The PRAYER MOST gracious God I have been very negligent of thy Service and those duties whereby I should have been better'd in the ways of Godliness by my ill performance have made me worse my very Prayers have been turned into Sin and those Sacrifices whereby I should have propitiated thee hath removed thee at a further distance from me and though thou in thy Mercy and tender compassion hast oppossed me in my Sins and called me to Repentance yet notwithstanding I have rusht into all manner of Wickedness * Here Name the Particulars as the Horse into the Battle and have gone from bad to worse II. THY Judgment have not Awaked me nor thy Mercies wonne me to Obedience I have not harkened to the Voice of thy Ministry nor to the Secret Checks of my own Conscience nor yet to the good motions of thy Holy Spirit all directing me this is the way walk in it and you shall find rest unto your Soul yet notwithstanding all the good means thou hast used to reclaim me and to bring me home to thee I have still gone on in a stubborn Course of Sin to the dishonour of thy Name the wounding of my own Soul the Scaldal of others and the increasing the great dreadful Account that I must one day make at the Judgment Seat of Christ III. FOR these O Lord and many other Sins all thy Waves and Storms have gone over me when thou hast smitten me I became void of understanding and was so far from being humbled that I laid it not to Heart nor considered that it was an Evil and bitter thing to depart from thee O Lord my God wo unto me I have pulled away the Shoulder I have stopt my Ear that I might not hear I have made my Heart harder than the Adamant and the neither Milstone impregnable for all thy Judgments have not pierced me nor made those impressions of Compunction and Sorrow which are the end whereof thou didst send them so that to my own shame and Confusion I may say my spots are none of the spots of thy Children nor thy Punishments the Chastisements of a loving Father but of an Angry Judge IV. I have too just reason to fear thy Afflictions under which I mourn they are not a Wind to Fan and Purge me but a Whirl Wind to Scatter and utterly destroy me as if the Sentence were already past and the Decree gone forth as if my Days were at an end because the shadows of the Evening are so far stretched out but yet O Lord be not weary of thy repentings though thou hast been prest under the Load of my Sins be not Angry with me for Ever but in the midst of Justice remember Mercy Amen Read the Psalms and Lessons appointed for the Day Tuesday Evenings Meditations LEARN Oâ— my Soul to Confess a Truth though never so much to thy own Diminution Learn ro Advance the Honour of thy God though never so much to thine own depression They who humble themselves shall be exalted and they who exalt themselves shall be humbled Learn to decline the Applause of Men and Banish from thy thoughts all conceits of thine own worth learn to speak lowly of thy self and to mean as thou sayest II. OFTEN does our weakness judge of others and perhaps our Malice censure their Qualities We rashly conclude upon outward presumptions and little consider their inward worth we are apt to undervalue whom we familiarly are acquainted with and scarce can think highly of them whom we have once known low Heal us O thou great Physitian of our Souls Heal us of all our Diseases and above them all of our Rude Impatience towards those that would Cure us Whatever they do who know thee not let not thy Church dishonour thee nor those of thine own Houshould undervalue thy Mercies Let not our unbelief Chase thee away nor our ingratitude overcome thy goodness III. DISDAIN not O my Soul the Company of thy Inferiors but accommodate thy self to their Innocent Customs help them with thy Prayers if thou canst not with thy Power and thy Lord in due time will Bounteously reward thee he keeps the good Wine till the last and then he 'll fill us to the brim with joy IV. TEACH me O Lord to Treat with every one according to their quality and neither scorn my Inferiors nor indiscreetly exalt them Teach me to humble my Soul before thy Majesty and sincerely Confess I am an unprofitable Servant unprofitable to thee O Lord not to my self while I gain by thy Service the Wages of Eternity If by thy Grace I believe thy word and Obey thy Law and with my whole Strength Love and Adore thee When I have done all that I ought which alas is more then I do I must still Confess I 'm an unprofitable Servant The PRAYER O Lord Create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me let the Assistance of thy Holy Spirit of Grace preserve me from Sin for the time to come for without thy preventing me I cannot but Sin visit me therefore O Lord with thy Salvation that I may live undefiled in the way of thy Commandments and see the Felicity of thy chosen and rejoyce and give thanks with thine Inheritance II. TO this End send thy Holy Spirit into my Heart to teach me to deny all ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Righteously Godly and Soberly in this present World remembring the great Account I am to make at the last day O let it subdue every Proud thought and vain imagination that shall exalt it self against the Scepter of thy Kingdom III. GIVE me I beseech thee either Peace from temptations or Victory over them in all Assaults of my Ghostly Enemy let thy Mighty hand have preheminence and bring mighty things to pass even Victory and Deliverance unto me the unworthiest of thy Servants that so by the Assistance of thy Holy Spirit I may Crucifie the Old Man Mortifie the Works of the Flesh subdue my Corruptions * Here Name the particulars Vanquish Satan and Tryumph over the Powers of the Kingdom of Darkness IV. O put thy fear into my Heart that I may never depart from thee put thy Love into my Heart that my Luke-warmness being raised us to the Flames and Fervency of Cherubims I may love thee above all things and loving thee above all things I may fear to offend so good and so gracious a God as thou Art wash away all my sins in that Sea of Blood which thy Son Christ Jesus shed for me and for the sins of the whole World and grant that I may receive the full benefit of his Death and Passion in this most Holy Sacrament with a free Pardon of all my sins and manifold transgressions Amen Then Read the Psalms and Lessons appointed for the day Meditations for Wednesday Morning BLESSED are they that had rather endure Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of sin for a
by thy Spirit assure my Spirit that I am thy Child and that thou art Reconciled unto me in the Blood of Jesus and to this end work into me a Detestation of all my former Wickedness help me in the Mortification of all my Vile and Corrupt Affections Crucifie in me the Old Man the whole Body of sin that I may Die unto Sin and live unto Righteousness and be made a fit Partaker at thy Holy Table Read Psal 22.40.54 1 Less Gen. 22. to v. 20. 2 Less St. John 18. Friday Evenings Meditations On the Passion and Death of the Holy Jesus His Arraignment and Condemnation BLESSED Jesu thou wast Seized and Led as an Innocent Lamb to the Slaughter thou wast Reviled falsly Accused and Unjustly Condemned by unjust Earthly Judges who was thy self the most just Judge of Heaven and Earth O Lord be not a Severe and Angry Judge when I shall stand before thy Tribunal but be thou my Mediator and Advocate to answer for me and I humbly beseech thee to Deliver from the Accusations of the Devil and his Angels from the Accusations of all those who have been Conscious of my many sinful Pollutions and from the Accusations of my own Conscience in the day of Judgment Spitted Vpon II. Blessed Jesu whose Face was fairer than the Children of Men â—â—d briâ—hter than the Sun in its 〈…〉 ory was Spit upon by f 〈…〉 and Ignominuos Persons Oh! turn thy Face away from my sins whereby I have Polluted my Soul and Prophaned thy Name But hide not thy Face from me who for my sins didst not turn thy Face from being Spit upon by the Barbarous Jews Buffeted III. Blessed Jesu who wast Cruelly Treated by the Soldiers with their Intolerable Rude Cuffs and hard Injurious Buffets Grant Lord that though I may feel yet let me not be Vanquished by the Buffets of Satan Forsaken of his Friends Blessed Jesu thou wast Content to be forsaken of all thy friends and dearest Disciples and to be left in the hands of Cruel Men who Thirsted after thy precious Blood O leave me not destitute of thy Divine Presence when I am Assaulted by my Ghostly Adversaries but be for ever with me and defend me from all their Malice and protect my Soul in all dangers Denied by Peter Blessed Jesu thou with infinite goodness and meekness lookedst back on St. Peter when he denied and forswore thee and by thy gracious look didst call him back both to himself and thee by true Repentance Oh look thus upon all Back-sliders from thee for their sincere Conversion and look upon me also and be merciful unto me Scourged Blessed Jesu thou was Whipped by a merciless Crue of Soldiers and thy Delicate skin was Torn and redoubled with their Lashes that the Blood Streamed down thy Innocent Sides but since O merciful Lord thou was wounded for my Transgressions and Bruised for mine Iniquities O let thy Chastisement procure my peace with Heaven and grant that by thy Stripes my Soul may be healed Crowned with Thorns Blessed Jesu thy Head was Crowned with Thorns and those beaten into thy Temple with much Rage and Fury Pardon O Lord all those sins my Eyes Ears and Tongue those Instruments of my Head have been guilty of Break not the Bruised Reed my broken Heart with the pressure of thy heavy Wrath but let thy Thorns the Fruits of the Curse which we Contracted and thou sustainedst deliver me from the Curse due for my sins Renouncing the World Blessed Jesu who art the King of Glory yet wast Content with a Cross for thy Throne a Wreath of Thorns for thy Crown and a Reed for thy Scepter thy Entertainment was Gaul and Vinegar and for thy Robes only a little Linnen to cover thy Nakedness O that I were so wise as from thy example to despise all the Guilded Glories and Vanities of this Life and to choose with Moses to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of sin for a Season Bearing his Cross Blessed Jesu who did with Patience bear thy Cross till it sunck thy Body to the Earth O let me not sink under thy Cross nor shrink from it but rather chearfully to take it up whatever it be and carefully to under go all the Sacred Acts of true Repentance following thee O Lord who sufferedst for me leaving me an Example that I should follow thy steps Crucified Blessed Jesu who didst Hang on a Cursed Tree to Abolish the Curse contracted by Eating the Fruit of the Forbidden Tree thou wast numbred with the transgressors and Crucified among Thieves O draw my hard and Stony Heart unto thee and deliver me from that Curse which my sins have Contracted and rank me not among the Goats on the Left but among the Sheep on thy Right Hand in the great day of Judgment His Body Tormented Blessed Jesu all the parts Members of thy Body were stretched on the Cross thy blessed Arms and Leggs were by such violence distended that the Joynts were disparted the Veins burst the Sinews Crackt the Skin Rent the Flesh Tore and all the Bones Started a side thy Innocent Hands and Feet were Nailed for the sinful works of my Head Heart Hands and Feet but I beseech thee Nail them to thy Cross which were the cause of thy Crucifixion hide in thy Wounds who wast Wounded for my transgression and write those Wounds of thine in my Heart not with Ink but with thy Blood which was shed for me The Sufferings of his Soul Blessed Jesu the Sufferings of thy Soul was exceeding great being like melted Wax in the Furnace of God's Wrath for the sins of the World when the fulness of thy sufferings being accomplished thou Commendedst thy Spirit into the Hands of God Grant O Lord that I may Die unto sin and Live only unto thee and by thy bitter Cross and Passion Cleanse me from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit that I may perfect Holiness in thy Fear The PRAYER O Lord without thee I am not able to do any thing much less any thing that is good come therefore Oh thou Father of Lights dispel and scatter from my Soul the Foggy Mists of sins and Ignorance that in thy Light I may see Light come O thou Power of God and set up thy Throne in my Soul and sway thy Scepter there and bring into subjection every high thought and every high imagination that exalteth it self against thee Come O thou Wisdom of God and discover to my Soul the Folly of Sin the Vanity of the World and the deceitfulness of my own Heart II. TEACH me I humbly beseech thee to Eschew Evil and Cleave to that which is good Come O thou goodness of God and shed abroad the love of God in my Heart that I may love thee my God above all things and my Neighbour for thy sake Yea my very Enemies for Jesus Christ his sake and after his Example who Died for me while I was yet his Enemy fit me
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
they may come to thee receive them O Gracious Jesus and Teach their Hearts to believe what thine own Blest Mouth has so clearly taught them The PRAYER OH Most Glorious and most Power ful Lord God whose dwelling is above the Heavens in Light in Accessible and thine Eyes run to and fro to behold the things which are in Heaven and in Earth neither is there any thing which is not Naked and open unto thee for thine Eyes are Ten Thousand times brighter than the Sun beholding all the Ways of Men. II. LOOK upon me O Lord who am the unworthiest of all thy Servants thou hast made me a Member O Lord of that Mystical Body whereof thy Son Christ Jesus is the Head make me therefore sensible of the necessities of the Catholick Church I beseech thee to be merciful unto it and to every Member of the same wheresoever Dispersed howsoever Distressed or by Whomsoever Dispised throughout this Vniversal World III. Oh Lord call them that are yet Strangers and have not yet heard of thy Name reduce and bring home those that are gone astray and wander raise up all that are fallen and confirm and strengthen such as do stand bind up all that are Broken and heal all that are Bruised Vnite us all in soundness of Doctrine by the Spirit of Truth in holiness of Life by the Spirit of Sanctification and in Brotherly Compassion and Christian Affection by the Spirit of Love IV. O Lord I beseech thee to open the Bowels of thy Mercy and to pour out thy tenderest Compassion upon all such as mourn under the weight of their Afflictions many are the troubles of thy poor Servants and thou only knowest how to deliver them out of all their troubles whether therefore any be inwardly distressed in Soul Mind or Conscience or outwardly Afflicted in Body Estate or good Name I beseech thee give them speedy case out of their misery or Patience to endure what thou shalt be pleased to lay upon them V. I beseech thee to open the Eyes of those that lie on their Beds of Sickness Oh! thou that art the God of Health and sender of Sickness Sanctifie thy Visitation unto them make their Beds in their Sickness lay no more upon them than thou wilt give them strength and Patience to bear and if it may stand with thy Gracious Will grant that they may recover their former Health to do thee Service hereafter VI. BVT if thou that knowest what is best needful for them hast determined at this time to take any of them unto thy self O Lord I beseech thee to fit and prepare them for the hour of Death give them a true feeling of their sins and a lively apprehension of thy mercy in Christ Jesus that so surely Repenting of thee one and chearfully laying hold on the other they may with Confidence and Comfort resign up their Souls into the Hand of thee their most merciful Creator and Redeemer Amen Read the Psalms and Lessons for the Day Meditations for Thursday Evening PREPARE my Heart O God to receive thee whom my Soul loveth for thou hast the Words of Eternal Life Blessed O gracious Jesu be the sweetness of thy Spirit which so kindly invitest me to refresh my weariness I know and thine own sure word has told me If I Labour for thee here I shall rest with thee hereafter Lord make me follow thee wherever thou goest and strive and run to be first in thy Presence there I shall meet a Mercy that will regard and pity me there I shall find a goodness that will teach and relieve me II. WRITE all thy Holy Truths in my Soul O Lord and Print thy Love in the Center of them all there let it sit as Soveraign Governour and absolutely dispose of all my interests Let it command my Tongue to confess thee and no fear of Danger make me ever deny thee let it command all my Powers to serve thee and nothing but thy Love find place in my Heart III. O when shall I come to thy Holy Table to tast of thy most delicious Banquent to hear those Sweet and Ravishing Words He dwells in me and I in him sweet in excess to the Soul that loves and Tasts the joys of this heavenly Converse and feeds on the wonders of this admirable Union He dwells in me and I in Him O Blest and Glorious Words What can be said more full of Grace and Strength and Supernatural Mystery Here they alone are my Heaven on Earth and will hereafter be my Heaven in Heaven IV. To thee my great Creator I humbly Sacrifice the Noblest faculty thou hast given me to thee and to the Obedience of thy Truth I entirely Resign and Captivate my understanding Thy Words O Lord in thy Holy Sacrament are Spirit and Life unto me O make my Faith be quick and Active to thee in receiving so great a Salvation Shall I go back and forsake my God because he humbles himself to approach towards me Shall I refuse to Learn of my Master because his Lessons exalt me above my Nature The PRAYER O Lord I am too weak to serve thee in my Natural Power and not careful to improve the Aids of thy Spirit I am full of inconsideration and carelesness desirous to be accounted Holy of Men but careless of being so to thee my God I am unstedfast O Lord in all my ways * Here Name the Particulars but enable me to confess my Faith in despight of all the Oppositions of Satan to Publish thy Laws submit to thy dispensations and to Glorifie thy Holy Name by Holy living and dying II. BLESS me O Lord with all the Blessings and Assistance of thy Spirit and Providence let the Daily Sacrifice of Prayer and Eucharist in thy Church never cease but for ever be presented unto thee Vnited to the intercession of our Lord and for ever prevail for the obtaining to all her Sons and Daughters Grace and Blessing Pardon and Holiness Perservance and Glory Vnite my Heart and Tongue take away the Spirit of Error and Division from me that my Religion and Devotion may increase whereby thy Truth may be promoted and thy Name Glorified and me thy unworthy Servant Instructed and Comforted let thy Spirit Rule and all Interest Stoop and Obey Publish and Advance the Intorest of the Lord Jesus III. EXTEND thine Accustomâ—d goodness to all thy People to Old Men Prudence and Liberality to Young Men Obedience Temperance Health and Diligence to Merchants Justice and Faithfulness to Mechanicks and Artisans Truth and Honesty to all Married Pairs Faith and Holiness Charity and sweet Compliances to all Christian Women the Ornament of a meek and a quiet Spirit Chastity and Charity Patience and Obedience a Zeal of Duty and Religion IV. TO all that are Sick and Afflicted distressed in Conscience or Persecuted for it give Patience and Comfort a sincere Repentance and a perfect Resignation a love of God and a Perseverance in Duty proportionable Comfort in this
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
Lord the Blindness of my understanding and Straighten the Crookedness of my Will and heal all the Infirmities of my weak Nature O do thou throughly Cure me that I sin no more but immediately take up my Heart which too long have Cleaved to this Earth and bear it after thee to walk from henceforth the ways of thy Commandments II. WHEN thou art present with me O thou Heavenly Spouse of my Soul When thou art pleased to stay and dwell in my Heart how strangely dost thou fill it with joy and sweetness Whatever happens I cannot be sad while thou art with me nor pleasant if thou leavest me infuse thy Holy Love into mine Heart O Lord and make me faithfully hold it fast for ever that I loose not my self by neglecting thy Grace but preserve them both to Eternal Life III. BUT alas How quickly am I weary of praying to my God how apt to give over my expectance from him Who yet as soon as he sees my necessities begins my relief and leaves nor off till he has perfectly finished it Let me not fear but believe and Obey and my Soul shall be safe why am I so impatient when any trouble befalls me and why do I disparage the extraordinary proceedings of God though I am Dead in sin and sorrow he can revive me and give me strength to walk in the ways of Life he will give me that Bread which came down from Heaven yea his own self which he gave for the Life of the World IV. BUT 't is not for Flesh and Blood to follow thee O thou great Exemplar of Sublime perfection 'T is not for Flesh and Blood to perform the Excellencies of an Evangelical Life but to the Almighty Grace of God nothing is impossible every exense is welcome to me every little difficulty is enough to divert me I am afraid of the hardship of Poverty I am in Love with my Kindred and Acquaintance and never can Nature alone overcome these difficulties but thou O Lord canst find a remedy and compose in me such a frame of Spirit whereby I may Vanquish all those thoughts which keep me from thy Glorious presence The PRAYER OEternal Lord God Infinite in thy Greatness Incomprehensible in thy Glory whose Pure and Just Eves cannot behold either Sin or Sinners with the least look of approbation be not offended with me thy unworthy Servant O Lord who art a Merciful and Reconciled Father to all such sinners as sincerely desire and endeavour to Repent and believe thy providence hath preserved me unto this moment to offer unto thy Majesty my Evening Sacrifice beseeching thee to make me a fit partaker at thy Holy Table II. I have been a foul and flat Idolator erecting the Idols of my own profit and pleasure in the Chappel and Closet of my Heart and then and there have fallen down upon the bended Knees of my Soul and worshiped them by regarding my lust more than the fulfiling thy Will in thy Word that Sacred Name of thine whereby I hope to be Saved I have taken in vain I have done that on thy day the Lord's Day which I can justifie or a Vouch on no day I have not given that Reverence and Respect to my Superiours I have broken all thy Commandements of the Second Table in my Demeanour towards my Neighbour and in my Deportment to my own Soul and Body III. O Lord I have been ashamed to confess my sins in the presence of the World but I have been Vile and bold and no whit ashamed to commit them when I knew full well that thee the great God of Heaven and Earth did at that instant behold me Oh! lend me thy Spirit effectually to admire thy Patience and â—ong-Suffering towards me who permits such a Prefane and Presumptuous sinner at this hour of my Life still to remain from everlasting Burnings IV. SVRELY Lord there are many in that Pit of Perdition whose sins against thee were never Aggavated with those high Circumstances O Lord I have no Varity of Reasons to move thee to Mercy I have no Exchange of Motives to perswade thee to Pitty but only the same over and over again for thy own sake for thy Names sake for thy Mercies sake for thy Son and my Saviour Christ Jesus his sake forgive my-Sins for they are great wash the Guilt and Filth of my sins away in his Blood and Lord for the time to come give me Grace to spend the remainder of my days to thy Glory In whose most powerful Name I sue unto thee for all that is comprehended in this my weeks preparation or whatever else for want of Memory I have Omitted in thy most perfect form of Prayer sayong Our Father c. Read the Psalms and Lessons for the Day Sunday Mornings Meditations at Home WELCOME Blest day unto my Heart but far more Welcome unto my Soul I have now put off the Old Man with his Affections and Lusts and I must now put on my Wedding Garment even the Lord Jesus Christ that I may be made wholly conformable to him in the Image of his mind that my Soul may be Clothed with his Righteousness and all its faculties proportioned and vested according to the perfect Pattern of Christs Life II. THIS is the day of the Holy Feast therefore my Soul lay aside all Cares and Impertinences of the World remember this day is appointed for thee a day of Traffique and Entercourse with Heaven O Lord therefore will I magnifie thy Holy Name and evermore adore thy goodness O What a happy opportunity my God hast thou given me of receiving the greatest favour I can receive in this World even the Body and Blood of my dearest Savour III. O Lamb of God thou hast used many Arts to save me when I was lost thou hast given thy Life to Redeem me when I was a Slave to Sin and Satan and thy Holy Spirit to Sanctifie me O now come Lord Jesus come quickly My Heart is desirons of thy Presence Thirsty for thy Grace and I am earnest to entertain thee not as a Guest but as an Inhabitant to dwell with me forever IV. LORD the place thou art Invited to is full of Passion and Prejudice Disobedient Lustful and Intemperate and full of sad Remembrances that I have often provoked to Jealousie and to Anger thee my God my dearest Saviour him that died for me him that Suffered Torments for me that is Infinitely good to me and infinitely good perfect in himself Lord I am as sure thou didst the great Work of Redemption for me all Mankind as that I am Alive This is my Hope the Strength of my Spirit my Joy and my Confidence Here I will dwell for I have a delight therein Here I will live and here I desire to Die V. LORD whither shall I go but to thee Thou hast the Words of Eternal Life as the Hart desireth the Water Brooks So longeth my Soul after thee O God my Soul is a Thirst for