4. Penetential Litany 5. A Prayer for Grace 6. Faith 7. Holiness 8. Preparation for Death and Judgment 9. A Prayer of resignation 10. For the Church 11. Kingdoms 12. People 13. Occasional Prayers to be added A Meditation on the Mercies of God and his gracious promises to penitent Sinners GOD created Man that he might never want an eternal Subject of his mercy that he might have a Being to which to impart his Goodness and distinguish from the rest of the Creation by greater instances of that mercy which is over all his Works And when sin had made a breach betwixt God and Man and his Mercy might have given place to the severer attribute of Justice his Wisdom and Power were set on work to restore sinners to a possibility of that Mercy they had justly forfeited He gave his Son that they might not perish sent him from Heaven to preach Repentance and Remission of their sins and was content he should die to capacitate them to live and the Blessed Jesus that he might be the Image of his Father's Love and Goodness as well as Glory is come on purpose to be the Saviour of them that were lost and that he might be so has constituted an Order of Men to beseech sinners in his stead to be reconciled unto God and not only appointed them to be Guardians of his Truth but Preachers of his Charity who with an undistinguishing Goodness has tendred a pardon to all that return to him by Repentance Has not God said Ezek. 33.11 That he would not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his sin and be saved and can I think that God can contradict himself and believe 't is his will I should perish when he has said He would have me return and live Has he not said Isai 1.18 Though my sin be as red as scarlet yet if I cease to do evil and learn to do well they shall be white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wool and shall I doubt what God has affirmed Has he not said John 3.16 That he gave his Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life That his death was intended as a sacrifice for all the world or That he tasted death for every man That he would have all men come to the knowledge of his truth that they might be saved and shall I distrust that goodness that is thus frankly tendred to all the world 'T is true I am a sinner but 't is such that need and 't is to such that God has tendred mercy I am a notorious offender but 't is for such Christ has died I am weary and heavy laden and my iniquity is greater than I can bear but 't is to such that Christ has promised rest And shall I rob my self of that mercy which alone can be sufficient for me shall I question that Merit that is enough to save the World or doubt the Goodness which nothing but my own impenitence can deprive me of Oh no! thy Mercy O blessed Father shall be my refuge Thy Merit O blessed Jesus shall be the foundation of my hope and let me never distrust thy Goodness O God my God! Thus the Penitent having fixed in his soul a just Idea of that Penitence God requires and of that unspeakable Goodness and Merit that can give acceptance and value to it hastens to discharge his guilty fears into the bosom that can pity and forgive them 2. His first or Morning Prayer acknowledging God's Mercy and imploring his assistance and acceptance O Most holy and eternal Father by whose Care and Providence I have been preserved the Night passed and by whose Mercy and Favour I have a few hours to live and fit my self to die To thy Name be eternal Thanks and Praise for these and all thy Mercies vouchsafed to me The last Night my Soul might have been required at my hands or in thy Justice thou mightst have taken me in the very act of Sin to the Judgment-seat and not have given me time to speak much less to repent but thou hast let me see that thou canst be good to me though I have been evil that thy patience and forbearance are greater than my provocations and that thou canst have pity on me though I have had too little compassion on my own Soul Lord redouble thy Blessings upon me by sanctifying them to me and teaching me to make a wise and a good use of all the advantages of Instruction and Advice of time and opportunity and all the means of Grace and Repentance thou vouch-safest unto me Bless especially my present endeavours to seek thy peace and favour and teach me so to judge my self that I may not be condemned in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen 3. A Confession of Sins O Almighty God who art a Searcher of the heart and a Trier of the reins and from whom no secrets are hid and yet wouldst have us confess our sins unto thee who art about our Path about our Bed and spiest out all our ways In mercy O Lord look down upon me who in the bitterness and anguish of my Soul come to prostrate my self before thee my sins are in thy sight and my unrighteousness is not hid the frailties of my Nature the corruptions of my Will and the disorders of my Life my abuse of thy Mercies my contempt of thy Judgments my repeated violations of thy holy Laws are more than I am able to express I have neither loved nor served nor obeyed thee as I ought to do I have broke through all the obligations of Duty and Interest to pursue my Lusts and Follies every little temptation has withdrawn me from thy Love and Service whilst thy gracious invitations the mercy of thy promises and assistances of thy Grace and Spirit have all been lost upon me O good God! I am troubled I am ashamed and confounded what shall I do or whither shall I fly how can I hope for thy Mercy that have deserved the rigours of thy Justice But since it is thy will that I should repent and live look down O Lord in mercy upon me who am unfit to look up unto thee and let thy Grace form in me such a sense of my sins that I may hate and forsake them and do thou O Lord according to thy multitude of Mercies do away my offences Lord spare forgive and pity me for Christ Jesus sake Amen 4. A Penitential Litany or short Prayers for Repentance Pardon and Grace O God the Father who wouldst not the death of a sinner have mercy upon me O thou God of Mercy that wouldst have the sinner repent and live give me a due sense of all my sins and then forgive and pity me O thou that wouldst have all men come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved cast me not away from thee O holy Father who didst so love the world that
thou gavest thy Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Have mercy upon me a miserable sinner O thou that despisest not a broken and a contrite heart and whose Will and Power nothing can resist O do thou create a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me O say unto my soul I will be thou clean and be it to thy servant according to thy word O thou that hast no pleasure in the death of him that dies and hast given thy Son to die that sinners may not die eternally Spare me Lord most holy O God most mighty and deliver me from the bitter pains of eternal Death O blessed Jesus who didst die to give a worth and value to Repentance and that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached to all the world in thy Name O do thou make my Repentance such as thou hast required and wilt accept and let thy Merits render it effectual to the forgiveness of my sins O thou who didst taste death for every man and laidst down thy Life for those who were dead in Adam and hast promised to accept all such as come unto thee O cast me not away from thee but have mercy upon me O God my God O thou that hast bid such as are weary and heavy laden come unto thee and promised they shall find rest for their souls O Lord look down upon me who in the bitterness and anguish of my soul come unto thee and have mercy upon me O Holy and Ever-blessed Spirit whose sacred Fires melt down the hardest Hearts whose holy Aids are sufficient to help our Infirmities and whose Fruits are Repentance and Peace and Joy O do thou direct assist and guide my soul and keep me in all thy ways O thou that leadest the ignorant to the Truth sinners to Repentance and Righteousness and art the Comforter of the sad and wounded soul O do thou open my eyes to see the errors of my ways and my heart to hate and forsake them and let thy Grace and Comforts guide me in all my difficulties and support me in all my trials O Blessed Spirit who knowest the dangers that encompass and the temptations that beset and most easily prevail against me O be thou my Guide and never leave me nor forsake me but from the deceit of my heart from the wiles of Satan and the sad effects of ill Opinions Melancholy and Despair Good Lord deliver me O good God give me not up to my self and withdraw not thy Grace from me but assist and accept my Prayers and my Repentance and hear thy Son that is making intercession for me let his Blood atone for me and by his Stripes let my soul be healed O merciful Father who wouldst have me repent and live and by whose Grace and Aid I have here prostrated my self before thee to confess and bewail my sins and purposed to forsake them O do thou who knowest the deceit of my Heart the weakness of my best Resolutions and the power and prevalence of my corrupt Nature let thy Grace be sufficient for me and the helps of thy Spirit make my sorrow sincere my resolution stedfast and so change and consecrate my Affections that they may never more misguide me O thou that art the Maker and Lover of Souls Hear my Prayer Forgive my Sins Accept my Sorrows Strengthen my Resolutions Confirm my Vows and grant me Repentance to Life Eternal for Christ Jesus sake Amen Amen 5. A Prayer for Grace O Most merciful Father who knowest my inability to do any thing that is good without thee and with what subtilty and diligence the Devil lies in wait to deceive and ruine my Soul O good God let thy strength appear in my weakness and discover and disappoint the designs of the Destroyer and deliver me from the corrupt inclinations of my own nature Thou hast promised to give the assistance of thy Holy Spirit to those that ask it let that blessed Spirit direct and guide to and keep me in all thy ways let it never leave me nor forsake me nor be withdrawn from me but keep me in thy fear and in thy ways till it bring me to thy presence and thy glory through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen 6. A Prayer for Faith O Almighty God who art the Author and Giver of every good thing Purge out of my heart all Distrust and Infidelity and every mean and unworthy thought of thy self Lord help my unbelief and beget continue and confirm in my Soul such a lively active and vigorous Faith as may shew it self in Piety and good Works and be effectual to my Salvation among those who have not seen and yet believe that He who is the Author Foundation and Finisher of our Faith and has promised Life to those that believe in and through his Name may at last say unto me Come thou good and faithful servant enter into the joys of my rest which I humbly beg for Christ Jesus his sake Amen 7. A Prayer for Holiness O Almighty God who seest the frailties of my Nature and knowest how great the difficulties how numerous the temptations are that beset me and how hard it is for Man that is born of a Woman to be clean before thee and yet hast declared That without Holiness no man shall see thy face in glory O Lord with an eye of pity look down upon me let thy Grace supply the defects of my Nature and that merciful Providence that watches over us for our good keep back or deliver me from every temptation and that Goodness that is able to consecrate my affections be always ready to direct and guide me in all my designs and ways that thy Holiness may be my aim and thy Glory my desire and the assistances of thy Spirit carry my affections to things above and so purifie me from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit that I may be holy as Thou art holy that my Conversation may be in Heaven and a holy and unblamable Life fit me for that state of Holiness that is the reward of the Saints above Hear and answer me O Lord for Christ Jesus sake Amen 8. A Prayer for due preparation for Death and Judgment ALmighty God whose hands have made and fashioned us out of the dust and hast in thy Justice pronounced That to dust we must return again and appointed unto all men once to die and after that to Judgment and by my own frailties and the reproaches of my Conscience hast given me such certain presages of my Death and the Account I am to give that I shall be inexcusable if I be found unprovided for them O good God let the notices thou hast given me keep me always mindful of what I am and what I must be and the thoughts of Death and Judgment so conduct the whole course of my life that when it is thy pleasure to call me I may be fit to die and
Second of September being the Fire of London O Almighty God whose Judgments are terrible and whose Mercies are infinite who hast testified thy displeasure at our sins in permitting the destroying Angel to kill thousands in our streets and even surfeiting the Grave with our Dead and when this would not reclaim us in laying waste our Dwellings and giving us so dreadful a remembrance of Sodom and Gomorrha in our punishment by fire O Lord make us all sensible of our provocations that have drawn down thy anger and let thy Judgments drive or thy Goodness lead us all to Repentance Awake us from our Security and drive out that unhappy Spirit of Profaneness and Luxury that has so long prevailed and raise up amongst us a Spirit of Holiness and Wisdom of Temperance and Charity and teach us all to live in thy fear and in thy favour O Lord forgive whatever I have contributed to the crying sins of the Nation and let my iniquity never draw thy anger upon thy People but make me an Instrument of doing thee service for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For any Day of publick Fasting O Almighty God who hast premised to forgive the sins and hear the Prayers of all such as turn to thee by Repentance In mercy look down on thy People humbling themselves before thee in Fasting and Prayer O Lord make us all sensible of our great provocations and how just it would be in thee to give us up into the hands of those men whose mercies are cruel and pour out thy indignations upon us But with thee O Lord there is mercy that thou maist be feared O do thou spare us though we deserve punishment and in thy wrath think upon mercy Give us not over unto confusion nor let our Enemies say We have prevailed but by a general Repentance and Reformation fit us for thy mercy and then be good unto us as thou usest to be to those that love thy Name Forgive especially whatever I have contributed to the publick Guilts or done to hinder thy Blessings whether to Church or State and give me such a sense thereof that my present Repentance and future practice may be exemplary and the course of my life fit me for ever to live with thee in Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before Receiving the Sacrament MOst gracious Lord our God who wouldest not have the Prodigal lost and hast no pleasure in the death of him that dies but wouldst have men come to the knowledge of themselves thy Mercy and thy Truth that they may be saved O holy Father receive a relenting Prodigal to thy Arms a Sinner to thy Mercy and let thy Goodness so cover the errors of my past life my present sorrows for them and my resolutions of a better obedience that I may be accepted at thy Table that I may be admitted to all the benefits of thy Son's Death and Passion and his Blood may seal my pardon and the assistance of thy Grace direct and enable me so to live for the time to come that I may at last be received with all true Penitents to thy Mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen In the time of Sickness O Merciful Lord who usest thy rod in anger as well as love and expectest that we should be bettered by every correction With the compassions of a Father look upon me teach me to call my ways to remembrance and find out the accursed thing that has brought this affliction upon me and make me so sensible of my manifold provocations and so sincerely to lament and abhor and forsake them that this correction may appear the effect of thy love and pity and by a serious and hearty Repentance a lively Faith and a just affiance in thy Mercy fit me for the Night in which none can work that if thou thinkest fit to spare me I may live an example of one bettered by thy Judgment or else reap the benefits of thy fatherly correction in an entire submission to thy will here and being received to thy Glory hereafter All for Christ Jesus his sake Amen CHAP. IV. His method of arming himself against the temptations of the world and strengthening his resolutions by reflecting 1. On Death and the dangers of delaying Repentance 2. The Judgment to come 3. Love of God 4. Prayer for Love of God 5. General Litany THus the Penitent having discharged his Soul into the bosom of a God forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin is ravished with the hopes of pardon and a prospect of that Goodness he is henceforward to adore and imitate and the peace and joy of an easie conscience raise so amiable an Idea of Vertue and Holiness that he fears nothing more than that the impressions should be lost that his resolutions should languish 'T is therefore his next care to fix a sense of his past transgressions and perpetuate the satisfactions of the change he has made and carry back with him to his station in this world such a passion for the Honour and Service of God as may animate the whole course of his conversation and lest the objects of sense or his too partial regard to his worse part lessen his concern for that better Subject of his love and care the blessed Image of his great Creator he endeavours to arm himself with such Reflections as these 1. His Reflections on Mortality and Death and the danger of a late Repentance 1. WHilst I carelesly tread upon the ashes of my Ancestors and the pleasures of sense cloud the notices my Creator has given me of Mortality my Senses do the business of my Reason for my Body gives me such certain notices of its own mortal state that I am as certain I must die as I can be that I am not a Stock or a Stone that I have the sense of feeling or am uneasie when my blood is in a flame or when I am crying out of the pains of the Gout or Stone But whether the thread of my life shall regularly consume or make but one short flame is a secret I cannot penetrate the time and manner of my Death are equally unknown to me I have no better assurance in what manner I must leave the world than when I must do it my Reason and my Senses may go before me and Death may seize me when I am able neither to speak nor think much less reflect or beg pardon and there is no Repentance in the Grave but as I leave this world Judgment will overtake me in the other or it may seize me in the very act of sin when my soul is poured out upon my Lusts and all my faculties and all my affections are engaged in my Folly and should I be thus surprized with what confusion and astonishment should I appear before Him that hates my sin and all in vain did so much to prevent my ruine and what can I hope for when my life shall appear but one long scene of
Lust and that temptation that once reigned with an uncontrouled power shrink and wither at the thoughts of Judgment Thus the Penitent impales guards his resolution his vows and prayers and under this consideration the returns of his sorrow and penitence appear always wise and reasonable But lest this Picture of Repentance should seem all shadow and leave too dark and melancholy impressions on the Penitent his next care is To form in his soul such images of the Eternal Goodness that a principle of Love may conduct his fears and sorrows and such a value and esteem of that adorable pattern he is to imitate animate a holy reverence and awe that love that may supersede every thing that is uneasie in his fears and inspire a secret pleasure and delight in all the methods of Virtue and Religion For this end he entertains himself with the contemplation of that infinite Love and Mercy to sinners that present themselves in the Passion of his Lord. His Reflections on the Death and Sufferings of Christ and the Love of God visible therein THat he who made Man after his own likeness and designed him a partaker in the felicities himself enjoys should love his own Image and with pity and concern see it defaced and lost is so natural a thought that the same notices which discover his Being present it to us as the most adorable Object in Mercy boundless in Love and Goodness infinite Thus it seems possible to account for the Mercies of Creation and Providence but the whole method of Man's Redemption is so stupendious and amazing that 't is some pain to form any Idea of it but impossible to think much more to speak of it or entertain it with the resentment it deserves That he who knows that we are but dust should pity and forgive is easie to conceive but that he should give a Beloved in exchange for a Rebellious Son part with the express Image of his Person to restore that Man had abused defaced and lost that he should give a Son from his Bosom to bring an Enemy thither and let him dye in whom he was well pleased to fit them to live who had made Death their Choice and Destruction their wish is a heighth of Love beyond the boldest Wishes and most aspiring Hopes that he who was possess'd of immense Felicity before the World began should come down from Heaven to take that Nature which had deserved his Anger that he who was over all God Blessed for ever should be led like a Lamb to the slaughter for his sake who deserved to have been an Eternal Sacrifice to Justice that he alone should tread the Wine-press of his Father's Wrath for him who only had merited the dregs of the bitter cup that he should be wounded for the Sins that ought to pierce our own Souls and bruised for the Transgressions that might have sunk us down in a deluge of Misery are such instances of an amazing pity and love that his Soul must be colder than the Earth and his Heart harder than the Rocks that can resist them but he must be a Monster something that can neither love nor think that can despite and contemn it After all that God has thus done to command my Love shall the flame that ought to melt only harden me And the Blood shed upon the Cross serve only to write my Name among those that weep and howl for ever Shall such Miracles of Charity such amazing Goodness be lost upon me No! No! I must not I cannot resist a being cloathed with every Excellence and Perfection infinitely good in himself and unspeakable good to me that is pleased with my Happiness and delighted in my Welfare deserves the noblest Passion and justly challenges all the Powers and Faculties of my Soul to love is the least return I can make the smallest acknowledgement that is due to him that gave his Son for us This consideration as it presents the Penitent with an amazing instance of Charity and Justice so it raises a Holy Emulation betwixt his Love and Fear he loves that Goodness that pitied the Sinner and reveres the Justice that punished his Sin he adores the Charity that gave but dreads the Justice that spared not his Son his Love inspires his fears and a holy awe conducts his Love he can easily resolve not to offend the Being he cannot but Love and can heartily lament it whenever he breaks his resolution and is always uneasie till he has begged Pardon and be reconciled again His Prayer for the Love of God ALmighty God whose infinite Perfections and Excellency whose immense Goodness and Beneficence justly render thee the most amiable and adorable Being worthy of all Love and Obedience and in respect of whom every thing is but vain and contemptible pour into my Heart such Love towards thee and imprint upon my Soul such an Idea of thy Excellency and Perfections that I may love thee with all my Mind with all my Heart and with all my Strength and consecrate all the Powers and Faculties of my Soul to thy Love and Service that I may prefer thy favour above all things of this World and a Love of thee inspire a cheerfulness into every Duty and shed an influence upon every thing I ought to door suffer for thee and so possess my Soul that every thing may appear vain and empty that would withdraw me from thy Servce and every thing easie and acceptable that thy Service requires from me that I may so love adore thee and do thy will on Earth that I may be fit to joyn with those whose Reward and Duty it is eternally to Love and serve thee in Heaven for Christ Jesus his sake who is the Son of thy Love Amen His Litany or short Prayers O God the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost hide not thy self from my Petitions but hear my Prayers and have Mercy on me O thou Creator and Preserver of Man by whose Power I was made by whose Bounty I have been provided for by whose Grace and Assistance I hope to live to thee and by whose Mercy and Goodness I hope to live eternally with thee have Mercy upon me and hear my Prayers O Blessed God whom to know is Life and to serve is perfect Freedom whose ways are ways of Peace and to do whose will is our Duty and Reward O do thou teach me to know and love thee as I ought to do and keep and guide me in all thy ways O thou that knowest what Dangers and Temptations encompass me how soon my best Resolutions are broken my best Purposes overcome my most Solemn Promises and deliberate Vows rendred ineffectual let thy Goodness be present in every Danger and Temptation and thy Grace be always sufficient for me From the snares of the World the corruption of my Nature the Arts and Designs of the Destroyer from the mischief of evil Council the infection of bad Example a great Danger and an invincible
with great confidence challenged by the several Orders of Recluses and renouncing the World though the least thing in their Character under these Pretensions being useless grew up into such Credit that the Commands and Tears of a Father were not strong enough to with-hold an only Child from a Cloister nor the conjugal Ties and Vows of Fidelity a discontented Wife But the Pretence of the Primitive Pharisees was revived with such advantages that the Name of Corban did not only excuse his Wealth but the Possessor too and set him at Liberty not only to leave a Father or a Mother a Child or a Family to the Mercy of the World but voided the Right of his Brother his Prince his Country his Wife or his Child to his Charity his Counsel his Service or his Care and not only broke through but cancelled the most sacred Ties both of Nature and Religion These were such Abuses of Retirement that it is not to be wondered if the Contempt and Indignation they deserved lessen'd the esteem of every thing that had serv'd to colour them and drew a Suspicion on the Discipline that in the first ages of Religion had ministred to all the End of Piety and Devotion and this Prejudice falling in with the Interests of Sloth and Luxury and Indevotion had too much influence on some that embraced the Reformation but did not so far prevail in this Church but that besides the stated Fasts and Vigils Retirement for Piety and Devotion had a just regard in these Nations amongst the People of Thought and Leisure till our unhappy Wars let in a Torrent of Impiety upon us and the ill-grounded Fears of a relapse to the Superstition of the Church of Rome run some Men into Superstition of another kind for he that places Holiness and Merit in laying aside the proper Means and Instruments of Piety and Devotion and he who places Holiness in the Use are both alike guilty of Superstition and the Loosness and Prophaneness which have pursued the former have given us a sensible Evidence of the Mischiefs that unhappy Mistake has drawn down upon us In these unhappy Circumstances whilst the Mistakes of some have cast a Blemish and Contempt on the Primitive Methods of Holiness and Devotion and the Prophaneness of others has broke all the Restraints of Modesty and good Manners to reproach and despise them it may look like the attempt of one unacquainted with the World to offer at an Essay to recommend them to a due Consideration and Regard But when the Prophet Elijah complained of a general Apostacy and Corruption of Manners and thought his Country gone after False Gods God checked the Immodesty and want of Charity in the Prophet and told him that in the midst of that Dissolution which seemed Epidemical he had still reserved himself seven Thousand that had never bowed the knee to Baal it would then be very unreasonable as well as unchristian to imagine that in so great and flourishing a Church as that of England God had not preserved infinite Numbers that with all Sincerity aspire to the Primitive Piety and Devotion For though the pomp and shews of austerity do not make that Figure with us that possibly they may do in the Church of Rome though wrong Notions and the too general Loosness have withdrawn some and the bold Insults of Prophaneness intimidated others and thus lessened the Piety and Vertue and Decency and Gravity of that Devotion that blessed the first Age of the Reformation yet without Vanity and Flattery it may be said that there appears more plain natural and unaffected Piety in the Communion of this Church than are commonly to be found amongst other sorts of Christians Which it may be no one thing within the Compass of our own endeavours would more improve than a due observation of that her Rubrick wherein she directs her Children to a Weekly Fast by which I shall presume to think she intends not so much a total abstinence or particular kind of Diet as to prescribe Periods for a more exact Review of our Lives and more especial Oblation of our Thanks and Prayers to God accompanied with the strictest measures of Temperance For though abstinence be of admirable Use to some Constitutions and not only redoubles the Piety of the Christian in laying the Foundation of it in the Sacrifice of his appetite but in kindling holy ardors that give new Life and Vigour to his Devotions yet there are other Tempers that not only frustrate but pervert all the Religious Ends of abstinence But he that has a Will to it can want neither Ability nor Time to consecrate an Hour in a Week to Repentance and Devotion he that cannot observe the Rubrick in a Day of Fasting may confess his Sin to God and beg his Pardon and cannot be so oppress'd with Business but his busie Thoughts may reflect on the Mercies he owes to God or on his own Demerit And if we consider the general practice of Mankind it will appear an unaccountable and stupendious folly that the affair which only deserves our time and thought should only be neglected or at the best be only left to Chance and Accidents whilst every Trifle prescribes to a certain portion of our Time and Care But if Men would be persuaded to do the same Justice to their greatest Interest that of the other World which they do to those of this that is allow themselves Time to consider it I doubt not but it would go a great way not only in the Cure of that Loosness which has so fatally broke in upon us but in restoring that Temperance and Charity that Goodness and Beneficence and that exemplary Holiness and Vertue which the Religion of our Lord requires from us To which blessed Ends if the following Papers will any way contribute either by awakening the careless and unthinking or encouraging or assisting the better disposed Christian they will answer and reward the Intention with which they were written ADVERTISEMENT A Guide to the Devout Christian in Three Parts The First containing Meditations and Prayers affixed to the Days of the Week together with many Occasional Prayers for particular Persons The Second for more Persons than one or a whole Family for every Day of the Week together with many Occasional Prayers The Third containing a Discourse of the Nature and Necessity of the Holy Sacrament together with Meditations thereon Prayers and Directions for the worthy Receiving thereof To which is added A Prayer for Ash-Wednesday or any other Time in Lent for Good-Friday and any Day of Publick Fasting The Second Edition Corrected Written by the same Author CHAP. I. 1. The Reasons which lead the Devout Christian to retire 2. His Notions of Retirement 3. His Behaviour therein 1. THE Union of the Soul and Body is a Secret the Devout Christian does not pretend to penetrate nor to explain the Difficulties that attend it But that the Body has a mighty influence on the Soul and the
Notices and Conceptions of the Understanding have a tincture from the matter of which the Body is formed is as manifest as the different Impressions which the Things of this and the other World make on the Minds of Men by a similitude of Nature and the immediate access they have to our Senses The former have a mighty influence whilst the latter having no access to the Soul but by the Ministry of the Body are discoloured by the Medium through which they pass and are so lessened in our estimation and regard that every Trifle becomes a Rival and our sensitive part so favours the pretensions of the World that it is very apt to engross our time and our care Israel-like we fix so passionately on the Earthly Canaan that 't is some pain to bring our selves to due reflections on the Joys which lie beyond it and 't is so difficult to entertain the thoughts of both together that 't is hard if not impossible for the best of Men to preserve a just Idea of another Life whilst they give up themselves to the hurry and the noise of This. Hence the Devout Christian concludes it necessary to set a-part certain Portions of his time when laying aside all thoughts of This he may entertain himself with those of the other World 2. He does not abandon the Station God has set him in he does not fly to a Cloyster or a Desart nor believe he shall be more serviceable to God by rendring himself useless to Men that Walls will purge the Corruptions which lodge in his Nature or Solitude quench the Fire he carries thither in his Blood Though he has a reverence for those Holy Men whom Persecution or Choice led to a Solitude yet he cannot believe that the Holy Solitaires of old ever intended by their Examples to unpeople the World or that God ever intended we should banish our selves from Society to which he planted a tendency in our very Natures or that he who made us to be helpful to one another will put a value on a perpetual Affront and Contradiction to the Law of our Natures or that the highest Institution of Charity the Gospel will ever allow the best pretensions to defeat it and render Men unuseful to the World 3. Yet he believes it of great moment to make frequent retreats from the World to abandon and lay aside the pursuit and thoughts thereof to entertain himself with the considerations of and his pretensions to a better State and this he looks upon as necessary as Temperance and Physick to his Body or Accounts to his Estate If the Health of his Body will permit Abstinence accompanies him to his Closet and his Body feels the resentment his Sin deserves at least he Fasts to his Father that sees in secret he does not serve his Vanity on his retreat it does not make him sowre uneasie or out of Humour nor does he think his Conversation ought to carry the marks of those sad reflections that possessed his Soul 't is enough to him that God is the Witness to his sorrow and resentment that he has poured out his Soul before him that he who can reward him openly can hear the gentlest sigh or the softest Prayer and thus assured a profound Humility and an awful senâ—e of the Divine Presence accompany him in his retirement to his Closet where his Repentance and his Prayers have their due place he knows that he who fills the Heavens will dwell with the humble and contrite Heart and the high and lofty one who inhabits Eternity will hear and not despise the Prayer of the destitute that he whose Mercy is over all his Works whose Grace is sufficient for the impotent Offender will grant Repentance unto Life to those that sincerely seek for it And in this assurance his first Address is to God that he who is the Creator and Lover of Souls who thought fit to make Men after his own Image and redeem them with the inestimable Merits of his Son and in his Name has Preached repentance to all the World and to whom nothing is impossible would enable him to make a right judgment of his own state and condition and grant him repentance unto Life Eternal and that this may not end in ineffectual wishes his first care is to inform himself of the Nature of that Duty God and the interest of his own Soul have made so necessary CHAP. II. 1. The Penitents opinion of the possibility and necessity of Repentance and the danger of deferring it 2. His sorrow for sin 3. His resolution to forsake it 4. His behaviour when surprized to the sin he resolved against 5. His thoughts of the second part of Repentance the measures by which he distinguishes it from the ineffectual Repentance and judges of his sincerity in the practice thereof 6. Arguments against his relapse and neglect of the duty of Repentance 7. Practice of it how managed 8. When removed 1. THe natural notices of God's Goodness and Mercy render it so reasonable to believe that he has made that plain and intelligible and practicable which he has made necessary that when he finds Repentance charged upon the sinner and enforced with the Sanctions of Death eternal the devout Christian concludes it a duty in the reach of every capacity and by the Grace of God within the power of the sinner and does neither disturb himself with nice and elaborate speculations and enquiries about it nor with dangerous conceits of its being impracticable but relying on that All-wise Goodness that designed it a Remedy and a Blessing to fallen Mankind he conducts his search by those discoveries that God has given and his hopes by the Grace and Aids he has promised assures himself the Repentance God describes in his Word is that he requires and the Merits of the Blessed Jesus which in favour of sinners have changed he Primitive method of Salvation And advanced sorrow and remorse and a hearty endeavour of pleasing God into the room of integrity and unsinning obedience will not only give a value to the duty being done but procure ability to perform it Having thus laid the foundations of his Faith and Hopes in the Goodness of God and the Merits of his Son he addresses himself to the Treasury of Holy Truths God intended for his Guide where Repentance is described sometimes by the perturbation which is raised in the soul of the Offender by a reflection on his sin or the frightful apprehensions that a sense of sin produces in us Thus St. Paul calls it a godly sorrow and faith That a godly sorrow works Repentance to Salvation Sometimes it is described by the effect which the sense of sin and the hopes of pardon produce in the Heart and Affections or in the Lives and Manners of Men. Thus in the common expression of the Prophets Repentance is making a clean and a new spirit turning from our evil ways or doing that which is lawful and right and turning unto God
disadvantages that 't is capable of that can part with a Lust tender as the Eye or dear as the Right Hand and break through all the struggles and regret of Interest and Nature to follow the Commands of God that with sorrow beholds the crying Sins of a Nation but with tears and compunction looks upon the share he has in the Publick Guilt 'T is not enough to the Penitent that sorrow covers his Face unless it fill his Heart too that he be angry with his Sin but he parts with it too he not only reflects with confusion on what he has done amiss but flies where-ever his guilt leads him whether to God or his Brother for a Pardon if God be the injured Person his Tears and his Prayers carry his afflicted Soul to the Throne of Grace and a broken and a contrite Heart recommend him to the compassions of his Father if his Brother be the offended restitution or satisfaction are the fruits and marks of his repentance he begs pardon for little Offences or with restitution is willing to buy forgiveness and believes that only to be the useful repentance which calls him back from his Follies to his Duty and steddily conducts him in it that impresses a holy awe and love of God and a just care for his eternal welfare 6. But when Flesh and Blood remonstrate and would draw him back from the ways of repentance the penitent looks upon it not only as a Duty but as consecrated into a Blessing and adores the Goodness that advanced it into the place of Innocence and by so easie and gentle a remedy put it into his Power to recover the Felicity Sin had lost and the advantage preponderates the trouble and he is pleased to be healed though the Physick be churlish If the Enemy or his own Fears magnifie the Difficulty or represent the Work too great or of too little value the Merits of a Saviour come in to his aid and he assures himself that he who gave his Son to die to make him capable of living will give his Spirit to those that ask it with a sincere intention to live 7. Thus the Penitent breaks through all the Difficulties that stand in his way and from debate hastens to experiment the pleasures of being reconciled unto God and in his own Conversion tast the satisfactions which are the subject of the Joys above he opens his Soul to God calls his own and God's ways to remembrance his Guilts and Follies and the Mercies that have out-done them in number have each their place in his Reflections with a sad and pensive Soul he beholds the one and with astonishment the other he is amazed at his Ingratitude and Madness that could return the Goodness of so bountiful a Father in Contempt and Dishonour and serve his Lust on that Goodness to which he owes his very being but his amazement rises higher when he reflects on that unspeakable Mercy that has spared him when he deserved to be punished that has poured new Blessings into his Bosom when he deserved nothing less and pursued him with an unwearied Goodness and invincible Patience through all the Scenes of Sin and Folly and amidst all the Labirynths and Turnings through which his Lusts had led him been so constant in the repetition of his Favours as if he had intended by an incessant love to force a Happiness upon him and with the importunities of a never-failing Goodness not only lead but compel him to repentance This he remembers with astonishment and joy and that it may never be forgotten he breaks through all the importunities of the World to set apart a Portion of his time to redouble the favours of God in fresh reflections upon them 'T is not enough to him that the Sins and Mercies of the Day have every Night a place in his thoughts but he consecrates a Portion of his time to lament the one and adore the Goodness that bestowed the other not a Week passes without a Solemn Hour consecrated to Gratitude and Repentance without a fresh and deliberate account betwixt God and his Soul where Sorrow and Joy where Vows and Prayers and good Resolutions where Mortification and a Holy Revenge have each their places and by judging himself the penitent prevents the terrours of a final judgment and by a wise revenge on himself disarms the Almighty Power to punish 8. Nor do those certain periods of Sorrow so limit the business of the Penitent but his repentance is renewed afresh when a publick calamity calls for it the Fears the Dangers the Afflictions or the crying Sins of a Nation hasten him down into his own Soul he is just and impartial in his enquiry whether he be not that Achan whose Sin drew down the Judgment or the Danger that threatens and believes it a Justice he owes to his Country to lend his Tears and his Prayers to fill up the measures of a National Repentance nay though Wicked as Sodom yet he believes it his Duty to make one amongst those whose righteousness may help to save it the stated or the occasional Fasts of the Church have their due regard he looks upon them as consecrated to Devotion and Repentance to Prayers and Humiliation and his Soul bears a part in the Solemnity he is angry with himself when God is angry with a Nation and believes his displeasure a fit subject for his own and looks upon it as a Duty incumbent upon him to make one amongst those that Mourn in Sion whenever he is called by a just Authority to lament his Anger or implore his Blessings But when all is peace and silent from without the cares of that Immortal Being God has committed to his trust are pressing and importunate from within the dangers that beset him the Temptations that surround him the burden of his Sins and the Sins of his frailties cry aloud for frequent retirements for the ends of Devotion and Repentance and he believes the discharge of his Soul into the Bosom of God so necessary to lessen the burden of his Guilt and a frequent account with himself of such important moment to his last and great account with God that he suffers not the importunity of the World to hinder his retirement and that a Principle of Love and Gratitude and an humble sense of his own demerit may conduct his censure of himself and his addresses to God he reflects on the Mercy and Compassions of God and looks back to his past course of life recollecting his sins and follies every greater transgression is covered with a new sorrow and renews his suit for God's pardon and mercy yet that their guilt and number may not overwhelm his hope of mercy nor his partiality teach him to forget the terms on which 't is offered he entertains himself with the thoughts of God's mercy and the terms on which 't is promised CHAP. II. 1 Meditations on God's mercy to Penitents 2. Prayer for God's assistance 3. Confession of sins
give up my Account with joy and a just assurance of his favour and love who is my Saviour and my Judge Jesus Christ the Righteous Amen 9. The Penitent's Prayer of Resignation or devoting himself to God O Blessed Father by whose Power all things were made and for whose service and pleasure they were created and in resignation to whose holy will all our felicity consists in mercy look down upon a Prodigal thy Grace and Goodness has brought to a sense of his Duty I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am unworthy to be called thy Child but it is thy will I should return and thou art pleased to receive me as a servant O blessed Father I resign my self to thy service to be disposed as thou seest fittest for me Thine shall be my will I will esteem that wise and holy thou commandest true that thy word promises or affirms just and reasonable thou appointest and will believe it my greatest interest to follow where thou art pleased to call me And here O Lord I offer and present unto thee my Soul and Body to be a holy and a reasonable Sacrifice to thee What thy Grace has made thine let thy Goodness accept and preserve and thy Spirit seal to the day of Redemption for Christ Jesus sake Amen 10. A Prayer for the Church O Blessed Father by whose Wisdom and good Providence thy Truth has been planted and preserved in these Nations In mercy look down upon that Church thy own right hand has planted therein make us so sensible of the advantages of a holy and uncorrupt Faith of the truly pious and decent Worship and the Blessings of uncorrupted and undisguised Truth we enjoy in her Communion that laying aside our Heats and Prejudices we may all study the Peace and Honour of our Holy Mother and our unhappy Divisions give no occasion to the enemies of the Reformation to attempt or hope our Ruine More especially I beseech thee to give me Grace in my place and calling to live an useful Member of this thy Church till thou shalt call me to thy Church in Glory All this I beg for his sake who died for and is the Head of the Church Jesus Christ the Righteous Amen 11. A Prayer for these Kingdoms ALmighty God by whose Providence we are preserved from Confusion and Ruine Forgive our fins and continue thy Mercies towards us and by thy Wisdom and Blessing preserve and secure the Peace and Honour of these Nations Make the Government thou hast established a great Instrument of promoting thy Honour establishing thy Gospel and securing the Peace the Welfare and Prosperity of the People of these Kingdoms and make them so sensible of the Blessings they enjoy thereby that we may all study to be quiet and live in Peace and Love and Piety till thou think fit to receive us to thy eternal Kingdom thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 12. A Prayer for the People of these Kingdoms ALmighty God who seest what ill use we have made of thy great Mercies toward us how we have abused thy Grace and Goodness how we are fallen from that Innocence and Vertue from that Plainess and Integrity that were once the Honour of these Nations and how far that unhappy Spirit of Scoffing Irreligion and Profaneness have prevailed amongst us O Lord if it be thy will put a stop to our Profaneness and let our Wickedness come to an end revive a Spirit of Holiness and Sincerity of Justice and Temperance of Charity and Peace and make us that happy People who have the Lord for our God for Christ Jesus his sake Amen Occasional Prayers to be added On Good-Friday O Holy Father who hast ransack'd thy own bosom for arguments of pity and in thy compassion taken measure by thy infinite and unspeakable Goodness and for thy Mercies sake given thy Son to be a Ransom and a Peace-offering for thy Enemies In Him in whom thou art well pleased look down upon me let his Sacrifice of himself atone for my sins his Blood make my peace and by his Stripes let my Soul be healed O God my God Amen Another Prayer for Good-Friday O Most Holy and Ever-blessed Jesus who wast pleased to die for sinners Have pity and compassion upon me a miserable sinner and that the imitation of thy Life and Sufferings may fit me for the Merits and Blessings thereof let thy Grace and Goodness give a due influence to thy Example let thy exemplary Patience and holy Resignation teach me to resign my self and my will to the Hand and the Will of God in all his dispensations thy Charity to forgive thy Meekness to humble every aspiring thought and preserve a Spirit calm and easie amidst all the Injuries and Provocations that befal me let the Power of thy Death overcome all my propensities to sin and thy Sufferings atone for it and since thou livest for ever to make intercession for sinners and hast promised to save to the uttermost all such as come unto thee Lord hear my Prayers forgive my Sins and save me in the day of Wrath O thou Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Amen For Ash-Wednesday or any other time of Lent O Almighty God who art always ready to give thy assistance to every good thought every honest intention and sincere endeavour to consecrate our selves to thy service yet hast taught us to hope for the Aids of thy Grace in the use of Fasting and Prayer Mortification and Self-denial and all other useful ways of subduing the Lusts of the flesh Give O Lord thy Blessings and Assistance to all that humble themselves before thee accept their Abstinence hear their Prayers and forgive their Sins Bless me O my Father let thy Spirit help my Infirmities and so assist me that my flesh being so subdued to the Spirit my Fasting may be consecrated to thee who seest in secret and thou mayest reward me openly among those who by keeping themselves from the defilements of the flesh shall be fitted to follow the Lamb for ever and ever All this I beg for his sake who fasted for ours Jesus Christ the righteous Amen For the Thirtieth of January O Almighty God who in thy Justice didst suffer these Nations to fall into Anarchy and Confusion and involve themselves in the guilt of innocent Blood the Blood of thine Anointed Look in mercy upon us and forgive our sins especially That of This Day let it never be laid to our charge and do thou spare us when thou makest inquisition for Blood and make us so sensible of our great provocations that we may all turn from the evil of our ways and our iniquities may not be our ruine O do thou who art the God of Peace and Love and Order inspire us all with a Spirit of Holiness and Charity of Meekness and Obedience and make us the People who have the Lord for our God for Christ Jesus sake our Saviour and Redeemer Amen For the
contempt and disobedience to his Law and the very last act of it a defiance of the remedy God had tendred to me But if Death make a gentle and easie approach and the mercy of God deliver me from the numberless contingencies that may prevent all possibility of a late Repentance what assurance can I have that what till then had been my choice will not then become my doom or that God will not give me up to a penal hardiness But if God permit me to be sensible of my danger yet with what face can I hope for or ask the assistance of his Grace that I not only not desired but refused and resisted till I am become uncapable of using it to his Honour But if God give me grace to be sensible of my past sins yet this is at the most but one part of Repentance and such as can afford me little comfort when my circumstances put me out of a possibility of reducing my sorrow into practice for tho's God who knows the heart and does sometimes accept the will for the deed when that will is sincere yet He only is a competent Judge of that sincerity and not the Christian unless he have time to try it by his practice So that the best assurance the late Penitent can have of the truth of his sorrow is at the most but the assurance he has of the sincerity of his heart which is deceitful above all things What madness is it then to venture Eternity on that which is but the shadow of a well-grounded hope a shadow that may flie away in a moment a shadow that the Harbingers of Death so frequently remove from us that if God had made a promise to accept the sorrows of dying persons to all the ends of Repentance the methods by which Death makes its approach would very often render it ineffectual by putting it out of the power of dying persons so much as to remember what they had done Thus the Christian views the precipice and beholds the dangers of those delays corrupted Nature or the flatteries of the world would lead him to and concludes it as necessary to be always provided for it as it is certain he is to die and looks upon it as his most important care not to lose the happy minute on which an eternity of Bliss or Misery depends but the danger of a sad Eternity keeps him always upon his guard and the consideration that the justice of God or the frailties of his Nature may in a minute ravish from his power the opportunity to make his peace possesses him with a steddy resolution to live over his sorrows his vows and promises and endeavour that the practice or fruits of true Repentance amendment and doing better may fit him for the change God and Nature have made inevitable 2. His Reflections on Judgment 2 COuld I hide my sins in the dust would the same kind Fate that closes up mine eyes hide me to eternal Ages or the Grave spread night over all my actions could I lie forgotten there and share the portion of the Worm that must then be my brother or could that corruption and rottenness that are to be my sister and my mother entitle me to an everlasting oblivion and neglect a short-liv'd shame and the uneasiness and dishonour of doing an unworthy action might possibly be too little to restrain my unruly passions But whilst my Lust thus fondly entertains me my Reason breaks through the scene of Folly the regret every sin leaves behind it the secret pleasures of well-doing the seeming inequality in the dispensations of Providence the indelible notices of the Divine Being and Justice give me such certain presages of a future Account that amidst the charms of sin I find something like St. Jerom's sound To Judgment something that spreads a secret pleasure or regret through my Soul for actions unknown to all the world and leaves such impressions upon me that 't is as easie to put off my Nature and cease to be whilst I am as to deliver my Soul from the apprehensions of a future Judgment But had Nature been silent He that made and governs the world has given us a prospect of futurity and shewed us how he will rectifie the seeming inequalities that appear in the conduct of human affairs and with an impartial hand deal Reward or Punishment to all his Subjects But can nothing be hid from the discerning Eye must my youthful follies must the elaborate sins I have spun so fine as to carry the face of Virtue to the world pass the censure of just Omniscience must my varnished Lusts my gilded Passions and my painted Sins be stripped naked and thus appear to the Judge of Secrets must my avowed Impieties and customary Sins my known and unobserved Omissions every tumor in my Passions every indecency in my Words every foolish Thought be brought into Account and will God enter into Judgment for them must the follies I did not dare to trust to a mortal eye nay scare to the censure of my own conscience be proclaimed to Men and Angels must I answer to God for every Mercy I have abused every opportunity of Repentance I have lost for every instance of that patience and forbearance that have been vouchsafed to me in vain Good God! what must a sinner do If thou wilt be extreme to mark all I have done amiss I cannot answer thee one for a thousand and how then shall I stand in judgment and yet I cannot flie from nor avoid or illude it If I climb up into Heaven thou art there if I go down into Hell thou art there also Thy Omnipresence frustrates all my hopes of flying on the wings of the morning and thy Power the kindness of the Mountains should they fall upon me From thy presence then I cannot flee from thy Spirit I cannot hide me and which is more dreadful not the least of all my fins But whilst this dreadful prospect fills the soul of the Penitent with confusion and horror the comforts of the blessed Spirit that ever watch the motions of the wounded soul break in upon him and carry his thought to new reflections on the compassions of his Judge He remembers that he who must come to call him to Account is the same blessed Person that died to save him and in charity to him came from Heaven to shew him how to flie from the wrath to come and has offered him his hand to conduct him to his arms Thus his fears resolve into a nobler passion and his confusion breaks up in resolutions to accept the tenders of his Lord to measure all his future actions by a regard to this great Account and this one thought That his Lord may come in a day or an hour that he looks not for him and appoint him his portion with unbelievers is guard to all the rest the flatteries with which his Lust or Vanity used to possess his fancy appear empty Dreams the charms of this
Temptation Good Lord deliver me From the Flatteries of the Great and the Snares of Prosperity from the hardship and temptations of Poverty from the Luxury aâ—â— Wantonness of Plenty from Pride and Haughtiness in good Circumstances and Dejection and Discontent in had Good Lord deliver me From peevishness and spiritual Pride the mischiefs of vain and fond Opinions an uneafie Temper and unruly Tongue from rash words and the surprizes of lust and folly and uncharitable thoughts and censures Good Lord deliver me From an hard Heart and an evil Conscience from wilful Ignorance and Error and Knowledge that puffs up from resisting or discouraging Truth and promoting Error for secular ends from appearing or doing good for bad purposes promoting chief under pretence of Religion the abuse of thy Grace and the dangers of a late repentance Good Lord deliver me O Blessed Lord from whom every good thing comes to whom every thing is possible and who out of Stones canst raise up Children unto Abraham have Mercy upon me and make me such as thou wouldst have me to be good Lord I beseech thee O Lord in whose Hand are the Hearts of Men and who turnest them where thou wilt create a clean Heart and a new Spirit within me and turn me Good Lord that I may be turned Thou knowest how imperfect my Sorrows are how easily my Vows are broken and my best resolutions brought to nothing O do thou that dwellest with the humble and scontrite Heart make mine truly â—uch make my Sorrows sincere and my Resolutions steddy and let it be ever my studdy and delight to do thy will O God my God Let thy Word be my Rule thy Grace my Guide and Assistance thy Goodness my Pattern and Example thy Promises my Encouragement and thy Joys my everlasting Recompence and Reward O let my Words be such as may minister Grace to the Hearers my demeanour innocent inoffensive humble and easie my Affections governable and my Life exemplary Let every Mercy have its due effect upon me every opportunity of repentance make me better and if a temptation prove too hard for me let me not sleep with an unrepented Sin in my Bosom but give me a penitent Heart a watchful and upright Conscience Let thy Goodness and Beneficence be my Pattern and make me useful in the station thou hast placed me in give me a Heart and give me Wisdom and ability to do good and let such a temper and disposition of Soul as delights in the good of others recommend me to that Charity that is pleased with the Sacrifices of well doing O good God! to whom every thing is possible sanctifie my corrupt Nature and let thy gracious aids supply all my defects and so help my Infirmities that I may live in thy Love and Fear may die in thy Favour and be prepared for the account I am to give and be received with thy Faithful Servants to the joy of thy rest A concluding Prayer recommending himself to God imploring his Pardon Favour and Acceptance and grace to live in his Fear and Love O Blessed Father by whose Grace and Goodness I have been brought to some sense of my sins and some imperfect endeavours to make my peace with thee by Repentance In pity and compassion look down upon a poor sinner thy Grace has brought into thy presence Prosper O Lord the work of thine own hand Receive a Prodigal thy Mercy has brought back to thy Arms Forgive all thou hast seen amiss in my approaches to thee and accept and perfect my desires of being reconciled to thee and living in thy Love and Favour and give me such assistances of thy Grace that for the time to come I may live in thy fear and favour and by Peace and Charity by Temperance and Integrity by Holiness and Righteousness approve the sincerity and truth of my sorrow and repentance for my past transgressions O Lord into thy hands I commend my self To thy keeping O my God I commit my Soul and my Body Preserve me from every sin every danger keep me always mindful of my promises and resolutions of Obedience of Death and Judgment of thy presence and the great Account I am to give that so I may be always fitted and prepared to serve and glorifie thee by a right use of those Blessings thou hast committed to my trust fitted to be received amongst thy faithful Servants into the Joys of thy Rest O Lord hear and answer pity and forgive me and be good to me beyond what I can ask or think And all for his sake who died for sinners To whom with Thee and thy holy Spirit be ascribed all Adoration and Honour all Praise and Thanks both now and for evermore Amen CHAP. V. His behaviour after his retirement or some short Rules by which he endeavours to manifest the sincerity of his Repentance and Love of God 1. In his diligence in his Calling Justice in his Dealings c. 2. Good of fices to all men 3. Peaceableness as a Subject 4. Charity as a Christian 5. Watchfulness over all his Actions and wise and sober use of God's Blessings THe devout Christian having thus enquired into the state and condition of his own soul returns to his station in the world and chearfully sets himself to do his Duty in which each circumstance has a particular regard He is industrious in his Calling and his justice in all his dealings consecrate his Cares and his Wealth to God He knows that Godliness has the promise of this as well as the other world and assures himself of God's Blessing upon his Industry But if God withhold his hand or keep back his bounty he believes the wise Disposer of all things sees it fittest for him and quietly submits if God prosper his Cares he is humble and thankful and charitable and God has the honour of his own Beneficence 2. The frailties of his own Nature and that immense Goodness that with an universal charity embraces Mankind give him so lively a sense of that regard he owes to human Nature that he loves and prays for all Mankind that he studies to imitate the Divine Beneficence in his endeavour to do good and be useful in the world and and by all the good offices of Humanity Charity and Friendship transcribe the Beneficence that is ever pleased with doing good 3. That tendency to society which he finds rivetted into his Natures is cultivated and improved by a just regard to that Power and Providence by which the world is govern'd He believes Government the Ordinance of God and tho it always carries some marks of the frailties of men yet this he looks upon as the infelicity essential to the present state of things and thinks it a very unreasonable peevishness to disturb the publick Peace because God thinks fit to govern us by men that have failings but since this is the common state of mankind and till all Power be swallowed up in the Kingdom of the Father there can be neither Governour nor Government without a fault he believes he ought to contribute all he can to publick Peace and study to be quiet 4. He blesses God for his unspeakable Mercy in admitting him into the place of his Church as a Member whereof he believes there is a new tie laid upon him to preserve the Peace and further the Welfare of all his fellow Christians if they fall into Error and violate either the Faith or the Unity of that blessed Society he believes Christ is the Head and Judge to and leaves the matter in his hand and whilst he adores the Goodness that has kept him in the ways of Truth and Peace he preserves a charity for those who have departed from them The holy ardour which inspired the Devotions of his Closet returns with him to his Calling where he feels the rewards of it in a chearful access to and holy warmth in the publick Worship of God and the satisfaction he tasts in the care of his own Soul impresses a value and esteem on those that watch for it 5. The peace and joys of a holy Conscience and the ease and pleasure of being reconciled unto God grow up into a resolution to break through the tyranny of evil customs to fly every danger and temptation that have betray'd him to sin to watch every opportunity to serve God or be useful to men especially not to bring a reproach on Religion by being sowr or uneasie or fright men from a holy austerity and frequent Accounts with God by denying himself the innocent joys of Conversation but on the contrary his care is to do justice to the Honour of his Lord by such useful converse and decent and chearful use of God's Blessings as may convince his enemies that the Christian may be temperate in plenty humble in greatness pious and devout in the highest station or most publick Trust and hope for an inheritance in another world without abandoning the innocent pleasures and true joys of this or doing any thing unworthy the greatness of his Birth his Quality or his Trust his Honour or Friendship his good Breeding or good Temper Thus resolved the Devout Christian carries his Repentance into the light and his Sorrows and Vows become visible in Piety and Good Works He lives over his Resolutions of a better Obedience and his publick Actions bespeak his Soul consecrated to God till some unhappy temptation break in upon him some new Blessings call him back again or the Joys of Peace and conversing with God or his care of a future Account call him afresh to his Father that sees in secret ERRATA Page 8. line 16. for removed read renewed p. 26. l. 8. for sins r. sense p. 69. l. 24. for hardiness r. hardness FINIS