't is better for a man saith Solomon to be Master of his own Passions than to conquer an Army Temperance in Eating and Drinking with Fasting and Labour are powerful Expedients to subjugate the Flesh and bring under the Body St. Paul made use of 'em to subdue his own Appetite and recommends the same Duties to us as the best instruments to further us in the great Work of Mortification and Self-denial To which we should not fail to joyn our earnest Prayers to God for the Assistance of his Grace and Spirit that we may obtain this comfortable Victory and Conquest over our Selves For our blessed Saviour who best understood our Frailties recommends this Duty to us as the most successful Expedient and without which all our other natural and moral Endeavours will prove ineffectual and to no purpose Now if all these Means will not secure our Chastity but that our Appetites are still headstrong and unruly then 't will be necessary to make use of lawful Marriage which God has been pleas'd to institute and allow to pare off the Excrescencies of corrupt Nature and to secure us from the Guilt and Punishment of our fleshly Lusts Yet herein we must consider that there 's a Temperance and Moderation to be used even in the Pleasures of lawful Wedlock and as all Embraces and Contact are simply forbidden with others so we must not abuse our own Allowances but preserve our Vessels in Sanctification and Honour 1 Thes 4.4 and keep our selves within the due Bounds of Justice and Modesty By these Hints we may understand how much this Virtue of Chastity will conduce to the Interest and Satisfaction not only of the outward but the inward Man for no man shall ever repent that he has liv'd chastly and virtuously as the Contraries are most pernicious to and destructive of both My designed brevity will not suffer me to enlarge further on these Heads And therefore I must leave it to your Prudence and Conscience to collect the rest 3dly The last Virtue which concerns the Body is the sober and moderate use of those Riches and Estates which the divine Providence has been pleas'd to allow us for our Support and Accommodation in this Life which is known by the name of Contentedness Which Virtue consists in the inward voluntary and universal Submission of our Wills and Desires to God's gracious and wise Disposal of us in every Estate and Condition of Life For if our Condition be prosperous this true Christian Contentment will oblige us to rest satisfied with what we have without the trouble of an anxious Care and carking Desire of getting more If we be poor this will teach us to be satisfied with that little Portion which God has given us without coveting of or murmuring and repining at the flourishing Estate and Condition of other Men. But this peaceable and innocent Composure of Mind and Spirit is only peculiar to the sound Christian For tho' the Heathens did pretend to it yet they were not Masters of it They could indeed comport with the want of Riches and were sometimes affected with a simple Poverty But if they happen'd to fall into Disgrace or Contempt then they esteem'd it an heroical act to kill themselves which in such Cases they usually did and a Demonstration of a magnanimous Spirit Lib. de Civit. Dei Cap. 10. But St. Aug. in the Case of Cato Vticensis and Lucretia detects the folly and madness of this Conceit and fully shews that this Fool-hardiness does rather proceed from an impotent and cowardly Spirit And doubtless 't is the greatest Fortitude to be Masters of our selves to conquer our own Passions and to entertain all Events with a submissive Patience Contentedness and Aequanimity Especially if we consider that God Almighty has been pleas'd to appoint a state of sufferings to be the more sutable Dispensation for the promoting of his own Glory and our Good Therefore it must hence follow that the chief and adequate Object of our Christian Contentment in which the Mind of Man can only be satisfied and without which all the Enjoyments of this World will prove empty and evanâ—â—d is the alone infinite and immutable God and the full enjoyment of him by Faith and Love in Christ our Mediator John 17.3 For that pious and gracious Soul that makes God his only Substance and Portion rusts fully satisfied in his Mercy and Goodness tho' the things of this World should fall cross and run counter to his natural Desires and Expectations The Truth whereof will more evidently appear if we consider these few Things And 1 Nothing â—ess than this infinite and Vniversal Good which fills all the Faculties can terminate the Desires and Aspirations of the Soul after an endless and blissful Immortality Pleasant sounds may delight the Ear but not the Eye beautiful Colours may please the Eye but not the Ear But that divine and excellent Spirit which injoys the Favour of God in Christ has an Universal Satisfaction and shall abound with the perfection of Parts in this Life and Degrees in the future to his unspeakable and endless Comfort 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen they love c. 2 This Vniversal Good must be powerfully imprest upon and have its residence in the Cabinet of the Heart which is the Fountain and Principle of all rational and religious Thoughts and Actions Now all the Pleasures Riches and Honours of this vain and transitory World do only rove and fluctuate in the Fancy and have no Communication nor Intercourse with the Soul for they are like the Armour of Saul to David too wide and unfit for it But the true sense of God's Love in Christ does replenish every Corner of the Heart with Grace and Truth and gives that substantial Pleasure and Contentment that there 's no Joy on Earth like that of resting satisfied with the Enjoyment of God the Supreme Good 3 This only is the Complement and Perfection of all other Virtues but especially of this Christian Contentment Nothing less then the Supreme Good can replenish the Soul and in the midst of all temporal Enjoyments there 's still a plus ultra something to be desir'd and pursued which is yet superior far more excellent Moses could not be satisfied 'till he came to the Top of Pisgah that he might see the beauty and fruitfulness of the promised Land But a Believer's Rest and Contentment is only in Heaven and without a certain Prospect of and Title to those future Rewards all the puny Delights on Earth will prove nauseous and unsavory to him 4 'T is the Property of this supreme Good which can only afford the rational Powers of the Soul plenary Contentment to be permanent and of everlasting continuance For tho' we should enjoy all things even to our wishes yet the very apprehension of a future change as we see in the more favourable Intervals of chronical Distempers would stifle or diminish our present Ease and Contentment
perplexing Impediments in our way thither For the Captain of our Salvation was not advanc'd to the Crown of Glory at his Father's right hand By the example of himself till he had compleated all his Agonies and receiv'd his Consummatum est upon the Cross By which Means he has made our Ingress into that state of eternal Happiness more feasiable and certain Wherefore it should be matter of the greatest Joy to us when we bear his Cross and suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake especially if we consider that this light Affliction which is but for a Moment Cor. 4.17 shall work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory and this wet Seed-time of Sorrow shall be recompenc'd with a Harvest of Joy If we now go on our Way weeping and bear it patiently we shall return with Joy Psal 126.5.6 and bring our Sheaves with us Besides if our innocent Redeemer indured so many Troubles and Tortures not for himself but us how should we willingly and chearfully submit to the Wisdom of divine Providence when we suffer most justly for our manifold Transgressions Was he Meek and Patient under those many Injuries and Affronts which he every where met with in his Life and at his Death 'T was doubtless for this very end and purpose that we should be so 〈◊〉 Did the intolerable Burden of the Cross â—â—â—ce him to Sweat both Water and Blood Joh. 19.34 He has taught us hereby to take up ours which are less burdensom and afflictive and follow him that by Suffering with him we may be also glorified together Rom. 8.17 18. But to convince us throughly of the Practicableness of this Doctrine And the Example of his Followers and to encourage us to be earnest and affectionate zealous and uniform in our active and passive Conformity to the Laws and Example of Christ We have a Cloud of Witnesses as Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors and holy Men in all Ages of the Gospel who by their virruous Lives and innocent and patient Sufferings have tract the Way before us Rom. 2.7 Who are now all entred into Bliss and shall eternally inherit the comfortable and saving Fruits of their Christian Patience and Perseverance in Well-doing All which divine and excellent Examples may influence our Spirits with the most powerful Encouragments and Incentives to Goodness For we are most certain that we may be eternally happy upon the same Terms that they are if we Fight this good Fight 2 Tim. 4.7 8. finish our Course and keep the Faith henceforth without all peradventure is laid up for us a Crown of Righteousness We may be certainly happy upon the same Terms c. Let us ride on prosperously then because of this Word of Truth and Righteousness For there 's nothing in our Religion but what 's possible to be perform'd and the greatest Difficulties which attend it may be conquer'd and overcome by Diligence and Endeavour Now it would be of singular Use and Advantage to have the heroic Vertues and pious Examples of those holy Men often in our Thoughts which are gone to Heaven before us For these have commonly a greater and more lasting Influence than their Precepts and Counsels we are not so easily convinc't by Mens Words and Reasonings as their Lives and Actions But when their Conversations are answerable to their Callings 't is beyond dispute they are earnest and the most conclusive Argument to perswade others that their Doctrine is true To conclude this Point Christ has taught us all things which are necessary to be known and practic'd 2 Cor. 4.3 There 's nothing can be more evident then this That Christ our great Prophet has taught us all the Truths which are necessary to be known and practiced with that undeniable Evidence and Satisfaction that if this Doctrine be hid 't is hid to those that are lost Again he has enforc't the Belief and Practice of this excellent Religion so clearly reveal'd to the Sons of Men by his own Example and Authority in all the Instances of his active and passive Obedience and in compliance with all the Laws and Constitutions of the Gospel Whereunto might be added the Experiences and Success of all his faithful Servants in all Ages By all which without any further Enlargement we may in a great measure understand what it is that God has been pleas'd to reveal to us by the Spirit of his Son that we may live comfortably die happily and reign with him eternally Which brings me to the 2d Branch of our Saviour's Prophetical Office Which imports the reciprocal Returns of Love and Duty which he Expects and requires from Vs Our blessed Saviour herein complying with the Frailties of our Nature has reduc'd all the Fundamental Principles The Returns of Duty which Christ expects and requires from us and Duties of Christianity to these two Common Heads of Repentance and Faith Both which are not only the necessary Conditions of our present and future happiness but do eminently comprehend all those Gospel-Graces and Virtues which must qualifie and dispose us for the regular discharge of all the Duties of our Religion in the Rewards consequent to ' em And for the prevention of future Mistakes these may be consider'd either generally or particularly And 1st In general As Repentance By Repentance in general we must understand the Conversion of the whole Man from Darkness unto Light Acts 26.18 and from the Power of Satan unto God Or 't is a passing from Death unto Life 11.18 Rev. 20.6 that we may have part in the first Resurrection over whom the second Death shall have no power But more particularly This Duty of Repentance consists in the Conversion of a Sinner unto God That is when the Penitent is truly humbled by a hearty sense of and a well grounded sorrow for all his Sins he applies himself wholly to the Mercies of God and the Merits of Christ by the exercise of a true and lively Faith for their Pardon and Forgiveness And hereupon he resolves by the assistance of God's Grace to use his utmost Endeavours against all Sin and Temptation for the future and to obey all the Commandments of God in every Action and Circumstance of his Life This Duty of Repentance must be often repeated This Duty must be often repeated not only before but after our Conversion and 't is a necessary Principle and Ingredient in the whole Series of a Christian Conversation since there 's something of Obliquity and Defect in every Work and Duty which we do 2dly Faith which comprehends all other Duties The other Head of Evangelical Doctrine is Faith a most comprehensive Term and often us'd in Scripture for the whole of Christianity But the holy Apostle describes it to be a vital and active Principle of Grace which worketh by love Gal. 5.6 And in this sense all the Duties of Christianity are by our blessed Saviour
All the Delights of this World are as the Summers Rain or Morning Dew which are presently dried up But the Favour and Mercy of God in Christ are as the Sun Beams which shine out more and more to the perfect day to which there succeeds no Darkness Tho' our Accommodations be mean and course in these Tents of Kedar yet the enjoyment of the Favour and Mercy of God that infinite and Supreme Good will supply all these Defects when we come to be satisfied with the fulness of his house Psa 16.11 and drink abundantly of the riches of his pleasures Since then our infinitely wise and gracious God has assign'd us our Portion in this Life 't is but just and reasonable we should be content with it And tho' it be the bitter Cup of Affliction which he has put into our hands yet in Conformity to Christ and his followers we must cheerfully drink of it Which if we do 't will turn to good Account at the last If we moderate our Desires and be content with such things as we have our Souls will not only live at ease and be free from all distracting Cares and Despondency but God will bestow a greater Measure of his Blessings upon us if he see it convenient And if it should fall out otherwise we have still cause to submit to his wise and gracious Determinations Abraham being content with and desirous that Ishmael only the Son of his Concubine should live and God blessed him with an Isaac who was many Degrees better and more worthy Solomon desir'd Wisdom only and being satisfied with it God was pleas'd to add Riches and Honours as the farther reward his Contentment and Moderation Having therefore Food and Raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6.8 Many thousands better than we are forc't to truckle under a narrow Fortune The Heir of eternal Majesty and Lord of all things was content with barley Bread and a few small Fishes nor had he a Bed of his own whereon he could lay his head Shewing us hereby that Nature is satisfied with a little 2 Cor. 8.9 and therefore he became Poor for our sakes that we through his Poverty might be made Rich whose Grace and Mercy are a full Compensation for all our other wants We have no cause therefore to distract our Thoughts with an anxious Care and Despondency but should rather be content with that Dividend which God's Providence has assign'd us For he that spared not his own Son Rom. 8.32 but delivered him up for us all how should he not with him also freely give us all things Hitherto of those divine and admirable Duties of Piety towards God and of those of Christian Morality which do most immediatly concern our selves and have the greatest Influence on Mens Practices in the great Business of Religion We proceed now 3dly and Lastly to treat of those several Duties which concern our Dealings and Entercourse with other Men. And these must be consider'd either 1 in general as they belong to the whole Community of Christians Or 2 and more particularly as they relate to our Persons and Offices in all the Civil and Religious Transactions of Humane Life And 1st Those which concern all the Members of the Christian Brotherhood in general are universal Love and Benificence to all and every one of them without respect of Persons of what Country Calling Sect or Party soever they be And herein we should endeavour to imitate the divine Benignity who causeth the Sun to shine and the Rain to descend Mat. 5.54 upon the Persons and Possessions both of the just and unjust And this is most consonant to the admirable Doctrine and Example of our blessed Saviour who made it a necessary Duty and Principle of Life for Christians to Love one another Joh. 15 1â— 1 Cor. 14.1 Col. 3.14 To be earnest in the pursuit of Charity and above all things to put on Charity which is the Bond of perfectness which Duty is recommended to us by this noble Enforcement For he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God 1 Joh. 3.16 and God in him This is the new Commandment and that Vniversal Law Joh. 13.34 which all believing Christians are willing to be govern'd by even that which our Saviour has ratified and confirm'd by the admirable Sanction of his own Authority and Example So that there can be no dispute now under the Gospel Oeconomy concerning the just Bounds and Measures of our Love and Charity to others For the whole Tenor of the Christian Law doth oblige us to love as Brethren 1 Pet. 4.8 to have fervent Charity among our Selves and to be kindly affection'd one towards another Rom. 12.10 And our eternal Lawgiver has made this one Duty the Criterion and Cognizance of the Sincerity of our Faith and Obedience for by this saith he shall all men know that ye are my Disciples Joh. 15.35 if ye have love one to another But to illustrate this Point more fully wherever the Christian Religion is sincerely believ'd and complied with it begets in its Proselytes such a gracious Temper of Mind and Spirit as will make its Votaries humble courteous affable candid ingenuous tender and compassionate and as sensible of and zealous for other Mens Good as their own This will dispose them for all Offices of Humanity and good Neighbour-hood and so cultivate and sweeten their Tempers that they 'l find themselves hereby oblig'd to perform all the mutual Offices of Charity and Duty to others which their present State and Condition of Life require and call for Again the Gospel Dispensation obligeth us to be obedient and submissive to our Superiors courteous and civil to our Equals and to treat our Inferiors and all we converse with with a pleasant Look civil Language and an obliging Deportment We are oblig'd also to be kind and grateful to our Benefactors to pity and pray for our Persecutors and tho' we should suffer as Christians yet even herein we must exercise Forbearance and long suffering Patience abstracting from all Malice and Revenge being most kind and gentle and easie to be entreated forgiving Injuries enduring Affronts and being forward and easie to be reconcil'd And we should be so charitable in all doubtful Cases as to take hold on the right Handle interpreting all the Words and Actions even of our most inveterate and malicious Enemies favourably and candidly rather excusing or extenuating than proclaiming their Errours and Miscarriages unless it be in some important Cases wherein the Interest of Religion or the Reputation of our selves or others may be eminently concern'd This is that heaping of Coals upon their heads Rom. 12 2â— which the Apostle speaks of and if this sovereign Medicine will not melt their rugged Tempers and Dispositions into a friendly and amicable Compliance with us they have just cause to be afraid that God's infinite Justice reserves 'em to be Fuel for those inextinguishable Flames
he may dispose and qualifie 'em for his Kingdom of glory Which Government over his Church is yet more particularly display'd and manifested in these two remarkable Instances 1 In the Guidance and Preservation of his and the Church's Friends 2 In the Confusion and Destruction of his and her Enemies And First He exercises his Power in and over his Church 1. In the Guidance and Protection of his Church Rom. 2.16 1 Cor. 4 5 in the Guidance and Protection of his loyal and obedient Subjects And tho he sits at the right Hand of his Father in Heaven yet he forgets not the Poor afflicted Members of his Church here on Earth He rules Mens Hearts and sets up his Empire there exciting 'em by his holy Spirit to be and to do good to avoid all things evil in themselves and of evil Report whereby they may escape all the Mischiefs both of Sin and Punishment He exercises his Power and Authority in making and repealing Laws and passes Judgement upon what 's expedient and lawful or unnecessary and unlawful as seems best to his uncontroulable yet unerring Wisdom Acts 17.31 He remits and retains Sins and has an absolute Power to execute Judgement upon all Creatures before whose impartial Tribunal we must all shortly appear to receive our final Doom when neither the Secrets of Men nor the Counsel of the Heart shall escape his Scrutiny 1 Cor. 3.13 15. He rules his people by his holy and just Laws and enables them by his Grace and Spirit to comply with and obey them He protects his Votaries from the Tyranny of their domineering Lusts and Passions and preserves 'em from the conquering Power and Prevalence of all Temptations He supports them under and comforts 'em in all the Pressures and Afflictions of this Life and at the last crowneth them with an absolute Conquest over all his and their Enemies Yet here we must note That his Church and People have their tristia as well as lucida Intervalla For by his Counsel and Providence the Tyrants of this World as the proud Assyrian c. become Ministers of his Justice Rods and Scourges to chastise his People and reduce 'em to Obedience And this is most signally remarkable from the Annals of the Church For there was never any Religion in the World so severely persecuted as the Christian nor did the Devil and wicked Men ever confederate so strongly against any Sect of religious Professors as they have done against those who professed the Doctrine of Christ And if all the Engins and Methods of Cruelty as Fire Faggot the Teeth of wild Beasts Racks Wheels Gibbets Grid-irons c. could have destroy'd all the Primitive Christians our Religion had long ere this been banisht out of the World But Christ has always hitherto and ever will interpose his Power and Goodness in the Rescue and Defence of his Church and People Psa 2.4 He that sits in Heaven will laugh his Enemies to scorn and protect his obedient Subjects so Mat. 16.18 that neither the Gates of Hell nor all the Atheists Apostates and Hereticks on Earth shall be able to prevail against 'em For he will ever bless the righteous and with his loving kindness will he compass them as with a Shield And whom Christ is thus pleas'd to rule and protect on them he bestoweth infinite Rewards For the Lord giveth Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 Thus Christ our King governs us here by the wisest and best Laws and protects and defends us from all our Enemies of all sorts And he will in his own good Time raise us from a mortal to an immortal State full of Glory and Blessedness But as he manifests and administers his Kingly Power in the safe Conduct and sure Defence of his loyal and loving Subjects So Secondly 2. In the Confusion and Destruction of his and her Enemies He administreth and dispenses it to the Confusion and Destruction of his and his Church's Enemies This is a most evident matter of Fact and we may be confirm'd in the Belief of it if we consider the Plagues of Egypt the Destruction of Pharaoh and Amalek the Subversion of the five Kings who were slain with Hailstones the blindness and Destruction of the Sodomites and the total Subversion of the Jews tho formerly so dear to him when they turn'd Rebels against him Besides we have an account of the most infamous Deaths of Herod Alexander Judas Simon Magus Julian the Apostate and many other notorious Idolaters and Heretics who being profest Enemies to his Religion and Government were most miserably destroy'd And tho' the Kings and Tyrants of the Earth be never so high and mighty yet Christ our King is greater and more powerful then they and his Dominion superiour to all the Princes of the World Rev. 1.5 and 17.14 For as he has hitherto and ever will infatuate the Counsels and baffle all the Plots and Hostilities of all his and our temporal Enemies so he will countermine and defeat all the Projects Stratagems and Conspiracies of the Devil Sin and Death our Spiritual Adversaries For he will reign till he hath put all the Enemies of his Kingdom under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.25 Yet here it must be consider'd The Enemies of Christ's Kingdom destroy'd by Degrees that the Temporal and Spiritual Enemies of Christ's Kingdom must not be destroy'd all at once but successively and by Degrees The Church of God is but now in her Progress to the highest State of Perfection and Christianity is yet in her Travel towards our heavenly Canaan in expectation only and not fully entred into its eternal Rest We read and do believe that many wonderful Works and Miracles were done by our blessed Saviour whilst he sojourn'd on Earth but he has accomplished far greater since his Departure For he is daily bringing more Sheep into his Fold and sending out more Labourers into his Vineyard to make the Harvest of the Gospel still more and more plenteous Our Religion ever since its first Plantation has been in its Pilgrimage travelling from one Country to another from Asia to Africa from Africa to Europe from Europe to America And he still leads Captivity captive and sooner or later he will conquer the whole World with the invisible Power of his Word and Spirit and all the Nations of the Earth shall submit by degrees to the Scepter and Authority of his Kingdom Psal 2.8 In a Word he will and does defend and protect us from the Power of Satan and Prevalence of our own Lusts unless we desire to become their voluntary Slaves and Vassals They may indeed now and then tempt us to Sin for the Probation and Improvement of our Graces but we are all free Agents and Christ has put us into a capacity if we please not only to resist but to conquer and subdue them And therefore if Sin and the Devil
all his Undertakings for the Advancement of the true Honour and Interest of the establisht Religion his Subjects Peace and his own Safety Give a plentiful Portion of thy Grace and Spirit to all the several Stewards and Dispensers of thy holy Mysteries whether they be Arch-Bishops Bishops or other subordinate Priests and Deacons but more particularly to him whom thou hast intrusted with the more immediate Care and Inspection over our Souls in this Parish Enable them to feed their Flocks with true Wisdom and Knowledge that after a plentiful Conversion of Sinners from the Errour of their Way they may shine like so many Stars in thy Kingdom and Glory for ever and ever And let the same holy Spirit we most humbly beseech thee sanctifie and direct all the King's Councellors Judges Magistrates and Ministers whatsoever that they may be all faithful and zealous in their several Stations and Callings for the Maintenance of thy true Religion the Encouragement and encrease of Piety and Justice and brotherly Love and Unity amonst us And now O Lord as we have pray'd unto thee for the supply of all temporal and spiritual Wants so we beseech thee to accept of the hearty Return of our most affectionate Praise and Thanksgiving for the abundance of thy Grace and Mercy vouchsafed to our Souls and Bodies We bless thee for our Creation Preservation and manifold Deliverances from Temptation Sin and Danger for all the comfortable Motions of thy holy Spirit and the blessed effects thereof in our Lives and Actions for our Health and Liberty Peace and Prosperity But above all let Heaven and Earth praise thee for thine infinite Love and Compassion to our miserable Nature in the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ and herein we praise thee more particularly for his Merits and Intercession his Doctrine and Example the benefit of Repentance and promise of Pardon for thine unwearied Patience and passionate Entreaties to save us from Sin and Ruin for all the blessed Opportunities of Grace and Mercy in this Life and the assured hope of a blessed Immortality in that which is to come Finally we beg the Assistance of thy good Providence which hath watcht over us and preserved us this Day to defend us this Night also Refresh our wearied Bodies with comfortable Rest and Sleep and keep our Souls and Bodies from the Violence and Malice of the Spirits of Darkness from all evil Accidents and illusive and filthy Dreams So that if thy good Providence bring us to the Enjoyment of another Day we may serve thee fathfully and sincerely both in the business of our Callings and Religion Take us not out of this World we pray thee till thou hast dispos'd and qualified us for the happy and eternal Enjoyment of a better and let thy merciful Kindness be our Support and Comfort in the whole remaining part of our Lives In confidence whereof we recommend our Selves Ours to thy gracious disposal in Christ Jesus in whose most holy Name and prevailing Words we beseech thee to hear us Our Father c. A Morning Prayer for a Private Person O Most merciful and gracious God the Fountain of all goodness and blessing of life and peace of plenty and pardon thou art greatly to be feared and had in reverence of all that draw unto thee Wherefore I humbly beg the assistance of thy Grace at this time to sanctifie and enliven my Devotions that I may pray with the Spirit and pray with the Vnderstanding also For I must confess O Lord to my great shame and sorrow that I am a most vile and sinful Creature less then the least of all thy Mercies and lyable to the severest of thy Judgements All the Powers and Faculties of my Soul and Members of my Body are polluted with the contagion and filthiness of Original Sin I am clothed with Iniquity as with a Garment and my Transgressions are gone over my head like a sore burden too heavy for me to bear I have sinned in every Circumstance in every Condition and Imployment of my whole Life not only in my youth and days of ignorance but in my more discerning and riper years Insomuch that there are few sins which I have not either actually committed or at least been inclined to to the great increase of my present Misery and future Condemnation * Here mention your partitular sins as Besides vile Creature that I am I have been so miserably intangled in the snares of Sin and Wickedness as to be hurried on either to the wilful neglect of the Duties of Religion †Here confess your particular Omissions of and Failings in Duty or those I perform are done with so much indifference and formality hypocrisie and distraction coldness and indevotion that even my Prayers and other religious Performances are not seldom turned into sin And to render all my Transgressions out of measure sinful the guilt of 'em has been hugely aggravated and encreast ‖ Here consider the circumstantial Aggravations as when how often where c. by the Commission of 'em from time to time against the clearest Convictions of thy Word and Spirit the Testimony and many checks of my own Conscience notwithstanding my many solemn Vows and Resolutions to the contrary Wherefore holy Father thou mightest justly enter into Judgment with me and if thou shouldest be extreme to mark what I 've done amiss I should not only be of all Men but of all Creatures the most miserable But with thee is mercy and forgivenness and because thy fatherly Compassions fail not therefore I am not consumed thou passest by the Transgressions of thy Servant and retainest not thine Anger for ever Let the abundant Merits of thy Son and my most merciful Redeemer make a full and satisfactory Atonement for the Sins and Offences of my whole Life and for his Righteousness sake deliver me I beseech thee from the Guilt and Stain and from the Power and Punishment of all my reigning Lusts which I have hitherto indulg'd and cling about me * Here mention the Sins to which you are most inclin'd and pray earnestly against them Enable me to subdue and overcome all those Follies Indiscretions the unreasonable Cares and unrelenting Affections that remisness and indisposednes in Duty †Here mention and pray against your several indispositions to Duty whereby I 've been so miserably led captive hitherto to the great dishonour of my holy Profession the Scandal of others and the extreme trouble and disquiet of my own sorrowful and afflicted Conscience Rescue me from those many alluring Temptations which are daily perplexing me in every Condition of life ‖ Here mention the Temptations which do oftnest aâ—â—ault you or give me a Sufficiency of spiritual Strength when they assault me to overcome them lest my Enemies prevail against me and lead me unawares into the Pit of Destruction and endless Perdition For this end I humbly beg the Aids of thy holy Spirit to purifie my