all our faculties and grant that as they there so all the world here may serve thee with peace and concord purity and love unfeigned with one heart and one voice glorifying thee our heavenly Father Grant that we may quit all our own affections and suspect our reasonings and go out of our selves and all our own confidences that thou being to us all things disposing all events and guiding all our actions and directing our intentions and over-ruling all things in us and about us we may be Servants of the Divine Will for ever Give us this day our daily Bread Thou O God which takest care of our Souls do not despise our bodies which thou hast made and sanctified and designed to be glorious But now we are exposed to hunger and thirst nakedness and weariness want and inconvenience Give unto us neither poverty nor riches but feed us with food convenient for us and clothe us with fitting provisions according to that state and condition where thou hast placed thy Servants that we may not be tempted with want nor made contemptible by beggery nor wanton or proud by riches nor in love with any thing in this world but that we may use it as strangers and pilgrims as the relief of our needs the support of our infirmities and the oyle of our lamps feeding us till we are quite spent in thy service Lord take from thy Servants sad carefulness and all distrust and give us onely such a proportion of temporal things as may enable us with comfort to do our duty Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us O dear God unless thou art pleased to pardon us in vain it is that we should live here and what good will our life do us O look upon us with much mercy for we have sinned grievously against thee Pardon the adherent imperfections of our life the weaknesses of our duty the carelesness of our spirit our affected ignoâ—…nce our indiligence our rashness and â—…ant of observation our malice and Preâ—…mptions Turn thine eyes from our imâ—…urities and behold the brightness and â—…urest innocence of the Holy Jesus and â—…nder his cover we plead our cause not â—…hat thou shouldest judge our sins but â—…ive us pardon and blot out all our iniâ—…uities that we may never enter into the â—…orrible regions where there are torments without ceasing a Prison without ransome â—…eproaches without comfort anguish without patience darkness without light 〈◊〉 worm that never dies and the fire that â—…ever goeth out But be pleased also to give us great Chaâ—…ity that we may truly forgive all that â—…rouble or injure us that by that Charaâ—…ter thou mayest discern us to be thy â—…ons and Servants Disciples of the Holy â—…esus lest our Prayer be turned into sin â—…nd thy grace be recalled and thou enter â—…nto a final anger against thy Servants Lead us not into Temptation Gracious Father we are weak and ignorant our affections betray us and make us willing to die our adversary the Devil goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour he is busie and crafty malicious and powerful watchful and envious and we tempt our selves running out to mischief delighting in the approaches of sin and love to have necessities put upon us that sin may be unavoidable Pity us in the midst of these disorders and give us spirituall Strength holy Resolutions a watchful Spirit the whole Armour of God and thy protection the guard of Angels and the conduct of thy holy Spirit to be our security in the day of danger Give us thy grace to flie from all occasions to sin that we may never tempt our selves nor delight to be tempted and let thy blessed Providence so order the accidents of our lives that we may not dwell near an enemy and when thou shalt try us and suffer us to enter into combat let us alwayes be on thy side and fight valiantly resist the Devil and endure patiently and persevere constantly unto the end that thou mayest crown thy own work in us But deliver us from evil From sin and shame from the malice and fraud of the Devil and from the falseness and greediness of men from all â—…hy wrath and from all our impurities â—…ood Lord deliver thy servants Do not reserve any thing of thy wrath 〈◊〉 store for us but let our sins be Parâ—…oned so fully that thou mayest not puâ—…ist our inventions And yet if thou â—…ilt not be intreated but that it be neâ—…essary that we suffer thy will be done â—…mite us here with a Fathers rod that â—…hou mayest spare us hereafter let the â—…ad accidents of our life be for good to â—…s not for evil for our amendment not â—…o exasperate or weary us not to harden â—…r confound us and what evil soever it â—…e that shall happen let us not sin against â—…hee For ever deliver us from that evil â—…nd for ever deliver us from the power of â—…he evil one the great enemy of Manâ—…inde and never let our portion be in â—…hat region of Darkness in that everâ—…asting burning which thou hast prepared â—…or the Devil and his Angels for ever For thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen So shall we thy servants advance the Mightiness of thy Kingdome the Power of thy Majesty and the Glory of thy Mercy from generation to generation for ever Amen LETANIES FOR All Things and Persons O God the Father of Mercies the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have â—…ercy upon thy servants and hear the â—…rayers of us miserable sinners O blessed Jesus the Fountain of Peace â—…nd Pardon our Wisdome and our Righâ—…ousness our Sanctification and Redemâ—…tion have mercy upon thy servants reâ—…se not to hear the prayers of us miseraâ—…e sorrowful and returning sinners O holy and divinest Spirit of the Faâ—…er help our infirmities for of our selves â—…e know not what to ask nor how to â—…ray but do thou assist and be preâ—…nt in the desires of us miserable sinâ—…ers 1. For Pardon of Sins REmember not Lord the follies of our childehood nor the lusts of our youth the wildness of our head nor the wandrings of our heart the infinite sins of our tongue and the inexcusable errors of the dayes of vanity Lord have mercy upon us poor miserable sinners Remember not O Lord the growing iniquities of our elder age the pride of our spirit the abuse of our members the greediness of our appetite the inconstancy of our purposes the peevishness and violence of all our pafsions and affections Lord have mercy c. Remember not O Lord how we have been full of envy and malice anger anâ—… revenge fierce and earnest in the purchases and vanities of the world and lazy anâ—… dull slow and soon weary in the things of God and of Religion Lord have mercy c. Remember not O Lord our uncharitaâ—…le behaviour towards those with whom â—…e have conversed our jealousies and suâ—…icions our evil surmisings and evil reâ—…ortings the
pressure O let thy mercy be the measure For if thou keepest wrath in store We all shall die And none be left to glorifie Thy Name and tell How thou hast sav'd our souls from Hell Mercy On the Conversion of S. Paul FUll of wrath his threatning breath Belching nought but chains and death Saul was arrested in his way By a voice and a light That if a thousand dayes Should joyn rayes To beautifie one day It would not shew so glorious and so bright On his amazed eyes it night did fling That day might break within And by those beams of Faith Make him of a childe of wrath Become a vessel full of glory Lord curb us in our dark and sinful way We humbly pray When we down horrid precipices run With feet that thirst to be undone That this may be our story Allelujah On the Purification of the blessed Virgin PUre and spotless was the Maid That to the Temple came A pair of Turtle-doves she paid Although she brought the Lamb Pure and spotless though she were Her body chaste and her soul faire She to the Temple went To be purifi'd And try'd That she was spotless and obedient O make us to follow so blest Precedent And purifie our souls for we Are cloth'd with sin and misery From our conception One imperfection And a continued state of sin Hath sullied all our faculties within We present our souls to thee Full of need and misery And for Redemption a Lamb The purest whitest that e're came A Sacrifice to thee Even he that bled upon the Tree On Good-Friday THe Lamb is eaten and is yet again Preparing to be slain The Cup is full and mixt And must be drunk Wormwood and gall To this are draughts to beguile care withall Yet the Decree is fixt Doubled knees and groans and cries Prayers and sighs and flowing eyes Could not intreat His sad Soul sunk Under the heavy pressure of our sin The pains of Death and Hell About him dwell His Fathers burning wrath did make His very heart like melting wax to sweat Rivers of blood Through the pure strainer of his skin His boiling body stood Bubling all o're As if the wretched whole were but one dore To let in pain and grief And turn out all relief O thou who for our sake Didst drink up This bitter Cup Remember us we pray In thy day When down The strugling throats of wicked men The dregs of thy just fury shall be thrown Oh then Let thy unbounded mercy think On us for whom Thou underwent'st this heavy doom And give us of the well of life to drink Amen On the Annunciation to the blessed Virgin A Winged harbinger from bright heav'n flown Bespeaks a lodging room For the mighty King of Love The spotless structure of a Virgin womb O'reshadow'd with the wings of the blest Dove For he was travelling to earth But did desire to lay By the way That he might shift his clothes and be A perfect Man as well as we How good a God have we who for our sake To save us from the burning lake Did change the order of Creation At first he made Man like himself in his own Image now In the more blessed reparation The Heavens bow Eternity took the measure of a span And said Let us make our self like Man And not from Man the Woman take But from the Woman Man Allelujah we adore His Name whose goodness hath no store Allelujah Easter day WHat glorious light How bright a Sun after so sad a night Does now begin to dawn Bless'd were those eyes That did behold This Sun when he did first unfold His glorious beams and now begin to rise It was the holy tender Sex That saw the first ray Saint Peter and the other had the reflex The second glimpse o'th'day Innocence had the first and he That fled and then did penance next did see The glorious Sun of Righteousness In his new dress Of triumph immortality and bliss O dearest God preserve our souls In holy innocence Or if we do amiss Make us to rise again to th' life of Grace That we may live with thee and see thy glorious face The crown of holy Penitence Allelujah On the day of Ascension HE is risen higher not set Indeed a cloud Did with his leave make bold to shroud The Sun of Glory from Mount Olivet At Pentecost hee 'll shew himself again When every ray shall be a tongue To speak all comforts and inspire Our Souls with their celestial fire That we the Saints among May sing and love and reign Amen On the Feast of Pentecost or Whitsunday TOngues of fire from heaven descend With a mighty rushing wind To blow it up and make A living fire Of heavenly Charity and pure desire Where they their residence should take On the Apostles sacred heads they sit Who now like Beacons do proclaim and tell Th' invasion of the host of Hell And give men warning to defend Themselves from the inraged brunt of it Lord let the flames of holy Charity And all her gifts and graces slide Into our hearts and there abide That thus refined we may soar above With it unto the element of Love Even unto thee dear Spirit And there eternal peace and rest inherit Amen Penitentiall Hymns I. LOrd I have sinn'd the black number swells To such a dismal sum That should my stony heart and eyes And this whole sinful trunk a flood become And run to tears their drops could not suffice To count my score Much less to pay But thou my God hast blood in store And art the Patron of the poore Yet since the Balsam of thy Blood Although it can will do no good Unless the wounds be cleans'd with tears before Thou in whose sweet but pensive face Laughter could never steal a place Teach but my heart and eyes To melt away And then one drop of Balsam will suffice Amen II. GReat God and just how canst thou fee Dear God our miserie And not in mercy set us free Poor miserable man how wert thou born Weak as the dewy jewels of the Morn Rapt up in tender dust Guarded with sins and lust Who like Court flatterers waite To serve themselves in thy unhappy fate Wealth is a snare and poverty brings in Inlets for theft paving the way for sin Each perfum'd vanity doth gently breath Sin in thy Soul and whispers it to Death Our faults like ulcerated sores do go O're the sound flesh and do corrupt that too Lord we are sick spotted with sin Thick as a crusty Lepers skin Like Nuaman bid us wash yet let it be In streams of blood that flow from thee Then will we sing Touch'd by the heavenly Doves bright wing Hallelujahs Psalms and Praise To God the Lord of night and dayes Ever good and ever just Ever high who ever must Thus be sung is still the same Eternal praises crown his Name Amen A Prayer for Charity FUll of Mercy full of Love Look upon us
all pardon and holiness and life eternal through Jesus Christ Amen The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communication of the Holy Spirit be with us all for ever Amen A SHORT PRAYER To be said every Morning O Almighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the God of mercy and comfort with reverence and fear with humble confidence and strong desires I approach to the Throne of Grace begging of thee mercy and protection pardon and salvation O my God I am a sinner but sorrowful and repenting Thou art justly offended at me but yet thou art my Lord and my Father merciful and gracious Be pleased to blot all my sins out of thy remembrance and heal my soul that I may never any more sin against thee Lord open my eyes that I may see my own infirmities and watch against them and my own follies that I may amend them and be pleased to give me perfect understanding in the way of godliness that I may walk in it all the dayes of my pilgrimage Give me a spirit diligent in the works of my Calling chearful and zeaâ—…us in Religion fervent and frequent in â—…y Prayers charitable and useful in my â—…onversation Give me a healthful and a â—…aste body a pure and a holy soul a â—…nctified and an humble spirit and let â—…y body and soul and spirit be preserved â—…nblameable to the coming of the Lord â—…esus Amen II. BLessed be thy Name O God and blessed be thy Mercies who hast preserved â—…e this night from sin and sorrow from â—…ad chances and a violent death from the â—…alice of the Devil and the evil effects of â—…y own corrupted nature and infirmity The out-goings of the Morning and Evening shall praise thee and thy servants â—…hall rejoyce in giving thee praise for the operation of thy hands Let thy providence and care watch over me this day and all my whole life that I may never sin against thee by idleness or folly by evil company or private sins by word or deed by thought or desire and let the imployment of my day leave no sorrow or the remembrance of an evil conscience at night but let it be holy and profitable blessed and alwayes innocent that when the dayes of my short abode are done and the shadow is departed I may die in thy fear and favour and rest in a holy hope and at last return to the joyes of a blessed Resurrection through Jesus Christ In whose Name and in whose words in behalf of my self and all my friends and all thy servants I humbly and heartily pray Our Faether c. A Prayer for the Evening ETernall God Almighty Father of Men and Angels by whose care and providence I am preserved and blessed comforted and assisted I humbly beg of thee to pardon the sins and follies of this day the weaknesses of my services and the strength of my passions the rashness of my words and the vanity and evil of my actions O just and dear God how long shall I confess my sins and pray against them and yet fall under them O let it be so no more let me never return to the follies of which I am ashamed which bring sorrow and death and thy displeasure worse then death Give me 〈◊〉 command over my evil inclinations and 〈◊〉 â—…erfect hatred of sin and a love to thee â—…ove all the desires of this world Be â—…leased to bless and preserve me this night â—…rom all sin and all violence of Chance â—…nd the malice of the Spirits of darkness â—…atch over me in my sleep and whether sleep or wake let me be thy servant â—…e thou first and last in all my thoughts â—…nd the guide and continual assistance of â—…ll my actions Preserve my body pardon â—…he sin of my soul and sanctifie my â—…oul let me alwayes live holily and justly â—…nd soberly and when I die receive my â—…oul into thy hands O holy and everâ—…lessed Jesus that I may lie in thy boâ—…ome and long for thy coming and hear â—…hy blessed Sentence at Doomsday and â—…hold thy face and live in thy Kingâ—…lome singing praises to God for ever and â—…ver Amen Our Father c. For SUNDAY A Prayer against Pride I. O Eternal God merciful and glorious thou art exalted far above all heavens thy Throne O God is glory and thy Scepter is righteousness thy Will is holiness and thy Wisdome the great foundation of Empire and Government I adore thy Majesty and rejoyce in thy Mercy and revere thy Power anâ—… confess all glory and dignity and honour to be thine alone and theirs to whom thou shalt impart any ray of thy Majesty or reflexion of thy honour but as foâ—… me I am a worm and no man vile dust and ashes the son of corruption and the heir of rottenness seized upon by folly a lump of ignorance and sin and shame and death What art thou O Lord the great God of Heaven and Earth the fountain of Holiness and Perfection inâ—…te But what am I so ignorant that â—…now not what so poor that I have noâ—…ng of my own so miserable that I am â—…e heir of sorrow and death and so sinâ—… that I am encompassed with shame â—…d grief II. ANd yet O my God I am proud proud of my shame glorying in my 〈◊〉 boasting my infirmities for this is all â—…t I have of my own save onely that I â—…ve multiplied my miseries by vile actiâ—…s every day dishonouring the work of â—…y hands my understanding is too conâ—…ent my affections rebellious my will â—…ractory and disobedient and yet I â—…ow thou resistest the proud and didst â—…t the Morning Stars the Angels from â—…aven into chains of darkness when they â—…w giddy and proud walking upon the â—…tlements of heaven beholding the gloâ—…us Regions that were above them III. THou O God who givest grace to the 〈◊〉 humble do something also for the â—…oud man make me humble and obedient Take from me the spirit of pridâ—… and haughtiness ambition and self-flaâ—…tery confidence and gayety teach metâ—… think well and to expound all things faiâ—…ly of my brother to love his worthiness to delight in his praises to excuse his erâ—…rors to give thee thanks for his gracâ—… to rejoyce in all the good that he receiveâ—… and ever to believe and speak better thingâ—… of him then of my self IV. O Teach me to love to be concealeâ—… and little esteemed let me be truâ—… humbled and heartily ashamed of mâ—… sin and folly teach me to bear reproachâ—… evenly for I have deserved them to râ—…fuse all honours done unto me because have not deserved them to return all tâ—… thee for it is thine alone to suffer râ—… proof thankfully to amend all my fauâ—… speedily and do thou invest my soâ—… with the humble robe of my meek Mastâ—… and Saviour Jesus and when I have hunâ—… patiently charitably and diligentâ—… served thee change this robe into tâ—… shining garment of immortality my coâ—… into glory my folly to
your usuall recreations on that day and from greater mirth 5. Be sure to design beforehand the purposes of your fast either for Repentance or for Mortification or for the advantages of Prayer and let your devotions be accordingly But be sure not to think fasting or eating fish or eating nothing of it self to be pleasing to God but as it serves to one of these purposes 6. Let some part of that day extraordinary be set apart for Prayer for the actions of Repentance for confession of sins and for begging of those graces for whose sake you set apart that day 7. Be sure that on that day you set apart something for the poor for Fasting and Alms are the wings of Prayer 8. It is best to choose that day for your fast which is used generally by all Christians as Friday and Saturday but do not call it a fasting day unless also it be a day of extraordinary devotion and of alms 29. From observation of all the dayes of your life gather out the four extraordinaries 1. All the great and shameful 〈◊〉 you have committed 2. All the excellent or greater acts of piety which by Gods grace you have performed 3. All the great blessings you have received 4. All the dangers and great sicknesses you have escaped and upon all the dayes of your extraordinary devotions let them be brought forth and produce their acts of virtue 1. Repentance and Prayers for pardon 2. Resolutions to proceed and increase in good works 3. Thanksgiving to God 4. Fear and watchfulness lest we fall into worse as a punishment for our sin 30. Keep a little Catalogue of these and at the foot of them set down what Promises and Vows you have made and kept or broken and do according as you are obliged 31. Receive the blessed Sacrament as often as you can endevour to have it once a moneth besides the solemn and â—…eat Festivalls of the year 32. Confess your sins often hear the Word of God make Religion the busiâ—…ess of your life your study and chiefest â—…are and be sure that in all things a spiâ—…itual guide take you by the hand Thou shalt alwayes rejoyce in the evenâ—…ng if thou doest spend thy day virâ—…uously VIA PACIS A short Method of Peace and Holiness With a Manual of daily PRAYERS Fitted to the dayes of the Week SUNDAY Decad the first 1. IT is the highest wisdome by despising the world to arrive at heaven for they are blessed whose daily exercise it is to converse with God by Prayer and Obedience by Love and Patience 2. It is the extremest folly to labour for that which will bring torment in the end and no satisfaction in the little enjoyment of it to be unwearied in the â—…ursuit of the world and to be soon tir'd 〈◊〉 whatsoever we begin to do for Christ 3. Watch over thy self counsel thy self â—…prove thy self censure thy self and â—…dge thy self impartially whatever thou â—…ost to others do not neglect thy self â—…or every man profits so much as he does â—…iolence to himself 4. They that follow their own sensuâ—…lity stain their Consciences and lose the â—…race of God but he that endevours to â—…lease God whatever he suffers is beâ—…ved of God For it is not a Question Whether we shall or shall not suffer but Whether we shall suffer for God or for the world whether we shall take pains 〈◊〉 Religion or in sin to get heaven or to get riches 5. What availeth knowledge without â—…he fear of God A humble ignorant man 〈◊〉 better then a proud scholar who stuâ—…ies natural things and knows not himself The more thou knowest the more grievously thou shalt be judged Many get no profit by their labour because they â—…ontend for knowledge rather then for â—…oly life and the time shall come when â—…t shall more avail thee to have subdu'd â—…ne lust then to have known all mysteries 6. No man truly knows himself but he groweth daily more contemptible in his own eyes desire not to be known and to be little esteem'd of by men 7. If all be well within nothing can hurt us from without for from inordinate love and vain fear comes all unquietness of spirit and distraction of our senses 8. He to whom all things are one who draweth all things to one and seeth all things in one may enjoy true peace and rest of spirit 9. It is not much business that distracts any man but the want of purity constancy and tendency towards God Who hinders thee more then the unmortified desires of thine own heart As soon as ever a man desires any thing inordinately he is presently disquieted in himself He that hath not wholly subdued himself is quickly tempted and overcome in small and trifling things The weak in spirit is he that is in a manner subject to his appetite and he quickly falls into indignation and contention and envy 10. He is truly great that is great in Charity and little in himself MUNDAY The second Decad. 11. WEE rather often believe and speak evil of others then good But they that are truly virtuous do not easily credit evil that is told them of their neighbors For if others may do â—…miss then may these also speak amiss Man is frail and prone to evil and therefore may soon fail in words 12. Be not rash in thy proceedings nor confident and pertinacious in thy conceits But consult with him that is wise and seek to be instructed by a better then thy self 13. The more humble and resign'd we are to God the more prudent we are in our affairs to men and peaceable in our â—…elves 14. The proud and the covetous can never rest 15. Be not asham'd to be or to be esteem'd poor in this world for he that hears God teaching him will finde that it is the best wisdome to withdraw all our affections from secular honour and troublesome riches and to place them upon eternal treasures and by patience by humility by suffering scorn and contempt and all the will of God to get the true riches 16. Be not proud of well-doing for the judgement of God is farre differing from the judgement of men 17. Lay not thine heart open to every one but with the wise and them that fear God Converse not much with yong people and strangers Flatter not the rich neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages Never be partaker with the persecutors 18. It is easier and safer and more pleasant to live in obedience then to be at our own disposing 19. Alwayes yield to others when there is cause for that is no shame but honour but it is shame to stand stiff in a foolish or weak argument or resolution 20. The talk of worldly affairs hindreth much although recounted with a fair intention we speak willingly but seldome return to silence TUESDAY The third Decad. 21. WAtch and pray lest your time pass without profit or fruit But devout discourses do greatly further our spirituall progress if
thy spirit will by use and custome be made tender and not willing to go less FRIDAY The sixth Decad. 51. HE is a truly charitable and good man who when he receives injuries grieves rather for the malice of him that injures him then for his own suffering who willingly prayes for him that wrongs him and from his heart forgives all his faults who stayes not but quickly asks pardon of others for his errors or mistakes who sooner shews mercy then anger who thinks better of others then himself who offers violence to his appetite and in all things endevours to subdue the flesh to the spirit This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of 〈◊〉 Christian 52. No man can have felicity in two â—…ates of things if he takes it in God â—…ere in him he shall have it hereafter for God will last for ever But if he takes â—…licity in things of this world where will â—…is felicity be when this world is done â—…ither here alone or hereafter must be â—…hy portion 53. Avoid those things in thy self â—…hich in others do most displease thee And remember that as thine eye observes â—…thers so art thou observed by God by Angels and by Men 54. He that puts his confidence in God â—…nely is neither overjoyed in any great good thing of this life nor sorrowful for 〈◊〉 little thing Let God be thy love and â—…hy fear and he also will be thy salvation â—…nd thy refuge 55. Do not omit thy Prayers for want of a good oratory or place to pray in â—…or thy duty for want of temporal 〈◊〉 For he that does both upon Gods account cares not how or what he â—…uffers so he suffer well and be the friend of Christ nor where nor when he prayes so he may do it frequently fervently and acceptably 56. Very often remember and meditate upon the wound and stripes the shame and the pain the death and the burial of our Lord Jesus for nothing will more enable us to bear our cross patiently injuries charitably the labour of Religioâ—…comfortably and censuring words and detractions with meekness and quietness 57. Esteem not thy self to have profited in Religion unless thou thinkest well of others and meanly of thy self Therefore never accuse any but thy self and be that diligently watches himself will be willing enough to be silent concerning others 58. It is no great matter to live lovingly with good natur'd with humble and meek persons but he that can do so with the froward with the wilful and the ignorant with the peevish and perverse he onely hath true charity alwayes remembring that our true solid peace the peace of God consists rather in complying with others then in being complied with in suffering and forbearing rather then in contention and victory 59. Simplicity in our intentions and purity of affections are the two wings of a soul investing it with the robes and resemblances of a Seraphim Intend the honour of God principally and sincerely and mingle not thy affections with any â—…reature but in just subordination to God and to Religion and thou shalt have â—…oy if there be any such thing in this â—…orld For there is no joy but in God â—…nd no sorrow but in an evil Conscience 60. Take not much care what or who is â—…or thee or against thee The judgement of â—…one is to be regarded if Gods judgement be otherwise Thou art neither better nor worse in thy self for any account that is made of thee by any but by God alone â—…ecure that to thee and he will secure â—…ll the rest SATURDAY The seventh Decad. 61. BLessed is he that understands what it is to love Jesus and contends earnestly to be like him Nothing else can satisfie or make us perfect Buâ—… be thou a bearer of his Cross as well as a lover of his Kingdome Suffer tribulation for him or from him with the same spirit thou receivest consolation follow him as well for the bitter Cup of his Passion as for the Loaves and remember that if it be a hard saying Take up my Cross and follow me it is a harder saying Go ye Cursed into Everlasting fire 62. No man can alwayes have the same spirituall pleasure in his Prayers For the greatest Saints have sometimes suffered the banishment of the heart sometimes are fervent sometimes they feel a barrenness of Devotion for this Spirit comes and goes Rest therefore onely in God and in doing thy duty and know That if thou beest overjoyed to day this houre will passe away and temptation and sadnesse will succeed 63. In all afflictions seek rather for Patience then for Comfort If thou preservest that this will return Any man would serve God if he felt pleasure in it alwayes but the virtuous does it when his Soul is full of heavinesse and regards not himselfe but God and hates that consolation that lessens his compunction but loves any thing whereby he is made more humble 64. That which thou doest not understand when thou readest thou shalt â—…nderstand in the day of thy visitation â—…or there are many secrets of Religion â—…hich are not perceived till they be felt â—…nd are not felt but in the day of a great â—…alamity 65. He that prayes despairs not But â—…ad is the condition of him that cannot â—…ray Happy are they that can and do and â—…ove to do it 66. He that will be blessed in his Prayers must make his Prayers his Rule All our duty is there set down because in all our duty we beg the Divine Afâ—…sistance and remember that you are â—…ound to do all those duties for the Divine of which you have prayed for the Divine Assistance 67. Be doing actions of Religion as often as thou canst and thy worldly pleasures as seldome that if thou beest surprised by sudden death it may be oddes but thou mayest be taken at thy Prayers 68. Watch and resist the Devil in all his Temptations and Snares His chief designes are these To hinder thy desire in good to put thee by from any Spirituall employment from Prayers especially from the Meditation of the Passion from the remembrance of thy sins from humble Confession of them from speedy Repentance from the custody of thy Senses and of thy Heart from firm purposes of growing in Grace from reading good Books and frequent receiving the Holy Sacrament It is all one to him if he deceives thee by a lie or by truth whether he amaze or trouble thee by love of the present or fear of the future Watch him but in these things and there will be no part left unarmed in which he can wound thee 69. Remember how the proud have fallen and they who have presumed upon their own strength have been disgraced and that the boldest and greatest talkers in the dayes of peace have been the most dejected and pusillanimous in the day of temptation 70. No man ought to think he hath found peace when nothing troubles him or that God loves him because he hath no
enemy nor that all is well because every thing is according to his minde nor that he is a holy person because he prayes with great sweetness and comfort But he is at peace who is reconciled to God and God loves him â—…hen he hath overcome himself and â—…ll is well when nothing pleases him but God being thankful in the midst of his â—…fflictions and he is holy who when â—…e hath lost his comfort loses nothing of his duty but is still the same when God changes his face towards him POSTVLANDA OR Things to be prayed for Jubet Deus ut petus si non petis displicet non negabit quod petis tu non Petes S. August A FORM of PRAYER By way of Paraphrase Expounding The Lords Prayer Our Father MErciful and Gracious thou gavest me beeing raising me from nothing to be an excellent creation efforming me after thy own Image tenderly feeding me and conducting and strengthning me all my dayes Thou art our Father by a more excellent Mercy adopting us in a new birth to become partakers of the inheritance of Jesus Thou hast given us the portion and the food of Sons O make us to do the duty of Sons that we may never lose our title to so glorious an inheritance Let this excellent Name and Title by which thou hast vouchsafed to relate to us be our Glory and our Confidence our Defence and Guard our Ornament and Strength our Dignity and the endearment of Obedience the Principle of a holy Fear to thee our Father and of Love to thee and to our Brethren partakers of the same Hope and Dignity Unite every member of the Church to thee in holy bands Let there be no more names of Division nor Titles and Ensigns of Error and Partiality Let not us who are Brethren contend but in giving honour to each other and glory to thee contending earnestly for the Faith but not to the breach of Charity nor the denying each others Hope but grant that we may all joyn in the promotion of the honour of thee our Father in celebrating the Name and spreading the Family and propagating the Laws and Institutions the Promises and Dignities of our Elder Brother that despising the transitory entertainments of this world we may labour for and long after the inheritance to which thou hast given us title by adopting us into the dignity of Sons For ever â—…et thy Spirit witness to our Spirit that we â—…re thy children and enable us to cry Abba Father Which art in Heaven Heaven is thy Throne the Earth is thy Footstool From thy Throne thou beholdest all the dwellers upon earth and triest out the hearts of men and nothing is hid from thy sight And as thy Knowledge is infinite so is thy Power uncircumscribed as the utmost Orb of Heaven and thou sittest in thy own Essential Happiness and Tranquillity immoveable and eternal That is our Countrey and thither thy Servants are travelling there is our Father and that is our inheritance there our hearts are for there our treasure is laid up till the day of Recompence Hallowed be thy Name Thy Name O God is glorious and in thy Name is our hope and confidence According to thy Name so is thy praise unto the worlds end They that love thy Name shall be joyfull in thee for thy Name which thou madest to be proclaimed unto thy people is The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty In this glorious Name we worship thee O Lord and all they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee The desire of our soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee Thou art worthy O Lord of honour and praise and glory for ever and ever we confess thy glories we rejoyce in thy mercies we hope in thy Name and thy Saints like it well for thy Name is praised unto the ends of the world it is believed by Faith relied upon by a holy Hope and loved by a great Charity All thy Church celebrates thee with praises and offers to thy Name the Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving Thou O God didst frame our Nature by thy own Image and now thou hast imprinted thy Name upon us we are thy Servants the relatives and domesticks of thy family and thou hast honoured us with the gracious appellative of Christians O let us never dishonour so excellent a Title nor by unworthy usages profane thy holy Name but for ever glorifie it Let our life be answerable to our dignity that our body may be chaste our thoughts clean our words gracious our manners holy and our life useful and iunocent that men seeing our good works may glorifie thee our Father which art in Heaven Thy Kingdome come Thou reignest in Heaven and Earth O do thou rule also in our hearts advance the interest of Religion let thy Gospel be placed in all the regions of the earth and let all Nations come and worship thee laying their proud wills at thy feet submitting their understandings to the obedience of Jesus conforming their affections to thy holy Laws Let thy Kingdome be set up gloriously over us and do thou reign in our spirits by thy Spirit of Grace subdue every lust and inordinate appetite trample upon our pride mortifie all rebellion within us and let all thine and our enemies be brought into captivity that sin may never reign in our mortal bodies but that Christ may reign in our Understanding by Faith in the Will by Charity in the Passions by Mortification in all the members by a right and a chaste use of them And when thy Kingdome that is within us hath flourished and is advanced to that height whither thou hast designed it grant thy Kingdome of Glory may speedily succeed and we thy Servants be admitted to the peace and purity the holiness and glories of that state where thou reignest alone and art all in all Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Thy will O God is the measure of holiness and peace thy Providence the great disposer of all things tying all events together in order to thy glory and the good of thy Servants by a wonderful mysterious Chain of Wisdome Let thy Will also be the measure of our desires for we know that whatsoever thou sayest is true and whatsoever thou doest is good Grant we may submit our wills to thine being patient of evils which thou inflictest lovers of the good which thou commandest haters of all evil which thou forbiddest pleased with all the accidents thou sendest that though our nature is weaker then Angels yet our obedience may be as humble our conformity to thy will may arise up to the degrees of Unity and theirs cannot be more that as they in Heaven so we in Earth may obey thy will promptly chearfully zealously and with
inquisitive after thy will pure and holy thoughts strong and religious purposes and thy grace to perform faithfully what we have promised in the day of our duty or in the day of our calamity Hear our prayers c. O teach us to despise all vanity to fight the battles of the Lord manfully against the Flesh the World and the Devil to spend our time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk alwayes as in thy presence to preserve our souls and bodies in holiness fit for the habitation of the holy Spirit of God Hear our prayers c. Give us a holy and a perfect repentance a well instructed understanding regular affections a constant and a wise heart a good name a fear of thy Majesty and a love of all thy glories above all the things in the world for ever Hear our prayers c. Give us a healthful body and a clear â—…nderstanding the love of our neighbors â—…nd the peace of the Church the publick â—…fe and comfort of thy holy Word and â—…acraments a great love to all Christians â—…nd obedience to our Superiors Eccleâ—…astical and Civil all the dayes of our â—…ife Hear our prayers c. Give us spiritual wisdome that we may â—…iscern what is pleasing to thee and folâ—…ow what belongs unto our peace and let the knowledge and love of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be our guide and our portion all our dayes Hear our prayers c. Give unto us holy dispositions and an active industry in thy service to redeem the time mispent in vanity for thy pity sake take not vengeance of us for our sins but sanctifie our souls and bodies in this life and glorifie them hereafter Hear our prayers c. Our Father c. IV. To be added to the former Letanies according as our Devotions and time will suffer For all states of men and women especially in the Christian Church OBlessed God in mercy remember thine inheritance and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever pity poor mankinde whose portion is misery and folly shame and death But thou art our Redeemer and the lifter up of our head and under the shadow of thy wings shall be our help untill this Tyranny be overpast Have mercy upon us O God and hide not thy self from our petition Preserve O God the Catholick Church in holiness and truth in unity and peace free from persecution or glorious under it that she may for ever advance the honour our of her Lord Jesus for ever represent is Sacrifice and glorifie his Person and â—…dvance his Religion and be accepted of â—…hee in her blessed Lord that being filled with his Spirit she may partake of his â—…lory Have mercy upon us c. Give the spirit of Government and hoâ—…iness to all Christian Kings Princes and Governours grant that their people may obey them and they may obey thee and â—…ive in honesty and peace justice and holy Religion being Nursing Fathers to the Church Advocates for the oppressed Paâ—…rons for the widows and a Sanctuary for the miserable and the fatherless that they may reign with thee for ever in the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to thy servants the Bishops and all the Clergy the spirit of holiness and courage of patience and humility of prudence and diligence to preach and declare thy will by a holy life and wise discourses that they may minister to the good of souls and finde a glorious reward in the day of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to our Relatives our Wives and Children our Friends and Benefactors our Charges our Family c. pardon and support comfort in all their sorrows strength in all their temptations the guard of Angels to preserve them from evil and the conduct of thy holy Spirit to lead them into all good that they doing their duty may feel thy mercies here and partake of thy glories hereafter Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Christian Kingdomes and Common-wealths peace and plenty health and holy Religion to all families of Religion and Nurseries of piety zeal and holiness prudence and unity peace and contentedness To all Schools of Learning quietness and industry freedome from wars and violence factions and envy Have mercy upon us c. Give to all married pairs faith and love charitable and wise compliances sweetness of society and innocence of conversation To all Virgins and Widows great love of Religion a sober and a contented spirit an unwearied attendance to devotion and â—…he offices of holiness protection to the fatherless comfort to the disconsolate paâ—…tience and submission health and spiritual advantages to the sick that they may feel thy comforts for the dayes wherein they have suffered adversity Have mercy upon us c. Be thou a star and a guide to them that travel by land or sea the confidence and comfort of them that are in storms and shipwracks the strength of them that toil in the Mynes and row in the Gallies an instructer to the ignorant to them that are condemn'd to die be thou a guide unto death give chearfulness to every sad heart spiritual strength and proportionable comfort to them that are afflicted by evil spirits pity the â—…unaticks give life and salvation to all to whom thou hast given no understanding accept the stupid and the fools to mercy give liberty to prisoners redemption to captives maintenance to the poor patronage and defence to the oppressed and put a period to the iniquity and to the miseries of all mankinde Have mercy upon us c. Give unto our enemies grace and pardon charity to us and love to thee take away all anger from them and all mistakes from us all misinterpretations and jealousies bring all sinners to repentance and holiness and to all thy Saints and Servants give an increasing love and a persevering duty bring all Turks Jews and Infidels to the knowledge and confession of the Lord Jesus and a participation of all the Promises of the Gospel all the benefits of his Passion to all Hereticks give humility and ingenuity repentance of their errors and grace and power to make amends to the Church and Truth and a publick acknowledgement of a holy faith to the glory of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Merchants faithfulness and truth to the labouring husbandman health and fair seasons of the year and reward his toil with the dew of heaven and the blessings of the earth To all Artizans give diligence in their Callings and a blessing on their labours and on their families To old men piety and perfect repentance a liberal heart and an open hand great religion and desires after heaven To young men give sobriety and chastity health and usefulness an early â—…iety and a persevering duty To all families visited with the rod of God give consclation and a holy use of the affliction and a speedy deliverance To us
perfeâ—… knowledge my weaknesses and disâ—… 〈◊〉 the strength and beauties of the Sons â—…f God V. â—…N the mean time use what means thou 〈◊〉 pleasest to conform me to the image of â—…hy holy Son that I may be gentle to â—…thers and severe to my self that I may â—…t down in the lowest place striving to â—…o before my brother in nothing but in â—…oing him and thee honour staying for â—…ny glory till thou shalt please in the day â—…f recompences to reflect light from thy â—…ace and admit me to behold thy glories Grant this for Jesus Christs sake who â—…umbled himself to the death and shame of the Cross and is now exalted unto glory Unto him with thee O Father be glory and praise for ever and ever Amen For MUNDAY A Prayer against Covetousness I. O Almighty God eternal Treasure of all good things thou fillest all things with plenteousness Thou clothest the lillies of the field and feedest the young ravens that call upon thee Thou art all-sufficient in thy self and all-sufficient to us let thy Providence be my store-house thy dispensation of temporal things the limit of my labour my own necessity the measures of my desire but never let my desires of this world be greedy nor my labourimmoderate nor my care vexatious and distracting but prudent moderate holy subordinae to thy Will the measure thou hast appointed for me II. TEach me O God to despise the world to labour for the true riches â—…o seek the Kingdome of heaven and its â—…ighteousness to be content with what â—…hou providest to be in this world like a â—…tranger with affections set upon heaven â—…abouring for and longing after the posâ—…estions of thy Kingdomes but never â—…uffer my affectious to dwell below but â—…ive me a heart compassionate to the â—…oor liberal to the needy open and free â—…n all my communications without base â—…nds or greedy designes or unworthy â—…rts of gain but let my strife be to gain â—…hy favour to obtain the blessedness of doâ—…ng good to others and giving to them â—…hat want and the blessedness of receivingâ—…rom thee pardon and support grace and â—…oliness perseverance and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord For TUESDAY A Prayer against Lust I. O Eternal Purity thou art brighter then the Sun purer then the Angels and the Heavens are not clean in thy sight with mercy behold thy servant apt to be tempted with every object and to be overcome by every enemy I cannot O God stand in the day of battel and danger unless thou coverest me with thy shield and hidest me under thy wings The fiery darts of the Devil are ready to consume me unless the dew of thy grace for ever descend upon me Thou didst make me after thy image be pleased to preserve me so pure and spotless chaste and clean that my body may be a holy Temple and my soul a sanctuary to entertain thy divinest Spirit the Spirit of love and holiness the Prince of Purities II. REprove in me the spirit of Fornication and Uncleanness and fill my soul with holy fires that no strange fire may come into the Temple of my body where thou hast chosen to dwell O cast out all those unclean spirits which have unhallowed the place where thy holy feet have trod Pardon all my hurtfull thoughts all my impurities that I who am a member of Christ may not become the member of a harlot nor the slave of 〈◊〉 Devil nor a servant of lust and 〈◊〉 desires But do thou purifie my 〈◊〉 and let me seek the things that are 〈◊〉 hating the garments spotted with the 〈◊〉 never any more grieving thy holy 〈◊〉 by filthy inclinations with impure 〈◊〉 phantastick thoughts but let my 〈◊〉 be holy my soul pure my body 〈◊〉 and healthful my spirit severe 〈◊〉 and religious every day more and more that at the day of our appearing 〈◊〉 may be presented to God washed and cleansed pure and spotless by the blood of the holy Lamb through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For WEDNESDAY A Prayer against Gluttony and Drunkenness I. O Almighty Father of Men and Angels who hast of thy great bounty provided plentifully for all mankinde to support his state to relieve his necessities to refresh his sorrows to recreate his labours that he may praise thee and rejoyce in thy mercies and bounty Be thou gracious unto thy servant yet more and suffer me not by my folly to change thy bounty into sin thy grace into wantonness Give me the spirit of temperance and sobriety that I may use thy creatures in the same measures and to the same purposes which thou hast designed so as may best enable me to serve thee but not to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Let me not as Esau prefer meat before a blessing but subdue my appetite subjecting it to reason and the grace of God being content with what is moderate and useful and easie to be obtained taking it in due time receiving it thankfully making it to minister to my body that my body may be a good instrument of the soul and the soul a servant of thy Divine Majesty for ever and ever 11. PArdon O God in whatsoever I have offended thee by meat and drink and pleasures and never let my body any more be oppressed with loads of sloth and delicacies or my soul drowned in seas of â—…ine or strong drink but let my appeâ—…ites be changed into spiritual desires that 〈◊〉 may hunger after the food of Angels and thirst for the wine of elect souls and may account it meat and drink and pleasure to do thy will O God Lord let me â—…eat and drink so that my food may not become a temptation or a sin or a â—…ease but grant that with so much caution and prudence I may watch over my apâ—…petite that I may in the strength of thy â—…mercies and refreshmnets in the light of thy countenance and in the paths of thy Commandments walk before thee all the dayes of my life acceptable to thee in Jesus Christ ever advancing his honour and being filled with his Spirit that I may at last partake of his glory through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For THURSDAY A Prayer against Envy I. O Most gracious Father thou Spring of an Eternal Charity who hast so loved mankinde that thou didst open thy bosome and send thy holy Son to convey thy mercies to us and thou didst create Angels and Men that thou mightest have objects to whom thou mightest communicate thy goodness Give me grace to follow so glorious a precedent that I may never envy the prosperity of any one but rejoyce to honour him whom thou honourest to love him whom thou lovest to commend the vertuous to discern the precious from the vile giving honour to whom honour belongs that I may go to heaven in the noblest way of rejoycing in the good of others II. O Dear God never suffer the Devil to rub his vilest Leprosie of Envy
upon me never let me have the affections of â—…he desperate and damned let it not be â—…ll with me when it is well with others â—…ut let thy holy Spirit so over-rule me for ever that I may pity the afflicted and be compassionate and have a fellow-feeling of my brothers sorrows and that I may as much as I can promote his good and give thee thanks for it and rejoyce with them that do rejoyce never censuring his actions curstly nor detracting from his praises spitefully nor upbraiding his infelicities maliciously but pleased in all things which thou doest or givest that I may then triumph in spirit when thy Kingdome is advanced when thy Spirit rules when thy Church is profited when thy Saints rejoyce when the devils interest is destroyed truly lovieg thee and truly loving my brother that we may all together joyn in the holy Communion of Saints both here and hereafter in the measures of grace and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For FRIDAY A Prayer against Wrath and inordinate Anger I. O Almighty Judge of Men and Angels whose anger is alwayes the minister of Justice slow but severe not lightly arising but falling heavily when it comes Give to thy servant a meek and a gentle spirit that I also may be slow to anger and easie to mercy and forgiveness Give me a wise and a constant heart that I may not be moved with every trifling mistake and inconsiderable accident in the conversation and entercourse of others never be moved to an intemperate anger for any injury that is done or offered let my anger ever be upon a just cause measured with moderation and reason expressed with charity and prudence lasting but till it hath done some good either upon my self or others II. LOrd let me be ever courteous and easie to be intreated never let me fall into a peevish or contentious spirit but follow peace with all men offering forgiveness inviting them by courtesies ready to confess my own errors apt to make amends and desirous to be reconciled Let no sickness or cross accident no imployment or weariness make me angry or ungentle and discontent or unthankful or uneasie to them that minister to me but in all things make me like unto the holy Jesus Give me the spirit of a Christian charitable humble merciful and meek useful and liberal complying with every chance angry at nothing but my own sins and grieving for the sins of others that while my passion obeys my reason and my reason is religious and my religion is pure and undefiled managed with humility and adorned with charity I may escape thy anger which I have deserved and may dwell in thy love and be thy Son and Servant for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For SATURDAY A Prayer against weaâ—…ness in well-doing I. O My God merciful and gracious my soul groans under the loads of its own infirmity when my spirit is willing my flesh is weak my understanding foolish and imperfect my will peevish and listless my affections wandring after strange objects my fancy wilde and unfixed all my senses minister to folly and vanity and though they were all made for Religion yet they least of all delight in that O my God pity me and hear me when I pray and make that I may pray acceptably Give me a love to Religion an unwearied spirit in the things of God Let me not relish or delight in the things of the world in sensual objects and transitory possessions but make my eyes look up to thee my soul be filled with thee my spirit ravished with thy love my understanding imployed in the meditation of thy Law all my powers and faculties â—…f soul and body wholly serving thee â—…nd delighting in such holy ministeries II. O Most gracious God what greater favour is there then that I may and what easier imployment can there be then to pray thee to be admitted into thy presence and to represent our needs and that we have our needs supplied onely for asking and desiring passionately and humbly But we rather quit our hopes of heaven then buy it at the cheapest rate of humble prayer This O God is the greatest infirmity and infelicity of man and hath an intolerable cause and is an unsufferable evil III. O Relieve my spirit with thy graciousness take from me all tediousness of spirit and give me a laboriousness that will not be tired a hope that shall never fail a desire of holiness not to be satisfied till it possesses a charity that will alwayes increase that I making Religion the business of my whole life may turn all things into Religion doing all to thy glory and by the measures of thy Word and of thy Spirit that when thou shalt call me from this deliciousness of imployment and the holy ministeries of grace I may pass into the imployment of Saints and Angels whose work it is with eternal joy and thanksgiving to sing praises to the mercies of the great Redeemer of Men and Saviour of Men and Angels Jesus Christ our Lord To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and worship all service and thanks all Glory and Dominon for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to be said by a Maiden before she enters into the state of Marriage I. O Most glorious God and my most indulgent Lord and gracious Father who doest bless us by thy bounty pardon us by thy mercy support and guide us by thy grace and govern us sweetly by thy providence I give thee most humble and hearty thanks that â—…hou hast hitherto preserved me in my Virgin state with innocence and chastity â—…n a good name and a modest report It â—…s thy goodness alone and the blessed â—…manation of thy holy Spirit by which 〈◊〉 have been preserved and to thee I reâ—…urn all praise and thanks and adore and â—…ove thy goodness infinite II. ANd now O Lord since by thy dispensation and over-ruling providence I am to change my condition and enter into the holy state of Marriage which â—…hou hast sanctified by thy Institution and â—…lessed by thy Word and Promises and â—…raised up to an excellent mystery that it might represent the Union of Christ and his Church Be pleased to go along with â—…thy servant in my entring into and passing through this state that it may not be a state of temptation or sorrow by occasion of my sins or infirmities but of holiness and comfort as thou hast intended it to all that love and fear thy holy Name III. LOrd bless and preserve that dear person whom thou hast chosen to be my Husband Let his life be long and blessed comfortable and holy and let me also become a great blessing and comfort unto him a sharer in all his joyes a refreshment in all his sorrows a meet helper for him in all accidents and chances of the world Make me amiable for ever in his eyes and very dear to him Unite his heart to me in the