Rom. 12. or Heb 10. v. 30. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Revenge O Thou to whom vengeance belongeth keepe me from a revengefull spirit that I fall not into the hands of thy vengeance And since my pitty and patience and pardon is thy will let me not study revenges and returnes of injuries Thou O meek and mercifull Saviour didst pray for thy bloody enemies O let me then forgive my greatest foes Committing my cause to thee who wilt doe justice for me on them if I seek not revenge and for thy self upon me if I doe Thine O Lord is the sword of vengeance thine is the sharpest sword O let me not dare to take it out of thy hand lest whilst I strike others I fall justly by thy sword Though flesh and blood provoke me to it let thy holy Spirit hold me from it cast keep out of me that evil spirit by thy power O good God and Saviour of thy mercy Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Revenge 1. THe sinne of Revenge strikes at God and Man 1. It invades Gods Prerogative and takes his sword out of his hand Rom. 12. 19 2. It is many waies an injury to man To his 1. Nature Borne without armes to live without revenge And even armed Bruits agree with their kind and Devils avoid quarrels 2. Glory To passe by an injury of Prov. 19 11. all the most excellent victory Caesars noble memory to forget Pro. 16. 32. Ro. 12. 22. nothing but wrongs 3. Peace The mind is disturbed and takes no rest Ester 5. 11 12 13. Prov. 12. 15 4. Justice I am my owne Judge and anothers Executioner 5. Wisdome If my revenge fall on a Just man it toucheth God his Zach. 2. 8. friend If he be unjust my vengeance will make me so too 2. Be a Christian and you cannot doe this sinne contrary to the Holy life and law of Christ for when much provoked Luk. 9. 55. 1. He check'd his Disciples for calling for it 2. He commands Charity to pardon Joh. 15. 12 Luk. 21. 19 Ro. 12. 20. wrongs Patience to suffer them and Kindnesse to conquer them 3. He forbids Selfe-love the mother 2 Tim. 3. 2. Ephes 4. 31 32. and Wrath the father both which beget and bring forth revenge A Penitentiall Service fit for a troubled Soule fasting and praying for mercy and grace for Wednesday or other Day Morning Prayer Psal 6. 32. 38. or 51. 130. 143. Lesson Isa 1. Mat. 11. or Act. 3. Evening Prayer Psal 40. 42 43. Lesson Job 9. or Ezek. 18. or 33. 2 Cor. 7. ¶ 1. Collect or Prayer for a Penitent O Lord I doe here cast downe my self before thee O cast me not away from thee I cannot stand at the Barre of thy justice I doe therefore lie downe at the Foot-stoole of thy mercy I doe condemne my self for my sins Lord doe not thou judge me Cancell my sins in my Saviours blood and wash my soule in the streames of mercy Though as red as crimson and scarlet thou hast promised the penitent they shall be white as snow O acquit this pensive soule of mine I beseech thee let not my guilt be black as Hell before thee Wash me from it forgive it me And because forgivenesse of what 's past availes not if I fall againe into former offences O God of all grace I beseech thee so to pardon me a sinner as to make me a Saint Give me an holy strength to mortifie my lusts with an holy care to watch and withstand all occasions and temptations to wickednesse especially those that are by nature custome or condition of life most ready to surprize me against them make me to watch and ward and pray and strive more diligently And let thy Holy Spirit assist and strengthen me to a victory even for the blessed merits of him who overcame the world for me the Captaine of my salvation thy Deare Son Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen ¶ 2. Collect or Prayer for a Penitent O God! with a prostrate body and bleeding heart I doe most humbly confesse bewaile my wretched nature and wicked life before thee For my thoughts my lusts my deeds and words past my conscience cryes out against me * Here thinke of particulars when you say it So vaine so vile so foule so ill have they been before thee And thou art greater then my heart and can'st lay more unto my charge then conscience knowes about me O thou searcher of all hearts and wayes how oft I have vowed thee better service thou knowest and have shamefully violated my faith with thee I have sometimes begun to seek after thee but soone lost my self again in the waies of former vanity As the hills so hath been my love to vaine things but my goodnesse as the morning dew which vanisheth presently And for this even from my owne mouth thou mayest againe condemne me Yea Lord with grief of heart and shame of face I doe yet further confesse and lament bitterly that as if it had been a light thing my self to be in sinnes and armes against thee I have been a Leader of others into Rebellion and so am both a Sinner and a Tempter before thee I have countenanced in them what I should condemne and encouraged what I should abhorre And so as principall to my owne have made my selfe accessary to other mens ills and by nursing the acts of their sinnes have contracted their guilts for which thou mayest againe condemne me charging their wickednesse and woes upon me And though I have been and am at this day so guilty unworthy and vile a wretch against thee O how good and gracious a God hast thou been all my life at this present art unto me Though I deserve all vengeance even to eternall death thy mercies have been and are still great upon me O God of all pity and patience I am confounded to consider thy great goodnesse and my wickednesse against thee Woe is me that the bonds of thy Lawes and thy mercies and my vowes should be all thus broken by me For this shame and confusion of face for ever might justly cover me But Lord though I be every way a miserable Sinner thou art infinitely more a mercifull God Thou hast a propitiatory for sinne above all my provocations Mary Magdalene was foule with lust yet forgiven St. Peter perjured but pardoned Saint Paul made others to blaspheme yet found mercy O Lord for thine infinite mercies sake let my sinnes be forgiven me even for my Saviours sake punish not my guiltinesse upon me Seale to my soule thy pardon in his blood which was shed to save me And for time to come let thy Holy Spirit assist me to live with more conscience and lesse sinne before thee Lighten my mind with a sight of thy truth and fire my heart with a love to thy majestie that the vanities of the earth may be my scorne and the glory of heaven the onely ambition that
difficulty because our Christianity is purged from such corruptions Then I aske If he be mad that being to passe over a deepe River will leave a Bridge for a narrow Planke Is he wise that in the Great Case of Eternall life and Salvation will put his Soule on a perplext and perillous way when he may goe a plaine and a safe one 2. And by that Argument should not every Papist turne Protestant Believe Worship Pray Come to Service and Sacrament with us For 1. They confesse with us Scripture is infallible but we say not the Pope The Rule of Faith say both but not Tradition say we Safe to believe the Old Creed both grant but a New One we deny To trust to Christs Merits sure with both but not to ours with us Both believe Heaven and Hell but we have no faith for Purgatory The Protestants then is the safer Faith 2. And to worship God they say with us is safe and profitable piety but to worship Images we say is damnable Idolatry Ours therefore is the safer Worshipping 3. And to pray to God in Christs Name both grant good Religion but to call to Saints for helpe or to God in their Name we say grosse Superstition That therefore is the safer Praying 4. And in the Sacrament of the Eucharist a Sacrifice Commemorative both grant but a Propitiatory we disclaime A Reall Presence both allow but the way of Transubstantiation we reject The Cup by Institution and Primitive Observation we and they confesse A power of Alienation we abhorre This therefore is the safer Receiving 5. Lastly in our Liturgy is no errour some of them say but in their Missall are many say we Service in a Knowne Tongue is not sinfull with them but in an unknowne unwarantable and against Scripture with us Therefore it 's best to come to our Church to Service and Prayers And so ours by their Confession and Reason is the best Religion To conclude Upon my Grounds before I build all this The True Christian hath Gods Word and Seale for his Salvation He that Believes Does and Praies aright is the True Christian 1. Such a one is a member in and of the Catholike Church though not of the Romane 2. Such Christians the Primitive Times had therefore he is no new but an ancient Christian 3. Where Gods Word and Sacraments are professed and used by such there 's a Church of Christ and visible Christianity 4. And from any Church in the world that is such I will not From the Romane as such I doe not separate So I am no Schismaticall Christian 5. And in these Grounds all agree and so there is Unity And this is the onely plaine Christian way to Heaven and so it 's safest to be Reformed not Corrupted a Catholike Christian not a Particular Romane GAL. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel os God Rules of Devotion for Morning IN the Morning when you first awake What to doe when you awake lift up your eyes to God and say I lift up mine eyes to the Hils from whence cometh my help Then lift up your heart to God and pray Lord keep me from all sin and danger this day for Jesus Christ his sake When you are up kneel down and say What to doe when you are first up this prayer Almighty God who hast touched my heart with a sense of thy fear and holy dread of thy Majesty I beseech Let this never be omitted thee give me thy grace so to governe my thoughts and look to my words and wayes this day that I may avoid all sinnes Especially those to which I am most inclined or may be most provoked That so my soul and body may be kept pure and unspotted before thee and whensoever the houre of their separation shall come may be ready and prepared for thee through the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen When you are ready for your Morning Prayers use every day one of the following Services Rules for the Evening BEfore you goe into your Bed kneel and say this short Prayer O God who hast made the day for labor and the night for rest let thy Sons Bloud cleanse me from this days guilt that I may sleep in thy peace and rise againe refreshed and preserved by thy favour through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen And this Thanks-giving and Prayer Almighty God who hast preserved me this day from many sinnes and dangers I doe humbly magnifie thy Name for thy Grace and Goodnesse towards me Beseeching thee to forgive me all the errours of this day whereof my conscience doth or may accuse me And grant that those sins which by my frailty I have committed may by the help of thy Spirit be more carefully avoided That I may ever stand in thy favour walk under thy protection and now rest and lie down in thy peace and at last come to thy heavenly Kingdom through the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ Amen! When you lie down say I will lay downe my â—head in peace and take my rest for thou onely O Lord makest me to dwell in safety Then pray thus Lighten mine eyes O Lord that I sleep not in death I commit my soule and body to thee Keep me for thy mercies sake PSAL. 55. 18. In the Evening and Morning and at Noone day will I pray and that instantly and he shall heare my voyce Dayly Prayers Here begin the Daily Prayers saying first some of these Sentences PSAL. 66. 2. O Thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come PSAL. 123. 125. 1. Vnto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Vnto thee O Lord will I lift up my soul PSAL. 66. 16. If I incline to wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not hear me JOHN 16. 23. Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever you shall ask the Fatherin my name he will give it to you JAM 1. 6. But let him ask in faith nothing doubtin for let not that man thinke he shall receive any thing of the Lord. that is wavering and without Faith 1 JOHN 3. 22. And whatsoever we aske we receive of him because we keep his Commandements and doe the things that are pleasing in his sight JAM 4. 3. Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amisse that ye may spend it on your lusts 1 TIM 2. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy bands without wrath without doubting Preparatory Prayer BReath on me with thy holy Spirit O God that the Breath of mine may now please thee and my Prayers come up as sweet-smelling odours before thee Through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen! Or This PRevent me O Lord in all my doings with thy most gracious favour and further me with thy continuall help that in all my works begun continued and ended in thee I may glorifie thy holy name and finally
had so good shoulders so great a strength to Act. 13. 22 1 King 11 38. beare So little a load to carry yet was his too heavy for him And is thine so light to take others on Art thou confounded to consider the vast sum of thy Single Trespasses though but Dan. 9. 8. a Daniels debt and will not the Scores of other mens Sins bring on the overwhelming Confusion Art thou Principall to Innumerable ills and wilt thou Psal 40. 12. be Accessory to Millions My Soule We must bear one anothers burdens Gal. 6. 2. But their Miseries not their Sins By charity not Copartnership A fellowship and feeling doth well in woes but wofully Heb. 13. 3. Ephel 5. 7. 2 Cor. 6. 14 Act. 2. 40. in Sin Atlas was feigned to beare up Heaven but none Hell And couldest thou make shift for thy Selfe to be saved wouldst thou have others by thy Default to perish Have the Curses of Hell with the joyes of Heaven My Soule So many Rom. 14. 15 Ezek. 33. 6 as Sin by thee are damned for thee And can'st thou number how many Number then all that by thy Acts have beene made Sinners and by Gods Grace not made Penitents Thus when thou art dead thy Errors may live and thy guilts for many ages lie unburied like Cursed Parents propagating ill 2 King 13 2. Issues Successively to Souls throughout many Generations And though thy Naturall Sins die with thee the Adopted 2 King 17 22. 2 King 14 24. 1 Tim. 5. 22. may live for ever My Soul then doe what the Apostle saies Be not partaker of other mens Sins But more then he means He would have no hands laid on unworthy Persons doe thou keepe thine from unworthy actions By any Deed of thine to Bane anothers Soule is of all most Apoc. 18. 4 unworthy or by anothers to bane thine And there are many waies to do both Nine are numbred And very naught all When thou canst not to hinder it for so thou art Assistant to it and thy Hand doth it helpe When thou shouldest not to Reprove it for so thou art Advocate for it and thy Tongue gives it License To Counsell Sin for that 's to conceive it in another to give it womb and be its Mother To Command it for that 's to beget it to give it Seed and be as Naturall Father To Consent to it for that 's to owne and 2 Joh. 11. maintaine it and be Adopting Father to it if not Naturall To Commend it for that 's to give it dug and Suck and to be Nurse to it at least if not a Mother To Entertaine the Actor of it for that 's to give it shoulders and Support it or Refuge and to be Patron and Protectour and so Brother if not Parent to it To Keep Silence and be Mute at it for that 's to give it hand and heart and to be a friend if not a Brother to it To partake of it for that 's to give it arme and face and to be both Sworne Brother and friend and loving Benefactour of it In the Instance of one Sin see all this O My Soul Let Bloud be it and behold how another may shed it and thou be guilty of the Bloud Joab 2 Sam. 18. 9 2 Sam. 16. 21. kill'd Absalom but Ahitophel Murdered him Because his Counsell brought him to his death The Ammonite slew 2 Sam. 12. 9 Uriah but David killed him because he fell by his Command The Jews Act. 7. 59. Act. 22. 20 stoned Stephen Saul did not touch him yet had hand in his death because with his Consent Sons of Belial stoned Naboth 1 King 21 13. 19. yet Ahab slew him because as he gave Countenance to the doing it with his Seale so he had Complacence in the deed and so commended what was done All Benjamin did not ravish the Jud. 19. 22 20. 5. 13 14. Levites Concubin to death but gave shield and shelter to them that did and so the Bloudy Rape became theirs by Patronage The Jews in Christs time did not sâ—ay the Prophets which were kill'd many hundred yeares before yet by Participation with their Fathers Mat. 23. 31. Luc. 11. 48 49. Pro. 31. 9. became Heirs of their Murders And if King Solomon open not his mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed for destruction They may be the Children but he shall be the Father of it Scrangers cut of Jacob Esau Sate still and lookt but on and he destroyed because he did not save Though Ob. 1. 12. 1 Sam. 2. 22. 29. 33 34. Levit. 19. 17. Elies Sons fell by the Philistims His hand gave them the fatall blow because he did not sufficiently reprehend that which was their ruine their Sins O My Soule Be for the Communion of Saints not Sinners Nor in blood nor any guilt doe thou Communicate in anothers Sin Advise from it Forbid it Dissent Dispraise Disrespect Disclaime Proclaime against it Resist it Rebuke it Thou hast guilts enough of thy owne to multiply thou needest not adde any others to it My Soule then giving others Scandall and partaking others guilt are thy Enemies against which Conscience must be Charg'd to keep a strict watch And is thy great friend if it doe For surely not to hinder others from Heaven is to further thy Selfe not to be Laden with much guilt gives an easier Passage to heaven And to be free of such blocks and fetters makes the course of Piety more easie More easie though to craz'd and corrupted Nature hard and not to be compassed without our best thoughts and endeavours even all that Mind or Man can doe though eare and eye and heart and hand and mouth and Conscience improve all their arts and faculties to the full and with united forces set on the good and great Employment of Gods Service and our Godlinesse But so it wil be For my Soul wisdom assures thee Prov. 2. 1. 2 3 4 5. If thou wilt receive my Words and hide my Commandements within thee So that thou encline thine eare unto wisdome and apply thy heart to understanding If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as Silver and Searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the Feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God The Summe of this Part is 1. Some Acts are great Assistances to Pious Life which by Gods blessing we may doe 2. Hearing Gods Word Reading Resolving Attempting Practice and Praying are those Acts. 3. Holy Cautions help much as well as Actions 4. It will advance much to Heaven to looke carefully to a Christian Credit and Innocence on earth 5. To have great Caution to avoyd just Scandall and keep cleare of other mens guilt is the way to maintaine that good Credit and Innocence Animadversions touching the Daily use of what is directed throughout the whole Manuall IF all set seem a great Dayes work of Devotion though two hours will make the longâ—st day it is put into thy power to lessen it Thâ— Authors Aim is to be a Spirituall Helper not a Taâ—k-master That Office he leaves to thee with Discretion and Conscience to executâ— And thou wilt discharge it better if when thy thoughts are set to contrive and lay out the Spirits work flesh and blood be not called in to the Câ—unsel As Bodies so Soules are not all of equall strength and speed and as Dayes differ in severall Climates yea in the same often vary their length so days of Devotion are not of a like length for all Spirits and Occasions Hezekiâ—h was not so long on his Knees as Solemon a 2 King 19. 5. 2 Chro. 6. 13. nor Ezra the Priest so long at his Prayers as the Levites b Ezra 9. 5 Neh. 9. 4. The Apostles did lengthen and shorten theirs c Act. 1. 24 4. 24. And our Lord kept not a punctuall measure for His d Mat. 26. 42. 44. John 17. A Man may pray much in little with the Publican e Luk. 18. 13. and little in much like a Pharisee f Mat. 23. 14. Mat. 6. 1 and much and not little as the Centurion g Act. 10. 2. 4. The heart is all in all If that goe along thou maist do well to travaile all the Book over if not better to cut off some Stages There are that measure Sermons by Glasses and Orisons by Beads but as the wise judge those by braines not lungs so the Devout weigh these by their thoughts not fingers Behold that pattern of all piety and perfection Luk. 6. 12. Christ himself He prayed whole nights to teach us we may pray long and well yet taught us Mat. 6. 9. a short form of Prayer to shew that generally it is not better for being long The life of Devotion lies in the Spirit not Breath and Prayers must be measured by the Heart not the Hour-glasse FINIS
SACRED PRINCIPLES SERVICES and SOLILOQUIES OR A Manual of Devotions Made up of Three Parts I. The Grounds of Christian Religion and the Doctrine of the Church of England as differing from the Now-Roman II. Daily and Weekly Formes of Prayers fortified with Holy Scriptures Meditations and Rules to keep the Soule from the Common Roads of Sin and carry it on in a mortified Course III. Seven Charges to Conscience Delivering if not the whole Body the main Limbs of Divinity which is the Art not of Disputing but Living Well Grande est esse Christianum non videri Hier. LONDON Printed by J. G. for JOHN CLARK and are to be sold at his Shop under Saint Peters Church in Cornhill 1650. To the Reader TO thy Conscience not wit are these Devotions written And if so read thy Soule may grow if not wiser better by them The Author looks at Heat in Devotion as metle in a blind steed his first care therefore is to help thee to a good Sight in Religion and that he doth by the light of his Principles But because most miscarry by going and running against their light in wicked and erroneous wayes more pains are taken to prevent and rectifie such miscarriages To Elevate thy Soule and Aide it in good Desires and Endeavours for Grace against Sinne thou hast his Prayers and Services And to awake thy Conscience and warme thy Heart to all Duety Desired and Directed to is the Cry and work of the Soliloquies And albeit he will prohibit none to read the Book though for Curiosity more then Conscience and rather as a New then Prayer-booke because even so they may take benefit by it as Saint Austin did by Saint Ambrose's Sermon yet he would have thee know that it is Calculated chiefly for the Meridian of their minds who fall to their Prayers not by fits but Courses and read Books not to passe the time away but well Taking them in hand not as Recreations of their thoughts but Businesse of the mind And usiing them not as good Companions in Solitude but Guides and Helps to Heaven-wards That this may be so to thee is his Aime Thank God if it be thy Issue He prayes that for thee whosoever thou art Having an Amen for Nazianzens Vote Utinam nemo pereat and a Heart for the Prayer his Mother hath taught him That it may please God to have mercy on all men And if for his Name that Charracter please thee much good doe it thee So he is and hopes he ever shall be Thine in the Common Saviour Philo-Christianus THE Particulars conteined in this Manuall of Devotions OF Religion in Generall pag. 1. The Grounds of Christian Religion pag. 2 The Grounds of Protestant Religion 6 How to be satisfied and setled amidst the Doubts and Divisions about Religion 6 Rules of Devotion and Prayers for Morning 20 for Evening 21 1. Daily Prayers 23 Prayer For Grace 28 39 Prayer For Peace 28 39 Prayer For Health 29 40 Prayer For Friends 30 40 Prayer For Kingdom 31 41 Prayer For Church 33 43 Prayer For Catho Church 33 43 Particular Prayers Prayer Of a Husband 45 Prayer Of a Wife 46 Prayer Of a Parent 47 Prayer Of a Child 48 Prayer For a Family 49 Prayer For Issue 50 For Women with Child 51 Against Miscarriage 52 For a Women in Travail 52 After Deliverance 53 After Christning 54 Prayer For Birth day 55 Prayer For New-years-day 56 Prayer Of a Widow 56 Prayer For the Fatherlesse 57 Prayer Against suddain Death 59 Prayer For a Voyage by Sea 60 After it 60 At Return to Sea 61 At Return Home 62 After a Storme 63 Prayer For one in a Journey 65 After it 65 Prayer For a Souldier 66 Morning 67 Evening 68 Before Fight 68 After Fight 69 For one Wounded 69 Prayer For the Sick 73 For Deliverance 73 For Patience 74 Against the Plague 76 For one Infected 77 For one Recovered 78 Prayer For one Dying 80. 81 Rules of Devotion and Prayers for Sunday Morning 110 Evening 111 Weekly Prayers for Severall Dayes Sunday Prayer against The Flesh 89 Munday Prayer against The Devill 92 Tuesday Prayer against The World 95 Wednesday Prayer against Suddain Death 97 Thursday Prayer against Hypocrisie 99 Friday Prayer against Inconstancy 101 Saturday Prayer against Impenitence 104 3. Monthly Prayers for the severall Days of the Week for four Weeks 1. First Weekes Prayers Sunday Prayer On the Joyes of Heaven 11â— Monday Prayer Vpon the Miseries of Earth 116 Tuesday Prayer Against the Vanities of it 119 Wednesday Prayer Against Villanies of it 132 Thursday Prayer About Death 126 Friday Prayer About Judgement 130 Saturday Prayer Against Hell 134 2. Second Weekes Prayers against seven common Sinnes Sunday Prayer against Neglect of Gods Service 138 Monday Prayer against Procrastination 140 Tuesday Prayer against Presumption 143 Wednesday Prayer against Desperation 145 Thursday Prayer against Swearing 149 Friday Prayer against Lying 152 Saturday Prayer against Slandering 155 3. Third Weeks Prayers against the Seven commonly called Deadly Sinnes Sunday Prayer against Ildenesse 158 Monday Prayer against Covetousness 161 Tuesday Prayer against Gluttony 168 Wednesday Prayer against Luxuy 175 Thursday Prayer against Pride 178 Friday Prayer against Anger 182 Saturday Prayer against Envie 185 4. Fourth Weekes Prayers against seven Vanities of the most valued things in the World Sunday Prayer against the Vanity of Pleasures 188 Monday Prayer against the Vanity of Honours 190 Tuesday Prayer against the Vanity of Riches 192 Wednesd Prayer against the Vanity of Beauty 194 Thursday Prayer against the Vanity of Strength 196 Friday Prayer against the Vanity of Wit 198 Saturday Prayer against the Vanity of Friends and favour 200 Prayers in eight other Services Prayer For Pleasures of Piety 203 Prayer Against Malice 209 Prayer Against Revenge 212 Prayer For a Penitent 215 216 220 Prayer Against Impatience 223. 225 Prayer On the Passion 230 Prayer For the H. Communion Before it 251. 253 At it 255 After it 257. 259 Prayer Deprecating Judgments 295 Prayer For an end of War 297 Prayer For blessing on those who seek Peace 297 Prayer For Friends in Danger and Distresse 298 Prayer For Conversion of one in an ill Course 299 Prayer For preservation of the Church 299 Prayer For Mercy to the Nation 302 A Charitable Prayer for these Miserable Times 35 Prayer A Prayer against the Temptations of the Times 37 Thanksgivings Generall for Gods Mercies 84 Deliveranees 87 Particular Thanksgivings For Recoveries of Sicknesse 75 Particular Thanksgivings After a Journey 65 Particular Thanksgivings After a Storme 62 63 Particular Thanksgivings After Child-birth 53 Particular Thanksgivings For Birth day 55 Particular Thanksgivings For a Friend Preserved 88 Particular Thanksgivings For Recovery of the Plague 78 Particular Thanksgivings For one Departed 82 Meditations upon Tenne severall Subjects viz. 1. Of the Joyes of Heaven 113 2. Of the Miseries of the World 117 3. Of the Vanities of it 120 4. Of the Villanies of it 124 5. Of
to what they forbid for ill and to shun the contrary ill where they command good 3. And Mat. 5. 22 1 Thes 5. 22. to shun all kindes and causes and occasions of ill and to use all meanes and opportunities of good And 2. We may and must observe all this Eccl. 7. 29 Heb. 4. 15 Jam. 3. 2 1 John 3. 4 Ro. 6. 12 Heb. 13. 18 Act. 24. 16 Jer. 8. 6 Ro. 13. 8 Luke 1. 6. Heb. 12. 28 Not Exactly and Absolutely as Adam might and Christ did for we offend and sinne all and so break the Law but yet Vprightly and Evangelically that is We must keep our selves from greater sinnes and heartily endeavour and pray against all and grieve and repent when we doe any And thus by Gods grace we may doe and this for Christs merits God accepts and accounts for keeping of the Law without which we cannot do aright Qu. 3. What is it to Pray aright Mat. 6. 9 Ans According to the Patterne of Devotion summ'd up in the Lords Prayer the Rule of our Dâ—sires 1. For Gods glory before our good the Churches before my own and my soul before my body for matter and order And this in love and lowliness with faith and assurance for the manner 2. And that either to the Sense or according to the Words of the Patterne Qu. What assurances hath the true Christian that believing doing and praying aright in this world he shall be happy in another Ans Two great Assurances Gods Tit. 1. 2. Mar. 16. 16. Joh. 3. 15. Heb. 5. 9. Rom. 2. 7. Act. 2. 21. Heb. 6. 17. 18. Heb. 8. 6. Heb. 9. 15. Heb. 9. 18. 26. Heb. 10. 20. Word and Seal 1. Besides Gods Word his Bond which by his power he can and for his truth he will make good It is in a Covenant confirmed with Gods Oath which cannot change by Testament ratified in Christ bloud which must not alter And to this Covenant and Testament are put 2. Gods Broad Seales of mans Salvation the Two Sacraments of Christ Baptisme the Seal of my Birthright to Heaven and the Holy Eucharist the Seal of my Inheritance in it Qu. Are the Sacraments onely Signes and Seales Ans No. As they are Christs Assurances so they are his Conveyances Rom. 4. 11. Tit. 4. 5. Joh. 3. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 16. too and Meanes as well as Signes of grace Baptisme of my Spirituall Birth and life and the Holy Eucharist of my Growth and nourishment to that which is eternall Qu. What is to be gathered from all these Grounds Ans Two Good Resolves for two Important Inquiries 1. Who is the best Christian He that most carefully keeps his Rules and Seales 2. Which is the Best Church That which is made up of such Christians MAT. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there I am in the midst amongst them There then Devout Soul be thou One in Christs Name and rest confident to be saved since thy Saviour is with thee there Grounds of Protestant Religion How a devout Christian Soul in the midst of the manifold Distractions and Divisions about Religion and Pretensions and Claimes to the Church may upon These Grounds against all seruples rest satisfied and setled in minde and cheerfully goe on in Gods Service to Salvation 1. IF he that Believes Lives and Prayes according to Christs Rules be the True Christian and by all Gods Assurances shall be the Happy Man The next way to Heaven is not to look after Controversie but Conscience and to spend my Zeale and Time not in being Contentious but Religious Since wheresoever I live or am in the Christian World West or East in what Church or Country soever it is not my being a Good Scholler that must save me but a Good Christian Not a learned Disputant for Christ but a Devout Servant to him Nor being of such or such a Party or Side in the Church but a true Member of his Body And even upon These Grounds I may see and discerne enough about the present Controversies and Debates in and concerning the Church For 1. I would aske this Whether I being borne againe and made a Christian by true Baptisme 1. Believing the Scriptures shall be damn'd for not equally believing Traditions Whether believing the Apostels Creed I shall be damn'd for not believing as my Creed the Popes to be as infallible as the Apostles 2. Whether making conscience to serve and worship God I shall be damned for not worshiping Images 3. Whether praying to God as Christ taught Our Father I shall be damned for not Invocating Saints and Angels and saying Our Friend which art in Heaven 4. Whether Receiving the Holy Sacrament in both kindes confessedly according to Christs Institution I shall be damned because the Cup is taken away by a Councell And whether if the Bloud be said to be in the Body it be not so to the Priest too and so by that reason neither People nor Priest are to have the Cup These being Points of Chiefest Difference in Religion betwixt Protetants and Papists an ordinary and indifferent understanding may easily judge by the evidence of Those Christian Grounds whether the Protestant is a damnable Christian 2. Nay secondly I would aske further 1. Whether to give an equall faith to Tradition as Scripture to a Pope as Christ or an Apostle of Christ be not to incurre the great Curse for Additions Rev. 22. 18 2. Whether Worshiping of Crucifixes and Images be not Idolatry damn'd in Scripture against Gods Second Commandement Whether the doing it but Relatively save it according to the Distinction of the Schoole in the ignorant people Or learned either if the Israelites Exod. 32. 4 5 8. were Idolaters for worshiping God in and before the Golden Calfe which was but a Relative worship 3. Whether Praying to Saints confessed to be an Unstatutable worship be not a sinne of Superstition against God and praying to be heard and help't for their Merits sake a Great injury to Christ 4. Whether to give the Sacrament without the Cup be not as Pope Gelasius said A grand Sacriledge and so to take it to receive but halfe the Communion And whether the people may not justly doubt and feare they Receive None if but Halfe These being the Points and practises of the Romane Church the unprejudic'd may judge whether the Papists be not the more dangerous Religion 2. If it be said there is but One Ancient Visible Catholique Church of Christ out of which to depart by Schisme is to goe from Salvation And that is the now-Romane Church and this now doth the Reformed I satisfie my selfe on my former grounds thus 1. Out of the Catholique Church is Universaâ—ity no salvation because that 's the Congregation of Christian men all over the World and none can be saved but a Christian But Is the West all the World Are there not Christians in the East Or doe Papists take up
hast no other reward or punishment then what I see and feel O let my Eyes look to the end of all Heaven or Hell and let me envie no ill mans happinesse who shall end in Hell Nor bewaile any good mans wretchednesse who shall have Heaven for his end And let me understand that Prosperity of Psal 92. 7. Sinners is a heavy Plague because their Prov. 1. 32 spur to Hell the greatest punishment and Adversity of Saints a happy Mercy Psal 94. 12 because thy Rod to beat them into Heaven the Best Reward Meane while let me not give a Breast Psal 4. 8. full of thy Peace for an Armefull of that wealth which breeds nests of Vipers and Adders in their Hearts and continuall Job 20. 14. 16. stings in their Bosomes let me prefer the sufferings of Innocence before the Spoiles and Triumphs of Violence O God since a guilty Conscience is the greatest punishment on Earth because next to Hell And Accusing and Condemning thy Providence and forsaking Mal. 2. 17. 3. 13 14 15. my Innocence the greatest Guilt To that Extremity let no Temptation ever lead me Jesus Keep me from it by thy Grace and Mercy Amen Evening Prayers 1. Collect for Grace THou that hast promised Thy Holy Spirit to those that ask Luk. 11. 13. it give me Thy Grace O God with courage and constancy so to fight and subdue my flesh and ghostly enemy that I may passe my Pilgrimage in thy fear and at last receive my Triumphs in thy Glory Apoc. 3. 21 through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Collect for Peace O God of peace who art Incomprehensible give me thy peace Phil. 4. 7. which passeth all understanding Let me so live according to thy Rule that Gal. 6. 16. I may have peace with my Conscience Let me be so ruled by thy Will and Word that my Conscience may have peace with Thee Lord make an everlasting Jer. 6. 16. peace with me and let me never doe what will break that league with Thee Dear Jesus treat it for me in thy Bloud and maintaine it in me by thy Spirit Amen Amen 3. Collect for Health IT is the wonder of thy providence O Lord that a body subject to thousands of Frailties and casualties every day should enjoy health or life an hour yet through thy mercy I have both at this instant Lord continue to me what I have and let me so improve it to thy honour that thou maist continue it and for Christ his sake doe not for any wickednesse smite me with sicknesse Amen Amen 4. Collect for Safety FOrgive O Lord the forfeitures I Psal 19. 11. have made of thy protection by the wandrings of my life And though I have not beene as I should a dutiful Child yet be Thou O Lord as thou ever art a mercifull Isa 63. 16. Father Forget not thy fatherly goodnesse to me who pray thy pardon for offending Thee thy Grace to serve Thee and thy Providence to preserve me this night and evermore through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 5. Collect for Friends O Lord it is joyfull for Friends to Psal 3. 3. 1. Heb. 12. 22 23. love live together on earth but the joy of joyes all to live with thee in Heaven I beseech thee let this happinesse be the portion of all whom thou hast made more nearly and dearly mine Let us so live in thy service that we may die with thy Salvation Mean while what wants of earthly good to any give us what is amisse and offensive to thy Heavenly Majesty in any forgive us what is requisite to make us so to serve thee now as thou mayest save us then in thy bounty bestow upon us Truth and Grace aright to see and seek thy face in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 6. Collect for the Kingdome O Lord we lie all in broil and bloud Pity us Our distraction threaten desolation to us Preserve us Our sinnes cry loud for thy vengeance upon us Pardon us Thy mercies have been great to this Nation Lord remember them Thy deliverances of us have been many Lord renue them That iniquity be not our ruine let us repent ruine it The guilt bloud Ezek. 18. 13. upon us forgive our Breaches repaire The order which may bring peace establish The Government thou hast establish'd maintain what is just and right in thine eyes set up what thou seest evill cast down what makes the Nation miserable remove what may make it happy restore Lord for thy mercies sake say we have been miserable enough and make us more happy Let the light of thy countenance shine again upon us and grant us peace the Power and Authority which may procure it preserve and those to whom thou hast given that power blesse them to us and us in them and all in thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen 7. Collect for the Church Catholike BEhold O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I a Christian and child of his true Catholike Church pray thy mercies on my Good and Great Mother and all my Brethren and her Children in thee and thy Son For Errours amongst them send them Truth For Schisme Unity For Superstition warrantable worship For Confusion Order For Profanenesse Piety For Variance Concord For War Peace that all may as one Body with one mind and heart and mouth and knee believe love confesse adore and so serve thee and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ the Great Lord and common Saviour of us all as thou mayest save us all in the world to come O thou Head of the Church fave thy Body By thy Bloud cleanse it By thy Spirit sanctifie it By thy Power preserve it and every Limb of it dear Jesus Amen 8. Collect for the Church O Christ Head of thy Body the Ephes 1. 22 Church Let not this poor Member of it amongst us perish What it is thou seest Lord with pity behold us What it was thou knowest O Lord in mercy restore us Thy Primitive Order in Christian Truth and Worship for the saving of Soules cast down set up The present Confusions Distractions Innovations Errours which are got up cast down Set up thy Glory O Lord amongst us and what is set apart to support it doe thou maintaine and continue to us and our Posterities after us for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Amen Concluding Prayer BEhold Lord I have prayed thy Grace and Peace with Health and Protection for my Friends the Kingdome and this and thy Church Grant good God all the requests I have prayed of thee or what more I should have prayed from thee or what any else have prayed with me In whose name I have presented with whose words I desire to perfume perfect my Prayers Beseeching thee that his Spirit may breathe in those words in which I know I pray both what and as I ought And therefore as devoutly confidently say Our Father
ever every way be the God of my salvation yea whilst I live wil I praise thee in this manner For thy mercy O Lord thine infinite mercy it is that I am preserved and live Lord let those dangers never depart from my mind that thy deliverance may never go out of my heart but that I may ever be mindfull and carefull of thee and thy service for it all the daies of my life O let me keep with joy the memory of those waves which came over but went off my head as the great passeover of my life And let thy tempest be made a Temple to me to call me to pray unto thee and praise thee the God of my life to teach me to feare obey and trust serve thee better every where whilst thou shalt continue to me those daies 1. Even thy Creatures how terrible are they O Lord all hearts are afraid of thy tempests and melt at thy stormes O let me in this glasse of their terror see the dreadfull face of thy angried Majestie at which the depths themselves doe tremble and the foundations of the world are discovered even as the blast of the breath of thy nostrils O Lord And let me never presume to exalt my selfe against thee but ever tremble before thy face 2. At thy word the stormes did cease their rage and lie still O God! if any tempest shall arise in my passions through my frailty let it cease at thy command let not the Seas obey thee and my Soule rebell against thee 3. Thou hast presented the horror of a tempest to my eyes and eares O Lord keep me that I never feele a tempest in my Conscience let the raging Sea never run in my Soule to raise up stormes in me more dreadfull than death And that I may never be drowned in the depths of despaire Lord keep me from the overflowing of wickednesse Let not presumptuous sinnes have any dominion over me let the conversation of the wicked never cleave unto me 4. Thou hast in this great extremity of danger manifested to my Soule thy ready and mighty help for deliverance even when the waves were about to overwhelme me then even then O blessed God did thy goodnesse save me O let this experience of thy mercifull power and aide make me to trust and stay my Soule upon thee in all distresses and dangers whatsoever shall hereafter befall me 5. O let not any temptations of the vanities of the Land drowne in me the memory of thy mercies at Sea but against all temptings to offend thee let this tempest thus arme me Had I bin in that hower tempted to sinne O God would I durst I then have offended thee And now that I am by thy mercy delivered shall I yeild upon any temptation to sinne against thee and breake my great obligation and vow to serve thee 6. O let those waters which did fright but not drowne me in the deep be apprehended as a new Baptisme in which thy hand was pleased at once to sprinkle and teach me that my cheeks are to be wet daily with the brinish teares of repentance for my sins and the fresh springs of joy are to flow from my eyes for the goodnesse of thy deliverance Thy waters came over me but confusion did not cover me my face felt the danger but thou hast saved my head O Lord my God! O Lord I beseech thee doe thou thus sanctifie these great passages of thy providence to me that whilst I live thou mayest have from me a better service and when I die I may receive from thee a better salvation even for Iesus Christ's sake my deare and onely Saviour Amen Prayer before or in a Journey O Lord who hast set thy Angels to keep us in all our Psal 91. 11 Psal 94. 5. waies charge that Convoy with me in whose heart they are forgive me that I have gone astray from thee and give me grace to goe no more astray and be not extreame to marke all errors and wandrings Ps 130. 3. from thee who then O Lord shall be preserved on earth or saved in heaven let thy holy Spirit guide me this day and ever in the waies which please thee and thy blessed protection be over me and all with me for his sake who is the Way the Truth and the Life even for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Prayer Gratulatory after a Journey LOrd thou hast been with me in my Journey and as I prayed I have passed the perils of the way by the conduct of thy providence and where I would be I am by the favour of thy conduct blessed be thy holy name O Lord for all thy goodnesse How many have miscarried and doe daily many waies and even so might I have done had it not been for thy favour Blessed be thy name for it yea for all the preservations of my life and the mercy to which I owe those preservations Blessed for ever be thy holy name And still O Lord so magnifie thy mercy in my protection on earth that thou mayest ever be blessed of me till I am blessed with thee in Heaven through the merits of him who by his blood bought that blessednesse for us and in our flesh sits at the right hand to save us Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayers for a Souldier in a just Warre 1. Morning Prayer for one in Warre O LORD in daies of blood Read Psal 140. there be many howres of Death what minute may not be that hower O let me then thinke of mine thinke of it and prepare for it Thy grace give me so to doe this day and thy mercy for what hath been misdone before it that when my life shall end on earth it may begin where it shall never have an end Meane while let me live to doe thee more honour if it may stand with thy pleasure and see a happy peace to be the purchase of this warre that I may so live to my Prince Nation Church Religion me mine every way happy And doe thou therefore guide my Soule this day and guard my life from all evill and danger for Jesus Christ his sake in whose words I pray it saying Our Father c. 2. Evening Prayer for one in Warre LOrd who hast been my shield this Read Psal 91. day be my watch this night that I may be safe from the swords and hands of all Enemies and by the guard of thy goodnesse preserv'd to blesse and serve thee the next day for and in thy mercy through the merits of Jesus Christ in whose words I pray it saying Our Father c. 3. Prayer before Bataile O Thou shield of those that put Read Psal 143. 21 23. their trust in thee be his shield whose hope is onely in thee and in thy mercy onely Mercy Lord grant me for all my sinnes past and pardon me Mercy grant me in my present perils and preserve me Mercy grant me good God in my attempts this day and
mercy so wicked as to abuse thy blessings let all that I am and have serve thee mind body state health friends none be abused to vanity in any way of sin to reproach thee but all made to extoll my Makers praises and my Redeemers glory Since I owe my selfe by so many bonds of blessings to thee yea thousand lives and soules had I so many to serve thee let me not deny the service of one poore soule body unto thee O blessed Maker and Redeemer and Preserver of both I have no more to give thee my self therefore made of both I present unto thee I give thee my self on earth O Lord accept me and receive me to thy selfe in heaven where with thy Angels I shal give thee perfect praises singing Hallelujahs day and night giving everlasting lauds unto thee my great Maker my deare Redeemer my holy Comforter my good Preserver O God Father Son and holy Ghost O blessed and adored Trinity to thee and to thy goodness alone for what I am and have hope of bliss in this or a better world be all honour praise thanksgiving and glory for ever and ever Amen Amen A Gratulatory Commemoration of Gods mercies and deliverances REceive the sacrifice of my thankfull soule O Lord for all thy mercies * Here think of particular and mercifull deliverances of me and mine from diseases and dangers by Land or Water in Warre or Peace of old or late for soule or body O! what great dangers hast thou shewed me and them and yet hast delivered us from all our feares they live and I live and all live and why but to praise thee the God of our salvation and life thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God and I will worship thee yea whilst I live will I magnifie thee on this manner And O give me grace to give thee more better glory Glory from my lips and glory from my life Glory in my mind by a just sense and Meditation of thy mercy And glory from my heart in a true love and joy of thy goodnesse till thou dost give me thy glory in heaven Lord let me ever give thee this glory on earth even so Lord for all thy benefits and blessings from any ill or of any good to me or any more nearly mine from the hower of my birth to this day of my life glory be to thee now and ever by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Thanksgiving for a preserved Friend or others formerly Prayed for MY Heart is full of thy goodness O God! thou hast delivered thy Servant from his dangers and me from my fears O what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits to me O my God! I give thee a thankfull heart and beseech thee to give me a thankfull life Grace so to live that my deeds as well as words may speak me thankfull O let me not pay thee with neglects for thy favours lest thou returne me plagues for thy mercies let me have care to serve thee in for thy goodnesse that I may still rejoice in and for thy salvation of him and me and all who are more dearly mine even so be it for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Prayers for every day in the Week SUNDAY A Prayer against the flesh O Lord deliver me from my selfe my sinfull sensuall and carnall selfe ready to joyne with my foes to ruine my soule by yeilding it up to the temptations of sinne Let me watch it as my most mortall enemy without which all the Devils in hell cannot force nor all the powers on earth fasten a sin upon me and yet a foe so inbred and Naturall to me as will lodge in me whilest I live and never leave me Make me see what cause I have to keepe a strict and continuall watch and pray thy aide when the Devill and the World without beset me and lead on Armies of Temptations against me and the flesh within is false and ever ready to betray me and let them in upon me From such Enemies and Traytors Lord deliver me and as I love the eternall salvation of my soule let me not sleepe in security that have to doe with such Enemies And since the flesh is my foe let me not cherish it and satisfie it and provide for it and entertaine it as a friend but according to thy will and the necessity of my soule let me not spare to crucifie and kill it as my Enemy which will torture me if I be not crucified and kill me if I doe not kill it And grant me Good God the power of thy Spirit to doe thy will in mortifying of the flesh to the saving of my soule Let my life be a continuall fight against the corruptions of my flesh and succour me with wisdome and grace to maintaine that fight let me watch and fast and use all due meanes to beat downe my body if that give it strength Let me meditate and heare and reade and pray and weep in all good wayes seeking to beare up my soule to beat downe that sinfull body and bring it to death And because though now beaten downe a new Temptation will raise it up and struck dead it will revive againe Hasten my soule O Lord out of these endlesse Warres where I may keep the triumphs of an eternall peace from earth to heaven and strengthen my soule to get those daily victories over my lusts that they bring me to those triumphs O Christ that hadst flesh and no corruption pitty me that have both Succour my double frailty thou that knowest the infirmity of the flesh Assist me with thy holy Spirit to stand Recover me when I fall in these holy fights Relieve my wants forgive my weaknessâ—s close up my wounds by thy bloud Blessed Saviour the Captaine of my Salvation who didst fight and conquer all my foes and now sittest on thy Throne in triumph in heaven make me so to fight that I may conquer on earth and having subdued the flesh may sit with thee on the Throne From their shame keepe me that prefer the Subject before the Soveraigne Flesh before the Spirit From their losse keep me that prefer a Toy to a Crowne a Lust to a Kingdome From their Cowardise keepe me that dare not fight for a Crowne but yeild their souls up to lust From their woe ever keep me that buy delights with their death for a little life after the flesh dying eternally bodies and soules From such folly and misery deare Jesus deliver me Amen! Amen! MONDAY A Prayer against the Devill O Lord how shall my poore soule stand against Temptation it thou doe not assist me who have as many Ghostly Enemies as Devils to tempt me malicious crafty busie and mighty all of them hating my soule to death watching my weaknesses and continually seeking occasion to devour me O my God without thy strength I cannot stand and by thy strength I shall not fall For thou O God art above
put it in thy senses Man of reason be not a beast for sense live and love above worldly vanitie looke and long after sure solid satisfying soule-felicity else saving thy selfe nothing is or can be so vaine Wednesday-Service Against the Villanies of the World Morning Prayer Psal 12. 14. 120. Lessons Gen. 6. or 19. Mat. 24. Evening Prayer Psal 18. 55. Lessons Jer. 5. or Isaiah 13. 2 Pet. 2. or 1 Joh. 5. Collect against the villanies of the World O Lord since the World is a Sodome 2 Pet. 2. 8. let me be a Lot vexed not delighted with her filthiness Since it is a Mesech let me be a David not taken but tired with her Psal 120. 4 wretchedness Lord why should that have my joyes where my Soule is never free from dangers nor thy glory from wounds where Blasphemie is as common as the ayre and Oppression as the earth where Iniquitie flowes like water and lust flames as fire why should I be in love with her that is in hate with thee where if I follow her course I go to the damnation of another world and if I crosse it meet with nothing but vexation all the way O Lord though I be in it let me not be of it if it be wicked let me be good yea the more wicked it is the better let me be that thou mayest Apoc. 3. 12 take a more mercifull notice of my goodnesse And because it is hard to breath the ayre of corruption and take 2 Cor. 6. 17 no taint into conversation let me be willing to get fairly from it and come to thee where is blisse pure without teare or taint Take me from the Devils of the world to thy Angels O God! meane time let me live a Saint even amongst Devils that I may at last be a Saint amongst Angels yea as one of thy Angels in that world where is no woe nor wickednesse Sinner nor Satan but thy blessed unitie with holy and happy society of glorified Men and Angels enjoying adoring lauding and serving thee for ever ever so be it for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Daily Prayers Meditation of the Villanies of the World MOther of all misdeeds and mischiefs when shall I be delivered from thee gaole of my Soule and wrack of my salvation a hill of poor Pismires tossing up and downe thou art at best a hell of debauch'd and damned Spirits at worst Source of sinne forge of hell and a field of all temptation If I love my God I must hate thee because an enemy to his honour if I love my self I must loath thee because an adversary to my salvation if I hate the Devill I must not love thee because thou art his Sword to destroy if I may not love the flesh I must not love thee because her staffe of support if I must not love vice I must abhorre thee because thou art the Mistresse of Vanitie if I must love grace I must detest thee because the Step-dame of Virtue Hagge of Satan Hate of Heaven Schole of Vice Seminary of Errour Mother of Sinne Step-dame of Saints Pest of the Spirit Nurse of the Flesh who by thy bad counsels and examples breedest the Brat of Sin in thy wicked womb and then sucklest and indearest it with thy profits and pleasures thy wretched dugs woe is me that I must stay in thee shame on me if I love thee thy best things are vanities of Earth thy worst villanies against Heaven what in thee can I love Though thou be a Whore I will not be a Villaine to my God so much a Villaine as to love such a Whore so Jac. 4. 4. 1 Joh. 2. 14 much a Villaine as by any lust of mine to make thee more Strumpet and by my additions of particular ills to encrease thy whoredomes I will have care what I can not to be Partaker of thy guilts but Ringleader I will never be to thy rebellions I would not come to thy end and therefore will avoid thy way God I thank thee for thy good Spirit which carries me against the streame of my corruption and tide of the World I cannot goe but in the strength of that Spirit against such a tide and streame God I pray thee let me continue my course that I fall not at last into thy Sea of Wrath and when the world of nature shall end be tormented with a world of sinners world without end for ever and ever Thursday-Service About Death Morning Prayer Psal 39. 49. Lesson Geu 3. or 5. Luk. 16. Evening Prayer Psal 90. 23. Lesson Eccles 12. Rom. 5. ¶ Thursday-Collect or Prayer about Death O Lord who hast appointed all to die make me ever mindfull of my dissolution that I may lesse love the vanities of this and more seek the felicities of a better life where death and distresses are not but we shall be as the Angels of God healthy and vigorous and happy for ever O let me every day so live that I may come to that life when I die And because the best-led life may have need of some time to prepare for death Of thy great mercy I beseech thee keep me from an unprepared heart and unexpected end Even for his sake who himselfe had the horrour of death Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers after it Meditation of Death DIe I must and after live in weal or woe for ever and no time after to recover the woe if I lose the weal As I tender then eternity let me look to my life Die I must and know not where House a Field Land or Water Bed or Board every where then let me look to it Die I must but know not how By a violent or naturall course casualty or infirmity lingringly or speedily every way then let me looke for it Die I must but know not when Day or night this or that day next or this This or that hour that or this minute this or that time Morn Noon Even ever then let me look after it And how look to it better then to finde out the murderer and doom him to death O Sin shalt thou lie in my bosome that hast laid all Mankind in a grave I will have thee to the crosse Rom. 5. 12 for that yea and for this too lest thou adde murder to murder and kill my Soul after my Body O what a sad hour of parting will that be if when Soul should leave the Body to death God shall leave the soul to be damn'd All full of horrour and utterly comfortlesse when it should be most the comforter of the Body But strength thou hast not to have death under foot without a Christ in Luke 2. 28 29. thy Armes Thou canst not welcome it without fear till thou embrace him in thy Faith To whom then should I look but to thee O Lord who art my Saviour And for what but thy mercy which is my Salvation And why but for my sinnes my onely destruction And how
Heavenly light to their thoughts and holy Fire to their Affections This Fire like that of the Sanctuary must not goe out of the Heart and vanish like passions moved at a Play unlesse we will play away our Soules we must then see 3. How we are to Order our selves after the Holy Communion AS our care was before how to 1 Cor. 11. 27. Ephes 4. 1. Heb. 2. 16. Communicate it must be now how to Walk Worthily As those who are Honoured by Christ above Angels and therefore should be at least Saints Made now One with Christ * Assistunt Cherubini Chys Ut ChristuÌ„ gcrat in pectore Ferat in mente Cypr. 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. and so henceforth to live Two from the Flesh the World and the Devill His Holy Body is in us His Holy Spirit must not be from us Else we Sinne grievously against His Bloud and Body What Nebuchadnezzars was in Eph. 4. 4. Dan. 2. 32. Dreame we make his Body indeed a Monster because we of it are such mungrill Limbs And as Belshazzar did at his Profane Banquet we doe by the Holy Supper Turne the Cup of 1 Cor. 11. 27 Blessing into Blasphemy Carousing as it were Healths to our Idol-lusts in Dan. 5. 4. His Hallowed both Wine and Bloud So 1. We play Judas with Christ Eat Joh. 13. 18 26. His Bread and lift up the Heele against Him Take the Sop and betray our Interests in Him 2. We play Gadaren with Him and worse We doe not Pray but Mar. 5. 17. cast Him out of our Coasts and after we have received Him in 3. We play Strumpet with Him 1 Cor. 6. 15. Jam. 4. 4. Our Members which are his are made the Worlds which is an Harlots 4. And so we play Fooles with our 1 Cor. 10. 22. Mat. 22. 11 1 Cor. 11. 29 30. own Soules On which we draw heavy Wrath for our vile provocations if not a Plague and Stroke from Heaven on our Bodies for doing such Injuries to our Saviour So end the Directions about the Holy Communion A Service fit for Sad Times for Wednesday or Friday Morning Prayer Psal 71 73 74. or 124 125 126 129. Lessons Dan. 9. or Ezra 10. to v. 7. or 2 Chron. 36. Jer. 14. Luk. 21. Evening Prayer Psal 44 77 78. or 83. 98 or 137. 140 141. Lessons 2 Chron. 13. or 20. 1 Cor. 10. or Jude Ep. ¶ 1. Collect Confessing and Depreâ—ating Judgments O Lord Thou hast given us to see Bitter and Bloudy Times Barbarous outrages are done and endured daily Our Houses and Friends are full Even thy Temples are not free Dear God! These be the Dues of our Sins Thou art Just but we are Wicked Against the great Meanes of thy Grace and Mercies of thy Goodness for many and many years vouchsafed to us and our Fathers before us we are notwithstanding full of Hypocrisie full of Profanenesse full of Lewdnesse most Ingratefully and therefore most Aboimnably Wicked And I even I have contributed a great measure of my Sins to fill up those Woes But O God! that art Mercifull as thou art Just that delightest not so much to appeare just as Mercifull Pardon those Sins of ours that cause those Woes Pardon those Sins of mine which concurre to that cause And with the Pardon of our Sins grant us a Release of our punishments Let civill broiles and bloodsheds cease True Piety and Peace flourish againe amongst us Thou that out of evill canst work good and out of Confusion didst set up the Order of the World out of those evills and confusions that are upon us worke good and establishment for us O Thou that powerfully canst Mercifully doe this To thy great Honour and our great happinesse for the comfort both in body and Soule of us and ours and all that truly fear and love Thee and true Religion in and for Thee Even for thy tender Pities sake hear us Even for the pretious Bloud and Passion of Jesus helpe us In whose Blessed and Beloved Name we put up our Prayers Saying Our Father c. Amen 2. Prayer for an End of Warre HAsten O God these Daies of Bloud and Woes and give a happy and speedy end to the Warrs O! Let unnaturall Divisions cease and the unhappy Separations of Dearest friends end amongst us For these Times of wants and wounds and bonds and destructions let the Daies of Plenty and Safety and Liberty returne againe unto us O! Let it be enough that for our sins thou hast so long wounded us and broken us and now heale us and binde us up and Save us for thy Mercies sake Give us peace for the Sword Thou God of peace even for his Sake who is the Prince of peace Jesus Christ our Lord Amen! 3. Prayer for Blessing on those who seeke peace O God of Peace Blesse those that seek it that they may findit and stop and turne those that fly it and make them to seeke it Bow their hearts to it that have the power and strengthen their hands for it that have the Will As for those who set their hands and hearts against it we beseech thee turne thine hand and face against them O! Forgive us our Sins which threaten to destroy us and send us a peace which may preserve us And from more Bloud and Violence Deliver us Deliver us for Jesus Christ his Sake Amen! 4. Prayer for Friends in Danger and Distresse O God of Power Pity preserve thou those that are in danger to die Rescue them from the rage of violence and shew thy selfe Mercifull to them in saving their lives if it be thy blessed will O thou preserver of men Save them If not grant them all Graces and Mercies needful for the saving of their Souls Let them Glorifie thee in life and death that thou maist glorifie them with thy Eternall Life Through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. In whose name I pray mercy for all that Suffer in these Times of extremity Chiefly the Destitute Widdows and Fatherlesse Lord Take them to thy care and comfort them Have mercy on them and helpe them Supply them all and Succour them for Jesus Christ his Sake Amen 5. Prayer for Conversion of one in an Evill Course O Lord That delightest not in the Death of a Sinner I beseech thee by thy Grace and-Providence to stay his Course who is entred into a way of Vice and Vanity O Let him not goe on to bring an end of shame upon himself in this World and Confusion of face upon his Soule in the World to come But of thy great Mercy stop him and turne him to a better Course For Jesus Christ his sake Amen 6. Prayer for preservation of the Church O Lord The Church is thy Body and thou art Hâ—ae Head Shee is thy Spouse and thou art her Husband O! Save thine owne Body Preserve thine owne Spouse Protect her from all Enemies Men and Devills Keep her from all ills Errours
will not for Civilities sake and the Religious will not be so Profane And if any should offer such an Irreligious incivibâ—ty to thee doe not thou by suffering it doe as much to thy God! Cursed is he that makes thee neglect thy Maker Cursed thou if any Person or Thing whatsoever make thee guilty of that neglect My Soul For Honesties sake thou will not break thy promised Time with Man For Religion sake doe not break thy Set-houres with God And though God tie thee not precisely to such set Houres of the Day yet shalt thou doe well to let Religion bind thee to the best times of his Service And the Morning when thy Spirits are most Fresh unsullied with Worldly thoughts and Affaires as for Studies so for Devotions is doubtlesse Psal 63. 1. best And the more Early the more Acceptably dost thou make thy Devout Appearance before Almighty Psa 130. 6 God But not so if most Late at Night Mal. 1. 14. That is to give God the Prime this the Dreg of the Day if when thou art sleepy and shouldst be in sleep and hast no more wayes to spend and passe thy Time thou dost give the Relikes to thy Ptayers and bestow thy Broken Minutes on thy God My Soul The Religious King did rise at Midnight to say his Prayers to God But not did sit up till Midnight Psal 119. 62. Rom. 13. 13. ravelling out his Time on Toyes which should be wound up in his Prayers To be on thy Knees when others are in their Beds to break Sleep for Devotion Luk. 2. 37. is Pious but if not so it 's good when others are to be on thy Knees that thou maist take strength to thine by a concurrence of other Prayers Extraordinarily that but Ordinarily thou must doe this In the Evening and Morning and at Noone will I Pray and Psal 55. 17. that instantly Observe it my Soul He doth not make his morning-Morning-Prayers at Noone and his Evening at Midnight and instantly alwayes sleepily never the Time which God and Nature have set out for Bodily rest is best for Sleep Thou stealest from it if due time neglected thou take of that for Devotion Yea thou dost commit a double Robbery on God and Nature Him thou robbest of his Devotion in due Job 17. 12. time and Her of her due time of rest to pay God what thou owest Him And the Coine is scarce current in which thou makest thy payment because it wants both Metall of Spirit and Stamp of Gods allowed Time Be then Devout daily Dear Soul and observe due Seasons and Houres for thy Prayers to Him to whom thou owest thy Selfe and Life every Act. 17. 28. moment and so thy Private Duty is Discharged to God And the better the more Private Some affect Ostentation and their Prayers in the Closet look as Publique as a Pharisees in the Mat. 6. 5. Market-place as if they did rather act then say their Prayers and rather played then performed a Part of Devotion But so God see thine no matter if no Man know it It lookes more Sincere if it be more Secret and so much more pretious as it is more sincere What thou canst then avoid that let those who would have Man reward them have Man see them But thou when thou prayest enter inter Mat. 6. 6. into thy Closet and when thou hast shut thy doore pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly The summe of this Soliloquie God is singularly God of me as universally Psal 86. 7. Psal 50. 7. Psal 118. 28. of the World For this I owe God a Particular Service There must be some time set for that Payment Evening and Morning are best houres 1 Chro. 16. 40. 1 Thes 5. 17. Psal 76. 11 to be set Time set to God must not be broken by Man Noone and Midnight are not Gods Morning and Evening Tuesday-Soliloquie Church-Duty OR A Soliloquie shewing that all owe a Publike Service to Almighty God and where and when and how they are to pay it MY Soul Though one and 1. Part. entire of thy self thou art but a Part of the Church and as a Member of it must do Rom. 12. 12 Duty with the Body In whose Common wâ—e and Welfare thou hast thy proper interest and part Thou must be Jer. 29. 5. One therefore at Common-Prayers when it is sought and make One at Publique-praises when it is found and as in Private must Attend God inâ— Publick For since he is God of All as well as One He must be serv'd by All as well as thee and by thee as much as 2 Sam. 12. 7 8 9. any and more if thou be a Greater One For dost thou my Soul look for least respect where thou dost most favour Or to receive lesse Rents where thou lettest most Lands O my Soul be not thou of all be not thou ingratefull to thy God who hath done thee favour above many Millions in making thee both One and Great and Deut. 10 12 Psal 116. 11 yet requires no more but thy Duty for his Rent My Soul obliged by so many Bonds unto thy Maker Detract not a Single Service where thou Lev. 5. 6 7 owest a Double Duty Upon thy solemneâ— occasions thou wilt not excuse thy greatest Servants from Attendance because the greater they are the greater is thy honour Thou canst not excuse thy self to God if thy Service Fail when it is most for his Glory And can any Service be Solemne without a Publike Place or Meeting in it without an Appointed Time Can any Place be so convenient as what is Consecrate to his Honour Or Time so fit as what is Devoted to his Service The Temple then the Lords House that 's the Place and Sunday 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords Day that 's the Time And what Dayes else Holy Church by Law and Leave from God sets a part to his Worship Content not thy selfe my Soul with a Common place if thou canst goe to a Consecrate Where shouldst thou Waite on the King but in his Court The Church is Gods Court my Soul Psa 100. 3. Psal 65. 1. Psal 89. 5. There Heavenly Majesty lookes to be Waited on and ever was by his Saints For the Body of them to be in one place and thou in another is Schisme Heb. 10. 25. Be not thou at the Devills Chappell when others are at Gods Church A Separatist Jude v. 19. how much Saint soever he seemes is no better then one of his Servants To be so out of a Mind that all Places are alike even the most Common as good as the most Sacred for Gods Service is bestiall Heresie The Devill himselfe will not allow such a Chappell Though he chose Swine for a House yet never a Stie to Mat. 8. 31. be serv'd in Nor let it suffice to keep Conscience
Modesty Tie thy Lips with humble silence shut thy Eares to all Earthly Audience Fix thy Feet to lowly quietnesse Cover thy Body all over with Religious Reverence Yes and shroud thy self under it too For God sees thee as well as Man sees it Here then thy thoughts must mind Heaven and thy Affections not move Earthward On these Wings must Devotion Mount thee to the things above Those below are the businesse of Worldlings not Ezek. 33. 31. 1 Tim. 5. 8. Eccl. 5 1. Saints Admitted into the House but banished the Church Look to thy foot When thou comest to the House of God Set it right towards Heaven yea and keep it so when thou art in the House let it not wander when it is well set What is thy Foot my Soul Sure thy self art one the Body * Gressum 1. mentis 2. Corporis Olymp. per Synecd partis is the other foot Thou must look to both Thoughts and Gestures Affections and Actions Dispositions and Demeanours both must be look'd to How dreadfull is this place If reverend Gen. 28. 17. dread to make it Ridiculous Dare not Laugh in Gods Face Doe not then in Gods Church Doe not 2 Chro. 7. 14. Psal 100. 1 2 Chro. 7. 16. Jer. 7. 10. Jam. 4. 8. Chat in his Presence Dare not then talk there Dare not Gaze before Gods Eye Let not thine rove in his House If vaine thoughts and foul lusts do come bid them be gone They are no Objects for Gods Eye Here thy Eares must be shut to all Words but Gods Thy Lips watcht from all speech but Prayers Thy Eyes open to no fights but Angels Thy Mind left to no motions but for Heaven God and that and they are there and thou must doe all reverence before the Majesty Levit. 19. 30. 1 Cor. 11. 10. of Heaven Reverence my Sanctuary Yes because thy self O God! And thy Angels are there with thy self O Lord Rudenesse is fitter for Ruffians then Angels no Demeanour for Saints A rude Presence is worse then a plaine Absence for that my Soul is a neglect of God this a Scorne upon Him That to Man seemes an Offence 1 Cor. 11. 17. 1 Cor. 14. 23. 25. 1 Cor. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 10. 32. this is a Visible Scandall Yea to a Multitude As many as be Congregated to serve God and see that Sauciness before Him Better then my Soul not attend God then Affront him and be out of Mans sight when he is before God then a Moat in his Eye and when he is on his way to Heaven to lay a stumbling block before him Plead not Custome in Excuse Saints Levit. 18. 30. 1 Cor. 10. 3â— Jud. ver 6. never had it and thou must not use the Haunts of Sinners Gods Dues must not be paid to the Devils Customes Not keeping Order in Heaven made Angels Devils Not keeping Decorum in the Church will not make Men Angels Before God they Adore and Tremble Where shall they be that are so Bold before him My Soul Isay 6. 2. Apoc. 4. 10. 5. 14. were it possible for thee to be a Saint an Angel and Rude thou shouldst either never come to or never keep in Heaven Break then the Bands of such Customes as the Chains of Death Go Prov. 5. 22 to Church as to Heaven and carry thy selfe there as thou wouldst keep in it Be Reverent as thou wiâ—t be blest No Recusant to it nor Miscreant in it If others be have no more Fellowship with them that have no more fear of God That when they Psal 5. 7. Ezek. 28. 16. go whither the Spirit of Profaneness leads them thou maist go to Heaven And when to appear at the Holy Eucharist O my Soul Array thy self 1 Cor. 10. 28 29. with all possible Reverence then Bodie and Heart let both Kneel not to Adora Communica Aug. 2 Sam. 9. 7 8. the Holy Elements but thy Maker For my Soul when thou a poor miserable wretched-sinfull Creature art admitted to Communion so near Communion with the Eternall God thy Almighty and All holy Creatour canst Psal 99. 5. thou be too Humble Did thy Face kisse the Earth when thy Knee doth touch it couldst thou go too low to a Majesty so High And yet in this Holy Mysterie as low in Condescending 1 King 7. 27. Goodnesse to thee as high above thee in infinite and incomprehensible Greatness My Soul they are mad who making themselves Coheires with Christ will therefore sit to keep Coequalls with Him At lowest he is thy Lord. Man thy Brother but God-man thy Maker and thy Father Every Communicant is thy Peer but he 1 Cor. 10. 17. Apoc. 15. 3 1 Cor. 10. 21. King of all And his Table not thy Fellowes but the Lords Worship not Fellowship is fit for Gods Board In his House thou art in his Presence but here before his Chair of Estate the Mercy-seat of Almighty Majesty Psa 132. 7 What a Man of Earth and bold so bold before the King of Heaven Even Celestial Spirits cast their Crowns Apoc. 4. 10 down before his Throne shall Dust and Ashes carâ—y up his Crest before Gen. 18. 27. Him my Soul Thou art better taught by an undoubted Divine God is greatly to be feared in the Psal 89. 8. Councel of his Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him O come let us worship and fall down Psal 95. 6. and kneel before the Lord our Maker The Summe of this Soliloquie is God our Common Maker must have a Publique Service in Common-Prayers and Worship Every Man must pay God this Homage and the Greater he is the greater his Obligation to it There must be a place set apart for that Service and the Church for it is a sacred place As for Holy Duty most fit so for Heavenly regards no place out of Heaven is so lovely and desirable as the Church There must be a time set for Holy Assemblies in it and by Ancient and Vversall use that with Christians is the Lords Day As Profanation so Superstition must be shun'd in the due Observation of that Holy time It 's ill to keep our selves from Church unnecessarily and worse to keep away others If rude and irreverent there as good keep away our selves At Communion-times above all we should be neither absent nor rude VVednesd-Soliloquie Perpetuall-Service OR A Soliloquie directing the Soul in those Duties which must never cease whilst we Live if we will be happy when we Die SEt Houres of Devotion do well O my Soule but that Service is not all To give God two a day and Spend Ten at thy pleasure The truth is Two are set apart to pray that we may Spend all in his Service Which if we doe not as well Endeavour as pray to do we do but Mat. 7. 7. Prov. 28. 9 mispend those two For my Soul Thy Prayers are but Mockeries of
to be fed with Promises unto Presumption is not to Cherish thy self but thy Sicknesse 2 Cor. 7. 1 To Renounce evill and entertaine occasions is to send it away and call it again To Pray to God and yet provoke Isa 1. 12. 14. 1 Cor. 13. 3 him is to make a play of our Prayers To give Almes and do ill is to give Sin not a Divorce but a Licence To fast from meat and fall to Sin is to whet the knife not to kill it but feast Isa 58. 4. Luk. 18. 12 it To pray give fast and then take liberty to swear and Sin and Erre again is not to make Health but a Disease of the Exercise My Soule This is to take the Medicine by halfes and so thou shalt never Recover thy selfe whole And if thou Delay it that 's the way never to recover That takes strength from the Medicine and gives it to the Disease for so it grows Inveterate and the Cure more Difficult if not Desperate Mat. 13. 15 More hard to be A Sow is washed white not a Blackamore A young Profligate sooner then an old Obdurate Jer. 13. 23. Mat. 26. 73. Act. 8. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 4 Psal 7. 12. Jer. 4. 22. Sinner Simon Peter quickly Simon Magus never It 's more hard to doe Sin hath more efficacie the Devill more Interest God more Anger Nature is vanquisht Her Powers depraved Her faculties infirm'd decayed deprived of virtue for it It 's more hard to Suffer Sin is incorporate the Humours irradicate Habituate and Naturaliz'd As soone pluck up an old tree as Sin by the roots As easily teare out thy heart as thy lust and vomit bowels as customs Mat. 5. 29. and quit Limbs as such vices O My Soule If Delay of Physick hath killed thousands of Bodies it hath ten thousands of Spirits Defer not then thy help Delay not thy time And especially by the love thou hast to Heaven Deferre it not till Death For what Inducias usque ad mane apud Greg. if that be Suddaine and give thee no Time Or Distracted and take away Wit Or cursed and keep away Grace And if it allow thee Space and Sense and Succour where will be thy Comfort Backward Ther 's nothing to be seene but the sad Survey of a life full of Guilts and staines Forward There 's the Horrid Prospect of Hell and all Hideous Tortures of Damned Ghosts the due Deserts of those Guilts Thou hast no power to undoe ill no Time to doe better What then Wilt thou repent here and Amend in the World to come For halfe thy worke looke for all thy wages No Thou dost not halfe if no more repent Wilt thou then looke upward Will a Miserere mei Deus serve God or a Peccavi satisfie All the three volumes of thy Sins Thoughts Words and Deeds all the Scroles of thy Guilts be cancelled and blowne away with a breath of three Words or Syllables Will a Groane expiate a Lifefull of Quantam lacrymaruÌ„ vim expendemus ut cum Baptismi fonte exaequari possit Naz. guilt A Teare a Drop wash a Heart full of filthinesse The Irkings of a Moment undo the ills of all thy ages Cast thou expect this from Him that is Just when thy whole life hath been but an Abuse of his Grace and Mercy Canst thou promise it thy Selfe and looke Inward That this is the feare of God not Death not out of Selfe-love but Gods Not for hate of Paine but Sin Not by a Force on Conscience but Free And if not thy Selfe dost thou look Outward who shall assure thee Some Comforter may pronounce Mercy to thee as favourable Judgment hath been given of many that have lived ill and yet died penitently O my Soulâ— In this case it 's better to give then receive a favourable Judgement It 's my Charity not thy Felicity that it doth suppose thee happy whom it knowes not miserable 1 Cor. 13. 5 7. but if it do not find thee doth not leave thee happy What thou art the Judge of Hearts knowes what thou shouldst be the Judge of Charity hopes Because when he sees not evidence to the contrary he believes the best of thee with thy Great Judg. O my Soul then leave not all to the last hour when thou art Isa 38. 9. Psa 126. 5 Luk. 23. 43. Mat. 20. 9. Ezek. 18. 21 22. to reap be not to sow thy Comfort Hast thou President Parable Promise of Hope The Converted Thief The Eleaventh Hours Call * In Liturgiâ sic vertitur At what time soever O be not such a Spider'd Spirit to suck Poison out of sacred Flowers Let not Antidotes of mercy be made Cordials for Presumption If thou dost out of Gods Word draw ill Spirit thou robbest it of its Holy Sense and wilt finde no Promise of pardon Nor Hope in any Parable or President for such a Thief My Soul then Look at the Thief on the Crosse as a 2 Pet Child at the Font Baptized from Sin Confirmed by Christ so Dying and Saved What 's that to thee who as Copronymus Eccl. Hist in his Baptisme ever since thine hast done nothing but defile thy Font A Renegado in thy life to the 2 Pet. 2. 20 Heb. 6. 4. Profession of thy Baptisme Look at the Thief on the Crosse as a Martyr at the Stake A Believer a Saint a Confessour All on holy flame Luk. 23. 40 41 42. for Christ The New Disciple that hanged for Him when none of the Old stood to him Senslesse of paine to spend his Breath and serve him As ready to Die for him as with him and spend his Bloud as Breath to honour him Look at the Theif on the Crosse as a Jonah in the Sea A Miracle of Grace Jonah 2. 10. A Prodâ—gie of Providence Wilt thou therefore cast thy self into the Sea in hope to be saved Gods Mercy is an Ocean yet if thou so leap into it thou Mic. 7. 19. Eccl. 8. 11 12. Ro. 2. 4. 5 1 Tim. 1. 19 maist be drown'd Thou that hast left the ship of good life the ordinary way how canst thou look to be preserved by singular Priviledge A Monster of life to be saved in Death by a Miracle of mercy Look at the Thief on the Crosse as a Saint in Heaven Make him not encourage thee to rob God of his honor and thy self of thy happinesse lest thou make him to be a Thief in Paradise too Canonize not thy self Saint by his Example lest thou stigmatize him Sinner for the President and prove thy self a Reprobate by the Presumption Think not then when thou hast liv'd 2. Part. Mat. 20. 9. Ita patres aliqui Itâ— alii ill in the world and art Crucified to leave it by the staffe of a good hope to leap into Paradise though before an utter stranger to Christ with whom thou hast not the blisse to be Crucified There is no Parity of reason to