me to an Accompt for thaâ— and all other my sins c. From which Occasions you may easâ—…â—…ceive what remedies to use against it 1. To labour for a Grave and modest Carriage of my self considering my Age quality Degree c. 2. To avoid vain and light Persons or if that may not be done not heeding them or seriously rebuking them 3. To entertain all awful and Dreadful Apprehensions of the Great God who seeth what I doe and how I comport my self As also of the Holy Angels who may truly enough be Believed from the intimations of the Apostles St. John Revel viii and St. Paul 1 Cor. xi 10. to be present at Holy Mysterys To these may be added 4. Lifting up my Eyes to Heaven or fixing them on the Preist not in the least letting them loose on whatever objects may present themselves These I then Resolved to consider and practise and will therefore frequently Read them over Even soe Amen Lord Let thy Grace be â—…fficient for me Lead me not into Temptation 〈◊〉 Deliver me from evil Amen 〈◊〉 Kneeling down Pray for Devotion 〈◊〉 any other Grace the contrary sin 〈◊〉 you have now found your self guilty of and Resolved against You will find Prayers to this purpose at the latter-end of this Book As for Devotion Thus MOst Great God who hast not only permitted but invited us needy and miserable Creatures to present our Petitions to Thee Oh! let me set a true value on this most inestimable priviledge I come unto Thee O Lord as a Worm to my sovereigne Maker I come as an heinous offender to a just and severe judge Let I pray Thee my Addresses in thine House be with a Reverence someway answerable to thine awful Majesty Give me an hearty desire to pray and such a pure intention and sixedness of mind upon Thee that I may no more incur the Guilt of Drawing nigh unto Thee with my Lips when my heart is far from Thee But may so Ask that I may receive seek that I may find knock that it may be opened unto me that so from praying to Thee here I may be Translated to the Praising Thee Eternally in thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen This exercise being finished about thre◠〈◊〉 the Clock the time appointed for the Evâ—… 〈◊〉 service At your Return from the Churc◠〈◊〉 Chappel if you have not fully satisfied yoâ—… own Conscience but require further Comfort or Counsell you are to goe to some Discreet and Learned Minister of Gods word especially to him under whose Ministry God hath placed you not being Curious or censorious in your choice as to this particular and open your Greif by Confession that so you may receive the benefit of Absolution together with Ghostly Counsel and advice to the quieting of your Conscience and the avoiding of all Scruple and Doubtfulness This being done as it ought to be with Submission and sobriety you may with Comfort Retire into your Closet and upon your Knees Say Our Father c Deliver us from evill Amen ALmighty God unto whom all hearts be open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the Thoughts of my heart by the Inspiration of thy Holy Spirit that I may perfectly love thee and worthily Magnifie thy Holy Name through Christ our Lord. Amen Then Read upon your Knees the Ten Commandments as they are set down in Our Communion Service 〈◊〉 Spake these Words c. after each Comâ—…dwent Say Lord have mercy upon me and Incline my heart to keep this Law Thou shalt not Covet c. Lord have mercy upon me and write all these thy Laws in my heart I beseech thee O Almighty Lord and everlasting God vouchsafe I beseech thee to direct Sanctifie and Govern both my Soul and Body in the ways of thy Laws and in the works of thy Commandments that through thy most mighty Protection both here and ever I may be preserved both in Body and Soul through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen Then stand up and heartily repeat your Creed I believe in God c. After which Kneel again and pray Almighty everlasting God heavenly Father I give thee humble thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to bring me to the knowledge of this faith in thee and do beseech thee that thou wouldst keep me stedfast in this faith and evermore defend me from all adversities who livest and reignest one God World without end Amen Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Lord have mercy upon me OH Christ Hear me and Remember now that Hour in which thou didst once Commend thy Blessed Spirit into the hands of thy heavenly Father when with a Torn Body and a Broken Heart thou didst shew forth the Bowels of thy mercy and Dye for us I beseech thee O thou Brightness and Image of God Assist me by this thy most precious Death that being Dead unto the world I may live only unto Thee and at the last hour of my Departure from this mortal Life I may Commend my Soul into thine hands and thou mayst receive me into life immortal there to Reign with thee for ever and ever Amen Grant me in the mean time Gracious Lord a pure intention of heart and a stedfast resolution to despise all vanity to fight the Battels of the Lord manfully against the world the flesh and the Devil to spend my time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk always in thy presence to preserve my Soul and and Body in holiness fit for the habitation of the Spirit of God Amen 〈◊〉 Lord and my God Give me I beseech 〈◊〉 wise a sober a patient an understandâ—…â—…evout a religious a Couragious heart 〈◊〉 â—…temperate reins and thoughts a soul full of Devotion to doe thee Service and do thou make my services acceptable to thee while I live and my soul ready for thee when I Dye Amen O Lord Increase in me Faith and Devotion replenish my heart with all Goodness and of thy Great mercy keep me in the same Give me true humility in prosperity patience in adversity and continual joy in the Holy Ghost Amen O Lord Give me Spiritual wisdom that I may discern what is pleasing to thee and follow what belongs unto my Peace and let the knowledg and Peace of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be my Guide and my portion all the Days of my life Amen O Lord make me humble to my Superiors and friendly to my Equals thankfull to my Benefactors loving to my Relations and Charitable to my Enemies to be Gentle and easily entreated slow to anger and readily admonished fully prepared and throughly furnished for every Good word and work Amen O Lord Give me a peaceable Spirit 〈◊〉 quiet life free from Debt and deadly Sin give me Grace to abstain from all appearance of evil and to doe nothing but what is of good report to confess Christ and his holy Religion by an holy and obedient life and
of the fâ—…ty of our Nature we cannot always stand 〈◊〉 right grant to me such strength and Proteâ—… on as may support me in all Danger 〈◊〉 carry me through all Temptations 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Set apart the Friday of every such Week as a Day of Holy Fasting and Abstinence rising Earlier than usually if your Health will permit you at Five of the Clock When you Awake Pray LIghten mine eyes O Lord that I sleep not in Death Then meditate upon and acknowledg Gods goodness for Preserving you the last Night who might and deservedly too have Suffred Death to Seize on you whilst Sleeping and hurryed you hence to render an account of what you have done in the flesh the result of which will be to Think How on the Supposal of this Dreadful Surprize you were Prepared and to Conclude Happy is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find Doing his will And then humbly commending your self to God Say â—Nto thy hands O Lord I commend this Day my soul and my Body beseeching â—ee to be ever with me to direct sanctifie â—…overn me in the ways of thy Laws and 〈◊〉 works of thy commandments that 〈◊〉 thy most mighty protection both here and ever I may be preserved both in Body and Soul to serve Thee the only True God through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen After which Presently Arise and at your Up-rising Say JN the name of God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen Blessed be God the Holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever Amen I Arise from my Bed to Glorify Him He of his infinite mercy Bless and Keep me this Day and for evermore Amen I Laid me down and slept and rose up again for the Lord hath Sustained me At your Apparrelling Say CLoath me O Lord with the Ornaments of thy heavenly Grace and Cover me with the Robes of Righteousness Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fullfil the lusts thereof At the Washing of your Hands say WAsh me clean O Lord from my â—…edness and Cleanse me from my 〈◊〉 Amen Supposing you thus Apparralled 〈◊〉 by Six of the Clock T is tim◠〈◊〉 retire your self to your ordinary Morning Prayers which I would advise you e're you Kneel down to begin with Prostration thus At the Name of Jesus God blessed for ever let every Knee Bowe both of things in Heaven things in Earth and things under the Earth Glory be to Thee O Lord most High Then upon Your Knees Say GOd be in my Head and in my Vnderstanding that I may know in this my Day the things which do concern my everlasting peace God be in my Eyes and in my Seeing that they may alwayes be looking up to thy Mercy-Seat and that they be not as so many Casements to let in Vanity God be in my Mouth and in my Speaking to guard and fence it from Idle Words and that it may at no time be a Door to let out Folly God be in my Ears and in my Hearing â—t they may be always open to sound and â—…lsom Counsels and deaf to corrupt and 〈◊〉 Communications 〈◊〉 be in my Heart and in my Thinking 〈◊〉 â—erve it from being a sink of Uncleanâ—… 〈◊〉 that it may never be suffered either 〈◊〉 or deceive others God be at my End and my Departing that so my Death may be precious in the sight of the Lord with whom I pray that I may live for Evermore Amen And so Prevent me O Lord in all my Doings with thy most Gracious Favour and further me with thy continual Help that in all my works begun continued and ended in Thee I way glorifie thy Holy Name and finally by thy mercy may obtain everlasting Life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Adding Our Father c. My Voice shalt Thou hear betimes O Lord early in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto Thee and I will look up O Lord open thou my Lips And my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise O God make speed to save me O Lord make hast to help me Glory to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the Beginning is now c. Psal xcv O Come let us sing unto the Lord c. Glory be to the Father c. After which read One or more of Davids's Psalms in order Beginning with the First and so onward concluding each Psal with Glory be to the Father c. Then a Chapter out of the Proverbs of Solomon or the New Testament and after that We Praise Thee O God c. Or * Especially in the Holy Time of Lent O All ye Works of the Lord Bless c. Or Blessed be the Lord God of Israel c. Goncluding the Two last of these Hymns with Glory be to the Father c. Then the Creed I Believe in God c. After which Kneel and Pray Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Lord have mercy upon me Our Father c. Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that Sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Amen GLory be to God on high on earth Peace good Will amongst Men I Praise Thee I Bless Thee I Worship Thee I Glorify Thee I give thanks to Thee for thy great Glory â—nd Goodness O Lord God Heavenly â—…g God the Father Almighty For thy Son Jesus Christ manifested in the Flesh to destroy the works of the Devil and who is the fountain of all those mercys both Spiritual and Temporal so freely and plentifully bestowed on me thy most unworthy Creature particularly that thou hast protected me this last Night from all perills ghostly and bodily and brought me to see the light of another Day whereas thou mightest justly have suffered me to sleep in death by reason of those manifold and hainous sins wherewith I have from time to time offended thy Divine Majesty I have sinned and what shall I say unto Thee O thou Preserver of Man I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and I have done those things which I ought not to have done and there is no health in me But thou O Lord Have mercy upon me a most miserable offender Oh Thou who desirest not the Death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and Live Have mercy upon me Spare and Restore me who do here in all humility confess my faults and do desire to be Penitent for them Have regard to thy Blessed Son who is our Advocate with Thee O Father and the Propitiation for all our sins for whose sake mercifully Grant unto me true Repentance and the assistancâ— of thy Holy Spirit which may teach and â—…able me to please Thee hereafter in all gâ—… things to deny ungodliness and wordly 〈◊〉 and to live Godly and soberly in this prâ—… World that so at last I may come to 〈◊〉 â—…ternal joy through Jesua
henceforth I put off concerning my former Conversation the Old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and be renewed in the spirit of my mind And that I put on the New Man which after thee is created in Righteousness and true Holiness to which purpose be pleased to watch over me for good to keep me both outwardly in my Body and inwardly in my Soul O God thou seest that I have no power of my self to help my self thou knowest me also to be set in the mid'st of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of my Nature I cannot always stand upright grant to me such strength and protection as may support me in all dangers and carry me through all temptations through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Thou with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning let thy holy Spirit direct me in all things let thy grace always prevent and follow me and preserve me against all assaults of my spiritual enemys especially of my own treacherous heart which is deceitful above all things wicked desperately wicked O Lord thou knowest it how often hath it betray'd me to the breach of thy holy Laws to the violation of all these Vows and Promises which I have made to thee How often have I turned my back in the day of battle O let me no more thus start aside like a broken bow but be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord resisting the Devill that he may flee from me subduing my flesh and bringing it into subjection Crufying and overcoming the World And therefore let those solemn Vows which I have now made to forsake my sins never depart from my mind but let the remembranee of them excite me to fight manfully under thy Banner and continue thy faithful Servant and Souldier unto my Life's end Amen O Lord I do here humbly present unto thee my Soul and Body to be a living holy and reasonable Sacrifice unto thee I beseech thee sanctifie my Body that from a polluted Dunghil it may become the Temple of God Sanctify my Soul and receive it for thy dwelling place the seat of thy Spirit and an house of Prayer and Holy Meditations Sanctifie me throughout that both my Body Soul and Spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen THus have you closed your Communion-Devotions It only remains that you bestow the greatest part of the Afternoon in Reading Praying Meditating good Conferences and the like and when your Condition calls you to your usual Converses you are still to remember you have a great business which lies upon your hands which is the performance of those promises you have now made to God to which purpose frequently recollect them to mind and let the remembrance of them be your refuge against all temptations to your old sins whenever they assault you knowing what a grievous thing it is to break that Vow which you have seal'd in your Saviours Blood to have that Blood through which only you can have pardon to witness against you which God forbid To your Evening Prayers that Sunday night immediately before the Blessing subjoyn this Collect. O Blessed JESUS who hast this day made me a Partaker of thy blessed Body and Blood thy Mercy hath given it and my Faith hath received it into my Soul O let me ever feel the happy virtue and effects of it Put thy fear into my heart to keep those Vows and Promises which I have on this solemnity tendred unto thee in my mind that I may not sin against thee enrich me with all those graces which come from this precious Body and Blood and hereafter bring me to thy everlasting glory for thy merits and mercies sake Amen THus not to detain you longer I have recommended to you the aforesaid Devotions to be us'd on the Friday in every moneth which precedes a Communion especially the Fridays before the three solemn times which our Church hath Consecrated to this Blessed purpose Christmas Easter and Whit-Sunday supposing that your health and important occasions will permit it otherwise you are not tyed to the strictness of them though you are oblig'd to receive this Sacrament whensoever an opportunity offers it self To capacitate you for a worthy Communication thereof at all times I do lastly and heartily advise you to maintain a constant course of daily Prayers at Morning and Evening throughout the year every Night recalling the Actions of the past-day and repenting for the sins of it the practice whereof will fit you for the Communion at any time when 't is occasionally tendered to you I mean when you are suddenly call'd to Communicate with a dying person or come accidentally into a Congregation where 't is to be received and all fit Guests are invited to it in those cases you are by no means to turn your back upon it but bestowing that little time which is before you in Recollecting Repenting Exerting your Faith Love Thankfulness c. Omiting nothing of the strictness which is required in the Act of Receiving and performing afterwards to your power what you secretly promis'd receive it with the rest in the name of God beginning with the Prayers afore mentioned page 68. which are to be said whil'st the Priest is preparing to read the Sentences Almighty God who hast of thine infinite mercies vouchsaf'd c. But this I advise on supposal you carry about with you such an habitual preparation which is acquired by keeping a strict course of daily private Devotions otherwise you sin sadly However be careful to Communicate whenever you are solemnly invited to it i. e. every moneth or oftner and with due remembrance of him whose death you do hereby shew forth till he come God Almighty make you a worthy participant of his Body and Blood here that you may for ever enjoy Him hereafter Amen Collects for particular Graces For Faith ALmighty God whom without Faith it is impossible to please grant me I beseech thee so perfectly to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ that my Faith in thy sight may never be reproved and being called to the knowledg of thy Grace and Faith in thee and admitted into the fellowship of Christs Religion I may eschew those things which are contrary to my Profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For Hope BLessed Lord who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that I may in such wise hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest them that by Patience and Comfort of thy Holy Word I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ and that I may therefore purifie my self even as he is pure that when he shall appear again with power