in which he can wound thee Remember how the Proud have fallen and they who have presumed upon their own strength have been disgraced and that the boldest and greatesttalkers in the days of peace have been the most dejected and pusillanimous in the day of temptation No man ought to think he hath found Peace when nothing troubles him or that God loves him because he hath no enemy nor that all is well because every thing is according to his mind nor that he is a holy person because he prays with great sweetness and comfort But he is at Peace who is reconciled to God and God loves him when he hath overcome himself and all is well when nothing pleases him but God being thankful in the midst of his afflctions and he is holy who when he hath lost his comfort loses nothing of his duty but is still the same when God changes his face towards him POSTULANDA OR Things to be prayed for A FORM of PRAYER By way of Paraphrase expounding The Lord's Prayer Our Father MErciful and Gracious thou gavest us being raising us from nothing to be an excellent creation efforming us after thy own Image tenderly feeding us and conducting and strengthening us all our days Thou art our Father by a more excellent Mercy adopting us in a new birth to become partakers of the ininheritance of Jesus Thou hast given us the portion and the food of Sons O make us to do the Duty of Sons that we may never loose our title to so glorious an inheritance Let this excellent Name and Title by which thou hast vouchsafed to relate to us be our Glory and our Confidence our Defence and Guard our Ornament and Strength our dignity and the endearment of Obedience the Principle of a holy Fear to thee our Father and of Love to thee and to our Brethren partakers of the same Hope and Dignity Unite every member of the Church to thee in holy bands Let there be no more names of Division nor Titles and Ensigns of Errour and Partiality Let not us who are Brethren contend but in giving honor to each other and glory to thee contending earnestly for the Faith but not to the breach of Charity nor the denying each others Hope But grant that we may all join in the promotion of the honour of thee our Father in celebrating the Name and spreading the Family and propagating the Laws and Institutions the Promises and Dignities of our Elder Brother that despising the transitory entertainments of this world we may labour for and long after the inheritance to which thou hast given us title by adopting us into the dignity of Sons For ever let thy Spirit witness to our spirit that we are thy children enable us to cry Abba Father Which art in Heaven Heaven is thy Throne the Earth thy Footstool From thy throne thou beholdest all the dwellers upon Earth and triest out the hearts of men and nothing is hid from thy sight And as thy Knowledge is infinite so is thy Power uncircumscribed as the utmost Orb of Heaven and thou sittest in thy own Essential Happiness and Tranquillity immovable and Eternal That is our Country and thither thy Servants are travelling there is our Father and that is our inheritance there our hearts are for there our treasure is laid up till the day of Recompence Hallowed be thy Name Thy Name O God is glorious and in thy Name is our hope and confidence According to thy Name so is thy praise unto the World's end They that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee for thy Name which thou madest to be proclaimed unto thy people is The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty In this glorious Name we worship thee O Lord and all they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee The desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee Thou art worthy O Lord of Honour and praise and glory for ever and ever we confess thy glories we rejoyce in thy mercies we hope in thy Name and thy Saints like it well for thy Name is praised unto the end of the World it is believed by Faith relied upon by a holy Hope and loved by a great Charity All thy Church celebrates thee with praises and offers to thy Name the Sacrifices of Prayers and Thanksgiving Thou O God didst frame our Nature by thy own Image and now thou hast imprinted thy Name upon us we are thy servants the relatives and domesticks of thy family and thou hast honoured us with the gracious appellative of Christians O let us never dishonour so excellent a Title nor by unworthy usages prophane thy holy Name but for ever glorifie it Let our Life be answerable to our dignity that our body may be chast our thoughts clean our words gracious our manners holy and our life usefull and innocent that men seeing our good works may glorifie thee our Father which art in Heaven Thy Kingdom come Thou reignest in Heaven and Earth O do thou rule also in our hearts advance the interest of Religion let thy Gospel be placed in all the Regions of the earth and let all Nations come and worship thee laying their proudâ—… wills at thy feet submitting their understandings to the obedience of Jesus conforming their affections to thy holy Laws Let thy Kingdom be set up gloriously over us and do thou reign in our Spirits by thy Spirit of Grace subdue every lust and inordinate appetite trample upon our pride mortifie all rebellion within us and let all thine and our enemies be brought into captivity that sin may never reign in our mortal Bodies but that Christ may reign in our Understanding by Faith in the Will by Charity in the Passions by Mortifications in all the Members by a right and a chast use of them And when thy Kingdom that is within us hath flourished and is advanced to that height whither thou hast designed it grant thy Kingdom of Glory may speedily succeed and we thy Servants be admitted to the peace and purity the holiness and glories of that state where thou reignest alone and art all in all Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Thy Will O God is the measure of holiness and peace thy Providence the great disposer of all things tying all events together in order to thy glory and the good of thy Servants by a wonderful mysterious Chain of Wisdom Let thy Will also be the measure of our desires for we know that whatsoever thou saiest is true and whatsoever thou doest is good Grant we may submit our wills to thine being patient of evils which thou inflictest lovers of the good which thou commandest haters of all evil which thou forbiddest pleased with all the accidents thou sendest that though our nature is weaker than
became a Sacrifice for all our sins and suffered himself to be taken by the malicious Jews and put to a painful and shameful death they being envious at him for the number of his Disciples and the reputation of his person the innocence of his life the mightiness of his Miracles and the power of his Doctrine and this Death he suffered when Pontius Pilate was Governour of Judea Was crucified Jesus Christ being taken by the Rulers of the Jews bound and derided buffeted and spit upon accused weakly and persecuted violently at last wanting matter and pretences to condemn him they asked him of his person and office and because he affirmed that great Truth which all the world of good men long'd for that he was the Messias and designed to sit on the right hand of the Majesty on high they resolved to call it Blasphemy and delivered him over to Pilate and by importunity and threats forced him against his Conscience to give him up to be scourged and then to be Crucified The Souldiers therefore mocking him with a Robe and Reed and pressing a Crown of thorns upon his head led him to the place of his death compelling him to bear his Cross to which they presently nail'd him on which for three hours he hanged in extreme torture being a sad spectacle of the most afflicted and the most innocent person of the whole world Dead When the Holy Jesus was wearied with tortures and he knew all things were now fulfilled and his Father's wrath appeased towards Mankind his Father pitying his innocent Son groaning under such intolerable miseries hastned his Death and Jesus commending his Spirit into the hands of his Father cried with a loud voice bowed his head and died and by his death sealed all the Doctrines and Revelations which he first taught the world and then confirmed by his Bloud He was consecrated our merciful High-Priest and by a feeling of our miseries and temptations became able to help them that are tempted and for these his sufferings was exalted to the highest Throne and seat of the right hand of God and hath shewn that to Heaven there is no surer way than suffering for his Name and hath taught us willingly to suffer for his sake what himself hath already suffered for ours He reconciled us to God by his Death led us to God drew us to himself redeemed us from all iniquity purchased us for his Father and for ever made us his servants and redeemed ones that we being dead unto sin might live unto God And this Death being so highly beneficial to us he hath appointed means to apply to us and to represent to God for us in the Holy Sacrament of his last Supper And upon all these considerations that Cross which was a smart and shame to our Lord is honour to us and as it turned to his Glory so also to our Spiritual advantages And Buried That he might suffer every thing of humane nature he was by the care of his Friends and Disciples by the leave of Pilate taken from the Cross and embalmed as the manner of the Jews was to bury and wrapp'd linnen and buried in a new grave hewn out of a Rock And this was the last and lowest step of his Humiliation He descended into Hell That is He went down into the lower parts of the earth as himself called it into the heart of the earth by which phrase the Scripture understands the state of Separation or of Souls severed from their Bodies By this his descending to the land of darkness where all things are forgotten he sanctified the state of Death Separation that none of his servants might ever after fear the jaws of Death and Hell whither he went not to suffer torment because he finished all that upon the Cross but to triumph over the gates of Hell to verifie his Death and the event of his sufferings and to break the iron bars of those lower prisons that they may open and shut hereafter only at his command The third day he rose again from the Dead After our Lord Jesus had abode in the grave the remaining part of the day of his Passion and all the next day early in the morning upon the third day by the power of God he was raised from Death and Hell to Light and Life never to return to death any more and is become the first-born from the dead the first-fruits of them that slept and although he was put to death in the flesh yet now being quickned in the Spirit he lives for ever And as we all die in Adam so in Christ we all shall be made alive but every man in his own order Christ is the first and we if we follow him in the Regeneration shall also follow him in the Resurrection He ascended into Heaven When our dearest Lord was risen from the Grave he conversed with his Disciples for forty days together often shewing himself alive by infallible proofs and once to five hundred of his Disciples at once appearing Having spoken to them fully concerning the affairs of the Kingdom and the Promise of the Father leaving them some few things in charge for the present he solemnly gave them his Blessing and in the presence of his Apostles was taken up into Heaven by a bright Cloud and the Ministery of Angels being gone before us to prepare a place for us above all Heavens in the presence of his Father and at the foot of the Throne of God From which glorious presence we cannot be kept by the change of Death and the powers of the Grave nor the depth of Hell nor the height of Heaven but Christ being lifted up shall draw all his Servants unto him And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty I believe that Jesus Christ sitteth in Heaven above all Principalities and Powers being exalted above every Name that is named in Heaven and Earth that is above every creature above and below all things being put under his feet That he is always in the presence of his Father interceding for us and governs all things in Heaven and Earth that he may defend his Church and adorn her with his Spirit and procure and effect her eternal Salvation There he sits and reigns as King and intercedes as our High-Priest He is a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which God made and not man the Author and Finisher of our Faith the Captain of our Confession the great Apostle of our Religion the Great Bishop of our Souls the Head of the Church and the Lord of Heaven and Earth And therefore to him we are to pay Dvino Worship Service and Obedience and we must believe in him
God through Jesus Christ to read and hear the Scriptures read and expounded to provoke each other to love and to good works to advance the honour of Christ and to propagate his Faith and Worship I believe this to be a Holy Church Spiritual and not Civil and Secular but sanctified by their Profession and the solemn Rites of it professing holiness and separating from the evil manners of heathens and wicked persons by their laws and institutions And this Church is Catholick that is it is not confined to the Nation of the Jews as was the old Religion but it is gathered out of all Nations and is not of a differing Faith in differing places but always did doth and ever shall profess the Faith which the Apostles preach'd and which is contained in this Creed with whosoever believes is a Catholick and a Christian and he that believes not is neither This Catholick Church I believe that is I believe whatsoever all good Christians in all Ages and in all places did confess to be the Catholick and Apostolick Faith The Communion of Saints That is the Communion of all Christians because by reason of their holy Faith they are called Saints in Scripture as being begotten by God into a lively Faith and cleansed by Believing and by this Faith and the Profession of a holy life in obedience to Jesus Christ they are separated from the world called to the knowledge of the Truth justified before God and indued with the holy Spirit of Grace foreknown from the beginning of the world and predestinated by God to be made conformable to the image of his Son here in holiness of life hereafter in a life of glory and they who are Saints in their belief and profession must be so also in their practice and conversation that so they may make their calling and election sure lest they be Saints onely in name and title in their profession and institution and not in manners and holiness of living that is lest they be so before men and not before God I believe that all people who desire the benefit of the Gospel are bound to have a fellowship and society with these Saints and communicate with them in their holy things in their Faith and in their Hope and in their Sacraments and in their Prayers and in their Publick Assemblies and in their Government and must do to them all the acts of Charity and mutual help which they can and are required to and without this Communion of Saints and a conjunction with them who believe in God through Jesus Christ there is no Salvation to be expected which Communion must be kept in inward things always and in all persons and testified by outward acts always when it is possible and may be done upon just and holy conditions The Forgiveness of sins I believe that all the sins I committed before I came to the knowledge of the Truth and all the slips of humane infirmity against which we heartily pray and watch and labour and all the evil habits of which we repent so timely and effectually that we obtain their contrary graces and live in them are fully remitted by the blood of Christ which forgiveness we obtain by Faith and Repentance and therefore are not justified by the Righteousness of Works but by the Righteousness of Faith and we are preserved in the state of forgiveness or justification by the fruits of a lively Faith and a timely active Repentance The Resurrection of the Body I believe that at the last day all they whose sins are forgiven and who lived and died in the Communion of Saints and in whom the Holy Spirit did dwell shall rise from their grves their dead bones shall live and be clothed with flesh and skin and their Bodies together with their Souls shall enter into the portion of a new life and that this body shall no more see corruption but shall rise to an excellent condition it shall be Spiritual Powerful Immortal and Glorious like unto his glorious body who shall then be our Judge is now our Advocate our Saviour and our Lord. And the Life everlasting I believe that they who have their part in this Resurrection shall meet the Lord in the Air and when the blessed Sentence is pronounc'd upon them they shall for ever be with the Lord in joys unspeakable and full of glory God shall wâ—…pe all tears from their eyes there shall be no fear or sorrow no mourning or death a friend shall never go away from thence and an enemy shall never enter there shall be fulness without want light eternal brighter then the Sun day and no night joy and no weeping difference in degree and yet all full there is love without dissimulation excellency without envy multitudes without confusion musick without discord there the Understandings are rich the Will is satisfied the Affections are all love and all joy and they shall reign with God and Christ for ever and ever Amen This is the Catholick Faith which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved Tertull. de velandis Virgin Regula quidem fidei â—…na omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis credendi scilicet in unicum Deum Omnipotentem c. Hac lege fidei manente caetâ—…ra jam disciplinae conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis operante scil proficiente usque in finem Gratia Dei The Rule of Faith is wholly one unalterable never to be mended never changed to wit I believe in God c This Law of Faith remaining in other things you may encrease and grow S. Aug. de Fide Symb. Haec est Fides quae paucis verbis tenenda in Symbolo Novellis datur Quae pauca verba fiedelibus not a sunt ut credendo subjugentur Deo subjugati recte vivant recte vivendo cor mundent corde mundo quod credunt intelligant This is the Faith which in few words is given to Novices These few words are known to all the faithful that by believing they may be subject to God by this subjection they may live well by living-well they may purifie their hearts and with pure hearts they may relish understand what they do believe Max. Taurin de Tradit Symb. Symbolum tessera est signaculum quo inter fideles Perfidosque secernitur This Creed is the Badge or Cognizance by which the Faithful are discerned from Unbelievers Hujus Catholici Symboli brevis perfecta Confessio quae duodecim Apostolorum totidem est signata sententiis tam instructa est in munitione coelesti ut omnes Haereticorum opiniones solo possint gladio detruncari Leo M. ad Pulcheriam Aug. This short and perfect Confession of this Catholick Creed which was consigned by the Sentences of twelve Apostles is so perfect a celestial
and exact of them to be faithful and diligent 16. In your Servants suffer any offence against your self rather than against God endure not that they should swear or lie or steal or be wanton or curse each other or be railers or slanderers or tell-tales or sowers of dissention in the family or amongst neighbours 17. In all your entercourse with your neighbours in the day let your affairs be wholly matter of business or civility and always managed with Justice and Charity never let it be matter of curiosity or enquiry into the actions of others always without censuring or rash judgment without backbiting slandering or detraction Do it not your self neither converse with them that do He or she that loves tale-bearers shall never be beloved or be innocent 18. Before dinner and supper as often as it is convenient or can be had let the publick Prayers of the Church or some parts of them be said publickly in the family and let as many be present as you can The same rule is also to be observed for Sundays and Holy-days for their going to Church Let no servant be always detained but relieved and provided for by changes 19. Let your meal be temperate and wholesom according to your quality and the season begun and ended with Prayer and be sure that in the course of your meal and before you rise you recollect your self and send your heart up to God with some holy and short Ejaculation remembring your duty fearing to offend or desiring and sighing after the eternal Supper of the Lamb. 20. After meal use what innocent refreshment you please to refresh your mind or body with these measures 1. Let it not be too expensive of time 2. Let it not hinder your devotion nor your business 3. Let it be always without violence or passion 4. Let it not then wholly take you up when you are at it but let your heart retire with some holy thoughts and sober recollections lest your mind be seized upon by it and your affections carried off from better things secure your affections for God and sober and severe imployment Here you may be refreshed but take heed you neither dwell here nor sin here It is better never to use recreation than at any time to sin by it But you may use recreation and avoid sin and that 's the best temper But if you cannot do both be more careful of your Soul than of your refreshment and that 's the best security But then in what you use to sin carefully avoid it and change your refreshment for some other instance in which you can be more innocent 21. Entertain no long discourse with any but if you can bring in something to season it with Religion as God must be in all your thoughts so if it be possible let him be in all your discourses at least let him be at one end of it and when you can speak of him be sure you forget not to think of him 22. Towards the declining of the day be sure to retire to your private devotions Read meditate and pray In which I propound to you this method On the Lord's day meditate of the glories of the Creation of the works of God and all his benefits to mankind and to you in particular Then let your devotion be humbly upon your knees to say over the 8 th and 9 th Psalms and sometimes the 104 th with proper Collects which you shall find or get adding the form of Thanksgiving which is in the Rule of Holy Living pag. 378. in the manner as is there directed or some other of your own chusing Meditate on Monday on 1. Death Tuesday 2. Judgment Wednesday 3. Heaven Thursday 4. Hell Saying your usual Prayers and adding some Ejaculations or short sayings of your own according to the matter of your devotion On Friday recollect your sins that you have done that week and all your life-time and let your devotion be to recite humbly and devoutly some penitential Litanies whereof you may serve your self in the Rule of Holy Living pag. 373. On Saturday at the serne time meditate on the Passion of our blessed Saviour and all the mysteries of our Redemption which you may do and pray together by using the forms made to that purpose in the Rule of Holy Living pag. 391. in all your devotions begin and end with the Lord's Prayer Upon these two days and Sunday you may chuse some partions out of The Life of Christ to read and help your meditation proper to the mysteries you are appointed to meditate or any other devout books 23. Read not much at a time but meditate as much as your time and capacity and disposition will give you leave ever remembring that little reading and much thinking little speaking and much hearing frequent and short prayers and great devotion is the best way to be wise to be holy to be devout 24. before you go to bed bethink your self of the day past if nothing extraordinary hath hapned your Conscience is the sooner examined but if you have had any difference or disagreeing with any one or a great feast or great company or a great joy or a great sorrow then recollect your self with the more diligence ask pardon for what is amiss give God thanks for what was good If you have omitted any duty make amends next day and yet if nothing be found that was amiss be humbled still and thankful and pray God for pardon if any thing be amiss that you know not of If all these things be in your offices for your last prayers be sure to apply them according to what you find in your examination but if they be not supply them with short ejaculations before you begin your last prayers or at the end of them Remember also and be sure to take notice of all the mercies and deliverances of your self and your Relatives that day 25. As you are going to bed as often as you can conveniently or that you are not hindred by company meditate of death and the preparations to your grave When you lie down close your eyes with a short prayer commit your self into the hands of your faithful Creator and when you have done trust him with your self as you must do when you are dying 26. If you awake in the night fill up the intervals or spaces of your not sleeping by holy thoughts and aspirations and remember the sins of your youth and sometimes remember your dead and that you shall die and pray to God to send to you and all mankind a mercy in the day of Judgment 27. Upon the Holy-days observe the same Rules only let the matter of your meditations be according to the mystery of the day As upon Christmas-day meditate on the Birth of our Blessed Saviour and read the Story and Considerations which are in The Life of Christ and to your ordinary devotions of every day add the prayer which is fitted to the mystery which you shall
call us and assist us Hear our Prayers c. Give to thy servants a watchful and an observing Spirit diligent in doing our duty inflexible to evil obedient to thy word inquisitive after thy will pure and holy thoughts strong and religious purposes and thy grace to perform faithfully what we have promised in the day of our duty or in the day of our calamity Hear our Prayers c. O teach us to despise all vanity to fight the battels of the Lord manfully against the Flesh the World and the Devil to spend our time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk always as in thy presence to preserve our Souls and bodies in holiness fit for the habitation of the holy Spirit of God Hear our Prayers c. Give us a holy and a perfect repentance a well-instructed understanding regular affections a constant and a wise heart a good name a fear of thy Majesty and a love of all thy glories above all the things in the world for ever Hear our Prayers c. Give us a healthful body and a clear understanding the love of our neighbours and the peace of the Church the publick use and comforts of thy holy Word and Sacraments a great love to all Christians and obedience to our Superiours Ecclesiastical and Civil all the days of our life Hear our Prayers c. Give us Spiritual Wisdom that we may discern what is pleasing to thee and follow what belongs unto our peace and let the knowledge and love of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be our guide and our portion all our days Hear our Prayers c. Give unto us holy dispositions and an active industry in thy service to redeem the time mis-spent in vanity for thy pity sake take not vengeance of us for our sins but sanctifie our Souls and bodies in this life and glorifie them hereafter Hear our Prayers c. Our Father c. IV. To be added to the former Liâ—…anies according as our Devotions and time will suâ—…feâ—… For all states of Men and Women especially in the Christian Church O Blessed God in mercy remember thine inheritance and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever pity poor mankind whose portion is misery and folly shame and death But thou art our Redeemer and the lifter up of our head and under the shadow of thy wings shall be our help until this Tyranny be over-past Have mercy upon us O God and hid not thy self from our Petition Preserve O God the Catholick Church in holiness and truth in unity and peace free from persecution or glorious under it that she may for ever advance the honour of our Lord Jesus for ever represent his Sacrifice and glorifie his Person and advance his Religion and be accepted of thee in her blessed Lord that being filled with his Spirit she may partake of his glory Have mercy upon us c. Give the spirit of Government and Holiness to all Christian Kings Princes and Governours grant that their people may obey them and they may obey thee and live in honesty and peace justice and holy Religion being Nursing-fathers to the Church Advocates for the oppressed Patrons for the widows and a Sanctuary for the miserable and the fatherless that they may reign with thee for ever in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to thy Servants the Bishops and all the Clergy the Spirit of holiness and courage of patience and humility of prudence and diligence to preach and declare thy will by a holy life and wise discourses that they may minister to the good of Souls and find a glorious reward in the day of our Lord Jesus Have mercy npon us c. Give to our Relatives our Wives and Children our Friends and Benefactors our Charges our Family c. pardon and support comfort in all their sorrows strength in all temptations the guard of Angels to preserve them from evil and the conduct of thy holy Spirit to lead them into all good that they doing their duty may feel thy mercies here and partake of thy glories hereafter Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths peace and plenty health and holy Religion to all Families of Religion and Nurseries of Piety zeal and holiness prudence and unity peace and contentedness to all Schools of Learning quietness and industry freedom from wars and violence factions and envy Have mercy upon us c. Give to all married persons faith and love charitable and wise compliances sweetness of society and innocence of conversation to all Virgins and Widows great love of Religion a sober and a contented spirit an unwearied attendance to devotion and the offices of holiness protection to the fatherless comfort to the disconsolate patience and submission health and spiritual advantages to the sick that they may feel thy comforts for the days wherein they have suffered adversity Have mercy upon us c. Be thou a star and a guide to them that travel by land or sea the confidence and comfort of them that are in storms and shipwrecks the strength of them that toil in the Mines and row in the Gallies an instructer to the ignorant to them that are condemned to die be thou a guide unto death give chearfulness to every sad heart spiritual strength and proportionable comfort to them that are afflicted by evil spirits pity the lunaticks give life and salvation to all to whom thou hast given no understanding accept the stupid and the fools to mercy give liberty to prisoners redemption to captives maintenance to the poor patronage and defence to the oppessed and put a period to the iniquity and to the miseries of all mankind Have mercy upon us c. Give unto our enemies grace and pardon charity to us and love to thee take away all anger from them and all mistakes from us all mis-interpretations and jealousies bring all sinners to repentance and holiness and to all thy Saints and Servants give an increasing love and a persevering duty bring all Turks Jews and Infidels to the knowledge and confession of the Lord Jesus and a participation of all the Promises of the Gospel all the benefits of his Passion to all Hereticks give humility and ingenuity repentance of their errours and grace and power to make amends to the Church and Truth and a publick acknowledgment of a holy faith to the glory of the Lord Jesus Have mercy c. Give to all Merchants faithfulness and truth to the labouring husbandman health and fair seasons of the year and reward his toil with the dew of Heaven and the blessings of the earth to all Artisans give diligence in their Callings and a blessing on their labours and on their familes to old men piety and perfect repentance a liberal heart and an open hand great Religion and desires after Heaven to young men give sobriety and chastity health and usefulness an early piety and a
noblest way of rejoycing in the good of others II. O Dear God never suffer the Devil to rub his vilest Leprosie of Envy upon me never let me have the affections of the desperate and damned let it not be ill with me when it is well with others but let thy holy Spirit so over-rule me for ever that I may pity the afflicted and be compassionate and have a fellow-feeling of my brother's sorrows and that I may as much as I can promote his good and give thee thanks for it and rejoice with them that do rejoice never censuring his actions curstly nor detracting from his praises spitefully nor upbraiding his infelicities maliciously but pleased in all things which thou doest or givest that I may then triumph in spirit when thy Kingdom is advanced when thy Spirit rules when thy Church is profited when thy Saiuts rejoice when the Devil's interest is destroyed truly loving thee and truly loving my brother that we may all together join in the holy Communion of Saints both here and hereafter in the measures of grace and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For Friday A Prayer against Wrath and inordinate Anger I. O Almighty Judge of Men and Angels whose anger is always the minister of Justice slow but severe not lightly arising but falling heavily when it comes give to thy servant a meek and a gentle spirit that I also may be slow to anger and easie to mercy and forgiveness Give me a wise and a constant heart that I may not be moved with every trifling mistake and inconsiderable accident in the conversation and entercourse of others never be moved to an intemperate anger for any injury that is done or offered let my anger ever be upon a just cause measured with moderation and reason expressed with charity and prudence lasting but till it hath done some good either upon my self or others II. LOrd let me be ever courteous and easie to be intreated never let me fall into a peevish or contentious spirit but follow peace with all men offering forgiveness inviting them by courtesies ready to confess my own errours apt to make amends and desirous to be reconciled Let no sickness or cross accident no imployment or weariness make me angry or ungentle and discontent or unthankful or uneasie to them that minister to me but in all things make me like unto the holy Jesus Give me the spirit of a Christian charitable humble merciful and meek useful and liberal complying with every chance angry at nothing but my own sins and grieving for the sins of others that while my passion obeys my reason and my reason is religious and my religion is pure and undefiled managed with humility and adorned with charity I may escape thy anger which I have deserved and may dwell in thy love and be thy Son and Servant for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For Saturday A Prayer against weariness in well-doing I. O My God merciful and gracious my Soul groans under the loads of its own infirmity when my spirit is willing my flesh is weak my understanding foolish and imperfect my will peevish listless my affections wandering after strange objects my fancy wild and unfixed all my senses minister to folly and vanity and though they were all made for Religion yet they least of all delight in that O my God pity me and hear me when I pray and make that I may pray acceptably Give me a love to Religion an unwearied spirit in the things of God Let me not relish or delight in the things of the world in sensual objects and transitory possessions but make my eyes look up to thee my Soul be filled with thee my spirit ravished with thy love my understanding imployed in the meditation of thy Law all my powers and faculties of Soul and Body wholly serving thee and delighting in such holy ministeries II. O Most glorious God what greater favour is there than that I may and what easier imployment can there be than to pray to thee to be admitted to thy presence and to represent our needs and that we have our needs supplied only for asking and desiring passionately and humbly But we rather quit our hopes of Heaven than buy it at the cheapest rate of humble prayer This O God is the greatest infirmity and infelicity of man and hath an intolerable cause and is an insufferable evil III. O Relieve my spirit with thy graciousness take from me all tediousness of spirit and give me a laboriousness that will not be tired a hope that shall never fail a desire of holiness not to be satisfied till it possesses a charity that will always increase that I making Religion the business of my whole life may turn all things into Religion doing all to thy glory and by the measures of thy Word and of thy Spirit that when thou shalt call me from this deliciousness of imployment and the holy mysteries of Grace I may pass into the imployment of Saints and Angels whose work it is with eternal joy and thanksgiving to sing praises to the mercies of the great Redeemer of Men and Saviour of Men and Angels Jesus Christ our Lord To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and worship all service and thanks all Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to be said by a Maiden before she enters into the state of Marriage I O Most glorious God and my most indulgent Lord and gracious Father who dost bless us by thy bounty pardon us by thy mercy support and guide us by thy grace and govern us sweetly by thy providence I give thee most humble and hearty thanks that thou hast hitherto preserved me in my Virgin-state with innocence and chastity in a good name and a modest report It is thy goodness alone and the blessed emanation of thy holy Spirit by which I have been preserved and to thee I return all praise and thanks and adore and love thy goodness infinite II. AND now O Lord since by thy dispensation and over-ruling providence I am to change my condition and enter into the holy state of Marriage which thou hast sanctified by thy Institution and blessed by they Word and Promises and raised up to an excellent mystery that it might represent the Union of Christ and his Church be pleased to go along with thy servant in my entring into and passing through this state that it may not be a state of temptation or sorrow by occasion of my sins or infirmities but of holiness and comfort as thou host intended it to all that love and fear thy holy Name III. LOrd bless and preserve that dear person whom thou hast chosen to be my Husband let his life be long and blessed comfortable and holy and let me also become a great blessing and comfort unto him a sharer in all his joys a refreshment in all his sorrows a meet helper for him in all accidents and chances
like himself went spotless hence A sacrafice to Innocence Which now does ride Trampling upon Herod's pride Passing from their fontinels of clay To heaven a milky and a bloody way All their tears and groans are dead And they to rest and glory fled Lord who wert pleas'd so many Babes should fall Whilst each sword hop'd that every of the All Was the desired King make us to be In Innocence like them in Glory thee Amen Upon the Epiphany and the three Wise men of the East coming to worship Jesus A Comet dangling in the air Presag'd the ruin both of Death and Sin And told the wise man of a King The King of Glory and the Sun Of Righteousness who then begun To draw towards that blessed Hemisphere They from the farthest East this new And unknown light pursue Till they appear In this blest Infant-King's propitious eye And pay their homage to his Royalty Persia might then the rising Sun adore It was Idolatry no more Great God they gave to thee Myrrhe Frankincense and Gold But Lord with what shall we Present our selves before thy Majesty Whom thou redeem'dst when we were sold W'have nothing but our selves and scarce that neither Vile dirt and clay Yet it is soft and may Impression take Accept it Lord and say this thou hadst rather Stamp it and on this sordid metal make Thy holy image and it shall out-shine The beauty of the golden Mine Amen A Meditation of the Four last things  Death For the time of Lent especially Judgment Heaven Hell A Meditation of Death DEath the old Serpent's Son Thou hadst a sting once like thy Sire That carried Hell and ever-burning fire But those black days are done Thy foolish spite buried thy sting In the profound and wide Wound of our Saviour's side And now thou art become a tame and harmless thing A thing we dare not fear Since we hear That our triumphant God to punish thee For the affront thou didst him on the Tree Hath snatcht the Keys of Hell out of thy hand And made thee stand A Porter to the gate of Life thy mortal enemy O thou who art that Gate command that he May when we die And thither flee Let us into the Courts of Heaven through thee Allelujah The Prayer MY Soul doth pant tow'rds thee My God Source of eternal life Flesh fights with meâ—… Oh end the strife And part us that in peace I may Unclay My wearied spirit and take My flight to thy eternal Spring Where for his sake Who is my King I may wash all my tears away That day Thou Conqueror of Death Glorious Triumpher o're the Grave Whose holy breath Was spent to save Lost Mankind make me to be styl'd Thy Child And take me when I die And go unto my dust my Soul Above the sky With Saints enroll That in thy arms for ever I May lie Amen Of the day of Judgment GReat Judge of all how we vile wretches quake Our guilty bones do ake Our marrow freezes when we think Of the consuming fire Of thine ire And horrid phials thou shalt make The wicked drink When thou the wine-press of thy wrath shalt tread With feet of lead Sinful rebellious clay what unknown place Shall hide it from thy face When earth shall vanish from thy sight The Heavens that never err'd But Observ'd Thy laws shall from thy presence take their flight And kill'd with glory their bright eyes stark dead Start from their head Lord how shall we Thy enemies endure to see So bright so killing Majesty Mercy dear Saviour thy Judgment-seat We dare not Lord intreat We are condemn'd already there Mercy vouchsafe one look Of life Lord we can read thy saving Jesus here And in his Name our own Salvation see Lord set us free The book of sun Is cross'd within Our debts are paid by thee Mercy Of Heaven O Beautious God uncircumscribed Treasure Of an eternal pleasure Thy Throne is seated far Above the highest Star Where thou prepar'st a glorious place Within the brightness of thy face For every spirit To inherit That builds his hopes on thy merit And loves thee with an holy Charity What ravish'd heart Scraphick tongue or eyes Clear as the morning's rise Can speak or think or see That bright Eternity Where the great King 's transparent Throne Is of an intire Jasper stone There the eye O' th' Chrysolite And a skie Of Diamonds Rubies Chrysoprase And above all the holy Face Makes an Eternal Clarity When thou thy Jewels up dost bind that day Remember us we pray That where the Beryll lies And the Crystal 'bove the skies There thou may'st appoint us place Within the brightness of thy face And our Soul In the Scrowl Of life and blissfulness enrowl That we may praise thee to eternity Allelujah Of Hell HOrrid darkness sad and sore And an eternal Night Groans and shrieks and thousand more In the want of glorious light Every corner hath a Snake In the accursed lake Seas of fire beds of snow Are the best delights below A Viper from the fire Is his hire That knows not moments from Eternity Glorious God of Day and Night Spring of Eternal Light Allelujahs Hymns and Psalms And Coronets of Palms Fill thy people ever more O mighty God Let not thy bruising rod Crush our loins with an eternal pressure O let thy mercy be the measure For if thou keepest wrath in store We all shall die And none be left to glorifie Thy Name and tell How thou hast sav'd our Souls from Hell Mercy On the Conversion of St. Paul FUll of wrath his threatning breath Belching nought but chains and death Saul was arrested in his way By a voice and a light That if a thousand days Should join rays To beautifie one day It would not shew so glorious and so bright On his amazed eyes it night did fling That day might break within And by those beams of Faith Make him of a child of wrath Become a vessel full of glory Lord curb us in our dark and sinful way We humbly pray When we down horrid precipices run With seet that thirst to be undone That this may be our story Allelujah On the Purification of the Blessed Virgin PUre and spotless was the Maid That to the Temple came A pair of Turtle-doves she paid Although she brought the Lamb. Pure and spotless though she were Her body chast and her Soul fair She to the Temple went To be purifi'd And try'd That she was spotless and obedient O make us to follow so blest Precedent And purifie our Souls for we Are cloath'd with sin and misery From our Conception One Imperfection And a continued state of sin Hath fullied all our faculties within We present our Souls to thee Full of need and misery And for Redemption a Lamb The purest whitest that e're came A Sacrifice to thee Even he that bled upon the Tree On Good-Friday THE Lamb is eaten and is yet again Preparing to be slain The cup