in the paths of life and sanctity for those blessed waitings and knocking 's at the door of my heart patiently tarrying for me for all the holy Sermons spiritual Books and Lessons for all the good Prayers and Meditations loving and inviting me to repentance without ceasing admonishing me and reproving me with the check of a tender conscience with exteriour and interiour motives and for whatsoever means or incentives of holiness thou hast assisted me withall I Magnifie and praise thy holy Name for thy goodness to all Nations whom thou hast made and sanctified they shall come and worship thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy Name for thou art great and dost wondrous things thou art God alone and great is thy mercy towards me thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever with Cherubims and Seraphims and all the company of the heavenly Host saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath holy is our God holy is the Immortal holy is the Almighty the Father Son and the Holy Ghost to whom be honour and glory dominion and power ascribed of all spirits and all men and all creatures now and for evermore Amen A Prayer preparatory to the Receiving of the blessed Sacrament O Most immaculate and glorious Jesu he hold me a miserable sinner drawing near unto thee with the approaches of humility and earnest desire to be cleansed from my sins and to be united to thee by the nearest and most mysterious union of Charity and Sacramental participation of thy most precious body and blood I presume nothing of my own worthiness but I am most confident of thy mercies and infinite loving kindness I know O Lord I am blind and sick and dead and naked and therefore I come the rather I am sick and thou art my Physician thou arisest with healing in thy wings by thy wounds I come to be cured and to be healed by thy stripes I am unclean but thou art the fountain of purity I am blind but thou art the great Eye of the World the Son of Righteousness in thy light I shall see light I am poor but thou art rich unto all the Lord of all the Creatures I therefore humbly beg of thy mercy that thou wouldest be pleased to take from me all my sins to cure all mine infirmities to cleanse my filthiness to lighten my darkness to cloathe my nakedness with the Robe of thy Righteousness that I may with reverence and faith and holy intention receive thy blessed body and blood in the mysterious Sacrament that it may be unto life and pleasantness and holy nourishment and that I may be firmly and indesolutely united to thy mystical body and may at last see clearly and without vail thy face in glory everlasting who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen The Second I Adore and bless thy glorious Majesty O blessed Jesu for this great dignation and vouchsafing to me that art pleased for all the infinite multitudes of my sins and innumerable violating of thy holy Laws still to give thy self unto me to convey health and grace and life and hopes of glory in the blessed Sacrament I adore thee O most Righteous Redeemer that thou art pleased under the visible signs of Bread and Wine to convey unto our souls thy holy body and blood and all the benefits of thy bitter Passion O my God I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but let thy holy Spirit with his purities prepare for thee a lodging in my soul. Thou hast knocked often O blessed Jesu at the door of my heart and wouldest willingly have entred behold O Lord my heart is willing ready to receive thee cast out of it all worldly desires all lust and carnal appetites and then enter and there love to inhabit that the Devil may never return to a place that is swept and garnished to fill me full of iniquity O thou lover of souls grant that this holy Sacrament may be light to my eyes a guide to my understanding and joy to my soul that by its strength I may subdue and mortifie the whole body of sin in me that it may produce in me fulness of wisdom and constancy of faith perfection accomplishment of all the Righteous Commandments and such blessed union with thee that I never more live unto my self or to the world but to thee only and by the refreshment of an holy hope I may be lead through the paths of a good life and persevering piety to the communion and possession of thy Kingdom O blessed Jesu who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer after the Receiving of the Sacramental Bread I Give hearty thanks unto thee Almighty God that thou hast not rejected me from thy holy Table but hast refreshed my soul with the salutary refection of the body thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Lord if I had lived innocently and had kept all thy Commandments I could have not expected so transcendent a mercy but since I have lived in all manner of sin and multiplied provocations against thy Divine Majesty thy mercy is so glorious and infinite that I am amazed at the consideration of its Immensity Go on O my dear God to finish so blessed a Redemption and now that thou hast begun to celebrate a Marriage and a holy Union between thy self and my soul let me never throw off the Wedding-garment or stain it with pollution of deadly sin nor seek after other Lovers but let me for ever and ever be united unto thee being transformed into thy will in this life and to the likeness of thy glories in the life to come who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen After the Receiving of the Cup. O Just and dear God who out of the unmeasurable Abysses of wisdom and mercy hast redeemed us and offerest life and grace and salvation to us by the real exhibition of thy Son Jesus Christ in the Sacrifice of his death upon the Altar of the Cross and by commemoration of the bitter Agonies in the holy Sacrament grant that that great and venerable Sacrifice which we now commemorate sacramentally may procure of thee for thy whole Church mercy and peace and great assistance in all trials deliverance from all heresies schisms sacriledge and persecucutions to all sick people health and salvation redemption from captivity competency of living to the indigent and necessitous comfort to the afflicted relief to the oppressed repentance to all sinners softness of spirit and a tender conscience to the obstinate conversion to the Jews Turk and remedy to all that are in trouble or adversity and grant to us O Lord that this Sacrament and Sacrifice of commemoration by vertue of that painful and proper Sacrifice upon the Cross may obtain for me and for us all who have communicated this day pardon and peace and
command what thou wilt and thou shalt find me willing to do what thou commandest and to observe thy blessed Will in all things to this end give unto me thy Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to the worlds end unto all thine elect people and let the same Holy Spirit purge my heart from the dross of my natural corruption heal my soul and body that they may become the Temple of the Holy Ghost to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life that when by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I shall finish my course in this short and transitory life I may cheerfully leave this world and resign my soul into thy fatherly hands in assured confidence of enjoying everlasting life with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect Saints who love the Lord Jesus and expect his appearing In the mean while O Father I beseech thee let thy Holy Spirit work in me such a serious repentance as that I may with tears lament my sins past with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present and with all my endeavours resist the like filthy sins for the time to come and let the same Holy Spirit keep me in the Unity of the Church lead me in the Truth of thy Word and preserve me that I may never swerve from the same to Popery or any other error or false Worship and let thy Spirit open mine eyes more and more to see the wondrous things of thy Law and open my lips that my mouth may set forth thy praise increase in me those good gifts with which thou hast already endowed me of thy mercy and give unto me a penitent spirit and a chaste heart a contented mind pure affections a wise behaviour and all other graces which thou seest necessary for me to govern my heart in thy fear and to guide all my life in thy favour that whether I live or die I may live and die unto thee who art my God and my Redeemer And here O Lord according as I am bound I render unto thee from the Altar of my humblest heart all possible thanks and praise for all those blessings and benefits which graciously and plentifully thou hast bestowed upon my soul and body for this life and that which is to come namely for my Election Creation Redemption Justification Sanctification and Preservation from my childhood until this present day and hour and for the firm hope which thou hast given me of my Glorification Likewise for my Life Liberty Food and Rayment a competent estate for the maintenance of this present life and prosperity more especially for that thou hast defended me this day now past from all peril and dangers both of body and soul furnishing me with all necessary good things that I stand in need of and as thou hast ordained the day for man to travel in and the night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee to sanctifie unto me this nights rest and sleep that I may be the better disposed to serve thee in all honesty and godliness and that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit that so dull and wearied a body of mine being refreshed with moderate rest and sleep I may be the better enabled to work before thee doing all such good works as thou hast provided for me and when it shall please thee by thy divine providence to awaken me the next morning do thou O Lord who art the keeper of Israel who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over me in thy holy providence to protect me from all dangers so that neither the evil Angels of Satan nor any wicked enemy may have any power to do me any harm or evil and to this end give a charge unto thy holy Angels that they at thy appointment may pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name and knowing that thy Name is a strong Tower of defence unto all those that trust therein I here recommend my self and all that belongs unto me unto thy holy protection and custody if it be thy blessed will to call for me in my sleep O Lord for Christ his sake have mercy upon me and receive my soul unto thy heavenly Kingdom and if it be thy blessed pleasure to add more daies to my life add more amendment unto my daies and wean my mind from the love of the world and the vanity thereof and cause me more and more to settle my conversation on Heaven and heavenly things and perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my sinful soul. O Lord I beseech thee likewise save and defend from all evil and danger thy whole Church our gracious King Charles and grant him a long and prosperous Raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless the Nobility Magistrates and Ministers of these Churches and Kingdoms each of them with those graces and benefits which are expedient for their places and callings and be thou O Lord a comfort and a consolation to all thy people whom thou hast thought meet to visit with any kind of sickness cross or poverty or calamity Hasten O Father the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ make me ever mindful of my last end and of the reckoning that I am to make unto thee therein and in the mean while carefully so to follow Christ in the generation during this life as that with Christ I may have a portion in the resurrection of Christ when this mortal life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou O Father knowest to be required and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son and in that form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another Short Evening Prayer O Eternal God and heavenly Father if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel and the example of Peter Mary Magdalen the Publican the Prodigal Child and many other penitent sinners that thou art so full of compassion and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts lamenting their sins and imploring thy grace I should despair for my own sins and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardness of my heart and the unruliness of my affection and the uncleanness of my conversation by means whereof I have transgressed all thy holy Laws and Commandments and deserved thy Curse which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease my soul to languish with the
from that curse and judgment which is due unto me for them Thou that didst justifie the contrite Publican for four words of confession and receivedst the prodigal Child when he had spent all the stock of grace into favour upon his repentance pardon all my sins likewise O Lord and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions O spare me for thy mercy sake and receive me unto favour again Wilt thou O Lord reject me who hast received all Publicans and sinners that upon repentance sued unto thee for grace Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy far be it from me to think so for thou art the same God of mercy unto me that thou wast unto them and thy compassion never fails wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits but according to thy great mercy execute not thy severe justice against me a sinner but execute thy long-sufferance in forbearing thine own creature I have nothing to present unto thee for a satisfaction but only those bloody wounds bitter death and passion which thy blessed Son my only Saviour hath suffered for me him in whom only thou art well pleased I offer up unto thee for all my sins wherewith thou art displeased he my Mediator the request of whose blood speaking better things than that of Abel thy mercy can never gainsay illuminate my understanding and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that it may bring to my remembrance all those good and profitable lessons which this day or at any other time hath been taught unto me out of thy holy Word that I may remember them thy Commandments to keep them thy Judgments to avoid them and thy sweet promises to rely upon them in time of misery and distress and now O Lord I resign my self to thy most holy Will O receive me into thy favour and so draw me by thy grace unto thy self that I may as well be thine by Love and Implantation as by Calling and Creation and give me grace so to keep holy thy Sabbath in this life as that when this life is ended I may with all thy Saints and Angels celebrate an eternal rest of joy and praise to the honour of thy most holy Name in thy heavenly Kingdom for ever more Amen Devotions for several Occasions In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer O Eternal Son of Righteousness who camest from the bosom of the Father to enlighten the darkness of the world I praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me from the danger of this night and hast continued to me still the opportunities of serving thee and advancing my hopes of a blessed eternity let thy mercies shine brightly upon me and dissipate the clouds and darknesses of my spirit and understanding rectifie my affections and purifie my will and all my actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole life my words and purposes my thoughts and all my intentions may be sanctified and be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty Amen Grant that my understanding may know thee my heart may love thee and all my faculties and powers may give thee due obedience and serve thee preserve me this day from all sin and danger from all violences and snares of mine enemies visible or invisible let thy holy fear be as a bridle to my distemperatures and thy love so enkindle and actuate all my endeavours that no pleasures or allurements of the world may draw me from thy service nor any difficulty or temptation may be my hinderance let the profound humility and innocence of my blessed Saviour keep from me all pride and haughtiness of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all fraudulency and hurtful dissimulation and let the graces of the Holy Ghost take such absolute possession and seisure of my soul and all his faculties that I may bring down and east out the spirit of uncleanness and intemperance of malice and envy idleness and disdain that I may never despise any of thy creatures but my self that so being little in my own fight I may be great in thine Amen An Evening Prayer In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. O Lord God who art the light and splendor of souls in the brightness of thy countenance is eternal day that knows no night in thy arms and in thy protection is all quietness tranquility and everlasting repose while the darkness covers the face of the earth receive my body and soul into thy custody let not the spirits of darkness come near my dwelling neither suffer my fancy to be abused with the illusions of the night Lord I am thy servant and the sheep of thy pasture let not the Devil who goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour abuse my body or make a prey of my soul but defend me from all those calamities which I have deserved and protect my soul that it consent not to any work of darkness lest mine enemy say he hath prevailed over me or do mischief to a soul redeemed with thy most precious blood Amen Pardon and forgive me all the sins and offences of my youth and age the errours of mine understanding the inordination of mine affections the irregularity of all my actions and particularly of whatsoever I have transgressed this day in thought word or deed Lord let not thy wrath arise for although I have deserved the extremest pressure of thine indignation yet remember my infirmity and how thou hast sent thy Son to reveal thy infinite mercy to us and convey pardon and salvation to the penitent I beseech thee also to accept the heartiest devotion and humble acknowledgment of a thankful heart for all thy blessings and preservation of me this day for unless thy providence and grace had been my defence and guide I had committed more and more grievous sins against thee and had been swallowed up by thy just wrath and severest judgments mercy sweet Jesus Amen Grant unto thy servant true humility great contrition a tender conscience and obedient heart an understanding alwaies busied in honest and pious thoughts a wiling tractable heart and ever prone to do good affections even and moderate a watchful custody over my senses that by those windows sin may never enter in nor death by sin make me to watch over my tongue and keep the door of my lips that no corrupt or unseemly communication proceed out of my mouth that I may never slander calumniate or detract from the reputation of my neighbour that I be not busie in the faults of others but careful to correct my own being gentle and merciful to others severe towards my self that I may speak much of thy praises and what I can for the edification of my Brethren Amen Give me a soul watchful in the service of Religion constant in holy purposes
Name For I am weary of my groaning every night wash I my bed and water my Couch with my tears therefore haste thee to help me O Lord God of my salvation and they shall know how that this is thy hand and that thou Lord hast done it O Lord God my Helper and Redeemer have mercy upon me and all thy faithful people make haste and help us O God against all those that seek after our souls to do us mischief Make us to delight in thee to wait upon thy salvation to trust in thy mercies to rejoyce in thy excellencies and perfection that our feet being directed by thy guidance our weaknesses strengthened by thy power our sins pardoned by thy mercies and our souls justified by thy free grace we may alwaies give thee praise with the humble addresses of devotion and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Collect. O God who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's understanding pour into our hearts such love towards thee as pass man's understanding that we loving thee above all things may obtain thy promises which exceed all we can desire through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the continuance of God's Favour to me even to my old Age and longing for a happy departure O Lord God foolish men are plagued for their offences and because of their wickedness so when they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble he delivered them out of their dIstress O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men A fruitful Land maketh he barren for the wickedness of them that dwell therein yet he satisfies the empty soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death being fast bound in misery and Iron O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all The Earth is full of thy Riches O remember the marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth O ye seed of Abraham his servant ye children of Jacob his chosen he hath been alway mindfull of his Covenant and Promise that he made to a thousand generations in the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart thy comforts have refreshâ—d my soul for the Lord is my Refuge and my God is the strength of my confidence The Lord is a great God and King above all Gods O ye that love the Lord see that ye hate the thing that is evil The Lord preserveth the souls of his Saints he delivereth them from the hand of the ungodly Rejoyce in the Lord O ye righteous and give thanks in remembrance of his holiness O let me have understanding in the waies of godliness A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Mine eyes look upon such as be faithful in the Land that they may dwell with me Whoso leadeth a godly life shall be my servant There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the Land that I may root out all wicked doers O Lord God deliver me from among the wicked and save me for thy mercy sake and let not my wicked sins prevail against me Hear my prayers O Lord and let my cry come unto thee O Lord God my house of defence and my Castle who by thy mercies and loving Spirit hast taught me in thy waies from my first years until now thou hast brought me to great honour even the honour of being a Christian the honour of Adoption to be thy child and heir of thy glorious promises co-heirs with thy Son Jesus Christ and hast comforted me on every side with a continual stream of thy mercies and refreshments Give me thy grace that I may love thee and long for thee above all the things in this world As thou hast holpen me up ever since I was born so let thy mercy go along with me all the daies of my life Cast me not off in the time of Age. Give me grace that I may never cast thee off or thy Laws from me Let not thy grace and the great strength I derive from thy thee forsake me when my natural strength fails me but let my spirit grow upon the advantages of the flesh and begin to receive the happiness of Eternity by an absolute conquest over the weak and decaying body that after I have by thine Aid passed through the great troubles and adversities thou shewest unto all thy children in the world I may lye down in thy Righteousness and with thy favour that when thou bringest me out of the deep of the earth again I may have a joyful resurrection to the society of Saints and Angels and the full fruition of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. O God who hast prepared for all them that love thee such good things that pass man's understanding pour into my heart such love towards thee that I loving thee above all things may obtain the promises which exceed all that I can desire through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for obtaining of Christ's Kingdom HIde not thy face from me O Lord in the time of my trouble and encline thine ears unto me when I call O hear me and that right soon for thou art full of mercy and compassion long suffering and of great goodness thou art not alwaies chiding neither keepest thou thine anger for ever thou dost not deal with me after my sins nor rewardest thou me according to my wickedness for look how high the Heaven is in comparison of the Earth so far hast thou set my sins from thee yea like as a Father pitieth his own Children even so the Lord is merciful to them that fear him for he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth we are but dust and the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever to them that fear him and his Righteousness to his Childrens Children even upon such as keep his Covenant and think upon his Commandments to do them Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he hath great delight in his Commandments his seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the faithful shall be blessed riches and plentiousness shall be in his house his Righteousness endureth for ever Unto the godly there riseth up light in the darkness he is merciful loving and righteous A good man is merciful and lendeth and will guide his words with discretion for he shall never be moved and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance for he will not be afraid of any evil tydings for his heart standeth fast and is stablished in the Lord and will not shrink
that we may derive from thee by this mystery grace to expel our sins to mortifie all our lusts to exterminate all concupiscence to crucifie all inordinate irregularities to produce in us humility and chastity and obedience and meekness of spirit and charity and let us not be harmed by the violence invasions of all our ghostly enemies and temporal disadvantages and give us grace and favour that we may not die in the commission of a sin without repentance nor without receiving the blessed Sacrament but that we may so live and die that we may at last rest in thy bosom and be embraced with the comprehensions of thy eternal Charity who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen Prayers preparatory to Death A Prayer for a Blessed Ending to be said in time of Health or Sickness O Blessed Jesu fountain of eternal Mercy the life of the soul and glorious Conquerour over Death and Sin I humbly beseech thee to give me grace so to spend this transitory life in vertue and holy exercises that when the day of my death shall come in the midst of all my pains I may feel the sweet refreshings of thy holy Spirit comforting my soul sustaining my infirmities and relieving all my spiritual necessities and grant that in the unity of the holy Catholick Church and in the integrity of Christian Faith with confidence and hope of thy mercy in great love towards thee in peace towards my neighbours and in charity with all the world I may through thy grace depart hence out of this vail of misery and go into that glorious Country where thou hast purchased an inheritance for us with the price of thy most precious blood and reignest in it gloriously in the unity of thy Father and ours of thy Holy Spirit and our ghostly Comforter ever one God world without end Amen All blessing and praise and honour be unto thee O blessed Redeemer and to thee I the banished and miserable Son of Adam do call for mercy and defence in this needful time of trouble to thee I sigh and cry in the valley of tears O dearest Advocate turn those thy merciful eyes towards me and shew me thy glorious face in thy heavenly Kingdom where no tears or sighing or fears or sadness can approach Amen sweetest Jesu Amen A Prayer to be said in the beginning of Sickness O Lord my God who chastisest every one whom thou receivest and with thy fatherly correction smitest those whom thou consignest to the inheritance of Sons write my soul in the book of life and number me amongst thy chosen children whom thou hast smitten with the Rod of Sickness and by thy chastisements hast brought me into the lot of the Righteous Thou O blessed Jesus who art a helper in the needful time of trouble lay no more upon me than thou shalt enable me to bear and let thy gentle corrections in this life prevent the unsupportable stripes of thy vengeance in the life to come Smite me now that thou mayest spare me to all eternity and yet O blessed High Priest who art touched with a sense of our infirmities smite me friendly and reprove me with such a tenderness as thou bearest unto thy children to whom thou conveyest supplicatory comforts greaten not the pains of thy chastisements and in due time restore me to health and to thy solemn Assemblies again and to the joy of thy countenance Give me patience and humility and the grace of Repentance and an absolute dereliction of my self and resignation to thy pleasure and providence with a power to do thy Will in all things and then do what thou pleasest with me in health or sickness in life or death let me feel thy comforts refreshing my soul and let thy grace pardon all my sins grant this O heavenly Father for thy dear Sons sake my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for a sick person in danger of Death O Lord Jesus Christ our health and our salvation our life our hope and our resurrection from the dead I resign my self up to thy holy will and pleasure either to life that I may live longer to thy service and my amendment or to death to the perpetual enjoyment of thy presence and of thy glory into thy hands I commend my spirit for I know O Lord that nothing can perish which is commited to thy mercy I believe help thou my unbelief I believe O Lord that I shall receive my body again at the resurrection of the Just I relinquish all care of that only I beg of thee mercy for my soul strengthen it with thy grace against all temptation let thy loving kindness defend it as with a shield against all violence and hostile assaults of Satan let the same mercy be my guard and defence which protected thy Martyrs crowning them with victory in the midst of flames horrid torments and most cruel deaths There is no help in me O Lord I cannot by my own strength or power give a minutes rest to my wearied body but my trust is in thy mercies and I call to mind to my unspeakable comfort that thou wert hungry and thirsty and wearied and whipt and crowned with thorns and mocked and crucified for me O let that mercy of thine which made thee suffer so much pardon me and save me let thy merits answer for my impieties let thy Righteousness cover my sins thy blood wash away my stains and thy comforts refresh my soul as my body grows weaker let thy grace be stronger let not my faith doubt nor my hope tremble nor my charity grow cold nor my soul be afrighted with the terrours of death but let the light of thy countenance enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death eternal and when my tongue fails let thy Spirit teach my heart with strong crying and groans that are unutterable O let not the enemy do me any violence but let thy holy mercies and thy Angels repel and defeat his malice and find that my soul may by thy strength triumph in the joys of eternity in the fruition of thee my life my joy my hope my exceeding great reward my Lord and and my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer for a dying person in or near the Agonies of Death MOst merciful and blessed Saviour have mercy upon the soul of this servant remember not his ignorance nor the sins of his youth nor age but according to thy great mercies remember him in the mercies and glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers O let the everlasting gates be opened and receive his soul let the Angels who rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner triumph and be exalted in his deliverance and salvation Make him partaker of the benefits of thy holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Ascension and all the Prayers of the Church that the Joy of the Elect and the Fruits of the blessed Communion of the
yea thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever despise not then the work of thine own hands O God thou art my God early will I seek thee My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and a dry Land where no water is Like as the Hart desireth the water-brooks so longeth my soul after thee O my God My soul is athirst for God even for the Living God When shall I come and appear before the presence of God How amiable are thy dwellings O Lord God of Hosts my soul hath a desire a longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord. My flesh and my heart rejoyceth in the Living God O that I had wings like a Dove for then would I flee away and be at rest O send out thy Light and thy Truth that they may lead me and bring me to thy Hill and to thy dwelling for one day in thy Court is better than a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness I should utterly have fainted but that I believed verily to have seen the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Thou art my Helper and my Redeemer O Lord make no long tarrying A Prayer at the Receiving of the Communion O Lord I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee for my iniquities are increased over my head and my trespass is grown even unto Heaven I have wrought all these great provocations and that in the most provoking manner they have not been only single but repeated acts of sin for O Lord of all this black Catalogue of sin which I have now brought before thee how few are there which I have not often committed nay which are not become even habitual and accustomary to me and to this frequency I had added both a greediness and obstinacy in sinning turned into my course as a horse rusheth into the battel doing evil with both hands earnestly yea hating to be reformed and casting thy words behind me quenching the Spirit within me which testified against me to turn me from my evil waies frustrating all those outward means whether of judgment or of mercy which thou hast used to draw me to thy self Nay O Lord even my Repentances may be numbred amongst my greatest sins they have sometimes been feigned and hypocritical alwaies so slight and ineffectual they have brought forth no fruit to amendment of life but I have added the breach of resolutions and vows to all my former guilt Thus O Lord I am become out of measure sinful and since I have thus chosen death the lake and brimstone this O Lord is in justice to be the portion of my Cup to me belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face eternally but to thee O Lord God belongeth mercy redemption and forgiveness Though I have rebelled against thee O remember not my sins and offences but according to thy mercy think upon me O Lord for thy goodness Thou sendest thy Son to seek and to save that which was lost behold O Lord I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant and bring me back to the Shepherd and Bishop of my soul. Let thy Spirit work in me a hearty sense and detestation of all my abominations and true contrition of heart which thou hast promised not to despise and then be thou pleased to look on me to take away all my iniquity and receive me graciously and for his sake who hath nothing amiss be reconciled unto me wash away the guilt of my sin in his blood and subdue the power of them by his grace and grant O Lord that I may from this hour bid a final adiew unto all ungodliness and worldly lusts never once more cast a look towards Sodom or long after the flesh pots of Egypt but consecrate my self entirely unto thee to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life reckoning my self to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord and blessed Saviour Amen The 51 Psalm is fit to be read upon this Occasion Ejaculations O Lord of whom may I seek for succour but of thee who for my sins art justly displeased yet O Lord God most holy O Lord most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour deliver me not at my last hour into the bitter pains of eternal death Thou knowest Lord the secrets of my heart shut not thy merciful eyes upon my prayer but hear me O Lord most holy O God most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour thou most worthy Judge Eternal suffer me not at my last hour for any pains of death to fall from the Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy child yet O Lord do not thou cast off the bowels and compassion of a Father but even as a Father pittieth his own children so be thou merciful unto me Lord the Prince of this world cometh oh let him have nothing in me but as he accuseth do thou absolve he laies many grievous things to my charge which he can too well prove I have nothing to say for my self do thou answer for me O Lord my God O Lord I am cloathed with filthy garments and Satan stands at my right hand to resist me O be thou pleased to rebuke him and pluck me as a brand out of the fire Cause mine iniquity to pass from me and cloath me with the Righteousness of thy Son Behold O Lord the Devil is coming towards me having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time O save and deliver me lest he devour my soul like a Lion and tear it in pieces while there is none to help O my God I know no unclean thing can enter into thy Kingdom and I am nothing but pollution My very Righteousnesses are as filthy raggs O wash me and make me white in the blood of the Lamb that so I may be fit to stand before thy Throne Lord the snares of death compass me about O let not the pains of Hell also take hold upon me but though I find trouble and heaviness O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. O dear Jesus who hast bought me with the precious price of thine own blood challenge now thy purchase and let not the malice of Hell pluck me out of thine hand O blessed High Priest who art able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by thee save me I beseech thee who have no hope but by thy merit and intercession O God I confess I have defaced that Image of thine thou didst imprint upon my soul yet oh thou faithful Creator have pity on thy creature O Jesu I have by many and grievous sins crucified thee afresh yet thou who prayest for thy persecutors intercede for me also and suffer me not O my Redeemer my soul the price
happiness in thy heavenly Kingdom In the mean time O Lord whilst it is thy blessed will and pleasure that I may continue to spend and end that small number and remnant of my daies that I may apply my heart to wisdom and as thou dost add daies to my life so I beseech thee to add repentance and amendment to my sinful daies that as I grow in years I may grow in grace and favour with thee and all thy people and to this end give unto me a supply of all those graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me and necessary for me with an increase of all those good gifts wherewith thou hast already endowed me that so I may be the better enabled to lead such a godly life and an honest conversation as that thy Name may thereby be glorified others may take good example by me and my soul may cheerfully feed on the peace of a good conscience and be more replenished with the Joy of the Holy Ghost And here O Lord according to my bounden duty I give the most humble and hearty thanks for all those blessings which of thy goodness thou hast bestowed upon me and namely for that thou hast of thy free grace and love according to thine eternal purpose elected me before the foundation of the world was laid unto salvation in Jesus Christ For that thou hast created me in thine own Image and hast begun to restore that in me which was lost in our First Parents For that thou hast effectually called me by the working of thy Holy Spirit in the Preaching of the Gospel and the Receiving of thy Sacrament to the knowledge of thy saving grace and obedience to thy blessed Will For that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thy only begotten Son from the torment of Hell and thraldom of Satan For that thou hast by Faith in Christ freely justified me who am by nature the child of wrath For that thou hast in good measure justified me by thy Holy Spirit and given me so large a time to repent together with the means of Repentance I thank thee likewise good Lord for my life health wealth liberty food rayment peace prosperity and plenty and for that thou hast preserved me this night from all perils and dangers of soul and body and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day and as thou hast now awakened my body from sleep so I beseech thee to awaken my body from sin and carnal security and as thou hast caused the light of the day to shine in our bodily eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy Word and Holy Spirit to illuminate my understanding and give me grace as one of thy children of light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and all the daies and time of my whole life and that I may endeavour to keep faith and a good conscience towards God and towards all men in all my thoughts words and dealings and so good Lord bless all studies and actions which I shall take in hand this day as that they may tend to thy glory the good of others and the comfort of my own soul and conscience in that day when I shall make my final request unto thee for them O my God keep thy servant that I do not evil unto any man this day and let it be thy blessed will not to suffer the Devil nor his wicked Angels nor any of his evil members or my malicious enemies to have any power to do me any hurt or harm this day but let the eyes of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil and command thy holy Angels to pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety in my going out and my coming in as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name for into thy hands O Father I do here commend my soul and body my actions and all that ever I have to be guided and protected by thee being assured that whatsoever thou takest into thy custody cannot suffer or take any hurt or harm and if I at any time this day shall through frailty forget thee yet Lord I beseech thee do thou in mercy remember me And I pray not alone for my self unto thee O Father but I beseech thee also be merciful unto thy whole Church and chosen people wheresoever they live upon the face of the whole Earth defend them from the rage and tyranny of the Devil the World and Antichrist give thy Gospel a free and a joyful passage through the world for the conversion of those who belong to thine Election and Kingdom Bless the Church and Kingdoms wherein we live with the continuance of peace and true Religion and Justice Defend our gracious King Charles from all his enemies and grant him a long life in health and all happiness to raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family increase in them all heroical and spiritual graces which may make them fit for those places for which thou ordainedst them direct all the Nobility Bishops and Magistrates of this Kingdom and Commonwealth govern thou them that they may govern the Commons in true Religion Justice Obedience and Tranquility Be merciful unto all the people that fear thee and call upon thy Name and comfort as many among them as lie sick or are comfortless in body or mind especially be favourable to all such as suffer any trouble or persecution for the testimony of the Truth and holy Gospel and give them a gracious deliverance out of all their troubles which way it shall seem best to thy wisdom for the glory of thy Name the farther inlarging of the Truth and the more ample increase of their comfort and consolation Hasten thy coming O blessed Saviour and end these sinful daies and give me grace that like a wise Virgin I may be prepared with Oil in my Lamp to meet thee the sweetest Bridegroom of my soul at thy coming whether it be by the day of death or the day of judgment and then Lord Jesus come quickly even Lord Jesus come when thou wilt these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful and necessary both for my soul and my body this day and for ever I humbly beg and crave at thy hands O Father giving thee thy praise and glory in that absolute form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name c. Another Shorter Morning Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father I thine unworthy servant do acknowledge that as I have been born in sin so I have lived in iniquity and broken every one of thy commandments in thought word and deed following the desires of my own will and lusts of my flesh not caring to be governed by thy holy Word and Spirit therefore I have