death of sin my good name to be traduced with some scandalous reproaches and make my self liable to all manner of crosses and casualties And I confess Lord that thy mercy is the cause I have not been long ago consumed and confounded But O my God as thy mercy only stayed thy judgments from falling upon me hitherto so I humbly beseech thee in the bowels of thy mercy in Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts but that thou wouldest freely and fully remit unto me all my sins and my transgressions and that thou wouldest wash them clean from me with the vertue of that precious blood which thy Son Jesus Christ hath shed for me for he alone is my Physician and his blood only is the medicine that can heal my sickness and is the true brazen Serpent that can cure that poison wherewith the fiery serpents of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul and give me I beseech thee thine holy Spirit which may assure me of mine Adoption and that may confirm my Faith increase my Repentance inlighten my Understanding purifie my Heart and rectifie my Will and Affection and so sanctifie me throughout that my whole Body and Soul and Spirit may be kept unblamable until the glorious coming of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And now O Lord I give unto thee most humble and hearty thanks and praise for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harm and dangers notwithstanding all my sins and evil deserts and I beseech thee likewise to defend me this night from the roaring Lion which night and day seeketh to devour me Watch thou O Lord over me this night to keep me from his temptations and tyranny and let thy mercy shield me from his unspeakable rage and malice and to this end I commit my self into thy hands and almighty protection beseeching thee O my Lord and my God not to suffer Satan or any of his evil members to have power to do me any hurt or harm this night and grant good Lord that whether I sleep or wake live or die I may sleep wake live or die unto thee and to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my soul. Lord bless and defend all thy chosen people every where Grant our gracious Soveraign long life and a happy Raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family together with all our Magistrates and Ministers comfort them who are in misery need or sickness or under any kind of Cross or Calamity give me grace to be one of those wise Virgins which may have my heart prepared like a Lamp furnished with the Oil of Faith and Light of good works to meet the Lord Jesus the sweet Bridegroom of my soul at his second and sudden coming in glory grant this good Father for Jesus Christ his sake my only Saviour Redeedeemer and Mediator in whose blessed Name and in whose own words I call upon thee as he hath taught me Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer for a Family O Lord our God and heavenly Father who art the only Creator of Heaven and of Earth and all therein contained we confess that we are unworthy to appear in thy sight and presence considering our manifold sins and offences which we have committed against Heaven and before thee and how that we have been born in sin and do daily break thy holy Laws and Commandments contrary to our knowledge and consciences albeit we know thou art our Creator who hast made us our Redeemer who hast bought us with the blood of thy only begotten Son and our Comforter who bestowest upon us all the good and holy graces which we enjoy in our souls and in our bodies and if thou shouldest but deal with us as our wickedness and unthankfulness have deserved what other thing might we O Lord expect from thee but shame and confusion in this life and in the world to come wrath and everlasting condemnation yet O Lord in the obedience of thy Commandments and in the confidence which we have in thy unspeakable and endless mercy in thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ the Righteous we thy poor servants appealing from thy Throne of Justice to thy Throne of Crace whose mercy reigneth to pardon abounding sin do from the bottom of our hearts most humbly beseech thee to remit and forgive unto us all our sins and our offences and misdeeds that by the vertue of the precious blood of Jesus Christ thy innocent Lamb which he so abundantly shed upon the Cross to take away the sins of the world all our sins both original and actual may be so cleansed and washed from us that they may never be laid to our charge nor ever have power to rise up in judgment against us and we beseech thee good Father for Christ his death and passion sake that thou wilt not suffer to fall upon us that fearful curse and vengeance which thy Law hath threatned and our sins have justly deserved And for as much O Lord as we are taught by thy Word that no Idolaters Adulterers covetous men contentious persons drunkards gluttons and such inordinate livers shall inherit the Kingdom of God pour the grace of thy Holy Spirit into our hearts whereby we may see the filthiness of our sins and abhor them and may be more and more stirred up to live in newness of life and love of thy Majesty so we may daily increase in the obedience of thy words and in conscionable care of keeping thy Commandments And now O Lord I render unto thee most hearty thanks for that thou hast elected redeemed called justified us in good measure in this life and given us an assured hope that thou wilt glorifie us in thy heavenly Kingdom when this mortal life is ended Likewise we thank thee for our life health wealth liberty prosperity and peace especially O Lord for the continuance of thy holy Gospel amongst us and for sparing us so long and granting us so gracious a time of repentance Also we praise thee for all other thy mercies bestowed upon us more especially for preserving us this night past and from all dangers that might have befallen our souls or bodies and seeing thou hast now brought us safe to the beginning of this day we beseech thee protect and direct us in the same Bless and defend us in our going out and in our coming in this day and ever more shield us O Lord from the temptations of the Devil and grant us the custody of thy holy Angels to defend and direct us in all our waies and to this end we recommend our selves and all those that belong unto us and are abroad from us unto thy hands and almighty tuition Lord defend them from all evil prosper them with all graces and fill them with thy goodness Preserve us likewise this day from falling
Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE Soul Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating the whole duty of Man or DEVOTIONS COMPILED by R.A. Gent. in his solitudes London Printed by T. Snawden for Gabr Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the post-office over against the Muse at the sign of the King's-head 1678. Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE SOUL Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating The whole Duty of Man OR DEVOTIONS compiled By R. A. Gent. in his Solitudes Non bove mactatô coelestia numina gaudent Sed quae praestanda est sine teste fide LONDON Printed by T. Snowden for Gabr. Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the Post-Office over against the Muse at the Sign of the King's-Head 1678. Licensed William Jane Nov. 19. 1677. TO THE READER WEre Man self-sufficient and independent thoughts of this nature would be impertinent and unseasonable but seeing there are hopes and fears blessings and curses scattered in this vail of misery and laid up in heaps against the time of the revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God how stupid and forlorn must that soul be which lives without God in the would though a spacious curtain be drawn over the globe of this Earth though we cannot perceive the regular motions of the several wheels of Providence yet in all Estates flourishing or decaying we ought to confide in and depend upon his goodness and power and wisdom who is the fountain of all Beings and the Great Governour of the World under whose conduct the good man is safe and to the Throne of whose Grace there may be a fair access if our prayers are managed aright in which way I leave thee and if these following papers can assist thee bless God for the occasion which is the End of the Author's Hope in this undertaking Farewell To the Honourable Mary Mountague Wife to the Right Honourable Lord cheif Baron Madam SEeing it is the heart which God alone accepts as a Sacrifice of retribution I humbly crave you would be pleased to take a view of the counterpart of my Soul wherein is set down the joyful correspondency it has had with Heaven and the rather because joy and immortality our entrance into the Blessed Mansions above is the common interest and design of all who appeal to Heaven in the name of Christ I know your Closet is plentifully stor'd with holy Ejaculations that Sacred perfume which sweetens the very breath of the Soul and is more acceptable to God than costly odours the scent of Myrrh and Frankincense yet these Papers possibly may find entertainment because they are pen'd by one whose Soul has been many years travelling that way and therefore chiefly endeavours to speak the dialect Language of that Kingdom no friendship is so strong as that which is contracted by Travellers in this journey and though I have the honour to have the same blood of R. A's running in my veins yet I esteem my self more happy in the beginnings of our Christian allyance and eternal duration of it when we shall pass from this state of grace to that of glory How glorious must your entrance be into the Holy Land for Persons placed in so high a station by holy example command their attendants when you enter into the land of promise your numerous train must follow in which retinue to be admitted is the humble and hearty Prayer of Madam Your Ladyships most humble Servant and Relation R. A. THE PREFACE I Chose the Psalms of David for the Platform of my Devotions because nothing can be supposed more acceptable to God in duties of this nature than to follow his steps who was a man after God's own heart The Original is so well penned so full and lofty in its expressions that Cowley when he gave his censure of the Translators says that Shimei hardly reviled David more than some of them have done However I reckon not my self concerned in that charge seeing I follow the best Translation our Language bears Were this Book of Psalms duly weighed and considered men might find materials for their addresses to Heaven fitted for all states and conditions as if it were a mirrour of the Passages of Humane Life and comprehended all the desires and offices of a good man Though David's Composures were elegant and harmonious in their native dress yet 't was not the Instrument but the strings of his heart made the sweetest melody Nothing is more charming than a soul so well tuned so well skill'd in all the parts of Divine musick Thus we joyn consort with the harmony of the sphears we may be assured that the Eccho is rebounded with the exultation and Hallelujahs of Heaven it self CHOICE MEDITATIONS Out of the PSALMIST SErve the Lord with fear and rejoyce unto him with reverence 2.11 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself the Lord will hear me when I call upon him 4.3 Offer the sacrifices of Righteousness and put your trust in the Lord v. 5. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee 5.4 For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield 12. God judgeth the Righteous and God is angry with the Wicked every day If he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready 7.11 12. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God For the Needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever 9.17 18. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but the Wicked and him that loveth violence his Soul hateth For the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright 11.56.7 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that pusseth at him The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a furnace of Earth purified seven times in the fire 12.5 6. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of Men to see if there were any that would understand and seek after God 14.2 Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his Heart 15.1 2. In whose eyes a vise person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord he that sweareth to his neighbour and disappointeth him not Thou wilt shew me the path of Life in thy presence is the fulness of joy at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore 16.11 I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies 18.3 I was upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore the Lord hath recompenced me according to my Righteousness and according to the cleanness
of mine hand in his eye-sight With the merciful thou shalt shew thy self merciful with an upright man thou shalt shew thy self upright vers 23 24 25. He delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent Man Great deliverance giveth he to his King and sheweth mercy to his anointed to David and to his Seed for evermore vers 48 51. The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work 19.1 The Lord hear thee in the day of Trouble the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee 20.1 Grant thee according to thine own heart and fulfil all thy Counsel vers 4. Our Fathers trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them 22.4 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted neither hath he hid his face from him but when he cryed unto him he heard him vers 24. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall want nothing 23.1 He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his Soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully 24.4 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the Lord of his Salvation Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thy honour dwelleth 26.8 Wait upon the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord 27.14 I hate them that regard lying vanities but I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble thou hast known my Soul in adversities 31.6 7. For my life is spent with grief my strength faileth me because of my Iniquity and my bones are consumed vers 10. Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven and whose Sin is covered Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose spirit is no Guile I acknowledge my Sin unto thee and mine Iniquities have I not hid I said I will confess my Transgression unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my Sin Be glad in the Lord ô ye Righteous and rejoyce and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart 32.1 2 5 11. He loveth Righteousness and Judgment the Earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Let all the Earth fear the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of him The Lord looketh from Heaven he beholdeth all the Sons of Men. Depart from evil and do good seek Peace and pursue it From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth He fashioneth all their hearts alike he considereth their works There is nothing saved by the multitude of an Host neither a mighty man delivered by great strength Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and upon them that hope in his mercy To deliver their Soul from Death and to keep them alive in Famine 33.5 8 13 14 15 16 18 19. I will bless the Lord at all times his praise shall continually be in my mouth O magnifie the Lord with me and let us extol his Name together I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears The poor cryeth and the Lord heareth him and saveth him out of all his troubles The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them O taste and see how good the Lord is to them that fear him and trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him The â—â—ons do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good Keep thy Tongue from evil and thy Lips from speaking guile Depart from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it The Eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous and his Ears open unto their cry The Face of the Lord is against them that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit Many are the troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all Evil shall slay the Wicked and they that hate the Righteous shall be desolate The Lord redeemeth the Souls of his Servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate 34.1 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22. For he flattereth himself in his own Eye until his abominable Sins be found to be abominable For with thee is the fountain of Life and in thy Light shall we see Light O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee and thy righteousness to them that are upright in heaâ—â—â— 36.2 9 10. Fret not thy self because of the evil doers neither be envious against the workers of iniquity For they shall soon be cut down like the Grass and wither as the green herb Trust in the Lord and be doing good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Rest in the Lord and wait patiently upon him fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way because of the man that bringeth wicked devices to pass Cease from anger and forsake wrath fret not thy self in any wise to do evil For evil doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord they shall inherit the Land A little that the Righteous man hath is better than the riches of the ungodly The Wicked borroweth and payeth not again but the Righteous sheweth mercy and giveth For such as be blessed of God shall inherit the Land and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off The steps of a good man is blessed of the Lord and he delighteth in his way Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand I have been young and now am old yet never saw I the Righteous forsaken nor their seed begging their Bread He is ever merciful and lendeth and his Seed is blessed Wait on the Lord and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the Land when the Wicked are cut off thou shalt see it I have seen the Wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay-tree Yet he passeth away and lo he was gone yea I sought him but he could not be found Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace The Salvation of the Righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in the time of trouble And the Lord shall help them and deliver them from the
help me Forsake me not O my God when I am gray-headed until I have shewn thy strength unto this generation and thy power to all them that are yet for to come What great trouble and adversity hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea and broughtest me from the depth of the Earth again O let not the simple go away ashamed but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy name O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that right soon for I am come to great misery help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sins for thy Names sake Turn us O God of our salvation Shew the light of thy countenance and we shall be whole O God of Hosts how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that pray O most merciful God who art great and the multitudes of thy mercies are innumerable Have mercy upon me for my sins are before me presented by the continual accusations of a troubled conscience I have sinned against thee and done evil in thy sight and yet because thou art the God of mercy and fountain of eternal life delighting in the conversion and salvation of a sinner I present unto thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit of a broken and a contrite heart beseeching thee to let the dew of thy favour and the fire of thy love wash away my sins and purifie my soul. Make me a clean heart O God and pure hands though my sins be as scarlet yet make them like wooll though they be as purple yet make them as white as snow Restore the voice of joy and gladness unto me Let me not be ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy favour and presence but give me the comforts of thy help again and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of sin and stablish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God so shall I sing of thy Righteousness and my Lips shall give thee praise in the Congregations of thy Redeemed ones now henceforth and for ever-more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and doest forgive the Sins of all them that be penitent create and make in me a new and contrite Heart that I may worthily lament my Sins and acknowledge my Wickedness that I may obtain of thee the God of all comfort perfect Remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen Another Collect. ALmighty God who through thy only Son Jesus Christ hast overcome Death and opened unto us the Gate of Everlasting Life I humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou doest put in our Minds good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who Liveth and Reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer that we may trust in God only in all our trouble TUrn again thou God of Hosts look down from Heaven behold and visit thy Servant O Lord God of Hosts hear my Prayers hearken O God of Jacob behold O God my defender and look upon the face of thine Anointed O Lord God of Hosts blessed is the Man that putteth his Trust in thee Turn thou me O God of my Saviour and let thine Anger cease from me Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy Salvation Bow down thine ear O Lord and hear me for I am poor and in misery Preserve thou my Soul for I am thy Servant my God save him that putteth his trust in thee Be merciful unto me O Lord for I will daily call upon thee comfort the Soul of thy Servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul for thou O Lord art my Defender and thou art good and gracious and of great mercy to all them that Call upon thee give ear O Lord unto my Prayer and ponder the voice of my humble desires in the time of trouble will I call upon thee for thou hearest me for thou art good and doest wonderful things thou art God alone teach me thy way O Lord for I will walk in thy Truth O knit my Heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name I will thank thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and will praise thy Name for evermore for great is thy Mercy towards me for thou hast delivered my Soul from the neathermost Hell and thou Lord God art full of mercy and compassion long-suffering and of great goodness and Truth O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy Servant and help the Son of thine Handmaid Shew some good Token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helpen and confirmed me O Lord God of my Salvation I have lamented Day and Night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence Encline thine Ear unto my Calling for my soul is full of Trouble and my Life draweth nigh unto Hell thine Indignation lyeth hard upon me and thy hand presseth me sore Unto thee O Lord do I cry and early shall my Prayer come before thee O Lord why oppressest thou my Soul and hidest thy face from me I am in misery like unto him that is at the point of Death Even from my youth up thy Terrours have I suffered with a troubled Mind O Lord God of Hosts who is like unto thee Thy Truth most mighty God is on every side for the Lord is on my side The Lord God of Israel is my Defence the holy One of Israel is my King O Lord where is thy old loving kindness which thou swarest unto David thy Servant in thy Truth Remember Lord the Rebuke that I thy Servant have and how I do bear in my bosom the Rebuke of many People O Lord thou hast been our Refuge from one Generation to another O teach me to number my daies that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom O turn thee again O Lord at the last and be gracious unto thy Servant Satisfie me with thy mercy that soon so shall I rejoyce at thy mercy and be glad all the days of my Life O comfort thou me again after the time wherein thou hast plagued me and for the years wherein I have suffered Adversity Shew thy Servants thy Work and their Children thy Glory for the Lord promised his Blessing and Life for ever more When I called upon thee thou holdest me and enduest my Soul with much strength 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 thou art about my path and about my bed and espiest out all my waies for loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether Look well O Lord if there be any waies of
until he seeth his desire upon his enemies therefore not unto us O Lord not unto us but give the praise unto thy Name for thy loving mercy for thy Truth sake as for our God he is in Heaven he hath done whatsoever pleased him Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful O blessed Jesu who didst descend from Heaven into the womb of the blessed Virgin like Rain into a fleece of wooll thou that punishest the wrong doer and defendest the Children of the poor and them that have no helper have mercy upon thy Church be pleased by her Ministry to extend thy blessing upon thy dominion from the one Sea to the other even to the worlds end that all the Kings of the earth may fall down before thee and all Nations may do thee service Make thy righteous people to flourish and subdue their enemies under them deliver them from falshood and wrong that they may be blessed with abundance of grace and be satisfied with thy righteousness and salvation through thy mercies O blessed Saviour and Redemer Jesu Amen The Collect. THE Lord of all power and might who art the Author and giver of all good things graft in my heart the love of thy Name increase in me true Religion inrich me with all goodness and of thy great mercy keep me in the same through Jesus my Lord. Amen A Prayer that we may have our portion in God and not in the good things of the men of this world O Lord God who art loving unto all thy people even unto such as are of a clean heart give me a heart humble and merciful that I may never be holden with pride nor overwhelmed with cruelty and sanctifie my words and lips that I may never blaspheme thy holy Name nor my talking be ever against thee or thy honour O God most highest give unto me such religious and mortified affections that I may never thirst after temporal advantages and prosperity of the world Set not my feet in slippery places lest I be suddenly cast down and have my portion in the lot of the wicked who perish and come to a fearful end Guide me with thy counsel that I holding me fast by thee and putting my trust in thee O God thou mightest be the strength of my heart the hope of my soul and the ground of all the confidence and content in this life and after this life is ended thou mayest receive me with glory and be my portion for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer that we may fear God's Judgments and be freed from the terrours of men and a Motive to move thereunto THE Lord preserveth the simple I was in misery and he helped me for his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards me and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever Praise the Lord O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious because his mercy endureth for ever I called upon the Lord in trouble and he heard me The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me The Lord taketh my part with them that help me therefore I shall see my desire upon mine enemies It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in Princes The Lord is my strength and my song he is become my salvation The Lord hath chastened and corrected me but he hath not given me over unto death Help me now O Lord send me now prosperity Thou art my God I will praise thee Thou chargest that I should diligently keep thy Commandments O that my waies were made so direct that I might keep thy Statutes so shall I not be confounded while I have respect unto thy Commandments I will keep thy Testimonies O forsake me not utterly Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy Statutes I have had as great delight in the waies of thy Testimonies as in all manner of riches My delight shall be in thy Statutes and I will not forget thy Word therefore O Lord do well unto thy servant that I may live and keep thy Word Open thou mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law Turn not from me neither rebuke me for I have kept thy Statutes My soul melteth away for very heaviness O comfort thou me according to thy Word Take from me the way of lying and cause thou me to make much of thy Law I have chosen the way of Truth and thy Judgments have laid before me I have stuck unto thy Testimonies O Lord confound me not O Lord God whose dwelling is in the Heaven and thy Name is great in all the world plant the dread and reverence of thee and thy power in my heart Let threatnings and thy Judgments which are heard from Heaven and executed upon disobedient and gainsaying people make me to tremble at the remembrance of my sins and in consideration of my weaknesses and demerits and let thy mercies and the remembrance of thy infinite loving kindnesses make my heart still full of eavenness and tranquility that I may not fear the fierceness of man or the wrath of those spirits thou can refrain lest I be disturbed in my duty towards thee that I never offend against thee but may pass from fear to love from apprehensions of thy wrath to the sense and comforts of thy mercies through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. O God whose never failing providence ordereth all things both in Heaven and Earth I humbly beseech thee to put away from me all hurtful things to give me those things that be profitable for me through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer that God may remove from me all fearfulness and doubt of his favour and mercy TEach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the end Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall keep it with my whole heart Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein is my delight Incline my heart to thy Testimonies and not to covetousness O turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanities and quicken thou me in thy way O stablish thy Word in thy servant that I may fear thee Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of for thy Judgments are good Behold my delight is in thy Commandments O quicken me in thy Righteousness O take not the word of thy Truth utterly out of my mouth for my hope is in thy Judgments so shall I alway keep thy Law yea for ever and ever O think upon thy servant as concerning thy Word wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust the same is my comfort in my trouble for thy Word hath quickened me O turn me into true understanding and knowledge for I have believed thy Commandments Before I was troubled I went wrong but now I have kept thy Word Thou art good and gracious O teach me thy Statutes It is good for me that I have been in trouble that
I might learn thy Statutes O let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy Law is my delight O let my heart be sound in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed O quicken me after thy loving kindness so shall I keep the Testimony of thy mouth If my delight had not been in thy Law I should have perished in my trouble I will never forget thy Commandments for with them thou hast quickened me I am thine O save me for thy mercies sake for I have sought thy Commandment The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me but I will consider thy Testimonies I desire to refrain my feet from every evil way that I may keep thy Word I am troubled above measure quicken me O Lord according to thy Word and deliver me for thy mercy sake O God who dost wonders and hast declared thy power amongst all people let the observation of thy mercies and loving kindnesses make deep impression in my heart and memory that when I am in heaviness I may remember the years of thy right hand and call to mind the wonders of old time although thou sometime withdrawest the brightness of thy countenance from me and shuttest up thy loving kindness in sore displeasure yet the experience of thy old mercies which never fail may sustain mine infirmities and the expectation of thy loving kindnesses may cure all my impatience till in thy due time the sense of thy favours may actually relieve all my distresses and thy right hand lead me like a sheep into the folds of eternal rest and security through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. GRant unto me O Lord I humbly beseech thee the Spirit to think and do all such things as be rightful that I who cannot do any thing that is good without thee may be enabled to live according to thy Will through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for God's free mercy in the the pardon of my sins and a prayer for the continuance and the increase of his mercies to me LET the free-will offering of my mouth please thee O Lord and teach me thy Judgments I have applied my heart to fulfill thy Statutes alwaies even unto the end Thou art my defence and my shield and my trust is in thy Word O stablish me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be disappointed of my hope Hold thou me up and I shall be safe yea my delight shall ever in thy Statutes I desire with my whole heart to do the thing that is lawful and right O give me not over unto my oppressors O make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good that they which hate me do me no wrong O deal with thy servants according to thy loving kindness and teach me thy Statutes I am thy servant O grant me understanding that I may know thy Testimonies it is time for thee Lord to lay too thy hand for they have destroyed thy Law therefore hold I straight all thy Commandments for all false waies I utterly abhor O look upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name O most gracious God who art reconciled unto me in my Saviour Jesus having for his sake forgiven the offences of thy people and covered all their sins with the Robe of his most immaculate sanctity and Righteousness Let thy grace convert and quicken me that I may rejoyce in thee and thy salvation in faith of thy promises in the hope of actual communication and of thy mercy to me and in love to thee for so a great blessing and redemption and when thou hast spoken peace to my soul and reconciled me to thy self in the blood of thy Son give me the grace of perseverance that I may never turn again to folly but may follow mercy and truth all my daies and at last be satisfied with thy Righteousness and peace eternal through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. LET thy merciful ears O Lord be open to the Prayers of thy humble servant and that he may obtain his petitions make me to ask such things as shall please thee through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for sanctity and preservation ORder my steps in thy Word O Lord so that no wickedness have dominion over me Deliver me from the deceitful dealings of men so shall I keep thy Commandments Shew the light of thy countenance upon thy servant and teach me thy Statutes Righteous art thou O Lord and true in thy Judgments Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me yet my delight is in thy Commandments Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it Except the Lord keep the City the watchman watcheth but in vain I looked for the Lord my soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption for he shall deliver Israel from all his sins Behold how good and joyfull a thing it is to dwell together in unity thy Name O Lord endureth for ever so doth thy memorial O Lord from one generation to another For the Lord will avenge his people and be gracious to his servants O Lord God good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee give ear unto my prayers and ponder the voice of my humble desire whenever I call upon thee in my trouble Let the soul of thy servant be refreshed with thy comforts and defend me from the congregations of proud and naughty men Turn thee unto me with mercy give thy strength unto me teach me thy Law make me to walk in thy Truth give me the fear of thy Name and knit my heart unto thee with the indissoluble bands of charity and obedience that my soul being saved from the neathermost hell I may worship in spirit and truth which thou hast manifested unto me in my deliverance and redemption through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. O Lord who declarest thy Almighty Power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity mercifully grant unto me such a measure of thy grace that I running the waies of thy Commandments may obtain thy gracious promises and be made partaker of thy heavenly treasure through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer in time of Sickness and in danger of Death THE Lord is loving unto every man and his mercy is over all his works The eyes of all wait upon thee O Lord and thou givest them their meat in due season Thou openest thy hand and fillest all things living with plentiousness The Lord is righteous in all his waies and holy in all his works The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him yea all such as call upon him faithfully He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he will hear their cry and will help them The Lord will preserve all them that love him but
have not loved thee with my whole heart nor feared thee with all my soul nor served thee with all my might according to thy holy precepts nor loved my neighbour as my self Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I Have been an unprovident Steward of the good things thou hast given me I have loved them inordinately and sought after them greedily and unjustly dispenced them idly and parted with them unwillingly I have not been so charitable to the poor or so pitiful to the afflicted or so compassionate to the sick or so apt to succour and give supplies to the miseries of my neighbours as I ought but have too much minded things below not seting my affections upon Heaven and heavenly things but have been unlike thee in many things I have been unmerciful and unjust Lord be merciful unto me a sinner MIne Eyes O Lord have wandred after vanity beholding and looking after things unseemly without displeasure despising my neighbours prying into their faults but have been blind not seeing mine own sins and infinite irregularities Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I Have employed all my members and faculties both of soul and body in the waies of unrighteousness I have transgressed in all my relations and in all my actions and traverses of my whole life even when I might have had most confidence I find nothing but weakness and imperfection Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I Have broken my vows and purposes of obedience and holy life I have been inconstant to all good refractory to counsels disobedient to commands stubborn against admonition churlish and ungentle in my behaviour mindful and revengful of injuries forgetful of benefits seeking my own ends deceiving my own soul. Lord be merciful unto me a sinner MY secret sins O Lord are innumerable sins secret to my self through inadvertency forgetfulness wilful ignorance or stupid negligence secret to the world committed before thee only under the witness of mine own conscience I am confounded with the multitude of them and the horrour of their remembrance Lord be merciful unto me a sinner O Son of David blessed Redeemer Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Jesu be a Jesus unto me thou that savedst thy servant Peter that denied thee thrice thou that didst cast seven Devils out of Mary Magdalen and forgavest the woman taken in adultery and didst bear the converted Thief from the Cross to the joyes of Paradice have mercy upon me also for although I have massed together more sins than all these in conjunction yet not their sins nor mine nor the sins of all the world can equal thy glorious mercy which is as infinite and eternal as thy self I acknowledge O Lord that I am vile but yet redeemed with thy precious blood I am blind but thou art the Light of the world I am weak but thou art a strong Rock I have been dead in trespasses and sins but thou art my Resurrection and my Life thou O Lord lovest to shew mercy and the expressions of thy mercy the nearer they come to infinite the more proportionable they are to thy essence and like thy self Behold then O Lord a fit object for thy pity my sins are so great and many that to forgive all will be but an act of glorious mercy and all the praises which did accrew to thy Name by the forgiveness of David and Manesseh and St. Paul and the Adulteress and the Thief and the Publican will be multiplied to thy honour in the forgiveness of me so vile so unworthy a wretch that I have nothing to say for my self but that the greatness of my misery is a fit object for thy miraculous and infinite mercy Despise me not O Lord for I am thy Creature Despise me not for thou didst die for me Cast me not away in thine anger for thou comest to seek me and to save me Say unto my soul Thou art my salvation Let thy Holy Spirit lead me from the errours of my waies into the paths of Righteousness to great degrees of Repentance through all the parts of a holy life to a godly and a holy death grant this O blessed Jesus for thy mercy for thy pity sake Amen A penitential Prayer for the Morning with particular Confession of sins desiring God earnestly to free him from the guilt and punishment that is due unto him for his many and great sins and to give him grace to lead a new life O Eternal God most gracious and merciful Father look not upon me as I am in my self but look upon me in the face of Jesus Christ in him and through him be merciful unto me according to thy Word for I have done amiss and dealt wickedly I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy Son or numbred amongst the meanest of thy servants yet my sins are but the sins of a mortal man but thy mercy is the mercy of an Infinite God therefore have mercy on my sinful soul pardon and forgive me all my known and secret sins which in thought word and deed I have done and committed against thy Divine Majesty for it repenteth me of my evil deeds therefore O Lord have mercy upon me pardon and forgive the sins of my youth and age which are many and great namely the wicked sins of my pride anger dissimulation lying lust unjust dealing too much love of the world and the vanity thereof too little love of thee and thy Kingdom but empty and void of all spiritual grace be merciful unto me O Lord for these are the sins wherewith I have grieved thy Holy Spirit O Lord the remembrance of them is grievous unto me and the burthen of them is intollerable too heavy for me to bear therefore O Lord God be merciful to me according to thy tender compassion bury them all in the burial of Christ set the weight of thy mercy upon them so that they may never rise up in this world to shame me nor in the world to come to condemn me O Lord give me an assurance of the free pardon and forgiveness for these many sins that I may rejoyce in the greatness of thy mercy and magnify thy holy Name to all Eternity for the future give me greater measure of grace to serve honour and humbly obey thee with all the strength of my heart soul and body Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may express all faith in thee Mercifully hear the humble supplications of thy poor servant and grant me thy peace all my daies graciously pardon all mine infirmities and defend me from all dangers of soul and body this day and for ever more O Lord guide me in this world with thy counsel and after this bring me to thy glory O Lord bless all thine all the world over all mankind especially this sinful Land and Nation wherein we live turning from us those plagues which the sins of this
that we may derive from thee by this mystery grace to expel our sins to mortifie all our lusts to exterminate all concupiscence to crucifie all inordinate irregularities to produce in us humility and chastity and obedience and meekness of spirit and charity and let us not be harmed by the violence invasions of all our ghostly enemies and temporal disadvantages and give us grace and favour that we may not die in the commission of a sin without repentance nor without receiving the blessed Sacrament but that we may so live and die that we may at last rest in thy bosom and be embraced with the comprehensions of thy eternal Charity who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen Prayers preparatory to Death A Prayer for a Blessed Ending to be said in time of Health or Sickness O Blessed Jesu fountain of eternal Mercy the life of the soul and glorious Conquerour over Death and Sin I humbly beseech thee to give me grace so to spend this transitory life in vertue and holy exercises that when the day of my death shall come in the midst of all my pains I may feel the sweet refreshings of thy holy Spirit comforting my soul sustaining my infirmities and relieving all my spiritual necessities and grant that in the unity of the holy Catholick Church and in the integrity of Christian Faith with confidence and hope of thy mercy in great love towards thee in peace towards my neighbours and in charity with all the world I may through thy grace depart hence out of this vail of misery and go into that glorious Country where thou hast purchased an inheritance for us with the price of thy most precious blood and reignest in it gloriously in the unity of thy Father and ours of thy Holy Spirit and our ghostly Comforter ever one God world without end Amen All blessing and praise and honour be unto thee O blessed Redeemer and to thee I the banished and miserable Son of Adam do call for mercy and defence in this needful time of trouble to thee I sigh and cry in the valley of tears O dearest Advocate turn those thy merciful eyes towards me and shew me thy glorious face in thy heavenly Kingdom where no tears or sighing or fears or sadness can approach Amen sweetest Jesu Amen A Prayer to be said in the beginning of Sickness O Lord my God who chastisest every one whom thou receivest and with thy fatherly correction smitest those whom thou consignest to the inheritance of Sons write my soul in the book of life and number me amongst thy chosen children whom thou hast smitten with the Rod of Sickness and by thy chastisements hast brought me into the lot of the Righteous Thou O blessed Jesus who art a helper in the needful time of trouble lay no more upon me than thou shalt enable me to bear and let thy gentle corrections in this life prevent the unsupportable stripes of thy vengeance in the life to come Smite me now that thou mayest spare me to all eternity and yet O blessed High Priest who art touched with a sense of our infirmities smite me friendly and reprove me with such a tenderness as thou bearest unto thy children to whom thou conveyest supplicatory comforts greaten not the pains of thy chastisements and in due time restore me to health and to thy solemn Assemblies again and to the joy of thy countenance Give me patience and humility and the grace of Repentance and an absolute dereliction of my self and resignation to thy pleasure and providence with a power to do thy Will in all things and then do what thou pleasest with me in health or sickness in life or death let me feel thy comforts refreshing my soul and let thy grace pardon all my sins grant this O heavenly Father for thy dear Sons sake my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for a sick person in danger of Death O Lord Jesus Christ our health and our salvation our life our hope and our resurrection from the dead I resign my self up to thy holy will and pleasure either to life that I may live longer to thy service and my amendment or to death to the perpetual enjoyment of thy presence and of thy glory into thy hands I commend my spirit for I know O Lord that nothing can perish which is commited to thy mercy I believe help thou my unbelief I believe O Lord that I shall receive my body again at the resurrection of the Just I relinquish all care of that only I beg of thee mercy for my soul strengthen it with thy grace against all temptation let thy loving kindness defend it as with a shield against all violence and hostile assaults of Satan let the same mercy be my guard and defence which protected thy Martyrs crowning them with victory in the midst of flames horrid torments and most cruel deaths There is no help in me O Lord I cannot by my own strength or power give a minutes rest to my wearied body but my trust is in thy mercies and I call to mind to my unspeakable comfort that thou wert hungry and thirsty and wearied and whipt and crowned with thorns and mocked and crucified for me O let that mercy of thine which made thee suffer so much pardon me and save me let thy merits answer for my impieties let thy Righteousness cover my sins thy blood wash away my stains and thy comforts refresh my soul as my body grows weaker let thy grace be stronger let not my faith doubt nor my hope tremble nor my charity grow cold nor my soul be afrighted with the terrours of death but let the light of thy countenance enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death eternal and when my tongue fails let thy Spirit teach my heart with strong crying and groans that are unutterable O let not the enemy do me any violence but let thy holy mercies and thy Angels repel and defeat his malice and find that my soul may by thy strength triumph in the joys of eternity in the fruition of thee my life my joy my hope my exceeding great reward my Lord and and my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer for a dying person in or near the Agonies of Death MOst merciful and blessed Saviour have mercy upon the soul of this servant remember not his ignorance nor the sins of his youth nor age but according to thy great mercies remember him in the mercies and glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers O let the everlasting gates be opened and receive his soul let the Angels who rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner triumph and be exalted in his deliverance and salvation Make him partaker of the benefits of thy holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Ascension and all the Prayers of the Church that the Joy of the Elect and the Fruits of the blessed Communion of the
end everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiving O Thou Father of mercy who art kind even to the unthankful I acknowledge my self to have abundantly experimented that gracious property of thine for notwithstanding my daily provocations against thee thou still heapest mercy and loving kindness upon me all my contemnings and despisings thy spiritual favours hath not yet made thee withdraw them but yet in the riches of thy goodness thou still continuest to me the offers of thy grace and life in thy Son and all my abuses of thy temporal blessings thou hast not punished with an utter depravation of them but still art pleased to afford me a liberal portion of them the sins of this day thou hast not repayed as justly thou mightest by sweeping me away with a swift destruction but hast spared me and preserved me according to the greatness of thy mercy here mention the particular mercies of this day What shall I render unto the Lord for all these benefits he hath done unto me Lord let this goodness of thine lead me to hearty repentance and grant that I may not only offer thee thanks and praise but may also order my conversation aright that so I may at the last see the salvation of God through Jesus Christ. Amen Here use the Prayer for grace and that Intercession appointed for the morning For Preservation O Blessed Lord keeper of Israel that neither slumberest nor sleepest be pleased in thy mercy to watch over me this night keep me by thy grace from the works of darkness and defend me by thy power from all dangers grant me moderate rest and sleep such as may fit me for the duties of the next day following and Lord make me ever mindful of that time when I shall lie down in the dust and I know neither the day nor the hour of my Master's coming grant me grace that I may alwaies fear thee and that I may never live in such a state as I shall fear to die but that whether I live I may live unto the Lord or whether I die I may die unto the Lord so that living and dying I may be thine through Jesus Christ. Amen Let thy Bed put thee in mind of thy grave and when thou lyest down say O Blessed Saviour who by thy precious death and burial didst take the sting of death and the power of the grave grant me the joyful fruits of that victory and be thou to me in life and death advantage I will lay me down in peace and take my rest for it is thou O Lord only that makest me dwell in safety into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O Lord thou God of Truth Collects for several Graces For Faith O Blessed Lord seeing without Faith it is impossible to please thee let thy Spirit I beseech thee work in me such a Faith as may be acceptable in thy sight even such as worketh by Love O let me not rest in a dead ineffectual Faith but grant that it may be such as may shew it self by my works that it may be that victorious Faith which may enable me to overcome the world and conform me to the Image of that Christ on whom I believe that so at the last I may receive the end of my Faith even the salvation of my soul by the same Jesus Christ. Amen For the Love of God O Holy and gracious Lord who art infinitely excellent in thy self and infinitely bountiful and compassionate towards me I beseech thee suffer not my heart to be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin but let the offers of thy Love make deep impressions on my soul. Lord thou art pleased to require my heart and thou only hast right to it O let me not be so sacriligiously unjust as to alienate any part of it but enable me to render it up whole and entire to thee but O my God thou seest it already usurped the world with its vanities hath seized it and like a strong man armed keeps possession O thou who art stronger come upon him and take this unworthy heart of mine as thine own spoil refine it with that purifying fire of thy Love that it may be a fit habitation for thy Spirit Lord if thou seest it be pleased to make me taste of those Joyes those ravishments of thy Love wherewith thy soul hath been so transported But if in this I know not what I ask if I may not chuse my place in thy Kingdom yet O Lord deny me not to drink of thy Cup let me have such a sincerity and degree of Love as may make me endure any thing for thy sake such a perfect Love as may cast out all fear and all sloth too that nothing may seem to me grievous to suffer or too difficult to do in obedience to thee that so expressing my love by keeping thy Commandments I may by thy mercy at last obtain that Crown of Glory which thou hast promised to those that love thee through Jesus Christ. Amen For Devotion in Prayer O Most gracious Lord God who not only permittest us miserable sinners and needy creatures to present our petitions to thee grant I beseech thee that the frequency of my prayer may be somewhat proportionable to those continual needs I have of thy mercy Lord I confess it is the greatest honour and greatest advantage thus to be allowed access to thee yet sottish and stupid is my prophane heart that it shuns or frustrates the opportunities of it My soul O Lord is possest with a spirit of infirmity it is bowed together and can in no wise lift up it self to thee O be thou pleased to cure this sad this miserable disease to raise and enliven this earthly drowsy heart that it may freely mount towards thee that I may set a true value on this most valuable priviledge and take delight in my approaching to thee and that my approaches may be with a reverence some way answerable to that awful Majesty I come before with an importunity and earnestness answerable to those pressing wants I have to be supplied and with such a fixed attention of mind as no wandring thoughts may interrupt that I may no more incur the guilt of drawing near to thee with my lips when my heart is far from thee or my prayers turned into sin but may so ask that I may receive seek that I may find knock that it may be open unto me that from praying to thee here I may be translated to the praising thee eternally in thy glory through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ. Amen For the Fear of God O Most glorious Majesty who only art High and to be feared possess my soul with a holy awe and reverence of thee that I may give thee the honour due to thy Name and may bear such a respect to all things which relate to thee that I may never prophane any holy thing or sacriligiously invade what thou hast set
apart to thy self And O Lord since thou art a God that wilt not clear the guilty let the dread of thy Justice make me tremble to provoke thee in any thing O let me not so mis-place my fear as to be afraid of a man that shall die and of the Son of Man who shall be made as grass and forget the Lord my Maker but replenish my soul with the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom which may be as a bridle to all my brutish appetites and keep me in a constant conformity to thy holy Will Hear me O Lord I beseech thee and put this fear in my heart that I may not depart from thee but may with fear and trembling work out my own salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen For Thankfulness O Most gracious and bountiful Lord who fillest all things with goodness and expectest no other return but praise and thanksgiving let me O Lord never defraud thee of that so easie tribute but let my heart be ever filled with a sense and my mouth with the acknowledgment of thy mercies It is a joyful and pleasant thing to be thankful O suffer me not I beseech thee to lose my part in that Divine pleasure but grant that as I daily receive blessings from thee so I may daily from an affectionate and devout heart offer up thanks to thee and grant that not only my lips but my life may shew forth thy praise by consecrating my self to thy service and walking in holiness and righteousness before thee all the daies of my life through Jesus Christ my Lord and blessed Saviour Amen For Chastity O Holy and Immortal Jesus whose first descent was into the Virgins Womb and who didst love to inhabit only in pure and Virgins hearts I beseech thee send thy Spirit of purity to cleanse me from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit My body O Lord is the Temple of the Holy Ghost O let me never pollute that Temple with any uncleanness and because out of the heart proceed the things that defile the man Lord grant me to keep my heart with all diligence that no impure or foul thoughts be harboured there but enable me I beseech thee to keep both soul and body pure and undefiled that so I may glorifie thee here both in body and soul and spirit and be glorified in both with Christ hereafter Amen For Contentedness O Merciful God thy Wisdom is infinite to chuse and thy Love forward to dispence good things to us O let me alwaies fully and entirely resign my self to thy disposals have no desire of my own but a perfect satisfaction in thy chusings for me that so in whatsoever state I am I may be therein content Lord grant I may never look with murmuring on my own condition nor with envy on other mens and to that end I beseech thee purge my heart of all covetous desires and affections O let me never yield any corner of my soul to Mammon but give me such a contempt of these fading riches that whether they decrease or increase I may never set my heart upon them but that all my care may be to be rich towards God to lay up my treasure in Heaven that I may so set my affections on things above that when Christ who is my life shall appear I may also appear with him in glory grant this O Lord for the merit of the same Jesus Christ. Amen For Perseverance O Eternal and unchangeable Lord God who art the same yesterday to day and for ever be thou pleased to communicate some rayes of that excellency some degree of that stability to me thy wretched creature who am light and unconstant turned about with every blast My understanding is very deceivable O stablish it with thy truth keep it from the snares of seducing spirits that I may not be lead away with the errours of the wicked and fall from mine own stedfastness My will also O Lord is irresolute and wavering and doth not cleave stedfastly unto God My goodness is but as a morning cloud and as the early dew it passeth away O strengthen and confirm me and whatsoever good thou hast wrought in me be pleased to accomplish it and perform it until the day of Christ. Lord thou seest my weakness and knowest the number and strength of those temptations I am to struggle with O leave me not to my self but cover thou my head in the day of battel and in all spiritual combats make me more than Conquerour through him that loved me O let no terrours or flatteries either of the world or my own flesh ever draw me from my obedience to thee but grant that I may continue stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord by patient continuance in well doing seeking and at last obtain glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament O Most merciful God who hast in thy great goodness prepared this Spiritual Feast for sick and famished souls make my desires and longings after it answerable to my needs of it I have with the Prodigal wasted that portion of grace thou bestowedst upon me therefore do infinitely want a supply out of this Treasury but O Lord how shall such a wretch as I dare to approach this holy Table I am a Dog how shall I presume to take the Childrens bread or how shall this spiritual Manna this food of Angels be given to one who hath chosen to feed on husks with Swine nay to one who hath already so often trampled these precious things under foot either carelesly neglecting or unworthily refusing those holy precious Mysteries O Lord my horrible guiltiness makes me tremble to come and makes me not dare to keep away for where O Lord shall my polluted soul be washed if not in this fountain which thou hast opened for sin and for uncleanness hitherto therefore I come and thou hast promised that him that cometh to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out This is O Lord the Blood of the New Testament grant to me so to receive it that it may be to me for remission of sins and though I have so often and so wickedly broken my part of that Covenant whereof this Sacrament is a seal yet be thou graciously pleased to make thine good to be merciful to my unrighteousness and to remember my sins and my iniquities no more and not only so but to put thy Laws in my heart and to write them in my mind and by the power of thy grace dispose my soul to such a sincere and constant obedience that I may never again provoke thee Lord grant that in these holy Mysteries I may not only commemorate but effectually receive my blessed Saviour and all the benefits of his passion and to that end give me such a preparation of soul as may qualifie me for it Give me a deep sense of my sins and unworthiness that being weary and heavy laden I
command what thou wilt and thou shalt find me willing to do what thou commandest and to observe thy blessed Will in all things to this end give unto me thy Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to the worlds end unto all thine elect people and let the same Holy Spirit purge my heart from the dross of my natural corruption heal my soul and body that they may become the Temple of the Holy Ghost to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life that when by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I shall finish my course in this short and transitory life I may cheerfully leave this world and resign my soul into thy fatherly hands in assured confidence of enjoying everlasting life with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect Saints who love the Lord Jesus and expect his appearing In the mean while O Father I beseech thee let thy Holy Spirit work in me such a serious repentance as that I may with tears lament my sins past with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present and with all my endeavours resist the like filthy sins for the time to come and let the same Holy Spirit keep me in the Unity of the Church lead me in the Truth of thy Word and preserve me that I may never swerve from the same to Popery or any other error or false Worship and let thy Spirit open mine eyes more and more to see the wondrous things of thy Law and open my lips that my mouth may set forth thy praise increase in me those good gifts with which thou hast already endowed me of thy mercy and give unto me a penitent spirit and a chaste heart a contented mind pure affections a wise behaviour and all other graces which thou seest necessary for me to govern my heart in thy fear and to guide all my life in thy favour that whether I live or die I may live and die unto thee who art my God and my Redeemer And here O Lord according as I am bound I render unto thee from the Altar of my humblest heart all possible thanks and praise for all those blessings and benefits which graciously and plentifully thou hast bestowed upon my soul and body for this life and that which is to come namely for my Election Creation Redemption Justification Sanctification and Preservation from my childhood until this present day and hour and for the firm hope which thou hast given me of my Glorification Likewise for my Life Liberty Food and Rayment a competent estate for the maintenance of this present life and prosperity more especially for that thou hast defended me this day now past from all peril and dangers both of body and soul furnishing me with all necessary good things that I stand in need of and as thou hast ordained the day for man to travel in and the night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee to sanctifie unto me this nights rest and sleep that I may be the better disposed to serve thee in all honesty and godliness and that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit that so dull and wearied a body of mine being refreshed with moderate rest and sleep I may be the better enabled to work before thee doing all such good works as thou hast provided for me and when it shall please thee by thy divine providence to awaken me the next morning do thou O Lord who art the keeper of Israel who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over me in thy holy providence to protect me from all dangers so that neither the evil Angels of Satan nor any wicked enemy may have any power to do me any harm or evil and to this end give a charge unto thy holy Angels that they at thy appointment may pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name and knowing that thy Name is a strong Tower of defence unto all those that trust therein I here recommend my self and all that belongs unto me unto thy holy protection and custody if it be thy blessed will to call for me in my sleep O Lord for Christ his sake have mercy upon me and receive my soul unto thy heavenly Kingdom and if it be thy blessed pleasure to add more daies to my life add more amendment unto my daies and wean my mind from the love of the world and the vanity thereof and cause me more and more to settle my conversation on Heaven and heavenly things and perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my sinful soul. O Lord I beseech thee likewise save and defend from all evil and danger thy whole Church our gracious King Charles and grant him a long and prosperous Raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless the Nobility Magistrates and Ministers of these Churches and Kingdoms each of them with those graces and benefits which are expedient for their places and callings and be thou O Lord a comfort and a consolation to all thy people whom thou hast thought meet to visit with any kind of sickness cross or poverty or calamity Hasten O Father the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ make me ever mindful of my last end and of the reckoning that I am to make unto thee therein and in the mean while carefully so to follow Christ in the generation during this life as that with Christ I may have a portion in the resurrection of Christ when this mortal life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou O Father knowest to be required and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son and in that form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another Short Evening Prayer O Eternal God and heavenly Father if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel and the example of Peter Mary Magdalen the Publican the Prodigal Child and many other penitent sinners that thou art so full of compassion and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts lamenting their sins and imploring thy grace I should despair for my own sins and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardness of my heart and the unruliness of my affection and the uncleanness of my conversation by means whereof I have transgressed all thy holy Laws and Commandments and deserved thy Curse which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease my soul to languish with the
like the high way which through hardness and want of true understanding receives not the seed till the evil one cometh and catcheth it away nor the stony ground which heareth with joy for a time but falleth away as soon as persecution ariseth for the Gospels sake nor like the thorny ground which by the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choaketh the Word which it heareth and maketh it altogether unfruitful but that like unto the good ground I may hear thy Word with an honest and a good heart understand it and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience in that measure that thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet for thy glory and mine everlasting comfort Open likewise I beseech thee O Lord the door of utterance unto thy faithful servant whom thou hast sent unto us to open our eyes that we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ and give me grace to submit my self to his Ministry as well when he terrifieth me with judgments as when he comforteth me with thy mercies and that I may have him in a singular love for his works sake because he watcheth for my soul as he that must give an account for the same unto his Master and give me grace to behave my self in the holy Congregation with comeliness and reverence as in thy presence and in the sight of thy holy Angels Keep me from drowsiness and sleepiness and from all wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations sanctifie my memory that it may be apt to receive and firm to remember those good and profitable doctrines which shall be taught unto us out of thy Word and that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may put the same lessons in practice for my directions in prosperity for my consolation in misery for the amendment of my life and the glory of thy Name and that this day which godless and prophane persons spend in their own lusts and pleasures I as an obedient servant of thine may make my chief delight to consecrate it to thy honour and glory not doing my own waies nor seeking mine own will nor speaking a vain word but that ceasing from the works of sin as well as from the work of my ordinary calling I may through thy blessing feel in my heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which with unspeakable joy glory I shall celebrate with thy Saints and Angels to thy praise and worship in thy heavenly Kingdom for evermore all which I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in that form of prayer which he hath taught me Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Private Evening Prayer for the Sabbath Day O Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath suffer me who am but dust and ashes to speak unto thy glorious Majesty I know that thou art a consuming fire I acknowledge that I am but wretched stubble my sins are in thy sight and Satan stands at my right hand to accuse me for them I come not to excuse but to judge my self worthy of all those judgments which thy justice might most justly inflict upon me a wretched creature for my sins and my transgressions the number of them is so great and the nature of them is so grievous that they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more loathsom in thy sight I confess they make me so far from being worthy to be called thy Son that I am altogether unworthy to have the name of thy meanest servant and if thou shouldest but recompence me according to my deserts the Earth as weary of such a sinful burden should open her mouth and swallow me up like one of Dathans Family into the bottomless pit of Hell for if thou didst not spare the natural branches those Angels of glorious excellency but hurledst them down from thy heavenly habitation in the pains of hellish darkness to be kept unto damnation when they sinned but once against thy Majesty and didst expel our first Parents out of Paradise when they did but transgress one of thy Laws Alas what a vengeance may I expect who have not offended in one sin only but heaping sin upon sin without any true Repentance drinking in iniquity as it were water ever pouring in but never pouring out any filthiness and transgressed all thy Laws and Commandments yea this present day thou hast straightly commanded me to keep holy to thy praise and worship I have not so religiously kept and observed nor prepared my soul in that holiness and chastity of heart as was fit to meet thy blessed Majesty in the holy Assembly of thy Saints I have not attended to the Preaching of thy Word nor to the administration of thy Sacrament with that humility reverence and devotion that I should for though I was present at those exercises in my body yet Lord I was overtaken with much drowsiness that when I was awake my mind was so distracted and carried away with vain and worldly thoughts that my soul seemed to be absent and out of the Church I have not so duly as I should meditated with my self nor conferred with my Family upon those good instructions which I have heard and received out of thy holy Word by the publick Minister for default whereof Satan hath stollen the most part of those instructions out of my heart and I wretched creature have forgotten them as though they had never been heard and my family doth not thrive in knowledge and satisfaction under my government as they should though I know that many of my poor Brethren live in want and necessity some in pain and comfortless yet I have not remembred to relieve the one with my alms nor the other with my consolations but have feasted my self and satisfied mine own lust I have spent most part of the day in idle talk vain sports and exercises yea Lord I have c. here confess what faults thou hast done that day by omission or commission and then fetching a deep sigh from thy heart and for all these my sins my conscience cries guilty thy Laws condemns me and I am in thy hand to receive the sentence and curse that is due to the wilful breach of so holy a Commandment but what if I am by the Law condemned yet Lord thy Gospel assures me that thy mercy is above all thy works and that thy grace transcends thy Law and thy goodness delights there to raign where sinners do most abound In the multitude of the mercies and merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour I beseech thee O Lord who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor desirest the death of a penitent sinner to pardon and forgive unto me all these my sins and all the errours of that day and of my whole life and free my soul
ingenious and free from sordid ends or servile flattery a modest gravity in my deportment affability a fair courteous demeanour towards all men austerity in condemning my own sins sweetness in fraternal correction and reprehending others mature judgment a chast body and a clean soul patience in suffering deliberation in my words and actions good counsels in all my purposes make me just in performing promises and in all my duties sedulous in my calling profitable to the Commonwealth a true Son of the Church and of a disposition meek and charitable towards all men Amen O Lord let thy grace be so present with me that though my body sleep yet my soul may for ever be watchful that I sleep not in sin or pretermit any opportunity of doing thee service Let the remembrance of thy goodness and glory be first and last with me and so unite my heart unto thee with habitual charity that all my actions and sayings may be directed to thy glory and every motion and inclination either of soul or body may in some capacity or other receive a blessing from thee and do thee service that whether I sleep or wake travel or rest eat or drink live or die I may alwaies feel the light of thy countenance shining so upon me that my labours may be easie my rest blessed my food sanctified and my whole life spent with so much sanctity and peace that scaping from the darkness of this world I may at last come to the land of everlasting rest in thy light to behold light and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and ever more Another Prayer for the Evening VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this habitation with thy mercy and us thy servants with thy salvation and repel far from us all the snares of the enemy Let thy holy Angels dwell here to keep us in peace and safety and thy blessing be upon us for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord Jesus Christ the lively Image of thy Fathers mercy and glory the Saviour of all them that put their trust in thee we offer and present to thee all our strength and powers of our souls and body and whatsoever we are or have to be preserved governed and possest by thee preserve us from all vitious vain and proud cogitations unchast affections from all those things which thou hatest grant us thy holy charity that we may love thee above all the world that we may with all sincerity of intention and zealous affections seek thee alone and in thee alone take our rest inseparably joyning our selves unto thee who art worthy to be beloved and adored of all thy creatures with lowest prostration and highest affection now and for ever more Amen O Father of mercies and God of all comfort let thy blessing be upon us and upon all the members of thy holy Church all health and safety both of body and soul assist us against all our enemies visible and invisible now and for ever more send us a quiet night and a holy death in the actual communion of the Catholick Church and in thy charity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now and in all dangers and afflictions of soul and body in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment save and deliver us O sweet Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen Short Prayers for several Occasions for the King O Lord our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings who in thy hands hast the heart of Kings and canst turn them as the Rivers of water send the light of thy countenance and abundance of blessings upon thy servant our Soveraign Lord King Charles make him as holy valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon zealous for the honour of thy Law and Temple as Josiah and give him all sorts of great assistances to enable him to serve thee to glorifie thy holy Name to protect thy Church to promote true Religion to overcome all his enemies to make glad all his people that he serving thee with all diligence and utmost of his endeavours his people may serve him with honour and obedience in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For the Queen O God of Heaven Father of all mercies have mercy upon our most gracious Queen unite her unto thee with the hands of faith and love preserve her to her lives end in thy favour and make her instrumental of glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of Joy to the all faithful people of this Kingdom and crown her with an eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For our Children O Father of Heaven God of all the creatures by whose providence mankind is increased I bless thy Name for bestowing on me that blessing of the righteous man the blessing of children Lord bless them with health with life and good understanding with fair opportunities and advantages of education society tutors and governours and above all with the graces of thy holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy protection grow in grace and be in favour with God and man and at last make up the number of thine elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband O My God who hast graciously been pleased to call me to the holy state of Matrimony bless me in it with the grace of chastity with loyalty obedience and complacency to my husband and bless him with long life with healthful body with an understanding soul with abundance of thy graces which may make him to be and continue thy servant a true Son of the Church and a supporter and guide to his Wife a blessing and a comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Of a Husband for his Wife O Merciful God who art a Father to us thy Children espouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and a Redeemer to all mankind have mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endow her with all the ornaments of thy heavenly grace make her to be holy and devout as Hester loving and amiable as Rachel fruitful as Leah that being filled with grace and benediction here she may be partaker of thy glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For safety in Childbirth O Blessed Jesu Son of the Eternal God who according to thy humility wert born of a holy Maid who conceived thee without sin and brought thee forth without pain have mercy upon me thy humble servant and as by thy blessing I have conceived so grant that by thy favourable assistance I may be safely delivered Lord grant me patience and strength and confidence in thee and send thy holy Angel to be my Guardian in the hour of my travel O shut not up my soul with sinners nor my life with them that go down to the
Pit I humbly also beg mercy for my Child grant a comely body and an understanding soul life and an opportunity of Baptism and thy grace from the cradle to his grave that it may increase the number of Saints in that holy fellowship of Saints and Angels where thou raignest and livest Eternal God world without end Amen Before a Journey O Lord who didst lead thy servants Abraham and Jacob thy people Israel thy servant Tobias and wise men of the East in their several Journies by thy providence by thy Ministry of Angels by a Pillar of Fire and by the guidance of a Star vouchsafe to preserve us thy servants in the way that we are now to go be O Lord a guide unto us in our preparation a shadow in the day and covering by night a rest to our weariness and a staff to our weakness a portion in adversity a protection from danger that by thy assistance we may perform our Journey safely to thy honour to our own comfort and last bring us to the everlasting Rest of our heavenly Country through him who is the way the truth and the life our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen For Afflicted persons O Lord God merciful and gracious Father whose compassion extends to all that are in misery and need that takest delight in relieving the distresses of the afflicted give refreshment to all the comfortless provide for the poor give ease to all them that are tormented with sharp pains health to the diseased liberty and redemption to the captives chearfulness of spirit to all them that are in great desolation Lord let thy Spirit confirm all them that are strong strengthen all them that are weak and speak peace to the afflicted conscience that the light of thy countenance being restored to them they may rejoyce in thy salvation and sing praises unto thy Name who hast delivered their souls from death their eyes from tears and their feet from falling grant this for the honour of thy mercy and the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer against Temptations O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thy Name is great thy Essence infinite thy Goodness is Eternal and thy Power hath no limit thou art the God and Father of all blessed for ever more look down in mercy and compassion from thy dwelling hear my prayers and supplications and deliver me from all temptations of the world the flesh and the Devil take not thy grace from me let me never want thy help in my need nor thy comfort in the day of my danger or calamity never try me beyond my strength nor afflict me beyond my patience nor smite me but with a fatherly Rod I have no strength of my own thou art my confidence my Rock and my strong salvation save me O God from the miseries of this world and never let me suffer the calamities of the next rescue me from the evils I have deserved and preserve me from the punishment of this world that living before thee with a clean heart and undefiled body and a sanctified spirit I may at the day of Judgment be presented pure and spotless by the blood of the Lamb that I may sing eternal Hallelujahs in heavenly places to the honour of God our Saviour who hath redeemed our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling grant this in the riches of thy mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A General Confesson ALmighty God I a miserable sinner do humbly confess that I am truly sorrowful for my many and great my innumerable and intollerable crimes of which my conscience does accuse me by night and by day and by which I have provoked thy severest wrath and indignation against me I have broken all thy Righteous Laws and Commandments by word or deed by vain thoughts or sinful desires I have sinned against thee in all my Relations and capacities in all places and at all times I can neither reckon their number nor bear their burden nor suffer thine anger which I have deserved but thou O Lord God art merciful and gracious have mercy upon me pardon me for all the evil I have done judge me not for all the good I have omitted take not thy favour from me but delight thou to sanctifie and save me and work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure all my duty which thou O Lord requirest of me that being sanctified by thy Spirit delivered from my sins I may serve thee in a religious and holy conversation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer used by His late Majesty in the time of his trouble and restraint O Most glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost I here humbly adore thy most sacred Majesty and I bless and magnifie thy Name for that thou hast been pleased so often and strangely to deliver me from the striving of my people Father forgive them who have thus risen up against me and do thou yet turn their hearts both unto thee and unto me and do thou afford me help that I being firmly established in the Throne thou hast placed me in may defend thy Church committed to my care and keep all this thine and my people in truth and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for pardon of Sin ALmighty and most merciful Father look down upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of Grace yea look upon me O Father through the mediation and in the merits of Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased for of my self I am not worthy to stand before thee or to speak with my unclean lips unto thee most holy and eternal God for as in sin I was conceived and born so likewise I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by my sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting my duties I ought to do and committing many vices which thou hast forbidden under pain of death of thy heavy displeasure As for my sins O Lord they are innumerable wherefore I stand here liable to all the miseries of this life and everlasting torment in that to come if thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts I confess Lord that it is thy mercy which endureth for ever and thy compassion which never fails which is the cause I have not been long ago consumed but with thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and by the merits of Jesus Christ I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not enter into judgment with thy servant nor be extream to mark what is done amiss but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all my sins and transgressions with that precious blood that my Saviour shed for me and I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away all my sins but also to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit from the dross
call O God of my Salvation for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble have mercy upon me and hearken to my Prayers Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me ponder my Words O Lord O Lord consider my Meditations O hearken thou unto the words of my calling my King and my God for unto thee will I make my Prayer my Voice shalt thou hear betimes in the Morning O Lord early in the morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in Wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Lead me O Lord in thy Righteousness because of my Enemies make my way plain before my face Let all them that put their trust in thee rejoyce they shall ever be giving of thanks because thou defendest them they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee O Lord rebuke me not in thine Indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed my soul also is sore troubled how long wilt thou punish me turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul and save me for thy mercies sake my Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer O let the wickedness of the Ungodly come to an end but guide thou the Just my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his Righteousness and will pray in the Name of the Lord the most High have mercy upon me O Lord consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me thou that liftest me up from the gates of death Why standest thou so far off O Lord and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble Arise O Lord God lift up thine head forget not the poor How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy Servant away in displeasure thou hast been my succour leave me nor neither forsake me O God of my Salvation O Son of Righteousness who comest from the bosom of thy Father the Fountain of Glory and Light to enlighten the darkness of the World I praise thy Name for that thou hast preserved me from the dangers of this Night and continued still the opportunities of serving thee and advanceing my hopes of a blessed Eternity Let thy mercy shine brightly and dissipate the Clouds and Darkness of my Spirit and Understanding rectifie my Affections and purifie my Will and all my Actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole Life my Word and purposes and thoughts may be Sanctified and acceptable to thy Divine Majesty And all this I beg for thy mercies sake Amen A Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the Supplications of thy Servant and grant me thy Grace all the days of my Life and Peace through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen The Second Collect. ALmighty and Everlasting God mercifully look upon mine Infirmities and in all my dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend me through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen A Prayer for a penitent Person for Remission of his sins HOw long shall I seek Counsel in my Soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall my Enemies triumph over me consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten my eyes that I sleep not in Death least mine Enemies say we have prevailed against him If I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at me but my trust is in thy Mercy and my Heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Lord most high Preserve me O God for in thee have I put my trust O hold up my going in thy path that my footstep slides not I have called upon thee O God for thou shalt hear me incline thine Ears unto me and hearken unto my words shew thy marvellous loving kindness unto me thou that art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee from such that resist thy right hand keep me as the Apple of thy Eye hide me under the shadow of thy wing from the ungodly that trouble me mine enemies compass me round about to take away my Soul disappoint him and cast him down deliver my Soul from the ungodly which is a Sword of thine I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies in my trouble I will call upon the Lord and complain unto my God so shall he hear my voice out of his holy Temple my complaint shall come before him it shall enter even into his Ear the Lord shall reward me after my Righteous dealing and according to the cleanness of my hand shall he recompence me but Lord deal not with me according to my sins neither reward me after mine Iniquities who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret sins keep thy Servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the Dominion over me so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence save Lord and hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee the Lord is my Shepherd therefore shall I lack nothing but be not thou far from me O Lord thou art my succour haste thee to help me unto thee O Lord will I lift up my Soul my God I have put my trust in thee let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me shew me thy ways O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me forth in thy Truth and learn me for thou art the God of my Salvation in thee hath been my hope all the day long call to remembrance O Lord thy tender mercy and thy loving kindness which hath been ever of old O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think upon me O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name sake O Lord be merciful to my sin for it is great turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and in misery the sorrows of my heart is enlarged O bring thou me out of my trouble look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins consider mine enemies how many they are that bear a tyrannous heart against me O keep my Soul and deliver me let me not be surrounded for I have put my trust in thee let perfect and righteous dealing wait upon me for my hope hath been in thee deliver
Name For I am weary of my groaning every night wash I my bed and water my Couch with my tears therefore haste thee to help me O Lord God of my salvation and they shall know how that this is thy hand and that thou Lord hast done it O Lord God my Helper and Redeemer have mercy upon me and all thy faithful people make haste and help us O God against all those that seek after our souls to do us mischief Make us to delight in thee to wait upon thy salvation to trust in thy mercies to rejoyce in thy excellencies and perfection that our feet being directed by thy guidance our weaknesses strengthened by thy power our sins pardoned by thy mercies and our souls justified by thy free grace we may alwaies give thee praise with the humble addresses of devotion and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Collect. O God who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's understanding pour into our hearts such love towards thee as pass man's understanding that we loving thee above all things may obtain thy promises which exceed all we can desire through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the continuance of God's Favour to me even to my old Age and longing for a happy departure O Lord God foolish men are plagued for their offences and because of their wickedness so when they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble he delivered them out of their dIstress O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men A fruitful Land maketh he barren for the wickedness of them that dwell therein yet he satisfies the empty soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death being fast bound in misery and Iron O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all The Earth is full of thy Riches O remember the marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth O ye seed of Abraham his servant ye children of Jacob his chosen he hath been alway mindfull of his Covenant and Promise that he made to a thousand generations in the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart thy comforts have refreshâ—d my soul for the Lord is my Refuge and my God is the strength of my confidence The Lord is a great God and King above all Gods O ye that love the Lord see that ye hate the thing that is evil The Lord preserveth the souls of his Saints he delivereth them from the hand of the ungodly Rejoyce in the Lord O ye righteous and give thanks in remembrance of his holiness O let me have understanding in the waies of godliness A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Mine eyes look upon such as be faithful in the Land that they may dwell with me Whoso leadeth a godly life shall be my servant There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the Land that I may root out all wicked doers O Lord God deliver me from among the wicked and save me for thy mercy sake and let not my wicked sins prevail against me Hear my prayers O Lord and let my cry come unto thee O Lord God my house of defence and my Castle who by thy mercies and loving Spirit hast taught me in thy waies from my first years until now thou hast brought me to great honour even the honour of being a Christian the honour of Adoption to be thy child and heir of thy glorious promises co-heirs with thy Son Jesus Christ and hast comforted me on every side with a continual stream of thy mercies and refreshments Give me thy grace that I may love thee and long for thee above all the things in this world As thou hast holpen me up ever since I was born so let thy mercy go along with me all the daies of my life Cast me not off in the time of Age. Give me grace that I may never cast thee off or thy Laws from me Let not thy grace and the great strength I derive from thy thee forsake me when my natural strength fails me but let my spirit grow upon the advantages of the flesh and begin to receive the happiness of Eternity by an absolute conquest over the weak and decaying body that after I have by thine Aid passed through the great troubles and adversities thou shewest unto all thy children in the world I may lye down in thy Righteousness and with thy favour that when thou bringest me out of the deep of the earth again I may have a joyful resurrection to the society of Saints and Angels and the full fruition of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. O God who hast prepared for all them that love thee such good things that pass man's understanding pour into my heart such love towards thee that I loving thee above all things may obtain the promises which exceed all that I can desire through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for obtaining of Christ's Kingdom HIde not thy face from me O Lord in the time of my trouble and encline thine ears unto me when I call O hear me and that right soon for thou art full of mercy and compassion long suffering and of great goodness thou art not alwaies chiding neither keepest thou thine anger for ever thou dost not deal with me after my sins nor rewardest thou me according to my wickedness for look how high the Heaven is in comparison of the Earth so far hast thou set my sins from thee yea like as a Father pitieth his own Children even so the Lord is merciful to them that fear him for he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth we are but dust and the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever to them that fear him and his Righteousness to his Childrens Children even upon such as keep his Covenant and think upon his Commandments to do them Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he hath great delight in his Commandments his seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the faithful shall be blessed riches and plentiousness shall be in his house his Righteousness endureth for ever Unto the godly there riseth up light in the darkness he is merciful loving and righteous A good man is merciful and lendeth and will guide his words with discretion for he shall never be moved and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance for he will not be afraid of any evil tydings for his heart standeth fast and is stablished in the Lord and will not shrink
Lord and Saviour Amen The Collect. Keep I beseech thee O Lord thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keep me and all thy people ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Protection of the godly and a Meditation of the great Works of God in the destruction of the wicked I Will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh even from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The Lord himself is my defence upon my right hand The Lord shall preserve me from all evil yea it is even he that shall keep my soul. The Lord shall preserve my going out and my coming 〈◊〉 from this time forth and for ever more unto thee I lift up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens have mercy upon me for I am utterly despised yet my help standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heaven and Earth They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the Mount Sion which may not be removed but standeth fast for ever Do well O Lord unto those that be good and true of heart and reform what is amiss in me for thy mercy sake O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it for there is mercy with thee therefore thou shalt be feared O Lord God thou art the highest for evermore thy works are glorious and thy thoughts are very deep make my heart and tongue loud instruments of thy praises that I may tell of thy mercy in the morning and of thy truth in the night season that I may rejoyce in giving thee thanks for the operations of thy hand all the daies and nights of my whole life Let thy merciful kindness descend evermore upon the righteous that they may flourish like a Palm Tree being continually watered with the dew of temporal and spiritual blessings and may bring forth fruit of a holy conversation and grant that thy servant being planted in the house of God and firmly fixt in the blessed communion of Saints may flourish in the Courts of thy house and in thy Ecclesiastical Temple to all Eternity O let not my portion be amongst the ungodly and unrighteous Make me not to communicate in their wickedness so much as by consent or approbation that I may never perish and be destroyed in the furiousness of thine anger which thou treasurest up against the day of vengeance and righteous Judgment even the day of the appearing of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. ALmighty and merciful God of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do give unto thee all true and laudable service grant I beseech thee that I may faithfully serve thee in this life that I fail not faithfully to attain thy heavenly promise through the merits of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would preserve his Church against the storm and flood of Persecution I Looked for the Lord my soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust therefore keep me O Lord and thy whole Church from the hands of the ungodly Preserve me from the wicked men which are purposed to overthrow my going sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor and innocent and maintain the cause of the helpless Lord I call upon thee haste thee to help me and consider my voice when I cry unto thee Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and the lifting up of my hands be as an evening Sacrifice Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips O let me hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew me the way that I should walk in for I lift my soul unto thee Deliver me O Lord from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man that seeketh to overthrow my going O Lord God Judge of all the World to whom vengeance belongeth and execution of Righteous Judgment have mercy upon us Chasten us with thy gentleness and fatherly correction when we sin against thee Teach us thy Law Be our refuge and confidence in trouble and give patience in time of adversity that in the multitude of sorrows thy comforts may refresh us thy mercies may relieve us thy grace may pardon and confirm us that our feet slip not and our souls be not put to silence have pity upon all distressed and miserable people Do justice upon all that murther the Widow that put the fatherless to death that grind the face of the poor Fail not thy people O Lord and forsake not thine inheritance but destroy the devises of all them that imagine evil as a Law and are confederate against the Righteous to condemn the innocent to discountenance Religion to disadvantage thy worship and service that in the day of eternal vengeance when thou shalt reward the proud after their deserving and the pit be digged by the ungodly we may have the lot of thine inheritance and raign in the fellowship of Saints who give honour and praise to thee O Lord God Almighty world without end Amen The Collect. Keep I beseech thee O Lord thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Invitation to the Worship of God and a Prayer for Obedience to his Will O Great God the Lord our Maker who art a King above all Gods give me the graces of humility and holy Religion that I may worthily praise and worship thy glories and perfections infinitely I am the Sheep of thy Pasture let thy mercies lead me and feed me and refresh my soul with the Divine nutriment of thy Word and Sacraments I am the sheep of thy hands do thou guide me that I may never go astray or if I do bring me home into the Sheepfold of the great Shepherd that I hearing his voice may not harden my heart neither tempting thy mercies nor provoking thy wrath but my heart being preserved from errors and my waies from obliquity and crookedness I may at last enter into thy eternal rest through the merits and guidance of my great Shepherd Jesus Christ my Mediatour and Redeemer Amen The Collect. O Lord I beseech thee let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour preserve it ever more by thy help and goodness through Jesus Christ. Amen Adoration and magnifying the Glories of God O Lord God in whose Sanctuary is power and honour before whose
in the paths of life and sanctity for those blessed waitings and knocking 's at the door of my heart patiently tarrying for me for all the holy Sermons spiritual Books and Lessons for all the good Prayers and Meditations loving and inviting me to repentance without ceasing admonishing me and reproving me with the check of a tender conscience with exteriour and interiour motives and for whatsoever means or incentives of holiness thou hast assisted me withall I Magnifie and praise thy holy Name for thy goodness to all Nations whom thou hast made and sanctified they shall come and worship thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy Name for thou art great and dost wondrous things thou art God alone and great is thy mercy towards me thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever with Cherubims and Seraphims and all the company of the heavenly Host saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath holy is our God holy is the Immortal holy is the Almighty the Father Son and the Holy Ghost to whom be honour and glory dominion and power ascribed of all spirits and all men and all creatures now and for evermore Amen A Prayer preparatory to the Receiving of the blessed Sacrament O Most immaculate and glorious Jesu he hold me a miserable sinner drawing near unto thee with the approaches of humility and earnest desire to be cleansed from my sins and to be united to thee by the nearest and most mysterious union of Charity and Sacramental participation of thy most precious body and blood I presume nothing of my own worthiness but I am most confident of thy mercies and infinite loving kindness I know O Lord I am blind and sick and dead and naked and therefore I come the rather I am sick and thou art my Physician thou arisest with healing in thy wings by thy wounds I come to be cured and to be healed by thy stripes I am unclean but thou art the fountain of purity I am blind but thou art the great Eye of the World the Son of Righteousness in thy light I shall see light I am poor but thou art rich unto all the Lord of all the Creatures I therefore humbly beg of thy mercy that thou wouldest be pleased to take from me all my sins to cure all mine infirmities to cleanse my filthiness to lighten my darkness to cloathe my nakedness with the Robe of thy Righteousness that I may with reverence and faith and holy intention receive thy blessed body and blood in the mysterious Sacrament that it may be unto life and pleasantness and holy nourishment and that I may be firmly and indesolutely united to thy mystical body and may at last see clearly and without vail thy face in glory everlasting who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen The Second I Adore and bless thy glorious Majesty O blessed Jesu for this great dignation and vouchsafing to me that art pleased for all the infinite multitudes of my sins and innumerable violating of thy holy Laws still to give thy self unto me to convey health and grace and life and hopes of glory in the blessed Sacrament I adore thee O most Righteous Redeemer that thou art pleased under the visible signs of Bread and Wine to convey unto our souls thy holy body and blood and all the benefits of thy bitter Passion O my God I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but let thy holy Spirit with his purities prepare for thee a lodging in my soul. Thou hast knocked often O blessed Jesu at the door of my heart and wouldest willingly have entred behold O Lord my heart is willing ready to receive thee cast out of it all worldly desires all lust and carnal appetites and then enter and there love to inhabit that the Devil may never return to a place that is swept and garnished to fill me full of iniquity O thou lover of souls grant that this holy Sacrament may be light to my eyes a guide to my understanding and joy to my soul that by its strength I may subdue and mortifie the whole body of sin in me that it may produce in me fulness of wisdom and constancy of faith perfection accomplishment of all the Righteous Commandments and such blessed union with thee that I never more live unto my self or to the world but to thee only and by the refreshment of an holy hope I may be lead through the paths of a good life and persevering piety to the communion and possession of thy Kingdom O blessed Jesu who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer after the Receiving of the Sacramental Bread I Give hearty thanks unto thee Almighty God that thou hast not rejected me from thy holy Table but hast refreshed my soul with the salutary refection of the body thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Lord if I had lived innocently and had kept all thy Commandments I could have not expected so transcendent a mercy but since I have lived in all manner of sin and multiplied provocations against thy Divine Majesty thy mercy is so glorious and infinite that I am amazed at the consideration of its Immensity Go on O my dear God to finish so blessed a Redemption and now that thou hast begun to celebrate a Marriage and a holy Union between thy self and my soul let me never throw off the Wedding-garment or stain it with pollution of deadly sin nor seek after other Lovers but let me for ever and ever be united unto thee being transformed into thy will in this life and to the likeness of thy glories in the life to come who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen After the Receiving of the Cup. O Just and dear God who out of the unmeasurable Abysses of wisdom and mercy hast redeemed us and offerest life and grace and salvation to us by the real exhibition of thy Son Jesus Christ in the Sacrifice of his death upon the Altar of the Cross and by commemoration of the bitter Agonies in the holy Sacrament grant that that great and venerable Sacrifice which we now commemorate sacramentally may procure of thee for thy whole Church mercy and peace and great assistance in all trials deliverance from all heresies schisms sacriledge and persecucutions to all sick people health and salvation redemption from captivity competency of living to the indigent and necessitous comfort to the afflicted relief to the oppressed repentance to all sinners softness of spirit and a tender conscience to the obstinate conversion to the Jews Turk and remedy to all that are in trouble or adversity and grant to us O Lord that this Sacrament and Sacrifice of commemoration by vertue of that painful and proper Sacrifice upon the Cross may obtain for me and for us all who have communicated this day pardon and peace and
despairing a sight of thy mercies and do thou O Lord for every one abundantly above what they can ask or or think Forgive my enemies persecutors and slanderers and turn their hearts Pour down thy blessings upon all my friends and benefactors all who have commended themselves to my prayers here thou mayest name particular persons and grant O most merciful Father that through this blood of the Cross we may be presented pure and unblameable and unreprovable in thy sight that so we may be admitted into that place of purity where no unclean thing can enter there to sing all eternal praises to Father Son and Holy Ghost forever Amen A Prayer in time of Affliction O Just and holy Lord who with rebukes dost chasten man for sin I desire unfeignedly to humble my self under thy mighty hand which now lies heavy upon me I heartily acknowledge O Lord that all I do all I can suffer is but the due reward of my deeds therefore in thy severest inflictions I must still say Righteous art thou O Lord righteous are thy Judgments but O Lord I beseech thee in Judgment remember mercy although my sins have enforced thee to strike yet consider my weakness and let not my stripes be more heavy or more lasting than thou seest proportionable for my soul Correct me but with the chastisement of a Father not with the wounds of an enemy and though thou take not off thy Rod yet take away thine anger Lord do not abhor my soul and cast not away thy servant in displeasure but pardon my sins I beseech thee and if yet in thy fatherly wisdom thou seest fit to prolong thy corrections thy blessed will be done I cast my self O Lord at thy feet do with me what thou pleasest try my as silver is tryed so that thou bring me out purified And Lord make me even my flesh also to subscribe to this Resignation that there be nothing in me that may rebel against thy hand but that I may suppress all repining thoughts and may cheerfully drink of this Cup how bitter soever thou art pleased to make it Lord let it prove medicinal and cure all the diseases of my soul that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruit of Righteousness that so these light afflictions which are but for a moment may work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ. Amen A Thanksgiving for Deliverance O Blessed Lord who art gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repentest of the evil I thankfully acknowledge before thee that thou hast not dealt with me after my sins nor rewarded me according to my iniquities my Rebellions O Lord deserve to be scourged with Scorpions and thou hast corrected them only with a fatherly Rod neither hast thou suffered me to lye long under that but hast given me a timely and gracious issue out of my late distresses O Lord I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversity Thou hast smitten and thou hast healed me O let these various methods have their proper effects upon my soul that I who have felt the smart of thy chastisements may stand in awe and sin not and that I who have likewise tasted the sweet refreshings of thy mercy may have my heart ravished with it and knit to thee in the firmest bands of love and that by both I may be preserved in a constant entire obedience to thee all my daies through Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer for a Sick Person O Merciful and righteous Lord the God of health and of sickness of life and of death I most unfeignedly acknowledge that my great abuse of those many daies of strength and welfare that thou hast afforded me hath most justly deserved thy present visitation I desire O Lord humbly to accept of the punishment of the Lord for my iniquity and to bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him And O thou merciful Father who designest not the ruine but the amendment of those whom thou scourgest I beseech thee by thy grace so to sanctifie this correction of thine to me that this sickness of my body may be a means of health to my soul. Make me diligent to search my heart and do thou O Lord discover every cursed thing how close soever concealed there that by the removal thereof I may make way for the removal of this punishment Heal my soul O Lord which hath sinned against thee and then if it be thy blessed will heal my body also Restore the voice of joy and health into my dwelling that I may live to praise thee and to bring forth fruit of Repentance but if in thy wisdom thou hast otherwise disposed if thou hast determined that this sickness shall be unto death I beseech thee to fit and prepare me for it Give me that sincere and earnest Repentance to which thou hast promised mercy and pardon Wean my heart from the world and its fading vanities and make me to gasp and pant after those more excellent and durable Joyes which are at thy right hand forever Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me and in all the pains of my body in all the agonies of my spirit let thy comforts refresh my soul and enable me patiently to wait till my change come and grant O Lord that when my earthly Tabernacle is dissolved I may have a building not made with hands eternal in the Heavens and that for his sake who by his precious blood hath purchased it for me even Jesus Christ. Amen A Thanksgiving for Recovery O Most gracious Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh in whose hand my time is I praise and magnifie thee that thou hast in love to my soul delivered me from the pit of destruction and restored me to health again It is of thy mercy alone O Lord that thou hast preserved my life from destruction thou hast chastened and corrected me but thou hast not given me over unto death O let this life which thou hast thus graciously spared be wholly consecrated unto thee Behold O Lord I am by thy mercy made whole O make me strictly careful to sin no more lest a worse thing come unto me Let not this reprieve thou hast now given me make me secure as thinking my Lord delayeth his coming but grant me I beseech thee to make a right use of this long-suffering of thine and so to imploy every minute of that time thou hast allowed me that when thou shalt appear I may have confidence and not be ashamed before thee at thy coming Lord I have found by this approach towards death how dreadful a thing it is to be taken unprepared O let it be a perpetual admonition to me to watch for my Masters coming and when the pleasures of sin shall present themselves to entice me O make me to remember how bitter they
of thy blood to perish O Spirit of grace I have by my horrid impieties done despight unto thee yet O blessed Comforter though I have offended thee and often grieved thy Holy Spirit be thou pleased to succour and relieve me and say unto my soul I am thy salvation Mine eyes look unto thee O Lord in thee is my trust O cast not out my soul. O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded O blessed Lord who scourgest every Son whom thou receivest let me not be weary of thy correction but give me such a perfect submission to thee the Father of spirits that this chastisement may be for my profit that I may thereby be partaker of thy holiness O thou Captain of my salvation who wert made perfect by sufferings sanctifie to me all the pains of body all the terrours of mind which thou shalt permit to fall upon me Lord my sins have deserved eternal torments make me cheerfully and thankfully to bear my present pains chasten me as thou pleasest here that I may not be condemned with the world Lord the waters are come in even unto my soul O let thy Spirit move upon the waters and make them like the Pool of Bethesda that they may cure whatsoever spiritual disease thou discernest in me O Christ who first sufferedst many and grievous things and then enteredst into thy grave make me so to suffer with thee that I may also be glorified with thee O dear Jesus who humblest thy self to the death of the Cross for me let that death of thine sweeten the bitterness of mine When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers I believe that thou shalt come to be my Judge I pray thee therefore help thy servant whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood make me to be numbred with Saints in glory everlasting Thou art the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in thee though he were dead yet shall he live Lord I believe help thou my unbelief My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better Lord I groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with that house from Heaven I desire to put off this Tabernacle O be pleased to receive me into everlasting habitations bring my soul out of prison that I may give thanks unto thy Name Lord I am here to wrestle not only with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness O take me from these tents of Kedar into the heavenly Jerusalem where Satan shall be utterly trodden under foot I cannot here attend one minute to thy service without distractions O take me up to stand before thy Throne where I shall serve thee day and night I am in heaviness through many tribulations O receive me into that place of rest where all tears shall be wiped away from my eyes where there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor pain I am here in the state of banishment and absence from the Lord. O take me where I shall for ever behold thy face and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of glory O blessed Jesu who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in thine own blood receive my soul. Into thine hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Most mighty and gracious God full of incomprehensible Power and Majesty whose glory the very Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain look down from Heaven upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of grace not as I am in my self but look upon me O Father through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased for of my self I am not able to stand in thy presence or to speak with my unclean lips to so holy a God as thou art for thou knowest that in sin I was conceived and born and that I have lived ever since in iniquity so that I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting many of those duties of piety which thou requirest for thy service and committing many of those vices which thou under the penalty of thy displeasure hast forbidden here thou mayest confess to God thy secret sins which most burden thy conscience with the circumstances of the time place person and the manner how it is committed saying but more especially I do here with grief of heart confess unto thee for these my sins O Lord I stand guilty of thy curse with all the miseries of this life and the life to come namely everlasting torment in Hell fire when this wretched life is ended If thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts yea Lord I confess thy goodness which endureth for ever is the cause I have not been long ago consumed and confounded but with thee O Lord there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and confidence in Christs merits I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wouldest not enter into judgment with thy servant neither be extream to mark what I have hitherto done amiss for if thou dost then no flesh can be justified in thy sight nor any living stand in thy presence but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all the uncleanness of my sins in the merits of that precious blood which Jesus Christ hath shed for me and seeing that he hath born the burden of that curse which was due for my transgression O Lord deliver me from my sins and from all those Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for them and separate them as far from thy presence as the East is from the West bury them in the burial of Christ that they may never rise up in this world to shame me nor in the world to come to condemn me And I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thy Immaculate Lamb but also to purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit from the dross of my natural corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing my sins in the power and practice thereof so that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee the ever living God in Righteousness and true Holiness this day and give me grace that by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I may persevere to be thy faithful and unfeigned servant unto my lifes end and when this mortal life is ended I may be made partaker of immortality and everlasting
justly deserved all shame and misery in this life and everlasting condemnation in Hell fire if that thou shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my deserts Wherefore O heavenly Father I humbly beseech thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake and for the merits of that bloody death and passion which I believe he hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive me all my sins and deliver me from the Hell and vengeance which is due unto me for them and send thy holy Spirit into my heart which may assure me that thou art my Father and that I am thy child and that thou lovest me with an unchangeable love and let thy good Spirit lead me into all truth and crucifie in me more and more carnal lusts that my sin may more and more die in me and that I may serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life and when this mortal life is ended I may through thy mercy in Christ be made partaker of thine everlasting glory in thy heavenly Kingdom And here O Lord from the bottom of my heart I humbly thank thee for all thy blessings bestowed upon my soul and body for electing me in thy Love for redeeming me by thy Son sanctifying me by thy Spirit and preserving me from my youth up until this present day and hour by thy gracious providence I thank thee more especially for that thou hast defended me this night past from all danger and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day and now good Lord I beseech thee keep me this day from all peril and danger and from all evil that may hurt me and from falling into all sin that should offend thee set thy fear before mine eyes and let thy holy Spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall think do or speak this day may tend to thy glory the good of others and the peace of my own conscience and to this end I commend my self and all my waies and actions together with all that do belong unto me unto thy gracious protection this day praying thee to keep both thine and me from all evil and to give a blessing to all our honest labours and endeavours defend thy whole Church from the tyranny of this world and of Antichrist preserve our gracious King from all conspiracy and treason grant him a long reign in health and happiness over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with all those graces and gifts which thou knowest necessary for their places Be favourable to all those that fear thee and call upon thy Name and tremble at thy judgments Comfort all those that are sick or any way comfortless O Lord keep me in a continual readiness by faith and repentance for my last end that whether I live or die I may be found thine own to thine eternal glory and my everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ my only Saviour in whose blessed Name I beg these mercies at thy hands and give unto thee thy praise and glory in that prayer which he hath sanctified with his own lips saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the Evening O most gracious and loving Father who art about my bed and knowest my lying down and my rising up and art near unto all that call upon thee in Truth and sincerity I a wretched sinner do humbly beseech thee to look upon me with the eyes of mercy and not to behold me as I am in my self for then thou shalt see but an unclean and defiled creature conceived in sin and living in iniquity so that I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee knowing how grievously I have sinned against Heaven and before thee for O Lord I have transgressed all thy Commandments and Righteous Laws not through negligence and infirmity but oftentimes through wilful presumption contrary to my knowledge and the motions of thy holy Spirit reclaiming me from them so that I have wounded my conscience and grieved thy holy Spirit by whom thou hast sealed me to the day of Redemption Thou hast consecrated my soul and body to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost I wretched sinner have defiled both with all manner of pollution and uncleanness mine eyes in taking pleasure to behold vanities that I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee mine ears in hearing impure and unclean speeches my tongue in evil speaking my hands are so full of impurity that I am ashamed to lift them up unto thee and my feet have carried me after mine own waies my understanding and reasonings which are so quick in all earthly matters are only blind and stupid when I come to meditate or discourse of spiritual and heavenly things my memory which should be a treasury of all goodness is not so apt to remember any thing as those things that are vile and vain yea Lord by woful experience I find that naturally all the imaginations of the thoughts of my heart are only evil altogether and continually for these my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and they have grown over me like a loathsom leprosie from the crown of my head to the soal of my feet there remains no part which they have not infected they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more abominable must I appear in thy sight the custom of sinning hath almost taken away the conscience of sin and pull'd upon me such dulness of sense and hardness of heart that thy judgments denounced against my sins by the faithful Preachers of thy Word do not terrifie me to return unto thee with unfeigned repentance and if thou Lord shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my deserts I should utterly be confounded and condemned but seeing that of thine own mercy thou hast spared me so long and still waitest for my repentance I humbly beseech thee for the blood death and passions sake which Jesus Christ hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive me all my sins and mine offences and open unto me that ever-streaming fountain of the blood of Christ which thou hast promised to open under the New Testament to the penitent of the house of David that all my sins and uncleanness may be so bathed in his blood buried in his death and hid in his wounds that they never more be seen to shame me in this life nor to condemn me in the world to come before the judgment seat of God And for as much O Lord as thou knowest that it is not in man to turn his own heart unless thou first give him grace to convert And seeing it is as easie with thee to make me righteous and holy as to suffer me to be such O my God give me grace to do what thou hast commanded then
into any gross sins especially those whereunto our natures are most prone set a watch before the door of our lips that we offend not thy Divine Majesty by any rash or false oaths or by any leud or lying speeches give unto us patient minds pure and chast hearts and all other graces of thy Spirit which thou knowest to be needful for us that we may be the better enabled to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the daies of our life and seeing that all mens labours are in vain without thy blessing bless every one of us in our several places and callings direct thou the works of our hands upon us even prosper thou our handy-works for except thou guide us with thy grace our endeavours can have no good success and provide for us all things which thou O Father knowest to be needful for every one of us in our souls and bodies this day and grant that we may pass through the pilgrimage of this short life that our hearts being not settled upon any transitory things which we meet with in the way our souls may every day be more and more ravished with the love of our home and thine everlasting Kingdom Defend likewise O Lord thy universal Church and every particular member thereof especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and tranquility of these Churches and Kingdoms wherein we live preserve from all evil and dangers our most gracious King Charles endue his Royal heart with more and more grace wisdom and understanding and grant that his daies may be long prosperous and happy Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family multiply their daies with bliss and felicity and afterwards crown them with everlasting joy and glory Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with all graces needful for their places govern thou them that they may govern us in peace godliness and true Religion and of thy mercy O Lord comfort all our Brethren that are distressed sick or comfortless especially those who are afflicted either with an evil conscience because they have sinned against thy Word or for a good conscience because they will not sin against the Truth make the first to know that not one drop of the blood of Christ was a drop of vengeance but all drops of grace powerful to procure pardon upon repentance for the greatest sins of the chiefest sinners in the world and for the other let not O Lord thy long sufferance either too much discourage them or too much incourage their enemies but grant them patience in suffering and a gracious and speedy deliverance which may stand best with thy glory and their comfort and give every one of us grace to be alwaies mindful of his last end and to be alwaies prepared with faith and repentance as with a weding garment against the time thou shalt call for us out of this sinful world and that in the mean while we may in all things and above all things seek thy glory that when this mortal life is ended we may then be made partakers of Immortality and Life eternal in thy heavenly Kingdom these and all other graces and blessings which thou O heavenly Father seest to be necessary for us and for thy whole Church we humbly beg and crave at thy hands concluding this our imperfect prayer in that most perfect form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. Evening Prayer for a Family O Eternal God and most merciful Father we thine unworthy servants here assembled do cast down our selves at the foosttool of thy grace acknowledging our selves that we inherit our Fathers corruption in thought word and deed transgressing thy holy Commandments so that in us naturally there dwelleth nothing that is good for our hearts are full of secret pride anger impatience dissembling lying lust vanity prophaneness distrust too much love of our selves too little love of thee and thy Kingdom but full of enmity and void of love patience and every spiritual grace if thou therefore shouldest enter into judgment with us and search out our natural corruptions and observe all the cursed fruit and effects that we have derived from thence Satan might justly challenge us for his own and we could not expect any from thy Majesty but thy wrath and our condemnation which we have long ago deserved But good Father for Jesus Christ his sake who is thy dear Son in whom only thou art well pleased and for the merits of that bitter death and passion which we believe he hath suffered for us have mercy upon us and free us from the shame and confusion which is due unto us for them that they may never seize upon us to our confusion in this life or to condemnation in the world which is to come And for as much as thou hast created us to serve thee as all other creatures to serve us so we humbly beseech thee inspire thy Holy Spirit into our hearts that by his illumination and effectual working we may have the inward sight and feeling of our sins and natural corruptions and that we may not be blinded in them through custom as the Reprobate are but that we may more and more loath them and be heartily grieved for them endeavouring by the use of all good means to overcome them and get out of them O let us feel the power of Christ's death killing sin in our mortal bodies and the vertue of his Resurrection raising up our souls to newness of life convert our hearts subdue our affections regenerate our minds purifie our natures and suffer us not to be drowned in the streams of those filthy vices and sinful pleasures wherewith thousands are carried headlong to eternal destruction but daily frame us more and more to the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ that in Righteousness and true Holiness we may so serve and glorifie thee that living in thy fear and dying in thy favour we may in thy appointed time attain to the blessed Resurrection of the Just unto eternal life in the mean while O Lord increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel and our repentance from dead works the assurance of our hopes in thy promises our fear of thy Name the hatred of all our sins and our love unto thy children especially whom we see to stand in need of our help and comfort that so by the fruit of piety and a righteous life we may be assured that thy Holy Spirit doth dwell in us and that we are thy children by grace and adoption and grant us good Father the continuance of health peace and maintenance and all other outward good things so far forth as thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet to be requisite and necessary for every one And here O Lord according to our bounden duty we confess that thou hast been exceeding merciful unto us all in things of this life but infinitely more merciful in the things of
from that curse and judgment which is due unto me for them Thou that didst justifie the contrite Publican for four words of confession and receivedst the prodigal Child when he had spent all the stock of grace into favour upon his repentance pardon all my sins likewise O Lord and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions O spare me for thy mercy sake and receive me unto favour again Wilt thou O Lord reject me who hast received all Publicans and sinners that upon repentance sued unto thee for grace Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy far be it from me to think so for thou art the same God of mercy unto me that thou wast unto them and thy compassion never fails wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits but according to thy great mercy execute not thy severe justice against me a sinner but execute thy long-sufferance in forbearing thine own creature I have nothing to present unto thee for a satisfaction but only those bloody wounds bitter death and passion which thy blessed Son my only Saviour hath suffered for me him in whom only thou art well pleased I offer up unto thee for all my sins wherewith thou art displeased he my Mediator the request of whose blood speaking better things than that of Abel thy mercy can never gainsay illuminate my understanding and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that it may bring to my remembrance all those good and profitable lessons which this day or at any other time hath been taught unto me out of thy holy Word that I may remember them thy Commandments to keep them thy Judgments to avoid them and thy sweet promises to rely upon them in time of misery and distress and now O Lord I resign my self to thy most holy Will O receive me into thy favour and so draw me by thy grace unto thy self that I may as well be thine by Love and Implantation as by Calling and Creation and give me grace so to keep holy thy Sabbath in this life as that when this life is ended I may with all thy Saints and Angels celebrate an eternal rest of joy and praise to the honour of thy most holy Name in thy heavenly Kingdom for ever more Amen Devotions for several Occasions In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer O Eternal Son of Righteousness who camest from the bosom of the Father to enlighten the darkness of the world I praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me from the danger of this night and hast continued to me still the opportunities of serving thee and advancing my hopes of a blessed eternity let thy mercies shine brightly upon me and dissipate the clouds and darknesses of my spirit and understanding rectifie my affections and purifie my will and all my actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole life my words and purposes my thoughts and all my intentions may be sanctified and be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty Amen Grant that my understanding may know thee my heart may love thee and all my faculties and powers may give thee due obedience and serve thee preserve me this day from all sin and danger from all violences and snares of mine enemies visible or invisible let thy holy fear be as a bridle to my distemperatures and thy love so enkindle and actuate all my endeavours that no pleasures or allurements of the world may draw me from thy service nor any difficulty or temptation may be my hinderance let the profound humility and innocence of my blessed Saviour keep from me all pride and haughtiness of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all fraudulency and hurtful dissimulation and let the graces of the Holy Ghost take such absolute possession and seisure of my soul and all his faculties that I may bring down and east out the spirit of uncleanness and intemperance of malice and envy idleness and disdain that I may never despise any of thy creatures but my self that so being little in my own fight I may be great in thine Amen An Evening Prayer In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. O Lord God who art the light and splendor of souls in the brightness of thy countenance is eternal day that knows no night in thy arms and in thy protection is all quietness tranquility and everlasting repose while the darkness covers the face of the earth receive my body and soul into thy custody let not the spirits of darkness come near my dwelling neither suffer my fancy to be abused with the illusions of the night Lord I am thy servant and the sheep of thy pasture let not the Devil who goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour abuse my body or make a prey of my soul but defend me from all those calamities which I have deserved and protect my soul that it consent not to any work of darkness lest mine enemy say he hath prevailed over me or do mischief to a soul redeemed with thy most precious blood Amen Pardon and forgive me all the sins and offences of my youth and age the errours of mine understanding the inordination of mine affections the irregularity of all my actions and particularly of whatsoever I have transgressed this day in thought word or deed Lord let not thy wrath arise for although I have deserved the extremest pressure of thine indignation yet remember my infirmity and how thou hast sent thy Son to reveal thy infinite mercy to us and convey pardon and salvation to the penitent I beseech thee also to accept the heartiest devotion and humble acknowledgment of a thankful heart for all thy blessings and preservation of me this day for unless thy providence and grace had been my defence and guide I had committed more and more grievous sins against thee and had been swallowed up by thy just wrath and severest judgments mercy sweet Jesus Amen Grant unto thy servant true humility great contrition a tender conscience and obedient heart an understanding alwaies busied in honest and pious thoughts a wiling tractable heart and ever prone to do good affections even and moderate a watchful custody over my senses that by those windows sin may never enter in nor death by sin make me to watch over my tongue and keep the door of my lips that no corrupt or unseemly communication proceed out of my mouth that I may never slander calumniate or detract from the reputation of my neighbour that I be not busie in the faults of others but careful to correct my own being gentle and merciful to others severe towards my self that I may speak much of thy praises and what I can for the edification of my Brethren Amen Give me a soul watchful in the service of Religion constant in holy purposes
more and more to loath the world and desire to be loosed and to be with Christ and when that good hour and time shall come wherein thou hast determined to call for him out of this present life give him grace peacefully and joyfully to yield up his soul into thy merciful hands and do thou receive him unto thy mercy and let thy blessed Angels carry him into thy Kingdom make his last hour his best hour his last words his best words his last thoughts his best thoughts and when the sight of his eyes is gone and his tongue shall fail to do his office grant O Lord that his soul with Stephen may behold Jesus Christ in Heaven ready to receive him and that thy Spirit within him may make requests for him with sighs that cannot be expressed Teach us in him to read and see our own ends and mortality and therefore to be careful to prepare our selves for our last end and put our selves in readiness against the time that thou shalt call for us in the like manner Thus O Lord we recommend this our dear Brother or Sister thy sick servant unto thy eternal grace and mercy in that prayer which Christ our Saviour hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy Spirit be with us all and especially with this thy sick servant to the end and in the end Amen LEt them read often unto the sick some special Chapters of the holy Scriptures as the 14th and 19th chapters of Job the 34th chapter of Deuteronomy the two last chapters of Ioshua the 17th chapter of the first of Kings the 2d 4th and 12th chapter of the 2d of Kings the 38th 40th and 65th chapters of Isaiah the history of the passion of Christ the 8th chapter to the Romans the 15th chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians the 4th of the first to the Thessalonians the first of the second Epistle to the Corinthians the first and the last of St. James the 11th and the 12th to the Hebrews the first Epistle of Peter the three first and the three last chapters of the Revelations or some of these exhorting the sick to wait upon God by faith and patience till he send for him and praying the Lord to send them a joyful meeting in the Kingdom of Heaven and a blessed resurrection at the last day that then they may depart at their pleasure in the peace of God A Prayer in time of imminent Danger O Most merciful Father though my sins are many and grievous that I may rather expect the effects of thine anger than so great a deliverance as to deliver me from my present great danger yet O Lord since thy mercies are over all thy works and thou never failest to relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to thee for succour it were to multiply not to diminish my transgressions to dispair of thy heavenly favours wherefore I humbly desire thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not only forgive all my sins but also free me out of the hand of mine enemies and protect me from the malice of my cruel adversary but if thy wrath and my hainous sins and offences will not otherwise be satisfied than by suffering me to fall under my present afflictions thy will be done yet with humble importunity I do and shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly Spirit that my cause as I am thy distressed servant may not suffer through my weakness or want of courage O Lord so strengthen and enlighten all the faculties of my mind that with clearness I may shew forth and manfully endure this bloody tryal that so my sufferings may not only glorifie thee but likewise be a furtherance to my salvation hereafter grant this O heavenly Father for his sake who suffered for me even Jesus Christ the Righteous Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for any great Deliverance O God my God and Father thou hast strangely preserved and rescued me from all evil and for the glory of thine own Name thou hast diverted the Arrow that was directed against me what am I O Lord and what can I do or what have I done that thou shouldest do this for me I am O God a miserable sinner and I can do nothing without thy mighty grace and I have done nothing by my self but what I am ashamed of and I have received great mercies and miracles of providence I see O God that thy goodness is the cause and measure of all my hopes and all thy good and upon the confidence and greatness of that goodness I humbly beg of thy sacred Majesty to keep and defend me from all evil by thy wise providence to lead me into all good by the conduct of thy Divine Spirit and where I have done amiss give me pardon and where I have mistaken give me pity and where I have been injured give me thy favour and a gracious exchange that I may serve thee here with diligence and hereafter may rejoyce with thee and love thee as I desire to love thee and as thou deservest to be loved even with all the powers and degrees of passion of essence to eternal Ages in the inheritance of Jesus Christ whom I love for whom I will not refuse to die to whom with thee O gracious Father and the holy Spirit be all glory and honour love and obedience for ever and for ever Amen A Prayer wherewith to conclude all our Devotions ALmighty God who hast promised to hear the Petitions of all them that ask in thy Sons Name I beseech thee mercifully to encline thine ears unto me who have now made my prayers and supplications unto thee and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked in thy Sons Name according to thy Will may be effectually obtained to the relief of my necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Blessing THe Peace of God which passeth all understanding the blessing of God Almighty the Father Son and the Holy Ghost the Vertue of Christs blessed Cross and Passion be with me and all mine now and at the last hour Amen FINIS Here thou mayest confess thy particular sins
soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a barren and dry ground I remember thy loving kindness of old time I can but wish at least to see thy power and thy glory as I have known thee in thy Sanctuary There is none in Heaven that I desire but thee nor on Earth besides thee My soul followeth hard after thee O when wilt thou come unto me O hide not thy face from thy servant lest I come to misery Hear me speedily for I am poor and needy Make haste unto me O my God thou art my helper and deliverer O Lord make no long tarrying I am come a great way from my friends and kindred and here is none to pity me O my God be not thou far from me Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it I am poor and sorrowful let thy salvation set me up on high for thou who searchest the heart knowest that I set my heart only to seek thee I desire to leave all the world that I may find my happiness only in thee O heavenly Father with my whole heart I desire to do thy blessed will in all things yea thus far I acknowledge thou hast most gratefully conducted me Hitherto I have been highly favoured and wonderfully helped and preserved by thee and wilt thou now at last abandon me who desire at last to have abandoned all things else for thy sake Hast thou called me from mine own Country and from my Fathers house and now to be forsaken by thee O my God give me leave to plead for a soul that I thought was once dear unto thee Pity O pity an heart which thou hast made too great for all the world and cannot be satisfied with less than thee Canst thou see it die for want of one smile from thee yea canst thou let it die of love to thee for that hath brought me thus far to seek thee and wilt thou suffer it to die at thy feet canst thou endure to behold it in thine arms into which it now throws it self with all the force it hath shall it miscarry full of prayers and longings after thee shall it expire in cries and tears when it calls for mercy O where are thy bowels what is become of thine ancient loving kindness are they all forfeited by one offence against thee O my God I cannot think so hardly of thee I begin to live methinks because thou permittest these addresses to thee it inspires me with some hopes to find these holy breathings in me it rejoyces me much that I feel thee drawing my very heart after thee O take it I beseech thee take it quite away from me unto thy self shape it after thine own heart make it such as thou canst embrace it create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit and all this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Ejaculations to be used at the Lord's Supper LOrd I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men Here recollect some of thy greatest sins If thou Lord shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it but with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plentious redemption Behold O Lord thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased Hearken to the cry of his blood which speaketh better things than that of Abel by his Agony and bloody Sweat by his Cross and Passion good Lord deliver us O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world grant us thy peace O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Lord for thy mercy sake Amen Devotions for the Help and assistance of all Christian People in all occasions and necessities A Prayer against wandring Thoughts to be said at the beginning of our Devotions ALmighty God who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement let thy holy Spirit teach me how to pray Give me just apprehension of my want zeal of thy glory great resentments of thy mercies love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee and do thou help mine infirmities that the Devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions nor distract my mind with cares nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies but give me a perfect mind great devotion a heart fixed upon thy Divine Beauties and an actual intention and perseverance in prayer that I may glorifie thy Name do unto thee true and laudable service and obtain relief for all my necessities hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Penitential Prayer a Form of Confession of sins to God to be said upon daies of publick or private Humiliation O Lord God of mercy and pardon give me a just remembrance and sad apprehension of my many and great sins Teach me to bewail them with as great indignation and bitterness as I have committed them with complacency and delight Let my prayers and my confession come unto thy presence and obtain a mercy for me and a pardon Let not thy Justice and thy severity so remember my sins as to forget thine own mercy and though I have committed that for which I have deserved to be condemned yet thou canst not lose that glorious Attribute whence flows comfort to us and hopes to be saved Spare me therefore O merciful God for to give pardon to a sinner that confesseth his sins and begs Remission it is not impossible to thy Power nor disproportionate to thy Justice nor unusual to thy Mercy and sweetest Clemency Blessed Jesu acknowledge in me whatsoever is thine and cleanse me from whatsoever is amiss Have pity on me now in the time of mercy and condemn me not when thou comest to judgment For what profit is there in my blood Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but in his conversion there is joy in Heaven And when thou hast delivered me from my sins and saved my soul I shall praise and magnifie thy Name to all eternity mercy sweet Jesus mercy Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. I Am not worthy O Lord to look up to Heaven which is the Throne of thy Purity for my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I have not lived according to thy will but in the vanity of my own thoughts in idle sinful and impertinent language in foolish actions in blindness of heart in contempt of thy holy Word and Commandments I