when we present our selves to God having received Christs body within us we are sure to be accepted and all the good prayers we make to God for our selves others are sure to be heard Quest Who are fit to receive this Sacrament Ans. None but baptized Christians and such as repent of their sins and heartily purpose to lead a good life Quest What other Ministeries hath Christ ordained in his Church to help us and to bring so many great purposes to pass Ans. Jesus Christ hath appointed Ministers and Embassadors of his own to preach his Word to us to pray for us to exhort and to reprove to comfort and instruct to restore and reconcile us if we be overtaken in a fault to visit the sick to separate the vile from the precious to administer the Sacraments and to watch for the good of our souls Quest What are we tied to perform towards them Ans. To pay them honour and maintenance to obey them in all things according to the Gospel and to order our selves so that they may give account of our souls with chearfulness and joy Quest Which are the Commandments and Laws of Jesus Christ Ans. They are many but easie holy but very pleasant to all good â—…indes to such as desire to live well 〈◊〉 this world and in the world to â—…ome and they are set down in â—…he Sermons of our blessed Lord â—…nd of his Apostles but especially â—…n the 5. 6. 7. Chapters of S. Matâ—…hew AN EXPOSITION OF The Apostles CREED I believe in God I Believe that there is a God who is one true supreme and alone infinitely wise just good free eternal immense and blessed and in him alone we are to put our trust The Father Almighty I believe that he is 1. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and 2. of all that believe in him whom he hath begotten by his Word and adopted to the inheritance of Sons and because he is our Father he will do us all that good to which we are created and designed by grace and because he is Almighty he is able to perform it all and therefore we may safely believe in him and relie upon him Maker of Heaven and Earth He made the Sun and the Moon the Stars and all the regions of glory he made the Air the Earth and the Water and all that live in them he made Angels and Men and he who made them does and he onely can preserve them in the same beeing and thrust them forwards to a better he that preserves them does also govern them and intends they should minister to his glory and therefore we are to do worship and obedience to him in all that we can and that he hath commanded And in Jesus Christ I also believe in Jesus Christ who is and is called a Saviour and the Anointed Anointed of the Lord promised to the Patriarchs whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power to become the Great Propheâ—… and declarer of his Fathers Will to all the world telling us how God will be worshipped and served he is anointed to be the Mediator of the New Covenant and our High-Priest reconciling us to his Father by the Sacrifice of himself and to be the Great King of all the world and by this Article we are Christians who serve and worship God the Father through Jesus Christ His onely Son Jesus Christ is the Son of God he alone of him alone for God by his holy Spirit caused him to be born of a Virgin by his power he â—…ised him from the Dead and gave â—…im a new birth or beeing in the boâ—…y he gave him all power and all â—…xcellency and beyond all this he 〈◊〉 the express Image of his person â—…he brightness of his glory equal to God beloved before the beginning of â—…he world of a nature perfectly Diâ—…ine very God by essence and very Man by assumption as God all one â—…n nature with the Father and as Man one Person in Himself Our Lord Jesus Christ Gods onely Son is the Heir of all things and persons in his Fathers house All Angels and Men are his servants and all the Creatures obey him we are to believe in him and by Faith in him onely and in his Name we shall be saved Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost I believe that Jesus Christ was not begotten of a Man nor born by natural means but that a Divine Power from God Gods Holy Spirit did overshadow the Virgin-Mother of Christ and made her in a wonderful manner to conceive Jesus in her womb and by this his admirable manner of being conceived he was the Son of God alone and no man was his Father Born of the Virgin Mary Though God was his Father and he begat him by the power of the Holy Ghost and caused him miraculously to begin in the womb of his Mother yet from her he also derived his humane Nature and by his Mother he was of the Family of King David and called the Son of Man his Mother being a holy person not chosen to this great honour for her wealth or beauty but by the good will of God and because she was of a rare exemplar modesty and humility and she received the honour of being a Mother to the Son of God and ever a Virgin and all generations shall call her blessed Suffered under Pontius Pilate After that Jesus passed through â—…he state of Infancy and Childhood â—…eing subject to his Parents and working in an humble Trade to serve â—…is own and his Mothers needs he â—…rew to the state of a man he began to preach at the age of Thirty years and having for about three years and a half preached the â—…pel and taught us his Fathers will having spoken the Gospel of his Kingdome and revealed to us the secrets of Eternal life and Resurrection of the Dead Regeneration and Renewing by the Holy Spirit Perfect Remission of sins and Eternal Judgement at last that he might â—…cile the world to his Father he became a Sacrifice for all our sins and suffered himself to be taken by the malicious Jews and put to a painful and shameful death they being envious at him for the number of his Disciples and the reputation of his person the innocence of his life the mightiness of his Miracles and the power of his Doctrine and this death he suffered when Pontius Pilate was Governour of Judea Was Crucified Jesus Christ being taken by the Rulers of the Jews bound and derided buffeted and spit upon accused weakly and persecuted violently at last wanting matter and pretences to condemn him they asked him of his Person and Office and because he affirmed that great Truth which all the world of good men long'd for that he was the Messias and designed to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on high they resolved to call it Blasphemy
he that hath given the following Assistances to thee desires to be even a door-keeper in Gods House and to be a servant of the meanest of Gods servants and thinks it a worthy imployment to teach the most ignorant and make them to know Christâ—… though but in the first rudiments of a holy Institution This onely he affirms That there is more solid comfort and material support to a Christian spirit in one Article of Faith in one period of the Lords Prayer in one holy Lesson then in all the disputes of impertinent people who take more pains to prove there is a Purgatory then to perswade men to avoid Hell And that a plain Catechism can more instruct a soul then the whole dayes prate which some daily spit forth to bid men get Christ and persecute his Servants Christian Religion is admirable for its wisdome for its simplicity and he that presents the following papers to thee designs to teach thee as the Church was taught in the early dayes of the Apostles To believe the Christian Faith and to understand it to represent plain Rules of Good Life to describe easie Formes of Prayer to bring into your Assemblies Hymnes of Glorification and Thanksgiving and Psalms of Prayer By these easie paths they lead Christs little ones into the Fold of their great Bishop and if by this any service be done to God any ministery to the Soul of a Childe or an ignorant Woman it is hoped that God will accept it and it is reward enough if by my Ministery GOD will bring it to passe that any Soul shall be instructed and brought into that state of good things that it shall rejoyce for ever But do thou pray for him that desires this to thee and endevours it ERRATA Page 87. 1.2 for me r. us ibid. f. me r. us ibid. 1.3 f. me r. us ib. 1.5 f. me r. us ibid. f. me r. us ibid 1.6 f. my r. our CREDENDA OR What is to be Believed O {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Plato de legibus Let this Truth be confessed and remain for ever That they who are well instructed easily become good men A. SHORT CATECHISM FOR The institution of young persons IN THE Christian Religion QUESTION IN what does true Religion consist ANSWER In the knowledge of the one true â—…od and whom he hath sent Jesus â—…hrist and in the worshipping and â—…rving them Quest What dost thou believe conâ—…rning God Answ. That there is a God 〈◊〉 That he is one 3. Eternal 4. Alâ—…ighty 5. That he hath made all â—…he world 6. That he knows all things 7. That he is a Spirit not of any shape or figure or parts or body 8. That he is present is all places 9. That his seat is in Heaven and he governs all the world so that nothing happens without his order and leave 10. That he is the Fountain of Justice 11. of Mercy 12. of Bounty or Goodness 13. That he is unalterably happy and infinitely perfect 14. That no evil can come near him 15. And he is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Quest What other Mystery is revealed concerning God Ans. That God being one in nature is also three in Person expressed in Scripture by the names of Father Son and Holy Spirit The first Person being known to us by the name of The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ The second Person is called The Son and the Word of the Father The third is The Spirit and Promise of the Father and these are Three and One after a secret manner which we must believe but cannot understand Quest What is this God to us Ans. He is our Creator and Father and therefore he is our Lord and we are his Creatures his Sons and his Servants Quest Wherefore did God create and make us Ans. That we might do him honour and service and receive from him infinite felicities Quest How did God make man Ans. By the power of his Word out of the slime of the earth and he breathed into him the breath of life Quest Was man good or bad when God made him Ans. Man was made pure and innocent Quest How then did man become sinful and miserable Ans. By listening to the whispers of a tempting spirit and breaking an easie Commandment which God gave him as the first tryal of his obedience Quest What evils and change followed this sin Ans. Adam who was the first man and the first sinner did both for himself and his posterity fall into the state of death of sickness and misfortunes disorder both of body and soul we were thrown out of Paradise and lost our Immortality Quest Was man left in these evill without remedy Ans. No But God pitying his creature promised That of the seed of the woman he would raise up a Saviour and Redeemer who should restore us to Gods favour and to the felicity which we lost Quest How did God perform the promise Ans. By sending Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature to dye for our sins to become our Lord and the Author of holiness and life and salvation to mankinde Quest Who is Jesus Christ Ans. He is the Son of God the second Person of the holy Trinity equal with the Father true God without beginning of life or end of days Quest How then could he be our Redeemer and the promised seed of the woman Ans. The Son of God in the fulness of time by the miracles of his Mercy took upon him humane Nature and united it after a wonderful manner to his Godhead so that he was both God and Man He was born of a Virgin who conceived him not by any natural means but by the power of the Holy Ghost and was called Jesus Christ and his Mothers name was Mary of the seed of Abraham of the family of King David and all these things came to passe when Augustus Caesar was Lord of the Roman Empire Quest How did Jesus Christ work this promised Redemption for us Ans. By his holy and humble life and his obedient dying a painful death for us upon the Cross Quest What benefits do we receive by the life and death of Jesus Christ Ans. We are instructed by his Doctrine encouraged by his excellent Example we are reconciled to God by his Death He hath given us an excellent Law and glorious Promises and himself hath received power to make good all those Promises to his servants and fearfully to destroy them that will not have him to reign over them Quest What Promises hath Jesus Christ made us in the Gospel Ans. He hath promised to give us all that we need in this life That every thing shall work together for our good That he will be with us in tribulation and persecution He hath promised his Graces and his holy Spirit to enable us to do our duty and if we make use of these
Throne and the Angels having gathered together Gods Elect from the four Corners of the world and all the kindreds of the earth being brought before the Judgement-feat shall have the Records of their Conscience laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their memory to convince the wicked of the Justice of the Judge in passing the fearful Sentence upon them and to glorifie the mercies of God towards his Redeemed ones and then the righteous Judge shall condemn the wicked to the portion of Devils for ever to a state of torments the second and eternal and intolerable death and the godly being placed on his right hand shall hear the blessed Sentence of Absolution and shall be led by Christ to the participation of the glories of his Fathers Kingdome for ever and ever Amen I believe in the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit Who is the third person of the holy â—…ndivided everblessed Trinity which 〈◊〉 worship and adore and admire â—…ut look upon with wonder and am â—…ot in a capacity to understand I â—…elieve that the Holy Spirit into whose name as of the Father and the â—…on I was baptized is the heavenly Author the Captain the Teacher and the Witness of all the Truths of the Gospel That as the Father sent the Son so the Son from heaven sent the Holy Spirit to lead the Church into all Truth to assist us in all Temptations and to help us in the purchase of all Vertue This Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and our Lord Jesus received him from his Father and sent him into the world who receiving the things of Christ and declaring the same excellent doctrines speaks whatsoever he hath heard from him and instructed the Apostles and builds the Church and produces Faith and confirms our Hope and increases Charity and this Holy Spirit our blessed Lord hath left with his Church for ever by which all the servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary tâ—… Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do and we speaâ—… by the Spirit and work by the Spirit when by his assistances any waâ—… imparted to us we speak or do anâ—… thing of our duty He it is whâ—… inlightens our Understandings 〈◊〉 our Will orders and commands our Affections he comfoâ—… our sorrows supports our spirits iâ—… trouble and enables us by Promisâ—… and Confidences and Gifts to â—…suff for the Lord Jesus and the Gospelâ—… and all these things God the Fathâ—… does for us by his Son and the Soâ—… by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit by all means within and without which are operative upon and proportionable to the nature of reasonable creatures This is he whâ—… works Miracles gives the gifts ofâ—… Prophesie and of interpretation that teaches us what and how tâ—… pray that gives us Zeal and holy Desires who sanctifies children iâ—… Baptism and confirms them with his grace in Confirmation and reproves the world and consecrates Bishops and all the Ministers of the Gospel and absolves the penitent blesses â—…he obedient and comforts the sick and excommunicates the refractary and makes intercession for the Saints that is the Church and those whom he hath blessed appointed and sanctified to these purposes do all these Ministeries by his Authority and his Commandment and his Aids This is he that testifies to our Spirits that we are the sons of God and that makes us to cry Abba Father that is who inspires into us such humble confidences of our being accepted in our hearty and constant endevours to please God that we can with chearfulness and joy call God our Father and expect and hope for the portion of sons both here and hereafter and in the certainty of this hope to work out our salvation with fear and reverence with trembling and joy with distrust of our selves and mighty confidence in God By this holy and ever-blessed Spirit several persons in the Church and every man in his proportion receives the gifts of Wisdome and utterance and Knowledge and Interpretation and Prophecy and Healing and Government and discerning of Spirits and Faith and Tongues and whatsoever can be necessary for the Church in several ages and periods for her beginning for her continuance for her in prosperity and for her in persecution This is the great Promise of the Father and it is the gift of God which he will give to all them that ask him and who live piously and chastely and are persons fit to entertain so Divine a Grace This Holy Spirit God gives to some more to some less according as they are capable They who obey his Motions and love his Presence and improve his Gifts shall have him yet more abundantly but they that grieve the holy Spirit shall lose that which they have and they that extinguish him belong not to Christ but are in the state of reprobation and they that blaspheme this holy Spirit and call him the Spirit of the Devil or the Spirit of Error or folly or do malicious despites to him that is they who on purpose considering and choosing do him hurt by word or by deed so far as iesâ—… in them shall for ever be separated from the presence of God and of Christ and shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Lastly this holy Spirit seals us to the day of Redemption that is God gives us his Holy Spirit as a testimony that he will raise us again at the last day and give us a portion in the glories of his Kingdome in the inheritance of our Lord Jesus The holy Catholick Church I believe that there is and ought to be a visible Company of men professing the service and discipline that is the Religion of the Gospel who agree together in the belief of all the Truths of God revealed by Jesus Christ and in confession of the Articles of this Creed and agree together in praying and praising God through Jesus Christ to reade and hear the Scriptures read and expounded to provoke each other to love and to good works to advance the honour of Christ and to propagate his Faith and Worship I believe this to be a Holy Church Spirituall and not Civill and Secular but sanctified by their Profession and the solemn Rites of it professing holiness and separating from the evil manners of heathens and wicked persons by their Laws and Institutions And this Church is Catholick that is it is not confin'd to the Nation of the Jews as was the old Religion but it is gathered out of all Nations and is not of a differing Faith in differing places but alwayes did doth and ever shall profess the Faith which the Apostles preached and which is contained in this Creed which whosoever believes is a Catholick and a Christian and he that believes not is
neither This Catholick Church I believe that is I believe whatsoever all good Christians in all ages and in all places did confess to be the Catholick and Apostolick Faith The Communion of Saints That is the Communion of all Christians because by reason of their holy Faith they are called Saints in Scripture as being begotten by God into a lively Faith and cleansed by Believing and by this Faith and the profession of a holy life in obedience to Jesus Christ they are separated from the world called to the knowledge of the truth justified before God and indued with the holy Spirit of Grace foreknown from the beginning of the world and predestinated by God to be made conformable to the image of his Son here in holiness of life hereafter in a life of glory and they who are Saints in their belief and profession must be so also in their practise and conversation that so they may make their calling and election sure lest they be Saints onely in name and title in their profession and institution and not in manners holiness of living that is lest they be so before men and not before God I believe that all people who desire the benefit of the Gospel are bound to have a fellowship and society with these Saints and communicate with them in their holy things in their Faith and in their Hope and in their Sacraments and in their Prayers and in their publick Assemblies and in their Government and must do to them all the acts of Charity and mutuall help which they can and are required to and without this Communion of Saints and a conjunction with them who believe in God through Jesus Christ there is no salvation to be expected which Communion must be kept in inward things alwayes and by all persons and testified by outward acts alwayes when it is possible and may be done upon just and holy conditions The forgiveness of sins I believe that all the sins I committed before I came to the knowledge of the Truth and all the slips of humane infirmity against which we heartily pray and watch and labour and all the evil habits of which we repent so timely and effectually that we obtain their contrary graces and live in them are fully remitted by the blood of Christ which forgiveness we obtain by Faith and Repentance and therefore are not justified by the Righteousness of Works â—…d by the Righteousness of Faith â—…d we are preserved in the state of â—…rgivenest or justification by the â—…utis of a lively Faith and a timely active Repentance The Resurrection of the body I believe that at the last day all â—…hey whose sins are forgiven and who â—…ived and dyed in the Communion of Saints and in whom the holy Spirit did dwell shall rise from their graves their dead bones shall live and be clothed with flesh and skin and their bodies together with their souls shall enter into the portion of a new life and that this body shall no more see corruption but shall rise to an excellent condition it shall be Spiritual Powerful Immortal and Glorious like unto his glorious body who shall then be our Judge is now our Advocate our Saviour and our Lord And the life Everlasting I believe that they who have their part in this Resurrection shall mâ—… the Lord in the Air and when thâ—… blessed Sentence is pronounc'd upoâ—… them they shall for ever be with thâ—… Lord in joyes unspeakable and fuâ—… of glory God shall wipe all teaâ—… from their eyes there shall be 〈◊〉 fear or sorrow no mourning oâ—… death a friend shall never go away from thence and an enemy shall never enter there shall be fulneâ—… without want light eternal brighteâ—… then the Sun day and no night joy and no weeping difference iâ—… degree and yet all full there is loâ—… without dissimulation excellency without envy multitudes without confusion musick without discord there the Understandings are rich the Will is satisfied the Affections are all love and all joy and they shall reign with God and Christ for ever and ever Amen This is the Catholick Faith which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved Tertull. de velandis Virgin Regula quidem fidei una omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis credendi scil. in unicum Deum Omnipotentem c. Hac lege fidei manente caetera jam disciplinae conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis operante scil. proficiente usque in finem Gratiâ Dei The Rule of Faith is wholly one unalterable never to be mended never changed to wit I believe in God c. This Law of Faith remaining in other things you may encrease and grow S. Aug. de Fide Symb. Haec est fides quae paucis verbis tenenda in symbolo Novellis datur Quae pauca verba fidelibus nota sunt ut credendo subjugentur Deo subjugati rectè vivant â—…ecte vivendo cor mundent corde mundo quod credunt intelligant This is the Faith which in few words is given to Novices These few words are known to all the faithful that by believing they may bâ—… subject to God by this subjectioâ—… they may live well by living wâ—… they may purifie their hearts anâ—… with pure hearts they may reliâ—… and understand what they do believe Max. Taurin de Tradit Symb. Symbolum tessera est 〈◊〉 quo inter Fideles Perfidosâ—… secernitur This Creed is the Badge or Cognisance by which the Faithful are discerned from Unbelievers Hujus Catholici Symboli breviâ—… perfecta Confessio quae duodecim Apostolorum totidem est signata sententiis tam instructa sit in munitione coelesti ut omnes Haereticorum â—…pinionoes solo possint gladio detrunâ—…ri Leo M. ad Pulcheriam Aug. This short and perfect Confession of this Catholick Creed which was consigned by the Sentences of twelve Apostles is so perfect a celestial Armour that all the Opinions of Hereticks may by this alone as with a sword be cut in pieces AGENDA OR Things to be done Inscripta Christo pagina immortalis est Nec obsolescit ullus in coelis apex Prudent {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hymn 10. THE DIARY OR RULE to spend each Day religiously §. 1. â—… SUppose every day to be a day of business for your whole life is a race â—…nd a battel a merchandise and a jourâ—…ey Every day propound to your self 〈◊〉 Rosary or a Chaplet of good Works to â—…resent to God at night 2. Rise as soon as your health and other occasions shall permit but it is good to be as regular as you can and as early Remember he that rises first to Prayer hath a more early title to a blessing But he that changes night into day labour into idleness watchfulness to sleep changes his hopes of blessing into a dream 3. Never let any
perfeâ—… knowledge my weaknesses and disâ—… 〈◊〉 the strength and beauties of the Sons â—…f God V. â—…N the mean time use what means thou 〈◊〉 pleasest to conform me to the image of â—…hy holy Son that I may be gentle to â—…thers and severe to my self that I may â—…t down in the lowest place striving to â—…o before my brother in nothing but in â—…oing him and thee honour staying for â—…ny glory till thou shalt please in the day â—…f recompences to reflect light from thy â—…ace and admit me to behold thy glories Grant this for Jesus Christs sake who â—…umbled himself to the death and shame of the Cross and is now exalted unto glory Unto him with thee O Father be glory and praise for ever and ever Amen For MUNDAY A Prayer against Covetousness I. O Almighty God eternal Treasure of all good things thou fillest all things with plenteousness Thou clothest the lillies of the field and feedest the young ravens that call upon thee Thou art all-sufficient in thy self and all-sufficient to us let thy Providence be my store-house thy dispensation of temporal things the limit of my labour my own necessity the measures of my desire but never let my desires of this world be greedy nor my labourimmoderate nor my care vexatious and distracting but prudent moderate holy subordinae to thy Will the measure thou hast appointed for me II. TEach me O God to despise the world to labour for the true riches â—…o seek the Kingdome of heaven and its â—…ighteousness to be content with what â—…hou providest to be in this world like a â—…tranger with affections set upon heaven â—…abouring for and longing after the posâ—…estions of thy Kingdomes but never â—…uffer my affectious to dwell below but â—…ive me a heart compassionate to the â—…oor liberal to the needy open and free â—…n all my communications without base â—…nds or greedy designes or unworthy â—…rts of gain but let my strife be to gain â—…hy favour to obtain the blessedness of doâ—…ng good to others and giving to them â—…hat want and the blessedness of receivingâ—…rom thee pardon and support grace and â—…oliness perseverance and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord For TUESDAY A Prayer against Lust I. O Eternal Purity thou art brighter then the Sun purer then the Angels and the Heavens are not clean in thy sight with mercy behold thy servant apt to be tempted with every object and to be overcome by every enemy I cannot O God stand in the day of battel and danger unless thou coverest me with thy shield and hidest me under thy wings The fiery darts of the Devil are ready to consume me unless the dew of thy grace for ever descend upon me Thou didst make me after thy image be pleased to preserve me so pure and spotless chaste and clean that my body may be a holy Temple and my soul a sanctuary to entertain thy divinest Spirit the Spirit of love and holiness the Prince of Purities II. REprove in me the spirit of Fornication and Uncleanness and fill my soul with holy fires that no strange fire may come into the Temple of my body where thou hast chosen to dwell O cast out all those unclean spirits which have unhallowed the place where thy holy feet have trod Pardon all my hurtfull thoughts all my impurities that I who am a member of Christ may not become the member of a harlot nor the slave of 〈◊〉 Devil nor a servant of lust and 〈◊〉 desires But do thou purifie my 〈◊〉 and let me seek the things that are 〈◊〉 hating the garments spotted with the 〈◊〉 never any more grieving thy holy 〈◊〉 by filthy inclinations with impure 〈◊〉 phantastick thoughts but let my 〈◊〉 be holy my soul pure my body 〈◊〉 and healthful my spirit severe 〈◊〉 and religious every day more and more that at the day of our appearing 〈◊〉 may be presented to God washed and cleansed pure and spotless by the blood of the holy Lamb through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For WEDNESDAY A Prayer against Gluttony and Drunkenness I. O Almighty Father of Men and Angels who hast of thy great bounty provided plentifully for all mankinde to support his state to relieve his necessities to refresh his sorrows to recreate his labours that he may praise thee and rejoyce in thy mercies and bounty Be thou gracious unto thy servant yet more and suffer me not by my folly to change thy bounty into sin thy grace into wantonness Give me the spirit of temperance and sobriety that I may use thy creatures in the same measures and to the same purposes which thou hast designed so as may best enable me to serve thee but not to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Let me not as Esau prefer meat before a blessing but subdue my appetite subjecting it to reason and the grace of God being content with what is moderate and useful and easie to be obtained taking it in due time receiving it thankfully making it to minister to my body that my body may be a good instrument of the soul and the soul a servant of thy Divine Majesty for ever and ever 11. PArdon O God in whatsoever I have offended thee by meat and drink and pleasures and never let my body any more be oppressed with loads of sloth and delicacies or my soul drowned in seas of â—…ine or strong drink but let my appeâ—…ites be changed into spiritual desires that 〈◊〉 may hunger after the food of Angels and thirst for the wine of elect souls and may account it meat and drink and pleasure to do thy will O God Lord let me â—…eat and drink so that my food may not become a temptation or a sin or a â—…ease but grant that with so much caution and prudence I may watch over my apâ—…petite that I may in the strength of thy â—…mercies and refreshmnets in the light of thy countenance and in the paths of thy Commandments walk before thee all the dayes of my life acceptable to thee in Jesus Christ ever advancing his honour and being filled with his Spirit that I may at last partake of his glory through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For THURSDAY A Prayer against Envy I. O Most gracious Father thou Spring of an Eternal Charity who hast so loved mankinde that thou didst open thy bosome and send thy holy Son to convey thy mercies to us and thou didst create Angels and Men that thou mightest have objects to whom thou mightest communicate thy goodness Give me grace to follow so glorious a precedent that I may never envy the prosperity of any one but rejoyce to honour him whom thou honourest to love him whom thou lovest to commend the vertuous to discern the precious from the vile giving honour to whom honour belongs that I may go to heaven in the noblest way of rejoycing in the good of others II. O Dear God never suffer the Devil to rub his vilest Leprosie of Envy