Q. Is it not very necessary for a man to examine himself well before he approach the Table of the Lord A. Yes let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup 1 Cor. 11.28 Q. Is it not a dangerous thing to eat and drink unworthily and irreverently A. Yes for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's body 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. Must we not therefore purge our selves from sin and all uncleanness of flesh and spirit before we come to eat and drink A. Yes purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Q. But must we let our soul be empty after it is thus purged from all manner of sins A. No as we must wash and make clean and put away the evil of our doings so we must learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judg the fatherless plead for the widow lest the unclean spirit return again and our last estate be worse than out first Isa 1.16 17. Luk. 11.26 Q. And will it not be dangerous to come to this feast if we want those spiritual graces which are the wedding-garment of the soul A. Yes and when the King came in to see the guests he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment and he said unto the servants bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matt. 22.11.13 Q. Should not that severe judgment make men afraid to approach without preparation A. Yes for who amongst us can dwell with everlasting burnings who amongst us can dwell with devouring sire Isa 33.14 Q. But is nâ—t life and happiness promised to the worthy Receivers A. Yes whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day for my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed John 6.54 Sect. 4. Honour due to God's name Of Swearing Q. IS it not the duty of every man to honour the excellent name of the great and glorious God A. Yes O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth take not the name of God in vain Ps 8.1 Exod. 20.7 Q. Is not blasphemy or the speaking evil of God the highest degree of which is cursing a very heinous crime deserving the severest punishment A. Yes and he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord he shall surely be put to death and all the congregation shall certainly stone him Lev. 24.16 Q. Should not the Prefessors of the Gospel live up to the principles of their Religion that they may not give occasion to others to blaspheme the name of God A. Yes thou that sayest a man should not commit Adultery doest thou commit Adultery thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking of the Law dishonourest thou God for the name of God is blasphemed amongst the Gentiles through you Rom. 2.22 23 24. Q. Is it net the name of God only by which men ought to swear and that with reverence and fear A. Yes how shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and swore by them that are no Gods Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name Jer. 5.7 Deut. 6.13 Q. When you swear to the truth of that you know is false or to the truth of that wherein you are doubtful do you not commit the sin of perjury which God hates and will punish A. Yes ye shall not swear by my name falsly neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God These are the things that ye shall do speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour and love no false oath for this is a thing that I do hate and the curse shall enter into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my name and it shall remain in the midst of his house and shall consume it Lev. 19.12 Zech. 8.17 5.4 Q. Must not an oath be taken in the plain and common sense of the words and doth not he who sweareth and hath no real purpose of making good his vow sin exceedingly A. Yes who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord he that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully When thou vowest a vow unto God defer not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in fools pay that which thou hast vowed better is it that thou shouldst not vow than that thou shouldst vow and not pay Ps 24.4 Eccl. 5.4 Q. Doth not an oath in any thing not sinful being taken oblige to performance A. Yes he that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not shall never be moved Ps 15.4 Q. Is it not then a great sin to violate oaths and vows if lawful A. Yes Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant when lo he had given his hand and hath done all these things he shall not escape therefore thus saith the Lord God As I live surely mine oath that he hath despised and my covenant that he hath broken even it I will recompence upon his own head Ezek. 17.18 19. Q. Is it not a very great sin for men to make a vow to God in their trouble and when they are delivered to forget to pay it A. Yes when thou vowest a vow to God defer not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in fools Better is it that thou shouldst not vow than that thou shouldst vow and not pay I will go into the house of God and pay my vows which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble Eccl. 5.4 5. Psal 66.13 14. Q. But does a vow upon the matter lawful cease to oblige to performance when the person himself is under subjection to another who protests against him when vowing A. Yes if a woman vow a vow unto the Lord and bind her self by a bond being in her Fathers house in her youth if her Father disallow her in the day that he heareth not any of her vows or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand and the Lord shall forgive her because her Father disallowed her Numb 30.3.5 Q. Since every oath we swear is the appealing to God to judg the truth of what we speak are not those vain and light oaths so usual in common discourse very sinful and a despising of God A. Yes I say unto you swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is God's throne nor by the Earth for it is his footstool therefore above all things my brethren swear not neither by
eyes walking and mincing as they go and making a tinkling with their feet therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughter of Zion and take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments Isa 3.16 17 18. Q. But may not those whom God hath placed in an higher condition than others wear gorgeous apparel A Yes behold they which are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in Kings Courts Luke 7.25 Q. Is not the distinguishing of persons in respect of sex another end of apparel A. Yes the woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man neither shall a man put on a womans garment for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God Deut. 22.5 Q. When men consider the original of cloaths have they any reason to be proud A. No and the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed sig-leaves together and made themselves aprons Gen. 3.7 Q. Are not Christian vertues the only rayment that will make men lovely in God's eyes A. Yes whose adorning let it not be that outward of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel but let it be in the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of ameek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3.3 4. CHAP. III. Concerning the duties we owe to our Neighbours Sect. 1. Of Iustice 1. To mens Souls 2. To their Bodies where the hazard of drawing men into sin and the heinousness of the sin of Murder is discovered Q. WHat is the sum of that duty we owe to our neighbours A. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Matt. 22.23 Q. Should we not then do to others what we would have them do to us A. Yes all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Mat. 7.12 Q. Doth not the Lord require that every man do justly A. Yes what doth the Lord require of thee O man but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Mic. 6.8 Q. And doth not God regard the perverting of justice in a Province A. Yes if thou seest the oppression of the poor and and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a Province marvel not at the matter for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they Eccl. 5.8 Q. Is it not a great act of injustice done to a mans soul to entice him to sin A. Yes wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye compass Sea and Land to make one proselyte and when he is made you make him twofold more the child of Hell than your selves Mat. 23.15 Q. Should we not studiously shun and wisely slight the wicked counsels of men A. Yes if sinners entice thee consent thou not if they say come with us let us lay wait for blood we shall find all precious substance walk thou not in the way with them refrain thy foot from their path Prov. 1.10 11 13 15. Q. Should we not be careful to do no wrong to the bodies of men A. Yes thou shalt not kill Exod. 20.13 Q. Is not the sin of murder a very heinous and crying sin A. Yes and the Lord said unto Cain what hast thou done the voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the ground Gen. 4.10 Q. Is there any pity to be given to those who lye in wait to shed innocent blood A. No thine eye shall not pity him but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood Deut. 19.13 Q. Is not the guilt of this sin so great that it leaveth a stain upon the Land where it is committed if it pass unpunished A. Yes by swearing and killing they break out and blood toucheth blood therefore shall the Land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish Hos 4.2 3. Q. Doth it not then bring temporal judgments upon a Kingdom A. Yes then there was a famine in the days of David three years year after year and David enquired of the Lord and the Lord answered it is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.1 Q. Is not the sin of murder an high contempt and despite towards God himself and therefore deserving a severe punishment because it is the defacing of his image A. Yes whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed for in the image of God made he man Gen. 9.6 Q. Will not this sin of murder be punished with everlasting torments also A. Yes but the fearful and abominable and murderers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 Q. Is not maiming a great injury and deserving severe punishment A. Yes under the Law it was eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot burning for burning wound for wound stripe for stripe Exod. 21.24 25. Q. Will it excuse a man to say that what he has done was only in return of some injury offered him by another A. No recompence no man evil for evil avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12.17 19. Sect. 2. Of Iustice about the possessions of our Neighbours against injuring him as to his Wife or his Goods of Oppression of paying of Debts and of Theft Q. SHould we not abstain from all covetous desires towards the possessions of our neighbours A. Yes thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Exod. 20.17 Q. Is it not the duty of every man to be content with his own portion A. Yes let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have Heb. 13.5 Q. Is not the enticing a mans wife the greatest injustice and the most irreparable and provoking injury A. Yes jealousy is the rage of a man therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance he will not regard any ransom neither will he rest content though thou givest many gifts Prov. 6.34 35. Q. Is not malicious injustice in wishing or doing mischief to our neighbour a very great sin A. Yes wo to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds and devise mischief therefore let all bitterness be put away from you with all malice Mic. 2.1 Psal 36.4 Eph. 4.31 Q. Are we not obliged to prevent the spoil destruction and damage of our neighbours goods although he were our enemy A. Yes if thou meet thine enemies ox or his asse going astray thou shalt surely bring it back to him again if thou see the asse of him that hateth thee lying under his burden and would'st
them is most true A. Yes all these sayings are faithful and true for holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Rev. 22.6 2 Pet. 1.21 Q. Do you then believe that the commands contained in the Scripture are most just A. Yes I esteem all these precepts concerning all things to be right Ps 119.128 Q. But will that belief save us if we do not what we are commanded A. No if we would enter into life we must keep the Commandments and if we do this we shall live For not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified Mat. 19.17 Luke 10.28 Rom. 2.13 Q. Do you also believe that all those severe threatnings in the word will certainly be executed upon every impenitent sinner A. Yes but the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and forcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone these words are true and faithful Rev. 21.8.5 Q. Do you also believe that the promises of God are sure A. Yes I am fully perswaded that what he hath promised he is able to perform and faithful is he that hath promised Râ—m 4.21 Heb. 11.11 Q. But is it not a folly to believe that the promises belong to you how wickedly soever ye live A. Yes having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Q. And was it not to plant a good life among men that Christ who is the foundation of all the promises came into the World A. Yes for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. Q. Our Faith in the promises then can never profit us if we perform not the conditions of the promises A. No as the body without the spirit is dead so Faith if it have not works is dead also Jam. 2.26 Q. But is there no pleasing of God without Faith A. No without Faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 Q. Is it not every mans duty to hope in God A. Yes it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of God let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption Jam. 3.26 Psal 130.7 Q. But is it not presumption to hope for mercy while we continue in our sins A. Yes every man that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure 1 Joh. 3.3 Q. What then will become of the hope of the hypocrite and the wicked A. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness but the expectation of the wicked shall perish and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost Prov. 10.28 Job 11.20 Q. But may not all that perform the conditions of the promises and who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before them be certain that their hope shall not be in vain A. Yes which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vail Heb. 6.19 Q. Is it not every man's duty to love God and Christ A. Yes thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind this is the first and great Commandment and if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be anathema maranatha Mat. 22.37 38. 1 Cor. 16.22 Q. Can we have true love to God when we keep not his Commandments A. No for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and he that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him 1 Joh. 5.3 and 2.4 Q. And will not those who have any true love to God desire to enjoy him in his Ordinances A. Yes how amiable are thy tabernacles O Lord of hosts my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the Living God for a day in thy Courts is better than a thousand Psal 84.1 2 10. Q. Will it serve our turn to say we love God A. No let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3.18 Q. Is it the duty of every man to fear God A. Yes I will forewarn ye whom you shall fear fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you fear him Luke 12.5 Q. Can any be said truly to fear God that is not thereby with-held from sin A. No the fear of the Lord is to hate evil and he that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord Prov. 8.13 14.2 Q. Is it not a folly to fear men more than God A. Yes In God have I put my trust I will not be affraid what man can do unto me Psal 56.11 Q. And is not their state of life secure who have God on their side A. Yes The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be affraid Psal 27.1 Q. And will not God even restrain the wrath of their enemies A. Yes when a mans ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16.7 Q. Is it not the duty of every man to trust in God A. Yes Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your heart before him God is a refuge for us Psal 62.8 Q. Is it not our wisdom then in all dangers to trust in God A. Yes What time I am affraid I will trust in God for the Lord delivereth the souls of his servants and none of them that put their trust in him shall be destitute Psal 34.22 Q. But may none expect to meet with deliverance from God in trouble but those that fear him A. No the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Psal 34.7 16. Q. May we not rely on the creatures for help A. No cursed is the man that trusteth in man and placeth his confidence in the arm of flesh Q. But may not a man commit the least sin for the saving of his possessions or his life A. No for what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 17.29 Q. Is it not our duty to trust God for a supply of our wants also A. Yes behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in
content with such things as ye have Heb. 13.5 Q. Must not he that sets his heart upon wealth necessarily take it off from God A. Yes ye cannot serve God and Mammon therefore if riches encrease set not your heart upon them Luke 16.13 Q. Is not covetousness a sin which betrayeth men to all other vices and which excludeth men from the Kingdom of Heaven A. Yes they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition for the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows And the covetous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Tim. 6.9 10. 1 Cor. 6.10 Q. Is it not a very unchristian sin to envy one another A. Yes if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not for where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work Jam. 3.14 16. Q. Since contentedness is so very lovely and desirable a vertue and so contrary to these vices which bring destruction upon men should we not study it in every condition A. Yes godliness with contentme is great gain for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out and having food and raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6.6 7 8. Q. Is it not every mans duty to be diligent and industrious both for his body and soul A. Yes be not sloathful in business be fervent in spirit serving the Lord. It is the hand of the diligent that maketh rich Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean men Rom. 12.11 Prov. 22.29 Q. Can the sloathful and careless man expect either a present or future happiness A. No I went by the field of the sloathful and lo it was all grown over with thorns Sloathfulness casteth into a dead sleep and an idle soul shall suffer hunger Prov. 24.30 31. 19.15 Q. But must we not especially be careful to husband and improve grace A. Yes giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg and to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly-kindness and to brotherly-kindness charity Grow in grace 2. Pet. 1.5 6 7. 3.18 Q. Will not God give more grace to him that improveth the little he hath A. Yes for unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance and if these things be in you and abound they make you that you neither shall be barren nor unfruitful Mat. 25.29 2 Pet. 1.8 Q. Are not the dangers that attend the neglect of grace very great A. Yes from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Mat. 25.29 Q. Is it not an heinous crime to despise the offers of grace A. Yes he that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the spirit of God Heb. 10.28 29. Q. Should not we then hearken to the voice of the Gospel which is the glad tidings of peace A. Yes see that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 11.25 Q. Is not the unprofitable servant to have a sad portion of wretchedness at judgment A. Yes cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25.30 Q. Is not the case of that man very sad who after he hath embraced the offers of grace falleth from his profession A. Yes if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him and if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledg of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins Heb. 10.38 26. Sect. 3. Of those vertues that concern our Bodies where 1. Of Chastity 2. Of Temperance in eating and drinking Q. IS not chastity a duty every man is bound to observe A. Yes for this is the will of God even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour 1 Thess 4.3 4. Q. Is not fornication which is contrary to chastity a sin which defileth our bodies A. Yes he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body 1 Cor. 6.18 Q. Is not uncleanness forbidden in the very lowest degree A. Yes ye have heard that it was said by them of old time thou shalt not commit adultery but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5.28 Q. And should we not guard our outward senses also A. Yes I made a covenant with mine eyes why then should I think upon a maid Job 31.1 Q. Should we not also shun all occasions of uncleanness A. Yes remove thy way far from her and come not nigh the door of her house Prov. 5.8 Q. Should we not also abstain from filthy communications and immodest speech A. Yes but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints neither filthiness nor foolish talking Eph. 5.3 4. Q. Is it not a very ready means to yield to the temptation when men listen to such filthy discourse A. Yes with her much fair speech she caused him to yield with the flattering of her lips she forced him he goeth after her straight-way Prov. 21.22 Q. And should we not resist all temptations thereunto A. Yes and it came to pass as she spake to Joseph day by day that he hearkned not unto her to lie by her or to be with her saying how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39.10 9. Q. Is not uncleanness a sin that clowds the understanding and makes men become very bruitish A. Yes whoso committeth adultery with a woman Iacketh understanding for he goeth after her straightway as an oxe goeth to the slaughter or as a fool to the correction of the stocks Prov. 6.32 7.22 Q. Is it not then a sin very huriful to the soul A. Yes he that doth it destroyeth his own soul Prov. 6.32 Q. Is it not very mischievous to the body also A. Yes go not astray after a strange woman for she hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slain by her her house is the way to hell going down to the chambers of death Prov. 7.26 27. Q. And doth not this
and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation Order my steps in thy word and teach me thy statutes Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments Thou art good and doest good teach me thy statutes encline mine heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity I am a stranger in the earth hide not thy commandments from me Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Take away the stony-heart and give me an heart of flesh that I may be renewed in the spirit of my mind and strengthned with might by thy spirit in the inward man O let the blood of Christ purge my conscience from dead works that I may serve the Living God Teach me thy way O Lord and I shall walk in thy truth unite my heart to fear thy name So teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes Head VI. In times of Affliction I Know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me thou art just in all that is brought upon me for thou hast done right but I have done wickedly But O contend not for ever be not always wroth lest the spirit should fail before thee and the soul which thou hast made Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness be for my comfort Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted the troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my distresses Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins with-hold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me for innumerable evils have compassed me about Be pleased O Lord to deliver me O Lord make hast to help me Behold O Lord for I am in distress my bowels are troubled mine heart is turned within me I weep mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me O Lord behold my affliction thou hast said thou dost not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me unto dust again Are not my days few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little before I go whence I shall not return even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death Head VII In the time of Sickness HAve mercy upon me O Lord for I am in trouble mine eye is consumed with grief my life is spent with sighing I am weary with my groaning all the night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with my tears my days are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt as an hearth mine age is departed and is removed from me as a Shepherd's tent with pining sickness from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me O my God take me not away in the midst of my days thy years are throughout all generations have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake for in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks The grave cannot praise thee death cannot celebrate thee they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth what shall I say my times are in thy hand O save me for thy mercies sake Remove thy stroke away from me I am consumed by the blow of thine hand When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth surely every man is vanity Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear unto my cry hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my Fathers were O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more Head VIII A Thanksgiving for Recovery I will extol thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up O Lord my God I cried unto thee and thou hast healed me O Lord thou hast brought up my soul from the grave thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies O Lord what shall I say thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption the living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live The sorrows of death compassed me and the pains of hell gat hold upon me I found trouble and sorrow I said in the cutting off of my days I shall go to the gates of the grave I am deprived of the residue of my years I said I shall not see the Lord even the Lord in the Land of the living I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the earth But thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling thou hast loosed my bonds O Lord truly I am thy servant I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer FINIS