disadvantages that 't is capable of that can part with a Lust tender as the Eye or dear as the Right Hand and break through all the struggles and regret of Interest and Nature to follow the Commands of God that with sorrow beholds the crying Sins of a Nation but with tears and compunction looks upon the share he has in the Publick Guilt 'T is not enough to the Penitent that sorrow covers his Face unless it fill his Heart too that he be angry with his Sin but he parts with it too he not only reflects with confusion on what he has done amiss but flies where-ever his guilt leads him whether to God or his Brother for a Pardon if God be the injured Person his Tears and his Prayers carry his afflicted Soul to the Throne of Grace and a broken and a contrite Heart recommend him to the compassions of his Father if his Brother be the offended restitution or satisfaction are the fruits and marks of his repentance he begs pardon for little Offences or with restitution is willing to buy forgiveness and believes that only to be the useful repentance which calls him back from his Follies to his Duty and steddily conducts him in it that impresses a holy awe and love of God and a just care for his eternal welfare 6. But when Flesh and Blood remonstrate and would draw him back from the ways of repentance the penitent looks upon it not only as a Duty but as consecrated into a Blessing and adores the Goodness that advanced it into the place of Innocence and by so easie and gentle a remedy put it into his Power to recover the Felicity Sin had lost and the advantage preponderates the trouble and he is pleased to be healed though the Physick be churlish If the Enemy or his own Fears magnifie the Difficulty or represent the Work too great or of too little value the Merits of a Saviour come in to his aid and he assures himself that he who gave his Son to die to make him capable of living will give his Spirit to those that ask it with a sincere intention to live 7. Thus the Penitent breaks through all the Difficulties that stand in his way and from debate hastens to experiment the pleasures of being reconciled unto God and in his own Conversion tast the satisfactions which are the subject of the Joys above he opens his Soul to God calls his own and God's ways to remembrance his Guilts and Follies and the Mercies that have out-done them in number have each their place in his Reflections with a sad and pensive Soul he beholds the one and with astonishment the other he is amazed at his Ingratitude and Madness that could return the Goodness of so bountiful a Father in Contempt and Dishonour and serve his Lust on that Goodness to which he owes his very being but his amazement rises higher when he reflects on that unspeakable Mercy that has spared him when he deserved to be punished that has poured new Blessings into his Bosom when he deserved nothing less and pursued him with an unwearied Goodness and invincible Patience through all the Scenes of Sin and Folly and amidst all the Labirynths and Turnings through which his Lusts had led him been so constant in the repetition of his Favours as if he had intended by an incessant love to force a Happiness upon him and with the importunities of a never-failing Goodness not only lead but compel him to repentance This he remembers with astonishment and joy and that it may never be forgotten he breaks through all the importunities of the World to set apart a Portion of his time to redouble the favours of God in fresh reflections upon them 'T is not enough to him that the Sins and Mercies of the Day have every Night a place in his thoughts but he consecrates a Portion of his time to lament the one and adore the Goodness that bestowed the other not a Week passes without a Solemn Hour consecrated to Gratitude and Repentance without a fresh and deliberate account betwixt God and his Soul where Sorrow and Joy where Vows and Prayers and good Resolutions where Mortification and a Holy Revenge have each their places and by judging himself the penitent prevents the terrours of a final judgment and by a wise revenge on himself disarms the Almighty Power to punish 8. Nor do those certain periods of Sorrow so limit the business of the Penitent but his repentance is renewed afresh when a publick calamity calls for it the Fears the Dangers the Afflictions or the crying Sins of a Nation hasten him down into his own Soul he is just and impartial in his enquiry whether he be not that Achan whose Sin drew down the Judgment or the Danger that threatens and believes it a Justice he owes to his Country to lend his Tears and his Prayers to fill up the measures of a National Repentance nay though Wicked as Sodom yet he believes it his Duty to make one amongst those whose righteousness may help to save it the stated or the occasional Fasts of the Church have their due regard he looks upon them as consecrated to Devotion and Repentance to Prayers and Humiliation and his Soul bears a part in the Solemnity he is angry with himself when God is angry with a Nation and believes his displeasure a fit subject for his own and looks upon it as a Duty incumbent upon him to make one amongst those that Mourn in Sion whenever he is called by a just Authority to lament his Anger or implore his Blessings But when all is peace and silent from without the cares of that Immortal Being God has committed to his trust are pressing and importunate from within the dangers that beset him the Temptations that surround him the burden of his Sins and the Sins of his frailties cry aloud for frequent retirements for the ends of Devotion and Repentance and he believes the discharge of his Soul into the Bosom of God so necessary to lessen the burden of his Guilt and a frequent account with himself of such important moment to his last and great account with God that he suffers not the importunity of the World to hinder his retirement and that a Principle of Love and Gratitude and an humble sense of his own demerit may conduct his censure of himself and his addresses to God he reflects on the Mercy and Compassions of God and looks back to his past course of life recollecting his sins and follies every greater transgression is covered with a new sorrow and renews his suit for God's pardon and mercy yet that their guilt and number may not overwhelm his hope of mercy nor his partiality teach him to forget the terms on which 't is offered he entertains himself with the thoughts of God's mercy and the terms on which 't is promised CHAP. II. 1 Meditations on God's mercy to Penitents 2. Prayer for God's assistance 3. Confession of sins
thou gavest thy Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Have mercy upon me a miserable sinner O thou that despisest not a broken and a contrite heart and whose Will and Power nothing can resist O do thou create a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me O say unto my soul I will be thou clean and be it to thy servant according to thy word O thou that hast no pleasure in the death of him that dies and hast given thy Son to die that sinners may not die eternally Spare me Lord most holy O God most mighty and deliver me from the bitter pains of eternal Death O blessed Jesus who didst die to give a worth and value to Repentance and that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached to all the world in thy Name O do thou make my Repentance such as thou hast required and wilt accept and let thy Merits render it effectual to the forgiveness of my sins O thou who didst taste death for every man and laidst down thy Life for those who were dead in Adam and hast promised to accept all such as come unto thee O cast me not away from thee but have mercy upon me O God my God O thou that hast bid such as are weary and heavy laden come unto thee and promised they shall find rest for their souls O Lord look down upon me who in the bitterness and anguish of my soul come unto thee and have mercy upon me O Holy and Ever-blessed Spirit whose sacred Fires melt down the hardest Hearts whose holy Aids are sufficient to help our Infirmities and whose Fruits are Repentance and Peace and Joy O do thou direct assist and guide my soul and keep me in all thy ways O thou that leadest the ignorant to the Truth sinners to Repentance and Righteousness and art the Comforter of the sad and wounded soul O do thou open my eyes to see the errors of my ways and my heart to hate and forsake them and let thy Grace and Comforts guide me in all my difficulties and support me in all my trials O Blessed Spirit who knowest the dangers that encompass and the temptations that beset and most easily prevail against me O be thou my Guide and never leave me nor forsake me but from the deceit of my heart from the wiles of Satan and the sad effects of ill Opinions Melancholy and Despair Good Lord deliver me O good God give me not up to my self and withdraw not thy Grace from me but assist and accept my Prayers and my Repentance and hear thy Son that is making intercession for me let his Blood atone for me and by his Stripes let my soul be healed O merciful Father who wouldst have me repent and live and by whose Grace and Aid I have here prostrated my self before thee to confess and bewail my sins and purposed to forsake them O do thou who knowest the deceit of my Heart the weakness of my best Resolutions and the power and prevalence of my corrupt Nature let thy Grace be sufficient for me and the helps of thy Spirit make my sorrow sincere my resolution stedfast and so change and consecrate my Affections that they may never more misguide me O thou that art the Maker and Lover of Souls Hear my Prayer Forgive my Sins Accept my Sorrows Strengthen my Resolutions Confirm my Vows and grant me Repentance to Life Eternal for Christ Jesus sake Amen Amen 5. A Prayer for Grace O Most merciful Father who knowest my inability to do any thing that is good without thee and with what subtilty and diligence the Devil lies in wait to deceive and ruine my Soul O good God let thy strength appear in my weakness and discover and disappoint the designs of the Destroyer and deliver me from the corrupt inclinations of my own nature Thou hast promised to give the assistance of thy Holy Spirit to those that ask it let that blessed Spirit direct and guide to and keep me in all thy ways let it never leave me nor forsake me nor be withdrawn from me but keep me in thy fear and in thy ways till it bring me to thy presence and thy glory through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen 6. A Prayer for Faith O Almighty God who art the Author and Giver of every good thing Purge out of my heart all Distrust and Infidelity and every mean and unworthy thought of thy self Lord help my unbelief and beget continue and confirm in my Soul such a lively active and vigorous Faith as may shew it self in Piety and good Works and be effectual to my Salvation among those who have not seen and yet believe that He who is the Author Foundation and Finisher of our Faith and has promised Life to those that believe in and through his Name may at last say unto me Come thou good and faithful servant enter into the joys of my rest which I humbly beg for Christ Jesus his sake Amen 7. A Prayer for Holiness O Almighty God who seest the frailties of my Nature and knowest how great the difficulties how numerous the temptations are that beset me and how hard it is for Man that is born of a Woman to be clean before thee and yet hast declared That without Holiness no man shall see thy face in glory O Lord with an eye of pity look down upon me let thy Grace supply the defects of my Nature and that merciful Providence that watches over us for our good keep back or deliver me from every temptation and that Goodness that is able to consecrate my affections be always ready to direct and guide me in all my designs and ways that thy Holiness may be my aim and thy Glory my desire and the assistances of thy Spirit carry my affections to things above and so purifie me from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit that I may be holy as Thou art holy that my Conversation may be in Heaven and a holy and unblamable Life fit me for that state of Holiness that is the reward of the Saints above Hear and answer me O Lord for Christ Jesus sake Amen 8. A Prayer for due preparation for Death and Judgment ALmighty God whose hands have made and fashioned us out of the dust and hast in thy Justice pronounced That to dust we must return again and appointed unto all men once to die and after that to Judgment and by my own frailties and the reproaches of my Conscience hast given me such certain presages of my Death and the Account I am to give that I shall be inexcusable if I be found unprovided for them O good God let the notices thou hast given me keep me always mindful of what I am and what I must be and the thoughts of Death and Judgment so conduct the whole course of my life that when it is thy pleasure to call me I may be fit to die and
From which variety of expressions he concludes Repentance to be such a sense and apprehension of the guilt and danger of sin as begets a hearty sorrow for it and a real dislike and hatred of all sin together with a sincere resolution and honest endeavour to forsake it to do better and live in obedience to the Laws of God And as this appears to be the method of reconciling sinners unto God the method himself has appointed and the satisfactions of our Lord have purchased and given a value and efficacy to so the devout Christian blesses God for it and though he do not presume to limit the Mercy of God or make himself a Judge of his brother yet he believes he may and ought to judge himself and concludes that no Repentance can afford him a well-grounded hope of pardon but that he lives to see the fruits of in the amendment of his life and therefore his care is to prevent the dangers of a late Repentance and satisfie himself of his sincerity by a timely and constant application of himself to the duty which God and the frailties of humane Nature have made so necessary 2. The first part of his Repentance is such a due sense of the evil and danger of sin as begets a sorrow for it and an universal hatred and dislike of it manifested by a customary and habitual forsaking the practice thereof Though the impressions which fear makes on the minds of men and the uneasie reflections which are caused by danger may be of great use in bringing men to a right judgment of their spiritual state and condition yet of themselves they come so far short of true Repentance that those Schools which have allowed Attrition or a forrow arising from fear of punishment when accompanied with Absolution as effectual to all the ends of Repentance have not only laid a snare for Offenders but assumed a power of changing the appointed methods of bringing sinners to Salvation But the guilt and turpitude as well as danger of sin and a just regard to the Authority it violates and the Goodness it offends conduct the sorrow of the Penitent for he who is troubled because God is offended and his Honour abused must on the same grounds regret every indignity offered to God This consideration inspires the resentment of the good Christian and he does not part with one sin in exchange for another he does not recal his love to an uneasie publick or dangerous Vice that all his passion may centre in the folly that lies in his bosom that suits his complexion and sits easier and less visible upon him No the Penitent has his measures of his love and hatred from above every error every failing every miscarriage is the subject of his sorrow every folly calls forth his indignation but every wilful sin covers his face with confusion and shame He is angry with himself whenever he believes God is so and by a justice on himself labours to prevent that of God His Couch his Closet or his Bed do the business of the great Tribunal there the sin is laid open there the sinner is accused arraigned and condemned too and just conscience gives him a prospect of the miseries that no tongue can tell 3. But this is not all The Penitent thinks it not enough that he revenge the quarrel of an offended God upon himself that anguish and bitterness possess his Soul but his sorrow grows up into a holy resolution to forsake the sin that had brought down the anger of God upon him that for the poor and contemptible satisfactions of a sense put him within the hazard of an everlasting ruine he contemns its flatterings and despises all its charms and flies from it as from the face of a Serpent If he happen to be surprized and inadvertency betray him to the sin he hates a new Deluge of Sorrow breaks in upon him and all the confusion and anguish that sad reflections and guilty fears can produce return upon his Soul yet he suffers not this to overwhelm him he knows 't is the reward of the other world to live free from all sin that the Mercies of that God that will not allow a habit of Vice will yet have a regard to the impotence of human Nature and will make some abatements for the surprisals no vigilance can prevent and that he who has made us Men and not Angels will forgive the Sin he resolved and prayed and strove against and does now lament he comforts himself with the hopes that the habit and not the single act shall denominate the Offender that the unhappy Surprize he has faln under shall not dispoil him of the Reward or Character of the Penitent and to justifie his Pretenses and Hopes sets himself to the second part of Repentance which is 5. In the Language of Holy Writ described by turning unto God keeping his Statutes and doing that which is Lawful and Right keeping of his Commandments and making a clean Heart and a new Spirit all which are Phrases of the like importance and signifie that the repentance which God requires is not a small dislike of Sin arising from the regrets of an uneasie Conscience but such a change as of a bad makes a good Man such as inspires a just regard to the Honour of God and the interest of the other World and makes it the bent and desire of the Soul to promote his Glory by living in all obedience to his Laws and by all possible expressions of Duty secure his Favour and the Felicities of the Blessed State and by his steddiness in his pursuit of those Blessed Ends the Penitent makes his judgment of his repentance he suspects the sorrow that ends in languid wishes or leaves him at ease in the commission of a known Sin he doubts that Penitence that will permit a Man to fly into the Face of his Neighbours Sin yet run with complacency into the Bosom of his own that is severe on the Sins of the Publick but easie to his own that carries all his resentment of Sin in his Face and proclaims hostility in looks and words whilst there is Peace within and his folly and his affections are at unity he suspects that repentance that is partial in executing the Divine Anger or the performance of Holy Duties that is cold and slow where his interest or constitution are on the side of Vice but flies like lightning where his interest or natural aversions lead him to condemn a Sin that spends all his Zeal on Trifles and places his Hope in little instances of vertue that has fits and starts to Day all Fire and to Morrow Water whose Zeal is all flame for one hour but cold and langusd the very next but the Repentance he contends for is steady and constant in the pursuit of all that is Good and Vertuous that hates Vice in the fairest dress that interest or the propensions of Nature can set upon it that loves Vertue under all the
4. Penetential Litany 5. A Prayer for Grace 6. Faith 7. Holiness 8. Preparation for Death and Judgment 9. A Prayer of resignation 10. For the Church 11. Kingdoms 12. People 13. Occasional Prayers to be added A Meditation on the Mercies of God and his gracious promises to penitent Sinners GOD created Man that he might never want an eternal Subject of his mercy that he might have a Being to which to impart his Goodness and distinguish from the rest of the Creation by greater instances of that mercy which is over all his Works And when sin had made a breach betwixt God and Man and his Mercy might have given place to the severer attribute of Justice his Wisdom and Power were set on work to restore sinners to a possibility of that Mercy they had justly forfeited He gave his Son that they might not perish sent him from Heaven to preach Repentance and Remission of their sins and was content he should die to capacitate them to live and the Blessed Jesus that he might be the Image of his Father's Love and Goodness as well as Glory is come on purpose to be the Saviour of them that were lost and that he might be so has constituted an Order of Men to beseech sinners in his stead to be reconciled unto God and not only appointed them to be Guardians of his Truth but Preachers of his Charity who with an undistinguishing Goodness has tendred a pardon to all that return to him by Repentance Has not God said Ezek. 33.11 That he would not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his sin and be saved and can I think that God can contradict himself and believe 't is his will I should perish when he has said He would have me return and live Has he not said Isai 1.18 Though my sin be as red as scarlet yet if I cease to do evil and learn to do well they shall be white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wool and shall I doubt what God has affirmed Has he not said John 3.16 That he gave his Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life That his death was intended as a sacrifice for all the world or That he tasted death for every man That he would have all men come to the knowledge of his truth that they might be saved and shall I distrust that goodness that is thus frankly tendred to all the world 'T is true I am a sinner but 't is such that need and 't is to such that God has tendred mercy I am a notorious offender but 't is for such Christ has died I am weary and heavy laden and my iniquity is greater than I can bear but 't is to such that Christ has promised rest And shall I rob my self of that mercy which alone can be sufficient for me shall I question that Merit that is enough to save the World or doubt the Goodness which nothing but my own impenitence can deprive me of Oh no! thy Mercy O blessed Father shall be my refuge Thy Merit O blessed Jesus shall be the foundation of my hope and let me never distrust thy Goodness O God my God! Thus the Penitent having fixed in his soul a just Idea of that Penitence God requires and of that unspeakable Goodness and Merit that can give acceptance and value to it hastens to discharge his guilty fears into the bosom that can pity and forgive them 2. His first or Morning Prayer acknowledging God's Mercy and imploring his assistance and acceptance O Most holy and eternal Father by whose Care and Providence I have been preserved the Night passed and by whose Mercy and Favour I have a few hours to live and fit my self to die To thy Name be eternal Thanks and Praise for these and all thy Mercies vouchsafed to me The last Night my Soul might have been required at my hands or in thy Justice thou mightst have taken me in the very act of Sin to the Judgment-seat and not have given me time to speak much less to repent but thou hast let me see that thou canst be good to me though I have been evil that thy patience and forbearance are greater than my provocations and that thou canst have pity on me though I have had too little compassion on my own Soul Lord redouble thy Blessings upon me by sanctifying them to me and teaching me to make a wise and a good use of all the advantages of Instruction and Advice of time and opportunity and all the means of Grace and Repentance thou vouch-safest unto me Bless especially my present endeavours to seek thy peace and favour and teach me so to judge my self that I may not be condemned in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen 3. A Confession of Sins O Almighty God who art a Searcher of the heart and a Trier of the reins and from whom no secrets are hid and yet wouldst have us confess our sins unto thee who art about our Path about our Bed and spiest out all our ways In mercy O Lord look down upon me who in the bitterness and anguish of my Soul come to prostrate my self before thee my sins are in thy sight and my unrighteousness is not hid the frailties of my Nature the corruptions of my Will and the disorders of my Life my abuse of thy Mercies my contempt of thy Judgments my repeated violations of thy holy Laws are more than I am able to express I have neither loved nor served nor obeyed thee as I ought to do I have broke through all the obligations of Duty and Interest to pursue my Lusts and Follies every little temptation has withdrawn me from thy Love and Service whilst thy gracious invitations the mercy of thy promises and assistances of thy Grace and Spirit have all been lost upon me O good God! I am troubled I am ashamed and confounded what shall I do or whither shall I fly how can I hope for thy Mercy that have deserved the rigours of thy Justice But since it is thy will that I should repent and live look down O Lord in mercy upon me who am unfit to look up unto thee and let thy Grace form in me such a sense of my sins that I may hate and forsake them and do thou O Lord according to thy multitude of Mercies do away my offences Lord spare forgive and pity me for Christ Jesus sake Amen 4. A Penitential Litany or short Prayers for Repentance Pardon and Grace O God the Father who wouldst not the death of a sinner have mercy upon me O thou God of Mercy that wouldst have the sinner repent and live give me a due sense of all my sins and then forgive and pity me O thou that wouldst have all men come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved cast me not away from thee O holy Father who didst so love the world that