be thy Will Let me recover a little strength Spare me a little before I go hence and be no more O grant that I may find thy Grace work in me for my good that if it be thy Will to take me hence receive me to thy self Come Lord Jesus come quickly So I commit and commend my self to thee in that Prayer thou hast taught me saying Our Father which art c. Lord strengthen my Faith to the end I believe in God c. A Prayer for a young Virgin MOst Glorious and Everlasting Father look in Mercy Pity and Compassion upon thy poor Hand-Maiden and grant me the for giveness of my Sins and grant that all thy Graces may flourish in me that I may be in favour both with God and Man Crown my Virginity with pious and chaste Thoughts that I may be as watchful to wait for thy coming as the Wise Virgins that I may enter with thee and them into thy Blessed Kingdom before the Door be shut Give me such good and heavenly Thoughts that a good Name is better than any thing that I can enjoy and let me not part with my Reputation for the greatest Offers this World can afford but help me to live a sober meek and chaste Life by the gracious assistance of thy most holy Spirit O defend me frome base and slandrous Tongues and all wicked Temptations O Lord make me faithful and honest in all my actions in this Life that whatsoever Charge is committed to my Care I may be so careful of it that nothing may be wanting when I come to resign it up Marry me O Lord to thy self in Mercy and Righteousness and if thou shalt be pleased to call me to the honourable Estate of Matrimony let me take Rachel Rebecca and Sarah for my Examples in Love Wisdom Faithfulness and Obedience to my Wife and towards all Persons with whom I have to do Let me behave my self in all things so as becometh one that is wholly devoted to thy Service Grant these things O Lord and whatever else thou knowest I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the Holy Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now henceforth and for evermore The Wife's Prayer for her Husband O Lord God as thou hast joyned me in thy Fear and Name in thy great Mercy to a loving and kind Husband grant that I may be so loving kind and obedient to him as may conduce to thy Glory and both our Comforts so endue me with a meek and quiet Spirit and defend me and him from the power of all Temptation that may attend us that so thy Strength may be made perfect in our Weakness Grant us both the assistance of thy holy Spirit that so it may teach us to love and cherish each other and give us the Gifts of Chastity and Sobriety that bothin body and mind we may live a pure Life binging up our Children and Servants in thy Fear and Dread O Lord forgive us all our Sins and grant us both Grace to love fear and serve thee our appointed time till our Change come that so 〈◊〉 this Life we may reap the Comfort of 〈…〉 enjoy and receive the Fruit of 〈…〉 that is laid up in thy mercies 〈◊〉 all I beg upon the account of thy â—ear Son To whom with thee and the â—oly Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory â—oth now henceforth and for Evermore The Widow's Prayer EVerlasting Lord God a poor distress'd and afflicted Servant of thine is come before thee to beg the forgiveness of all her Sins and to be a comfortable Husband to me in this my desolate and forlorn condition And Lord as thou hast been pleased to lay so great an Affliction upon me as to take so loving and kind a Husband from me give me out of thy tender and everlasting Mercies some other blessings to ease the Sorrows of my poor afflicted Soul Lord do thou give me Beauty for Ashes the Oil of Joy for Mourning and the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness that so after this Night of Afflictions I may have some refreshing Comforts and Encouragements to sing Praise to thy great and glorious Name in the land of the living and tell my Friends Neighbours and Kinsfolk how good thou the Lord hast been to me and what great things thou hast dweâ— for me whereof I shall be glad And O sakeâ— bless me in all honest Endeavours supply all my Wants whether Spiritual or Temporal and let me have the comfortable Fellowship of thy most holy Spirit tâ— direct me in all my ways that I may do nothing that tends to the dishonour of thy great Name or the disconsolation of my precious and immortal Soul I pray thee order my Children and Servants Hearts and Minds as that they may love and fear thee as they ought Lord do these things for me and more abundantly than I am able to ask or think for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the Blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for a Woman with Child HEavenly Father and God of all Power and Glory who createdst the Heavens and the Foundations of the Earth and all that in them is who createdst Man in thine own Image but he hath found out many Inventions Lord I am come to supplicate thy Majesty and to implore thy infinite Goodness to bless me in this Condition I am now in of Child-bearing and grant that the Fruit of my Womb may have all the Parts and Members that it ought to have and in their right places and stations and whatever Weakness it may bring upon my Body do thou grant me patience to bear it with all the submission imaginable to thy Will and grant that all thou dost for me and to me may be sanctified that so I may make a right use and improvement of it to the Praise of thy glorious Name and to the everlasting Comfort of my immortal Soul Lord preserve me from untimely Birth grant through Faith Prayer and Patience I may escape all sudden Fears Lord do thou stand by me when I draw near to my hard labour and let thy everlasting Arms be under me to bear me up under those intolerable Pangs which attend that dreadful Hour and grant that the fruit of my Womb as it grows up in bodily Strength so let it grow also in spiritual Strength in thy Faith Fear and Love And grant me O Lord a patient and quiet Spirit at that Hour and safe Deliverance in due Time and make me a joyful Mother Forgive and forget all my past Offences and bless my poor Infant and take it into thy Covenant and give me Wisdom and Strength to bring it up in thy Fear and to thy great Glory and my further Joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Thanks giving for safe Deliverance from the Perils of Child-bearing O Lord God Eternal accept
I wâ—â— wounded unto death and I perceived â—â— not I was bound I was beaten an◠〈…〉 garded it not yea my deadly 〈…〉 were a delightful tickling unto 〈…〉 I took pleasure in satisfying the 〈…〉 my Lusts and like Solomon's Fool I laugâ—ed when I was lashed for I was not mâ—self when I was without thee neither desiring nor discerning that which was good nor yet shunning nor yet seeing thaâ— which was evil I became in the Passage of all my Actâ—ons not only foolish but altogether sensless for thou are truth and I was 〈◊〉 out thee and thou art Life and I was 〈◊〉 out thee and as one that always continues in places of unsavoury smells perceiveth no annoyance or as a brutish and savage Life seems civil to him who hath continually been brought up in the same because Custom changeth into Nature and one Contrary is not known but by the other even so I did not think my self in Misery because I never knew what Felicity meant and because I never knew either the Beauty or Stability of a vertuous Life I did not think that vice had made me so unseemly and so unsound continual use confirmed Impudency and took from me the Opinion of Sin True it is that I found a few Sparks of thine Image within me but they were few indeed and of little force which I did so continually quench or abuse that thro' them I can expect no profit at all but rather to be made inexcusable before thee Alas how am I deformed how am I defiled O Almighty God and Everlasting Father My fainting Soul groaneth and gaspeth for thy Grace but it is abashed at thy Glory I would fain intreat thy Mercy to heal me but I am loth to offend thy Majesty in beholding me I am ashamed to lay open my Iniquities and yet woe is me I cannot appear before thee withouâ— them Ah these my sins how do they distress how do they distract me they desire to be seen but they are unwilling to be shewn lest they should be detested they are not healed without Confession and they are not heard without Confusiâ—â—â— If they be covered they cannot be cured and if they be opened they must needs be abhorr'd In the mean time their sharpness pierceth and their weight pressetâ— me they torment me with Grief the astonish me with Fear they confound mâ— with Shame What shall I say or what shall I do Wretch that I am whither did I bend my pace and to what pass am I now come what have all my Pleasures been unto mâ— but as Fruit eaten before it be ripe which will set the Teeth on edge and posseâ— the Body with dangerous Diseases What have I been in all my Travels in the Affairs of the World but as a sick Man tumbling and tossing in his Bed he expecting ease in his change and contentment yeâ— both of us deceived alike because whitheâ— soever we turn our selves the cause of ouâ— disquiets remaineth within us O Christ I did not set thee before my Eyes and 〈◊〉 I dare not appear in thy sight I rejoyced but not in thee I am troubled but thou art not with me Alas better it were to be nothing than to be without thee without whom all things are nothing better it were to be dead than to be without thee our Life Therefore O my Soul wicked wretched Soul shake off this death of Sin wherein thou wallowest and wherein thou wanderest raise up rouse up thy self from this dangerous dulness call to thy consideration unhappy Creature from whence thou runnest where thou art and whereto thou hastenest the favour which thou forsakest the horror wherein thou abidest and the terror whereto thou rendest Thou wast once wash'd clean with the Heavenly Fountain of Baptism with the pure Robe of Righteousness endowed with the Joys of Heaven and espoused to thy Saviour Christ but now thou hast by impurity of Life soiled thy self with sin defiled that glorious Garment broken those sacred Bands and made thy loving Spouse both thy great Enemy and severe Judge O Christ how can I forget thy Goodness and yet how dare I remember thy Greatness since I have denied thee with Peter betrayed thee with Judas and run from thee with the rest of thy Disciples nay more with the cursed and cruel Jewâ— I have mocked blasphemed buffered and scourgâ—d thee spit upon thy glorious Facâ— and torn open thy tender Wounds Ther since I have committed their cruelty what hope can I have to avoid their Curse that thy Blood be not upon me and my Posterity Alas miserable Wretch in what Patâ— have I walked In what Pollutions have wallowed and in what perplexities an now plunged wherein the consideration both of Good and Evil tormenteth me a like of Good with grief of that which have lost of Evil partly with sense oâ— that which I sustain and partly with feaâ— of that which I expect I have lost Glory I feel Shame I feaâ— Punishment the loss is by me irreparable the shame inexcusable the fear inconsolable O miserable Estate O uncomfortable Condition not only to be depriv of unspeakable Joys but also to be aflicted with intolerable Pains O Sin the defiler the deformer the destroyer of Souls from how high a pitch â— Happiness hast thou dejected me 〈◊〉 how deep a Gulf of Misery hast thou depressed me with what a World of Woes hast thou inclos'd me here Woe and there Woe and a very Hell of Woes is heaped upon me Justly Lord justly am I thus tormented for I have been faint yea false in the charge thou hast committed unto me I have thrown away my spiritual Weapons I have forsaken the Field of Christian Combate and not only cowardly yielded but Traitor-like I have turned to the Prince of Darkness my greatest Enemy I have cast off my Saviour and cast away my self I have forsaken the Society of Saints and joyned my self to a company of the Damned O Hellish Companions I have abandoned the Palaces of Heaven and built me a Nest in the loathsome Den of Hell I am altogether become an Abject from God and a Subject to the Devil What hast thou done O mad Man O mischievous O monstrous Man what hast thou done what a woeful exchange hast thou made what a lamentable loss hast thou incurred O perverse Will O miracle of madness How O God hath Corruption depraved me How O God â—hall Satisfaction restore me Cast thy self forlorn Wretch into the uncomfortable Dungeons of Sorrow overwhelm thy self with Mountains of bitter Mourning come Grief come Horror come Anguish come Fear heap your selves upon me wrap me in weigh me down I have impudently contemned you I have desperately provoked you and now do miserably call for you So so it is just afflict the Wicked torment the Guilty revenge the Injuries revenge the Perjuries which I have committed against God give me a touch of the Tortures which I have deserved give me a taste of the Banquet which I have prepared
Wickedness no longer therefore lift up your Head O ye Gates and be ye lifted up ye Everlasting Doors I will force my way thro' I will enter and all that ever Men or Devils can do unto me shall not hinder shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness Peril or Sword these can but kill the Body but I have an immortal Soul that is of greater value if I save that I save all and shall I fear dangers in striving to be abundantly satisfy'd with the Fatness of God's House I see a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God I see a-far off a House made without Hands eternal in the Heavens farewel deceitful Heart I will give Ear to your false Suggestions no more I have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto I resolve to take heed how often hast thou taught me to hide my Sins and call them by wrong Names that I might excuse my self for departing from them But dare I presume to think to deceive the all-wise God No God will not be blinded he will not be mocked he is not asleep like Baal or gone a Hunting No Canst thou draw a Curtain before the Eyes of Infinite Wisdom No he sits and sees and observes all the Actions of Men therefore I am ashamed knowing what I have done I have called my Pride Decency my Covetousness Frugality my Drunkenness Good-Fellowship my Lasciviousness Impossibility of resisting the Dictates of Nature my slandering others but saying what I hear And thus I have deceived my self but I will for the future be deceived no more but I will hearken unto what the Lord will say unto me and not to my base and deceitful Heart's Lust I have seen enough of Impiety I will stay no longer in Sodom these flowery Meadows these pleasant Fields shall make me lie down no more I see there 's Death in the Pot and the great Day of God's eternal Wrath is hastening therefore I come Lord I will stand off no longer I have staid in the service of Sin and of the Devil too long already I will give ear to what thou shalt be pleased to say to me I will turn my back no more upon thee I will harden my heart no more It is the voice of my beloved that knocks I will arise and let him in Awake up my Glory Awake I have slumbered too much get up my drowsie Affections the Lord is at hand O my God! wilt thou spread forth thy blessed Arms to embrace and receive such a wretched Creature as I am filled with all manner of wickedness and Deceit and having known the Judgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of Death have not only done the same but have had pleasure in them that do them is there Mercy in store for such a Rebel then I heartily renounce the Devil and all his Works therefore arise O Lord and let thy Enemies be scatter'd and appear for me with thy Almighty Power and out stretch'd Arm and deliver me from this Slavery this hard Bondage that I am under Deliver me from these my Enemies that seek my utter Destruction Methinks I see them quaking and trembling before God's Tribunal that thought it below them while upon Earth to make Religion their business Methinks I see them how they are ashamed of their Madness and Folly and methinks I hear them caâ—l and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne Direct me O Lord and teach me by thy holy Spirit draw me and I will run after thee teach me to sing the Song of Sion guide me in the Path of Life Leave not my Soul in Hell pull it out I have made a solemn choice of God for my Portion leâ— me know how I must love him I will obey your Counsel I will act according to your Directions be not afraid of me I will not turn my back in the day of Battle I have done with these fading deceitful Pleasures I find no Comfort no enjoyment in them they may please for a while but they cannot satisfie for ever Nay they are destructive both to Soul and Body Solomon took a tryal of them all and found them so and so all Men are forc'd to confess at last and too often when it is too late I see most Men of another Mind when they come to die to what they are in the time of their strength and health and Liberty But O my Soul come not then into their Secret unto their Assembly my Honour be thou not united Take warning by these sad Examples There are many Snares laid I am beset with temptations but I will hug those Monsters no more but will resist and overcome them by thy Power Come my Soul ascend to higher Thoughts Hopes and Labours and away with thy soft Wishes and dull Endeavours are these fit for seeking Eternal Joys doth a slow pace become a Man that is resolv'd for Eternity The Voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the Lord is full of Majesty the Voice of the Lord breaks the Cedars and art thou the only Creature he cannot shake it's done I am sensible and I am resolved Resolution will go far as I may see by these Examples Resolution made David run thro' a Troop and leap over a Wall Psal 18. 29. It was his Resolution made him say thus Psal 119. 46 106. I have sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed and I will delight my self in thy Commandments My hands will I lift up unto thy Precepts which I have loved and I will meditate in thy Statutes It was Resolution made Shadrach Meshech and Abednego go voluntarily into the Fire It was Resolution made St. Paul ready not only to suffer but to die at Jerusalem for the Name of Jesus Resolution made David's Worthies draw Water out of the Well of Bethlehem Resolution made Ignatius despise Fire Sword and wild Beasts Resolution made Empedocles give himself to the Flames and Artalus to sit down as one unconcern'd in the fiery Chair his Enemies had prepared for him and Resolution made Job bear his great Losses Shall I be faint-hearted shall I be a Coward shall these and others resolve to part with anything so much as their very Lives for their Saviour's Sake Lord I am resolved with these Worthies to undergo any thing for the advancement of thy Honour and Glory My heart is ready to obey all thy Commands therefore Lord make me clean help me to put a way the evil of my doingâ— and learn me to do well that so I may siâ— no more against thee or grieve thy Holy Spirit I am convinced that thy service iâ— perfect freedom he that enters upon it is under the Government of a good and a lawful Prince he feels nothing that iâ— burthensome unto him
thou visitest him with Everlasting Loving kindness anâ— thou givest thy Angels charge over him and thou wilt not suffer any harm to come unto him thou aâ—t with him in his distress and when he weeps thou holdest a Bottle under to catch his Tears thou bindest up his Wounds and healest all his Sores thou watchest over him and thy Ears are open to his Prayers and his Groans are not hiâ— from thee his Peace is made with thee so here they that truly fear and serve thee are free from all slavish fears nothing but Love rules in their Hearts which makes their Yoak easie and their Burthen light and the Narrow way full of delight and satisfaction they have peace of Conscâ—ence a peace which passeth all understanding so that the Devil can make no War against them to do them any harm he may raise a Storm and lay a Siege but he cannot overthrow for he that is for them is stronger than he that is against them he may set their House on fire but he cannot consume them and rain Brimstone upon them but they have a Tower to flee to a Place of Refuge and Defence Who is a strong Towâ—r in the day of distress and the Righteous â—lee unto it and are safe Ah Lord these are great and glorious Priviledges that â—hy chosen ones are made Partakers of O Lord make me one of these and â—uide me by thy Counsel until thou shalt â—ing me unto Glory â—ome Considerations of the Glory of the Saints in Heaven THis Felicity is represented to us by many Names but most especially Two taken from Two things in this World which we affect most that is Life and a Kingdom First Life Luke 10. 15. Master who shall I do to inherit eternal Life And Secondly A Kingdom Matt. 22. 3â— Mark 12. 28. Luke 2. 32. Fear not littâ—â— Flock for it is your Father's pleasure to giâ—â— you a Kingdom The Nature of Life is so sweet to all Meâ— because naturally we desire to preserve oâ— Being even in this mortal Life which 〈◊〉 fast chained not only to infinite change oâ— Calamities but to many Dangers and fâ—nally to Death it self but that Life whicâ— is the blessed State of those who have a fuâ—fruition of God is a true lively and perfect Life a pure Life a holy Life a securâ—â— Life a Life free from Molestation frâ—â— from Change a most happy Life as weâ— for the Glory thereof as for the Eternity In this Glory there may be degrees 〈◊〉 there can â—e no defect altho' like Sâ—aâ—â— one Saint shall differ from another yet aâ—â—hall shine altho' like Vessels one sâ—aâ—â—â— hold more than another yet all shall 〈◊〉 full Neither shall this difference cause â—ny to complain First Because in theâ—selves they shall find no want And â—â—condly Because the Glory of others shaâ—â— be as their own And yet this Glory could not make Life â—appy if it were not also perpetual The â—ore glorious it is to be enjoyed the more â—â—ievous it would be to determine the â—ery Thoughts of Ending wou'd much â—bate the pleasures of Enjoying but Eterâ—ity addeth so much to Contentment in â—his Glorious Life as it addeth to contiâ—uance it maketh the Pleasures of this â—ife even like it self no less than infinite Likewise a Kingdom is of such Estimaâ—â—on among Men that for it they will venâ—ure their Estates their Lives their Souls â—ay they will surmount all difficulties and â—angers they will make their way thro' â—lood through Wounds through Death 〈◊〉 self to attain it altho' it be but a small Corner-Kingdom upon Earth incident to â—numerable Casualties and Care But his Kingdom is a Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 â—ternal Kingdom a most blessed Kingdâ—◠〈◊〉 Tim. 4. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Luke 〈…〉 â—at 23. 34. a Heavenly Kingdom 〈…〉 â—â—ove the tempestuous Troubles of this 〈◊〉 â—â—riour World an eternal Kingdom subâ—â—ct neither to declination nor change a â—lessed Kingdom furnished with all Feliâ—â—ties without any mixture of Misery or â—rief the Excellency whereof may be consider'd in two principal Points Largâ—ness and Magnificence which may not bâ— obscurely conjectured For if it be true which all Authors aâ—firm That many Stars do far exceed thâ— whole Body of the Earth in greatness seeing these Stars bear so small a Proportion in regard of that Heaven whereoâ— they are fixed the Face whereof is opeâ— to our View how little is the compass â— all the Kingdoms upon the Earth in coâ—parison to the Celestial Kingdom which 〈◊〉 above the Starry Heaven and in unknowâ— dimensions exceedeth that Sphear Be astonish'd O my Soul and altogether wrap from thy bodily Senses upon consideration both of the Greatness of this Kingdom and the unspeakable Goodness â—â— the King thereof who hath said unto the â—â—ncerning the same as once he said unt◠〈◊〉 of the Land of Canaan Lift ◠〈…〉 â—yes now and look from the Place whâ—◠〈◊〉 art for all the Land which thou seest â—â—â—â—â—ve unto thee for ever Gen. 13. 14 15. Proceed also to consider the Beauty anâ— Majesty of that Kingdom even by thâ— Rule which the Apostle hath taught Roâ— 1. 20. In esteeming the invisible Works â— God by those that are visible If then God hath provided for these our base Bodies and sinful Souls such excellent such abundant Pleasures from the Service of all Creatures in this World â—ow excellent how innumerable are those Pleasures which are prepared for those glorified Bodies and Souls which shall behold him Face to Face If the Delights â—e so great and various which he imparteth to the Evil as well as the Good to his Enemies as to his Friends what hath he reserved for his good best and choicest Friends If our Prison yield such fair contentments what will he do for us in his Royal Court If we find such Comfort in this stormy time of Tears what may we expect in the sweet Sun shine of Joy If this corruptible World which he set up for a small time as a Cottage or Out-house be so gorgeous so magnificent that many desire no other Heaven what Estimation shall we make of his principâ—l and Princely Palace His Eternal Habitation prepar'd before all Worlds to set forth his Majesty and Glory and for the uttermost declaration both of his Wisdom and Power It is very like that the Palace of Babylon was exceeding fair whereof Nebuâ—hadnezzar so much gloried Is not this great Babel which I have built for the Houâ— of the Kingdom for the Honour of my Majâ—sty But assuredly all this World of ouâ— which holdeth a middle state between Heâ—ven and Hell and in some sort participateâ— of both surpasseth and it surpasseth nâ— Hell so far in Beauty and Glory as it surpassed by the Royal Court of Heaveâ— which being framed fit for the Majesty greeable to the Estate of Almighty God no less gorgeous and great than his Wiâ—dom could contrive and his Power pâ—â—form and that is above all compass of coâ—parison Infinite Ps 84. 11. O! how
amialâ— are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Hosts â—â— Soul longeth and panteth even to enter iâ— thy Courts even thy great City Holy aâ— Heavenly Jerusalem Rev. 21. and 22. 1â— which shineth with thy Glory as clear â— Chrystal whose Buildings are of puâ— Gold like glittering Glass whose Waâ— and Foundations are of precious Stones whose Gates are so many entire Pearls whose Streets are pav'd with pure Gold glittering as Glass where is no need â—â— any Sun because the Lamb is the Lamâ— that giveth it a large a glorious Light from whose Seat streams a River of Watâ— of Life clear as Crystal and upon thâ— Brooks is planted the Tree of Life which continually yieldeth both Physick and Food where is no Curse no Night no unclean thing but the Throne of God and of the Lamb and his Servants shall see his Face and serve him and Reign for evermore Matthew 8. 8. When thou wert upon the Earth O my Saviour in thy humbled State the Centurion professed himself unworthy and so he was that thou shouldst come under his Roof altho' in probability neither framed nor furnished in the meanest fashion on the other side how unworthy am I base wretched Worm to enter into this thy Heavenly Habitation prepared â—or thy glorious estate Psal 84. 1 4. O! how amiable are thy dwellings thou Lord of â—osts Blessed are they that thou shalt make worthy to dwell in thy House they shall â—lways be praising of thee But there is no place can afford true Feâ—icity if the Society be not suitable to the â—ame A Country is much esteemed accorâ—ing to the Nature and Quality of the Inâ—abitants if they be many if of Noble Nature if of a generous Disposition if â—ll aiming at one common End who then â—re the Inhabitants of this Celestial City here is the full assembly of Angels oâ— whom in this World we have the serviceâ— but not in sight in Number answerablâ— to the large Capacity of that Place moâ—â— amiable most admirable Câ—eatuâ—es iâ— Beauty disposed in most excellent Oâ—deâ— here are the ancient Woâ—thies or ratheâ— Wonders of this World the Patriarchâ— the Prophets the Apostles the Evangâ—lists the Martyâ—s the Confessors and gâ—nerally all the company of Saints in suâ— multitude that they cannot be numbreâ— for Nobility all the Children of Goâ— holding such Order for their Places aâ— Proportions for their Glory as it pleaseâ— the Divine Wisdom to dispose And aboâ— all here is the holy Humanity of our Saâ—our Christ seated in the height of Majesâ— at the right Hand of the Father being tâ— Head of that blessed Body of Saints O sweet Society what shall I say 〈◊〉 thee it seemeth a Presumption to desiâ— thee and yet without desire of thee I caâ—not live Habakkuk 2. 4. For the righâ—ous Man doth live by Faith if then have the Faith to believe thee I cannâ—â— but have a desire to enjoy thee Heb. â— 38. Gal. 3. 11. Rom. 1. 17. 19. The true Life of a Christian is Faith our Senses may be deceived and thereby possess our Opinion with Erâ—or I cannot have this Life of Christianiâ—y if my Faith is not more assured than â—ny Sense Well this is the Seat this is the Socâ—eâ—y which God out of his infinite Goodness and Mercy hath appointed for those â—hat love him and long for his appearing â—nd that make it their chiefest business in his World to serve him and glorifie his Name those full and transcendent Feliâ—ities they shall enjoy endeavour not to â—xpress O my Soul thou art nothing near â—ble to understand them thou art so far â—om understand 〈…〉 them as thou art â—om enjoying 〈…〉 more do underâ—â—and them but 〈…〉 do enjoy them â—nly thou mayest aâ—ar off look towards â—em and so clear as the Cloudiness of â—lesh and Blood will permit in distinct â—arts take a view of them as they are â—iefly applicable either to the Body or the â—ul For this filthy Flesh which is now â— cumbersome and offensive to the Soul â—d subject to so many mutations shall in â—e general Resurrection be changed and â—ade most glorious it shall cast off aâ—l Corruption and therewith also all the Deformities and Calamities which proceeded from the same Isa 35. 6. There shall not be one feeble The Lame shall leap as an Haâ—â— and the Dumb shall sing for if the Blind and Lame were not permitted to enter into David's House much less shall any Deformity or Defect either enter or approach unto the House of God and as the Soâ— by conforming it self to the Will of God so the Body by conforming it self contrary to the Nature thereof to the Will oâ— the Soul shall be made partaker of the Perfection and Glory of the Soul and be seated in a most flourishing and never-fading State of high Perfections it shall be adorned with most 〈◊〉 Beauty even the wise Man saith 〈◊〉 â—7 In the time 〈◊〉 their visitation they shall shine Moses saw God but imperfectly and while and his Face did shine how theâ— shall they shine who shall perfectly see 〈◊〉 Face for ever Our Saviour did in soâ— measure describe this glorious Beautâ— when he said Mat. 13. The Just Mâ—n sâ—â—shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Fâ—ther It shall be delivered from the luâ—pish Heaviness wherewith it is clogged aâ— incumbred in this Life and be in Agilâ— equal with Angels for as they enjoy equal Glory so shall there be no difference in their Gifts The thought of Man is not more swift when the Sun riseth in the East the Beams thereof are not more speedily darted into the West than that shall be both swift and sudden in performing motion Isaiah 40. 31. They shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Hereto shall be added a most large Liberty no Limits to include no stop to restrain it from passing freely whereit pleaseth and also their strength shall be as the strength of Angels nothing shall resist it eveâ—â— thing shall give it way it shall strive with no greater strain in effecting any thing than we do in the motion of our Eyes Further it shall be delivered from all Diseases and Pains of this Life and shall â—njoy a strong and perfect Constitution of Health no Sickness shall seize upon it no â—nfirmity no Debility shall approach it grow upon it prevail against it because as â—he Psalmist saith Psal 37. 39. The Health â—â— the Righteous is from the Lord. Above all it shall be wholly filled with â—nspeakable Delight and Satisfaction â—hat do I say it shall be filled it shall be inebriated not having the sence of any other thing what do I say wholly every part every faculty and every sense shall be satiated with delight in its own proper Object not like the corruptible and sorrowful Pleasures of this Life which are aâ— smoak in cold weather whereof the Smoak is more noisom and offensive than the heaâ— is comfortable but exceeding them
And St. Marâ— 14. 22 23. And as they did eat Jesus tooâ— Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave tâ— them and said Take eat this is my Body Anâ— he took the Cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they all drank of it Luk 22. 19 20. And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying This is my Body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me Likewise also the Cup after Supper saying this Cup is the New Testament of my Blood which is sheâ— for you And by St. Paul we have a hint oâ— it 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25. For I have receiv'â— of the Lord that which also I have delivereâ— unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night that he was betrayed the same night took Bread And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you This do in remembrance of me And the reason that is given is For as often as ye eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup ye do shew forth the Lord's Death till he come How we ought to examine and resolve with our selves before we Communicate in this great Ordinance WE are Exhorted to it by the Apostle St. Paul 1 Cor. 11. 28. But let â— Man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. The Apostle's reason is Because he that eateth and drinketh Unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's Body O Dreadful that any shou'd be so careless so heedless and presumptuous to go to this Table of the Lord and not be fitted and prepared for it when they that run may read the fatal Consequence of Unworthy Receiving Therefore that you may not come to this Ordinance and go away in a far woâ—se Condition than you came fit and prepare your self for it First by examination examine thy own Heart which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it and try your own ways see what you are doing whether serving of God or the Devil or your self And if you have been serving your self or the Devil do so no more but turn from all your wicked ways with a full resolution and purpose of heart and ceaâ— from doing evil learn to do well Examine and see what God hath saiâ— concerning those that break his Statuteâ— that observe not his Commandments tâ— keep them that are stubboâ—n careless anâ— unconverted Sinners that will not havâ— God for their Portion nor none of hâ— ways but will walk after the imaginatioâ— of their own Hearts striving as it werâ— with all their might to make sure of Eternal Burnings which will be the certaiâ— Portion of all the Workers of Iniquity a God himself hath declar'd that cannoâ— Lye Ask thy self the Question whether thoâ— art one of those head strong Sinners or noâ— Why shouldst thou be afraid to ask thiâ— Question when no less than eternal Joyâ— or eternal Woes depend upon it I am not afraid to look over my Estate to seâ— whether I am a rich Man or a poor anâ— why shou'd I be afraid of seeing whetheâ— I am a wise Man or a Fool a Friend â—â— an Enemy to God and whether the blesed Portion of the Righteous or the cuâ—sed Portion of the Wicked will fall to mâ— Share What means my living in so many known Sins and be contented to perform some formal Ceremonies in the Service of God and now and then put up a dead â—ull heartless Prayer and put him off with â—he world's leaving O dreadful poor deâ—uded Soul that I am to think that the All-wise God maker of Heaven and Earth and the Fountain of Waters will be conâ—ented with these false hypocritcal and indifferent Actions No God is not such a â—ne as my self he is of purer eyes than to behold such Wickedness with any approbation Therefore take heed O my Soul and â—heat not thy self any longer but turn to â—he Lord with singleness and uprightness of Heart and serve him with a ready and â— thankful Mind and take as much nay more pleasure in obeying his Commandments in doing his Will in observing his â—tatutes and Judgments as ever thou didst â—â— thy most darling Sin in deceitful Daliâ—h's which will certainly bring thee to â—verlasting Ruine and Destruction if thou â—ost not leave them and forsake them and â—eave to the Lord and fear his dreadful â—ame and love him with all thy Heart â—â—d with all my Soul and with all thy Mind â—â—d with all thy Strength and thy Neighbours as thy self and love mercy and do justly and walk humbly with thy God and then thou wilt be fit and prepared for this Heavenly Banquet whereby thy Soul will be infinitely refreshed and the Souls of all those that are Receivers in the true Faith Fear and Love A Prayer to be used before the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament MOst Holy Lord God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite loving kindness to Mankind gavest thy only begotten Son to make satisfaction to thy Justice for the Sins of the whole World O Lord thy Mercy is very great towardâ— me and all Men in that we have sinned and thou hast appointed thy only Son to bear the Burthen of the Punishment foâ— them O Lord do thou fit and preparâ— me by thy Heavenly Grace for this thy great Ordinance and so grant me by thy Strength as that I may perform my paâ— of it with that holy Fear and Reverenâ— as I ought And Lord Grant I may râ—ceive that benefit by it thou designest â—â— in it which is that Soul-satisfying Cordiâ— the fresh stream of thy Everlasting Lovâ— Lord make me more and more sensible by it of thy great Loving-kindness towards me O Lord grant this and abundantly more than I am able to ask or think for thy dear Son's sake to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory from this time henceforth and for ever At the time of Receiving you may use these Ejaculations BLess the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name for his wonderful Mercy and Loving-kindness to me is very great Magnifie the Lord O my Soul and sing Praises to the most high God for he hath visited and redeemâ—d his People with his most precious Blood At the Receiving of the Bread say THis is that Bread which came down from Heaven That whosoever eateth â—hereof shall never hunger Thou hast dealt â—â—y Bread to the Hungry O feed me with â—is Bread of Life O strengthen my Faith â—nd open my Mouth with fervent desires â—at I may eat not to satisfie my Bodily â—unger but Spiritual and to the refreshâ—ent of my Immortal Soul O let my Soul feel the Efficacy of thy Grace that may not eat unworthily O Lord I beseech thee to direct me by thy holy Spiriâ— to receive it worthily
to my everlasting Comfort Amen After the Bread say Oever blessed Jesus Son of the moâ— high God sanctifie this Bread to thâ— Soul that it may enable me to overcomâ— all Assaults of the World the Flesh anâ— the Devil and that I may continue thâ— faithful Servant to my Live's end Amen Before Receiving of the Cup say THe Lord himself is the portion of â—â— Inheritance and my Cup thou shâ— maintain my Lot my Lâ—t is fallen to â—â— in a fair Ground yea I have a good Heritage I have set God always befâ—â— me he is on my right-hand therefoâ—â— shall not fall Gracious is the Lord aâ— Righteous yea our God is merciful Wâ—â— reward shall I give unto the Lord for the benefits he hath done for me I â—â— receive the Cup of Salvation and callâ— on the Name of the Lord. Devout Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions A Short Collection of some of the Holy Resolutions of Holy DAVID concerning Prayer and Praises PSALM ix Verse 1 2. I Will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart I will shew forth all thy marvellous works I will be glad and rejoice in thee I will sing praises to thy Name O thou most High Verse 11. Sing praises to the Lord that dwelleth in Zion declare among the People his doings Psal xviii 3. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from my Enemies Psalm xix 12 13. Who can understand his Errors Cleanse thou me from secret Faults Keep back thy Servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me Psal xxviii 1 2. Unto thee O Lord will I cry my Rock be not silent to me Hear the Voice of my Supplications when I cry unto thee Psalm xxxiii 1 2 3. Rejoice in the Lord O ye Righteous for Praise is comely for the Upright Praise the Lord with Harp sing unto him with the Psaltery and an Instrument of ten Strings Sing unto him a new Song play skilfully with a loud Noise Psalm li. 1 2. Have Merey upon me O God according to thy loving kindness According to the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me throughly from my Iniquity and cleanse me from Sin Psalm lxvii 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause thy Face to shine upon us That thy way may be known upon the Earth and thy saving health among all Nations Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the People righteously and govern the Nations upon the Earth Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Then shall the Earth yield her Increase and God even our God shall bless us God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall fear him Psalm c. 1 2 3 4 5. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye Lands Serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing Know ye that the Lord he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his People and the Sheep of his Pasture Enter into his Gates with thanksgiving and into his Courts with Praise Be thankful unto him and bless his Name For the Lord is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all Generations Some few of God's Promises to those that truly serve him and call upon his Name Psalm cxii Verse 1 2 3. BLessed is the Man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments His seed shall be mighly upon the Earth the Generation of the Upright shall be blessed Wealth and Riches shall be in his House â—nd his Righteousnes shall endure for ever Job li. 7. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto â—im and he shall hear thee and if thou seek â—im he will be found Isa lxv 24. Before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear John xv 7. Ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you John xvi 24. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be-full John xiv 13 14. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name I will do it Matthew xxi 22. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive Matthew vi 6. Pray to thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly Matt. vii 7. Ask and it shall be given you seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you A Morning Prayer for a Family MOst glorious and ever blessed Lord God whose goodness and mercy is extended to the very ends of the Earth who dost from thy Throne behold all the actions of the Sons and Daughters of Men whether they be good or evil that thou mayest reward them according to their doings O Lord we poor sinful Dust and Ashes are this Morning come before thee to beg Grace of thee hoping in thy Mercy which is over all thy Works Keep us we humbly pray thee this Day as thou hast kept us the Night that is past and gone keep us in thy Faith Fear and Love and forgive us all our Transgressions by the Merits of thy dear Son Teach us to bewail them as we ought and separate them from us that would separate us from thee our God O Lord take away from our Minds all Ignorance and Blindness and all hardness of heart and make thy Word more precious to us than the Gold of Ophir and guide us by thy holy Spirit here out of all that is evil into all that is good that when our great change comes we may receive that Crown of Glory that is laid up for all those that run and are not weary that walk and are not faint but that travel in thy strength and by thy gracious assistance till they arrive to their Journeys end which is to rest in thy Bosom O Lord do thou strengthen our Weakness enlighten our Understandings more and more that in the greatest Temptation we may have knowledge of thee and of thy ways that we may never be overtaken but that for the future we may press forward towards the mark of the high Calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lord do thou prosper all our Undertakings and bless our Goings out and Comings in and give us Hearts to learn something of every thing and make a spiritual Use of our Actions and Occasions till we come to lodge with thee in thy Kingdom Let our Affections grow one towards another unfeignedly and that we may love our Enemies and bless them that curse us but especially the houshold of Faith and that we may always pray for them and they for us and both of us be heard of thee for our selves and one for another and thy Son for us all Bless Lord the Catholick Church with Truth Peace soundness of Doctrine and holy Discipline Continue thy
Favours upon this Land of our Nativity and with the choicest of thy blessings bless the King upon the Throne and all the Royal Family sanctifie the Lives and the Studies oâ— thy Servants that labour in thy Word oâ— Doctrine Bless his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council and all others iâ— Authority with necessary Favours Bless the Nurseries of good Learning all Grammar-schools the famous Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Inns of Court Bless this City and Place wherein we live Remove the Punishments due for the Sins thereof and give them Grace to repent in time lest they be destroyed Bless all our Friends Relations and others for whom thou hast appointed us to make Prayers and Supplications Bless this Family with Grace and Peace that they all may know their several Duties towards thee and one towards anâ—ther And all we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the Blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory ascribed by us here and all thine elsewhere both now and for evermore An Evening Prayer for a Family O Lord God Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations we 〈◊〉 come this Evening by thy great Mercy 〈◊〉 to the Throne of Grace to beg Grace oâ— thee to help us in the time of Need anâ— also to return thee hearty thanks for 〈◊〉 multitude of thy great Mercies but 〈◊〉 especially for thy merciful preservatin oâ— us this Day and all the Times and Days of our Lives that thou hast by thy mighty Power and streched out Arm brought us out of innumerable Perils and Dangers and hast attended us both by Night and by Day and poured upon us contrary to our deserts so many Excellent Blessings and Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal Good Lord we beseech thee keep us as thou hast done hitherto from Day to Day and make us steadfast in the profession of thy Holy Name and keeping of thy Commandments that neither the Wrath of Man nor the Malice of the Devel may turn us away from thee Lord turn thy back upon our Iniquities blot ouâ— our Transgressions and remember our Sins noÌ„ more in which we have so much delighted change our corrupt and polluted-Hearts and wash and cleanse us in the Blood of our dear Redeemer Forgive us all that is past and grant us the assurance of that Forgiveness seal'd up iâ—â—ur Consciences by thy Holy Spirit Forgive us our intolerable Barenness in good Works our base Unthankfulness and the Abuse of thy Grace and strike our stony â—earts with the Rod of thy Fear that wâ— may attain unto a due Thankfulneness for 〈◊〉 thy Favours and a most unfeign'd and â—rnest Repentance of our Sins O Lord â—ess us all this Night and after our Boâ—ies have been refreshed do thou bring us â—â— the light of another day wherein we â—ay praise thy great Name in the Land â—f the Living Sanctifie us by thy Word â—â—roughout Soul Body and Spirit for thy â—ord is Truth Bless this Nation preâ—erve the King and all that are in Auâ—hority and all thy Children Raise up â—â—e Heavy-hearted that mourn in Zion Give them Beauty for Ashes the Oil of â—oy for Mourning and the Garments of â—raise for the Spirit of Heaviness Lord â—e merciful unto them whom thou hast â—ade any way helpful unto us Bless every one of us in our proper station that we â—ay serve thee with all our Hearts fear â—hy Majesty and love thy Precepts These â—hings O Lord and what ever thou knowâ—st is needful for us we humbly crave of â—hee in the Name and Merits of Jesus Christ our blessed Redeemer saying as â—e hath taught us Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Prayer against the Temptations of the Worlâ— the Flesh and the Devil O Most merciful Father and mighâ— God of Jacob a strong Tower 〈◊〉 the Faithful a Rock of Defence an Refuge for all the Distressed thou knoâ—est I am set in the midst of many Daâ—gers my Weakness is very great insâ—much as that without thy help I cannot â—void being ruined and that for ever beseech thee preserve my Body and Soâ— from all Temptations and Snares of thâ— Devil and suffer not my Senses to taâ— that Pleasure and Delight in the things â—â— this World as I used to do but Lord lâ— me use them as if I used them not anâ— take my Affections more and more off them and settle them upon their rigâ— Objects those things that are above Lord do thou take from me all that 〈◊〉 Deformed and of a corrupt Nature anâ— work and establish that which thy Graâ—â— hath wrought in me that having on thâ— Armour I may be able to stand against aâ— the Besetments of the Enemy Let mâ— not be drawn away into any Sensuality 〈◊〉 any desire of the Flesh but give me power to overcome it that I may live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil World and serve thee better and live â—ore in the Spirit Lord preserve me â—rom the darkness filthiness and deceitâ—ulness of this World that I may not faâ—hion my self like unto it to follow a Mulâ—itude but being changed by the renewâ—ng of the Mind I may walk upâ—â—ghtly â—efore thee all the days of my appointed â—ime till my change comes O Lord do â—hou be a present help unto me in the time â—f Trouble for in thee I do and will â—ut my trust and confidence therefore â—ead me no further into Temptations than â—hou art pleased to give me strength to oâ—ercome them O Lord that I may with â—â—rong Faith resist Satan and help me to â—ull down his Kingdom more and more 〈◊〉 Watching Fasting and Praying morâ—fying the Deeds of the Flesh and let thy â—ighteous Law be my meditation Day â—nd Night and not the foolish Vanity and â—nful Pleasures of this World Let not â—rosperity make me forget thee nor Adâ—ersity cast me into Despair but let me â—ake all thy dealing with me whether on â—he one hand or on the other in love from â—ee which is that wherein thy Dispensaâ—ons are towards me Lord arm me with thy Spirit encourage me with thy Prâ—sence and let me always feel the effectuâ—â— working of thy Power which is ever madâ— perfect thro' Weakness even for Chriâ—â— Jesus his sake A Prayer for the Remission of Sins O Glorious Lord God and everlastinâ— Father I a wretched and an uâ—done Sinner without thy Mercy aâ— come before thee to beg favour of thee foâ— all my Offences begging praying deâ—ring and beseeching thy heavenly Majestâ— that thou would'st in Mercy look dowâ— upon me I cannot but confess were not for the hope I have of thy Mercy aâ— the hold of thy Comfort and the reneâ—ing Graces I sometimes receive from thâ— and that sweet rellish I have of thy gooâ— Gifts and thy Heavenly Word I sink inâ—â— Despair for my sins are continually bâ—fore me if I go they follow me if run they fly after if I look back the staâ—e upon me if I go forward
they me me if I turn to the right-hand they terifie me if to the left-hand they tormeâ— me If I look down into the Earth Hâ— is ready to devour me Now I have â— way but to look up to thee help me good God save me dear Father succour me â—weet Redeemer assist me merciful Creaâ—or that my Prayers may be so servent so â—ealous so affectionate towards thee that â—hey may draw down thy Mercies upon me Power down thy Blessings showre â—own thy Graces open thy hand of Merâ—y and restore joy and consolation to my â—eavy-laden Soul wash away my Sins â—ipe away my Iniquities heal my Infirâ—ities purge my wicked Mind of all ill â—houghts pardon all my Damnable Deeds â—nd detestable Dealings take all hardness â—â— heart from me and according to thy â—ood promise renew a right Spirit within â—e send the Joys of thy holy Comforts â—â—on me O Lord let me have some taste â—â—d some sense of thy most glorious and â—ost comfortable Presence let me be reâ—ewed by thy Grace and established in â—y Service that I may never back-slide â—om thee But grant O most merciful â—ther that my whole dependance may be â—on thee so that in all my Thoughts â—ords and Actions I may rejoyce in serâ—â—g fearing and obeying of thee that I â—y spend the residue of my Days in thy â—vice seeking thy Honour and Glory And most merciful Father favourably govern help instruct guide and teach me by thy Wisdom to magnifie thy Name and preserve me in all my Ways and Workâ— and all about me Remember thy poâ— Flock build up thy Church in the moâ— holy Faith Comfort Sion govern anâ— assist all painful Pastors and Teachers teach them and us rightly to know thee and truly to follow thee in all the Paths oâ— Righteousness and true Holiness O Lordâ— Rouse my sleepy Soul and defend it froâ— evil Imaginations keep me always in thâ— good frame of Spirit which will causâ— me to meditate upon thy Law Day anâ— Night Grant that I may not do anâ— thing that is contrary to thy Commandâ— but that I may walk in Piety and in Peace Give me a true and hearty Repentanâ— for Sin that I never may repent of that â— may be truly sorrowful for spending of mâ— time so much in the Devils Service â— powerful preserver of Men remember mâ— and restore me to Joy and Comfort anâ— hasten in time thy Salvation unto mâ— Draw my lingring Soul with the Coâ— of thy Love and it shall run after the Good Lord declare thy Mercy unto mâ— that I may make known thy hand-â—oâ— Establish me in thy Grace excite me to Goodness give me Grace that I may grow stronger and stronger to walk before thee and weaker and weaker to sin against thee and faithful and stedfast in thy Service to my Life's End Grant this dear God for thy Son ' sake my blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer before a Sermon MOst gracious Father give us Hearts to hear thy Word with that due Reverence and Attention as we ought knowing that it is the Word of God and not of Man therefore we ought to hear what by thy Servant thou art pleased to command us that we may do it with all our Hearts and with all our Souls Lord do thou keep our Thoughts upon what we hear and let them not be carried away with any vain Illusions and wicked Imaginations Grant that we be not overcome with Sleep and Drowsiness but quicken O Lord we beseech thee our Senses open our Ears to hear and make us to understand how to observe thy heavenly Word for thy only Son's sake our Saviour Amen A Prayer to be said after Sermon O Lord God we beseech thee to leâ— that Word which we have heard thâ— Day with our Ears to be set home to oâ—â— Hearts that we may not be only Heareâ— of thy Word but Doers that we may so learn to live to please thee and make iâ— our Business to keep thy Commandments and spend the rest of our Lives in thâ— Service to the Honour and Glory of thy Great Name and the Salvation of oâ—â— Immortal Souls through Jesus Christ oâ—â— Lord. Amen A Prayer against wicked Thoughts MOst Glorious and Eternal God I one of the unworthiest of thy Creatures am come on my bended Knees to implore the gracious Assistance of thy Holy Spirit against the Evil Thoughts that do arise in me to the great Dishonour of thy Holy Name and the great Trouble of my own Conscience When I have Thoughtâ— to be fervent with thee in Prayer either the Devil the World or the Flesh do disappoint me and I cannot do as I would for those things that I do I would noâ— do and those that I would I do not â—n follows me Shame is ready to overâ—ke me Confusion is like to lay hold on â—e Destruction attends me and Horrors â—d Fear affright me I have none to â—ake my Supplications to but to thee my â—viour my Rock and Salvation Help â— God save me merciful Father deâ—nd me dear Creator a Poor worthless â—orm as I am draw me from my Sins â—e succour pardon and forgive me â—ash me and I shall be clean help me to â—t away the Evil of my Doings and â—arn me O God to do well Give me â—iritual Thoughts to renew all good purâ—oses within me help me to put away â—â—r from me all vain and lustful Thoughts â—f the Flesh and all malicious reproachâ—â—l and froward Thoughts that proceed â—â—om the Devil or any worldly Occasions â—o that I may live purely and have no Thoughts but what are innocent and â—haste always fearing to displease so graâ—ous a God and loving a Father as thou â—â—t and walking circumspectly before â—hee that I may be a good Example to 〈◊〉 my Neighbours round about me that â—ey may see my good Works and glorifie â—ee the only and alone Author of them To whom I give Praise Honour and Glâ—ry at this time henceforth and for evermore A Prayer in Prosperity MOst bountiful Father as thou haâ— been pleased to bless me with a large Portion of this World's Wealth give me an humble thankful and charitable Heart that I may be a good Stewardâ— that thou hast been pleased to entrust mâ— with in bestowing of it upon those Objects of Pity and Compassion that are iâ— great Straits and Necessity for it and nâ—â— upon base and sordid Lusts of which should certainly have cause to repent oâ— and that for ever O Lord grant that thâ— more earthly Blessings that thou give me I may the more seek thy Heavenâ— Graces that I may be the more humbleâ— in the due consideration of my great uâ— thankfulness and ungratefulness of Spiâ—â—â— that I may live more piously and religiouâ—ly and that when I depart this sinful Lâ— I may be mindful to leave some good aâ—â— godly Examples of Charity to those thâ— follow Grant that this my Wealth maâ— be no hindrance to my Salvation but rather a furtherance to me in all
Pious Godâ—y and Charitable Action Grant this O Lord and whatever more thou seest I stand in need of for thy dear Son's sake To whom with thee O Father and the Holy Ghost be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for one that is going to Sea O Lord God Eternal who made the Seas and the Fountains of Waters at whose Commands the Winds are I beg of thee to go along with me and preserve me by thy Power and Outstreched Arm from the Perils of the â—reat Deep and carry me safe to my desired Haven and Lord forgive me all â—y Sins heal all my Back-slidings and â—e me freely grant me thy Grace â—hat I may live in thy Fear and walk â—â—rightly before thee with singleness of â—eart that so I may live to the Praise â—â—d Glory of thy Great Name and the â—verlasting Salvation of my precious and â—â—mortal Soul And Lord as I have â—gged of thee to carry me safe to my â—â—sired Haven so bring me home again â—at so I may have an occasion and opâ—ortunity with my Friends and Relatiâ—ns to sing Praises to thy great and glorious Name for all thy Mercies but more especially that thou hast kept me from the merciless Waters and the Raging of the great Deep So begging thy Protection for my Preservation I resign up my self to thee who art the God of all Power and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer in distress of Weather at Sea either by Storm or Tempest O Lord God Eternal maker of Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is We miserable Offenders who have justly pull'd down thy Vengeance upon our Heads by the greatness of our Sins we have provoked thy Wrath we have deserved to be swallowed up quick by these raging Waves O Lord the Floods come over us and even enter into our very Souls O Lord the Sea rages and rises up against us Here we see thy woundrous Judgments in the greaâ— Deep which unless thou preserve us wilâ— swallow us up in a Moment Lord wâ— cannot but confess we have sinned againâ— thee with a high hand and therefore justlâ— is thyfierce Anger kindled upon us aâ—â— thy intolerable Judgments come up again us there is none to help us Therefore O Lord for thy tender Mercy sake appear for us and save us Cease these Storms and Tempest Cease we beseech thee these swelling raging Billows Command these blustering Winds and they shall obey thee for we are at the pit of Destruction just ready to be swallowed up Save us Master or we perish Lord increase out faith Merciful Father we beseech thee to take us into thy Protection and if thou hast appointed Death for us O Lord be thou present we beseech thee to receive our Souls into thy Bosom till the general Resurrection of our Bodies and then receive our Souls and Bodies into thy Kingdom If thou dost design us for Life grant that these Afflictions may be so sanctified unto us as to cause us for the future to live a Godly Righteous and Sober Life all our Days Grant this O God for thy dear Son's sake Amen A Thanksgiving for a safe Return from Sea FAther of all Mercies and God of all Consolations I cannot but must confess that I am obliged to return thee hearty thanks for all thy Mercies But more especially at this time I am and do return thee my humble and hearty Thanks for thy great Mercy in bringing me safe over the great Waters tâ— roughâ— many Perils and Dangers to my own Habitation and to the Enjoyment of all my Friends and Relations for which singular Mercy O Lord do thou give me a Heart to live answerable to it that thou may est have the Praise and I reap the Everlasting Comfort of it and I will sing Praises to thy Great Name for thou art my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence and Praises wait for thee O God in Sion for thou art worthy to be praised both now henceforth and for evermore A Prayer for one that is going a long Journey O Lord God lead me in the Paths oâ— Righteâ—â—sness and direct my Goings in thâ—â—ay of Truth We are boâ—â— to Travel and many have no certaiâ— place of abode our Days are like a Spaâ— and our Laves pass away swifter than Post O what is Man that thou art 〈◊〉 ful of him or the Son of Man that tâ—â— hast any regard for him We are like to Bubble a Blast we go hence and are seen no more Teach me Lord to number my days that I may apply my heart unto Wisdom Direct myâ—steps in the way of truth and guide and govern me in my Travel that I may go on with Comfort in this my Journey Be thou my God my Help and Guide to direct me in my way and Business Keep me from all danger of Thieves or other Mischief and Trouble that I may have no disturbances in my Journey no lets or hindrances nor sorrow nor heaviness bâ—â— for my Sins O Lord keep and bless all my Friends and Relations at home and abroad in Health and Peace O Lord let me have the comfortable enjoyment of thy holy Spirit upon the way that so it may assist me that I may think discourse and act nothing but what is well pleasing to thee And all this I bâ—g for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for a sick Person O God of all Comforts who art a present help in time of Trouble to them that faithfully rely upon thee for thy help and assistance in their Troubles Lord 〈◊〉 hast laid me upon a Bed of Languishing and upon a rowling pillow where I cannot find relief or ease or comfort for my Body Lord do thou sanctifie this sore affliction unto me I cannot but confess I have sinned and done wickedly and grieved thy holy Spirit from time to time yet merciful Saviour return unto me that I may have a feeling of thy good Spirit Let not the sins of my Youth nor the iniquity of that time be upon me But Lord as thou hast laid thy afflicting Hand upon me arm me with â—â—atience that I may endure this Visitation patiently If thou art pleased to dispose of me for another life then make me fit for thy Kingdom Arm me and strengthen me to bear the But then without mourning against thee but make me to undergo this Affliction willingly and to fight it out manfully What am Iâ— a poor worthlesâ— Worm â— I have noâ— Comfort but from thee Restore me â—â— Health and amendment of Life or else take me into thy Kingdom of Glory Lord cease my Pain ease my Grief Lord I intreat thee to grant that neither the Devil nor the World may ever have power over me any more to make me disobey thee Send thy good Angels both to keep me in Sickness and in Health and grant that I may be always fitted and prepared for death that I may not be afraid of it if it
of this Sacrifice of Thanks giving for thy great Mercy in appearing so wonderfully for me to my great Ease and Comfort in that dreadful and painful Hour of Child-bearing that thou hast been pleased safely to deliver me from the Perils of it and to lengthen out my Days in the Land of the Living and to see the Fruit of my hard Labour and Travail Lord grant that it may prosper and grow up in thy Fear to thy Glory and both our Comforts And grant Lord that I may live worthy of this Mercy and make thee some grateful Returns for all thy Mercies Pardon and forgive me all my Sins and preserve me from sining against thee any more And all I beg upon the account of thy dear Son To whom with the O Father and with the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Christian Vertues as Love Faith Hope and Charity c. O Lord Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations bless me with all thy Spiritual Blessings and Heavenly Graces make me rich in Love strong in Faith full in Assurance of Hope and abound in all Charitable Actions according to that Sufficiency thou hast been pleâ—sed to bless and entrust me with that I may have nothing to answer for at that great and terrible Day wherein the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened and every one rewarded according to their Doings Lord grant that thy Graces may all flourish in me as the Bay-Tree that so by my good Example others may return to thee their Lord and Saviour and so have cause to sing Praises to thy Great Name for all thy Wondrous Works Lord keep me from Insolence and Pride and grant me true Humility and Zealousness of Mind and give me a true Consideration of my own Vileness that so I may tremble and stand in Awe before thee as a sinful Man having always a better esteem of others than my self Gracious Lord when the Devil shall accuse my own Conscience bear Witness against me and the whole World forsake me for my Sins do thou be my Strength my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence against these potent Enemies of my Soul Enflame my Dead Heart with the Heavenly Affection of an unseign'd Love that I may love and adore thee above all and my Neighbour as my self Grant me a good Mind to help and succour all to my Ability to forbear and forgive all that ever any did against me Let not the least Spark of Envy or Wrath lodge within my Breast nor never let the Sun go down upon my Anger but let me be satisfied that Vengeance is thine and that thou art so just that thou wilt send it upon the Heads of those that fear thee not and call not upon thee but that live in Envy and Malice and Implacableness of Spirit against thy Children Give me Grace O Lord to follow the Example of all good Men and keep me from that hateful Sin of Sloath and Iâ—leness which is the High-way to Want and Beggary Grant me a contented mind and moderate my Desâ—res towards the Things of this World and Lord be with me at the Hour of Death and when I go hence and be no more seen I may be admitted into thy Kingdom of Glory that I may eternally sing Hallelujah's to thy great Name Grant this O God and whatever else I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Earthly Blessings O Lord God Eternal which causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Unjust satisfie the Desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we cannot but must humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of thy Favours but that it is of thy Eternal Goodness we are living Monuments of thy mercy all this Day Lord do thou supply our daily Necessities and give us this Day and every Day our daily Bread Bless the manuring of our Ground prosper 〈◊〉 Corn and bless the Seed-time with the Former and Latter Rain in their due Seasons Keep our Fruits while they be upon the Earth from Haâ—l and Thunder from excessive Droughts over much Raâ—o and Mildews and send us a joyful Harvest O Lord bless and increase our Cattle and keep them from those Casualties they are obnoxious to amd bless our â—â—skeâ— and our Store and keep our Granaries Barns and Store Houses from Fire and boisterous Winds Thieves aâ—d sudden Inundations Prosper all our Undertakiâ—gs whether by Sea or Land Be thou a present Hâ—lp in time of Trouble and turn our Dearâ—â—s into Cheapness and Scarcity into Pleâ—ty And Lord open the Hearts of those to whom thou hast dealt liberally that as thou hast been to them they may be to their poor Fellow-Creatures that are in Want Help us O Lord in all our Straits and oppress us not with too much Poverty neither let us be puffed up in the Day of Prosperity but keep us in Evenness of Temper in either extreme that we may live in thy Fear and die in thy Favour And all this we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Graces before and after Meat Grace before Meat O Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who hast created â—ll things for the use and service of Men Bless these thy Creatures which thou hast provided for us and set before us at this time that they may strengthen our Bodies so that thereby we may be the better able to live to thy Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat ALmighty God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite Goodness hast most plentifully fed us for which and all other Mercies we return thee hearty Thanks begging of thee so to direct and guide us as that we may in some measure live answerable to thy Goodness to us All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be Praise Honour and Glory henceforth and for evermore Grace before Meat MOst Gracious Father we crave thy Blessing upon these good Creatures that thou by thy good hand of Providence hast bestowed upon us grant that they may give Nourishment to these our mortal Bodies and sanctifie them so unto us as that we may live to thy Praise to thy Honour and to thy Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Grace after Meat MOst Bountiful and Gracious Lord God whose Goodness is extended to the uttermost Parts of the Earth what cause have we to praise and magnifie thy holy Name for this great and singular mercy of daily taking care for us and plentifully feeding of us with the best and choicest of thy Creatures As thou hast filled our Bodies with them so fill
our Souls with the Graces of thy holy Spirit And all we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son To whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory for ever and ever Grace before Meat O Lord it is by thy Goodness and Mercy that we are here before thee this Day to partake of thy great Mercy in providing such a plentiful Table for us Grant Lord that what we eat at this time may so refresh and strengthen us as thereby we may not only be able but obliged by thy great Goodness towards us to serve thee with all our might with all our strength and with all our Soul unto our Live's End Grace after Meat GOD of all Blessings and Gonsolations we return thee our humble and hearty Thanks for thy satisfying our Bodies at this time when Thousands of our Fellow-Creatures are in great want Lord grant that we may live up to this and all other Mercies for Jesus Christ his sake our Lord. Grace before Meat THou King of Kings and Lord of Lords Bless these thy Creatures that thou hast filled our Table with at this time Bless the King upon thâ— Throne and all the Royal Family with the choice of thy Blessings Bless the Christian Churches iâ— this Land of our Nativiâ—y And all we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Fatheâ— and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour anâ— Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat THou Prince of Peace and everlasting Father who hast filled our Bodies in a most plentiful manner at this time so fill the Souls of the â—ing and all the Royal Family and ours with the â—est of thy Servants every where with the Graces of thy most holy Spirit whereby we may be conâ—ucted to thy Everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen HYMNS and Spiritual SONGS of Praise to Almighty GOD for our happy Deliverance from Popery and the horrid Cruelty and Barbarity of Blood-thirsty Men. A HYMN O Lord thou hast been merciful To thy beloved Land â—or England thou hast saved By thy Almighty Hand From the Barbarous Cruelty Of all those that have sought With all their Power to destroy Their Plots are come to nought The Cruelty they did design O Lord was very great Thy People all for to destroy This Land to ruinate But these our Enemies O Lord Thou hast caused to fall And from that Ruine they design'd O Lord thou hast sav'd us all A SONG of Praise THerefore thy praises Lord we 'll sing To the Honour of thy Name For this Salvation thou hast wrought We 'll magnifie the same When thou appeard'st our Foes they fell And perish'd at thy Sight For thou didst maintain our Cause And do the Thing that 's right Our Enemies thou hast cast down Their Counsels overthrown Thou hast put out their Names that they May never more be known O Lord thou wast our Refuge then When we were sore opprest A Refuge will he be in time Of Trouble and Distress SONG II. LEt 's praise the Lord with all our Hearts Let 's praise God while we live While we have Beings to our God Let 's Songs of praises give Trust not in great Men not at all In whom there is no stay Their Breath departs to Earth they turn That Day their Thoughts decay O! happy are all those and blest Whom Israel's God doth aid Whose hopes upon the Lord do rest And on that God are staid Who made the Earth and Heavens high Who made the Swellings deep And all that is within the same Who Truth doth ever keep Who righteous Judgment executes For those oppress'd that be Who to the Hungry giveth Food And sets the Captive free Who giveth to the Blind their Sight The bowed down doth raise The Lord doth dearly love all those That walk in upright ways A Song of Praise TO render Thanks unto the Lord It is a comely thing And to thy Name O thou most High Due Praise aloud to sing Thy Mercies great for to shew forth When shines the Morning-Light And to declare thy Faithfulness With Pleasure every Night How great Lord are thy Works each Thought Of thine O deep it is A wicked Man he knoweth not Fools understand not this When those that lewd and brutish are Spring quickly up like Grass And Workers of Iniquity Do flourish all apace It is that they for ever may Destroyed be and slain But thou O Lord art the most high For ever to remain For all thine Enemies O Lord Thine Enemies perish shall The workers of Iniquity Shall be dispersed all A Song of Praise O England all with joyful Sounds Up high your Voices raise Sing to the Honour of God's Name And Glorious make his Praise Say unto God how terrible In all thy Works art thou Thro' thy great Power thy Foes to thee Shall all be forc'd to bow All on the Earth shall worship thee They shall thy praise proclaim Songs they shall sing most cheerfully To thy most glorious Name For this great mercy thou hast wrought By thy Almighty power Poor England to redeem and save From those that would devour Just at the Pit of Destruction O Lord we all did stand And nothing could us save from it But thy Almighty Hand O blessed be thy Glorious Name To all Eternity The whole Earth let thy Glory fill Amen so let it be O Come let us sing to the Lord Come let us every one â— joyful noise make to the Rock Of our Salvation Let us before his gresence come With praise and thankful Voice Let us sing psalms to him with Grace and make a cheerful noise For God a great God and great King Above all Gods he is â—epths of the Earth are in his Hands The strength of Hills are his To him the raging Sea belongs For he the same did make The dry Land also from his Hands Its Form at first did take O come let 's worship him therefore Let us bow down withal And on our Knees before the Lord Our Maker let us fall For he 's our God the People we Of his own pasture are And of his Hand the Sheep to day If ye his Voice will hear A Prayer for King William MOst Glorious and ever-blessed Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who dost from thy Throne behold all the Inhabitants of this lower World we humbly pray and beseech thee for â—esus Christ thy dear Son's sake to bless with the â—hoicest of thy Blessings our Gracious Sovereign â—ing William who by thy great and wonderful Pro 〈◊〉 under thee and thy Christ is come 〈◊〉 supream Head and Governour of â—â—is Land and â—â—tion wherein we live Lord do thou endow hiâ— with all thy heavenly Graces and bless all his Uâ—dertakings against his and our implacable Enemieâ— whether by Sea or Land Lord let his and our Enemies fall before him and carry him through this great Work thou hast brought him hither to manage that he may settle this Nation in Peace that every one of â—â— may live and enjoy in Trâ—nquility of mind all thoâ—e Earthly blessings thou hast our of thine Infinite Goodness and Mercy bestowed upon us Lord let thy Gospel flourish once more in thiâ— Nation that thy Name may be glorified to 〈◊〉 Ends of the Earth O Lord be our King's Defender and Keeper in all His Battles And Lord do thou fight them for him and then he will be crown'd with Success and let him see the End of all his Enemies and finally after this Life he may inheriâ— those Eternal Joys thou hast in store for those thaâ— love thee and long for thy appearance All this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now henceforth and for evermore FINIS
all the Saints and which is also the last End and Centre of their desires For the Soul of Man cannot find any peace or rest in any thing short of this blessed Vision even as neither the hearing of God nor conversing with him could satisfie the Mind of Moses but rather edg'd and sharpen'd his Desire to behold God's Face The reason is for that all the Pleasures and Contentments of this World being Beams of that Sun Sparkles of that Fire are most purely and perfectly contain'd in God The Perfection of all the Creation and whatsoever deserveth Love or Admiration are more full and compleat in God than in themselves whence it follows that whosoever enjoyeth the Presence of God enjoyeth the Perfections of all Creatures which are able abundantly to delight both Body and Soul And as the Sea receiveth all Streams and yet hath proper Waters in far greater abundance so in God there is a Confluence of all the Perfections of all Creatures yet his own Perfection doth infinitely exceed them with the Presence whereof all the Powers of the Mind shall be filled all the Senses of the Body satiated insomuch as they shall neither in desire seek nor in hope aspire nor in imagination create any greater Pleasure For therefore hath God made Man that Man should receive by him internal happiness of the Soul by contemplation of his Divinity and external of the Body by view of his Humanity The understanding shall rest in that Light of Knowledge the Will shall rest in Love of that Goodness the Desire shall rest in the Fruition of that Delight Every Power of the Soul shall be always hungry and always satisfied hungry without wanting satisfied without loathing the more it hath the more it shall desire the more it desires the more it shall have and the more it hath and desireth the more it shall see to be desired and had The three Disciples saw but a Glimpse of this Glory upon Mount Tabor and were ravish'd with such contentment that they cried out with one consent it is good for us to be here St. Paul being wrapt up in the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. 4. and Rom. 8. 18. faw that which was not possible to be spoken of yet thus much he spake I account that the Afflictions of this time are not worthy of the Glory that shall be showed unto us This also did that Kingly Prophet David say Ps 16. 11. In thy Presence is the fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are Pleasures for evermore This did our Saviour himself express in pronouncing Happiness to the pure in Heart Matth. 5. 8. because they shall see God and therefore he form'd this Request for those that his Father had given unto him Joh. 17. 24. â—ather I will that they be with me even 〈◊〉 I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me Assuredly 1 Kings 10 if the Queen of Sheba esteemed them happy who stood in the presence of Sclomon and heard his Wisdom Behold a greater than Solomon is here Hereupon it followeth that all the Faculties of the Soul and Body shall always praise God without either intermission or End The Saints shall never be weary of singing Praises to the most High God and sing that Song which St. John Rev. 14. 3. call'd a New Song for that altho' it be one common Praise answerable to one common Glory which all the Society of Saints enjoy yet with respect to that Delight and Joy of Heart which will arise from the Glory and Praise of it it will be always fresh and new unto them this Heavenly Harmony shall never be old as the Glory so the Praise of the Saints shall never cease but shall ever be new and yet never alter or change Psal 81. 1 4. O how amiable are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Hosts blessed are they that dwell in thy House they shall always be praising of thee Psal 87. 3. Very Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God O Glorious City when shall I enter into thee when shall I possess and enjoy thee to see my God to converse with that blessed Society which dwelleth in thee in perfect Peace and Felicity passing all Understanding O Eternal Kingdom O Eternal Light O Eternal Life not so much to be spoken as to be desired and as by all Endeavours to be approach'd O blessed State not to be express'd even by those who only enjoy thee O only Purchase worthy of the precious Blood of Jesus Christ how can I believe thee and not admire thee how can I hope for thee and not extol thee how can I think of thee and not long for thee O that this present state of Strife and Contention were at an end O that the time of my Travel or rather my Banishment from thy heavenly Kingdom were expir'd who can be in love with this Life full of misery that hath any hope faith and confidence in thy Mercy Tell me O my Soul what a happy hour will that be when Death shall knock at thy Gates and put thee in the way to life Call thee from Prison to Liberty from troublesome Travel to joyful Rest from a living Death to an Immortal Life When others shall fear thou shalt look up Luk. 21. 28. because thy Redemption draweth near Then shall the glorious Company of Saints and Angels come to meet thee with Congratulations of unspeakable Joy for thy delivery out of the great Oppressions of Aegypt Then shall the Spouse meet thee and say Cant. 2. 10. Arise my Love my fair one and come away for behold the Winter is past and the Shower is over the Flowers have appeared in our Land and the singing of Birds is come Then shall the Angels-marvel and say Cant. 8. 5. Who is this coming out of the Wilderness leaning upon her Well beloved What Honour will it be unto thee when they shall present thee before the Throne of the most Blessed and Glorious Trinity with a joyful Memorial of the Good which thou hast done and of the Evil which thou hast suffered for the Love of God when thy blessed Saviour shall step forth unto thee and say Well done good and faithful Servant welcome into thy Master's Joy What Joy and Satisfaction shall be renâ—red unto thee for all the tryals and afflictions of this Life Of what dignity of what value shall Vertue then be adjudged How delightful will it be after safe Arrival to lift up thy Eyes and view the dangerous Voyage thou hast made when thou shalt see the Tempest wherewith thou hast been tossed the Streights which thou hast passed the Dangers which thou hast avoided how many Millions do daily perish and with how few thou didst escape then shalt thou sing with the princely Prophet Psal 94. 17. If the Lord had not helped it had not failed but my Soul should have been put to silence What Joy is daily made when new Inhabitants do arrive to furnish the void places of
this Celestial City for assuredly if there be much Joy in Heaven at the conversion of Sinners much greater will the Joy be when they come to be glorified O how sweet will then be the Fruit of Vertue whose Root in this World is esteem'd so bitter how pleasant will that Peace be after this troublesome Warfare after great variety of Perils that eternal Security after this Weariness that sweet Rest The Children of Israel went up armed out of Egypt Exod. 13. 13. but when they came into the Land of Promise they laid down their Weapons they forgot their Fears 1. Kings 4. 25. Every Man sate securely under his own Vine and under his own Fig-tree Here we are set in the State of Strife there our War shall be at an end there shall they sit secure from so much as the Fear of the fiery Dart of the Enemy There they shall not dread his Stratagems or his Strength thither the Sighs do not pierce there the hissing is not heard of the poysonous Basilisk but the Glory of God doth enlighten that Region and the soft and sweet Breath of the Holy Spirit doth refresh it O pleasant Peace O sweet Security what can be sufficiently said of thee Job 4. I acknowledge with the Woman of Samaria not only that this Well is very deep but that I want a Bucket to draw Thou canst not be understood of those that enjoy thee not thou canst not be prais'd enough of those that enjoy thee O ye Sons of Adam O blind and perverse Generation miserable lost Sheep if this be your Country whether do you range if this be your Pasture whither do you stray whither do you wander if this be your home What do you Wherefore stand ye looking about wherefore will ye lose these Joys the least whereof are greater and more lasting than any this World can afford Assuredly if we should endure the Torments of Hell for a long season to enjoy these Felicities but for a short time our Pains wou'd be abundantly satisfied with this exceeding weight of Glory And if thou enquirest O Man what thou must do to attain to the enjoyment of these Everlasting Joys give an attentive Ear to what thy blessed Saviour hath said Matt. 11. 11. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force If thou canst violently break off with all thy beloved and darlings sins thy Dalilahs which would ruine thy immortal Soul and if thou canst but do justly love Mercy and walk humbly with thy God and thou canst set thy whole desires after this Kingdom thou shalt certainly enjoy it and that for evermore O weak Man wherefore art thou troubled Christ hath taken all the pains and he hath paid the Price and a dear one too no less than his own precious Blood hear what he saith unto thee Mat. 13. 41. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Treasure hid in a Field which when a Man hath found he goeth and sells all that he hath and buyeth that Field Lo here the Purchase â—s laid before thee it is worth all that thou â—ast it is valued to thee as thou valuest thy self therefore make away all thy desires in things of this Life and let all thy joy be fix'd upon that Kingdom and thoâ— shalt have it Christ hath given himself to purchase this Kingdom for thee thereforâ— let not sin reign in thy Body but give up thy self in Love to him and he will givâ— himself and his Father's Kingdom unto thee But alas O my Soul where arâ— thou what dost thou where is thy Joy â— where is thy Love wherewith thy thoughâ— shou'd be inflam'd how art thou chain'â— with the Inchantments on this ugly Earthâ— How art thou drown'd in drowsiness O my Soul that thou art so careless and senselesâ— of true Spiritual Pleasures and so fonâ— upon the vanities and vexations of thiâ— Life Tell me dost thou believe there is â— Kingdom of Heaven wherein thou art inroll'd a Citizen whereto thou art adopted an Heir and hast thou not a longing Love to be possess'd of the same Alas how faint is thy Faith how unbelieving 〈◊〉 thy belief Tell me I pray thee what Entertainment hath intangled thee into thâ— Love of this Life What dost thou finâ— therein but wanting and wishing froâ— whence ariseth two Tortures of the Mind Hope and Fear how art thou busied there in as the Spider that consumeth her owâ— Bowels in weaving curious Nets only to catch Flies O my Soul it is not any true contentment or satisfaction that thou findest in any of the Pleasures of this Life but â—t is thy own Heaviness that holdeth thee down it is thy own Dulness that doth undo thee There is no difference between doubting of this Happiness and not desiring of it If then thou hast any Sparkles of Faith shake off this sleepy Sloath away with this Unchearfulness away with this dead Dulness away with all the profane Earthly Pleasures those Lime twigs of the Devil which cleaving to the Feathers of thy Devotion make thee unable to â—â—ount upwards O my God! O that I could so free my Affection O that I cou'd so heave up my heavy Heart unto thee O that I were in desire as I am indeed a Sojourâ—er a Traveller a Stranger upon Earth O that I cou'd travail like a Woman in Childbirth to be delivered of this lumâ—ish Load of Sensuality and to solace my self only in Desire Hope and in Assuâ—ance of thee This do I desire O Lord or rather weakly wish for I am so fetter'd with Flesh and Blood that I am so far froâ— performing it that I cannot desire it iâ— such sort as I should It is Nature thaâ— drowneth me in this dead Sea of Worldliness I cannot endure to think upon much less desire a Dissolution If thâ—â— Nature be not O Lord over-rul'd and chain'd down by thy Grace I shall bâ— neither able to do nor desire but like Lot I shall be loath to depart out of Sodom therefore O Lord let me grow iâ— thy Grace and in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord that I may live to thy Praise here and be glorified with thee hereafter in those Glorious Mansions have had a short View of SOME HOLY PREPARATIONS To a Worthy Receiving of the BLESSED SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER The Necessity of this Duty pressed from several Portions of Scripture FIrst by the Express Commands of our Blessed Lord and Saviour who is the Chief nay the Sum and Substance of what this blessed Ordinance representeth unto us as in Matt. 26. 26. 27. And as they were eating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to the Disciples saying Take eat this is my Body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave to them saying drinkye all of it And for this good and beneficial Reason to all Mankind as Ver. 28. This is my blood of the New Testament which was shed for man for the remission of their Sins