that of possession which makes holy men have mortem in desiderio which others so fear vitam in patientia which others so value 7. Consider all the temporal blessings of holy and orderly living more health of body longer life serenity of mind a pleasure sedate pure and constant but at no time violent itching or discomposing the subject of it and rendring mirth uncapable of continuance or also declining suddenly into pain or anguish A joy not dwelling in the sense and lower felicities of beasts in eating and drinking and marriage these when it useth and rejoyceth in it is as though it used and rejoyced not but in more Angelick and Spiritual complacencies not consisting in having its carnal desires satiated but rather in not having and being freed from such desires which is a content equal to the enjoyment of them Cui Deus haec fecit Supervacua dedit A pleasure more retired and internal of the mind and spirit arising out of several noble considerations of the Soul which have no intercourse with or help from Sense A joy well consisting with and many times very great when the sense is in pain and of sense little or nothing perceived Nay A joying in grief and pains Rom. 5.31 and proportioned to them more joy to counterpoise them as the pains are more And Gaudet minus si minus dolet because the Soul cannot have those special considerations and passions which give it such a goust and delight but from such sufferings So St. Paul's joys still flowed the higher the greater his tribulations were And see a resemblance tho a very faint one of it in Seneca's Philosophy Ep. 18. Summa voluptas saith he in victa tenui Voluptaes autem non illa levis fugax subinde reficienda sed stabilis certa Non enim jucunda res est aqua polenta sed summa voluptas est adidse reduxisse ut c. Quanta enim animi magnitudo c. Digr Of the great blessing of long life 8. The blessings on their Posterity Associates c. for their sakes in all the contraries to those Judgments mentioned before § 3. n. 11. c. which are brought upon others for the sinners sake God not going less in his mercies than in his judgments Digr Of the great efficacy and benefit of the Communion of Saints 9. From doing to others all good and returning no evil much peace and a good name amongst the most or the best of men 1 Pet. 3 13. Matt. 5.5 And again when from contrary manners to and non-compaliance with the world he incurrs the hate and ill report thereof in lieu of the worldly a spiritual peace and divine consolations more abundant So that a good man suffers some trouble from humane and temporal solaces and endeavors to avoid them And every one as he groweth perfecter and deeplier wounded with the divine love and desire of conformity to his Good Lord takes a far greater delight in their contraries in sufferings persecutions injuries retiredness long devotions and hard mortification as being then most replenished with spiritual Consolations after the tasting of which already all the world's delights are become bitter and sowre These therefore he chooseth armeth for impatiently expects arrived to glories in wondring they are no greater which are to save such a sinner so well meriting damnation from such infinite torments to come and which are to gain to so vile a person such infinite joys and honor to come §. 9. 2 The great reward of it for the future 1. The happiness of the Souls of Saints immediately after Death Exemplified in the Soul of the H. Thief accompanying the Soul of our Lord in Paradise the same day he suffered In that of the H. Beggar Lazarus receiving in Abraham's bosome Consolations for his former sufferings in the life-time of Dives his Brethren as the Parable represents it wherein we may presume our Lord would hint to the people no mistaken Notions of the future life Who also elsewhere opposing the Sadduces that denied Spirits argues Abraham to live still at this present because God after his death stiled himself his God Again Exemplified in the Souls of the Martyrs who Rev. 6.9 10 11. 7.9.15 are clothed in white Robes and attending on the Lamb till the residue of the Saints their like sufferings for Christ being fulfilled they should all at once resume from present corruption their bodies glorified The same happiness of separated Souls instanced-in by St. Paul Heb. 12.23 where he numbers standing in the Divine presence amongst Angels the Souls also of just men consummate Therefore our Lord commends his spirit into the hands of his Father and St. Stephen again dying recommends his into the hands of Jesus And St. Peter 1. Ep. 3 4. chap. constitutes the hidden man of the heart or the righteousness of the Soul in that which is not corruptible Lastly this future happy State frequently represented in the joys which holy Souls sometimes receive in this life in the loss of the senses and cessation of the animal-functions and particularly shewed in that rapt of St. Paul into the third Heaven and Paradise and there receiving those unutterable Caresses from whose doubting language whether in or out of the Body I know not may be gathered that if his Soul did not yet it might have visited those places when it was separate from the Body Which Apostle after this short experiment of those other blisses pronounceth it much better to have this earthly tabernacle dissolved so to put on another celestial an house not made with hands a building of God eternal in the Heavens and much better to be absent from the Body so to be present with Christ And St. Peter using much what the same language speaks of deposing his present tabernacle or changing his habitation at his death 2. Ep. 1.14 As also he makes mention of Souls in Prison who were preached-to in the days of Noah 1. Pet. 3.19 2. The happiness of Soul and Body after the day of Judgment where you may entertain your thoughts on such contemplations as these promised in his word who is faithful and true The then renewed youth vigor beauty and agility of the Body The purity of the Soul from all Sin Our glorious Habitation Celestial The most amiable Society of the Saints Our vision and familiar acquaintance and conversation with Angels and Spirits One Holy Spirit and an ardent and mutual love flaming in all Christ our Spouse God our Father All Temples of the Holy Ghost Members of Christ Sons of God The heavenly City and Temple Kings and Preists White Robes Crowns and Palms Harps Songs and Festivals Life Rest and Peace for ever and ever Heu mihi quia incolatus meus prolongatus est Non sunt condignae passiones hujus Saeculi c. Momentaneum hoc leve Tribulationis quod in praesenti est operatur immensum supra modum gloriae pondus in sublimitate 3. The several Degrees of Glory
first of these Leaving the World Consider The strange alteration that will then be in your Judgment and opinion concerning all the things of this world and the extream vanity and folly of them we then speaking like those Wisd 5.7 8. c. and fruitlesly wishing a few hours of that now eternally irrevocable time mispent in such vanities wherein to fast pray and reform our life past 4. The extream shortness and swift passage that will then seem of your life past and of all the worldly contents received therein for which consider that part of your life already past how short and how nothing worth it now seems unto you without any present or remaining fruit of them And that all the pains of virtuous living then also would have been past and seemed as short to your comfort and an eternal harvest of bliss for them to follow 5. The sudden parting at once that then must be without taking the least thing with you 1. Tim. 6.7 Psal 49.17 from all things even the most dearly affected by you in this life And every thing at that time with so much more grief forsaken by how much it was here more affected and more lively to resent this imagine the destraction and horror that would be to you in a present exile from your Country into some desolate Island 6. The great uncertainty or unworthiness of the inheritors of your goods and fortunes That great affliction of the wisest of men See Eccl. 2.18 19. Psal 49. Ps 39.6 And upon these well weighed consider the reasonableness of the Apostles deduction and proposal 1. Tim. 6.8 7. The leaving also behind of your own Body and beholding your self even before death stript first of all your beauty strength abilities perfections thereof and many times also of your reason and judgment And consider as the decays of it in sickness so the filthiness and loath someness thereof after death 8. Upon these consider the fruitfulness and loss in that day of all your labour spent on your body or on your worldly estates and fortunes except only what was done in relation to God's service This in order to the first you leaving the world 2. 9. In order to the second your going to a place of bliss or torment which so ever God's justice shall assign you Consider The eyes of the Soul opened by death as Stephen's were Act. 7.57 or the young mans 2. Kings 6.17 And all things appearing new unto it as the world or the Sun did to the man that was born blind Jo. 9. Or to one could he well observe it that is newly come forth of the womb and much contrary to what was formerly imagined so as things do to one awakned out of a long dream 10. A doom or Judgment upon the Soul immediate after death as appears by Luk. 16.22 23. comp 28. 1. Pet. 3. 19. 2. Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 though not such as shall be after the day of judgment God's final judgment upon the Devil himself being deferred till that day Jude 6. much more of the damned men But yet supposing the Soul as senseless after death as the Body till the general day of doom yet that judgment also as if it were immediate because no interval of time is perceived by what is utterly sensless 11. The great uncertainty and doubt your Soul shall then be in what shall become of it because of your former not assuredly sufficient repentance reformation c. and perhaps opinion also that that repentance which you can then perform is too late Your hope being then mingled with much fear unless perhaps your life hath been singularly and extraordinarily holy 12. The eternally unchangable condition after that moment without any benefit of despairing repentance and everlasting tears 13. The attendance of good or evil Angels according to our life past by our bed-side to execute God's vengeance upon the ejected Soul See Luk. 12.20 they shall require 16.22 16.9 Matt. 24.31.40 14. That as Bodies at the resurrection so Souls of Saints are treated at their death since their Souls at death go to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 as Bodies at the Resurrection Therefore as their Bodies then shall be caught up in the Clouds into the air to meet the Lord c. 1. Thes 4.17 so are the Souls of Saints at death caught up and carried by Angels into heaven which are thought to be signified by those clouds and a throng of them to have had the appearance of a white or shining cloud See Act. 1.9 Matt. 17.5 Luk. 16.22 And if the Souls of Saints at death by good Angels are carried upwards in the like manner doubtless are the Souls of the wicked by evil Angels thrust down into the Eternal prison 15. The strict judgment that will then be made by God of our whole life even to every word and thought and that not only on Heathen or on Christians for enormous crimes who are judged already as it were Jo. 3.18 but on Believers for omitting deeds of Charity and mercy or the duties of their profession for the not right imploying of any Gifts or goods spiritual or temporal bestowed upon them Consider Matt. 12.36.37 Jude 14 15. Rom. 14.11 12. Phil. 12. comp 11. 1. Cor. 4.4 5. 1. Cor. 3.13 c. Job 31.14 Matt. 25.42 25.30 16. The fresh review that will be on your death-bed upon the approach of this account or if it be not then much more desperate our condition and immediately after our dissolution it will be so much more of all our sins especially those more considerable the suggestions of evil spirits helping the accusations of conscience when repentance is too late for the producing of despair Psal 50.21 Prov. 20.27 or which is worse hiding our sins from us or falsly securing the conscience when impenitent upon our Saviour's merits to the begetting of a vain presumption 17. The bitter remembrance that will then be of former pleasures not innocent and so much the more detestation and cursing of every thing now loved as we here took in it more delight 18. The impossibility of exercising in that time of sickness any reformation or acts of virtue contrary to our former sins except perhaps some deeds of Charity which yet is then less acceptable when we give what we longer cannot retain at the least unto our selves 19. The miserable condition of wicked men at that time beyond that of a beast that wholly perisheth And here imagine the terrors of Corah c. when they saw the earth ready to swallow them up 20. The pious resolutions of a better life if God would reprieve us that we would then make and the hearty wishes that all our time here had been spent otherwise 21. The exceeding great and comfortable remembrance of any one past good deed 22. After these things well weighed which will then certainly happen consider 1 The great uncertainty of the time and that death commonly comes very secretly as our Saviour hath very carefully
all sins past as present and always before him whilst to the sinner himself many are never known many once known quite forgotten Again He as being the person wronged by sin who is always a higher valuer of the offence than is the party offending justly aggravating it from the supreme dignity of his person his infinite love and numberless benefactions to the Sinner his former long patience toward Him his exceeding holiness and purity so opposite to its filthiness c. See Gen. 6.6 Where 't is said That man's sin grieved him at his heart and it repented our Lord that ever he had made him on the earth And again Mar. 3.5 That our most meek Lord Jesus was so provoked by it That he looked round about on them with anger being grieved for the hardness of their hearts But especially the hainousness of sins may be learnt from the many experienced stupendious Judgments upon them at which man is much troubled how to make them bear any just proportion to his Faults Which dreadful revenges upon Sin you may consider 1. In the faln Angels for one sin exiled from heaven and held in chains of darkness near upon ever since the Creation of the world besides what is to come made also for ever uncapable of any means of Reconciliation 2. In Adam for one sin ejected out of his most pleasant Habitation apparrel'd with the covering of Beasts condemned to eat his Bread in labour and sorrow and penance for near a 1000 years and then to return to Putrefaction and a curse laid on all his Posterity and on the ground they lived on for his sake 3. In the drowning at one time for their lusts and oppressions of all the men in the world except Eight persons their children and infants and all other living creatures for their sake 4. In the storm of Fire and Brimstone rained upon the five Cities for their Lusts and those pleasant Plains turned to a dead Lake till this day and yet these Cities to undergo a new Damnation at the day of Judgment as if they had as yet suffered nothing See Mat. 11.22 Where our Lord aggravating the punishment of Bethsaida saith it shall be then more intolerable than that of Sodome 5. In the severe punishments of David though otherwise a most holy person the sad story of which you may read in the 13.15 and 24. Chapters of 2. Sam. Concerning all which forenamed punishments this is a sufficient evidence that the sins deserved them because he who is Justice it self and from whom man learns the true notions of it inflicted them 6. Lastly In the precious Sacrifice of the only Son of God required by his Father for the Expiation of Sin This of the present temporal punishments But then consider also 2ly The future punishment for all sin here unrepented of and unforsaken before death in the world to come 27. 1 Immediately after death Of the Soul Exemplified in the deceased rich man tormented in fire whilst his brethren yet living in their jollity here on earth Luk. 16.24 And in the Beast and false Prophet their being cast into the Lake of fire before the Invasion of Gog and Magog and before Satan's being shut up there See Rev. 19 20. Comp. 20.8.10 Which also appears from our Lord 's declaring that a temporal death kills the Body but not the Soul Matt. 10.28 And St. Pet. 1. Ep. 3 4. adviseth the adorning of the hidden man of the heart because this not corruptible And Ibid. ver 19. makes mention of Spirits in Prison viz. the spirits of such persons as were preached-to in the days of Noah And if the Souls of the Righteous be then presently in Paradise Luk. 23.43 and with Christ their Lord and partake of God's mercy and glory the Souls of the Wicked must be then presently imprisoned and remain with the Devil their Master feel the lashes of God's Justice and begin their never ending misery and ignominy Whilst the Body descends into the Grave the poor Soul by the strength of Angels being forced downward into a far lower Dungeon an infernum inferius in the most innermost bowels of the earth from whence it shall never return again nor see light save at the last day that which flasheth from the face of the angry Judge when it is brought to his Bar to receive its last doom doubled torments and to make it much more sensible of them forc'd to take along with it its loathed Mate the Body into the same profound pit Who then can tell the agony of such person now come to the end of his days when scorched with Feavers he desires to dye and by death can remove only into a bed of fire when he cannot endure his present pains and hath no change save to far greater these he cannot suffer and the other if ceasing to suffer these he can no way avoid nor knows he what way to turn himself in this Labyrinth of Despairs These sufferings of the Soul having been by some endured already above 5000 years and those of the rich glutton in flames if this not made wholly a Parable suffered now above sixteen Centuries though he lived here not one 28. 2 After Dooms-day Of Soul and Body Where also weigh well the terrible description of these punishments mentioned in his Word who cannot lye The Body raised in dishonour A Carcass deformed stinking Chains binding hand and foot Prison depth of the Earth Dungeon Bottomless Pit A Fire and Brimstone-Lake Immobility Suffocation Worm or Serpent gnawing Fire devouring Thirst never refreshed Body never consumed Sense never stupified Weeping wailing gnashing the teeth Society of wicked men and Devils ugly stinking All hating cursing one another hating cursing God cast into a land of Oblivion Psal 88.12 None to comfort none to bemoan The ancient Compassion of Saints and Angels and God now turned into Hate and Derision No Mediator no Redeemer The Soul always in an Agony and sick to death restless hopeless despairing wounded to the heart with the sense of lost happiness as well as present misery And all her sufferings eternal eternal Eternal these pains God in his upright Justice not being so indulgent as to grant to that his wretched Creature the relief of an Annihilation And these pains unremitting the rich man sparingly begging of the beggar that before wanted his relief but only one drop of water falling from the dipped tip of his finger Luk. 16.24 and it would not be granted him The greatness of God's vengeance then answering the greatness of his person and of his patience when yet for the present so much hating sin which Patience abused at last turns to Fury and no wrath comparable to the wrath of the Lamb. See Rev. 6.6 Rom. 2.5 And from the magnitude of this wrath and punishment is chiefly learnt the magnitude of sin and what a Monster that must be that deserves such Torments for ever and ever from him that cannot do the least Injustice Digr Of the Degrees
and also of our Graces and services i. e. our satisfaction love our praising and glorifiing God nobler there according to the several Degrees of our Service here 4. Contemplation of the Reward a great incouragement to the work 5. Contemplation of the many various Degrees and heights thereof proportioned to our obedience a great incouragement of an holy zeal to attain perfection in our Works §. 10 VII Concerning the Faisibility Easiness Excellencies of It. VII Next Concerning the Faisibility and Easiness of this Service Consider 1. The great light we have of Natural knowledge 2. The natural Inclination we have to many good Duties as to Sobriety c. only alterable by custome and ill example and our Passions very serviceable to the exercise of Vertues Digr Of the Art of well using and heightning the Passion toward things of Piety 3. The Easiness of Christ's Yoke Matt. 11.30 after a while upon contrary custome and the removal of temptations as may be gathered by the perseverance of Saints bearing this Yoke still with more and more zeal whereas no forced actions are permanent It being in many things heavy at first not so much from its opposition to natural Inclinations as to vicious habits and ill education and inadvertency of admitting alluring Objects c His Commandments are not grievous 1. Jo. 5.3 4. The many Benefits of our Saviour to mankind which see displayed more largely below Medit. 5. and the advantagious repairs of our losses by the first in him the second Adam and ours far happier times since the Gospel 5. The near Relations the Son of God out of infinite love hath contracted to us by his Incarnation He our Father we his Children He our Husband we his Spouse He our Head we his Members He our Root we his Branches He the Foundation we his Building He the Son of God we his Brethren we his People and He our High-Priest who after he had here offered himself a Sacrifice for us now with his Blood in the Heavenly Sanctuary makes perpetual Intercession for us 6. Baptisme in our Infancy or at what time soever worthily received rescuing us from the Curse of Adam and his Posterity and totally cancelling all former hereditary or personal Guilt gratis and restoring to us supernatural Grace lost by our first Parents and God's friendship and favour only carnal Concupiscence not quite eradicated to make the acts of Vertue more valuable and the victories of Grace more excellent 7. The sufficient ability all the baptized have by this Grace procured by the death of Jesus and applied in Baptisme to perform the Covenant of the Gospel and all the obedience that is required under pain of Damnation and to live free from the habit of any small sin from the single Acts of any great one 8. The great disparity of the malignity and guilt that is in Sins of which whilst we daily fall into some of the less yet we may and good Christians do totally avoid the greater in which respect they are called Saints Holy Righteous dead to and no more committers of Sin c. Digr Of the narrow extent of Sins of excusing i. e. of natural Infirmity which Infirmity is either in avoidable ignorance when the understanding is cozened or inadvertency or want of observation when the choice is surprised Hence great sins cannot be such since we are neither in general ignorant of them nor in particular Acts unobservant of them nor yet small sins be such if multiplied since they also when frequent must needs be pre-observed Of the danger of that Tenent that God's Commandments cannot be kept or fulfilled in that sense as it is vulgarly misunderstood 1. That we cannot live free from all greater sins See Matt. 19.17 5.17 18. com 19 20. Rom. 8.4 as from all Uncleanness and Fornication Avarice Detraction all greater degrees of Intemperance of Anger Impatience c. 9. Many omissions of doing some good and deficiencies in doing good not formal fins though all are imperfections 10. The many Benefits of the Holy Ghost which see collected more fully below in Medit. 6. This the Promise of our Lord as he before was of the Father and this after his Ascension sent by him to abide with his here on earth in his necessary absence until his second coming and that not to be a cohabitant with us as he but an inhabitant within us now made his Temples the Seed of God giving us a second Nativity and making us new Creatures born of God conveying into our Souls Holiness and into our Bodies immortality and life as our former Nativity did Sin and Death inwardly illuminating our understandings in the highest Mysteries of our Salvation and confirming to the Soul all that truth which our Lord taught to the Ear and communicating to the more perfect extraordinary Revelations and secrets of God from time to time inspiring the will with new and divine affections and inflaming those more perfect with a more impetuous and impatient love of God some elevated to Rapt and Extasy and to so perfect a Contemplation of and Union with the divine Majesty as this life is capable of and whilst it acting thus in us a Paraclet also interceding for us with groans unexpressible asking all things for us and predirecting us in our affairs many times contrary to humane reason according to the Will of God which Will as to the present and future this Spirit also knows and crying in our hearts Abba Pater superabundantly comforting us in all secular Distresses and animating and sealing us to future everlasting Glories O the high Nobility of a person once Regenerate What Holiness may not a man confidently aspire-to that is thus inhabited by God! 11. The powerful and diligent assistances of the good Angels who as being Fellow-Citizens and Members under the same Prince and Head Heb. 12.22 Eph. 1.10 Col. 1.20 full of Charity attend especially on the necessities of the Saints Daily carrying our Prayers and joyfully presenting our good Endeavors to the heavenly Majesty and procuring and ministring his Blessings to us and rejoycing over one Sinner that repenteth waging a continual war against Satan and his Angels in our defence suggesting we may presume as assiduously good things to our mind as Satan doth evil and since their Charity is no less than his Malice as diligent to preserve as he to destroy us and to entice to good as he to tempt to evil Lastly their number in the spacious higher world infinitely great without expression See Heb. 12.22 Matt. 26.53 Dan. 7.10 Rev. 12.4 And all the several Titles of their divers Orders as Thrones Dominations Vertues Principalities Powers Arch-angels Angels excepting the Cherubin and Seraphin the nearest Attendants upon the heavenly Majesty Esay 6.2 Rev. 4.6 comp Ezech. 1.5 26. implying Government or Service See Dan. 10 13.20 21. Eph. 1.21 3.10 6.12 Col. 1.16 2.10.15 Rev. 15.7 Matt. 18.10 24.31 Luk. 16.22 they always giving a relation or account of their Embassies and Imployments
God who publishedst to Zachary the birth and office of St. John Baptist and sent from God to the Blessed Virgin wast the happy Messenger of the Incarnation of the eternal Word of God Pray for us St. Raphael one of the Seven which assist before our Lord the holy conducter of Tobias the restorer of sight and powerful expeller of evil Spirits Pray for us Holy Seraphin who with a burning coal purified the lips of Esaias Pray for us Holy Cherubin who wast set to keep the way of the Tree of Life Pray for us O Holy Angels who in executing judgment on Sodom deliveredst just Lot vexed with their filthy conversation Pray for us Holy Angels who ascended and descended upon Jacob's Ladder Pray for us Holy Angel who deliveredst Jacob from all evil Pray for us O Angel of God who in smiting all the first born of Egypt passedst over the houses of the Israelites who conductedst them into the land of Promise and deliveredst the Law unto Moses Pray for us O Prince of the Host of God who wast sent to aid Joshuah and who destroyedst of the Assyrians warring against God's people an hundred fourscore and five thousand in one night Pray for us Holy Angel who when Daniel was cast into the Lyon's Den shuttedst up their mouths that they might not hurt him Pray for us Holy Angels who joyfully sung Glory to God on high at the Birth of the Saviour of Mankind Pray for us Holy Angels who ministred to our Lord when anhungred in the Wilderness Pray for us Holy Angel who comfortedst our Lord in his Agony Pray for us Holy Angels who first declared the joyful news of our Lord's Resurrection Pray for us O ye Angels of God who brought out of prison and set at large the Apostles and St. Peter and struck with an ignominious death proud Herod not giving Honor to God Pray for us Holy Angels who carried the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosome Pray for us O Holy Angels who shall come with our Saviour in his Majesty to judgment and at the end of the world shall gather the Elect from the four winds and separate the wicked from amongst the just and gather all scandals out of the Kingdome of Christ Pray for us O all ye Orders of Blessed Spirits Angels and Arch-Angels Vertues and Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers Cherubin and Seraphin Pray for us O Christ who art placed above all Principalities and Powers and Thrones and Dominions and every name that is named not only in this world but that to come Have mercy on us From all dangers By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From the temptations snares and illusions of the devil By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From all filthy and unclean cogitations and suggestions By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From all filthy and unclean cogitations and suggestions By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From the counsels and malice of wicked men and all evil company By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From sudden and unprovided death By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst spare us and give thy Holy Angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways We sinners c. That thou wouldst direct and govern thy Church and grant to all Christian Societies unity peace and concord by the Ministration of thy Holy Angels We sinners c. That thou wilt be pleased at the hour of death to guard us with the defence and protection of thy Holy Angels We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wilt be pleased to transport our Souls when they depart out of our bodies into the heavenly mansions by their ministry We sinners beseech thee to hear us That thou wouldst grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed in the blessed Society of thy Holy Angels We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. O Lamb of God that takest away c. Our Father which art Heaven c. A Hymn PRaise our Lord from the Heavens praise our Lord from the heights Praise our Lord all ye his Angels praise him all his Hosts Bless our Lord all ye Angels of his powerful in strength doing his will fulfilling his word O all ye Powers of our Lord bless ye our Lord ye ministring Spirits that do his will Bless our Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who hath delivered thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with mercy and tender compassion For he hath given his holy Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder the young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under feet He shall send his Angels round about them that fear him and deliver them Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Before the Angels will I sing praise unto thee I will adore towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name O Lord. O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto Thee Let us pray O Eternal God who in thy wonderful providence hast made the Angels ministring Spirits and sendest them in mission for the good of thine Elect behold with pity the temptations and dangers to which the frailty of our nature is perpetually exposed and give thy holy Angels charge to bear us in their hands and cover us under the shadow of their wings that being guided thro the desert of this life by their safe conduct we may enter at last into the land of Promise and rejoyce for ever in their blessed Society thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty and everlasting God who madest us thy unworthy Servants after thy own Image and hast deputed thy holy Angels for our Keepers Grant unto thy Servants that by their defence and custody we happily pass thro all dangers of Body and Soul and after this life ended attain to everlasting joys together with them thro Jesus Christ Amen WE beseech you O Angelical Spirits our faithful Guardians and Keepers direct and guide us by the divine Bounty committed to your care and protection this day and for ever in the way of peace prosperity and safety defend us likewise from every evil spirit and dangerous temptation until we arrive to the blessed Vision in our heavenly Country and there together with you and all the Saints praise the common Saviour of us all for ever and ever Amen O Holy Michael the Arch-angel Prince of the Host of Heaven who standest always for the help of the people of God who foughtest with the great Dragon that old Serpent and threwest him out of Heaven and valiantly defendest the Church of God so that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it We beg of thee from the
set before us We sinners c. That according to the multitude of the sorrows in our souls and bodies thy comforts may refresh our hearts that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so also our consolation may abound by Christ We sinners c. That our diseases and all our bodily sufferings may work together for good to us that love God that these momentany and light afflictions here may work in us an eternal weight of glory We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That whether we live we may live unto God or whether we dye we may dye unto God that Christ may be glorified in our bodies whether we live or dye that neither life nor death nor any other creature may be able to separate us from Christ Jesus We sinners beseech c. That the earthly house of this our tabernacle being dissolved we may possess an eternal habitation not made with hands in heaven that walking in the midst of the shadow of death we may fear no evil because thou art with us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us c. An Exercise of CONTRITION HAve mercy upon us O Lord for we are weak O Lord heal us for our bones are vexed Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou us O Lord from our secret sins and preserve us thy servants from other mens sins O Remember not the sins and offences of our youth but according to thy mercy look upon us O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name 's sake O Lord be merciful to our sins for they are very great Behold our sorrow and affliction and forgive us all our sins O Lord our desire is before thee and our sorrow is not hid from thee O Lord take not thy mercy away from us let thy loving kindness and truth always preserve us For innumerable troubles are come upon us our sins have taken such hold upon us that we are not able to look up Have mercy upon us after thy great mercy Remember not Lord our offences but let thy loving mercies prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O Lord of our Salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver us and be merciful to our sins for thy Name 's sake Shew us thy mercy O Lord and grant us thy Salvation Enter not into judgment with thy servants for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Out of the depths have we called unto thee O Lord. If thou Lord should'st mark our iniquities O Lord who can endure it Let us pray O God who by the patience of thy only begotten Son hast broken the pride of the old Enemy grant us we beseech thee worthily to celebrate what he suffered for us and by his example patiently undergo all adversities thro the same Jesus Christ thy dear Son our Saviour Amen A Collect. O God the most gracious Maker and merciful Redeemer of Mankind fill us whom thou hast laid upon the bed of sickness with gladness of heart and contentedness of Spirit expel all the wiles of our enemy and send us the Physitian of health the Angel of peace who may raise us by thy consolations that are cast down with great afflictions that in this world we may receive succour and in the world to come everlasting reward thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The LITANY for the Dead Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions O God the Father Creator of the world Have mercy on the Souls of all the Faithful departed O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind Deliver the Souls of the Faithful departed O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect Accomplish the Bliss of the Faithful departed O Sacred Trinity three Persons and one God Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed Blessed Virgin Mary who by the special priviledge of Grace wast triumphantly assumed into the Kingdome of thy Son Pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed Blessed Patriarchs and Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Confessors and Virgins all ye holy and pure Saints who retaining at your deaths no irregular adherence to any creature were become of perfect capacity for immediate union to the Creator Pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed Be merciful O Lord and pardon their sins Be merciful O Lord and hear our Prayers From the shades of death where their imperfect Penance of their sins have deprived them for a time of the blessed light of thy countenance Deliver them O Lord. From all the evil to which their defective mortifications in this world have exposed them in the other Deliver them O Lord. From any bonds of sin wherein they remain entangled by their disorderly affections here and from thy anger which now they grieve to have provoked by their negligence and ingratitude Deliver them O Lord. From any pains now justly inflicted on them as the proper effects of their sins Deliver them O Lord. By the multitude of thy mercies which have always shewed compassion on the frailties of humane nature Deliver them O Lord. By the infinite merits of thy death upon the Cross when thou reconciledst the world to thy Father Deliver them O Lord. By thy victorious descent into Hell to break a sunder the chains of death and let the Prisoners go free Deliver them O Lord. By thy glorious Resurrection from the Grave when thou openedst the kingdome of Heaven to all Believers Deliver them O Lord. By thy triumphant Ascension into heaven when thou ledst Captivity captive and promisedst to prepare a place for thy Servants Deliver them O Lord. By thy dreadful coming to judge the world when the works of every one shall be tried by fire Deliver them c. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That it may please thee to visit such faithful as are detained in any receptacles of sorrow or privation of bliss and transport them to the City of eternal peace We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That it would please thee graciously to admit them into thy holy Sanctuary where no unclean thing can enter and to crown their hopes with everlasting fruition We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy beatifical Vision O Jesus may comfort them and the glorious light of thy Cross shine upon them We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy holy Angels and beatifical Saints may bring them into the land of the living and present them before thy throne We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That they may with Hymns of Joy and Triumph adore the glorious Author of their happiness and eternally sing Hallelujah's unto thee We sinners beseech c. Son of God fountain of Pity We beseech Thee to hear us King of dreadful Majesty who hast the keys of Death and Hell We beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God who shalt come with glory to
Haec est enim voluntas Dei in omnibus vobis 1. Thess 5.18 18 All this that is to be observed in discourse much more observing it in letters and writings Acts more deliberate more permanent Digr 1. Of the numberless and continually returning and many of them very great sins of Discourse Digr 2. Of the innocency many benefits and advantages of Silence §. 25. 11. Of Extraordinary Abilities and Perfections natural or acquired 1. Possessing with great jealousy and fear and mortifying any more eminent and extraordinary endowments of Soul or Body natural or acquired as beauty strength wit memory eloquence learning c by hiding them to avoid praise where the exterior acts of them not necessary for deeds of charity and God will exalt your humility and more divulge as he sees meet what you seek to cover He walks in perpetual danger of ruine by pride who hath any thing in him of extraordinary worth and for him to assume any glorying from this is a high act both of ingratitude and injustice whilst whatever these our good parts are they are God's free gift and this Potter as he pleaseth of the self same lump now makes one Vessel to honor and then another to dishonor and is rob'd of so much of his glory as we or others give to us §. 26. 12. Concerning the a voiding former or common occasions of Sinning 1. Diligently foreseeing and avoiding the formerly observed occasions of sinning being such either to your self or to most that have used them As to name some certain places persons times feasts stage-plays gaming strong drinks such company such discourse such books romances c More specially taking heed of purposely administring to your self the occasions of temptations for so the very temptation to sin being caused by your default becomes one whilst in praying every day to God Lead us not into Temptation you lead your self into it 2. Being more specially aware of those vices to which natural temper or your calling or the customes of the times or the place incline you As young men of sensuality Old men of Avarice An Inn-keeper of drinking to excess A Scholar of self-conceit and pride of judgment c. 3. Crossing often your appetite your mind as we say in things purely indifferent and of less moment that it may better obey in the rest 4. Mortifying the memory and imagination from ruminating again and feeding it self upon past or present finful or worldly pleasures and secular consolations and hopes being a great hindrance of our progress in Piety Numb 11.5 6. Exod. 16.13 comp Numb 11.10 Luk. 9.62 Digr Of the great power of objects presented to the sense for producing any operation we desire in the Soul §. 27 13. Resisting first and small Temptations 1. Resisting not only great and violent but temptations small and of less moment which besides that they lead us unto higher are so many and so often returning that unrepelled they may bring a great guilt upon the Soul Maxima pendent ex minimis Qui modica spernit paulatim decidit Blessed is the man that feareth always Prov. 28.4 Now the sooner we begin to resist the less strength we need to do it 2. In the access of a temptation 1. Removing it presently from you or you flying from it not disputing with it for what is kept in dispute is kept still in mind and so tempts still Flying from it either by hindering the presentment of it or by diverting the senses or at least the mind to some other thing The surest remedy but requiring at first some valour and force to it especially for intemperance lust enamour'dness anger strife or any high passion concerning secular disturbances Alla guerra del senso vincon I poltroni Nella guerrad amor chi fugge vince 'T is a wonder to see how easily by this practice of running away the Devil is conquered but by other ways of standing out in fight not without much trouble In some Temptations it is necessary for conquering them not only to divert the mind to something else but to do the quite contrary As Temptations to Avarice are cured by giving much Alms Fearfulness by putting our selves on what we dread And Vain-glory by some eminent act of Self-contempt and secular Disgrace 2. Turning and retiring your self presently to discourse with God the best holiest and readiest way where ever you are in company or alone of diverting the mind Discoursing with him either by praying in your mind against the present Temptation by which you may hope for aid from him Or since praying against a thing retains still the memory of it by using some other more general and accustomed devotions As reciting in your mind the Lord's Prayer some Psalm which you have by heart and can easily repeat By which the mind not capable of intending two things at once will soon let hold go of its former object And you shall happily change a Sin into an act of Religion and the Devil be a very great looser by his Temptation 3. Meditating on our Saviour's Passion or on some one of the Quatuor Novissima especially that of your death or that of future joys opposed to the promised present pleasure of sin Which future joys also may be advantagiously represented to the Soul as in the same kind of pleasure that the Temptation is Fallitur etiam dum sentit se falli 4. 1 Using some Corporeal act that puts you to some pain which presently calls off the mind to it or some Act tending to Humiliation and Contrition As Crossing your self Beating your Breast Kissing the Ground Contemplating a Crucifix or some devout Picture 4. 1 Reflecting your thoughts on the like former actions of sin and considering what after-joys or inconveniencies displeasures and anxities followed them For hence your experience will quickly instruct you to choose the good and abhor the evil 5. Considering That God and his Angels look upon you now as in a Fight ready to applaud and crown your Victory and Satan your Enemy ready to triumph in your Fall and that all your actions are registred in God's Book and seem to pass away yet without passing away and these once done good or bad follow you for ever 6. If nothing else will cure you delaying the execution for most sins prevail by importunity and prevention of the acts of jadgment when there is great plenty of reason on the other side But by delay if no external accidents also as they do many times do intervene yet reason gathers forces And the passions naturally violent are as little permanent and such as time destroys without any other enemy Omnis cupiditas relanguescit He that can defer is safe 7. Confessing your temptation presently to another which is enough many times to chase them away by your as it were shaming the Devil whose works hate light and are not able to abide the examining and by the good Counsel which a friend at that time is better able than your self
more easily repair to and content himself with the second 5. In the prosecution of your designs assuredly lawful where there is no special interest of Piety going on chearfully in two cases especially 1. Where you find any strong inclinations of your will and a way much facilitated and as it were offering it self unto you For that our heart and way is thus prepared we have reason to presume in things lawful is from God 2. Where you find though against your inclination a course that is as it were necessitated to you Suppose from the power others have over you or from the indigence of your fortunes For our wills may also take counsel of the flesh and the necessity we find thwarting our desires we have reason to presume is from the ordination of God 6. Being as ready to desist especially in two cases 1. Where a thing being suggested by others yet no necessity presseth you and after having also recommended it in your Prayers there remains an aversion of your will to it 2. When there being no aversion of your will yet your desires find in the prosecution much impediment and also difficulty For this or no way Revelations being extraordinary God declares his pleasure unto you i. e. either in averting internally your will or in externally opposing your endeavors 7. Practising content and indifferency and submitting to God's appointments in any little displeasures that happen to you Not thinking any small thing below the exercise of this virtue for by this often imploying of your quietness of mind upon quotidian inconveniences it will grow stronger for greater occasions 8. Fortifying your self against discontent more especially in the beginning and newness of a misfortune or change of your condition Time and a little accustomance to a new tho worse state of life being a certain cure of all inquietude Chiefly endeavouring to acquire this indifferency also for short and long life the thing wherein we use to be the least resigned A conformity to the Divine Will being a much more acceptable Sacrifice to God where more difficulty and reluctance of Nature Which indifferency is more easily acquired by frequent cogitations and discourses of Death and converse with the sick rendring it less terrible to us being a thing more strange and surprizing because all avoid the fore-thinking of it 9. In the discontents also melancholies sadness aridities barrenness morosities disgusts desolations of the soul which in the with-drawings and absence of the Spirit the Comforter will sometimes happen to the best of men happen I say from some greater deprivation of present secular contents from the length of their sufferings and the remoteness of their reward or release but most commonly from an indisposition of the body when the Spirits after much industry are spent and grow heavy and dull or when some cold humors more abound from whence these dejections are observed to be more frequently towards the Evening these desolations being a more special time of temptations from the Evil Spirit First Not resolving or executing any thing and refusing your own counsel till such a fit be past Well considering the Cause and so neglecting and not heeding your present thoughts calling to mind former consolation and that your mind was not long since and e're long will be again of another complexion Forcing your self to pray St. James's his Advice c. 5.13 though you can little mind it Exercising some act of praise and loving God in expressions opposite to your present thinkings as Cant. 1.3 2.16 Rom. 8.35.37 the 23d 25th or some other Psalm recited Meditating on the joys to come On our Saviour and the Saints persevering in God's Service in the greatest wants of all worldly contents and joying in these wants because of a so much greater reward to come Singing some spiritual Hymn or Sonnet which singing will excite your spirits Taking up and reading the Scripture or some pious Book Repeating the Beatitudes Matt. 5. together with the woes Luk. 6. Imploying the mind about any other thing save minding it self or that which it is then doing as in some external occupations or honest recreations any way refreshing and heating your Spirits Melancholy being of a cold and dry temper Only taking heed of not turning aside to remedy it to any intemperance or other unlawful sensual delight Emptying the Soul of some parts of its sadness by communicating it to a spiritual friend who also may infuse into you some of his Comforts After such remedies used the evil not expelled patiently as always entertaining it for God's and your sins sake and making of it to contemplate your own natural we akness §. 61. Digr Of the viciousness and malignancy of Envy and that no good man is liable to this passion for he that envies another's temporal good is not yet himself weaned from the world Or spiritual doth not truly love God and the advancement every way of his glory For such will say with Moses Numb 11.29 Would God c. §. 62. 2. To your Neighbour II. Duties to our Neighbour 1. All Duties to our Neighbour more carefully to be performed amongst them to the Godly and the Members of our Saviour First JUSTICE 1. In doing no Wrong 1. Not defrauding Mark 10.19 Not detracting and defaming c. Not flattering c. 2. Such things done making restitution satisfaction c. 3. Asking forgiveness of and suing for peace to the injur'd §. 63. 2. In doing all Right 1. To those who are set over you whether Ecclesiastical or the Civil or your Domestick Governors as Parents or Masters dutiful obedience in all things Col. 3.20.22 as unto the Lord Jesus believing most certainly that it is he that governs and commands you by them Eph. 5.22 6 7. without resisting Rom. 13.2 Especially to Parents to our Spiritual Fathers our Pastors and to our Spiritual Mother the Church See p. 2. To those you are set over especially to your Family and in it as well to Servants as Children careful government provision c. as being to them in the place of the Lord Deut. 1.77 2. Chron. 19.6 Rom. 13.4 with all gravity 1. Tim. 3 4. but without rigor c. See Gentleness recommended to Superiors Levit. 25.43 Eph. 6.4.9 Col. 3.21 Sparing in Commands but diligently exacting obedience So Princes to make Laws sparingly rigidly to execute them 3. To all that you deal with honest negotiation §. 64. 1. In this 1 Not speaking an untruth 2 Not speaking a truth to deceive 3 Not concealing a truth to deceive 4 Not taking advantage of the necessities or ignorance the richness or conveniences of the Contractor 5 And to the poor shewing some indulgence Using veracity and Christian Simplicity avoiding in all things dissimulation and Hypocrisy using fidelity in not telling tales especially in not betraying secrets Ecclesiasticus 27.21.24 En la boca del discreto lo publico es secreto 2. Keeping religiously all covenants and not altered according to after accidents §. 65. Digr 1.
forewarned us like a thief at a time when we are asleep and think less of it than at other times we do Now this imagined great distance still from our death chiefly ariseth from every ones reckoning his own end only from deficiency of nature which yet not one of 1000 dyes of and not from accidental distempers when as most commonly this our lamp goes out either choaked with its own nourishment or violently extinguished by some external accident before its Oyl is half consumed And since nothing is more common then example of this in others on every side what self love and dotage is it to promise our selves a better destiny till we also surprized become the like example to others 23. And consider likewise and think with your self how many are dying in that very time you are thinking and meditating of it 24. 2 When this time shall come your impotency and unfitness from your fears your pains and many times the want of your senses that will then be to order either the matter of your Soul or of your worldly affairs to do any thing with sufficient devotion or prudence and also your friends at that time hiding from you as much as they can the danger of your sickness Nay your self perhaps when decumbent under the stroke of death yet removing it a far off still and certainly presuming being loath to imagine the worst of a recovery only because some few so sick have not dyed of whom your unkind friends will not be wanting to mind you also because your self formerly have recovered 25. For exciting your resolutions and affections Indeavour to make the same judgment of things for the present and to have the same opinion now of your sins of the world and its pleasures and its cares and your designs in it and what you imagine you should in such a case at such a time purpose now resolve upon 26. Prepare your self for that terrible and dreadful hour in some of those Duties set down before 27. Avoid not but use and seek out all the sad memorials of death that may be as visiting Hospitals the sick sore and putrifying dying persons hearing their speeches their groans looking on the skeletons of the dead frequenting funerals Making many reflections on the passing of time decays of your own Body or other mens c. Remembring often Eccl. 7.2 3 4. Repeating often the 90 Psalm Recalling to mind and keeping a Catalogue sometimes to be reviewed of your friends and acquaintance deceased Considering what they were did are Thus much for Sickness and Death §. 169. For Consideration of the General day of Judgment some more particulars may yet be added Consider 1. That that is the proper day of justice and wrath as the present is of Grace and Mercy See Rom. 2.5.8 9. 2. Thes 1.7 8. Rev. 11.18 6.16 Luk. 18.7 2. Cor. 5.11 God's justice upon sin by Christ's Mediation being delayed till that time that many might come to repentance 2. Pet. 3.9 and these his present temporal punishments being inflicted chiefly not for vengeance but for other ends either for their good that suffer or other mens that behold it Therefore the present called our day Luk. 19.42 2. Cor. 6.2 wherein our free will doth as it pleaseth That the day of the Lord 2. Pet. 3.10 1. Thes 5.2 wherein removing this free power we yet enjoy God will gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and all that do iniquity and cast them into the furnace Matt. 13.41 2. The dreadful signs that shall be then of God's wrath and the terribleness of the appearance of that day beyond all other terrors and the alteration of Heaven and Earth and putting out of the Sun before the sitting in judgment Rev. 20.11 comp 12. tho not till after the resurrection 1. Thes 4.16 See 2. Pet. 3.10.12 Psal 18.7 c. Nahum 1.3 c. Esai 30.27 c. Matt. 24.29 c. Rev. 20.11 Joel 3.2.12 c. to 17. Zechariah 14.4 Luk. 21.36 3. As the Bodies of the righteous raised in great beauty and glory so those of the wicked in great filthiness and deformity 4. The horrible fear and trembling of the wicked then living Matt. 30. Luk. 21.25 26. Rev. 1.7 6.16 11.18 Rev. 1.7 this day coming upon them when full of sin and security Matt. 24.12.38 Luk. 18.8 21.35 1. Thes 5.3 2. Thes 2 3. And of the Souls of the formerly dead then being brought out of their prisons 1. Pet. 3.19 and reunited to their loathsome companion the Body Now to be sentenced together with the devil to eternal torments whom also we may suppose deprecating as the Devils Luk. 8.31 5. The confidence and joy of the righteous then living and of the Souls of the dead then coming out of the place of rest and bliss and reunited to their Bodies their Bodies carefully gathered up and brought together by the Angels and such as they are described 1. Cor. 15.42 c. 2. Thes 1.10 both these being then caught up in the clouds and having their ascension like our Saviour's and meeting the Lord coming in his Glory with his Blessed Angels to Judgment in the air 1. Thes 4.17 Luk. 21.28 1. Jo. 2.28 1. Cor. 7.7 2 Tim. 4.8 Tit. 2.13 1. Thes 5.4 2. Pet. 3.12 whom we may suppose singing together as in Rev. 19.6 7 8. 6. A particular appearance and examination of all the Sons of Adam assembled together Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham's time then confronting Corazin and Bethsaida in Christ's time c. And every one giving account of himself to God the Counsels of all their hearts being made manifest and secrets divulged Rom. 14.10.12 1. Cor. 4.5 Matt. 10.15 Rev. 20.12 Rom. 2.16 Ecclesiastes 12.14 7. Books kept containing all mens works then brought forth and opened Rev. 12.20 In which how many sins never thought of for Repentance shall be then brought to our Remembrance for Condemnation And besides them a peculiar Book of life called also a Book of remembrance Mal. 3.16 being not of actions but only of names i. e. of those who have here served and pleased God that none of them might be forgotten or unrewarded in that day All the rest who are not writ in that happy book being abandoned to eternal destruction Exod. 32.32 33. Phil. 4.3 Rev. 3.5 20.15 Luk. 10.20 Jo. 10.28 29. 8. The manifestation at that time of God's just judgment the manner whereof is set down by St. Paul Rom. 2. from 6. to 17. verse which shall be upon no other point but down-right according to works Rom. 2.6 Rev. 20.12 Matt. 16.27 c. In which works words Matt. 12.37 Jud. 15. and thoughts Rom. 2.16 are contained According to works either those that men have persevered in without any repentance of them at all or where any repentance of them hath been which cancels all the work before it Ezech. 18.21 22. according to the works done after it whether these be good or whether they be evil which being evil
or approve you according to your doings 2. Making you most gracious promises upon obedience to his will and following his counsels and again grievously threatning you upon contempt of his laws and these promises And using all possible means your liberty being reserved and your will not forced to wean and fright you from the ways of death and allure you to the ways of life 3. Redeeming you after that in your natural condition you became dis-obedient when without strength Rom. 5 6 when a sinner ver 8. when an enemy ver 10. from sin death satan hell into whose cruel hands you were fallen by his own Son Him that was brought up with him his dayly delight Prov. 8.30 sent out of his own bosome Jo. 1.18 Even by him God that made the world to be given up to death to be hanged on the tree for you and in your stead Remitting all your Sin gratis for his sufferings without requiring of you so strict an account for offences how grievous soever committed in the time past before you were by the receit of the stronger iluminations of his Spirit converted unto him 4. Calling you by being born according to his good pleasure in a Christian Common-wealth to Grace i. e. To the hearing of his holy word To the use and benefit of his holy Sacraments the sure pledges of his love and seals of the future performance of all his promises of remission of sin of increase of Grace c. _____ To the guidance and assistance of his holy Clergy To the Example of many holy Saints 5. Having long patience and forbearance with you whilst notwithstanding these you continued still vicious ready to be reconciled whenever you would return unto him and with all patience waiting for your repentance and himself practising most exactly towards you all the rules of long-suffering and forgiveness which he hath enjoyned you towards others 6. In your Conversion preventing you with his Grace regenerating and making you a new Creature after the image of his Son by infusing into you a new principle the Spirit which remains in you during your whole life and sufficiently enabling you in all the parts of holiness if you be not wanting to it on your part 7. Giving you day by day many illuminations divine inspirations and admonitions and by his Grace in you making you capable of and rewardable with new mercies unto you 8. Ordaining you after a few days spent here on earth to an immortal condition and unconceivable joys in heaven and to have this your vile Body after its corruption raised again in great glory and beauty §. 174. 9. Affections and Resolutions Such as these 1. Admiring his Goodness Your Ingratitude 2. Sorrow for ever having offended him 3. Re-loving him 4. Indeavouring hereafter to serve him 5. Suffering any misery for him 6. Imitating his goodness to you in yours to others c. For Considerations are easily multiplied §. 175. VI. HEADS for Meditation on the Several Offices and Benefits to Mankind of Jesus Christ our Lord extracted out of the larger Discourse of our Saviour's Benefits Consider 1. The world being full of ignorance and sin Jesus Christ 1. Law giver and Apostle The Truth the holy one of God in the fulness of time anointed by the Father and sent into the world A new Law-giver ministring not the letter of the law but the Spirit An Apostle preaching the Gospel Remitting Sins Conferring the Holy Ghost having the Keys of and admitting some into and shutting others out of the Kingdome of Heaven And who before his necessary departure ordained others by succession of Ordination to be continued to the world's end Sending them as the Father sent him delivering over his doctrine and delegating his authority and embassy and keys unto them and unto the end of the world from heaven assisting their Ministry Matt. 28.20 Appellations relating unto this Office Shepherd Pastour Bishop 1. Pet. 2.25 1. Pet. 5.4 §. 176. 2. After thus teaching the Way of life Christ the Exemplar and Pattern to mankind in his life and death The Way 2. Exemplar of all obedience to God's commands and of all suffering for righteousness sake which God hath here required And in his Resurrection and Ascension of the reward which God hath for hereafter promised §. 177. 3. God's former Covenant of Works being found unprofitable unto us 3. Mediatour upon the breach thereof now liable to God's wrath and eternal death Jesus Christ the Mediator of a new Covenant and Testament founded in remission of sins reconciling sinners to God Sealing this Covenant with his Blood the blood of the New Testament Luk. 22.20 and ratifying this Testament with his death and after his Resurrection having put into his own hands by the Father the donation of the rewards promised to those that keep the conditions of this Covenant §. 178. 4. God's justice not pardoning Sin gratis Christ the Sacrifice 4. Sacrifice the lamb of God the true sin-offering for the world expiating our guilt and our passover delivering us sprinkled with his blood Heb. 12.24 from the destroying Angel And our peace-offering by eating whereof we have Communion with God with his Son and all that is his with the Saints and all that is theirs Lastly by eating whereof being the Bread of Life our Souls and Bodies are preserved unto everlasting life as in paradise they should have been by the tree of life §. 179. 5. Man being indebted to God's justice by him unsatisfiable and in bondage to sin 5. Redeemer to the law to death and to Satan the grand Executioner of God's justice and Prince of this lower world Jesus Christ the Redeemer by paying a ransome freeing us from our debt and by making a conquest delivering us out of our slavery By whom we are freed already from the dominion of sin from the condemnation of the law from the chains of Satan from the approach of death eternal from the hurt and therefore from the fear of death temporal that being now only a passage to happiness But when the good time is come shall be by the same Redeemer yet more perfectly freed from all these than as yet we are namely from any adherence or possibility of sin from any temptation of Satan from being restrained to any law from being capable of any mortality through Jesus Christ our Lord. §. 180. 6. God making a Covenant with the first Adam made of the earth involving his seed 6. Second Adam The Life 1. Cor. 15.45 and he by his pride transgressing it so both losing the reward and bringing death both on himself and his posterity Jesus Christ the second Adam descending from heaven assuming our nature entring a Covenant involving his seed fulfilling it by walking a contrary way to the first i. e. by humility and so receiving the reward for himself and for his seed Both the holy spirit and immortality which were lost by the first Adam being now in their due time
Governour and the Holy Ghost ever illuminating and sanctifying the members thereof With which Church was always established the same Covenant of Grace in Christ the same Sacraments for the substance the same way of Salvation under the same precepts through the like obedience and sufferings upon the same promises and threats of the same rewards and punishments See Heb. 11. Hence ever since the fall we find in the sacred Story as one Generation the Children of Works and born after the flesh as Cain Lamech Cam Canaan Aegypt Babylon c. so another the Children of Faith first Abel Martyr then Seth Father of the whole Race Enos Enoch Noah Shem Abraham to whom the Gospel was more fully preached and the Covenant of Faith published 430 years before the promulgation of the Law c. See all these things prosecuted at large in the forementioned Discourse §. 185. The Love and Power of the Father and the Son VII HEADS for Meditation on the several Offices and Benefits to MANKIND of the HOLY-GHOST The Holy-Ghost the Eternal Spirit of God The intimate Communion and Love of the Father and the Son the Finger of God the Strength and Power of the Father as the Son is the Wisdome of the Father the omnipotent worker of all that which the Father decrees and which the Son the word of the Father commands §. 186. The Spirit of Promise The Holy-Ghost the Holy Spirit of Promise who as the Son was a long time the Promise of the Father to this lower world so after the exhibition of our Saviour this Holy Spirit was a further promise unto it both of the Father and of the Son and at last upon the departure of the Son came down from heaven to abide and dwell with us here on earth in our Lord's absence until his second coming who as the Son was sent by the Father into the world to glorify the Father and to teach men what he had received and heard from the Father so the Holy Spirit descended to glorify the Son and to teach and bring to our remembrance to confirm and bear witness here on earth to all things that were taught and heard and received from the Son who was here pleased not only to be cohabitant with us but an inhabitant within us and vouchsafed to lodge in our persons as the Son did before to dwell in our nature making these our Bodies now the Temples of the Holy-Ghost By whom also both the Father and the Son do dwell with us and in us who put the last hand unto the great affair of our Salvation finishing the internal work thereof upon us in our Sanctification as our Saviour did before the external for us in our Redemption §. 187. The Spirit of Regeneration The Holy Ghost the Spirit of Regeneration who by his unspeakable power doth work the strange work of our second Nativity who is the seed of God by whom we are new Creatures by whom we are begotten and born again born of God and made partakers of the Divine Nature and Sons of God who is the heavenly principle derived into us from the second Adam Lord from Heaven conveying into our Soul Holiness and into our Body Immortality and Life as the flesh we received from the first Adam conveyed unto us sin and death Who being the same Spirit in us that also is in Christ is the bond of that mystical union between Jesus the Head and us the members and between us and all other fellow-members making all Christians but one and the same Body of the same temper of the same inclinations of one heart and one mind amongst our selves and with the head as being all actuated and moved by one and the same Spirit §. 188. The Spirit of Illumination The Holy-Ghost conveying its gracious Influences and Effects both into our Souls and into our Bodies Into our Souls both in our Vnderstanding and Memory and in our Will and Affections In our Vnderstanding and Memory The Spirit of Illumination who being the Spirit of God and knowing all the deep things of God as a man's Spirit doth the things of a man when as we by Adam's fall do remain miserably blinded and darkned in our Vnderstanding doth reveal unto us all the supernatural mysteries of our Redemption and Salvation and produceth in us a lively faith and credence of things not seen who beareth witness within us to all the doctrine of Christ to the truth of the Gospel and to all the promises and threats thereof by whom it is that we call Jesus Lord who is the Spirit of Truth to guide us into all Truth by whose unction we know all things beneficial to us and are every one taught of God from whom those who are his more diligent and worthy servants receive manifold revelations visions illuminations both in things of spiritual and temporal concernment both for their own edification and the edification of others knowledge of the mysteries of Religion and of the deeper sence of the word of God knowledge of things to come of the secrets of the heart of things done in absence and at the remotest distance The word of Wisdome and Counsel the gift of Eloquence and powerful perswasion Wisdome in Offices and Governments The Holy Spirit distributing unto men these several Gifts as seemeth good unto him and fit for the work wherein he imploys them And all our science being much perfecter and directed to nobler ends when this conferred by the Holy Spirit §. 189. The Spirit of Love Toward God The Holy Ghost in our Will and Affections the Spirit of Love Of Love first toward God and also towards our Neighbour Towards God who doth inflame us with an impatient love of God and things Divine who according to the promise under the Gospel writeth all God's laws in our heart and inclineth our will to obey his Commandments no more out of constraint and fear but out of choice and affection who dictateth to us all our acceptable prayers to and acceptable praises of God and leadeth the greater proficients in God's service into a perfect contemplation of and union with him Elevating them with rapts and extasies and consuming the Soul with the flames of Divine Love §. 190. Towards our Brethren The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of love to our Neighbour Who doth enflame us with a most ardent love towards our Brethren whose blessed fruits are love peace long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness by whom the Saints are rendred kind not envying not vaunting themselves above others not seeking their own not easily provoked thinking no evil bearing all things believing all things hoping all things enduring all things Who teacheth us to keep our Saviour's new Commandment of Love and bestoweth on us this most excellent gift of Charity §. 191. The Spirit of Corporal Parity and Mortification The Holy-Ghost conferring its gracious effects and influences as on the Soul so on the Body In it The Spirit of Mortification and Chastity Who continually warreth against
world to come we never be seduced by our own or any evil Spirit but inspired continually and lead by thee may be ready to every good work and relish those things which are hidden from the world Purify our minds by thy holy inspirations exhilarate them when sad with thy chast and innocent joys lead them when going astray into all truth inflame them when cold with the fire of thy charity and unite them when disagreeing by thy bond of peace Finally be thou the tye whereby we may love the Father and the Son and the sweet fruition unto us of the Father and the Son with whom we worship and adore thee in the unity of the same God-head for ever and ever Amen LITANIES of the Eucharist O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father who openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing Father to whom the eyes of all things look up and thou givest them their meat in due season Have mercy on us Who feddest Abraham the Father of the Faithful with bread and wine by the hand of Melchisedech thy Priest Have mercy on us Who appointedst to the Israelites the Paschal Lamb in remembrance of their deliverance from bondage under Pharaoh Have mercy on us Who feddest them travelling thro the wilderness with Manna from heaven the food of Angels and didst also severely punish them loathing that Manna Have mercy on us O Father who hast given us thy only begotten Son the true Bread from heaven Have mercy on us Jesu that heavenly Bread who descendedst from heaven and givest life unto the world the Word made flesh and inhabiting in us Have mercy on us Jesu who bestowedst thy self upon us at thy birth for our Brother at thy table for food at thy death for our ransome and at last in thy kingdome for our reward Have mercy on us Jesu who pitying the multitude not having what to eat didst miraculously multiply the five loaves for many thousands Have mercy on us Jesu who invitest all that labour and are heavy burthened to come unto thee that thou may'st refresh them Have mercy on us Jesu who at thy departure out of this world unto the Father left us a lasting monument of thy love in the Sacrament of the Eucharist Have mercy on us Jesu who institutedst this Sacrament for a dayly Sacrifice and pure Oblation of thy self unto God thy Father unto the end of the world Have mercy on us O spotless Lamb of God that wast slain from the beginning of the world Have mercy on us O Living Bread born in Bethlehem the House of Bread who gavest thy own flesh for the life of the world Have mercy on us Jesu the true food which lasteth to eternal life to whom whosoever cometh shall never hunger and in whom whosoever believeth shall never thirst Have mercy on us Jesu whose flesh and blood whoso eateth and drinketh shall never dye but hath life eternal and dwelleth in thee and thou in him and thou wilt raise him up at the last day Have mercy on us Jesu who in this blessed Sacrament givest us our dayly bread and the cup of blessing our Viaticum in the house of death and who hast prepared a table in my sight against all that trouble us Have mercy on us Jesu the tree of Life planted in the midst of Paradise whose fruit gives Immortality to those that eat it Have mercy on us Jesu the Paschal Lamb without spot eaten in remembrance of our deliverance from the bondage of Satan Have mercy on us Jesu the heavenly Manna that containest all sweetness food of Angels and bread of Pilgrims eaten by us in the wilderness of this world whilst we travel towards the heavenly Canaan Have mercy on us Jesu the true Vine which makest fruitful and nourishest with thy heavenly juice every branch abiding in thee Have mercy on us Jesu the mystical Pelican who feedest thy young ones with the blood of thy own breast the good Samaritan who pourest celestial wine and oyl into our wounds Have mercy on us Jesu an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech who offerest unto us bread and wine even thy own self Have mercy on us Jesu the good Shepherd who feedest thy sheep with thy flesh and blood Have mercy on us Be merciful O Jesu and spare us From receiving thy body and blood unworthily and to condemnation from all neglect in coming to thy living table from all prophane irreverence and negligence whilst we draw near to thine Altar Be merciful O Jesu and spare us From hungring and thirsting after earthly things from all sin and from everlasting death Be merciful O Jesu and spare us By that exceeding great purity and innocence thou requirest in all them that approach this Sacrament signified by thy washing thy Disciples feet Be merciful O Jesu c. By that enflamed charity wherewith thou institutedst that Divine Sacrament Be merciful O Jesu and spare us By thy Body broken for us on the Cross and bestowed on us in this Sacrament Be merciful O Jesu and spare us In the day of Judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may never waver in our faith and belief of the words of thy mouth who art truth it self and an omnipotent God with whom every word is possible We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may with all thankfulness adore thee in this blessed Sacrament and worthily commemorate thy Passion so full of charity and that our faith devotion and reverence thereto may dayly be increased We sinners c. That through a true confession of all our sins thou wouldst bring us to a more frequent receiving hereof so that at length as the Hart pants after the rivers of waters our souls may thirst after thee the living God present in this venerable Sacrament We beseech thee to hear us That thou would vouchsafe to turn in unto us miserable sinners to heal our souls which are sick unto death that by this celestial bread they may be sustained and satisfied with the fulness of thy house and inebriated with the rivers of thy bounty We sinners bessech Thee c. That in the strength of this food we may walk through this Wilderness to thy holy Mountain We sinners c. That thou wouldst wash us throughly from the filth of our sins when we desire to partake of thine Altar so that we may approach thereto with longing and gladness and not without a Wedding-garment We sinners c. That at the hour of our death thou wouldst comfort and arm us with this heavenly Viaticum We sinners c. That we may receive thee into our hearts with love and fear that thereby we may be made worthy to
a Spear came water and blood Have mercy on us Jesu the good Shepherd who laidest down thy life for thy sheep who lovedst us and washedst us from our sins in thine own blood Have mercy on us Jesu who wast not left in Hell neither did thy flesh see corruption who wast raised from the grave the bonds thereof being loosed for that it was impossible for thee to be holden with them Have mercy on us Jesu who art ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of God crowned with glory and honor King of Kings and Lord of Lords Have mercy on us Jesu who hast prepared a place for us in thy Father's house who art our Advocate with the Father who sentst the Holy Ghost the Paraclete upon thy Apostles Have mercy on us Jesu who shalt come to judge the living and the dead who shalt send the reprobate into everlasting fire and upon the elect shalt bestow the kingdome prepared for them Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Jesus From all evil from the snares of the devil and from a sudden death Be merciful and spare us O Jesus From anger hatred and malice and all uncharitableness and from eternal death Spare us O Jesus By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation by thy Nativity and Circumcision by the imposition of thy holy Name Jesus Be merciful and spare us O Jesus By thy Baptisme Fasting and Temptation by thy labours and watchings Be merciful and spare us O Jesus By thine agony and bloody sweat by thy buffeting and scourging by thy crown of thorns and purple garments by thy cruel mockings and reeden scepter Be merciful and spare us O Jesus By thy Cross and Passion by thy five sacred wounds by thy Death and Burial Spare us O Jesus By thy glorious Resurrection and by thine admirable Ascension and by the sending of the Holy Ghost Be merciful and spare us O Jesus In the day of Judgment Spare us O Jesus We Sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Jesus That looking to the pattern of thy most admirable life which thou hast left us we may follow thy footsteps that we may be holy as thou wert holy that when thou shalt appear we may be made like unto thee We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That following thee we may not walk in darkness and that we may think the same things that are in Christ Jesus We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may learn of thee who wast meek and humble in heart that looking up to thee the author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before thee enduredst the Cross despising the shame and art now set down at the right hand of the throne of God we be not wearied or faint in our minds We sinners beseech c. That we may desire to know nothing but Jesus crucified that we may take up our Cross daily and follow thee that we may crucify the flesh and the lusts and desires thereof We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy blood may cleanse us from dead works to serve the living Lord that dying to sin and being buried with thee we may henceforth walk with thee in newness of life We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being purged from dead works we never crucify to our selves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being bought with an inestimable price we may glorify God in our bodies and as we have been partakers of thy sufferings so we may be of thy consolations We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may know thee and the power of thy resurrection and the fellowship of thy sufferings being made conformable unto thy death if by any means we may attain unto the resurrection of the dead We sinners c. That we may count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord for whom we may suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung that we may gain Christ We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That our conversation may be in heaven from whence we look for our Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us good Jesu O Lamb of God that takest c. Hear us good Jesus O Lamb of God that takest c. Have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Collect. O Lord Jesus we beseech thee by that love wherewith thou lovedst thine own unto the end by that bloody sweat and agony which thou sufferedst in the Garden and by the injuries and sorrows which thou feltst by being betrayed and sold by thine own Disciple and bound and led away by the Jews absolve us from the bonds of our sins and bind our Souls to thee by the strongest cords of love which can never be loosed O dear Saviour who wast whipped with Rods and crowned with Thorns grant unto us thy servants that we subduing our bodies with voluntary chastisements may be made worthy members under such an Head And thou O dearest Lord who by thy death hast breathed into dying man whom thou at first createdst a new breath of life vouchsafe we beseech thee that we who owed our whole selves to thee for our Creation and again owe all we are to thee for our Redemption may no longer now live to our selves but unto thee who diedst for us To whom with the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all Praise and Glory for ever and ever Amen LITANIES of the Blessed Virgin O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Holy Mary the chosen and beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father Pray for us Holy Mary the Daughter of David Aaron's budding Rod Virgin of Virgins the Garden enclosed the Fountain sealed the flaming Bush unconsumed Pray for us Holy Mary Mother of God Mother of the Word made flesh who broughtest the Son of Justice into the world to them that sate in darkness Pray for us Holy Mary Spouse of the Holy Ghost and overshadowed by him the Woman cloathed with the Sun the Tabernacle of the Sacred Trinity Pray for us Holy Mary ordained from all eternity promised to the Fathers prefigured in mystical types and foretold by the Oracles of the Prophets who keptst inviolably the Vow of thy Virginity Pray for us Holy Mary full of Grace blessed amongst Women whose great Humility the most High had respect unto professing thy self the Handmaid of the Lord in all obedience whom all generations call Blessed Pray for
us Holy Mary whose voice made St. John Baptist leap in his Mother's Womb who when being found great with Child barest patiently the purpose of putting thee away Pray for us Holy Mary a Virgin conceiving and bringing forth a Son Immanuel who in one receivedst many Sons and thereby wast made the Mother of us all Pray for us Holy Mary that was turned out of the Inn and laid'st the Saviour of the world in a Manger Pray for us Holy Mary who at the Circumcision of thy only Son gavedst him that sweet and amiable Name JESUS Pray for us Holy Mary who most thankfully presentedst in the Temple that ever Blessed Jesus as a most precious Oblation to God his Father Pray for us Holy Mary that fled'st into Aegypt with thy new-born Babe and thy Husband St. Joseph Pray for us Holy Mary who soughtst thy lost Son three days sorrowing and with great joy foundst him in the Temple so early employed in his Father's business Pray for us Holy Mary who laidst up in thy heart all thou heardst spoken of thy Son Pray for us Holy Mary whose life was intirely dedicated to the constant serving of Jesus with the tenderness of a Mother the duty of a Handmaid and religion of a Votary Pray c. Holy Mary whose Soul was pierced as with a Sword at the crucifying of thy Son Pray for us We beseech thee By thy eternal Election to be the Mother of God Pray for us By the sweetness of thy love whereby thou embracedst thy Infant Son and suckledst him with thy Virgin Breasts Pray for us By the joy of the Angels rejoycing at the Nativity of thy Son Pray for us By the affections of love joy gratitude admiration and praise which thou conceivedst at the beholding of so many Miracles wrought by him Pray for us By all the hardships fears troubles and discommodities which thou didst undergo at Bethlehem in thy flight into Egypt and return from thence to Nazareth Pray for us By the sorrow of a heart of a Mother wherewith thou followedst thy Son going to Mount Calvary by the Sword of most bitter sorrow which pierced thy Soul standing by the Cross of thy Son Pray for us By that joy conceived at the Resurrection of thy Son and which now thou enjoyest for ever Pray for us We beseech Thee That thou wouldest vouchsafe to commend and reconcile us to thy Son Pray for us We c. That thou would'st help comfort and protect us like tender Sons with thy Motherly and most prevalent Intercessions Pray for us We c. That in all our necessities and straits especially at the hour of our deaths thou wouldst obtain for us the clemency of thy Son Pray for us We c. O Son of the B. Virgin which takest away the sins c. Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest c. Have mercy on us Our Father c. Hail MARY full of Grace c. Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Breasts that gave thee suck Blessed are they that hear thy Word and faithfully in their lives observe it O Lord hear our Prayers And let our supplications come unto thee MY Soul doth magnify the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Because he hath regarded the humility of his hand-maid Holy Virgin all generations shall call thee Blessed For he that is mighty hath done to thee great things and holy is his Name And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations He hath shewed strength in his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted the humble He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy As he spake to their Fathers Abraham and to his seed for ever Let us pray DEfend O Lord with the protection of peace thy servants trusting in the merits of Jesus and the patronage of the Blessed Virgin his Mother and keep us from all our enemies and from all dangers Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen GRant to thy servants O Lord to enjoy continual health of body and mind and that by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary we may be delivered from present sorrows and obtain eternal felicity thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God and most merciful Father who gavest thy only begotten Son to be born of an humble Virgin that we might be advanced to the adoption of thy children favourably regard the imperfect Prayers of thy servants which we here present unto thee by the efficacious intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and grant that as her Purity is exalted by thee to the highest degree of glory so her Charity may obtain for us the especial assistance of thy grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty Eternal God who didst so prepare the Body and Soul of the glorious Virgin Mary by the eo-operation of the Holy Ghost that it became a worthy habitation for thy Son Grant that in whose commemoration we rejoyce by her pious and prevalent intercession we may be delivered both from present evils and everlasting death thro Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour Amen LITANIES of the Holy Angels O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us Holy Mary Mother of God and Queen of Angels Pray for us Holy Angels who standing before the high and mighty Throne of God sing continually Holy Holy Holy Pray for us Holy Angels who always behold the face of God in Heaven and serve before his Throne and who always obey his word and do his will Pray for us Holy Angels who have committed to you from God the care and custody of Man ministring Spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of Salvation Pray for us Holy Angels Governors of Provinces Protectors of Kingdomes Defenders of the Church Conservators of the Elect Pray for us Holy Angels carrying up the prayers and services of men to God and bringing down God's blessings unto men Pray for us Holy Angels that excel in strength restraining the power of evil Spirits and malice of wicked men Pray for us Holy Angels that rejoyce in the Conversion of any one Sinner that doth penance Pray for us St. Michael Prince of the heavenly Host who castedst out of heaven the Dragon with his Apostate Angels mighty Prince who always standest to help the people of God Pray for us St. Michael the Receiver of the Souls of the faithful and Conducter of them into Paradise Pray for us St. Gabriel who revealedst to Daniel the sacred Visions who warredst against the Prince of the Persians for the people of
just judgments We sinners c. That we may chastise our bodies and bring them into subjection and that we may no more live after the flesh but by the spirit mortify the deeds thereof We sinners c. That we may voluntarily forbear the pleasures and customes of this life to the end that we may give our selves without interruption to the painful exercises of penance We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may bewail our sins in sackcloth and ashes and humble our Souls before thee in watchings and prayers weeping and mourning night-exercises and solitude We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That taking revenge on our selves we may break off our sins by fastings and abstain from things grateful and pleasant to our senses We sinners beseech Thee c. That we may readily expose our selves to contempt and disgrace from men thereby to take revenge upon our pride and wickedness against thee We sinners c. That to the glory of thy name and shame and confusion of our own faces we may confess our sins to the Ministers thou hast appointed that we may more easily obtain pardon from thee We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may freely confess to our neighbours the wrong we have done them and humbly beg pardon of them restore what we have wrongfully taken or withheld from them and make reparation for any losses thereby to escape thy just revenge upon us We sinners c. That we may freely forgive others trespasses against us or any satisfactions due from them to us whereby we may have hope that thou wilt forgive ours against thee We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may break off our sins by alms and our transgressions by shewing mercy to the poor that we feed the hungry cloath the naked visit the sick forgive our enemies and shew mercy to all whereby we may the more easily obtain mercy from thee We sinners c. That putting on the whole armour of God we may hereafter be able to stand against all the wiles of the Devil We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may bring forth fruits worthy of Penance in due season and that we may work out our Salvation with fear and trembling We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thou wouldst be pleased to afflict and purge us here and spare us eternally hereafter We sinners c. That going with confidence unto the throne of Grace we may obtain mercy and find it in an acceptable time We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world Spare us good Lord. O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world Hear us good Lord. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy upon us O Christ hear us _____ O Christ hearken to us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us Our Father c. A Psalm O Lord deal not with us according to our sins Nor reward us according to our iniquities O Lord remember not our former transgressions Let thy mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O Lord our Saviour And for the glory of thy Name deliver us and be merciful to our transgressions Cleanse us O Lord from our secret sins And keep us from other mens sins Remember not our offences O Lord nor the offences of our Fore-fathers Neither take thou vengeance on our sins Deliver not our Souls to the devouring Beast And forget not the Souls of thy poor servants for ever O Lord turn away thy face from our sins And blot out all our iniquities Restore unto us the joy of thy Salvation And establish us with thy principal Spirit O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee O Benigne c. Or This. O Lord correct us not in thine anger neither chastise us in thy fury We acknowledge our iniquities against our selves unto thee O Lord that thou may'st forgive the hainousness of our sins O Lord all our desire is before thee and our sighing is not hid from thee Have mercy-upon us O Lord according to thy great mercy And according to the multitude of thy mercies blot out all our transgressions Thou shalt arise O Lord and have mercy upon us for it is time to have mercy upon us yea the time is come If thou shouldst be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord who can stand Enter not into judgment with thy servants O Lord for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified O Benigne c. Let us pray A Collect. MOst gracious God the Fountain of all mercy and blessing who desirest not the death of a sinner nor despisest the tears of the penitent favourably receive this our confession and effectually move our hearts to a true contrition that being pardoned the evils we have presumed to do we may be delivered from the evils we deserve to suffer and assisted by thy grace may bestow the short remainder of our days in a more perfect denial of our corrupt inclinations and more constant attendance to thy glorious promises thro our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen A Collect. O Benigne Lord pour we beseech thee thy grace into our hearts that we restraining our sins by voluntary chastisements may rather be afflicted with some temporal sufferings than deputed to eternal punishments thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen LITANIES for the Sick and those that are Dying O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation who comfortest us in all our tribulations who sufferest us not to be tempted above that which we are able to bear but with the temptation givest strength that we may be able to sustain Have mercy on us Who chastisest and scourgest those whom thou lovest who judgest and correctest us with weaknesses and sickness and death it self that we may not be condemned with the world Have mercy on us Who breathedst into man newly made after thy own Image the breath of life Have mercy on us Who madest not death nor delightest in the destruction of the living who plantedst in the midst of Paradise the Tree of life against the death of the body Have c. Who after our first Parents had contracted the guilt of death opposedst the seed of the Woman against the malice of the Serpent Have mercy upon us Who createdst Herbs growing out of the earth and innumerable other remedies for the use and necessity of man Have mercy on us Who turnest man to destruction and sayest Return ye children of men who woundest and healest strikest and bindest up with thy hand killest and makest alive
bringest down to the grave and raisest from thence again Have mercy on us Who savedst Noah from drowning in the Flood Lot from burning in Sodom and Isaac from imminent death who slaying all the first-born in Aegypt in one night preservedst safe the Israelites who deliveredst thy People stung with fiery Serpents by looking up to the Brazen one Have mercy on us Who at the Prayer of Elias and Eliseus thy Prophets restoredst the dead to life again who healedst Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosy by Eliseus the Prophet Have mercy on us Who freedst King Ezechias praying unto thee in his weakness with tears from his disease and death who at length restoredst Job most miserably afflicted in his body by Satan Have mercy on us JESU Son of the living God who wast sent to heal the broken in heart to preach enlargement to the captives and to comfort all that mourned who tookest upon thee our infirmities and barest our griefs who wentest about doing good and healing all that were sick and oppressed of the devil by whose power the blind received their sight the lame walked the lepers were cleansed and the dead raised Have mercy on us Who curedst with thy word the man that had been Paralytick eight and thirty years who healedst the woman that had been twelve years sick of her infirmity of blood and spent all she had upon the Physitians by the touch of the hemm of thy garment who restoredst to perfect health the woman vexed with a Spirit of infirmity and bowed down eighteen years Have mercy c. Who restoredst sight to him that had been blind from his birth who absent curedst the servant of the Centurion of eminent faith who deliveredst the woman of Canaan's daughter having respect to the faith of her mother Have mercy on us Who raisedst the daughter of Jairus Ruler of the Synagogue being newly dead who restoredst to life the only Son of his Mother that was dead and carried forth into the street who raisedst Lazarus after he had lain four days from the grave Have mercy on us Who in thine Agony being sorrowful unto death sweatedst drops of blood who praying that the cup of thy Passion and death might pass from thee submittedst thy self to the will of thy Father who dying commendedst thy Spirit into the hands of thy Father Have mercy on us Who by thy death destroyedst him that hath the power of death and diseases who by thy Resurrection procuredst us a lively hope of our rising also from death Have mercy on us Who sending the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles adornedst them with divers gifts of miracles and healings who by the shadow of St. Peter and the handkerchiefs and aprons brought from the body of St. Paul healedst many diseases Who gavest to them that believed on thee power to cast out devils in thy name to take up Serpents to lay their hands upon the sick and heal them Have mercy on us Who ascending into heaven art Lord of life and hast the power of death Have mercy on us O Father of mercies and God of all consolation who comfortest us in all our tribulations who sufferest us not to be tempted above that which we are able to bear but with the temptation makest away to escape Have mercy on us Who chastisest and scourgest those whom thou lovest who judgest and correctest us with weaknesses and sickness and death it self that we may not be condemned with the world Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest c. From the guilt and burthen of our sins Deliver us c. From all the temptations and wiles from all illusions and assaults of the devil Deliver us O Lord. From all impatience and murmuring against thy providence from all weakness of mind from distrust and despair of thy mercy from the fear of death and too great a desire of life Deliver us c. From distraction of mind about the things of this world and neglect of preparing for life eternal from grievous pain and agony which may withdraw our minds from thee Deliver us c. From thy wrath and heavy indignation from the terrible sentence of the supreme Judge from the gates of hell and powers of darkness from the bitter pains of eternal death Deliver us c. By the infinite and great mercies of God the Father by the infinite and great merits of God the Son by the grace and consolations of God the Holy Ghost Deliver c. By the pains of death which compassed thee about in the Garden at the approach of thy Passion by thine agony and bloody sweat Deliver us c. By thine affliction of heart on the Cross when thou criedst out unto thy Father by the ardency of thy love whereby thou undertookst our sorrows and with thy stripes curedst our wounds Deliver us c. By thy powerful Resurrection and glorious Ascension by thy gracious and most prevalent Intercession and Mediation Deliver us c. In the time of our necessities and straits in the hour of death and day of judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst not enter into judgment with thy servants for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified that thou wouldst not be extreme to mark our iniquities for who can abide it that thou wouldst lighten our eyes that we sleep not in death least at any time our enemy prevail over us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being delivered out of the hand of our enemies we may serve thee without fear in holiness and justice all the days of our life We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being made whole by thy grace from our disease we sin no more lest a worse thing come unto us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being uncertain of the time of our death and thy coming to judgment we may in time set in order our worldly affairs that thou wouldst vouchsafe us the grace to confess intirely and be sincerely contrite for our sins to forgive from our hearts all that have offended us and make satisfaction to all whom we have injured We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That being reconciled to thee and all the world with a constant faith and firm hope we may reverently receive the Viaticum of thy Sacred Body and continue unto the end in thy grace and favour We sinners beseech c. That when and howsoever it shall please thee to dispose of us either for life or death we may most chearfully submit our selves to thy most holy will that as we have received good from the hands of our Lord so we may undergo evil with all patience We sinners beseech c. That we neglect not the chastisement of our Lord nor faint when we are reproved by thee but looking up to the Author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross may run with patience the race that is
judge the living and the dead Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed O Lamb of God at whose presence the earth shall be moved and the heavens melt away Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed O Lamb of God in whose blessed book of Life their names are written Give eternal rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed The Antiphon DEliver us O Lord and all thy Faithful in that day of terror when the Sun and Moon shall be darkned and the Stars fall down from heaven in that day of calamity and amazement when heaven it self shall shake and the Pillars of the earth be moved and the glorious Majesty of Jesus come with innumerable Angels to judge the world by fire Deliver us O Lord in that dreadful day And place us with thy blessed at thy right hand for ever O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Supplications come to thee ALmighty God with whom do live the Spirits of the perfect and in whose holy custody are deposited the Souls of all those that depart hence in an inferior degree of thy grace who being by their imperfect Charity rendred unworthy thy presence are detained in a state of grief and from thy beatifical sight as we bless thee for the Saints already admitted to thy glory so we humbly offer our Prayers for thy afflicted servants who continually wait and sigh after the day of their deliverance Pardon their sins supply their unpreparedness and wipe away the tears from their eyes that they may see thee and in thy glorious light eternally rejoyce Thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Eternal God who besides the general precepts of Charity hast commanded a particular respect to parents kindred and benefactors grant we beseech thee that as they were the instruments by which thy providence bestowed on us our birth education and innumerable other benefits so our Prayers may be a means to obtain for them a speedy delivery from any privation of bliss which they may suffer for their sins and a free admittance to thy infinite joys Thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen MOst wise and merciful Lord who hast ordained this life as a passage to the future confining our Conversion to the time of our Pilgrimage here and reserving for hereafter the state of punishment and reward vouchsafe us thy grace who are yet alive and still have opportunity of reconcilement to thee so to watch over all our actions and correct every least deviation from the true way to Heaven that we be neither surprised with our sins uncancelled nor our duties imperfect but when our Bodies go down into the grave our Souls may ascend to thee and dwell for ever in the mansions of eternal felicity Thro Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen The LITANY of Christian Virtues O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Lord just and good and a rewarder of all those that seek thee diligently Have mercy on us Who createdst our first Parents in innocency and holiness after thine own image and gavest a testimony to the offerings of just Abel Have mercy on us Who savedst in the Ark from the Flood Noah a Preacher of Justice and deliveredst from the Fire just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked Have mercy on us Who gavedst the Promise to Abraham found faithful after many trials Have mercy on us Who deliveredst Jacob endued with a wonderful patience and confidence in adversities from all evils and gavest a joyful end to thy servant Job that pattern of patience Have mercy on us Who rewardest the singular modesty and chastity of Joseph with the rule over Aegypt Have mercy on us Who choosest Moses the meekest man upon earth to be Ruler over thy people and electedst Joshuah notable for valour and constancy to lead thy people into the land of Promise Have mercy on us Who gavest the Priesthood to the Sons of Levi for their great courage in vindicating thine honor and deliveredst from all dangers the Prophet Elias for his incomparable Zeal for thy true worship against the false Prophets and at length took'st him up into heaven Have mercy on us Who set'st Samuel Judge over thy people a lover of Justice and free from bribes And liftedst up David a man after thy own heart in the faithful service of thee to be King of Israel Have mercy on us Who replenishedst Solomon humbly begging Wisdome of thee both with it and many other Graces And adornedst Daniel and his Companions being singularly temperate and sober with wisdome and beauty Have mercy c. Who chosest the Blessed Virgin Mary adorned with singular chastity humility obedience and all other Virtues to be the Mother of thy Son Have mercy on us Who sentest John Baptist a fore-runner of thy Son a Preacher of penance and of great austerities and abstinence Have mercy on us Who sentest JESUS Christ thy only begotten Son into the world the pattern of all Holiness that we should follow his example Have mercy on us Who hast chosen us in him before the foundations of the world that we also should be holy and unblameable in thy sight Have mercy on us Who hast predestinated us that we should be made conformable to the image of thy Son and hast created us in him to good works which thou hast ordained that we should walk in them Have mercy on us Who hast redeemed us from our vain conversation by the precious blood of Christ and hast regenerated us by thy word unto a lively hope of an eternal inheritance Have mercy on us O Jesu who knewest no sin neither was guile found in thy mouth but appearedst to take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us JESUS who barest our sins in thy body on the Cross that we being dead unto sin may live unto Justice and Holiness Have mercy on us Who hast delivered us out of darkness into light from the power of Satan into thy Kingdome and hast bestowed upon us the remission of sins and an inheritance amongst thy Saints Have mercy on us Who promisedst thy Disciples that forsook all for thee twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel who committedst unto St. Peter notably confessing and loving thee the feeding of thy sheep Have mercy on us Who vouchsafest to St. John notable for chastity the singular priviledge of thy love Have mercy on us Who sendedst thy holy Spirit whereby divine Charity is spread abroad in our hearts Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Lord. Be merciful and grant unto us O Lord The virtue of humility and patience spiritual poverty and meekness longanimity and obedience to those that are set over us Grant unto us O Lord A quiet mind and contented with our present condition true peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Grant us c.