Heart is Sacrifice which he that was broke upon the account of thy sins will not despise Nay he will comfort the humble Soul and the contrite Spirit he will pour Wine and Oyl into its wounds supple it with Balm heal it with his Death and make it whole by his Agonies See here O my Soul the Bread which is broke is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ see how many broken pieces are here which all make but one Loaf So thou and thy fellow-Believers make one mystical Body whereof the Crucified Jesus is Head and Governour who influences the Body by his Spirit and from his fulness dispences Grace for Grace Rejoyce O my Soul For now the waves and billows of Gods wrath are laid The storm of vengeance is husht The thunder is gone The clouds cleer up thy broken Saviour hath turn'd the sound of the Trumpet of War into a still small Voice O break with him no more O preserve that friendship which was so dearly bought A friendship purchased by Blood sure must never dye Thou art his Friend O do not become his Enemy again for fear he be never friends with thee again On the pouring out of the Holy Wine THus O my Soul thus flow'd the precious Blood of the tormented Jesus In such streams it issued from his wounded Body Thus was the costly Juyce let out Thus the rich Veins emptied themselves of their Treasure and all that thou mightst mayst be clean And O Jerusalem wilt not thou be clean When shall it once be When God makes use of his own Blood to purify thee O my Soul Wilt thou wallow still in thy Dung and Nastiness This would be inexcusable Arise wash thy self in this Jordan and thy Flesh shall come again like unto the Flesh of a little Child O my Soul had not this Blood been shed there had been no remission of Sins From the shedding of this Blood date thy happiness when God saw this Blood the tide turned and thy offended Father looked on thee with a merciful Face How sweet is this Blood it nourishes into Eternal Life How high the value of it it redeemed a whole World How wholsom it expels all Sicknesses What pity was it that the least drop of it should fall upon the ground It was fit to be receiv'd by the hands of Angels But the Earth on which sinful Men walk'd was defiled and cursed and therefore it must fall upon it to take away the Curse Man's Sin had made it subject to O precious Blood Drop drop upon my Soul Let me feel thy Virtue Drive out the Curse Water this barren Ground that hath brought forth Briars and Thorns and let it bring forth pleasant Fruit again 6. When I receive the Holy Bread my Mind must vent it self in some such breathings as these Either O My Lord I do remember with Joy and Grief that thy Body was Crucified for me the meanest of thy Servants I remember it with joy because thy Love is wonderful O how vehement how violent was it to love an Enemy and by that Love to charm me into Obedience I remember it with grief because my Sins were thy Murtherers O my Lord I will stand out against thy offers of Grace no longer Here take my Heart I solemnly resolve to dedicate my Self and all I have to thy Service Or O God! this Sacred Bread puts me in mind how the Lamb of God was offered for me Do I believe this and shall not my Soul make thee her highest and her chiefest good O my God I take thee here not only for my Saviour but for my King and Master too Come Holy Spirit rule my Heart for I will hence forward serve no other Gods but the Great Jehovah alone who loved me and gave himself for me Or O my Jesus My Life My Joy My Comfort Thou diedst that I might live I remember it and adore thy Majesty in misery O make me thine and as this Bread doth mingle with my Substance so let thy Spirit mingle with my Soul that the same Mind may be in me which was also in Christ Jesus Or Look upon this Bread O my Soul it represents the bleeding Body of thy dearest Lord. Bleed O my Heart Give thy self up to him that groaned for thee It 's done O God neither Death nor Life shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. 7. When I receive the Holy Wine my thoughts must still be at work and address themselves to God in Christ Jesus some such way as this Either O Jesu I thankfully remember that thy Blood was spilt for me What am I and what is my Fathers House that thou hast brought me thus far Thou hast loved me better than I have done my self O my Lord give me thy sweet thy tender thy free thy humble Spirit that I may be one with thee and may admire none in heaven but thee and desire nothing on Earth besides thee Or O blessed Balsom of my wounded Heart Welcome thou Sovereign Salve How seasonable is this Medicine I die if thy Blood relieve me not O wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow I have deserved to drink the Cup of Trembling and Astonishment and thou holdest out to me the Cup of Salvation O my Soul remember who it is that is so kind to thee O esteem adore magnifie and love him for ever Or O thou blessed Shepherd of my Soul How ought I to blush when I think of thy Blood which my Sins did spill Thou hast turned my Darkness into Light and my Treason into an Antidote Thou curest me by Contradictions and the Blood my Sins have drawn from thy flesh is become the only refuge I have in the day of Wrath. O look upon thine own Blood and hide me in thy Wounds I know not how to prize thy favour O do thou teach me to do great things for thee to deny my self to take up my Cross and to follow thee Or O my Lord By thy Tears and by thy Blood thou adjurest me this day to imitate thee in thy Graces in thy Meekness in thy Patience in thy Humility in thy Charity in thy Contempt of the World and in thy Heavenlymindedness My heart is fixed O God! my heart is fixed I will Sing and give Praise Thou shalt be my Pattern Here under thy Cross I promise Obedience and Conformity to thy Graces O do thou help me O assist me uphold me with thy free Spirit so shall I teach Transgressors thy Way and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Or Great Bishop of my Soul who hast left the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and art come to seek this straying Sheep Behold Lord the Prodigal is coming home again Thou comest towards me Bleeding Groaning Dying thou comest to receive him that hath forsaken thee to draw him that hath fled from thee to kiss him that did scourge thee to Crown him that did Prick thee to Embrace him that did
Es. 5. 11 12. Psal. 105. 5 Matth. 6. 26 27 28. 1 Cor. 10 31. 1 Thess. 5. 18. 10. I must do the same kindnesses favours and services to other Men which I would have other Men who are in such circumstances do to me and therefore must be charitable just honest faithful sincere in all my dealings with them and put a good construction on their doubtful actions because I would have them be so and do so to me Matth. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 13. 4 5 6 7. Rom. 13. 7 8 9. 11. According to the condition calling or relation I am in I must discharge my Duty belonging to that calling condition or relation with very great conscientiousness as a servant I must be faithful and respectful to my Master or Mistriss As a Son or Daughter very tender of my Parents welfare credit and command As a Subject obedient and loyal to the King and those who are in Authority under him in all lawful things as a member of a publick Church careful to preserve its peace and unity As a Husband or Wife loving kind and amiable to my yoke-fellow and in the lawful calling God hath placed me in diligent and industrious 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 18. Eph. 6. 1 4 5. Col. 3. 18 19 20 21 22. Col. 4. 1. Rom. 12. 11. 12. I must delight to think of God and delight to speak of spiritual things and delight to do the Will of God and delight in all these and in other good Works more then in the gaudes pomp glory and vanity of this present World I must use the World as if I used it not and be very indifferent whether I have much of this Worlds Goods or no and my chief aim and design must be to get a share in God's everlasting Kingdom Matth. 6. 33. 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Psal. 112. 1. Psal. 139. 17. Psal. 119. 72. Consc. Why art thou obliged to do all this in order to Salvation Christ. Partly because God my Supreme Governour expresly commands these things to be done partly because Eternal Happiness is promised to none but such as in good earnest apply themselves to the performance of them partly because infinite glory is a thing of that consequence that it deserves these pains and this excellent temper partly because the LOVE of God to me is so great that I can do no less in common gratitude Matth. 5. â—0 Matth. 19. 17. Luc 13. 24. 2 Cor. 5. â—â— Consc. What is that mighty Love of God that challenges such gratitude Christ. When with the rest of Mankind I was lost and undone in my first Parents depriv'd of all hopes of Mercy and Pardon and Salvation The Eternal Son of God to restore me to God's favour and to make me capable of Pardon and Eternal Salvation took my Nature upon him became Man suffered and died for me and having by his death purchased this Pardon and Salvation for me offers me these Mercies upon condition of obeying the aforesaid Precepts Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 17. 21. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Consc. But what if thou hast not obeyed these Precepts of the Gospel is there any remedy or hopes to recover the favour of God Christ. I must necessarily repent of my disobedience with all speed and make it my business for the future to live up to those Rules in despight of all commands and allurements from Men to the contrary and upon 〈◊〉 repentance sincere resolâ—◠〈◊〉 and earnest endeavours to obey them I may certainly hope for Pardon and Salvation because he hath promised it Matth. 11. 28 29. Es. 55. 7. Joel 2. 12 13 14. Consc. But is it possible dost thou think for any Man to obey and live up to these Precepts Christ. If it were not possible for me to obey them I cannot imagine why God should peremtorily require it of me and therefore I may certainly so far obey them as not to act wittingly or wilfully or deliberately against them and so perform them as to make them the setled Rule of my Thoughts Desires Words and Actions if I will but use the means God hath prescribed in order to this Holy Obedience Matth. 25. 26 27 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Joh. 5 ' 3. Consc. What are those means whereby this Holy Obedience may be attained Christ. They are Eight 1. Consideration and Thinking 2. Earnest Prayer for the assistance of Gods Grace and Spirit 3. Diligent hearing and reading the word of God 4. Asking advice and consulting with faithful Ministers of the Gospel 5. Self-Examination 6. A right apprehension of the Nature of God and of Spiritual things 7. Humbling the Soul with Fasting 8. A conscientious use of the two Sacraments the Son of God hath instituted and ordained Consc. How is Consideration and Thinking to be managed Christ. I must seriously and frequently retire and think with my self that surely Gods promises and threatnings will be fulfilled that upon the moment of my death there depends Eternity and what a sad and forlorn condition I should be in should Eternal anguish seize on my Soul when it leaves this World and though God be patient yet he will not be mock'd that there is no Soul in Hell at this time but would be glad to obey God if they might be freed and tryed once more here on Earth that a work of that concern is not to be neglected for trifles that my Death is very uncertain and a Death-bed is no place or time to bring my self to a habit of Obedience Deut. 32. 29. Ps. 90. 12. Ps. 50. 22. Consc. What is the nature of Prayer and earnest begging for Grace and assistance of Gods Spirit Christ. I must take care that my Heart and Mind do pray as well as my Lips I must be sensible of what I pray for and fix my Thoughts upon God in Prayer and earnestly long for his Grace and Mercy and be importunate with him pray often and with fervour like a person that am concern'd at the danger I am in I must watch against wandring Thoughts or expell them when they come in and my Soul must esteem and prize the Grace of God and assistance of Gods Spirit above all the advantages of the World and be restless till I get it and take notice how God hears and answers my Prayers Joh. 4. 24. Ps. 66. 18. Ps. 63. 1. Ps. 16. 8. Consc. What dost thou mean by diligent hearing and reading of the word of God Christ. When I read or hear it I must read and hear it with attention and resolution to know Gods Will that I may do it Before I read and hear it I must beg of God to enlighten me and to imprint those good Lessons I shall hear or read upon my Soul and to make them effectual to me I must apply the general commands I read and hear to mine own Soul and believe that what God commands all Men as Christians and Believers he commands me in particular I must watch against worldly Thoughts in reading and
Duties I have formerly neglected and imitate Holy Men and Women in their virtuous practises Es. 58. 6 7. Matth. 6. 17 18. 1 Cor. 7. 5. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Consc. Wherein doth the Conscientious use of the Holy Sacraments consist Christ. In entertaining right and sutable notions of the nature of these Sacraments and using them to those ends and purposes for which they are designed Matth. 6. 22. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Consc. What Notions must thou entertain about these Sacraments Christ. 1. That these Sacraments are in the nature of solemn Vows and Protestations that I will be faithful to God in Christ Jesus by the assistance of the Holy Ghost or in the nature of Covenants where God and Man do mutually engage themselves one to another or in the nature of outward visible signs whereby some Spiritual thing is represented Rom. 4. 12. Exod. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 20. 21. 2. That these Sacraments are ordained and instituted by the Son of God my Saviour and that Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are all the Sacraments that are either given by Christ to the Church or need to be receiv'd by the Church of Christ Matth. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 3. That Baptism is a significant Ceremony whereby Children Men and Women are washed with Water which washing imports Gods pardon of our sins and our Duty to keep our selves pure from Sin for the future God promising the one and we the other 1 Pet. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 6. 11. 4. That though Children can make no such promises yet it 's fit they should be Baptiz'd because they are part of the Nations which Christ would have Baptiz'd and are Disciples and in the Covenant of Grace and it 's enough that other persons promise for them as their Guardians which promise they are bound to perform when they come to be of age Acts 2. 38 39. 5. That coming to the Lords Supper is the strongest engagement to a Holy Life because I do there personally freely and solemnly remember the death of Christ and that my sins caused his death and do protest to allow my self no longer in them but to imitate Christ Jesus in his Meekness Patience Humility Charity and Goodness 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Consc. How must these Sacraments be used in order to thy present and everlasting Comfort Christ. 1. As to Baptism I must be baptized but once because that initiates and admits me into the fellowship of Christians and gives me a Right and Title to the use of the means of Grace and this need to be done but once All that is to be done after this is to keep a good Conscience towards God and towards Man in the use of those means according to the promise made for me when I was washed with water Eph. 4. 5. 2. As to the Supper of the Lord that requires my frequent coming because I stand in need of frequent renewing not only of my Repentance and love to God and Charity to my Neighbours but of the motives and enforcives to these Graces whereof the remembrance of the love of God in the death of Christ is the greatest and most remarkable 1 Cor. 11. 26. The FIRE of the ALTAR OR DIRECTIONS Concerning the worthy Receiving OF THE LORDS SUPPER Conscience IS it not fit O my Soul thou shouldest pause a little on thy Redeemers death before thou goest to remember it with the Congregation there are those charms in that Death which if rightly viewed will be invincible motives to thee to die to a sinful Life and to embrace the Holy Life of Jesus Shouldst not thou Think Shouldst not thou Cry O that I had wings like a Dove that I might fly away to Golgotha and behold the dreadful spectacle of God crucified for the sins of the children of men A mighty mystery this To the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness What all the Jewish Rabbins could not see what the greatest Heathen Sages could not find out that hath God revealed O God! thy Ways are not as our Ways nor are thy Thoughts as our Thoughts We entertain mean apprehensions of Thee such as our narrow understandings yield but thou lovest to do all things contrary to the measures we poor mortals take This hath been thy method ever since thou hast thought fit to plant a Church in the world Thou didst send Lot into Sodom and contrary to Mens imagination didst preserve him from the infection of that beastly crew In the midst of an idolatrous Countrey thou didst bid Elijah stand up and declare thy Name to the besotted Israelites a place where to own the true God was fatal and to make mention of thy worship Heresie where to profess thy Faith was counted madness and not to imitate the Luxury of the age a crime unpardonable among the wicked Men of Anat hoth thou didst separate Jeremiah for the Prophetick Office and in the land of Vz crouded with Pagans and Infidels gavest Job a heart to fear thy Providence Out of Vz the Metropolis of Chaldean Superstition thou didst call the Beloved Abraham and vouchsafedst to him the knowledge of thy Will in a crooked and perverse Generation Thou didst fill the bashful Moses with courage to talk to Kings and a timorous Aaron by thy Order can controul Atheists and Idolaters Thou lovest to create a World out of nothing and to call things that are out of those which do not appear Thou lovest to do things which to us seem impossibilities and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom lovest to produce most pleasant Fruit When calamities are become dangerous and past remedy thou lovest to shew thy healing hand and when no probabilities of help appear declarest thy Power and Glory Thou lovest to bring forth Grapes from Thorns and Figs from Thistles and out of a barren soil or cursed ground many times lettest the richest Spices grow When all mankind lay in darkness and was covered with the shadow of death When Divels plaid about them and the furies of the burning Lake laid hold of them When the fiery Dragon was ready to devour them and the old Serpent going to swallow up their Souls Behold thy Son appears from Heaven frights the powers of darkness and all immediately disappear Ah! My dearest Jesu Meekest of Kings and fairer then all the children of men I behold thee Reigning and hanging on the Cross Reigning for in despight of all the reproaches of of thine enemies thou wast still the everlasting King and Saints and Angels bowed to thee When thy Body was torn bruised and wounded on the Tree Their reproaches could not dethrone thee their virulent Tongues could not make thee less then thou wert These impotent wretches might bark at the Sun but could not ecclipse its Glory Thou couldst have destroyed their Tongues but wouldst not and it was a Royal act not to punish them when thou hadst the greatest provocations O my Lord I see thee blotting out the Hand-writing which was against me How red were
the Characters How bloody were the Lines yet thy Blood makes them as white as snow O my Lord I hear thy words sharper then any two edged Sword and piercing to the dividing asunder of the Bones and Marrow I hear thy complaints I mean which broke the Rocks and shook the Earth and shall not my heart be moved at them For Thee the Son of God to cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Who can hear this Who can think of it and not stand confounded For Omnipotence to sink thus For infinite Perfection to faint thus For him that sate on the circle of the Earth and before whom all Nations were as Grashoppers for him thus to Swound thus to Weep thus to Mourn What could be the reason Oh thou Prince of Peace For the iniquity of thy People thou vast struck for the sins of the World thou didst suffer banishment and wast used as if thou hadst not been anointed with Oyl or been guilty of the crimes thy foes accused thee of The snares of death did encompass thee thy friends forsook thee and thy heritage like a Lion out of the Wood did roar against thee O my Bowels be ye troubled at this remembrance O my flinty Heart canst thou see thy Lord as it were crucified before thine eyes and not break out into floods of Tears O Jesu Thou cryest to thy Father and he hears thee not He seems to be cruel to his Son and deaf to thy lamentations The windows of Heaven seem to be shut and a vail to be drawn over all the Joys and Comforts and Consolations that formerly water'd and enrich'd thy Soul See how dry and barren and burnt up this precious Soil appears No showers from above come down no Sun shines upon it the Stars of Heaven with-hold their influence and scarce an Angel will stir to thy assistance O Thou who art all Glorious within and art thy self the Glory of the Universe Were my Sins laid in a ballance they would weigh heavier then the Sand on the Sea-shore and then what need I wonder that thou cryest so loud under the heavy load for the arrows of the Lord stick in thee and his hand presses thee sore O Blessed Nazarite whiter then Snow brighter then the Sky purer then the Sun How is thy Face disfigured with Grief How do thine Eyes languish How dismal dost thou appear Is this the Face that was the perfection of Beauty Is this the Face that was once the desire of all Nations Is this the Face which so many Prophets and Righteous Men have desired to see Is this the Face that Abraham long'd to behold and the Patriarchs were ambitious to have a view of Is this the Face admired by Angels and dreaded by Divels What is thy Beloved more then another Beloved O thou fairest among Women Is this the mighty Bridegroom of the Church who was once transfigured on the Holy Mount and his Face did shine as the Sun and his raiment became white as the light Is this he whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows whose garments smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia and cast such a scent that the Daughter of Tyre came with a Gift and the rich among the People entreated his favour How is he alter'd How is his Countenance chang'd How is the Gold become dim and the fine Gold changed Yet still thou art lovely to a Soul that sees farther then the outside Still thou art a Cordial to fainting Spirits Still thou art a fountain of living waters Still thou art the Joy of the whole Earth the Light of Heaven and the Song of Sion My thoughts O Lord shall follow thee to the Cross. Methinks I see how thou art going to die thou lookest back on thine Enemies and notwithstanding all their Affronts offerest them Mercy O incomprehensible Goodness Even then when thou art lifted up to the infamous Tree Thou drawest and invitest all Men to thee Thou Preachest on the Cross and thy very wounds are Sermons to the Children of Men and thy Blood trickling down is an exhortation to Repentance Surely it is good for me to adhere unto thee and to count it death to be separated from thee O whether shall I go but to thee who hast words of Eternal Life Thou art my Sun by Thee I shall be enlighten'd by Thee my Soul shall be warm'd O how comfortable are thy beams What a progress must that Soul make on which thou shinest and dartest thy Glorious Rays Thou art that lofty Cedar whose boughs over-spread the Believing World Under the shadow of that Tree will I rest It is for the healing of the Nations I will be glad in the Lord and rejoyce in my bleeding Jesus While the World despises thee I will honour thee While Great Men pass by and regard thee not I that am poor and needy will wait to be refreshed by thee Go ye fools be enamoured with your Trifles admire your Butterflies doat on your sensual Pleasures Here is one that looks charming in his Tears lovely in his Blood amiable in his Wounds and is more beautiful in the midst of all his distresses then the brightest Virgins Face adorned with all the glittering Treasures of the East O my Strength by Thee I desire to be comforted and supported O anoint my Eyes with thy Sovereign Eye-salve and I shall see and live O that the Clouds which dwell on my Understanding were dispersed that I might look upon thee sredfastly Oh! then thou wouldst appear more lovely to me on the Cross then Croesus in his Throne or Solomon in all his Glory God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ. In this lie hid vast treasures of Sweetness O my Jesus make me conformable to thy death and give me leave to carry thy marks in my Body Let me be crucified with thee and let Christ for ever live in me Canst thou live in a Soul that hath abused thy Mercy slighted thy Patience and so often baffled the stratagems of thy Compassion I believe Lord O help mine unbelief Thou camest to call not the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Oh! then my Husband will love me my Redeemer will come and live with me for my repentings are kindled I hate the sins that have defiled my Soul Away ye Swine Here are no Divels to enter in I am to receive my Bridegroom into my Heart Come Lord Jesu Come quickly Thou art the welcomest Guest I know How happy shall I be if thou wilt lodge in this earthly Tabernacle Happier then if all the Angels of Heaven took up their Habitation here O ye besotted Jews what makes you run so fast to kill the Lord of Life ye cannot live without him and what evil spirit doth possess you to kill and murther him Can you think of his miracles and do so Can you reflect upon his Doctrine and attempt such villanies Can you remember how he taught you in the Temple even
Thanksgivings and paying my humble Vows to thy Divine Majesty and calling upon thee in the day of trouble O my God! my Soul fainteth for thee when shall I come to appear before thee My Soul is cast down within me When wilt thou comfort me I long for thy Salvation I hunger and thirst after Righteousness I see Beauty and splendor and excellency in it and would fain be cloathed with that Ornament Thou deservest my strongest desires my most vigorous Breathings my most lively Pantings after thee not to long after thee is to be a stranger to real Bliss not to follow hard after thee is to be ignorant of thy Riches and the plenty of thy House But what do I talk of desires of a single Heart would to God that all Mankind might offer unto thee their reasonable service thou deservest it and deservest all the love of Angels too But thou desirest nothing so much as the Hearts of the Children of Men The Angels are happy already only Mankind lies ingulfed in misery and so great is thy Charity that having taken their Nature upon thee thou wouldst willingly make them equal with Angels Great Darling of the Holy Trinity What haste dost thou make to dye How dost thou run to redeem the Sons of Men Nothing can hold thee nothing can restrain thee not thine own Greatness not thy Majesty not thy being the Son of God not love to thine own preservation Thou didst love me better then thy self How didst thou fly to my deliverance How dost thou leap in to prevent my hurt No Divels can fright thee no danger terrify thee no pain discourage thee no anguish make thee afraid Thou longest till the great Work be done The other Malefactors that are crucified with thee What honour had these wretches and yet were not sensible of it One at last opens his Eyes and sees it and stands amazed these held out longer on the Gibbet but thou bidst Death come away and seize thy Life It 's a pleasure to thee to die Oh surprizing Mercy Other Men seek to escape Death as long as they can they run away from the sight of the Monster if they do but see the shadow of it they tremble and to them Death is truly a King of Terrors Thou goest out to meet it as that which must put an end to thy sufferings and my misery It 's death to thee not to die Thou chidest it for staying Tâ—â—â— hast a Baptism to be Baptized with and Oh what wouldst thou that it were accomplish'd Ah! My Lord I see thy dying Lips from which dropt Speeches sweeter then Honey and the Honey-comb Death is going to close them up yet O vouchsafe me a look that may refresh my Soul And now the Glory is departed from Israel The Saviour of the World gives up the Ghost O let me die with thee O draw me after thee and I shall live I wonder not that the Graves open at thy death and the Rocks rend and the Sun hides his Face but I wonder the whole Earth did not dissolve and nature it self did not run into its primitive chaos and confusion O my crucified Master How ill art thou rewarded for thy kindness Thou wert Eyes to the blind and Feet to the lame Thou wert a Father to the Poor and a Staff to the Aged Thou didst cause the Widows Heart to sing for joy Thou didst deliver the Poor that cryed the Fatherless and him that had no helper Unto thee Men gave ear and waited and kept silence at thy Counsel after thy words they spake not again and thy Speech dropt upon them the naked deck'd themselves with the Wooll of thy Sheep and thy Door was open to the weary Traveller But now they that are younger then thou have thee in derision and they that were Children of Fools Children of base Men Men viler then the Earth gape upon thee Thou art their Song and art become their By-word They abhorr thee and flee far from thee and spare not to spit in thy Face They marr thy Path they set forward thy Calamity Terrours are turned upon thee they pursue thy Soul as the Wind and thy welfare passes away as a Cloud O infinite Patience Yet these Sinners are offered Salvation by him whom they abused thus Salvation What do I hear O then there is hopes for me for I have been one of thy enemies I have mock'd thee by by my Sins I have derided thy sufferings by my contempt of thy Laws I have scorned thee by preferring mine own Will before thine I have spit upon thee by my filthy communications I have abused thee by sheltring my Sins under thy Cross I have dishonoured thee by my Life disgraced thee by my carelesness buffeted thee by my impatience affronted thee by my pride made light of thy Power and Goodness by my mistrust of thy Providence undervalued thy Love by my affection to vanity and yet thou stretchest forth thine arm to lay hold on me art loath to see me perish unwilling to see me undone and proclaimest mercy to a forlorn wretch Blessed news O King of Kings thou cryest It is fulfilled The work is done the vast work of redemption Now thy Fathers anger is broke now the Floodgates of indignation are shut Now Heaven stands open Now thy Fathers bosom is held out to all that thirst after thee Hear this all ye prisoners listen to this message ye guilty Souls Come all that are laden with a sense of sin Open the door Throw off your Chains Run to this Rock Make haste to this Fountain Kiss this Sun Make much of this Light Embrace this Mercy Do ye dispute the thing Do ye question whether ye shall do it or no Is it possible you can stand out Is it possible you can demur upon it Is it possible your Hearts do not turn within you Can you refuse your Cordial neglect the Medicine that must recover you slight the Remedy that must fetch you to life again O Jesu Thou hast done all things well Thou hast made the Blind to see and the Dumb to speak and the Deaf to hear O open thou my Lips and my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise Open thou mine Ears and let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the Morning O open thou mine Eyes and I shall see how Sweet and Gracious thou art O my Life thou diest and dying fulfillest thy Fathers Will for indeed it was fit that one Man should die for the People and that the whole Nation perish not Ah! What would Mankind have done if thou hadst not paid the Ransom Whether must they have fled for refuge if thou hadst not given thy self a Sacrifice They must have wandred about in Caves and Dens destitute tormented afflicted disconsolate lived in perpetual fear of death and the dreadful consequences of it Death must have been for ever a King of terrours to them if they had but look'd upon that Hell that death would have open'd into How could they
but have lived in perpetual horror There could have been no hope of Mercy no probability of Bliss their Souls would have been in Eternal confusion always doubting always afraid always upon the Rack O my Jesus Thou through death hast deliver'd them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject unto bondage Thou hast knock'd off their shackles loosed their Bands freed their Souls set their Spirits at libery I feel the power of thy death My Heart takes courage O let me rise with thee to Eternal life O let me not lie in the mire but set my Feet upon a Rock and establish my goings I have gone astray like a lost Sheep O seek thy servant that I may not forget thy Commandements Thou art the Bread which came down from Heaven and with the Bread in thy Sacred Supper thou offerest me all the benefits of thy death and passion such a Feast hast thou prepared for me such a Table hast thou spread for me my Soul is invited to Sup with the Lamb that was slain What an honour is this What a condescention is it In this Sacrament thou erectest a Banner for me bidst me sit under thy Vine and strenghthen my self with the Fruit that drops from it Were all the Fishes of the Sea and all the Fowls of the Air and all the Beasts of the Field drest for my entertainment it would not be so much as this plain but Heavenly Diet is Tell not me of Belshazzer's Banquet nor of Ahashuerus's Feast nor of the rich mans curious Dishes they are all scraps and Offals to this Entertainment Here my Blessed Redeemer courts my Soul Here he makes love to a miserable Sinner Here he presents me with the Riches of his Merits No African Gold no Eastern Pearls no Indian Stones are to be compared with these Here the Lord of Glory offers to marry me to unite me to him to make an everlasting Covenant with me to be flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones promises to endow me with all his Goods puts a Ring on my Finger and bids me lie in his bosom This is Honour this is Glory this is Preferment which no Royal Courts can give no Solomon can afford no Emperour Grant no Monarch Conferr no King bestow This is the mighty Wedding-Feast at which the blessed Angels wait how should not they be there when their Master is President and Director of the Banquet This puts me in mind of all the admirable things thou hast done for me in this Bread are contracted all the Dainties and Delicacies imaginable O wonderful Love that wast not content to be known to me but art willing to give thy self for Food to me What pains dost thou take to melt my stubborn Heart Thou art willing to live in me Thou art willing to be one with me that I may not warp from thee Thou art willing to be my Meat and Drink not only my King to protect me not only my Father to tender me not only my Master to take care of me not only my Saviour to snatch me out of the burning Lake not only my Mediator to secure me against Heavens vengeance but my Diet too Thou seest my Soul wants Meat proper for her nature Alas the World cannot be that Meat That 's a Heterogeneous thing as well may Angels feed on Hay or Grass as my Soul on things that profit not That which my Soul must feed on must be something Spiritual Thou O Jesu art that Great Spiritual Object my Soul must fix on nothing else will content it and when my Thoughts contemplate thee when my Soul Meditates of thy Charity when my Affections love thee when my Desires long for thee When my Will submits to thy easie yoak When all my Faculties delight in thee when thou appearest lovely and charming and amiable to my mind Then then my Soul hath its proper food then it 's like to live then it 's in a way to thrive then it prospers then it grows then it gets a cheerful look then the Angels visit it the World perfectly soures it Sensual pleasures ruine it carnal satisfactions make it meager Thou O Lord thou alone canst make it flourish like the Palm-tree and satisfy it with the Rivers of thy Pleasures O my Lord how sweet is it to suck Honey out of this Rock Thy Bread strengthens to a miracle and thy Blood makes Souls Drunk It is as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that descends on the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even Life for evermore O my God I care not for Abana and Pharpar now nor for the Rivers of Damascus I will stand under thy Cross and open my Mouth O do thou fill it while others go to rejoyce in their Corn and Wine and Oyl I will go to the Supper of the Lamb. Here Lord here is my Heart ready to receive that Heavenly Food thou offerest me Awake thou Eternal Spirit awake blow upon my Garden that the Spices may flow out O let this Maenna satisfy my taste that I may forget the Fleshpots of Egypt Behold Lord here I make a vow that if thou wilt give me this Bread to eat which endures to everlasting life Thou shalt be my God I will serve no other Gods but thee Thou shalt command my Heart my Desires and my Affections and without thee no passion shall lift up its Hand or Foot in all the land of Goshen I will set thee over all that I have and all shall be at thy dispose Christ. I feel my Heart warmed with this consideration I will now turn aside and see this great sight who it is that hangs upon the Cross and bleeds for my Sins Oh! it is the Son of God he that was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and became obedient to the death of the Cross that I might be made the Righteousness of God through him Consc. But is there nothing else to be done by way of preparation for this Blessed Sacrament Christ O Yes For I must First Retire sometimes and celebrate and admire the love of God to me in Christ Jesus in some such reflections as these Be astonish'd ye Heavens stand amazed ye Quires of Angels at the condescension of my God I have betray'd him to the Philistines yet he loves the miserable Wretch and so loves him that he gives his Son to redeem him O God what dost thou see in me Nothing but misery nothing but rags nothing but poverty and yet thou lovest me I am but Dust and Ashes and will God vouchsafe a Gracious look to so mean an object O Sovereign Being Didst thou ever behold a viler creature then I am and wilt thou goe out of the common road of Love and spread thy Garments over me and offer me thy friendship O Love which Cherubim admire and Seraphim adore It
passes understanding It goes beyond my Cognizance It confounds my Reason I admire the love of a Prince to a Subject but that will bear no resemblance to this Love God might have triumph'd in my Groans Glorified his Justice by my stripes but pity abounds in him it hath no Banks it flows at large it s extended even to the most abject Creature as I am O Love How humble art thou How violent art thou Thou breakest through all the Clouds of Heaven to come down Thou forgoest the Rules of Greatness and Majesty to shew thy Glory That the Eternal Son of God should take Flesh upon him and dye to give life to the World Oh where can I parallel this Love I will sing of Love I will speak of Love I will think of Love my very Dreams shall be employ'd about it O that I could write Panegyricks of it Were not my Tongue confined it should do nothing else but talk of Love Here is Love to which all natural sympathies must vail I see no end thereof The farther I go in the search the more I lose my self But how should a creature find out the end of that which is infinite Where shall I find out the spring of this mighty stream Where shall I find the beginning of it Alas The line of Reason is too short There is no fathoming of this depth Who can search into the recesses of Eternity In that vast Abysse the head of this great River lies but who shall dive into it It 's enough that I am so happy as to be acquainted with it It 's enough that the Almighty hath revealed it unto Babes Even so Father it seemed good in thy sight I can give no reason of it Thy Love Lord was the cause of this Love thy Love was the motive Nothing else could be any inforcive I am sensible thou art merciful because thou wilt be merciful O thou Eternal Wisdom whom the Lord possessed in the beginning of his way before his Works of old who wast set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the Earth was when there were no depths thou wast brought forth when there were no Fountains abounding with Water before the Mountains were setled before the Hills wast thou brought forth while as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the Dust of the World who wast there when he prepared the Heavens when he set a compass upon the face of the depth when he establish'd the Clouds above when he strengthned the deep when he gave to the Sea his Decree that the Waters should not pass his Commandement O thou who wa st by him as one brought up with him who wast daily his delight rejoycing always before him enlighten my Mind that I may have clearer apprehensions of this Charity Arise my Thoughts Awake up my Glory See O my Soul how that Love smiles upon thee See how bright how clear how charming it is See how Divels tremble at it See how they grin and fret to think they must have no share in it See what Glorious Beams it darts on penitent sinners See how it warms their Hearts See how it follows them how loath it is to leave them See how it adjures them and how importunate it is with them to suffer themselves to be conquer'd by it 2. I must examine my self not only what and where and when and how I have especially of late been acting against God and affronted his Goodness Mercy and Patience and what Sorrow Grief and Fear these particular offences have caused in me but whether I am unfeignedly resolved to part with all these particular sins I am most prone and inclined to whether my Heart and purpose be fix'd to know the Will of God and to do it Whether I do sincerely and without reservation intend for the future to prefer God's Will before my Will and his Favour before the Favour of Men and whether I do in good earnest design to forgoe my profit gain or interest in the World rather then do any thing that is displeasing to God Whether I do truly prize the love of God above all the Riches of this World and see greater Beauty in that Holiness to which I am invited by this Love then in all the gaudes and satisfactions of of the World And if I do and my Conscience bears me witness of it I may chearfully go to the Lords Table and expect the benefits that are offered there 3. If I have done any signal wrong to my Neighbour I must make him either restitution or satisfaction I must either restore to him what I have cheated or wronged him in or have secretly and against his Will taken away from him or if I am not able to restore make confession of the fault and beg his forgiveness I must be reconciled to him if I have offended him or given him just occasion to be angry and if after that attempt he will still keep his anger I have deliver'd my own Soul I must let my neighbour know that I do as truly forgive him as I hope to be forgiven of Christ Jesus and be as ready to give as my neighbour to ask my pardon I must remember how God hath entailed his Pardon upon mine and if I forgive not from my Heart neither will my Heavenly Father forgive my Trespasses If I have abused my neighbour either in Words or Deeds and he either hath receiv'd or is like to receive any prejudice by it I must not be ashamed to acknowledge my error but prefer a quiet Conscience before my Reputation in the World 4. I must survey the bitter sufferings of my Blessed Saviour as they are laid down and described by the Evangelists I must follow him into the Garden of Gethsemane and go up with him to the Mount of Olives and there behold how his Heart was troubled and how the fears of death fell upon him how his Soul was filled with sorrow and how his Life drew near unto the Grave How he trode the Wine-press of Gods anger alone and humbled himself before his Father How as Man he begg'd that the Cup might pass from him and yet as Mediator freely consented to his Fathers Will. How distress and anguish came upon him and in the midst of those miseries the weary Disciples fell asleep how he wept and mourned and sweat drops of Blood and how Hell open'd her Mouth upon him how he bore our Griefs and took the chastisement of our Peace upon him How he drank the bitter Cup and his Heart within him became as melting Wax How he was led to Annas and he to whom all the Angels in Heaven bow'd stood before a sinful Man How from Annas he was dragg'd to Caiphas and like a Lamb led to the slaughter How he was accused before Pontius Pilate and there bespattered with all the ill language that Men or Divels could invent How he was set at nought by Herod and in scorn deck'd with
of Sores full of Weakness full of Errours full of Infirmities a prodigy of Frailty Here Lord here is work for thy strong Hand and for thy mighty Arm. In this Heart are Divels that must be expelled by thy Power Stretch forth thy Hand and save me Here is an object to exercise thy omnipotent hand upon My Cure requires Miracles It 's no ordinary Virtue that will set me to Rights again Thou Thou O Lord must come and strike thy Hand over the sore place and my Leprosie will be gone Thy Prophet cries by thy order Return unto the Lord your God for he is Gracious and Merciful slow to anger and repents him of the evil I believe Lord I believe My Heart is wounded within me I come I come Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants But then I desire no other hire no other wages but thy Self Thou art my exceeding great reward Oh! How bitter a thing is it to forsake thee What have I got by offending thee What have I gained by sinning against thee Nothing but Shame and Horror and Trembling and Confusion Darkness hath covered me the shadow of Death hath fallen upon me What fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now asham'd My Soul hath been divested of her innocence her Joy her Peace her Comfort and her Satisfaction And Oh my Jesus didst not thou stand my friend now Great Mediator didst not thou stand in the gap now and plead for me O my Redeemer Didst not thou intercede for me I must be prostituted and exposed to Eternal laughter and derision Good Lord How pitiful how wretched how trivial how impertinent how inconsiderable was that pleasure that profit that thing for which I did did affront and dishonour thee When I look upon thy Creatures either above or below I wonder how they were able to contain themselves and not vindicate their Masters Honour which they saw abused by me I wonder they did not not fall upon me and crush me into perdition when they saw how bold how presumptuous this Caitiff was O my Lord For this my Soul shall mourn in secret even for this that I have not loved thee better that I have not sought thee more that I have not approach'd thee with greater veneration Hence forward Lord if all the Pleasures all the Riches all the Honours of this World were concentred in this sin that formerly I lived in it should be no temptation to me I would tear the Tyrant out of its seat It should usurp thy place no more I would pull it out of its Throne it should find no harbour in me Thy Love should constrain me to part with it I will Crucify thee no more I have trampled too long upon thy Mercy I will make light of it no more O my Jesus Remember thy Agonies remember thy Pain remember thy Sufferings remember thy Death and forget my Sins Thy Servant David cryed once I have sinned and thou didst presently take away his Sin My sighing is not hid from thee O do not hide thy Face from me Manasseh look'd up to thee and thou hadst respect unto his Prayer O give ear to my Prayer too that goes not out of feigned Lips The Ninivites humbled themselves and thou wast intreated Oh repent thy self of the evil thou hast said thou wouldst do unto me and do it not Peter wept and thou gavest him a Gracious Look I water my couch with my tears Oh smile upon me too and say I have redeem'd thee thou art mine I love thee O Lord and would have every Creature love thee I would have all things that have breath praise the Lord. I would have every creature shew forth thy Glory Thou hast loved me from all Eternity Was ever such Love heard of as thine was To come from the Mansions of the Blessed into a Valley of Tears to advance such a creature from Death to Life Eternal Thou hast made my Death a harmless nay a gainful thing Thy Cross hath sweetned all there was Death in the pot but thou threwest in Meal and didst sweeten all O blot out the very footsteps of my Sins and set me as a Seal upon thy Heart so will I give thee thanks in the great Congregation my Lips shall praise thee O my Life I would prefer thee above all thy Creatures I would look upon all these outward Comforts as a drop in the Bucket and on Thee as the Ocean On these as the small dust in the Ballance on Thee as the Rock of Ages I would love Thee with all my heart I would love Thee more then my Self O that my whole Mind were united to Thee O that I might know nothing save Jesus Christ and him Crucified O that all the powers of my Soul might embrace Thee O that I might seek thy Glory with stronger desires then Worldlings do their Wealth or the Covetous the increase of their In-comes Oh! that I could adhere unto Thee inseparably O withdraw my Heart from every evil way Incline my Heart to all Goodness Let not my Affections be henceforth corrupted with the love of the Creature Let me not be weary of loving Thee Let nothing overcome my Love Let nothing damp it Oh enable me to say Who shall separate me from the love of God! O draw my Soul with cords of Love with this Love wound and pierce my Heart and make it sick that it may insatiably long for Thee Oh! I would love Thee without ceasing love Thee without bounds love Thee without measure Oh let my Soul melt with this Fire and purge away that filth which doth so easily beset me Take away from me all that doth displease Thee Refine in me all that pleases Thee Be Thou ever present with me Live in me thou Fountain of Life and let me live in Thee and let that Charity live in me which suffers long and is kind which envies not which vaunteth not it self which is not puft up which doth not behave it self unseemly seeks not her own is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth bears all things believes all things hopeth all things endureth all things through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for Faith O Thou from whom every good and perfect Gift descends who givest to all Men liberally and upbraidest not Thou callest Seek ye my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek Thou hast said O Lord Thy Mouth hath spoken it if ye had but Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed ye should say unto this Mountain Be thou removed and cast into the Sea and it should obey you O my Lord I have Rocks to be displaced Mountains to be removed vast loads to be freed from Rocks of Unbelief Mountains of Sin loads of Iniquity Oh lend me thy helping Hand None can give relief none can succour none can do me any good but thy self How
shall not I look up from the Creature to the Creator and give him my dearest Love I will love thee O Lord I must love thee for thou art sweet beyond comparison amiable without a parallel lovely to a miracle Thou art the true Father of my Soul thou providest for me thou takest care of me thou art exceeding tender of me thou bearest me on thy hands on thy wings thou carriest me as the Eagle doth her young nay thou offerest me to be thy Brother thy Sister and thy Mother for he that doth thy Will shall be all this in thy esteem He shall be as dear to thee as these Relations are to mortal Men Thou art my Friend indeed O my Lord whether doth thy Love carry thee Thou layest aside thy Glorious Titles and magnificent Names and becomest my Friend and never was a truer Friend then thou art and hast been to me No vicissitude hath changed thee no revolution hath altered thee no accident hath estranged thy Heart from me my Unworthiness doth not turn away thy Affections from me Though thou dwelleâ—â— on high yet thou humblest thy self to behold the ways of the Children of Men My Sores do not make thee loath me my Infirmities do not move thee to cast me away my Vileness doth not tempt thee to despise me Thou lovest at all times if I am wounded thou bindest up my wounds if I am broken thou healest me if I am grieved thou refreshest me if I am in danger thou deliverest me if under pain thou givest me ease if under trouble thou comfortest me O my Jesus Thou art gone up to thy Father and to my Father and hast made us Friends Thou hast reconciled him to my Soul Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world How often hast thou in Mercy look'd upon me How often hast thou pittied me I was unworthy of thy compassion yet seeing me lye in my Blood thou saidst Live in thy Blood Live What shall I say unto thee O thou great preserver of Men No Words no Language will reach thy Love or give a tolerable description of it yet still this increases my obligations to love thee And what a mercy is it that thou wilt give me leave to love thee That this Great this Glorious this Immense this Incomprehensible God will vouchsafe to be loved by a Worm What a favour is it Prize it O my Soul and think thou hearest every Creature that 's beneficial to thee calling upon thee to love him The Sun that shines upon thee calls to thee I give thee light that thou mayst admire the Father of Light so doth the Moon so do the Stars so do all those things whereby thou art fed maintained cloathed and preserved in Health these all call We serve thee that thou mayst serve thy God and do good to thee that thou mayst love him whose Hand hath placed us in these stations O my God! Shall I have such monitors to love thee and be deaf to the Call How will all these rise in judgment against me one day if I love thee not How justly do I fall a Sacrifice to thy wrath if under such exhortations I despise thy Love How many Souls have perish'd and I am yet alive How many have been struck dead in their Sins and I am yet called to pentance How many do yet walk in darkness and I have the honor to see thy marvellous Light Thou hast dealt more kindly by me then thou hast done by others O how am I bound to love thee I see the odiousness of that sin which others doat on I see the deformity of those Vices which others wallow in I see the Beauty of that Virtue which others scorn I see the charms of that Grace which others laugh at I taste of those Comforts which others continue ignorant of I see the reasonableness of thy Precepts which others count an intolerable yoak I have some sense of another world while thousands live as if there were none I see the necessity of Holiness while others make a mock of Sin What motives are these to love thee Shall I be afraid or ashamed after all this to love thee Every Sense I have bids me love thee I cannot smell to any thing but I smell the fragrancy of thy Love I cannot taste any thing but I must taste how Sweet and how Gracious thou art I cannot look upon any thing but I must see thy Goodness The oil of thy Love swims upon every Creature I touch or feel That Soul deserves to dye that doth not love thee In loving thee I live Thy Love is better then Life My days will have an end my Life ere long will pass from me My Riches my Glory my Wealth my Health my Liberty my Ease my Friends my Acquaintance they all will ere long expire but if I love thee that will remain with me to Eternity My love to thee makes me thine and makes thee mine By loving thee I shew that I am not mine own Thou hast made me for thy self and if I am not thine I cannot be mine own for at that instant that I would be mine own I cease to be thine Thou art to me all that heart can wish or reason can desire Thou art my Light my Pillow my Rest my Sun my Meat my Drink my Glory my Joy Thou hast given me thy Son and in giving him hast given me more then Ten thousand worlds And if this be not enough thou art ready to give me more Shew me thy Love and it suffices me Thou hast wounded me with thy Love I will follow thee O let me do thy Will Let me do that which thou wilt and not what I will Despise me not forsake me not O do not go far from me Draw me after thee and I shall run Wo is me that I must dwell in Mesheck and have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar O leave me not to my self I consecrate both my Soul and Body to thee employ them O Lord as it shall please thee best O forget me not and let me never forget thee let me rather die a thousand deaths then live without thee O let me love thee so that I may long to draw others to thy Love Let me be griev'd when Men do not keep thy Law Let it go to my Heart to see thee dishonour'd and affronted Thou threatnest me with Eternal Flames if the flames of thy Love cannot warm me now I am not worthy to love thee yet thou art most worthy to be loved by me O let me sigh let me pant let me breath after thee O my Life let me live to thee O my Glory let me be content to die for thee O my refuge let me ever run to thee O thou Eternal Love let me be always mindful of thee Let me embrace thee let me resolve not to let thee go till thou hast brought me to that place where I shall be for ever united to thee Withdraw mine heart from the
thee that thou hast kept me from so many opportunities of sinning against thee from abundance of temptations from innumerable occasions of evil How many have been snatcht away by sudden death and I am alive yet How many have been denyed the grace of Repentance which thou still offerest to me That I have a heart to pray and praise thy Name What a mighty token of thy Love is this Let Heaven and Earth praise the Lord Let all the Angels in Heaven praise him Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord praise thou the Lord O my Soul I remember O Lord how when I have gone through the water thou hast been with me when I have passed through the Fire thou hast commanded the Flames not to kindle upon me I remember when for a small moment thou hast hid thy Face from me How with everlasting kindnesses thou hast visited me again O how often hast thou deliver'd me from the nethermost Hell When I have been ready to sink in the mire thou hast pulled me out of the horrible pit cut of the miry Clay and set my feet upon a Rock and establish'd my goings When the snares of death have incompassed me and the pains of Hell laid hold on me thou hast deliver'd my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living what reward shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits How loth hast thou been to behold my ruine How hast thou call'd after me Have mercy on thy self With what convictions hast thou follow'd me What checks of Conscience hast thou given me O my Lord Thou shalt have all the Glory Thou art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour and Majesty and Dominion How precious are thy Mercies How rich thy Loving kindnesses To do so much for dust and ashes for a Worm for a Grashopper for a Creature that hath abused thee and rebell'd against thee O what goodness is this My understanding is not big enough to comprehend it I 'll acknowledge thee for my God I 'll own thee for my Redeemer Thou shalt be my King my Master my Sovereign Lord I will consecrate all my Labours all my Services all I have and all I am to thy Glory O what a favour is forgiveness of Sin which I trust I have received this day Think O my Soul what a bondage thou art deliver'd from Think what slavery thou art freed from Now thou art at liberty now thou mayst serve God chearfully now thou mayst freely go on from Virtue to Virtue This is a day of Thanksgiving this is a day of glad tidings this is a day which ought to be remembred O my Jesus Thou hast this day visited the Earth and watered it Thou hast made it rich with thy showers thy Grace hath dropp'd upon me this day like the Rain on the mowen Grass O order my steps according to thy Word for the future Let me see thee in every Mercy Teach me to admire thee in every Blessing Let nothing seduce my Heart from thee When any afflictions come upon me let me receive them with Thanks and Submission When I stumble do thou support me when I fall do thou raise me when I go astray do thou seek me when I err do thou direct me When I slacken in thy service do thou strengthen me Keep the door of my Senses that no impure thing may enter there Let my Heart be thy Temple Teach me to enquire daily what progress I make in thy way Let thy Word be a lanthorn to my Feet and a Light unto my paths Let no evil company discourage me Let thy Providence direct me to persons that love thy Law and in these excellent ones let all my Delight and Comfort be O my Lord my Life is hid in thee But when thy Glory shall appear I shall be like thee Speak Lord for thy Servant hears Let none of thy Commandements be hence-forward grievous to me Open thy hand and feed my Soul When I am tempted lay no more upon me then I am able to bear Give me courage to strive to enter in at the strait Gate Let me ever look at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Thy Kingdom Lord is not in Meat and Drink but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Give me a taste of it Let Eternity be always in my mind Into thy hands I do commend my Spirit my Body and all the concerns of my Life Let thy Grace come down upon me plentifully Let me not do thy Will negligently Let me live in the thoughts of another life and let those Thoughts encourage me to follow after that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus O hear me O Answer me O pity me O relieve me O come in O succour me thou that art the God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousness all the day long Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say continually Let God be magnified I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God! thou art my Help and my Deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Amen Amen ERRATA PAge 51. l. 24. read liberty p. 169. l. 19 r. Repentance What literal Faults or Mistoppings may occur the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen. Books Printed for and Sold by Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand CLelia An excellent new Romance Parthanissa That most Fam'd Romance Dr. Greys Compleat Horseman and expert Farrier Two Sermons Preach'd at the Cathedral Church in Norwich By B. Rively Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumphatus with the Additions of Dr. More and Dr. Horneck Mr. Glanvil's Lux Orientalis Or the Opinion of the Eastern Sages concerning the Pre-existence of Souls Bishop Rust of Truth and Annotations on both Dr. Horneck's Great Law of Consideration Papismus Regiae potestatis Eversor Paul Festeau's French Grammar Maugers Letters in French and English The Mirror of Fortune The French Rogue Cambridge Jests or Witty Alarms for melancholy Spirits Kerhuel Idea Eloquentiae The Situation of Paradise