Dictates of Heaven when they come in competition with the conceived Notions of their own brain which they call a praying by the Spirit But that you may truly and indeed pray by the Spirit and pray with the Understanding also and which is all one you may sing with the Spirit and sing with the Understanding also for the Psalms whether said or sung are the same Prayers when they are rightly Translated is the great reason of many Psalms paraphrased and illustrated with Notes and Prayers And these Psalms also are not of my own choice affixed to any of the ensuing Chapters of Meditation but such as have been so selected and disposed either by the Church of Christ or some of the most eminent Governours and Fathers of the Church The Reader may take notice that in the last Chapter of this PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN imprinted are many of the general Heads and hints of several the ensuing Chapters of this SECOND PART and therefore he cannot but meet with several expressions formerly published but revised and more methodically disposed both for use and memory PAge 310. line 3. read where thou art absent THE CONTENTS The Preface of continuing in Prayer of frequent Meditation with the design of the following Meditations I. CHapt Of Meditations and Psalms for the Morning Page 1. II. Chap. Meditations for the Third hour of Prayer p. 21 III. Chap. Of Meditations for the Sixth hour p. 41 IV. Chap. Of Meditations for the Ninth hour p. 61 V. Chap. Of Meditations for the Evening p. 81 VI. Chap. Of Meditations for Bed-time p. 101 VII Chap. Of Meditations for the Night-season p. 121 VIII Chap. Of Meditations fitted to every days ordinary actions c. viz. When you go forth of your Chamber I p. 151 When you walk abroad I. p. 152 When you stand upon soms high place I. ibid. When you behold pleasant Fields I. p. 153 When you hear or see any thing extraordinary I. p. 155 When you hear or see the time of the day I. ib. When you go to read or study I. p. 156 When you are wearied therewith I. p. 157 When you go about any worldly Employployments I. p. 158 When you are sad or discontented I. p. 159 When you sit idle I. p. 160 Vpon wandring and wanton eyes I. ibid. When you are tempted to any sin IV. p. 161 164 When Temptations prevail I. p. 165 When you have escaped a. Temptation I. p. 166 When you hunger or thirst III. p. 167 168 After you have eaten or drunk III. 169 170 When you are asked an Alms II. p. 171 When you hear others evil spoken of I. p. 172 When you hear your self reproached p. 173 When you are cross'd in any your worldly desires or interests p. 174 When you suffer several kinds of trouble p. 175 When you suffer any bodily pains p. 176 When you are sensible of your want of Knowledge and Wisdom 177 When you are dull and averse from holy Duties p. 179 When sensible of your sins and the mispending your time p. 180 When you resolve to be more religious for the future p. 181 Holy Breathings of the Soul after God II. p. 183-186 A Meditation of Fasting Alms giving to be joyned with Prayers p. 187 Meditations upon Vnity and the Publick Worship of God p. 171 OF the Four last things in general p. 201 Of the shortness and frailty of this present Life p. 205 Of the frequent remembrance of Death p. 210 Of the Horror of Death p. 215 Of the uncertainty of Death and preparation for it p. 219 The 39. Psalm illustrated with notes 226 The 90. Psalm illustrated with notes 230 The 2. general Head Of Judgment Of particular Judgment III. 235-242 Of the general Judgment V. 243-253 The 26. Psalm paraphras'd 254 The 43. Psalm paraphras'd 258 The 3. general Head Of the pains of Hell 263 Of the pain of loss 264 Of the darkness of Hell 267 Of the fire of Hell 270 Of the extent of Hell pains 273 Of the bonds and chains of Hell 277 Of the Laments of Hell 279 Of the perpetuity of Hell torments 282 The 86. Psalm paraphras'd 285 The 88. Psalm paraphras'd 291 The 4. general Head Of the joys of Heaven 297 Of the place call'd Heaven 300 its greatness its brightness and splendor its tranquillity and peace 300-303 Of the good things of Heaven 1. Honour 2. Power 3. Riches 4. Pleasure 304-308 Of the Company of Heaven 1. Gods presence there 2. of the Angels of Heaven 3. of the Saints in Heaven 309-316 Of the perpetuity of heavenly Joys 316 The 24. Psalm paraphras'd 321 The 84. Psalm paraphras'd 326 Meditation upon the Vow in Baptism 333 Meditation of the cure of the Soul before that of the Body 336 Meditation upon the Tears of the devout Soul 340 Meditation of the dwelling of God in the hearts of his people 344 CHAP. I. Of Meditations and Psalms for the Morning WHen I awake up Psal 139.18 I am always with thee who sleeping and waking am preserved by thee And 't is just and my bounden duty to return back my first breath in praise to him from whom I have received it So the Angels of Heaven those Morning-stars being first made even in the Morning of the worlds Creation no sooner received their Being but all with one accord sang with joyful acclamations the praises of their Creator Job 38.7 When the Morning-stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy Say then As soon as you awake Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for evermore and thrice blessed be the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven who hath preserved me the Night past and sav'd me from the sleep of death 'T is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed Lam. 3.22 23. even because his Compassions fail not they are new every morning Great is thy faithfulness II. O holy Jesus the Morning-star the day-spring from on high who came down to visit us Luk. 1.78 79. to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace Mal. 4.2 Arife thou Sun of Righteousness upon my darkned Soul with healing in thy Wings 1 Thess 5.5 make me a child of the light and of the day not of the night nor of darkness Let the Light of thy Truth direct me and the Light of thy Grace support me in the way to Light and Life everlasting Amen III. Lighten mine eyes O Lord Psal 13.3 that I sleep not in death either spiritual in sin or eternal for sin but from all sin and wickedness from thy wrath and from everlasting damnation good Lord deliver me Shew thy servant the light of thy Countenance Psal 31.18 and save me for thy mercies sake O let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning Psal 143.8 for in thee do I trust Shew thou me that I should walk in for unto thee O Lord
do I lift up my soul At your Vp-rising Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20.6 O holy Jesu who early in the morning didst raise up thy self from death to life for me raise me up I meekly beseech thee from the death of sin unto the life of Righteousness Grant me by the power of thy Death and vertue of thy Resurrection early and betimes even to day while it is called to day to arise out of the mire of sensuality and out of the dust and rubbish of worldly vanities unto newness and all holiness of life that when that long day of Eternity shall dawn I may be raised up out of the grave of death to live and reign with thee for ever Amen I laid me down and slept Psal 3.5 and rose again for the Lord sustained me Blessed be the name of the Lord Psal 113.2 3. from this time forth and for evermore The Lords name is praised from the rising of the Sun unto the going down of the same A Morning Hymn NOw that the day light doth arise Breaking through the azure skies To heaven I lift my heart and eyes Begging of God with humble cries All hurtful things to turn away Whilst I duly spend the day And from his Laws go not astray But of true vertue keep the way To turn away my wandring eyes From the beholding vanities To guard my lips from speaking lies To keep my heart both pure and clean From all desires wicked or vain And my unruly Passions rein To tame proud flesh whilst I deny it A full cup and wanton diet Avoiding all excess and riot That when the day light shall go out And darkness clouds the earth throughout Time bringing on the night about The Light of thy bright face may shine Vpon my Soul and Beams divine Display into this heart of mine Whilst leaving wicked worldly ways I in silence sing thy praise Chanting forth these following Laies All glory to the Trinity Which I adore in Vnity The Father Son and Holy Ghost One Lord which is of mighties most As it hath e're been heretofore Is now and shall be evermore At your Apparrelling I Put on Righteousness and it cloathed me my judgment was a robe and a diadem Job 29.14 And to the Spouse of Christ it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of the Saints Blessed Jesus cloath my soul with thy spotless Robes of Righteousness and beautifie me with the celestial ornaments of the graces of thy Spirit Let it be my constant desire and endeavour to appear more amiable in thy sight than in the censorious eyes of men II. ANd why take ye thought for raiment Matth. 6.28 consider the Lilies of the field they toil not neither do they spin And yet I say unto you 29. that Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these How then fond Soul canst thou be proud of thy bodily apparrel wherein the grass of the field excels thy utmost bravery To be proud of thy gay clothing is to glory in thy shame to cover which shame and nakedness as the issue of sin and disobedience the use of Garments was given by God The true ornaments of a Christian consist in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price At your Washing I. BLessed be the Lord God my Heavenly Father who hath washed me from my Original pollution in the sacred waters of Baptism and hath therein called me to the state of Salvation through Jesus Christ And I pray God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my lifes end This I promised by my Undertakers when I was Baptized 1 Pet. 3.21 Ch. Cat. but I have not been so careful as I ought to make good my promise O wash me throughly from my wickedness as in the Laver of Baptism and cleanse me from my sin Psal 51.2 whereby I have unhallowed those saving Waters Thou shalt purge me with Hysop through the bitter sorrows and sufferings of my dearest Saviour and I shall be clean 7. Thou shalt wash me in the fountain of thy inexhaustible mercy and I shall be whiter than Snow II. 'T is the clean hands and pure heart wherewith God is well pleased even the heart that is pure from all evil affections and the hands that be clean from all sinful actions Blessed are the pure in heart Matt. 5.8 for they shall see God see him in Grace and Mercy here and in Glory hereafter Make me a clean heart Psa 51.10 O God and renew a right spirit within me A Spirit cleaving stedfastly unto thee my God and to thy Covenant with me in holy Baptism Water the dry barren ground of my Heart with the dew of Heaven the celestial influences of thy holy Spirit that I may bring forth the fruits of good works to the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ Amen Upon the Use of the Creed I Have many Enemies to encounter and such as are not corruptible flesh and bloud but spiritual and invisible quick and powerful active and vigilant to insnare me in all my thoughts and desires words and actions And therefore 't is necessary O my Soul before thou go forth to enter upon any worldly affairs that thou be well armed as with fervent Prayers and the Sword of the Spirit so with the shield of faith Eph. 6.12 13. to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil Confess then the holy Christian Faith with Understanding and affectionate Devotion I. I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth II. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord III. Who was conceived by the holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried V. He descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead VIII I believe in the Holy Ghost IX The holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints X. The forgiveness of Sins XI The Resurrection of the Body XII The Life everlasting Amen I believe Lord help my unbelief And grant a right and a full understanding of all these Articles of the most holy Faith and Grace to square all the actions of my life according thereunto Let this Faith be my shield from all errors in Judgment and miscarriages in Conversation and from the Devil and all his Instruments that would seduce me to either Before you go forth of your Chamber or undertake any imployment first in all holy Humility
I have acknowledged my wayes and thou heardest me O teach me thy Statutes After confession of sin and prayer for pardon new obedience is required 3. Make me to understand the way of thy Commandments and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works To talk of Religion without a right Understanding is but vain babling 4. My soul melteth away for very heaviness Comfort thou me according to thy Word Godly sorrow is the inlet to divine Consolation 5. Take from me the way of lying and cause thou me to make much of thy Law Errors in judgment must be corrected and abandoned that we may obey God sincerely and cordially 6. I have chosen the way of truth and thy judgments have I laid before me What the Word of God doth judge to be true or false is to be ever chose or refused 7. I have stuck unto thy testimonies O Lord confound me not Stedfastly to cleave unto what God hath testified to be the way of truth and holiness is a sure way to avoid confusion 8. I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou hast set my heart at liberty While the heart is enfettered with sensual or worldly lusts we can neith run nor walk in the ways of God's Commandments we ought Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Raise up my Soul blesse Lord out of the dust and rubbish of earthly desires quicken my dulness in thy service comfort me in all my sadnesses dispel all those mists of Ignorance and Error which cloud my Understanding enlarge my heart from the bondage of Sin and Satan and out of the fetters of all Temptations unto evil and so strengthen me to run in the ways which thou hast Commanded that I may obtain what thou hast promised through Jesus Christ Our Father which art in c. CHAP. II. Of Meditations for the Third Hour of Prayer or Nine a Clock in the Morning THis is called The holy hour in the Decrees of the Church and generally the hour of publick Assemblies in the Worship of God and not without very great reason For 1. Matth. 27.20 'T was at this hour my blessed Redeemer underwent the bitter sentence of death whilest Barabbas a Thief a Rebel and a Murderer was acquitted And I vile wretch am as guilty as Barabbas in many respects and justly obnoxious to the dreadful sentence of condemnation to death eternal but by the infinite Merits and Mysteries of thy Condemnation Good Lord deliver me 2. Matth. 27.26 'T was at this hour of the day my blessed Redeemer exposed his tender breasts and delicate back and shoulders to be rased rent and torn with forked whips by cruel blood-thirsty souldiers until his innocent Body was all over gore blood And my sins deserve the scourges and mine offences the rod of the Almighties just indignation but blessed Lord I humbly beg that I may so wash my polluted soul with the penitent tears of holy compunction through Faith in the blood of my Saviour and so chastise and keep under that body of sin which is and too much reigneth in my Members Eccles 39.28 that being delivered from the guilt and tyranny of sin in this life I may escape those fiery whips and scourgings of the spirits of vengeance which are the portion of the disobedient and impenitent in the other life 3. Act. 2.15 'T was at this hour of the day the Holy Ghost descended upon the holy Apostles and Disciples of Christ and by his celestial influences replenished them with extraordinary Gifts and Graces for the propagation of his holy Gospel and the plantation of his Church through the World And Vouchsafe holy God vouchsafe unto me also thy unworthy servant the guidance of the same spirit by whose Illumination and Sanctification I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do and also may have Grace faithfully to perform the same through Jesus Christ And the Earth was without form and void Gen. 1.2 darkness was upon the face of the deep And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the Waters Such was thy condition O my Soul in thy state of Nature without form or comeliness the image of God wherein thy beauty consists was defac'd by original corruption void both of Grace and Truth an Abyss of darkness and in the shadow of death till the all-quickning Spirit of God moving upon the hallowed waters of Baptism caused the light to appear But still the dregs of thy natural corruption remain and the darkness of ignorance ever hovers upon the face of the Deep But where the Spirit of God is there is liberty both rightly to understand and acceptably to perform his Will COme Holy Ghost eternal God Proceeding from above Both from the Father and the Son The God of Peace and Love Visit my Mind and into me Thy heavenly Grace inspire That in all Truth and Godliness I may have the desire Kindle my heart with fervent love To serve God day and night Strength and stablish all my weakness So feeble and so frail That neither flesh the world nor devil Against me do prevail And grant O Lord that thou being My Leader and my Guide I may eschew the snares of sin And from thee never slide ALmighty God unto whom all hearts are open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnifie thy holy Name through Jesus Christ Glory be to God on high on earth peace This Hymn is prescribed to be used in the Morning by the Apostolical Constit l. 7. c. 47. and at the Third Hour of the Morning because then the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles and replenished them with glory exultation and joy Dur. Rat. l. 4. c. 13. good will towards men We praise Thee we bless Thee we worship Thee we glorifie Thee we give thanks to Thee for thy great Glory heavenly King God the Father Almighty O Lord the only begotten Son Jesus Christ O Lord God Lamb of God Son of the Father that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us Thou that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us Thou that takest away the sins of the world receive our prayers Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father have mercy upon us For Thou only art Holy Thou only art the Lord Thou only O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most High in the Glory of God the Father Amen PSALMS for the Third Hour Legem pone Psal 119. Part. 5. Horâ tertiâ Psalmus Legem pone dicitur quia tunc lex nova data est Apostolis Dur. Rat. l. 5. c. 6. Verses 1. TEach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end The Understanding must first be enlightned that the Affections of the Heart
ruine delight the righteous not for the destruction of their persons but for the justice of God thereby testified 8. My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee and I am afraid of thy judgments The best of men do most fear the judgments of God as being most sensible of their sins Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer GIve me a heart O Lord I beseech Thee detesting all sinfulness and error and inflamed with the love of holiness and truth to trust in thy mercies and stand in fear of thy judgments incline my will and affections to live the life of obedience to thy Word that I may not be disappointed of my hopes to live with thee for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Sixteenth Part. Verses 1. I deal with the thing that is lawful and right O give me not over to mine oppressors He must deal righteously with all men who desires not to be oppressed by any 2. Make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good that the proud do me no wrong To delight in what is good is a sure preservative against all the assaults of the spirits of pride and wickedness 3. Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health and for the word of thy righteousness We must wait diligently upon all the blessed means of that grace and Salvation God hath promised in his word how troublesome soever this may be to the flesh 4. O deal with thy servant according to thy loving mercy and teach me thy Statutes 'T will be sad if God deal not with the best of us after his loving mercies and not after our deserts 5. I am thy servant O grant me understanding that I may know thy Testimonies 'T is impossible to be the true servant of God without understanding aright the service he requires 6. It is time for Thee to lay to thine hand for they have destroyed thy law When he Laws of God are trampled under foot he will not long forbear his punishing judgments 7. For I love thy Commandments above gold and precious stone When wickedness most abounds the righteous do most value the Laws of God even above all earthly treasures 8. Therefore hold I straight all thy Commandments and all false ways I utterly abhor They that are most sincere in the service of God do most abhor what is false and contrary thereunto Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer I Am thy devoted servant O Lord and that I may serve thee acceptably give me a right understanding of all the ways and parts of thy service and an upright heart in performing the same abhorring all falsehood both in opinion and conversation O deal not with me after my sins neither reward me after mine iniquities but according to thy loving mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour glory c. Our Father which art in c. CHAP. IV. Of Meditations for the Ninth Hour of Prayer or Three a Clock IT is very seasonable at this Hour to pay thy Devotions to thy blessed Redeemer as the necessary effects of true Faith and Repentance since I. 'T was at this hour the Thief upon the Cross believing and repenting received the joyful promise from the mouth of the Lord Luk. 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise And my life I confess has been no better than the life of this Thief even my whole life has been a trade of robbery robbing God of his honour and of that obedience which I owe to his holy Laws and robbing my self also of peace of Conscience here and of the hopes of Heaven hereafter Blessed Jesu who hadst mercy on the Thief even in the very hour of his death repenting have mercy upon me even upon me also who now though too too late repent me of my manifold misdoings Shut not up the gates of Paradise against me when I shall depart hence since having overcome the sharpness of death thou hast opened the kingdom of Heaven to all Believers II. 'T was at this hour the Son of God made man commended his spirit of man into the hands of God the Father Luk. 23.46 And into thy hands O Lord do I now commend my spirit my soul my body my all for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth And the very God of peace vouchsafe to sanctifie me wholly 1 Thess 5.23 And I pray God that my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Amen III. 'T was at this hour wherein my blessed Redeemer Mat. 27.46 50. after he had cryed with a loud voice gave up the Ghost and dyed for us miserable sinners 'T was for me and my sins my dearest Saviour both suffered and dyed he having no sins of his own to suffer or dy for but He was wounded for my transgressions Is 53.5 He was bruised for mine iniquities And now then remember holy Jesus in great mercy remember that hour wherein with a torn body and broken heart Thou didst shew forth the bowels of thy mercy in dying to deliver me both from spiritual and eternal death Pardon good Lord pardon all my sins the cause of all thy painful sufferings and grant that both I and all who love thy Cross and Passion in a devout thankful remembrance may by the vertue and power thereof crucifie the old man and utterly abolish the whole body of sin that being dead unto sin 1 Pet. 2.24 we may live unto righteousness and by thy stripes be healed IV. Upon the death of my Saviour S. Mat. 27.51 the Earth quaked the Rocks clave asunder the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom And yet upon the meditation hereof my heart is not broken within me 't is harder than the stones of that Temple which was a figure of it harder than those Rocks that rent upon the expiration of my Lord more insensible and stupid than the Earth that quaked at the death of her Maker O Blessed Jesus let thy precious blood shed for me soften my stony heart into tears of Compassion to bewail thy Passion into tears of Compunction for my sins the cause of thy Sufferings and wholly melt my Soul into a throughout Devotion to the love and service of thy Sacred Majesty who hast so infinitely loved me as to dy for me V. At this hour the side of our Lord was pierced whence issued the two Sacraments of his Church the Water of Baptism and the Blood of the Eucharist And O that that precious blood and water which is the price of my Redemption may be the meritorious cause of my sanctification in this life and eternal Salvation in the life to come Amen PSALMS For the Ninth Hour Psal CXIX Part 17. Verses 1. THy Testimonies O Lord
call upon thee even to all that call upon thee faithfully depending upon thee alone for help and safety verse 6 Give ear Lord to my prayer not slightly hearing the sound of my words but ponder the voice of my humble desires the intense desires of my humbled soul I humbly desire to be considered verse 7 In the time of my trouble and that 's the whole time of my pilgrimage here upon earth I will call upon thee for protection and deliverance whereof I will never despair for thou hearest me if my prayer be pure and humble and therefore will I call upon thee as long as I live verse 8 Among the gods that be either falsly so called or be so called by participation of divine power as the Angels in Heaven and Kings of the earth there is none like unto thee O Lord either for power or wisdom there is none that can do as thou dost thy works do far exceed the power of any created beings to do the like and therefore in fulness of time verse 9 All Nations whom thou hast made shall no longer make gods unto themselves but shall come and worship thee O Lord the maker of all men and of all things and being admitted members of thy holy Catholick Church shall glorifie thy Name both with heart and voice and by the good works of their obedience to the Gospel of Christ verse 10 For thou art great which all thy works declare and dost wondrous things not to be apprehended but admired and 't is therefore in all the parts of the world confessed that thou art God alone all others being either falsly or feignedly called gods And that I may accordingly worship thee aright verse 11 Teach me thy way O Lord that I neither mistake the right way nor stumble and fall therein but stedfastly and constantly walk in thy truth and this way and this truth is my blessed Redeemer who by his doctrine and example doings and sufferings life and death is the way that leads to life eternal O knit my heart unto thee by the indissoluble bonds of a true Faith firm Hope fervent Charity that I may fear thy name so as that I neither dare to sin against thee nor too much presume upon thy favour and grace verse 12 I will thank thee O Lord my God as from whom both my whole self and all the little good that is mine does proceed with all my heart as being hereunto excited by the fear and love of thy Name and I will praise thy name for evermore And there is very great reason I should do so verse 13 For great is thy mercy toward me not only manifested in all the good things I do enjoy but in my deliverance from manifold evils and especially from the greatest of evils for thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell in the broad way that leads thereunto I have a long time walked and 't is of thy great mercy that I have not long since been hurled headlong to that dismal place of torments And still I have great cause to complain verse 14 O God the proud are risen against me proud Lucifer and his infernal fiends and the congregation of naughty men have sought after my soul the wicked of the world conspire with the Devil and his Angels by their sinful suggestions to subvert the innocence of my soul to have her portion with them in the nethermost hell verse 15 But thou O Lord art full of compassion especially to all them who chuse rather to suffer than to do what is offensive to thy Majesty and mercy in pardoning the offences of the truly penitent long-suffering not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance plenteous in goodness abounding in thy blessings and truth both in performing thy promises of mercy to the penitent and in rendring to every man according to his works verse 16 O turn thee then unto me who by my sins have justly provoked thee to turn away thy face from me and have mercy upon me a miserable sinner and that I may no more offend thee give thy strength unto thy servant even ghostly strength and fortitude manfully to resist the Devil and all his numerous troops of sensual and worldly lusts in all whose assaults vouchsafe to help the son of thine handmaid that I may overcome all their temptations unto evil and carefully keep my vow and promise made when I was first admitted to be a Son of thy handmaid the Church verse 17 Shew some token upon me for good let some sign of thy favour towards me appear that they who hate me my ghostly enemies may see it and be ashamed when they shall behold all their conspiracies and assaults against my soul defeated by the assistance of thy divine grace because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me thy help to overcome when I am tempted unto sin is a great comfort to my soul for I have hereupon a good ground of hope that thou wilt deliver my soul from the nethermost hell and that being raised up from the gates of death I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion saying Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The LXXXVIII Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 O Lord God of my salvation my corporal and spiritual temporal and eternal Salvation is from thee and therefore I have cryed day and night at all times and seasons and in all conditions prosperous and adverse before thee as unto whom alone the inmost intimate desires of my soul are naked and open O let my prayer enter into thy presence be received and accepted by thee incline thine ear unto my calling so graciously hear as to grant my humble requests verse 2 My soul is full of trouble which being the consequent of sin is the forerunner of death and my life draweth nigh unto hell which openeth wide her mouth to swallow down such polluted Souls verse 3 I am counted as one of them that go down to the pit lookt upon as a dead man and a cast-away and I have been even as a man that hath no strength which is derived from the Lord of life to escape the snares and terrors of death verse 4 Free among the dead not likely to be freed from my troubles but by death which puts an end to all the miseries of this sinful life like unto them that are wounded by the fiery darts of the devil and lye in the grave of corrupt conversation which leads to the grave of death the wages of sin and whosoever thus lye there are out of remembrance both forgotten by the righteous and also are cut away from thy hand repulst from amongst those blessed sheep which shall be rankt on thy right hand in the day of Judgment verse 5 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit I confess I have so far incur'd thy wrathful displeasure as to be laid in the nethermost hell
God of Hosts And if thou desirest to serve God upon earth according to the pattern of his worship in Heaven then let not thy sensual inclinations to sleep and ease defraud thee of the happiness to joyn in the night as well as in the day with the Celestial quire in the praises of God For if this be done cordially chearfully and constantly in this life there will be no question of being admitted into that blessed society to glorifie God in a higher degree of perfection and joy in Heaven PSALM VIII Which is believed to be divinely composed for the praise of God in the night because therein is mention of the Moon and of the Stars and not of the Sun Verses 1. O Lord our Governour a The Lord is Governour of all men and of all things by his power and providence but especially of his Church and people by his Righteousness and Truth how excellent is thy Name in all the world b The glory of God's name is celebrated in all the parts of the world more especially in the Heaven above Thou hast set thy glory above the Heavens And yet 't is far above what those most intelligent Beings the Angels of Heaven are capable to behold or conceive 2. Out of the mouths of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger The most imperfect Beings have in them strength of argument sufficient to maintain both the providence of God over all and the d spensation of Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ against the most bitter enemies of either witness the cry of little children Mat. 21.26 and the conversion of the World by illiterate Fisher-men 3. For I will consider the Heavens the work of thy Fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained To consider the excellent workmanship influences and revolutions of the heavens and all the hosts thereof ordained for the service of man and the highest heaven also for his everlasting abode enwraps the devout soul with admiration of the love of God to man 4. Lord what is man that thou art so mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him Especially that frail sinful man should be so regarded by the great Lord of heaven as to be visited by him in the likeness of humane flesh 5. Thou madest him lower than the Angels to crown him with glory and worship Though man be lower than the Angels above yet is he adorned with eminence above all earthly things and with respect subjection and obedience from them 6. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet God having given him power over all sublunary creatures and made to submit to his Command and service 7. All Sheep and Oxen yea and the beasts of the field 8. The Fowls of the Air and the Fishes of the Sea and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the Seas Even all the inhabitants of the air and of the Sea and of the dry land 9. O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy Name in all the world And therefore with Angels and Archangels and all the Company of Heaven and Earth I will magnifie God's holy Name and praise him saying Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. V. Meditations for the Night HOw aptly doth the darkness of the night represent the gloomy shades of death wherein all those lightsome Consolations which this vain world affords are buried in the grave of dark Oblivion That 's the land where all things are forgotten Ps 88.12 The living know that they shall die but the dead know not any thing Eccl. 9.5 and Sleep is the image the brother of Death in many respects they resemble each other for 1. In both thou art blind deaf dumb only Death is a longer and more perfect privation of sense 2. Rev. 14.13 In both thou art at rest from thy labours and thy works follow thee being often represented to thy fancy by way of Dream but more fully and clearly to thy Conscience when thou shalt awake to Judgment 3. Both are temporary For as thou dost dayly awake from thy natural Sleep and arise from thy Bed upon the approach of the day So certainly shalt thou awake from the sleep of death and be raised out of thy bed of clay the Grave when the day of the Lord shall come And since that day will come as a Thief in the night 2 Pet. 3.10 Psal 119.148 let mine eyes prevent the night O Lord that I may be occupied in thy words 4. As Sleep is the brother of Death so Death is the sister of Sin And this also in Holy Writ is called a Sleep Eph. 5.14 1 Cor. 15.34 Awake thou that sleepest Awake to Righteousness and sin not 'T is fabled that Somnus tempting Palinurus when he fell asleep tumbled him into the Sea and drowned him And if the sleep of Death find thee securely sleeping in any known Sin unrepented he that hath the power of death will hurl thee headlong into the bottomless Abyss of death eternal Ps 13.6 O lighten mine eyes O Lord that I sleep not in death lest mine enemy say I have prevailed against him Grant me blessed Lord Aug. med so to order govern and end my life that death may seize me but as a sleep and this sleep may be in rest this rest in Security and Security in eternity Amen PSALMS For the Night season PSAL. XCII Verses 1. IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O most Highest To praise the Lord is good in both the kinds of goodness viz. of Profit and Pleasure 2. To tell of thy loving kindness betimes in the morning and of thy truth in the night season In the morning which represents the rising prosperity of man it is good to give thanks for the loving kindness of the Lord and in the night of adversity also to praise him for his truth and righteousness at all times and in all conditions 3. Vpon an Instrument of ten strings and upon the Lute upon a loud Instrument and the Harp To employ both our hearts and voices as the loud instruments of his praise 4. For thou Lord hast made me glad through thy works And I will rejoyce in giving praise for the operation of thy hands The works of God do then truly delight the Souls of the righteous when in them they both see the goodness wisdom of the Lord and praise his name that made them 5. O Lord how glorious are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep The pious Soul is ravisht with love and admiration in contemplation of Gods works as excelling in glory and depth of wisdom her frail capacity 6. An unwise man doth not well consider this and a fool doth not understand it And
Souls This is the Bread that came down from Heaven verse 50 that a man might eat thereof and not dye Lord evermore give me this Bread 'T is thy blessed self Holy Jesus I humbly beg to be the Food of my Soul in Grace here in Glory hereafter III. The Souls of just men made perfect hunger not thirst not but are as the Angels in Heaven who neither eat nor drink as we mortals do upon earth And yet they feast continually being satisfied with the blissful presence of God 'T is thy imperfection and infelicity O my Soul to desire corporal meats and drinks to sustain thy frail tabernacle of flesh But blessed be the Lord my God who hath not made me like the beasts that perish capable only of a sensual happiness in sowing to the flesh from whence only corruption is reaped but of a felicity perfect solid everlasting in the beatifical vision and fruition of his divine goodness in whose presence there is fulness of Joy and at whose right hand there is pleasure for evermore After you have Eaten or Drunk I. I have now allayed the importunate craving of my appetite and my body is satisfied with material food but nothing can satisfie my Soul but to behold the presence of God in righteousness Awaken blessed Lord awaken up my Soul after thine own likeness for that only can give me a true and lasting satisfaction Ps 17 ult when I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it II. Praise the Lord Ps 103.1 O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things 4. making thee young and lusty as the Eagle O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness Ps 107.8 and declate the wonders that he doth for the children of men For he satisfieth the empty Soul 9. and filleth the hungry Soul with goodness But I am less than the least of all the mercies shewed unto thy servant unworthy to have my heart filled with food and gladress having too frequently abused thy good creatures of meats and drinks to Riot and Excess therein O satisfie me with thy mercy Ps 19.14 and that soon so shall I rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life When you are asked an Alms being able to Relieve I. How much am I bound to the good providence of my heavenly Father who hath raised my condition in this world to be of the number of those that abound and not of them that want Act. 20.35 since 't is more blessed to give than to receive Blessed Lord vouchsafe to give me a heart full of Compassion an eye full of pity and a hand open and bountiful according to my ability towards my poor needy Brethren 2 Cor. 9.6 He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully II. I have not deserved to enjoy more worldly wealth than this poor person who now begs to be supplied out of my store But such is the great goodness of my God towards me that he hath not only given me Food and Rayment but also wherewithal to express my gratitude and love to God by my ready relief of my Christian Brethren Blessed be God who hath not only given me ability but this opportunity also to lay up in store for my self a good foundation against the time to come that I may lay hold on eternal life When you hear others evil spoken of Lord if I be not as bad or worse than these persons I now hear traduced I have the more reason to praise thee who by thy grace and goodness hast preserved me from such miscarriages But did I truly reflect upon mine own misdemeanors I should have little reason to intend the reproaches of others Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or who shall rest upon thy holy hill He that hath used no deceit in his tongue Ps 15 3. nor done evil to his neighbour and hath not slandered his neighbour When you hear your self reproached As for me I was even as a deaf man and heard not Ps 38 13 and as one that is dumb that doth not open his mouth I became as one that heareth not 14. and in whose mouth are no reproofs I will patiently bear my reproach because I have sin'd against the Lord. The Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant above his Lord. Mat 10.25 It is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master 26. and the servant as his Lord if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold For what glory is it 1 Pet. 2.20 if when you be buffeted for your faults you take it patiently But if when you do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God For even hereunto were ye called 21 because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps Who did no sin 22 neither was any guile found in his mouth Who when he was reviled 23. reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously When you are crost in any your worldly desires or interests Whatsoever is brought upon thee take chearfully Ecclus. 2.4 and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate For gold is tried in the fire 5. and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity Blessed Jesus since thy kingdom is not of this world let not me thy devoted servant and subject either desire or hope to be happy upon earth but grant me so to love what thou commandest and desire what thou dost promise that among the sundry and manifold changes of the world my heart may surely there be fixed where true joyes are to be found When you suffer several kinds of Affliction This O Lord is the portion of thy people and I know O Lord and do verily believe 't is of thy goodness thou hast caused me to be troubled But far very far short are my sufferings to those of thy blessed Apostle professing of himself 2 Cor. 11.23 In labours abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths often Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one 24 Thrice was I beaten with rods 25 once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwrack a night and day I have been in the deep In journeyings often 26 in perils of waters in perils of Robbers in perils by my own Countreymen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the City in perils in the Wilderness in perils in the Sea in perils among false Brethren In weariness and painfulness 27. in watching often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakedness Such a heap of troubles betiding an innocent active blessed man may surely move me to bear patiently my smaller proportion of
a separation of the holy from the wicked by Judgment which shall assign to either their everlasting habitations either in Heaven or in Hell Of the Four last things S. Bernard saith that First Death is of all thidgs to flesh and blood most formidable Secondly Judgment than the which there is nothing more terrible and dreadful Thirdly Hell the Torments whereof are insupportable Fourthly Heaven the Joys whereof are beyond apprehension most Blissful and Ravishing And these subjects of holy Meditation would prove the most prevalent to turn all persons professing Christianity from all the errors of their ways whether in opinion or conversation would they but seriously consider the punishments that attend the erroneous and sinful and the blessings wherewith all the Orthodox and Holy shall be Crowned everlastingly The wicked shall be turned into hell Ps 9.17 and all the people that forget God But the Souls of the righteous are in the hand of God Wisd 3.1 and there shall no torment touch them They that have done good Ath. cr Mat. 25. ult shall go into everlasting life and they that have done evil into everlasting fire This Faith is professed by many but by few believed with the heart for he that cordially believes these principles of his Religion will stand in awe and sin not he will not dare in defiance of this Faith knowingly and willingly to transgress the Laws of the great Majesty of Heaven and 't is such a Faith attended by Fear and this Fear by Care and Caution that must preserve the Soul from the Torments and entitle the same to the Joyes of the other world O that they were wise Deut. 32.29 that they understood this that they would consider their latter end It is the greatest and most comprehensive of all the parts of true wisdom so to consider as rightly to prepare for our latter end for to end well is the sum of all our hopes and of all the happiness we can hope for MEDITAT I. HAve mercy upon me Ps 9.13 O God and consider the trouble I suffer of them that hate me my spirit is troubled for the daily incursions of my ghostly enemies Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death Such is this frail mortal life all the ways whereof are vanity and iniquity even gates leading to death eternal From the which I humbly beg to be raised up and exalted by thy right hand That I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion 14. glorifie thee with thy Church Triumphant in Heaven I will rejoyce in thy Salvation to be thus lifted up and sav'd is a joy unspeakable and glorious Remember me Ps 106.4 O Lord according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people and visit me with thy Salvation That I may see the felicity of thy chosen 5. and rejoyce in the gladness of thy people and give thanks with thine inheritance MEDITAT II. Of the Shortness and Frailty of this present Life MAn that is born of a woman is of few days Job 14.1 and full of trouble He cometh forth like a Flower 2. and is cut down he fleeth as a shadow and continueth not In the midst of life we be in death whilst every day we live is one day nearer to the end of life For what is your life Jam. 4.14 't is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away For all flesh is grass 1 Pet. 1.24 and all the glory of man as the flowers of grass the grass withereth and the flower fadeth Not to consider this shortness and frailty of humane life is to make my life yet more short and frail Lord make me to know mine end and the number of my days that I may be certified how long I have to live that the length of my days is of the shortest measure for behold thou hast made my days as a span Verily every man living is altogether vanity The most high and mighty the most honourable and wealthy are not exempt from this character for Honours Riches Friends all the Delights of the Sons of men with all the Pomp and Pleasure and power of the world depending upon the Shortness and frailty of humane life renders every man in all that he is in all that he has and in all that he hopes for in this world a vanity of vanities an universal vanity St. Augustines Meditations on this Subject THe time of my pilgrimage here upon earth is tedious wearisome for this is a miserable life a frail life an uncertain life a bitter life a laborious life a sinful life 't is the mistress of error and sinfulness and the handmaid to death and hell This life is rather to be called death than life as being through the whole course thereof a passing from Life to Death for whilst we pass from Infancy to Childhood from thence to Manhood and so to Old age every such change in Life is but a passage to Death There is no condition in this life certain and setled now we are glad and anon sad now we are well and anonsick now we are at ease and anon in pain now we laugh and anon weep now in hunger and thirst anon in fulness and excess in honour and dishonour in wealth and poverty in heats and colds in evil report and good report in fear and terror and much amazement and all this and much more than can be exprest is too often attended by a sudden unexpected death and which is yet more miserable though there be nothing more certain than death yet vain foolish man knoweth not considereth not his end So the Preacher Eccl. 9.12 For man also knoweth not his time as the fishes that are taken in an evil not and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them O senseless mortals especially being called Christians and yet to be of so little Faith as to doat upon a life so frail short and uncertain so changeable and calamitous in defiance of what we daily profess to believe Life Everlasting Blessed are they and they are but a few who in hopes and desires to enjoy the unchangeable blessings of the life to come do slight and despise the fallacious flattering enjoyments of this world lest being deceived by the charms and fawnings thereof the Deceiver and the deceived perish together 'T is a general complaint that the world is deceitful and unsatisfying in all her most alluring enjoyments and yet so mightily the flesh prevaileth against the spirit that most men love and I am a great fool among the rest yea dotingly love to be thus deceived too passionately desiring to injoy still this mortal life how frail soever and attended with a numerous train of miseries But forget not O remember and forget not that thou art Immortal O my Soul and that death is but
which through so many perils he acquired have all now left him alone in this ghastly silent Sepulchre accompanied only with Worms Stench and Corruption Such is the end of all flesh 'T is as true of the greatest Prince as of the meanest Peasant When a man is dead Ecclus. 10.11 he shall inherit creeping things beasts and worms All the difference in the grave betwixt the dust of the rich and of the poor of the honourable and the base is this that the dust of the rich through the luxury lasciviousness and intemperance of their life is more corrupt and loathsome after their death than is the dust of the poor whose food and nourishment was more course and sparing Why then my Immortal Soul art thou so fond of thy corruptible companion the Body Remember its beginning is uncleanness and its end rottenness 'T is thy servant for the present but if thou too much cocker and pamper it 't will rebel subdue and lead thee captive to a worse death than that whereunto its self is lyable even the death of the nether Hell Mar. 9.44 where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched 2. Death is the wages of Sin And I have sinned vile wretch that I am I have sinned and what shall I do or what shall I say unto thee O thou preserver of man Job 7.20 All that I can say is the same still I have sinned and as long as I have a day I will say it I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sins Mercy 21. good Lord mercy I humbly beg O why dost thou not pardon my transgression and take away mine iniquity Are not my dayes few Job 10.20 cease then and let me alone that I may bewail my sins and take comfort a little in the hopes of the pardon of them through Faith in the blood of my Redeemer before I go from whence I shall not return 21. to the land of darkness and the shadow of death 3. Job 18.14 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. Heb 2.14 I know that to flesh and blood death is of all terribles the most terrible but my blessed Redeemer by his bitter death hath pulled out the sting and quelled the terrors of death and hath also enchained him who hath the power of death the devil so that now when death approacheth through Faith and a good Conscience I shall have hope with all patience and contentment to drink off that Cup how bitter and painful soever saying with my blessed Lord and Master upon his approaching death Mat. 26.42 Father not my will but thine be done The Prayer ASsist me mercifully O Lord to subject my rebellious flesh to the guidance of the Spirit and my spirit to the laws of my Redeemer that when my body shall be the inheritance of worms and creeping things my Soul-may possess an inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet. 1.4 that fadeth not away reserved in the heavens through Jesus Christ MEDITAT V. Of the uncertainty of Death and preparation for it 1. AS there is nothing more certain than death Ps 89.47 for what man is there that liveth and shall not see death So there is nothing more uncertain than the Time Mat. 24.36 for of that day and hour knoweth no man the uncertainty of Death engageth every wise man to a certainty in his preparation and provision for it Remember that death will not be long in coming Ecclus. 14.12 and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee Do good unto thy friend before thou dye 13. put it not off to thy last Will and Testament but according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give unto the poor That the poor when charitably relieved are our best friends and that thus we are to prepare for death is commanded by our Lord Luk. 16.9 Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness in the pious charitable distribution of your worldly goods Luk. 16.9 that when you fail your bodies corrupt and moulder into dust your Souls may be received into everlasting habitations 2. In this life our condition is changeable from better to worse and from worse to better but in death all hopes of bettering our condition are buried with the liveless corps 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation i. e. the day of this life wherein I am commanded to work out my Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 for the night of death cometh wherein no man can work Eccl. 9.10 There is either work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave where thou goest It follows therefore whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might be active be vigorous be zealous Col. 1.10 be fruitful in every good work 'T is the Soul that is laden with the fruits of well-doing 1 Pet. 4. ult Rev. 14.13 Luk. 16.9 which in deaths approach may chearfully commit her self unto the will of God as to a faithful Creator 'T is these good works that follow the Souls of the righteous to the Tribunal of Heaven to plead for their admission into celestial habitations And these are 1. Devout Prayers Mat. 6.1.5.16 which do indeed and more immediately commend our Souls unto God and render them amiable in his sight especially when accompanied 2. With Religious Fastings often Ro. 12.1 whereby we present our bodies also unto him and withal do 3. Heb. 13.15 16. By charitable Alms-deeds dispense our Goods to our wanting brethren for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Lord I pray thee that thy Grace may alway prevent and follow me and make me continually to be given unto all good works which are the never failing fruits of a true Christian Faith and by these inseparably conjoyned to make my Calling and Election sure sealed in the blood of my dear Redeemer 3. There are three general messengers of Death 1. Chance 2. Sickness 3. Old age Chance renders the life of man doubtful and uncertain Sickness makes it grievous and troublesome Old age makes life tedious and death inevitable Some persons are stifled in their mothers womb and dye before they see the light of life some dye in their Infancy some in their youth some in their mans estate And some there be but these are of all others the fewest in number that dye in their old age and yet most of men do not only desire but fondly conceit they shall live to be old and yet never think themselves old enough to dye which makes so many millions of men dye unpreparedly and so pass from a Temporal to death Eternal For the prevention of so great and general a mischief and perdition of ungodly men the all-wise and good providence of Heaven hath ordained that in all ages estates and conditions of men this life shall take end that so none how young and lusty