case of a Man's sinning and repenting in a circle but never repenting so as not to repent of his deceitful Repentance and perhaps sometimes to charge our selves with the Faults we never committed as if those Faults which the best Men stand actually guilty of were not sufficient with the help of Thought to make them humble enough Therefore I suppose the reason of this Division of the Evening Offices will be obvious to the meanest Capacities at first sight For a right Judgment to be made between Mortal Sins and Sins of Infirmity I refer the Reader to the Reverend Doctor Lucas's incomparable Treatise concerning Religious Perfection The Office of Abstraction so call'd from its abstracting or taking the Mind off from Objects of external Sensation explains and exhorts for it self and therefore I will be frugal of my room and desist from making Remarks CHAP. IV. Necessary Cautions BUt notwithstanding all that I have said concerning the Composure of these New Offices the Ignorance of some and the Censoriousness of others will still oblige me to declare that the Design of this Tract is not to give a New Account either of the Nature of Devotion in general or to propose any new sorts of Devotion but to offer a more Convenient Method of Ordinary Closet-Piety of the Means A Contrivance of this Nature is not the Result of deep Learning or an acute Philosophical Genius but of the honest Principles of Simplicity of Heart and Christian Prudence which consists in a regular Appointment of the modal Process and Seasons of external Duties Since therefore 't is a Discovery that cannot make the Author more valuable in the World I do not see how any charitable Christian can impute the Author's Publication of this Treatise to a Principle of Desire of Fame or Self-conceit or any other secular Emulation whatever Weakness he may be conscious of to himself Neither am I so bigotted to my own Method as to detract from the Labours of others I own my Soul and my Book to be a Debtor to many Books of Common Methods in a great measure This Method is not asserted here to be Matter of Duty when known If the Reasons already given for the Conveniency of it cannot prevail with the Reader to make a Trial which a wary Christian in a Matter of this Moment should not methinks deny I have done my part and can be content with the secret Approbation of my own and my Friends Experience after an Intimacy with both Methods As for the Forms themselves they were not compos'd to confine my self or any others to the use of them but however 't was convenient to compose some for a more lively Explication of the Method which may be observ'd without adhering to them wholly or in part as to the Expression This I think may resolve all Cavils at any Expressions of Address if I use them improperly to thee I don't use them so to God! Thou may'st add or contract as Conscience directs and yet gain benefit by the Book too Our Method of Closet-Devotion should ordinarily be exact for the Solemnity of the Employment requires it but our Expressions need not be so in this Exercise in case our Affections be but clean and polite and therefore constant Forms of Expression are no less needless in private upon the account of God's consciousness to our meaning than they are needful in publick where the Invisibleness of our Hearts may make those hasty Expressions improper for their Obscurity or Abuse and therefore culpable to Men be the Thoughts which they are intended to represent never so grateful to the Searcher of Hearts And farther tho' we must not habitually neglect the Worship of our Tongue in private yet sometimes when as 't is oft with devout Persons the Workings of our Mind soar above Expression Mental Prayer alone is no omission but rather the more laudable But when 't is otherwise and we are dry of sprightly Ideas at Seasons of Address an affecting Form of Scripture-Expressions may do well to be at hand since they may in part assist the drowsie Soul tho' they may not wholly satisfie the Person whose Mind is awaken'd and enlarg'd by them CHAP. V. Suitable Advice and Exhortations LEt me now Dear Christian in the Behalf of thy Soul entreat thee to use thy diligence in turning thy Heart to God if it be possible never venture to omit the solemn Duty of thy Closet but be a constant Attendant on the King of Heaven and be sure before you venture to speak consider and compose thy Mind to an awful Frame and bend thy Body thrice down to the ground in Honour to the Blessed Trinity 2. In a Morning meditate on God and let his Excellency and Mercies force thee to say It is a good thing to tell of God's Loving Kindness in the Morning and of his Veracity in the night Season Let this be thy Employment which is the Employment of Angels and Stars innumerable Shall every thing but Devils and damn'd Men praise God and Man who is a redeemable Sinner neglect to give Thanks for his unspeakable Gift his own his eternal his begotten his only Son The dull and dumb Ass knows how to reproach silence on such a Theme for he knows his Owner as well at his Crib Certainly were thy Soul clad with that Gratitude which is the Purple of Angels certainly didst thou feel God enlarging thy Soul certainly were thy Powers within ' girt ready for Eternity the bent of thy Soul this way would be so irresistible that thou could'st never refrain not only from venting thy Praise but also dedicating thy whole Man daily to God Withstand the Violence of all Charms but those of Gratitude which the glorious Inhabitants above can't resist The splendid Prospect of a Christian and his vigorous sense of the Love of Christ constrains him to praise God and God-man Incessant Hallelujahs for Ghostly Victories and incessant Dedication and Resignation of himself to the Supreme Monarch of all the Glorify'd Universes will be the Everlasting Royalty and Priesthood of a Christian and is the End of his being made at first and of his being ransom'd and sanctify'd after he had been uncreatur'd Let all Souls therefore laud the Lord Let those praise the Lord whom he has redeem'd 3. Remember I beseech thee thâ— great Worth of eternal Happiness and if it be possible never fail oâ— securing thy self some retiremenâ— in the heat of the Day lest the heat of worldly Business burn and lay waste that Heart which was intended to glow and to be solac'd with the Love of God Now it is thaâ— the World is too apt to sway thâ— best unless they habit themselveâ— to the exercise of Vigilance Now we had need fly to our Closets for sanctuary that we may be convinc'd that Man the meer Natural Man disquiets himself in vain and searches after Fulness and Satisfaction in those Honours and Possessions which prove in the end but Wombs of Vexation of Spirit
and Angels than 't is slighted by Men of scornful and licentious Minds and Manners Sublimate their Minds with a noble Degree of Sincerity that they may divide the Word without deceit and without reserve Set their Faces like a Flint against the reigning Impudence of the Age and against the unjust Reproaches of unreasonable and disorderly Men and in what respect soever they may sometimes happen to be partly too Just may they thereby be provoked to an Holy Jealousie over themselves O fortifie them with the Courage of a Baptist that they may denounce the Terrors of the Lord against all Impiety without partiality or respect of Persons rebuking Vice boldly both in season and out of season with that spiritual Majesty and Authority and that degree of Faith and Faithfulness which becomes the Embassadors of Christ and the Stewards of the Mysteries of the Gospel O send skilful and laborious Husbandmen into thy Vineyard in the midst of our great distress Furnish all Bishops with a wise and discerning Spirit that they may lay hands suddenly on no Man but stock the Church with such Holy and Judicious such Active and Orthodox Priests as may honourably and manfully employ the Power of the Keys put to shame and silene all Gainsayers and win many Strangers nay even profest Enemies over to Christ that so having cultivated the Seeds of Heaven in themselves and others they may stand with great Joy before Christ's Tribunal and save both their own and the Souls of them who are committed to their Care Lord of thy abundant and unbounded Goodness do thou hasten this Enlargement of thy true Invisible Church O how long how long O our God shall it be before the great Affairs of Eternity prosper in their hands 7. Do thou so prosper the Education of our Youth in our Universities and other Seminaries of Learning that the Publick Spiritedness Profound Learning and Generous Piety of our Posterity may shame the Selfishness conceited Ignorance and Degeneracy of this present Generation 8. Give to Children Servants and all Inferiors Docility and Submission and to all Parents Masters and Benefactors the Gift of wise Inspection and Conduct that their Management of those that are under them may not fail of thy Blessing and the making them prove Blessings to themselves and the whole Community in their several Stations Vocations and Relations 9. Reward all that have done me good with the Rewards of the better sort Pardon and pacifie all that have wrong'd or slander'd me Blast all malicious Intrigues and breathe kindly on all laudable Endeavours 10. Sanctifie all Afflictions to all afflicted Persons and as soon as the ends of thy Fatherly Goodness have been answer'd do thou speedily deliver them 11. Finally I laud and magnifie thy Holy Name in the behalf of my Country for all thy Mercies conferr'd on me in my National Capacity 12. Lord pardon my manifold Infirmities and accept of this poor Tribute of Worship in the Mighty Name of Christ and concluded with that compleat Form of Prayer which he himself hath taught us Our Father c. Evening Offices OF Daily Repentance CLASS I. A PRAYER Proper to be us'd before the Evening Office of Self-Reflection 1. INcomprehensible Soveraign of the World thou art encircled with Light with thee there can be no Darkness for the Dahkness and Light to thee are both alike The highest Heights and the deepest Depths even Angels and Devils Heaven and Hell are naked before thee How much more then the Hearts of the Children of Men. 2. The Great and Good God print a firm and lively Sense of this All-searchingness of his Nature on my Mind that by being always mindful of the piercing Consciousness of him with whom I have to do I may always act and speak and intend as in the Presence of the Highest and by a profound Reverence of thy unspotted Purity and unlimitted Presence I may be excited to make it the great Business of my Life to cleanse my self daily more and more from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit 3. Particularly I intreat God at this time to enlarge my Conscience with the Presence of that Spirit which searcheth the very Depths of God that I may dexterously apply the Maxims of my Blessed Lord to the state of my Soul and pass an impartial Sentence upon my Behaviour this day O place me in a clear Light to my self O enable me to re-call to my Memory all the Actions Words and Thoughts that not the least Rebellion may be overlook'd I know O Lord to what a gracious and wonderful Being I offer this Request all Natures lie dissected in thy infinite Mind how therefore should any Crevise of my Soul be hid from thee Vniversal Knowledge is the Lord's and to Him alone it does belong Such Knowledge is too wonderful for Man What Creature is there that can attain unto it The Knowledge of my self Lord is the subject oâ— my Petition a Knowledge which is most necessary for and which with thy Blessing is attainable by me O Witness of all my Ways thy Wisdom can impart to me this Gift thy Goodness will not suffer thee to let such an useful Pursuit go without a Blessing O therefore I beseech thee make the Method of my Pursuit acceptable in thy sight and so prosper it whatever things thou think'st fit to keep secret suffer not any wilful sin to lie hidden from me and if my present Recollection discovers any wilful Sin or Sins that has been hitherto undiscern'd by me do thou direct and enable me so to bewail and lament it or them and whatsoever new Guilt of this Day may be charg'd upon me by my Conscience as never to sink under the everlasting Terrour of the Flame or the Horrour of the Dark where there is endless Weeping and gnashing of Teeth O bow down thine Ear to this humble Desire even for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thee Father and the Holy Ghost all Honour Praise and Glory as by Mights and Thrones Principalities and Dominions Angels and Archangels and all the Triumphant Host above so by me be ascrib'd for ever and ever Amen CLASS II. After the careful Application of that daily Method of Self-Examination prescrib'd in the Directory if your Conscience accuses you of any wilful Sin or Sins committed the Day past or brings to memory any Sin or Sins of a longer Date which you never solemnly unsinn'd by Repentance use this following Form THE First Evening Office OF Daily Repentance for Deliberate Sin 1. GReat and Terrible God! the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a Scepter of Equity for thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with delight Thy Wrath is insupportable and tames the most Haughty of Apostate Spirits Who can withstand the Judgment who can grapple with the extream Justice of the Most High 2. And yet sottish and ungrateful Wretch that I am I have departed from my God and liv'd as tho' I could escape his eyes In spight of the
withstand not thy tender of that Peace which is a Pearl of such great Price Verily Verily my Lord and my God now I may and ought and will laud and address thee tho' it be with Trembling and Confusion For as Dread belongs unto Creatures and Sinners so doth Confidence belong unto the Immaculate the Eternal and only Begotten Son of God CLASS II. Expressions of Praise both by way of Recital and Address 1. GLory therefore be to God Condescension to his Creatures Grace and Mercy Peace and Purgation Redemption and Forgiveness to me a Sinner May the Good God who pardoneth Iniquity Transgression and Sin accept the Incense of a lowly Heart 2. Great is the Lord and marvellous worthy to be prais'd there there are no bounds of his Greatness 3. He is Wonderful in Counsel Mighty in Working Glorious in Holiness Fearful in Praises He dwells in inaccessible Light The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him His Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom His Dominion lasteth longer than Ages Ten thousand times ten thousand and Thousands of thousands of Glorious Spirits are the awful Retinue of the Lord God 4. The Heavens declare the Glory of God the Firmament shews his Handy-work One Day tells another and one Night certiâ—â—es another 5. Thou Lord in the beginning didst lay the Corner-stone of the Earth when the Morning-Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy All the Beasts of the Forest are thine and so are the Cattel on a thousand Hills 6. Fearfully and Wonderfully hast thou made Man and O that my Soul did ponder it well Thine Eyes did see my Substance when I was yet imperfect and in thy Everlasting Book were all my Members written Day after Day were they a fashioning To this Day are they preserv'd by thy hand 7. Every Morning thy Loving Kindness is renew'd I laid me down and slept and rose again for the Lord sustain'd me O how dear are thy Counsels unto me O God O how great is the summ of them * Here particular Mercies may be inserted 8. How should I count them They are more in number than I can conceive Whenever I awake they are present with me Have I not for this reason remembred thee on my Bed and thought upon thee when I was waking Now do I sing and always will sing of thy Mercies betimes in the Morning even unto thee O my strength for thou art my Refuge and my mercifuâ— God CLASS IV. The Dedicatory THis Day I dedicate my self Spirit Soul and Body to thy Spirit Honour and Service and do resign all my Care and Concerns to the Direction and Influence of thy Providence and am dispos'd chearfully to embrace all the Dispensations of thy Fatherly Goodness Thus will I by thy Grace and Assistance throughout my whole Life wait upon thee in Holiness that I may at last behold thy Power and Glory everlasting 2. I hate and abhor all my past evil ways and from the depth of my Soul do renounce mine own Wickedness * Here you may confess your Constitution Sin or other Sins O that I may obtain Victory over my whole Body of Sin and live Then shall Jesus be my Jesus indeed and say Soul Be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee and at the Great Day declare before Angels and Saints and Devils and the Desperate Thy monstrous iniquities are blotted out They shall not be thy ruine Thou shalt live for I dy'd for the penitent 3. Hence 't is O Lord that my Soul hangs upon thee To this purpose with extreme Thirst of Soul I seek thy Strength and thy Face O therefore do thou who delight'st not in the Desolation but divine Resurrection of Humane Spirits chear and replenish me with the Light of thy Countenance for without thee we must needs be desolate CLASS V. Acts of Daily Petition for God's Protection and Blessing LORD I have dedicated my Judgment to thee O shew me the way that I should walk in I lift up my Soul unto thee Lord sanctifie it I have devoted my Spirit Lord separate the Light from the Darkness thereof and refine it with the fiery Baptism of the Holy Ghost that thy Will may be the Magnet of mine Lord I beseech thee set a Watch over my Heart and Lips that my Words and Meditations may please thee 2. O that all my Actions and Intentions and Discourses may be begun and govern'd and ended in thy Fear so shall the Lord prosper my Handy-work so shall my Studies thrive under his Blessing and all my Resolutions be establish'd O that the Disposals of my Heavenly Father be they grateful or ungrateful to Flesh and Blood may find their Ends answer'd by my Demeanor under and use of them 3. Arm me I beseech thee with the Armour of God that no presumptuous Sin may ever again get the Dominion over me Array my Soul with a competent Conformity of Mind to the Image of thy Son that I may grow in Grace and heavenly Experience that so this and every remaining Day of my short stay here may be reflected on with less Sorrow and more spiritual Joy in the Lord than the foregoing O may thy Loving Spirit lead me in the ways of Evangelical Righteousness so shall the Land of Righteousness be mine Inheritance and the God of Righteousness my Portion for ever CLASS VI. A Catholick Conclusion LOrd I beseech thee of thine infinite Compassion over-look my numerous Infirmities accept of this imperfect Sacrifice and of the following Expression of my Delight in the Joys of the Church Triumphant and of my Commiseration of all the Perils Straits and Necessities of thy Israel Militant here on Earth in the powerful Name and Words of thine only Son and Man's only Saviour JESUS CHRIST Our Father c. Noon-Office OF VIGILANCE AND CHARITY CLASS I. Vigilance excited by Expressions of a sense of Man's and the World's Vanity 1. VAnity of Vanities all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit 2. God made Man upright little lower than the Angels and plac'd all sublunary Things under him But Man hath sought out many foolish Inventions and lets some Creature or other lord it over his Heart tho' they were all put under his feet 3. For the Lord look'd down from Heaven on the Children of Men to see if there were any seeking after God But oh how are they gone out of the way Destruction and Vnhappiness is in their ways The way to Reconciliation and Glory they neither see nor seek 4. Nay the humble Soul and his Care for Eternity is had in derision by them numerous are those Wretches which combine with the disorderly Tendencies of Birth and the Princes of Darkness to pluck him from his God CLASS II. Expressions of Trust in God and Holy Resolution 1. BUt my Soul shall not run any more after Idols neither shall their Scoffs make me draw back for I will seek the Kingdom of God and Christ and the Righteousness thereof 2. Seek seek I say O
my Soul the Lord and his Strength seek his Face evermore All other things when weigh'd in the Balance are found wanting God alone can be the Marrow and real Plenitude of a Spirit whose are infinite Worlds and all the Fulnesses of the same He and He alone can be an Enjoyment adaequate to a Will 3. O theresore Love the Lord who is the Heaven of Angels He is my stony Rock and my Defence my Saviour my God and my Might in whom I will trust my Buckler the Horn also of my Salvation I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so wall I be safe from mine Enemies For whoso dwelleth under his Defence doth abide under the Shadow of the Almighty CLASS III. An Address to God for Spiritual Strength and Christian Violence in general GReat Creator of the Vniverse Benefactor of Angels Humbler of Devils and Restorer of Man Marvellous for Strength marvellous for Wisdom and marvellous for Goodness Thou hast promis'd to hear them that call upon thee faithfully in time of Trouble O do thou now say unto my Soul in this state of Difficulty I am thy Salvation Pity O Lord my darkned Mind cleanse a Heart stain'd with Sin Terrible Hosts thou seest O Lord do encompass my poor Soul Thousands fall beside me and thousands behind me and ten thousands round about me Thrones and Principalities plot against us and those whom we are too apt because of Sense to reckon our Best Friends do ensnare and betray us But alas tho' we are beleper'd with Guilt tho' we are near the Portals of Death and the Talons of Hell how apt are we to put the evil Day far from us Wherefore I beseech thee do thou by a Divine Power make me constantly sensible of Death and Judgment and the Tortures of the Damn'd invest my Soul with that Noble Violence wherewith the Kingdom of Heaven must be taken O my God I know thy Grace and that only is sufficient for me work in me therefore I beseech thee effectually in the inner Man by thy Spirit that I may habitually will and do according to thy gooâ— Pleasure so shall I be strong indeed even in the Lord and thâ— Power of his Might and be morâ— than Conqueror thro' Christ anâ— hold out to the end so shall I noâ— be dismay'd for any Terror by Night nor for the Pestilence thaâ— invisibly wounds at Noon so shalâ— I triumph the Triumphs of thy Saints and trample upon Dangers Death and Devils and keep a perpetual Jubilee with my God and his Christ CLASS IV. Prayers for particular Graces collected out of our Blessed Lord's Sermon on the Mount and St. Paul AND to the end O Lord I may be found in the Blessed Number of those who are Christ's Disciples indeed make me I beseech thee poor in Spirit a godly Mourner meek hungry and thirsty after Righteousness merciful pure in Heart dispos'd to promote Peace and Vnity ready to be persecuted for Righteousness sake and to rejoice when I am revil'd instead of reviling again O suffer no worldly Emulation to sway in my Heart and to taint my Fastings and Prayers Give me a Heavenly Prudence that my Light may shine before Men and I may nevertheless do many Good Works secretly looking for my Praise and Reward from thee Give me courage to pluck out my scandalous Eye and to cut off the scandalous Hand of my corrupt Nature and all Superfluity of Tongue and Thought for the mean Concerns of this Life O may thy Name never be utter'd without Reverence by me Suffer me not so to be angry with my Brother as to sin or to be a Judge but rather a Doer of thy Law Make me so mindful of my own Ingratitude and of that great Goodness which has nevertheless been continu'd by thee to me that in imitation of this thy great Perfection I may forgive bless and pray for mine Enemies Drive earthly Solicitude out of my Mind that my Distributions to the Necessities of the Saints laying up for me a Treasure in Heaven my Heart may be there also O illuminate my Mind that that Faculty which thou hast planted in me to be my Light may not by being dark it self overwhelm me all over with horrible Darkness I earnestly entreat thee to lay a deep Foundation of Faith within me that like a wise Builder I may build upon the Rock and be proof against Storms and Waves and Tempests always striving more and more earnestly to enter in at the strait Gate that I may bring forth the excellent Fruits of a Mind thoroughly chang'd and with diligence and trembling do those things which my Lord commands O that when my Lord comes when Death seizes me I may be found so doing O subject my Body to my Soul and my Soul entirely unto thee and erect and enlarge the Kingdom of God in it that it may be fill'd with an equitable Disposition of behaving it self so towards God and God Man Angels and Devils its Fellow Creatures and the whole subordinatâ— Creation as becomes a Christian and so be fill'd with Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Finally O Lord since thou hast promis'd it to those who ask it of thee with Faith and Purity Importunateness and Humility give me I beseech thee all Celestial Favours and truly valuable Bounties in that inestimable Gift of Gifts thy Holy Spirit Lord how shall our Souls be nurs'd for Heaven without the support of this Manna of the Seraphim Give me therefore thy Spirit I do again and again beseech thee else I perish to all Eternity Lord I trust in thee O let me not be confounded 2. O my God thy Mercies towards me are ineffable wherefore I present my Body which is daily fed and preserv'd by thy Bounty before thee O do thou so renew my Mind that it may be transform'd from the World to thy Likeness and make my Body and all my Actions in their Station wherein I am or hereafter may be plac'd by thy Providence a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto thee and I may experimentally prove what is that good and acceptable Will of God 3. Awe me I beseech thee with a sense of thy Greatness and my own Meanness that I may not think of my self more highly than I ought to think supply me with Grace to have my Conversation in Heaven anâ— with all Men in all godly simplicity to love without dissimulation to abhor that which is evil and to stand fast in the Lord to prefer others in Honour before my self not to be slothful in Business to be fervent in Spirit to rejoice in the Hope to be patient in Tribulation and instant in Prayer to rejoice with them that rejoice to weep with them that weep in indifferent things to be of the same mind with others not to minâ— high things but to condescend not to be wise in my own Conceit not be overcome of evil but to overcome eviâ— with good For Christ his sake O my Father
and his Father grant these Petitions 4. Give me Grace O Father of Lights to add to my Faith Fortitude and to Fortitude Temperance and to Temperance Piety and to Piety Lowliness and to Lowliness Charity To be subject to the higher Powers to render to all their Dues to esteem the Laborers in thy Vineyard for their Works sake to live up to my Light and to walk honestly as in the day to please my Neighbour to Edification to bear the Infirmities of the Weak and the Reproaches of the Wicked to resist the Devil mortifie the Body and be one Spirit with the Lord. This I beg for the sake of Christ Jesus hear me therefore O my God 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and all thy Soul and all thy Mind and all thy Strength This is the First and Great Commandment and I cannot but own my God that it is most Holy and Just and Good Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self This is the next and like unto it 6. But Lord who is sufficient for these things Where is the Man that liveth and transgresseth not these Laws O therefore Lord enter not into Judgment with me but for Christ's sake pardon my manifold Violations of thy Laws and for the future I beseech thee fortifie me with a plentiful Portion of thy Grace and Spirit Henceforward I will not receive the former in vain nor quench the latter but will love my God with a Supream Love entirely and constantly and my Neighbour as my self and my self according as my Love of God shall recommend me So help my God CLASS V. Office of Charity PART I. The Gratulatory of the Church Triumphant HAppy are those Spirits that wait on God's Throne and do continually minister with Halelujahs to the Holy Holy Holy God and the Lamb for ever and ever Happy and Blessed are those Saints who live in the Regions of inaccessible Light where neither Moral nor Natural Death hath any place Happy indeed are they that are made eternal Priests and Kings to God and are above the need of Care and Watching gratulated be their Joy May it be mine and mine theirs in the eternal Salvation of my Soul 2. A Heavenly Aspiration My Soul is a thirst for the Living God This is the Communion which my Soul is inflam'd with Longings after O that I had Wings like a Dove then should I flee away and be at rest When shall I gratulate and be gratulated there O that I may be united to my God! When shall my Exile be at an end When shall I see and know him as I am seen and known O that I were certify'd that I am a true Son and Servant of God that I might long to be dissolv'd and say How long Lord how long holy and true The Submission But be this as the Lord will whose it is to appoint the number of the Days of his Servant if so be that while Days do not commence Eternity I may number them and be wise and fit my self for my great Change This is my Desire Lord regard it this shall be my Endeavour Lord further it PART II. Intercession for the Church Militant 1. MAy the Creator of all Universes both visible and invisible visit the dark parts of the Earth with the glorious Beams of the Sun of Righteousness that the Knowledge of Christ crucify'd may fill the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea Let the People praise thee O God yea let all Peoples Nations and Languages praise thee 2. And oh that those Countries which enjoy the Gospel may not slander it so shamefully by the black and blasphemous Lives of its Professors Lord grant that the Power of thy Gospel may display the Lustre of its native Brightness Simplicity and Purity in our Lives 3. Restore I beseech thee Beauty and Discipline Soundness of Faith genuine Ordinances and Decency and Perfection of Worship to all Ecclesiastical Bodies professing Christianity And to this end give to them such true Christian Ingenuity as that they may all severally and unanimously own lament and reform their different Excesses and Defects that as there is but one true Christ and but one true Christianity which can secure a Soul of Happiness so we may all glorifie thee the same God and Father of us all with one Mind and with one Mouth 4. Look down O Lord I beseech thee from the Habitation of thy Glory with a special Eye of Favour on this Church and Kingdom which thou hast so long bless'd with many signal Mercies and preserv'd in such amazing and endearing Methods of Providence Pardon our great and crying Abuses of the same and wherein soever all Orders of Men amongst us in our own and the days of our Forefathers have fallen short of the Glory of God let it not any longer I pray thee be laid to our charge Put a stop to that Latitude of Life and Opinion which divides and corrupts us O Lord reform us if we are still reformable that we may not be deliver'd over into the Will of our Enemies whose Mercies are cruel 5. Guard with the Guardianship of thy Holy Angels the Sacred Person of William our King grant that all his Designs and Vndertakings may be so truly Christian and Honourable that they may prove in the end successful Let no Weapon form'd against him prosper and whensoever the number of his Days on Earth shall be fulfill'd grant that he may be found such a Conquerour of all his spiritual and temporal Enemies as may make Death to him a kind Translation of his Soul into a World of glorious Spirits Bless him in his Royal Relatives and especially Catherine the Queen-Dowager her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark Counsel O Lord our Counsellors and teach our Senators true Wisdom Plant a true Affection for the Welfare of true Piety and these Kingdoms in all the Nobility Judges and Inferior Magistrates that Righteousness may run down like a mighty Stream and there may be no Complaints of Oppression in our Streets 6. Showr down a very liberal Portion of thy Spirit on all that are separated to wait at thine Altar give them all a commanding Sense of their own Insufficiency of themselves and Sufficiency in and by Christ to turn many to Righteousness of the great Dignity of their Office of the infinite Value of Souls and that Blood which was shed for them and of the Greatness of their Trust and of that Account which at the last Day will be exacted from them Enflame them with a genuine Zeal from above for thy Glory that their Loins may be always girt for every good Enterprize which may promote the Plantation of New Colonies of Souls in Heaven Adorn them with Meekness and Prudence Circumspection and Humility that they may be burning and shining Lights in this perverse Generation that so they may recover the drooping Credit of their Sacred Function and manifest it to be no less Honourable in the sight of God
Supream Mercy of the Supream Majesty manifested in the Death and Resurrection of his Son I have deliberately in many Instances committed Impiety against my God and Saviour Iniquity against his Creation and Impurity against my own Soul and Body * Here you may confess particular Sins as I have at such a time and under such and such circumstances Yea this very day have I provok'd the Lord to Jealousie by the addition of a new Sin or Sins to my former crying Offences so like a Brute so like a Devil nay worse than either Brute or Deviâ— have I been before thee For nâ— Brute ever spurn'd at Conscience nor did ever any Devil trample upon Redemption Sinful Man alone is that Monster of Ingratitude that fights both against Light and a Jesus at once 3. Wrath and Vengeance Shame and Confusion ineffable Anguish and Bitterness of Soul Blackness and Darkness for ever Communion with Devils and all the Damn'd unquenchable Flames and disregarded Cries even the ever-gnawing and never consuming Envy of a Judas and laps'd Angels is O Lord I must acknowledge the true Portion of my corrupted Nature and the just Reward of this or these and all my other sinful Deeds All this I must own O Lord and all the known and unknown terrible Ingredients of Hell belongs to all who have forgot God and Crucify'd the Son of God afresh and therefore also unto me O God who have thus again sinn'd with so high a hand against thee and after all thy long-suffering and condescension have still presum'd by new Sins to make my self a Derision to Devils a Burden to my self a Traitor to Christ and a noisom Spectacle to God and Holy Angels nay for ought that I know the Dregs of thy Fury ought to be drunk by so vile and villainous a Soul if thou wert extream to mark what has been done amiss 4. But tho' to me belongeth Damnation yet to the Lord belongs Compassion for the Lord is God and not Man and as is his Majesty such is his Mercy For doubtless were thy Ways as our Ways or thy Thoughts like our Thoughts doubtless were not the Bowels of God larger in extent than the wide and deep Sea doubtless were it it impossible for fallen Man to find a favourable access to the Throne of Grace and to be reconcil'd to his offended Maker thou wou'dst never have sent thy eternal Begotten Son into this disorderly Portion of thy World For wherefore O Lord did he shed his infinitely precious Blood if Blood and Vapour and Smoak if showres of fierce and flaming Brimstone if eternal exile of Spirit Soul and Body from thee be the irreversible Fate of poor Man and he be not capable of a repentance which is more acceptable than the Repentance of Devil and those Souls who are departed this Life even a Repentance unto everlasting Life which is never to be repented of 5. Wherefore Heavenly Father since I make use of the Name of no less a Person than the Christ of God and the Jesus of Men since he is as mighty to soften and save as thou art to destroy since his Merits are as charming to thy Goodness as thy Rage is formidable to us let not the Dread Majesty of the Heavens and Earth and all that are therein take up the Weapons of his Anger against me tho' a vain Man which has not shew'd himself a Man venture to expostulate with his Maker and his Judge and to take unto himself Words and say Wilt thou enter into Controversie with a Worm Is there no difference betwixt the Strength of a Devil and a Man Is not Christ a potent Saviour Shall not thy Mercy have its Triumphs as well as thy Justice O Lord hearken O Lord be gracious O Lord forgive Lord hide not thy face from me but from my Sins O Lord most Holy O God most Mighty most Merciful God and Saviour suffer me not to fall into the bitter Pains of eternal Death O Preserver of Men do thou draw nigh unto me for as I have sinn'd so I return and draw nigh unto God I know now that 't is not in vain still to repent and therefore I humble my self and supplicate thee for thy Pardon I level my self with the Worms of the Earth under the Scepter of thy Grace I confess and grieve and hide my self in the Rock Christ Jesus for fear of the Lord and the Glory of his Majesty I come not Lord of mine own head or in mine own Name but by the Direction and in the Name of the great High Priest I beseech thee forgive me O speak peace to my Soul say to the Mempest within me Be still O do thou so wonderfully bless and be merciful unto me as to shew me the light of thy Countenance O that my Soul could hear thee saying I am reconcil'd thy Prayers and thy Tears are regarded my nâ—e Could I but believe in the Lord Jesus and repent effectually there would be no room for doubt for surely those Words are the Motto of that Cross on which Jesus Christ gave up the Ghost 6. O therefore I beseech thee do thou spare me a while till my Soul has thro' Christ recover'd that Strength which by my Sin I have lost 'T is not for the sake of living here that I desire a continuance of Life but that I may have an opportunity once more of enrobing my self with Divine Graces that I may be a Partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light to look on the Lamb of God that was slain for returning Sinners hear the Sighs of a broken Heart supply me with a practical Faith work in my Mind an effectual Change from all Unrighteousness to a steddy flourishing fruitful Habit of universal Holiness make me truly lowly in Heart a zealous Imitator of Christ fight my Battels against the Hosts of Hell and bring me at last I entreat thee to thy everlasting Kingdom 7. With this Hope I will labour to purifie my self and do commit my self with all my Fellow-Creatures especially my particular Friends and Enemies to the kind Influences of thy Grace and thy protection this Night Grant that my Sleep may be wholesom and temperate that I may rise early the next Morning to renew my Thanks to thee for thy continu'd forbearance and to offer my Vows of Gratitude in all sincerity Let not my being now inspir'd with this soft Temper of Soul puff me up or make me less aware of the deceitfulness of Sin But may the Grace Mercy and Peace which I enjoy now from God the Father thro' Christ by being husbanded with Vigilance and Humility usher me into the Regions of Glory Amen Amen so be it for Christ his sake In his Name and Words I conclude my Address together with my Thanks to thee for all thy Mercies Our Father c. CLASS III. THE Wary Christian's EVENING OFFICE OF Daily Repentance for Sins of Infirmity 1. MY Lord and my God Glory be to thy
Grace that I have not to my Knowledge boldly provok'd thee in any respect this day for to thy Grace alone is this Honour due I know nothing of my self yet am I not hereby justify'd 'T is thy Sentence must make or undo me for ever O God thou art greater than our Hearts and knowest all things if therefore my State is still dangerous if any pestilential Habit still cleaves to my Soul if any Mortal Act or Word or Thought hath escap'd my Memory in my Examination enlighten me I beseech thee and suggest it to my remembrance that I may mingle my Tears with thy Mercy and Christ his Blood before I dare to slumber O suffer me not to lean on a delusive Peace But if it be otherwise praised be thy Goodness as for all thy Mercies so especially for this Gift of Innocence Keep me from being high-minded on this or any other account and give me true Sobriety of Mind that I may not through Giddiness and future Neglects fall after all from Favour 3. Glory be to thy Grace and the Merits of Christ that those many latent Deficiencies from thy Law which cleave even to the sanctified in this state will not shut me out of thy Kingdom may by degrees be lessen'd more and more here and will be wholly remov'd hereafter O cleanse me from all my secret Faults be they blotted out by the Blood of thy Son and grant that by great Advances in Grace an entrance may be vouchsaf'd me into the glorious Kingdom of God 4. With this comfortable Faith I rely this Night on thy Providence for convenient Repose and Defence both of Mind and Body In the Name of Christ I beseech thee do thou accept this imperfect Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise in his comprehensive Form I also crave pardon for the Wandrings and Imperfections thereof and do testifie my Charity to thy Creation Our Father c. THE Midnight Office OF ABSTRACTION 1. O My Soul now thou art secret unto Men but thou art not so unto God nor for all that thou knowest unto many good and bad Angels who often behold thee as well as thy Creator when thou neither seest nor thinkest of them Now therefore that thy Eyes are bound by the Darkness of the Night let thy Mind also be turn'd inwards by the profound silence of thy internal Powers that the Darkness of external Sense may encrease the Vigour of my intellectual Sight 2. Commune now with thine own Spirit O search and see whether it be fit for Communion with God which may be easily known if thou know'st whether Light or Darkness be the predominant Principle therein Call to remembrance thy Sins call to remembrance the Mercies of God dive deep into thy self and then say if thou canst that there is not something in the centre of thy Frame which is not perishable like the Efforts of thy Blood Do not be like the captive Multitude of Sense who thro' neglect of Abstraction are a secret to themselves Turn thy Nature over and over in thy Thoughts and especially view the better part thereof and observe wherein thou hast defac'd or improv'd it 3. Think 'till thou art thoroughly convinc'd and when thou art so do thou frequently consider that thou carry'st Immortality in Embrio always within thee 'T is true the Soul rather believes than sees whilst 't is thus imprison'd in the Womb. But when its Mortal Part is ripe for the Grave which may be long before even the Autumn of Man's life 't will make its entrance upon the immortal Stage 4. Think therefore of thy great Change in time before thou art forc'd to launch into the Ocean of Eternity lest the unexpected and unprepar'd-for sight of the invisible World surprize thee with another-guess Dread than that which the Faithful do find then Remember that the State of Man here on Earth is like the old Probationary State of Fallen Angels before they degenerated into Devils and like the State which all the Impenitent who are gone before thee once enjoy'd a State of Time and Opportunity a State of Work and Preparation for that State which is unalterable But the State of Saints and Fiends the State of Loyal and Apostate Angels the State of Angels and Men who have been acquitted and condemn'd before the last Tribunal is a State of exact Judgment Reward and Eternity 5. Then be thy Recompence Glory or Vengeance it will never expire there will be no escape from the one or loss of the other it will indeed have a beginning but its end will never be found Since therefore Eternity will find and keep thee such as Time leaves thee and Eternity is inestimable how canst thou value Time at too high a Rate Let the Time past suffice thee to have serv'd Pride Envy and Concupiscence Now be thou entirely a Servant of Christ and a Subject of Divine Zeal and Charity that an ample Prospect of Heaven may ennoble and enlarge thee 6. Make the Agonies of the Tormented in Hell and the Joys of the Bless'd above familiar to the Mind by Meditation that it may supplant the inchanting intimacy which sense will otherwise find in thy Soul as it does mostly in the Souls of the MANY Fancy thy Spirit to be taking leave of this Cottage of Flesh for this Custom tends greatly to the purgation of the Heart and the weaning of thy Affections from all its darling Idols It makes bare the Vanity of the World stabs the Love of an Earthly Life to the Heart and cherishes divine Love in the Soul Awake therefore O my Soul strive to be cloath'd with new Strength and to regain Paradise Meditate and abstract thy self whilst Sense is tame and quiet and does not hinder the orderly Peace of the Mind check every wanton Sally of Imagination be-aw'd with a sense of the Divine Omnipresence prostrate thy Thoughts of thy self and consider and say Great was the Rebellion and the Overthrow of the Apostate Inhabitants of Heaven Great was and is their Envy against us and the Fall of all Mankind in Adam Great is the Mercy of our affronted God and the Redemption that is tender'd by the Lord Jesus Great is our Blindness and Obstinacy deep and strong are our ill Habits mighty indeed are our Ghostly Enemies Mightier and more are the Angels that are for us wonderful is the Courtesie powerful are the strivings of the supreme Spirit with Man Sharp is the Edge of Conscience even sharper than a Two edged Sword and so great is the Peace of a good Man that it alone might satisfie and every one but himself is a stranger to his Joy Amazingly great is the change of Death so terrible also is the Day of the Lord and the Universal Judgment of Angels and Men. Who can dwell in Everlasting Burnings Are we stronger than God Who can conceive the Pleasures of Heaven What Mortal hath ever feasted upon God 7. And cannot all this provoke that aspiring Principle within me which was made
and is divided into several Parts of Purity Charity and the like according to the different Relations wherein we stand plac'd with respect ro the Creator and his Creation and which do severally display themselves in our Lives at those Seasons which Divine Providence allows for each 'T is not a Christian's business to be solicitous as to his particular external Exercises provided they be lawful and laudable in the Judgment of the Gospel and those be preferr'd if two or more such stand in competition which Providence and the Gospel prefer but his solicitude must be vigorously to exercise and improve within himself during every exercise of Vertue the particular part of universal Grace which is the Blood and Life of a renew'd Soul that is peculiar to and mostly ornamental of every present external Exercise Hence it is that a poor honest Mechanick Christian may thrive as much in Grace in his Shop as a Priest by the daily use of the Altar provided he prefers his honest Work before the Sacrament because Providence has so preferr'd it in him Tho receiving the Sacrament as to the external Solemnity of it and the intrinsick Worth of the Exercise it self is more preferrible to him and all pious Souls in it self when it does not stand in competition with that degree of secular Industry which Justice and moderate Care for a Family requires Hence also it comes to pass that as the thriving Mechanick Christian is better every Sunday or Sacrament-Day than he was the Day before because that intentness of Spirit which is the peculiar ornamental internal Exercise of the conjoin'd Worship both of Soul and Body especially when offer'd with the Memorials of the Mediator's Passion exceeds the degree of his contented submission and heavenly-mindedness which is the greatest internal Ornament of a Christian then during his last external Exercise of his secular Calling So also the next Day after the said Sunday or last sacrament-Sacrament-Day if he thrives he is better than he was then because his Heavenly-mindedness during the Exercise of his secular Calling exceeds the intent Fervour of his Spirit during his last Exercise of the most solemn Worship on the last Lord's Day if Allowances in the Examination be made for the different Natures of both the external Exercises For though one external Exercise has more Religious Splendour in it self than another yet the Religious internal Splendour of the Spirit of a Christian may be diffusing it self with a daily encrease both of extent and power under both alike in case they are all us'd in their Seasons and those that are the more immediately Charitable and Religious are heartily preferr'd all Opportunities Wherefore a Christian that would daily know whether or no he grows in Grace either first considers daily the Chain of his lawful external Exercises the day past and then considers what particular Concomitant Divine Tempers of Mind are the peculiar ornamental Tempers of a Christian during each Exercise and after that takes the height of its advance in each Divine Temper during each Exercise and so by deep abstraction of Thought sees whether the progress of the Soul in the different Divine Temper which is ornamental of each subsequent Exercise exceeded its progress in the particular internal Divine Temper of each foregoing different Exercise In which procedure of practical Abstraction it always also compares the proportionable or disproportionable Advantages and Disadvantages of Divine Assistance Temptations Place Time State of Body and the different Natures of the external Exercises and the like Or secondly the Soul takes an account of its Carriage at different times during similar Exercises and compares the different Improvements of the similar Tempers of each similar or like Exercises at different times with the Circumstances of Assistance and Temptation and the like during each time of Exercise This in short seems to me to be what St. Peter exhorts us to when he exhorts the Christians to grow in Grace and to give all diligence to add to our Faith Vertue c. for if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barnen nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ But he that lacketh these things is blind From which latter Words 't is evident the Apostle does not suppose any Man in a State of Grace who has not all these Vertues always ready within him to be elicited and vigorously exerted at different Times A Man must have the Seeds of Grace within him to be in an infant-state of Grace and must be growing in all if he is a real thriving adult Christian But the Contents of this Chapter may he clearly discuss'd if God grant me Life in a particular Discourse concerning Birth May this suffice for the present purpose CHAP. III. Of Closet-Devotion's furtherance of daily Growth in Grace and the Reasonableness of the Method of this New daily Method of Devotion in general WHatever external Exercises of Religion may be only Providentially or tho' constantly yet but at some set Times necessary I presume 't is agreed by all That the Exercises of the United Devotion of our Hearts and Tongues with reverent Postures of Body in our Closets if Health and opportunity of Retirement will allow it is constantly the daily Duty of a Christian be he in the state of Infancy or Perfection He that wholly omits the Duty of Prayer and Piety lives without God He that omits it in secret is a Pharisee perhaps worse in a Congregation He that performs but always performs it only in his Mind is to be commended so far for doing that which in a lower or higher Degree is the perpetual Duty and Employ of a wakeful Christian whose continual sense of God's Presence and Goodness join'd with God's Grace and Spirit is the very Sôul of a supernatural Life But nevertheless he cannot be commended for forgetting that he is a compounded Creature and I cannot but think it my Duty Friendly to inform him That as humble Gestures of Body without a sprightly Awe of God in the Mind are the Skeleton of not real Worship since 't is not only imperfect but lifeless So the bare elation of the Soul to God if it be never accompany'd with Reverence of Body is not the compleat Worship of a Man Why should we part the Body and Spirit which God has join'd together Dost thou not believe the Resurrection of the Body If God designs to glorifie thy Body to all eternity i. e in case thou hallow it by the Purity of thy Soul why shouldst thou deny it the Honour of joining sometimes with thy Soul to do all the Honour it can to thy God Or dost thou think that thy solitary mental Homage is equal to the Homage of a simple Spirit who darest to refuse solemnly sometimes according to St. Paul's Exhortation to present and bow thy Body before God whilst thou canst present it a living Sacrifice on Earth By this united Devotion of Spirit Soul
our selves and loath and despise our selves more as we deserve The First Evening Office of Repentance for deliberate Sins may clasp with their case If we are of the Third we are wary Christians only let us be thankful and be kept humble and watchful by our secret Faults and it shall be well with us indeed 5. But tho' in the Embryo of Repentance the Penitent may close the Day with the First Evening Office yet something more solemnly if Life last must be perform'd with speed for which purpose there is a large distinct Penitential Office design'd 'Till that is publish'd I shall content my self with this Address to the Impenitent Why will ye trample on Opportunity and fight with wonderful Mercy Are ye stronger than God Is his Hand shortned that he cannot punish because his Compassion has hitherto been prolong'd to you Wherefore do ye spend your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfies not Encline your Ears and bow your necks to Christ and your Souls shall live Then there will be no need as now to skip from Attempt to Attempt for the Grace of God compleated in the Soul will give satisfaction that wants no change nor new uncertain Trials O seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near forsake all your wicked Ways and unrighteous Thoughts return unto the Lord and he shall return unto you for such he will abundantly pardon for his Thoughts are not as the Thoughts of Men nor his Ways as our Ways for as the Rain comes down and the Snow from the Clouds and returns not thither but watereth the Earth and wakes it bud and bring forth so that it gives Seed to the Sower and that Bread to the Eater so shall his Word that goes forth concerning a tender contrite lowly hungry relenting Soul not return unto him void but shall accomplish that Paradise of Graces which was intended Instead of a Curse and that flaming Sword of a terrible Cherub within an horrible Expectation of Vengeance there shall arise a prospect of an eternal Kingdom Instead of the Thorns shall the Firr-tree come forth and instead of Briars the Myrtle Where Scepticism and Infidelity where Doubts and Darkness had tyranniz'd before Light and Alacrity Faith and Hope Charity and Purity shall banquet the Soul with Divine Refreshments Be wise therefore ye thoughtless be chang'd ye impenitent let the time past suffice every one of you to have spoke and thought and understood and acted as a Child Why will ye die O Children of Men and not try to become the Children of God How is it that ye can thus sottishly be contented to hug Ruine and to sprawl in your Blood Or can you conceive nothing beyond this state Nay my Brethren if God and a future Judgment be quite out of your Thoughts or Damnation tho' in your Thoughts can't wake you 't is not for me to pretend to raise the Dead you are past the help of the hands of Man and therefore I surrender you into the hands of God whose ways are unsearchable and like the great Deep He is the Lord of Possibility and spans Eternity with a Glance He of old said Hosts of Angels exist and behold they were Let there be Light and there was Light and who will say Come forth ye Dead at the signal Catastrophe of Time and Opportunity and they shall arise This same God of Might let him but say to a hardned Soul Receive the original Sensations of a Soul be alive once more as holy Angels and Saints are alive and instead of a Temple in heaps the Divine Spirit of the Man in less than three moments shall be rebuilt and become a Palace fit for the Spirit to reside in and Angels to gaze on with wonder and delight All this may be done and at the last Gasp too and perhaps has been done for a Confessor of Christ after he was forsook by Disciples when ridicul'd by Multitudes on a Cross and before the suppos'd Imposture rose from the dead all this I say may be done for the first strictly speaking Disciple of the Crucify'd Jesus and may perhaps still be done for some Persons in peculiar Circumstances foreseen only by God But is this thy case Is it likely to be such Hast thou not the general Rule This do and live before thee and wilt thou presume to deferr thy Repentance presumptuously relying on a Miracle of Grace which is not certain to thee tho' possible to God What God may do for any daring Sinner who may read this I know not but this I know and dare affirm That setting aside miraculous Changes of Soul Abuse of Opportunity continu'd to a dying Hour is sowing the Wind and will reap the Whirlwind of the everlasting Vengeance of the Almighty 6. And now true and faithful Disciples of Christ those little ones whom Angels honour Devils envy and a perverse Generation opposes and derides I cannot conclude till I have said I gratulate your Souls those Edens of God yea from my Heart I gratulate their Conversion their Passage from Darkness and Bondage to the marvellous Light and Liberty of the Sons of God And do ye gratulate and emulate each others Vertues Be courteous to all Men excel your selves and consort much together unite your Love and Force against united Malice Dangers and Temptations Be patient and watchful if it be possible allowing the Polity of Darkness no advantage by thoughtlessness or immoderate thoughts of your selves or contempt of others Let no Terror no Flattery cause you to do that which will disturb your Peace and grieve â—hat great Spirit whose select Vessels ye â—re Remember the Promises of God are â—ot Yea and Nay Quit your selves Manâ—ully in the Day of Battel die Conqueâ—ors and enter into your Great Masters's â—oy when he shall come in his Fathers and â—he Glory of his Holy Angels And since he is the Author of all Reâ—onciliation Affiance Perseverance and Plerophory in Man since by no other Name lost Man is become capable of Salvation since without him no Design can prosper I commit you with my self to his Conduct and my poor Endeavour to promote Souls to his Acceptance and Blessing In him let us trust to him with holy Triumph of Soul ascribe we O let us be glad and rejoice and give Honour unto him and say Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created aâ—â— things and for thy pleasure they arâ— and were created Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing For thou wast slain and hast redeemeâ— us unto God by thy Blood out of everâ— Kindred and Tongue and People anâ— Nation Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Glory be to the Father and to tâ—â— Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is noâ— and ever shall be World withoâ—â— end Amen FINIS