Church by Baptism pardon I beseech thee all my former Breaches of that holy Covenant which I was then entred into And now that I am going to renew my Baptismal Vows in my own Person so strengthen me with all the graces of thy Holy Spirit that I may make open Profession of thy Holy Religion at all times hereafter and speak and think and live as becomes a true Member of Christ Give me Grace to mortifie all my evil and corrupt Affections and daily to proceed in all vertue and godliness of living till I at last attain the end of my hopes even the Salvation of my Soul through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Holy Just and Gracious God it is of thy Mercy alone that I am not consumed and because thy Compassions fail not I have by my manifold Provocations deserved the utmost of thy wrath and indignation against me yet behold thou hast not only spared me but hast now also invited me to the renewing of that Holy Covenant which I have so often and so shamefully broken I am not worthy of that daily bread which sustains my bodily Life how then shall I dare to approach thy Holy Table to partake of that Bread of Life which thou hast prepared for the food of Pious and Holy souls O Lord it is true my guiltiness makes me tremble to come and yet it makes me not dare to stay away For where can my polluted Soul be washed but in the Fountain of thy Sons Blood That alone which was shed for the remission of sins can take away all its stains Hither therefore I come according to thy gracious Invitation and hope that my Person and Service may be accepted in thy beloved Son To that end do thou prepare my heart to draw nigh to thee Let thy Divine Spirit breath into my Soul such holy Thoughts and devout Affections as may become one who commemorates the death of the Son of God who was wounded for our Iniquities and bruised for our Transgressions O let my heart be deeply affected with such a sense of sin as may make me hate the very thoughts of every evil way for the future and chuse to endure any thing rather than to despise the riches of his love And while I remember the love of my Blessed Saviour in dying for me a Sinner may I never forget to exercise Charity towards all Men even Enemies as well as Friends Let every Grace be so confirmed and strengthened in me that I may serve thee sincerely and acceptably all the days of my Life perfecting Holiness in thy fear Fulfil O Gracious Lord all my Petitions and grant that I may be made Partaker of the benefits of Christ's most blessed Body and Blood here and of his glory hereafter through the merits of the same our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer at the Sacrament immediately before Receiving O Blessed Lord Jesus I remember with all humility and love and gratitude how thy Sacred Body was broken and thy Precious Blood poured out for sinners And I am now come to receive this Bread and this Wine which thou hast appointed as the Sacramental Representations of them O let that Sacrifice of thine which thou didst once make when thou didst offer up thy Sacred Body upon the Cross be effectual for the Salvation of my Soul and Body Here is that which my Soul longeth and thirsteth after O let me not be sent empty away Give me thy self and with thy self thy Holy Spirit to take possession of me and let me feel that it always dwells in me by those Heavenly Graces moving in my Soul which are the blessed fruits and effects of it Awaken mâ— Repentance encrease my Faith inflame my Charity Thankfulness and Devotion Make me a meet Partaker of thy Holy Supper here and of the Joâ—s of thy Kingdom hereafter through Christ Jesus Amen A Prayer after the Sacrament I Return unto thee O most gracious and glorious God all praise and thanks for thine infinite and inconceivable Mercies to us the Children of Men and especiall I desire to bless and magnify thy Holâ— Name for that wonderful love of thine in sending thy dear Son to die for Sinners and for that great Grace which thou hast now vouchsafed thy humble Servant in giving me a fresh assurance of an Interest in that precious Death by admitting me to partake of thy holy Sacrament ordained in remembrance of it O may I never forget what thou hast done for my Soul but carry the thoughts of it along with me to all the â—ctions of my life that it may be in me a Spring of entire obedience unto thee all the rest of my daâ—s This is indeed my unfeigned desire that may never break those Vows and Promises of a Holy Life which I have made to thee this day But I am afraid of my own treache ous Heart and the Assaults which will be made upon me by my spiritual Enemies least they should betray me into the breach of thy Holy Commandments O therefore let the assistance of thy holy Spirit be ever with me and the grace always prevent and follow me and then I trust I shall approve my self thy faithful Servant in all things and finish my course with joy With my own I desire the happiness of all Mankind that they who are still in darkness and in the shadow of Death may see the salvation of God and taste how Gracious thou art to Christians and that all those who are called by the Name of Christ may depart from Iniquity and adorn the Doctrine of Christ their Saviour in all things May we all glorifie thy Name in this World and live for ever to praise thee in the World to come through Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer to be used by or with or for a Sick Person Note that in this Prayer when used for another I must be changed to He She or We and Me to Him or Her and My to His or Her O Most Righteous and Merciful Lord the God of Health and of Sickness of Life and of Death I most humbly acknowledge the justice of thy present Visiation upon thy Servant whose Sins had long agoe deserved it from thee Yet since thou designest not the ruine but the amendment of those whom thou scourgest I beseech thee by thy Grace to sanctify this Correction to me that this sickness to my Body may be a means of health to my Soul Deliver Me from all frowardness and impatience under it and give me an entire resignation to thy Divine will If in thy good Providence thou hast appointed that I shall live longer upon Earth Lord bless all means that are uâ—ed for my recovery and give me grace to amend the rest of my Life and with good works to glorifie thy holy Name But if thou hast otherwise determined and this Sickness must be unto Death O fit and prepare me for it Wean my Heart from
the World and all the fading Vanities of it Give me unfeigned Repentance for all the Errors of my Life past and seal my Pardon in Heaven before I go hence and be no more seen O lift up thy Countenance upon me and in all the pains of my Body in all the Agonies of my Spirit let thy Comforts refresh my Soul And when the time of my departure is come receive me into those Heavenly Habitations where the Souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity Grant this O Lord for the Merits of the same Jesus Christ thy only Son and our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer to be said by one whose Friend is dead O Righteous Lord I acknowledge thy wisdom and goodness in all thy Dispensations towards the Children of Men and do therefore submit my self and all I have to thy Dispâ—sal who knowest best what is fit for us It was of thâ— Mercy that I so long enjoyed the comfort of my Friend whom thou hast now taken from me The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the Name of the Lord. From Thee all good things do come and thou canst repair this loss to me by adding to the number of my Friends But however thou shalt deal with me in that particular yet this one thing I most humbly beg be thou my God and my Friend and it is enough In thee shall be mâ— trust as long as I live and when thou shalt call me hence receive me into Heaven where I hope my Friend is that we may there joyn with all thy Holy Angels and Saints to sing thy Praises for ever and ever Grant this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer to be said for one who has lost a Friend O Father of Mercies and God of all Comforts who in a more especial manner hast always shewed thy self a helper of the Friendless and a Father of the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widow look down with an Eye of Pity and Compassion upon thy Servant now in great grief and bitterness of heart for the loss of his dear Friend and give him grace to consider that it was thy doing who dost not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. And let this teach him to moderate all his Passions and to bear his Affliction with an humble meek and patient Spirit Free him from all discontented and distrustiul Thoughts and help him to cast all his care upon Thee who carest for him and canst do infinitely more for him than the most tender and faithful Friend on Earth Lift up his Thoughts towards that blessed Place where thou his God and Saviour art and so assist him with thy grace to follow thâ— blessed Son in purity of living during his Pilgrimage upon Earth that he may hereafter enter into his joy and with all those who are departed in thy fear be made Partaker of everlasting Glory through the same Lord Jesus Amen A Grace before Meat LOrd pardon all our Sins give us grace to make a temperate and discreet use of thy Creatures which thou hast now provided for us that whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do we may do all to thy Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen After Meat WE praise thâ— Holy Name O Lord for all thy Mercies and especially for this refreshment which thou hast now given us Enable us thereby to do thee further Service Bless thy Holy Church preserve our King the Royal Family and these Realms grant us Peace and Truth here and make us Partakers of thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Table of the Contents A. OF Adoration Page 41 Of Moderateness in Apparel Page 71 B. Of Baptism Page 24 50 61 Of Blasphemies Page 38 Not to hurt the Bodies of our Neighbours Page 85 C. Of Charity Page 76 77 Of Diligence in our Callings Page 62 Of Chastity Page 63 Duty of Children 81 Of Consideration Page 59 Arguments for Contentment Page 51 to 58 Duty of Creditors Page 83 The Creed Explained Page 13 D. Of Death Page 32 Duty of Debtors Page 83 Of Secret Devotion Page 46 Certain Forms of Devotion either in a Family of Closet Page 93 Ways of Dishonouring God Page 38 Of Temperance in Drinks Page 66 F. Of the Faith of a Christian Page 5 How he comes to have that Faith Page 6 Of Fasting Page 33 Of the Fear of God Page 29 Things to be Feared Page 89 Duty of Friends Page 82 G. Of Duties towards God Page 27 Not to hurt our Neighbour as to his Goods Page 86 Grace before Meat Page 115 Grace after Meat Page 116 H. Of Honouring God Page 34 Of things to be Hoped for page 89 Of Humility Page 61 Duty of Husbands Page 81 J. Of Justice in dealings Page 74 L. Of the Love of God Page 27 Lords day Page 40 41 M. Duty of Magistrates and Ministers Page 78 Duty of Masters Page 83 Of the Matrimonial Vow Page 81 Of Temporance in Meats Page 65 Of Divine Meditation Page 35 The Benefits of It Page 36 Of Moderateness Page 65 Of Murder Page 85 N. Duties towards our Neighbours Page 73 O. Of Oaths Page 38 P. Duty of Parents Page 79 Of Perjury Page 39 Of things to be Practised by a Christian Page 27 Of Prayer and its Parts Page 42 Morning and Evening Prayer for a Family or single Person Page 93 Paraphrase on the Lords Prayer Page 100 Prayer before Church Page 102 Prayer after Church Page 103 Prayer before Confirmation Page 105 Prayer before the Sacrament Page 106 Prayer at the Sacrament Page 108 Prayer after the Sacrament Page 109 Prayer by with or for a sick Person Page 111 Prayer When a Friend is dead Page 113 Prayer For one who has lost a Friend Page 114 Of singing of Psaims Page 45 R. Of Moderateness in Recreations Page 70 Of Repentance and turning to God Page 30 The Danger of delaying It Page 32 Of Reproof Pae 76 Of Resolution page 60 Against Revenge Page 88 S. Authority of Scriptures Page 8 Duties towards our Selves Page 59 Duty of Servants Page 84 Of Moderateness in Sleep Page 70 Of the Duty of Subjects Page 78 Of the Lord's Supper Page 47 Against hurting the Soul of our Neighbour 84 T. Of Temperance Page 65 66 Of Thanksgiving Page 45 Particularly after Meals Page 37 Of Trusting in God Page 50 Of speaking Truth page 73 W. Duty of Wives Page 81 Against hurting our Neighbour as to his Wife Page 86 Of Worshipping God Page 41 FINIS
Imaginations In all these respects blessed is the Man who doth meditate good things Ecclus 14.20 2. God is glorified by our directing even our common Actions to this great end and particularly those 1 Cor. 10.31 of eating and drinking not beginning a Meal without Prayer nor ending it without Thanksgiving in some such Forms as are set down at the end of this Book 3. God is glorified by our speaking piously and honourably of Him in Conversation upon all fit Occasions in order to the stirring up others to give Him Glory Mal. 3.16 Col. 3.16 and 4.6 Contrary to this Duty is the dishonouring of God 1. By Blasphemies or speaking ill of God or by our wicked Conversation bringing an evil report upon Him for thus was the Name of God blasphemed among the Gentiles Rom. 2.23 24. by those wicked Jews who boasted of the Law but did not keep it And let all profane Wretches consider what they do in their Hours of Revelling or at any other time when they scoff at Religion and make a jest of the Holy Scriptures for God will also take his time to laugh at their Calamities and to mock when their Fear cometh Prov. 1.26 2. By Oaths and Curses This is one of the Crying Sins of the Age when many can hardly pronounce ten Words without Swearing and Imprecation Too often they wish that which of all things in the World they should dread even their own Damnation in course of Talk and without being tempted or provok'd 3. To these Sins may be added False Oaths or wilful Perjuries for the avoiding of which let such as are tempted hereto consider what is said in Malachy 3.5 I will come near to you to Judgment and I will be a swift Witness against the Sorcerers and against the Adulterers and against false Swearers and fear not me saith the Lord of Hosts See also Zach. 5.4 4. There is yet another sort of Perjury which is a rash Oath when any one Swears at a venture not knowing whether the thing be so or not Now by all these God is highly dishonoured and provoked and therefore when thou hast made a Vow to God or Promise to Man perform it if it be in thy power Eccles 5.4 When thou art called before a Lawful Magistrate beware of a false or rash Oath and in common Discourse take our Saviours Advice or rather obey his Command and Swear not at all Mat. 5.34 For God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Exod. 20.7 4. God is honoured and glorified by a frequent repairing to those Places which are set apart for his Service and by a decent Behaviour in them not coming to Church out of meer Formality nor employing our Time there otherwise than becometh such as consider the Holy Ends for which Christians Assemble that is to glorifie God in his Perfections to bless Him for his Mercies to ask Blessings of Him to hear his holy Word and to celebrate his Sacraments 5. In giving God those things that are Gods Mat. 22.21 and not robbing Him of his Tythes and Offerings nor alienating Lands Houses or Goods given by the Owners for truly pious Vses Mal. 3.8 1 Cor. 9.13 14. All which will come under the Sin of Sacriledge and will bring a Curse upon us both in our Persons and Estates Mal. 3.9 6. In keeping Holy the Times appointed for Divine Worship Thus the Jews kept the Seventh Day in Memory of the Creation of the World Gen. 2.2 3. and we keep the Lord's Day in Memory of the Resurrection of Christ Mat. 28.1 Rev. 1.10 That and other Days set apart for Gods Worship are not Seasons for worldly Business Accounts Journeys or even Physick or Sleep as some without necessity make them but for Piety and Devotion both at Home and in Publick and for Charity also Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 And seeing that God has given us all the Time we enjoy we should not grudge Him such small Portions of it as He requires 7. By Worshipping God which containeth in it 1. Adoration 2. Prayer 1. Adoration which is an Act of the deepest Reverence of Soul and Body when we set God before us as the Object of our Devotion Psal 95.6 Thus we admire and celebrate the glorious Nature Attributes and Works of God and with Holy Raptures make acknowledgment of his Infinite Love to Mankind revealed in the Dispensation of the Gospel Adoration is a Duty we owe to God alone and therefore we are expresly forbid to make to our selves any graven Image or to Bow down to and Worship the likeness of any thing in Heaven the Earth or the Water Exod. 20.4 5. And in Baptism we do in effect promise not to Worship the Devil or to make any Compact or Contract with him by Witchcraft or any other way whatever or to consult with those that do or may be thought so to do for recovery of Goods Health c. And as we are forbid the outward Idolatry to Creatures so we are forbid the inward Idolatry of the Heart in placing our Affections upon any thing here below more than upon the Lord our God whom only we are to Worship and Serve Mat. 4.10 Phil. 3.19 Col. 3.5 2. Prayer Prayer has six Branches viz. Confession Profession Petition Deprecation Intercession and Thanksgiving In all which Purity of Heart Reverence Humility Faith Zeal and Freedom from wandring of Mind and disturbance of Passion become Holy Men and Women 1. Confession That is acknowledging either in gross that we are sinful or in particular enumerating the several Sorts Acts and Aggravations of our Sins and heartily bewailing the same but that of enumerating the Sorts and Acts is only fit for our private Closets and Retirements after we have taken a serious Review of our Lives and especially of the Thoughts Words and Deeds of the Day past 2. Profession This is an humble Declaration of our hearty sorrow for the Sins we have Confessed and our hatred of them and our Resolution by the Grace of God to bring forth the Fruits of Repentance and amendment of Life 3. Petition That is begging of God pardon for our Sins the Assistance of his Grace to forsake them and to lead new Lives a supply of such necessaries of this Life as He in his Infinite Wisdom sees convenient for us more than we for our selves and comfortable Hopes of the things of a better Life whenever we put off these Earthly Tabernacles 4. Deprecation Which is Praying to God to turn away from us 1. The evil of Sin and especially to keep us from the Commission of such wickednesses as we are more addicted to either by Nature or worldly Consideration or evil Custom 2. The evil of Punishment either Temporal with Submission to his Will or Eternal in the World to come Such is that Form of Deprecation in the Litany from all Evil and Mischief from Sin from the Crafts and Assaults of the Devil from thy Wrath and from everlasting Damnation good Lord deliver
and Vertuous with a greater Portion of Grace and bring all Sinners to Repentance Preserve all that travel by Land or by Water and give thy blessing to those that labour in their several Callings O prosper thou their handy work O good God be gracious to all my Relations and Friends convert and pardon my Enemies Deal to all degrees and conditions of Men what is most useful and profitable for them Finally I bless and praise thy holy Name for all the Mercies vouchsafed to me and to all Mankind for the sake of thy dear Son Christ Jesus I glorifie thee for his miraculous Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascension and for his Intercession at thy right Hand for us and for the sending of the Holy Ghost for the wonderful Preservation of thy Church in all Ages for the good Examples of all Holy Men and Women that have gone before us for the means of Grace and for the hope of Glory I likewise magnifie Thee for my Health Strength Food and Rayment for the Preservation of my Self my Friends and Relations and for all the Comforts of this Life humbly beseeching Thee to give us all Grace to live so godly soberly and righteously in this present World that at the end of our Days we may come to those everlasting Joys which thou hast prepared for those that love thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen When this Prayer is used in the Morning add that which follows O God who by thy good Providence hast watched over me the Night that is pass'd be Thou pleas'd also to preserve me this Day defend me by thy mighty power from all things hurtful and grant me all things needful both for my Soul and Body and prosper what I shall go about through Jesus Christ Amen When in the Evening add this BE thou pleased this Night to protect and defend me and all that Thou in thy good Providence hast given me from all dangers and grant me such a comfortable and refreshing Sleep as may enable me to serve Thee better the Day following through Christ Amen End these Prayers as follows Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Mat. 6.9 Luke 11.2 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God and the Followship of the Holy Ghost be with me now and evermore Amen 2 Cor. 13 14. A Brief Paraphrase on the Lord's Prayer to be used at any time as a Prayer Preface O Lord the Creator and Preserver of all Men Heaven is thy Throne and the Earth thy Footstool Petition 1. We entirely desire that thy Name may be glorified by us and by all the World who have had so many Experiences how great how wise and how merciful thou art 2. Rule thou in the hearts of all Mankind by thy Grace and so prepare them for thy Kingdom of Glory 3. And since thy Will is holy and just and wise may we on Earth yield as ready and chearful an obedience to it in all things as the blessed Angels themselves do who stand in thy Presence and do whatever thou commandest them 4. Unless Thou preservest us we all perish We therefore humbly beseech Thee that Thou wouldest give us all things needful both for our Souls and Bodies and bless us in the due use of them We are indeed unworthy of such Mercies by reason of our manifold Transgressions But 5. We humbly hope Thou wilt in tender compassion to us pardon all our Offences against Thee as we do sincerely forgive all those who have offended against us and we beseech Thee to encrease this Charity in us 6. And together with thy Pardon for all that is past we implore thy Grace to preserve us continually from offending Thee for the time to come And to that end do Thou by thy Providence either prevent us from falling into Temptations or by thy Grace so assist us that we may overcome them Deliver us from the Snares and Malice of the evil one and from all sin and wickedness and from the Miseries of this Life so far as thou seest fit for us and above all from everlasting Death Conclusion Hear us and graciously answer our Petitions for thou art the great King whose power is infinite and to thee shall all the glory of thâ— goodness and mercy be returned for ever and ever Amen So be it On the Lord's Day before Church add this to the general Prayer IN an humble and thankful sense of thy infinite goodness O Lord who art pleased to admit us thy unworthy Creatures to tread thy Courts I am going to thine House there to present my Soul and Body to thee in the Assembly of thy Saints O do thou draw nigh to me who am drawing nigh to thee in a holy Fellowship with those who profess the Christian Faith Let thy Holy Spirit compose my Mind to a serious and devout attention in all the parts of thy Divine Service Let me praise thy Name with Chearfulness pray unto thee with Earnestness and hear thy word with Reverence And vouchsafe more fully to inform me of my Duty to correct and amend what is amiss in me to encourage and strengthen my good Resolutions and to assist me in all well-doing for the time to come That so growing every Day better and better by my Communion with Thee I may become such as thou canst love and delight in now and wilt reward at the great Day of the Lord Jesus Amen When you come from Church pray thus I adore thee again O Lord of Life and Glory and do most humbly beseech thee to accept of that dedication I have made of my Soul and Body to thee with Prayers and Praises in the publick Congregation Pardon all the wandring and evil Thoughts and all the unfit Actions I may have been guilty of in my attendance upon thee Be merciful to me in pardoning all my sins and endue me with the grace of thy Holy Spirit Preserve in me always a Religious sense of thee whereever I am or whatsoever I do O Blessed Jesus I beseech thee that thy holy Laws may be more deeply engraven on my heart O that every truth I have learnt this day may be so faithfully remembred by me as may make me more diligent in my Calling more useful in my Conversation more dutiful in all my Relations and more contented in all Conditions that so running the way of thy Commandments I may at length attain thy gracious Promises and be made Partaker of thy everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Confirmation O Almighty God and Merciful Father through whose gracious Providence over me I have been admitted into thy