through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Cor. 15.55 56 57. I will run with patience the race that is set before me for the crown of indefectible glory which it leads to looking unto a great cloud of witnesses of godly fortitude and constancy yea rather looking unto the meek Jesus the author and finishâ—r of our faith our hope and our resolution Hebr. 12.1 2. Thee onely do I fear O heavenly Father and in thee only do I trust Thy mercy is as ready as thy power and thy power maketh and maintaineth all things I will ever hope in thy mercy through Jesus Christ for I know no end thereof Amen Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth Hebr. 12.6 It is good for me that I have been afflicted I know O Lord that thy judgements are right and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled Before I was afflicted I went astray but now thy law is my delight and my attention O let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be no more ashamed Psal. 119.67 71 75 80. Behold here I am let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 2 Sam. 15.26 O my Father not as I will but as thou wilt for his sake who for the life of the world once prayed thus unto thee with great affection tears and innocence Amen Matth. 26.39 My cup is not so bitter I am not yet come to the cross O Lord God of hosts blessed is the man that confideth in thee Psal. 84.13 The Profession of the Catholick Faith. CHAP. XIX I. AS I have often God giving me the grace and opportâ—nity professed and recited the sum of a Christian mans belief contained in the Apostles Creed and in the Nicene Creed in the Liturgy of the Church so now at my wished departure from this world I renew the same Confession and recognition desiring that heaven and earth might now hear me as I hope they will at the happy day of the Resurrection cheerfully thankfully and sincerely declaring II. I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth I acknowledge fear and adore one God spiritual invisible eternal most holy Almighty and omnipotent distinguished into three glorious persons the Father and the Son and the holy Ghost I will always own and to utmost peril assert the infinite power and justice and mercy of God the Father who made the world out of nothing and every moment upholds and governs it by his gracious providence and in this Systeme hath made sustained and blessed me by wonderful favour And I believe in Iesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord who was conceived by the holy Ghost O inestimable mercy and most astonishing mystery born wiâ—hout sin of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate a plenary sacrifice and expiation for the sins of the world was crucified with exquisite torment and anguish dead and buried to teach us profound humility and self denyal and martyrdom and to take away the sting and terrour of death He descended into hell The third day he rose again from the dead to justify all the faithful and to invite them to a new and noble and heavenly life He ascended into heaven where I long to see thee and to kiss thy seet most blâ—ssed Saviour Wash my soul first in thy bloud cleanse it from thy pierced side that it may be fitted and prepared for that most holy and sublime mansion And sittteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty a most merciful and benign mediatour From whence he shall come with astonishing glory and pomp to juage me and all the quick and dead O judge impartial and Almighty I fear thee I prepare for thy advent I prejudge and condemn my self for the corruptions of my life I fly to thy cross I hide me in thy wounds My faith embraceth thy salvation Lord pardon me and receive me into thy favour I believe in the holy Ghost the efficacious and invisible guide and patron of all humble souls and the author of wisdom compunction holiness and constancy I believe and own the holy Catholick Church the choice and inheritance and the care and love of God called from all nations of the world into one faith and one hope wherein I have a part by infinite grace I believe the Communion of saints I hasten to the Church triumphant I believe the remission of sins by thy merits O holy Jesus the sure hope and comfort of the living and of the dying I believe the resurrection of the body of this diseased earthy painfull decaying body I know that my Redeemer liveth and that at the last day after death and corruption this very flesh shall stand up spiritual illustrious and immoral by the power and the example of Christs rising and be rapt up to meet him in the clouds Iob. c. 19. and 1 Thes. 4 7. Blessed ever-blessed be the glorious and glorifying JESUS Finally I believe the life everlasting even for me who am unworthy of another secular and incumbred life worthy of perpetual misery and firy indignation altogether unworthy of the vision of God and unchangeable felicity But thy grace is like thy self O Lord infinite and incomprehensible I receive it with all lowliness and confusion I humble my self to the dust for this unvaluable mercy Father fit me for thy promise and bounty Amen Amen III. I Heartily bless God that I was so early baptized into this faith I glorifie him that by his own support in frequenting the offices of the church I have so long lived in a firm profession of this saving doctrine And now God preserving me from the snare of the devil I resolve and I rejoyce to die in the same belief Moreover I humbly beseech the Church the pillar and ensign of truth and all my friends to pray for me that my faith fail not especially at the hour and agony of dâ—ath and also to implore Gods forgiveness as for the rest of my sins so especially if through the violence of my disâ—ase or pain I shall then speak unadvisedly and against the intention of a sober and Christian mind for the sake of the wounded and crucified Saviour Amen O my friends live better then I have done No service no care no vigor and zeal can any ways answer the bounty of Almighty God who nourisheth us upon his earth enlightens us from his heavens and concludes our mortality with everlasting life satisfaction and glory O love the Lord by whom you brâ—ath love the Lord that sent Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners IV. I Lay hold on this occasion to declare freely before Gods minister and my friends the more remarkable passages of my life from my birth to this hour that they may glorifie God for his many benefits and extraordinary indulgence to me a most unprofitable and ungrateful servant and may also beware themselves of the errors and offences which have disgraced and polluted my conversation and
live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and glorious Appearing of our Saviour JESUS Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity Or Prov. c 19.16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul. Or The fear of the Lord the practise of piety is the beginning is the perfection of wisdome and the praise of it endureth for ever Psal. 111.10 Prov. c 1.7 c. 9.10 Or Cor. c. vi 9.10 Be not deceived nor fornicators nor effeminate nor idolaters nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. IV. I will not tell a lye I will not couzen or deceive any one in any matter I will never act againâ—t my conscience but carefully observe Psal. 36.38 Keep innocency and take to the thing that is right and that shall bring a man peace at the last V. I will obey my Superiours VI. I will not be idle VII I will be moderate and tender in the use of lawful things the Lord is at hand VIII I have made a covenant with my eyes and ears not to attend to vanity but by labour and temperance I will subdue my body O mercy of heaven that our breasts are the ark of the Divine Law and our bodies the temple of the Holy Ghost if any defile the temple of God them God will destroy 1 Cor. c. 6.5 9. Preserve therefore O Holy Father my body and soul in chastity Thy grace is sufficient for me I will be sure to check and resist the beginning and occasions of vice as dangerous company excess in eating and drinking sloth and idleness melancholy self-conceit a covetous eye and the like IX I will often pray O Lord set a watch before my mouth the awe of thy presence and future vindication and keep the door of my lips that I offend not in my tongue Psal 141.3 Psal. 34.12 13. Iames c. 1.26 Prov. 39.1 2. Eccles. c. 22.27 X. The sun shall not go down in my wrath I will first be reconciled to my offended brother or sister and then come and offer my guift and sacrifice of praise and supplication For saith the Lord in whose name I pray and confide if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses Mat. c. 6.15 and 5.24 XI I will often recite the Beatitudes Mat. c. 5. ver 1 to the 12. And often say God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble 1 Pet c. 5.3 XII I will love and cherish the Creatures of God. I will render no man evil for evil or railing for railing but in stead thereof prayers and charity and blessing I will live peaceably and courteously with all men for Christs sake who against all demerit hath loved me XIII Forasmuch as JESUS the King will say unto them on his right hand at the last day Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was in prison and ye came to me I was a stranger and ye took me in for verily I say unto you inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Matt. c. 25.34 I will therefore relieve the poor visit and pity and help thâ— sick and afflicted teach the ignorant direct and love the stranger easily pardon offenders hurt no body and do all the good I can through Jesus Christ my Saviour and Judge Amen XIV Whether I eat or drink or whatsoever else I do I sincerely desire and will carefully endeavour to do all to the glory of God and my own salvation through Jesus Christ my Saviour and Support Amen 1. Cor. c. 10.31 XV. I put my trust in the living God onely I am very well content I am very thankfull for my present estate Phil. c. 4.11 12. Hebr. c. 13.5 Moreover with an humble and serene mind I wait for my Dissolution in hope of everlasting life through Jesus Christ my Redeemer Amen God be mercifull to me a sinner Luke c. 16 17. SELECT LESSONS CHAP. V. I. I Will read often in secret or in the family for the preservation of piety and temperance and honesty through Gods help the Church-Catechism and also these Chapters of Holy Scripture Our Saviours Sermon on the mount Matt. c. 5. and c. 6. and c. 7. Another Sermon Luk. c. 12. and c. 13. Jesus Christ God and man. S. Ioh. Gosp. c. 1. Christs comforting his Church S. Iohns Gosp. c. 15. and c. 16. and c. 17. II. The Duties of a Christian man. Rom. c. 12. and c. 13. Gal. c. 5 and c. 6. Phil. c. 4. Col. c. 3 and c. 4. Ephes. c. 4.1 Thess. c. 4. and c. 5. S. Peters 1 Epistle S. Iames Epistle Deut. c. 6. Iob. c. 31. Ecclesiastes c. 12. Psal. 15. and 34 and 41 and 119 and 1. and Proverbs throughout III. The Duties of Governours and Governed as Kings and Subjects Priests and People Fathers and Children Masters and Servants Rom. c. 13.1 Pâ—t c. 2. and c. 3. Col. c. 3. Ephes. c. 5. and c. 6.1 Tim. c. 6. Tit. c. 11. and c. 3. IV. I will delight to read our Lords Parables as of the Publicane and Pharisee Luke c. 18. Prodigal Son Luke c. 15. Lost Sheep Luke c. 15. Ten Talenâ—s Luke c. 19. Widow and unjust Judge Luke c. 18. Wise Virgins Matt. c. 25. Two Debtors Luke c. 7. Kind Samaritane Luke c. 10. Rich man and Lazarus Luke c. 16. Sower Luke c. 8. V. I will also frequently review the Forty Great and Merciful Miracles of our Lord as so many excellent Subjects of his inexhaustâ—ble Praise and so many Pillaâ—s of our Hope and Devotion 1. Water made Wine Ioh. 2.1 10. 2. Lunatick dispossest Mark 1 21 28. 3. Peters mother in law cured of a Fever Luke 4.38.40 4. Stupendous Draught of Fishes at the lake of Tiberias Luke 5.1 11. 5. Leper cleansed Matt. 8.2 4. 6. Paralytick let down by the roof and healed Luk. 5.17 26. 7. The withered hand restored Luk. 6.6 10. 8. Good Centurions servant cured Luk. 7.2 10. 9. Widows son of Naim revived out of the bier Luk. 28.11 17. 10. Deaf and dumb and blind demoniack recovered Matth. 12.22 23. 11. Storm ceaseth at Christs word Mark 4.35 40. 12. Legion of devils sent out of a man into the swine Mark 5.1 21. 13. Bloody flux cured by the touch of the Lords garment Mark 5. â—22 34. 14. Jairus his daughter restored to life Mark 5.35 43. 15. Two blind men restored by Christs touch and a dumb devil cast out Matt. 9.26 32. 16. Rulers son healed at a distance Iohn 4.46 53. 17. Impotent at Bethesda healed with a word Ioh. 5.1 15. 18. Five thousand fed with five loaves and two fishes Mark 6.30 34. 19.
without Jerusalem between two thieves for the Remission of the Sins of the world and the Saving this poor soul I believe I adore this unconceivable Condescension this strange and God like Charity And I now most humbly acknowledge and confess that all my Duty Zeal and Service in respect of this thy Love and Passion is very vileness and ingratitude Wherefore renouncing the works of Satan and the vanities of the world I will for ever obey thee worship thee thank thee O help me by thy Grace Blessed Redeemer and hold up my goings in the paths that my footsteps slip not Amen II. Munday MOst holy and most merciful Father to whom all things in heaven and earth do bowe and obey with utmost Reverence I adore thy divine Majesty thy eternal and infinite Perfection and rendring my humble and early Thanks to thee for restoring to me this morning my Senses and Reason and Vigour I again submit and dedicate both my Soul and Body with all their Powers and Actions to thy holy Will and Pleasure desiring and fully purposing to serve thee faithfully this day and all the days of my life by the Grace of thy holy Spirit and through the Merit and Intercession of Jesus Christ thy beloved Son and my most blessed Saviour Amen Teach me thy way O God and I will walk in thy Truth Unite my heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name Psal. 86.11 Or. By thy great Goodness O Lord I here present my self unto thee as a living reasonable and bounden Sacrifice and perpetual Devote Rom. 12.1 Vouchsafe O Lord to keep me and mine this day without Sin and without Peril Amen for Christ his sake I look for the Lord my soul doth wait for him I lift up my heart to the Lord. It is meet and right and our bounden duty it is our greatest honour and glory that we that I above all living should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee and praise and bless and Adore thee heavenly Father Lord God Almighty my Creatour Saviour and Defender Wherefore with thousands and thousands of thousands of glorious and innocent Angels Archangels Thrones and Dominions with Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours Benefactours and all blessed Souls and with all the Faithful upon earth of every Kindred People and Language I fall down and Worship and laud and magnify thy holy Name evermore praising thee and saying Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high Amen Regard O Eternal the devotion and accent of thy humble Creature made lower and courser then the Angels of a tainted life inhabiting the dust and now trembling by reason of his offences and guilt By thy Word O Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of thy mouth Thou layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters and makest the clouds thy chariots and walkest upon the wings of the wind Praise him all ye heavens and ye waters which are within the heavens hail and snow clouds and storm thunder and lightning fulfilling his word Psal. 33. and 104. and 19. III. Tuesday O Lord thou art my God early will I seek thee O let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Lift now up O Lord the light of thy countenance upon thy servant and be my support all the day long for the sake of the dearest Jesus Amen There is no true peace but in thy favour through well doing wherefore my awakened soul fleeth first unto thee O Lord O Lord receive me I humbly and constantly beg of thee Almighty and most benign Father a sound mind and body a devout heart an honest humble meek and charitable Disposition an innocent and peaceable Life a good Name an inoffensive Old Age a serene and Christian Dâ—ath and a blessed Immortality resigning my Life wholly to thy holy Will and Pleasure through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen With faithful and blessed men of all ages with the never-ceasing Seraphims and with the Voices of the heavenly multitude as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thundrings I close in now with all ardor and cheerfulness saying Halleluiah Glory and Honour Salvation and Power unto the Lord our God. Let us rejoyce and be glad and with open and elevated hands and hearts give honour unto him For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth in Righteousness and Mercy world without end Amen Rev. c. 19. Or Let us watch and be sober as children of the light and of the day always looking to Jesus the Author of our Faith the Rule of our Life and the Pledge of our Glory Amen O Lord be gracious to me and all mine We have waited for thee For thou art our Arm every morning and our Salvation in the time of Trouble Isaiah 33.2 Gracious God I am not worthy of the least of all thy Mercies and the Truth thou hast shewn unto thy servant Gen. 31.10 Let them praise the Lord that go down to the sea in ships and trade in mighty waters Yea let all the earth fear the Lord and stand in awe of him all ye that dwell in the world who gathered the waters together on an heap and laid up the deep as in a treasure house who made the dry land to appear out of confusion and commanded it to bring forth herbs and trees for the use of man and beast Hallelujah IV. Wednesday O Thou that hearest Prayer to thee shall all flesh come Psal. 65.3 In the morning thou shalt hear my voice in the morning I will stand before thee and will look up and wait for thy favour The glorious Majesty of the Lord be upon me and all mine Prosper thou the works of our hands O direct and prosper thou our handy work Psal. 90.17 The Lord is a light and defence The Lord will give grace and worship and no good thing will he withhold from them that lead a godly life O Lord God of hosts blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee Psal. 84.12 13. Lord pardon all my sins confirm me in piety bless me in my lawful calling keep my soul and body from all evil and fit me for Eternity for the immense merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Advocate Amen O Lord our Governour when I consider the Sun and Moon and Stars those vast and glorious Lights which thou hast created and that thou canst create ten thousand worlds more what is Man that mite upon this Globe that thou art mindful of him and visitest him every morning Thou O Jesus art the true and eternal Light the Sun of Righteousness that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Oh quicken and irradiate my heart Amen Or How dear are thy Counsels thy Mercies to me O God how great is the summ of them They are more in number then the sand they are new every minute
the door of repentance and life to us all allowing us all means of emendation and conversion the admirable treasure of the divine Scriptures the wonderful benefits of the holy Sacraments innumerable patterns of good living and dying and together with all the comforts of this visible world rejoyce and honour with his hope of everlasting felicity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen VII Saturday THe heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work One day telleth another and one night certifyeth another of the great power and bounty of the Creatour blessed for ever There is neither speech nor language but their voices are heard amongst them Their sound is gone out to all lands and their words to the worlds end Psal. 19. The Lord giveth food to all flesh and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him The Lord cloatheth the grass of the field and bringeth forth herbs for the use of man and beast The Lord helpeth them to right that suffer wrong and looseth men out of prison The Lord giveth sight to the blind and to the seeing The Lord helpeth them that are fallen and raiseth the dead He cureth the broken hearted and giveth medicine to heal the sick The Lord caâ—eth for the righteous and humble but scorneth and debaseth the proud The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him that call upon him faithfully My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord and let all the world above and below give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever Amen Tread firmly O disciple of Christ in the footsteps of thy meek and holy master for these lead still upwards unto supercelestial and endless glory Interpose O blessed Jesus thy passions cross and death between the Divine Justice and this poor soul both now and in the hour of death and in the day of judgment Grant O Lord to the living mercy and grace to the faithful departed a joyful resurrection To thy Catholick Church peace and concord truth and righteousness and to me and all sinners repentance and pardon and life everlasting Amen Or By thy bloody Sweat thy Thorny Crown and Scourges thy pierced Hands and Feet the fountain of Bloud and water opened in thy precious side by thy dying groans and acclamations thy prayers and benedictions be merciful unto me a vile sinner spare me and bless me O my crucified Love. Amen THE LARGER OFFICE GOING TO BED CHAP. X. I. Sunday I Will lay me down in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Psal. 4.9 Whom have I in heaven but thee O Lord and what is there on earth that I desire in comparison of thee Thou art about my path and my bed and spiest out all my ways Psal. 139.2 Have mercy upon me and all mine this night O blessed Jesus who didst die and revive for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with thee Hallelujah 1 Thess. 5.10 Or From morning to night I will bless the Lord. Now to him who is able to keep me and all his servants from falling and to present us at length pardoned and faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy to the only wiseGod our Saviour and Defender be glory and majesty dominion power and praise both now and for ever Amen My trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever Psalm 52.9 Let me and all mine yea let me and all thine O holy Father now sleep in peace and wake in Christ begin the next return of reason with heavenly Meditation Amen Or To Gods gracious Protection I most humbly commit my self my family and friends and all the faithful and all the afflicted The Lord bless us and keep us The Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace both now and evermore Amen by the merits and intercession of Jesus our onely Saviour and Advocate BENEDICTIO II. Munday IN the Name of God I will lay me down to rest The almighty Lord be now and evermore my Defence against all perils both of Sleep and Death Amen for Jesus his sake Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory Honour and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy Wills sake they were created and are preserved Blessed be thy name world without end Amen Or Great Ruler of the day and night Upon our darkness cast thy Light With safe and kind Repose allay The Care and Trouble of the day That when thou shalt unclose my eyes Healthful and pure I may arise Fit for the morning Sacrifice Or O praise the Lord ye Angels of his that excell in strength that are always waking and always active O praise the Lord all ye his Hosts ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous ye servants of his that do his pleasure O speak good of the Lord all ye works of his in all places of his dominion Praise thou the Lord O my soul and in praising turn thee to thy rest The glorious Majesty of the Lord endureth for ever the Lord shall rejoyce in his works Amen Psal. 103. III. Tuesday THis night and the days and nights of my appointed time defend O Lord protect spare deliver and bless thy servant who putteth his trust in thee through Jesus Christ. Amen I will remember thee upon my bed and think upon thee when I am waking Because thou hast been my helper therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce my soul hangeth upon thee and thy right hand upholdeth me Thy loving Kindness is better then life better then all the glories and pleasures of the whole world Let me now rest O benign Saviour where thy beloved Disciple did that my sleep may be sweet that my dreaming may be of thee of thy Redemption and of thy glorious mansions Or my flesh shall rest in hope that thou Lord wilt raise me both from the Bed and from the Grave and wilt shew me the paths of Life both temporal and eternal for the sake of thy wellbeloved Son whom thou sufferedst to die for the world but not to see corruption Amen Just and righteous are thy ways O Lord who will not fear and serve thee Let us rejoyce and be exceeding glad and secure for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Rev. 19.5.6 Every where and at all times will I think upon my mortal and sinful life and upon thy continual and great Mercys In thee O Lord have I put my trust that I be not confounded though altogether unworthy of thy eye and regard In thee only I confide Amen with great ardor and expectation O God leave not my soul destitute IV. Wednesday THe Lord is my shepherd therefore can I lack nothing Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death and sleep is that valley I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort
angels saying Holy Father I am prostrate at thy dreadful Tribunal I humble my self both soul and body before thee and bowe down my grieved head at thy Footstool as once my Meek and Dying Saviour did My God my God forsake me not Look O heavenly Father on the Scars and Merits of Jesus O hear his Mediation receive his Intercession and be merciful unto me a sinner a vile and ungrateful sinner What I have neglected what I have ignorantly or wilfully committed against thy Majesty most Holy most Mighty and Long-suffering from my Birth and Baptism unto this moment by sundry sorts of vain Thoughts and irregular Imaginations by inordinate Desires and Affections by injurious and corrupt Discourses and by innumerable evil Actions Follies and Provocations for Christs sake forgive me Such is my Condition so many and great my sins and relapses that unless thy mercy were infinite I could have no hope no comfort I have transgressed beyond all humane pardon beyond seventy seven times For the Bowels of the Saviour that were opened on the Cross for me for thine own immense Goodness which embraceth Heaven and Earth Holy Father have mercy upon me and pardon me Consider my Sorrow and Contrition Accept most merciful God my Tears my Subjection my Repentance my Vows and resolved Amendment And then speak Peace to my Conscience through Jesus Christ my onely Hope and Redeemer Amen Call to remembrance O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses which have been ever of old Oh remember not the sins and offences of thy servants Spare us all good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with the Blood of thy dear Son. Amen Psal. 25.5 6. See CHAP. XVI of this Book III. At the Absolution O Lord God almighty most gracious and merciful Father will all Humility Faith and Thankfulness I receive and embrace this Absolution as pronounced upon my Repentance from the Throne of thy Eternal Glory Amen Hallelujah Amen Amen Here then I have laid down my burden and fear the stain and disquiet of my life by name my Anger Lust Pride Envy Covetousness and the rest of my grievous sins never never to take them up again Blessed be God for this salvation Most holy Father assist and forward the Vows and Resolutions of the meanest of all that serve thee Let a man examine himself and so let him eat saith S. Paul. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made haste and prolonged not the time to keep thy commandments saith king David I look for the Lord in his word is my trust in the Lords word will I comfort me Psal. 56.10 My soul longeth for thy salvation Psal. 119.81 I here humbly wait for the Grace and Benefits of my dying Saviours Institution and Legacy for the Precious Treasure of Heaven Visit me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people that I may see the felicity of thy chosen and give Thanks with thine Inheritance The Lord pardon me and every one that prepareth his heart to seek God the Lord God of his fathers the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of the Sanctuary though he fall short of the frame and disposition due to this holy and tremendous Mystery 2 Chron. c. 30.18.19 I come to a known Altar This Sacrament hath often corrected restored and comforted me Thy Benediction holy Father is always ready thy hands ever open to the sincere and humble Client and I now pray for thy wonted Goodness through Jesus Christ the sum and substance of this Office. IV. At Lift up your Hearts YEa I lift up my Eyes and my Heart unto thee O Eternal my Mediation my Desire my Hope my Faith my Affection my Invention and Design all my Soul and Strength are now with thee most high and most gracious Father I have past this Altar unto the sublime and pure seat of thy Majesty which all orders of holy Angels and blessed men ever fear and adore Let me O let me there behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world Shew me Jesus and it sufficeth Behold O my Faith reach and embrace what the Prime Martyr saw at the right hand and eminence of Eternal Blessedness the Prince of Peace the mighty Saviour the triumphant Jesus lifting up his glorious and gracious Arms to bless and to defend me the vilest and unworthiest of all living Blessed and most loving Saviour by thine inestimable blood wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin by the ardor of thy soul towards mankind in the dark hour of thy Passion commiserate me and rid me of all my evil habits customs and practises I most humbly beseech thee Now Lord remember me in thy kingdom as thou didst the penitent companion of thy cross and dolours And say to my soul This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise thou shalt by faith see my glory to which from the obedience of the Cross and the humble grave the Almighty Father hath exalted me hath exalted thy naturâ— My heart is ready O Lord my heart is ready for this sacrifice of Praise and Gratitude Like as the hart desireth the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my hope my refuge my rest my life and my happiness O Saviour of the world who by thy Cross and precious blood hast redeemed us save us now and help us we humbly beseech thee that we may all receive these holy and dreadful mysteries without condemnation and ruine and to our grâ—at consolation and benefit for the mortifying all our inordinate passions repressing all sinful temptations and occâ—sions conquering the devil encreasing our hope and faith correcting and beautifying our conversation for the abolishing our guilt and for the attaining eternal life Amâ—n Dear Jesus I address to thy holy Altar with great desire I come as near thee O blessed Redeemer as mortality will let me I come with a penitent earnest and open heart to praise thee to adore thee and to kiss by faith thy wounded feet as once thy astonisht disciples did Matt. 28.9 I behold by faith the prints of the nails by faith I touch the wound in thy side whence flowed water and blood my sanctification and my pardon O fill me with thy influence and vertues Luk. 8.46.1 Cor. 11.29 now I apprehend discern and embrace thy precious body thy all saving passion My â—ord and my God Confirm thy word unto thy servants Blessed are they that see not and have believed Merciful Saviour at this most noble and pious mystery remove and banish from my mind all worldly cares all vain imaginations means thoughts errors and misconceits Unite I most humbly beseech thee the sundry powers and facultyes thou hast given me and point and direct them all unto the instant office Govern now O Lord and bless my apprehension Exalt my Faith enlarge my affections and devotion and then Consign to my
will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord and offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving through Jesus Christ. Amen Psal. 116.11 12 15. AT RECEIVING THE CUP· CHAP. XIII I. AMen Jesus Master have mercy on us Luke 17.13 Let this Blood purge my Conscience from dead works to serve thee the Almighty and most gracious Father to honour thee the Everliving Saviour and for ever to obey and fear thee most holy and quickning Spirit Amen Lord I will serve thee better I will obey thee Succour my weakness pity my infirmity Dear Lord. Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iohn 21.17 What honour hath Almighty God done me that I should be the vessel of this divine mystery and bear within my breast the Lord Jesus I adore I give thanks II. Thou art made whole go and sin no more no more by anger lust excess fraud slandering c. Ioh. 8.11 Our God is a consuming fire to the perverse and impenitent Our God is a merciful Father to the humble and relenting Orator As is his Majesty so is his mercy Ecclus. 2.18 Both infinite and incomprehensible both to be acknowledged admired and adored O Majesty everlasting I fear thee I worship thee I trust in thee through Jesus Christ. Amen Let me not O let me not again pollute this body and soul with my habitual and grievous sins as c. after I have received thy body and blood O Lord who hast created me and redeemed me Grant me thy grace O God that I may fulfil the places and offices thou callest me to in this life Amen III. Lord bless these and the rest of my brethren and let us live eternally together ever praising and Adoring thee For by this great and attractive sacrament we all become one bread one bloud one soul and consent have all one faith one hope one heaven one Lord the blessed Lord Jesus the knot and center of this most immense and pious fraternity and eminently one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all to whom be glory and obedience everlasting Amen in heaven Amen on earth From thy one precious body O wonderful Saviour thou feedest and revivest five thousand and five thousand thousand millions of thy disciples and followers Aeternae tanta est opulentia mensae Prudent Say O Lord and thy word is omnipotent This day salvation is come unto this house Luk. 19.9 IV. The bread of God is he that came down from heaven and giveth light to the world Lord evermore give us of this bread Ioh. 6.33 34. Thus thus will we shew sorth thy death O Jesus till thou comest again and blessed are those servants whom at the end of the world the Lord shall find so doing yea verily blessed is he that eateth meat in the kingdom of God. Luk. 12. 43. c. 14.15 He that solemnly and faithfully and seriously contemplates my Passion and Philanthropy and amends his life for that consideration He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Amen Holy Jesus who art the Resurection and the life Ioh. 6.54 56. Master it is good for us to be here Mark. 9.2 Do not our hearts burn within us while the Lord opens to us the scriptures opens to us his precious side Full is the satisfaction inexpressible the joy of those that love thee O Jesus Angels and men consent heaven and earth joyn together to praise thee serve and worship thee and with these my poor soul the meanest of all thy creation Good Lord accept us I will give thanks unto thee among thy people and sing praises unto thee among the faithful My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed For thy â—ercy is greater then the heavens and thy truth reaâ—heth above the clouds Set up thy self O Lord above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth Thou hast wrought redemption in the midst of the earth O Jesus and vanquisht all the enemies of guilty mankind and art seated at the right hand of Father the Lord and worship of angels Hosanna in the highest The right hand of the Lord hath the preeminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass The word was made flesh the beloved Son of God died for us Let them now that fear the Lord confess that his mercy endureth for ever V. I â—ill read Ioh. c. 18. and c. 17. the security and consolation of the Church and also Rom. c. 8. and the hymn Come holy Ghost our souls inspire c. In the ordering of Priests Almighty God who hast given thy onely Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of Godly life Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also daily endeavour our selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Most holy spirit the efficacy and life of this mystery bless me with these thy gifts and fruits meekness modesty sobriety prudence diligence honesty fidelity constancy chariâ—y kindness and devotion from the time of this holy Sacrament For I have now dedicated and given up entirely my soul senses and affections my will wit and reason to the glory and service of Jesus Christ who dyed for me I must I will obey him in all things Lord forgive Lord help me My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Psal. 21.21 I am altogether confounded and swallowed up with the immense grace of God I am throughly possest glorious Lord with thy love and boundless favour to me I long I here endeavour yet cannot tell how to express my thankfullness and obedience My thoughts and contrivance and my words and lauds my action and zeal cannot do it to any fitness or content Lord still excite and still direct my gratitude I would be as thankful to thee as humble as obedient as any creature in heaven or earth Father Almighty make me so Amen Now Lord Jesus who wast expanded on the cross for me command me what thou wilt Use me in the hazards and difficulties of thy Church thy purchase and thy glory Bid me walk upon the sea I will obey thee and thy right hand shall hold me up And I will not deny thee in the Court or in the Garden I am ready to lay down my estate my liberty and also my life would to God it were a clean and entire sacrifice for Christs religion and to be obedient unto the death Assist and strengthen my mind O blessed Saviour by thy grace thy intercession thy example Amen All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth faith the ascending Jesus Go ye therefore
and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world Amen Matth. 28.18 The doctrine attested when needful by sundry miraculous works the discipline the sacraments the preservation the piety the zeal and the patience of thy Catholick Church hath indeed sufficiently demonstrated thy gracious presence O Saviour And he lift up his hands and blessed them and while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy And were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen Luke 24.50 AT HOME AFTER THE COMMUNION CHAP. XIV I. IT is finished Blessed Sacrament the Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation the Feast of God the Taste of Eternal Bliss and the Strength Comfort and Life of my Soul. This hath united me to all the Faithful on Earth and to all the Blessed in Heaven This hath joyned me in Affection and Gratitude in Interest and Inheritance unto thee most blessed Jesus the head and defence the ruler and Saviour of the Church the first fruits and security of the resurrection and glory and immortality of this nature Now Lord whether I live oâ— die I trust I am thine I verily believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the region of the blessed through infinite mercy and indulgence Psal. 27.13 O keep me ever Dear Jesus in this good condition by constant and cheerful obedience and observance of all Christian duties by an awful reverence of the Divine name and presence by imitating the best examples living or dead and most especially by following thy meek and immaculate life thy pure and heavenly doctrine and admonitions by caution and frequent meditation by daily examination and prayers and by all other means of a pious and innocent life O Lord I thank thee I bless thee I glorifie thee because by this sacrament thou hast confirmed me in the Catholick faith in reverence duty and love to thy Eternal Majesty in charity towards all mankind friends or enemies in meekness pity humility patience contentedness industry sobriety chastity honesty and integrity And hast thereby given me new and lively hopes of endless felicity both in soul and body against all the malice and attempts of men or devils and against the terrors of death and my sinful life past So great is thy mercy to me for the merits of Jesus Christ thy eternal Son my everlasting Saviour and advocate my Lord and king II. O Stupendous Grace and Piety of the Eternal that I should be I fear I tremble â—o say it the work of Gods hands the image of his wisdom and power the price of Christs blood the temple of the holy Ghost a part of the Catholick and perpetual Church and an heir of immortal glory What now ought my life to be if this be my portion and my priviledge Holy Father let the intercession of Jesus that poured out his tears and sweat and precious blood for us be nigh unto thee day and night that thou mayest have mercy upon us and bless us and prevent our falling from so great salvation Amen Dearest Saviour I desire still to râ—â—lect and meditate on thy humble life thy birâ—h circumcision presentation in the Temple domestick Obedience Baptism Fasting Temptations Hunger Thirst Uncertain abode Travails Watching Prayers Sermons Miracles Dangers Abuses Tortures Bloodshedding and review the â—hole map of thy condescensions griefs and compassions from the Manger to the Cross until I become my self averse separated and cruciâ—yed and dead to the world Amen III. 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 forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thine infirmities who saveth thy soul from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works of Creation Providence and Redemption that they ought to be had in perpetual remembrance Thou art my God and I will thank thee thou art my God and I will praise thee All the works of the Lord are verity and judgment He hath sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever Holy and Reverend is his name Thus long have I lived upon thy bounty thus and thus c. hast thou nourished protected delivered and advanced me and now O Father thou confirmest to me the expectation of everlasting life in thy heavenly kingdom Wherefore I give thanks unto thee with my whole heart Glory Worship Obedience and Praise to God the Father Almighty and most beneficent that sitteth on the Eternal throne and to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and to the most holy Spirit the Lord of life and peace for ever and ever O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious I have tasted that he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever Hallelujah Salvation is of the Lord again Hallelujah Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift Lord hasten the glory of the General Resurrection Amen So come Lord Jesus Into thy hands thy pierced hands O Lord I commend my spirit PREPARATION FOR DEATH AND ETERNITY· CHAP. XV. Forgivenesss and Charity I. HAving lately perused CHAP. VI. of this Booke and also received the Holy Communion in this Apostolick Church I am the more ready and willing to set my self in order to depart this world for the vision of Christ humbly commiting the time and manner of my Dissolution to the Providence of God which hath hitherto defended and sustained me II. Wherefore I freely and fully forgive all that have in any sort wronged and injured me as I desire that God most just and omniscient should now for Christs sake forgive me Amen And I humbly beseech God to forgive them those wrongs and all other their sins Amen I farther desire that it may be certified to them namely to c. that I do remit and release to them all satisfaction and amends in word or deed onely entreating their prayers for me that my humiliation and repentance may be accepted in heaven Yea I wish I could shew more indulgence and forgiveness towards men who need and implore so much of God for my innumerable and most ungrateful offences against his Eternal Majesty III. I likewise humbly and heartily beg pardon and forgiveness of all those whom I have wronged in any manner particularly of c. and do earnestly desire that this my request be signified to them Furthermore forasmuch as slander and fraud and the like scandalous sins are not remitted before God without all possible restitution I am most willing and ready to my utmost power to restore and repay whatever I have couzened and defrauded without delay and without deceit I
am also ready to make reparation of fame and credit together with an ingenuous and humble acknowledgement to all that I have slandered and calumniated namely to c. And accordingly I forthwith take order that Restitution and Satisfaction be made to them all to the utmost of my ability and that their Release and Acquittance for all injuries done to them be obtained or else most justly and verily presumed before I adventure to crave the benefit of Absolution If I am ashamed of such a Confession and Restitution I am not ashamed nor afraid to be the everlasting contempt and scorn of the most holy Creator and of all that is blessed I am not ashamed nor affrighted to be the companion of devils and all villanous men that ever lived in darkness horror and torment Let no father patron or master think of bettering the worldly condition of his successours by his own dreadful condemnation for finally concealing and retaining his illgotten estate or frauds IV. Moreover with a charitable heart according to the bâ—st of my understanding and enquiry imploring the assistance of Gods Holy Spirit I â—ave made my Last will and Testament disposing the goods and estate God hath given me for his greatest glory Namely amongst my Relations and likewise in a due acknowledgment of sundry precious benefiâ—s received by me in this Apostolick Church of which â— hope to continue a part to my lifes end and also for the poor Blessing Almighty God for enabling me to give them some relief and so to lend unto himself his own temporal blessings to obtain far better riches in heaven Amen I rest upon thy merits and upon thy word O Triumphant Saviour Forgive and ye shall be forgiven Give and it shall be given into your bosom good measure pressed down shaken together and running over Luk. c. 6.37 and c. 11.9 Amen Finally I have given my Relations and Friends the best advise and counsel I could for the good of their neverdying souls and for their well-living in this world V. Having thus rid my self of all the cares and troubles and concerns of mortality having now perfectly done with this world with a clear and humble heart I address my self to thy Grace Almighty and most merciful God and Father beseeching thee to instruct exerâ—ise and prepare me for the succeeding gloâ—ious and immortal life to which by the Chrisâ—ian Profession thou hast advanced my hope and awful expectation Hallelujah through the glorified Jesus Hallelujah to all Eternity Amen But I foresee the passage to this Beatitude to be very dark and Dismall full of Thorns and Tears full of Confessions Remorse and Contrition for the many faults of a short life and also full of disease and pains and anguish reaching unto dissolution insensibility stench and rottenness By all thy agonies and experience help me O holy Jesus through this terror Amen REPENTANCE· CHAP. XVI See CHAP. VI. §. 5. and CHAP XI §. 2. I. Consession I Have sinned O Lord I have dealt wickedly I have led an unequal untoward and polluted life I have sinned before thee when ashamed of humane view before thee my Father my Judge my Benefactor my Worship and my God. O absurd and stupid wretch In thought word and deed with all the powers and abilities thou hast given me with affection and design have I sinned against thee most Mighty and most Holy Ungratefully and basely grievously and presumtuously particularly c. have I sinned and Lord how often secretly and openly in the chamber as c. anâ— in publick as c. treading upon thy earth and covered with thy heavens yea â— have sinned in the House of God and in the midst of my Prayâ—rs and Invocations as c. Is this then the Image of God is this a Christian an heir of eternal Life â—his a Priest and Dispenser of the pure Word and Sacraments of the Lord Jesus Ah this is nothing but clay and dirt uncleanness and misery II. Contrition THe soul that is troubled and the spirit that is vexed cryeth unto thee O Lord. I Relent I grieve I am heartily sorry for this demerit and irritation of thy Divine justice I am ashamed I abhor my self I am perfectly weâ—ry of this corrupt life What shall I do whiâ—her shall I turn I am ashamed to look up to heaven that behâ—lds my vileness to heaven which I have abused and despised I will bowe my self to the earth and the grave that waits to hide and devour such a wretch I will sâ—ite upon my breast with the conscious publicane upon my breast the box and origine of all this mischief And do thou strike this rock O holy Jesus that the waters may freely flow that my tears may mingle with thy blood my humble and sincere repentance reach thy propitiation and remission Dissolve thou sinful clod tremble thou earth earth earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence and vindication of the God of Jacob who turned the â—lint stone into a springing well I wish for the tears of David pierced with the matter of Uriah the mourning of Jeremiah and the dejection of Manasseh I recollect and confess in particular unto thee my more grievous sins the rest are without number in the bitterness of my soul. Thus and thus have I done c. I give glory to thee as Achan I confess and am confoâ—nded at the enormity and presumption and villanous circumstances of my offences as c. I hide not my unrighteousness as Adam in the garden who led the way of sinning and of repentance I hide not I cannot hide but with tears and dread remorse acknowledge to thy most pure and omniscient Majesty my faults my follies yea rather my wilfulness my hardness my vices my criminal and deplorable life And lo here I judge and reprove and condemn my self at the bottom of thy throne and yet I am not enough abased He cannot fall too low whose merit is hell My deformation and destruction is only from my self from my perverse and incorrigible self my relief and salvation is from thee only Father thou knowest my sins and thou knowest my anguish It is not easy to transgress thy commands and reflect upon the transgressions My flesh trembleth for fâ—ar of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments O Lord. I dread that great day when the thrones shall be set the books opened and my shameful life recited and all my works of darkness exposed in perfect light I tremble lest the blessed Jesus who shed his blood for my redemption and hath so earnestly urged and offered me pardon and peace and eternal life should then condemn me and the mighty angels and holy men of all ages and nations newly clothed with immortal and illustrious bodies hiss me from the righteous Tribunal and the mouth of hell receive my body and soul into exquisite torments without light or pity My present horrour and confusion is great but what is this to everlasting burnings III. Supplication GReat
and gracious God Father and fountain of mercies have mercy upon me anâ— spare me Out of the depths do I cry unto thee I have depressed by staind and miserable soul to the brink of hell Out of the depths do I cry unto thee Father spare me Father pity me I am oppressed I am in great misery my soul is exceeding sorrowful as unto death Eli Eli hear me and pardon me Enter not into â—udgment with me who am dust and ashes sin and weakness Let not the storm overwhelm me nor the depth of sorrow swallow me up nor the sence of thy anger destroy me Psal. 69.15 Father I am no more worthy to be called thy son or to be reckoned in thy creation But according to the infinity of thy mercies O Lord do away my iniquity and blot out my transgressions Psal. 51.1 2. My heart faileth me O Lord make hasts to help me Psal. 40.30 By thy cries and pains O Jesus deliver me from the guilt and burden of my sins from the terrors of my wakned conscience and from the unconceivable torments of hell By thy wounded head thy bored hands they lanced side thy pierced feet thy tortured body and afflicted soul by all the disgraces and passions of Gethsemane Gabbatha and Golgotha save me and deliver me O Christ at this hour and at the hour of death and in the day of judgement Amen Father and Saviour and Comforter let this bitter cup pass from me I humbly beseech thee Look upon me O precious Saviour Lamb of God in my sorrow and distress as once thou didst on Peter that denied thee and wept bitterly Compassionate me as thou didst the sinful Magdaleâ—e and as thou didst the penitent thief who confessed and believed in the anguish and paroxysme of the Cross. I deserved all their griefs and ten thousand pains and punishment more Intercede now for me Holy Jesus with thy dying petition Father forgive them for they know not what they do O Lord of glory I look unto thee I earnestly look unto thee whom I have pierced whom not so much Herod and Pontius Pilate and the Roman souldiers as sinful and wretched I have dishonoured pierced and crucified Lord forgive Lord save me or I perish for ever The Christ of God hide me in thy wounds By the blood of thy testament revive and release me I hope in thy merciful intercession For thy Fatherly tenderness and the numberless blessings already received from thy bountiful hand and through the passion and mediation of thy beloved Son and by the unutterable groans and suggestions of thy holy Spirit pardon and deliver me Lord God Almighty Amen IV. Resolution I will never adventure more to try and weary the grace and patience of Almighty God the righteous judge and avenger I now break off my sins by repentance and resolved amendment I see what brought me to this shameful and perillous defection it was this occasion that invitation that excess that eye this rashness that supinity Wherefore I now solemnly Renounce cast off and abominate the wicked and wounding practises of my life as c together with all their inducement and principles From this very hour and blessed be God who hath granted me this hour by prayer temperance charity industry fear and caution in all my actions and enterprices I fully purpose and now begin God helâ—ing me of his infinite goodness and pity to alter and Reform my life according to the gospel and example of Jesus Christ my Lord and also by kindness charity and almsdoing I will manifest to the world the sincerity and vigour of my Repentance and renovation V. Petition for grace HOly Father incline direct and fortifie my heart to pursue this pious and necessary Resolution that iniquity be not my ruine Ezek. 18.30 Thy grace is sufficient for me Lord soften bruise change and reform my soul according to thy own will according to thy own image and after the likeness and innocence of Adam when thou first breathest into him life and reason yea according to the same tâ—mper and purity I most humbly beseech thee wherein by thy grace I once ascended from the laver of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 Amen for Jesus Christ his sake Pardon and destroy not Amâ—nd and destroy not Most merciful Creator the work of thy own hands by me presumptuously and shamefully profaned Destroy not O blessed Saviour the purchase of thy precious blood the decaying part of thy mystical body Destroy not O Holy Spirit the subject of thy regeneration and various bounty Destroy not O everblessed and everadored Trinity the humblest and meanest of all that believe and worship thy Majesty Oh break not this bruised reâ—d Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon for Jesus's sake Isa. 55.7 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden alas I feel my transgressions heavy and numberless as the sands of the sea and I will give you rest saith the compassionate Saviour Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls Matth. 26.28.29 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief I the vilest 1. Tim. 1.15 Such gracious sentences of the Holy Scriptures are my last hold are my plank O Lord make haste to help me Sickness and Pain CHAP. XVII I Will bear thy indignation O Lord till mercy prevaileth against judgment because I have sinned against thee Micah 7.9 Why should I yet living I complain for the punishment of my sin for any thing short of unquenchable fire Thou knowest whereof we are made Remember O Lord that I am but dust a fading flower and a transient blast remember for his sake who out of infinite condescension and pity bore our nature and our infirmities Amen Psal. 103.14 15 16. All my desire is before thee O Lord and my groaning is not hid from thee Turn unto me O Lord and deliver my soul for thy mercies sake Enlighten and cleansâ— and heal and revive thy servant that my ways may please thee that I may see the goodness of thy chosen and rejoyce with thine inheritance Amen Though the outward man perish alas I perceive I feel it perishing yet good Lord renew the inwarâ—â—an day by day Secure the part immortal that which understands thee loves thee praises thee and now aspires to thy beatifick presence for Christs sake See CHAP. VI. § 1. of this Book Hope in God and Resignation to his Pleasure CHAP. XVIII See CHAP. VI. §. 8. of this Book O Wretched creature that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Rom. c. 7.24 The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory
likewise if I have done any thing worthy and laudable that it may sink down into their hearts and be followed by them and all the church to the greater honour of Christ whose purchase and pity we are Amen V. ALmighty and most merciful Author and Father I bless thee I glorifie the with all holy angels and happy souls for thy six days Creation for the light shining out of Chaos and darkness and the Chaos made out of nothing for the heavens and waters the earth and plants the sun and moon the fish and fowl for the beasts of the earth but especially for Adam the origine of humanity the archive of reason and piety the admirable and admiring possessour of the recent and impolluted world I praise thee for thy holy Sabbath the image and notice of solemn devotion on earth and also of everlasting rest in heaven to all the workers of righteousness I bless thee for conserving the world for so many thousand years in the same estate and order for delivering and defending thy faithful people in all ages with or without natural means and for overruling the counsels and attempts of potentates unto thy own greater glory I praise thee I adore thee for recovering lapsed Adam and his tainted posterity by the early promise and opportune advent of the alsufficient Saviour Jesus Christ. I bless thee for the Holy Bible the richest treasure upon earth I thank thee for setting me down in the world in this age of great knowledge both humane and divine I praise thee for all the wisdom and invention prudence and vertue magnificence good works and piety of all that ever lived in the world I praise thee for the noble and numberless host of guardian angels wise and powerful prophets and apostles and evangelists valiant martyrs and confessors pious kings and priests and benefactors and for the humble and holy men of all times our â—imitation and comfort and glory O let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Amen for Christs sake Desire of Absolution and of my Change. CHAP. XIX I. VOuchsafe me O Lord the power and occasion of doing some good after all the evil I have committed and the scandals I have given before I go hence and be no more seen But chiefly grant me a good end of this vain and troublesome life and at length a glorious resurrection through Jesus Christ Amen We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved and I perceive my frame now loosning and falling we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens And this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven We groan being burdened with disease and sin and sorrow and vanity and flesh to be cloathed upon with a immarcescible vest of purity and glory that mortality may be swallowed up of endless life and we be no longer absent from the Lord. Amen Cor. c. 5.1 4. I am now ready to be offered the time of my departure is at hand I have fougâ—t a good fight O words of gold O happy exite of Christian zeal and fidelity I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of rightâ—ousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but to all them also that love his appearing 2 Tim. c. 4.7 II. COme now O holy Priest servant of the most high God direct and amend my confessions dissolve my doubts especially c. Pray for me pray earnestly for me particularly concerning c. the more grievous lapses and blots of my life Help forward Divine man my repentance compassionate and concur with my tears Then preach to me the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and open the vail of infinite mercy to my tender and trembling soul. I have Forgiven all the world I have made Restitution to my utmost power of all injuries and scandals done by me and am very sorry that I cannot make greater amends quadruple amends for all wrongs I have renounced and abominated all my evil practices with contrition and shame I have thrown my self entirely upon the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. I have recited the Creed with sincerity resolution and thankfulness I verily believe that God who gave me this mortal life together with numberlesâ— blessings is now as ready to grant me everlasting happiness through the alone merits of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Come therefore O holy Priest my esteem and reverence Come happy guide of my flitting soul use I humbly beseech thee the authority and office which our blessâ—d Lord hath given thee And pronounce over this lowly cleansed and renewâ—d creature by Godâ— command and in his name and through his power alone the sentence that I ardently long for the words worthy oâ— all acceptation worthy the ministry of an angel The Lord hear the Lord bless the Lord Absolve the Lord Ratifie THE PRIEST OVâ— Lord Iesus Christ who hath lâ—st power to his Church to absoâ—ve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him of his great mâ—rcy â—orgive thee thine offences And by his authority committed to me I absolve thee fâ—om all thy sins In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Amen in heaven Amen Amen Hosanna in the highest I take this Remission with utmost humility I believe it ratifyed by thee most gracious Father the onely Author and source of pardon and peace I give thanks unto thee most affectionate thanks unto thy Eternal Majesty for this inestimable mercy and I long to expire in thanksgiving Henceforth to me to live is Christ to die is gain Phil. 1.21 III. I Humbly thank thee holy Priest for this great reverend and charitable Office. God prosper thee and the whole Clergy and all his faithful people upon earth who are of the same body and interest with the blessed in heaven Amen IV. BLessed blessed indeed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile Psal. 32.1 2. Lord now leâ—test thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word I desire no more of earth of sinful earth I loâ—g for thee onely O God My soul pantetâ— after thee my departing soul is a thirst for the living God. O gather it I most humbly beseech thee by the love and deserts of Jesus clean and spotless into rest and glory everlasting Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly Jesus receive my spirit I am now going to an estate perfectly new new heavens new time new life and new glories The change is unconceivably great amazing and unalâ—erable Nothing is like it here below but Divine contemplations and the ardors of the Eucharist Look O look Gracious God upon the face of thy perishing child and make the separation