destructive and their right hand is full of gifts even their righteous actions are for bribes and sinister ends transacted and such are all they who make a gain of godliness verse 11 But as for me though others pursue their worldly interests through injustice and bribery yet I will walk innocently that 's the desire and resolution of my Soul O deliver me through the precious blood of my Redeemer which was shed for my deliverance defend me from all my ghostly enemies that would destroy mine innocence and be merciful unto me let thy mercy both pardon my by-past transgressions and support me through all the perils of this mortal life verse 12 My foot standeth right fixed in my affections to cleave unto thee and I will praise the Lord in the congregations in the assemblies of the Lord's people in the house where his Honour dwelleth and so shall I hope to be hereafter admitted into the blissful company of Angels and Saints to Praise the Lord for ever saying Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The XLIII Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 GIve sentence with me O God when I stand before thee to be judged according to my works done in the body whether good or evil O then defend my cause against the ungodly people Plead for me against all the accusations of men women devils in whose company or by whose temptations I have done any evil O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man that I be not ranked amongst such upon the left hand of unrighteousness and infelicity verse 2 For thou art the God of my strength By whom I am enabled to resist all my ghostly enemies why hast thou put me from thee leaving me to mine own weak frail and sinful self And this is the reason why go I so heavily in the ways of thy service and of mine own salvation whilst the enemy oppresseth me being destitute of thy help the grand enemy of God and man overpowers me with his temptations and assaults But that I may manfully resist and overcome verse 3 O send out thy light and thy truth the light of thy Grace and the truth of thy righteousness which discerns the cause of the righteous from the ungodly that they may lead me out of all the errors of this sinful life that being separated from the allurements and society of the ungodly they may bring me to thy holy hill where thy Temple is scituate and to thy dwelling the place where thine honor dwelleth verse 4 And that I may go to the Altar of God both Sacramental and Mystical upon the Altar of my heart to offer up my whole self to be a living Sacrifice Holy acceptable unto God even the God of my joy and gladness who makes glad my heart by the consolations of his Holy Spirit when I approach his Altar and upon the Harp which is an instrument of a Triangular figure and represents the heart of man wherewithal I will give thanks unto thee O holy and ever blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost one God over all blessed for ever and my God even the God of my joy and worship my glory and my Crown O then verse 5 Why art thou so heavy O my Soul There is no sorrow but for sin because this alone separateth the Soul from the God of all consolation and why art thou so disquieted within me 'T is thy unquiet passions and unruly lusts which disturb thy reason and withdraw thee thus disquieted from a sincere dependance upon thy God but return return unto thy rest O my Soul verse 6 O put thy trust in God all thy sorrows and distempers are from thy self thy health and joy is from the Lord and for this I will yet give him thanks who is to be praised in both the seasons of sadness and joy for in both He is the help of my countenance the lightsome gladness of my heart and my God both of my Being and Well-being even the God of all that I am and all that I have and all that I hope to be which is to enjoy the beatifical vision of his divine Majesty for ever to sing Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. THE Third general Meditation Upon the PAINS of HELL MAny are the opinions and disputes and too curious also the disquisitions touching the place and nature matter manner and duration of the pains of Hell But it would be more Christian prudence strictly to search and find out those crooked deceitful and polluted paths which lead to that dismal place of torments that we may decline and avoid them 'T is surely better by much not to feel by woful experience the miseries of the damned than exactly to know and accurately to discourse of them And may this be ever my study blessed Lord my continual care and fear and constant endeavour not in the least particular to sin against thee for thy wrath and indignation which resteth upon sinners is a fierce wrath and a terrible 't is not in the power of frail man to sustain the fury of it MEDITAT I. Of the pain of Loss THe first and 't is esteemed by many holy Fathers the greatest of Hell Torments is that which is call'd by Divines The pain of Loss whereunto the wicked of the world are sentenced in these several expressions Mat. 22.13 25.30 41. Luc. 13 27. Take him away Cast him out I know you not Depart from me ye cursed The Pains of Sense in hell are intolerable saith Chrys yet for a man to suffer a thousand Hells is less irksome S. Chrys Hom. 28. than to be banisht from Heaven to be driven from the presence of God to be exil'd out of the regions of Light and Joy to be rejected of the Lord and to hear from him I know you not Depart from me The Loss of Heaven must needs be the greatest of evils because 't is the Loss of the greatest and most perfect good and of all that is truly good To lose good things we do now enjoy in the world may be recompenced with advantage by the gain of heaven but to lose Heaven it self to forfeit the right and title we once had happily obtained to be inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven is a loss irreparable Nothing can compensate nothing can equal nothing to be compared to this Loss Id. Serm. 't is hell enough it self if there were no other In this life the most wise and holy understand not throughly the fulness of Heavenly joys and so cannot be sensible of the torment of their Loss but in the next life our eyes shall be opened and the veil upon our hearts removed and then shall the ungodly see to their unspeakable grief and anguish of spirit the vast difference betwixt the never fading pleasures of the right hand of God and the empty transitory pleasures of sin betwixt that fulness of joy in the presence of
every good Christian be devoutly used say then with thy most ardent desires to extol the glory of God PSALM CXLV verse 1 I Will magnifie thee O God my King and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever verse 2 Every day will I give thanks unto thee and praise thy Name for ever and ever verse 3 Great is the Lord and marvellous worthy to be praised there is no end of his greatness verse 4 One generation shall praise thy works unto another and declare thy power verse 5 As for me I will be talking of thy worship thy Glory thy Praise and wondrous works verse 6 So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts and I will tell of thy greatness verse 7 The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed and men shall sing of thy righteousness verse 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful long-suffering and of great goodness verse 9 The Lord is loving unto every man and his mercy is over all his works verse 10 All thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints give thanks unto thee verse 11 They shew the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power verse 12 That thy power thy glory and the mightiness of thy Kingdom might be known unto men verse 13 Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and thy Dominion endureth throughout all ages verse 14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall and lifteth up all those that are down verse 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee O Lord and thou givest them their meat in due season verse 16 Thou openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness verse 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works verse 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him yea all such as call upon him faithfully verse 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will help them verse 20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him but scattereth abroad all the ungodly verse 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. An Evening Hymn NOw that the sable mantle of the night O're-spreads the earth and vailes the chearful light O Lord who art of light and life the spring Of Grace and Glory the eternal King Vpon thy servant cause thy face to shine And save me for thy mercies sake divine Forgive me what I have offended in This day by thought or word or deed of sin For my sweet Saviours sake propitious be To him who now pours forth his soul to thee All Glory be to thine eternal merit Most blessed Father Son and Holy Spirit Amen CHAP. VI. Of Bed-time Meditations I. I Am Alpha and Omega Rev. 1.8 Is 44.6 the Beginning and the End the First and the Last saith the Lord from the Lord I have my Beginning and he is the end of my Being 'T is therefore meet and just and thy bounden duty as to begin so to end the day with the service of thy God to make the outgoings of the Morning and of the Evening to praise him who hath made the Night and the Day The day is thine Ps 79.17 and the night is thine Thou hast prepared the light and the Sun Thou hast set all the borders of the earth Thou hast made the Summer 18. and the Winter II. 'T was at this hour my dear Redeemer was in a bitter Agony Luk. 22.44 Luk. 23.53 c. and sweat great drops of Blood under the pressure of the sins of men and out of a sad apprehension of his ensuing sufferings for the same 'T was at this hour also our Lord was laid in the Grave and lamented by the women that followed him to his Death Now then let tears distill from thine eyes in the devout remembrance of that precious Blood which flowed from thy Saviours veins Thy miscarriages and offences this very day of omission and commission of ignorance and knowingly of negligence and wilfully of thought and desire word and deed if they be not washed away in this Blood of thy Lord they will involve thee in blackness of darkness for ever and in the horrid sleep of death from whence there is no awaking O then cast them out of thy heart by a plenary particular Confession of all thy this dayes enormities wash away the filth and pollution of them with the tears of godly sorrow which being intermixt with Faith in the Blood of Christ makes an healing salve for thy sin-sick Soul O blessed Jesu Saviour of the world save me and deliver me from all mine offences nail them to thy Cross bury them in thy Grave let them never rise up in judgment against me to my condemnation at the last great day And O that now upon the Religious contemplation of my Saviours burial I could bid adieu to this wicked world and to all the pomps and vanities thereof that being delivered from the iniquities of this sinful life I may escape the bitter wailing and weeping of the wicked in the life to come PSALMS For the Compline or Bed-time The IV. Psalm Paraphrased verse 1 O God the donor preserver and rewarder of my righteousness thou hast set me at liberty from the bondage of sin and of Satan when I was in trouble through the tyranny they exercised over me have mercy upon me and hearken unto my prayer that I be no more involved in that sad condition which it highly concerns all men to avoid verse 2 O ye sons of men of the old Adam how long will ye blaspheme mine honour advancing the creature above your Creator and have such pleasure in vanity take such delight in what is empty vain and satisfies not and seek after leasing pursuing the lying vanities of this wicked world verse 3 Know this for your instruction that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly hath selected from among the children of men certain vessels of honour devoted to his service and were I so happy as to be one of these elect people of God holy and separate from the vanities of the world I could not doubt but when I call upon the Lord he will hear me verse 4 Stand in awe and sin not or fear the Lord and depart from evil and that you may do so Commune with your own heart examine what thoughts what desires do harbour in every corner of your heart in your Chamber and be still in the silence of the night recollect the actions of the day silently and closely that ye may do it exactly and having cleansed your hearts verse 5 Offer unto God the sacrifice of righteousness vow unto him a new obedience to his holy Will and Commandments which is the rule of righteousness and if you perform this vow you may with some
Mercy and to obtain Grace in the time of need MEDITATIONS Upon Unity in the Publick Worship of God SUch as be truly members of Christs mystical body The holy Catholick Church do conceive that they ought to be unanimous in the service of God as the only way upon earth to partake of the benefits of the Communion of Saints That we should all joyn in Prayers unto God after one way and one manner is not only Commanded by our Lord Mat. 6.9 but also in the use of the same words Luk. 11.2 whereunto also we are admonished Rom. 15.6 that ye may with one mind and with one mouth glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 'T is observable by sad experience that variety of Prayers in Publick by Ministers of the same Church hath bred and so doth still foment variety in opinions and various opinions in Religion have bred such a contrariety of affections as hath dissolved all the bonds of Christian Charity Under the sad pressure of this Schism we have a long time groan'd and been brought even to the last gasp of exspiration nor can we hope to have the still bleeding wounds of our Divisions healed whatever other remedies may be prescribed till waving that fondness which most men have for private Prayers in a Publick Congregation we do all joyn with Reverence and Devotion in those Holy Prayers and divinely inspired Praises of God which are prescribed and have been practised in the Church of Christ in all the Ages thereof We cannot reasonably imagine that our various and multitudinous private Prayers in Publick do conduce to the more pleasing of God who requires no such service from us and cannot be pleased with such Prayers as are breaches of our solemn promises when ordained Ministers of the Church no alas such prayers are not to please God but to please men to tickle the itching Ears of men of corrupt minds and 't is the scratching of these Ears that hath brought such a scab upon the Church as hath fester'd and eaten into her bowels and endanger'd the very life and being thereof We all profess to worship one God in Trinity and this Trinity in Unity but this we do not nay this we cannot do without Unity and Unanimity and Uniformity in our divine Worship but this Unity is destroyed by dividing from that Sound and Orthodox Worship which the Church of Christ exhibits to her Lord whilst each man advances his own private conceptions in Prayer above if not in opposition to the publick commanded Forms God whose very Being is Unity is the Author and great lover of Unity especially in the Worship of his divine Majesty and the Devil is the author and great promoter of all Division 't is his very Being as he is a Devil for he became so by dividing from the Church of God viz. from the Church which is now Triumphant in Heaven and therefore his Instruments they are who either in Doctrine or Worship divide from the true Church of Christ here Militant upon Earth The CXXXIV Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 BEhold how good and joyful a thing it is both profitable and pleasant for brethren Sons of one God the Father and of one Church the Mother to dwell together in Vnity in the house of God to joyn as members of the same mystical body in the profession of the same Doctrine and Practice of the same Worship verse 2 'T is like the oyntment which being compos'd of many rich perfumes sent forth a most sweet odour fitly representing that sweetness of joy and complacerce which flows from the Union of many hearts and voices in the service of God Vpon the head which went down to the beard even Aarons beard Aaron was a type of Christ and the oyntment upon his head typified the spiritual Unction of Christ our head Psal 45.7 Heb. 1.9 which Unction of the Spirit from him descended upon his Disciples mystically signified by the High Priests beard and from thence went down to the skirts of his clothing even to all the other parts and members of his mystical body for of his fulness we have all received Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 verse 3 As the dew of Hermon which fell on the hill of Sion as both these hills become fruitful by the dew of heaven descending on them so the sons of Sion or people of God become fruitful in the gifts and graces of Gods holy Spirit through their Unity and Unanimity in the devout service of God for whilst they glorifie God with one heart and with one mouth after one way and one manner they mightily prevail with the one only God to dwell amongst them according to his promise 2 Cor. 6.16 and so it follows verse 4 For there the Lord promised his blessing in all assemblies thus united in the service of his Majesty Mat. 18.19 20. which is undoubtedly the way to life for evermore which is the height and perfection of all the blessings of God in the Quire of Heaven to sing with concordant hearts and voices Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O God who art the author of Peace and lover of Concord who makest men to be of one mind in a house and art best pleased with the unanimous agreement of thy people in thy House of Prayer that it may please thee to rebuke that foul spirit of discord and division intermixt amongst us which dictates the building of Babel by the confusion of Languages in our addresses to the Throne of Grace And vouchsafe to send the Holy Ghost the Spirit of love and unity to unite our hearts and tongues in the publick Service of thy Sacred Majesty make us all as brethren to dwell together in Unity to joyn in our Prayers in one way and after one manner to glorifie thee with one heart and with one mouth that the celestial dew of thy blessing may descend upon us so plentifully to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit that we may reap in time of harvest life for evermore through Jesus Christ MEDITATIONS WITH PSALMS Illustrated or Paraphras'd Upon the Four last Things I. Death II. Judgment III. Hell IV. Heaven By the Author of the PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32.29 LONDON Printed for Richard Royston Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty 1675. OF The Four last Things in GENERAL THe clean Beast which was only commanded to be offered in Sacrifice unto God under the Law was such as chewed the Gud Lev. 11.3 and divided the Hoof mystically representing the qualifications of the clean and pure Christian who is himself that spiritual Sacrifice God requireth under the Gospel Ro. 12.1 1 Pet. 2.4 5. By chewing the Cud holy and divine Meditation is intimated by dividing the Hoof may be mystically meant the last end of man which is a dividing asunder the Soul from the Body by Death and
in joy He that now goeth on his way of holy Religion 7. weeping and beareth good seed such tears of godly sorrow as bring forth fruits meet for Repentance shall doubtless come again with joy and bring his sheaves with him being treasured up in the granary of heaven Such devout penitents go from strength to strength adding to their Faith vertue 2 Pet. 1.5 6. and to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity Thus they ascend as by steps and to the God of gods appear every one in Sion Blessed Lord who fashionest the hearts of all the sons of men and turnest them as the rivers of water vouchsafe by the celestial influences of thy holy spirit to turn the stream of my corrupt affections from all the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and from the sinful lusts of the flesh Strike the rock of my hard heart with the rod of thy fatherly correction that both the upper and the lower springs may issue thence and the graces of thy holy Spirit may there spring up to everlasting life Joh. 4.14 I am a great sinner I confess and O that my heart were so deeply wounded with the sense of my sins as to lament them with that godly sorrow for sin as worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7.10 Ps 39.12 I am a sojourner upon earth as all my fathers were O pierce my soul with the dart of divine love to bewail the deadness of my affections towards thee to lament that I am so much a stranger to my native home of Heaven that my heart is not surely fixed there where true joys are to be found but grovels in the dust of worldly vanities to grieve that I walk in the midst of manifold temptations and my ghostly enemies do dayly prevail against me and dayly cast in my teeth my dayly backslidings from the love and service of my God But be thou merciful unto me O Lord Ps 41.10 Raise thou me up again and I shall reward them by my future conquests over all their temptations MEDITATION Of the dwelling of God in the hearts of his People WHosoever desires that the Lord would vouchsafe to come unto him must himself first prepare his heart to come unto God And this not by Faith alone but by divine love and obedience to his most holy Laws If any man love me he will keep my Sayings Joh. 14.23 and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him How and when the Lord comes and abides with us must be known by the influences and operations of his presence as the tree by its fruits or the cause by its effects 1. God is light and in him is no darkness at all 1 Joh. 5.7 and such are the blessed Souls in whom he abides 1 Thess 5.5 they are all children of the light and of the day not of night and of darkness Their understandings are enlightned to know God both in himself and in the ways of his service and of their own Salvation and this light of their Faith shines before men in all the good works of Soberness Righteousness and Godliness to the glory of God the father of lights 2. God is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 and accordingly the Souls possessed by him are purged as with fire from all the sordid lusts of the flesh and of the world their affections are purified the rust of sloth and negligence in the ways of life is scowred off their hearts as with fire are inflamed with the sacred ardors of divine Love of a holy and discreet Zeal of a fervent Devotion in their Prayers unto God and praises of him and with earnest defires of a nearer and a more immediate Communion with his divine Majesty 3. God is the fountain of living waters and accordingly where he dwells Jer. 2.13 he does allay the heat of carnal concupiscence subdue the inordinate love of riches quench the fire of strife and contention of blind Zeal and Faction and of every exorbitant lust being in himself a full satisfaction to all the vast desires of the immortal Soul As water he satisfieth the desires of all who hunger and thirst after righteousness and by the influence of his divine grace makes the barren ground of the heart to be fruitful unto every good word and work 4. God is all purity and holiness goodness and mercy justice and truth and in a word the summary of all perfection and felicity and therefore all those happy Souls where he dwells are holy as he is holy pure as he is pure merciful as he is merciful just and good gracious and long-suffering and in a word perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect 'T is such divinely enspirited persons and only such can say with the heavenly inspired Psalmist I will love thee O Lord my strength the Lord is my stony rock and my defence my Saviour my God and my might in whom I will trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my refuge Psal 18.1 and Psal 27.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom then shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid and Psal 28.8 The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart hath trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart danceth for joy and in my song will I praise him The Lord is my strength and he is the wholsom defence of his anointed O save thy people and give thy blessing to thine inheritance feed them and set them up for ever Our Father which art in c. THE END ERRATA PAge 3. Line 12. read shew thou me the way p. 5. after line 7. adde From this vain world my affections wein p. 10. l. 9. r. grant me p. 14. l. 15. for unto r. out off p. 24. after l. 8. adde O holy ghost into my mind send down thy heavenly light p. 27. l. ult dele And. p. 52. l. 2. for hearest r. teachest p. 63. l. 19. for Love r. Have p. 66. l. 5. r. should engage p. 93. l. 26. for love r. lone p. 131. l. ult r. made them p. 181. l. 18. dele Holy p. 188. l. 3. for them r. each of these p. 201. l. penult for the r. these p. 317. l. 24. for joy r. so p. 330. for perfection r. protection
THE THIRD PART OF THE PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN Consisting of Meditations and Psalms illustrated with Notes or Paraphrased relating to the Hours of Prayer the ordinary Actions of Day and Night and several Dispositions of Men. By R. SHERLOCK D. D. Rector of Winwick Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous Judgments Psal 119.164 LONDON Printed by R. Flesher for R. Royston Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty at the Angel in Amen-corner MDCLXXV THE PREFACE OF Continuing in Prayer and frequent Meditation and the Design of this Second Part. THAT holy Catholick Church which is one of the XII Articles of the holy Christian Faith is partly Triumphant in Heaven and partly Militant on Earth both make but one Spouse of Christ and therefore the true Members of both are alike minded and alike employed in reference to the worship of the common Lord of both They who are true Members of Christs Church below are conform to the glorious Saints in Heaven above a Exod. 25.40 Act. 7.44 Heb. 6.11 They do the will of God on earth as 't is done in heaven b Mat. 6.11 and that 's undoubtedly the way to Heaven we cannot possibly lose our way thither whilst we follow their steps who are thither gone before us Those Triumphant Saints in Heaven rest not day nor night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty c Isa 6.3 Rev. 4.8 Whereunto conforms the man after God's own heart saying O Lord God of my Salvation I have cryed day and night before thee d Ps 88.1 Our Lord commends it as a Duty incumbent that men ought always to pray e Luk. 18.1 And by his Apostle commands it positively Pray without ceasing f 1 Thesl 5.13 Giving thanks always g Eph. 5.20 Praying alway with all Prayer and Supplication h Eph. 6.18 But these Examples and Commands are not so to be understood as if we should do nothing else but pray S. Aug. l. de haer Theod. Eccles hist l. 4. c. 10. which was an old Heresie of the Messalians and Euchites long since condemned by the Church of Christ as being a thing impossible to pray without ceasing in the bare literal sense because this corruptible body presseth down the Soul and corporal necessities do call for supply Neither yet That we should make long Prayers which is the new Error and great mistake of these Times The which though generally the most used and best liked as being set off with the paint of seeming zeal and pretense of the Spirit yet the unlawfulness of such long Prayers will appear if we will without prejudice and partiality consider that 1. They are forbidden by our Lord saying When you pray use not vain repetitions Matth. 6.7 in which words our Lord means not the same Prayers repeated as is falsly objected against the Prayers of the Church for thus our Lord prayed himself Matth. 26.39 44. Where his Prayer was short and three times repeated And therefore undoubtedly by vain repetitions in Praying is understood multitude of words and variety of expressions to the same purpose or rather to no purpose since our desires both may and ought to be expressed in few words and pertinent according to the Pattern our Lord hath given us And that 't is the meaning of our Lord when he saith After this manner pray ye that our Prayers should be generally formed to the length of his Prayer prescribed will appear 1. From the Context if seriously weighed and rightly understood wherein is manifest that the manner of Praying by such a short Form is commanded in opposition to the heathenish use of much speaking in Prayer 2. From the parallel Text in the Margin Eccles 5.2 Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in Heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few 3. From the Prayers of Christs Church which are in all Liturgies of the Christian World for the most part of the same length and surely the general practice of the Church is the best interpreter of holy Scripture 4. Such are generally also all the Prayers of the holy Spirit of God which stand upon record in holy Writ viz. the Book of Psalms with many more we meet with none that are of such a continued length as are in use amongst us but they are all divided by distinct Verses into so many several shorter Prayers Long Prayers are forbidden by our Lord because such is the custom of the Heathen Matt. 6.7 as the Heathen do who mind more the Oratory and Language Tone and Pronunciation than the Humility and Devotion of the Soul in Prayer and 't is much misbecoming Christians to worship the true God as the Heathen do their false and feigned Deities And Because they imply a false Notion of the Majesty of Heaven and a misbelief of his divine perfections as if he were asleep and must be awakened or did not understand our wants and desires or being otherwise imployed he could not intend our petitions except in multitude of words exprest and loud talking for audience So prayed the Priests of Baal 1 King 18.27 and so saith our Lord of all Heathen people That they think they shall be heard for their much speaking which is directly contrary to the true Faith of a Christian who believeth and acknowledgeth the Omniscience and Omnipresence of God as it follows in the 8. vers Your heavenly Father knoweth what things you stand in need of before you ask which divine Truth is implicitly denied by loud and long Prayers Long Prayers are not only forbidden by our Lord Matt. 6.5 cap. 23.14 Mark 12.40 Luk 20.47 Joh. 12.43 as the custom of the Heathen but also frequently reproved by him as the practice of Hypocrites who love to stand praying in the Synagogues and in the corners of the Streets that they may be seen of men that they may be taken notice of for godly men desiring rather to seem than really to be religious loving the praise of men more than the praise of God To pray continually then is neither to be understood of doing nothing else but pray nor yet of using long Prayers the one being prohibited by our Lord and the other condemned by his Church but in this and the like expressions is commanded The intense Devotion of the Soul in prayer So our Lord expounds his own Cammand that men ought always to pray viz. that they faint not a Luk. 18.1 to wit for want of that holy fervour and devout Zeal which is the Life and Soul of an effectual Prayer and this same celestial fire of holy zeal in Prayer spends not it self in multitude of words and much babling of the lips but is expressed in sighs and groans which cannot be uttered b Rom. 8.26 which are tru◠〈◊〉 breathings of the holy Spirit of God in Prayer who dwells not upon the Tongue but in the
Heart To pray continually enjoyns the constant and continued returns of this holy Duty that we lose no time neglect no opportunity either of publick Prayers of the Church or of private Prayer and Closet-devotions upon the set solemn and accustomed times thereof remembring that the time only which is employed in the sacred acts of Piety towards God and Charity towards Man is redeemed c Eph. 5.6 out of the all-devouring jaws of death and dark oblivion to be the Seminary of a blessed Eternity d Gal. 6.8 when Time shall be no more That we ought always to pray i. e. say the Fathers upon the Text at those appointed Hours observed by the Church of God both under the Law called therefore the hours of the Temple and under the Gospel called the Canonical hours so generally observ'd formerly of all devout Christians that S. Hierome with his Quis nescit takes it for granted that no godly Christian is either ignorant or negligent in the observation of such hours as being probably observed by holy David saying Psal 119.164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments To continue in Prayer is to have our hearts so inflamed with the love of God as to be in a continual disposition to Pray and this not only at all set and accustomed times but at all times and upon all occasions and objects presented to raise up our Souls upon the Spiritual wings of holy Meditations celestial affections devout colloquies and ejaculatory converses with Heaven Thus Enoch walked with God and was translated a Gen. 5.24 Heb. 11.5 Thus King David professeth I have set God always before me b Ps 16.9 And I will give thanks unto the Lord his praise shall ever be in my mouth c Ps 34.1 no time omitted Evening and Morning and Noon-day d Ps 55.17 18. early and late e Ps 63.1 7 no place pretermitted in the Wilderness in the land of Jordan and the unbeaten paths of Hermon f Ps 42.8 S. Hierom professeth of himself that often on the tops of Mountains and in hollow Valleys and craggy Rocks with eyes lifted up to Heaven and flowing with tears he poured forth his Soul in holy Prayers and Meditations g S. Hierom Ep. ad Eustor So Meditates S. Austin also Te Domine mediter per dies sine cessatione Te sentiam per soporem in nocte Te alloquar h Aug. Medit. O that I could Meditate upon thee O Lord through the whole day and not cease to be affected with thee in the night my Spirit speaking unto thee and my mind conversing with thee alway and alone Blessed are they who think of nothing speak of nothing but the Lord who love nothing above thee desire nothing besides thee Blessed are they whose hope alone is the Lord and all whose work is Prayer And several of the devout Fathers computed all that time lost wherein God was not in their minds and memories and there is great reason for it as the same S. Austin meditates For as there is no moment of time wherein we enjoy not the sweet influences of the divine goodness and stand in need also of God's protecting presence with us So there should be no time wherein we have not God in our thoughts i Aug. Marcu Wait on thy God continually k Hos 12.16 Seek the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore l Ps 105.4 Thus S. Paul and all truly devout Christians with him have their conversation in heaven m Phil. 3.20 whilst they are upon earth and that 's the way surely to have our conversation in Heaven when we shall be taken from the earth This Second Part of the Practical Christian consists of Ejaculatory Prayers and Meditations with several Psalms paraphrased and illustrated relating to the hours of Prayer and to other subjects both useful and necessary to be considered by every such devout person as seriously minds the eternal Salvation of his Soul 'T is not hereby intended magisterially to impose upon any persons either at what hours they shall pray precisely in their Closets or that they should thus or thus punctually Meditate and Pray at all such times and upon every such subject prefixed But To put all good Christians in mind of those hours of Prayer which the Church and people of God and many thousands in all the parts of Christendom do still observe as such and therefore they are the most fitting seasonable times wherein to make our religious addresses to Heaven if we desire to be true Members of the holy Catholick Church and to practise the Communion of Saints and to reap the fruits of the Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith That the ensuing Meditations may be helps of Devotion to the more weak and imperfectly religious who may have here seasonable hints to raise up their Souls to converse with Heaven at all times and upon all occasions And the more perfect also may here meet with some Notions and remembrances to excite them unto higher and more sublime elevations So many Psalms are added to every Chapter of Meditations to recal if possible the Devotion of the present times to the ancient and sure way of Religious exercise which was and is still by all sound and Orthodox Devotaries in the devout use of the Psalms of David 't was thus that all the triumphing Saints in Heaven have prayed themselves thither as far forth as their Religious practises appear unto us upon record in Ecclesiastical Story and 't is a safe way to follow their steps rather than the fanciful conceptions of our own heads especially remembring that it is acknowledged by all Christians that the Psalms of David are the Treasury of all Devotion 'T is known that they are and ever were the constant Prayers of the Church and People of God at all times and upon all occasions It cannot be denyed but that they are the immediate Dictates and Prayers of the holy and true Spirit of God and therefore it must surely follow that they are of higher dignity greater efficacy and acceptation with God than the most seemingly-zealous and pathetical expressions in Prayer which flow from the spirit of the most learned and ready tongue'd man It is to be lamented even to astonishment at the madness and folly of many persons professing to be godly that they do so highly extol the Praying by the Spirit and yet altogether neglect the use of those Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs commanded Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 and are the infallible and undeniable Prayers of the Spirit of Truth and Holiness But 't is the fond imaginations of their own hearts that such do mean by the Spirit if they blaspheme not and 't is these indigested conceptions of their own brain which blinds their Zeal and darkens their Vnderstanding to slight both the Prayers of David and of the Son of David also even all the immediate
do I lift up my soul At your Vp-rising Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20.6 O holy Jesu who early in the morning didst raise up thy self from death to life for me raise me up I meekly beseech thee from the death of sin unto the life of Righteousness Grant me by the power of thy Death and vertue of thy Resurrection early and betimes even to day while it is called to day to arise out of the mire of sensuality and out of the dust and rubbish of worldly vanities unto newness and all holiness of life that when that long day of Eternity shall dawn I may be raised up out of the grave of death to live and reign with thee for ever Amen I laid me down and slept Psal 3.5 and rose again for the Lord sustained me Blessed be the name of the Lord Psal 113.2 3. from this time forth and for evermore The Lords name is praised from the rising of the Sun unto the going down of the same A Morning Hymn NOw that the day light doth arise Breaking through the azure skies To heaven I lift my heart and eyes Begging of God with humble cries All hurtful things to turn away Whilst I duly spend the day And from his Laws go not astray But of true vertue keep the way To turn away my wandring eyes From the beholding vanities To guard my lips from speaking lies To keep my heart both pure and clean From all desires wicked or vain And my unruly Passions rein To tame proud flesh whilst I deny it A full cup and wanton diet Avoiding all excess and riot That when the day light shall go out And darkness clouds the earth throughout Time bringing on the night about The Light of thy bright face may shine Vpon my Soul and Beams divine Display into this heart of mine Whilst leaving wicked worldly ways I in silence sing thy praise Chanting forth these following Laies All glory to the Trinity Which I adore in Vnity The Father Son and Holy Ghost One Lord which is of mighties most As it hath e're been heretofore Is now and shall be evermore At your Apparrelling I Put on Righteousness and it cloathed me my judgment was a robe and a diadem Job 29.14 And to the Spouse of Christ it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of the Saints Blessed Jesus cloath my soul with thy spotless Robes of Righteousness and beautifie me with the celestial ornaments of the graces of thy Spirit Let it be my constant desire and endeavour to appear more amiable in thy sight than in the censorious eyes of men II. ANd why take ye thought for raiment Matth. 6.28 consider the Lilies of the field they toil not neither do they spin And yet I say unto you 29. that Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these How then fond Soul canst thou be proud of thy bodily apparrel wherein the grass of the field excels thy utmost bravery To be proud of thy gay clothing is to glory in thy shame to cover which shame and nakedness as the issue of sin and disobedience the use of Garments was given by God The true ornaments of a Christian consist in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price At your Washing I. BLessed be the Lord God my Heavenly Father who hath washed me from my Original pollution in the sacred waters of Baptism and hath therein called me to the state of Salvation through Jesus Christ And I pray God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my lifes end This I promised by my Undertakers when I was Baptized 1 Pet. 3.21 Ch. Cat. but I have not been so careful as I ought to make good my promise O wash me throughly from my wickedness as in the Laver of Baptism and cleanse me from my sin Psal 51.2 whereby I have unhallowed those saving Waters Thou shalt purge me with Hysop through the bitter sorrows and sufferings of my dearest Saviour and I shall be clean 7. Thou shalt wash me in the fountain of thy inexhaustible mercy and I shall be whiter than Snow II. 'T is the clean hands and pure heart wherewith God is well pleased even the heart that is pure from all evil affections and the hands that be clean from all sinful actions Blessed are the pure in heart Matt. 5.8 for they shall see God see him in Grace and Mercy here and in Glory hereafter Make me a clean heart Psa 51.10 O God and renew a right spirit within me A Spirit cleaving stedfastly unto thee my God and to thy Covenant with me in holy Baptism Water the dry barren ground of my Heart with the dew of Heaven the celestial influences of thy holy Spirit that I may bring forth the fruits of good works to the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ Amen Upon the Use of the Creed I Have many Enemies to encounter and such as are not corruptible flesh and bloud but spiritual and invisible quick and powerful active and vigilant to insnare me in all my thoughts and desires words and actions And therefore 't is necessary O my Soul before thou go forth to enter upon any worldly affairs that thou be well armed as with fervent Prayers and the Sword of the Spirit so with the shield of faith Eph. 6.12 13. to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil Confess then the holy Christian Faith with Understanding and affectionate Devotion I. I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth II. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord III. Who was conceived by the holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried V. He descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead VIII I believe in the Holy Ghost IX The holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints X. The forgiveness of Sins XI The Resurrection of the Body XII The Life everlasting Amen I believe Lord help my unbelief And grant a right and a full understanding of all these Articles of the most holy Faith and Grace to square all the actions of my life according thereunto Let this Faith be my shield from all errors in Judgment and miscarriages in Conversation and from the Devil and all his Instruments that would seduce me to either Before you go forth of your Chamber or undertake any imployment first in all holy Humility
I have acknowledged my wayes and thou heardest me O teach me thy Statutes After confession of sin and prayer for pardon new obedience is required 3. Make me to understand the way of thy Commandments and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works To talk of Religion without a right Understanding is but vain babling 4. My soul melteth away for very heaviness Comfort thou me according to thy Word Godly sorrow is the inlet to divine Consolation 5. Take from me the way of lying and cause thou me to make much of thy Law Errors in judgment must be corrected and abandoned that we may obey God sincerely and cordially 6. I have chosen the way of truth and thy judgments have I laid before me What the Word of God doth judge to be true or false is to be ever chose or refused 7. I have stuck unto thy testimonies O Lord confound me not Stedfastly to cleave unto what God hath testified to be the way of truth and holiness is a sure way to avoid confusion 8. I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou hast set my heart at liberty While the heart is enfettered with sensual or worldly lusts we can neith run nor walk in the ways of God's Commandments we ought Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Raise up my Soul blesse Lord out of the dust and rubbish of earthly desires quicken my dulness in thy service comfort me in all my sadnesses dispel all those mists of Ignorance and Error which cloud my Understanding enlarge my heart from the bondage of Sin and Satan and out of the fetters of all Temptations unto evil and so strengthen me to run in the ways which thou hast Commanded that I may obtain what thou hast promised through Jesus Christ Our Father which art in c. CHAP. II. Of Meditations for the Third Hour of Prayer or Nine a Clock in the Morning THis is called The holy hour in the Decrees of the Church and generally the hour of publick Assemblies in the Worship of God and not without very great reason For 1. Matth. 27.20 'T was at this hour my blessed Redeemer underwent the bitter sentence of death whilest Barabbas a Thief a Rebel and a Murderer was acquitted And I vile wretch am as guilty as Barabbas in many respects and justly obnoxious to the dreadful sentence of condemnation to death eternal but by the infinite Merits and Mysteries of thy Condemnation Good Lord deliver me 2. Matth. 27.26 'T was at this hour of the day my blessed Redeemer exposed his tender breasts and delicate back and shoulders to be rased rent and torn with forked whips by cruel blood-thirsty souldiers until his innocent Body was all over gore blood And my sins deserve the scourges and mine offences the rod of the Almighties just indignation but blessed Lord I humbly beg that I may so wash my polluted soul with the penitent tears of holy compunction through Faith in the blood of my Saviour and so chastise and keep under that body of sin which is and too much reigneth in my Members Eccles 39.28 that being delivered from the guilt and tyranny of sin in this life I may escape those fiery whips and scourgings of the spirits of vengeance which are the portion of the disobedient and impenitent in the other life 3. Act. 2.15 'T was at this hour of the day the Holy Ghost descended upon the holy Apostles and Disciples of Christ and by his celestial influences replenished them with extraordinary Gifts and Graces for the propagation of his holy Gospel and the plantation of his Church through the World And Vouchsafe holy God vouchsafe unto me also thy unworthy servant the guidance of the same spirit by whose Illumination and Sanctification I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do and also may have Grace faithfully to perform the same through Jesus Christ And the Earth was without form and void Gen. 1.2 darkness was upon the face of the deep And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the Waters Such was thy condition O my Soul in thy state of Nature without form or comeliness the image of God wherein thy beauty consists was defac'd by original corruption void both of Grace and Truth an Abyss of darkness and in the shadow of death till the all-quickning Spirit of God moving upon the hallowed waters of Baptism caused the light to appear But still the dregs of thy natural corruption remain and the darkness of ignorance ever hovers upon the face of the Deep But where the Spirit of God is there is liberty both rightly to understand and acceptably to perform his Will COme Holy Ghost eternal God Proceeding from above Both from the Father and the Son The God of Peace and Love Visit my Mind and into me Thy heavenly Grace inspire That in all Truth and Godliness I may have the desire Kindle my heart with fervent love To serve God day and night Strength and stablish all my weakness So feeble and so frail That neither flesh the world nor devil Against me do prevail And grant O Lord that thou being My Leader and my Guide I may eschew the snares of sin And from thee never slide ALmighty God unto whom all hearts are open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnifie thy holy Name through Jesus Christ Glory be to God on high on earth peace This Hymn is prescribed to be used in the Morning by the Apostolical Constit l. 7. c. 47. and at the Third Hour of the Morning because then the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles and replenished them with glory exultation and joy Dur. Rat. l. 4. c. 13. good will towards men We praise Thee we bless Thee we worship Thee we glorifie Thee we give thanks to Thee for thy great Glory heavenly King God the Father Almighty O Lord the only begotten Son Jesus Christ O Lord God Lamb of God Son of the Father that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us Thou that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us Thou that takest away the sins of the world receive our prayers Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father have mercy upon us For Thou only art Holy Thou only art the Lord Thou only O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most High in the Glory of God the Father Amen PSALMS for the Third Hour Legem pone Psal 119. Part. 5. Horâ tertiâ Psalmus Legem pone dicitur quia tunc lex nova data est Apostolis Dur. Rat. l. 5. c. 6. Verses 1. TEach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end The Understanding must first be enlightned that the Affections of the Heart
may be inflamed with love and obedience 2. Give me Vnderstanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I will keep it with my whole heart The Understanding must first be enlightned that the Affections of the Heart may be inflamed with love and obedience 3. Make me to go in the paths of thy Commandments for therein is my delight And because all holy desires are not but by the influences of God's holy Spirit therefore it follows Incline my heart 4. Incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not unto covetousness God is to be obeyed not for any earthly ends and therefore a sincere obedience is inconsistent with covetousness 5. O turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanity and quicken thou me in thy way The way of the world is vain and unsatisfying and Christ the Way the Truth and the Life 6. O stablish thy Word in thy servant that I may fear thee God's Word must not be slightly heard but deeply settled in the heart to beget therein the true fear of God 7. Take away the rebuke I am afraid of for thy judgments are good We would fear reproach for our sins did we seriously consider the righteousness of God's Judgments 8. Behold my delight is in thy Commandments O quicken me in thy righteousness The more active we be in all holy obedience the greater delight shall we find therein Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer 'T Is the desire of my Soul O Lord to know and obey thy Commands as being the way of true delight and give me a right understanding thereof with a firm adhesion and obedience thereunto Mortifie the exorbitant lusts of mine eyes and of mine heart whose issue is shame and reproach Ecclus. 23.1 5. Leave me not to their counsels and let me not fall by them but turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence and thou shalt hold him up who is desirous always to serve thee through Jesus Christ The Sixth Part. Verses 1. Let thy loving mercy come also unto me O Lord even thy Salvation according to thy Word In the Word of God mercy and salvation is promised to his people 2. So shall I make answer to my blasphemers for my trust is in thy Word The manifestation whereof shall stop the mouths of all evil speakers 3. O take not the word of thy Truth utterly out of my mouth for my hope is in thy judgments He that hopes for Mercy in the day of Judgment must now profess the truth in the day of Trial and Temptation 4. So shall I alway keep thy Law yea for ever and ever Charity which is the end or Love which is the fulfilling of the Law continues for ever 5. And I will walk at liberty for I seek thy Commandments The love of God diffused in the heart doth enlarge our steps in the wayes of obedience to his Laws 6. I will speak of thy Testimonies even before Kings and will not be ashamed And animate us undauntedly to profess the Truth before the greatest Powers upon earth 7. And my delight shall be in thy Commandments which I have loved These are inseparably urited the Love of God and the Love of whatever he Commands 8. My hands also will I lift up to thy Commandments which I have loved and my study shall be in thy Statutes The love of the heart sets the hands on work and both in holy Actions and divine Contemplations is the pious Soul delighted The Prayer GReat is thy mercy O Lord in promising and great is thy Righteousness in performing the promise of Salvation to all them that trust in Thee let this thy Mercy and Truth appear in my Salvation Set my heart at liberty from all extravagant lusts which tyrannize there and grant that thy Laws may be so much my delight that I fear not to profess the same even before Kings when called thereunto Let thy holy Will revealed be my dayly study and my hands lift up carefully to perform the same all the days of my life through Jesus Christ The Seventh Part. Verses 1. O think upon thy servant as concerning thy Word wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust A holy confidence in the promises of God is a good ground of Prayer to be made partakers thereof 2. The same is my comfort in my trouble for thy Word hath quickned me and of consolation in the greatest extremities 3. The proud have had me exceedingly in derision yet have I not shrinked from thy Law And of perseverance in spite of all the scoffs and contradictions of Sinners 4. For I remembred thy everlasting judgments O Lord and received comfort To remember the joyes of Eternity supports the pious soul in the greatest of temporal afflictions 5. I am horriby afraid for the ungodly that forsake thy Laws The impiety of others doth more terrifie a godly person than his own sufferings by their injustice 6. Thy Statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage The equity of the divine precepts is the most proper subject of melodious poely upon earth 7. I have thought upon thy Name O Lord in the night season and have kept thy Laws Night meditations do much conduce to the right ordering all the actions of the day 8. This I had because I kept thy Commandments Obedience is rewarded with Grace for Grace Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Think upon thy servant in great mercy O Lord and let no external troubles no reproaches of the proud and scornful withdraw my heart from that love and obedience which I owe unto thee But let thy Grace so prevent me in all my doings that I fail not of thy following Grace to continue thy faithful servant and souldier to my lifes end through Jesus Christ The Eighth Part. Verses 1. Thou art my portion O Lord I have promised to keep thy Law The Covenant betwixt God and his people is reciprocal God promiseth to be their exceeding great reward and they promise to keep his Commandments 2. I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart O be thou merciful unto me according to thy Word And that this Covenant may stand firm we must heartily implore both the assistance of divine Grace to keep our promises unto God and his mercy to perform his promises unto us 3. I called mine own ways to remembrance and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies The iniquity of our own ways must be frequently remembred that we may walk in the ways of God 4. I made haste and prolonged not the time to keep thy Statutes He that hath any care of his soul will not put off his conversion from the errors of his ways and the practice of new obedience 5. The Congregation of the proud have robbed me but I have not forgetten thy Law The heart of the faithful continues firm in holy affections even when through violence of
Numb 21.9 S. Joh. 3.14 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life And my soul is wounded by the frequent bitings of that old Serpent the Devil but mine eyes are ever looking up unto thee Holy Jesus the great Physician of Sin-sick Souls who hast made a salve for such of thine own wounds and blood Heal O heal my Soul Ps 41.4 for I have sinn'd against thee Blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world take away mine also O blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world grant me thy Peace even that Peace which as at this hour thou so dearly purchased for me IV. At this Hour my dear Redeemer was expanded upon the Cross as on a tormenting rack where wounded nayled and bleeding he continued for three long hours together whilst the Sun being in its full strength withdrew the influence of its Light from those merciless wretches who Crucified the Lord of Glory S. Mark 15.33 And when the Sixth hour was come there was darkness over the whole Land The Sun hid his face being as 't were ashamed to behold the Sun of Righteousness eclipsed and in the shadow of death And this most justly ought to represent to my Conscience my manifold deeds of darkness which were the cause of my Saviours death and do dayly eclipse the light of Gods countenance from shining upon me O Holy Jesus who didst humble thy self unto death upon the Cross for us miserable sinners who sate in darkness and in the shadow of death vouchsafe to illuminate my darkned Soul with the light of Grace and Truth which lead to that everlasting Light which is not liable to any Eclipse in the least degree of diminution The great Captain of our Salvation having by his painful sufferings and meritorious death vanquisht him who hath the power of death the Devil having overcome both the first and second Death and shewed himself alive to his Apostles by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty dayes and speaking of all things pertaining to the Kingdom of God having in a word perfected the great and mysterious work of our Redemption for the which he invisibly descended from Heaven 'T was V. At this Hour he visibly ascended again into Heaven Now then raise up thy self O my Soul and let thy most ardent affections thorough thy gazing eyes be thither enwrapt whither thy glorious Redeemer at this hour ascended Shall not the heart be there where the Treasure is Act. 1.11 All thy Treasure surely all thy hopes of life and happiness are treasur'd up in thy blessed Saviour who is gone into Heaven GRant I beseech Thee Almighty God that like as I do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the Heavens So I also may in heart and mind thither ascend and with him continually dwell who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen PSALMS For the Sixth Hour of Prayer Psal CXIX Part 11. Verses 1. MY Soul hath longed for thy Salvation and I have a good hope because of thy Word God's promise of Grace and Salvation in his Word inflames the pious Soul with longings thereafter 2. Mine eyes long sore for thy Word Saying O when wilt thou comfort me Which is expressed by the frequent elevation of the Eyes which are the windows of the heart unto Heaven waiting for the Consolation thereof 3. For I am become lik a bottle is the smoak yet do I not forget thy Statutes Contemplation is not to be so dry and withered as to be forgetful of holy works commanded 4. How many are the days of thy servant when wilt thou be avenget of them that persecute me The more short and uncertain our dayes be the more vigorously should we resist and more earnestly implore the divine assistance against our ghostly adversaries 5. The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy Law Whose temptations to assault and entrap the Soul are such as tend continually to the transgression of Gods Commandments 6. All thy Commandments are true they persecute me falsly O be thou my help The more such suggestions oppose the Truth the more earnest we must be in our prayers unto God for his help to resist them 7. They had almost made an end of me upon Earth but I forsook not thy Commandments And to continue constant in our obedience to the divine precepts though the oppositions do even destroy all our earthly interests 8. O quicken me after thy loving kindness and so shall I keep the Testimonies of thy mouth But such a holy obedience proceeds from the power of Gods quickning Spirit which is therefore constantly to be prayed for Qui conservat legem multiplicat orationem Ecclus. 35.1 Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer BOth my heart and mine eyes do I lift up unto Thee O Lord longing greatly for that Grace and Salvation which thy Word doth promise Let no persecutions either from my bodily or ghostly adversaries rob me of the hopes thereof Let no false suggestions either withdraw my heart from the love of thy Truth or from the practice of it in all the actions of my life but of thy loving kindness vouchsafe so to quicken all my holy desires and endeavours that when the few days of this life take end I may inherit that life which knows no end through Jesus The Twelfth Part. Verses 1. O Lord thy word endureth for ever in Heaven The Counsels of God are immutable in Heaven though they seem variable in their respective dispensations upon Earth 2. Thy Truth also remaineth from one generation to another thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and it abideth God's revealed Truth to his Church and People upon Earth is successively continued from one generation to another whilst the world continues 3. They continue this day according to thine ordinance for all things serve thee There is a law impos'd upon all men and upon all things who both by their obedience and disobedience thereunto do serve the ends of Gods ordinances and decrees 4. If my delight had not been in thy Law I should have perished in my trouble Which Lawchearfully obeyed is a sure support in the worst of troubles 5. I will never forget thy Commandments for with them thou hast quickned me He therefore forgets himself who forgets Gods Commandments which quicken the soul to life eternal 6. I am thine O save me for I have sought thy Commandments I am devoted thy servant by solemn promise in my Baptism and I am resolved to continue thine and therefore vouchsafe as thine to preserve me to keep thy holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of my life 7. The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me but I will consider thy Testimonies By devout Meditations upon those truths God hath testified
we may be armed against all temptations 8. I see that all things come to an end but thy Commandment is exceeding broad We see by dayly experience that all those worldly things and carnal delights whereby we are tempted to sin do quickly vanish but he that doth the Will of the Lord abideth for ever Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer I Am thine O Lord not only by Creation but also solemnly devoted by regeneration in Baptism and I am resolved to continue thine O save me from every transgression of any of thy most holy Laws which all creatures in their several kinds do obey Let not the secret underminings of the Devil or the open flattering felicities of the world cozer and ensnare me for these shall suddenly come to an end but obedience to thy Commandments is the way to life without end through Jesus Christ The Thirteenth Part. Verses 1. Lord what love have I unto thy Law All the day long is my study in it He that truly loves God loves also what he commands and frequently meditates thereupon 2. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me God's commandment extending to the love of our enemies exceeds the utmost wisdom of the heathen who have not the knowledge of his Laws 3. I have more understanding than my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my study But he that will be truly wise must not cursorily read the Letter but studiously consider and dive into the spirit and life of the Law 4. I am wiser than the aged because I keep thy Commandments Wisdom is increased and perfected by obedience to the dictates thereof 5. I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I may keep thy Word He that will do what God commands must refrain from all that he forbids First cease to do evil and then learn to do well 6. I have not shrunk from thy judgments for thou hearest me 'T is the secret teaching of God's Spirit in the heart that keeps the feet firm from backfliding 7. O how sweet are thy Words unto my throat yea sweeter than honey unto my mouth The fruits of a true Faith or sincere Obedience is more sweet to the soul than honey to the mouth 8. Through thy Commandments I get Vnderstanding therefore I hate all evil wayes The right Understanding of good and evil discovers both the beauty of obedience and the deformity of every sinful action The Prayer ALmighty God the fountain of all wisdom give me I humbly beseech thee a wise and understanding heart hating and refraining from every evil way loving Thee and thy Laws and mine enemies also in obedience thereunto Let me never shrink from thy judgments but stedfastly believe the Truth of thy revelations and regularly obey the same that I may reap the sweet fruits of holiness in eternal happiness through Jesus Christ The Fourteenth Part. Verses 1. Thy Word is a Lanthorn unto my feet and a light unto my paths Gods Word as a Lanthorn in the night directs us in our passage through the darkness of this life to the light of life eternal 2. I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous judgments Therefore every truly wise man resolves stedfastly to follow and obey the directions of this holy Word according to his Vow in Baptism 3. I am troubled above measure quicken me O Lord according to thy Word But the flesh lusting against the spirit disturbs such holy resolves and endeavours but by the grace of God the pious soul is quickned and the spirit fortified against all such encounters and this God hath promised in the same Word 4. Let the freewill-offerings of my mouth please thee O Lord and teach me thy judgments For the which grace 't is our duty to pray and that more willingly and chearfully and more frequently than at ordinary and accustomed times 5. My Soul is alway in my hand yet do I not forget thy Law The continual dangers of the souls safety should engage us often to meditate upon divine Truths 6. The ungodly have laid a snare for me but I swerved not from thy Commandments From the which all the temptations of wicked spirits should not make us to swerve 7. Thy Testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever for why they are the very joy of my heart 'T is obedience that entitles to the inheritance of Heaven which fills the hearts of the righteous with joy unspeakable and glorious 8. I have applied my heart to fulfil thy Statutes alway unto the end Therefore are the hearts of the godly inclined to persevere in their obedience unto the end of their lives Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer WHen I was first enrolled a member of thy Church O Lord I solemnly vowed and have often since renewed this Vow to keep thy holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the dayes of my life but the lustings of the flesh against the spirit and the snares of Satan do daily trouble such my holy resolutions and promises Vouchsafe blessed Lord to quicken and fortifie my spirit against all the crafts and assaults of my ghostly adversaries that I may have power and strength to get the victory and to triumph over the Devil the World and the Flesh and to continue thy faithful Servant and Souldier unto my lifes end through Jesus Christ The Fifteenth Part. Verses 1. I hate them that imagine evil things but thy Law do I love He that truly loves God and his Truth will detest not the persons of any but the sinful imaginations of all men 2. Thou art my defence and my shield and my trust is in thy Word Whilst we sincerely trust in the Truth of God's promises in his Word we need not to doubt of his protection and defence 3. Away from me ye wicked I will keep the Commandments of my God The society of wicked men must be avoided by every one that rightly resolves to keep God's Commandments 4. O stablish me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be disappointed of my hope 'T is by the divine assistance continually implor'd that we are so establish'd in the life of grace that we be not disappointed of our hopes of the life of glory 5. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe yea my delight shall be ever in thy Statutes Being supported by the divine Grace this hope stands firm and 't is strengthned by holy love and delight in the service of God 6. Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy Statutes for they imagine but deceit They are justly deprived of this blessed hope who transgress the lawes of God their own fond imaginations deceiving them 7. Thou puttest away all the ungodly like dross therefore I love thy Testimonies The judgments of God pursuing the wicked to their
the evening of thy life but then it concerns thee to be active and industrious in the service of thy Lord having been all the day of thy former life idle and negligent therein And as at other times then so neglect not to offer up thine evening Sacrifice unto God for I. 'T was in the evening of Time the blessed Son of God came down from Heaven for the Redemption of the world If then Christ be a new formed in thee now and every evening bless God for thy Renovation and with all joyful exultation say with the blessed mother of our Lord St. LUKE I. Verses 46. MY Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour 'T is the greatest joy of the devout Soul to praise the Lord my Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when my mouth praiseth Thee with joyful lips Psal 63 6. 47. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden 'T was a great respect our Lord had to the humble and gracious disposition of this blessed Virgin to humble himself to be made man in her sanctified Womb. 48. For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed Since all the nations of the earth are blessed by the holy Seed of her immaculate body 49. For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name God's Almightiness is most manifested by his mercifulness and in respect of both his name is great wonderful and holy 50. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Act. 10.35 51. He hath shewed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts By the arm of the Lord is meant the Son of God Isa 53.1 the strength of whose wisdom appeared in confounding the fond imaginations of the proud Pharisees and all such as justifie themselves 52. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek And in casting out the Prince of this world Joh. 12.31 and all the spirits of pride and vengeance and in raising up faln man from under the power and tyranny of the Devil and his Angels 53. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away Such as hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be satisfied but they who are pure in their own eyes and justifie themselves are rejected for he came not to call the righteous in their own conceit but sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 54. He remembring his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefather Abraham and his seed for ever To all the spiritual Sors of the faithful Abraham do the promises of God in Christ appertain Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Blessed Jesus the eternal and only begotten Son of God who for us men and for our Salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and made man By the merits and mysteries of thy holy Incarnation and miraculous Birth of a spotless Virgin I humbly beg a lowly humble pure and virginheart for 't is only such a heart thou regardest for thy habitation and abode and 't is only such a heart cleaves stedfastly unto thee by the ardent love awful fear and sincere service of thy Sacred Majesty who livest and reignest with the Father c. The XCVIII Psalm PARAPHRASED Being A Thanksgiving for the Redemption of the World by the Son of God verse 1 O Sing unto the Lord a new Song Praise him for the renovation and redemption of the world wherein he hath done marvellous things even such as the Angels of heaven desire to look into 1 Pet. 1.12 verse 2 With his own right hand by his works of righteousness and with his holy arm the extent of his Piety He hath gotten himself the victory over the world the flesh and the Devil sin death and hell verse 3 The Lord declared his Salvation which under the Law was shadowed in types and figures but now under the Gospel his righteousness whereby he justifies and saves He hath openly shewed in the sight of the heathen not to the Jews only but to the Gentiles also verse 4 He hath remembred his mercy in the promise of Salvation and his truth in the performance of this promise towards the house of Israel to them was the promise of the Messias but upon his appearance all the ends of the world have seen the Salvation of our God And therefore verse 5 Shew your selves joyful unto the Lord all ye lands fince all have seen his Salvation 't is very meet and just and our bounden duty that all should sing rejoyce and give thanks for Salvation from eternal death to life everlasting is the greatest cause of joy and thanksgiving verse 6 Praise the Lord upon the harp which mystically represents the heart of man sing to the harp open your lips to shew forth his praise with a Psalm of Thanksgiving as wherein the praises of God are divinely celebrated verse 7 With Trumpets also and Shawms all kind of musical instruments to elevate the heart to shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King who is best pleased with joy exultation and delight in his service verse 8 Let the Sea make a noise and all that therein is even all the inhabitants of the Isles of the Sea the round world and they that dwell therein they that dwell in the Continent also verse 9 Let the floods clap their hands and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord both they that dwell in the low valleys and they that inhabit the hilly countreys have equal cause of joy and thanksgiving unto the Lord of all men and all places for he is come to judge the earth to separate the precious from the vile the elect from the reprobate which is done in this life by the preaching of the Gospel in truth and purity and exercising the power of the keys for thus verse 10 With righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity absolving from their sins the penitent and contrite but binding upon their souls the sins of the obdurate Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. 'T is thy duty O my Soul as to praise God for the Redemption of the world so to pray unto him that he would have mercy upon all men and display the sacred beams of his holy Gospel over all the Nations of the earth that they may come to the knowledge of Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ Pray we therefore for all men and with all Christian people in the words of Gods holy Spirit PSALM LXVII verse 1 GOD be merciful unto us and bless us and shew us the light of his Countenance and be merciful unto us verse 2 That thy
feet All the apostate crew of evil angels with all their poysonous infusions thou shalt overcome and subdue so the Lord promises also Luk. 10.19 Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions And the reason is added in the name of the Lord saying verse 14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him All things work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 I will set him up above his enemies round about because he hath known my name his knowledge being enspirited with love and obedience verse 15 He shall call upon me to have a heart to pray rightly and reverently is a great blessing and I will hear him so as to grant the requests of such as call upon me faithfully yea I am with him in trouble and when his faith and patience humility and obedience is throughly tryed I will deliver him out of all his troubles and bring him to honour promote him in the land of the living for verse 16 With long life will I satisfie him a life replete with all fulness of satisfaction and shew him my Salvation or manifest my self unto him in whose presence is fulness of joy O remember me according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people and visit me with thy Salvation That I may see the felicity of thy chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of thy people and give thanks with thine inheritance who cease not day and night saying Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. THE SONG of SIMEON Which is said by the Church at this hour as wherein we commend our selves unto the Lord and desire we may both sleep and dye in Peace 1. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace (a) Peace in life and death sleeping and waking is the portion of the Lords servant alone for there is no peace saith the Lord to the wicked Isa 48. according to thy Word 'T was Gods promise he should not dye till he had seen the Messias in the flesh 2. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The Saviour of the world is seen as Man only with the eyes of Flesh but as both God and Man by the eye of Faith 3. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people God was made man that the eyes of all flesh might see in whom to believe and whom to follow as the light of the world 4. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles (e) Who sate in darkness and in the shadow of death and to be the glory of thy people Israel The greatest of all the wonderful mercies shewed by God to his old people the Israelites was that of them Christ was born and exhibited in the flesh Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer LIghten my darkness O Lord whose mysterious Incarnation and Nativity is the Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel and by thy great mercy defend me from all the perils and dangers of this night O blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world grant me thy Peace even peace with God and peace with man peace of Conscience at home upon Earth and the peace of the long home of Heaven Such a peace the world cannot give 't is only attainable from thee and by thee and through thee the Prince of peace who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God c. IN the order of our Church Devotions after this Song of Simeon follows the Creed for since the end of our Faith is the Salvation of our Souls it is very fit then that we both begin and end the day in the Confession of the Faith And as the Church in publick so every devout Christian in private who resolves to dye in the true Faith will not go to sleep without it but will say before he go to bed not slightly and customarily but reverently and understandingly I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ c. All this I stedfastly believe into this Faith I was baptized and in this Faith 't is the hearty desire of my Soul and shall be my constant endeavour to continue unto my lifes end Grant me blessed Lord in the profession of this Faith to war a good warfare and to finish my course that after this mortal life is ended I may receive from the author 2 Tim. 4.7 8. and finisher of our Faith the crown of righteousness which is laid up I believe and hope for me as for all those that love his appearing After these or other Bed-time Meditations your usual Prayers Confessions and Thanksgivings relating to the day past Meditate As you Vndress your self This Body of mine I am now striping of its clothing is but the clothing of my Soul that 's the man in me my body is but the garment my soul doth wear And 't is not long ere I shall put off this body of flesh as I now do the garments which cover its nakedness And that I may do this in peace and to my future happiness my soul must be stript and put off concerning the former conversation the old man Eph. 4.21 22. which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts and put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Put on the Lord Jesus Ro. 13.14 That 's thy clothing that 's thy ornament O my Soul to obey the doctrine and follow the example of the holy Jesus making no provision to fulfil the lusts of the flesh For Gal. 6.8 he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting When you lay aside your Garments Assist me blessed Lord wholly and altogether to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armor of Light that when my Body shall lye down in its bed of darkness my Soul may pass into the Regions of Light to live and reign with Thee for ever When you go into Bed I will lay me down in peace and take my rest for 't is Thou only that makest me dwell in safety Or II. In the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ who was Crucified on the Cross and laid in the Grave for me I lay me down to rest and to sleep He vouchsafe to bless me save and defend me sleeping and waking And may I evermore blessed Jesus rest in thy Peace live in thy Fear dye in thy Favour and be raised by thy power unto life everlasting Amen CHAP. VII Of Meditations and Psalms for the Night season I. 'T Was in the Night the Angel of the Lord destroyed all the first-born in the Land of Egypt Exod. 12.29 Wisd 18.14 15. 2 Kin. 19.35 And the host of Senacherib that besieged Hierusalem Now then arise from thy bed of sloth and
drowsiness O my Soul begging of God with humble Prayers Heb. 1.14 that those Celestial Spirits who are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation and more particularly that thy guardian Angel may both guide and protect thee that no destroying Angel no terror of the night no pestilence that walketh in darkness no fiery darts of the Devil no arrows of Temptation by any filthy dreams or noysome lusts may infect and taint thy innocence or disturb thy peace in the Lord. For ye were sometimes darkness Eph. 5.8 but now are ye light in the Lord walk therefore as children of the light And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness ver 11. but rather reprove them O blessed Father of Lights Jam. 1.17 with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning shew the light of thy Countenance upon thy servant and save me for thy mercies sake II. 'T is in the Night we generally believe the Son of man shall come to judge both the quick and the dead Mat. 25.6 Mar. 13.36 37. and he hath commanded thee to watch for his coming that he find thee not sleeping remembring that his coming shall be in flaming fire rendring vengeance to them that obey not his Gospel whereof this is a part watch and pray confirmed by his own example who continued all night in prayer unto God by the example of holy David frequently at his prayers in the night Luk. 6.12 Ps 6. 63 119. Isa 26.9 of the Prophet Isaiah With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early and of the Prophet Jeremiah Arise Lam. 2.19 cry out in the Night in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord. Thy heart may now most opportunely most intensely most freely and fully be poured out unto the Lord whilst the cares and businesses of the day distract thee not whilst no external objects or tumultuous noise disturb thy wandring imaginations to withdraw thy heart from divine and celestial Contemplations Tu Christe somnum discute Tu rumpe noctis vincula Tu solve peccatum vetus Novumque lumen ingere III. 'T was in the deep silence of the Night thy blessed Saviour was born And the Shepherds who kept watch over their flock Luk. 2.7 8 had therefore the happiness to receive the first tydings of Salvation by an Angel from Heaven 'T is now very seasonable to Meditate upon those great mysteries of Salvation the Incarnation and Birth of thy Redeemer the Holiness and Innocence of his Life his whole nights Devotions and Prayers the many conspiracies against his life which he purposely assumed to lay down for the sins of the world 'T was in the night as being the cursed deeds of darkness that thy Lord was apprehended in the Garden and then bound with Cords of violence and by rude hands drag'd and hurry'd to be arraigned as a Malefactor falsly accused spit upon and buffeted examined with intents of blood judged and condemned say then now in the words of the holy Spirit of God PSALM II. Verses 1. WHy do the heathen so furiously rage together and why do the people imagine a vain thing By the heathen is meant Infidels and such as be without the pale of the Church By the People Hereticks and Schismaticks within 2. The Kings of the earth stand up and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed b This Prophecie is remembred to be fulfilled by the Conspiracies and practises of the Chiefs both of the Jews and Romans against Christ Acts 4.25 26 27. Saying 3. Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us By Bonds are meant the Laws of Christ and by Cords those promises threats exhortations examples which draw our hearts to obey his Laws 4. He that dwelleth in Heaven will laugh them to scorn the Lord will have them in derision The neglect and contempt whereof God is said to deride as seeing it to be the high-way to destruction 5. Then shall he speak unto them is his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure For when he shall call such proud contemners to account it shall be not in mercy but in wrath to their eternal vexation and torment 6. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Sion 'T is not the utmost malice of men or Devils can weaken the power or frustrate the Government of Christ in his Church 7. I will preach the Law whereof the Lord hath said unto me g Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Not hinder the publication of his Gospel received from God Founded in the eternal and temporal Son-ship of Christ who was both begotten from all eternity as the Son of God and born in fulness of Time as the Son of Man 8. Desire of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession In respect of his Godhead he is Lord of the whole earth in respect of his manhood he obtained by intercession as Mediator betwixt God and Man that all people both Jews and Gentiles be called to the state of Salvation through him 9. Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron and break them in pieces like a Potters vessel Whom he governs by subduing and mortifying their rebel lusts both sensual and worldly 10. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be learned ye that are Judges of the earth Which is that true wisdom which chiefly all that are in authority should learn as by whose power and example others may be conrerted 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce unto him with reverence Both fear and joy are necessary qualifications in Religious duties that we neither be affrighted with the difficulty nor puft up with the consolation that attends his service 12. Kiss the Son lest he be angry and so ye perish from the right way if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are they that put their trust in him There is a Kiss both of Love and Honour and of Obedience the which in all respects is due to our Redeemer the neglect whereof is the way to perish by his wrath as to obey him and trust in him is the way of true blessedness Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Blessed Jesus in Thee have I put my trust let me never perish from the right way of that love and obedience I owe to thy Sacred Majesty and let all the Nations of the earth submit to thy Sceptre of Righteousness that they perish not in thy wrath but may inherit the blessings of them that put their trust in Thee who art only Saviour and Redeemer Amen IV. Meditations for the Night THe Angels of Heaven rest not day and night crying Holy holy Lord
't is the extreamest of folly not so to consider the superexcellency of the divine wisdom in his works as to see and love him in them and for them 7. When the ungodly are green as the grass and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish then shall they be destroyed for ever but thou Lord art the most highest for evermore The wicked that do not this though they may flourish for a time yet their punishment proceeding from the decree of the most high God shall be everlasting 8. For lo thine enemies O Lord lo thine enemies shall perish and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed and unavoidable because all wicked persons are the enemies of God 9. But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an Vnicorn for I am anointed with fresh oyl But the strength and vigour of the righteous shall encrease through the Unction of the Holy One or the Graces of Gods Spirit 10. Mine eye also shall see his lust upon his enemies and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that rise up against me Whereby all the sinful lusts of the flesh are master'd and all the assaults of ghostly enemies are subdued 11. The righteous shall flourish like a Palm tree and shall spread abroad like a Cedar in Libanus Like a Palm the righteous man sinks not under the weight of afflictions or violence of temptations but grows the more in Grace thereby 12. Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God Whilst they are and continue to be true members of Christs Church against which the gates of hell shall not prevail 13. They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age and shall be fat and well liking They shall increase in Grace as in years being fruitful in all good works acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ 14. That they may shew how true the Lord my strength is and that there is no unrighteousness in him And such happy people do truly praise the Lord both with their lips and in their lives as from whom all their strength in Grace and goodness is derived Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer I Know O Lord that 't is a thing both joyful and profitable and my bounden duty to give thee thanks both night and day in prosperity and adversity for the great mercy and truth of thy promises is manifested at all times and in all conditions Let me never forget to meditate in thy works and though I cannot fathom the depth of thy wisdom in them grant me the more to love and admire thy transcendent perfections appearing in all the operations of thy hands works of Wonder for and in the which I humbly beg I may continually praise thy Name not only in word but also in deed and in truth and that as the night of my life cometh on and I grow more full in dayes so I may be also more fruitful in all good works to the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ PSALM CXXXIV To be used in the Night as wherein the people of God excite each other to the praise of God in their night Assemblies in his house Verses 1. BEhold now praise the Lord all ye servants of the Lord. Divine praise being the highest of Religious duties becomes the lips of such only as are devoted to the service of God 2. Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord b Who both night and day are intent upon this high and holy employment in the Courts of the house of our God But especially such as be ordained to the administration of Holy Offices in the House of God Mystically God hath 3 Courts through which we must enter into his House the Church and be entitled to his Praise 1 Faith which is the outer Court 2 Hope gives a nearer admission into his presence 3 Charity unites our hearts unto God and inflames them to his praise 3. Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary and praise the Lord. Not by our words only but by the works of our hands God must be glorified Mat. 5.16 And to do this worthily 4. The Lord that made heaven and earth give the blessing out of Sion Is a blessing that descends from above but is conveyed by the ministery of the Church Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Lord who hast made Heaven and Earth for the service of man and man more immediately to serve Thee Give unto all thy servants Grace and to me also to lift up holy hands and pure hearts to praise thee night and day in the Courts of thy house and in all the works of our hands to glorifie thy Name And to this end let thy blessing through the ministery of thy Church descend upon us in this life that we may inherit the blessings of thy Church triumphant in heaven through Jesus Christ The CXXXIX Psalm PARAPHRASED Verse 1 O Lord the Righteous God who tryest the very hearts and reins Thou hast searched me out through all the windings and turnings of my deceitful heart and known me in all the most hidden and inmost of my thoughts and desires Thou knowest my down-sitting both withwhat company and when alone both with what intentions and what affections and my up-rising with what guilt or innocence I arise from every of my actions in all which thou understandest my thoughts long before even before they be conceived in my mind as knowing my inclinations to entertain such or such thoughts verse 2 Thou art about my path wherein I walk and about my bed wherein I rest and spiest out all my ways seeing both the equity and iniquity both of my affections and actions in all my ways both of rest and motion ease and labour verse 3 For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou knowest it altogether both First It s original conception in my mind Secondly My intention in its utterance with my mouth Thirdly It s good or bad influence upon others O set a watch over my mouth and guard the door of my lips that I offend not in my tongue Thou hast fashioned me behind and before moulded me throughout into this goodly shape and proportion of parts whereof I consist and laid thine hand upon me supported me in this being thou hast given me verse 5 Such knowledge as appears both in my Creation and preservation is too wonderful and excellent for me I cannot attain unto it it excells the reach of my apprehension even to wonder and astonishment verse 6 Whither then shall I go from thy Spirit which filleth the world and containeth all things or whither shall I go from thy presence who art every where by thy Essence Power and Presence both within and without the world verse 7 If I climb up into heaven thou art there in highest Majesty and
the Life saith my blessed Redeemer The Way I must follow the Truth I must believe the Life I must hope for the Way which leadeth me the Truth which teacheth me and the Life whereunto he bringeth me the Way is undefiled the Truth is infallible and the Life without end Blessed are they that are undefiled in this Way and walk in this Truth that leads to life everlasting As you stand upon some high Place Thy mercy Ps 36.5 O Lord reacheth unto the heavens and thy faithfulness unto the clouds Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains 6 and thy judgments are like the great deep Thou 7 Lord shalt save both man and beast how excellent is thy mercy O God! and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy House 8. and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of the river For with thee is the Well of Life 9. and in thy Light shall we see Light even the light of joy unspeakable and glorious in the light of thy Countenance As you behold pleasant Grounds and variety of Objects O Lord Ps 104.24 how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches So is the great and wide Sea also 25. wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts These wait all upon thee 26. that thou mayst give them meat in due season When thou givest it them 27. they gather it and when thou openest there hand they are filled with good When thou hidest thy face they are troubled 28 when thou takest away their breath they dye and are turned again to their dust When thou lettest thy breath go forth 29 they shall be made and thou shalt renew the face of the earth The glorious Majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever 31 the Lord shall rejoyce in his works The earth shall tremble at the looks of Him 32 if he but touch the hills they shall smoke I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live 33 I will praise my God while I have my being And so shall my words please him 34 my joy shall be in the Lord. As for sinners they shall be consumed out of the earth 35. and the ungodly shall come to an end Praise thou the Lord O my Soul praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. When you hear or see any thing extraordinary Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty Rev. 15.3 just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints Who will not fear thee O Lord 4. and glorifie thy Name For thou only art holy Blessed be the Lord God Ps 72.18 even the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things And blessed be the name of his Majesty for ever 19. And all the earth shall be filled with his Majesty Amen Amen When you hear the Clock or see the hour of the Day How fast doth hour after hour come on time hasting to be swallowed up of Eternity Man is like a thing of nought Ps 144.4 his time passeth away like a shadow Our days upon earth are as a shadow Ps 90.9 and we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told So teach me to number my days 12. that I may apply my self unto wisdom wisely providing for that long day wherein the Sun of Righteousness shall shine without setting When you go to Read or Study Study to shew thy self approved unto God 2 Tim. 2.15 a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the truth Open thou mine eyes Ps 119. O Lord that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law in the true sence and meaning of thy holy Spirit therein being not deceived by any false glosses and misinterpretations of men Grant blessed Lord that what I Read or Meditate may conduce to a more clear understanding of thy Will Jam. 1.25 and that I may confirm the same by the holiness of my Life being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of thy work Being wearied therewith Much study is a weariness to the flesh Eccl. 12.12 And of making Books there is no end Turn again unto thy rest Ps 116.17 O my Soul return to converse with thy God who is the center in whom alone the immortal Soul finds rest Hearken unto the sweet refreshing call of thy dear Lord and Saviour saying Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden Mat. 11.18 and I will refresh you Behold I come holy Jesus relying upon this and that other gracious saying S. Joh. 16.33 In me ye shall have peace but in the world ye have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world Lord let me never be weary in well-doing but when I may do better and prevent me in all my doings with thy most gracious favour and further me with thy continual help that in all my Prayers and Meditations studies and endeavours begun continued and ended in thee I may glorifie thy holy Name and finally obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ When you go about any worldly Employment God shall bring every work into judgment Eccl. 12.14 with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing Ps 141.4 let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness neither let me be ensnared with their delights Deliver me 2 Tim. 4.18 O Lord from every evil work and stablish me in every good word and work Blessed Jesus let all my works be accepted through the merits of thy sacred and renowned actions and the imperfections thereof pardoned through Faith in thy blood Amen When you are sad or discontented When I am in heaviness I will think upon God Ps 77.3 when my heart is vexed I will complain even unto God will I make my moan Why art thou so full of heaviness Ps 42.6 O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me Put thy trust in God 7. for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his Countenance Put thy trust in God and be doing good Ps 37.3 whilst I do the thing that is good and abstain from evil I may reasonably hope upon my devout Prayers for the return of God's favour unto me and that the light of his Countenance shall dispel all my darksom imaginations all my gloomy fears and the perturbations of my Spirit Return return O Lord God of hosts and cause thy face to shine upon thy servant O shew the light of thy Countenance and I shall be whole When you sit idle Why stand you here all the day idle Mar. 20.6 the Devil who tempteth unto all other
sins is himself tempted by idleness Watch ye therefore Mat. 13.36 for you know not when the master of the house cometh at Even or at Mid-night or at the Cock-crowing or in the Morning Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping 37. Upon wandring wanton Eyes A Wicked eye is an evil thing Ecclus. 31.13 and what is created more wicked than an Eye and therefore it weepeth upon every occasion How dare I look up unto Heaven which is the throne of Gods Purity with those eyes that have been set upon vanity and iniquity A wise mans eyes are in his head Eccl. 2.14 but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth I have made a Covenant with mine eyes not to look upon a maid Job 31 1. For whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her Mat. 5.28 hath already committed adultery with her in his heart But mine eyes shall be ever looking unto the Lord Ps 25.15 for he shall pluck my feet out of the net my affections from being ensnared with unlawful objects When you are tempted to any Sin Meditat. I. Avoid Satan thou wicked and unclean spirit avoid Thou hast no part or lot in me I am solemnly devoted to the service of my God and my Jesus and thy sworn adversary I have solemnly abjured thee and all thy works and must not now yield to any of thine unclean suggestions Be merciful unto me Ps 57.1 O God be merciful unto me for my Soul trusteth in Thee and under the shadow of thy Wings shall be my refuge until this tyranny be overpast I will call unto the most high God 2. even to the God that shall perform the cause I have in hand He shall send from Heaven and save me 3. from the reproof of him that would eat me up God shall send forth his mercy and truth 4. my Soul is among Lyons the Devil and his Angels have too great a hank upon my Soul But my trust is in the tender mercy of my God therefore I shall not fall Meditat. II. When I am tempted to any evil I complain of the Devil but my self is the greatest Devil to my Soul whilst I do not deny my self the fulfilling of its irrational appetites All the forces wherewith the enemy fights against my Soul are within me 'T is from those warring members within they are both raised armed and maintained But whensoever I call upon God Ps 56.9 then shall mine enemies be put to flight this I know for God is on my side In Gods word will I rejoice 10. in the Lords word will I comfort me Yea in God have I put my trust 11. I will not fear what man or Devil can do unto me Meditat. III. Being Tempted Say 'T is the Lords cause I must now maintain 't is his quarrel I must fight for the grand enemy of God and Man would now rob God of his Honour and of that Obedience which is due to his most holy Laws and I being Tempted am thereby challenged to be the Lords Champion But I will not trust in my Bow Ps 44.7 't is not my Sword that shall save me But it is thou Lord 8. that savest us from our enemies and puttest them to confusion that hate us Arise Ps 74.23 O God maintain thine own cause remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee dayly Forget not the voice of thine enemies 24. the presumption of them that hate thee encreaseth ever more and more Meditat. IV. Vpon Temptations The victory over the Devil and all his temptations were easily obtained could I but once get the mastery over those lusts which war against the Soul In which spiritual warfare the banner under which I must fight is the Cross of my Redeemer by the vertue whereof all my intestine foes may be vanquisht in the Crucifixion of them and the old man with all his mutinous troops of deceivable lusts be subdued and led captive in the Chains of holy Mortification O blessed Jesus the Captain of my Salvation strengthen and encourage me manfully to fight under thy banner against all my ghostly adversaries And let thy Grace so prevent and follow me that I may follow thee by the Cross to the Crown through the School of Grace to the Throne of Glory Amen Upon the Prevailing of any Temptation I will say unto the God of my strength Ps 42.11 why hast thou forgotten me and why go I thus heavily while the enemy oppresseth me My bones are smitten asunder as with a Sword 12 while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth Namely 13. while they say daily unto me where is now thy God Have mercy upon me O God Ps 41.10 have mercy upon me raise thou me up again and I shall reward them being more careful to resist the Devil and all his suggestions Forsake me not O Lord my God Ps 38. ult be not thou far from me Haste thee to help me O Lord God of my Salvation Having escaped a Temptation The snares of death compassed me round about Ps 18.3 and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid The pains of hell came about me 4. the snares of death overtook me If the Lord himself had not been on my side I may well now say Ps 124.1 if the Lord himself had not been on my side The waters of Temptation had drowned me 3. and the stream had gone over my Soul Yea the deep waters of the proud had gone even over my Soul 4. But praised be the Lord who hath not given me over for a prey unto their teeth My Soul is escaped even as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler 5. the snare is broken and I am delivered Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord 6. who hath made heaven and earth To whom be all Glory Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. When you Hunger or Thirst I. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness Mat. 5.6 for they shall be satisfied They shall receive such a satisfaction as the most delicious of bodily meats and drinks cannot give He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again Joh. 4.13 but whoso shall drink of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst But the water that I shall give him 14. shall be in him a Well of living water springing up to everlasting life Lord evermore give me this water that I thirst not 'T is the Graces of thy holy Spirit I humbly beg which alone can satisfie the vast desires of my Soul II. Labour not for the meat that perisheth Joh. 6.27 but labour for that meat which endureth to everlasting life which the son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed sent into the world to be the incorruptible Food of our immortal
affliction Ro. 8.28 remembring that all things work together for good to them that love God When you suffer any bodily Pain Both this and the greatest of the pains my corruptible fiesh can possibly suffer are but as a Hea-biting to the least of the pains of the nether hell And these my sins have justly deserved but blessed Lord let me have my punishment in this life and spare O spare me in the life to come I am not master of my self except in patience I possess my Soul in spite of what flesh can do unto me A furious man cannot be justified Ecclus. 1.22 or escape punishment for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction A patient man will bear for a time 23 and afterwards joy shall spring up unto him He will hide his words for a time 24. and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom I know O Lord that thou dost not willingly afflict the Sons of men S. Paul had his thorn in the flesh 2 Cor. 12.77 but 't was to prevent the swelling of his heart with spiritual pride and vain-glory And I humbly beg O Lord that my present pain in body may through my patient sufferance conduce to the better health of my Soul And O that I were as feelingly sensible of the many sores and diseases of my Soul as I am now of my bodily pains I should then more affectionately and with greater devotion apply my self to the great Physician both of Soul and Body Being sensible of your want of Knowledge and Wisdom Who will set scourges over my thoughts Ecclus. 23.3 2 and the discipline of wisdom over my heart that they spare me not for mine ignorances and pass not by my sins Lest mine ignorances increase 3. and my sins abound to my destruction That it may please thee O Lord to forgive me all my negligences and ignorances and to endue me with the Grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend my life according to thy Word O God of my Fathers Wisd 9.1 4 and Lord of all mercy give me wisdom that fitteth by thy Throne and reject me not from among thy Children O send her out of thy holy Heavens 10. and from the Throne of thy Glory that being present she may labour with me that I may know what is pleasing unto thee Though I have the gift of Prophecie 1 Cor. 13.2 and understand all mysteries and have all knowledge and though I have all Faith so that I could remove mountains and have not Charity it profiteth me nothing Being dull and averse from holy Duties How long wilt thou forget me Psal 13.1 O Lord for ever how long wilt thon hide thy face from me How long shall I seek counsel in my Soul 2 and be so vexed in my heart how long shall mine enemies triumph over me Consider and hear me O Lord 3 my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death Lest mine enemy say 4 I have prevailed against him for if I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at it But my trust is in thy mercy 5 and my heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing of the Lord 6 because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Name of the Lord the most high Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Upon the sense of your Sins and the mispending of your Time When I call to mind the dayes of my vanity and the sins of my younger and wanton years when I commune with mine own heart and search out my spirits When I remember how little a portion of my Time hath been employed in the service of my God and how much hath been spent in the service of Sin and Satan and the fulfilling of mine own unruly Lusts When I consider how small or no treasure of good works I have laid up in Heaven and what a mass of sinful works I have treasured up against the day of wrath my spirit is wounded within me and my heart within me is desolate my flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments Call to remembrance Psal 25.5 O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindness which have been ever of old Oh remember not the sins and offences of my youth nor of my riper years 6. O deal not with me after my sins neither reward me after mine iniquities but according to thy mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness And as thou tellest my flittings Ps 56.8 so put my tears into thy bottle that as my sins so my sorrows for sin may be noted in thy Book Assist me to redeem that precious time which I have too much mis-spent in vanity and iniquity Oh spare me a little Ps 39.13 that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen Holy Resolves of future Holiness Unto thee O God Ps 56.12 will I pay my vows unto thee will I give thanks For thou hast delivered my Soul from death and my feet from falling 13. that I may walk before God in the light of the living that enlightned with divine Grace I may enjoy the light of life immortal before God for ever Teach me thy way Psal 86.11 O Lord and I will walk in thy Truth O knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name I will thank thee 12 O Lord my God with all my heart and will praise thy Name for evermore For great is thy mercy toward me 13. and thou hast delivered my Soul from the nethermost hell adding day after day unto my life and space for repentance unto my days O God my heart is ready Ps 108.1 my heart is ready I will sing and give praise unto the Lord Rom. 2.4 for the riches of his goodness forbearance and long-suffering leading me to repentance And my heart is ready O God my heart is ready to do thy will and to keep thy Commandments only strengthen me with thy divine Grace to do what thou Commandest and then Command whatsoever pleaseth thee My heart is ready both to serve thee in all the duties of holy Religion and to serve my neighbour also in the duties of Innocence and Beneficence and to watch over myself against all irrational desires that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts I may now for the future Tit. 2.12 live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Looking for that blessed hope 13. and the glorious appearance of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ Holy Breathings of the Soul after God As the Hart hunted and wearied panteth after the water brooks for refuge and refreshment Psal 42.1 so my Soul in her weary pilgrimage pursued by her ghostly enemies longeth after thee O God in whom the weary findeth rest and the persecuted succour and support My Soul
soever with his bone full of marrow might yet dare to live unprepared for death presuming still upon further time and space for Repentance and amendment Lord make me ever mindful of my latter end that I may so live in thy fear as to dye in thy favour and a well grounded hope to live with thee for ever 'T is to little purpose to remember my death except I remember also the sins of my by-past life both the sins of my youth and of my riper age mine ignorances my negligences my manifold omissions of my duty towards God towards my neighbour towards my self and these to bewail with the tears of godly sorrow that my polluted Soul being washed I may through Faith in the blood of my Redeemer chearfully commend the same into his merciful hands and say Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth Every change in my frail constitution every little pain and ache in my corruptible flesh all distempers diseases are as so many memorials of my mortality but the older I grow the nearer still is the approach of my dissolution by the hand of death Heb. 8. ult for that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away The Prayers LOok graciously upon me O Lord I beseech thee in the time of my approaching dissolution and the more the outward man decayeth strengthen me so much the more continually by thy Grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man give me unfeigned repentance for all the errors of my life past and a stedfast Faith in thy Son Jesus that my sins may be done away by thy mercy and my pardon sealed in Heaven before I go hence and be no more seen II. IN the midst of life we be in death of whom may we seek for succour but of thee O Lord who for our sins art justy displeased Yet O Lord God most holy O Lord most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts shut not up thy merciful ears to our Prayers but spare us O Lord most holy O God most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour thou most worthy Judge eternal suffer us not at our last hour for any pains of death to fall from thee III. IN my last hour O Lord I humbly beg thy protection from the busie suggestions and direful insultings of my grand enemies the Devil and his Angels Oh let not then my Faith fail or my Hope wither or my Charity wax cold with the waining flesh But when all my joynts shall tremble by the batteries of death mine eyes be darkned and my tongue falter then O then let my heart be enlarged towards my God waiting upon thee longing for thee and incessantly praying shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy Salvation The XXXIX Psalm Verses 1. I Said I will take heed to my wayes that I offend not in my tongue The meditation of death makes every wise man careful of all his wayes and more especially to avoid the offences of the tongue 2. I will keep my mouth as 't were with a bridle while the ungodly is in my sight The tongue is an unruly evil and must be tam'd as a wild horse with a bridle when provok'd by captious contentious and quarrelsome persons 3. I held my tongue and spake nothing I kept silence yea even from good words but it was pain and grief unto me Reproaches are best answered with a discreet silence so was our Lord as a Lamb dumb before the Shearers 4. My heart was hot within and while I was thus musing the fire kindled d To abstain from good words is sometimes necessary for the avoiding of an evil construction but such silence is grievous to the pious Soul which burns with the fire of divine love and zeal to God's glory The zeal of thine house bath even eaten me and at the last I spake with my tongue Though it be often inconvenient to speak before wicked men yet 't is alway necessary to speak unto God by Prayer 5. Lord let me know mine end and the number of my daies that I may be certified how long I have to live 'T is a blessing we ought alway to pray for to be feelingly sensible of the shortness of our life 6. Behold thou hast made my dayes as 't were a span long and mine age is nothing in respect of thee and verily every man living is altogether vanity The life of man if compar'd with God's everlasting being is rather to be called a death than a life a vanity not a verity of being 7. For man walketh in a vain shadow he disquieteth himself in vain he heapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them The hearts of men are darkned with the shadows of happiness whilst they vainly care for worldly wealth which is as transitory and uncertain as the life it self 8. And now Lord what is my hope truly my hope is even in thee 'T is not in riches nor in all the world affords but in God alone that all hope of true happiness is attainable 9. Deliver me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Our sins deprive us of all true weh-grounded hopes in God and make us lyable to the scorn even of foolish men 10. I became dumb and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing We must with a patient silence suffer the reproaches of others because occasioned by our offences and because sent from God for our amendment 11. Take thy plague away from me I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand And confess withal that we deserve to be consumed by the just judgments of God 12. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin thou makest his beauty to consume away as 't were a moth fretting a garment every man therefore is but vanity Whose lightest chastisements do easily deface the beauty and decay the strength of this corruptible body 13. Hear my prayer O Lord and with thine ears consider my calling hold not thy peace at my tears Therefore the devout Soul is poured forth in Prayers with tears of godly sorrow for her offences from whence all the miseries of this life do flow 14. For I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were The earth is a strange land to the Immortal Soul whose native home is heaven where she was framed by the hands of the Almighty after his own Image 15. O spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen Which Image being defaced by her sins she humbly begs with tears time and space by Repentance Faith and new obedience to recover her native strength and beauty before she leave her tabernacle of flesh Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer SInce my
dayes are but as a span short and uncertain I humbly beseech thee O Lord to wean my heart from the disquietude of worldly cares and that I may be fruitful in all the good works of obedience and charity to repair the breaches of thy blessed image which mine offences have made before my departure hence that so recovering the spiritual health and strength of my Soul I may dye in thy Grace and favour through Jesus Christ The XC Psalm Verses 1. LOrd thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another Holy men have in all ages of the world applied themselves unto the Lord for succor support and protection in all conditions 2. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever the earth and the world were made thou art God from everlasting and world without end Who being eternal is also immutable in his mercy goodness power and providence over all 3. Thou turnest man to destruction again thou sayst Come again ye children of men Dispensing both health and sickness prosperity and adversity life and death to the sons of men according to his all just all merciful all wise good pleasure 4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday seeing that is past as a watch in the night The longest course of mans life in respect of Gods eternal praevision is but as a day that is already past or as one of the night-watches which is both swift and short and also dark and gloomy through frequent cross and adverse occurrents 5. As soon as thou scatterest them they are even asleep and fade away suddenly as the grass As sleep is the image of death so the life of man is but the image or shadow of life for as a shadow it fleeth the pursuer and fadeth as the grass 6. In the morning it is green and groweth up in the evening it is cut down dried up and withered Which the same day beholds both growing and cut down flourishing and withered 7. For we consume away in thy displeasure and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation This frailty of humane life is the punishment of sin which incurs most justly God's indignation and wrath 8. Thou hast set our mis-deeds before thee and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun both seeing and recording the most secret of our sinful waies 9. For when thou art angry all our days are gone we bring our years to an end as it were a tale that is told 'T is through Gods just anger for our sins that our dayes are shortned and our years are spent in vanity and trouble 10. The dayes of our age are threescore years and ten and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow so soon passeth it away and we are gone The miseries of mans life are not so great through the shortness thereof as that his sorrows and troubles are increased with his daies 11. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath for even thereafter as a man feareth so is thy displeasure Gods displeasure for our sins is either more or less according as we do less or more stand in awe thereof 12. So teach us to number our daies that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom True wisdom is attained by the serious contemplation of the frailty of life and certainty of death 13. Turn thee again O Lord at the last and be gracious unto thy servants Intermixing with our meditations devout Prayers for the propitious grace and favour of God 14. O satisfie us with thy mercy and that soon so shall we rejoyce and be glad all the daies of our life Which alone can satisfie the desires of the immortal soul and throughly rejoyce the same 15. Comfort us again now after the time thou hast plagued us and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity We may reasonably alledge our sufferings though for our sins as motives to implore the consolations of Gods Spirit 16. Shew thy servants thy work and their children thy glory Gods proper work is mercy and 't is his glory to be gracious for the which the righteous do pray both for themselves and their children 17. And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us prosper thou the work of our hands upon us prosper thou our handy work God's glorious Majesty appears by the gracious influences of his holy Spirit whereby we work the works of God to his glory and our own eternal happiness Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer ALmighty God the fountain of all Wisdom grant me so wisely to number and compare the short and sorrowful daies of this mortal life with that joyful and never ending day of a blessed eternity that despising the vanities of the one I may zealously aspire to the happiness of the other O satisfie the panting desires of my Soul with the sense of thy mercy in the pardon of my sins and let the glory of thy grace appear in prospering me to perform all those good works of Faith and Obedience which conduce to my eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ THE Second general Meditation Upon JUDGMENT And first the PARTICULAR JUDGMENT IT is appointed unto man once to dye and after that the Judgment Heb. 9.27 no sooner shall this house of flesh wherein the immortal Soul doth now inhabit be shattered in pieces by the hand of death but in the same moment the departing Soul shall be conveyed by the Angels of God before his Judgment-seat and this is call'd The particular Judgment that shall pass upon every person in particular immediately upon his death Eccl. 12.7 when the dust shall return to the earth as it was then shall the Spirit return unto God that gave it 14. To give an account of the works done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil That grand enemy of man Ille enim tunc saeviens capit quos nunc blandiens decipit Greg. the Devil awaits thy Souls departure hence to dog thee to the great Tribunal of Heaven In this life he fawns to seduce but in the other he will roar to devour as a Lyon over his prey to this end he will vehemently accuse thee aggravating all thy miscarriages through his suggestions committed and claiming thee as one of the subjects of his kingdom of darkness saying to the great Judg of all as several Fathers observe This person thou Judge of the world Euseb Emiss Hom. Aug. orat cont Judaeos Bag. though he be thine by Creation yet he is mine by Depravation He is thine by nature but mine by sin for he has obeyed my suggestions and disobeyed thy laws and therefore though he belong to thee by right yet he is faln to me by default he is thine in respect of his workmanship but mine by the rebellion of
into Heaven if thou tread them under thy feet For every sin and vanity trodden down Gen. 28.12 subdued and mortified is one step one scale or round of that celestial Ladder which being set upon the earth reacheth up unto Heaven which the Angels of heaven rejoyce to behold Luc. 15.7 And may the right hand of God assist me to lay aside every weight Heb. 12.1 and the sin that doth so easily beset me and to run with patience the race that is set before me Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith 2. who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God Blessed Lord who hast made me after thine own Image to attain the perfection and felicity of my Being in the beatifical vision and fruition of thy Majesty in heaven vouchsafe here to guide me with thy Counsel and after that to receive me with glory through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son and my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ Our Father which art in c. The XXIV Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 THe earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compass of the world and they that dwell therein The heavens are the Lords chief dwelling place the earth and all the nations thereof he hath given to his Son Jesus as he is Redeemer of the world as Ps 2.8 Desire of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession verse 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas and prepared it upon the flouds As God hath so wisely ordered the earth and the water that the one may refresh not overflow the other so he hath founded his Church upon a rock above the flouds of secular cares and turmoils and all the rising waves of this worlds vast sea which is signified by the scituation of his Temple on a hill And verse 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise up or stand in his holy place who is he that shall be qualified to appear and stand in the presence of God and to joyn with his people in that solemn worship which in his holy Temple is exhibited unto him Such a one is also qualified to ascend and raise up his Soul to those mountains of joy in the celestial Sion verse 4 He that hath clean hands The works of whole hands are clean from all injustice and impurity and washed with the tears of true penitence from the filth of all former pollutions And a pure heart to all outward an inward holiness is required which consists in the purity of the heart viz. to be pure from all sordid and vile affections to be sincere and without hypocrisie in all Religious performances that hath not lift up his mind to vanity who follows not those pomps and vanities of this wicked world which he once so solemnly renounced nor sworn to deceive his neighbour that will not say much less swear an untruth nor yet break his word especially when confirmed with an oath Such is the holiness and innocence that entitles a people to the presence of God in his Temple upon earth and in his House in heaven 1 the holiness of the heart 2. of the hands 3. of the tongue or Holiness in thought word and deed verse 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord The blessings of the Lord shall descend upon him when he ascends into the hill of the Lord and righteousness or mercy in the pardon of his sins or the reward of righteousness i. e. Salvation not of or from himself or from any but from the God of his Salvation verse 6 This is the generation of them that seek him these are those holy and happy people who so faithfully seek the Lord that they find him viz. in grace here in glory hereafter which is the double blessing of them that seek thy face O Jacob All that be true Israelites indeed thus make their holy and humble addresses to the God of Jacob for his grace and favour verse 7 Lift up your heads O ye gates or lift up your gates O ye Heads or Princes of the heavenly Hierusalem and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors which open the passages to life everlasting and the King of glory shall come in he who hath vanquished and gloriously triumphed over the gates of everlasting death over all the spirits and powers of darkness is ascended to open the gates of the kingdom of heaven to all Believers verse 8 Who is the King of glory in whose glorious conquests we may glory and in whose righteousness we may make our boast it is the Lord strong and mighty who although he submitted himself to be betray'd apprehended arraigned and condemned to death yet is he even the Lord mighty in battle who naked and unarmed hath vanquished by his sufferings and by his death overcome death and him who hath the power of death the Devil for which victory he rides in Triumph upon the clouds of Heaven and therefore verse 9 Lift up your heads O ye gates of the celestial paradise which have been shut against the sons of men from the fall of the first Adam and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors Raise up your selves ye immortal souls open and be enlarged in your desires and affections unto him who hath opened unto you the everlasting doors of glory and the King of glory shall come in He who is ascended will also descend into you if pure and heavenly minded and thither enwrap and raise you whither himself is gone before if yet for your further satisfaction you desire to know verse 10 Who is the King of glory by whose triumphant ascent into Heaven we believe and hope thither to ascend also It is even the Lord of hosts he who hath the command of all the powers of Heaven Earth and Hell who hath the command especially of all the powers and operations vertues and graces of the Holy Spirit of God and dispenseth them accordingly unto all that love and fear his name He is the King of glory he is glorious indeed above all and God over all blessed for ever and therefore to him as is most meet be all glory ascribed Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The LXXXIV Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 O How amiable are thy dwellings especially in the high and holy place thou Lord of Hosts even of the numerous troops of Angels and Archangels and of all the powers of Heaven verse 2 My soul hath a desire which is more than ordinary 't is a longing even to a separation from its self to enter into the Courts of the Lord to view those several Mansions of glory and the blissful condition wherein all the Courtiers of the King of Heaven do praise him for ever my heart and my flesh when