through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Cor. 15.55 56 57. I will run with patience the race that is set before me for the crown of indefectible glory which it leads to looking unto a great cloud of witnesses of godly fortitude and constancy yea rather looking unto the meek Jesus the author and finishâ—r of our faith our hope and our resolution Hebr. 12.1 2. Thee onely do I fear O heavenly Father and in thee only do I trust Thy mercy is as ready as thy power and thy power maketh and maintaineth all things I will ever hope in thy mercy through Jesus Christ for I know no end thereof Amen Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth Hebr. 12.6 It is good for me that I have been afflicted I know O Lord that thy judgements are right and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled Before I was afflicted I went astray but now thy law is my delight and my attention O let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be no more ashamed Psal. 119.67 71 75 80. Behold here I am let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 2 Sam. 15.26 O my Father not as I will but as thou wilt for his sake who for the life of the world once prayed thus unto thee with great affection tears and innocence Amen Matth. 26.39 My cup is not so bitter I am not yet come to the cross O Lord God of hosts blessed is the man that confideth in thee Psal. 84.13 The Profession of the Catholick Faith. CHAP. XIX I. AS I have often God giving me the grace and opportâ—nity professed and recited the sum of a Christian mans belief contained in the Apostles Creed and in the Nicene Creed in the Liturgy of the Church so now at my wished departure from this world I renew the same Confession and recognition desiring that heaven and earth might now hear me as I hope they will at the happy day of the Resurrection cheerfully thankfully and sincerely declaring II. I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth I acknowledge fear and adore one God spiritual invisible eternal most holy Almighty and omnipotent distinguished into three glorious persons the Father and the Son and the holy Ghost I will always own and to utmost peril assert the infinite power and justice and mercy of God the Father who made the world out of nothing and every moment upholds and governs it by his gracious providence and in this Systeme hath made sustained and blessed me by wonderful favour And I believe in Iesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord who was conceived by the holy Ghost O inestimable mercy and most astonishing mystery born wiâ—hout sin of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate a plenary sacrifice and expiation for the sins of the world was crucified with exquisite torment and anguish dead and buried to teach us profound humility and self denyal and martyrdom and to take away the sting and terrour of death He descended into hell The third day he rose again from the dead to justify all the faithful and to invite them to a new and noble and heavenly life He ascended into heaven where I long to see thee and to kiss thy seet most blâ—ssed Saviour Wash my soul first in thy bloud cleanse it from thy pierced side that it may be fitted and prepared for that most holy and sublime mansion And sittteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty a most merciful and benign mediatour From whence he shall come with astonishing glory and pomp to juage me and all the quick and dead O judge impartial and Almighty I fear thee I prepare for thy advent I prejudge and condemn my self for the corruptions of my life I fly to thy cross I hide me in thy wounds My faith embraceth thy salvation Lord pardon me and receive me into thy favour I believe in the holy Ghost the efficacious and invisible guide and patron of all humble souls and the author of wisdom compunction holiness and constancy I believe and own the holy Catholick Church the choice and inheritance and the care and love of God called from all nations of the world into one faith and one hope wherein I have a part by infinite grace I believe the Communion of saints I hasten to the Church triumphant I believe the remission of sins by thy merits O holy Jesus the sure hope and comfort of the living and of the dying I believe the resurrection of the body of this diseased earthy painfull decaying body I know that my Redeemer liveth and that at the last day after death and corruption this very flesh shall stand up spiritual illustrious and immoral by the power and the example of Christs rising and be rapt up to meet him in the clouds Iob. c. 19. and 1 Thes. 4 7. Blessed ever-blessed be the glorious and glorifying JESUS Finally I believe the life everlasting even for me who am unworthy of another secular and incumbred life worthy of perpetual misery and firy indignation altogether unworthy of the vision of God and unchangeable felicity But thy grace is like thy self O Lord infinite and incomprehensible I receive it with all lowliness and confusion I humble my self to the dust for this unvaluable mercy Father fit me for thy promise and bounty Amen Amen III. I Heartily bless God that I was so early baptized into this faith I glorifie him that by his own support in frequenting the offices of the church I have so long lived in a firm profession of this saving doctrine And now God preserving me from the snare of the devil I resolve and I rejoyce to die in the same belief Moreover I humbly beseech the Church the pillar and ensign of truth and all my friends to pray for me that my faith fail not especially at the hour and agony of dâ—ath and also to implore Gods forgiveness as for the rest of my sins so especially if through the violence of my disâ—ase or pain I shall then speak unadvisedly and against the intention of a sober and Christian mind for the sake of the wounded and crucified Saviour Amen O my friends live better then I have done No service no care no vigor and zeal can any ways answer the bounty of Almighty God who nourisheth us upon his earth enlightens us from his heavens and concludes our mortality with everlasting life satisfaction and glory O love the Lord by whom you brâ—ath love the Lord that sent Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners IV. I Lay hold on this occasion to declare freely before Gods minister and my friends the more remarkable passages of my life from my birth to this hour that they may glorifie God for his many benefits and extraordinary indulgence to me a most unprofitable and ungrateful servant and may also beware themselves of the errors and offences which have disgraced and polluted my conversation and
the door of repentance and life to us all allowing us all means of emendation and conversion the admirable treasure of the divine Scriptures the wonderful benefits of the holy Sacraments innumerable patterns of good living and dying and together with all the comforts of this visible world rejoyce and honour with his hope of everlasting felicity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen VII Saturday THe heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work One day telleth another and one night certifyeth another of the great power and bounty of the Creatour blessed for ever There is neither speech nor language but their voices are heard amongst them Their sound is gone out to all lands and their words to the worlds end Psal. 19. The Lord giveth food to all flesh and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him The Lord cloatheth the grass of the field and bringeth forth herbs for the use of man and beast The Lord helpeth them to right that suffer wrong and looseth men out of prison The Lord giveth sight to the blind and to the seeing The Lord helpeth them that are fallen and raiseth the dead He cureth the broken hearted and giveth medicine to heal the sick The Lord caâ—eth for the righteous and humble but scorneth and debaseth the proud The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him that call upon him faithfully My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord and let all the world above and below give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever Amen Tread firmly O disciple of Christ in the footsteps of thy meek and holy master for these lead still upwards unto supercelestial and endless glory Interpose O blessed Jesus thy passions cross and death between the Divine Justice and this poor soul both now and in the hour of death and in the day of judgment Grant O Lord to the living mercy and grace to the faithful departed a joyful resurrection To thy Catholick Church peace and concord truth and righteousness and to me and all sinners repentance and pardon and life everlasting Amen Or By thy bloody Sweat thy Thorny Crown and Scourges thy pierced Hands and Feet the fountain of Bloud and water opened in thy precious side by thy dying groans and acclamations thy prayers and benedictions be merciful unto me a vile sinner spare me and bless me O my crucified Love. Amen THE LARGER OFFICE GOING TO BED CHAP. X. I. Sunday I Will lay me down in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Psal. 4.9 Whom have I in heaven but thee O Lord and what is there on earth that I desire in comparison of thee Thou art about my path and my bed and spiest out all my ways Psal. 139.2 Have mercy upon me and all mine this night O blessed Jesus who didst die and revive for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with thee Hallelujah 1 Thess. 5.10 Or From morning to night I will bless the Lord. Now to him who is able to keep me and all his servants from falling and to present us at length pardoned and faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy to the only wiseGod our Saviour and Defender be glory and majesty dominion power and praise both now and for ever Amen My trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever Psalm 52.9 Let me and all mine yea let me and all thine O holy Father now sleep in peace and wake in Christ begin the next return of reason with heavenly Meditation Amen Or To Gods gracious Protection I most humbly commit my self my family and friends and all the faithful and all the afflicted The Lord bless us and keep us The Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace both now and evermore Amen by the merits and intercession of Jesus our onely Saviour and Advocate BENEDICTIO II. Munday IN the Name of God I will lay me down to rest The almighty Lord be now and evermore my Defence against all perils both of Sleep and Death Amen for Jesus his sake Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory Honour and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy Wills sake they were created and are preserved Blessed be thy name world without end Amen Or Great Ruler of the day and night Upon our darkness cast thy Light With safe and kind Repose allay The Care and Trouble of the day That when thou shalt unclose my eyes Healthful and pure I may arise Fit for the morning Sacrifice Or O praise the Lord ye Angels of his that excell in strength that are always waking and always active O praise the Lord all ye his Hosts ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous ye servants of his that do his pleasure O speak good of the Lord all ye works of his in all places of his dominion Praise thou the Lord O my soul and in praising turn thee to thy rest The glorious Majesty of the Lord endureth for ever the Lord shall rejoyce in his works Amen Psal. 103. III. Tuesday THis night and the days and nights of my appointed time defend O Lord protect spare deliver and bless thy servant who putteth his trust in thee through Jesus Christ. Amen I will remember thee upon my bed and think upon thee when I am waking Because thou hast been my helper therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce my soul hangeth upon thee and thy right hand upholdeth me Thy loving Kindness is better then life better then all the glories and pleasures of the whole world Let me now rest O benign Saviour where thy beloved Disciple did that my sleep may be sweet that my dreaming may be of thee of thy Redemption and of thy glorious mansions Or my flesh shall rest in hope that thou Lord wilt raise me both from the Bed and from the Grave and wilt shew me the paths of Life both temporal and eternal for the sake of thy wellbeloved Son whom thou sufferedst to die for the world but not to see corruption Amen Just and righteous are thy ways O Lord who will not fear and serve thee Let us rejoyce and be exceeding glad and secure for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Rev. 19.5.6 Every where and at all times will I think upon my mortal and sinful life and upon thy continual and great Mercys In thee O Lord have I put my trust that I be not confounded though altogether unworthy of thy eye and regard In thee only I confide Amen with great ardor and expectation O God leave not my soul destitute IV. Wednesday THe Lord is my shepherd therefore can I lack nothing Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death and sleep is that valley I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort
will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord and offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving through Jesus Christ. Amen Psal. 116.11 12 15. AT RECEIVING THE CUP· CHAP. XIII I. AMen Jesus Master have mercy on us Luke 17.13 Let this Blood purge my Conscience from dead works to serve thee the Almighty and most gracious Father to honour thee the Everliving Saviour and for ever to obey and fear thee most holy and quickning Spirit Amen Lord I will serve thee better I will obey thee Succour my weakness pity my infirmity Dear Lord. Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iohn 21.17 What honour hath Almighty God done me that I should be the vessel of this divine mystery and bear within my breast the Lord Jesus I adore I give thanks II. Thou art made whole go and sin no more no more by anger lust excess fraud slandering c. Ioh. 8.11 Our God is a consuming fire to the perverse and impenitent Our God is a merciful Father to the humble and relenting Orator As is his Majesty so is his mercy Ecclus. 2.18 Both infinite and incomprehensible both to be acknowledged admired and adored O Majesty everlasting I fear thee I worship thee I trust in thee through Jesus Christ. Amen Let me not O let me not again pollute this body and soul with my habitual and grievous sins as c. after I have received thy body and blood O Lord who hast created me and redeemed me Grant me thy grace O God that I may fulfil the places and offices thou callest me to in this life Amen III. Lord bless these and the rest of my brethren and let us live eternally together ever praising and Adoring thee For by this great and attractive sacrament we all become one bread one bloud one soul and consent have all one faith one hope one heaven one Lord the blessed Lord Jesus the knot and center of this most immense and pious fraternity and eminently one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all to whom be glory and obedience everlasting Amen in heaven Amen on earth From thy one precious body O wonderful Saviour thou feedest and revivest five thousand and five thousand thousand millions of thy disciples and followers Aeternae tanta est opulentia mensae Prudent Say O Lord and thy word is omnipotent This day salvation is come unto this house Luk. 19.9 IV. The bread of God is he that came down from heaven and giveth light to the world Lord evermore give us of this bread Ioh. 6.33 34. Thus thus will we shew sorth thy death O Jesus till thou comest again and blessed are those servants whom at the end of the world the Lord shall find so doing yea verily blessed is he that eateth meat in the kingdom of God. Luk. 12. 43. c. 14.15 He that solemnly and faithfully and seriously contemplates my Passion and Philanthropy and amends his life for that consideration He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Amen Holy Jesus who art the Resurection and the life Ioh. 6.54 56. Master it is good for us to be here Mark. 9.2 Do not our hearts burn within us while the Lord opens to us the scriptures opens to us his precious side Full is the satisfaction inexpressible the joy of those that love thee O Jesus Angels and men consent heaven and earth joyn together to praise thee serve and worship thee and with these my poor soul the meanest of all thy creation Good Lord accept us I will give thanks unto thee among thy people and sing praises unto thee among the faithful My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed For thy â—ercy is greater then the heavens and thy truth reaâ—heth above the clouds Set up thy self O Lord above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth Thou hast wrought redemption in the midst of the earth O Jesus and vanquisht all the enemies of guilty mankind and art seated at the right hand of Father the Lord and worship of angels Hosanna in the highest The right hand of the Lord hath the preeminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass The word was made flesh the beloved Son of God died for us Let them now that fear the Lord confess that his mercy endureth for ever V. I â—ill read Ioh. c. 18. and c. 17. the security and consolation of the Church and also Rom. c. 8. and the hymn Come holy Ghost our souls inspire c. In the ordering of Priests Almighty God who hast given thy onely Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of Godly life Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also daily endeavour our selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Most holy spirit the efficacy and life of this mystery bless me with these thy gifts and fruits meekness modesty sobriety prudence diligence honesty fidelity constancy chariâ—y kindness and devotion from the time of this holy Sacrament For I have now dedicated and given up entirely my soul senses and affections my will wit and reason to the glory and service of Jesus Christ who dyed for me I must I will obey him in all things Lord forgive Lord help me My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Psal. 21.21 I am altogether confounded and swallowed up with the immense grace of God I am throughly possest glorious Lord with thy love and boundless favour to me I long I here endeavour yet cannot tell how to express my thankfullness and obedience My thoughts and contrivance and my words and lauds my action and zeal cannot do it to any fitness or content Lord still excite and still direct my gratitude I would be as thankful to thee as humble as obedient as any creature in heaven or earth Father Almighty make me so Amen Now Lord Jesus who wast expanded on the cross for me command me what thou wilt Use me in the hazards and difficulties of thy Church thy purchase and thy glory Bid me walk upon the sea I will obey thee and thy right hand shall hold me up And I will not deny thee in the Court or in the Garden I am ready to lay down my estate my liberty and also my life would to God it were a clean and entire sacrifice for Christs religion and to be obedient unto the death Assist and strengthen my mind O blessed Saviour by thy grace thy intercession thy example Amen All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth faith the ascending Jesus Go ye therefore
and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world Amen Matth. 28.18 The doctrine attested when needful by sundry miraculous works the discipline the sacraments the preservation the piety the zeal and the patience of thy Catholick Church hath indeed sufficiently demonstrated thy gracious presence O Saviour And he lift up his hands and blessed them and while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy And were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen Luke 24.50 AT HOME AFTER THE COMMUNION CHAP. XIV I. IT is finished Blessed Sacrament the Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation the Feast of God the Taste of Eternal Bliss and the Strength Comfort and Life of my Soul. This hath united me to all the Faithful on Earth and to all the Blessed in Heaven This hath joyned me in Affection and Gratitude in Interest and Inheritance unto thee most blessed Jesus the head and defence the ruler and Saviour of the Church the first fruits and security of the resurrection and glory and immortality of this nature Now Lord whether I live oâ— die I trust I am thine I verily believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the region of the blessed through infinite mercy and indulgence Psal. 27.13 O keep me ever Dear Jesus in this good condition by constant and cheerful obedience and observance of all Christian duties by an awful reverence of the Divine name and presence by imitating the best examples living or dead and most especially by following thy meek and immaculate life thy pure and heavenly doctrine and admonitions by caution and frequent meditation by daily examination and prayers and by all other means of a pious and innocent life O Lord I thank thee I bless thee I glorifie thee because by this sacrament thou hast confirmed me in the Catholick faith in reverence duty and love to thy Eternal Majesty in charity towards all mankind friends or enemies in meekness pity humility patience contentedness industry sobriety chastity honesty and integrity And hast thereby given me new and lively hopes of endless felicity both in soul and body against all the malice and attempts of men or devils and against the terrors of death and my sinful life past So great is thy mercy to me for the merits of Jesus Christ thy eternal Son my everlasting Saviour and advocate my Lord and king II. O Stupendous Grace and Piety of the Eternal that I should be I fear I tremble â—o say it the work of Gods hands the image of his wisdom and power the price of Christs blood the temple of the holy Ghost a part of the Catholick and perpetual Church and an heir of immortal glory What now ought my life to be if this be my portion and my priviledge Holy Father let the intercession of Jesus that poured out his tears and sweat and precious blood for us be nigh unto thee day and night that thou mayest have mercy upon us and bless us and prevent our falling from so great salvation Amen Dearest Saviour I desire still to râ—â—lect and meditate on thy humble life thy birâ—h circumcision presentation in the Temple domestick Obedience Baptism Fasting Temptations Hunger Thirst Uncertain abode Travails Watching Prayers Sermons Miracles Dangers Abuses Tortures Bloodshedding and review the â—hole map of thy condescensions griefs and compassions from the Manger to the Cross until I become my self averse separated and cruciâ—yed and dead to the world Amen III. PRaise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Who forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thine infirmities who saveth thy soul from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works of Creation Providence and Redemption that they ought to be had in perpetual remembrance Thou art my God and I will thank thee thou art my God and I will praise thee All the works of the Lord are verity and judgment He hath sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever Holy and Reverend is his name Thus long have I lived upon thy bounty thus and thus c. hast thou nourished protected delivered and advanced me and now O Father thou confirmest to me the expectation of everlasting life in thy heavenly kingdom Wherefore I give thanks unto thee with my whole heart Glory Worship Obedience and Praise to God the Father Almighty and most beneficent that sitteth on the Eternal throne and to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and to the most holy Spirit the Lord of life and peace for ever and ever O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious I have tasted that he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever Hallelujah Salvation is of the Lord again Hallelujah Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift Lord hasten the glory of the General Resurrection Amen So come Lord Jesus Into thy hands thy pierced hands O Lord I commend my spirit PREPARATION FOR DEATH AND ETERNITY· CHAP. XV. Forgivenesss and Charity I. HAving lately perused CHAP. VI. of this Booke and also received the Holy Communion in this Apostolick Church I am the more ready and willing to set my self in order to depart this world for the vision of Christ humbly commiting the time and manner of my Dissolution to the Providence of God which hath hitherto defended and sustained me II. Wherefore I freely and fully forgive all that have in any sort wronged and injured me as I desire that God most just and omniscient should now for Christs sake forgive me Amen And I humbly beseech God to forgive them those wrongs and all other their sins Amen I farther desire that it may be certified to them namely to c. that I do remit and release to them all satisfaction and amends in word or deed onely entreating their prayers for me that my humiliation and repentance may be accepted in heaven Yea I wish I could shew more indulgence and forgiveness towards men who need and implore so much of God for my innumerable and most ungrateful offences against his Eternal Majesty III. I likewise humbly and heartily beg pardon and forgiveness of all those whom I have wronged in any manner particularly of c. and do earnestly desire that this my request be signified to them Furthermore forasmuch as slander and fraud and the like scandalous sins are not remitted before God without all possible restitution I am most willing and ready to my utmost power to restore and repay whatever I have couzened and defrauded without delay and without deceit I