Priest for ever Do I believe this and scruple fighting the good fight Do I believe this and am I afraid of the worlds frowns Do I believe this and am I ashamed of the severities thou callest me to Why should I mistrust thee when I see thee use the same mortifications thou biddest me chuse If a Soldier see his King use the same Pains Habit and hard fare which the meanest man in the Army uses what courage doth it infuse into him to endure hardship and other difficulties that may attend the various enterprizes he is engaged in O my Lord That very contempt of the World that Meekness and Humility that severity of Life that aversion from sensual Pleasures that enmity to Sin that hatred of Vanity that indignation against brutish Delights that Sincerity that Simplicity thou requirest of me thou didst observe and practice and perform thy self so that thou layst the same burthen on my Shoulders that lay on thine and if I die with thee I shall live with thee too if I suffer with thee I shall reign with thee Oh then I will not tarry I will make haste and conform to thine example I shall not fare worse then my King and Master did and as I have born the Image of the Earthy so I shall bear the Image of the Heavenly too I will walk as my Jesus walked O my Lord Make me Holy as thou art Holy Perfect as my Father which is in Heaven is Perfect O my Lord there is no other way to Glory but by thee Thou being exceeding rich becamest poor to enrich my Soul Thou camest not to do thine own Will but the Will of him that sent thee Put thine Arms under me and I will not do mine own Will I will follow thee through Fire and Water I will follow thee through Bryars and Thorns through good Report and evil Report O chace away all slavish fear from my Soul Let me not be afraid of difficulties What can be difficult where thou art both the guide and the encourager Thou canst not deceive me Thou canst not delude me It must be so as thou hast said All things are possible to him that believes I 'll chuse some hardship here so I may rest in thy bosom hereafter I 'll be content to pass through a dirty way for some time that I may lye down in the green pastures of thy Mercy for ever The sight of thy Cross in the Holy Sacrament shall be my motive I 'll draw Arguments from that Remembrance of thy death to die to the world I will travel with thee I will sail through the boisterous Sea of this Life with thee And O my Jesus let me arrive safe at last in the Everlasting Harbour Amen Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the Lords Supper to be said either at Church or at home ANd now what Reward shall I render unto Thee O Holy Blessed and incomprehensible Trinity for all the benefits I have receiv'd at thy hands this day Awake up my Glory Awake my outward and inward Man I will Sing and give praise Whence is it that so poor a wretch as I am is crowned with all this Mercy and loving Kindness O my Soul thou hast been water'd this day with the streams that flow from the Paradise of God! I that was worthy of Gods hatred how have I this day been advanced What great things hath God done for me What Honour hath he laid upon me What Majesty What Glory hath he conferr'd upon me I feel the Fire of God within me My Heart grows hot within me I will Sing and give Praise Who would not praise thee that hath seen thy goings in the Sanctuary as I have seen them this day Holy Father thou hast this day embraced me Holy Jesus thou hast this day poured out Blessings upon me Holy Spirit thou hast this day manifested thy self unto me Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Thou hast humbled thy self this day to a dead Dog O how often have I returned to the vomit How often have I gone a whoring from thee Yet behold the Lord instead of the Bread of affliction hath given me the Bread which came down from Heaven instead of the cup of Trembling hath given me the cup of Salvation I will remember thy Name O Lord I will speak of thy wondrous works O my Lord I see thy hand is not shortned neither is thy strength abated Thou that hadst mercy on the vilest sinners formerly extendest thy goodness to such miserable creatures still I have drawn Water this day from the Well of Salvation even from thy wounds O crucified Redeemer Thou hast look'd upon this Prodigal this day thou hast run and fall'n on my Neck and kissed my polluted Soul Oh Honour Oh Dignity Oh Compassion Oh Charity Oh Love Oh Mercy Oh Goodness which the Redeemed of the Lord must speak of Even they whom he hath Redeemed from the hand of the Enemy and gathered them out of the Lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South they wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Soul fainted in them then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he deliver'd them out of their distresses and he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a City of Habitation O that Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men Open to me the Gates of Righteousness I will go into them and I will praise the Lord. This is the Gate of the Lord into which the Righteous shall enter I will praise Thee for thou hast heard me and art become my Salvation The Stone which the Builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes If I forget Thee O my Jesus let my Tongue cleave to the roof of my Mouth Thou hast regarded my Tears thou hast taken notice of my Supplication Thou hast given me my Hearts desire thou hast not withheld from me the requests of my Lips Thou hast given me leave to come to thine Altar this day and to lift up mine hands towards thy Holy Oracle Thou hast fed my Soul this day with Royal Dainties with Peace and Pardon with a right to thy Promises and offers of Eternal Life with assistances of thy Holy Spirit and the Riches of Grace and Mercy This is the Food which the Holy Bread and Wine have represented to me this Day and with this Food thou hast blessed my Soul In this Food will I glory of this will I make my boast This is Food for Immortal Spirits This preserves Souls through the power of God unto Salvation This is bread which fades not away this is Wine which may be had without Money and without Price O my God! thou requirest no Price but a wounded Heart No Gold no Silver no Jewel but
the Characters How bloody were the Lines yet thy Blood makes them as white as snow O my Lord I hear thy words sharper then any two edged Sword and piercing to the dividing asunder of the Bones and Marrow I hear thy complaints I mean which broke the Rocks and shook the Earth and shall not my heart be moved at them For Thee the Son of God to cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Who can hear this Who can think of it and not stand confounded For Omnipotence to sink thus For infinite Perfection to faint thus For him that sate on the circle of the Earth and before whom all Nations were as Grashoppers for him thus to Swound thus to Weep thus to Mourn What could be the reason Oh thou Prince of Peace For the iniquity of thy People thou vast struck for the sins of the World thou didst suffer banishment and wast used as if thou hadst not been anointed with Oyl or been guilty of the crimes thy foes accused thee of The snares of death did encompass thee thy friends forsook thee and thy heritage like a Lion out of the Wood did roar against thee O my Bowels be ye troubled at this remembrance O my flinty Heart canst thou see thy Lord as it were crucified before thine eyes and not break out into floods of Tears O Jesu Thou cryest to thy Father and he hears thee not He seems to be cruel to his Son and deaf to thy lamentations The windows of Heaven seem to be shut and a vail to be drawn over all the Joys and Comforts and Consolations that formerly water'd and enrich'd thy Soul See how dry and barren and burnt up this precious Soil appears No showers from above come down no Sun shines upon it the Stars of Heaven with-hold their influence and scarce an Angel will stir to thy assistance O Thou who art all Glorious within and art thy self the Glory of the Universe Were my Sins laid in a ballance they would weigh heavier then the Sand on the Sea-shore and then what need I wonder that thou cryest so loud under the heavy load for the arrows of the Lord stick in thee and his hand presses thee sore O Blessed Nazarite whiter then Snow brighter then the Sky purer then the Sun How is thy Face disfigured with Grief How do thine Eyes languish How dismal dost thou appear Is this the Face that was the perfection of Beauty Is this the Face that was once the desire of all Nations Is this the Face which so many Prophets and Righteous Men have desired to see Is this the Face that Abraham long'd to behold and the Patriarchs were ambitious to have a view of Is this the Face admired by Angels and dreaded by Divels What is thy Beloved more then another Beloved O thou fairest among Women Is this the mighty Bridegroom of the Church who was once transfigured on the Holy Mount and his Face did shine as the Sun and his raiment became white as the light Is this he whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows whose garments smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia and cast such a scent that the Daughter of Tyre came with a Gift and the rich among the People entreated his favour How is he alter'd How is his Countenance chang'd How is the Gold become dim and the fine Gold changed Yet still thou art lovely to a Soul that sees farther then the outside Still thou art a Cordial to fainting Spirits Still thou art a fountain of living waters Still thou art the Joy of the whole Earth the Light of Heaven and the Song of Sion My thoughts O Lord shall follow thee to the Cross. Methinks I see how thou art going to die thou lookest back on thine Enemies and notwithstanding all their Affronts offerest them Mercy O incomprehensible Goodness Even then when thou art lifted up to the infamous Tree Thou drawest and invitest all Men to thee Thou Preachest on the Cross and thy very wounds are Sermons to the Children of Men and thy Blood trickling down is an exhortation to Repentance Surely it is good for me to adhere unto thee and to count it death to be separated from thee O whether shall I go but to thee who hast words of Eternal Life Thou art my Sun by Thee I shall be enlighten'd by Thee my Soul shall be warm'd O how comfortable are thy beams What a progress must that Soul make on which thou shinest and dartest thy Glorious Rays Thou art that lofty Cedar whose boughs over-spread the Believing World Under the shadow of that Tree will I rest It is for the healing of the Nations I will be glad in the Lord and rejoyce in my bleeding Jesus While the World despises thee I will honour thee While Great Men pass by and regard thee not I that am poor and needy will wait to be refreshed by thee Go ye fools be enamoured with your Trifles admire your Butterflies doat on your sensual Pleasures Here is one that looks charming in his Tears lovely in his Blood amiable in his Wounds and is more beautiful in the midst of all his distresses then the brightest Virgins Face adorned with all the glittering Treasures of the East O my Strength by Thee I desire to be comforted and supported O anoint my Eyes with thy Sovereign Eye-salve and I shall see and live O that the Clouds which dwell on my Understanding were dispersed that I might look upon thee sredfastly Oh! then thou wouldst appear more lovely to me on the Cross then Croesus in his Throne or Solomon in all his Glory God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ. In this lie hid vast treasures of Sweetness O my Jesus make me conformable to thy death and give me leave to carry thy marks in my Body Let me be crucified with thee and let Christ for ever live in me Canst thou live in a Soul that hath abused thy Mercy slighted thy Patience and so often baffled the stratagems of thy Compassion I believe Lord O help mine unbelief Thou camest to call not the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Oh! then my Husband will love me my Redeemer will come and live with me for my repentings are kindled I hate the sins that have defiled my Soul Away ye Swine Here are no Divels to enter in I am to receive my Bridegroom into my Heart Come Lord Jesu Come quickly Thou art the welcomest Guest I know How happy shall I be if thou wilt lodge in this earthly Tabernacle Happier then if all the Angels of Heaven took up their Habitation here O ye besotted Jews what makes you run so fast to kill the Lord of Life ye cannot live without him and what evil spirit doth possess you to kill and murther him Can you think of his miracles and do so Can you reflect upon his Doctrine and attempt such villanies Can you remember how he taught you in the Temple even
to astonishment and venture on such proceedings Can you call to mind how he hath purged your Countrey of Divels and your Sick of their Diseases and suffer the Divel to enter into you O dreadful spectacle O that my Head were Water Who will rise with me against the wicked O thou that art purer then the Lillies purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean wash me and my filthiness shall not be seen O bathe me in the Fountain open'd for the House of Judah and Jerusalem and I shall look fairer then the Children which fed on the Meat of the King of Babylon's Table O my God I thirst for thee as dry Land after Water My Soul flies and flutters about like Noah's Dove and can find no rest till it gets into thy Ark. Great Gate of Mercy open to me hide me from the wrath of an offended God and make a covenant of Peace with me Ah! Who would not love thee that hears thee pray for thy greatest enemies O lovely Bridegroom of my Soul wound my Heart that it may be sick of Love How kind art thou even to thy most hard-hearted foes What a motive is this to love thee What needest thou care what becomes of stubborn sinners Why shouldst thou trouble thy self about wretches that will have none of Thee that will have their Dirt and Dung and Trash and Husks and prefer these trifles before Heaven and a Sea of Glory Thou canst live without the society of Men at least thou needest no such company yet thou longest for their Pardon and Happiness as if they had been thy greatest friends Was ever Goodness like this O that my Thoughts and Contemplations might be always busie about this Love This is no vulgar Love the love of David to Jonathan the love of Jacob to Rachel the love of Brethren Sisters Friends will bear no resemblance here Moses his love to the Israelites for whose sake and so they might but continue in Gods favour he was content to be blotted out of Gods Book and St. Pauls wish to be even accursed of Christ for his Kinsmen of the Jewish Nation these de monstrations of Love come somewhat nearer but still thy Love my dearest Lord surpasses all these as the light of the Sun doth that of the Moon and the lesser Stars They borrow'd their love from thine and lighted their Candle by thy brighter Fire that which was excess of Love in them was but a spark of that Charity which overspread thy larger Soul They did but wish to die for the People thou didst actually exspire for their good their Love was confined to a single Nation thine extended to the whole World These Men were still their friends that they wish'd to be miserable for but those thou sufferest for were thine enemies Their Love had great defects mingled with it but thine was pure and spotless Theirs had Clouds and Mists to darken it Thine was all Light and Glory Theirs was a suddain transport which might not last many days but Thine was constant to a miracle and those whom thou lovedst thou lovedst unto the end Great Emperour of Souls thou hangest betwixt Thieves and not without reason for thou stealest the Heart away What Heart can see thy Beauty and forbear being enamoured with it Thou dost ravish my Soul with thine Eyes of pity To see thee cast a favourable look on such a monster as I am Who can forbear falling in love with so much clemency I am a Captive in this World The Law of my Members makes me captive to the Law of Sin O take me by force from that prison O set me as a Seal upon thy Heart Rule thou in my Members Erect a Trophy over my Head and rejoyce in conquering me O let me be content to undergo the Cross and reproach with thee that thou mayst remember me now thou art in thy Kingdom O remember me with the favour thou bearest unto thy People O my Jesus Who can hear thee cry I Thirst and not wish for Rivers of Tears What canst thou Thirst for but the Salvation of Mankind Thou camest for that purpose from Heaven Leftst those brighter Mansions to invite poor sinners to the mighty Banquet there For this thou didst travel up and down and enduredst Cold and Hunger and Weariness for this thou wroughtest miracles for this thou didst Intreat Rebuke preach the Word in season and out of season for this thou couldst be content to want a place where to lay thy Head for this thou taughtest daily in the Temple sometimes on the Mount sometimes in a Ship sometimes in a Desart for this thy Soul did long for this thou sufferedst for this thou wast buffeted beaten bruised and wounded even because thou wouldst not give over calling poor deluded sinners to a sense of their Duty for this thou Thirstest here The rude multitude fancies it is either Water or some cordial thou wishest for They measure thy condition by their own sensual appetite but they were purer desires that glow'd in thy Breast It is Water indeed thou thirstest for but such Water as David made his Bed to swim in The Tears of a penitent Soul are the Wine thou longest for They are the Drink the Son of God thirsts after Weep weep mine Eyes that the Lord Jesus may Drink and be satisfied O Lord I have given thee Gall to Drink I have offered thee the cup of Trembling and Astonishment Ah bitter Ah wretched Drink worse then the foulest Ditch-water Drink my dearest Lord Drink of the Brook by the way Drink of these Tears Drink of this Holy Water I do shed O it is the Sweat of a grieved Soul of a Soul weary of Sin and heavy laden with the sense of it My Heart melts my Soul dissolves at the thoughts of my follies Drink up this Heart of mine and let it mingle with thy bowels of Mercy Here Lord accept of the Vows I offer thee Behold and visit this Vine which thine own right hath planted Shine upon it Lord let it bring forth pleasant Grapes no more Grapes of the Vine of Sodom but Grapes sweet and which may cheer the Heart of God and Man The Drink-offerings I bring to thee are insatiable desires after thee the most fervent breathings of my Heart after thy Grace and Mercy O receive them Graciously and love me freely I bring on Rivers of Oyl no Rams no Bullocks with Horns and Hoofs Thou desirest not Sacrifice else would I give it thee thou delightest not in Burnt-offerings Thou wilt take no Bullock out of my House nor He-Goats out of my Folds for every Beast of the Forest is thine and so is the Cattle upon a thousand Hills Thou knowest all the Fowls of the Mountains and the wild Beasts of the Field are thine if thou wert Hungry thou wouldst not tell me for the World is thine and the fulness thereof Thou wilt not eat the flesh of Bulls nor drink the blood of Goats but the offerings thou expectest are
but mock thee How can I believe my sin odious while I embrace and cherish it How can I believe it kill'd thee while I make much of it How can I believe it drew Sweats of Blood from thee while I water it and keep it warm Oh! I am weary of this vain Belief Rid me of it Deliver me from it Let all my neighbours see that I believe these things indeed Let the World see by my Conversation that these things work upon me Oh! Let me not only believe these great things but live them over Come forth my dearest Lord and meet me No Man can come to thee but he whom thou drawest to thee Oh let me touch but the hem of thy Garment and I shall recover Let me so Believe in thee that it may appear thou livest in me that I may at last obtain the end of my Faith even the Salvation of my Soul Great Author and Finisher of my Faith hear me for thy Mercies sake Amen A Prayer for a lively Hope O Thou in whom my Fathers hoped They hoped in thee and thou didst deliver them Thou art all Goodness all Sweetness all Clemency Who would not hope in thee Thy Mercies bid me hope Thy Promises bid me hope and all thy Revelations bid me hope O thou Hope of Israel Here I am Here I lie prostrate before thy Face Here my Soul intends to breath out her desires O my Lord When will that happy day come that Glorious day which shall have no Night no Clouds no Darkness Thou hast spoke of it thy Prophets have seen Visions of it Thy Apostles have Declared it One was wrapt up above the Clouds to take a view of it The Son that came out of thy bosom hath assured me of it It is the bright day when I shall enter inter into thy Joy be made a Co-heir with Christ be cloathed in White shine as the Stars look upon thee and not be ashamed Thou hast promised it and shall not I hope for it Oh my Lord that seest me that art present with me and knowest my Heart my Sighs my Desires thou knowest I hope for it Oh let this Hope be lively let it be a Hope which may purify me even as God is pure Nay my very flesh shall rest in Hope and thou wilt not suffer my Body to see everlasting corruption Thou wilt raise me from the Dust at last All my Bones shall say Lord Who is like unto thee I know that my Redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another and having this Hope O assist me O perswade me O prompt me to cleanse my self from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect Holiness in the fear of God Deck my Soul with Humility with Patience with Constancy that no Rods no Stripes no Prison no Torment no Shipwrack no perils of Waters no perils of Robbers no perils among my own Countrey-men no perils among Heathens no perils in the City no perils in the Wilderness no perils in the Sea no perils among false Brethren no weariness no painfulness no Watchings no Hunger no Thirst no Cold no Nakedness no Weakness no Infirmity no Honour or Dishonour no good Report or evil Report may discourage me from trusting in thee Though the Lord should kill me yet let me hope in him If in this Life only I have Hope in Christ I am of all Men most miserable The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid Though an Host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though War should rise against me in this will I be confident for in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavilion in the secret of his Tabernacle he shall hide me he shall set me up upon a Rock Thou art he that took me out of the Womb thou didst make me Hope when I was upon my Mothers Breasts O let it not be in the power of Men or Divels to shake this Hope Let it be my Anchor sure and stedfast which no Waves no Billows no Storms no Tempests can move Whatever evils befall me let me think they come from a Fathers Hand Let no prosperity no Sun-shine no Calmness no smiling Fortune subvert this Hope in my Soul Let me look upon all these outward Comforts as Vanity Vanity of Vanities which can give no Ease no Comfort no satisfaction to a Soul of a Spiritual Appetite Let me thirst after nothing so much as after thy Love as after Spiritual Blessings as after the hidden Manna as after the white Stone which no man knows save he who receives it I will not hope in any creature I will arise and depart for here is not my rest Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my Countenance and my God My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him He ony is my Rock and my Salvation he is my Defence I shall not be moved In God is my Salvation and my Glory the Rock of my Strength and my Refuge is in God Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Hearts before him Thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong Tower from the Enemy From the end of the Earth will I cry unto thee when my Heart is overwhelm'd O my God my Goodness extends not to thee The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance and of my Cup thou maintainest my Lot Who was ever confounded that trusted in thee Who was ever forsaken that hoped in thee Who was ever despised that in good earnest called upon thee All Hail my dearest Lord my Hope I love thee I embrace thee I renounce all those lesser Goods which are in the World that I may make thee my highest and my chiefest Good It 's true Lord I am a sinner and have been a very ungrateful wretch The least of thy Mercies is more then I have deserved My very Righteousnesses have been as filthy Rags but I will not trust in my Bow neither is it my Sword that shall save me but thy Mercy O Lord thy Mercy and the palmes of thy Hands on which thou hast engraven my Name shall be my refuge I have no merits no deserts to trust to I can claim nothing as my Right all I am and all I have is thy Charity What Goodness there is in me is entirely owing to thy Grace and Compassion With this thou crownest me with this thou enrichest me with this thou anointest my Head that I may work in thy Vineyard and receive the Penny at night I confide not in my Works I depend not upon my Industry I
rest not in my own Labours but in thy Blood in thy Sweat in thy good pleasure O Glorious Son of God! Cursed is the Man that trusts in Man and makes Flesh his Arm. I will hope in thy Mercy my Heart shall rejoyce in thy Salvation Evening and Morning and at Noon will I Pray and thou wilt hear my voice Thou hast said Ask and ye shall have Seek and ye shall find Knock and it shall be open'd to you Who would not Hope after this Who would not rely upon thee after such a Promise O let me find Grace in the sight of my Lord I desire nothing else this is the height of my wishes this is it which engrosses the faculties of my Soul Thy Grace is the Jewel I want the Pearl I stand in need of the Crown my Soul longs for Thou art my witness O Lord That my Heart thinks so Thou hast Treasures of Mercy Thy Stores are large and inexhaustible Thou bidst me come and buy without Money and without price and my Soul shall live Thou dost promise me more then Kings can promise and no wonder for thou art greater and richer then all the Kings of the Earth Thou givest Rest to the weary Soul and Strength to the Faint Therefore mine Eyes shall be toward thee O let thine Eyes be open and thine Ears attent unto the Prayer of thy Servant Do thou chuse and sanctify this House that thy Name may be there forever and let thine Eyes and thy Heart be here perpetually Thy liberality and bounty is immense and infinite I cannot but hope in thee Oh my unbelieving Heart Couldst thou but trust him more what great things wouldst thou see His Mercy is upon thee according as thou hopest in him The more thou hopest the greater is his Mercy O my Lord What stupendous Gifts dost thou present me with What amazing Offers dost thou make to my Soul Thou art not only willing to impart thy Graces to me but in thy Supper givest me thy Self and here thou offerest to carry me in thy Arms to be my nursing Father and to be Food to my hungry Soul May it be unto me according to thy Word Come Lord Lodge thou in my Soul make it thy dwelling place anoint it with the Oil of Mercy I will go and take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Thy loving kindness shall be before mine Eyes and I will walk in thy Truth I will not sit with vain Persons neither will I go in with the Dissemblers I will wash mine Hands in innocency so will I compass thine Altar O Lord That I may publish with the voice of Thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works my Heart shall be inditing a good Matter and I will speak of things touching the King of Saints Into thy Hands I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed it O Lord God of Truth O make thy Face to shine upon thy Servant and O let me Hope unto the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto me at the Revelation of Jesus Christ A men A Prayer for Love and Charity O Thou who hast so loved the World as to give thine only Son to the end that all that Believe in him should not perish but have everlasting Life What shall I do to love thee What shall I do to be united to thee What shall I do to get a place in thy Bosom If I love thee not I am undone If thou dost not look exceeding lovely in mine Eyes I am lost If my Affections do not fix upon thee I perish I cannot be happy without loving thee My Soul is destitute of her proper Good if thou be not the object of my delight I am perfectly miserable if thou be not the Center of my Spirit Love is the greatest Gist that 's given to poor creatures Love enriches their Souls Love makes their Faces shine Love must brighten their Souls and make them appear lovely in the Eyes of God! O my Lord Thou hast given me faculties to love thee Understanding to contemplate thy Beauty and Mercy and Perfection memory to retain the lively apprehensions of thy Glory and a Will to prompt my whole Man into sutable Actions The more I love thee the Holier I am The more I love thee the more I am with thee for where I love there is my Soul where my Affections are there is my Spirit where my Treasure is there will my Heart be also Who would look upon a Dunghil that can view a Glorious Palace Who would hear the screeches of Owls and Night-Ravens that can hear melodious Musick And why should I be taken with the pomp and glory of the World which in comparison of thee is a meer Dunghil or with the caresses and praises of mortal Men which are perfect howlings compared with the harmony thy Love doth make Shall I love Honour and not love thee who art the Fountain of it Shall I love Pleasure and not love thee in whose Presence there is fulness of Joy Who can be likened unto thee O Lord And if nothing can be likened unto thee I must love nothing like thee And if I justly love that which is good I must necessarily love thee more then all things in this world for thou art infinitely better then all things in this world There is nothing so good nothing so precious nothing so rich nothing so amiable as thou art O my Jesus How great was thy condescension Thou knewest I could love nothing so well as what was like me and in compliance with my temper for thou knewest my frame thou becamest like me indeed The Immortal became Mortal The Eternal became an Infant If therefore I love Man who is naturally like me how much more am I bound to love thee who wroughst a miracle to become Man that thou mightst be like me Love desires the presence of its delightful object and can any thing be more present then thou art Thou art in me and with me and without me thou art present in all places at all times in all companies thou art willing to dwell in me and to make thine abode in me Thou art content never to depart from me Thou art strangely bountiful who would not love thee Who ever gave greater or larger Gifts either more in number or more in quantity or longer for duration then thy liberal Hand from thee every good and perfect Gift comes down whatever Gifts I receive from thy Creatures thou sendest them The Creatures are but the Channels or the Pipes through which they are conveyed and shall not I love the Fountain more then the Channel the Spring more then the Pipe through which the water runs and the great Giver more then the Messengers that carry it Thou workest in all thou inclinest the Hearts of the Bountiful Thou openest their Hands thou turnest their Hearts into Charity Thou seasonest their Minds with Thoughts of me and thou bendest their Wills to do me good And
Es. 5. 11 12. Psal. 105. 5 Matth. 6. 26 27 28. 1 Cor. 10 31. 1 Thess. 5. 18. 10. I must do the same kindnesses favours and services to other Men which I would have other Men who are in such circumstances do to me and therefore must be charitable just honest faithful sincere in all my dealings with them and put a good construction on their doubtful actions because I would have them be so and do so to me Matth. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 13. 4 5 6 7. Rom. 13. 7 8 9. 11. According to the condition calling or relation I am in I must discharge my Duty belonging to that calling condition or relation with very great conscientiousness as a servant I must be faithful and respectful to my Master or Mistriss As a Son or Daughter very tender of my Parents welfare credit and command As a Subject obedient and loyal to the King and those who are in Authority under him in all lawful things as a member of a publick Church careful to preserve its peace and unity As a Husband or Wife loving kind and amiable to my yoke-fellow and in the lawful calling God hath placed me in diligent and industrious 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 18. Eph. 6. 1 4 5. Col. 3. 18 19 20 21 22. Col. 4. 1. Rom. 12. 11. 12. I must delight to think of God and delight to speak of spiritual things and delight to do the Will of God and delight in all these and in other good Works more then in the gaudes pomp glory and vanity of this present World I must use the World as if I used it not and be very indifferent whether I have much of this Worlds Goods or no and my chief aim and design must be to get a share in God's everlasting Kingdom Matth. 6. 33. 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Psal. 112. 1. Psal. 139. 17. Psal. 119. 72. Consc. Why art thou obliged to do all this in order to Salvation Christ. Partly because God my Supreme Governour expresly commands these things to be done partly because Eternal Happiness is promised to none but such as in good earnest apply themselves to the performance of them partly because infinite glory is a thing of that consequence that it deserves these pains and this excellent temper partly because the LOVE of God to me is so great that I can do no less in common gratitude Matth. 5. â—0 Matth. 19. 17. Luc 13. 24. 2 Cor. 5. â—â— Consc. What is that mighty Love of God that challenges such gratitude Christ. When with the rest of Mankind I was lost and undone in my first Parents depriv'd of all hopes of Mercy and Pardon and Salvation The Eternal Son of God to restore me to God's favour and to make me capable of Pardon and Eternal Salvation took my Nature upon him became Man suffered and died for me and having by his death purchased this Pardon and Salvation for me offers me these Mercies upon condition of obeying the aforesaid Precepts Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 17. 21. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Consc. But what if thou hast not obeyed these Precepts of the Gospel is there any remedy or hopes to recover the favour of God Christ. I must necessarily repent of my disobedience with all speed and make it my business for the future to live up to those Rules in despight of all commands and allurements from Men to the contrary and upon 〈◊〉 repentance sincere resolâ—◠〈◊〉 and earnest endeavours to obey them I may certainly hope for Pardon and Salvation because he hath promised it Matth. 11. 28 29. Es. 55. 7. Joel 2. 12 13 14. Consc. But is it possible dost thou think for any Man to obey and live up to these Precepts Christ. If it were not possible for me to obey them I cannot imagine why God should peremtorily require it of me and therefore I may certainly so far obey them as not to act wittingly or wilfully or deliberately against them and so perform them as to make them the setled Rule of my Thoughts Desires Words and Actions if I will but use the means God hath prescribed in order to this Holy Obedience Matth. 25. 26 27 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Joh. 5 ' 3. Consc. What are those means whereby this Holy Obedience may be attained Christ. They are Eight 1. Consideration and Thinking 2. Earnest Prayer for the assistance of Gods Grace and Spirit 3. Diligent hearing and reading the word of God 4. Asking advice and consulting with faithful Ministers of the Gospel 5. Self-Examination 6. A right apprehension of the Nature of God and of Spiritual things 7. Humbling the Soul with Fasting 8. A conscientious use of the two Sacraments the Son of God hath instituted and ordained Consc. How is Consideration and Thinking to be managed Christ. I must seriously and frequently retire and think with my self that surely Gods promises and threatnings will be fulfilled that upon the moment of my death there depends Eternity and what a sad and forlorn condition I should be in should Eternal anguish seize on my Soul when it leaves this World and though God be patient yet he will not be mock'd that there is no Soul in Hell at this time but would be glad to obey God if they might be freed and tryed once more here on Earth that a work of that concern is not to be neglected for trifles that my Death is very uncertain and a Death-bed is no place or time to bring my self to a habit of Obedience Deut. 32. 29. Ps. 90. 12. Ps. 50. 22. Consc. What is the nature of Prayer and earnest begging for Grace and assistance of Gods Spirit Christ. I must take care that my Heart and Mind do pray as well as my Lips I must be sensible of what I pray for and fix my Thoughts upon God in Prayer and earnestly long for his Grace and Mercy and be importunate with him pray often and with fervour like a person that am concern'd at the danger I am in I must watch against wandring Thoughts or expell them when they come in and my Soul must esteem and prize the Grace of God and assistance of Gods Spirit above all the advantages of the World and be restless till I get it and take notice how God hears and answers my Prayers Joh. 4. 24. Ps. 66. 18. Ps. 63. 1. Ps. 16. 8. Consc. What dost thou mean by diligent hearing and reading of the word of God Christ. When I read or hear it I must read and hear it with attention and resolution to know Gods Will that I may do it Before I read and hear it I must beg of God to enlighten me and to imprint those good Lessons I shall hear or read upon my Soul and to make them effectual to me I must apply the general commands I read and hear to mine own Soul and believe that what God commands all Men as Christians and Believers he commands me in particular I must watch against worldly Thoughts in reading and
but have lived in perpetual horror There could have been no hope of Mercy no probability of Bliss their Souls would have been in Eternal confusion always doubting always afraid always upon the Rack O my Jesus Thou through death hast deliver'd them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject unto bondage Thou hast knock'd off their shackles loosed their Bands freed their Souls set their Spirits at libery I feel the power of thy death My Heart takes courage O let me rise with thee to Eternal life O let me not lie in the mire but set my Feet upon a Rock and establish my goings I have gone astray like a lost Sheep O seek thy servant that I may not forget thy Commandements Thou art the Bread which came down from Heaven and with the Bread in thy Sacred Supper thou offerest me all the benefits of thy death and passion such a Feast hast thou prepared for me such a Table hast thou spread for me my Soul is invited to Sup with the Lamb that was slain What an honour is this What a condescention is it In this Sacrament thou erectest a Banner for me bidst me sit under thy Vine and strenghthen my self with the Fruit that drops from it Were all the Fishes of the Sea and all the Fowls of the Air and all the Beasts of the Field drest for my entertainment it would not be so much as this plain but Heavenly Diet is Tell not me of Belshazzer's Banquet nor of Ahashuerus's Feast nor of the rich mans curious Dishes they are all scraps and Offals to this Entertainment Here my Blessed Redeemer courts my Soul Here he makes love to a miserable Sinner Here he presents me with the Riches of his Merits No African Gold no Eastern Pearls no Indian Stones are to be compared with these Here the Lord of Glory offers to marry me to unite me to him to make an everlasting Covenant with me to be flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones promises to endow me with all his Goods puts a Ring on my Finger and bids me lie in his bosom This is Honour this is Glory this is Preferment which no Royal Courts can give no Solomon can afford no Emperour Grant no Monarch Conferr no King bestow This is the mighty Wedding-Feast at which the blessed Angels wait how should not they be there when their Master is President and Director of the Banquet This puts me in mind of all the admirable things thou hast done for me in this Bread are contracted all the Dainties and Delicacies imaginable O wonderful Love that wast not content to be known to me but art willing to give thy self for Food to me What pains dost thou take to melt my stubborn Heart Thou art willing to live in me Thou art willing to be one with me that I may not warp from thee Thou art willing to be my Meat and Drink not only my King to protect me not only my Father to tender me not only my Master to take care of me not only my Saviour to snatch me out of the burning Lake not only my Mediator to secure me against Heavens vengeance but my Diet too Thou seest my Soul wants Meat proper for her nature Alas the World cannot be that Meat That 's a Heterogeneous thing as well may Angels feed on Hay or Grass as my Soul on things that profit not That which my Soul must feed on must be something Spiritual Thou O Jesu art that Great Spiritual Object my Soul must fix on nothing else will content it and when my Thoughts contemplate thee when my Soul Meditates of thy Charity when my Affections love thee when my Desires long for thee When my Will submits to thy easie yoak When all my Faculties delight in thee when thou appearest lovely and charming and amiable to my mind Then then my Soul hath its proper food then it 's like to live then it 's in a way to thrive then it prospers then it grows then it gets a cheerful look then the Angels visit it the World perfectly soures it Sensual pleasures ruine it carnal satisfactions make it meager Thou O Lord thou alone canst make it flourish like the Palm-tree and satisfy it with the Rivers of thy Pleasures O my Lord how sweet is it to suck Honey out of this Rock Thy Bread strengthens to a miracle and thy Blood makes Souls Drunk It is as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that descends on the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even Life for evermore O my God I care not for Abana and Pharpar now nor for the Rivers of Damascus I will stand under thy Cross and open my Mouth O do thou fill it while others go to rejoyce in their Corn and Wine and Oyl I will go to the Supper of the Lamb. Here Lord here is my Heart ready to receive that Heavenly Food thou offerest me Awake thou Eternal Spirit awake blow upon my Garden that the Spices may flow out O let this Maenna satisfy my taste that I may forget the Fleshpots of Egypt Behold Lord here I make a vow that if thou wilt give me this Bread to eat which endures to everlasting life Thou shalt be my God I will serve no other Gods but thee Thou shalt command my Heart my Desires and my Affections and without thee no passion shall lift up its Hand or Foot in all the land of Goshen I will set thee over all that I have and all shall be at thy dispose Christ. I feel my Heart warmed with this consideration I will now turn aside and see this great sight who it is that hangs upon the Cross and bleeds for my Sins Oh! it is the Son of God he that was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and became obedient to the death of the Cross that I might be made the Righteousness of God through him Consc. But is there nothing else to be done by way of preparation for this Blessed Sacrament Christ O Yes For I must First Retire sometimes and celebrate and admire the love of God to me in Christ Jesus in some such reflections as these Be astonish'd ye Heavens stand amazed ye Quires of Angels at the condescension of my God I have betray'd him to the Philistines yet he loves the miserable Wretch and so loves him that he gives his Son to redeem him O God what dost thou see in me Nothing but misery nothing but rags nothing but poverty and yet thou lovest me I am but Dust and Ashes and will God vouchsafe a Gracious look to so mean an object O Sovereign Being Didst thou ever behold a viler creature then I am and wilt thou goe out of the common road of Love and spread thy Garments over me and offer me thy friendship O Love which Cherubim admire and Seraphim adore It
a Purple Robe How from thence he returned to Pilate and thereupon was scourged and crowned with Thorns How after this he bore his Cross and was actually crucified How he was made to drink Gall and Vinegar and at last bowed the Head and died But then I must not only barely survey these sufferings but reflect at the same time upon my sins that procured them and accuse not only my grosser sins if I have been guilty of any but my lesser errours of using the Son of God so barbarously I must not reflect upon his bloody Sweat without thinking of my proud Thoughts and Speeches and Actions that pulled it on him nor upon his wounds without beating my Breast for my Envy and Malice and revengful desires that caused them nor upon the Crown of Thorns without detesting my intemperance and sinister designs in doing good and affectation of vain Glory that set it on his Head nor on the Nails that tore his Flesh without taking a view of my pettishness and peevishness and impatience which struck them in nor upon the Spear that opened his side without entertaining some dismal Thoughts of my neglect of Meditation and Prayer and fervency of Spirit and Holy Discourses and bearing of Injuries and Heavenly Thoughts nor upon his Tears without looking stern upon my slight and superficial performances for all these help'd towards his Death and Agonies 5. I must shew my willingness to imitate Christ Jesus by doing some good Work if health and strength do give me leave This must be the first fruits of my future treading in his steps and will make my coming to the Holy Sacrament more comfortable I must in this imitate the Woman that poured out the ointment on Christ's Head before his sufferings began and Christ himself who wash'd his Disciples Feet before he refresh'd their Souls with the Holy Sacrament I must either free some prisoner to testify my resentment of the Mercy Christ shewed me in freeing me from the bondage of the Divel or relieve some poor Family to express my sense of Christ's relieving my Soul in the greatest strait or impart some good Counsel to a wicked and careless neighbour to shew how kind Christ was in visiting me with his Admonitions or visit some sick persons that are under great distress and comfort them or help them or give them or procure them some Physick that may do them good if they be needy to shew how sensible I am of Christ's being my Physician or forgive some small Debt a poor Man owes me to shew how I rejoyce at Christ's forgiving me Ten thousand Talents Or visit a man that hates me and behave my self most courteously to him to see whether his Heart will melt and come to a better temper thereby to express my sense of Christ's Love to me that have been his Enemy or give a good Book to one that hath no Money to buy one to shew my sense of Christ's feeding me with the word of Life or deny my self in a lawful Recreation or lawful Ornament or lawful Meal to shew I am sensible how Christ hath denied himself for mysake or pray earnestly for the conversion of a person I have no acquaintance with and whom I hear to be very vitious to express my sense of Christ's care of my Salvation 6. I must frequently pray that God would give me a Heart to breathe and pant after him and particularly a Heart to esteem and prize his Love manifested in this Sacrament above all the pleasures of this World that he would give me a Faith active and vigorous and which may press through all impediments and purify my Heart and Life and forget what is behind it That he would give me a contrite Spirit and Grace to tremble at his Word and threatnings that he would give me courage to undervalue and despise the World and the Glories and Vanities of it that he would give me a burning Zeal to his Glory a transcendent love to his Name and Ways and Ordinances that he would make me sincere in Devotion in Prayer and in all good Works and banish from me all sinister and worldly ends and designs in Holy performances that he would give me a firm resolution to imitate the Saints of old and the best examples at this day and to stop my ears against all the suggestions of Flesh and Blood to the contrary that he would give me a Mind which may delight in contemplating the Divine Goodness and Perfection and would teach me the great Art of Self-resignation of trusting him with my Soul and Body and of relying intirely upon his providence 7. I must resolve and unfeignedly upon my bended knees or in a very solemn manner resolve to watch and strive for the future against those particular sins and errors and sinful inclinations I am most inclined to If I have neglected such a Self-denial to neglect it no more if I have been guilty of such acts of pride and envy and ill nature to be guilty of them no more if I have been careless and slovenly in my Prayers to be so no more if I have pleased my self with vain Thoughts to please my self with them no more if I have delighted in fine Cloaths to delight in them no more if I have been false to my Vows and Promises to be false to them no more if I have made nothing of ill Names and ill Language to dread it like poison for the future I must resolve to mortifie such a habit of sin with rigors with being unkind to my flesh with Fasting and with mulcts of Money if I commit but a single act of the sin I must resolve to use the proper means to subdue such a corruption I must resolve to avoid that company where I am and have been apt to yield to a certain sin I must resolve to spend my time better and if I have spent too much of it in Dressing in Pleasure in Carding and Dice c. to do so no more whatever disgrace dis-respect or frowns I may meet with from the World or from mine Acquaintance and if I have been careless of meditating and being serious on the Lords day to make a better improvement of that day And I must so resolve as to think my self concerned to fulfil and perform my solemn Resolution unto which I have call'd God as a witness 8. I must watch against all things that would discompose and disorder my mind put me into a rage or passion and make me peevish and discontented and consequently unfit for the worthy receiving of this Sacrament I must labour to preserve a calmness and serenity of Mind and that neither multitude of worldly business do distract me nor injuries past and gone discompose me or put me into impatient Thoughts and expressions nor present disappointments rob me of my quiet I must watch against impediments that would tempt me to delay my coming to this Table and take heed I do not yield to Temptations that would
make me neglect the opportunity put into my hand of making Peace with God and mine own Conscience I must reject suggestions of this nature and regard more the necessary concerns of my Soul then things that at the best are but sensual satisfactions Consc. And what must thy Thoughts be and what frame must thy heart be in when thou comest to the Holy Table of the Lord Christ. I must 1. Employ my Soul in Holy ejaculations such as these O who will give me to drink of the Water of the Well of Bethlehem Wherewith shall I come before the Lord How shall I bow my self before the most high Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings with Calves of a year old O my Lord Thou hast shew'd me what is good and what dost thou require of me but to do justly to shew mercy and to walk humbly with my God! O my God I bring an humble Heart a Soul that desires to lye low before thee a Soul that longs to be clean and to be washed in the blood of the Lamb a Soul weary of Sin that sees no comfort no satisfaction no content in things below but behold's afar off the treasures of Consolation that lye hid in Christ Jesus These are things to be desired These are Mercies worth having These enrich banckrupt Souls with these Pardon is purchased and Heaven is procured O give me a Title to them Thou that art the true Morning Star O shine upon me O enlighten me O enlighten me O let me feel thy comfortable beams These burn not These scorch not but sanctify and polish and adorn I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Merits are exceeding broad They enlarge Heaven subue Death conquer Hell expel Divels and make God my friend How have I doted on the vanities of this World They are bubbles all but thou sweet Jesu art perfect Beauty a fountain of Joy which never wants Water never dries up never fails and never dies How much better is it to be here in the Courts of the Lord then in the Tents of the proudest Monarchs one day here is better then a thousand elsewhere Here God bows to poor sinners Here infinite Majesty converses with Dust and Ashes Here the King of Heaven is not ashamed to call such poor Worms as we are Brethren How different are the ways of God from the ways of Men They shun a Lazarus and a Beggar God receives them and the Soul that 's sensible of her poverty and begs to be enrich'd is refresh'd by him and invited into his bosom How Lovely art thou my Great Redeemer How Amiable How Kind How Beautiful Therefore do the Virgins love thee Could there be greater Love then to spill thy Blood for me Could there be greater Charity then to dye for me What miracles of Mercy are these I come to beg an alms at thine hands it 's too great a gift for me to ask but not too great for thee to give for it is thy self I beg O warm my Heart Touch it with a coal from the Altar O kindle Holy Fire in my Breast Burn up the dross and Tin there and let nothing but pure Gold remain Let Love prevail O change my Heart into fesrvent Love and turn all my faculties into Charity 2. I must joyn with the Congregation in their Prayers I must put my Perfumes into that common Genser that the Holy Smoak may go up with joyned force to the throne of Mercy I must not come behind my fellow-members in Zeal and Earnestness They pray for the prosperity of the Universal Church that God would guide her by his Holy Spirit so must I. They pray for all Christian Kings and Princes that they may promote the Glory of God and the Churches welfare so must I. They pray for the Ministers of God's Holy Word that they may be sound in the Faith and patterns of Holiness so must I. They pray for all distressed Members of Christ that the Consolations of Christ may abound in them so must I. They prostrate themselves in Holy Confessions of their Sins and pray for Remission and Pardon and Sanctification so must I. They pray to be made partakers of the benefits of Christ's Body and Blood so must I. 3. I must shew my compassion to the Poor by contributing to their necessities if I am able I must remember how poor how wretched how naked how miserable I was when the Son of God first took pity on me being yet in the Loins of my Father Adam I must consider that my self at this instant am lying at the pool of Bethesda waiting for the Angel of the Covenant to come down and stir the Waters that I may be healed I must look upon my self as a Person full of Sores and Sickness and reflect that I come to be cured for Gods sake by the Great Physitian of Souls From my Self I must look down on the Poor that want my help and as I would have my Great Master have compassion on me so I must have compassion on my fellow-Servants 4. I must at this time resist all worldly Thoughts and did my Oxen and my Farms and my Domestique Affairs stand aloof like Lepers that must not come near a place so full of Majesty and a Work so big with wonders I must with Mary chuse the better part and look upon Martha's serving as unseasonable I must lay aside contrivances how to make a bargain with my neighbour and know no other Covenant but what I am making with God in the blood of Jesus I must not think of my Trade and Trafick but remember it is for the Pearl of Price that I am Trading now and laying out my strength and labour I must not be disturbed with a desperate Debt that 's owing me but remember the Debts I owe to God and how I do expect that at this time they should be struck out and cancell'd for ever I must not now torment my self about a livelyhood when I come to get a Title to a Life of everlasting Glory I must not now think how to get Bread and make provision for my Family but rather reflect with joy what large provision the Almighty makes for my Soul and what care he takes to make me a Son of God an Heir of Heaven and Coheir with Christ. When sensual Thoughts fly through my Mind at this time I must continue to say to them Arise and Depart for here shall not be your rest 5. I must now make some Spiritual reflexions on the breaking of the Bread and upon pouring out of the Holy Wine On the breaking of the Bread BEhold O my Soul thus was thy Blessed Saviour's Body broken Thus was his unspotted Flesh torn asunder O my Sins ye did this barbarous act The Jews were but the External instruments ye were the fatal causes of that torture had it not been for you the Crown of Thorns had never wounded that Sacred Head Break my Heart Break it is a dismal sight A broken
Crucifie thee to revive him that did kill thee and to Love him that did Hate thee O stupendous Mercy Henceforward no Vain Glory no Worldly Pomp no outward Riches no Smiles of great Men no outward Comfort shall have so much of my heart as thy sweet self O encrease my Faith my Hope my Love my Charity make my Soul a Temple of the Holy Ghost O come come thou Bridegroom of my Soul come and dwell in me for ever Consc. And is this all that is to be observed upon this occasion Christ. No. For after I have been made Partaker of these Mysteries and Tokens of God's Love I must 1. Bless God for the opportunity I have had of going with the Multitude to the House of God with the Voice of Joy and Praise with the Multitude which keeps Holy-day I must Magnifie his Goodness who so loved the World as to give his only Begotten Son to the end that all those that believe in him should not Perish but have everlasting Life I must summon my thoughts to enter into some such Meditation as this Whence is it that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in whose eyes the very Angels are not pure should come to visit such a Wretch as I O my Lord to whom doest thou stoop What is that Creature that thou bowest thus low to A Den of Thieves a Habitation of Vipers a Vessel of Dishonour O how often have I polluted my self even after thou hast washed me Is it possible that God will dwell in such a polluted House Is it possible that God will come and Feast and Sup with such an unprofitable Servant O my Soul It is not only possible but thy Lord hath done it to day Thine eyes have seen the mighty Works of thy Redeemer Thou hast seen him converse to day with a Wretch that hath undone what God hath done hath rendred him evil for good and hatred for his good-will Thou hast seen thy Lord this day vouchsafing to sit with one who is full of Bruises and putrifying Sores and those not bound up nor mollified with Ointment Alass my Lord I have abused the mighty Creator to please a Murtherer affronted the great Preserver of Men to please a Fiend and undervalued him that call'd me to Salvation to please a usurping Tyrant I can give no reason why I have offended thee except it be thy Goodness and Patience and could fair Weather make me angry What didst thou see in me Lord that should attract thee and make thee leave the highest Heavens to descend into an Abyss of Misery O my Jesus water my Soul with the Tears thou hast shed anoint me with the Myrrhe of thy Grief and Sorrow tye me by thy Bonds let thy Scourges soften my Heart let thy Derisions strengthen me let thy Cross raise me Reign over me do with me what seems good to thy Power Wisdom and Goodness O let me never depart from thee let not the Creature draw me more than the Creator Vanity more than Eternity Misery more than Felicity Filthiness more than Beauty Slavery more than Greatness Bitterness more than Sweetness My Beloved is mine and I am his he feeds among the Lillies O that thou wert as my Brother that suck'd the Breasts of my Mother I would kiss thee yea I should not be despised O Lord all my desire is before thee take away from me whatever doth displease thee Give me an humble heart that I may be content to be counted as Dung for thy sake give me an obedient heart that I may be entirely guided by thee give me a strong heart that I may cheerfully bear whatever thy hand lays upon me give me a tender heart that I may be kindly affectionate to my Neighbour give me a free heart that nothing may hinder me from running to thee give me a heart of Flesh that I may love thee perfectly Praise ye the Lord I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the Upright and in the Congregation The Works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His work is honourable and glorious and his Righteousness endureth for ever He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred The Lord is gracious and full of Compassion he hath given Meat to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant he hath shewed his People the Power of his Works that he may give them the Heritage of the Heathen The Works of his hands are Verity and Judgment All his Commandments are sure they stand fast for ever and ever and are done in Truth and Uprightness He sent Redemption unto his People He hath commanded his Covenant for ever Holy and Reverend is his Name He raises the Poor out of the Dust and lifts the Needy out of the Dunghill that he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Praise ye the Lord. 2. I must pray for the Congregation and my fellow Christians that do eat of the same Bread and drink of the same Cup with me that they may all be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness and their Souls may live I must beg that none of them may receive the Grace of God in vain That they may keep and stand to the conditions of the Covenant they have made or renew'd with God That they may indeed fight for the future against the World the Flesh and the Devil and be more than Conquerors through him that loved them the Lord Jesus Christ. My love to Christ must constrain me to wish and beg that every Man may love him else he doth not appear truly lovely to me I must entreat the Father of Mercies to dispense his Spirit abundantly at this time That the love of Christ prevailing may pull down in my fellow-Receivers all the strong Holds of Iniquity and all Imaginations which exalt themselves against the Obedience of Christ Jesus That Christ may Reign victoriously in every one of them live in them act in them govern them by his Spirit That they may indeed bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Love Joy Peace Goodness Faith Gentleness Meekness Temperance c. I must be importunate with God to make them all Partakers of the Benefits of Christ's Death and Passion even of that Pardon and Peace and Salvation he hath purchased and cause them to walk worthy of it like persons that are sensible of the greatness of the Favour and the depth and breadth and length and height of the Love of God and consequently may be fill'd with all the fullness of God 3. I must be thankful for the Honor I have received at such a time I must look upon 't as more than ordinary Preferment that God hath vouchsafed me a place at his Table admitted me into the number of his Children made me Partaker of the promises of the Gospel open'd his Bosom to me received me into favour assisted me with his Spirit given me a right to
for the Temporal Gain and Profit his Hand sends me by consecrating some part of it to good uses nor must I be fond of that Profit which arises from undermining my neighbour I must not study the ease of my Flesh much but take opportunities to use it to some hardships that it may become more obedient to my Reason I must not stay at my sport so long as my sensual desires crave but use only so much of it as may render me serviceable to God and Man Consc. And dost thou verily believe that this is the way to Eternal Life Christ. Yes certainly for this is the way that the Primitive Believers walked in They did not think that Heaven was to be gained at a cheaper rate and why should I Thus did the Apostles thus did their Followers and without such Self-denial they thought there was no arriving to Happiness Besides this is most agreeable to the Precepts of the Gospel and why should I think that I may be-Saved another way then God himself hath appointed Consc. If thou art perswaded that this is the way Lord Why dost not thou set about it Why art thou so loth to come to it Why dost thou act so contrary to it when every moment thou art in danger of death and upon thy death there depends Eternity Christ. O this base this wicked World hinders me the ill examples of my careless Neighbours care of getting a livelyhood the many crosses and disappointments I meet with hopes of having more time hereafter the company I converse with the people I have to deal with fear of Want and the Calling and Condition I am in are such impediments I know not how to shake off Consc. Is it not possible to live in the World and to keep thy self unspotted from it If it be not live a Beggar rather live despised live contemptible live dis-regarded by all Men rather then not enter into these everlasting Joys Shall a pleasant sinful Life hinder thee from the everlasting enjoyment of God! Shall the fawnings or applauses of Men hinder thee from the Eternal applause of Angels Think if thou wert standing at the great Tribunal trembling at the Eternal horror thou art condemned too Think whether thou wouldst not wish that thou hadst lived in Caves and Holes poor destitute afflicted for a few years rather then have come to this miserable end Why should the examples of thy careless neighbors move thee when thou knowest there are but few that will be saved Canst not thou get a livelyhood except thou art rich and greedy after the glories of the World If thou canst but get Food and Raiment content thy self and that most certainly thou wilt get if thou art industrious in thy lawful Calling and darest but trust God Crosses Losses and Disappointments are necessary for thee to drive thee from Earth to Heaven and if all this while thou dost not lose thy Soul thou art safe enough Do but look upon thy Soul as worth more then a thousand Worlds and none of these things will deject thee Thy hopes of having time to repent hereafter is a meer cheat and if thou trust to that thou wilt never be saved A Spiritual life is a thing of labour and pains and circumspection and canst thou be so silly as to think a few careless Prayers at last will plant it in thee Alas These are childish reasonings The company thou conversest withal if they are thy bane must be shaken off whatever comes on 't There is no dallying in a thing of this consequence and if other men will poison themselves why shouldst thou Let the People thou dealest with be never so bad tha't 's no example for thee to follow If they are unreasonable why shouldst thou lose thy Wits and thy Salvation for their sakes If they cheat or abuse thee they do themselves more wrong then thee nor will thy fuming and fretting at them convert or bring them into a better temper Why shouldst thou be afraid of Want when thou doest not see a Bird starve or die for want of Food and can Want be grievous when the Author and Captain of thy Salvation was in want and his followers were so too and yet did live in Heaven Either thy Calling is honest or dishonest if dishonest and an inevitable occasion of sinning away with it and turn Ploughman or Servant rather then live in it If hohonest do not involve thy self in too much business for that will certainly hinder thee from frequent Prayer and Meditation and looking after the concerns of thy Soul and as for necessaries thy God will not suffer thee to want them Lift up thine Eyes look upon this World The greatest part of the Men thou seest will certainly be Eternally miserable Why shouldst thou venture with them Doest thou think that howling with them at last will give thee any comfort There is a prize put in thy hand Why shouldst thou slight it and lament thy contempt for ever Neglect not the present time Do not let this opportunity slip Thy God waits for thee Come in before the door be shut believe in good earnest and nothing will seem difficult Christ. I am convinced I yield I have nothing to say against all this Great God! Help me Draw me after thee and I will run Up up my lazy idle sleeping Soul Open thine Eyes put on Resolution wash away thy filth shake off thy prison Garments gird up thy Loins make haste run to God break the chains of Sin and present thy Heart to the living God Lift up thine Eyes Look into Heaven Listen with thine Ears view the Holy Angels hearken to their Hallelujah's chase away thy darkness cleanse thy self become an humble Spouse of the Lord Jesus Feed thy self with his Beauty Kiss him with the Lips of Faith make him thy Darling receive him into thy bosom Quench thy Thirst with his Blood Hold him fast Do not let him goe Sing his Praises Admire his Love Meet him by Repentance Keep him by Holy Fervours Honour his Name Dare to speak for him Be not ashamed of him Confess him before Men and he will confess thee before his Father and his Holy Angels PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS To be used Before and after Receiving of the Holy Sacrament OF THE LORDS SVPPER A Confession to be said by way of Preparation O Thou Great Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier of Men When I reflect upon my Life how contrary to thy Holy and wholsome I aws how unlike the Lives of thy Saints How unworthy of thy Mercies and Favours it hath been how can I forbear blushing How can I forbear prostrating my Self before Thee How can I forbear falling into the humblest postures my Soul and Body is capable of How have I abused thy Goodness How have I affronted thy Charity How have I trespassed upon thy Patience How have I resisted thy tender Calls How hast thou waited for me while I have been stubborn How hast thou courted me while I have been vain
shall not I look up from the Creature to the Creator and give him my dearest Love I will love thee O Lord I must love thee for thou art sweet beyond comparison amiable without a parallel lovely to a miracle Thou art the true Father of my Soul thou providest for me thou takest care of me thou art exceeding tender of me thou bearest me on thy hands on thy wings thou carriest me as the Eagle doth her young nay thou offerest me to be thy Brother thy Sister and thy Mother for he that doth thy Will shall be all this in thy esteem He shall be as dear to thee as these Relations are to mortal Men Thou art my Friend indeed O my Lord whether doth thy Love carry thee Thou layest aside thy Glorious Titles and magnificent Names and becomest my Friend and never was a truer Friend then thou art and hast been to me No vicissitude hath changed thee no revolution hath altered thee no accident hath estranged thy Heart from me my Unworthiness doth not turn away thy Affections from me Though thou dwelleâ—â— on high yet thou humblest thy self to behold the ways of the Children of Men My Sores do not make thee loath me my Infirmities do not move thee to cast me away my Vileness doth not tempt thee to despise me Thou lovest at all times if I am wounded thou bindest up my wounds if I am broken thou healest me if I am grieved thou refreshest me if I am in danger thou deliverest me if under pain thou givest me ease if under trouble thou comfortest me O my Jesus Thou art gone up to thy Father and to my Father and hast made us Friends Thou hast reconciled him to my Soul Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world How often hast thou in Mercy look'd upon me How often hast thou pittied me I was unworthy of thy compassion yet seeing me lye in my Blood thou saidst Live in thy Blood Live What shall I say unto thee O thou great preserver of Men No Words no Language will reach thy Love or give a tolerable description of it yet still this increases my obligations to love thee And what a mercy is it that thou wilt give me leave to love thee That this Great this Glorious this Immense this Incomprehensible God will vouchsafe to be loved by a Worm What a favour is it Prize it O my Soul and think thou hearest every Creature that 's beneficial to thee calling upon thee to love him The Sun that shines upon thee calls to thee I give thee light that thou mayst admire the Father of Light so doth the Moon so do the Stars so do all those things whereby thou art fed maintained cloathed and preserved in Health these all call We serve thee that thou mayst serve thy God and do good to thee that thou mayst love him whose Hand hath placed us in these stations O my God! Shall I have such monitors to love thee and be deaf to the Call How will all these rise in judgment against me one day if I love thee not How justly do I fall a Sacrifice to thy wrath if under such exhortations I despise thy Love How many Souls have perish'd and I am yet alive How many have been struck dead in their Sins and I am yet called to pentance How many do yet walk in darkness and I have the honor to see thy marvellous Light Thou hast dealt more kindly by me then thou hast done by others O how am I bound to love thee I see the odiousness of that sin which others doat on I see the deformity of those Vices which others wallow in I see the Beauty of that Virtue which others scorn I see the charms of that Grace which others laugh at I taste of those Comforts which others continue ignorant of I see the reasonableness of thy Precepts which others count an intolerable yoak I have some sense of another world while thousands live as if there were none I see the necessity of Holiness while others make a mock of Sin What motives are these to love thee Shall I be afraid or ashamed after all this to love thee Every Sense I have bids me love thee I cannot smell to any thing but I smell the fragrancy of thy Love I cannot taste any thing but I must taste how Sweet and how Gracious thou art I cannot look upon any thing but I must see thy Goodness The oil of thy Love swims upon every Creature I touch or feel That Soul deserves to dye that doth not love thee In loving thee I live Thy Love is better then Life My days will have an end my Life ere long will pass from me My Riches my Glory my Wealth my Health my Liberty my Ease my Friends my Acquaintance they all will ere long expire but if I love thee that will remain with me to Eternity My love to thee makes me thine and makes thee mine By loving thee I shew that I am not mine own Thou hast made me for thy self and if I am not thine I cannot be mine own for at that instant that I would be mine own I cease to be thine Thou art to me all that heart can wish or reason can desire Thou art my Light my Pillow my Rest my Sun my Meat my Drink my Glory my Joy Thou hast given me thy Son and in giving him hast given me more then Ten thousand worlds And if this be not enough thou art ready to give me more Shew me thy Love and it suffices me Thou hast wounded me with thy Love I will follow thee O let me do thy Will Let me do that which thou wilt and not what I will Despise me not forsake me not O do not go far from me Draw me after thee and I shall run Wo is me that I must dwell in Mesheck and have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar O leave me not to my self I consecrate both my Soul and Body to thee employ them O Lord as it shall please thee best O forget me not and let me never forget thee let me rather die a thousand deaths then live without thee O let me love thee so that I may long to draw others to thy Love Let me be griev'd when Men do not keep thy Law Let it go to my Heart to see thee dishonour'd and affronted Thou threatnest me with Eternal Flames if the flames of thy Love cannot warm me now I am not worthy to love thee yet thou art most worthy to be loved by me O let me sigh let me pant let me breath after thee O my Life let me live to thee O my Glory let me be content to die for thee O my refuge let me ever run to thee O thou Eternal Love let me be always mindful of thee Let me embrace thee let me resolve not to let thee go till thou hast brought me to that place where I shall be for ever united to thee Withdraw mine heart from the
A Prayer for imitation of the Holy Life and example of Jesus O Thou who art the way the Truth and the Life I know thee who thou art the Son of the living God! who shall lead me into Edom who shall bring me into the strong City into that City which hath foundations whose Builder and Maker is God wilt not thou O Lord Strong and Mighty Hear O my Soul Thy Redeemer calls If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be O my Lord I had need of a guide in this age when the world lies in wickedness how many ways to ruin do I see How many Nets do I see spread for me what a snare are even these outward Comforts How do they entice and draw the heart away O Father of Mercy How many thousands do I see beguiled by the Riches and Pleasures of this Life How insensible do they grow of that life they are to live for ever How forgetful of God! How enamoured with the Gauds and Glories of this World How does the beauty of their Souls decay and wither away And one teaches the other to go to Hell O my God! what shall I do among so many enemies What shall I do in all this darkness What shall I do among all these Precipices Without thy light I must needs be lost Rise rise thou glorious morning Star that I may be able to see my way Thou art the light of the World He that follows Thee cannot walk in darkness Why should I be afraid of going astray Thou art my way How can I be deceived Thou art Goodness it self How can I mistrust Thee when thou hast spilt thy Blood for me Though naturally thou dwellest in a light inaccessible yet of invisible thou becamest visible on purpose that I might follow not the Father of Lies not Lucifer not that Enemy who transforms himself into an Angel of Light but Thee in whom all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are Great Physitian of Souls thou camest down to prescribe me physick and that I might not be afraid to take it didst take it before me and of God becamest Man that I might imitate Thee in the Holiness of thy Humane Nature This is it O my Lord that my Soul desires even to set Thee before mine Eyes to represent Thee in lively colours before my Mind and to conform to thy great example O my Jesus thy Spirit I want which may change me into thy Image from Glory to Glory from one degree of Brightness to another and enable me to comprehend with all Saints what is the depth and bredth and height and length of the Love of God and may be filled with the fulness of God! O my God! My Soul longs to say with thy Apostle I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Once thou didst create me after thy Image but I defaced it those curious lines I darknen'd and dash'd yet thou hast given me hopes to recover that Jewel and O my Lord do thou place it in its Throne again How do I long to have my Mind renew'd and my Soul transform'd that I may mind the things of the Spirit with sincerity and earnestness Who but a Fool would not tread in thy steps my dearest Lord yet such a Fool such a Sot such a Beast I have been I have seen Thee lighting me to Heaven and yet have loved Darkness better than Light O thou Eternal Wisdom I hate this Folly I abhor this Stupidity I will follow the Lamb whether soever he goes Thy Apostles follow'd Thee why should not I who le Armies of Primitive Beleevers follow'd thee Why should not I why should I become behind them why should I have a less esteem for thee than they had My very Name obliges me to follow Thee What am I a Christian for if I do not imitate Thee O let me not blaspheme that worthy Name whereby I am called I blaspheme it if by my vain conversation I give thine Enemies occasion to speak ill of thy Religion Do I call my self by thy Name and am loath to tread in thy steps My Heart is stubborn My Will perverse O do thou bow it make me ready make me willing make me expedite for this Work Thou tookest up thy Cross Oh let me not dream of Beds of Roses Thou wast Subject to thy Parents Oh make me submissive to my Superious Thou didst resist Temptations O let me not be overcome by them Thou didst despise the VVorld Oh let me not be enamoured with it Thou wentest about doing good O let me not be backward to works of Charity Thou didst deny thy self O let me not indulge my vain desires Thou didst work while the day did last Oh let me not harden my Heart in this my day Thou wast humble Oh let the same humility take root in my Soul Thou wast meek Oh let this meekness be the rule of all my actions Thou didst not aim at vain-Glory Oh let no such pitiful end defile my Soul Thou didst bear with the weak Oh let me be tender-hearted and gentle too Thou didst patiently endure injuries Oh let me not fret and murmure under them Thou wast faithful in all thy Fathers House Oh let me be so in the duties of my Calling and Relations Thou didst receive and embrace the penitent Oh let me reioyce over those who are sorry for their faults Thou didst encourage Goodness and Holy Inclinations Oh let me cherish them wheresoever I find them Thou didst do thy Fathers Will Oh let me not pretend impediments Thou didst good for evil Oh let me not recompence Sin with Sin A sense of Gods Goodness was Meat and Drink to thee Oh let it be my Diet too Thou wast a pattern of Gravity Oh let me not be vain and foolish in my Conversation Thou didst spend thy self for the good of Mankind Oh let me not indulge my Ease too much Thou didst entirely resign thy self to thy Fathers pleasure under the severest Trials Oh teach me this Art of Self-resignation too Thou wast zealous for the House of God Oh let not Luke-warmness spoil my Soul Thou wast not taken with the Pomp and Glory of the World Oh let me not be gull'd with these empty shews The frowns and contempt of Men could not make thee weary of being strictly conscientious Oh let not these pitiful things make me ashamed of thee and thy Gospel O my Jesus Thy Kingdom must suffer violence and whoever enters there must force his way through all impediments and what if I offer violence to my Lusts and Passions for a time How sweet will it be to lie encircled in thy Arms one day and to hear thee say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Thou dost promise me that if I will fight for thee thou wilt give me to eat of the Tree of Life and to sit down with thee in thy Kingdom at thy Table and to be a King and a
Thanksgivings and paying my humble Vows to thy Divine Majesty and calling upon thee in the day of trouble O my God! my Soul fainteth for thee when shall I come to appear before thee My Soul is cast down within me When wilt thou comfort me I long for thy Salvation I hunger and thirst after Righteousness I see Beauty and splendor and excellency in it and would fain be cloathed with that Ornament Thou deservest my strongest desires my most vigorous Breathings my most lively Pantings after thee not to long after thee is to be a stranger to real Bliss not to follow hard after thee is to be ignorant of thy Riches and the plenty of thy House But what do I talk of desires of a single Heart would to God that all Mankind might offer unto thee their reasonable service thou deservest it and deservest all the love of Angels too But thou desirest nothing so much as the Hearts of the Children of Men The Angels are happy already only Mankind lies ingulfed in misery and so great is thy Charity that having taken their Nature upon thee thou wouldst willingly make them equal with Angels Great Darling of the Holy Trinity What haste dost thou make to dye How dost thou run to redeem the Sons of Men Nothing can hold thee nothing can restrain thee not thine own Greatness not thy Majesty not thy being the Son of God not love to thine own preservation Thou didst love me better then thy self How didst thou fly to my deliverance How dost thou leap in to prevent my hurt No Divels can fright thee no danger terrify thee no pain discourage thee no anguish make thee afraid Thou longest till the great Work be done The other Malefactors that are crucified with thee What honour had these wretches and yet were not sensible of it One at last opens his Eyes and sees it and stands amazed these held out longer on the Gibbet but thou bidst Death come away and seize thy Life It 's a pleasure to thee to die Oh surprizing Mercy Other Men seek to escape Death as long as they can they run away from the sight of the Monster if they do but see the shadow of it they tremble and to them Death is truly a King of Terrors Thou goest out to meet it as that which must put an end to thy sufferings and my misery It 's death to thee not to die Thou chidest it for staying Tâ—â—â— hast a Baptism to be Baptized with and Oh what wouldst thou that it were accomplish'd Ah! My Lord I see thy dying Lips from which dropt Speeches sweeter then Honey and the Honey-comb Death is going to close them up yet O vouchsafe me a look that may refresh my Soul And now the Glory is departed from Israel The Saviour of the World gives up the Ghost O let me die with thee O draw me after thee and I shall live I wonder not that the Graves open at thy death and the Rocks rend and the Sun hides his Face but I wonder the whole Earth did not dissolve and nature it self did not run into its primitive chaos and confusion O my crucified Master How ill art thou rewarded for thy kindness Thou wert Eyes to the blind and Feet to the lame Thou wert a Father to the Poor and a Staff to the Aged Thou didst cause the Widows Heart to sing for joy Thou didst deliver the Poor that cryed the Fatherless and him that had no helper Unto thee Men gave ear and waited and kept silence at thy Counsel after thy words they spake not again and thy Speech dropt upon them the naked deck'd themselves with the Wooll of thy Sheep and thy Door was open to the weary Traveller But now they that are younger then thou have thee in derision and they that were Children of Fools Children of base Men Men viler then the Earth gape upon thee Thou art their Song and art become their By-word They abhorr thee and flee far from thee and spare not to spit in thy Face They marr thy Path they set forward thy Calamity Terrours are turned upon thee they pursue thy Soul as the Wind and thy welfare passes away as a Cloud O infinite Patience Yet these Sinners are offered Salvation by him whom they abused thus Salvation What do I hear O then there is hopes for me for I have been one of thy enemies I have mock'd thee by by my Sins I have derided thy sufferings by my contempt of thy Laws I have scorned thee by preferring mine own Will before thine I have spit upon thee by my filthy communications I have abused thee by sheltring my Sins under thy Cross I have dishonoured thee by my Life disgraced thee by my carelesness buffeted thee by my impatience affronted thee by my pride made light of thy Power and Goodness by my mistrust of thy Providence undervalued thy Love by my affection to vanity and yet thou stretchest forth thine arm to lay hold on me art loath to see me perish unwilling to see me undone and proclaimest mercy to a forlorn wretch Blessed news O King of Kings thou cryest It is fulfilled The work is done the vast work of redemption Now thy Fathers anger is broke now the Floodgates of indignation are shut Now Heaven stands open Now thy Fathers bosom is held out to all that thirst after thee Hear this all ye prisoners listen to this message ye guilty Souls Come all that are laden with a sense of sin Open the door Throw off your Chains Run to this Rock Make haste to this Fountain Kiss this Sun Make much of this Light Embrace this Mercy Do ye dispute the thing Do ye question whether ye shall do it or no Is it possible you can stand out Is it possible you can demur upon it Is it possible your Hearts do not turn within you Can you refuse your Cordial neglect the Medicine that must recover you slight the Remedy that must fetch you to life again O Jesu Thou hast done all things well Thou hast made the Blind to see and the Dumb to speak and the Deaf to hear O open thou my Lips and my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise Open thou mine Ears and let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the Morning O open thou mine Eyes and I shall see how Sweet and Gracious thou art O my Life thou diest and dying fulfillest thy Fathers Will for indeed it was fit that one Man should die for the People and that the whole Nation perish not Ah! What would Mankind have done if thou hadst not paid the Ransom Whether must they have fled for refuge if thou hadst not given thy self a Sacrifice They must have wandred about in Caves and Dens destitute tormented afflicted disconsolate lived in perpetual fear of death and the dreadful consequences of it Death must have been for ever a King of terrours to them if they had but look'd upon that Hell that death would have open'd into How could they