. It is certain that the Soul so soon as it is separated from the Body is presented to God and receives an irrevocable Doom either of Woe or Weal Those that Honour me I will Honour saith the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 30. Blessed and happy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no Power but they shall be Precious with God and Christ and shall Reign with him The Angels which kept not their first Estate he hath reserved in everlasting Chains of Darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day Iude 6. The Joy of our Heart is ceased and the Crown is fallen from our Head Lam. 5. 15 16. In the Days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crying and Tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5. 7. The Heavens shall be opened and those everlasting Doors shall be lift up that the King of Glory may go forth with his Angels to Judge the World and return back again with his Saints when he hath Judged it In the Day of Judgment a good Conscience will stand us in more stead than a Mint of Treasure therefore with St. Ierome let us make it our business That whether we Eat or Drink or whatsoever we do we may think we hear the last Trumpet sounding in our Ears saying Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment let us therefore appeal from the Bar of Gods Justice to the Bowels of his Mercy beseeching him in that Day to deal with the Souls of his Servants not as a severe Judge but as a Merciful Jesus Amen Prayers for the Sick. O Lord look down from Heaven behold visit and relieve this thy Servant look upon him with the Eyes of Mercy give him Comfort and sure Confidence in thee defend him from the Danger of the Enemy and keep him in perpetuaâ—â— Peace and Safety through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen HEar us Almighty and most Merciful God and Saviour extend thy accustomed Goodness tâ— this thy Servant who is grieved with Sickness Sanctifie we beseech thee this thy Fatherly Correction to him that the sense of his Weakness may adâ—â— Strength to his Faith and Seriousness to his Repentance that if it shall be thy good Pleasure to restore him to his former Health he may lead thâ— residue of his Life in thy Fear and to thy Glory or give him Grace so to take this thy Heavenly visiâ—tation that after this painful Life ended he may dwell with thee in Life everlasting through Jesuâ— Christ our Lord. Amen O Father of Mercyes and God of all Consolation lay no more upon him or her therâ— thou wilt inable him to bear with Patience Courage and Contentment either asswage his Painâ— or increase his Patience bless all those means thaâ— have been or shall be used for his recovery eitheâ— shorten his Sickness or else give him Grace anâ— Strength to bear it deliver him from the bitteâ— Pangs of Eternal Death and from the Gates of Helâ— take from him the Sting of his Consciences and thâ— extremity of Sickness Anguish or Agony that 〈◊〉 withdraw his mind from thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen DEliver him from all Dangers and Distress from Pain and Punishment Bodily and Ghostly and from all the Sins and Misdeeds which by the Maâ—ice of the Devil or his own Frailty he have at any time committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in Concupiscence of the Eye Pride of Life Vanity or Superfluity he hath committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in the Fierceness of his Wroth or in the eagerness of an Angry Spirit he hath committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in Vain and Idle Words in the Looseness and Slipperiness of the Tongue he hath committed against thee That it may please thee to make him Partaker of all the Mercies and Promises in Christ Jesus That it may please the to vouchsafe his Soul the Estate of Joy Bliss and Happiness with all thy blessed Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom That it may please thee to give him Peace and a part in the blessed Resurrection of Life and Glory we commend his Soul into thy Hands beseeching thee that it may be pretious â—n thy sight O let not the Blood of Christ that was â—shed for all Men be spilt in vain to any but let it be effectual to the Salvation of every Soul for thy own Bowels and Compassion sake Amen IN the midst of Life we are in Death Of whom then may we seek for Succor but of thee O Lord Who for our Sins are most justly displeased with us yet O Lord most Holy O God most Mighty O Holy and most Merciful Father deliver us not over to the bitter Pains of Eternal Death Thou knowest Lord the Secrets of our Hearts O shut not up against us the Ears of thy Mercy but spare us O Lord most Holy O Saviour most mighty O Immortal and mosâ— Merciful Redeemour Thou most Worthy Judge Eternal suffer us not in our last Hour for any Pains of Death to fall from thee though he hath Sinned yet he seeketh thee and thou Lord never failest them that seek thee Let not the Guiltiness of a Sinneâ— more prevail to condemn than the Gracious Goodness of a most Merciful Father to Aquit and to Pardon O let not the Unrighteousness of Man make thâ— Goodness of God of none effect O Lord no not so remember not the Unkindnesess of this thy Child so as thereby thou forgottest the Compassion and Kindness of a Father Do not so think on our Sins that thou thereby forget thine own Nature and Property which is always to have Mercy and Forgive Do not so remember our Sins that thou thereby remember not thy own Name which is Jesus a most Loving and Kind Saviour Lord is thy Life in our Life hath not sufficiently appeared yet let not thy Death lose the full Power and Effecacy thereof Suffer not O Lord in both so great a price to perish lose not that O Lord which thou hast redeemed since thou comest to redeem that which was lost that which was so dear to thee to redeem suffer not to be lost as a thing of no Value OH Most Merciful and Blessed Saviour have Mercy upon the Soul of this thy Servant remember not his Ignorance nor the Sins of his Youth but according to thy great Mercies remember him in the Mercies
thread 'twixt Death and thee ' This darksome Place thou measur'st may be thy Grave ' And sudden Death rides Proud on yonder Wave By thoughts dive down into the Abyss of Hell And there in Justice doth the Almighty dwell Death is a Calander compos'd by Fate Concerning all Men never out of date Yet chear up I have a message in store Whose Comforts much and joyful News is more We have yet a Friend Puissant and of Might Will see us take no wrong but do us right Le ts offer up Sacrifice with one accord And pay our solemn Vows unto the Lord And with penitent Hearts implore him And Day and Night pour forth our Souls before him For shall I be silent no I 'le speak Till Tongue be tired and my Lungs be weak Proclaim to us thy Mercy for we thurst for Grace For thou art free of Mercy to those that Mercy will embrace O save us harmless from our Foe-mans Jaws Who art turned Orator to plead our Cause How are thy Mercies full of Admiration How sovereign sweet's their Application How redefâ—â—ed are we with the Rust of Sin Which hath abus'd thy Stamp and eaten in But yet at length if we repent Instead of Plagues and Direful Punishments We shall find Mercy Love and Heavens Applause For the Great Almighty himself will plead our Cause Thine Eye that views the moving Spheres above Ought to give Praise to him that makes them move Here may we see how Prayer and true Repentance Do strive with God prevail and turn his Sentence From Judgment Just and Plagues Infernal To boundless Mercies and to life Eternal All o're the World how should these Mercies make a sound As Blessings fall Thansgiving must abound â—dge then did ever Record round thine Ear That God forsook the Heart that was fiueere But often have we seen that such as Plow â—â—wdness and Mischief reap the same they sow The Moral says all Wisdom that 's given â—o Hood-wink'd Mortals first proceeds from Heaven Far safer 't is of things unsure to doubt Than undertake to riddle Secrets out It was demanded once what God did do Before the World was fram'd Whereunto ' Answer was made he built a Hell for such As were too curious and would know too much at such curiosity preceds from him who can â—â—ly accuse Man to God and God to Man â—â—no Hourly sows fresh Schisms among the Saints â—ea buffets them then laughs at their Complaints O Chastity the Flower of the Soul â—ow is thy perfect fairness turn'd to foul There are thy Maiden-smiles thy blushing Cheek â—hy Lamb-like Countenance so fair so meek â—ay not other Virtues serve but must this Queen 〈◊〉 made the Subject of Unchast spleen So young is Man that broke with Care and Sorrow â—e's old enough to Day to die to morrow â—â—e gives us Passage to endure great Woes â—â—ath frees us from all Temporal Foes â—t tho secure my Soul did never slumber â—et do my Woes exceed both weight and number Both Poor and Rich are equal in the Grave â—rvants no Lords and Lords no servants have â—hat needs there light to him that 's comfortless â—r Life to such as languish in distress â—bjects of pitty are Bodies in distress â—nd worthy to injoy eternal Rest Lord make Wise thy Servant a Wise forecast Grieves for things present not for things are past Satan have Servants who can make true boast They gave away as much as thine have lost Others with Learning made to Wisely Mad Refuse such Fortunes as Croesus never had Lord make me Champion give me such belief A strong and fervent but not crafty Faith. I know a forc'd Love neeeds no such great Applause Since they Love Ill that Loves not for a Cause I bespeak leave to Answer all this before I knew They want no Grief that find such Friends as you Be not discontent no no forbear for I Hate less your Censures than your Flattery Succour I sought and begged but none was there To give the Alms of one poor trickling Tear. See how I lie devoid of Help or Friend O make me humble and mindful of my End. Lord make me Just in Image like my Divinâ— Creator Pollish and 〈◊〉 yea Refine my Nature Let me receive all as 〈◊〉 thy Hand With a thankful Heart as living in thy Land And consider the self-same Sorrow Grieves others to Day may make me groan to moâ— row Great King be my Comfort in my highest Grief I will not trust to Mans but thy relief I know Great God upon my true Repentance Thou wiâ—t determine to reverse thy Sentence Make me tho in a blind Age Wisely to see And in a seeing Age not bâ—ind to be He that would save his Life when Honour bids hiâ— die Steals but a Life and lives by Robbery Dishonours his God and that likens to the Powâ— Divine That made and placed her in her Fleshly Shrine The Wise and Good-like kind Physicians are That strive to heal us by their Care Their Physick and their Learning calmly use Although the Patient them strangely abuse For since the Sickness is they find A sad Distemper of the Mind The Wiseman in the midst of Woes May enjoy and feel a sweet repose Might pitty all the Griefs we see By compassion Anoint every Malady While our selves are calm our Art improve To rescue them and shew our Love That we with open Eyes may see The brightness of Gods Majesty And never more in Chains of Darkness lie 〈◊〉 be secure from Bondage and all Iniquity That comforts Divine may fortifie and raise the Soul To Heavenly Joys where none can controul The World 's a hurly burly and the Court All Tongues were fill'd with Wonder and Report The Watch is set pursute was made about To Guard the King and find the Traytors out To punish him according to his due That did not Peace nor Loyalty persue Had Man been Kind Loving True and always Good As formerly in the Golden Age they stood Then had we lived in all Delights and Glory full of Love Blest as the Holy Angels are above But now we suffer for evil Deeds Reaping the fruit of our ill Weeds But thou O Holy Jesus who did'st for us Die And on the Altar Bleeding for all Men lie Bearing all Torment Pain Reproach and Shame That we by Virtue of the same Tho Enemies to God might be Redeemed and set at Liberty Let us likewise favour to others show And live in Heaven on Earth below Let 's prize their Souls and let them be our gems Our valuable Temples and our Diadems Rich Spoils and Trophies our own Joys Compar'd to Souls all else are Toyes O let them be such unto us as they were to thee Valued as Vessels of Glory and Felicity What would I give that I might likewise see The Brightness and true Glory of thy Majesty The Joy and fulness of that high Delight Whose Blessedness is Glorious yea Infinite And while we feel how much our God doth
and Glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers let the Everlasting Gates be opened and receive his Soul let the Angels who Rejoyce at the Conversion of a Sinner Triumph â—nd be Exalted in his Deliverance and Salvation make him partaker of the Benefits of thy Holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Assension and of all the Prayers of the Church of the Joy of the Elect and all the Fruits of the Blessed Communion of Saints and daily add to the number of thy beatified Servants such as shall be saved that thy coming may be hastned and the expectation of the Saints may be fulfiled and the Glory of thee our Lord Jesus be advanced all the whole Church Singing Praises to the Honour of thy Holy Name who Livest and Reignest ever one God World without end Amen OH Most Merciful Jesu who didst die to redeem us from Death and Damnation have Mercy upon this thy Servant whom thy Hand has visited with Sickness of thy Goodness be pleased to forgive him all his Sins and Seal his hopes of Glory with the refreshments of thy Holy Spirit Lord give him Strength and Confidence in thee asswage his Pain repel the assaults of his Gostly Enemies by thy Mercies and a Guard of Holy Angels preserve him in the Unity of the Church keep his Senses intire his Understanding right give him a great measure of Contrition true Faith a well grounded Hope and abundance of Charity give him a quiet and a joyful departure let thy Ministring Spirits conveigh his Soul to the Mansions of Peace and Rest there with certainty to expect a joyful Resurrection to the fulness of Joy at thy right Hand where there is pleasure for evermore Amen A Prayer for a Penitent O Thou who still remainest the same Richfulness in thy self and the same bright Glory to all the Blessed have Mercy upon me and all Mankind in the 〈◊〉 and full Pardon and forgiveness of all our Sins that ever we have committed from our Infancy to this present Moment and indue us with thy preventing and assisting Grace that we never fall into those Sins of the which we have Repented but fill us with thy Holy Spirit that we may increase in all Goodness in the Spirit of Might of Wisdom and Counsel Knowledge Piety and thy Holy Fear that we may do all such good Works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in by the assisting Power and Might of thy Holy Strength which we beseech thee constantly to afford us to our last Breath that when we shall breathe out our Souls they may be received instantly to Glory And this we begg for thy sake who didst begin to Bleed and Suffer for our Sin even thee O Blessed Jesus who tookest that Heavenly Name thy Blessed purpose to Proclaim Oh! may we bow our Heartâ— and Knee bright King of Names to Glorious thee who thus beginest our Bliss thus carriedest on our Happiness to thee all Praise be paid O Great Misterious Three for ever Live and ever be Obeyed Beloved Adored by Men and Angels all abroad Hallelujah O Lord make us eminent Examples of Perfect Christianity and kindle in our Hearts Zealous Emulations of thy Grace that here immitating thy Life O Christ we may be constant in the Truth to our last Breath that in our Mouths there may not at any time be found a lie that we may be worthy to be presented without spot before thy Throne O God and thou maiest exalt us to thy Kingdom and there admit us to tast of thosâ— Glorious Joys which incurcel thy Blessed Thronâ— above to which we are Intituled by the Suffering oâ— Christ our Lord. Oh give us true Repentance that wâ— may not fail of attaining of them though I have noâ— been strong enough to be perfectly Innocent Yet makâ— me Humble enough to be truly Penitent make mâ— Heartily sorry that ever I have done amiss and never again dare to do that for which I am sorry but perpetually Watch and Change my Thoughts to more diligent and concerning Cares how to redeem my mispent Time with Sighs and Tears and Prayers and prepare our Understanding to assent to thy Truths and our Wills to follow thy Divine Inspirations that thou O God maiest fill our Memories with innumerable Mercies and our whole Souls with the Glory of his adorable Atributes that thy Blessed Spirit may come and breathe thy spacious Odor into our Hearts in these dull Regions here beneath to fill our Souls with thy sweet Grace and Inspire us to give all possible Glory to that secret Three One ever Living Sovereign Lord as at the first still may be Beloved Praised Feared and Adored Hallelujah O Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding and shew us thy clear and supernatural Light even 〈◊〉 thou didst to the Apostles together with the whole Army of Martyrs that we may confidently â—ffirm to others what we know so Infallibily cerâ—ain our selves And be pleased to infuse into all â—â—ens Hearts the fulness of thine own Divine Charity that every one may instruct his Family and with Courage and Patience overcome their Oppressors that being thus Illuminated with a pure and clear â—â—ight and inflamed with the ferver of Grace â—hey may mightily shew forth thy Glory and Conâ—ert many Souls to thee that thy Grace may run â—nd be Glorious over all the World and thy Holy â—pirit be aimable in the Hearts of every Creature â—hat all dulness may be removed from them and they â—nay with swift Glances understand the sweet Will 〈◊〉 their Divine Master that they may Daily more and â—ore increase in Virtue and be inebriated with thy â—eavenly Wine and filled with an Heroick Spirit â—â—at may keep alive in their Hearts the Primitive Grace Grant this O God who art still the same and with an equal Spirit Governs the World replenish us all we beseech thee with the Holy Ghost which warms without scorching and shines without dimâ—ess and inlightens without consuming Kindle in every one of our Hearts this Holy Spirit of Meekness Peace and Unity that all the World may know that we belong to thee That exercising those Virtues of Meekness Long Suffering Patience Contentedness and Charity thou maiest difuse thy Holy Joy into our Breast that may fill our Hearts with Strength and undaunted Courage that may duly qualify us to ascend to those satisfing Joys above where all our Faculties shall be exercised in Adoring and Worshiping thee O Lord our God who wilt fill our Souls full of Joy and Ravish our Hearts with overflowing Pleasures and make us ever give Glory to Father Son and Holy Ghost the undivided Three One equal Glory one same Praise from henceforth and for ever be Hallelujah A Prayer for the Rich and Noble O Lord I beseech thee make the Great and Honourable become Good and Just O suffer them never to consent nor combine with the Counsel of the Wicked but teach the Rich and
giveth liberally to all Men and uppraideth not and would have all Men endued with Divine and deep Delights that they may be eminent and conspicuous in the true exercise of every Virtue and be Cloathed with great Activity Courage and Prudence to overcome their Enemies and inherit the Benefits of their own Virtues in the Peace and Tranquility of a happy Condition by being Liberal and Kind Humble and Chearful Rejoycing and Trusting exceedingly in God then shall their Soulâ— be even now as happy as if they had taken Possessâ—on of Heaven Having taken that City as it were Violence or Force by carrying Virtue to the higheâ—â— pitch humane frailty could exalt it to God havinâ— given us many Lights to assist our Souls in the compleating more allurements to provoke our desirâ— after more of Heaven and its Glorious Injoymentâ— so that all our Inclinations may now become Puriâ—â— and Praise that we may hereby be able to reconciâ—â— Men to God who were formerly Enemies to Graâ—â— and Virtue by putting Embroideries on Religion 〈◊〉 moving in a Sphere of Wonder In that his Life is â—ontinual stream of Miracles for such a Man carries 〈◊〉 Light whereever he goes for he is Cloathed like 〈◊〉 Son in his Raies and Reigns like a King by the sole Power of Virtue and Goodness in Beautifying Religion in the due exercise hereof making himself great by inriching others being full of Musick in the Words of his sweet and pleasing behaviour This being conducive to his own Ease and Honour the want therefore of the abovementioned Virtues is pernicious and destructive for these Holy Works and Wise Dispositions of Soul are absolutely necessary to qualifie us for Heaven For all the Fathers teach us both Anâ—ient and Modern that good Works are inseparable attendants upon a justifying Faith and no Heretick hat is either Grave or Serious can deny this sequel For this must consequently follow upon the Premises â—or good Works are absolutely necessary to Salvation tho â—hey can in no wise merit it for far be it from us â—â—om decrying good Works or the due use of them but â—he merit of them For that there is any real or perâ—onal merit in them we do indeed dâ—â—ry not but â—hat high induments of 〈◊〉 is a greater Blessing to â—â—ll that are so highly 〈◊〉 by the Hand of Heaven 〈◊〉 to be inâ—iched by them and good Works are cerâ—â—inly conditional to Life Eternal for in the great Day â—f Mercy 't will be said Come for ye have done them 〈◊〉 God for ye have not done them So that tho they 〈◊〉 not meritorious yet they are undoubtedly condional to Bifs for the more of these any Man have a â—â—ue share in the more happy Eternally will he unâ—â—oubtedly be so that what the Church of England in â—â—is and in all points do Teach is most assuredly pure â—â—d refined and in all points Conformable to the Priâ—â—â—tire Times neither is She pure in Doctrine only â—â—t in Charity most Catholick and in hearty Practise â—â—ost refined for She admonishes her Children that â—â—yey may not be Strangers to any point of Doctrine â—â—at is of moment to Salvation unless they should unhappily be Aliens to Felicity by being Foreigners to the Truth but that they may in â—is Light learn to see the true Light that enlighten every one that cometh into the World 'T is this Beauty of Truth that maketh Knowledge of such infinite value as to repair the Divine Image in us in which consists the perfection of our Nature renews us in the Spirit of our Minds purging our Consciences from dead Works securing our Minds from that restlesness and unquietness which Minutly attends both the Dominion and Guilt of Sin which racks the Mind with dreadful expectations and fills the Consciences with dismal horror and direful Confusion and lays them obnoxious to the dreadfulest denunciations imaginable not only Temporal Improsperity but Eternal Punishments in the dismal Shades of the other World. But to avoid the danger of these let us convince our understandings that we ought to aspire to live Angelical lives such as becomes a reformed Religion built upon the Doctrines of the Apostles and have all the Marks of a true Church so that every one may prove and try himself whether he be in the right for by trying the Spirits we may know them if we observe their Fruits may we therefore perswade our Affections to stick close to this refined Religion that is certainly the true Path to Heaven and conducive to Life and Bliss For this Church agreeable to the Holy Scriptures directs to the Treasures of Divine Wisdom and â—uch Oracles to which it is safe to resort for saving Knowledge to rule and guide us to a Holy Life therefore we ought Studiously to imbrace whatsoever we â—earn from her since She is now refined and purged from all Error and Corruption Superstition and whatsoever is contrary to Divine Truth for in her Preaching She observes the Method of Christ by unâ—ailing the very Truth to her Disciples making Christs Word to us as it is in it self the Power of God to Salvation So that now the Gospel with Noon Day brightness does cearly shine amongst us for She gives us cautionary Advices and to them subjoins plain Directions sheving us how to detect Error and to love Truth so that her Counsel may be of the same effect to us as the Oral Word was to our Progenitors who lived their own Doctrine and Preached their own Experience and gave up themselves without reserve to the guidance of Gods Word inwardly reverencing every Paragraph of it as an immediate message from the Almighty For every thing in Scripture is sublimely Divine It s Doctrine are most accommodate to the refreshment and building up of our Minds and in all respects so ordered that every one may draw thence what is sufficient for him provided he approach it with Devotion Piety and Religion For the things of God are Spiritually descerned as the secret Word of God was fiâ—st dictated by the Holy Spirit so still it must owe its effects and influence to its Cooperation for by this its Power and Energy insinuatively perswades the Heart to be led by the Power of it and to invoke the Divine aid by darting Ejaculations up to God that we may truly understand the sense and meaning of his Divinely Inspired Word by keâ—ping our Minds fixt and attent upon what we either hear or read that refin'd Thoughts maâ—â—â—â—ways possâ—â—â— our Minds to convince our Understanding and perswade our Affection and intirely rule our Imaginations that Divine Meditations may always prepossess our Minds and refresh and revive our Souls turning out of our â—reast all distracting Phansies lest our Chrâ—stianity should vapor away and disappear by a piâ—ing to too high degrees of Speculation and neglecting to practice plain Truths for the practice of 〈…〉 Truths are infinitely of more use then to Study curious or critical Remarks upon those Mysteries on which God have spread