thy Saints we may also imitate their faith and patience We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may keep inviolably the Catholick Faith so stoutly maintained by them that like as thine Elect in heaven so we may readily do thy will on earth that we may hate our own Souls in this world that we may preserve them to eternal life that thou wouldst vouchsafe to admit us into the inheritance of thy chosen in light We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may continually praise thee in thy Saints that we may laud thee with thy Saints in Heaven and magnify thee for ever We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Our Father which art in Heaven c. PRaise the Name of our Lord praise him ye Servants of our Lord. Who stand in the house of our Lord in the courts of the house of our God Praise our Lord for he is good sing unto his Name for it is sweet Sing unto our Lord a new Song his Praise in the congregation of his Saints For our Lord taketh pleasure in his people he will magnify the meek with Salvation Let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds Let the high Praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged Sword in their hand To execute vengeance upon the Nations and punishment upon the people To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron To execute upon them the Judgment written This Honor have all his Saints Hallelujah Let us pray WE give thee thanks O Lord with all our hearts for that thou hast chosen thy Saints and justified them by thy infinite grace for that thou hast prevented them with the blessings of thy sweetness and preserved them in their way thro all the impediments of their Salvation We give thee infinite thanks O God for all the Graces and Benefits which thou hast bestowed upon them in time and reserved for them to Eternity O ye blessed Servants and Friends of God who confirmed in all Grace and now have received the Crown of heavenly Glory and with joy behold the Sacred Trinity face to face praising him with unspeakable gladness everlastingly obtain for us your Supplicants free pardon of our sins and a perfect denial of our selves that we may follow your steps thro the narrow way as also an intimate and sincere love of God wherewith you being enflamed have valiantly and gloriously overcome the world the flesh and the devil with all the crosses of this present life pray for us now and at the hour of our death that when we are to pass hence and to appear before the fearful Tribunal of the great Judge he would not enter into judgment with us but judge us according to his infinite mercy that so at length we may be admitted into the blessed Fellowship in that supernal Jerusalem where we altogether may praise extol and magnify our Lord God for ever and ever Amen O Lord God multiply upon us thy Grace and grant us to follow in a holy profession the joy of thy Saints whose memories we celebrate through Jesus Christ thy only Son our Lord. Amen MOst gracious God the Author of all Sanctity and lover of Unity whose wisdome hath established an admirable communion between thy Church triumphant in heaven and militant on earth as members of the same mystical Body whereof thy Son Christ Jesus is the Head mercifully grant that as thy Blessed without ceasing pray to thee for us we may continually praise thee for them and in correspondence to their perfect Charity with pious observance celebrate their memories till we all meet before thy glorious Throne and with one heart adore the Saviour of us all who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen O All ye blessed Saints of heaven and Spirits Angelical whom God with the brightness of his presence makes everlastingly joyful pray for us We salute and honour you we give praise and thanks to our Lord who hath chosen you and made you eternally happy with his benedictions obtain from him for us forgiveness obtain for us grace that at the end of this frail life we may be admitted to the fruition of your heavenly Society thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God and most merciful Father favourably regard the imperfect Prayers of thy servants here on earth which we present unto thee by the most efficacious intercession of our fellow members the Saints in heaven and grant that as their Sanctity is exalted by thee to a supreme degree of glory so their Charity may obtain for us the especial assistance of thy Grace thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen GRant O Almighty God that we who celebrate the Memories and reverence the Holiness of all thy Saints may be assisted with Thee by their intercession and rejoyce in their protection thro Jesus Christ Amen O Almighty and Eternal God who vouchsafest us the Grace to reverence the Holiness of all thy Saints Grant us we beseech Thee the desired plenty of thy mercy by their multiplied intercessions thro our Lord Jesus Christ Amen The LITANY of Penitents O God the Father of heaven our Creator Have mercy on us O God the Son our Redeemer Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier Have mercy c. O strong just and jealous God taking revenge upon all sin and iniquity who sparedst not the Angels that sinned but castedst them down into hell to be tormented From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who hast appointed death the stipend of Sin who didst shut Adam after he had sinned out of Paradise and subjectedst him to many Curses From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who sparedst not the old world but punishedst it overwhelmed in sin by the flood From thy great wrath c. Who utterly consumedst Sodom and Gomorrah burnt to ashes and miraculously punishedst Pharoah and the Aegyptians hardening their hearts against thee From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who sparedst not thine ancient people the Jews rebelling against thee but deliveredst them up into the hands of their enemies and into the Babylonish Captivity From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us Who at last scatteredst them throughout all the world whilst persevering in their sins and gavest thy beloved City and thy Sanctuary to be trodden under foot of the Enemy From thy great wrath good Lord deliver us O God to the relenting and penitent gracious and merciful long-suffering and abundant in mercy and repenting thee of evil who lovest every thing and hatest nothing that thou hast made From thy great wrath c. Who pitiest all and winkest at the sins of men for their amendment of life who wouldst have none to perish but all be converted and in whose presence there is joy over one sinner that doth penance From all thy great wrath c. Who calledst
to devotion wherein a rest and vacancy as it were of the understanding the will and affections add a new fervour to our former conceptions and never vain but when done without a renewed devotion which devotion being any way enlarged by some other considerations the former words still become a new Prayer The power whereof consists not in much speaking but in much beseeching and in the importunity of our desires and sighs not our loquacity See Daniel's Prayer Dan. 9.4 §. 125. Importunity in Prayer 39. Not desisting in our requests not presently answered by God but continuing them with all fervency importunity tears c. never fainting according to our Saviours command Luk. 18.1 5. Luk. 11.1.8 9. which argues that God heareth not always at first but expects we should trouble him Even as a Neighbor when doors shut in bed at midnight See Psal 44.23 but this chiefly in things spiritual or temporal in order to the other the usefulness of them being first impartially weighed where we cannot err in the goodness of the thing we desire 40. As for other temporal things since we ought not to be for them very solicitous but to all indifferent since we many times set on by some undiscovered lust do ask of this our Father things hurtful stones for bread serpents and poison for meat since in these things we ought always to use great modesty in leaving them to his wisdome and in silently relying on his care having a promise for necessaries none for plenty always observing rather a great moderation and indifferency in your requests Saying with St. Austine Te faciente quod vis da mihi libenter sequi Which request for such things when our importunity receives also of him it is many times more out of pitty to our infirmities than charity to our needs or advancement of our perfection See Matt. 6 7 8. spoken especially of soliciting for earthly things which are shut up in a few words ver 11. §. 126. Liberty of expression in Prayer 41. Using liberty of words and unconfined and unprescribed expressions These 1. More hindring any evagation of thoughts and procuring more intention of the mind to the business in hand Where note that prayers said by heart because with some difficulty remembred keep the mind more attentive than prayers read Again Prayers extempore or new conceived matter or expressions more than set forms repeated by heart except very much advertency or also some repetition or meditation of them be used because in those forms swimming lightly in the memory the fancy unengaged yet seldome idle is left at liberty for other imployments and the mind ordinarily less mindeth its former especially after its often repetition of them than its new conceptions 2. Being more obedient to the operations and impressions of the holy spirit which especially directeth us in Prayer and to the spiritual inclinations of our passions which are sometimes more sorrowful and fitter for acts of contrition sometimes more lightsome and fitter for thanksgiving and praise Now to both these are set forms an extream restraint to the great loss of the Soul 3. Being more pliable to our present condition and necessities continually varying to which one set form can no way suit 4. Lastly giving us much more content and delight in our Prayers and making us more willingly to frequent this duty where more liberty is allowed to our affections §. 127. Ways of enlarging 42. At least after your set form ended enlarging your Prayers with some unprescribed devotions till custome hath made them more easy though he that is truly sensible of his own vileness and defects of God's greatness and goodness and so thirsts after him and loves much needs not fear but to pray well this consisting not in much saying but in much supplicating and God in nothing so much as in Prayer accepting the will for the whole deed 43. Guiding your self by some heads first well ordered and multiplied as you see fit for the more sub-heads you have the more easy it is to continue in Prayer assuming the next still into your thoughts as your devotions happen to be exhausted in the former As for Example If you practice 1. Praise and in this I giving glory to God 1 in his attributes 2 in his works and blessings to mankind in general 3 For his benefits to you in particular and in both these first for spiritual then temporal 2 Prayer And in this first 1. Confession of sins In evening prayer joyning examination of conscience for the sins of the day past and more particular confession of the sins thereof Then 2. Petition 1 for his forgiveness of sins past 2 for your reformation and his preservation and preventing of you from those and all other for the future particularizing in your ordinary sins 1. Against God 2. Your self 3. Your neighbor that is your opposite facts to the several particular duties to each of those Some chief ones of which I have set down before and hinted to you in this Book Saying Lord hereafter deliver me from Gluttony c. Detraction c. Distrust of thy providence c. 3 for his averting evils due to them 4. For his bestowing gifts necessary Spiritual temporal Making your petitions also for these spiritual and temporal gifts particular according to the distinct considerations of your duty 1. To God 2. To your self 3. To your Neighbor and to these your neighbors either to your Superiors and your Parents or your brethren for which duties if you have no better Catalogue you may run over those above mentioned in this Book saying Hereafter grant me Temperance c. Charity to my neighbor to suffer long and to be kind c. 1. Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. love of the Lord my God with all my heart c. Matt. 22.37 c. 3. Oblation considering wherein we may further serve God and Resolutions 4 Intercession For Church State Persons of particular relation But here note that it is not amiss at first to have a set form composed very particular and distinct according to these heads and their subdivisions then this form perfectly committed to memory Then at last to practice varying from it in expression and enlargement of your conceits yet with a retiring still as need is and as your extravagancy is exhausted to the matter thereof or if you use not this practice you may follow the several parts of Prayer set down before c. only changing the order first taking in hand the fourth then second then first third fifth sixth Sometimes dwelling longer on one sometimes on another as your Meditations abound and then passing over the rest more briefly Or you may run over those Subjects of Meditation following p. First all those begetting humility then those producing love 44. Yet not being too careful to keep a strict Method when you have any fervour of Spirit but freely intermingling petition and praises thanksgiving and confession c as we see it is in the Psalms
Heavens which to all of them is but one is all of it unto every one of them Then behold because the more pleasure ariseth from the variety of the Object not all these Stars of an equal magnitude but after that nothing seems addible to the splendor of the first yet continual ascendent degrees in this sphere of glory and other yet higher lights far transcending the former in their lustre yet so as the glory of the highest is also challenged and owned by the lowest as all being but the same Body without all schisme or knowledge of envy no more than the foot doth the higher place or offices of the hand or the eye Behold then here a rising Throne 1. Of an innumerable company of the common People of Saints yet all glorious in Majesty Advanced above them caeteris paribus the Quire of pure Virgins that have remained holy in Body as well as Spirit 1. Cor. 7.34 See 1. Cor. 6.13 Rev. 14.4.1 Above these higher yet Holy Confessors Above them the White Army of Martyrs Yet higher the Society of the Luk. 13.28 Holy Prophets Matt. 10.41 Evangelists Patriarchs Apostles Luk. 22.28 with their Seats round about the throne of God Rev. 44. Higher yet the Blessed Virgin Mother of God and the most highly favoured amongst all Creatures Luk. 28.30 Then see the domestick attendance of the Almighty Beside his Throne Rev. 5.11 that winged Host of heavenly Ministers all distinguished in a wonderful Order Angels Arch-Angels Powers Dominions Thrones Cherubims Seraphims And the seven Spirits of God the seven Lamps of Fire burning always before the throne always standing in his presence Zach. 4.10 Rev. 4 5. 5 6. Luk. 1.19 Dan. 10.13 Rev. 1.4 8.2 Lo yet higher in the midst of the Throne of the Almighty Rev. 5 6. above all the family of Heaven and Earth sitting on the right hand of the Majesty in the highest far above every name that is named not only in this world but in the world to come Eph. 1.21 Upon whose Vesture is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 at whose name the knees of all things bow c. Phil. 2.10 Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 1. Pet. 3.22 to whom it was an honour to see him and who had a great desire to look into the mystery of his Redemption being God manifested in the flesh in whom the manifold wisdome of God before hidden was made known unto them by the Church And lastly who gave them a nearer and more honourable relation unto the Divinity being now gathered together with us into one Body under him their Head 1 Pet. 1.12 1. Tim. 3.16 Eph. 3.10 Col. 1.20 2.10 Behold this Person I say not an Angel but a Man Jesus our Glorious Redeemer making us now equal to those perfect Spirits our flesh nature image above them Him glorious and admired by all his Saints in that day 2. Thess 1.10 Described Dan. 10.6 Rev. 1.13 14. Rev. 4.8 Shining as fine mettal burning in a Furnace his countenance as the Sun shining in his strength Blessed are they of whom in that day of his Glory he will not be ashamed And lastly see the employment and action of this heavenly Quire mixed of Men and Angels but under the presidence of a man 'T is perpetual musick and singing new Hymns of Victory and Triumph Rev. 5.8 9. 14.3 15.3 Every day a Sabbath and they in it resting from all labour and celebrating Divine Service Never ceasing all this long day of Eternity for there is no night Apoc. 21.15 22.5 from their Doxologies holy holy holy c. They rest not day and night saying c. Apoc. 4.8 for what can they do that are always ravished with joy but always praise the Author thereof falling down and worshipping Rev. 5.14 and casting down their Crowns before the Almighty with a Dignus es c. in admiration of his wisdome and thankfulness for this their happiness Rev. 4.11 Ravished with the sight of their God and burning with an equal love one toward another O how shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land Psal 137.4 O si vidisses sanctorum in coelo coronas perpetuas c. Scribe lege canta geme tace ora sustine contraria Digna est his omnibus majoribus praeliis vita aeterna Kempis 3. l. 47. c. §. 172. V. HEADS for the Meditation on the BENEFITS of Almighty God to YOU and to all MANKIND V. Psal 40 5. Many O Lord c. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee 1. First consider the greatness of his person his infinite majesty glory beauty power wisdome mighty works helping your thoughts with some description or vision of him in the Old or New Testament This consideration of his greatness with a little reflection on your vileness Psal 8. 3 4. 144.3 4. 113 5 6 7. 1. Chron. 16 17. will make much for aggrandizing of any favours from him such a one to such a one as you 2. Consider his Benefits His Creating you so perfect in Body and Soul In his own image and likeness The noblest but one of all his other Creatures 3. Creating all other Creatures for your use and in them abundant sufficiency for all your needs Even the Angels more excellent than you for your guard Heb. 1.14 and protection 4. Preserving you thus created in your being Act. 17.28 5 Giving you 1 many particular deliverances and preservations temporal from many evils happening to others as diseases poverty many casual and quotidian dangers c. Here calling diligently to mind any misery lying upon any of your acquaintance and remembring that your sins have also perhaps more deserved it thanking God that you are preserved from it 6. 2 Many particular blessings temporal denied to many others as health riches honour long life c. he having provided all necessaries for you and doing good to you all the while that you have done nothing but offended him even perhaps as long as those Psal 95.10 7. 3 Deliverances and preservations spiritual from the Devil and his evil Angels day and night seeking your destruction and that by the continual defence of the Good From many great temptations Preserving you in your right wits Keeping you from despair 8. 4 Blessings Spiritual such as follow Memorandum in these four last That you exact of your memory a very particular account Reviewing very narrowly your life past passing orderly through your childhood youth from the time of your first remembrance and confessing unto him §. 173. 1. Giving you laws wherein he only commanded you things exceeding beneficial and forbad you things exceedingly hurtful to your publick and private good Laws not grievous but an easy yoke and a light burthen 1. Jo. 5.3 Matt. 11.30 to those that are exercised therein Teaching you in all things out of his infinite wisdome what you should do and what you should refrain and giving you within you a vigilant and tender Conscience to accuse
passion Deliver us O Lord. By thy glorious resurrection and ascension by thy coming to judgment by thy coeternal glory with the Father Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may learn of thee who wast meek and humble in heart that we may deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow thee We beseech thee to hear us That we lay not up treasures for our selves on earth but in heaven that we may lose our lives in this world that we may preserve them to eternal life and fear not those that can kill the body only but him that can throw both Body and Soul into hell-fire We sinners beseech c. That we freely and willingly take up thy easy yoke and light burthen that with all diligence we put out to usury our talents we receive from thee and receiving thy word into honest and good hearts may bring forth much fruit with patience We sinners beseech Thee c. That whatsoever we would that men should do unto us we do so unto them that we judge none rashly but love one another and do good to those that hate us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That being uncertain of the hour of death and thy coming to judgment we endeavour to watch and be always ready that we seriously provide to give up the account of our Stewardship We sinners beseech Thee c. That persevering thro thy grace unto the end we may be saved We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That asking the Father in thy name we may be worthy to be heard according to thy promise We sinners c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us c. Hear us c. Have mercy upon us Every day will we repeat thy perfections O glorious Jesus that every day we may grow in esteem of thee every day will we attentively reckon over thy mercies that every day we may still increase in thy love We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. All that we have and are we received from thy grace All we desire and hope we expect in thy glory O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplication come unto thee Let us pray ALmighty God and most merciful Saviour the light of this world and glory of the next vouchsafe we beseech thee to illuminate our understandings enflame our Wills and sanctify all the faculties of our Souls that whilst with our lips we recite thy praises we may inwardly with our hearts adore thy person and admire thy goodness and conform our lives to thy holy example till at length by frequent meditation on the bliss thou hast prepared for us hereafter we break off our affections from all irregular adherence to this world and place them intirely on the enjoyment of thee who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God world without end Amen See the other Litany and Commemorations below LITANIES to God the Holy Spirit O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son who art the intimate love communion and complacency of the Father and the Son Have mercy on us Who art the finger strength and power of God the omnipotent worker of what the Father decrees and the Son the Word of God commands Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit by whose inspiration the holy men of God formerly spake Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit by whose admirable vertue the Incarnation of our Lord was wrought in the Virgins womb and who descendedst in the likeness of a Dove upon our Blessed Saviour Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit who at Pentecost appearedst resting upon the Disciples in cloven tongues of fire and with whom the Apostles being replenished boldly confessed and preached our Saviour Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Promise of the Father and the Son who descendedst to abide with us and in us here on earth in the absence of our Lord until his second coming Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who having cast out the strong one Satan and possessed his house vouchsafest to inhabit in our persons as the Son of God in our nature and to make us thy Temples Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who finishest the internal work of our Salvation by our Sanctification as the Son of God did the external by our Redemption Have mercy on us Who descendedst to glorify our Lord to bring to our remembrance testify and confirm all his heavenly doctrine to us Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Paraclete abiding with us for ever our Intercessor and Advocate here on earth within us to the Father as the Son now is for us in heaven Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who art the Seed of God in us by whom we are born again and made new creatures partakers of the Divine nature and Sons of God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the earnest and first fruits and pledge of our future inheritance the foretast of the good word and promise of God and of the power of Christ's Kingdome and of the World to come Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry Abba Father bearing witness to our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and by whom we are sealed to the day of Redemption Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit the Seed of Immortality in our corruptible bodies by whose vertue and power after sown in dishonour they shall be raised again in glory Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit who guidest and preservest the Church of God in all truth illuminating its Doctors strengthening its Martyrs and perfecting its Saints Have mercy c. O Holy Spirit the bond of the mystical union between Christ our Head and us his Members and between all the fellow-members making them all of one heart and one soul as being all actuated by one and the same Spirit Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who enlightenest and leadest us into all truth by whom the Charity of God is poured forth in our hearts who writest the laws of God within us and inclinest our wills not out of servile fear but love and choice to obey his commands Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who helpest our infirmities we not knowing what to pray for as we ought and makest intercession for us with groans that cannot be uttered Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who knowest all the hidden things of God and makest intercession according to his will and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth there the mind of the Spirit Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who revealest the mysteries of Religion the secrets of men's hearts and things to come Have mercy on us