Saint Paul calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He would willingly listen to one that would sometime pray for himselfe as Christ prayed for us with strong cries and teares Hebr. 5. 7. Remembring how Importunity prevailed with the unjust Judge in the Parable of our Saviour and how it may prevaile for them that will give God no rest till he vouchsafe to answer them Such were holy David's prayers wont to be set forth in the sight of God as the incense Ps 14. 2. like frankincense laid upon hot coales So should ours be as if our hearts as well as our tongues were touched with a coale from the Altar mounting upward with that fervour attention and devotion which carries our â—…houghts from earth and presents us as it were for that time before the Throne of God's Royall Majesty in Heaven Now they will more happily and easily compasse this fervency and intention of spirit that are able to follow Saint Peter's advise to joyne Sobriety amd Watchfulnesse unto Prayer 1 Pet. 4. 7. For Sobriety makes us fit to watch and if we bring not a hearty vigilant prayer we may pull a curse upon our selves rather then a blessing We cannot but thinke so if we consider that Prayer is one of the chiefest Services that we performe to God and therefore we must not think that God will indure to have that done coldly and lazily and carelesly Prayer gives us accesse unto the Throne of God and leave to speake and hope to have Audience before his Divine Majesty Therefore should we study to offer it up attended with those graces and virtues and ushered in with that preparation that may put us in further hope of Acceptance after we are heard In that regard the holy Saints of God in all ages being to commence some speciall suit unto God have not been unwilling many times to prepare themselves with Fasting and lay hold of all other good helps whereby they might come as well fitted as they may be for a businesse of so high consequence as that of Prayer XIII The close of this Meditation with a returne to the time ANd now having given a view of most of those helps to conclude this Meditation I will only adde that some advantage to Prayer may be drawne from the very Time which brought us into this discourse Of all other the Morning is the fittest time for Prayer While we are more fresh fasting and sober while our best thoughts affections vigilance intention and fervor not yet taken off or abated with worldly affaires are the more ready to attend our Prayers Therefore let us use the more care not to let that time of our Devotions be passed over but as it should be And both then and ever Let us not presume to pray without some serious preparation or some praevious ejaculation sent before to that purpose For we had better spend lesse time in Prayer then rashly and unpreparedly adventure upon such a worke too soon Preparatory Ejaculations fit to be used when we compose our selves to Prayer OLord all hearts and all things else are naked and manifest in thy sight Hâ—…b 4. 13. and all at thy disposall O Cleanse the thoughts of my Heart by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit and make it fit for Prayer and other holy Duties Graft in it with the hatrâ—…d of Sinne the love of thy holy namt Give me that Faith that may conduct my selfe and that Charity that may take others along with mee to the Throne of thy grace Teach my Heart the Reverence due to thy Divine Majesty in the presenting of my humble Petitions Make my servent and vigilant Prayer truly expressive of the value of that which I came to begge conformable to thy holy will and in the name and mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is enough to be spoken of Prayer in generall in reference to our present purpose From this Digression we will now returne to our particular Morning-Devotions For which we learne of our Mother-Church by what she doth in publick Prayer to begin our private Addresses then too with a form of confession which is to begin with our pardon and peace first humbly begged from Almighty God I shall therefore commend unto you first a Confession and Prayer used by Bishop Andrewes then another used by Archb. Laud. XIV Confessio cum Precatione ALmighty God and most mercifull Father all-mercifull and Mercy it self I have wiâ—…tingly and willingly run from thy wayes erred and strayed from them more like an untamed heifer and wild asse then a lost and wandring sheep I have followed too much or rather altogether the absurd devices and brutish desires of my own heart I have not only offended against but even been offended at thy holy Laws thy most holy Laws I have left undone nay not done all those things which I ought to have done I have done done nothing else but those things which I ought not to have done And there is no health nor hope of health in me But thou O Lord have mercy upon me miserable most miserable sinner the greatest of sinners and the most unthankefull for so great grace as hath been offered to me Spare me and all them O God which confesse their faults Restore thou them that be penitent that desire to be penitent that wish they were so that feare they are not enough that are sorry they are not more penitent for this is according to thy promises thy most gracious most sweet promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord that invites all and promiseth to refresh all that feel the weight and â—…urden of their sins and come to Him for ease Grant therefore O most mercifull Father â—…or his sake who is our Redeemer Advocate Author and Finisher of our Faith Propitiation Righteousness and Justification that I and all penitents may ever hereafter live a Godly Righteous and Sober life Grant that we may do this to the glory of thy Holy Name and the Salvation of our own Soules Amen Pro Remissione Peccatorum O Eternall God and most Mercifull Father Pardon I beseech Thee all the Sins Omissions Commissions Thoughts Words and Deeds by which I have provoked Thee â—…o anger from the time of my birth to this present moment that no one nor all of my â—…ins together may ever be able to cry oftâ—…er or lowder in thine eares for vengeance â—…hen the cry of my Prayers may ascend up to Thee for Mercy and forgivenesse and obâ—…ain what they sue for Particularly I humbly â—…eseech Thee forgive unto me my greater and â—…ore clamorous Sins Such as are O Lord â—…gainst Heaven and against Thee have I â—…nned and committed foul transgressions 〈◊〉 Thy sight But I beseech Thee wipe â—…em all out of the Booke of Thy Remembrance through Jesus Christ our Lord anâ—… onely Saviour Amen To these if you will adde a Penitentiaâ—… Psalme There are seaven of them that is thâ—… 6. 32. 38. 51. 102. 130. 143. They will 〈◊〉
Introduction fitted for them that desire to live like true Christians Wherein if I have said somewhat which by the Good Grace and Blessing of God hath so moved the Heart of some One of my Readers that he wisheth himself worthy the name of Veruâ—… Christianus and that Salvation may this day come to his House as it did to Zacheus's upon the first hearing Christ's voice Let him remember qui non est Hodie Cras minus And if he be but as well affected as Agrippa seemed to be when he said he was almost perswaded to be a Christian. Then I will use the like words to him that the Angel did to Gedeon Dominus tecum i. e. I will say God be with thy good heart goe on in this thy strength God and Men and Angels will be thy Spectators Take Christ's Crosse upon thâ—… and â—…ight under his Banner And that thou mayest pâ—…evail with others Wrastle with God Himself first as Jacob did in his importunate Prayers and let Him not goe without a blessing Then let St. Paul acquaint thee with all the Armour of God and ceâ—…se not to use it till thou hast taken the Kingdome of God by violence It is likely upon such good intentions our worst enemie will rouse himself and prepare to have about with thee and threaten some of his fiery darts and subtle assaults drawn from the greatness of thy sinnes and late Repentance wherein he will as good as say to thee what David's enemies said to him upon occasion of his Two Scandalous Sinnes and the punishments that flew after them For then Many there were that said unto his Soul there was no help for him in his God None in this world none in the world to come as Kimchi doth well expound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that pregnant double word as the Jewish Grammarians call it Many said so but He was not troubled at it He laid himself down and slept quietly and so rose again in confidence that God would protect him and strike his enemies upon the Cheek Bone i. e. with a blow of disgrace Vse you the like faithfull prayers and such a blow will be enough to silence your stoutest enemies Trust God for this Cherish the good Motions of his Holy Spirit and goe on with your Resolutions and you have done well for this day Betake your selves to your quiet rest close-up the day with these Meditations upon your Pillow And you shall not want a supply of more particular advise I will be ready for you as soon as you awake GENERAL ADVICE more briefly set down for their sakes that have much other businesse In the Morning 1. When we are fully awake we may use these or the like Ejaculations PRaise the Lord O my Soul that hath delivered me from the dangers of this night and by a sweet and quiet rest fitted me the better for his service this day And O my Soul let his service be the chief work of this day O let the first-fruits of this and every day be His and the first opening of my mouth the blessing of his holy name Let my hearty prayers and praises come before him like the Incense to season and sweeten my thoughts for the whole Day that I may the more chearfully serve my God the God of all Mercy and Consolation 2. When we are retired into our Closets or Studies some Ejaculations or prayers may be used to this purpose Lord give me grace to study how I may love Thee above all in whom are all things most eminently that are most worthy of our love Teach me how to serve and honour Thee above all whose Service is both perfect freedom from the slavery of sin and the most honourable way of Employment Teach me how to fear thee above all that I may need to fear nothing else Before we come out of our Closets let us ask our selves how we mean to spend the present day in what actions or entertainments And that we may choose the best let us take a short Memorandum from the wise man which may serve as a short Sermon or Instruction for every day A short Sermon taken chiefly out of the first and last words in the book of the Preacher VAnity of vanities saith the Preacher Eccl. 1. that is All things in the world whatsoever they may be in our mistaken opinion are indeed extreme vanity in respect of those things which are above which should be the chief object of our desires If you will hear the Preacher This is the summe of all that is worth the hearing c. ult v. 13. Fear God and keep his Commandements for that is the whole Dutie of man who being a reasonable Creature owes that service to his Creator and to Him alone Therefore the Preacher adds v. 14. that God will bring every thing unto Judgment discovering all our secret thoughts and actions good or bad and passing his last irrevocable sentence upon them all The best Use that can be made of this truth may be gathered out of the Preachers own words directed to every one of us c. 11. 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thy hand that is Lay hold upon all opportunities of doing good every day Begin and persevere to the end and do it with all thy might as well as thou canst c. 9. 10. For there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou art going apace This short Sermon may sharpen our desires endeavours to make this everyday a Preparation to the last day that we may be fitted for mercy before that day come after which it cannot be done in all the infinite length of Eternity And in all our Meditations of Death and the last Judgment let me comfort my self with this that He only is to be my Judge that is my blessed Saviour and hath fully paid the ransom for my Sinnes and desires not the death of a Sinner but the death of Sin 3. Before we leave our Closets let us have recourse to some sett form of Devotion wherein we may faithfully and thankfully expresse God's tender mercies and our bounden duty Such expressions we may find in the Psalms and Hymns and Anthems or other parts of our publick Service and such are these Be merciful to me O Lord the God of all mercy and consolation give me grace not to pore too much upon the greatnesse of my sins but to fix my thoughts rather upon the greatness of my Saviours love that suffered for them and so purchased my lihertie changing my slavery under sin and Sathan into the happy and honourable Title of the Servant of the most high God which carrieth perfect freedom along with it Teach me to make thy holy praecepts sweeter to me then the hony and the hony comb and of more value then the richest treasures and beauties honours of the world For thou O Lord art the thing that I long for Ps. 7. 4. Thy loving kindness
a good Fire that hath been made in the morning to refresh us at night we take order for an other to do the like Every Morning therefore when our judgment before either the Affections or external objects have wrought upon us is yet most free and impartiall put these or the like questions to thy self as the Emperour Antonine did Whose soul do I properly possess a Brute's or a Heathen's or a Christian 's And what use do I mean this day to make of this soul About what shall I now employ this better part of my self shall I rather put it to the hazard to become good to morrow then be so to day c. Much after this manner was the noble Antonine wont to rouse up himself Not without good reason for such as our daily thoughts and resolutions are such will the Mind be in time The soul receiving a tincture from the Phantaâ—…e Imagination which therefore had need to be dyed and throughly soked every Morning with assiduity of Prayer and Reading and Meditation And that will not be enough unlesse every Night again we call our selves to account and inquire How all this hath appeared in our practice and what Actions of the day have been advanced and improved by our morning-resolutions or what caused the stop and impediment that we may be the better provided to avoid it or remove it another day And why should we not in the Morning and at Night these two several times at least bestow so much pains upon the soul to order it and keep it as our onely treasure which whosoever hath lost hath nothing else to loose or keep We are careful enough that every thing else about us should be neat and cleanly kept and repaired For when are we so forgetful as to leave the body one day without meat and drink and sleep and attendance at several houres Nay with what ceremony and in what state are those times for the most part strictly observed Why then should not the Soul twice a day look for some little attendance that is worthy of far more and better Twice a day a Pythagorean would have looked up to the heavens with some heed and observation to put himself in mind how constantly and invariably the Heavens perform their task and what is their good order and purity and naked simplicity Should not much more be done by a Christian that knows his Soul was breathed from a higher heaven and should tend onely thither It was the Evangelical Prophets resolution If 26. 9. with my Soul have I desired thee in the night and with my spirit will I seek thee â—…arlie in the morning VVhich agrees with the practice of the first times in the Jewish Church where Aaron was injoyned to offer sweet incense every morning and every evening Exod. 30. 7. As also a Lamb in the morning and an other in the evening for a continual burnt offering Exod. 29. 38. And on the Sabbath two Lambs beside the continual burnt-offering Numb 28. 9. David accordingly appointed the Levites to stand every morning to praise the Lord and likewise at evening 1 Chron. 23. 30. But David himself did more For he saith In the morning and evening and at noon-day will I pray and that instantly Ps. 5. 5. 18. So he professed of his sett and earnest prayers but of his praising God he saith yet more Seven times a day i. e. often do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments Psal. 119. And what David said of his constant task three times a day the fame is said of Daniel Three times a day he humbled himself before his God Dan. 6. 10. After this done under the Law sure we Christians cannot but impose this holy duty upon our selves for twice at the least every day That as God is in Himself Alpha and Omega Apoc. 1. the Beginning and the End the First and the Last so He may be to us our Alpha and Omega the entrance and the close of everie day And that as soon as we awake in the morning we will accustome our selves to acquaint our thoughts first with God and at night composing our selves decently to sleep in some short Prayer or pious Meditation shut up our thoughts and so commend our Souls and Bodies to the protection of Almighty God III. Incitements to Morning Devotion drawn from the Examples and Advice of others WE might do well sometimes to chide our selves into the practice of our Morning devotion by considering How much we come short Of those in the first times of the Law which brought their Offerings unto God every morning Especially of King David that prevented the dawning of the Morning to make his humble addresses to his God Ps. 119. 147. Of the whole multitude of People in Zacharie's time that were found praying without at the time of Incense which was in the morning Luk 1. 10. Again of all the People of the Jewes not long after that were wont to come early in the morning to attend our Saviour Luk 21. 38. Of the Apostles in their early entrance into the Temple Act. 5. 21. Of those in the Primitive times of the Church who were accused of no worse thing then this that it was their ordinary custome to meet together at the dawning of the day to worship Christ with Hymns and Prayers Of the Papists in our daies who by their strict observance of their Hours of Prayer might provoke us to some Devotion in our owne way I do not muster up these Instances together with any intention to urge a necessity of rising betimes to do it or of a punctuall tie to a set private Hour For Age and weaknesse and studie or labour over night and naturall or habituall constitutions of our bodies and the like do qualifie and excuse some in this case more then others But I hope this will perswade us to a more constant morning Devotion when we see our fit times and can well do it And that we may do it then with chearfulnesse and readinesse of heart which makes all our Service the better accepted I will put you in mind of the Prophet's delight in this kind of service who was able to say My Soul flieth unto the Lord before the Morning-watch Ps. 130. I will sing of thy power and praise thy mercy betimes in the Morning Psal. 59. 16. Awake Lute and Harp I my self will awake c. Ps. 92 After you have heard Him you may hear the Prophet Jeremiah others calling upon us Arise in the beginning of the watches pour out thy heart like water before the Lord. Lam. 2. 19. A wise man will give his heart early in the morning to the Lord that made him Ecclesiasticus 39. 5. It is a good thing to give thanks to thee O Lord and to tell of thy loving kindnesse early in the morning Psal. 92. 12. We should prevent the Sun to give thanks unto thee and at the Day-spring pray unto thee Sap. 16. 28. How often this
same mystical body of whose sufferings he should have a quick sense and expresse it in his good wishes and Prayers wrastling with God for them as an earnest coadjutor and fellow-intercessor the Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 15. 30. He that will give ear to the many Evangelical exhortations to daily and instant prayer Luc. 18. 1. 1 Thes. 5. 17 c. He that believeth God's omnipotence and all-sufficiency as being the Well of life the Father of lights and giver of every good thing the Lord of Hosts whom all creatures serve and obey He that hath acquainted himselfe with God's Fatherly promises to hear and grant our humble petitions Ask and you shall have Mat. 7. 7. Ioh 16 23. Psal 34. 6 50 15. 103. 13. 81. 11. Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it He that will not deny or forget all these must necessarily acknowledg how foolish and carelesse he is that will rather want then seek that by Prayer which may be so easily purchased VII Other preparatory Meditations before prayers in the morning or at any other time BEfore thou prayest prepare thy self and be not as one that tempts the Lord. Ecclus. 18. 23. And let the first preparation be made in the Heart that thou maist with those in Ier. lift up thy Heart together with thy Hands to God in the Heavens Lam 3. 4. For Prayer is too great a businesse to be committed onely to the Tongue Nor can we expect that He which calls for the heart and directs us to seek him with all the heart and with all the soul Deut. 4. 29. will be any thing moved with the sound of our lips when the heart is silent or that he will be found of those that seek him carelesly Such as those in Isay 29. that draw nigh to God with their mouths and honour him with their lips but their heart is far from him Of whom our Saviour saith that they worship him in vain Mat. 15. 8 9. Now he that would prepare his heart must be told that a sinful impenitent Heart shall have no acceptance It must be such a one as will depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. We may learn that from Zohar the Naamathite if thou preparest thy Heart saith he and stretchest out thy hands towards God if iniquity be in thy hands put it far away and let not wickednesse dwell in thy Tabernacles Then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot and without fear Iob. 11. 13. Zohar would have thee come with a pure heart and clean hands and not to forget the reformation of thy Tabernacles that is of thy House and Family too as well as of thy self If Zohar be thought of no great Authority let the Prophet Micah propose a question to this purpose VVherewithall shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God saith he Micah 66. and his answer would be out of the highest oracle v. 8. He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God VVhat Micah saith the Royal Prophet that had best skill in praying resolved long before If I incline to wickednesse with my heart the Lord will not hear me Ps. 66. 16. And the reason of it we may have in his own words elsewhere For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their Prayers But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Psal. 34. 14. The wisest of Kings doth but comment upon those his Father's words when he tells us that a good man obtains favour of the Lord but the prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Prov 12. 2. and c. 15. 8. 29. VVhen such men pray and spread forth their hands before God he will hide his eyes from them yea though they make many prayers he will not hear saith the Prophet Isaiah c. 1. 15. but he that sets himself to serve the Lord shall be accepted with favour and his Prayers shall reach the clouds saith the son of Sirac Ecclus. 35. 16. And doth not the Gospel speak the same language VVe know that God hears not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he hears saith the blind man in the Gospel Ioh. 9. 31. And if we will hear our Saviour himself we must conclude that every one that asketh as he should do shall receive Mat. 7. 8 21. But not every one that carelesly or hypocritically saith Lord Lord shall have his prayers â—…ound so potent as to pierce the Heavens and make way for them or himself to ascend thither That is a priviledge reserved for him that in preparation of heart is ready to do the will of our Father which is in heaven But he that is otherwise minded may receive his answer before hand from the Prophet Isaiah that though God's hand be not shortned nor his ears heavy yet iniquity will separate between God and such a suiter and make him hide his face from him when he would be looked upon with some favour Is. 59. 2. 1. 17 18. VIII A farther supply of such Preparatory Meditations as may make us fitter to be heard in our Prayers WE have shewed already what need we have to come with a penitent heart and resolutions of a good life and how far that may prevaile Shall I now shew if we would have yet more hope of Audience and be sure to have our prayers more acccepted how we should improve a penitent heart truly prepared with Contrition and Humiliation of spirit for those Prayers are most successful that come up to that In which regard as much as we are affected with the desire of a good issue of our Prayers so much we should endeavour more and more to prostrate and cast down our selves before the throne of Grace For he that in a sense of his own miserable està te esteemes himself the most unworthy to be suffered to look up to Heaven or be admitted to any accesse neer the Mercy-seat he is likely to be the first that shall be looked upon and called nearer He that in his own opinion of himself placeth himself lowest as a worme and no man He that descends so far into the thought of his own vilenes that he sees his soul ready to cleave to the dust and his body so despicable that he thinks it worthy to be trod upon his Petition is not unlikely to be look'd upon in the first place and himself preferred before all those that expected to have an Answer before him I say not this without some reason For then we have the best foundation to build high when we are at the bottom of Humility And if we will hear what God himself saith of this kind of addresse to him we will easily believe that as he which exalts himself will be abased according to the degree
very well one for every severall Day of thâ—… Weeke And they may help on the Worke 〈◊〉 our Repentance if we will so often use thâ—… words of those pious Men that made them with their spirit And all the helps in thaâ—… worke are as necessary as they will be advanâ—… tageous For We are charged often and seriously to reâ—…member how we have provoked the Lorâ—… our God to wrath more then once Deu. 9 7 8â—… And the Lord our God is a consuming fireâ—… and a jealous God Deut 4. 24. Thereforâ—… humble thy selfe greatly For the vengeanâ—… of the ungodly is Fire and Wormes Ecclus. 7â—… 17. And if the righteous scarcely be saved where will the ungodly and sinner appeare 1 Pet 4. 18. The Meditation of these places of holâ—… Writ were enough to fright the Impenitenâ—… and make them long to be better acquainteâ—… with Penitentiall Psalmes Then may they heare more comfortablâ—… words For If wee confesse our fins God is faithfuâ—… and just to forgive us our sins 1 Joh. 1. 9. Noâ—… is not the voice of the Gospell only Solomon could put us in that hope long before thâ—… Gospel was sully revealed He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28. 13. And others before him have said the like It was God's mercy ever of old Hos. 14. 2 3 4. Hos. 6. 1 2. But we must lay hold on it while it is called to day Hebr. 3. 13 15. There is a long night coming when nothing can be done John 9. 4. And there is no relying or boasting of the little day of our life Prov. 27. 1. We know not how soon the Sun may set for ever upon us and we be conveyed out of the way into our everlasting House Eccles 12. 5. Therefore let us not put off from Day to Day to turne to the Lord. For suddainly his wrath may breake forth and in our security we may be destroyed and so perish in the day of Vengeance Ecclus 5. 7. But God is never so ready to punish as he is to pardon The Royall Prophet that had experience of that mercy tells us that when but he resolved to confes his transgressions unto the Lord the Lord forgave the iniquity of his Sin Psal. 32. 5. And if we would have it confirmed by the Evangelicall Prophet he could tell us God is so mercifull that upon our resolution before we call he will answer and while we are yet speaking He will heare Isay 65. 24. How then can they think to escape that neglect so great Salvation Hebr. 2. 3. After this so needfull and gainfull a Service of Confession As our Church doth so we should do well to addresse our selves to another Confession that of Praise and Thanksgiving In imitation of the Invitatory Psalme and the Te Deum and the like Hymnes in publicke we should have somewhat ready for that purpose in private Such as what now followes XV. A Morning Devotion framed according to St Basil's direction Constitut. Monast. c. 1 and the rare Patterne of the sweet Singer of Israel in many Psalmes PRaise the Lord O my Soul While I live will I praise the Lord yea as long as I have any being will I sing praises unto my God Psal. 146. 1. As long as I live will I magnify him on this manner and lift up my hands in his Name Ps. 63. 5. Every day will I give thanks unto Him and praise his Name for ever and ever Ps. 145. 2. Every day with all readines and thankfulnes of heart I will worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord my God my Maker Psal. 95. 6. By whom I was fearfully and wonderfully made Psal. 139 13 14. My soul cannot but be affected with that curious workmanship even to astonishment and amazement To consider how there is not the least bone or member in my body but tooke along with it an apparent stamp and impression of Divine Power and Wisdome While my whole Body to say nothing of the rate Faculties of the Soule was so cunningly and secretly wrought and embroidered with veines sinewes arteries and other incomparable varieties of necessary parts that as they were first framed and molded secretly in my Mothers wombe so they are not now all of them exposed to the view of every eye but show themselves onely by the use that is made of them Such are the wonders of my Creation How shall I then be able to expresse or conceive how mercifully and freely I was redeemed with a costly and mighty salvation 1 Cor 6. 20. Luc 1. 69. and by no lesse Providence and Goodnes miraculously preserved in fad and perilous times unto this day Therefore shall the first Fruits of every Day be Hâ—…s and the first opening of my mouth the serving and blessing of his holy Name My hearty Prayers and Praises shall come daily before Him like the Incense Psal. 141. 2. ascen ding upward and seasoning and sweetening my thoughts here for the whole day In this manner and for ever Praise the Lord O my Soule and all that is within mee praise his holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his Benefits Ps 103. 1. c. Which forgiveth all thy sinnes thy great sinnes and healeth all thy Infirmities thy manifold infirmities Which satisfieth thy Body and Soule with variety of good things and so often after a sweet and quiet sleep reneweth thy strength in the Morning and returneth thee to thy Friends and thy own imployments Young and lusty as an Eagle v. 5. that appeares in her fresh plumes vigorous and youthfull againe For this shall my mouth every morning be filled with thy praise O Lord and my Soule make her boast of Thee Ps. 34. 2 3. For this I will remember Thee in my Bed and when I awake Ps. 71. 7. And upon all opportunities sing of thy Honour and Glory all the day long So shall my Soule be more and more satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnes while I thus endeavour to praise Thee with joyfull lips Ps 63. 5. Here we may tender a particular recognition of some speciall mercy and favour showed to us or ours After which we may take others into our Confession of Praise And O that all others might joyn with me in the close of my thankful acknowledgments O that they would praise the Lord with me and let us magnify his Name together Psal ' 34. 3. Though not in the same place yet with the same heart and affection bearing a part in the Angels and our Churches Hymne Glory be to God on high and in earth Peace good will towards men We praise Thee O God we blesse Thee we worship Thee We laud and magnifie thy glorious name evermore praising Thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to Thee O Lord most high O that men would thus praise the Lord for his goodnesse
and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of Thanksgiving and tell out all his works with gladnesse Ps. 107. 21 22. O that we could thus every where every morning renew our thanks unto thee O Lord for all thy spiritual and temporal Blessings For all thy mercies in all times of secret or apparent danger More particularly for that mercy that hath watcht over us this night past and continued our life to another day Many in that time no doubt have been cited to thy Tribunal Blessed be thy long sufferance that doth still patiently invite and expect us to Repentance and a lively Faith in Thee Rom. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 15. Inlarge thy mercy O Lord to us all and give us all grace carefully to steward our time as a precious talent To that end teach us every day to deny our selves to submit our wills to thy blessed will and in all the changes and troubles of this mortal life to cast the anchor of our hope sure upon Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After such a form of Confession and thanksgiving we may when we have more liberty of Retirement adde to these or the like Meditations these that follow XVI Some places of Scripture that may afford us matter of Meditation fit to prepare us for the works of our Calling IN the morning sow thy seed and in the evening let not thy hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that Eccles 116. If thou wilt not labour why dost thou cumber the ground Luc. 13. 7 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this yea also from this withdraw not thy hand Eccles. 7. 18. VVhatsoever thy hand finds to do do it with all thy might For there is no work nor devise nor knowledg nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Eccles. 9. 10. As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men especially to those of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. Let us be stedfast immoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor 15 58. And let us not shift off our well-doing with the uncertain hope of a more convenient time as Felix did the hearing of the blessed Apostle Act. 24. 25. Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. But we know not what a Day may bring forth There is no boasting of to morrow Pnov 27. 1. To day if you will hear his voice while it is called to day Ps. 958. Heb. 3. 13. The Night is coming on when no man will be able to work Joh. 94. For this is the last time 1 Joh. 2. 18. God works no miracles among the dead nor shall the dead rise up again to praise him Ps. 88. 10. Remember the Dayes of darknes shall be many Eccles. 11. 8. And when the Tree falls whether it be toward the South or toward the North in what place soever it falleth there it lies v. 3. Be strong therefore and let not your hands be weak for your work shall be rewarded 2 Chr. 15. 7. VVhatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive recompense for of the Lord. Eph. 6. 8. in good measure pressed down shaken together and running over Luc. 6. 38. Our former Meditations will take the deeper impression if at our best leisure we will take a view not of our Duty onely but of our Frailty too and our uncertain abode in this world which I shall now endeavour to lay open and clear to every eye by such several degrees as will make the best discovery XVII Our daily Duty and the short Time allotted to us THe dayes of man are like the dayes of a Hireling that is all to be spent in labour Job 7. 1. He that hath no greater businesse may please to stay with me a while and hear how this time should be spent Man shall go out unto his work untill the Evening Ps. 103. To his work that is to such a work as befits him and agrees with the functions of a Reasonable Soul of a Christian c. To the Evening that is to the period of his Life So to make it opus diei in die nâ—…stro a Dayes work in the compasse of our Day For in God's Arithmetick our Life is usually reckoned by Dayes The Dayes of Adam Seth Enos Gen. 5. The dayes of my pilgrimage saith old Jacob are few and evil Gen. 47. In the dayes of Josiah Solomon Herod the King c. 1 Reg. 10. All reckoned by Dayes Our Nights slide away insensibly It is well if our Dayes are worth the reckoning Or rather our whole life is but one Day In which Day of our Life as in all other Dayes there are distinct seasons wherein we may apprehend opportunities for any work and we cannot do it but onely in them For who can deter the cool of the Morning to some remoter part of the day who can anticipate the heat of the Noon and take it in the Morning So it is in the Day of our Life The strength of Youth must be used in the Spring and morning of our Dayes and the weaknes of Age must be expected when our Night comes on Therefore in the whole course of our Day we must learn to distinguish betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 betwixt the Day and the Opportunity and season of the Day betwixt our drousy hours and our hours fitter for Action Opportunity not extending it self equally to all our day but lighting upon some parts Which may admonish us that we may be some dayes the more excused to be the more diligent upon other Dayes For indeed as our Church in our Common Prayers in Zacharie's Song doth every day put us in mind our daily task and the end of our Redemption is to serve God in Holines and Righteousnes all the dayes of our life And this must the rather be thought on because some mens daies are like Winter-dayes short and sharp some like Summer dayes fair and long And some men's daies are intermixt but all together are but Dies Nay it is well if they come up to a Day It may be they will prove but as a watch in the night Ps. 90. 4. like a piece of a night rather then a whole day or if a day but dies palmaris David thought his to be such tbat he could span them Ps. 39. 6. measure them at his fingers ends and so may we Nature hath imprinted the memory of it there that we should never forget it For the fingers are longer and longer to the top of the Middle finger which is the highest and then they go lowâ—…r and lower with a descent that is more suddain And so doth our Life with a more violent quick and praecipitate descent and perhaps without such degrees Therefore
Redemptione Regeneratione Catechismo Vocatione Patientia tua Compunctione meâ Preventione tua Curatione Parentibus bonis Magistris doctis Benefactoribus Amicis Domesticis fidelibus Beneficiis quae accepi Siquid benè egi Consolatione praesenti Fiducia futura Donis Naturae Fortunae Gratiae Omnibus qui mihi Scriptis Concionibus profuerunt Precibus Colloquiis Reprehensione Exemplis Jnjuriis Liberatione à Periculo Ab Insania Inquietudine Sanitate Mentis Corporis Statu competenti Hisce omnibus omnibusque aliis Cognitis vel Incognitis Quae Recordor vel obliviscor Confiteor tibi confitebor Benedico benedicam Gratias ago Gratias agam Omnibus diebus Vitae meae Haec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 graecè paulò alitèr se habet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aliud gratissimae devotissimae Animae Sacrificium Eucharisticum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But what if I should not deliver this in Latine or Greek which two languages the learned Bishop was commonly wont to use in his Closet and to whom all usefull languages were as familiar as his own tongue Methinks I should speak a little English in love to my Countrymen and to let them see how easily by the help of some linguist and the use of their Bibles they might partake of some of these and other-like Devotions to the great benefit of themselves and their Interpreters and all their Friends Blessed be God the Creator Preserver and Governour of all things Whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and his Dominion from Generation to generation Dan. 4. 3. He is the blessed and only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who only hath Immortlity dwelling in a light which no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6. 15. And though He hath his dwelling so high yet he humbles Himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth Psal. 113. 5. Takeing the Wise in their own craftiness Job 5. 13. Pulling down the Mighty from their seats and exalting them of low degree Filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich empty away Luke 1. 52. Lord what is man that thou hast such respect unto him and the Son of man that Thou dost so regard him Psal. 144. 3. Blessed be the God of the Spirits of all flesh Numb 16. 22. In whom we live and move and have our being Act. 17. 23. Who would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4. Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9 For his thoughts are not our thoughts nor our wayes His wayes Isai. 55. 8. He being God and not man i. e. As God exceeds man so doe His mercies exceed the mercyes of man Hos. 11. 9. O that men wonld therefore praise the Lord for his goodness And offer unto him the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and tell out His works with gladness Psal. 107. 21. O give thanks unto the Lord For He is gratious and his Mercy endureth for ever Psal. 106. 1. Who can express the noble acts of the Lord but who would not desire to express them It 's good to keep close the secrets of a King but it 's Honorable to declare the works of God Tobit 12. 11. Let 's all be glad and rejoyce and give Honour to Him Apoc. 19. 7. As for my soul It shall be satisfied as it were with marrow and fatness Psal. 63. 6. Therefore let my mouth be filled wirh thy praise that I may sing of thy glory and honor All the day long Psal. 71. 7. This is the happiness of the 4 Creatures in the Revelation They rest not day nor night saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Apoc. 4. 8. I draw toward the end of my task You have seen the good Bishop's Domesticall Devotions I will now let you see the like before His going out of Town and then how He closed up the day and prepared for Night Oratio peregrè profecturi Qui puerum Abrahae ductu Angeli Qui magorum iter ductu Stellae Qui Petrum fluctuantem Qui Paulum navigantem Adesto Domine mihi Dirige mihi viam Conduc Deduc Reduc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monita Meditationes Praeparatoriae in Vespertinâ ad Deum Elevatione mentis In Bello Cantus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad agendum accōmodatus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quo palantes revocantur sic Mens humana ut manè excitanda ita ad vesperū quasi Anacletico ad se Ducemque suū revocanda Per Scrutinium Inquisitionem vel examen sui Preces Gratiarum Actiones 1. Scrutinium Inquisitio vel Examen Aug. Vir bonus praeponit scire infirmitatem suam magis quam scire fundamenta terrae fastigia coeli Illa verò scientia infirmitatis suae non paratur absque inquisitione diligenti sine qua coecus plerumque est animus atque in propriis nihil videt Cicero Multae sunt in animo latebrae multique recessus Seneca Deprehendas te oportet antequam emendes Ignotum ulcus in deterius abit curatione destituitur Jer. 17. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cor profundum est tortuosum Homo vetus mille involucris obtegitur Itaque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Attende Tibi ipsi Hoc autem maximè inquirendum Quid hodie Egeris Dixeris Legeris Scripseris quod deceat Christianum Sacerdotem Patrem c. confirmet fidem obedientiam augeat Scientiam vel Regimen animi corporis operetur Salutem tuum aliorum Deum ipsum videmus singulos primae Creationis dies non aliter claudentem quà m per recognitionem operum cujusque diei Et vidit quod bona essent Gen. 1. Cicero Cato diurni negotii à se rationem exigebat Pythagoras etiam Ausonius ex Pythag. Nec prius in dulcem declinent lumina somnū Omnia quam longi repetiveris acta die Rex David exacto die meditabatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In hoc Areopagitico nocturno Examine Vide ne Patronum te ostendas peccatorum sed judicem Et in tribunali mentis Tuae dic Dic cum dolore indignatione Iniquitatem meum agnosco Domine Psal. 51. O! Quis dabit menti meae flagella Quae peccatis meis non parcant Ecclus. 23. 2. ' El 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 11 31 Oratio est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dormientiū custos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vigilantiū fidueia Gr. Nys Neque eum tutum arbitramur qui non fueric Orationis armis praesidioque munitus Rectè igitur Rab. J. de poenitentiâ non in crastinum differendâ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Ecce spes fructus salutis falsa tibi erit in aeternum nisi animam tuam etiam hac nocte eripueris Et hujusmodi examen si per aliquot dies
not that sinne up by the rootes For there are some sinnes rooted and grounded in other sinnes as Envy and Contention in Pride and Vain glory In all such till the root be quite pulled up and Humility set in the place of it cut the branches as you please some what will bud up and appear again And as some sinnes are the root of others so some sinnes are the food of others as we use to say sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus Lust useth to feed well to fare deliciously and plentifully Therefore there is a Devil that cannor be cast out but by prayer and Fasting And we may safely say that Fulness of Bread and Idleness as they are the Sepulchers of many Virtues so they are the Cherishers of most Vices But when we know the true Root and Cause and Food of a Disease it is half cured It grows late and we need say no more of this Verbum sapienti You may think that I am ready to take my leave of you and bid you Good night adding not a word more of that hard Scrutiny or what else belonging to it may fit it for a happy conclusion And indeed I and all the world must leave you when you are for that business which though it be most profitable is the most unpleasing to us all that are great sinners Yet that I may take my leave the more charitable and that you may find the better night I will say one word more a word of Comfort If in the foot of your accompt you find sinnes so great and so many that great and many terrours begin to disturb you Strive to arm your selves with all the armour of God and be not so much affrighted as incouraged to goe on For if your inward eyes with the use of your best optick Instruments have found out so many of your own sinnes or multitudes of your worst enemies let your other eyes by the help of your prayers furnish you with as good store of the best weapons that can be used in your defence Lachrimae arma Prayers and Teares are the weapons that David used so long that he washed his bed with them Psal. 6 6 7. Teares are the weapons that Mary Magdalen's Eyes had such plenty of that she could wash our Saviors feet with them Bitter Teares are the weapons made Peter goe out of the place where he denied his Saviour into a fitter place wherein he might presently beg that mercy of God that charmed the Divel from ever haunting of him with the memory of that foul Deniall And if you fain would but cannot weep as they did think of those Prayers without any mention of teares that long before these Weepers were born turned Jacob into Israel and moved God to let him and us know that the Lord of Hostes was overcome with his importunate way of non dimittam nisi which shewed the power of his Prayers that wonne him the Name of Israel And let us prove out selves true Israelites by so following of him if we can extort no Teares or so few dropps as cannot be poured into God's bottle and intitle us to the name of Followers of the other great Champions For if we can begin with no weapons of Tears but without them broken and sorrowfull penitent Hearts yet if we resolve to fight the more valiantly hereafter under Christ's banner in the use of some other spiritual weapons doubt not but the Father of all Mercyes and Mercy it self will gratiously receive us having invited all so freely to come to Him that are weary and heavy laden with the unsupportable burden of their sinnes and haveing not by his teares only but by his pretious blood so fully satisfied for poor penitent sinners I am not sorry that I have shewed you the way how to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and use such weapons in your prayers since God Himself hath shewed us the way how he may be overcome And I hope you are not sorry that I have shewed you the way how to make the night of your Scrutiny whensoever you make choice of it a happy and joyfull night in the close But when you have well passed over the time of your Scrutiny in all the nights after a short Meditation of the Affinity that is between Sleep and Death will easily produce a Prayer and Resolution with an eye to that before you make to much haste to lye down and rest in your bed betweèn those sheets that may prove your winding sheets for ought you know A further supply for the Evening you may take out of the pious Bishops Devotions which shall now follow that you may see how he usually prepared himself for his quiet sleep and rest after his daily labours I wish all may use them whith his spirit and remember that like the winding up again of the Clock such is the necessary Recollection of our selves at night after the disturbances and discomposing of our selves in the day time by the ordinary employment and duties of our Calling and our occasional Commerce with other men In this task our best method will be 1. First to reflect upon our sinnes of the day 2. Then upon the hazard of the night against which we had need to be armed by our prayers 3. Then upon the blessing and praising of God for his former works of mercy and providence and the confidence which we have in his custody of us this night and for ever In this part I find no papers of the good Bishop but only in Greek which I shall re-represent in that order 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amongst theâ—…e preparations for night the very thoughts of the affinity betwixt Sleep and Death or the Bed and the
Grave produced these following Ejaculations and Prayers against the sudden and violent approach of Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such true Devotions and Prayers are the surest meanes to procure a Guard of blessed Angels against the greatest dangers of the darkest times Surer then Salomons valiant men that walked about his Bed every one with his Sword upon his Thigh because of the perils of the night Therefore the pious Bishop thought of no confidence and no repose like that of the Royal Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this confidence he might well conclude his Prayers thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are now coming to the incomparable Bishop's last Hymn and sweetest Anthemn in which he was wont to shut up and conclude the Devotions of the whole day Hark Hark! stand a little and listen and admire for it is a full Anthemn and all his best faculties of body and soul make up a Consort in the delivery of it with all his skill and strength Observe the Deepness of the Base and the Height of the Trebles I mean the Lov Descent of his Reverence and Humility with the High Strain of his Joyes and Thankfulness while he Sings a Requiem to his body and soul in a full expression of his service and the glory which he heartily ascribes unto his God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is not this rare Musick Is it not farr above the strange imaginary Musick of the Spheres Doth it not exceed the natural Consort of the pretty chirping Birds that seem all to joyn together in a kind of Martens and Evensong to the Honour and Glory of the All-creatour that opens his liberall Hands every day to fill all things living with plenty Nay doth it not emulate our Church Musick the cheifest Musick in the world and the best kind of that Musick when the skillfull Artists joyn the sweetest Voices with the variety of sweet Instruments Why shall we not then think this Musical close of all his other Devotions to be his Introduction to conduct him and wellcome him to the Heavenly Quire above to be made acquainted with their Halelujah's and Trisagium's and Doxologies and other wayes of Divine rapture which cannor be learned or practised but in that place whereof the Holy Land was but a Figure For how can we learn or sing the Lords song in a strange Land After this Anthem I can furnish you with no more out of the holy Bishop's papers God be thanked for these which I have received from several hands and laid together to be ready for your use in your private Closets where somwhat would be done besides that which others see you doe in God's House But if you know not how to use them yet may you perhaps be willing after your Scrutiny or Inquisition to go on with these short Meditations and Prayers and Thanksgivings that follow here contracted into a narrow roome for your accommodation Meditations Prayers and praises of God which may be used after the Scrutiny before you goe to Bed Psalm 139. vers 1. O Lord thou hast searched me out and known me Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising Thou understandest my thoughts long before 2. Thou art about my Path and about my Bed and spiest all my waies 3. For loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou Lord knowest them altogether 4. For thou hast fashioned me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me I cannot attain unto it 6. Whither shall I goe then from thy Spirit or whither then shall I goe from thy presence 7. If I climb up into Heaven Thou art there if I goe down to Hell thou art there also 8. If I take the wings of the Morning and remain in the uttermost parts of the Sea 9. Even there also shall thy hand Lead me and thy right shall hold me 10. If I say Peradventure the darkness shall cover me Then shall my night be turned to day 11. Yea the darkness is no darkness with thee but the night is as clear as the day The darkness and light to Thee are both alike 12. For my Reins are thine Thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. 13. I will give thanks unto Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made Marvelous are Thy works and that my soul knoweth right well 14. My Bones are not hid from Thee though I be made secretly beneath in the Earth 15. Thine Eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect And in thy Book were all my Members written 16. Which day after day were fashioned When as yet there was none of them 17. How dear are thy Counsels unto me O God O how great is the summe of them 18. If I tell them they are more in number then the sand of the Sea When I wake up I am present with Thee So said the holy Prophet one of the cheifest Seers of Israel What shall we say that have had no such Heavenly Visions and clear illuminations as he had nor will have Tongues so like the Pen of a ready writer as his was we can discover but little of the wonders of our Creation How then shall we be able to conceive and express how wonderfully we are redeemed with a Costly and Mighty Salvation and Miraculously preserved in Sad and Perilous times unto this day Yet let us endeavour at least to praise the Lord and rouse up our soules to it as he did Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his Benefits Who pardoneth all thy sinnes thy great sinnes and healeth all thine infirmities thy manifold infirmities Who crowneth thee every day with mercy and Loving kindness Who shadoves thee from the dangers of every night Who renewes thy strength every morning like that of the Eagle that thou
maiest chearfully go through the works of thy Calling In this manner and for ever praise the Lord O my soul. And O that all others would joyn with me to magnifie the Lord together as it was that holy Prophets earnest wish O that we might all praise Him In the Angels and Churches Hymne O that we might with Angels and Arch-Angels and all the Company of Heaven laud and magnifie Thy Holy Name O Blessed Lord. Evermore Honouring and Praising Thee Evermore Worshiping and Glorifiing Thy Blessed Name For all Thy great Mercies rejoycing in Thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts which was and which is and which is to come Heaven and Earth are full of Thy Glory Glory be to Thee O Lord most High And let all in Heaven and Earth say Amen Amen Halelujah After the Hymn if you are not inclinable to sleep then that the better use may be made of your last Prayers and Meditations concerning the wonders of our Creation Preservation and Divine Omni-present Assistance I will furnish you with a short Paraphrastical Exposition of those Verses of the 139 Psalm which I commended to you before as fit for the time A Paraphrastical Exposition of some Uerses in the 139 Psalme 1. O Lord thou knowest me as well as if thou had'st made a narrow search and strict examination of all my inward parts Thou art privy to my times of Rest and Retirement and after them thou seest how I fit my self for employment and how I demean my self in it Thou observest my intimate and familiar thoughts and inclinations and intentions long before they are actually mine 2. Thou art no stranger to my labour in the day or my repose sleep and dreames in the night Thou art throughly acquainted will all my recreations and all my best and worst actions and all my faillures or more perfect proceedings in the whole course of my life 3. There is not a word at my tongues end but thou can'st discern it wholely and infallibly before it come óut Thou hast no need that I should express it unto Thee for Thou Lord knowest it better then I doe And as well do'st Thou know and observe what care I use not only in the governing of my thoughts and deeds but also in the bridleing and regulating of my Tongue which I keep not in with good heed besides the hedge of my Teeth which is my Monitor to warn me of it all my Religion will prove vain and of no esteem in thy pure eyes who art the great Judge and rewarder of all 4. Thou do'st compass me as close on every side as a City is beset in the straitest siege I can stirre as little from thy Presence as if thou had'st laid thy hands upon me to hold me fast 5. This Thy knowledge of me and of all my thoughts words and deedes is so high above my capacity that I can neither comprehend it nor hinder it nor be concealed from it 6. For whether can I goe to hide my self from thy knowledge of me How can I be secured from thy dreadfull omnipresence that frights thine enemies or deprived of thy comfortable omnipresence which is the unspeakable defence of thy servants 7. 8. If I could mount my self as high as Heaven or couch my self as low as Hell If I were as nimble and swift as Light it self which is like the wings of the morning and could be conveyed in a moment from East to West land disposed of in the most remotest parts of the Sea 9. Even there must I expect to be led by Thy hand and no other but Thy gratious conduct could be my guide 10. If I should think to hide my self in some dark corner the darkest night would not therein differ from the clearest day 11. For to Thee the glorious Fountain of Light the day and night the clearest and the darkest places are all one 12. And the abstrusest and most secret parts about me my very Reines the seat of Affections and Original Inclinations to sinne lie all open and naked to thy view who did'st cover me with flesh and compact me with bones and sinewes in a secret place in my Mothers womb 13. So that if there were no other cause yet for my very Creation alone I am bound with all thankfulness to admire and blesse and praise thy holy Name My soul cannot but be affected with that strange and curious workmanship even to astonishment and amazement 14. For there is not so much as the least bone or member of my body but takes along with it an apparent stamp and impression of thy divine Power and Wisdom while my body it self to say nothing of the rare faculties of the soul was so cunningly and secretly wrought and imbroidered with Veines and Sinewes Arteries and other incomparable varieties of necessary parts which as they were first framed and moulded secretly in my Mothers womb so are they not now all of them exposed to the view of every eye but shew themselves only by the use that 's made of them 15. All this frame and substance of the body lay open and naked to thy all-seeing eye while it was yet an imperfect Embryo under the hand of thy mighty power and unsearchable wisdom that lap'd up all the several parts rowling and winding them up together as orderly and exactly to their compleat number as if they had been all Registered in a Book with directions how and in what method they should be placed 16. All this seemed to be so punctually contrived before they had their right frame and fashion that they might be day by day moulded and ordered by a strict and insensible way of growing to perfection 17. O how dear and pretious should all these things that belong to thy Creation and Providence be in my sight that seem in my poor apprehension as the effect of much thought advice and contrivance in the variety of so many several parts and wayes that I should be never able to recollect the summe of them 18. Should I venter upon it with my poor Arithmetick I were as good settle my self to number the sand of the Sea In various meditation of them I may lull my self a sleep and yet when I awake return to Thee again in a fresh way of Rapture and Admiration of thy wonderful works And if this were my employment every day and constant entertainment of my thoughts every night Yet were it too impossible for me in the course of my whole life to comprehend A TABLE Containing The Heads and Chapters In this Book General advice more briefly set down for their sakes that have much other business pag. 1. Ejaculations to be used in the Morning when we are awake p. 1. Ejaculations to be used when we are retired into our Closets p. 2. A short Sermon taken cheifly out of the First and Last words of Ecclesiastes p. 2. A Short Set Form of Devotion to be used before we leave our Closets p. 4. Advice concerning our