Sighs of them that mourn attend to the Prayers which we pour out before thee in our distresse and tribulation and clemently hear them that whatever the malice of Man or subtilty of Satan can work against us may by the wisdom of thy Piety be dasht and brought to nothing so as being hurt by no Adversities but delivered from all Affliction and sorrow we may joyfully yield thanks to thee in thy Church Forgive O Lord our sins and bestow on us thy mercy look down upon our low and sad condition pity our many miserys and break asunder the bonds that lie heavy on us and in all our necessities graciously hear thy Suppliants through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy upon us Lord Jesu hear our Prayers Lord Jesus receive our Petitions Our Father c. ALmighty God the Fountain of all Wisdom who knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking we beseech thee to have Compassion upon our Infirmities and those things which for our unworthinesse we dare not and for our blindnesse we cannot ask vouchsafe to give us for the Worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the felloship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore Amen I Shall not undertake to trouble you with the particular Opinions concerning the keeping of this day holy since some are of one Opinion and some of another and many Learned Treatises being thereupon already written to which when you shall by the good pleasure of God attain to a more mature judgment I shall refer you but rather advise you to sollow the Order of holy Church therein and withal to assure you of my own Experience and observations of that day which have been that when ever I have been so unhappy either by the perswasions of others or my own evil Inclinations to undertake or meddle with any Affairs of the World upon that day any more than of necessity they have alwayes had a very ill Successe and a most unhappy Conclusion therefore since it is the Command of God and holy Church that this day should be kept holy I would advise you not to be singular in neglecting your duty upon that holy day which the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the great God of all the holy Saints and Angels in Heaven who keep a holy and perpetual Sabboth grant you may perform with all holy devotions and pious works Amen DEVOTIONS for Friday FRiday being the Day of the Week upon which our blessed Lord and Saviour by most cruel hands was Crucified for the Redemption of the whole World hath by the Christian Church in all times been observed as a day of Fasting yet some Countrys have herein made some difference As first not to fast upon Friday within the twelve dayes of Christmas and Easter week Secondly others not to fast upon any Friday that happeneth to fall upon any holy-day observed by the Command of the Church Thirdly others not to fast upon any Friday between Easter and Ascension from that saying of our Saviour Mat. 9. 15. Can the Children of the Bride Chamber mourn as long as the Bridegroom is with them But you may use your discretion herein having a special regard to the Order of your holy Mother the Church of England who commands all Fridays in the year to be observed as Fasts except Christmasse-day when it shall happen to fall upon a Friday Fasting dayes ought to be dayes of Repentance and abstinence from sin as well as from meat and drink And being dayes of Repentance you shall do well that day to recite the seven Penitential Psalms which are these the 6. the 32. the 38. the 51. the 102. the 130. and the 143. dividing them in your Devotions as you shall be hereby directed First when you prepare your self for your duty of Fasting standing before the place where you intend your devotion which may be so early as this Office may be ended by you before the Church Morning Service begin and say The sixth Psalm 1. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure 2. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed 3. My Soul is also sore troubled but Lord how long wilt thou punish me 4. Turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul O save me for thy mercies sake 5. For in death no man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the Pit 6. I am weary of my groning every night wash I my Bed and water my Couch with my tears 7. My beâ—uty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine enemies 8. Away from me all ye that work vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping 9. The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receive my Prayer 10. All mine enemies shall be confounded and sore vexed they shall be turned back and put to shame suddenly Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The 32. Psalm 1. BLessed is he whose unrighteousnesse is forgiven and whose sin is covered 2. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose Spirit their is no guile 3. For while I held my tongue my bones consumed away through my daily complaining 4. For thy hand is heavy upon me day and night and my moisture is like the drought in Summer 5. I will knowledge my sin unto thee and mine unrighteousnesse have I not hid 6. I said I will confesse my sins unto the Lord and so thou forgavest the wickednesse of my sin 7. For this shall every one that is godly make his Prayer unto thee in a time when thou mayst be found but in the great water-floods they shall not come nigh him 8. Thou art a place to hide me in thou shalt preserve me from trouble thou shalt compasse me about with songs of deliverance 9. I will inform thee and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go and I will guid thee with mine eye 10. Be ye not like to Horse and Mule which have no understanding whose mouths must be holden with bit and bridle lest they fall upon thee 11. Great plagues remain for the ungodly but who so putteth his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on every side 12. Be glad O ye Righteous and rejoyce in the Lord and be joyful all ye that are true of heart Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Then say By the sign of the holy Crosse O Lord deliver me Then kneeling devoutly upon your knees say In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now
Farth I humbly adore thy Sacred Majesty and with all the forces of my Soul exalt and praise thy holy Name for the infinite blessings thou hast so freely bestowed on me for electing me in thy Love and Creating me after thine own Image for Redeeming me by thy Son and Sanctifying me with thy holy Spirit for preserving me in all the chances and encounters of this Life and raising up my thoughts to the hope of a better And particularly for thy gracious protection from the dangers of this night and bringing me safely to the beginning of this day Continue O Lord thy mercy to me and as thou hast awakened my Body from sleep so raise my Soul from sin that I may walk soberly and chastly as in the day in all holy obedience before thy face Deliver me O merciful God from the evils of this day and guid my feet in the wayes of peace Strengthen my Resolution to embrace with gladnesse the opportunities of good and carefully avoid all occasions of sin especially those which I by experience do most endanger my Soul with And when through frailty I forget thee do thou in mercy remember that as I often fall by the evil inclinations of my nature I may alwaies rise again by the good assistance of thy grace make me diligent in the duties of my Condition and not too solicitous for the success of my Affairs but in all the miscarriages and crosses of this world absolutely submit to thy divine pleasure and wholly rely on thy merciful providence Let thy Blessings be upon my Actions and thy grace direct my intentions that the whole Course of my life and principal design of my heart may alwaies tend to the advancement of thy glory the good of others and the eternal salvation of my own Soul through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen I Adore and glorifie thee O blessed Trinity God Omnipotent Father Son and Holy Ghost I offer my self to thy divine Majesty humbly beseeching thee to take from me and from all thy faithful what ever displeaseth thee and give us that which is grateful in thy sight grant that we may here do what thou commandest and hereafter receive what thou promisest To thee O Lord I commend my Soul and Body my Father and Mother my Brethren and Sisters my Kinsfolks and Benefactors my Friends and Familiars and all those for whom I am any wayes bound to offer up my Prayers To thee I commend the holy Catholick Church Grant O Lord all may know thee all may honour and reverence thee all may love thee and be loved by thee those that erre reduce and bring into the way destroy Heresies Convert all to the true Faith who as yet do not know thee grant us O Lord thy grace and conserve us in thy peace May thy holy Will be done and not ours comfort all those that lead their lives in Sorrow Misery or Temptations and mercifully relieve their Afflictions whether Spiritual or Corporal Lastly I commend all universally to thy holy Protection that thou wouldest vouchsafe unto them forgivenesse of all their sins and life everlasting INto the hands of thy unspeakable mercy O Lord I commend my Soul and Body my Sences my Words my Thoughts and all my Actions with all the necessities of my Body and Soul my going forth and coming in my Faith and Conversation and the course and end of my Life the day and hour of my Death my rest and Resurrection with thy Saints and Elect for ever Amen O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Supplications come unto thee Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen ACcept O most gracious God for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ his sake this Office of my Service and if by thy grace I have performed any thing according to my duty in thy Clemency regard it and what I have done with negligence mercifully pardon who livest and reignest one God in perfect Trinity world without end Amen THe Imperial Majesty of God bless me the Regal Divinity protect me the everlasting Deity keep me the glorious Unity comfort me the Incomprehensible Trinity defend me the Inestimable Goodnesse direct me the Power of the Father govern me the Wisdom of the Son quicken me the Vertue of the Holy Ghost illuminate me and defend me from all mine enemies visible and invisible and be with me and preserve me this day and for evermore This being performed arise from off thy knees with reverence making an humble bow with your body and saying Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen At your going forth of the House where you did lodge the night before say privately to your self Shew me O Lord thy wayes and teach me thy paths direct my steps according to thy Word that no Injustice rule over me by the guiding of thy holy Angels make perfect my goings in thy paths that my steps be not moved from the wayes of thy Righteousnesse Devout MEDITATIONS At the time of your going to Bed WHen you have entred your Chamber and your thoughts are retired from your worldly Affairs repair to some convenient place and with great reverence bow your Body and say the thirteenth Psalm HOw long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me How long shall I seek counsel in my Soul and be so vexed in my heart How long shall mine enemies triumph over me Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death Lest mine enemy say I have prevailed against him For if I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at it But my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever O Lord shew thy mercy upon us And grant us thy Salvation Our Father c. ALmighty God give us grace that we may cast away the works of darknesse and put upon us the Armour of light now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus
Christ came to visit us in great humility that in the last Day when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead we may rise to the life immortal through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and ever Amen ALmighty and everlasting God which art alwayes more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy forgiving us those things whereof our Conscience is afraid and giving unto us that that our Prayer dare not presume to ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. ALmighty and merciful God of thy bountiful goodnesse keep us from all things that may hurt us that we being ready both in body and soul may with free hearts accomplish those things that thou wouldst have done through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Eternal God Almighty Father of Men and Angels by whose mercy care and Providence I have been preserved blessed comforted and assisted I humbly beg of thee to pardon the sins and follies of this day the weaknesse of my service the strength of my passion the rashnesse of my words and the vanity and evil of my actions O just and dear God how long shall I confesse my sins and pray against them and yet fall under them O let it be so no more let me never return to the follies of which I am ashamed which bring Sorrow and Death and thy displeasure worse than death give me a command over my evil Inclinations and a perfect hatred of sin and a love to thee above all the desires of this world be pleased to bless and preserve me this night from all sin and all violence of Chance and the malice of the Spirits of darknesse watch over me in my sleep or wake and whether I sleep or awake let me be thy Servant be thou first and last in all my thoughts and the guid and continual assistance of all my actions preserve my Body pardon the sins of my Soul sanctifie my Spirit let me alwayes live holy justly and soberly and when I die receive my Soul into thy hands O holy and ever blessed Jesus that I may lye in thy Bosom and long for thy coming and hear thy blessed sentence at dooms-day and live in thy Kingdom singing praises to God for ever and ever Amen Save me Lord waking and keep me sleeping that I may watch with Christ and rest in peace Amen Preserve me as the Apple of thine Eye and protect me under the shadow of thy wings Vouchsafe O Lord to keep me this night without sin Have mercy on me O Lord have have mercy on me Thy mercy be upon me O Lord. As I have put my trust in thee O Lord hear my Prayer And let my Supplication come unto thee VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this Habitation this Countrey and Township wherein I live and repel far from it and them all the snares of the wicked Enemy of Mankind and let thy holy Angels dwell therein to preserve us in peace and thy Blessing be upon us and all that we have and all that belongs unto us both now and for ever through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen God the Father bless me Iesus Christ defend and keep me the vertue of the Holy Ghost illuminate and Sanctifie me this night and for ever Amen Concluding Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Lord Iesu receive my Soul When you are in your Bed and cannot sleep exercise your self in some Spiritual Meditation If thou chance to awake in the dead of the night forthwith imagine thy self present amidst the Quires of Saints and Angels and with sudden Acclamation cry out with them reciting that Himn which they incessantly sing both day and night saying Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus c. Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabboth Heaven and Earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen WHen I had ended these Devotions for the Morning and Evening for your private use I thought to have proceeded no further but when I considered the difference holy Church makes of Dayes some for holy Feasts and others for holy Fasts I thought it convenient to set you out some other Devotions for the great weekly Feast of the Church being the Lords day upon which he did rise from the Grave and that weekly Fast of the Church being Friday upon which he was Crucified besides the Publique I mean those appointed by the Church for those days and your other private Devotions For as those dayes are great in the esteem of the Church so they bring a greater duty with them DEVOTIONS For Sunday Mornings before the Church Prayers begin The fifth Psalm 1. POnder my words O Lord consider my Meditation 2. O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling my King and my God for unto thee will I make my Prayer 3. My voice shalt thou hear betimes O Lord early in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up 4. For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall any evil dwell with thee 5. Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight for thou hatest all them that work vanity 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitfull man 7. But as for me I will come into thine House even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple 8. Lead me O Lord in thy righteousnesse because of mine Enemies make thy way plain before my face 9. For there is no faithfulnesse in his mouth their inward parts are very wickedness 10. Their throat is an open Sepulchre they flatter with their tongue 11. Destroy thou them O God let them perish through their own imaginations cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness for they have rebelled against thee 12. And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoyce they shall ever be giving of thanks because thou defendest them they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee 13. For thou Lord wilt give thy Blessing unto the righteous and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Then humbly kneeling upon your knees say In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever Amen Our Father c. Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions BLessed Lord who hast caused all holy Scripture to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise hear them read
of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes unto the wicked and Sinners shall be converted unto thee 14. Deliver me from Blood guiltiness O God thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse 15. Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise 16. For thou desirest no Sacrifice else would I give it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings 17. The Sacrifice of God is a troubled Spirit a broken and contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise 18. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion build thou the walls of Hierusalem 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the Sacrifices of Righteousness with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young Bullocks upon thine Altar Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. About two of the Clock in the Afternoon upon every Friday repair to the place of your Devotions and standing up say The 102. Psalm 1. HEar my Prayer O Lord and let my crying come unto thee 2. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine ears unto me when I call O hear me and that right soon 3. For my dayes are consumed away like smoke and my bones are burnt up as it were a Firebrand 4. My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse so that I forget to eat my bread 5. For the voice of my groning my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh 6. I am become like a Pelican in the Wilderness and like an Owl that is in the desart 7. I have watched and am even as it were a Sparrow that sitteth alone upon the house top 8. Mine enemies revile me all the day long and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me 9. For I have eaten Ashes as it were Bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10. And that because of thine Indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me up and cast me down 11. My dayes are gone like a shadow and I am withered like grass 12. But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever and thy remembrance throughtout all generations 13. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for it is time that thou have mercy upon her yea the time is come 14. And why thy Servants think upon her stones and it pittieth them to see her in the Dust 15. The Heathen shall fear thy Name O Lord and all the Kings of the Earth thy Majesty 16. When the Lord shall build up Sion and when his glory shall appear 17. When he turneth him unto the Prayer of the poor destitute and despiseth not their desire 18. This shall be Written for those that come after and the People which shall be born shall praise the Lord. 19. For he hath looked down from his Sanctuary out of the Heaven did the Lord behold the Earth 20. That he might hear the mournings of such as be in Captivity and deliver the Children appointed unto death 21. That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion and his his Worship at Jerusalem 22. When the People are gathered together and the Kingdoms also to serve the Lord. 23. He brought down my strength in my journey and shortned my days 24. But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my age as for thy years they endure throughout all generations 25. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands 26. They shall perish but thou shalt indure they all shall wax old as doth a garment 27. And as a Vesture thou shalt change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail 28. The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The 130. Psalm 1. OUt of the deep have I called unto thee O Lord Lord hear my voice 2. O let thine ears consider well the voyce of my complaint 3. If thou Lord wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it 4. For there is mercy with thee therefore shalt thou be feared 5. I look for the Lord my Soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust 6. My Soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch I say before the morning watch 7. O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is Mercy and with him is plenteous Redemption 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Then devoutly kneeling upon your knees say Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Cry come unto thee Our Father c. O Most mighty God and merciful Father who hast Compassion upon all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made who wouldest not the death of a Sinner but that he should rather turn from his sin and be saved Mercifully forgive us our trespasses receive and comfort us who are grieved and wearied with the burthen of our sins Thy property is alwayes to have Mercy to thee onely it appertaineth to forgive sins Spare us therefore good Lord spare thy People whom thou hast redeemed Enter not into judgment with thy Servants who are vile earth and miserable Sinners but so turn thine Anger from us who meekly acknowledge our vilenesse and truely repent us of our faults and so make hast to help us in this world that we may ever live with thee in the world to come through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Collect for the Sunday next before Easter day ALmighty and everlasting God who of thy tender love towards Mankind hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer Death upon the Cross that all Mankind should follow the example of his great humility mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his Patience and also be made partakers of his Resurrection through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Collect for Easter even GRant O Lord that as we are baptized into the Death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him and that through the Grave and gate of Death we may pass to our joyful Resurrection for his Merits who dyed and was buryed and rose again for us thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O Most sweet Lord and my Redeemer Jesus Christ who by thy heavenly Father was sent down into this world and willingly of thine own accord sufferedst most cruel and bitter Pains on the Crosse and carried it on thy blessed Shoulders that thy Patience might be to us Salvation and
of Death and the due Preparation to it for there he hath these expressions which for brevities sake I divide into parts First That God would preserve the Supplicant ever in the Communion and peace of the Church Secondly bless his Death-Bed with a holy and Spiritual Guid which is a Priest Thirdly with the assistance and guard of Angels Fourthly with perception of the holy Sacrament Fifthly with patience and dereliction of his own desires Sixthly with a strong faith firm and humble hope Seventhly with just measures of Repentance and greater treansures of Charity to God and all the world therefore never neglect those means that God hath been so graciously pleased to impower his Priests to communicate unto you untill the second Coming of his Son untill which day after you shall depart this transitory world the great God of Heaven grant that your Souls in the Arms of the holy Jesus may be deposited with safety and joy there to expect the revelation of that day and then to pertake of the glories of his Kingdom Amen ANd since I am gone thus far I will proceed a little further to give you a few particulars both of the Church and your behaviour in Publique Assemblies It is impossible to be in this world and to be without Enemies for it was the lot which befel our blessed Saviour and his Apostles so the Church cannot be without them Some especially there are that strike at the very Root of all and say that upon the death of Queen Mary none of the Bishops of the Church of Rome could be prevailed with to Consecrate the Bishops appointed by Queen Elizabeth but that she appointed them by Act of Parliament and so the Succession of Consecration of Bishops from our Saviour Christ and his Apostles failed which could not be continued by Act of Parliament and their succession failing the Successive Power of Ordination of Priests must likewise fail so no Bishop no Priest no Priest no Church but certainly this was but a device of Saunders and some others for Mathew Parker who was Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was the first Bishop Consecrated in Queen Elizabeth her time and was Cannonically Consecrated by Coverdale Scory Barlow and Haskins who were likewise Cannonically Consecrated in the time of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth of all which you may more fully satisfie your self in the Learned Treatise of Mr. Mason upon the Institution of the Bishops of England to which when it will be time for you to be satisfied in the question I refer you and likewise to the learned Dr. Heylin in his Ecclesiastical History of the Church of England both which Books you may find in my Custody And as for the Government Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England I can onely let you know my weak judgment therein and the observations I have made by the reading of many learned and pious Authours that the Frame is as Apostolical and according to the Primitive Institution as possibly could be imagined Two things I observe out of Dr. Heylin speaking of the Opinions of Calvin Luther and Zwinglius how in other Countries they did receive the Reformation of the Church tumultuously but was in England reteyned with more moderation bearing no respect to any other but abolishing such things as were dissonant to Gods Word and reteyned such Ceremonies as without offence the liberty of the Church might establish wherein certainly saith he they dealt more advisedly then their Neighbours who in meer detestation to the Church of Rome abrogated such things altogether which their abuse had defiled though never so decent in themselves and allowed in the Primitive times And certainly saith he I perswade my self had the Reformed party abroad continued an allowable correspondency in some things with the Romish Church as the Church of England doth now it had been to their advantage far greater and lesse stomacked And this was the Censure of Monseur de Rhosney Duke of Sicilly at such time as being Embassador here for the King of France he had observed the Majesty and decency of our Church Service in Cathedrals I have also heard it saith he reported that when Peter du Moulin that great Light of the Church of France heard how indiscreetly some of our English Clergy had silenced themselves because the Cap and Surplice was Commanded he replyed That would the King of France give him a general license to Preach in Paris though it were in a Fools Coat he would most willingly accept the condition and that he never would deprive the Church of those gifts wherewith God had blessed him But it is very true as the said learned Dr. Heylin very worthily observeth that the Iesuits and the Puritans are the very Disturbers of our Peace And a long Experience hath found it so to be For saith he untill the Iesuits are taken out of the Church of Rome and the peevish Puritan Preachers now called Presbyterians out of the Church of Great Brittain there would never be any peace in Christendom For very true it is that in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth those that continued Members of the Church of Rome and yet would not acknowledge the Queens Supremacy yet for the glorious Orders sake of the Service of the Church of England did constantly repair to the English Service and never left the same out of any dislike they had to it but rather in regard of a Decree set forth in the Councel of Trent prohibiting all resort to the Churches of Hereticks which notwithstanding the far greater part continued in their first obedience until the coming over of that roaring Bull from Pope Pius the 5. who being instigated thereunto by means of the Jesuitical Faction by which Bull the Queen was excommunicated the Subjects discharged from their obedience to the Laws And their going or not going to Church made a sign distinctive to difference a Roman Catholick from an English Protestant And truly it is very probable that they might have stood much longer to their first Conformity for all the Decree of Trent and this Bull had not the true Disturbers of the Peace of the Brittish Church come into their Aid which were those Presbyterians of the Zwinglian and Calvinian Opinion who about this time brought in their multitude of Innnovations both in Doctrine and Discipline which Faction were then called Puritans or rather a Name they did appropriate to themselves because of their pretending to a greater Purity in the Service of God than was held forth unto them as they gave it out in the Common Prayer-book and to a greater opposition to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Rome than was agreeable to the constitution of the Church of England But this purity was accompanied with such Irreverence and drew along with it so much Licentiousnesse as gave great Scandal and offence to all sober men And these last thirty years hath given the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland a
it wander not our Office is more determined by words but we then actually think of God when our Spirits onely speak Mental prayer when our Spirits wander is like to a Watch standing still because the spring is down wind it up again and it goes on regularly but in Vocal prayer if the words run on and the Spirit wanders the Clock strikes false the hand points not to the right hour because something is in disorder and the striking is nothing but noise in Mental prayer we confess Gods Omniscience in Vocal prayer we call the Angels to witness in the first our Spirits rejoyce in God in the second the Angels rejoyce in us Mental prayer is the best Remedy against lightnesse and indifferency of Affections but Vocal prayer is the aptest Instrument of Communion that is more Angelical but yet fittest for the state of separation and glory this is but humane but it is apter for our present Constitution they have their distinct proprieties and may be used according to their several accidents occasions or dispositions You must often call to mind and examin your self of all your actions especially after much businesse speeches c. You must live as though you had nothing and yet possesse all things and remember that meat drink and cloth are a Christians riches Yield your selves wholly to God and though you have nothing to requite him with but your self yet he gives all that gives himself the Apostles left their Ship and their Nets the poor Widdow gave onely her two Mites to the poor mans Box and her Oblation was preferred before those of the richest persons he easily dispenseth all things that alwayes thinks he must die You must never go to Bed disquieted or troubled in mind but be at peace with God and Man as much as in you lyeth and daily use Jaculatory Prayers thereby to prevent the deceipts of the Devil Take special care in your reading of the Psalms of David for in them you will find much comfort towards your Service of God and praising his holy Name Since singing of Praises giving of Thanks and offering Oblations to the Throne of Grace is very acceptable unto Almighty God and since I have before Composed an Office for your use when you shall be so unhappy to fall into any Calamity Affliction or trouble I have thought fit that when it shall please God you shall be delivered out of any Calamity c. to provide for you a short Office of Devotions whereby you may give God thanks by praising him for your deliverance as followeth As you are standing say The Te Deum Laudamus WE praise thee O God we knowledge thee to be the Lord. All the Earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting To thee all Angels cry aloud the Heavens and all the Powers therein To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabboth Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory The glorious Company of the Apostles praise thee The goodly Fellowship of the Prophets praise thee The noble Army of Martyrs praise thee The holy Church throughout all the world doth knowledge thee The Father of an infinite Majesty Thine honourable true and onely Son Also the Holy Ghost the Comforter Thou art the King of glory O Christ Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man thou didst not abhor the Virgins Womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpnesse of death thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers Thou fittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge We therefore pray thee help thy Servants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood Make them to be numbred with thy Saints in glory everlasting O Lord save thy People and blesse thine Heritage Govern them and lift them up for ever Day by day we magnifie thee And we worship thy Name ever world without end Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin O Lord have mercy upon us have mercy upon us O Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us as our trust is in thee O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded Then kneeling upon your knees devoutly say IN the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Iesu hear our Prayers Iesu receive our Petitions Our Father c. The Collect for the 3. Sunday after the Epiphany ALmighty and everlasting God mercifully look upon our Infirmities and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us through Christ our Lord. The Collect for the 24. Sunday after Trinity LOrd we beseech thee assoil thy People from their offences that through thy bountiful goodnesse we may be delivered from the bonds of all those sins which by our frailty we have committed Grant this heavenly Father for Jesus Christs sake our Lord. The Collect for the 18. Sunday after Trinity LOrd we beseech thee grant thy People grace to avoid the infections of the Devil and with pure heart and mind to follow thee the only God through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Almighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Maker of all things Judge of all men I acknowledge and bewail my manifold sins and wickednesses which I have from time to time most grievously committed by thought word and deed against thy divine Majesty provoking most justly thy Wrath and Indignation against me I do earnestly repent and am heartily sorry for these my misdoings the remembrance of them is grievous unto me the burden of them is intolerable have mercy upon me have mercy upon me most merciful Father for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ his sake forgive me all that is past and grant that I may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newnesse of life to the honour and glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ Amen WIth all the faculties of my Soul I blesse and praise thy Name O my Lord Jesu Christ who vouchsafedst to creat me of nothing to thy Image and Similitude to Redeem me with thy precious Blood to associate me by holy Baptisme among thy Children of Adoption and to feed me with the most blessed Sacrament of thy Body To thee I render humblest thanks for expecting me from my Infancy to this time that through thy great patience I may come to amendment of my life I praise thee I glorifie thee who hast often delivered me from many tribulatiors distresses calamities and miseries and especially that thou hast kept me from eternal punishment I praise thee and glorifie thee that thou hast bestowed on me so many common Blessings equal with others and so many particular benefits which others have wanted and whereof I have not deserved the least I beseech thy unspeakable goodness my Lord God that thou wilt so perfect