her Duty to resist whatsoever is contrary to the Commands of Jesus Christ 57 REFLECT XVI That she should associate her self with those persons who truly fear God and that she ought not to entangle her self again in those things which the World calls State Riches Fortune and Grandeur 63 REFLECT XVII That Charity to wards our Neighbour obliges us carefully to avoid not only every Action which may be injurious to his Life Goods and Reputation but also detracting Speeches and foolish jesting 69 REFLECT XVIII That she ought to desire of God the Gift of Prayer which is the only means the Soul can make use of to confirm its wavering Resolutions 74 REFLECT XIX What the Nature of Prayer is and how faithful a Penitent Soul ought to be to its Resolutions of constantly performing this Holy Exercise 78 REFLECT XX. That the Misery to which Sin has reduc'd us ought to be the Subject of our Prayers and that 't is good to begin them with the Considerations of the stupendious Mystery of our Saviour's Passion 84 REFLECT XXI That we ought not to be weary of Praying because we do not find present Comfort but that we should be faithful to our Resolutions and have recourse to this Holy Exercise when we are wrack'd by the greatest pains and distress'd by the severest Afflictions 87 REFLECT XXII The in dispensable Necessity of Prayer without which 't is impossible to have any serious thoughts of our Salvation 93 REFLECT XXIII She desires of God the Gift of Prayer that she may make Death Eternity and God's Judgments the Subject of it which are the proper means to season our Souls with the Fear of God 99 REFLECT XXIV That she will every Day offer up unto God the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving for opening her Eyes and converting her unto himself That she will Write down these Resolutions which she made at the time of her Conversion to the end that she may be always mindful of these Obligations she has laid upon her self and by which she must be Judg'd at the Last Day 105 AN Advertisement IT was the saying of a Father of the Church That 't is more easie to find out a Man that has preserv'd his Innocency from his Baptism than a sincere and hearty Penitent Because few are Converted as they ought to be Nevertheless God out of his infinite Goodness and Compassion does from time to time turn the Hearts of some Prodigious Sinners demonstrating to the World that he is truly a God of Mercy and that there is no Man who has been never so desperately Wicked but he will receive him if he returns with a heart truly sensible of his Offences He does not desire the Death of a Sinner for he came to lay down his Life for such but only that they would be Converted and live Now if the whole Church stood amaz'd at the Conversion of a Prince whose Devotion was not surpass'd by the austerest Votaries of the times he liv'd in We have no less reason to admire this of a Lady whom the Mercy of God singled out from a debauch'd Age the affluence of all sinful Pleasures to be a Miracle of Penitence For it will be easie to judge by these Pious Reflections which are now made Publick and were Composed after her Retirement from the World and Recovery from a dangerous fit of Sickness that her Soul was deeply affected with a Divine Love and that by how much the more earnest she was in the persuit of sinful Pleasures and forgetful of her Eternal Welfare by so much the more she is at present inspired with the Love of God and desires Life it self for no other purpose than to get an Interest in her Saviours Merits and to blot out the Infamy of her former Life by a sincere Repentance Her Name is concealed out of respect to her Modesty and Humility which would never have permitted these Papers to have been Printed had they not been convey'd away by a vertuous Lady who esteem'd it a great piece of Injustice to with-hold so profitable an Help from those poor Souls who are desirous to Reform their Lives and bid Adieu to their Vicious Conversations For tho' several Books have been writ on this Subject yet she look'd upon this as the best Model'd and Pen'd with the most Divine and Moving Expressions that ever she saw God grant that they who Read these Lines may be Inspired with the same Thoughts this Devout Soul was That those 〈◊〉 have been guilty of th◠same Sins may imitate her Repentance and Husband that Time which the Mercy of God has prolonged to them in considering what will conduce to the advantage of their Immortal Souls REFLECTIONS ON THE Mercy of GOD In Form of Prayers REFLECTION I. Vpon our Obligations to Consecrate that Life to Gods Glory which we hold from his Mercy and the Care you ought to take lest we should be Insnar'd into sin WHat shall I render unto my God for giving me Life and Health for Reprieving me from the Gates of Hell and preserving my Soul and in short for all those Favours which he has vouchsafed to me his poor Servant Shall it suffice O my God to acknowledge thy Benefits will it be any recompence to employ the remainder of that time in thy service which hitherto has been spent in affronting thy Majesty or will the divorcing those unlawful Pleasures to which I have been formerly wedded satisfie thy Justice and blot out my Transgressions In short will it be sufficient to secure me from Eternal Misery that henceforward I will aspire after nothing but Eternal Happiness the fruition of thy self and those ravishing Pleasures which are at thy right-hand for evermore Grant that thy Rays may enlighten my Reason and that thy Grace may penetrate my Soul help me out of that deplorable estate into which I am fallen and inspire me with Faith to pray unto thee and good God suffer me not to fall into such a Lethargy as may render me unmindful of my Souls health or sleep the sleep of Eternal Death Oh let me never forget that dreadful hour when thou cald'st me to an account for my sins when I beheld Death ready to seize upon my soul and carry it into everlasting torments and let thy infinite compassion be deeply engraven upon my memory which in the midst of Judgment did remember Mercy and rescue me from thy fiery indignation Oh that the Joy which fills my Soul for the return of my Health may not Justle out thy Grace and Reconcile me to the World that those vain Ideas of Sensua◠Pleasure may be quite ras'd ou◠of my fancy and neverre-assum◠the place of those solid Truths which by thy Mercy are writte◠there REFLECT II. She Prays unto God to strengthen her Resolutions and to enable her to approach unto him with a pure heart REstore unto me O my God the health of my Soul and enable me to desire of thee above all things that Holy Joy which the
at the Foot-stool of thy Throne and let me not lie poring on a Picture or repeat my Prayers from a Book which I do not understand but let the Subject of my Devotions be my own Wants and whatsoever may render me more humble For I am too sensible of my own Imperfections to distract my Mind with other Objects besides my own Misery and the infinite Mercy of my God REFLECT XX. That the Misery to which Sin has reduc'd us ought to be the Subject of our Prayers and that 't is good to begin them with the Considerations of the stupendious Mysterie of our Saviour's Passion ALas how can I meditate on my Vileness who am puft up with Pride who can only Pray unto thee to break off my Ambition and Vain-glory which like unmanagable Horses precipitate my Soul into the Abyss of thy fiery Indignation How can I hearken to thy Word or taste the sweet Comforts of thy Holy Spirit who am surrounded with a thousand Passions a thousand Vanities which distract my thoughts when I come to appear before thee What can I do more than Groan within my self when as the Royal Psalmist has it my feet are hurt with the fetters of sin and I am in Captivity to my Unmortified Affections until the gentle Influences of thy Grace create in my heart a love to thy Law How can I lift up my self to Heaven whilst my Affections are groveling on the Earth How can I contemplate thy Greatness and thy Excellencies whilst my mind is distracted by its own Miseries and astonished at that imminent danger which only gives me space to beg thy Mercy and to say with the Apostles Lord save us or we perish Nevertheless O my Lord since the remembrance of thy bitter Passion ought to be deeply engraven upon my Soul Grant O my God that the beginning of my Prayer may have a respect to that adorable Mysterie that my heart may be mollifi'd by the consideration of thy sufferings render'd more susceptable of the impressions of thy Love and thy Grace and Meditate with more benefit on its own Vanity REFLECT XXI That we ought not to be weary of Praying because we do not find present Comfort but that we should be faithful to our Resolutions and have recourse to this Holy Exercise when we are wrack'd by the greatest pains and distress'd by the severest Afflictions OH that I could be so constand in my Resolutions as every day to prostrate my self at the Foot-stool of thy Throne at that set-time which I have consecrated unto thee when thou art pleas'd to give me Audience and that nothing might divert me from performing this one thing necessary Let me constantly throw my self at thy feet in whatsoever condition my Soul may be to the end that when distractions and barrenness of mind hinder me from fixing my thoughts upon thee or speaking of any thing but those Vanities which have taken possession of my heart then the labour which I undergo those painful pangs which I endure and those irksom attempts which I make to pour forth a Prayer may render it more acceptable unto thee Let me not fancy that thou hast abandoned me because my mind is sometimes overwhelmed with the load of my Corruption because at such a time as this I cannot form so much as one good thought For I will still look up and pray unto thee I will say with that great King the holy David I am like a beast before thee without spirit without speech and without consideration Tho' I cannot perform this Duty with a steady intention of mind yet I will not depart from the Foot-stool of thy Throne I will pray unto thee with my Heart and with my Will I will put my trust in thy Goodness and tho' thou may'st not for the present unite my Soul unto thy self by the sweet influences of thy Grace yet thou wilt accept of my endeavour in this deplorable condition and esteem it as a testimony of my sincere affection that it cleaves unto thee as well when thou art pleased to withdraw thy Comforts as when it enjoys thy ravishing Consolations But good Lord let me not only Pray unto thee with my Understanding and with my Tongue but also with my Heart Let me not only Pray unto thee in my Closet and in the Church where the consideration of thy Divine Presence inspires me with Devotion but grant O my God that by Acts of Faith Hope and Charity I may consecrate unto thee the Oratory of my Heart in which I will offer up the Sacrifice of Prayer For the Devotion of a true Christian is not confin'd to Words but extends it self unto his Thoughts and Actions in all Places and upon all Occasions I will do this in the midst of my Wordly Business nay in the midst of my Diversions when retiring my self into that Closet of my Breast which is dedicated to thee alone where no eye but thine sees me I will address my prayer unto thee When I find my self most expos'd to Temptation when I have the greatest sense of my ovvn Weakness when Self-love most Tyrannizes over me and the svveet poyson of pleasure most allures my Soul then will I sigh most fervently unto thee and without waiting for a suitable place or more convenient time I will presently lay open the Wounds of my Soul and implore thy help This shall be at the beginning and end of all my Actions in the Morning and at Night in the midst of my Journeys my heart shall take thee for its Polar Star it shall relye upon thee in every condition yield it self up to thy Conduct and implore the succours of thy Grace And this will be done with the greater ease because I shall better express my own vvants and my entire dependance on thy Mercy by one single sigh which proceeds from the bottom of my Oppressed Heart than by the most prolix Devotions I will joyn vvith thy Saints and praise thee in thy Sanctuary with my Lips and my vvith voice but I will also Pray unto thee with Sighs ahd Groans unutterable in my greatest dangers and under the most violent pains I will look up unto thee and in all the actions of my life with holy David I will have thee always before my eyes REFLECT XXII The indispensable Necessity of Prayer without which 't is impossible to have any serious thoughts of our Salvation WHat is that Soul O my God who lives in this World without Prayer I speak not of those persons who only mind their Pleasures and providing for their Bodies who are Christians in Name only and may be more fitly rank'd amongst brute Beasts than reasonable Creatures But I mean those who frequently reflect upon themselves who consider to what end a Rational Soul was given them and dominion over the rest of the Creation Who consider that there is a God I mean are convinc'd that none but Fools doubt of it Who consider how it comes to pass that those persons
that these are the Fruits worthy of Repentance these are the Restitutions thou requirest of me and the choicest Victims my love can offer up REFLECT XVIII That she ought to desire of God the Gift of Prayer which is the only means the Soul can make use of to corfirm its wavering Resolutions O God who takest delight in rewarding that servant who has been faithful in a few things supply the indigency of my love out of the abundance of thy goodness Let its shallow streams be swallow'd up in the vast Ocean of thy Divine Charity lose themselves in it and be mixed with it that so it may be always conformable unto thine For I confess my frailty that my Heart is an ungrateful and barren Soil producing nothing but Briers and Thorns unless cultivated by thy Grace Water it therefore O Lord with the Dew of Heaven which gives fruitfulness to the Plants and paints the Flowers which inclines our wills and affects our hearts which after it has produc'd in our Soul Works worthy of Repentance protects them from those scorching beams the flames of our lust and preserves them safe unto the Harvest This is the comfortable hope and earnest desire of thy poor servant that which sustains him in this tedious Pilgrimage whilst he languishes with expectation of the Beatifical Vision But that thy Inspirations may have the desired effect upon my Soul that I may receive them with suitable affections that I may prepare my heart for so great favours which thou art pleas'd to bestow upon it With my eyes and hands lift up to Heaven I will meet these Blessings I will forsake every sin which unfits me for them and do all the good thy Grace shall enable me to perform And that the streams of thy Mercy may never fail me a poor thirsty sinner I will continually encrease them with my Tears that is to say Lord by an hearty repentance and an affectionate grief for having so often offended thee And since Prayer is the Channel by which thou conveyest thy Grace and thy Light into our Souls since it is the most fragrant Incence I can offer up unto thee for obtaining of fresh Mercies teach me to Pray unto thee with Reverence with the Adoration of all my Faculties and with my whole Heart And that I may the more devoutly perform this Duty shew me the Necessity and the Advantage of it take away their surprise which the very name of Prayer is apt to produce in me and shew me that 't is not so difficult so tiresom a Duty as some persons represent it to themselves who are ignorant that as in thy House there are many Mansions so there are different ways of conversing with thee some of which require only the sincerity of our Hearts REELECT XIX What the Nature of Prayer is and how faithful a Penitent Soul ought to be to its Resolutions of constantly performing this Holy Exercise 'T Is true Lord that the Prayer of a Devout Soul who has retir'd himself from the World and is fill'd with the Joys of thy Holy Spirit is like a Box of precious Ointment which as soon as ever it approaches the fire sends forth a fragrant Odour and that the Croans of a poor Creature who lies groveling on the Earth who only crawls on in the path of Vertue are like troubled Waters which must be distil'd drop by drop before they will afford any useful Liquor Nevertheress O my God it seems most reasonable that since Prayer is only a lifting up of our hearts unto thee in which we lay before thee our Wants and beg Supplies I say it seems most reasonable to me that she who is tormoiled with the Affairs of the World who finds her self in a languishing Condition harras'd by a thousand Miseries and surrounded with a thousand Dangers is under a more pressing necessity of Praying to thee than the Religious person who is hedg'd about with thy Mercies It appears highly reasonable to me not only that she is under a greater necessity but also that she is better disposed to perform this Duty of Prayer than one who is more habitually devout because she cannot chuse but do it whether she thinks of it or no For if 't is natural for a poor man to ask an Alms for a sick man to bemoan himself and for one in danger to lift up his eyes towards Heaven How much more natural is it for that Soul to pray unto his God who is continually pressed with these three Calamities who is always poor always sick and always in danger the three chief hinges upon which this Duty turns Therefore that I may delight my self in this Angelick Exercise teach me O my God that Prayer is nothing else but a pleasing converse between the Soul and its Creator a Torch which dispels the darkness of its understanding and a Glass which truly represents all its imperfections An Eloquent Preacher who Imprints the Law of God in our Minds a faithful Guide who conducts us safely through the strait Way of our Salvation a sweet Sleep which gives the Soul repose in the Arms of God's Providence a Holy Joy which renders sinful pleasures nauseous and all senful delights insipid in comparison with those of the Cross A comfortable contemplation of our latter end which tames our Appetites with the thoughts of Death which sweetens his approaches with the Expectation of Eternity and an ardent Desire of the Beatifical Vision Lastly 'T is the Crucifixion of our Passions the Mortification of our Self-love and the Resurrection of the Grace of Jesus Christ in our Souls Prepare therefore the Palate of my Soul O my God that it may relish this delicious Manna for the only way to persevere to the end in thy Commandnients in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation to slight the World and all its Vanities and to love thee above all things is to converse with thee by Prayer not only as with our Father and our God but as with our most affectionate and familiar Friend I would say Lord the only way to lay before thee all those Passions which tyrannise in our Minds all those terrible Objects which fright us all those Frailties which humble us all those Sorrows which consume us all those Griefs which rend us and to delineate all the confusion of our Minds is to come unto thee as holy David did and lay all our Affictions all the burthen of our Souls and all our Prayers at the Foot-stool of thy Throne For alas if our Self-love takes so much pleasure in relating our Afflictions to our impotent Friends who can do nothing but hear and pity them how much greater comfort should it be that we are encouraged to pour out our Wants before a God who if he pleases can help us who is oftentimes more delighted to see a Soul humbled by its Misery than elated with the Eminent Instances of its Vertue Incline me therefore O my God to spend some moments every day