Noble to learâ— to wait for thy Kingdom cause them to imâ—ploy their Wealth and Power in Piety for Religioâ— and Charity for the Poor let them not loosâ— their Courage in thee O King of Kings for any diffiâ—culties they meet with in their way but increase theiâ— Faith and support their Hope that they may go oâ— cheerfully in their Duty firmly trusting in thee withâ—out being removed from the Hope of a Blessed acceâ—â—tance and a sure Reward O make them diligent 〈◊〉 all their indeavours by removing all lets and hinderances of Piety cause them Religiously to trust in thy never failling Goodness which will rather work a Miracle which thy Power can do Then forsake or slight thy Servants which thy Goodness cannot let the firm assurance of this support them in every Centre of their Lives that they may always dedicate themselves to thy Service striving to be beneficial to the Poor that so at â—ength both Poor and Rich may meet together in the Kingdom of Glory to Praise the Eternal King for ever and ever Amen A Charitable Prayer for the Conversion of all Hereticks O Thou all-knowing Being have Mercy upon the Church of Rome bless her with the choicest and â—he richest of thy Blessings power on her a double Portion of thy Spirit illuminate her with thy Truth â—urge out of her all Errors Heresie and Superstition â—nd whatsoever is contrary to Truth make her such â—s she once was a Pure Spotless and Holy Church â—â—ee her from all those Abominations which now she 〈◊〉 involved in illuminate her once again with the â—right Beams of thy pure Truth that she may see â—er Errors and forsake them and cleave only to thee 〈◊〉 God that she may become such as thou canst not â—huse but love and be delighted with take from her â—hatsoever displeaseth thee make her Pure Spotless â—nd Innocent full of Charity and good Fruits free â—er from all those Superstitions and Corruptions she â—ave of late imbrac'd With her be merciful to all â—ther Churches which differ from the Ancient Truth â—ake us all one Sheepfold under one Shepherd Christ â—â—sus that we may all give thee Honor and Praise is most justly due compleat that Promise of giving thy Son the Heathen for his Heritage and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possessions Bless the King 's Most Excellent Majesty JAMES by thy Grace of Great Brittain and Ireland Supream Governor bind up his Soul in the Bundle of Life give him a long and prosperous Reign with abundance of Peace and Plenty and when at length it shall please thee to gather him to his Fathers Crown him with Immortal Glory And with him bless his Queen with Queen Dowager their Royal Highnesses William and Mary the Prince and Princeses of Orange and the Princess Anne of Denmark make them Instruments of much Good to the Church of England and these Nations and give them a Crown of Immortal Glory in thy Heavenly Kingdom Bless all the Nobility the Judges and the Gentry with the whole Commonalty of these Nations give them all True Faith and Fear to thee their God Loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign and Brotherly Love and Charity one towards another and Bless with the choicest of thy Blessings the Clergy of this Nation the Most Reverend the Arch-Bishops and the Right Reverend the Bishops with all Priests and Deacons Grant we beseech thee that thy Grace may illustriously appear in them that by the Holiness of their Lives and the Soundness of their Doctrine they may bring many Souls to the Obedience of our Most Holy Faith and because no Man's Greatness or Wisdom can secure him from the Grave We beg thee bless all Schools and Nurseries of Piety and Learning especially the two Universities of our Land that from thence may proceed Men able and willing to tell Judah of her Sins and Israel of her Transgressions and be mindful oâ— those who suffer Affliction with Joseph comfort all those who in this transitory Life are in Trouble Sorrow Need Sickness or any other Calamity supporâ— them under and give them a happy Issue out of alâ— their Troubles bind up their Souls Wounds and fiâ—â— their Spirits with Joy and Gladness be with all those that are going through the Valley of the Shadow of Death let thy Holy Angels conduct them safe to thy Eternal Kingdom let the Blood of Jesus bespeak their Peace with thee appoint those blessed Spirits to bring their Souls safe into Bliss and Glory make us all we pray thee mindful of our Departure that from thenceforth we may be for ever happy Mean time make us all truly thankful to thee for all Spiritual and Temporal Mercy to us for the blessed Use of thy Word and Sacraments for Food and Nourishment and for all the Blessings we daily injoy Health Peace and Liberty for all the Conveniencies of this Life and for the Means and Hopes of a better O impress in our Minds the lovely Idea of thy Majesty that we may seek to worship and adore thee according to thy excellent Greatness who art infinitely worthy of all Praise Honour and Glory O inlarge our Souls to pay thee such Praises as may be in some degree worthy of thee or at least such as thou wilt be graciously pleased to accept These Mercies we beg of thee for Jesus Christ's sake To whom with thee O Father and the Eternal Spirit be all Honour Glory Power and Praise Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for ever Hallelujah O Lord I beseech thee to magnify thy Power in my Preservation that my feeble Knees fains not preserve me from all unconstancy and deceitfulness of Heart that I may be presented to thee pure and unblamable Be not wroth with us very sore neither remember our Iniquities for ever but cause thy Face to shine upon thy Sanctuary which is in danger of being desolate Give Ease to those that are in Pain Supplies to all that are in Want. Give presumptious Sinners a deep Sense of their Sins and a true Sight of thy Mercies to all that are in despair that they may â—ot cast away their Confidence in thee nor place it any where but in thee Abhor them not nor cast them away in displeasure but wean all our hearts from the love of this World and dispose of us as thy all-wise Counsel have determined but câ—use us to set our Affections above where thou O King of Glory seteth at the Right Hand of thy Father to interceed for us that all our Weaknesses may be pitied our Sins pardoned our Graces strengthened and our Souls eternally saved In all our Pains of Body and Agonies of Spirit give us thy refreshing Comforts endew us with Patience and Courage Fortitude and a full measure of Faith to bear to undergo and to overcome Look with Compassion upon all poor Creatures that draw near the approaches of Death open the Gates of thy everlasting Mercy to them and receive them to thy Favour cause Death to be to them a Joyful Gate of Glory and an Entrance into everlasting Bliss for thine own bowels and compassion sake Amen A Prayer for a Member of the Church of England O Lord take not off thy afflicting hand till I am reformed and my Sins consumed suffer me never to receive the least check against nor disaffection to the True Religion Established in the Church of England Let me return an humble denial to all that shall propose such an unreasonable Question to me but if my denial will not suffice in this case give me courage rather to part from my Life than to forsake my Faith and if my case be so happy give me Grace with chearfulness to pray for my Persecutors though dying by their Cruelty that I may deeply impress constancy and true courage in the hearts of all my Spectators that we all may sacrifice our Wills to God before our Bodies and both whenever it shall please him to require them at our hands assist us in the doing this by the powerful Operations of thy Divine Grace which we beseech thee always plentifully to supply us with for thy Mercy sake Amen O Lord have Mercy upon our Parents let thâ— Souls be bound up in the bundle of Life grant them Grace to live a quiet and peaceable just and honest Life here that when they come tâ— die they may live with thee and thy Christ in thâ— Heavenly Kingdom Look not upon their Merit but pardon their Offences for thy Bowels anâ— Compassions sake to whom be all Honour and Glorâ— World without end Amen A Prayer at receiving the Holy Sacrament O Lord and Heavenly Father we thy humble Seâ—â—vants beseech thy Fatherly Goodness to looâ— down from Heaven thy Holy Habitation thâ— Throne of thy Glory with an Eye of Pitty and Compassion upon us thy Servants let not our Sins hindeâ— our Prayers from ascending up unto thee or prevenâ— thy Mercies coming down upon us but come we pray thee and Sanctifie these Souls and Bodies oâ— ours and make them fit Habitations for thy Holy Spirit to dwell in and come Sanctifie these thy Creatures to the end for which we receive them that the receiving the Blessed Sacrament may be unto us for the Conformation of our Faith for the Strengthning our Hope and for the Pardoning of all our Sins and for the increase of all thy Graces in us that the Palâ—ate of our Souls may be so changed thereby that we may relish nothing besides thee but Hunger and Thirst after this Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation till we change this place of Misery to enjoy thy Presence in thy Heavenly Kingdom for ever and ever Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 1. line 6. for whose read what p. 7. l. 21. r. the Judge of p. 24. l. 2. r. nor repine p. 70. l. 29. 〈◊〉 exclude
Love The Peace of Sinners how much move Sue and thirst intreat lament and grieve For all the Crimes in which they live And wait and seek and call again And long to save them from their Pain My Memory 's like a searce of Lawn Alas It keeps things gross and lets the purer pass Which makes me loath my self so vile O base repute 〈◊〉 better starve then eat such empty fruit Yet dear Lord let me ne're Confounded be Since all my Hope is plac'd in thee True Joys alone contentment do inspire Iâ—rich content and make our Courage higher The true fear of God desire and love Must in the height of all their rapture move For content alone 's a dead and silent Stone The real lite of Bliss is Glory reigning on a Throâ—e O let me in a lively manner see Dear Jesus Eternal Joys in thee Inable me to Praiâ—e thy Majesty with all my might Whose Grace and Favour is Sweet yea Infinite O let me Love thee since thy Divine care Hast promised me a share in thy Kingdom fair 'A Sea that 's bounded in a Finite Shore ' Is better far because it is no more ' Should Waters endlesly exceed the Skies They 'd drown the World and all what e'er we prize ' Had the bright Sun been Infinite the Flame ' Had burnt the World and quite consum'd the same ' That Flame would yield no splendor to the Sight ' 'T would be but Darkness tho 't were Infinite ' One Star made Infinite would all exclude ' An Earth made Infinite could ne'er be view'd ' But all being bounded for each others sake ' He bounding all did all most useful make ' And which is best in profit and delight ' Tho not in bulk he made all Infinite ' He in his Wisdom did their use extend ' By all to all the World from end to end ' In all things all things Service do to all ' And thus a Sand is endless tho but small ' And every thing is truly Infinite ' In its relation deep and exquisite ' O Lord be thou within me to strengthen me ' Without me to keep me ' About me to protect me ' Beneath me to uphold me ' Before me to direct me ' Behind me to reduce me ' Round about me to defend me O Lord I beseech thee give me a longing Affection after the Pleasures of thy Holy Spirit because they are noble and will advance my Soul to Eternal Happiness make me often Contemplate the Joys of Heaven the hopes of which is the Joy and Comfort of my Soul. A short Discourse of the Mortality of the BODY and Immortality and Excellency of the SOUL Isaiah 26. 19. Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise Awake and Sing ye that dwell in Dust For thy dew is as the dew of Herbs and the Earth shall cast out the dead Glory be to God on high and on Earth Peace Good will towards Men. Hallelujah 1. FIRST and above all let us consider how short and uncertain our lives are which are subject to a Thousand Frailties and Casualties and to Death every moment insomuch that our whole life is but short and troublesome and as a Wind that passeth away and cometh â—ot again which is evidently declared by the various â—nstances of the Mortality of Frail and Mortal Man That our very sleeping and waking is but a kind of living and dying nay Morning and Evening is but 〈◊〉 a Embâ—em of the representation of Death and the â—esurrection For God hath given every Man but a short time to be upon Earth so that upon the well â—encâ—ing it our well being in Eternity depends Whereâ—ore Divines say that every Hour or our Life after â—e are capable of receiving Laws and knowledge â—f Good and Evil we must give an Account how â—e spend our Time to the Judge of Men and Angels Therefore we must remember we have a great Work to do many Enemies to Conquer many Evils to preâ—ent many Dangers to go through many Necessities â—o serve much Good to do many Friends to support many Poor to relief besides the Needs of Nature and Relation our Private and Publick Cares so that God hath given every Man Work enough to do that there is no room for Idleness and yet there is room for Devotion Wherefore he spends his Time and Wealth well that imploys it in the Service of God by setting a part a great Portion of it for Religion and the Necessity of Mens Souls by filling up all the spaces of his Time with Devotion and by taking from Sleep to imploy in this Exercise Secondly Let him consider that hath but little â—leasure that he ought to set a part some solemn Time for the Venerable Worship of God Thrice in the Year at least tho he buy it at the rate of any Labour and Honest Art for the quiting of Worldly Business let him attend wholly to Fasting and Prayer in the dressing up of his Soul by Confession Meditation and deep Humiliation that he may make up his Accounts renew his Vows and improve his Time to the Glory of God and his own Souls good Seeing that we know not the Day of our Death we ought with all Care and Diligence to prepare for it that if it be our Lot to die Young we may also die Innocent before the Sweetness of our Souls are defloured that we may attain this favour of God that our Souls have suffered a less Imprisonment by being speedily freed form the load of the Body For at Death our Souls are equal to the Angels and Heirs of Eternity For it is observed by some that after the time that a Child is Conceived he never ceaseth to be to all Eternity so that if he dies Young or Old hâ— hath still an Immortal Soul and laid down his Bodâ— only for a time as that which was the Instrumenâ— of his Trouble and Sorrow for he will certainly havâ— a more noble Being after Death than he hath here Seeing these things are so let us endeavour to stamp Religion on our Souls that God may deliver us from Unrighteous dealings may we therefore always havâ— an Ear open to hear the just Complaints of the Poor and a Heart full of pitty to support them for the Soul must have the Prehemency over the Body because it is more Noble and infinitly more to be valu'd than the Body for the Body is to turn to Dust within a little time but in the mean while it is nourished by sleep which refreshes it and revives the Spirit Wherefore it is said of sleep it 's a kind of Death and whatsoever we take from sleep we add to Life Thirdly Wherefore be saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Ephes 5. 14. Arise thou sleepy Soul call upon thy God Jonah 1. 6. suffer it not to be drowsy or sleeppy when it stands upon the briâ—ks of Eternity
Garland or a Jewel to a â—agnificent Benefactor Therefore we had need to be â—ry choice in the mixture of our Flowers and cuâ—â—ous in the enammel of so rare a Present that it may â—ove to us a Royal Diadem to adorn our Souls for 〈◊〉 Therefore to let any dirt or blemish be in it â—ould be inconsistent to our Felicity Therefore â—ight and clear apprehensions Divine and Ardent â—ffections are highly necessary to this Compleatment â—eing upon the sincerity of the affections and intenons depends the Honour of the Work it concerns every one therefore to cleans his Heart from all Impurity and Insincerity that his whole Man may be an acceptable Present to God that his infinite Immensity may graciously accept him and all his Works for his Wisdom never rejected the sincere but endews them with inward and outward Ornaments such as an infinite clesiâ—e and delight in Goodness enabling them always to Love his Eternal Majesty with an infinite Love and Deiight greatly Thirsting to be fully satisfied with him and him only for the Soul is to Noble a thing to be satisfied with any thing less than his Transcendent Majesty whose Goodness extends to all even to the Unthankful But he is most the Friend of those who delight most in him for infinite Love and eternal Blessedness are near ally'd for all Delight springs from the satisfaction of violent desires for which cause when the desire is forgotten the Delights are abated The coming of a Crownâ— and the Joy of a Kingdom is far more quick and powerful in the surprize and novelty of the Glory than the length of its continuance The greateâ— part of our Eternal Happiness consist in a greatfuâ— recognition not only of our Joys to come but oâ—â— Benefits already received True contentment is thâ— full satisfaction of a knowing Mind i. e. a long habiâ— of solid Repose after much Study and serious Consiâ—â—deration or a free and easie Mind attended with Pleaâ—sure that naturally ariseth from ones present Condâ—tion yet to be content without a true Cause is tâ—â— fit down in our Imperfections and to seek all onâ— Bliss in ones self alone and as it were to scorn aâ— other Objects which is in it self a high piece of Pride that renders a Man good for nothing but makes him Arrogant and Presumptious in the midst of his Blindâ—ness whereby he leads a living Death by shuting uâ— his Soul in a Grave in that it tramples under Foâ—â— the Essence of his Soul which in Truth turns his Fâ—licity to Malevolence and Misery or in other Word Disorder and Confusion Therefore Man is an unwelcome Creature to himself till he can delight in his present Condition provided his Condition be such as is pleasing in the sight of God for this must be the Condition that can make our pleasure exquisite For otherways we shall be tormented with the contriety of our desires The happiness of a contented Spirit consists not only in the fruition of its Bliss but in the Fruits and Effects it produceth in our Lives which makes every Virtuous Man truly Great within and Glorious in his retirements Magnanimity and Content are very near aly'd they spring from the same Parents but are of several Features Fortitude and Patience are Kindred too to this incomparable Virtue for these fill a Man with true Pleasure and great Treasure which makes him Magnanimous and truly Great not in his own Thoughts but in the sight of God The Magnanimous Soul is always awake the whole Globe of Earth is but a Nut-shel in comparison of his Injoyments for God alone is his Sovereign delight and Supreame complacency So that nothing is great if compared to a Magnanimous Soul but the Sovereign Lord of all Worlds But Man divided from God is a weak and inconsiderable Creature But every Soul united to God is a Transcendent and Celestial thing for God is its Life its Greatness and its Power its Blessedness and Perfection for he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 20. His Omnipresence and Eternity fills the Holy Soul and makes it able to contain all heights and depths and lenghts and breadths whatsoever In a Word it 's the desire of every such Soul to be filled with the fulness of God. Magnanimous desires are the Natural results of a Magnanimous Capacity the desire of being like God of knowing Good and Evil. But in a grosser sence this was the destruction of the Old World Not that it is Unlawful to desire to be like God but to aspire to the Perfection in a forbidden way by Disobedience and following our own Inventions by seeking to the Creatures in opposition to the great Creator A Magnanimous Soul if we respect its Capacity is an immovable Sphere of Power and Knowledge far greater than all Worlds by its Virtue and Power that it passeth through all things the Centre of the Earth and through all existencies and allsuch Creatures as these he counteth but Vanity and Trifles in comparison of his true Object the great Almighty whose Transcendent Goodness desendeth in full Showers upon all Men by his communitive Goodness which is freely extended to every Man. The Seven last WORDS our Saviour spoke upon the Cross I. FATHER forgive them for they know not what they do O Lord forgive me wherein I have forgot thy Presepts and done that which is Evil. To the good Thief II. This Day shalt thou be with me in Paridise O God say to my Soul in the Day when thou takest it from my Body This Day shall thou be with me in Heaven III. Woman behold thy Son. In Futurity let me behold the Vision of Bliss IV. Eli Eli lama sabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Forsake me not in my greatest Afflictions V. I thirst Grant that I may thirst for thee the Fountain of Living Waters VI. Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Receive my Soul when it is returning unto thee VII It is finished Finish my Course with Joy and grant O Jesus that I may be worthily qualified to receive that sweet Voice of thine Welcome to the Kingdom prepared by my Father Meditation for the Sick. THEY that Glory in their Ancestors in the Nobleness of their Birth and Blood must make their Beds in the dark and acknowledge Corruption for their Father and the Worm for their Mother and Sister they that are already Dead and crumble away to make room from us that must come after them are secluded from Men but live with Angels Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3. 19. What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death Psal 89. 48. Our Bodies shall return to the Earth from whence they were taken but our Spirit shall return to God that gave it Eccl. 12. 7. It is appointed for all Men once to die Heb. 9. 26. We must needs dye and are as Water spilt upon the Ground that cannot be gathered up
again 2 Sam. 14 41. Then let not the place of thy Death trouble thee for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Death lost her Sting in the Side of our Saviour The Day of Death is the Day of Jubilee and frees us from all these Evils God kisseth the Righteous in their Deaths and as it were sucks in those Souls which he breathed into them Deut. 34. 15. It is certain that the Soul so soon as it is separated from the Body is presented to God and receives an irrevocable Doom either of Woe or Weal Those that Honour me I will Honour saith the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 30. Blessed and happy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no Power but they shall be Precious with God and Christ and shall Reign with him The Angels which kept not their first Estate he hath reserved in everlasting Chains of Darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day Iude 6. The Joy of our Heart is ceased and the Crown is fallen from our Head Lam. 5. 15 16. In the Days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crying and Tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5. 7. The Heavens shall be opened and those everlasting Doors shall be lift up that the King of Glory may go forth with his Angels to Judge the World and return back again with his Saints when he hath Judged it In the Day of Judgment a good Conscience will stand us in more stead than a Mint of Treasure therefore with St. Ierome let us make it our business That whether we Eat or Drink or whatsoever we do we may think we hear the last Trumpet sounding in our Ears saying Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment let us therefore appeal from the Bar of Gods Justice to the Bowels of his Mercy beseeching him in that Day to deal with the Souls of his Servants not as a severe Judge but as a Merciful Jesus Amen Prayers for the Sick. O Lord look down from Heaven behold visit and relieve this thy Servant look upon him with the Eyes of Mercy give him Comfort and sure Confidence in thee defend him from the Danger of the Enemy and keep him in perpetuaâ—â— Peace and Safety through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen HEar us Almighty and most Merciful God and Saviour extend thy accustomed Goodness tâ— this thy Servant who is grieved with Sickness Sanctifie we beseech thee this thy Fatherly Correction to him that the sense of his Weakness may adâ—â— Strength to his Faith and Seriousness to his Repentance that if it shall be thy good Pleasure to restore him to his former Health he may lead thâ— residue of his Life in thy Fear and to thy Glory or give him Grace so to take this thy Heavenly visiâ—tation that after this painful Life ended he may dwell with thee in Life everlasting through Jesuâ— Christ our Lord. Amen O Father of Mercyes and God of all Consolation lay no more upon him or her therâ— thou wilt inable him to bear with Patience Courage and Contentment either asswage his Painâ— or increase his Patience bless all those means thaâ— have been or shall be used for his recovery eitheâ— shorten his Sickness or else give him Grace anâ— Strength to bear it deliver him from the bitteâ— Pangs of Eternal Death and from the Gates of Helâ— take from him the Sting of his Consciences and thâ— extremity of Sickness Anguish or Agony that 〈◊〉 withdraw his mind from thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen DEliver him from all Dangers and Distress from Pain and Punishment Bodily and Ghostly and from all the Sins and Misdeeds which by the Maâ—ice of the Devil or his own Frailty he have at any time committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in Concupiscence of the Eye Pride of Life Vanity or Superfluity he hath committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in the Fierceness of his Wroth or in the eagerness of an Angry Spirit he hath committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in Vain and Idle Words in the Looseness and Slipperiness of the Tongue he hath committed against thee That it may please thee to make him Partaker of all the Mercies and Promises in Christ Jesus That it may please the to vouchsafe his Soul the Estate of Joy Bliss and Happiness with all thy blessed Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom That it may please thee to give him Peace and a part in the blessed Resurrection of Life and Glory we commend his Soul into thy Hands beseeching thee that it may be pretious â—n thy sight O let not the Blood of Christ that was â—shed for all Men be spilt in vain to any but let it be effectual to the Salvation of every Soul for thy own Bowels and Compassion sake Amen IN the midst of Life we are in Death Of whom then may we seek for Succor but of thee O Lord Who for our Sins are most justly displeased with us yet O Lord most Holy O God most Mighty O Holy and most Merciful Father deliver us not over to the bitter Pains of Eternal Death Thou knowest Lord the Secrets of our Hearts O shut not up against us the Ears of thy Mercy but spare us O Lord most Holy O Saviour most mighty O Immortal and mosâ— Merciful Redeemour Thou most Worthy Judge Eternal suffer us not in our last Hour for any Pains of Death to fall from thee though he hath Sinned yet he seeketh thee and thou Lord never failest them that seek thee Let not the Guiltiness of a Sinneâ— more prevail to condemn than the Gracious Goodness of a most Merciful Father to Aquit and to Pardon O let not the Unrighteousness of Man make thâ— Goodness of God of none effect O Lord no not so remember not the Unkindnesess of this thy Child so as thereby thou forgottest the Compassion and Kindness of a Father Do not so think on our Sins that thou thereby forget thine own Nature and Property which is always to have Mercy and Forgive Do not so remember our Sins that thou thereby remember not thy own Name which is Jesus a most Loving and Kind Saviour Lord is thy Life in our Life hath not sufficiently appeared yet let not thy Death lose the full Power and Effecacy thereof Suffer not O Lord in both so great a price to perish lose not that O Lord which thou hast redeemed since thou comest to redeem that which was lost that which was so dear to thee to redeem suffer not to be lost as a thing of no Value OH Most Merciful and Blessed Saviour have Mercy upon the Soul of this thy Servant remember not his Ignorance nor the Sins of his Youth but according to thy great Mercies remember him in the Mercies
and Glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers let the Everlasting Gates be opened and receive his Soul let the Angels who Rejoyce at the Conversion of a Sinner Triumph â—nd be Exalted in his Deliverance and Salvation make him partaker of the Benefits of thy Holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Assension and of all the Prayers of the Church of the Joy of the Elect and all the Fruits of the Blessed Communion of Saints and daily add to the number of thy beatified Servants such as shall be saved that thy coming may be hastned and the expectation of the Saints may be fulfiled and the Glory of thee our Lord Jesus be advanced all the whole Church Singing Praises to the Honour of thy Holy Name who Livest and Reignest ever one God World without end Amen OH Most Merciful Jesu who didst die to redeem us from Death and Damnation have Mercy upon this thy Servant whom thy Hand has visited with Sickness of thy Goodness be pleased to forgive him all his Sins and Seal his hopes of Glory with the refreshments of thy Holy Spirit Lord give him Strength and Confidence in thee asswage his Pain repel the assaults of his Gostly Enemies by thy Mercies and a Guard of Holy Angels preserve him in the Unity of the Church keep his Senses intire his Understanding right give him a great measure of Contrition true Faith a well grounded Hope and abundance of Charity give him a quiet and a joyful departure let thy Ministring Spirits conveigh his Soul to the Mansions of Peace and Rest there with certainty to expect a joyful Resurrection to the fulness of Joy at thy right Hand where there is pleasure for evermore Amen A Prayer for a Penitent O Thou who still remainest the same Richfulness in thy self and the same bright Glory to all the Blessed have Mercy upon me and all Mankind in the 〈◊〉 and full Pardon and forgiveness of all our Sins that ever we have committed from our Infancy to this present Moment and indue us with thy preventing and assisting Grace that we never fall into those Sins of the which we have Repented but fill us with thy Holy Spirit that we may increase in all Goodness in the Spirit of Might of Wisdom and Counsel Knowledge Piety and thy Holy Fear that we may do all such good Works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in by the assisting Power and Might of thy Holy Strength which we beseech thee constantly to afford us to our last Breath that when we shall breathe out our Souls they may be received instantly to Glory And this we begg for thy sake who didst begin to Bleed and Suffer for our Sin even thee O Blessed Jesus who tookest that Heavenly Name thy Blessed purpose to Proclaim Oh! may we bow our Heartâ— and Knee bright King of Names to Glorious thee who thus beginest our Bliss thus carriedest on our Happiness to thee all Praise be paid O Great Misterious Three for ever Live and ever be Obeyed Beloved Adored by Men and Angels all abroad Hallelujah O Lord make us eminent Examples of Perfect Christianity and kindle in our Hearts Zealous Emulations of thy Grace that here immitating thy Life O Christ we may be constant in the Truth to our last Breath that in our Mouths there may not at any time be found a lie that we may be worthy to be presented without spot before thy Throne O God and thou maiest exalt us to thy Kingdom and there admit us to tast of thosâ— Glorious Joys which incurcel thy Blessed Thronâ— above to which we are Intituled by the Suffering oâ— Christ our Lord. Oh give us true Repentance that wâ— may not fail of attaining of them though I have noâ— been strong enough to be perfectly Innocent Yet makâ— me Humble enough to be truly Penitent make mâ— Heartily sorry that ever I have done amiss and never again dare to do that for which I am sorry but perpetually Watch and Change my Thoughts to more diligent and concerning Cares how to redeem my mispent Time with Sighs and Tears and Prayers and prepare our Understanding to assent to thy Truths and our Wills to follow thy Divine Inspirations that thou O God maiest fill our Memories with innumerable Mercies and our whole Souls with the Glory of his adorable Atributes that thy Blessed Spirit may come and breathe thy spacious Odor into our Hearts in these dull Regions here beneath to fill our Souls with thy sweet Grace and Inspire us to give all possible Glory to that secret Three One ever Living Sovereign Lord as at the first still may be Beloved Praised Feared and Adored Hallelujah O Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding and shew us thy clear and supernatural Light even 〈◊〉 thou didst to the Apostles together with the whole Army of Martyrs that we may confidently â—ffirm to others what we know so Infallibily cerâ—ain our selves And be pleased to infuse into all â—â—ens Hearts the fulness of thine own Divine Charity that every one may instruct his Family and with Courage and Patience overcome their Oppressors that being thus Illuminated with a pure and clear â—â—ight and inflamed with the ferver of Grace â—hey may mightily shew forth thy Glory and Conâ—ert many Souls to thee that thy Grace may run â—nd be Glorious over all the World and thy Holy â—pirit be aimable in the Hearts of every Creature â—hat all dulness may be removed from them and they â—nay with swift Glances understand the sweet Will 〈◊〉 their Divine Master that they may Daily more and â—ore increase in Virtue and be inebriated with thy â—eavenly Wine and filled with an Heroick Spirit â—â—at may keep alive in their Hearts the Primitive Grace Grant this O God who art still the same and with an equal Spirit Governs the World replenish us all we beseech thee with the Holy Ghost which warms without scorching and shines without dimâ—ess and inlightens without consuming Kindle in every one of our Hearts this Holy Spirit of Meekness Peace and Unity that all the World may know that we belong to thee That exercising those Virtues of Meekness Long Suffering Patience Contentedness and Charity thou maiest difuse thy Holy Joy into our Breast that may fill our Hearts with Strength and undaunted Courage that may duly qualify us to ascend to those satisfing Joys above where all our Faculties shall be exercised in Adoring and Worshiping thee O Lord our God who wilt fill our Souls full of Joy and Ravish our Hearts with overflowing Pleasures and make us ever give Glory to Father Son and Holy Ghost the undivided Three One equal Glory one same Praise from henceforth and for ever be Hallelujah A Prayer for the Rich and Noble O Lord I beseech thee make the Great and Honourable become Good and Just O suffer them never to consent nor combine with the Counsel of the Wicked but teach the Rich and
a vail I mention this not to divert any from aspiring to the highest degrees of Perfection but to reprove that preposterous course many ta 〈…〉 est weight upon those things 〈…〉 least and have more Zeal for 〈…〉 then for express downright Comm 〈…〉 the one to commute for the contemp 〈…〉 For some Men are apt to scruple small thi 〈…〉 not startle at Injustice or Oppression which 〈…〉 to be rectified that Men may have an equa 〈…〉 to all the Commands of God not letting any 〈…〉 slip their Observation For he that breaks the 〈…〉 command is guilty of all not but that he that brea 〈◊〉 them all is guilty of more severe Punishments then he that breaks but one But the meaning is he that breaks one shall not go Unpunished being deeply guilty of Disobedience God having required an equal regard to all his Precepts and who so gives him not their whole Heart offers to him but a lame and unacceptable Sacrifice for any thing less than the full power of our Wills cannot please God who is of purer Eyes than to behold any the least Evil with approbation for his Wisdom being so pure a Majesty cannot be pleased with any thing that is impure of Heart Necessary is it therefore to give him the full of our Mind Will and Soul or as our Catechism expresses it To serve him with all our strength in every Centure of our Lives For the more we serve him the more and better shall we be regarded honoured and rewarded by him the searcher of all Hearts Of the excellent Qualification of the Soul from its high Extraction ALthough Men do not know the Soul neither can they see it because it is like the Eyes of our Bodies it sees every thing but it self but it self 〈…〉 assuredly know that by it we 〈…〉 inabled to do actions of Piety 〈…〉 Consciences dictates to us what is 〈…〉 done for that is a good and faith 〈…〉 that whensoever we do amiss we do 〈…〉 our Souls and stupifie our Consciences 〈…〉 Evil or cause others so to do But to a 〈…〉 let us begg of God to give us a chast Spi 〈…〉 is the Crown of faithful Souls Wherefore 〈…〉 said of Virginity that it is the Life of Angels 〈…〉 animal of the Soul the advantage of Religion which is a mutual a strong and voluntary inclination to the Worship of God for it is empty of Cares and ought to be full of Prayers which are fed with Fastings it is very advatagious to Devotion and Retirement for whosoever is careful of his Time and Behaviour shall not be robbed of his reward for his good intentions Secondly Then fail not of being eminent in your Generations for Virtue and Piety by being burning and shining Lights unmingled with any manner of Evil that you may follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth But above all be Humble for that is the Ornament of our Holy Religion and it makes you to differ from the Wisdom of the World. For our Learning is then best when it teaches us Humility for to be proud of our Learning is the greatest Ignorance in the World for our Learning is so long in getting and so very imperfect that the Learnedest person in the World knows not the Thousandth part of that which he is Ignorant of so that he cannot attain to any Maturity of Knowledge proportionable to that of Angels No Man therefore has any cause to boast of his excellency for what thou hast thou hast received from God and art the more Obliged to return him Thanks for it and thou art bound to improve the Grace that he hath given thee to his Glory Consider then that thou wer't nothing before thou as Born and what wer 't thou in the first Regions of â—y dwellings before thy Birth but uncleaness What â—â—ast thou for many Years after but Weakness and â—â—ailty As the Psalms expresses It even as the smoak â—at vanisheth away Ps 102. 3. A great debtor then â—â—t thou to God to thy Parents to the Earth and all â—â—e Creatures For all Men that have ever been were â—â—ressed with Hunger and the Frailties of human Naâ—re so that the best and wisest Persons are subject â—o the Necessity of Nature wherefore there is great â—â—ause of Humility for the Spirit of Man is light and â—oublesome his Body is bruitish and sickly he is conâ—ant in his Folly and Errour inconstant in his Manâ—er and Good Purposes his Labours are vain intriâ—ate and endless his Fortune is changeable but selâ—om pleasing his Wisdom comes not till he be ready 〈◊〉 die or at least till he have spent great part of his â—â—me in wast His death is certain always ready at â—he Door but never far off upon these or the like Meâ—â—itations If we dwell on them or frequently retire 〈◊〉 consider them we shall see nothing more reasonable â—an to be Humble and nothing more foolish than to â—e Proud Humility consists not in railing against our â—â—lves or wearing mean Cloaths or going softly or â—â—bmissively but in a hearty and real mean Opinion â—f our selves Thirdly Believe thy self then an unworthy Person 〈◊〉 heartily as thou believest thy self to be Hungry Poor 〈◊〉 Sick when thou art so love to be concealed and 〈◊〉 esteemed off Be not troubled when thou art â—ighed and undervalued and when thou hast done â—ny thing worthy of praise return it to God who is â—â—e Giver of the Gift and Blesser of the Action and â—â—ive him thanks for making thee the Instrument of is Glory Secure a good Name to thy self by being â—irtuous Pious and Humble and when People have â—n occasion to speak well of thee take no content in â—raise when it is offered thee but let thy rejoycing be in Gods Gift but let it be alay'd with Fear lest thâ— Good bring thee to Evil. Pray often for Gods Gracâ— with Humility of gesture and passion of desire thaâ— God may be Glorified by thy Example of Humility which may be as well in a low condition as in a ricâ— Begg God 〈◊〉 irriâ—h thy Soul with all Graces anâ— when thou had attained them give God thanks 〈◊〉 them Pâ—ide hinders the acceptance of our Prayerâ— Humility pierceth the Clouds and will not give oveâ— till God accepts neither will it depart till the mosâ— high regards For he resisteth the Proud but 〈◊〉 Grace to the Hâ—mble St. Jam. 4 6. Then begg Gâ—acâ— and Pardon that it may be a remedy and relief aâ—gainst Misery and Oppression and be content in 〈◊〉 conditions begg Tranquility of Spirit Patience iâ— Affliction that we may gain Love abroad and Peacâ— at home Coâ—sider the blessed Sâ—â—iour of the World 〈◊〉 who left the 〈◊〉 of his Father the Lord of Glory 〈◊〉 who took upon him the liâ—e of Labour and came tâ— a State of Poverty to a Death of Malâ—fâ—ctouâ—s to thâ— Grave of Death and the intolerable Calamitiâ—s which we deserved Therefore it 's but reasonable that wâ— should be as Humble in the
midâ—â— of our greatest Imâ—perfections and 〈◊〉 â—ins as 〈◊〉 was in the 〈◊〉 and fulnesâ— of the Spiâ—it gâ—eat Wisdom perfect Life and most admirable Virtue Wherefore be contâ—â—teâ— with all Thingâ— that shall happen â—â—to you and seekâ— after the Spirit of Peace which will make you shinâ— like Angels or the 〈◊〉 above and in so doing you will not fear Death 〈◊〉 â—â—ther fear a dishonest Action and think Im patience far worse than any Disease Be ready to do Goâ—d to the destrâ—yers of your Famâ—â— for the reâ—ards of 〈◊〉 doing is very certain and do testifie that you have a most noâ—le Soul within you which is a Particle of the Divine Râ—ys Forthly Dress up your Souls that they may be fit to appear before the Majesty of Heaven for you can die but once and if you do not die well you will Perish undoubtely for ever And yet there is no Wise or Good Man to Perish for God have ordained an expedient help for all Men that they should not Perish for he gives us Pardon for our past Offences and Grace to prevent us for the future even the due disposition of his Holy Spirit that we may delight in that which his Majesty delights in that is true Virtue and Wâ—sdom which will cause us to injoy the Blessings that God sends us and to bear patiently with Meekness our Calamities which our own Sins have brought upon us may we thâ—refore consider this Day is only ours for we are dead to yesterday and we are not Born to too morrow these considerations will make us to bear Poverty with Nobleness Patience and Meekâ—ess and not blame the Providence of God for placing us in a low Fâ—rtune but in all Troubles and sad Accidents let us take Sanctuary in Religion and by Innocency cast Anchor for our Souls to keep them from Shipwrack though they be not kept from Storms By these means we may fill our Cup full of pure and unmingled Joys for no Wise Mâ—n did ever describe Fâ—licity without Virtue no Good Mâ—n did ever think Virtue to depend upon the Variâ—ty of good or bad Fortune 't is no Evil to be Poor but to be Virtuous and Impatient therefore be Patient under Afflâ—ctions and begg God to give thee a happy deliâ—erence out of them and be content with Poverty for that adds Lustre to thy Person and may make thy Virtue more excellent if thou improve it wisely for there is but 〈◊〉 things that we feel is so bad as that we fear Many eminent Scholars have been eminently Poor some by choice and more by chance and the invincible decrees of Providence wherefore the Rich may support the Poor by his Wealth and perhaps the Poor may instruct the Rich in Learning and Experience for it may be observed no Man had all Excellency and Felicity in this one Person or Power Therefore there is but few Wise and Good Men that would change Conditions entirely with any Man in the World for though some there are that would desire the Wealth of one Man added to himself or the Power of another and the Learning of a third yet still he would receive these in his own Person because he loves that best and therefore esteems that most tho we desire the Wealthy to Inrich us the Powerful to Protect us and the Witty to Delight us Let us consider that in the Fortune of a Prince there is not the course Robes of Beggary but there is infinite Cares Fears and Dangers therefore the State of Affliction is a School of Virtue wherein there is the Exercise of Wisdom the Tryal of Patience and the wining a Crown for this may be said to be the Gate of Glory Fifthly Therefore we may not expect to be better treated than the Apostles and Saints nay than the Son of the Eternal God the Heir of both the Worlds Affliction is oftentime the occasions of Temporal advantages as well as Spiritual and if we imploy our Grace and Reason well it will deliver us from extream Necessitys and if you will not otherwise be Cured If you improve your time wâ—ll God will deliver you in his due time if it be for his Glory and your Good for his Power can Sanctifie Poverty to you and make it become as necessary as Riches for tho Poverty makes a Man dispised and contemptable and exposed to a Thousand Insolencies of evil Persons and leaves tâ—em defenceless yet it may make them look up to God and trust more firmly in him the Rock of their Strength who will most certainly deliver them from the cruelty of all Wicked Persons Wherefore it is said of Poverty that it is the Sister of a good Mind the Parent of sober Councel the Nurse of all Virtue and this is really true a great Estate has great Croses and a mean Fortune has small ones for Riches often bread a Disease in the Souls of them that long after them and admire them with too much egarness when they have them for Riches are great dangers to the Sâ—ul not only of them that covet them but alâ—â— to most that have them wherefore let us trust in Châ—ist â—ho have promised that we should have sufficient for this Life who have said that his Father takes care for us and we are sure that he knows all his Fathers Counsels and Kindnesses towards us for if 〈◊〉 Wisdom gives but a very little he will make it 〈◊〉 a great way for if he sends thee but course Diet he wiâ—l 〈◊〉 it and make it Healthful to thee and can cure aâ—l the Anguish of thy Poverty by giving thee 〈◊〉 and the Grace of Contentment for the Grace 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 you of Providence and yet the Grace of God feeds and supports the Spirit even in the want 〈◊〉 Providence And if a thin Table be apt to infeeble the Body or Spirit of one used to feed better yet the cheerfulness of the Spirit that is â—â—essed with dew from above will make a thin a Table become a delicacy If the Mâ—n be but as well Taught as he is Feed by Learning the Duty when he receives the Reward Poverty is therefore in some sense eligible and to be preferred before Riches but in all senses it is very tolerable Sixthly But to return to a further inquiry into the Excellency of the Soul let us consider the various speculations that the Soul of Man is capable of entertaining her self withal and we shall see that there is none of greater moment or closer concernment to her than this of her own Immortality and independance on this Terestial Body for hereby not only the intricacies and perplexities of Providences are made more easie and smooth to her and she becomes able by unraveling this clue from end to end to pass and repass safe through this Labyrinth wherein many both anxious and careless Spirits have lost themselves But also which toucheth her own Interest more particularly being once raised to the Knowledge and Beâ—lief of Good and Evil