me to an Accompt for thaâ— and all other my sins c. From which Occasions you may easâ—…â—…ceive what remedies to use against it 1. To labour for a Grave and modest Carriage of my self considering my Age quality Degree c. 2. To avoid vain and light Persons or if that may not be done not heeding them or seriously rebuking them 3. To entertain all awful and Dreadful Apprehensions of the Great God who seeth what I doe and how I comport my self As also of the Holy Angels who may truly enough be Believed from the intimations of the Apostles St. John Revel viii and St. Paul 1 Cor. xi 10. to be present at Holy Mysterys To these may be added 4. Lifting up my Eyes to Heaven or fixing them on the Preist not in the least letting them loose on whatever objects may present themselves These I then Resolved to consider and practise and will therefore frequently Read them over Even soe Amen Lord Let thy Grace be â—…fficient for me Lead me not into Temptation 〈◊〉 Deliver me from evil Amen 〈◊〉 Kneeling down Pray for Devotion 〈◊〉 any other Grace the contrary sin 〈◊〉 you have now found your self guilty of and Resolved against You will find Prayers to this purpose at the latter-end of this Book As for Devotion Thus MOst Great God who hast not only permitted but invited us needy and miserable Creatures to present our Petitions to Thee Oh! let me set a true value on this most inestimable priviledge I come unto Thee O Lord as a Worm to my sovereigne Maker I come as an heinous offender to a just and severe judge Let I pray Thee my Addresses in thine House be with a Reverence someway answerable to thine awful Majesty Give me an hearty desire to pray and such a pure intention and sixedness of mind upon Thee that I may no more incur the Guilt of Drawing nigh unto Thee with my Lips when my heart is far from Thee But may so Ask that I may receive seek that I may find knock that it may be opened unto me that so from praying to Thee here I may be Translated to the Praising Thee Eternally in thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen This exercise being finished about thre◠〈◊〉 the Clock the time appointed for the Evâ—… 〈◊〉 service At your Return from the Churc◠〈◊〉 Chappel if you have not fully satisfied yoâ—… own Conscience but require further Comfort or Counsell you are to goe to some Discreet and Learned Minister of Gods word especially to him under whose Ministry God hath placed you not being Curious or censorious in your choice as to this particular and open your Greif by Confession that so you may receive the benefit of Absolution together with Ghostly Counsel and advice to the quieting of your Conscience and the avoiding of all Scruple and Doubtfulness This being done as it ought to be with Submission and sobriety you may with Comfort Retire into your Closet and upon your Knees Say Our Father c Deliver us from evill Amen ALmighty God unto whom all hearts be open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the Thoughts of my heart by the Inspiration of thy Holy Spirit that I may perfectly love thee and worthily Magnifie thy Holy Name through Christ our Lord. Amen Then Read upon your Knees the Ten Commandments as they are set down in Our Communion Service 〈◊〉 Spake these Words c. after each Comâ—…dwent Say Lord have mercy upon me and Incline my heart to keep this Law Thou shalt not Covet c. Lord have mercy upon me and write all these thy Laws in my heart I beseech thee O Almighty Lord and everlasting God vouchsafe I beseech thee to direct Sanctifie and Govern both my Soul and Body in the ways of thy Laws and in the works of thy Commandments that through thy most mighty Protection both here and ever I may be preserved both in Body and Soul through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen Then stand up and heartily repeat your Creed I believe in God c. After which Kneel again and pray Almighty everlasting God heavenly Father I give thee humble thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to bring me to the knowledge of this faith in thee and do beseech thee that thou wouldst keep me stedfast in this faith and evermore defend me from all adversities who livest and reignest one God World without end Amen Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Lord have mercy upon me OH Christ Hear me and Remember now that Hour in which thou didst once Commend thy Blessed Spirit into the hands of thy heavenly Father when with a Torn Body and a Broken Heart thou didst shew forth the Bowels of thy mercy and Dye for us I beseech thee O thou Brightness and Image of God Assist me by this thy most precious Death that being Dead unto the world I may live only unto Thee and at the last hour of my Departure from this mortal Life I may Commend my Soul into thine hands and thou mayst receive me into life immortal there to Reign with thee for ever and ever Amen Grant me in the mean time Gracious Lord a pure intention of heart and a stedfast resolution to despise all vanity to fight the Battels of the Lord manfully against the world the flesh and the Devil to spend my time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk always in thy presence to preserve my Soul and and Body in holiness fit for the habitation of the Spirit of God Amen 〈◊〉 Lord and my God Give me I beseech 〈◊〉 wise a sober a patient an understandâ—…â—…evout a religious a Couragious heart 〈◊〉 â—…temperate reins and thoughts a soul full of Devotion to doe thee Service and do thou make my services acceptable to thee while I live and my soul ready for thee when I Dye Amen O Lord Increase in me Faith and Devotion replenish my heart with all Goodness and of thy Great mercy keep me in the same Give me true humility in prosperity patience in adversity and continual joy in the Holy Ghost Amen O Lord Give me Spiritual wisdom that I may discern what is pleasing to thee and follow what belongs unto my Peace and let the knowledg and Peace of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be my Guide and my portion all the Days of my life Amen O Lord make me humble to my Superiors and friendly to my Equals thankfull to my Benefactors loving to my Relations and Charitable to my Enemies to be Gentle and easily entreated slow to anger and readily admonished fully prepared and throughly furnished for every Good word and work Amen O Lord Give me a peaceable Spirit 〈◊〉 quiet life free from Debt and deadly Sin give me Grace to abstain from all appearance of evil and to doe nothing but what is of good report to confess Christ and his holy Religion by an holy and obedient life and
takest away the sins of the World Have mercy upon me Grant me Gracious Lord so to eat the Flesh of thy Son and to drink his Blood that my sinful Body may be made clean by his Body and my Soul washed through his most precious Blood Amen O Lord I am not worthy not fit that thou should'st come under the filthy Roofe of the house of my Soul because it is wholly desolate and ruinous neither hast thou with me a fit place where to lay thy head But as thou did'st vouchsafe to be laid in a Stable and Manger of unreasonable Beasts as thou did'st not disdain to be entertain'd even in the house of SIMON the Leper As thou did'st not reject the Harlot a sinner like unto me coming unto thee and touching thee As thou did'st not abhor her foul and prophane mouth Nor yet the Thief on the Cross confessing thee Even so vouchsafe to admit me also an overwor'n miserable and out of measure sinful Creature to the Receiving and Communicating of the most pure quick'ning and saving mysteries of thy most holy Body and precious Blood Amen O Lord God how I received the Body and Blood of my most blessed Saviour Jesus Christ the price of my Redemption is the very wonder of my Soul yet my most firm and constant belief upon the words of my Saviour At this time they are graciously rend'red to me and my Faith Lord make me a worthy Receiver and a Partaker of all the benefits of this B. Sacrament Amen Thou hast said that he that eateth thy Flesh and drinketh thy Blood hath Eternal Life Behold the Servant of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word Whilst you eat it say By thy Crucified Body deliver me from this Body of Death After Receiving By thine Agony and Bloody sweat by thy Cross and Passion Good Lord deliver me I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy Righteous Judgments O hold thou up my goings in thy Paths that my footsteps slip not At the Receiving of the Cup say What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. After you have Received it say O my God thou art true and holy O my Soul thou art blessed and happy Oh the depth of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how incomprehensible are his judgments and his ways past finding out Praise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his Holy Name who saveth thy Life from Destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven Glory be to God on high and on Earth Peace good Will towards Men. I worshiâ— thee O Lord and I magnifie thy Name 〈◊〉 ever who hast vouchsafed to fill my Soul wiâ—… gladness and to seed me with the Heavenly Mysteries of Christ's sacred Body and Bloud humbly beseeching thee that from henceforth I may walk in good Works and serve thee in Holiness and Pureness of Living to the Honour of thy Name Amen MOst Blessed Redeemer I do truly believe that thy Body was crucified and thy Bloud was shed out of thy Body as verily as I have received this Bread and this Wine set apart from the Bread and that for the Remission of my sins as well as any others And I do also believe that with this Bread and Wine I have really and spiritually received thy precious Body and Bloud whereby my sins are fully washed away and my Soul purified and refresh'd This O Lord I believe help thou my Vnbelief Amen Whilst others are Communicating Meditate and Say HAppy are those Servants whom when their Lord cometh he shall find thus doing Know yee not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any one defile the Temple of God him will God destroy Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee The hour cometh and now it is that the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth Be we followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet savour unto God for us At the end of the Communion say To the King Eternal the Immortal Invisible and only Wife God the ever blessed Trinity be all honour and glory now and for evermore Amen Arising and making your Reverence towards the Altar you depart with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance preserve good thoughts in your mind yet be not sullen or morose but salute any of your Christian Brethren you meet with As soon as you come home retire into your Closet and bless God with these Collects of Thanksgiving ALmighty God the Fountain of all goodness from whom every good and perfect gift proceedeth and to whom all glory and honour should be returned I do desire most heartily to thank thee for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me who have received these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ and do'st assure me thereby of thy favour and goodness towards me and that I am a very member incorporate in the mystical Body of thy Son which is the blessed Company of all Faithful people and am also an Heir through hope of thine everlasting Kingdom by the merits of the most precious Death and Passion of thy dear Son Oh the height and depth of that unspeakable mercy of thine who art pleased to admit me a sinful wretch to have any part in those inestimable benefits which I have so often despis'd and trampled under foot I am not worthy O Lord of that daily Bread whiâ—h sustains the body but thou hast made me partaket of that living Bread which came down from Heaven which nourisheth the Soul and of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever O grant that my Soul may rellish this divine food with spiritual ravishments and love great as the flame of Cherubims and grant that what thou hast given me for the Remission of my sins may not by any fault become the increase of them that this holy Communion prove not unto me unto Judgment and Condemnation but may support and preserve me in every temptation rejoyce and quiet me in every trouble in lighten and strengthen me in every good word and work comfort and defend me in the hour of my death against all oppositions of the Spirits of darkness and further me in the attainment of everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ Amen MOst holy God who art of purer eyes then to behold iniquity grant I pray thee that no unclean thing may be in me who have now Received Thee into my heart and soul but let this Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to thee purge my Conscience from dead works to serve thee the living God give me grace that from
I know and those sins which I know not the sins which I have laboured 〈◊〉 long to hide from others that now I have 〈◊〉 hid them from my own memory Forgive 〈◊〉 them O Lord Forgive them all of thâ—… 〈◊〉 mercy let me be Absolved from all my 〈◊〉 and of thy bountiful goodness let 〈◊〉 â—…vered from the bands of those sins which by my frailty I have committed Grant this O Heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our Blessed Lord and Saviour Amen Adding this short Litany and the following Prayers O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon me a most miserable sinner O God the Son Redeemer of the World have mercy upon me a most miserable sinner O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon me a most miserable sinner O Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and one God Have mercy upon me a most miserable sinner Remember not Lord mine offences nor the offences of my fore-Fathers neither take thou Vengeance of my sins Spare me good Lord â—…re thy Servant whom Thou hast Redeemed 〈◊〉 thy most precious Blood and be not anâ—… with me for ever Spare me Good Lord. 〈◊〉 all evil and mischief from sin from the 〈◊〉 assaults of the Devil from thy wrath 〈◊〉 â—verlasting Damnation Good Lord Deliver me From all blindness of Heart from Pride Vain-Glory and Hypocrisie from Envy Hatred and Malice and from all Uncharitableness Good Lord Deliver me From Fornication and all other deadly sin and from all the deceits of the World the Flesh and the Devil Good Lord Deliver me From c. Here insert those sins of which you have found your self guilty and wrote in the paper Good Lord Deliver me From hardness of Heart from Contempt of thy Word and Commandment from any evil thought which may assault and hurt my Soul Good Lord Deliver me From all Adversities which may happen to the Body from noysome and infectious Diseases and from sudden death Good Lord Deliver me By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat by thy Cross and Passion by thy precious Death aâ—… Burial and by thy Victorious Descention inâ—… Hell Good Lord deliver me By thy Glorious Resurrection and 〈◊〉 on and by the wonderful coming of 〈◊〉 Ghost Good Lord Deliver 〈◊〉 In all time of my Tribulation in all time of my Wealth in the hour of Death and in the â—ay of Judgment Good Lord Deliver me I who am a most miserable sinner do beseech thee tâ— hear me O Lord God to keep and strengthen me in the true worshiping of Thee and to give me Grace to serve thee in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of my Life I beseech Thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to be my Defender and Keeper giving me the Victory over the World the Flesh and the Devil I beseech thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to endue me with true knowledg of thy Word with Grace Wisdom and Understanding I beseech Thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to give me increase of Grace to hear meekly thy Word and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit I beseech thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to give me an heart â—…ve and Dread Thee and diligently to live 〈◊〉 Commandments I beseech thee to hear me Good Lord. 〈◊〉 may please Thee to strengthen me â—…nd to comfort and help me when I am weak-hearted to raise me up when I fall and finally to beat down Satan under my feet I beseech Thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to succour help and comfort me when I am in danger necessity and Tribulation I beseech thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to give me as at all times so now especially due preparation of mind that I may worthily participate this holy Sacrament I beseech Thee to hear me Good Lord. To this end may it please Thee to forgive mine Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and to turn their hearts I beseech Thee to hear me Good Lord. That it may please Thee to give me true Repentance to forgive me all my sins negligences and ignorances to endue me with a lively and a stedfast Faith and a sincere Resolution to amend my Life according to thy holy Word I beseech Thee to hear me Good Lord. Son of God I beseech Thee to hear me O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of 〈◊〉 World Grant me thy Peace O Lamb of God that takest away the 〈◊〉 the World Have mercy upon me O Christ Hear me Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Lord have mercy upon me Our Father c. Deliver us from Evil Amen O Lord deal not with me according my to sins Neither reward me after my Iniquities Have mercy upon me O Lord after thy great Goodness according to the multitude of thy mercys do away my offences c. Psal lj Repeat the whole Psalm kneeling ending with Glory be to c. O Lord I beseech Thee mercifully to hear me and spare me and all those who do confess their sins unto Thee that they whose Consciences by sin are accused by thy merciful Pardon may be Absolved through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O most mighty God and merciful Father who hast compassion upon all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made who wouldest not 〈◊〉 Death of a sinner but rather that he should 〈◊〉 from his sin and be saved Mercifully 〈◊〉 me my Trespasses receive and comfort 〈◊〉 am grieved and wearied with the burâ—…â—…y sins Thy property is always to have 〈◊〉 Thee only it appertaineth to forgive sins Spare me therefore Good Lord spare me spare thy Servant whom thou hast Redeemed enter not into Judgment with thy Servant who am vile earth and a miserable sinner But so turn thine anger from me who meekly acknowledg my vileness and truly repent me of my faults and so make hast to help me in this world that I may live with Thee in the world to come through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen TUrn thou me O good Lord and so shall I be turned be favourable O Lord be favourable to thy Servant who turns to Thee in Weeping Fasting and Praying For thouart a merciful God full of Compassion long-suffering and of great pitty Thou sparest when we deserve punishment and in thy Wrath thinkest upon mercy Spare thy Servant good Lord spare me and let me not be brought to Confusion Hear me O Lord for thy mercy is great and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon me through the Merits and Mediation of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen THe Lord bless me and keep me th◠〈◊〉 lift up the light of his Countenanâ—… 〈◊〉 me and give me peace now and for evâ—… 〈◊〉 Amen The time following to Eleaven of the Clock you may bestow in dressing and fitting your self for the publick Prayers of the Church which then
you must by no means fail to be present at In the mean time let no sinful thoughts possess your Soul no vain or idle Communication proceed out of your mouth but such as may tend to edifying Examine exhort incourage your Servants or those about you whom you have commanded or who purpose to Receive this B. Sacrament with you and be careful to avoid the Conversation of those who may probably tempt you to sin and vanity Returning from Church or Chappel about Twelve of the Clock Humble your self again before God and Pray Our Father c. Deliver us from evil Amen Then the xxxij Psalm Still upon your knees Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered c. Glory be to the Father c. Almighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive thâ—…s of all them that are penitent Create 〈◊〉 â—…e in me a new and contrite heart that I 〈◊〉 lamenting my sins and acknowledging 〈◊〉 â—…chedness may obtain of thee the God of all mercy perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Almighty and most merciful Father who for my many and grievous Sins committed against thee since the last solemn time of my Humiliation and Repentance mightest most justly have cut me off in the midst of my days But in the multitude of thy mercies hast hitherto spared me Accept I most heartily beseech thee mine unfeigned sorrow for all my former transgressions and grant that I may never so presume of thy mercy as to despise the riches of thy goodness but that thy forbearance and long suffering may lead me to Repentance and amendment of my sinful life to thy honour and glory and my final Acquittance and Absolution at the last day through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord make clean my heart within me And take not thy Holy Spirit from me In the Name of God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen I who am a wretched Sinner here personally appearing and prostrate unto the Majesty of the Great and dreadful God and in the presence of his Holy Angels having in remembrance the exceeding mercies of his great Goo◠〈◊〉 * Here Throw your self 〈◊〉 the Ground wards me as in manifold instances so especially in this that in the day of my Christ'ning I was so happily and holily Vowed and Dedicated unto God to be his Child and to live in his continual Service and that contrary to the profession which was then made in my name I have so many and sundry times so grievously violated my vows and profaned my sacred promises and employed my Soul to the service of the World the Flesh and the Devil At length recalling my self and with all lowliness and devotion casting my Soul and Body prostrate before the dreadful Throne of his Justice do acknowledg confess and yeild my self a miserable wretched Sinner guilty of that Death and Passion which Christ once suffered for me upon the tormenting Cross But turning my self to the Throne of his infinite mercy and with all my might and force from the very Deep of my heart detesting the iniquities of my fore-pass'd Life I most humbly beg and crave pardon for the same with an entire Absolution from all my sins eâ—… for the precious Death and Passion sake of 〈◊〉 Lord and Saviour unto whom I promise 〈◊〉 â—onfirm again I do avow and solemnly reâ—… 〈◊〉 sacred Profession of loyal service and 〈◊〉 which was made in my behalf unto him 〈◊〉 â—…ly Baptisme renouncing unfeignedly 〈◊〉 of this wicked World the lusts of the Flesh and the suggestions of the Devil and converting my self to my most gracious and merciful God I desire deliberate purpose and fully resolve to honour him serve him and obey him for ever hereafter giving and dedicating to him for this end the faculties of my Soul and the members of my Body to be his faithful loyal and obedient Subjects and Servants for ever without unsaying revoking or repenting me of this my holy and sacred promise or any part thereof And I most humbly beseech Almighty God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost to confirm me in this constant resolution of abandoning these my sins and living an holy Life and to accept of this my broken and contrite heart which he hath promised not to despise entirely desiring his Fatherly goodness that as he hath given me a will and desire to purpose so he would give me strength and grace to perform all holy actions through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen LOrd I pray thee that thy Grace may always prevent and follow me and make me continually to be given to all good worâ—… through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen LOrd I beseech thee grant thy Sâ—… Grace to withstand the temptatâ—… 〈◊〉 the World the Flesh the Devil an◠〈◊〉 pure bea rt and mind to follow thee the only true God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive Receive my humble Petitions and though I be tied and bound with the chain of my sins yet let the pittifulness of thy great mercy loose me for the honour of Jesus Christ our Mediator and Advocate Amen O Saviour of the world save me who by thy Cross and Passion hast Redeemed me help me and save me I beseech Thee O God To the King Eternal the Immortal Invisible and only Wise God who is the ever Blessed and Adorable Trinity be all Honour and Glory now and for ever Amen Having thus ended your mid-day Devotions review your Catalogue of sins Fix on that sin you find your self mostly addicted to labour for a Godly sorrow and relentings of heart on the sight of it resolve against all future perpeâ—…tions of it carefully using all remedies which â—…y tend to suppress it To which purpose 〈◊〉 â—ine your self concerning those occasions 〈◊〉 â—…ucements which lead you to it and proâ—… â—…ell as you can against them noting in 〈◊〉 â—…k those Occasions and Remidies which reason or experience may prompt you to As for example Suppose your self guilty of Irreverence or want of Devotion in the service of God write down what doth commonly induce you to it what remedies are most proper to the cure of it Thus In the year 1673 March 28th being Good Friday or be it any other day I Fasted being to Receive the Communion the following Sunday and in the exercise of this holy Duty on Exammination I found my self much guilty of Irreverence in the worship of God anâ— discovered these Temptations to it Too much addicting my self to childish an light Deportments at all times and thereforâ— can hardly remit of them when I come intâ— Gods Presence 2. Listning too much to the vain Discource and observing the impertinent Actions of Others 3. Want of Consideration in whose Presencâ— I am to wit of the Great Majesty of Heaven of that God who if I doe not reperâ— will strictly call