art good and gracious O teach me thy Statutes O let my heart be sound in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed quicken me after thy loving kindness and so shall I keep the Testimonies of thy mouth O how sweet are thy words unto my Taste yea sweeter than Honey unto my Mouth through thy Commandments I get understanding therefore I hate all wicked ways let the free-will offerings of my mouth please thee O Lord teach me thy Judgements O establish me according to thy word that I may live and let me not be disappointed of my hope hold thou me up and I shall be safe yea my delight shall ever be in thy Statutes O deal with thy Servant according to thy loving Mercy and teach me thy Statutes order my steps in thy word so shall no wickedness have Dominion over me O deliver me from the wrongful dealing of Men so shall I keep thy Commandments Righteous art thou O Lord and true in thy Judgement I call with my whole heart O Lord hear me I will keep thy Statutes Early in the Morning O Lord do I cry unto thee for in thy Word is my trust hear my voice O Lord according to thy loving kindness quicken me as thou art wont Psalm 119. O consider my Adversary and deliver me for I do not forget thy Law I am as glad of thy word as one that findeth great spoils great is the grace that they have which love thy Law and they are not offended at it I have kept thy Commandments and Testimonies for they are not offended at it O let my Soul live and it shall praise thee and thy Judgements shall help me I have gone astray like a Sheep that is lost O seek thy Servant for I do not forget thy Commandment when I was in trouble I called upon the Lord and he heard me my help cometh even from the Lord which hath made Heaven and Earth the Lord shall preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth and for evermore 120.1.121.2 8. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens 123.1 They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as Mount Sion which may not be removed but standeth fast for ever the Hill standeth about Jerusalem even so standeth the Lord round about his people from this time forth and for evermore 125.1 2. If thou O Lord be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it there is mercy with thee therefore shalt thou be feared O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous Redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins 130.3 4 7 8. the Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David and he shall not shrink from it if they will keep my Covenant and my Testimony that I shall learn them their Children also shall sit upon thy seat for evermore 132.11 13. Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity for the Lord promises his blessing and life for evermore 133.1 4. Lift up your hand in the Sanctuary and praise the Lord 134.3 whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and in Earth in the Sea and in all deep places thy Name O Lord endureth for ever so doth thy Memorial O Lord from one Generation to another for the Lord will avenge his people and be gracious unto his Servants 135.6 16 14. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever 136.1 O Lord thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts long before thou art about my path and about my bed and spyest out all my ways for loe there is not a word in my Tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether try me O Lord and seek the ground of my heart prove me and examine my thoughts look well if there be any way of Wickedness in me and lead me in the way everlasting 139.1 2 3 23 24. O Lord God thou strength of my health thou hast covered my head in the day of battle sure I am the Lord will avenge the poor and maintain the cause of the helpless the Righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name and the Just shall continue in thy sight 140.7 12 13. Lord I call upon thee haste thee unto me and consider my voice when I cry unto thee O let not my heart be enclined to any evil thing let me not be occupied in any ungodly work with the Men that work wickedness lest I eat of such things as please them 141.1 4. I poured out my complaint before him and shewed him of my trouble when my Spirit was in heaviness thou knewest my path in the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me 142.2 3. Hear my Prayer O Lord and consider my desire hearken unto me O Lord for thy Truth and Righteousness sake teach me to do the thing that is right for thou art my God let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the Land of Righteousness 143.1 10. The Lord is loving unto every Man and his mercy is over all his works great is the Lord and marvellous worthy to be praised there is no end of his greatness the Lord upholdeth all such as fall and lifteth up all those that be down the eyes of all wait upon thee O Lord and thou givest them Meat in due season thou openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness the Lord is Righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works the Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him yea all such as call upon him faithfully he will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear them and will help them 145.3 9 14 15 16 17 18 19. O praise the Lord for it is a good thing to sing praise unto our God yea a joyful and a pleasant thing it is to be thankful he healeth those that are broken in heart and giveth Medicine to heal their sickness he telleth the number of the Stars and calleth them all by their Names great is our Lord and great is his power yea his Wisdom is infinite which giveth fodder to the Cattle and feedeth the young Ravens that call upon him but the Lords delight is in them that put their trust in his mercy 147.1 3 4 5 9 11. For the Lord hath pleasure in his people and helpeth the meek hearted 149.4 O praise God in his Holiness praise him in the Firmament of his Power Praise him in his noble Acts praise him according to his excellent greatness let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord 150.1 2 6. O Lord let the Words of my Mouth and the Meditations of my Heart be now and evermore acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my Redeemer A Prayer for the Morning HEar me when I
Lord and Saviour Amen The Collect. Keep I beseech thee O Lord thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keep me and all thy people ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Protection of the godly and a Meditation of the great Works of God in the destruction of the wicked I Will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh even from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The Lord himself is my defence upon my right hand The Lord shall preserve me from all evil yea it is even he that shall keep my soul. The Lord shall preserve my going out and my coming 〈◊〉 from this time forth and for ever more unto thee I lift up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens have mercy upon me for I am utterly despised yet my help standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heaven and Earth They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the Mount Sion which may not be removed but standeth fast for ever Do well O Lord unto those that be good and true of heart and reform what is amiss in me for thy mercy sake O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it for there is mercy with thee therefore thou shalt be feared O Lord God thou art the highest for evermore thy works are glorious and thy thoughts are very deep make my heart and tongue loud instruments of thy praises that I may tell of thy mercy in the morning and of thy truth in the night season that I may rejoyce in giving thee thanks for the operations of thy hand all the daies and nights of my whole life Let thy merciful kindness descend evermore upon the righteous that they may flourish like a Palm Tree being continually watered with the dew of temporal and spiritual blessings and may bring forth fruit of a holy conversation and grant that thy servant being planted in the house of God and firmly fixt in the blessed communion of Saints may flourish in the Courts of thy house and in thy Ecclesiastical Temple to all Eternity O let not my portion be amongst the ungodly and unrighteous Make me not to communicate in their wickedness so much as by consent or approbation that I may never perish and be destroyed in the furiousness of thine anger which thou treasurest up against the day of vengeance and righteous Judgment even the day of the appearing of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. ALmighty and merciful God of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do give unto thee all true and laudable service grant I beseech thee that I may faithfully serve thee in this life that I fail not faithfully to attain thy heavenly promise through the merits of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would preserve his Church against the storm and flood of Persecution I Looked for the Lord my soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust therefore keep me O Lord and thy whole Church from the hands of the ungodly Preserve me from the wicked men which are purposed to overthrow my going sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor and innocent and maintain the cause of the helpless Lord I call upon thee haste thee to help me and consider my voice when I cry unto thee Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and the lifting up of my hands be as an evening Sacrifice Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips O let me hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew me the way that I should walk in for I lift my soul unto thee Deliver me O Lord from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man that seeketh to overthrow my going O Lord God Judge of all the World to whom vengeance belongeth and execution of Righteous Judgment have mercy upon us Chasten us with thy gentleness and fatherly correction when we sin against thee Teach us thy Law Be our refuge and confidence in trouble and give patience in time of adversity that in the multitude of sorrows thy comforts may refresh us thy mercies may relieve us thy grace may pardon and confirm us that our feet slip not and our souls be not put to silence have pity upon all distressed and miserable people Do justice upon all that murther the Widow that put the fatherless to death that grind the face of the poor Fail not thy people O Lord and forsake not thine inheritance but destroy the devises of all them that imagine evil as a Law and are confederate against the Righteous to condemn the innocent to discountenance Religion to disadvantage thy worship and service that in the day of eternal vengeance when thou shalt reward the proud after their deserving and the pit be digged by the ungodly we may have the lot of thine inheritance and raign in the fellowship of Saints who give honour and praise to thee O Lord God Almighty world without end Amen The Collect. Keep I beseech thee O Lord thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Invitation to the Worship of God and a Prayer for Obedience to his Will O Great God the Lord our Maker who art a King above all Gods give me the graces of humility and holy Religion that I may worthily praise and worship thy glories and perfections infinitely I am the Sheep of thy Pasture let thy mercies lead me and feed me and refresh my soul with the Divine nutriment of thy Word and Sacraments I am the sheep of thy hands do thou guide me that I may never go astray or if I do bring me home into the Sheepfold of the great Shepherd that I hearing his voice may not harden my heart neither tempting thy mercies nor provoking thy wrath but my heart being preserved from errors and my waies from obliquity and crookedness I may at last enter into thy eternal rest through the merits and guidance of my great Shepherd Jesus Christ my Mediatour and Redeemer Amen The Collect. O Lord I beseech thee let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour preserve it ever more by thy help and goodness through Jesus Christ. Amen Adoration and magnifying the Glories of God O Lord God in whose Sanctuary is power and honour before whose
Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE Soul Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating the whole duty of Man or DEVOTIONS COMPILED by R.A. Gent. in his solitudes London Printed by T. Snawden for Gabr Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the post-office over against the Muse at the sign of the King's-head 1678. Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE SOUL Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating The whole Duty of Man OR DEVOTIONS compiled By R. A. Gent. in his Solitudes Non bove mactatô coelestia numina gaudent Sed quae praestanda est sine teste fide LONDON Printed by T. Snowden for Gabr. Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the Post-Office over against the Muse at the Sign of the King's-Head 1678. Licensed William Jane Nov. 19. 1677. TO THE READER WEre Man self-sufficient and independent thoughts of this nature would be impertinent and unseasonable but seeing there are hopes and fears blessings and curses scattered in this vail of misery and laid up in heaps against the time of the revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God how stupid and forlorn must that soul be which lives without God in the would though a spacious curtain be drawn over the globe of this Earth though we cannot perceive the regular motions of the several wheels of Providence yet in all Estates flourishing or decaying we ought to confide in and depend upon his goodness and power and wisdom who is the fountain of all Beings and the Great Governour of the World under whose conduct the good man is safe and to the Throne of whose Grace there may be a fair access if our prayers are managed aright in which way I leave thee and if these following papers can assist thee bless God for the occasion which is the End of the Author's Hope in this undertaking Farewell To the Honourable Mary Mountague Wife to the Right Honourable Lord cheif Baron Madam SEeing it is the heart which God alone accepts as a Sacrifice of retribution I humbly crave you would be pleased to take a view of the counterpart of my Soul wherein is set down the joyful correspondency it has had with Heaven and the rather because joy and immortality our entrance into the Blessed Mansions above is the common interest and design of all who appeal to Heaven in the name of Christ I know your Closet is plentifully stor'd with holy Ejaculations that Sacred perfume which sweetens the very breath of the Soul and is more acceptable to God than costly odours the scent of Myrrh and Frankincense yet these Papers possibly may find entertainment because they are pen'd by one whose Soul has been many years travelling that way and therefore chiefly endeavours to speak the dialect Language of that Kingdom no friendship is so strong as that which is contracted by Travellers in this journey and though I have the honour to have the same blood of R. A's running in my veins yet I esteem my self more happy in the beginnings of our Christian allyance and eternal duration of it when we shall pass from this state of grace to that of glory How glorious must your entrance be into the Holy Land for Persons placed in so high a station by holy example command their attendants when you enter into the land of promise your numerous train must follow in which retinue to be admitted is the humble and hearty Prayer of Madam Your Ladyships most humble Servant and Relation R. A. THE PREFACE I Chose the Psalms of David for the Platform of my Devotions because nothing can be supposed more acceptable to God in duties of this nature than to follow his steps who was a man after God's own heart The Original is so well penned so full and lofty in its expressions that Cowley when he gave his censure of the Translators says that Shimei hardly reviled David more than some of them have done However I reckon not my self concerned in that charge seeing I follow the best Translation our Language bears Were this Book of Psalms duly weighed and considered men might find materials for their addresses to Heaven fitted for all states and conditions as if it were a mirrour of the Passages of Humane Life and comprehended all the desires and offices of a good man Though David's Composures were elegant and harmonious in their native dress yet 't was not the Instrument but the strings of his heart made the sweetest melody Nothing is more charming than a soul so well tuned so well skill'd in all the parts of Divine musick Thus we joyn consort with the harmony of the sphears we may be assured that the Eccho is rebounded with the exultation and Hallelujahs of Heaven it self CHOICE MEDITATIONS Out of the PSALMIST SErve the Lord with fear and rejoyce unto him with reverence 2.11 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself the Lord will hear me when I call upon him 4.3 Offer the sacrifices of Righteousness and put your trust in the Lord v. 5. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee 5.4 For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield 12. God judgeth the Righteous and God is angry with the Wicked every day If he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready 7.11 12. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God For the Needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever 9.17 18. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but the Wicked and him that loveth violence his Soul hateth For the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright 11.56.7 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that pusseth at him The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a furnace of Earth purified seven times in the fire 12.5 6. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of Men to see if there were any that would understand and seek after God 14.2 Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his Heart 15.1 2. In whose eyes a vise person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord he that sweareth to his neighbour and disappointeth him not Thou wilt shew me the path of Life in thy presence is the fulness of joy at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore 16.11 I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies 18.3 I was upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore the Lord hath recompenced me according to my Righteousness and according to the cleanness
soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a barren and dry ground I remember thy loving kindness of old time I can but wish at least to see thy power and thy glory as I have known thee in thy Sanctuary There is none in Heaven that I desire but thee nor on Earth besides thee My soul followeth hard after thee O when wilt thou come unto me O hide not thy face from thy servant lest I come to misery Hear me speedily for I am poor and needy Make haste unto me O my God thou art my helper and deliverer O Lord make no long tarrying I am come a great way from my friends and kindred and here is none to pity me O my God be not thou far from me Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it I am poor and sorrowful let thy salvation set me up on high for thou who searchest the heart knowest that I set my heart only to seek thee I desire to leave all the world that I may find my happiness only in thee O heavenly Father with my whole heart I desire to do thy blessed will in all things yea thus far I acknowledge thou hast most gratefully conducted me Hitherto I have been highly favoured and wonderfully helped and preserved by thee and wilt thou now at last abandon me who desire at last to have abandoned all things else for thy sake Hast thou called me from mine own Country and from my Fathers house and now to be forsaken by thee O my God give me leave to plead for a soul that I thought was once dear unto thee Pity O pity an heart which thou hast made too great for all the world and cannot be satisfied with less than thee Canst thou see it die for want of one smile from thee yea canst thou let it die of love to thee for that hath brought me thus far to seek thee and wilt thou suffer it to die at thy feet canst thou endure to behold it in thine arms into which it now throws it self with all the force it hath shall it miscarry full of prayers and longings after thee shall it expire in cries and tears when it calls for mercy O where are thy bowels what is become of thine ancient loving kindness are they all forfeited by one offence against thee O my God I cannot think so hardly of thee I begin to live methinks because thou permittest these addresses to thee it inspires me with some hopes to find these holy breathings in me it rejoyces me much that I feel thee drawing my very heart after thee O take it I beseech thee take it quite away from me unto thy self shape it after thine own heart make it such as thou canst embrace it create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit and all this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Ejaculations to be used at the Lord's Supper LOrd I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men Here recollect some of thy greatest sins If thou Lord shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it but with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plentious redemption Behold O Lord thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased Hearken to the cry of his blood which speaketh better things than that of Abel by his Agony and bloody Sweat by his Cross and Passion good Lord deliver us O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world grant us thy peace O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Lord for thy mercy sake Amen Devotions for the Help and assistance of all Christian People in all occasions and necessities A Prayer against wandring Thoughts to be said at the beginning of our Devotions ALmighty God who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement let thy holy Spirit teach me how to pray Give me just apprehension of my want zeal of thy glory great resentments of thy mercies love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee and do thou help mine infirmities that the Devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions nor distract my mind with cares nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies but give me a perfect mind great devotion a heart fixed upon thy Divine Beauties and an actual intention and perseverance in prayer that I may glorifie thy Name do unto thee true and laudable service and obtain relief for all my necessities hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Penitential Prayer a Form of Confession of sins to God to be said upon daies of publick or private Humiliation O Lord God of mercy and pardon give me a just remembrance and sad apprehension of my many and great sins Teach me to bewail them with as great indignation and bitterness as I have committed them with complacency and delight Let my prayers and my confession come unto thy presence and obtain a mercy for me and a pardon Let not thy Justice and thy severity so remember my sins as to forget thine own mercy and though I have committed that for which I have deserved to be condemned yet thou canst not lose that glorious Attribute whence flows comfort to us and hopes to be saved Spare me therefore O merciful God for to give pardon to a sinner that confesseth his sins and begs Remission it is not impossible to thy Power nor disproportionate to thy Justice nor unusual to thy Mercy and sweetest Clemency Blessed Jesu acknowledge in me whatsoever is thine and cleanse me from whatsoever is amiss Have pity on me now in the time of mercy and condemn me not when thou comest to judgment For what profit is there in my blood Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but in his conversion there is joy in Heaven And when thou hast delivered me from my sins and saved my soul I shall praise and magnifie thy Name to all eternity mercy sweet Jesus mercy Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. I Am not worthy O Lord to look up to Heaven which is the Throne of thy Purity for my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I have not lived according to thy will but in the vanity of my own thoughts in idle sinful and impertinent language in foolish actions in blindness of heart in contempt of thy holy Word and Commandments I
may be capable of his refreshings and being encompast with my own tears and truly sorry for my many sins I may be the fitter to be washed in his blood Raise up my dull and earthly mind from groveling here below and inspire it with a holy zeal that I may with a spiritual affection approach this spiritual Feast And let O Lord that infinite Love of Christ in dying for so wretched a sinner inflame my frozen benummed soul and kindle in me that sacrifice of love to him and that so vehement that no water may quench no floods drown it such as may burn up all my dross not leave one unmortified lust in my soul such as may also extend it self to all whom thou hast given me command and example to love even mine enemies as well as friends Finally O Lord I beseech thee to cloath me in the Wedding-garment and make me though my self a most unworthy sinner yet by thy mercy an acceptable guest at this holy Table that I may not eat and drink my own damnation but may have my pardon sealed my weakness repaired my corruptions subdued and my soul unseparably united to thee that no temptation be ever able to dissolve the union but that being begun here in grace it may be consummated in glory grant this O Lord for thy dear Son sake Jesus Christ. Amen Another Prayer for the Receiving of the Holy Communion O Blessed Jesus who once offeredst up thy self upon the Cross for me and now offerest thy self to me in the Sacrament let not I beseech thee my impenitence and unworthiness frustrate these so inestimable mercies to me but qualifie me by thy grace to receive the full benefit of them O Lord I have abundant need of thee but am so clogg'd with guilt so holden with the cords of my sins that I am not able to move towards the. O loose me from these bands wherewith Satan and my own lusts have bound me and draw me that I may run after thee Lord thou seest daily how eagerly I pursue the paths that lead to death and when thou invitest me to life and glory I turn my back and forsake the hopes of mercy How often hath this Feast been prepared and I have with frivolous excuses absented my self or if I have come it hath been rather to defile than to adore thee I have brought such Troops of thy professed enemies and unrepented sins along with me as if I came not to commemorate but to renew thy passion crucifying thee afresh and put thee to open shame and now of what punishment shall I be thought worthy who have thus trampled under foot the Son of God and counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing yet O merciful Jesu this is my onely Refuge O let this make my attonement or I perish eternally wherefore didst thou shed it but to save sinners neither can the merit of it be overwhelmed either by the greatness or number of my sins I am a sinner a great one O let me find this saving efficacy Be merciful unto me O God be merciful for my soul trusteth in thee and in the clefts of thy wounds shall be my Refuge until thy Fathers indignation be over past O thou who hast as my High Priest sacrificed for me intercede for me also and plead thy meritorious sufferings on my behalf and suffer not O my Redeemer the price of blood to be utterly lost and grant O Lord that as the sins I have to be forgiven are many so I may love much Lord thou seest what faint and cold affections I have towards thee O warm and enliven them and as in this Sacrament that transcendent love of thine in dying for me is shed forth so I beseech thee let it convey such grace into me as may enable me to make some returns of love O let this Divine fire descend from Heaven into my soul and let my sins be the burnt offering for it to consume that there may not any corrupt affection any cursed thing be sheltered in my heart that I may never again defile that place which thou hast chosen for thy Temple Thou dyedst O dear Jesu to redeem me from all iniquity O let me not again sell my self to work wickedness but grant that I may approach unto thee at this time with most sincere and fixed resolutions of an inward Reformation and let me receive such grace and strength from thee as may enable me faithfully to perform them Lord there are many old habituated diseases my soul groans under here mention thy most prevailing corruptions and though I lye never so long at the Pool of Bethesda come never so often to thy Table yet unless thou be pleased to put forth thy healing vertue they will still remain uncured O thou blessed Physician of souls heal me and grant that I may now so touch thee that every one of these loathsome Issues may immediately stench that my sickness may not be unto death but unto the glory of thy mercy in pardoning to the glory of thy grace in purifying so polluted a wretch O Christ hear me and grant I may now approach unto thee with such humility and contrition love and devotion that thou mayest vouchsafe to come unto me and abide with me communicating to me thy self and all the merit of thy passion and then O Lord let no occasions of Satan or mine own conscience amaze or distract me but having peace with thee let me also have peace in my self that this Wine may make glad this Bread of Life may strengthen my heart and enable me cheerfully to run the way of thy Commandments grant this merciful Saviour for thine own bowels and compassions sake Amen Immediately before Receiving Thou hast said that he that eateth thy flesh and drinketh thy blood hath eternal life behold thy servant O Lord be it unto me according to thy Word At the Receiving of the Bread By thy crucified Body deliver me from the body of this death At the Receiving of the Cup. O Lord let this blood of thine purge my conscience from dead works to serve the ever Living God Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean O touch me and say I will be thou clean After Receiving What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me I will receive the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and a blessing therefore blessing honour glory and power be to him that sitteth on the Throne and the Lamb for ever and ever Amen I have sworn and am stedfastly bent to keep thy Righteous Judgments O Lord hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not A Thanksgiving for the Receiving the Communion O Thou fountain of all goodness from whom every good and perfect gift cometh and to whom all honour and glory shall be
will be at last O Lord hear me and as thou hast in much mercy afforded me time so grant me all grace to work out my salvation to provide Oil in my Lamp that when the Bridegroom cometh I may go in with him to the marriage grant this I beseech thee for thy dear Sons sake Amen A Prayer at the approach of Death O Eternal and everlasting God who breathed into man the breath of life and when thou takest away that breath he dies and is turned again into dust look with compassion on me thy poor creature who am now drawing near the gates of death and which is infinitely terrible the Bar of Judgment Lord my own heart condemns me and thou art infinitely greater than my heart and thou knowest all things the sins I remember fill me with horrour There are also multitudes of other sins which I either observed not at all times or have since carelesly forgotten which are all present with thee Thou settest my misdeeds before thee and my secret sins in the sight of thy countenance and what a mountainous heap those eminent provocations of so many years arise to how long shall so ungodly a sinner stand in thy Judgment or such a sinner in the Congregation of the Righteous And to add more terrour my very countenance and repentance I fear will not abide thy tryal my frequent relapses heretofore have sufficiently witnessed the insincerity of my heart and best resolutions and then O Lord what can secure me that my present dislikes of my sins are not rather the effects of my amazing danger than of any real change And O Lord I know thou art not nor wilt accept of any thing that is not sincere O Lord when I consider this fearfulness and trembling comes upon me and a horrible dread overwhelms me my flesh trembleth for fear of thee and my heart is wounded within me But O Lord who wills not the death of a sinner be merciful unto me One deep calleth upon another the depth of my misery upon the depth of thy mercy Lord save me now or I perish eternally O thou who willest not that any should perish but that all should come to repentance such as thou wilt accept who tryest the heart create in me O God a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me O Lord one day with thee is better than a thousand elsewhere O let thy mighty Spirit work in me now in this my last day whatsoever thou seest wanting to fit me for mercy and acceptation Give me a perfect and an entire hatred of all my sins and enable me to present thee with a sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart which thou hast promised not to despise that by this I may be made capable of that atonement which thy dear Son hath by the more excellent oblation of himself made for all repenting sinners he is the Propitiation for our sins he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisements of our peace was upon him O heal me by these stripes and let the cry of his blood cry down the clamour of my sins I am indeed the child of wrath but he is the Son of thy Love for his sake spare me O Lord spare thy poor creature whom he hath redeemed with his most precious blood and be not angry with me for ever O let not thy vengeance pursue me to this City of Refuge my soul hangeth upon him Oh let me not perish with a Jesus with a Saviour in my arms but by his agony and bloody sweat by his Cross and Passion by all that he did and suffered for sinners good Lord deliver me deliver me I beseech thee from the wages of sin thy wrath and everlasting damnation in the time of my tribulation in the hour of death and in the day of judgment Hear me O Lord hear me and do not repay me for my former neglects of thy calls by refusing to answer me in this time of my greatest need Lord there 's but a step between me and death but seal my pardon before I go hence and be no more seen Thy loving-kindness is better than life it self Oh let me have that in exchange and I shall most gladly lay down this mortal life O Lord thou knowest all my desire and my groaning is not hid from thee deal thou with me O Lord according to thy Name for sweet is thy mercy take away the sting of death the guilt of my sins and then though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil I will lay me down in peace and Lord when I awake let me be satisfied with thy presence in thy glory grant this merciful God for his sake who is both the Mediator and Redeemer of sinners even Jesus Christ. Amen PUT me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my soul by reason of my sins for my wickedness is gone over my head and are a sore burthen too heavy for me to bear My wounds stink and corrupt through my foolishness therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate My sins have taken such hold upon me that I go in mourning all the day long yea they are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me but thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercy long-suffering plenteous in goodness and truth turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and in misery If thou Lord shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it O remember not the sins of my youth and my offence but according to thy mercy think upon me for thy goodness look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins Hide not thy face from thy servant for I am in trouble O haste thee and hear me out of the deep do I call unto thee O Lord hear my voice Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercy sake O go not far from me for trouble is hard at hand and there is none to help me I stretch forth my hand unto thee my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land draw nigh unto my soul and save it O deliver me because of mine enemies for my soul is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh unto hell Save me from the Lions mouth Hear me from among the horns of the Unicorns O set me upon the Rock that is higher than I for thou art my hope and a strong Tower for me against the enemy Why art thou so heavy O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me put thy trust in God for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance The Lord shall make good his loving kindness towards me