would be pleased to Command his holy Angels to take charge of you and to preserve you both in Body and Soul from all evil visible and invisible I rest Your most affectionate and Loving Father T. W. From the Prison at the Castle in Glocester 9 Novembris 1668. For my Worthy Friend Mr. Nathaniel Gwinn Master of the Free-School at Cyrencester these humbly present Most worthy Sir IT is said That if it had not been for Aristotle Alexander had not been Alexander although the Simile may not well hold yet truly what my poor Children have attained unto They and my Self must be very ungrateful if we do not acknowledge it to come from you And therefore Sir I do with all the Offerings of a free heart in all humility return you my humble and hearty thanks for your unheard of Civilities to my poor Sons hoping that your Indulgence to them will not be forgotten when ever it shall please God they may be Capacitated to return those thanks that are due for Obligations of so large a magnitude I must now beg you to contract another trouble upon your self viz. That you would he pleased to peruse the following Meditations and as you shall approve of them â—o give encouragement unto those â—hey are designed for to use them Thus beseeching your Prayers to â—he God of all Recompences for me a poor Prisoner in this Goal I remain Reverend Sir Your most obliged and faithful Servant T. W. From the Castle in Glocester 9 die Novembris 1668. Devout MEDITATIONS For the Morning for every Day in the Week When you awake in the Morning say O Saviour of the World who by thy Crosse and precious Blood hast redeemed us save us and help us we humbly beseech thee O Lord. And afterwards before you stir out of your Bed because the first thoughts ought to be offered to Almighty God say O Lord open thou our lips And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise O Lord deal not with us after our sins Neither reward us after our iniquities 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 uâ— from evil For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen GLory be to God on high Anâ— in Earth peace good will to wards Men. We praise thee we blesâ— thee we worship thee we glorifâ—â— thee we give thanks to thee for thy great Glory O Lord God heavenly King God the Father Almighty O Lord the only begotten Son Jesu Christ O Lord God Lamb of God Son of the Father that takest away the Sins of the World have mercy upon us thou that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us thou that takest away the sins of the world receive our Prayers thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father have mercy upon us For thou only art Holy thou onely art the Lord thou onely O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most high in the glory of God the Father Amen And when you arise out of your Bed make a reverent bow with your body and say 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 you are putting on your Apparel let your thoughts be truly towards God and of his most bountiful goodness towards you at all times and say O Sweet Jesu that the shame of my sinful Soul may not be seen cloath it with the robes of thy Justice and cover it with the Ornaments of all manner of grace and vertues Amen And before you stir out of your Chamber prepare your thoughts for Prayer repairing to some convenient place of the Room and with great reverence bow your body and say the eighth Psalm following O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy Name in all the world thou that hast set thy glory above the Heavens Out of the mouth of very Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger For I will consider the Heavens even the works of thy Fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Thou madest him lower than the Angels to crown him with glory and worship Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet all Sheep and Oxen yea and the Beasts of the field The Fouls of the Air and Fishes of the Sea and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the Seas O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy Name in all the world 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 Then kneeling down upon your knees with your heart and hands lift up to Almighty God 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 O Lord save the King And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee 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 O Everlasting God who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and Men in a wonderful order mercifully grant that as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in Heaven so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on Earth through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent Create and make in us new and Contrite hearts that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchednesse may obtain of thee the God of all Mercy perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty God who seest that we have no power of our selves to help our selves keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O Almighty God whose dwelling is in the highest Heavens and yet vouchsafest to regard the lowest Creature upon
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
these thy gifts in me as to expel out of my heart whatever displeaseth thee and deliver me from all iniquities troubles and evils in which I am encumbred Dispose all my thoughts words and deeds agreeable to thy Will Preserve me in all Conditions both of Adversity and Prosperity and bring me at last to the happy and most desired joyes of thy sight who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen O My Soveraign Lord Jesu Son of Almighty God and of the most pure and glorious Virgin Mary who sufferedst that bitter Death for me and all Mankind and didst rise again the third day I beseech thee Lord have mercy on me a Sinner yet thy Creature And for thy Passions sake preserve me from all perils of Body and Soul especially those that may turn to thy Displeasure With all my heart I thank thee most gracious Lord for the great mercies thou hast shewed me in the imminent dangers to which I have been exposed and as thy grace has alwayes kept me from the hour of my birth to this day so Lord I beseech thee that thy mercy may continue my safety And for my great offence ingratitude and all my sinful life humbly I ask thy pardon And since I cannot lead such a life as becomes thy Servant I meekly prostrate my self and say God be merciful to me a Sinner I blesse thee most gracious God for all the benefits thou hast so largely bestowed on me rendring all honour and praise to thy holy Name who livest and reignest one God world without end Amen LEt Heaven and Earth joyn together with joy and the Quires of Angels with the voices of Men to sing eternal praises to God in Trinity and Unity for the mercies received in the admirable work of our Redemption Amen WE thank thee O Lord God merciful Father for vouchsafing to send thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ to dye for us sinners the most shameful Death of the Crosâ— that he might offer himself to thee a most pure holy and acceptable Sacrifice for our offences and thereby purge our wicked Consciences from all spots of uncleannesse By this thy exceeding great love unto us and by these most bitter torments of thy Son our Saviour we humbly beseech thee impart to us continually the fruits of his Redemption and make us daily dye to the World and be crucified to the lusts and desires of the Flesh and to live to thee onely all our life that in the end we may rejoyce everlastingly in thy Kingdom where with thy eternal Son and the Holy Ghost thou livest and reignest one God for ever and ever Amen THe Soul of Christ sanctifie me the Body of Christ save me the water of the Side of Christ wash me O good Jesu hear me within thy wounds hide me suffer me not to be separated from thee from the malignant enemy defend me and bid me come to thee that with thy Saints I may praise thee for all eternity Amen Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us O Lord hear us O Christ hear us Our Father c. Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore The 56. Psalm 1. BE merciful unto me O God for Man goeth about to devour me he is daily fighting and troubling me 2. Mine enemies are daily in hand to swallow me up for they be many that fight against me O thou most Highest 3. Nevertheless though I am sometime afraid yet put I my trust in thee 4. I will praise God because of his Word I have put my trust in God and will not fear what flesh can do unto me 5. They daily mistake my words all that they imagine is to do me evil 6. They hold altogether and keep themselves close and mark my steps when they lay wait for my Soul 7. Shall they escape for their wickednesse thou O God in thy displeasure shalt cast them down 8 Thou tellest my flittings put my tears into thy bottle are not these things noted in thy Book 9. Whensoever I call upon thee then shall my enemies be put to flight this I know for God is on my side 10. In Gods woâ—d will I rejoyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me 11. Yea in God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me 12. Unto thee O God will I pay my vows unto thee will I give thanks 13. For thou hast delivered my Soul from death and my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living 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 Devotions for every FRIDAY in LENT More especially for GOOD-FRIDAY Psalm 120. WHen I was in trouble I called upon the Lord and he heard me Deliver my Soul O Lord from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue What Reward shall be given or done unto thee thou false tongue even mighty and sharp Arrows with hot burning Coals Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meseck and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar My Soul hath long dwelt among them that are enemies to peace I labour for peace but when I speak unto them thereof they make them ready to Battel 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 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 WHat hast thou done sweet Jesus that thou shouldest have this Judgement What hast thou done that thou shouldest be thus straightly dealt with What is thy offence What is thy guilt What the cause of thy death What the occasion of thy Condemnation I truly am cause of thy trouble my fault hath made thee been slain my wicked life has brought thee to this death vengeance is taken of thee for my crimes Thou art thus tormented for me and I the occasion of all thy smart O mervellous order of Judgment O strange and mysterious proceeding the Wicked sinneth and the Just is punished the Guilty offends and the Innocent is chastised the Sinner transgresseth and the Godly is condemned that which the Bad has deserved the Good suffers what the Servant has done amiss the Master undertake to recompense