Worship of Israel 5. Call to remembrance O Lord thâ— tender mercy and thy loving kindneâ—â— which have been ever of old 6. Shew thy servant the light of thâ— countenance and save me for thy mercâ—â— sake 7. Thou hast been my succor leave mâ— not neither forsake me O God of my salvation 8. My time is in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies 9. O keep my soul and deliver me leâ— me not be confounded for I have put my trust in thee 10. O my soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my God my goods are nothing unto thee 11. The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance I have set God always before me for he is on the right hand therefore I shall not fall 12. Wherefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiced my flesh also shall rest in hope 13. For why thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither shalt thou suffer me to see corruption 14. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. O spare me a little and suffer me to recover my strength O Lord before I go from hence and be no more seen Now O my soul look upon Christ Jesus the Righteous thy Advocate and Redeemer who is ready to receive thee therefore be glad in him and give thanks rejoycing in the visitation of the Lord by which he hath prepared thee for the heavenly Jerusalem and everlasting bliss 〈◊〉 acknowledge O Lord I have deserved to die and the desire I have to live is for the amendment of my life and in some better measure to set forth thy glory therefore good Father if it be thy pleasure restore me to health again and grant me long life But if thou hast in thy eternal decree appointed this sickness to be a preparation to my immediate dissolution and by it to call me out of this transitory life I resign commit and willingly commend my spirit into thy hands and holy pleasure beseeching thee to bless me from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul Let my soul throughly consider of the account I have to make to thee my God and how few minutes soever it hath to remain in my body let the power of thy Spirit recompence the shortness of time and perfect my account before I pass away Be pleased O Lord in the reconciliation of thy Son for my sins Let the infiniteness of my offences rely upon the infiniteness of thy mercy by his sufferings breath inward comfort to my heart and confidence in thy gratious promises that though my body be going the way of all flesh yet my soul may go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if it be thy determination to lay my body in the grave to receive my soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen The Sick saith O My soul thou which art endued with the image of God redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ enlightened by the Holy Ghost adorned with vertue and accounted with Angels Love thou him who loveth thee trust in him who careth for thee seek thou him who seeketh thee My soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such things are spoken My heart longeth my soul thirsteth till I enter into my Masters Joy To which everlasting joy O Lord receive my soul where all thy Saints rejoyce in eternal joy and thanksgiving singing praises and Allelujas to thee the Lord our God Eye hath not seen nor ear hath heard neither entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for those that love him Glory be to the Father c. Directions for the SICK MAN for the violation of that great Command which God his Creator gave him in the beginning hath exposed him and his posterity to a certain and sure doom in these words Thou shalt dye the death For the wages of sin is death the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. Variable and therefore miserable is the condition of man this hour this minute in health in the next by a sudden change and alteration at the point of death In the morning flourishing like a Palm like a green Bay-Tree in the evening cut down dryed up and withered for we consume away in thy displeasure and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation Psalm 90. All flesh is grass and the glory thereof as the flower of the field Psal 40. The glory of man is as the flower of the field which withereth and falleth away 2 Pet. 2. 4. He considereth we are but flesh and as the wind that passeth away Psal 78. Our life is but of a short continuance and full of trouble man cometh up like a flower vanisheth like a shadow falls sick and dyeth sleepeth and riseth not until the heavens be no more Job 14. As soon as thou scatterest us we are even as asleep and sade away suddenly and in thy anger all our days are gone and ended as a tale that is told And what man living shall not see Death Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3. 19. Thy body shall return to earth the center of the body and thy soul to Heaven to God which gave it to everlasting glory who at the last day the day of the Resurrection will re-collect re-unite thy Body though turned to Atoms to thy soul at the voice of the Angels Trumpet Arise ye dead and come to Judgment the Righteous to receive everlasting happiness and the wicked eternal torment Wonderful and great hath the love of God been unto mankind in our Creation Redemption Preservation and giving us assured hopes of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord for being fallen from blessedness by the sins of our first parents into the snares of Satan and thereby become his bondslaves and servants overcome by sin Job 8. and being servants of sin we are freed from Righteousness Rom. 6. God so loved us that he sent his only Son to be reconciliation for our sin Joh. 4. 10. Rich is his mercy whereby he loved us Eph. 1. Christ suffered for our sin to bring us unto God being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the spirit 1 Pet. 3. He sent redemption to his People Holy and Reverend is his Name Psa 111. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity Tit. 2. Therefore blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he raised up a mighty Salvation for us in the House of his servant David Luke 1. 68. Our Life here on Earth is a warfare full of trouble misery and vexation of spirit a daily tempest and continual strugling between the mind and the flesh the Law
this frail body of mine must tend it self the Image of that which is to the faithful the end of pain and the begining of pleasure the end of misery and the beginning of bliss but to the secure and careless the end of their pleasures and beginning of eternal pains And vouchsafe good LORD that I may have an earnest desire of serving thee and leading my life according unto thy will that whensoever it shall please thee to call me out of this life I be not through fear stricken with doubt of condemnation but even at the last gasp through unfeigned Faith in Jesus Christ may take and have taste of eternal Salvation that death be not bitter or terrible unto me but rather when it cometh I with joy receive the same in the Name of thy Son JESUS Christ Bless me good Lord from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul and justifie me in the death of thy Son that my Name may be registred in the Book of Life O Lord comfort my guilty conscience with the everlasting light of thy bountiful savour and let me have place among thy Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom LORD for thy mercies sake after this my bodily death give me the fruition of thy presence in the rich Palace of endless bliss to whose merciful Protection I commend with all humility and reverence my soul and body Lord Jesus preserve me Lord Jesus comfort me Lord Jesus pray for me for only into thy hands that hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I commend my soul both now and for ever Amen A Prayer for a happy departure out of this life O Most gracious and eternal GOD thy years endure throughout all generations and thy days are without end or beginning but the days of Man are determined which he cannot overpass and the number of his Months are foreknown unto thee wherefore instruct me O LORD that being always mindful of my mortality I never promise unto my self many years nor long life in this pilgrimage of mine so shall I not live securely deferring my conversion to thee from day to day nor yet put confidence in this frail and uncertain life as that rich man spoken of in the Gospel but give me grace that in thy fear I may dayly prepare my self to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certain than death though nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof therefore I beseech thee O Lord to let me have always before mine eyes an image and mediation of my departure the better to know the fleeting and vanity of this srail and cumbersome life that I may live to thee my God being sound in faith and strong in hope looking with cheerfulness for the day of my departure and the joyful appearing of thy Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer and make me I beseech thee O LORD a faithful and wise servant looking for the coming of my Lord for that I know not when he will come lest by a sudden hour of death being overtook I being found unready but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conversion and repentance I may covet to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST my Redeemer and grant also O LORD that at the point of death having escaped all hardness and temptations I may triumph like a Conquereor and behold the power and presence of thy holy Spirit and let my last word be that which thy Son did utter upon the Altar of the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear O God the groanings of my heart and the hour of death being come let thy servant depart in peace through JESUS Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Petition to GOD the Father O Omnipotent GOD and Father I have asked here at this time many things of thee and yet not deserved any I confess alas that not only those things which I require be not due unto me but in stead of them most grievous punishments yet O LORD lay not my sins to my charge for if thou shouldest I were not able to abide or stand in thy sight but O LORD I most humbly beseech thee that thou wilt forgive me all that is past and grant that I may never hereafter offend in the same again and vouchsafe I beseech thee of thy goodness O Lord to direct sanctifie and keep my heart and body my senses and doings my talk and communication in thy most holy Laws and Commandments and that thy holy Angel may be with me to direct my feet unto the way of peace truth and health that I may be whole safe and free in thee and by thee both here and in the world to come O Christ hear me and save me which livest and reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God in perfect unity to whom be praise for ever world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father I with all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseech thee this night which thou hast ordained for man to rest in that thou wilt guard and protect me with thy good guiding Spirit and albeit my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my soul may continually keep watch and ward let not the enemy find me slumbering and sleeping as careless in the cradle of sinful security lest that whilst I am unarmed that is naked and destitute of thy help and favour he enter in and break up the house of my sinful body and make such havock and spoil and that my infected leprous soul deformed by means of mine iniquity and wounded with the dangerous darts of transgression be thrown with the body of sin unto the lake of destruction make me still O good Lord to consider that the bed is the plain pattern of the grave make me to understand that when I am laid of my self without thy Heavenly Providence I cannot be able to rise again make me also to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure of death to whose stroke at thy appointed pleasure I must submit my self endue me with love and charity to all men let my lamp O Lord be garnished with oyl that whensoever thy messenger death shall draw nigh and knock at the gate of my body I may at his summons in the day of the Resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my burning lamp that is with a stedfast faith when as by Faith I shall be cloathed with a new for my mortal body shall be then covered with immortality and the corruption of my sinful and rebellious flesh then changed to incorruption and perfect purity thy righteousness shall be mine thy merits shall make me perfect and holy by vertue whereof hell shall lose his victory death shall lose his sting my faith and hope shall have its end and reward and I with thy Saints continually dwell in love and
the wind and as stubble against a flaming fire Though I have sinned grievously in thy sight preferring my wicked desires before thy holy Commandments esteeming the pleasure of a moment before eternal and everlasting joys yet am I bold O merciful Father to prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Majesty heartily to beseech and humbly to intreat thee that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts for I have none in heaven to fly unto but thee nor in the earth of whom I may receive any comfort but at thy fatherly hands which are stretched out day and night to receive all that by earnest repentance turn unto thee and to refresh their distressed consciences wherefore O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies I approach unto thee desiring thee to look down from the height of thy sanctuary upon me poor and wretched sinner and to wipe away mine offences and to blot out my misdeeds especially all those my ungracious unclean and ungodly acts that they may not come up in remembrance with thee nor be imputed to me for ever For thy Sons sake O Lord in whom thou art well pleased and in whom thou wast fully satisfied upon the Cross for my sins grant me free pardon and remission in that I have so foolishly by my exceeding frailty committed against thee but quicken thou me O Lord that art the fountain of life and call thou out of heaven thy dwelling place that my wandring soul may hear the voice of her shepherd and follow thee wheresoever thou leadest O give me thy helping hand and by thy Spirit cast down subdue and mortifie my raging â—usts and affections let me not any longer be occupied in ungodliness lest mine enemies triumph over me pluck up O my good Father these roots of bitterness that no unsavoury fruit may come of the Tree which thou of thine own hand hast planted I desire I look I call I cry for thy assistance that I may conquer and subdue all the sinful and unruly motions of my heart O blessed Saviour that hast granted so many petitions upon earth to them that were careful for the body fulfil 〈◊〉 pray thee this my desire mortifie good Father in me the old body of sin and give unto me a new body purged from these works to serve thee the living God â—enew my spirit daily that I may cast away these works of darkness why should my body made by thy hands and my soul framed according to thy Image be given over as a prey into the hands of Satan Deliver me O Lord from the snare of the hunter and preserve me from the hand of mine enemy who lieth in wait for my spiritual life and laboureth for my everlasting destruction To thee I fly O Lord for succour hide me therefore under the shadow of thy hand that none of the fiery darts of Satan take hold on me And so good Lord to conclude for the love thou bearest unto mankind for thy Sons sake Jesus Christ who hath taken our nature upon him grant that I may not be tempted above my strength but that in all temptations I may fly unto thee as mine only comfort and salvation and that thou wilt of thy mercy and goodness give me grace and desire to withstand all the motions of my sinful flesh and affections which word of thine I beseech thee O Lord to perfect and fully accomplish in me that I may do all things pleasing in thy sight for ever Amen A Prayer for redress of a sinful life O Most merciful God and dear Father grant that with heart I desire thee with desiring seek thee in seeking find thee in finding that I love thee and by loving thee that I turn not again to my former sins which thou hast redeemed give me O Lord a repentant heart and a contrite spirit quench in me O King of glory the lust of my flesh and kindle in me the â—ire of thy love O my Redeemer take from me the spirit of pride and most favourably enrich me with the measure of humility remove from me O my Saviour the fury of anger and graciously arm me with the shield of patience O my Creator root out of me all rancour and endue me with a chearful and meek heart and bestow upon me a perfect faith right hope and constant love preserve me from all vanity inconstancy of mind wavering of heart scoffing of tongue wicked slandering from the vice of hypocrisie the poyson of flattery contempt of the poor oppression of the weak from greedy avarice cankered envy and deadly blasphemy root out of me O my Lord and Maker rash boldness contumacy frowardness negligence idleness blindness of heart obstinacy of mind savage conditions contempt of that good is rigour towards my neighbour O my God and merciful Father I beseech thee in Jesus Christ to bless me with the works of mercy and zeal of godliness to suffer with the afflicted to minister to the needy to counsel them that go astray to comfort the sorrowful to pardon them that trespass against me to love them that hate me to render good for evil to imitate the good to beware of the evil and to embrace vertue to guard the door of my mouth to watch the enemies that compass my lips to despise worldly things and earnestly to thirst after the Heavenly through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for continual remembrance of our end O God the only giver of life and the maintainer and preserver thereof and the life after death grant me true consideration that this body of mine is builded upon an earthly foundation and framed of the substance of dust and clay which is not durable the glory whereof vanisheth like the flower of the field which is soon cut down and withered the body is the mansion or rather the prison of the soul and the same so frail weak and feeble subiect to so many causes that procure the dissolution of body and soul that death often happeneth when we think least thereon wherefore grant O God of my life that I may have such continual care foresight and diligent respect unto the direction of my doings cogitation and words as I load not my poor Soul so much with the burthen of sensless security sin and iniquity that the body being suddenly intangled with the snares of death be carried where there is no rest nor joy but continual mourning and anguish of mind O my most loving Father lighten mine Eyes that I sleep not in sin nor wander in darkness according to the will of the flesh but make me always willing to come unto thee even with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me let not me as it were draw backward when thou invitest me to the sweet banquet of thy Heavenly Kingdom as by thy Word and Gospel preached and revealed unto us which is an especial calling of us and when I feel my self grieved or
Death overwhelm me nor my sleep in the night alter my thoughts and understanding when I should take rest but grant me a good and quiet sleep going unto my Bed which representeth my Grave that rising in the Morning to render due praise and thanks unto thee my Protector I may likewise at the Day of Judgment rise as one of thy chosen Children upon thy right hand into Heaven where I may sing praises unto thy holy and blessed Name for ever Prayers for Saturday Morning O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy holy Spirit c. A Psalm WHom have 〈◊〉 in Heaven but thee O Lord and there is none upon Earth that I desire in comparison of thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever For 〈◊〉 they that forsake thee shall perish and thou wilt destroy them that commit fornication against thee But it is good for me to hold me fast by God and to put my trust in my Lord God and to speak of all his works For God is King of old the help that is done upon Earth he doth it himself Wherefore I will cry unto God with my Voice even unto God will I cry with my voice and he shall hearken unto me When I am in heaviness I will think upon God when my heart is vexed I will complain I have considered the days of old and the years that are past I call to remembrance my Song and in the night I commune with mine own heart and search out my spirits Will the Lord absent himself for ever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure And I sald it is mine own infirmity but I will remember the years of the most High I will remember the works of the Lord and call to mind the wonders of old time I will think of all thy works and my thinking shall be of thy doings Glory c. A Morning Prayer O Almighty Protector and Keeper both of the Souls and Bodies of the faithful I yield thee humble and hearty thanks for defending me and saving me this night past and all the rest of my life hitherto from sudden death and from all other perils and dangers whereunto my Soul and weak Body are subject to fall and wherewith I am so beset that had I not been preserved by thee it could not otherwise have been but my body had perished and my Soul been carried into everlasting perdition But most sweet Lord my succour and defence who hath continual regard of the safety of thy servants and never suffer est them to be overcome with any kind of danger vouchsafe to forgive me whatsoever I have committed and done against thy Divine Majesty either sleeping or waking this night or at any time secretly or openly heretofore by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me and grant that as I have by thy protection passed this night so I may enjoy at thy merciful hands whatsoever thy Fatherly Providence shall think meet and convenient for me and so in hope of thy loving kindness and mercy go forward this day and all my life in perfect love unfeigned zeal and continual obedience to thy most blessed will that so continuing unto the end I may receive the reward of thy Coelestial Kingdom which thy Son Jesus hath purchased for all true Believers in thee in number of whom sweet Lord for the mercies of him thy Son make me that I with them and they with me may continually sing laud and praise unto the Trinity eternally Amen A Confession to God for sin MOst gracious God and loving Father in Jesus Christ I confess mine unrighteousness which maketh me unworthy to come before thee not only in regard of mine original corruption which I traduced from disobedient Adam but in regard of my continual sins and actual evils which I daily commit against thee whereby I cannot but be offensive unto thee and ever loathsome in thy sacred Eyes but alas such is mine estate that being considered as it is in and of my self that I can bring forth no better fruits than the Tree of Adam's disobedience whose roots as they are sin so bear they sin in me and consequently procure death and destruction but dear Father as by Adam sin entred and took hold of himself and of all his Posterity so by thy Son Jesus Christ we are all justified by our adoption into his righteousness of thy free love if we take hold of thy promises in him and become obedient unto thee and therefore dear Father howsoever our corruptions as they are in us of our selves have bewrapped us in bondage to sin and death so let thy Sons merits be unto us a sufficient ransom for our Everlasting liberty not only to come freely to the Throne of grace but in the end to obtain the joys eternally with him in Heaven who liveth and raigneth with thee and the holy Spirit for ever World without end Amen A Prayer for the true worship of God O Most gracious God and loving Father establish my heart and mind in the true Worship of thy Divine Majesty make me to believe thy holy and sacred Gospel wherein I am daily and hourly instructed to love fear honour and obey thee to hate sin and iniquity to renounce all superstitious Ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced thy glory prophaned and thy honour greatly diminished Give me grace to hate sin and to renounce the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked World and finally give me power from above to withstand Satan the Prince of darkness and all his damnable Ministers who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from godly purity and perfect integrity which passeth only from Christ Jesus to us who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness to all kind of evil impiety and uncleanness by means whereof thy glory is greatly prophaned and of a set purpose contemned make me O Lord I beseech thee by the power of a fruitful faith to resist and bridle the conconcupiscence of my flesh in such sort that my Soul may triumph with Victory and continue constant in worshiping thee from whom passeth the fulness of my joy prepare my heart and mind to spread forth the glory of thy Name keep my tongue from all filthy talk and uncomely gesture lest by the exercises of such sin I contemn thy worship and provoke thee to displeasure against me set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips may by grace be made open to sound forth thy praise and glory be merciful to mine offences think thou not on my unrighteousness but open thy clemency forgive thou freely and pardon graciously all my sins make me faithful in Christ Jesus
11. Thou shalt purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 12. Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 13. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness 14. For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great 15. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am destitute and in misery 16. Remember not O Lord mine iniquities nor the iniquities of my fore-fathers neither take thou vengeance of my sins but spare me good Lord whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood and be not angry with me for ever 17. Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered 18. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile 19. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble Spirit 20. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that putteth his trust in him 21. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy word Glory be to c. O Most gracious Lord God I beseech thee help thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created repair the ruins of my soul inlarge the frame of my understanding thereof cleanse it from all filthy corruption and garnish it with all heavenly graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee that thou mayst make thy entry and possess that which is thy own both by creation and redemption and merits of thy passion through Jesus Christ Amen Before the receiving Ex Liturg. GRant O most merciful Father I beseech thee that I receiving these thy Creatures of Bread and Wine according to the holy institution of our Saviour Jesus Christ in remembrance of his death and passion may be partaker of his blessed Body and Blood and that my sinful body may be made clean by his Body and my sinful soul washt through his most precious Blood which was shed for the remission of all my sins through the same Jesus Christ Amen Immediately before the Receiving Matth. 8. 8. Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed II. O Lamb of God let me eat thy Flesh and drink thy Blood that I may live everlastingly by thee and cloath me with the wool of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul III. O blessed Jesus let the Blood that ran from thy blessed Heart wash my soul from all sin and iniquity and purchase me thy heavenly grace and benediction Amen Immediately after Receiving PRaise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name and forget not all his benefits which saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness Psal 103. I will give thanks unto the Lord for he is gratious and his mercy endureth for ever Psal 106. Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power be unto the Lord our God Amen Revel 19. 1. Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament Ex. Liturg. O Almighty and everlasting Lord God I thy most humble servant according to my bounden duty and service do render unto thy Fatherly goodness all possible praise and thanksgiving for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with the holy mystery and spiritual food of the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son and my Saviour assuring me thereby of thy grace and favour towards me and that I am a member incorporate in thy mystical body the blessed company of faithful people and also heir through hope of thy everlasting Kingdom by the merits of his most precious death and passion and grant me O Lord for the time to come the assistance of thy grace and heavenly benediction that I may continue in all such good works as thou hast prepared for me to walk in to the glory of thy Name and my everlasting comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm 1. PRaise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy name which saveth thy self from destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven 2. I will always give thanks unto the Lord his praises shall ever be in my mouth 3. Thy merciful kindness is evermore towards us and thy truth O Lord is everlasting 4. Great is the Lord and marvellous to be praised there is no end of his greatness 5. He loveth Righteousness and Judgment the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6. Be glad O ye Righteous and rejoice in the Lord and be joyful all ye that are true of heart 7. I will give thanks unto thee with my whole heart I will speak of thy marvellous works 8. O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his holy name 9. Let my heart be filled with gladness and my mouth with praise that I may sing of thy glory and with the rest of thy Saints give honour to thy Majesty in the eternal fruition of thy presence through Christ 10. My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever Amen Vers Praise the Lord. Resp The Lord's name be praised O Almighty and eternal God what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I hope to be glorified and for all other thy blessings and benefits which I enjoy both in soul and body and especially for feeding me this day with the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercy conform my life confirm my faith and guide me by thy grace that thy servant may with strong assurance of thine infallible truth and promised mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will keep holy my soul and body and let them not be defiled through delectation of sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee 1 John 1. 17. If we walk in the light
beseech thee to have compassion on this thy servant who by thy visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the termination of his days and end of his life be pleased good Lord to have mercy upon him acept of him as the work of thine own hand a Lamb of thy fold thy servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins guide him good Lord in this his last journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory World may safely by thy power be conducted to the Haven of eternal happiness into the arms of thy unspeakable mercy to everlasting peace to perpetual joy and there to reign with all the company of Saints and Angels in eternal Bliss for evermore Good Lord we beseech thee by the abundance of thy goodness by the multitude of thy Mercies by the merits of thy Death and Passion by the glorious Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen of his sins the fear of Death and the power of Hell and give him a quiet and joyful departure and receive him in thy favour to the fulness of Joy in thine everlasting Kingdom to reign with thee world without end Amen Thanksgiving after Recovery O Lord my God and heavenly Father seeing it hath pleased thee of thy infinite mercies to with-hold my life from the pit of corruption and in good measure restored me again to my former health crowning me with mercy and loving kindness my soul and all that is within me shall praise thy holy Name I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart and sing praise unto thy Name O thou most High for the health of my body I bless thee for it with my soul And good Lord give me also the health of my soul then shall I magnifie and praise thee for thy goodness with soul and body This gentle correction hath brought me nigher unto thee and upon thy forbearance I have promised amendment of life and that I may so do assist me with thy grace give me constancy and perseverance in good works and keep me from relapsing into those sins which induced thy former judgments and though the custom of sin take away the sense of sin and my infirmities being many yet good Lord forsake not my soul in any temptation neither suffer me to fall into such notorious sins again which I have truly repented me of but so guide me by thy grace in the small remainder of my days that I have to live in this World that my life may be ordered by thy governance and always do that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psal 116. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath inclined his ear unto me Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The snares of Death compassed me round about And the pains of Hell gat hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul 5. Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserve the simple I was in misery and he helped me 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee 8. And why thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling 9. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the living 10. I believed and therefore will I speak but I was sore troubled I said in my hast All men are lyers 11. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me 12. I will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13. I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints 14. Behold O Lord how that I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thy handmaid thou hast broken my bonds in sunder 15. I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16. I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his people in the Courts of the Lords house even in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise the Lord. A Morning Prayer for a private Family O God the Father Creator and Maker of all things in Heaven and Earth O Christ the Redeemer of all Mankind and thou O blessed Spirit the Sanctisier of all the Elect have mercy upon us spare us most miserable sinners whom thou hast redeemed and be not angry with us for ever but hearken unto our Prayers receive our petitions and grant our requests for Jesus Christ his sake our only Lord and blessed Saviour We thy poor and unworthy servants in all humility of Soul and Body unfeigned acknowledgment of our bounden duty prostrate our selves before the Throne of thy mercy seat praising and magnifying thy Fatherly goodness for the abundance of thy blessings for the multitude of thy mercies continually heaped upon us beseeching thee for Christ his sake to be merciful to all our sins committed against thy divine Majesty upon the consideration of which we confess we are not worthy to appear in thy sight much less to ask a blessing at thy hands for by reason of our corrupt Nature in us derived from our first parents our inclination hath been prone to commit all manner of sin and wickedness against thy goodness thy Laws and Precepts we have broken both in thought word and deed out of our hearts proceed evil and wicked imaginations which defile the soul and the whole man is altogether abominable the eyes that now look up to thee for mercy have beheld vanity our tongues that now call upon thee have blasphemed thee our hands now lifted up to heaven have been lifted up against thee our feet have been willing to run to commit any mischief by the temptation of Satan our wills being continually averse to thy commandments the Law of sin is in our members repugnant to the Law of our mind making us altogether unworthy of the least of thy mercies and miserable that we are the numberless number of our sins have been multiplyed as the number of our sinful days have increased these things O Lord we have done to our shame and if thy mercy prevent not judgment to our utter destruction of soul and body we must acknowledge thou who art our Creator who hast made us by the precious death of Jesus Christ redeemed us and by thy holy Spirit sanctified us and many are the blessings and benefits which we enjoy both in soul and body therefore by the contrition of ouâ— hearts by the testimony of
remorse of faith or sin in such coldness and broken sort that there hath been no life nor comfort in it Judge thy self whether in Prayer thou hast practised the exercises of a broken heart healed in Christ and changed into righteousness whether the just mediation of God's goodness moveth thee to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and worketh in thee the love thereof that thou mightest be stirred up to love him and to walk in that obedience that he requireth of thee And because the abusing of Gods Creatures is a great sin examine thy self whether thou dost misuse them in forgetfulness of God in pride of life to please thy self in the creature more than in the Creator seeing with the abuse of them to set forth thy self in pride to please thy self and the fleshly eyes of others rather than in humbleness to use them to the pleasing and praising Almighty God the Creator In the use of all which things the love of God which appeareth unto thee to a continual meditation to make thee to spie out sin in thy self and to judge that to be sin which is sin indeed and in no wise to mince or diminish it or to cover it with the figg-leaves of thine own vain excuses but to lay it open before the Lord nakedly and plainly as it is so that thou call not sin righteousness nor righteousness sin good evil nor evil good but condemn that which thou knowest to be sin to abhor it to flee from it without all hypocrisie and cloaking of it with self-love or nourishing it or else with lightness and contempt to dwell in it and therefore thou must examin this sin throughly of not applying thy heart and mind to meditate and understand to believe and taste of the work of thy salvation wrought in Christ crucified through which thou walkest in security wanting faith and yet not feeling thy want wanting the food of life and the tast of God and yet hungrest not after it but thinkest thy self full when thou art empty and nevertheless art empty and poor indeed to beg it at Gods hands the supplyer thereof through which thou feelest not the incorporation into Christs body feel the effect thereof in CHRIST's Death to Die from sin in his Resurrection is to live no Righteousness in his Ascension to ask after Heavenly things and to leave the Earth and flesh at his coming again to be ready with faith and joy to meet him Anâ— here withal weigh what a great sin it is not to hearken to the Spirit of God when 〈◊〉 might work in it whereby thou dost grieve in and quench it when thou dost not gladly obey it and yield to the motions of it and therefore judge thy self for not putting off the old man with all his works and for not putting on the New Man in bringing forth the fruits of regeneration for not considering thine exile in the flesh from GOD or in this World from Heaven to lament it and the cause of it and to extol the Providence of GOD by which thou livest and for being idle vain â—roud in thinking speaking and doing Again for not feeling the estate of GOD's afflicted Church to sorrow in the affliction of it for not seeking zealously to glorifie his Gospel through which thou art not throughly touched for any false Doctrine Idolatry or sin for standing against which the Saints of God have been and still are persecuted and killed and yet thou livest carelesly without feeling of it and art at a good point sink it or swim it To conclude then I mean by sin whatsoever is declared to be sin in the word of God which lyeth either seen or unseen in our hearts of what estate soever we be 〈◊〉 appeareth in life which is found out 〈◊〉 the word of God and so adjudged which thou oughtest to lament before God in the â—xercises of a broken heart to beat down thy heart with humbleness to cause thee to beg mercy with aking heart and very need to seek that heavenly Physician Jesus Christ and of eager desire to feed on him by faith to the assurance of life and Salvation that the sweetness thereof may work in thee the love of thy God to praise him the love of his written Word to do it and in doing it to deny thy self thy will affection and life that with humbleness thou maist walk always with and before the Lord in the holiness and righteousness that pleaseth him knowing that His eye doth search thy heart and life to see in it his will done and obeyed and always practising that which is good that thou maiest please Him and therefore must ask mercy and so if thou continually strive and labour to do it He doth accept of thy imperfect doings in Christ to encourage thee to take better hold and to do better c. Wherefore think and thank God and utterly despise thy self and think thy self a wretch in that God hath done so much for thee and thou hast so oft offended his Highness and also done him so little service and surely it is also great wisdom for thee to think that if it had pleased God for to have given to all other men grace as he hath given to thee that they would have served him better than thou hast done wherefore by his mercy and grace call unto thy remembrance thy degree or dignity which Almighty God of his goodness hath called thee unto and according thereto yield thy debt and do thy duty First and principally honour God as thy Maker love him as thy Redeemer fear him as thy Judge Secondly thy Neighbour which is thy superiour obey have concord and peace with them which be like with thee in degree and have mercy on thy inferiors Thirdly provide thee to have a heart purged and a good custody of thy tongue and in all thy words and deeds have ever in thy mind that thou shalt die shortly and that God heareth and seeth every thing and that nothing is so privily done but it shall be made open And every morning among other Meditations and Prayers pray unto the Lord God that the day following thou mayest use this wretched world in thy thoughts words and deeds that thou mayest by the merits of Christ's passion eschew the pains of Hell and come to the Joy everlasting And 〈◊〉 executing thereof keep truth in words 〈◊〉 deeds defend no man nor no matter against the truth In all things think and trust in God and he shall direct thy ways Trust not to thine own wit but fear God and he will keep thee from evil Be content to hear good counsel though it be contrary to thy will for he is a very fool that will hear nothing gladly but what is according to his own mind do no man harm lest thou suffer the same as thou wouldest be done unto so do thou unto others be such to others as thou desirest they should be unto the. If thou be Religious remember that the due execution of
even in the truth of thy Salvation Psal 69. 14. Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Psal 19. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Psal 51. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 3. Hearty Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is an humble joyful acknowledgment and expression of our thanks unto Almighty God for any mercy or blessing received or promised and for preservation and deliverance from any calamity danger or distress with denial of our own merits of the least of these and a magnifying of the greatness and goodness of GOD unto us in and through Jesus Christ Give thanks unto the Lord and call upon his Name Psal 105. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord JESUS giving thanks to God the Father and by him Col. 3. 17. My mouth shall daily speak of thy Righteousness and Salvation for I know no end thereof Psal 71. 13. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men that they would offer unto him the Sacrifice of thanksgiving Psal 107. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy Name for thou hast done wonderful things Isa 25. 1. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits he hath done unto me I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD Psal 116. MOST Comfortable Prayers FOR Sunday Morning O Lord my God and heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit to a true acknowledgment of all my sins that my prayers may be heard of thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Psalm HEar me when I call O God of my Righteousness for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble Have mercy upon me and hearken unto my Prayer My voice shalt thou hear betimes O Lord early in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Therefore O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the pit Wherefore away from me all ye thâ—â— work vanity for the Lord hath heard thâ— voice of my complaint The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receive my prayer For why my righteous God tryeth tâ—â— very heart and reins And my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart Therefore will I give thanks unto theâ— O Lord with my whole heart and I wâ—â—â— speak of all thy marvellous works I will be glad and rejoyce in thee yâ—â— my Songs and praise will I make of thâ—â— O thou most Highest For God is a Righteous Judge strong and patient and God is provoked every day If a man will not turn he hath bent his Bow and will whet his Sword and make it ready Morning Prayer MOst mighty and gracious God which hast brought me out of the Nights darkness into the light of thy Truth to see the light of thy Love that I may rejoyce in the day of my visitation and Salvation whereby the day spring from on high hath visited me and in the day of Salvation thou wilt succour me This day make me hear thy voice and not harden my heart through unbelief or deceitfulness of sin but that by Faith I may enter into thy promised rest give grace unto me O Lord and to all thy people to walk warily diligently and dutifully in my vocation to do such good works wherewithal thou mayest be well pleased and that walking in thy ways I may work out my salvation with fear and trembling and that all my meditations thoughts words and works may tend to the edifying of my Christian Brethren the discharge of my duty the consolation of my conscience and the glorifying of thy most holy Name which art my God my guide my saviour and defender to whom be all Praise and Glory Power Might Dominion and Majesty now and for ever Amen Morning Prayer I Yield thee humble and hearty thanks O heavenly Father in thy Son Jesus Christ for thy innumerable benefits poured upon my Soul and Body and that thou hast kept me this night past from many evils both Spiritual and Corporal and of thy great mercy dost offer and give unto me time and space to repent and amend my life so as I might live henceforth not as I will but as thou wilt and as my body doth draw continually nearer and nearer to the end the grave I mean so my soul might approach unto his end that is Heaven and not Hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer the happy state of Life or else the unhappy condition of Death Eternal Wherefore O my dear Father I beseech thee to be merciful unto me and as of thy goodness thou givest me time to repent so of the same thy goodness in Christ I humbly beseech thee to give me thy gracious gift of true holy perfect and perpetual repentance that I may more and more lament my former sinful life trusting unseignedly in the rich mercies of thee my God through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ for the pardon of all my sins And grant O Lord I beseech thee that I may unseignedly purpose and effectually labour to amend my life this day and so long as I have to live to the praise of thy Name and the good example of others And forasmuch as thou knowest my weakness my ignorance and great untowardness to carry any cross or affliction that Thou wilt of thy merciful goodness so temper and order all things towards me this day and ever that I be never tempted or proved further than I shall be able to bear but so to help me in the same as may be most for thy Glory and my comfort And although O God thy Goodness Mercy and Truth to Mankind in all thy Works doth abundantly appear yet herein chiefly Thou declarest thy self to be most favourable merciful and gracious that not suffering us to walk in darkness ignorance and blindness Thou hast given us thy most holy and blessed Word to be a lanthorn to our feet to lighten our steps in the path-way of everlasting Life lest we should walk in the shadow of death In which thy most blessed and sacred Word thou hast finally and perfectly set forth unto mankind so much of thy glorious Majesty as was expedient for us to know and not only
that but hast herein also fully exprest thy most holy and blessed Will whatsoever is necessary for the Salvation of Mankind to be known to bring him to life everlasting Give me grace most merciful Father that for so high a treasure left among us I may be thankful reverently embrace accept and esteem of the same as the most precious jewel in Earth and be therein confirmed most strongly that all things therein contained be most undoubtedly true not by any mortal Man but by the most Holy Spirit in Man penned and written to the comfort and behoof of Man And that I may most humbly lowly and with most high Reverence submit my self thereunto as becometh thy eternal Majesty and the Word proceeding from thy most blessed mouth that I may with reverence and obedience read hear and occupy my self in the same to the comfort of my soul and the increase of thy Glory Lighten my understanding most dear Father with thy most holy Spirit that I may learn clearly conceive and understand the things therein contained which no mortal man can conceive save those that have learned of thee and whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide me dear Father with thy most holy Spirit that having the true understanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my dear Father and of thy beloved Son my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and in conscience throughly perswaded that I have my full perfect salvation and life everlasting in him and through his atonement made by his death and passion That I do not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy most sacred word to satisfie vain curiosity or brag of knowledge but only to the relieving of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soul and the appeasing of my sorrowful heart that I may to the end of my life walk in sincerity before thee my heavenly Father in the comforts of thy dear Son my Saviour upholden still by the merciful power of the holy Ghost to thine everlasting praise and glory for ever Amen A Confession to God the Father O Lord my God I confess unto Thee that my heart is unclean that I am of polluted lips wallowing in the dung and stinking in the rottenness of mine own sin so that I may justly tremble to appear before thy glorious presence much more to present unto thee thy pure praises out of my defiled mouth but who except thou O Lord can make me clean and what is pure which thou hast not purged Therefore O Father of life O Lord of Light with all the Forces of my Soul I do beseech thee to help me thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created cleanse my filthiness lighten my darkness inflame my coldness quicken my dulness awake my drowsiness revive my deadness repair the ruins of my Soul enlarge the frame of the understanding thereof cleanse it from all earthly corruption garnish it with thy heavenly graces that it may be conveniently both sit and furnished to receive Thee that thou maist make thine entry possess that which is thine own both by Creation and also by Redemption and that as thou art exalted above all Creatures so above all creatures I may honour thee and praise thee not with that affection wherewith my weakness is able either to do or to desire but with that perfection wherewith in duty I should and wherewith thy Saints and Angels indeed do for what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I look to be glorified when I was not thou didst make me when I was lost and forlorn thou camest down and tookest mortality upon thee to redeem me these and many other benefits have I received some in hand and some in hope although through my own sinful demeanour I have almost both let go my hold and lost my hope therefore O Lord I most humbly beseech thee save thy servant save one of thy Members though poor and feeble save I say a part of thy self be as great in pardoning those that are submitted unto thee as in punishing those that are rebellious pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercies confirm my life settle my faith settle me in a right and upright course and continue me in the same even unto the end grant this O Father through thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Devout Prayer to Jesus Christ O Most sweet Saviour and merciful Redeemer Jesus Christ the Son of God who although thou art High yet art thou most humble and as thou art Omnipotent so art thou most meek and as thou art most Mighty so art thou most merciful to thee O Christ the giver of all Felicity the Father of Heaven hath given all Power both in Heaven and in Earth Thou art the true Pastor of our Souls thou art our Messias thou casteth off none that sue unto thee but as thou hast taken away the hand-writing that was against us and hast fastned it to the Cross so art thou ready to impart the merits of thy Passion to all such as write true repentance of their sins call upon thee faithfully wherefore my sweet Saviour I most faithfully unfeignedly acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestow'd upon me stedfastly believe that thou being an immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was never found guile didst suffer most cruel torments at the hands of sinners for the love of us most wretched sinners for the which cause I most heartily beseech thee and most humbly pray thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt receive to mercy and favour and although I of my self be most unworthy thereof yet thy merits can make me worthy to them I fly craving that I may be so armed and defended by them that I may subdue the World the Flesh the Devil even as thou hast gloriously conquered Sin Death and Hell Thou seest O my Saviour how I am daily and hourly beset with these three enemies and so hardly besieged of them that without thy help I can by no means escape but that I must needs be a prey unto one of them strengthen me therefore O Lord that neither the one with carnal Lust neither the other with delectable pleasures nor Satan with all his craft and subtil devices get the dominion over me thou hast bought me thou hast paid for me save keep and defend me be always ready at the voice of my crying pour into me thy grace patiently to abide thy divine pleasure in all things make me both at this present and all the days of my life to have in my mind and profoundly to root in my heart the mysteries of thy painful passion and so to be filled with remembrance thereof
may see the mysteries of thy profound and excellent truth increase O Lord all holy desires in me to attain the knowledge of thy will let my whole delight be in it to meditate therein day and night that it may be more precious unto me than Gold and Silver many times fined Further howsoever thy graces and gifts O Lord are to be acknowledged in men yet because thy good pleasure is so that all men should carry the scars of ignorance and infirmity draw in my whole delight I beseech thee and kindle all my affections to the love of thy Law and Testimonies and to those Scriptures that were written and indited by thine own self and thy spirit for those good Lord contain thy whole will in that everlasting Covenant that thou hast stricken with thy Saints This O Lord is that well spring of wisdom and grace that shall make us wise before thee howsoever the world condemn it of madness and folly Teach thou me O Lord and I shall be taught open thou mine eyes that I may see the excellent things of thy Law reform my heart that self-love and vain-glory may be quite vanquished and slain in me that I may only set before mine eyes thy glory O gracious God spoil this power of Satan in me that by thy means thy good gifts of knowledge and wisdom be not abused against thee thy Gospel and Glory that I be not carried through emulation spite or envy of any mans credit or gifts to set my self against thy truth but give me true humility that above all things I may rejoyce in the advancement and praise of thy Name whether it be with my honour or shame with my peace or trouble with good report or evil report I know O Lord that true wisdom is from thee alone and that thou hast so ordained thy servants in so gracious a dispensation of thy gifts that they who have the greatest need of theirs that are the least the greatest Master-builders of them that are but labourers basket-bearers in thy Church The unity of thy Spirit and the bond of Peace knit us fast together and hold us in to reverence each other and to be at one in thy work O knit our hearts together that we may all seek thee to thy eternal Praise to whom only belongeth Renown Glory and Honour for ever c. A fruitful Prayer to God ALmighty and Eternal God my Creator and lover I praise adore and bless Thee for that in my offences and ungratefulness thou hast so mencifully and leisurably forborn and suffered me to live even to this hour whereunto thou by thy benefits hast brought me giving anto me thy wretched servant life and necessaries thereunto belonging appointing Angels to be my keepers O my good God who knoweth whether till evening my life shall be prolonged or what death is appointed for me O merciful God and Heavenly Father grant that I may with hearty repentance truly repent my sins and inwardly bewail that ever I offended thy Godly Majesty suffer not my soul to depart this body before it be through thy mercy perfectly reconciled unto thee by grace bedeck'd with thy merits and vertues O merciful Saviour if these things I desire stand with thy Pleasure and Will grant them I beseech thee although I be not worthy to be heard And in thy mercy grant that by the merits of thy passion I may be purged from all my sins and that at the hour of my death I may be stricken with true and vehement contrition and being knit with thee in perfect charity I may immediately fleet unto thee my sweet Redeemer safely from all damnation desiring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragility unworthiness unstableness and miseries together with thine own goodness and most charitable mercy praying thee never to forsake me or leave me but that thou wilt always possess and govern me according to thy will to whom be all glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to be restored to Gods Favour O Almighty and everlasting God and Father which hast made Heaven and Earth and all things therein contained O incomprehensible unity O always to be worshipped most blessed Trinity I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ that thou wouldest drive from me all kind of wickedness and sin creating in me a clean heart and a right spirit O Lord Jesus I beseech thy goodness for the exceeding great love which drew thee out of thy fathers bosom in the womb of thy holy Virgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it pleased thee to save me and to deliver me from eternal death That thou wouldst draw me out of my self unto thee my Lord God And grant that this my love may recover again to me thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise up in me that is fallen to restore to me that which I have lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should live That so I may become conformable unto thee in all my life and conversation Thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being suppled with thy grace and settled in thy Faith for ever O my God loose and set at liberty my Spirit from all inferiour things govern my Soul and so work that both in soul and body I may be holy and live to thy Glory world without end Amen A Prayer to Christ to rest in his Love O My most loving Saviour I have chosen thee I wish and look for thee I run to meet thee I do renounce all things that are not of thee whatsoever thou wilt I will and whatsoever thou wilt not I forsake utterly detest in my heart and whatsoever shall hereafter happen unto me contrary to this present choice of my mind not to impute the same unto me but according to this choice of my soul judge me For all things which I ought not to do I utterly forsake them and if at any time hereafter I shall chance by any sinister occasion to agree to any thing that may be a cause to withdraw thy mercy from me I do now at this present hour utterly detest them And here O my sweet Saviour and Redeemer if it please thee or stand with thy Glory grant I beseeeh thee in this my present life that I may be delivered and preserved from all offences wherein I have offended and from all the pains whereunto deservedly I ought to come after my death and that thou wilt with the hands of thy mercy immediately after this life receive my soul into everlasting joy and felicity there to raign with thee for ever Amen A Prayer to God to grant our Petitions O Christ which art the strength of the weak the salvation of all believers and an aider of the oppressed yea our life and safe-guard in the peril of death I beseech thee that pitying mine Afflictions
adversity I run not headlong into such means as are ungodly neither in prosperity wax the prouder but wait thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulness and evermore live in thee and by thee and in the end raign with thee in Heaven where thou â—ittest as author and giver of all thy Blessings Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to subdue our affections O Lord Mighty and Merciful who didst create Man in the beginning simple sincere and without spot of sin In which his integrity and innocency he then presented thine own Image which was pure and without spot of sin and yet such was man that he fell from thee by disobedience whereby he corrupted his ways and became â—ar unlike unto thee being defiled with all vanities wherein alas we all of us wallow the most with greediness wherefore most dear Father in JESUS Christ create in me new thoughts new affections shape in me true obedience that I may mortifie and kill all sin and vain inclinations which rise up against Thee let sin no longer bear rule in me O Lord but let thy grace more and more abound that all that I do think speak or do may bâ— favouring more of the desire of Heaven and Heavenly things than of earthly and carnal desires that so I may be approved not only before men to be as ought but to thee to be as Thou requirest to whom O Lord be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Kings Majesty O Lord Almighty the Governour Preserver and continual Protector of Princes to whose beck and will all Kingdoms of the Earth are subject look in mercy and favour O Lord I beseech thee upon the state of thy servant our dear Soverign Lord King Charles and his Royal issue be thou unto him and them a safe refuge in all time of danger and let thy holy Spirt be unto him a continual guide in all his acts and procedings direct him to comfort defend and support us and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace in embracing the Truth with us or confound their power and devices for ever An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father and eternal GOD I honour thee I praise thee I yield thee most hearty thanks for all thy benefits and at this time especially O Lord because thou hast patiently and attentively heard my petitions and hast given me soberness and humbleness of mind to utter the same without any interruption I bless Thee my everlasting GOD and with all my heart give thee thanks for that not only thou hast saved me this day from death from hurts and from all perils from my cradle but hast defended both my soul and body from all Misfortunes and Dangers Therefore my soul magnifieth the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour for he hath looked upon the afflictions of his servants and now among all other thy goodness O Lord hear O Lord forgive hearken O God for thy Name sake for it is called upon by me O GOD of Heaven and earth in the evening do I call upon thee that remitting my sins Thou wouldst receive me into thy Protection keep me this Night that the Devil have no power over me for Thou O Lord art my everlasting Protector for behold whether I sleep or wake whether I live or die I am always thine let thy mercy follow me O Lord all the days of my life that I may dwell in thy house and praise thee and that I may in acknowledging thy greatness confess my sinful and wretched weakness And visit me O Lord and drive from me all the assaults of mine enemies both bodily and ghostly and let thy holy Angel be with me and keep me this night and evermore by thy grace and ever let thy blessing be upon me this night and for evermore Amen Prayers for Wednesday Morning O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm IN thee O LORD have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion deliver me in thy Righteousness Bow down thine Ear unto me make hast to deliver me Into thy hands I commend my Spirt for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I have hated them that hold superstitious vanities and my trust hath been in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversity Shew thy servant the light of thy countenance and save me for thy mercies sake O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Wherefore I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin I will take heed unto my ways that I offend not in my tongue Therefore withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord but let thy loving kindness and thy truth always preserve me For my soul is a-thirst for God yea God yea even for the living God when shall I come to appear before the presence of God Yea as the Hart desireth the water-brooks so longeth my soul after thee O God Wherefore send out thy light and thy truth that they may lead me and bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling Why art thou so heavy O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God for I will yet give Him thanks who is the help of my countenance and my God Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. A Morning Prayer O Most merciful and loving Father I thank thee for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest that thou hast given me this night and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy Word that no man should be idle but always occupied in godly and virtuous exercises every man according to his calling I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine eyes may attend upon me that thy grace may daily defend me in danger succour cherish and comfort me in all my needs and distress and govern all my counsels studies and labours in such wise that I may spend this day according to thy blessed will and the discharge of mine own conscience in thee that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before mine eyes thy fear I may thy grace assisting me and thy holy spirit guiding me work that which is acceptable before thy divine Majesty unto thy praise and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Confession to GOD for sins commited O Gracious GOD have mercy upon me have mercy upon me look favourably upon me incline thine ears towards me and hide not thy Face now my soul is troubled O Almighty GOD from whose Sight there is no covert and against whose power there is neither resistance
come Amen A Prayer for the increase of Faith O Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by thy Word we are taught to love thee fear thee and serve thee and in true godliness and sincerity of life is the only way and means to continue thy love and favor towards us without the which we cannot but perish and that belief and confidence in thy Son Jesus Christ is the only means of our redemption and atonement with thee and the only hold of our salvation whereof we cannot be sufficiently assured without thy special gift of faith which is the anchor whereto the cable of our salvation is fastened which being broken the hope of our salvation cannot but decay and be of none effect vouchsafe therefore O most merciful God to plant one spark of true faith in my heart and that it may grow to such perfection that I may know thee perfectly love thee duly fear thee and unseignedly acknowledge Jesus Christ to be sent into this wretched world to save us miserable sinners O Lord grant me to take such hold of his Death and Passion Resurrection and Ascension that by his Death I may have pardon and by his Re surrection rise to righteousness and by his Ascension ascend with him to thy celestial glory and finally attribute the cause and means of my salvation to proceed only of his Passion increase this faith in me good Lord daily more and more that it may grow by the working of thy holy Spirit to full perfection accompanied with good works and godly behaviour without the which I confess that faith cannot be withhold not from me good Lord that singular gift of thine which is the stay of my happiness and the want thereof a most certain token of my perdition no good thing is wanting to him on whom thou vouchsafest to bestow this gift to him all things are light and in him remaineth no darkness at all banish most sweet Lord therefore all misbelief all wavering and doubting out of my heart and plant instead thereof unfeigned faith that applying the same to every affliction both of body and mind I may vanquish and overcome Satan withstand the delights of this world and suppress the corruptible motions of the flesh and enjoy at thy good pleasure health of body and soundness of mind and all things requisite for me A most precious jewel is faith for thou hast said that whosoever heareth the Word and believeth in Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent shall have everlasting life then on the contrary he that believeth not is in danger of everlasting death O Lord increase my faith wherein I may believe in that thy Son and take hold of all his promises who said that whosoever believeth in him shall want no manner of thing that is good Lord I believe help my unbelief and give me faith yea but as a grain of mustard-feed and I shall be able to remove Satan out of his desired habitation and to expel him and his ministers and walk no longer according to the will of the flesh but casting away the works of darkness enjoy the pure light of the Gospel and persevere and abide therein without fainting in any tribulation or vexation of spirit going forward in hope in fear in love and unfeigned zeal towards thee and obtain at thy merciful hands whatsoever is necessary in this life and after this life ended enjoy thy celestial inheritance which grant me for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake to whom be all honour c. A Prayer or Thanksgiving for the Passion of Christ O Lord Jesus Christ God and man we thank thee for that of thy only and free mercy without any works or worthiness at all of ours thou hast redeemed us miserable sinners through thy most innocent and holy Passion O sweet Jesus how bitter and great were thy pains how horrible and cruel thy punishment how grievous and lamentable thine afflictions how bloody thy wounds thy dolours how divers and thy death how shameful which thou suffered for us O how inestimable was thy love that moved thee to endure such and so great torments to reconcile us to thy Father in the Mount of Olives through our infinite sins lighting upon thee thou didst sweat contrary to our nature blood that the drops like blood trickled upon the earth and so after a marvellous manner blood came out of thee being expelled by the resolutions of the Spirits nature being broken and languishing by reason of thine intolerable sorrows and torments and thy Disciples being fled thou wast and also didst most voluntarily commit thy self into the hands of most cruel Jews which brought thee most rigorously bound without compassion fromthe presence of one corrupt Judge unto another more cruel where thou wast most unjustly condemned thy blessed body was so mangled that even an Ethnick pitying the same uttered these words Behold the man Finally for our enormous offences thou wast afflicted with a most odious kind of death and so in the extremity of pain thou didst give up the Ghost commending the same unto thy Father in wonderful patience that so by thy torments having quitted us from all guiltiness as well of fault as of punishment we might be healed to this end thou didst bear the burden of our sins upon the wood of the Cross that thou mightest recover the peace of souls and obtain the true righteousness for as many as believe in thee wherefore O Jesus Christ thou Son of the living God for these torments and all other thy passions I will honour and praise thee for ever beseeching thee most humbly that thy passions may work and take effect in me and that always being mindful of the same I may rejoyce therein and make it a comfort for my self against all the temptations of Satan and the fear of sin and the Law and that thy Cross may be an example unto me that walking in thy steps I render not rebuke but for rebuke may imitate thy long-suffering praying for such as persecute and offend me and finally that I may so think upon and celebrate the cause of thy death that the consideration thereof may utterly extinguish all the flames of unlawful concupiscence and bury the inticements of the flesh and nourish the love of vertue within me that so being wholly dead unto sin I may live unto righteousness and serve thee which barest our sins in thy body upon the Cross which livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost one God for ever Amen A Prayer for mercy for our offences O Lord I am a grievous sinner I have passed and broken the banks of thy Commandments from the womb to this day I have with the Pirate Satan sailed in the ship of iniquity so that I may say with Paul I am chief of all sinners This must I needs confess to thee thou God of Justice and this worm of conscience biteth me what then good Lord shall the worm devour me
shall this snake of conscience sting me to death What good Lord is the stream of thy mercy stopped are the rivers of thy grace dryed up dost thou not call me saying Come unto me Yea good Lord and therefore despair I will not it is not thy will that any sinner should perish and thou hast not only said but sworn it that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather his conversion and life Behold therefore dear Father I come unto thee being a grievous offender in hope of pardon in the Name of thy Son who by his own testimony came into this world to save sinners he was content to blot out that obligation which Satan had against me by the floud of his most precious blood which issued out of his glorious side In this pool he hath washed away the leprosie of sin were it never so desperate O Lord and gracious God I have wasted my days in vanity I have from time to time trodden under my feet the pearls of Christian profession even from the womb have I been a rebellious traitor to thy Majesty a friend to this world to godliness an enemy But now O Lord I cry unto thee forgive me forgive me Now I come unto thee therefore cover me with the wings of thy mercy that I perish not good Lord accept thy Sons merits for a satisfaction for my sins drown them in the stream of thy mercy and cast them behind thee for ever good Lord I beseech thee Oh sweet Lord look upon me with thy most precious and piteous eye lest that be destroyed which thou of thy great goodness hast made and Christ thy Son of inestimable love and infinite charity hath redeemed through his bitter passion This is the total sum unto thee of all my suit O Lord mercy mercy O Father of mercy mercy is the thing that I beg have mercy and pity upon me be thou my shepherd to defend me my Castle of defence to save me against the power of the Devil thou hast store of mercy for them that ask it Therefore O Lord for the wounds of thy dear Son have mercy upon me let not sin sting me to death but lay to my fore soul the salve of thy mercy grant this O dear Father of thy merciful compassion to whom be all glory for ever and for ever world without end Amen A fruitful Prayer to God the Father O Lord my God wherein is my hope fixed in this life or what is my greatest comfort of all things that are any where under the cope of heaven but only thou my Lord and God whose mercy is infinite when was it with me well if thou wert absent or ill if thou wert present doubtless I would rather chuse to be poor for thee than rich without thee and rather to be with thee a pilgrim on earth than without thee to possess Heaven where thou art there is joy and peace of conscience where thou art not there is woe and destruction thou alone art the thing I desire and there is none can assist me in my troubles but thou alone O God thou art my hope thou art my confidence thou art my comforter in all things most faithfully all men seek their own but thou desirest nought but my welfare and turnest all things for me to good therefore in thee my Lord and God I place all my confidence on thee I do lay all my calamities and troubles for without thee whatsoever I behold is as frail and transitory For neither can friends profit nor strong men help nor wise men counsel well nor learned books comfort nor riches save nor secret place hide unless thou be present to help strengthen comfort instruct and keep for whatsoever seems to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee is nothing and bringeth indeed no felicity at all so that thou art the chiefest end and perfection of life and that in thee to trust above all things is the chiefest comfort of thy servant O my God and Father of mercy bless make my soul holy with celestial happiness that it may be thy sacred habitation and temple purged from all filthiness O Lord according to the greatness of thy mercy look upon me and hear the supplications of thy poor servant living far off a banished man in a savage country Protect and keep the soul of thy servant among so many dangers of this mortal life and bring me by the conduction of thy savour into the country of eternal glory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Friday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart open my lips and give c. A Psalm WIth my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me O give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit Stablish thy word in thy servant that I may fear thee and turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanity and quicken thou me in thy way So shall I always keep thy law yea for ever and ever Yea at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant And let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy law is my delight My soul hath longed for thy salvation and I have a good hope because of thy word O how sweet are thy words unto my throat yea sweeter than honey unto my mouth Through thy commandments I get understanding therefore I hate all wicked ways Order my steps in thy word so shall no wickedness have dominion over me O let my soul live and it shall praise thee and thy judgments shall help me I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant that I do not forget thy commandments Glory be to the Father c. A Prayer for the suppressing of corrupt affections O My God and most loving Father I do acknowledge that I have most highly offended thy sacred Majesty by my gross and most filthy life and have provoked thee to anger by my abominable wickedness wherefore O Lord be merciful unto me and pardon me this great wickedness look not upon me good Father with the eyes of Justice neither do thou draw against me the sword of Judgment for then how shall I that am but dust and ashes stand in thy sight when thy wrathful indignation cometh forth as a whirlwind and thy heavy displeasure as a mighty tempest seeing the earth trembleth the depths are discovered and the very Heavens are shaken when thou art angry Exercise not therefore good Lord thy fury against me that am but as chaff before
into the place of everlasting torment But O Lord with thee there is mercy that thou mightest be feared thou art a God of all comfort and consolation a merciful loving and gracious Father ready and willing to hear all penitent sinners that in heart are sorrowful for their sins In the Name therefore of Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I humbly prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Mercy seat accompanied with no other hope than such as proceeds from the richness of thy mercy that for his only sake thou wilt have compassion upon me for in humility of spirit and contrition of heart I submit my self to thy goodness beseeching thee not to let my sins be a cloud between my Prayer and thy pity thy goodness and my distress but forgive and forget all my transgressions all my mis-doings let them be sins of what condition soever whether sins of my youth or sins of my age sins of my body or sins of my soul secret and open sins notorious and presumptuous sins sins of pride envy hatred malice c. Good Lord remit them all and of thy great goodness grant me perfect remission and absolution for the same for which the Prophet David Out of the depth of my misery I cry unto thee for the depth of thy mercy O Lord hear my petitions and consider my tears the contrition of my heart and the sorrow of my soul and in the merits of his blood that was so plentifully shed on the Cross for penitent sinners wash away the multitude of my transgressions that my soul by thy mercy being cleansed from the stain of sin I may be found a worthy partaker of this great mystery And now O Lord that I am about to receive the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus Christ how shall I that am so great a sinner dust and ashes dare to presume to approach thy Table The Heavens in thy sight being not clear and the pillars of the Earth shake at thy presence What then shall become of me miserable that I am Yea Lord thou hast provided a special means and in thy Gospel left us a command Come unto me all ye c. Which command I obey and in confident assurance of thy promise in Christ Jesus I trust thou wilt have mercy upon me in the easing and refreshing of my soul that is wearied with the burthen of my intolerable sins Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin and renew a right spirit within me And of thy gracious goodness direct me in this great action with a reverend and awful fear of thy Majesty that all the faculties of my soul and body may be intent rightly to apprehend and joyfully to receive this eternal food this bread of life this heavenly and wonderful mystery and that by thy grace I may obtain the vertue fruit and benefits of the death and passion of my Saviour and by the same the remission of all my sins and everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Communion O Most holy and heavenly God and Father which by the immortal seed of thy Word hast begotten us to be thy children and with the same as with milk dost nourish us purely as new born babes as also with the divine mysteries of thy holy Sacraments as by a visible word dost confirm and strengthen us in faith righteousness and having so adopted us into thy family continually feedest and nourishest us unto eternal life we humbly beseech thee so to prepare our souls to the due receiving thereof worthily that we may thereby effectually feel taste and feed on thy Son Jesus Christ the true Manna and Bread that came down from Heaven that we may by him have eternal life pardon O Lord pardon our unpreparedness in coming to the participation of so holy and divine Mysteries Make thy Word and Sacraments always so powerful and effectual in our ears and hearts that we may thereby be sanctified and renewed unto all holy obedience unto thy will in the mortification of our sinful corruptions and renewing of thy perfect Image in us unto holiness righteousness sobriety truth knowledge faith and temperance through his most power ful and glorious Resurrection Stablish our Conscience in the assurance of our salvation by the remission of our sins in the blood of thy Son which was shed for us on the Altar of the Cross as a Sacrifice of expiation to cleanse away all sin O Lord seal and confirm this Covenant of Grace in our hearts by these holy Sacraments pledges of thy grace and love towards us that at no time we may stagger at thy promises nor fall away from hope and confidence in thee but being hereby incorporated into one Body we may partake of one Spirit and grow in love one towards another as members of the same mystical Body that we may forgive one another as thou hast forgiven us O Lord make us ever thankful for thy manifold and great mercies in providing unto us such means and helps of our salvation and grant that we may not put any confidence in external actions and exercises thereof in any hope to be justified thereby but that we may thereby exalt our minds to heavenly and spiritual contemplations and by faith be firmly united to thee our Head in Heaven to be made one with thee and thou with us and howsoever heretofore we have transgressed and defiled our selves as well with our natural impurities and actual impieties henceforth being now wash'd and purified in the blood of the Lamb which was sacrificed for us we may have our conversation in Heaven and being new creatures in Christ may have new thoughts desires and delights far from the lusts of our former ignorance and may live ever unto him and with him who sitteth at thy right hand our Redeemer and Advocate and shall return to be our Judge to justifie and acquit us before thee to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all praise c. A Psalm 1. AS the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God 2. O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort according to thy Word unto thy Servant 3. Help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for thy Name 's sake 4. O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery 5. Consider and hear me O Lord my God for my trust is in thy mercy 6. Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my mis-deeds 7. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away my offences 8. Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me 10. Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me
of God and the Law of sin and so numerous are the calamities and troubles of our days that were it not for the hope of Heaven it would be little better than Hell it self crosses and afflictions troubles and molestations unavoidably rush in upon us as fast as Jobs Messengers hourly and daily for men as they are all the Sons of their Mothers are subject to all misery born to live few dayes in many dangers whose glory may well be compared to the shadow in the Sun which in the morning of our greatness is in a goodly luster at noon at the full beside us at night in the wain quite behind us There is nothing in this Vale of misery permanent or certain prosperity and adversity not long asunder Health and sickness often at variance no joy no happiness no felicity no tranquillity for continuance can be expected here in this World The only ease and consolation to our distresses the blessedness of content and rest to our wearisome Souls is to be looked for in the World to come What honour glory pleasure of earthly delight soever but is subject to instability possible and uncertain which made the wise-man upon his experience cry out Vanity of Vanity all is Vanity And the singular motive to a man in any affliction for the sufferance of sorrow need sickness or any adversity whatsoever is that by the sweet united blessings patience and content at the last by paying an inexcusable debt to Death which who so liveth of what state or condition soever cannot but think he must die will bring us to that eternal rest to the blessed enjoyment of everlasting felicity to dwell in glory for evermore For blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev. 14. 13. Death is a sleep a departed breath from dead earth inlivened at first by breath cast upon it to die is to be no more unhappy it is true to those over-swayed by nature death is accounted a misery but to men refined by the light of Judgment it is esteemed the only remedy against misery as it is the wages of sin it is due to us and as it is the end of all grief and sickness it belongs unto us It delivers us from all cares and troubles and bringeth us to all joys unspeakable by it we shall receive fulness of grace perfect and accomplished regeneration and perfect glory which while we are on earth we have but in part here we see darkly as in a glass then shall we see face to face the heavens you behold shall be superinvested with new endowments made everlasting habitations for the Saints prepared by death we pass to immortality nor can we attain eternal life but by leaving this life yet corporal death is no period of life but a passage to eternity though our body sleep a while in dust it shall rise again after thy likeness As for me saith the Prophet David I will bebold thy face in righteousness and shall be satisfied when I awake Holy Job saith Though all my flesh be consumed to bones yet thy Spirit blowing upon dead bones can revive them and couple them again with sinews and cloath them with flesh The dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Isa 26. 19. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in Heaven 1 Cor. 5. Christ is risen from the dead and made the first of them that slept 1 Cor. 15. Though in Adam we all die yet in Christ shall all be made alive That body that was sown a natural body shall rise a spiritual body 1 Cor. 15 Therefore let us be comforted and not fear the pains of death the approach of which suddenly makes a man to know himself he tells the proud and insolent they are but dust and in an instant makes them to repent and hate their fore-past happiness he takes an account of the rich and proves him a beggaâ— having interest in nothing but in the earth that fills his mouth shews the beautiful their desormity and they hate it he draws together the far stretch'd greatness all the Pride Cruelty Vain-glory and ambition of man and covers it all over with dust in the narrow limits of a grave And though for some years the body lies mouldred in the grave it shall at the last be raised in honour and glory purified perfected and immortalized from a dungeon of misery to a place of all felicity to our own Country into Paradise where we shall meet with Abraham Isaac and Jacob the Patriarchs and Prophets Saints and Angels our Friends and Kindred gone before us which we shall see and behold in Mount Sion the City of the everliving God in the company of innumerable Angels praising and magnifying the Lord of Heaven in white Robes and Palms in their hands following the Lamb wheresoever he goeth I will wait till my changing cometh then shalt thou call me and then shall I answer thee O Lord I come and appear before thee Job 14. 14. As the hart panteth for the water brooks so longeth my soul for thee O Lord â—s 42. 1. And for as much as all mortal men are subject to many sudden perils diseases and sicknesses and ever uncertain what time we shall depart out of this life there should no day pass without consideration for our last end which meditation is very requisite both for them that are in perfect health those that feel the hand of God by sickness that death will come is certain but when how or where is very uncertain It is appointed for all men once to die Heb. 9. 27. but the day when God hath not revealed because we should be ready every day it comes as soon to the young man that glorieth in his strength as to some in a good old age to the rich fool in a night as to the poor in the anguish of his soul to some violently to others untimely by accident to some by sudden and unexpected death without warning to all some one way or other And being Almighty God hath pleased to lay this sickness upon you and therein time to repent assure your self it is his visitation sent to you to try your faith patience or else to correct and amend what is amiss in you or whatsoever hath offended your heavenly Father for every child whom the Lord loveth he correcteth to prepare for a better world affliction seals us up to adoption by it he exercises his Children and the graces he bestows upon them it is special means to further