Season This O my Soul is the way to beatitude how strange soever it may seem to our sense these are the Words of the Eternal Verity how improbable soever they may sound to our Ear choose whether here thou wilt be falsly happy for a while or truly happy hereafter for ever if we resolve for the Bliss of the Life to come we are like to meet with Affliction in this and if we place our Felicity in this we are sure to meet with Misery in the other God be Merciful to me a sinner II. LORD either make me think my self Blind enough to need the guidance of the wise or be indeed wise enough to guide my self that I may enter at last by thee the door of Life and feed my Soul on thy joys for ever Deliver me O Lord from encreasing my guilt by sinning against my knowledge or hoping in my Ignorance to excuse my guilt call me after thee who art gone before and make me hear thy Voice and follow it O Lord hear me and be merciful unto me for thy Name sake DELIVER me O Lord from those desperate Sins which so rarely are pardoned that they are said to be unpardonable Deliver me from resisting the motions of thy Spirit and from Choaking the Convictions of my own Conscience Deliver me O Lord and never let the Divil of Blaspemy enter into me or any of thy Servants but enter thou O Dearest Jesu and possess my Heart for ever cast out by thy powerful Grace every wicked Spirit which Molests me and Conquer my strong Corruptions that else will overcome me O Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean IV. DELIVER me O Lord from every least degree of uncharitable provoking my Neighbour that I Imbitter not my Life with Mutual Animosities nor make void my Piety by an obstinate wilfulness but observing the Rules of my wise Redeemer escape the Miseries that would spring from my Follies Deliver me O Lord from every least degree of unduly loving my Neighbour that I set not my Heart upon sensual pleasures nor Imbroil my Memory with Impute thoughts Good Lord Deliver me An humble Confession of Sins before the Holy Sacrament HAVE Mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy Mercies do away mine offences for I will confess my Wickedness and be sorry for my Sin O Lord I am not worthy to be counted amongst the poorest of thy Servants I am not worthy to be fed with the smallest Crums which falls from the Table of thy Ordinary Providence but to be shut out of thy presence for ever with unbelievers and Reprobates Lord be merciful to me a sinner II. O Lord I am the vilest and the worst of sinners full of Pride Vain Glory Impatient of Scorn or just reproof disobedient to my Superiours and churlish and ungentle to my Equals and Inferiors I am Angry and Peevish many times without Occasion envious at Good and rejoyceing at Evil I am negligent Idle and useless timerous base jealous and impudent ambitious and very hard hearted unmortified and effeminate in my Life indevout in my Prayers without fervency or affection Here name your particular sins Lord be merciful to me a sinner III. I am guilty of Gluttony and Curiosity in Meat and Drink making Provision for the Flesh from whence hath sprung forth impure thoughts which have made me prone to unclean and unjust Actions and the spirit of unchastity hath entred and unhallowed the Temple of my Body which thou hast Commanded to be a receptacle for thy Holy and Blessed Spirit Lord be merciful to me a sinner ALL my senses have been inlets of sin mine Eyes have been Adulterous wandring and Covetous my Ears delighted with obscene Words slanderous and reproachful Speeches my Palate loose wanton and intemperate my Tongue talkative Lying Rash and Malitious Flattering Irreligious and Censorious my Hands have been unclean and slothful my desires unreasonable and unsatiable all the Members of my Body and the Faculties of my Soul have been Servants of sin and Weapons of unrighteousness Lord be merciful to me a sinner V. I have not O Lord been guilty of my own sins but I have also been guilty of the sins of others not only by neglecting to reprove or hinder them in the ways of sin but I have encouraged them by taking off their Fears and hardning their Consciences and had tempted them directly to their Ruin and my own but thy preventing Grace put a stop to so great a Misery Lord be merciful to me a sinner VI. THY Mercies O Lord I have abused thy judgments I have despised and have turned thy Grace into Wantonness I have committed sin and have repented and have sinned again I have set up resolutions but have immediately broke them I have tyed my self up with Vows but presently have been tempted and yielded by little and little till I was willingly lost and my Vows signified no more than vain Promises Lord be merciful to me a Sinner VII O Lord I stand guilty of another heap of sins my secret ones which are innumerable sins of Omission and sins willingly neglected sins of wilful Ignorance and voluntary mispersuation sins of forgetfulness and sins which a watchful Spirit might have prevented the multitude of them O Lord Confounds me and the remembrance of them is horrible they are a sight too loathsome and unsufferable is their Burden Lord be merciful to me a sinner VIII YET O Lord thy merciful Eye hath spared me to this present and hast not cast me into Hell among the Damned which by my sins I have long since deserved and to have been lockt up to an Eternity of Torments with insupportable amazements too long O Lord I have sinned against thee and long since deserved thy severest Scourges I have committed iniquity in thy sight and cannot escape thy Justice but by flying to thy Mercy O Lord be merciful to me a sinner The PRAYER O Lord give me a deep Contrition for my sins and a Hearty Detestation and loathing of them give me Grace intirely presently and for ever to forsake them and grant that I may walk with Care and Prudence with Fear and Watchfulness all my days performing my Duty with Dilligence and Charity with Zeal and a never fainting Spirit II. Deliver me O Lord from extream Calamities here and Deliver me from Eternal Vengeance hereafter look down with Compassion on the Work of thine own Hands and gently Chastise me with thy Rod of Discipline but suffer not my weakness to be Oppressed with too heavy Afflictions nor my Patience Tempted above my Strength III. INSTRVCT me how to Redeem my time to trust in thy Mercies and to make the best use of the means of Grace for the Working out my Salvation with Fear and Trembling that thou mayest have the Glory in Pardoning all my sins and I reap the benefit of all thy Mercies let all thy Graces guide me to a Holy life here that I may Reign
THE Ladies Preparation To the Monthly SACRAMENT Consissing of Prayers Meditations and Ejaculations before at and after Receiving the Lords Supper After the Warning is given in the Church for the Celebration of the Holy Communion COMPOSED For the Private Use of a Devout Lady And at the Request of Friends made Publick LONDON Printed by W. B. for Simon Neale in the Long-Walk near Little Brittain 1691. Licensed February 10th 1691. THE WARNING On the Sunday Before the COMMUNION DEARLY Beloved on Sunday I and purpose through Gods Assistance to Administer to all such as shall be Religiously and Devoutly disposed the most Comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ to be by them received in Remembrance of his Meritorious Cross and Passion whereby alone we obtain Remission of our Sins and are made partakers of the Kingdom of Heaven c. A Soliloquy on the Warning BLESSED for ever be thy Name O Lord who pittying our Ignorance hast Revealed to us this Heavenly Mystery of thy pretious Body and Blood and foreseeing our weakness hast built our Faith on so firm a Certainty Justly O my God! Dost thou require our absolute assent to thy word since thou graciously providest such grounds to assure us Thy self with thine own blest Mouth hast taught it thy Apostles with their dearest Blod have confirmed it and thy Churches in all Ages have faithfully delivered it II. HOW Beautiful O Lord are the Feet of thy Holy Messengers Who brings us Peace and Reconcilement with thee who teaches us the way to Eternal happiness and by their pious Offices help us to go thither if they teach us Spiritual things 't is just we should give them Temporal make us O Lord entertain them as Workmen sent by thee with respect to their Persons and Obedience to their words and according to our power with a free supply of their necessities III. THUS does our gracious Lord send forth his Ministring Spirits to invite us to a Heavenly Banquet Their spiritual means Conveys our Prayers up to him and brings his Blessings down to us in all our ways they direct us and bear us in their Hands lest at any time we dash our Foot against a Stone When we labour they Assist us when we repose they implore for us the Divine Protection when we are tempted they Encourage us to stand fast and when we Conquer they Crown us with their Prayers and Praises When you first awake use these Ejaculations as a Key to Open the Morning LIghten mine Eyes O Lord that I Sleep not in Death Psal 13.3 IT is high time to Awake our of our Sleep of Sin for now since we have received the Light of the Gospel our Salvation is nearer then when we first Believed THE Night is now spent and the day is approached let me therefore cast off the works of Darkness and put on the Armour of Light GIVE me Grace O Lord to walk Honestly as in the day net in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying BUT put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13.11 12 13 14. At Up-rising IN the Name of the Father who hath Created me and of the Son who hath Redeemed me and of the Holy Ghost whh hath Sanctified me be Ascribed all Glory and Power BLESSED be the Holy and Undivided Trinity now and for Evermore Amen I laid me down and Slept and rose again for the Lord hath Sustained me Then Humbly on your Knees lift up thy Heart unto God and say HOLY Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come I Worship him that liveth for Ever and cast my Self before his Throne thou art worthy O Lord my God to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast Created all things and for thy Wills-Sake they are and were Created II. INTO the Hands of thy Blessed Protection and unspeakable Mercy O Lord I this Day Commend my Soul and Body with all the Faculties Powers and Actions of them both beseeching thee to be Ever with me to direct Sanctifie and Govern me in the ways of thy Law and in the Works of thy Commandments that through thy most Mighty Protection both here and Ever I may be preserved in Body and Soul to serve thee the only true God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then use the Morning Prayer c. Which is Annexed to these Devotions Meditations for Monday Morning COME My Soul let us begin our appointed Task and dilligently mind our own Employment Let us not lose one day in Idleness nor Distract our thoughts with Repining at the advantages of others God is our absolute Lord and may do with his own as he pleases If we began our Repentance late our delay was dangerous but we ought not to Despair If we have laboured long in his Service our Wages are safe but we must not presume on our own Endeavours II. THY Holy Mysteries O Lord I believe O help my unbelief Let not any difficulties make me doubt thy Truth nor too long a doubting provoke thy Wrath Every word of thine shall be fulfiled in their Season Sometime thou Visitest thy Children with the Chastisement of a Rod sometimes thou favourest them with the Smiles of Prosperity But all at last shall Co-operate to their Good III. NO matter at all for the Favour of Men happy are they who find Grace with God They shall Conceive in their Hearts the Blessed Jesus and bring him forth in their Holy Lives and Reign with him in his Kingdom and of his Kingdom there shall be no End Here we perhaps may weep for a time and be poor and Afflicted in this troublesome World But hereafter our Lord will Plant us about the Throne of his Father and make us sit down with him in his own Kingdom if we heartily Love him and keep his Commandments IV. GIVE me O Lord thy Holy Grace to Love with Charity the Defects of others perhaps mistaken by me and rely on thee for Defence of my self most sure of Relief if I wait thy Providence for thy Mercy forsakes not the Innocent for Ever Sometimes thou sufferest thy Servants to be tryed but wilt always at last either Deliver their Patience or Crown their Perseverance The PRAYER O Most Glorious Lord God in thy Son Jesus Christ my most Merciful and Loving Father I Miserable and Wretched Sinner Dust and Ashes do here in all Humility of Soul Prostrate my self before thy Glorious Majesty Humbly acknowledging and Confessing against my own Soul that I am laden with Iniquity and by my Sins have defiled myself defiled my Habitation defiled this good Land wherein I Sojourn II. O Lord Righteousness belongeth hnto thee but unto me Confusion of Face I have Sinned against thee and done amiss and dealt very wickedly and have added to the Number of my Fore Fathers Numberless Transgressions * Here Name the Particulars notwithstanding thou hast
multiplied thy Blessings upon me in many Prerogatives III. BVT to my shame O Lord I Confess that no Creature hath been so unthankful unto thee as I have been for instead of bringing forth the Fruits of Righteousness and Holiness I have turned all thy Blessings Graces and Mercies into Wantonness so that I have been a Provocation of thine Anger and of thy Fury from the day of my Birth even until this very moment IV. And though thou hast caled me to knowledge of the Faith in thee and thou hast Revealed unto me that inestimable Treasure of thy Love unto me in Christ Jesus yet notwithstanding I hade retained only the name but nothing of the Work of a Christian but have Dishonoured thee and Blasphemed thy Name but O Lord in the midst of Justice Remember Mercy call not to Remembrance my former Transgressions but Assist me by thy Grace to a speedy Repentance before I go hence and be no more seen Amen Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons for the Day Monday Evenings Meditations EVER O Lord thou beginst thy great Design with Prayer and thy Prayer with Retirement from the Distractions of the World thou callest whom thou pleasest and they come to thee thou choosest whom thou wil'st and freely bestowest on them thy precious Gifts 't is not of him that Wills nor of him that runs but of God that Vouchsafes to have Mercy Have Mercy O Lord and chase away those unclean Spirits that too often haunt my Fancy and walk up and down my weak Memory Chace them away least as they disturb my Peace they ruin my Innocence II. GIVE me O thou Author of all my Good a lively Faith in thee that I may believe thy Truth and hope thy Promises that I may Love thy goodness and continually Bless thee for all thy Mercies who camest into the World not to Judge the World but to save it Save me O glorious Son of Justice and with thy Heavenly Beams Illuminate my Heart that bringing my Works to the Light I may Learn to hate my own Darkness and Condemning my self Escape thy Judgment III. LORD in thy Hands are the Times and Seasons which thou kindly disposest in advantage of thy Servants that thy Favours may Encourage their Virtue and their Virtue encrease thy Favours Thou rewardest the Chastity of Virgins and the Fidelity of Wives thou Crownest the Holiness of Widdows and the perseverance of all who constantly love thee IV. GIVE me O Lord thy Holy Grace that my days may pass in Innocence and my Innocence sustain me in hope give me thy Holy Grace that my hope may encrease to Confidence and my Confidence be Establish'd in Peace and then in Peace dismiss thy Servant Lead me O thou Light of the World where thou usest to walk that my Eyes may happily see thee Shew me thy Blessed self O thou Glory of Heaven that my Soul may fast Embrace thee The PRAYER I. O Eternal God I have in a great measure deserved thy wrath I have Committed presumptuous Sins with a high Hand against thy Divine Majesty I have Crucified again the Lord of Life and have Trodden under Foot the Son of God I have counted the Blood of the Covenant which Sanctifies me an Vnholy thing and have done despight unto the Spirit of Grace II. INSTEAD of making head against those Temptations and Lusts that hourly be set me by Prayer calling to thee for thy Grace to Assist me against them and by Fasting and Austere Mortification by beating down my Body that I might not Conspire with Satan and my own Corraptions that betray me unto Sin I have Pamper'd the Flesh and suflered my self to be led Captive at the Will thereof III. I have not Subdued or Mortified the Works of the Flesh I have not endeavoured to cleanse my self from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit * Here Name the Particulars I have not made a Covenant with my Eyes neither have I kept the door of my Lips but as if thou hadst sent me into the World not to serve thee but to serve my own Lusts IV. I have been abominable in all my ways yea O Lord I have Committed too great Evils I have departed from thee the Ever-living God and leaving thee the Fountain of all Blessedness and Happiness in my Heart have set up the Creature I have set my Affections not on things above but on things below the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life these have been the Gods that I have Served V. THVS have I sold my self to Commit wickedness I have made all the Members of my Body Instruments of Sin and all the faculties both of Soul and Body Weapons of Vnrighteousness to obey it in the Lusts thereof O Lord thou hast found Iniquity even in my Holy things I have been negligent in hearing of thy Word unprepared at the Receiving of thy Sacrament Indevout in my Prayer weary of their length and displeased at the return For these and all other negligences and Ignorances O Lord be Merciful to me a Sinner Amen Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons appointed for the Day Meditations for Tuesday Morning LORD make me Study how to follow thee and readily undertake any Labour to find thee not for the benefits thou sometimes givest me here but for the blessings thou wilt surely give me hereafter Strengthen my faith O Lord and graciously instruct me purifie my intention sincerely to seek thee II. LET me not so apply my mind O Lord to any trivial Observances that I begin to omit my more serious Duties let me not so attend to the inventions of Men that I grow to transgress the Commands of my God O guide me gracious Lord in thine own safe way and those solid exercises which really improve me and make my heart as well as lips draw nigh thee those blessed truths which thy self at first revealed and thy Holy Apostles hath fully confirm'd may those alone be my principal rule and every other Doctrine bow to them III. LORD how ungrateful are we compared to thy ancient Followers Thou chargest us to remember thy benefits and we forget them thou commandest us to Publish thy Mercies and we conceal them Behold O blessed Jesu I fall down at thy feet reach forth thy Hand and heal me that I may Glorifie thee the God of the Universe Too often have my Ears been Deaf to thy Voice and my Tongue Dumb to thy Praise too often have my Eyes been Blind to thy Directions and all my senses impediments to thy Service IV. We are often Wise in what imports us least and utterly ignorant of our greatest concern we can industrously argue what Weather it will be but strive not to discerne the seasons of Grace Forgive O Merciful Lord the perverseness of our nature and leave us not to our selves least we perish without bope O make us deeply Sigh in Compassion for the Sins of others and yet more deeply still in forrow for our own
Life and an Eternal weight of Glory in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons appointed for the day Friday Mornings Meditations On the Life of the Holy Jesus On the Incarnation of our Blessed Redeemer O Most Blessed Jesu who for the Redemption of the World Vouchsafest to be made Man by the ever Blessed Merits of thy Mysterious Incarnation grant me to become one Spirit with thee who became one Flesh with me Nativity II. Blessed Jesu who wast Born of a pure Virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost grant me by the same Almighty Power to possess a pure Virgin Soul in a pure and Chasse Temple of my Body and to be Fruitful in all good works to my lives end Circumcision III. Blessed Jesu who was Circumcised and made Obedient to the Law for Man grant unto me I humbly beseech thee the true Circumcision of the Spirit that my Heart and all my Members may be Mortified from all Carnal and worldly Lusts that I may in all things Obey thy Blessed Will Baptism IV. Blessed Jesu by the Merits of thy Holy Baptism wash me throughly from my Wickedness and Cleanse me from my Sins whereby I have Defiled those Sacramental Waters of my Baptism and perjuriously broken my Vows and Promises made therein Fasting V. Blessed Jesu who didst Fast Forty Days and Forty Nights Pardon and Forgive me all the manifold Acts of Rioting and excess I have been guilty of and give me Grace to use such Abstinence that my Flesh being subdued to the Spirit I may ever Obey thy Godly motions in Righteousness and true Holiness to thy Honour and Glory Temptation VI. Blessed Jesu who in thy Holy Fasting was Tempted by Satan and by thy Almighty Power didst Conquer him grant me by thy Blessed Spirit Devoutly to entertain the Holy Duties of Prayer and Fasting that by the Power of thy Victory over the Devil I may have Strength and Power of over Satan the World and the Flesh and continue thy Servant to my Lives End Doctrine and Example VII Blessed Jesu who in thy Prophetical Office didst Preach the Gospel and Heaâ— all manner of Sicknesses and Diseases among the People and by thy Doctrine and Example art the way and the Truth that leads unto Life Grant me to believe a right all thy Revelations to Obey all thy Commands to walk in thy Steps and to follow thee the Light of the World that I walk not in Darkness Christ Conspired against and Betrayed VIII Blessed Jâ—su whose precious Life was Conspired â—gain7s â— by Dis-believing Jâ—wes and wert Betrayed and Sold by one of thy own Disciples for a Vile Price Deliver me I Humbly Beseech thee from all the Conspiracies of my Ghostly and Bodily Enemies but especially from the Treachery of my own Heart and the Rebellion of my Flesh which for things of no Value betrays my Soul to its utter Ruin and Destruction His Agony in the Garden IX Blessed Jesu thy bitter Passion was in a Garden where thy Soul was sorrowful even unto Death Sanctifie O Lord all my Infirmities and Passions Comfort me in all my Troubles and Compose my my mind with such a frame of Spirit that I may be sensible with a Godly Sorrow of that Heavy Wrath and Curse for sin which thou sufferedst for me and all the World His Bloody Sweat X. Blessed Jesu who upon the Cold Earth didst Sweat Drops of Blood under the Load of our Sins and Apprehensions of thy ensuing Sufferings thou offerest up strong Crys and Tears unto him that is able to save O that my Heart might inwardly Bleed Tears of Compassion and Contrition and vent forth fervent and effectual Prayers with Tears of Devotion as to be heard in Heaven and healed of all my sinful Infirmities His Submission XI Blessed Jesu who didst submit with Patience unto the Will of thy Heavenly Father Endue me with the same Spirit of meekness and Patience submitting my self unto the Will of God in prosperity and adversity Health and Sickness Life and Death His Apprehension XII Blessed Jesu thou wast Apprehended and bound as a Malefactor but wert clearer than an Angel of Light O let not my Soul be Arrested by Infernal Fiends to Eternal Horrour in the other World but from the Eternal Malice of the Spirits of Darkness and from the Bonds and Chains of my Sins Good Lord Deliver me The PRAYER O Lord most Holy my sins are more in number than the Hairs of my Head and the weight of them Cries a loud to Heaven for Mercy I beseech thee O God the Father of Heaven thou great Creator and Preserver of Man despise not the Work of thine own Hands O God the Son that camest into the World to save Sinners Remember not my Offences neither seek thou Vengeance of my sins but good Lord spare me thy unworthy Servant whom thou hast Redeemed with thy most Precious Blood and be not Angry with me for ever O God the Holy Ghost that Despisest not a Broken and Contrite Heart let it pitty thee to see these thy Temples of my Soul and Body thus Ruined by sin and wickedness O Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have Mercy upon me a Miserable Sinner II. A Sinner and a grievous Sinner I am teach me O God to grieve that I am so give me a Broken and a Wounded Spirit for all my Transgressions Break this Stony Heart of mine yea take away this Heart of Stone from me and give me a Heart of Flesh that I may tremble at the Voice of thy Law and melt at the Sight of thy Judgments and Accuse and Condemn my self and be ready to joyn with thee to do Justice upon such a sinner as I am but least I should faint through the smart of the many fresh Bleeding Wounds which my sins have given my Soul Oh! do thou uphold me by thy Right Hand and pour into my Wounds that precious Balm of Gilead a true and a lively Faith in the ful satisfaction that thy Son hath made to thy Justice for the sins of the whole World and through his Cross and Passion through his most Precious Death and Burial through his Glorious Resurrection and Ascention I beseech thee be thou Reconciled unto me III. O Lord for his sake Pardon all that is past lay none of my sins to my Charge but Blot them all out of the Book of thy Remembrance Wash me O wash me throughly from my sins and cleanse me from my Vnrighteousness in the Blood of Jesus Christ Lord let his Blood that speaks better things than that of Abel cry lowder for mercy in thine Ears than do my sins for Vengeance be sprinkle my Polluted but Penitent Soul In the Blood of Jesus that thy wrath may pass over me and that the light of thy Countenance may shine upon me IV. SEAL unto my Soul the free Pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation Oh! do thou
hour of the day Our time passeth away like a Shadow and we bring our Years to an end as it were a Tale that is told But Lord so teach me to number my Days that I may apply my Heart unto true Wisdom As you Ascend any high place or go to Church Who shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord or who shall rise up in his Holy place Even he that hath Clean Hands and a pure Heart and that hath not list up his mind unto Vanity nor sworn to deceive his Neighbour When you are on a high place say Thy Mercy O Lord reacheth unto the Heavens and thy faithfulness unto the Clouds Beholding pleasant Fields and Variety of Objects O Lord how manifold are thy Works In Wisdom hast thou formed them all the Earth is full of thy Riches thou openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plentiousness Vpon hearing or seeing any thing Extraordinary Blessed be the Lord God even the God of Israel which only doth wonderous things and blessed be the Name of his Majesty for ever and all the Earth shall be filled with his Majesty Amen Amen When you go to Read or Meditate Open thou mine Eyes O Lord that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law And grant that what ever I Read or Meditate may conduce to the full understanding of thy Will and my ready Obedience thereunto Being wearied therewith Lord let me not be weary in well-doing remembring that in due time I shall Reap if I faint not When you go about any worldly Employments Deliver me O Lord from every evil Work and stablish me in every good Word and Work When you are Discontented or Sad. Why art so full of heaviness O my Soul and why at thou so disquieted within me Put thy trust in God For I will yet give him thanks for the help help of his Countenance Cause thy Face O Lord to shine upon thy Servant O shew me the Light of thy Countenance and I shall be whole When you Hunger and Thirst Blessed are all they that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled with thy abundant goodness When you are asked an Alms and are able to give It is more blessed to give than to receive he that Soweth sparingly shall Reap sparingly and he which Soweth bountifully shall Reap bountifully When you hear any Person Evil spoken of Deliver me O Lord from Lving Lips and from a Deceitful Tongue Vpon sight of your Sins and mispending of 〈…〉 O remember not the Sins and Offences of my Youth or Riper Years but a cording to thy tender Mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness After thou hast Rehearsed the the Lords Prayer the Twelve Apostles Creed and the Ten Commandements Think upon these good Rules that are to be observed and practised and what sins are to be avoided The two Precepts of Charity or the Laws of Nature TO love God above all for his own sake To love all Men as our selves for Gods sake and to do unto others as we would they should do unto us Deut. 6.5.10.12 Matt. 7.12 The Sacraments of the Church The principal and truly so called as generally necessary to Salvation are two Baptism and the Lords Supper The three Teological Vertues Faith Hope and Charity 1 Cor. 13.13 The Four Cardinal Virtues Prudence Justice Fortitud and Temperance Three kinds of good Works Fasting Prayer and Alms Deeds Matt. 6. Pray and Labour for the Seven gists of the Holy Ghost 1. The Spirit of Wisdom 2. And understanding 3. The Spirit of Councel 4. And Ghostly Strength 5. The Spirit of Knowledge 6. And Piety 7. The Spirit of a Holy and Godly Fear Isa 11.2 To those add the Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost Love Joy Peace Patience Mercy Goodness Long-Suffering Meekness Faith Modesty Shame-Facedness Sobriety Gal. 5.22 Endeavour to perform these Seven Spiritual works of Mercy 1. To instruct the Ignorant Matt. 18.15 16 17. 2. To Correct offenders Jam. 5.12 3. To Gouncel the Doubtful Gal. 6.6 4. To comfort the Afflicted Prov. 27.9 5. To suffer Injuries with Patience Eccles 5.8 6. To forgive Offences and Wrongs Rom. 15.1 7. To Pray for others Mark 11.25 Likewise forget not these six Corporal Works of Mercy 1. To feed the Hungry and to give Drink to the Thirsty Mat. 15. 2. To Cloath the Naked Mat. 25. 3. To harbour the Stranger and Needy Tob. 1. 4. To visit the Sick Isa 58. 5. To Minister unto Prisoners and Captive Tob. 12. 6 To Bury the Dead Observe the eight Beatitudes Mat. 5. 1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven 2. Blessed are they that Mourn for they shall be Comforted 3. Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth 4. Bressed are they which do Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled 5. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain Mercy 6. Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see God 7. Blessed are the Peace-Makers for they shall be called the Children of God 8. Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kindom of Heaven Labour to avoid the Seven deadly sins as they are commonly so called 1. Pride Luk. 14.11 2. Covetousness Act. 20.35 3. Luxury 1 Cor. 16.15 4. Envy 1 Joh. 3.14 5. Gluttony Rom. 14.7 6. Anger Mat. 11.29 7. Sloth Jer. 48.10 Pray for the seven contrary Virtues 1. Humility 2. Liberality 3. Chastity 4. Gentleness 5. Temperance 6. Patience 7. Devout and Earnest serving of God and being dilligent Four Sins that Cry to Heaven for Vengeance 1. Wilful Murther 2. Carnal Sin against Nature 3. Oppression of the Poor 4. Defrauding Workmen of their Wages The Four last things to be remembred 1. Death 2. Judgment 3. Hell 4. Heaven Ejaculations when towards Bed-time I will not suffer mine Eyes to Sleep nor mine Eye-Lids to Slumber neither the Temples of my Head to take any rest until I find out a place for the Lord an habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob. A Prayer for the Evening O Almighty God my Glory and my hope my Lord and Master the Father of Mercy and God of all Comfort I present to thee the Sacrifice of a thankful Spirit in humble and joyful acknowledgment of those infinite favours by which thou hast this day and all the whole term of my life supported my state enriched my Spirit comforted my Sorrows relieved my necessities blessed and defended my Person instructed my Ignorance and promoted my Eternal Interest II. WHOM have I in Heaven but thee or whom on Earth have I desired or may desire in Comparison of thee whose Nature is Goodness whose Will is Power and whose Work is Pitty I humbly beseech thee to Pardon my sins Here Name the Particulars and accept of this Evening Sacrifice abate my Pride and remedy all my other imperfections Oh multiply thy Grace upon Humility and manifest thy Power in my infirmity plead thou
my cause O Lord with thy Heavenly Father and be thou for ever my Mediator and Advocate III. AS thou hast ordained the day for Labour and the night for Rest I beseech thee to protect me this Night let the Eve of thy Providence watch over me and thy Holy Angels pitch their Tents about me that being safely delivered from danger and refreshed with moderate Sleep I may be enabled to perform my own employment and faithfully persevere in the duties of thy Service and so daily advance to new Victories over my Passions and more perfect observance of thy Commandments till having passed my days in thy fear I may end them in thy favour and rejoyce with thee for ever in thy heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever one God World without end Amen A Hymn for the Evening NOw my Soul the day is gone Which in the Morn was thine Now its Glass no more shall run Its Sun no longer shine True alas the day is gone O were it only so Is it not lost as well as done Cast up thy Counts and know Are we so much nearer Heav'n As to the Grave we bow Has our sorrow made all ev'n And clear'd the Debts we owe From what Vice have we refrain'd To break the course of sin What new Virtue have we gain'd To make us rich within Time is well bestowed on those Who well their time bestow Whose main concern still forwards goes Whose hopes still riper grow Who when e're the Clocks proclaim Another hour is past Have an Art to set their aim And thoughts upon their last That their last and happiest hour Which brings them to their home Where they sing and bless the pow'r By which they thither come O my God of Life and Death The everlasting King Since thou givist to all their Breath May all thy Glory sing Glory Honour Pow'r and Praise To the Mysterious three As at first beginning was May now and ever be Amen As you undress your self say The time is now approaching when I must put off this Body of sinful Flesh as I do now these Garments which cover it grant O Lord that I may put off the Old Man which is Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and put on the New Man which after thee O God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness As you enter into your Bed say In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified I lay me down to rest bless me O Lord defend and Govern me and after this short and miserable Pilgrimage bring me to everlasting happiness Amem A Prayer at setling to Sleep O Jesus Christ whose unwearied Eye neither slumbers nor sleeps but continually watches in defence of thy Servants receive me I beseech thee into thy Protection and grant that when my Body is a sleep my Soul may wake to thee and hereafter behold that Blessed and heavenly Life where thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost Art eternal Governour and where the Angels with the blessed Souls are Citizens for ever Amen When thou art in Bed and canst not sleep exercise thy self in this Meditation Sâ—and in awe and sin not Commune with your own Heart upon your Bed and be still I will lay me down in Peace and will take my rest For thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety Have mercy upon me O Lord now and at the hour of Death II. O Lord preserve me while I am waking and defend me when I am sleeping that my Soul may continually watch for thee and both Body and Soul may rest in thy Peace for ever Amen The Holy and undivided Trinity be now and evermore my defence against all Perils and Dangers of this Night Amen FINIS
they may come to thee receive them O Gracious Jesus and Teach their Hearts to believe what thine own Blest Mouth has so clearly taught them The PRAYER OH Most Glorious and most Power ful Lord God whose dwelling is above the Heavens in Light in Accessible and thine Eyes run to and fro to behold the things which are in Heaven and in Earth neither is there any thing which is not Naked and open unto thee for thine Eyes are Ten Thousand times brighter than the Sun beholding all the Ways of Men. II. LOOK upon me O Lord who am the unworthiest of all thy Servants thou hast made me a Member O Lord of that Mystical Body whereof thy Son Christ Jesus is the Head make me therefore sensible of the necessities of the Catholick Church I beseech thee to be merciful unto it and to every Member of the same wheresoever Dispersed howsoever Distressed or by Whomsoever Dispised throughout this Vniversal World III. Oh Lord call them that are yet Strangers and have not yet heard of thy Name reduce and bring home those that are gone astray and wander raise up all that are fallen and confirm and strengthen such as do stand bind up all that are Broken and heal all that are Bruised Vnite us all in soundness of Doctrine by the Spirit of Truth in holiness of Life by the Spirit of Sanctification and in Brotherly Compassion and Christian Affection by the Spirit of Love IV. O Lord I beseech thee to open the Bowels of thy Mercy and to pour out thy tenderest Compassion upon all such as mourn under the weight of their Afflictions many are the troubles of thy poor Servants and thou only knowest how to deliver them out of all their troubles whether therefore any be inwardly distressed in Soul Mind or Conscience or outwardly Afflicted in Body Estate or good Name I beseech thee give them speedy case out of their misery or Patience to endure what thou shalt be pleased to lay upon them V. I beseech thee to open the Eyes of those that lie on their Beds of Sickness Oh! thou that art the God of Health and sender of Sickness Sanctifie thy Visitation unto them make their Beds in their Sickness lay no more upon them than thou wilt give them strength and Patience to bear and if it may stand with thy Gracious Will grant that they may recover their former Health to do thee Service hereafter VI. BVT if thou that knowest what is best needful for them hast determined at this time to take any of them unto thy self O Lord I beseech thee to fit and prepare them for the hour of Death give them a true feeling of their sins and a lively apprehension of thy mercy in Christ Jesus that so surely Repenting of thee one and chearfully laying hold on the other they may with Confidence and Comfort resign up their Souls into the Hand of thee their most merciful Creator and Redeemer Amen Read the Psalms and Lessons for the Day Meditations for Thursday Evening PREPARE my Heart O God to receive thee whom my Soul loveth for thou hast the Words of Eternal Life Blessed O gracious Jesu be the sweetness of thy Spirit which so kindly invitest me to refresh my weariness I know and thine own sure word has told me If I Labour for thee here I shall rest with thee hereafter Lord make me follow thee wherever thou goest and strive and run to be first in thy Presence there I shall meet a Mercy that will regard and pity me there I shall find a goodness that will teach and relieve me II. WRITE all thy Holy Truths in my Soul O Lord and Print thy Love in the Center of them all there let it sit as Soveraign Governour and absolutely dispose of all my interests Let it command my Tongue to confess thee and no fear of Danger make me ever deny thee let it command all my Powers to serve thee and nothing but thy Love find place in my Heart III. O when shall I come to thy Holy Table to tast of thy most delicious Banquent to hear those Sweet and Ravishing Words He dwells in me and I in him sweet in excess to the Soul that loves and Tasts the joys of this heavenly Converse and feeds on the wonders of this admirable Union He dwells in me and I in Him O Blest and Glorious Words What can be said more full of Grace and Strength and Supernatural Mystery Here they alone are my Heaven on Earth and will hereafter be my Heaven in Heaven IV. To thee my great Creator I humbly Sacrifice the Noblest faculty thou hast given me to thee and to the Obedience of thy Truth I entirely Resign and Captivate my understanding Thy Words O Lord in thy Holy Sacrament are Spirit and Life unto me O make my Faith be quick and Active to thee in receiving so great a Salvation Shall I go back and forsake my God because he humbles himself to approach towards me Shall I refuse to Learn of my Master because his Lessons exalt me above my Nature The PRAYER O Lord I am too weak to serve thee in my Natural Power and not careful to improve the Aids of thy Spirit I am full of inconsideration and carelesness desirous to be accounted Holy of Men but careless of being so to thee my God I am unstedfast O Lord in all my ways * Here Name the Particulars but enable me to confess my Faith in despight of all the Oppositions of Satan to Publish thy Laws submit to thy dispensations and to Glorifie thy Holy Name by Holy living and dying II. BLESS me O Lord with all the Blessings and Assistance of thy Spirit and Providence let the Daily Sacrifice of Prayer and Eucharist in thy Church never cease but for ever be presented unto thee Vnited to the intercession of our Lord and for ever prevail for the obtaining to all her Sons and Daughters Grace and Blessing Pardon and Holiness Perservance and Glory Vnite my Heart and Tongue take away the Spirit of Error and Division from me that my Religion and Devotion may increase whereby thy Truth may be promoted and thy Name Glorified and me thy unworthy Servant Instructed and Comforted let thy Spirit Rule and all Interest Stoop and Obey Publish and Advance the Intorest of the Lord Jesus III. EXTEND thine Accustomâ—d goodness to all thy People to Old Men Prudence and Liberality to Young Men Obedience Temperance Health and Diligence to Merchants Justice and Faithfulness to Mechanicks and Artisans Truth and Honesty to all Married Pairs Faith and Holiness Charity and sweet Compliances to all Christian Women the Ornament of a meek and a quiet Spirit Chastity and Charity Patience and Obedience a Zeal of Duty and Religion IV. TO all that are Sick and Afflicted distressed in Conscience or Persecuted for it give Patience and Comfort a sincere Repentance and a perfect Resignation a love of God and a Perseverance in Duty proportionable Comfort in this
God yea even for the Living God when shall I come and appear before the Presence of God O send out thy Light and thy Truth and bring me unto thy Holy Hill and to thy dwelling and that I may go unto the Altar of God even unto the God of my Joy and Gladness and with my Heart will I give thanks to thee O God my God A Prayer at Home before the Sacrament OBlessed Jesu 't is thy Blessed Body that my Soul longs for and to be satisfied with thy Pretious Blood for its Purification and Nourishment Vouchsafe Holy Jesus to enter this Day into the House of thy Servant that with Holy Zacheus I may within receive from thee that joyful Benediction this day is Salvation come to thine House II. THY Body O Blessed Jesu is my Food and thy Righteousness is my Robe thou art both the Priest and Sacrifice the Master of the Feast and the Feast it self my Souls Physitian the Light of my Eyes and the Purisier of my Stains O Enter now into my Heart and cast out from thence all Impurities even all the remains of the Old Man III. AND grant I may partake of this Holy Sacrament with much Reverence Holy Relish and great Effect receiving thence the Communication of thy Holy Body and Blood for the Establishment of an unreprovable Faith of an unfained Love for the fulness of Wisdom for the healing my Soul and preservation of my Body for the taking out the Sting of temporal Death and for the Assurance of a Holy Resurrection for the Ejection of all Evil from within me and the fulfiling all thy Righteous Commandements and to procure for me a Mercy and a fair Reception at the Day of Judgment IV. O God the Bread of Heaven and Life of the World I have sinned against Heaven and in thy Sight and am not worthy to be made partaker of thy most Holy Mysteries But Vouchsafe as a Merciful God to make me worthy by thy Grace that I may not receive thy Holy Body and Pretious Blood to my Condemnation but unto the Remission of my sins and Everlasting Life Amen Intercessions O God have Mercy upon poor Mankind enlighten all that sit in Darkness and in the Shadow of Death reveal thy Son and his saving Gospel to those Asiaticks Affricans and Americans that never heard of a Crucified Jesus add the fulness of the Gentiles to the Recollection of the Jewes that there may at length be one Sheepsold under that one good and great Sheepherd Christ Jesus II. BE merciful to this Church in which I am a Member and Cause thy Face evermore to Shine upon it Bless those whom thou hast Anointed over us our Soveraign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary grant that their People may Obey them and they may Obey thee and do all things to thy Honour and Glory III. BLESS Katherine the Queen Dowager her Royal Highness the Prineess Ann of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family endue them with Heavenly Graces make them happy Instruments of thy Glory here and partakers of thy Heavenly Kingdom hereafter IV. BLESS the Pastors of thy Church the Bishops and Clergy grant that by their sincere Preaching and Assiduous Prayers and Ministries they may Glorifie thee the great lover of Souls give unto the Ministers of Justice the Spirit of Government and Zeal Courage and Prudence to the Nobility Wisdom Valour and Religious Magnanimity Succour all in Affliction help them to Right that suffer Wrong be with those that are in Prison and preserve thou those that are appointed to Die V. BLESS my Relations Here Name them Assist them in their Wants and Necessities keep them in thy Fear and Favour unto their Lives end forgive my Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and turn their Hearts Bless all those who do accompany me this day at thine Altar and for all others who meet in thy Name and Communicate in Remote Parts grant that through this Blood of Jesus we may all be Cleansed from our Sins and Purged from all our Iniquities VI. O leave us not as we have deserved to be left wrapt up in our own Confulions he thou more merciful to us than we have been unto ourselves Supply whatsoever is wanting in the Government Establish what remains Dissipate and Scatter Scandals Stop and Prevent all rising and growing Heresies make us all so far of one Heart and one Mind that we may joyntly set our selves to the rooting up of all Atheism Prophaneness Superstition Faction Heresie any thing which exalts it self against thy true and sincere Worship VII GIVE to the whole Land fair Seasons of the Year good Government Health and Plenty an excellent Religion undivided and undisturbed frequent Celebration of this thy Holy Ordinance through Christ our Lord. VIII AND now lift up your Head O ye Gate of my Soul and be ye lifted up O ye Everlasting Door of my Heart that the King of Glory may come in that he may come in at this time and take Possession of me and Dwell and Reign in me for ever Even so O Lord for the sake of the Son of thy Love in whom only I trust to be accepted and in whose Name and Words I call upon thee Our Father c. When you go forth of your Chamber or Closet I Will go into his Tabernacle and fall low on my Knees before his Foot-Stool the Lord preserve me in my going out and my coming in from this time forth and for evermore When you enter the Church which ought to be sometime before the Service begins O How Aimable are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Host I will come into thy Tabernacle and fall low on my Knees before thy Foot-Stool and will wait for thy loving kindness O God in the midst of thy Temple thy Testimonies O Lord are very sure and Holiness becometh thy House for ever When you cast your Eye on the Font and Pulpet Then recal to mind that Solemn Vow you openly took at your Initiation into the Church to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this Wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh c. and let the other put thee in mind the many good Sermons thou hast heard from thence and the few thou hast practised Being seated turn to the Psalms and Lessons Epistle and Gospel for the Day that you may have them ready if there be any leasure time before Divine Service begins fall on your Knees and say Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come fit us all for thy Service Good Lord Pardon all here that prepares their Heart to seek thee Merciful Lord Graciously accept us all that come hither to present our selves our Souls and Bodies unto thee for Jesus Christ's sake that Vouchsafed to present himself Bodily in the Temple for us in great Love and Humility Then joyn with the Prayers of the Chuch and be Attentive to the Sermon When Sermon is