and nothing but Affliction will make them wise justly art thou moved now at length to visit thy People in this Land with Persecutions after we had first turned a deaf ear to all the Calls of thy Mercy and had long abused the blessings of peace There is need O God of our sufferings to keep up a Reverence for thy Justice and to reclaim us from our iniquities and this fiery Tryal comes to purge us from our dross and to chastize us for our past Offences as well as to prove our present Obedience and Constancy to thy Holy Laws Our Peace O! Holy Father had made us loose and contentious and our Plenty had served chiefly to maintain Pride Luxury And the worldly Endowments about Religion had stoln our Affections away from it and instead of continuing thankful true to thee our hearts grew covetous and ambitious after them and preferr'd and took up with them for their Portion We are O! Lord a stubborn and a stiff-necked People still lifting up our selves against thee and against thy Vice-gerents We are given to Hypocrisie and take delight in Lyes Oppression and Rapine are to be found in our dwellings and Drunkenness and Adultery have grown common and fashionable Wickednesses have set up without shame in our streets Thy pure Worship and Service had been grievously and shamefully neglected or carelesly and indevoutly attended before it was given up to be persecuted amongst us And thine Holy Things have been desiled thy Ministers have been despised and evil intreated and thy Sacred and Dreadful Name has been commonly horribly prophaned by rash and false Oaths and by the most presumptuous terrible Imprecations Our Works O! Great and Righteous God have been Works of Iniquity and when thou hast called us we have not hearkened unto thee when thou hast smitten us we have not repented but have dealt proudly and hardned our necks against thy Word To us therefore O! Lord belongeth shame and sorrow and confusion of face and thou art Righteous in all that thou hast brought upon us Our sufferings are far below our deserts and we must needs justifie thee and condemn our selves But to thee O! God belongeth mercy and forgiveness though we have rebelled against thee And we return unto thee with true contrition and hearty repentance for all our Iniquities that thou mayest have Mercy upon us Oh! for the sake of thy Dear Son 's most pretious Blood pardon all our sins and purifie our souls Perfect our repentance and bring us home intirely to thy self and prevent all our back-slidings Help our slow and sloathful souls to be quick and vigorous and our drowsy spirits to be watchful in the ways of Righteousness Help thou us Good Lord for we are not able to help our selves and thou alone art our help And when our sufferings have by thy help and Grace reduced us to our duty we shall then O! Holy Father thankfully receive any Losses for Righteousness sake and look on all the violent attempts of the Enemy as so many instances and messengers of thy Mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 2. Out of the Office of Commination O! most Mighty God and Merciful Father who hast Compassion upon all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made who wouldest not the death of a sinner but that he should rather turn from his sin and be saved mercifully forgive us our Trespasses receive comfort us who are grieved and wearyed with the Burden of our sins Thy Property is always to have Mercy to thee alone it appertaineth to forgive sins Spare us therefore good Lord spare thy People whom thou hast redeemed enter not into judgment with thy servants who are vile earth and miserable sinners But so turn thine Anger from us who meekly acknowledge our vileness and truly repent us of our faults and so make hast to help us in this world that we may ever live with thee in the world to come through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Prayers under Persecutions as they are Tryals of our Obedience and bring upon us Losses for Righteousness I. A General Prayer for Mercies Qualifications needful in Suffering-times O Blessed Jesus Who now callest us out to bear thy Cross and to suffer Afflictions for thy sake who sufferedst a most ignominious Death for ours bring none of us to suffer till thou hast first prepared us for it nor let us suffer more or longer than thou wilt enable us willingly and thankfully to endure Let not any among us O! Lord come to suffer for our own follies nor be afraid to suffer for thy Righteousness And give us all Grace to live according to thy Precepts that we may all have Courage and Comfort in suffering for them Let us not take liberty to transgress some duties of our Holy Religion whilst we suffer for others nor ever hope to recommend our selves or our sufferings to thy merciful acceptance without studying to be intire in our godly care and having an eye to all thy Laws And when our Afflictions press most upon us let the Graces and Comforts of thy Holy Spirit abound most in us Whatever else we lose thereby let us not lose Truth and a good Conscience Preserve us steadfast in the belief of thy Heavenly and Oppressed Truths undaunted in the Profession of them Grant us patience to bear thy Cross and not grow faint or weary and meekness to bear our Persecutors and not grow angry and bitter of spirit and Charity to forgive their Wrongs and to overcome their evil with good Strengthen our Faith of thy Heavenly Joys to recompence all these earthly sufferings and of thy never-failing Help and Grace to assist and support us under them and to deliver us from the same in thy due time Let the greatness of our distresses drive us to be more constant and earnest in our Prayers And as fast as Afflictions come from our Persecutors let succours and supports still come from thee O! Let us always have thy strength to bear us up and find thee an help at hand in our greatest needs and then our patience and godly steadfastness shall triumph over all the malice of our Persecutors And suffer us not O! Father of Mercies to be dashed to pieces in this storm swallowed up in these waves But in thy tenderness to our infirmities after we have suffered a while send us ease Shorten the days of these sufferings and hasten thy coming for our Deliverance and bring us at length to everlasting rest and peace in thy Heavenly Kingdom through JESVS CHRIST our Lord. Amen 2. A Prayer Out of the Litany O! God Merciful Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful Mercifully assist our Prayers which we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppress us and graciously hear us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh
it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it Mat. 16. 25. Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due time we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners lest ye be weary and faint in your minds Heb. 12. 2. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth Isa. 42. 4. Because iniquity of persecutors shall abound the love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved Mat. 24. 12 13. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Here is the patience and faith of the Saints Rev. 13. 10. 9. With Prayer and unwearied Devotion Be patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. Take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may able to stand in the evil day Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Eph. 6. 13. 18. Is any among you afflicted let him pray Jam. 5. 13. For my love they are my adversaries but I will give my self unto prayer Psal. 109. 4. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching Heb. 10. 23 25. 10. With Charity towards Persecutors 1. When ye suffer for well-doing take it patiently for this is acceptable with God 1 Pet. 2. 20. And be ready to give an answer to every man that seeth you suffer and asketh a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and reverence 1 Pet. 3. 18. Bless those that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you That you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven who doth good to the just and unjust Mat. 5. 44 45. Moreover Hereunto are ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2. 21 23. He was oppressed and brought as a Lamb to the slaughter yet he opened not his mouth Isa. 53. 7. When they Crucified him then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luk. 23. 34. They stoned Stephen and he kneeled down and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7. 59. 60. Being reviled we bless being persecuted we suffer it being defamed we intreat or intercede for our defamers 1 Cor. 4. 12 13. 2. Let not thy heart envy sinners but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long For surely there is an end and thy expectation shall not be cut off Prov. 23. 17 18. Fret not thy self because of evil men neither be thou envious against the wicked For there shall be no reward to the evil man the candle of the wicked shall be put out Prov. 24. 19 20. Rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth Lest the Lord see it and it displease him and he turn away his wrath from him to thee Prov. 24. 17 18. Charity suffereth long charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up Doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh or imputeth no evil Rejoyceth not in iniquity beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things And though I give my body to be burned and have not this charity it profiteth me nothing 1 Cor. 13. 3 4 5 6 7. Bless them which persecute you bless and curse not Recompence to no man evil for evil Avenge not your selves but give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 14 17 19 20 21. 11. With Charity towards the Persecuted 1. I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the Daughter of my People Isa. 22. 4. O! that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughter of my People Jer. 9. 1. Wâ— unto them that are at ease in Sion that lye upon beds of Ivory That chaunt to the sound of the Viol that drink Wine in Bowls and anoint themselves with the chief Oyntments but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph Am. 6. 1 3 4 5 6. Whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member be honoured all the members rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12. 26. Rejoyce with them that do rejoyce and weep with them that weep Rom. 12. 15. 2. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body Heb. 13. 3. Be not thou ashamed of the Testimony of the Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my Chain But when he was in Rome he sought me out very diligently and found me 2 Tim. 1. 8 16 17. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions partly whilst ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilst ye became Companions of them that were so used For ye had compassion of me in my bonds took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance Heb. 10. 32 33 34. Beloved thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers which have born witness of thy Charity before the Church whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort thou shalt do well Because that for his Name sake they went forth We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth 3 Jo. 5 6 7 8. He that receiveth a Prophet in the Name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward and he that receiveth a Righteous Man in the Name of a Righteous Man shall receive a Righteous Mans reward And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the Name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Mat. 10. 41 42. I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat thirsty and ye gave me no drink A stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in
Blessedness of coming to live with thee for ever after I am dead than with the pains of Death it self And whatever Terror it would otherwise strike into me let it arm my Spirit and sweeten all to think that I die for thee and that I die to be received into thine Eternal Mercy Lord perfect and accept my Repentance and pardon all my Sins and give me Patience and Presence of Mind to the last Let me die like a Christian with Faith and Charity willingly giving up my Life for a Testimony to thy ways and pouring out my Soul in Devotion towards thee and in Prayers for my persecutors till from my Body it shall pass into the Arms of thy Mercy and there be comfortably received by thee thro' the Merits and Mediation of my only Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen 9. Short Prayers for the Condemned Prisoner for Righteousness in his last Extremities or at other times as he sees cause 1. O! Merciful Father I throw my self upon thy Mercy and most undeserved Favour as a poor wretched Sinner I infinitely need it and most earnestly desire it And I humbly hope for the same to pardon all the Sins and Follies of my Life and to accept this Offering of my Death thro' the abundance of thy Grace and thro' the sole Merits and Mediation of my blessed Lord and only Saviour Jesus Christ Amen 2. LOrd now the World is casting of me off I seek to thee to take me in Do not thou reject me when they do for I am thy Servant Receive me for I am coming to thee Receive me for thou callest me Receive me lovingly O! my dear God for I dearly love thee and am forsaking all to injoy thee I have nothing dearer to me in this World than my Life and that I am now making thee an humble Present of and parting with it for thy Cause And in this Oblation of my self be thou pleased O! blessed Jesu first to wash me with thy Blood and to dress me with the Graces of thy Spirit that I may be an holy and acceptable Offering And then do thou vouchsafe O! Holy Father Graciously to accept the same for thy dearest Son and my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ's sake Amen 3. O! Jesu forgive me all my Sins and forgive all my Persecutors and grant them timely and true Repentance Now I am suffering for thy Cause let me be sure of thy Support and Assistance Now I am brought to dye for the ways of thy Righteousness let them have Honour Service by my Death Make it to work Godly Zeal and Stedfastness in thy Followers and Relenting and remorse in their Persecutors and to carry me to those most joyful and happy Mansions which thou hast prepared for all those who faithfully serve and suffer for thee in thy Fathers Kingdom Amen 10 A Thanksgiving for Deliverance when he is brought upon his Tryal for the Cause of Righteousness or for his being set at Liberty BLessed be thy Name O! Almighty Father who hast delivered me out of the Hands of those who â—ought my Life and hast set my Feet in a large Room Thou hast delivered the poor from him that was too strong for him Thou hast delivered him who served thee and counted not his own Life so dear to him as the shewing his Love and Fâ—delity unto thy Laws Thou hast delivered him because he loved thy Name and put his whole Trust in thee Lord I will be glad and rejoyce in thy Salvation I will ever praise thy Love and Goodness which is abundant in kindness and Succors towards those who fear thee and are ready to expose their own Pesons in thy Cause I will ever magnifie thy Faithfulness which hath not suffered thy Care of me to slacken nor thy sure word and promises to fail And I will ever Reverently and Thankfully adore thy Widom and Power and Justice which turn the Councels of the Wicked into Foolishness and take the crafty in their own Snares which crown thy Servants Heads with Joy and Glory but cover their Enemies with Grief and Shame which shew plainly unto all who are willing to see the same that it is extream folly to fight against thee and that they are in the sure way of Safety and Happiness who make thee their Strength and place their chiefest Security and advantage in thy good providence and gracious Promises and in keeping stedfast to thy ways And let all those that love thee O! Lord rejoyce and be glad in thee Make them Triumph in thy Righteousness and trust themselves to thy Care But put thine Enemies and mine in fear that they may sin no more And bring them to repent of their persecuting thee and thy Servants that they may not be brought to suffer for the same in the Day of Vengeance And keep me ever mindful O! blessed Father of this most merciful Deliverance that I may spend all the Days of that Life which thou hast now renewed to me in thy Service and learn thereby evermore to trust thee yea tho' the Pit be ready to shut her Mouth upon me and to place my chiefest comfort and safety in keeping stedfast to thy Laws which will be sure either to make my Sufferings end here in present Deliverance or to recompence them hereafter with unspeakable and everlasting Joys throuh the Merits and Mediation of my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen FINIS The Contents of the Office for those who suffer for Righteousness THe Introduction Page 1. Scriptures for Receiving Persecutions 1. As Chastisements of former Offences p. 9. 2. As Tryals of Obedience and as bringing Losses for Righteousness Which are to be received with 1. Contentedness and Thankfulness p. 11. 2. Free Confession of Christ and his Truths p. 13. 3. Integrity and Prudent Caution p. 14. 4. Stedfastness and Constancy p. 16 5. Faith p. 17. 6. Trust in God p. 20. 7. Against Trusting more in other Things than in God and fixing too much on Earthly Dependances p. 22. 8. With Patience p. 25. 9. With Prayers and unwearied Devotion p. 28. 10. With Charity towards Persecutors p. 29. and 11. towards Persecuted p. 33. 12. Motives to Suffer p. 36. 13. For Deliverance from Persecution p. 39. 14. For Trust in God to be preserved under the Same and Delivered from them p. 41. 15. An Hymn of thanksgiving for Deliverance from Persecutions p. 42. Prayers under Persecutions 1. As Chastisements of Offences a Penitent Prayer p. 47. Another out of the Office of Comminat p. 50. 2 As Tryals of Obedience and bringing Losses for Righteousness A General Prayer for Mercyes and Qualifications needful in Suffering Times p 51. Another out of the Litany p. 54. Particular Prayers for 1. Integrity and not Seeking to evil ways for Help p. 54. 2. Constancy in Persecuted Dutyes Against being 1. Turned aside by worldy Dangers or Losses p. 56. 2. or Shaken in mind or Scandalized 1. By Defection of others or variety of Opinions