Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	faith_n	holy_a	jesus_n	7,332	5	5.7358	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71231	Enter into thy closet, or A method and order for private devotion A treatise endeavouring a plain discovery of the most spiritual and edifying course of reading, meditation, and prayer; and so, of self examination, humiliation, mortification, and such most necessary Christian duties, by which we sue out the pardon of our sins from Heaven, and maintain an holy converse with God. Together with particular perswasives thereunto, and helps therein.	Wettenhall, Edward, 1636-1713.	1666 (1666)	Wing W1495B; ESTC R217163	97,436	340

who was ever with God and ever God heir of all things by whom aell things were made he was made slesh O ths depth of the love of God and Christ Whose soul can well hold to contemplate it Besides this admiration and dissolution of soul the thoughts hereof cannot but be thus further useful to me First seeing from what an infinite glory to what a mean nature and condition the Son of God himself the infinite God stooped for the help and saving of men I cannot but see my self in duty bound to the like humility meekness and condescension not to stand upon mine own petty interests and consult nothing but self when I have opportunity to do good to any infcriour that wants my succour Had Christ done so he had never been made flesh for me Now let the same mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus And again seeing to what an height of excellency the nature of mankind is now advanced it should prevail with me to put a due price upon it and never willingly to dishonour by any unworthy action what God himself hath so honoured Did God stoop to vindicate my nature from the contempt and tyranny of the devil and shall I notwithstanding all the condescensions of his grace still wilfully enslave and destroy my self Further God having united the nature of which I am a partner to him I should be ambitious of all meanes of uniting my self to him that is of doing all that may be on my part to further this union And especially the thoughts hereof should quicken me this day to a zealous participating his body and bloud Can I consider God made flesh for me God debasing himself to be one with me and is it possible that I can neglect what is so much for my honour and interest as the means of sealing my particular union with him How can I esteem my self doly to have celebrated the memory of his being made flesh if having means of partaking of that flesh which he took I neglect it And how much ingratitude must such neglect have in it Lastly seeing that one great end of our Saviours being incarnate was to be the true light to man in the pur suit of his happiness let me account it a noble degree of assimilation or being like my Saviour if I can in any measure be a light to any herein And if God have by office made me such let me prize and honour my imployment and manifest my value of it by my diligence in it The more light I give the nearer do I in my office come unto my Saviour Thus much then of incitement have I hence to my duty My other rules are not here so applicable Wherefore in the conclusion of my Maditations I consider what of new all that I have meditated doth suggest See Part. 11 ch 5. unto this dayes prayers And that I shall find to be matter of As to the first Praise Petition 1. The infinite goodness of God that he would at all think of restoring that nature which was now an enemy to him having wilfully fallen from him cannot if duly considered but melt my heart into thankful praise of him 2. That yet greater commendation of his goodness his infinite condescension his redeeming our nature in a way so glorious to it as was the assumption of it unto his own nature methinks should overcome my soul and wrap it into an extasie of praise and admiration In all likelihood infinite Wisdome might have thought of a course which would have been less honourable to man and would nor so much if I may so speak have humbled the Deity But he would not bring us to glory ingloriously The meer consideration therefore of the honour which our Lords Incarnation puts upon our ill deserving nature will not suffer me to be silent this day in his praises And as to matter of petition surely it cannot but be right seasonable to beseech 1. That all this may not be in vain unto me And 2. That to that end I may transcribe these Copies of goodness humility and purity which shone in our Saviours incarnation and walk in the light as well of his example as doctrine And all this I may do in some such words as these A Prayer to be added to my other daily Prayers on Christmas-day O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who out of thy meer goodness and pitty having promised thy Son to redeem faln mankind didst in the fulness of time faithfully performe with thine hand what thou hadst spoken with thy mouth and send him into the world made and about this time born of a woman I one of that redeemed though vile nature humbly adore this thy Grace and faithfulness Eternity Lord is too little to bless thee for it But Eternal praise is the greatest that I can wish thee and maist thou to eternity receive due glory for this thine infinite Goodness and Mercy O Thou the onely begotten Son by whom thine eternal Father made the Worlds who wast ever with God and ever God the brightness of his Glory and express Image of his Person yet wast pleased in time to be made flesh and pitch thy Tabernacle in our nature I part of the purchase of thy bloud poor dust and ashes but such as thine infinite Glory was pleased for my sake once to wear and now to glorifie and set above Angels most humbly bless thee as well for this thy condeseension as for the honour done to man Thou tookest not upon thee the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham thou did'st take Even so O Saviour for so it hath seemed good to thee Thou thoughtest not the Angelical nature low enough for thine Infinity to stoop to Most dear Jesus thou hast overcome me I would praise thee but I cannot further Accept my silent ravishment admiration and faith I believe Lord help my unbelief O holy Spirit the power of the most High who after an unconceiveable sort overshadowing the Virgin Mother did'st frame in her sacred Womb that Holy Thing which * That is was the Son of God For in Scripture many times being called and being word and thing are one and the same was called the Son of God For this thy most wonderful and fearful but to man most happy operation I unworthy man bless thee beseeching thee to inspire my heart that I may from this blessed Copy transcribe these Virtues of Goodness Humility Love Purity and what soever mine holy Saviour either by his Life or Doctrine hath caught me that so I walking in his light he may be to me life ever lasting to the praise of thee O Father Son and holy Spirit one undivided God Eternally Amen Chap. IV. An Exemplification of the former Rules in St. Stephen ' s day's With a Prayer which may be used on any Saints day FOr the Epistle Acts 7. 2. 55. to the end Which having read I find to be a narrative or relation of St.

in their hands that both themselves and others may be built up in our most holy faith to the perfecting thy Church and the eternal glory of thy name thereby through our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus Amen Chap. VIII Of the true manner of sanctifying the Lords day Sect. 1. Generally before I go to Church NOw as to my Closet duties upon this day least the sole consideration of them should breed any neglect forgetfulness or disturbance of the duties to be performed in the family and in the publick assembly it will be most expedient to consider the whole duties of that day both publick private and secret and set down each in their natural order First then as upon no day we suppose our Christian to be slothfull so least of all upon the Lords day but to be up in a convenient season both himself and if any are under his charge to see that they are so to A convenient season I call that which every mans health and occasions being considered will agree therewith and leave time sufficient for the discharge of the duties of the day And supposing the publick service to begin generally about nine of the clock between six and seven will be a good hour and all things being well ordered may consist very well with most mens health and occasions And of this time which passeth between my rising and going to Church if an hour and the odd parts be divided between the devotions of the family and the closet so that half an hour be spent in the one and the other half with the odd time in my closet it may do very well and the common occasions of most houses being considered so much time may be allowed If so much cannot be afforded to this work yet let some and what day soever I spend with double prayers I mean prayer in my closet and prayer in my family yet this day let me omit neither It is a bad omen to begin the sanctification of the Lords day by the breach of my ordinary course of devotion and an argument it is likely to be but negligently sanctified by me Besides many in my family may perhaps make no other preparation for the worship of God than what they make by joyning in the family-devotions it will be therefore the more necessary to make sure of thus much Sect. 2. Of secret devotion in the Closet before going to Church NOw my private devotions will be for the main the same this day as others Only in my Meditations it is to be remembred that I examine my self touching my preparations for the solemn worship of God that day and if any thing in my preparatory devotion be wanting any sin unconfessed unrepented of c. in these my morning devotions let that be done And how compleat soever I may conceive my preparations to have been yet let me not in my prayers in private that morning forget to send up some petitions for preparing and assisting grace to the end I may more spiritually go through the duties of the day for the doing of which I cannot Chap. 7. now want directions after a preparatory prayer already considered upon And these my closet devotions it will be necessary be first performed for that they will very well fit me to perform my devotions in my family with more fervency Sect. 3. Of Private devotion in the family before going to Church A digression touching what our devotion in the family is alwaies to consist of THese therefore being done and it being now somewhat above half an hour till the time we usually go to Church I am to call all my family except in extraordinary cases of sickness c. together to prayer at which time all of them who that day can go to Church which should be as many as may be should appeare dressed as they are to go that so after the family devotions performed within a very short space we might all together resort to the publick place of Gods worship Now if question be made what the devotions of the family are to consist of the answer is they cannot well consist of more or less than these two parts Reading and Prayer By Reading here I understand chiefly the reading of the Word of God and that it is the duty of the head of the family either himself to read or cause by some other to be read the holy Scriptures in the hearing of the family none can question who considers those frequent Commands to the ancient people of God to teach their children the Law of God and his judgments and dealings Deut. 4. 9. c. with them Now how they can be taught those things by their parents from whom they never hear of them cannot be understood nor will any reasonable person think thefe commands fulfilled by the meer teaching their children the Belief Lords prayer and ten Commandements though this must be most sure to be done for we find of old they were to acquaint their children of Gods wonderful works in delivering them out of the Land of Egypt And in like manner we Christians to teach our children Gods Miracles of grace in freeing us by his Son out of the bondage of sin which how it can be better done than as God hath thought fit to teach it to the world to wit by the Holy Scriptures none will easily find out Now for the method to be observed in reading the Scriptures in our family that which was above commended for use in the Closet may haply be most proper And if I so order it that I read the same portion of Scripture in my family and in my closet it may be much for my edification the double reading it will set it deeper both in my memory and in my understanding But then least I read faster and more in my family than in my closet and for other reasons it will be necessary that either my Closet devotions go before my Family devotions or that at least I so contrive my readings that what I last read in my Closet I the next time read in my Family Instead of Meditation which was one part of my Closet devotion if in my family I use to examine my people what they have learnt or observed out of what hath been read and where none takes notice of what is mainly observable there suggest it to them it may not be amiss provided it be done soberly without a long deal of prate and medling with curious matters and without vain-glory The Prayers which I use in my family except upon some very eminent occasions may best be the Prayers of the Church These are easie and best understandable and the use of them in our families will sit the plainest people in our family to use them with more devotion and understanding in the publick Notwithstanding I confess my judgment in this case to be that the Injunction of them doth not in strictness reach to private families but there is a liberty le●st

an account of his wandrings he acknowledg them bewaile them and beg pardon of them before God Thirdly because repentance cannot be without reformation it is necessary that he consult and consider with himself how he may grow better what occasions of his sins there were which may be avoided what means of the contrary virtues which may be used and resolve seriously with himself that these and these occasions he will avoid these and these means use Now forasmuch as such resolutions can never be upright and firme except made with deliberation heed and thoughtfullness and forasmuch as such deliberation cannot be taken in company nor all things duly weighed where we have a crowd of occasions and objects to take of our thoughts it is therefore necessary that for such work we be alone and in the other cases because that examination of our selves must needs be very slighty short which we make while we sit and talk with others because also those confessions which we make in publick or with others may be and most frequently are too generall to reach our particular cases and sins it is therefore necessary for the doing of them also that we retire or go alone And to Conclude because he that would keep himself close to the waies of holiness must do all these things often it is therefore necessary that he be often alone at least as often as with any tollerable convenience he can and to that purpose if his condition admitt or will afford it that he have a place convenient to retire to which we will call a Closet Chap. II. Of the Situation and furniture of their Closet who have choice NOw it being supposed that my condition allowes me so much choice as that I might have it so my Closet would I have no unpleasant place as sweetly situated as any place of my house that I might delight to be therein and by no means a low or darksome room but as high as I well could for that so it will be most remote from the noise company and disturbance of the people who are busied usually below and besides that some secret property there is in such high and eminent places whence we may behold the heavens and overlook the earth which to me much raiseth the soul and elevates the affections as if we derived or partaked more from heaven by how much neerer we come to it Our Saviour therefore used to go up into a mountain to Acts 10. 9. Acts 1. 13. 20. 8. pray and St. Peter went up upon the house for the same purpose that is probably into an upper room such as the Disciples were assembled in And if it might be my passage there unto should be through two other outer rooms at least through one the door or doors of which I might ever have shut when I 〈◊〉 retired to the end that my 〈◊〉 which many times I shall have occasion for my own quickening to use might not to be heard without The furniture of my closet I would have a little more than that of Elisha's chamber A Table a Stool and a Candlestick and instead 2 Kings 4. 10. of his bed an hard couch or great chair on which I might some times lean my weary or aching head But a couch the rather for that sometimes I haply might find it necessary to spend the whole night there and might thereon take some repose To these I would add a Bible a Common prayer book two paper books which when fild must be supplyed by two others and a Pen and Inke Another book or two of which hereafter I may also see occasion to add to these A chimney against winters cold to make the place endurable if need be a whole night would be no contemptible convenience If besides these I there keep any thing as Students do books Gentlemen writings and Ladies Medicins c. all these I would have placed on one side or at least one side I would have free from them against which should either stand a table or a Praying desk that when occasion should be I might lay a book or paper before me and the wall over such desk or table should be hung if I were able to do it with some stuff of one colour Green the best to the end that when there kneeling at my prayers I might have in mine eye nothing to call away or divert my thoughts Chap. III. Of my most Common entrance into my Closet MY Closet being thus fitted it is supposed that my recourse thereto is either more or less solemn At no time except upon most earnest and hasty occasions should my entrance thereto want the solemnity of a short but hearty Prayer For this being a place principally designed for my devout retirement and the performance of those private acts of worship which I owe to God it becomes by this its end and designement after a sort separate or sacred a certain secret Chappel for my self and may not therefore wantonly or slightly be by me entred into I say not by Me for what ever it is to others to me ought it to be reverend As therefore when our ordinary occasions call us into our through Churches we usually out of Reverence to him to whom those places are devoted and in memory of those spirituall feasts which we or our Christian brethren have there and in such places tasted fall down on our knees and worship God begging his blessing upon us his people as often as there assembled and praising him for the benefits which we or his people have there partaken of so when I come though upon common matters into my closet yet considering with my self that I am now in that place where in I have so often worshipped or at least resolved often to worship God and had sweet converse with him in memory thereof and for reasons hereafter mentioned I would kneel down and pray to this or the like effect My good God whom I here frequently and with my heart worship Bless me I beseech thee in the affaires I go about Keep my heart with thee at least ever keep it upright before thee And as often as I here present my self let thy good Spirit be present with me to dispose me unto and assist me in thy service through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen And having thus or otherwise as I am able or have opportunity prayed I would forthwith apply my self to what I intended Now such course observed as often as I enter my Closet will be many waies advantageous to me First it will be a means to keep my heart much with God and to recall it to him in case my thoughts have too much wandred from him It will make me spirituall in ordinary matters and converse Secondly it may be a means to procure a blessing upon my undertakings Thirdly I may the better expect Gods presence there when I come purposely to seek him It needs not after this discourse to admonish that we

in appointing the Ministry and Ordinances of thy Gospel and pouring out thy holy Spirit to turn us from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto the Kingdom of thy Son O God I particularly bless thee for the knowledge which I have of thee in my Saviour Christ Jesus for my share in him for any measure of thy Grace on me vouchsafed for the comfortable hope which through thy Sons bloud I have of pardon and eternal life for this dayes life and protection for the with holding or removing those several judgments which my sins deserve ** * Here praise God for any particular deliverance saying especially for ** for the loading me with a multitude of most undeserved blessings especially for *** Encrease upon me thy Grace evermore and make me thankful by proving a faithful Steward of all thy mercies Let that Eye of thine which never slumbreth nor sleepeth which hath been open upon me this day watch over me this night Let nothing disturb or make me afraid Let none of the sins of the day lye down with me nor ever appear against me Vouchsafe my body due refreshment and let my soul have her songs in the night Keep both from all works of darkness and let me be ever with thee O Father both here and hereafter through thy Son my Saviour Christ Jesus in whose name and words I further pray Our Father c. Chap. X I. Some further Directions touching the use of these Prayers IN these or the like words may a devout Christian I presume not unfitly pour out his heart before God morning and evening But it is to be remembred to what end these sormes were prepared and the use of them directed to to wit to be a provision against raw heedless imperfect broken confused and disorderly Prayers of which dulness distemper or d●straction may make even the devoutest Christian to be guilty if he alwayes trust to his extemporary faculty and readiness Wherefore it is not the intention of the present direction to tye even every one that shall use these or the like formes ever to them but onely commonly or as his Christian prudence and sobriety shall judge it best suiting with his devotion and present temper So then if at any time a Christian shall find his mind more ready and present than ordinary so that he can say in Holy David's words My heart is fixed Psal 10● or prepared O Lord my heart is fixed and he feel a certain overflowing of affection ready to come over his soul he is to esteem this a time when God doth as it were bespeak somewhat more than ordinary to that purpose offering and giving him to feel already morethan ordinary assistance and by such special moving of the waters secretly signifie that he hath some healing benefit or refreshment then to communicate unto the soul Wherefore let him yield himself to the leading of the Spirit and by no means let slip that holy season of a more free and large effusion or pouring out of his soul before God Alwayes in the mean while remembring that he duly prepare himself by somefore going meditation according to what hath been already in part spoken and will hereafter be more fully considered And this practice I presume as it so far binds a man up that his devotion shall not be loose and slighty so it allows him 1. such liberty as may duly exercise and improve any spiritual gifts which he conceives himself to have and 2. such variety as that there is no fear that custome or treading alwayes the same tract I mean repeating the same words should make him guilty of formality and deadness If there be any Objection now lying against this proposed course in our devotion it is as far as I can see onely this that it will take up too much time But we have already supposed our practist to be such who lives somewhat above a servile life and therefore may spare some part of his time which surely he cannot spend to a better purpose or upon more beneficial employment And it will undoubtedly be sound true by him who shall set himself upon this practice or put his devotions into this mold that when he is once but got into the way and settled in it the performance of all will cost him less time by much in a day than hath the reading of these directions An hour in a day or very little more being divided into equal parts and half taken in the morning half at night may very well suffice and they are either very full of imployment or exceeding bad husbands of their time who being at their own command cannot afford so much time for so necessary a work Not to speak that some part of this work may be reckoned a kind of studying and that as becoming as useful to all such as we speak to Consider man which is of greater concernment thy souls or thy bodies welfare Which is longer threescore years and ten or Eternity Canst thou therefore onely find time to provide for the more unworthy PART III. Of my more solemn Retirement into my Closet upon Holy-daies and Sundaies Chap. 1. That our devotions should be greater on Holydaies than on ordinary daies The end of Festivals and their Vindication from Abuses and Cavils THat upon Holydaies or Festivals they ought to be more taken up in devotion than on other daies there is no men I presume will deny except they be so factious as to slight the institution or so sensual as not to understand the end and design of them It is as uncharitable as unreasonable a part to conclude that because they bear the name ordinarily of certain Saints and Martyrs that therefore the daies were superstitiously consecrated to the meer honour of those Saints The design of the Church in this institution seems to me only thus much First that Almighty God might have particular glory for all the particular parts and degrees of the work of our redemption the Incarnation Circumcision Passion Resurrection c. of our Saviour as likewise for all those his servants by whose doctrine and examples whether in life or death his holy Gospel hath been planted and confirmed Then 2. that there might be due commemoration of such particular persons and of the graces in which they did excell as well to the end that their examples at least might be an immortal incitement to vertue and they being dead might yet thus speak as that vertue might have its deserved honour which for the enforcement of like worthy practices upon others comes not at all too late though it be given to the ashes of the vertuous And that these two to wit Giuing particular honour to God and the Propagation of vertue were the main aims of the Church seems to be undeniable if we do consider either the particular Collects on those daies or that clause in the Primmer for the Estate of Christs Church Militant towards the end We bless thy

keep all his life as a perpetual Sabbatism Hebr. 4. 10. or holy rest unto God it must needs be an argument of a very profane worldly and unchristian spirit not to afford God this day free from sensual pleasures and worldly cares or labours Wherefore I say the keeping holy of the Lords day I put out of all question and would have no man flatter himself that he is a devout Christian who useth either by idleness or pleasures or unnecessary worldly business to profane what the Church and being that the Church hath done it by good warrant and power transmitted to her by Christ God himself hath allowed Profanation I call it for if the spending it to holy purposes be to sanctifie it then the spending it contrarily upon ordinary or unworthy practices is to profane it And if we may not give that which is holy unto dogs it is then surely most intolerable to take that time which by divine Law ought to be holy unto God and give it to his enemies the devil this world and our own lusts which we do when we spend the Lords day either in idleness pleasures or needless worldly matters Works of charity or mercy are acts of holiness and works of necessity so far forth as they are works of necessity are acts of mercy and consequently the doing of either of these that is works of Charity or Necessity when due occasion calls me thereto is rather sanctifying than unhallowing the Lords day especially if I do them out of duty towards God and in his fear and for this I have his warrant who tels Mat. 9. 13. me that he better accepts Mercy than Sacrifice Chap. VII Of Preparation for the Lords day A preparatory Prayer thereto SEeing then that the Lords day is to be kept holy that is to be spent in the worship and service of God for which it is set apart it concerns me to consider how I may spend it in a way most complying with this its design or intendment And I shall easily upon the very consideration of the nature of Gods worship be convinced that it is in a manner impossible for me duely to sanctifie it if I come unto it hot and wreaking from my worldly business For being I am to worship God in spirit and in truth with all my mind soul and strength and in a word with my whole man evident it is that I am unable so to do while my heart yet remains unemptied of the world and being unfit to worship God I am not while so in a due state to sanctifie this day Wherefore the right sanctification of the Lords day is to begin with Preparation And it is a right wholsome institution that upon the Evening before it there should be Prayers in every Parish Church which is grown now too much into disuse by reason onely that I can imagine of the degeneracy of the age If there be such custome kept up in my Parish I would not but upon necessity be absent from those preparatory prayers At which though I should be supposed to have been present yet would I not content my self therewith but whether I have been imployed publickly in preparations or not in my course of devotion on Saturday night take so much more time than I do ordinarily as might serve for some preparatory Meditations and Prayers The least which I can do to this purpose in my Meditations is First To examine whether there be not some sin or sad miscarriage of the week past which lies unrepented of and so may blast my next daies performances And if any there be secondly to consider of it more particularly its aggravations its nature whether it be not such an one part of the Repentance for which must be Reconciliation Restitution or somewhat like and accordingly to apply my self to what I in my conscience and in the fear of God do judge due repentance Thirdly to endeavour the emptying my head of worldly at least distracting cares to bid them be gone now till a day for them return And lastly so to contrive as neer as I can all my affairs for the next day that both I and my family may have as little avocations or matters to call away our minds from holy duties as may be This by way of Meditation My Prayers must be suitable to my condition If any such sin as before mentioned be found that must be confessed bewailed and pardon craved together with grace for the future against it which may be done by putting in the mention of that sin in the proper space left for such purpose But besides this it will be necessary to add some particular petitions for due preparation or disposition of heart for the duties of the next day First for a quiet setled and composed mind so that I may attend with all my soul my holy concerns or business Secondly for enlivened affections that I may not be dull and heartless but of a tender and melting spirit Thirdly for a pliable ductile yielding and easie mind that I may mix the word with faith and render the obedience of faith Lastly because both my own and the Congregations benefit and edification much depends upon the Ministers due and affectionate discharge of his office it is therefore fit I forget not him but commend him to the assistance of the Spirit To which purpose the following prayer may be either inserted in some fit place towards the end of my prayers or added to them O Lord from whom the preparations of the heart are The day now approacheth which being holy unto thee I am to spend in thy more solemn worship Many sins there are by me not duely repented of which may justly bring upon me a curse instead of a blessing Especially my * Here insert the mention of such particular sinnes which thou hast found thy self guilty of c. may make my very prayers an abomination to thee But accept thou I beseech thee of this my confession of them and at least desired sorrow for them Turn my heart from them for the future and through the bloud of my Saviour so remove the guilt of them that they may not hinder good things from me Let the effusions of thy grace both upon me and all the Congregations of thy people be plentifull Let my heart be fixed and none either vain or worldly thoughts lodge within me this night Quicken me by thy Holy Spirit that I may draw neer unto thee with a true heart and be fervent in Spirit in thy service and with a good and honest heart receiving thy word may understand and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience and unto perfection Remember thou thy servants who are to dispense thy Mysteries unto thy people and especially him upon whose teaching I am to wait Pardon their sins and frailties Open their mouths guide their minds and tongues that they may deliver thy truths in the demonstration of thy Spirit and let thy work so prosper

possible that such a backsliding wretch as my self should ever be renewed again unto repentance or thereby restored But forasmuch as I understand that to turn thus desperate and to neglect repentance and amendment of life would be worse than all the wickedness which I have hitherto wrought I am here prostrate before thee to bewail my self and with sorrow and grief of heart for my former wayes do I here cast my self upon thee If thou wilt have mercy thou canst still save me If thou wilt not Lord I perish But doest thou use to suffer those to perish who thus with such repentance as they can submit and humble themselves at thy footstool crying unto thee for help Far be it from thee thou Father of Mercies Notwithstanding inasmuch as I being much worse than ordinary sinners do more justly deserve to find no place for repentance and have therefore more reason to fear how thou maist deal with me deal with me as thou wilt † through thy grace I will sin no more no more knowingly and presumptuously as I have done And to that end I have here in thy presence this day considered my wayes † I have endeavoured to find out those wiles and methods by which the Devil and mine own lusts have ensnared me in such grievous sins † I have resolved upon impartial diligence as well in my endeavours against these particular evils as against all other and in performing unto thee hearty and intire obedience These Resolutions I here humbly present before thee sacredly engaging my self to do my utmost to keep them and beseeching thee by thy grace to engage my heart more firmly to them And Lord let not any dulness or want of that affection with which I ought to have confessed my sins to have bewailed my guilt and to have passed these resolutions hinder that this my serious humiliation of my self should not be accepted before thee Such contrition as thou hast enabled me to I have endeavoured sorrowing that I am not more deeply humbled Such which is wanting do thou bestow For it is no less thy property to bestow than to accept the contrite heart The broken spirit is O Lord from thee When thou of old commandedst water out of the flinty Rock it forthwith yielded obedient streams nor can my heart dry and hard as it is but dissolve into holy tears if thou wilt bid it melt Give forth then the word O God Speak thy servant is here ready to hear Turn thou me and I shall be turned Send out thy good Spirit let it inlighten the eyes of my mind in the knowledge both of my self and thee let it savingly perswade me of the truth of all that thou hast spoken and especially of the defiling cursed and damning nature of sin of the sufficiency and efficacy of the merits of Christ Jesus unto all those who by a right faith apply themselves to thee through him I do O Lord believe help my unbelief And grant that this sight and perswasion both of my sin and Saviour may affect mine heart so that I may sorrow after a godly sort and that sorrow may bring forth in me those wholesome fruits which after all my endeavours of repentance I cannot but lament to be much wanting in me to wit carefulness against sin vehement desire and zeal of holiness indignation and an holy revenge against my self by all which I may for the future clear my self and ever approve mine heart honest upright and sincere before thee Suffer not this my righteousness to be onely as a morning cloud or early dew soon passing away but let thy grace alwayes dwelling in me keep open in my soul an ever flowing fountain of such penitence that I may go on thus mourning to mourn over my sins and perfecting holiness in thy fear accounting all little enough if so be I may but in the end obtain mercy And this my penitent return at least hearty endeavour of such return accompanied with persevering study of impartial obedience to thee do thou however most unworthy in it self through the perfect merits of thy Son accept washing away all my sins both the iniquities of my youth and transgressions of my riper years as well known as unknown especially Here mention thy chiefest sin or sins my ** in his bloud and reckoning according to thy gracious Covenant this my faith which by such works as these shall discover it self to be alive and true unto me for righteousness And if thine infinite Wisdome shall see it to be good for me do thou grant me this further happiness that I thus living in thy fear may be ever filled with peace and joy through a comfortable assurance of thy favour and hopes of eternal glory As to all my outward affaires by thy good providence be thou pleased so to overrule all events that whatsoever befals me may work together to me for good My sins indeed O Lord deserve quite contrary even the severest inflictions of thy wrath and fiery displeasure And I do most seriously acknowledge that in all the judgments which thou hast at any time laid upon me thou hast used much mercy All the paines which my body hath felt all the losses which have impaired my estate all the slanders which have blasted my name particularly ** I embrace as infinitely less than my deserts That † I am in any straits ** that I Here mention any particular afflictions suffer otherwise in my body relations c. ** were all a thousand sold to what it is I should confess it to be most just Were I to enjoy no more good than I do deserve I should have just nothing Righteous therefore art thou O Lord when I plead with thee Yet if thou wilt be intreated by thy repenting servant to † withdraw * These and such like expressions are to be used according to persons particular conditions or withhold thy hand to remove the punishment I feel or not to inflict the punishments which I fear but through the bloud of Christ to deliver me from thy present wrath as well as from the wrath to come thy servant shall ever bless and praise thee and be able to serve thee with more chearful diligence However Lord thy Will be done Bring me surely to thy self let it be by what means thou wilt Please thy self thy servant will endeavour to be content Deny me what things thou wilt onely deny me not Grace Pardon and thy Self And not onely upon me O Lord but upon all men do thou have mercy according to the gracious pleasure of thine own most holy Will Especially upon the universal Church Enlarge thou its bounds provide for its safety and purity delivering any part of it which is in danger and reforming whatsoever of it is corrupted Do thou with all suitable mercies bless this particular Church Forgive the publick sinnes ** Heal the publick Here mention such sins or calamities Calamities ** Preserve and every way be gracious unto