THE Ladies Preparation To the Monthly SACRAMENT Consissing of Prayers Meditations and Ejaculations before at and after Receiving the Lords Supper After the Warning is given in the Church for the Celebration of the Holy Communion COMPOSED For the Private Use of a Devout Lady And at the Request of Friends made Publick LONDON Printed by W. B. for Simon Neale in the Long-Walk near Little Brittain 1691. Licensed February 10th 1691. THE WARNING On the Sunday Before the COMMUNION DEARLY Beloved on Sunday I and purpose through Gods Assistance to Administer to all such as shall be Religiously and Devoutly disposed the most Comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ to be by them received in Remembrance of his Meritorious Cross and Passion whereby alone we obtain Remission of our Sins and are made partakers of the Kingdom of Heaven c. A Soliloquy on the Warning BLESSED for ever be thy Name O Lord who pittying our Ignorance hast Revealed to us this Heavenly Mystery of thy pretious Body and Blood and foreseeing our weakness hast built our Faith on so firm a Certainty Justly O my God! Dost thou require our absolute assent to thy word since thou graciously providest such grounds to assure us Thy self with thine own blest Mouth hast taught it thy Apostles with their dearest Blod have confirmed it and thy Churches in all Ages have faithfully delivered it II. HOW Beautiful O Lord are the Feet of thy Holy Messengers Who brings us Peace and Reconcilement with thee who teaches us the way to Eternal happiness and by their pious Offices help us to go thither if they teach us Spiritual things 't is just we should give them Temporal make us O Lord entertain them as Workmen sent by thee with respect to their Persons and Obedience to their words and according to our power with a free supply of their necessities III. THUS does our gracious Lord send forth his Ministring Spirits to invite us to a Heavenly Banquet Their spiritual means Conveys our Prayers up to him and brings his Blessings down to us in all our ways they direct us and bear us in their Hands lest at any time we dash our Foot against a Stone When we labour they Assist us when we repose they implore for us the Divine Protection when we are tempted they Encourage us to stand fast and when we Conquer they Crown us with their Prayers and Praises When you first awake use these Ejaculations as a Key to Open the Morning LIghten mine Eyes O Lord that I Sleep not in Death Psal 13.3 IT is high time to Awake our of our Sleep of Sin for now since we have received the Light of the Gospel our Salvation is nearer then when we first Believed THE Night is now spent and the day is approached let me therefore cast off the works of Darkness and put on the Armour of Light GIVE me Grace O Lord to walk Honestly as in the day net in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying BUT put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13.11 12 13 14. At Up-rising IN the Name of the Father who hath Created me and of the Son who hath Redeemed me and of the Holy Ghost whh hath Sanctified me be Ascribed all Glory and Power BLESSED be the Holy and Undivided Trinity now and for Evermore Amen I laid me down and Slept and rose again for the Lord hath Sustained me Then Humbly on your Knees lift up thy Heart unto God and say HOLY Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come I Worship him that liveth for Ever and cast my Self before his Throne thou art worthy O Lord my God to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast Created all things and for thy Wills-Sake they are and were Created II. INTO the Hands of thy Blessed Protection and unspeakable Mercy O Lord I this Day Commend my Soul and Body with all the Faculties Powers and Actions of them both beseeching thee to be Ever with me to direct Sanctifie and Govern me in the ways of thy Law and in the Works of thy Commandments that through thy most Mighty Protection both here and Ever I may be preserved in Body and Soul to serve thee the only true God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then use the Morning Prayer c. Which is Annexed to these Devotions Meditations for Monday Morning COME My Soul let us begin our appointed Task and dilligently mind our own Employment Let us not lose one day in Idleness nor Distract our thoughts with Repining at the advantages of others God is our absolute Lord and may do with his own as he pleases If we began our Repentance late our delay was dangerous but we ought not to Despair If we have laboured long in his Service our Wages are safe but we must not presume on our own Endeavours II. THY Holy Mysteries O Lord I believe O help my unbelief Let not any difficulties make me doubt thy Truth nor too long a doubting provoke thy Wrath Every word of thine shall be fulfiled in their Season Sometime thou Visitest thy Children with the Chastisement of a Rod sometimes thou favourest them with the Smiles of Prosperity But all at last shall Co-operate to their Good III. NO matter at all for the Favour of Men happy are they who find Grace with God They shall Conceive in their Hearts the Blessed Jesus and bring him forth in their Holy Lives and Reign with him in his Kingdom and of his Kingdom there shall be no End Here we perhaps may weep for a time and be poor and Afflicted in this troublesome World But hereafter our Lord will Plant us about the Throne of his Father and make us sit down with him in his own Kingdom if we heartily Love him and keep his Commandments IV. GIVE me O Lord thy Holy Grace to Love with Charity the Defects of others perhaps mistaken by me and rely on thee for Defence of my self most sure of Relief if I wait thy Providence for thy Mercy forsakes not the Innocent for Ever Sometimes thou sufferest thy Servants to be tryed but wilt always at last either Deliver their Patience or Crown their Perseverance The PRAYER O Most Glorious Lord God in thy Son Jesus Christ my most Merciful and Loving Father I Miserable and Wretched Sinner Dust and Ashes do here in all Humility of Soul Prostrate my self before thy Glorious Majesty Humbly acknowledging and Confessing against my own Soul that I am laden with Iniquity and by my Sins have defiled myself defiled my Habitation defiled this good Land wherein I Sojourn II. O Lord Righteousness belongeth hnto thee but unto me Confusion of Face I have Sinned against thee and done amiss and dealt very wickedly and have added to the Number of my Fore Fathers Numberless Transgressions * Here Name the Particulars notwithstanding thou hast
God yea even for the Living God when shall I come and appear before the Presence of God O send out thy Light and thy Truth and bring me unto thy Holy Hill and to thy dwelling and that I may go unto the Altar of God even unto the God of my Joy and Gladness and with my Heart will I give thanks to thee O God my God A Prayer at Home before the Sacrament OBlessed Jesu 't is thy Blessed Body that my Soul longs for and to be satisfied with thy Pretious Blood for its Purification and Nourishment Vouchsafe Holy Jesus to enter this Day into the House of thy Servant that with Holy Zacheus I may within receive from thee that joyful Benediction this day is Salvation come to thine House II. THY Body O Blessed Jesu is my Food and thy Righteousness is my Robe thou art both the Priest and Sacrifice the Master of the Feast and the Feast it self my Souls Physitian the Light of my Eyes and the Purisier of my Stains O Enter now into my Heart and cast out from thence all Impurities even all the remains of the Old Man III. AND grant I may partake of this Holy Sacrament with much Reverence Holy Relish and great Effect receiving thence the Communication of thy Holy Body and Blood for the Establishment of an unreprovable Faith of an unfained Love for the fulness of Wisdom for the healing my Soul and preservation of my Body for the taking out the Sting of temporal Death and for the Assurance of a Holy Resurrection for the Ejection of all Evil from within me and the fulfiling all thy Righteous Commandements and to procure for me a Mercy and a fair Reception at the Day of Judgment IV. O God the Bread of Heaven and Life of the World I have sinned against Heaven and in thy Sight and am not worthy to be made partaker of thy most Holy Mysteries But Vouchsafe as a Merciful God to make me worthy by thy Grace that I may not receive thy Holy Body and Pretious Blood to my Condemnation but unto the Remission of my sins and Everlasting Life Amen Intercessions O God have Mercy upon poor Mankind enlighten all that sit in Darkness and in the Shadow of Death reveal thy Son and his saving Gospel to those Asiaticks Affricans and Americans that never heard of a Crucified Jesus add the fulness of the Gentiles to the Recollection of the Jewes that there may at length be one Sheepsold under that one good and great Sheepherd Christ Jesus II. BE merciful to this Church in which I am a Member and Cause thy Face evermore to Shine upon it Bless those whom thou hast Anointed over us our Soveraign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary grant that their People may Obey them and they may Obey thee and do all things to thy Honour and Glory III. BLESS Katherine the Queen Dowager her Royal Highness the Prineess Ann of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family endue them with Heavenly Graces make them happy Instruments of thy Glory here and partakers of thy Heavenly Kingdom hereafter IV. BLESS the Pastors of thy Church the Bishops and Clergy grant that by their sincere Preaching and Assiduous Prayers and Ministries they may Glorifie thee the great lover of Souls give unto the Ministers of Justice the Spirit of Government and Zeal Courage and Prudence to the Nobility Wisdom Valour and Religious Magnanimity Succour all in Affliction help them to Right that suffer Wrong be with those that are in Prison and preserve thou those that are appointed to Die V. BLESS my Relations Here Name them Assist them in their Wants and Necessities keep them in thy Fear and Favour unto their Lives end forgive my Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and turn their Hearts Bless all those who do accompany me this day at thine Altar and for all others who meet in thy Name and Communicate in Remote Parts grant that through this Blood of Jesus we may all be Cleansed from our Sins and Purged from all our Iniquities VI. O leave us not as we have deserved to be left wrapt up in our own Confulions he thou more merciful to us than we have been unto ourselves Supply whatsoever is wanting in the Government Establish what remains Dissipate and Scatter Scandals Stop and Prevent all rising and growing Heresies make us all so far of one Heart and one Mind that we may joyntly set our selves to the rooting up of all Atheism Prophaneness Superstition Faction Heresie any thing which exalts it self against thy true and sincere Worship VII GIVE to the whole Land fair Seasons of the Year good Government Health and Plenty an excellent Religion undivided and undisturbed frequent Celebration of this thy Holy Ordinance through Christ our Lord. VIII AND now lift up your Head O ye Gate of my Soul and be ye lifted up O ye Everlasting Door of my Heart that the King of Glory may come in that he may come in at this time and take Possession of me and Dwell and Reign in me for ever Even so O Lord for the sake of the Son of thy Love in whom only I trust to be accepted and in whose Name and Words I call upon thee Our Father c. When you go forth of your Chamber or Closet I Will go into his Tabernacle and fall low on my Knees before his Foot-Stool the Lord preserve me in my going out and my coming in from this time forth and for evermore When you enter the Church which ought to be sometime before the Service begins O How Aimable are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Host I will come into thy Tabernacle and fall low on my Knees before thy Foot-Stool and will wait for thy loving kindness O God in the midst of thy Temple thy Testimonies O Lord are very sure and Holiness becometh thy House for ever When you cast your Eye on the Font and Pulpet Then recal to mind that Solemn Vow you openly took at your Initiation into the Church to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this Wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh c. and let the other put thee in mind the many good Sermons thou hast heard from thence and the few thou hast practised Being seated turn to the Psalms and Lessons Epistle and Gospel for the Day that you may have them ready if there be any leasure time before Divine Service begins fall on your Knees and say Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come fit us all for thy Service Good Lord Pardon all here that prepares their Heart to seek thee Merciful Lord Graciously accept us all that come hither to present our selves our Souls and Bodies unto thee for Jesus Christ's sake that Vouchsafed to present himself Bodily in the Temple for us in great Love and Humility Then joyn with the Prayers of the Chuch and be Attentive to the Sermon When Sermon is
most Prone and Weak there I beg of thee to exalt thy Power in preserving me Here Name thy greatest Temptation IV. O let the Sufferings of my Crucified Saviour for my sins and the Solemn Vow I have have now made against them never slip from my Memory but let the remembrance of the one make me perform the other that I may never engage with those Lust which Nailed his Hands and Feet Pierced his Side and made his Soul sorrowful to Death But now having a new resigned my self to him I may serve him in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of my Life V. LORD support my Weakness in this warfare and be thou my Strength for I am not able to struggle with the least Temptations How often have I fainted in the Encounter How many Sabbaths have I profaned and how many Sacramental Vows have I broken And yet O Lord I carry about me the same deceitful Heart to betray me to the breach of this last Duty But O thou who art for eâ—eâ— uâ—changeable eâ—due me I 〈◊〉 beseech thee with such a stedfastness of mind that I may never swerve from thy Commandments but bring forth Fruits meet for Re pentance that I may arrive to Life Eternal through the Merits and Mediation of my Crucified Lord and Saviour Amen VI. Almighty God who hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons Name I beseech thee mercifully to incline thine Ears to me that have made now my Prayers and Supplications unto thee and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked according to thy Will may effectually be obtained to the relief of my Necessity and to the setting forth thy Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen VII Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I am able to ask or think according to the Power that worketh in me unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without End Amen The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Sweet and Comfortable Felowship of his Holy and Blessed Spirit be with me and remain with me now and forever Amen Private Devotions and Divine Thoughts to be used every Day in the Week A Morning Prayer to be Used after the Ejaculations at Up Rising O Omnipetent and Everlasting God I Bless and Praise thy Holy Name for thy preservation of me this night past even to this present I beseech thee in all that I shall do this day presper thou the Work of my Hands O prosper thou my Hand-work II. Ill all that I shall think or say let the words of my Mouth and the Meditations of my Heart be such as may be ever acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer that thou maiest for ever Vouchsafe to be with me both in and Death WHEREIN for the short time of my Life here give me Grace so to behave my self as in thy Presence Fearing nothing so much as thy displeasure hating and Sorrowing for nothing so much as my sins loving and rejoycing in nothing so much as in thee and thy Glory IV. and for the time of my Death I beseech thee in thy good Providence and Mercy so to Order it that I be not found either unproxided or unwilling to depart in that kind of Death and by that means which thou shalt appoint but so to be ever affected in Faith and Love as they that long to be delivered from this Body of sin into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God V. IN this hope I rest and into thy Blessed Protection and Mercy this day I commend my Soul and Body My Relations and Friends beseeching thee so to Sanctifie and Direct us in the ways of the Laws and in the works of thy Commandements and to give thine Angels such charge over us that through thy most Protection both here and ever we may be preserved in Body and Soul to serve thee the only true God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Hymn for the Morning LOrd I do now lift up my Eyes And leave my sluggish Bed But why I wake or why I rise Comes seldom in my Head Is it to Sweat and Toil for wealth Or sport my time away That thou preserv'st me still in Health And givest me this new day No no unskilful Soul not so Be not deceiv'd with Toys Thy Lord's Commands more wisely go And Aim at higher joys They bid us wake to seek new Grace And some fresh Virtue gain They call us up to mend our pace Till we the prize attain That Glorious prize for which all Run Who wisely spend their Breath Who when this weary Life is done Are sure of rest in Death Not such a rest as here we prove Disturb'd with cares and fear But endless joy and peace and Love Vnmixt with Grief and Tears Glory to thee O bounteous Lord Who giv'st to all things breath Glory to thee Eternal Word Who sav'st us by thy Death Glory O blessed Spirit to thee Who fill'st our Souls with love Glory to all the Mystick three Who Reign one God above Amen Ejaculations for the Day At your Apparelling say BLessed Jesu that the shame of my sinful Soul may not be seen Cloath it with thy spotless Robes of Righteousness and Adorn it with all the Ornaments of all manner of Grace and Vertues Amen When you are Apparelled O most aimable Jesu the true Spoufe of my Soul give me the Wedding Garment of Divine Love and perpetual Charity Amen Washing your Hands O Blessed Lord who so loved us as to Wash our Souls in thy pretious Blood Purifie I beseech thee my Heart and my Hands from all the spots and filth of sin Amen In Washing your Mouth O Divine Wisdom which proceedest out of the Mouth of thy Heavenly Father I humbly beseech thee with thy Grace to Purge my Lips from all Wicked and Vain words that my Mouth may never open but to thy praise and the improvement of others Amen In Washing your Eyes O thou Celestial Light who Illuminates every one that comes into the World enlighten the Eyes of my Soul that in all things I may perfectly see and perform thy blessed will and Pleasure Amen Beholding your Face in the Glass Say All Flesh is Grass and the Glory of it as the Flower of the Field which may quickly sade away and be no more seen Favour is deceitful and Beauty is vain but a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Going forth of thy House or Chamber say Shew me O Lord thy ways and teach me thy Paths Direct my steps according to thy word that no Injustice Rule over me make perfect my goings in thy Paths that my steps be not moved As you Travel or Walk by the way Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way and walk in the Law of the Lord. When the Clock strikes or you see the
multiplied thy Blessings upon me in many Prerogatives III. BVT to my shame O Lord I Confess that no Creature hath been so unthankful unto thee as I have been for instead of bringing forth the Fruits of Righteousness and Holiness I have turned all thy Blessings Graces and Mercies into Wantonness so that I have been a Provocation of thine Anger and of thy Fury from the day of my Birth even until this very moment IV. And though thou hast caled me to knowledge of the Faith in thee and thou hast Revealed unto me that inestimable Treasure of thy Love unto me in Christ Jesus yet notwithstanding I hade retained only the name but nothing of the Work of a Christian but have Dishonoured thee and Blasphemed thy Name but O Lord in the midst of Justice Remember Mercy call not to Remembrance my former Transgressions but Assist me by thy Grace to a speedy Repentance before I go hence and be no more seen Amen Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons for the Day Monday Evenings Meditations EVER O Lord thou beginst thy great Design with Prayer and thy Prayer with Retirement from the Distractions of the World thou callest whom thou pleasest and they come to thee thou choosest whom thou wil'st and freely bestowest on them thy precious Gifts 't is not of him that Wills nor of him that runs but of God that Vouchsafes to have Mercy Have Mercy O Lord and chase away those unclean Spirits that too often haunt my Fancy and walk up and down my weak Memory Chace them away least as they disturb my Peace they ruin my Innocence II. GIVE me O thou Author of all my Good a lively Faith in thee that I may believe thy Truth and hope thy Promises that I may Love thy goodness and continually Bless thee for all thy Mercies who camest into the World not to Judge the World but to save it Save me O glorious Son of Justice and with thy Heavenly Beams Illuminate my Heart that bringing my Works to the Light I may Learn to hate my own Darkness and Condemning my self Escape thy Judgment III. LORD in thy Hands are the Times and Seasons which thou kindly disposest in advantage of thy Servants that thy Favours may Encourage their Virtue and their Virtue encrease thy Favours Thou rewardest the Chastity of Virgins and the Fidelity of Wives thou Crownest the Holiness of Widdows and the perseverance of all who constantly love thee IV. GIVE me O Lord thy Holy Grace that my days may pass in Innocence and my Innocence sustain me in hope give me thy Holy Grace that my hope may encrease to Confidence and my Confidence be Establish'd in Peace and then in Peace dismiss thy Servant Lead me O thou Light of the World where thou usest to walk that my Eyes may happily see thee Shew me thy Blessed self O thou Glory of Heaven that my Soul may fast Embrace thee The PRAYER I. O Eternal God I have in a great measure deserved thy wrath I have Committed presumptuous Sins with a high Hand against thy Divine Majesty I have Crucified again the Lord of Life and have Trodden under Foot the Son of God I have counted the Blood of the Covenant which Sanctifies me an Vnholy thing and have done despight unto the Spirit of Grace II. INSTEAD of making head against those Temptations and Lusts that hourly be set me by Prayer calling to thee for thy Grace to Assist me against them and by Fasting and Austere Mortification by beating down my Body that I might not Conspire with Satan and my own Corraptions that betray me unto Sin I have Pamper'd the Flesh and suflered my self to be led Captive at the Will thereof III. I have not Subdued or Mortified the Works of the Flesh I have not endeavoured to cleanse my self from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit * Here Name the Particulars I have not made a Covenant with my Eyes neither have I kept the door of my Lips but as if thou hadst sent me into the World not to serve thee but to serve my own Lusts IV. I have been abominable in all my ways yea O Lord I have Committed too great Evils I have departed from thee the Ever-living God and leaving thee the Fountain of all Blessedness and Happiness in my Heart have set up the Creature I have set my Affections not on things above but on things below the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life these have been the Gods that I have Served V. THVS have I sold my self to Commit wickedness I have made all the Members of my Body Instruments of Sin and all the faculties both of Soul and Body Weapons of Vnrighteousness to obey it in the Lusts thereof O Lord thou hast found Iniquity even in my Holy things I have been negligent in hearing of thy Word unprepared at the Receiving of thy Sacrament Indevout in my Prayer weary of their length and displeased at the return For these and all other negligences and Ignorances O Lord be Merciful to me a Sinner Amen Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons appointed for the Day Meditations for Tuesday Morning LORD make me Study how to follow thee and readily undertake any Labour to find thee not for the benefits thou sometimes givest me here but for the blessings thou wilt surely give me hereafter Strengthen my faith O Lord and graciously instruct me purifie my intention sincerely to seek thee II. LET me not so apply my mind O Lord to any trivial Observances that I begin to omit my more serious Duties let me not so attend to the inventions of Men that I grow to transgress the Commands of my God O guide me gracious Lord in thine own safe way and those solid exercises which really improve me and make my heart as well as lips draw nigh thee those blessed truths which thy self at first revealed and thy Holy Apostles hath fully confirm'd may those alone be my principal rule and every other Doctrine bow to them III. LORD how ungrateful are we compared to thy ancient Followers Thou chargest us to remember thy benefits and we forget them thou commandest us to Publish thy Mercies and we conceal them Behold O blessed Jesu I fall down at thy feet reach forth thy Hand and heal me that I may Glorifie thee the God of the Universe Too often have my Ears been Deaf to thy Voice and my Tongue Dumb to thy Praise too often have my Eyes been Blind to thy Directions and all my senses impediments to thy Service IV. We are often Wise in what imports us least and utterly ignorant of our greatest concern we can industrously argue what Weather it will be but strive not to discerne the seasons of Grace Forgive O Merciful Lord the perverseness of our nature and leave us not to our selves least we perish without bope O make us deeply Sigh in Compassion for the Sins of others and yet more deeply still in forrow for our own
with all Graces necessary for all Events with strength to resist all the Temptations of Satan to keep my self unspotted from the World to subdue my Passions my Vile and Corrupt Affections with Patience to bear Afflictions and with a contented Resolution to undergo whatsoever thy hand shall be pleased to lay upon me that whether it be in Life or in Death in both I may be thine III. I know O Lord my sins are increased above measure and my Iniquities are gone over my Head Nay they are gone up to Heaven and have pulled down thy Vengeance upon me yet how long Lord wilt thou be Angry for ever Shall thy Jealousie Burn like Fire O remember not against me the sins and offences of my Life past but let thy tender Mercy speedily prevent me lest I be brought to great misery help me O help m O God of my Salvation for the Glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sins for thy Names Sake IV. But in the midst of Judgment Remember Mercy Pardon all my crying sins Reverse thy fearful though justly deserved judgments and that which is the most dreadful of all judgments and continues thy judgments bardness of Heart contempt of thy Word and Commandment restore thy wonted though undeserved Mercies give Peace in my time O Lord and let the Gospel of Truth flourish even until thy Sons comming to Judgment and that for his sake who is the Prince of Peace and that shed his most pretious Blood to purchase our Peace V. O thou that art the Author of Peace and lover of Concord Compose I beseech thee all unhappy differences and divisions that are among us take away from all Mens Hearts the Spirit of Division and Contention the Spirit of Blood Thirstiness and Revenge the Spirit of Pride Blindness of Heart Vain Glory and Hypocrisie of Envy Hatred Malice and all Vncharitableness and give us the Spirit of Peace Vnity and Concord the Spirit of Moderation the Spirit of due Obedience and above all the Spirit of thy Fear that we may at length meet and live in the Vnity of the Spirit and in the Bond of Peace and with one Mouth Praise thee our God and with one Heart love one another Read Psal 69.88 1 Lesson Isa 53. 2 Lesson 1 Pet. 2. Saturday Mornings Meditations LORD I confess without thee my endeavours are in vain and without thy blessing my hopes can never succeed but I also know thou rewardest those who Obey thee and failest not to relieve with a generous bounty those who depend on thee O give me 1. Thy Grace to observe my part and I 'le not fear the performance of thine thou callest to thy self the Poor and Humble to Eat and Drink at thy Holy Table those who faithfully live together in Unity thou graciously invitest to thy Royal Feast prefering them all to thy friendship here that they may be partakers of thy Glory hearafter II. MY Soul if thou at any time loose the presence of thy God thou wilt besure to find him at his Holy Table there seek him with Grace and perseverance seek him with Prayers and Sighs and Tears and be sure at last thou shalt find him with joy He hides not himself that we may not find him but that we may seek him and be hereafter more fearful to loose him Despair not he again will shew himself only go on and seek him still with hope and be sure thou wilt meet him at his Heavenly Feast III. HAPPY are the Ears that hear thee speak O Blessed Jesu 〈◊〉 Happy are the Hearts that feel the Power of thy Word O thy Holy One of God! For thou Commandest with Authority all Unclean Spirits and they Obey thee rescue me O Lord from the Snares of Satans Temptations and Powerfully Chace away the Enemies which disturb my Peace that they Tear not my mind with distracting thoughts nor trouble my repose with impure fancies IV. SO sweetly efficacious is thy Grace O Lord that immediately it draws all Souls unto thy Heavenly Banquet so kindly Condescending is thy Clemency that thou presently embracest them in thy Arms of Mercy when they come unto thee thy own blest Mouth hath meekly spoke the mildest Lesson to win us to thee I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice for I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Lord I consess my sins I confess my need of thy Mercies but my hope is great that thou wilt abundantly Pardon me whilst I hear thee so graciously remember thy Ancient Promises and so powerfully urge them in favour of sinners quicken my Faith O Lord and make it Active that I may receive thee with thankfulness who so kindly callest me The PRAYER OH Eternal most Gracious and Merciful Father I am here come into thy Presence with Confidence seeing that my Conscience tells me I have broke all thy Commandements as I have sinned in Thoughts and Words in Thoughts more than I can think and in Words more than I am able to Express the number of them are so great that I have scarce Room for any more I am impure but thou of purer Eyes than to behold iniquity II. BVT if thou shouldest enter into judgment with me I were not able to stand before thee I Confess there is but one way to slie from thee as an Angry God which is to slie to thee as a reconciled Father reconciled in the Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ to fly from the strict Bar of thy judgment to thy tender Bowels of Compassion not according to my Merits but according to my necessities so I humbly beseech thee Pardon all my sins past and strengthen me against sin for the time to come III. TO this end I beseech thee Awaken my Dead Conscience confirm my judgment enlighten my understanding conform my Will Reform my Life Enflame my Zeal Strengthen my Faith and that from henceforth I may live unto thee and serve thee Lord give me Repentance not to be repented of that hope which will not make me ashamed and that Peace of Conscience which passeth all understanding give me the World but that World which passeth knowledge give me Faith but that Faith which is in Christ and that Wisdom which leads to understanding IV. Lord prepare my Soul and Heart to meet thee at thy Holy Yable that I may feed my Soul with thy loving kindness and not depart from thence without a Blessing give me Grace evermore to fear thee and to preserve a tender Sence of my Duty towards thee and Conscienciously Obey thee in all things that so by the Virtue of his Sacrifice of himself all my sins may be Washed away in his Blood and be remembred no more Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons appointed for the day Saturday Evenings Meditations BEHOLD me O Lord in this State of Misery and no hope left me but in thy Mercy â—â—here I must lie kept down with my sins unless thy Clemency take pitty on me Enlighten O
Season This O my Soul is the way to beatitude how strange soever it may seem to our sense these are the Words of the Eternal Verity how improbable soever they may sound to our Ear choose whether here thou wilt be falsly happy for a while or truly happy hereafter for ever if we resolve for the Bliss of the Life to come we are like to meet with Affliction in this and if we place our Felicity in this we are sure to meet with Misery in the other God be Merciful to me a sinner II. LORD either make me think my self Blind enough to need the guidance of the wise or be indeed wise enough to guide my self that I may enter at last by thee the door of Life and feed my Soul on thy joys for ever Deliver me O Lord from encreasing my guilt by sinning against my knowledge or hoping in my Ignorance to excuse my guilt call me after thee who art gone before and make me hear thy Voice and follow it O Lord hear me and be merciful unto me for thy Name sake DELIVER me O Lord from those desperate Sins which so rarely are pardoned that they are said to be unpardonable Deliver me from resisting the motions of thy Spirit and from Choaking the Convictions of my own Conscience Deliver me O Lord and never let the Divil of Blaspemy enter into me or any of thy Servants but enter thou O Dearest Jesu and possess my Heart for ever cast out by thy powerful Grace every wicked Spirit which Molests me and Conquer my strong Corruptions that else will overcome me O Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean IV. DELIVER me O Lord from every least degree of uncharitable provoking my Neighbour that I Imbitter not my Life with Mutual Animosities nor make void my Piety by an obstinate wilfulness but observing the Rules of my wise Redeemer escape the Miseries that would spring from my Follies Deliver me O Lord from every least degree of unduly loving my Neighbour that I set not my Heart upon sensual pleasures nor Imbroil my Memory with Impute thoughts Good Lord Deliver me An humble Confession of Sins before the Holy Sacrament HAVE Mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy Mercies do away mine offences for I will confess my Wickedness and be sorry for my Sin O Lord I am not worthy to be counted amongst the poorest of thy Servants I am not worthy to be fed with the smallest Crums which falls from the Table of thy Ordinary Providence but to be shut out of thy presence for ever with unbelievers and Reprobates Lord be merciful to me a sinner II. O Lord I am the vilest and the worst of sinners full of Pride Vain Glory Impatient of Scorn or just reproof disobedient to my Superiours and churlish and ungentle to my Equals and Inferiors I am Angry and Peevish many times without Occasion envious at Good and rejoyceing at Evil I am negligent Idle and useless timerous base jealous and impudent ambitious and very hard hearted unmortified and effeminate in my Life indevout in my Prayers without fervency or affection Here name your particular sins Lord be merciful to me a sinner III. I am guilty of Gluttony and Curiosity in Meat and Drink making Provision for the Flesh from whence hath sprung forth impure thoughts which have made me prone to unclean and unjust Actions and the spirit of unchastity hath entred and unhallowed the Temple of my Body which thou hast Commanded to be a receptacle for thy Holy and Blessed Spirit Lord be merciful to me a sinner ALL my senses have been inlets of sin mine Eyes have been Adulterous wandring and Covetous my Ears delighted with obscene Words slanderous and reproachful Speeches my Palate loose wanton and intemperate my Tongue talkative Lying Rash and Malitious Flattering Irreligious and Censorious my Hands have been unclean and slothful my desires unreasonable and unsatiable all the Members of my Body and the Faculties of my Soul have been Servants of sin and Weapons of unrighteousness Lord be merciful to me a sinner V. I have not O Lord been guilty of my own sins but I have also been guilty of the sins of others not only by neglecting to reprove or hinder them in the ways of sin but I have encouraged them by taking off their Fears and hardning their Consciences and had tempted them directly to their Ruin and my own but thy preventing Grace put a stop to so great a Misery Lord be merciful to me a sinner VI. THY Mercies O Lord I have abused thy judgments I have despised and have turned thy Grace into Wantonness I have committed sin and have repented and have sinned again I have set up resolutions but have immediately broke them I have tyed my self up with Vows but presently have been tempted and yielded by little and little till I was willingly lost and my Vows signified no more than vain Promises Lord be merciful to me a Sinner VII O Lord I stand guilty of another heap of sins my secret ones which are innumerable sins of Omission and sins willingly neglected sins of wilful Ignorance and voluntary mispersuation sins of forgetfulness and sins which a watchful Spirit might have prevented the multitude of them O Lord Confounds me and the remembrance of them is horrible they are a sight too loathsome and unsufferable is their Burden Lord be merciful to me a sinner VIII YET O Lord thy merciful Eye hath spared me to this present and hast not cast me into Hell among the Damned which by my sins I have long since deserved and to have been lockt up to an Eternity of Torments with insupportable amazements too long O Lord I have sinned against thee and long since deserved thy severest Scourges I have committed iniquity in thy sight and cannot escape thy Justice but by flying to thy Mercy O Lord be merciful to me a sinner The PRAYER O Lord give me a deep Contrition for my sins and a Hearty Detestation and loathing of them give me Grace intirely presently and for ever to forsake them and grant that I may walk with Care and Prudence with Fear and Watchfulness all my days performing my Duty with Dilligence and Charity with Zeal and a never fainting Spirit II. Deliver me O Lord from extream Calamities here and Deliver me from Eternal Vengeance hereafter look down with Compassion on the Work of thine own Hands and gently Chastise me with thy Rod of Discipline but suffer not my weakness to be Oppressed with too heavy Afflictions nor my Patience Tempted above my Strength III. INSTRVCT me how to Redeem my time to trust in thy Mercies and to make the best use of the means of Grace for the Working out my Salvation with Fear and Trembling that thou mayest have the Glory in Pardoning all my sins and I reap the benefit of all thy Mercies let all thy Graces guide me to a Holy life here that I may Reign
with thee for ever hereafter in thy Kingdom of Glory Amen Read Plal. 6.32.38 1 Lesson Ezek. 16. 2 Lesson St. Mat. 7. Meditations for Wednesday Evening LORD not the meanest Circumstance of my Life but is known to thee not the least Assistance I need but thou kindly providest a particular supply let me but do what thou hast appointed and I am sure to find true all thou hast promised thy Commands are sweet and easie O give me Grace to Obey them Thy Directions are clear and safe O guide me still to follow them II. BEHOLD dear Lord to thee I come and open before thee all my Infirmities my mind is Sick of the Palsie and my Faculties be numb'd with a Dead Sluggishness I am apt to censure the good Works of others but slow to the performance of any my self heal me O thou Heavenly Physitian whose Mercy both Cures the Sick and Pardons the Penitent O make me quickly rise from the sins wherein I have lain too long and strengthen me to Conquer my Corrupted Nature that I may walk towards thee my Eternal home and praise thy Name for ever more III. Whether alass Do my Passions lead me How desperately does one Darling Sin engage into others Deliver me O Lord in the first beginnings and suffer not my Faults to become strong Customary lest I grow at length to despise reproof and hate my reprover Herod knew John to be just yet kept him in Prison he heard him gladly yet Cut off his Head nothing so imbroyl'd as a vicious Life nothing so full of Contradiction as a wicked Conscience IV. CLEANSE thou my Heart O Lord from all Vain and unlawful thoughts my Mouth from all Foolish and Idle words and my whole Life from all Wicked and unprofitable Deeds for in that great and terrible day by what I am I shall be justified and by what I am be Condemned how many in that day will rise up against me How will my own Conscience Reproach and Confound me If I neglect such motives to repentance if I refuse the wisdom of the Son of God who came down from the highest Heavens himself to teach me The PRAYER O Lord God whose Power is Infinite and Purity such that it cannot endure the beholding any thing that is unclean how should I that am Forlorn Dust and Ashes very sinful Flesh presume or dare to present my self before thee When I look on the vileness of my Nature and the sinfulness of my Life I cannot choose but Cry out and say woe unto me I am undone I am one of Vnclean Lips The very Prayers I make to crave Pardon for my Sins are stained in the uttering and must needs add to my Transgressions if in Judgment or Justice though shouldest weigh or examine them II. BVT O Lord thou art a God of Infinite Compassion Pardoning Iniquity Transgression and Sin that wouldest not the Death of a sinner but that he be convered and live thou hast not only Allowed me but Commanded me to call upon thee in all my troubles and distresses thou hast promised that at what time soever a sinner doth Repent him of his sins thou wilt put away all his Iniquities out of thy Remembrance III. IN Obedience therefore to this thy Command and in Confidence of this thy Promise I am Emboldoned at this time to appear before thee Renouncing all merit and trust all Confidence and Affiance in my self and relying only on thy Mercy and the Soveraign Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased and through whom thou canst not be offended with me IV. O Lord hear thine own Son for me O Lord hear thine own self in me that Blessed Spirit of thine which makes Intercession for me with Groans and Sighs that cannot be expressed Pardon and Forgive all my sins both Original and Actual of Omission or Commission of Thought Word and Deed of Ignorance Infirmity or Presumption * Here Name the Particulars which I have at any time Committed against thee Nail them to the Cross of Christ that they may never rise up in judgment against me either to shame me in this World or Condemn me in the World to come V. BVRY them in the Bottomless Sea of thy Mercy and forgetfulness that they may never appear before thee to hinder thy Favours unto me Seal the Remission of them to my Soul and Conscience that they may not Distract or Disturb me in my Devotion and Crush and Subdue the Rebellions of my Nature that they may no longer Reign in my Mortal Body and having Cleansed and Purified me from all Spots and Stains of Sin I beseech thee O Lord to pour thy Grace and Holy Spirit into me that may enable me to walk before thee in Holiness and Righteousness and in Sobriety all the days of my Life Read Psalm 51.102.130.140 1 Lesson Ezek. 18. 2 Lesson Rom. 12. Meditations for Thursday Morning O My Soul we are very inconstant sometimes we endeavour to heartily Repent and after a while miscarry again often we pretendedly resolve to amend and yet sometimes forget our good purposes Bewail thy Infirmities Renew thy Intentions and be of good Comfort our Lord has overcome the World He overcame it with his own strong Arm and left thee Rules and Grace and Sacraments to help thee that if thou canst not have Peace with thy Enemies thou mayst at least have Victory over them II. Often O Lord thou invitest us to thy Holy Table and often do we neglect and refuse to come thou invitest us to the Pleasures of a Virtuous Life and the continual Feast of a good Conscience thou providest a Heavenly Banquet and makest thy Son himself our Delicious Entertainment O Cloath us Gracious Lord with the Wedding Garment of Charity to thee and one another that we may Enter with Joy into the Marriage Chamber and Sit down as happy Guests in thy Kingdom for Ever Let us not Trifle away our time in Wandering up and down nor prefer a Petty Interest before thy Glorious Rewards least we be Confounded when our King shall come in Majesty and Command the unprepared into Chains of Darkness III. THOU art O Jesu the true Coelestial Manna of which whoever Eats shall Live Eternally thou art the Bread of God that Descended from Heaven of which who ever Feeds shall never Hunger Cast me not out O Lord whom thy Mercy has Adopted into thy own Family but give me this Bread of thy Children for Ever Thou who camest down to do thy Fathers Will and has taught me 't is thy Father's Will that of those he has given thee none be lost IV. Murmur no more among your selves unhappy Atheistical Dis-believers of the Mysterries of Heaven be no more Incredulous but submit your Reason to him whom you know to be Infallible The Bread I will give is my Flesh for the Life of the World which Received by Faith is the Souls Nourishment Draw them O Heavenly Father that