Governour and the Holy Ghost ever illuminating and sanctifying the members thereof With which Church was always established the same Covenant of Grace in Christ the same Sacraments for the substance the same way of Salvation under the same precepts through the like obedience and sufferings upon the same promises and threats of the same rewards and punishments See Heb. 11. Hence ever since the fall we find in the sacred Story as one Generation the Children of Works and born after the flesh as Cain Lamech Cam Canaan Aegypt Babylon c. so another the Children of Faith first Abel Martyr then Seth Father of the whole Race Enos Enoch Noah Shem Abraham to whom the Gospel was more fully preached and the Covenant of Faith published 430 years before the promulgation of the Law c. See all these things prosecuted at large in the forementioned Discourse §. 185. The Love and Power of the Father and the Son VII HEADS for Meditation on the several Offices and Benefits to MANKIND of the HOLY-GHOST The Holy-Ghost the Eternal Spirit of God The intimate Communion and Love of the Father and the Son the Finger of God the Strength and Power of the Father as the Son is the Wisdome of the Father the omnipotent worker of all that which the Father decrees and which the Son the word of the Father commands §. 186. The Spirit of Promise The Holy-Ghost the Holy Spirit of Promise who as the Son was a long time the Promise of the Father to this lower world so after the exhibition of our Saviour this Holy Spirit was a further promise unto it both of the Father and of the Son and at last upon the departure of the Son came down from heaven to abide and dwell with us here on earth in our Lord's absence until his second coming who as the Son was sent by the Father into the world to glorify the Father and to teach men what he had received and heard from the Father so the Holy Spirit descended to glorify the Son and to teach and bring to our remembrance to confirm and bear witness here on earth to all things that were taught and heard and received from the Son who was here pleased not only to be cohabitant with us but an inhabitant within us and vouchsafed to lodge in our persons as the Son did before to dwell in our nature making these our Bodies now the Temples of the Holy-Ghost By whom also both the Father and the Son do dwell with us and in us who put the last hand unto the great affair of our Salvation finishing the internal work thereof upon us in our Sanctification as our Saviour did before the external for us in our Redemption §. 187. The Spirit of Regeneration The Holy Ghost the Spirit of Regeneration who by his unspeakable power doth work the strange work of our second Nativity who is the seed of God by whom we are new Creatures by whom we are begotten and born again born of God and made partakers of the Divine Nature and Sons of God who is the heavenly principle derived into us from the second Adam Lord from Heaven conveying into our Soul Holiness and into our Body Immortality and Life as the flesh we received from the first Adam conveyed unto us sin and death Who being the same Spirit in us that also is in Christ is the bond of that mystical union between Jesus the Head and us the members and between us and all other fellow-members making all Christians but one and the same Body of the same temper of the same inclinations of one heart and one mind amongst our selves and with the head as being all actuated and moved by one and the same Spirit §. 188. The Spirit of Illumination The Holy-Ghost conveying its gracious Influences and Effects both into our Souls and into our Bodies Into our Souls both in our Vnderstanding and Memory and in our Will and Affections In our Vnderstanding and Memory The Spirit of Illumination who being the Spirit of God and knowing all the deep things of God as a man's Spirit doth the things of a man when as we by Adam's fall do remain miserably blinded and darkned in our Vnderstanding doth reveal unto us all the supernatural mysteries of our Redemption and Salvation and produceth in us a lively faith and credence of things not seen who beareth witness within us to all the doctrine of Christ to the truth of the Gospel and to all the promises and threats thereof by whom it is that we call Jesus Lord who is the Spirit of Truth to guide us into all Truth by whose unction we know all things beneficial to us and are every one taught of God from whom those who are his more diligent and worthy servants receive manifold revelations visions illuminations both in things of spiritual and temporal concernment both for their own edification and the edification of others knowledge of the mysteries of Religion and of the deeper sence of the word of God knowledge of things to come of the secrets of the heart of things done in absence and at the remotest distance The word of Wisdome and Counsel the gift of Eloquence and powerful perswasion Wisdome in Offices and Governments The Holy Spirit distributing unto men these several Gifts as seemeth good unto him and fit for the work wherein he imploys them And all our science being much perfecter and directed to nobler ends when this conferred by the Holy Spirit §. 189. The Spirit of Love Toward God The Holy Ghost in our Will and Affections the Spirit of Love Of Love first toward God and also towards our Neighbour Towards God who doth inflame us with an impatient love of God and things Divine who according to the promise under the Gospel writeth all God's laws in our heart and inclineth our will to obey his Commandments no more out of constraint and fear but out of choice and affection who dictateth to us all our acceptable prayers to and acceptable praises of God and leadeth the greater proficients in God's service into a perfect contemplation of and union with him Elevating them with rapts and extasies and consuming the Soul with the flames of Divine Love §. 190. Towards our Brethren The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of love to our Neighbour Who doth enflame us with a most ardent love towards our Brethren whose blessed fruits are love peace long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness by whom the Saints are rendred kind not envying not vaunting themselves above others not seeking their own not easily provoked thinking no evil bearing all things believing all things hoping all things enduring all things Who teacheth us to keep our Saviour's new Commandment of Love and bestoweth on us this most excellent gift of Charity §. 191. The Spirit of Corporal Parity and Mortification The Holy-Ghost conferring its gracious effects and influences as on the Soul so on the Body In it The Spirit of Mortification and Chastity Who continually warreth against
passion Deliver us O Lord. By thy glorious resurrection and ascension by thy coming to judgment by thy coeternal glory with the Father Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may learn of thee who wast meek and humble in heart that we may deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow thee We beseech thee to hear us That we lay not up treasures for our selves on earth but in heaven that we may lose our lives in this world that we may preserve them to eternal life and fear not those that can kill the body only but him that can throw both Body and Soul into hell-fire We sinners beseech c. That we freely and willingly take up thy easy yoke and light burthen that with all diligence we put out to usury our talents we receive from thee and receiving thy word into honest and good hearts may bring forth much fruit with patience We sinners beseech Thee c. That whatsoever we would that men should do unto us we do so unto them that we judge none rashly but love one another and do good to those that hate us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That being uncertain of the hour of death and thy coming to judgment we endeavour to watch and be always ready that we seriously provide to give up the account of our Stewardship We sinners beseech Thee c. That persevering thro thy grace unto the end we may be saved We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That asking the Father in thy name we may be worthy to be heard according to thy promise We sinners c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us c. Hear us c. Have mercy upon us Every day will we repeat thy perfections O glorious Jesus that every day we may grow in esteem of thee every day will we attentively reckon over thy mercies that every day we may still increase in thy love We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. All that we have and are we received from thy grace All we desire and hope we expect in thy glory O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplication come unto thee Let us pray ALmighty God and most merciful Saviour the light of this world and glory of the next vouchsafe we beseech thee to illuminate our understandings enflame our Wills and sanctify all the faculties of our Souls that whilst with our lips we recite thy praises we may inwardly with our hearts adore thy person and admire thy goodness and conform our lives to thy holy example till at length by frequent meditation on the bliss thou hast prepared for us hereafter we break off our affections from all irregular adherence to this world and place them intirely on the enjoyment of thee who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God world without end Amen See the other Litany and Commemorations below LITANIES to God the Holy Spirit O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son who art the intimate love communion and complacency of the Father and the Son Have mercy on us Who art the finger strength and power of God the omnipotent worker of what the Father decrees and the Son the Word of God commands Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit by whose inspiration the holy men of God formerly spake Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit by whose admirable vertue the Incarnation of our Lord was wrought in the Virgins womb and who descendedst in the likeness of a Dove upon our Blessed Saviour Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit who at Pentecost appearedst resting upon the Disciples in cloven tongues of fire and with whom the Apostles being replenished boldly confessed and preached our Saviour Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Promise of the Father and the Son who descendedst to abide with us and in us here on earth in the absence of our Lord until his second coming Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who having cast out the strong one Satan and possessed his house vouchsafest to inhabit in our persons as the Son of God in our nature and to make us thy Temples Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who finishest the internal work of our Salvation by our Sanctification as the Son of God did the external by our Redemption Have mercy on us Who descendedst to glorify our Lord to bring to our remembrance testify and confirm all his heavenly doctrine to us Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Paraclete abiding with us for ever our Intercessor and Advocate here on earth within us to the Father as the Son now is for us in heaven Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who art the Seed of God in us by whom we are born again and made new creatures partakers of the Divine nature and Sons of God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the earnest and first fruits and pledge of our future inheritance the foretast of the good word and promise of God and of the power of Christ's Kingdome and of the World to come Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry Abba Father bearing witness to our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and by whom we are sealed to the day of Redemption Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit the Seed of Immortality in our corruptible bodies by whose vertue and power after sown in dishonour they shall be raised again in glory Have mercy on us O Blessed Spirit who guidest and preservest the Church of God in all truth illuminating its Doctors strengthening its Martyrs and perfecting its Saints Have mercy c. O Holy Spirit the bond of the mystical union between Christ our Head and us his Members and between all the fellow-members making them all of one heart and one soul as being all actuated by one and the same Spirit Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who enlightenest and leadest us into all truth by whom the Charity of God is poured forth in our hearts who writest the laws of God within us and inclinest our wills not out of servile fear but love and choice to obey his commands Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who helpest our infirmities we not knowing what to pray for as we ought and makest intercession for us with groans that cannot be uttered Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who knowest all the hidden things of God and makest intercession according to his will and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth there the mind of the Spirit Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who revealest the mysteries of Religion the secrets of men's hearts and things to come Have mercy on us
hath being too weak instead of curing he catch the Disease And what is said of companying may be much more of marrying leaging with or contracting other obligatory relations to such persons and thereby inheriting any divine Maledictions belonging to them 8. Taking care not to read any ill or vain Books of which the very same things may be said as of keeping ill Company Books being our ordinary company when alone and the mischief of them when bad very great 9. As much as you can procuring a well imployed Solitude Recommendation of Solitude which is most necessary for the great duty of this life viz. Prayer and Conversation with God and cutts off at once those most frequent sins of the tongue and the ear and all the temptations of them Solitude observes silence and when alone we neither blaspheme nor swear nor boast are free from all filthy and corrupt Communication from railing slandering detracting flattery from scurrility and jesting vain and idle talk of which also we are to give account Matt. 12.36 are free also from hearing such things with applause assent or silence Digr 1. Of the many damages ordinarily received from company 2. Of the great Sin of men-pleasing and compliance frequently miscalled Civility 3. Of the Sins of the Ear. 4. Of the power of Example 5. Of the standing severity of God's laws no way mitigated by contrary custome nor sin in those places a less fault where more practised 6. Of the duty of Christians abstaining from and having no common Society with many sorts of people 1 Cor. 5.11 which is ordinarily transgressed and especially of not marrying or leaging c with them §. 24 10. Of Discourse and Compliance 1. In Conversation avoiding all appearance of levity laughter and secular Mirth which contristates the Holy Spirit and obstructs its Motions excludes sober thoughts suits ill with God's presence and a constant habit of Prayer which is built upon a false and fleeting foundation and savours of too much sensuality and gives to our treacherous nature a hurtful liberty that tends to several Exorbitances whereas in this world she should rather be always to some degree curbed and mortified Remembring the wise-man's censure of it Eccl 2.2 I proved my heart with Mirth saith he And I said of Laughter it is mad and of Mirth what doth it And our Lord's woe Luk. 6.25 See Eccl. 2.7 c. to the 8. Ecclesiasticus 21.20 But always retaining your self within a certain degree of Gravity which is ready to nourish any good motions of the Spirit or dictates of Reason that are choaked by Mirth and carries with it some mortification of your sensitive faculties Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est Eccl. 7.5 and if it were for nothing else which is eligible for the sobering of your company by your good example per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis Ib. v. 4. See 1. Tim. 3 4.8.11 Tit. 2.2 7. To this end not using too much familiarity and intimacy with any Charitas habenda est erga omnes familiaritas non expedit least by such amity you be tempted to some excess 2. On the other side avoiding melancholy and sadness always to be or to appear so and being rather chearful and endeavouring always a spiritual mirth ex munditia cordis in whatsoever external condition Fructus Spiritus gaudium Gal. 5.21 Rejoice always and I say again rejoice but remember what follows in the Lord with a spiritual not secular joy Phil. 4.4 1. Thess 5.16 And the Apostle's always in all things give thanks Eph. 5.20 1. Thess 5.18 implies the same who gives thanks is well pleased and why ought they not to be always giving thanks quibus omnia vertuntur in bonum Rom. 8.18 Omnis anxietas ex maligno 3. Avoiding in your discourse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scurrility foolish talk and jesting buffonery and superfluous facetiousness quae ad rem non pertinent saith the Apostle Eph. 5.4 and the speaking things any way apt to invite laughter and affectation of wit which is seldome innocent and free from Sin because it borrows its matter chiefly from the faults or which is worse the infirmities of other men the abuse of persons or things sacred and is ambitious of pleasing men though this purchased with the offending of God and also of men Not studying in such wicked or at least vain and idle talk how to be more expensive of that of which must be rendred so strict an account In your Conversation though with intimate friends using an holy reservedness and not turning your inside outward and taking liberty to speak all that comes into your thoughts For most Christians having many imperfections the most of their thoughts must be weak and unrefined and even those persons more perfect do in the first surreptitious cogitations of any thing usually apprehend it according to Nature not Grace or the Spirit unless some pre-consideration be used Those must not be too open-hearted who have little good there And though dissembling and speaking contrary to what we think is never lawful yet the not concealing much of that which we think and not keeping our own secrets much more warily than other mens is a sign of little prudence and since all mens judgments in many things disagree the not hiding but disclosing things that are offensive much weakneth friendship 4. Not talking much especially in much company to which when numerous is due more reverence and modesty Ecclesiastieus 7.14 32 but as one that hath resolved silence and breaks it only upon necessity For In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin Prov. 10.19 And again He that useth many words shall be abhorred and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated Ecclesiasticus 20.8 And He that hath knowledge spareth his words c. Prov 17.27 Not engaging in every discourse and speaking to every matter Nor speaking at all times what you know but what is necessary loving herein the praise of God rather than of men and God will reward you for it A prudent man concealeth knowledge but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness Prov. 12.23 And A fool uttereth all his mind but a wise man keepeth it in Prov. 29.11 And Keepeth silence knowing his time and till he seeth opportunity Ecclesiasticus 20.6 7. And The mouth of a wise man is in his heart but a fool's heart in his mouth Ecclesiasticus 21.16 And A fool travelleth with a word as a woman in labour of a child and as an arrow sticketh in a man's thigh so is a word within his belly 5. Not speaking hastily without pre-consideration and lifting up your soul first to God that you may speak nothing that may displease him and in matters of moment first in your thoughts asking Council of him when you cannot delay an answer so long as to ask it in your Prayers following herein the pious Example of Nehemiah 2. c. 4 5. Knowing that words are
the flesh and delighteth in the severest afflicting and subduing thereof especially taketh pleasure in its Purity and Chastity and eminently opposeth all uncleanness and those risings of Concupiscence which sin first discovered in our first Parents Who also continually warreth against this world opposing the vain shews of this present life with the representation to the eye of Faith of the Glories of that to come Who also fighteth against Satan and being stronger than he hath cast him out and possessed his house from whose gracious descent upon our Saviour's ascension this evil Spirit hath suffered a great restraint of his former delusions by his Oracles being silenced and Idolatry destroyed §. 192. The Internal Intercessor and Advocate The Holy-Ghost the Paraclete our Intercessor and Advocate here on earth within us to the Father and as the Son is in heaven with God Who helpeth our Infirmities not knowing what we ought to pray for and maketh intercession within us for us with groans that cannot be uttered Who maketh intercessions according to the will of God because he knoweth the deep things of God and God that searcheth the heart knoweth the secret mind of this Spirit Who crieth in our hearts Abba Father and teacheth us to pray by which Spirit all our Prayers must be offered as they are offered through the Son that we may find any access unto the Father Who abiding here on earth with us is the effectual Reconciler and maker of our peace for any sins which we commit whether against the Father or the Son But when we sin against him also and make him depart from us we are desolate since there is no person any more left that can acceptably sue or make request for our pardon without this Spirit §. 193. The Internal Comforter The Holy-Ghost the Comforter whose Divine presence rendreth all sufferings not only supportable but pleasant that which is contrary to the flesh being so much the more grateful to the Spirit who graciously doth afford in all mortifications and sufferings sufficient ability internal peace and spiritual joy who freeing us from the former spirit of fear is the author of a lively constant hope and confidence in God whereby we always rejoyce in and long and wait for that blessed day of our Consummation and the appearance of our Saviour that so we may enter into the joy of our Lord. §. 194. The Spirit of Obsignation and Vnction The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of Vnction and Obsignation an Vnction and a nointing from the holy one whereby we are consecrated unto God as the Lord Jesus was and made Kings and Priests hereafter to reign under Him and to serve Him in his heavenly Temple who is the Seal of God upon us that we are already his adopted Sons and shall be Heirs of all his rich Promises in their due season who is the Earnest of his Covenant made with us and first fruits of the plentiful Harvest to come by whom we have now a foretast of those heavenly Gifts and of the good word and promise of God and of the power of Christ's Kingdome and of the world to come §. 195. The Spirit of Miracles and wonderful Works The Holy-Ghost the Spirit of Power and Might of all miraculous and wonderful Works over all the Creatures and over all the Works of Nature which at first he made Spiritual and Corporal over Satan and all his instruments expelling them and confining them at pleasure over all infirmities and diseases Who only doth great wonders upon the earth above and contrary to the course of Nature healeth the sick enlighteneth the blind strengthneth the lame restoreth the withered multiplyeth food raiseth the dead freeth the possessed cureth the wounded Soul and broken Spirit sanctifieth perverse inclinations to testify to men the power and presence of God amongst them §. 196. The Internal Seed of Immortality The Holy Ghost the Seed of Immortality in our corruptible Bodies and a fountain in us springing up unto eternal life By whose virtue and efficacy It being here sown in shame will hereafter spring up glorious weak shall come up in power natural shall come up spiritual and angelical Who dwelling in this our flesh will never forsake it until as it did raise the Body of Christ our Head from the Dead so it shall have raised up the Body of us his Members and until these Bodies also by the virtue of this Spirit shall ascend like unto his and be caught up in the Clouds to meet him Until this our vile Body shall be made like unto his glorious Body and until as we now bear the image of the earthly Adam so we shall bear the image of the heavenly into which we shall be changed by the Spirit of the Lord from Glory to Glory till with the Angels and Saints the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs we be all made one in God and God all in all To whom be given all Glory unto all Eternity Amen FINIS LITANIES The LITANY to the Sacred Trinity O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us O Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity three Persons and one God Have mercy on us Holy Holy Holy Lord God Omnipotent which art which wast and art to come Have mercy on us Who manifested'st thy Name I am that I am to Moses whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain and the whole Earth is filled with thy Majesty Have mercy on us Everlasting King Immortal Invisible who inhabitest that Light unto which no man can approach great in counsel and mighty in work and of whose wisdome there is no end Have mercy on us Who only dost great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number who workest all things according to the purpose of thy will and madest all things for thy self Have mercy on us One God and Father of us all who art above all and thro all and in us all from whom by whom and in whom are all things in whom we live and have our Being Have mercy on us Who hast disposed all things in number weight and measure who madest heaven and earth and all things therein who createdst the earth by thy power and the universe by thy wisdome Have mercy on us The Lord forming light and creating darkness making peace and creating evil in whose hands is the life of every living thing and the breath of all flesh Have c. The Lord that searchest the heart and triest the reins who quicknest the dead and callest those things that are not as if they were whose eyes are brighter than the Sun beholding all the ways of men Have mercy on us On whom the eyes of all wait and thou givest their meat in due season who openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing Have mercy on us Who executest judgment for the oppressed who givest food to the hungry
God who publishedst to Zachary the birth and office of St. John Baptist and sent from God to the Blessed Virgin wast the happy Messenger of the Incarnation of the eternal Word of God Pray for us St. Raphael one of the Seven which assist before our Lord the holy conducter of Tobias the restorer of sight and powerful expeller of evil Spirits Pray for us Holy Seraphin who with a burning coal purified the lips of Esaias Pray for us Holy Cherubin who wast set to keep the way of the Tree of Life Pray for us O Holy Angels who in executing judgment on Sodom deliveredst just Lot vexed with their filthy conversation Pray for us Holy Angels who ascended and descended upon Jacob's Ladder Pray for us Holy Angel who deliveredst Jacob from all evil Pray for us O Angel of God who in smiting all the first born of Egypt passedst over the houses of the Israelites who conductedst them into the land of Promise and deliveredst the Law unto Moses Pray for us O Prince of the Host of God who wast sent to aid Joshuah and who destroyedst of the Assyrians warring against God's people an hundred fourscore and five thousand in one night Pray for us Holy Angel who when Daniel was cast into the Lyon's Den shuttedst up their mouths that they might not hurt him Pray for us Holy Angels who joyfully sung Glory to God on high at the Birth of the Saviour of Mankind Pray for us Holy Angels who ministred to our Lord when anhungred in the Wilderness Pray for us Holy Angel who comfortedst our Lord in his Agony Pray for us Holy Angels who first declared the joyful news of our Lord's Resurrection Pray for us O ye Angels of God who brought out of prison and set at large the Apostles and St. Peter and struck with an ignominious death proud Herod not giving Honor to God Pray for us Holy Angels who carried the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosome Pray for us O Holy Angels who shall come with our Saviour in his Majesty to judgment and at the end of the world shall gather the Elect from the four winds and separate the wicked from amongst the just and gather all scandals out of the Kingdome of Christ Pray for us O all ye Orders of Blessed Spirits Angels and Arch-Angels Vertues and Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers Cherubin and Seraphin Pray for us O Christ who art placed above all Principalities and Powers and Thrones and Dominions and every name that is named not only in this world but that to come Have mercy on us From all dangers By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From the temptations snares and illusions of the devil By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From all filthy and unclean cogitations and suggestions By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From all filthy and unclean cogitations and suggestions By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From the counsels and malice of wicked men and all evil company By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. From sudden and unprovided death By thy Holy Angels Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wouldst spare us and give thy Holy Angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways We sinners c. That thou wouldst direct and govern thy Church and grant to all Christian Societies unity peace and concord by the Ministration of thy Holy Angels We sinners c. That thou wilt be pleased at the hour of death to guard us with the defence and protection of thy Holy Angels We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That thou wilt be pleased to transport our Souls when they depart out of our bodies into the heavenly mansions by their ministry We sinners beseech thee to hear us That thou wouldst grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed in the blessed Society of thy Holy Angels We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. O Lamb of God that takest away c. Our Father which art Heaven c. A Hymn PRaise our Lord from the Heavens praise our Lord from the heights Praise our Lord all ye his Angels praise him all his Hosts Bless our Lord all ye Angels of his powerful in strength doing his will fulfilling his word O all ye Powers of our Lord bless ye our Lord ye ministring Spirits that do his will Bless our Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who hath delivered thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with mercy and tender compassion For he hath given his holy Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder the young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under feet He shall send his Angels round about them that fear him and deliver them Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Before the Angels will I sing praise unto thee I will adore towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name O Lord. O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto Thee Let us pray O Eternal God who in thy wonderful providence hast made the Angels ministring Spirits and sendest them in mission for the good of thine Elect behold with pity the temptations and dangers to which the frailty of our nature is perpetually exposed and give thy holy Angels charge to bear us in their hands and cover us under the shadow of their wings that being guided thro the desert of this life by their safe conduct we may enter at last into the land of Promise and rejoyce for ever in their blessed Society thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty and everlasting God who madest us thy unworthy Servants after thy own Image and hast deputed thy holy Angels for our Keepers Grant unto thy Servants that by their defence and custody we happily pass thro all dangers of Body and Soul and after this life ended attain to everlasting joys together with them thro Jesus Christ Amen WE beseech you O Angelical Spirits our faithful Guardians and Keepers direct and guide us by the divine Bounty committed to your care and protection this day and for ever in the way of peace prosperity and safety defend us likewise from every evil spirit and dangerous temptation until we arrive to the blessed Vision in our heavenly Country and there together with you and all the Saints praise the common Saviour of us all for ever and ever Amen O Holy Michael the Arch-angel Prince of the Host of Heaven who standest always for the help of the people of God who foughtest with the great Dragon that old Serpent and threwest him out of Heaven and valiantly defendest the Church of God so that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it We beg of thee from the
MOTIVES TO Holy Living OR Heads for Meditation Divided into CONSIDERATIONS COUNSELS DUTIES Together with some Forms of Devotion in Litanies Collects Doxologies c. OXFORD Printed in the Year MDCLXXXVIII 1. Jo. 5.19 The whole world lyeth in wickedness 1. Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit for they are foolishness unto him Jo. 15.19 If you are not of the world the word will hate you Maxima pendent ex minimis Qui modica spernit paulatim decidit Qui sibi benè temperatat in licitis nunquam cadet in illicita Ex hoc momento pendet Aeternitas Matt. 20.16 Many are called but few are chosen Luk. 13.24 Strive to enter in at the strait Gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Ecclesiasticus 5.5 Concerning Propitiation be not without fear to add sin to sin Prov. 28.14 Blessed is the Man that feareth always 1. Cor. 13.15 If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss Himself shall be saved yet so as by fire Act. 10.34 Non est Personarum acceptor Deus Matt. 11.12 The violent take heaven by force 1. Cor. 9.6 He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly Matt. 25.29 To him that hath shall be given from him that hath not shall be taken away Luk. 14.17 Well thou good servant bear thou authority over ten Cities 19. ver Be thou over five Cities Matt. 19.12 There be Eunuchs who have made themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdome of Heavens sake he that is able to receive it let him receive it 1. Cor. 7.38 He that giveth her in Marriage doth well ver 36. sinneth not but he that giveth her not in Marriage doth better Matt. 19.16 Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ver 17. Keep the Commandments ver 20. What lack I yet ver 21. If thou wilt be perfect Go and fell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven Vers 27. We have forsaken all c. What shall we have therefore ver 29. Every one that hath forsaken c shall receive a hundred fold c. Tacit. Hist 5. l. of the Christians Nec quicquam prius imbuuntur quam contemnere Deos Gentilium exuere Patriam Parentes Liberos Fratres vilia habere Luk. 12. Sell that ye have and give Alms and provide a treasure in the heavens that faileth not ver 33. compare 31 32 34. Act. 2.37 Men and Brethren what shall we do ver 45. And they that believed sold their possessions and parted them as every one had need Matt. 13.45 46. The Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant Who when he had found out one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it Luk. 16.8 The Children of this world are in their Generation wiser than the Children of Light Gal. 5.24 They that are Christ's will crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Esay 58.13 Not doing thy own ways nor finding thy own pleasure nor speaking thy own words Membra Christi Quales oportet nos esse in Sanctis conversationibus Pietatibus 2. Pet. 3.11 Templa Spiritus Sancti Quales oportet nos esse in Sanctis conversationibus Pietatibus 2. Pet. 3.11 Filii Dei Quales oportet nos esse in Sanctis conversationibus Pietatibus 2. Pet. 3.11 Eph. 5.19 Loquentes vobismetipsis in psalmis Hymnis Phil. 3.20 Cantantes in cordibus Deo 1. Thess 5.17 Sine Intermissione orantes In omnibus Gratias agentes Spiritum non extinguentes Phil. 4.13 We can do all things through Christ who strengthneth us 2. Pet. 1.3 His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness Matt. 11.28 c. Come ye that labour Take my yoke upon you and ye shall find rest For my yoke is easy 1. Jo. 5.3 And his Commandments are not grievous Prov. 3.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace Par mundus dat onus graviusque THE CONTENTS I. CONSIDERATIONS Concerning 1. OVR present and future Condition § 1. Pag. 1 2. The Condition of all present things about us § 2. p. 2. 3. The unreasonableness and hurt of Sin § 3. p. 3. 4. The difficulty of Repentance § 4. p. 10. 5. The measure of this Reformation § 5. p. 12. 6. The Reasonableness and Benefits of Piety § 6. p. 18. 7. The Faisibility Easiness Excellencies of it § 10. p. 25. II. COUNSELS Concerning 1 the forbearing many things lawful and not prohibited 2 And practising many things not commanded i. e. under guilt of sin in the matters § 14. p. 38. 1. Of Riches and Wealth § 15. p. 39. Recommendation of Poverty p. 40. 2. Of Honor Preferment and Reputation § 16. p. 41. Recommendation of a low Condition § 16. n. 4. not minding Reputation § 16. n. 4. p. 42 43. Recommendation of Self-contempt § 16. p. 46. 3. Of lawful Sensual Pleasures § 17. p. 47. Recommendation of Celibacy § 17. n. 2. p. 47. 4. Of Affection to Earthly things § 18. p. 56. 5. Of Temporal Employments § 19. p. 57. Reliance on God's Providence for Necessaries § 19. n. 6. p. 59 6. Of Meat and Drink § 20. p. 60 The Happiness of Old Age § 20. Digr 3. p. 65. 7. Of Sleep § 21. p. 67. 8. Of Recreation and Vacancy from Employment § 22. p. 69. 9. Of Company and Secular Converse § 23. p. 69. Recommendation of Solitude p. 73. 10. Of Discourse and Compliance § 24. p. 74. Recommendation of Silence p. 83. 11. Of extraordinary abilities and perfections natural or acquired § 25. p. 84. 12. Concerning the avoiding usual and former occasions of sinning § 26. p. 84. 13. Resisting first and small Temptations c. § 27. p. 85. 14. Suppressing evil thoughts and first Motions of Sin c. § 28. p. 87. Ways to break ill Habits p. 88. 15. Cherishing all good Motions in the Soul § 29. p. 89. Of the great power of Custome p. 90. 16. Subjecting your Actions to anothers Conduct § 30. p. 91. 17. Restraining your liberty with Resolutions and Vows § 31. p. 91. 18. Imposing voluntary Mortifications § 32. p. 92. A Catalogue of several sorts of Mortifications § 33. p. 94. 19. Confessing frequently your Sins to your Spiritual Guide § 34. p. 95. 20 Openly professing a zeal of Piety and Christian Virtues § 35. p. 96. 21. Strongly apprehending God's presence § 36. n. 1. p. 93. 22. Reflecting on his Omni-Agency § 36. n. 2. p. 97. III. DUTIES 1. Active Doing Good § 37. p. 99. 1 Towards your Self Moral § 38. p. 99. The Purity and Sanctification of the Body p. 100. 1. Temperance § 39. p. 100. Of its Opposites Ibid. 2. Chastity § 40. p. 100. Of its Opposites Ibid. 3. Humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 § 41. p. 105. Of its Opposites § 42. p. 105. 4. A sober and right ordering of the Judgment § 44.
that of possession which makes holy men have mortem in desiderio which others so fear vitam in patientia which others so value 7. Consider all the temporal blessings of holy and orderly living more health of body longer life serenity of mind a pleasure sedate pure and constant but at no time violent itching or discomposing the subject of it and rendring mirth uncapable of continuance or also declining suddenly into pain or anguish A joy not dwelling in the sense and lower felicities of beasts in eating and drinking and marriage these when it useth and rejoyceth in it is as though it used and rejoyced not but in more Angelick and Spiritual complacencies not consisting in having its carnal desires satiated but rather in not having and being freed from such desires which is a content equal to the enjoyment of them Cui Deus haec fecit Supervacua dedit A pleasure more retired and internal of the mind and spirit arising out of several noble considerations of the Soul which have no intercourse with or help from Sense A joy well consisting with and many times very great when the sense is in pain and of sense little or nothing perceived Nay A joying in grief and pains Rom. 5.31 and proportioned to them more joy to counterpoise them as the pains are more And Gaudet minus si minus dolet because the Soul cannot have those special considerations and passions which give it such a goust and delight but from such sufferings So St. Paul's joys still flowed the higher the greater his tribulations were And see a resemblance tho a very faint one of it in Seneca's Philosophy Ep. 18. Summa voluptas saith he in victa tenui Voluptaes autem non illa levis fugax subinde reficienda sed stabilis certa Non enim jucunda res est aqua polenta sed summa voluptas est adidse reduxisse ut c. Quanta enim animi magnitudo c. Digr Of the great blessing of long life 8. The blessings on their Posterity Associates c. for their sakes in all the contraries to those Judgments mentioned before § 3. n. 11. c. which are brought upon others for the sinners sake God not going less in his mercies than in his judgments Digr Of the great efficacy and benefit of the Communion of Saints 9. From doing to others all good and returning no evil much peace and a good name amongst the most or the best of men 1 Pet. 3 13. Matt. 5.5 And again when from contrary manners to and non-compaliance with the world he incurrs the hate and ill report thereof in lieu of the worldly a spiritual peace and divine consolations more abundant So that a good man suffers some trouble from humane and temporal solaces and endeavors to avoid them And every one as he groweth perfecter and deeplier wounded with the divine love and desire of conformity to his Good Lord takes a far greater delight in their contraries in sufferings persecutions injuries retiredness long devotions and hard mortification as being then most replenished with spiritual Consolations after the tasting of which already all the world's delights are become bitter and sowre These therefore he chooseth armeth for impatiently expects arrived to glories in wondring they are no greater which are to save such a sinner so well meriting damnation from such infinite torments to come and which are to gain to so vile a person such infinite joys and honor to come §. 9. 2 The great reward of it for the future 1. The happiness of the Souls of Saints immediately after Death Exemplified in the Soul of the H. Thief accompanying the Soul of our Lord in Paradise the same day he suffered In that of the H. Beggar Lazarus receiving in Abraham's bosome Consolations for his former sufferings in the life-time of Dives his Brethren as the Parable represents it wherein we may presume our Lord would hint to the people no mistaken Notions of the future life Who also elsewhere opposing the Sadduces that denied Spirits argues Abraham to live still at this present because God after his death stiled himself his God Again Exemplified in the Souls of the Martyrs who Rev. 6.9 10 11. 7.9.15 are clothed in white Robes and attending on the Lamb till the residue of the Saints their like sufferings for Christ being fulfilled they should all at once resume from present corruption their bodies glorified The same happiness of separated Souls instanced-in by St. Paul Heb. 12.23 where he numbers standing in the Divine presence amongst Angels the Souls also of just men consummate Therefore our Lord commends his spirit into the hands of his Father and St. Stephen again dying recommends his into the hands of Jesus And St. Peter 1. Ep. 3 4. chap. constitutes the hidden man of the heart or the righteousness of the Soul in that which is not corruptible Lastly this future happy State frequently represented in the joys which holy Souls sometimes receive in this life in the loss of the senses and cessation of the animal-functions and particularly shewed in that rapt of St. Paul into the third Heaven and Paradise and there receiving those unutterable Caresses from whose doubting language whether in or out of the Body I know not may be gathered that if his Soul did not yet it might have visited those places when it was separate from the Body Which Apostle after this short experiment of those other blisses pronounceth it much better to have this earthly tabernacle dissolved so to put on another celestial an house not made with hands a building of God eternal in the Heavens and much better to be absent from the Body so to be present with Christ And St. Peter using much what the same language speaks of deposing his present tabernacle or changing his habitation at his death 2. Ep. 1.14 As also he makes mention of Souls in Prison who were preached-to in the days of Noah 1. Pet. 3.19 2. The happiness of Soul and Body after the day of Judgment where you may entertain your thoughts on such contemplations as these promised in his word who is faithful and true The then renewed youth vigor beauty and agility of the Body The purity of the Soul from all Sin Our glorious Habitation Celestial The most amiable Society of the Saints Our vision and familiar acquaintance and conversation with Angels and Spirits One Holy Spirit and an ardent and mutual love flaming in all Christ our Spouse God our Father All Temples of the Holy Ghost Members of Christ Sons of God The heavenly City and Temple Kings and Preists White Robes Crowns and Palms Harps Songs and Festivals Life Rest and Peace for ever and ever Heu mihi quia incolatus meus prolongatus est Non sunt condignae passiones hujus Saeculi c. Momentaneum hoc leve Tribulationis quod in praesenti est operatur immensum supra modum gloriae pondus in sublimitate 3. The several Degrees of Glory
expression relates 1. Cor. 7.34 The Virgin careth that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit And for this reason it seems to be that we find abstinence from the acts of if I may so call it lawful Lust advised for the better performance of holy Duties or in times of Humiliation c. even to those who are in the State of Marriage as doubtless conjugal Chastity also hath many degrees in it and in some men is far more pure than in others and the permissions of Matrimonial Priviledges are very easily transgressed See Exod. 19.15 before the descent of the Lord upon Mount Sinai the people commanded three days sanctification and not coming at their wives 1. Sam. 21.4 Women kept from the young men for about three days and the vessels of the young men holy i.e. from their wives See Zechar. 7.3 in times of more earnest Addresses to God this separation from Carnality continued Neither is this only Old-Testament-Ceremonial-Holiness But see 1. Cor. 7.5 a place parallel to these Defraud ye not one another except it be with consent for a time that you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer where it may be noted that as Fasting hath no good correspondence with the acts of the conjugal bed sine Cerere c. so these acts also are as prejudicial to Fasting and its Companions And suitable to these Scriptures were the Decrees of the ancient Church Diebus orationis jejuniorum preparationis ad Eucharistiam a conjuge abstinendum And this because carnal pleasures are some way or other always enemies to Spiritual Exercises either proceeding to excess and so rendring us faulty or too much either heightning or also debilitating our temper and so making us undisposed or dividing and diverting some portion of that love and of those intentions to things inferior which are always all incomparably best spent upon and consecrated to God the supreme Good Again we find that after one Marriage the abstaining from a second is both commended see Luk. 2.36 and to some persons to wit those entertained in the pious or holy services of God or of the Church enjoined As appears in the Widows of the Church 1. Tim. 5.9 of whom it is there required That such Widow have been the wife of one man Which words being capable of several senses either that she have not had two husbands at once or not two successively again not two successively either by a Divorce from the former or upon the Death of the former Seeing that no Woman might have two Husbands at one time nor any Woman at all was allowed remarrying upon Divorce See 1. Cor. 7.11 It follows that the Apostles Widow must be understood to be such as had not had a second Husband after the first dead For this Injunction seems to have something singular in it the same caution being given no where to any but only to Church-Officers and Servants And the Apostle seems here rather to require something of extraordinary example and goodness above others in such as were thus to be devoted to the Churches Service and maintained by her Charity than only to caution that they should not be of the most wicked among Christians Which is further confirmed by St. Paul's displeasure against against those Church Widows that re-married ver 11. And if this Interpretation be admitted for the Widows so ought it to be upon the like expression a Husband of one Wife for the Bishops of the Church 1. Tim. 3.2 And for the Deacons 1. Tim. 3.12 2. Consider the great advantages spiritual and secular of a single life and forbearance of Marriage to those who can live continently for Prayer and Fasting and all other service of God without distraction and so for gaining the Kingdome of Heaven Matt. 19.12 For works of Charity to our Neighbour For avoiding Covetousness worldly Cares and Impediments and this in all not only in afflicted times For enjoying our Liberty 1. Cor. 7.4 which when we can have it we are rather to use it 1. Cor. 7.21 See for these 1. Cor. 7. Ver. 5. That you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer vers 28. Such the married shall have trouble in the flesh I spare you vers 35. I would have you without carefulness He that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord how he may please the Lord But he that is married careth for the things of the World how he may please his Wife and is divided as the Vulgar hath it The Virgin careth for the things of the Lord that she may be Holy both in Body and Spirit but She that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband Vers 35. This I speak for your own profit That you may attend upon the Lord without distraction Vers 38. Who giveth her not in Marriage doth better See Matt. 19.12 There be who have made themselves Eunuches for the Kingdome of Heaven's sake He who is able to receive it let him receive it See Luk. 14.20 1. Tim. 5.4 5 6.11.12 3. Consider its higher reward in the next life For tho Celibacy as it occasions other fruits of Righteousness hath no preeminence before this in Wedlock if a married condition also produceth the same Yet as in it self it is a stronger resistance of the lustings of the Flesh and a greater subduer of that natural Concupiscence which all have less or more whose importunities it heroically repelleth whilst the married only lawfully satisfies them thus it seems worthy of and so to have promised to it an higher Reward and Crown in the world to come and is one of the most eminent of all the Vertues as not moderating but subduing the most violent of Passions And those who grant in the Kingdome of Heaven several degrees of Glory proportioned to those here of Sanctity must give the highest to Virgins because if supposed only equal with the rest in all other Graces they are granted in one to be Superior 4. Consider I say not the actual possession always but the attainableness of this Grace of Continency by all using the means i e. much Prayer and Meditation Temperance constant Business remoteness from Temptations c. Proijce te in Illum Deum non se subtrahet ut cadas said St. Aust to himself about leaving his Incontinency Confes 8. l. 11. c. Where by the Grace of Continency I mean not a power of being freed from all Concupiscence and from the first motions of Lust for so none at all have this power but for a power to suppress these first motions and quench these lesser sparks before they break out into a flame i. e. either into 1 Fornication therefore 1. Cor. 7. ver 2. Marriage is opposed to Fornication as it is Ver. 9. to burning or into 2 Vncleanness which Uncleanness distinct from Fornication is no small Guilt but every where marcheth along with it as its fellow in the Catalogue of those Sins that exclude us from
some Vocations and among these commonly of those more wealthy and less corporally laborious of those less necessary and ministring to pleasures and of those generally wherein the flesh and the world i. e sensuality gain or converse have more scope to tempt us For true wisdome doth discern those persons here in most peril as to their future i. e. eternal estate who are here most prospering e contra pitties the Wealthy's honor and ease envies the Poor's labour and contempt Digr 2. Of great caution to be used concerning Studies and all intellectual and speculative imployments and of their special hindrance of devotion more than other Vocations do if not discreetly used because in them those faculties are busily employed which in others are in part at least left vacant and free to attend upon God And because some of them by the near alliance they seem to have to devotion as when the Brain is imployed in the study of Divinity do seem priviledged hereby to intrench upon the times sequestred for it and to pass in our account instead of Prayer whenas yet the subtle speculations of the Intellect in these matters have little or no effect upon the Will or to the producing of those acts of love wherein consists the life of Prayer and whilst charitas adificat scientia inflat Lastly Because much imployment of the Brain is apt to molest us more with distractions and extravagations in our Devotions The Acceptableness of a Confident reliance on God's Providence for Necessaries 6. For all necessaries much relying on and trusting to God's Providence which though in the way of working many times to exercise Faith it is much disguised yet evidently appears in the effect to those who not only speak of it but try and also need it Extended to all men not only to Christians to Beasts Psal 104.21.27 36.6 Matt. 6.26 not only to men and nothing so small wherein it hath not a hand For men extended to hairs their number and colour matt 10.33 5.36 for Beasts to the life and death of a Sparrow to the cloathing of a Grass and the beauty of a Flower Matt. 10.19 6.29 30 Yet far more particularly as I may so say in its effects watching over the necessities of God's own servants as to whom this paterfamilias hath a nearer relation and that not only of their Body but of the Soul much more for the supplying in all honest and pious attempts its indigencies and any thing wanting either in the Will to effect or in the Vnderstanding to direct And of this providence every one according to his greater service may so much more presume Only provided that as Deus non deficit in necessariis so they should not expect that he should in this world to his children whose inheritance is in the next abundare in superfluis nor secondly That they should in any thing tempt his Providence by their duty viciously neglected which they are to perform still in obedience to his Precept though not in distrust to his Provision For all justice it is that he who provideth for the growth of a hair should suffer him who doth not labour to want what to eat 7. Retaining a resign'd indifferency in all things whether for increasing or also for conserving what you have 8. Not entertaining any long or great designments present or future Digr Of the danger and needlessness of Worldly Cares §. 20. 6. Of Meat and Drink 1. Avoiding full Dyet frequent Repasts Feasts c. especially strong drinks hurting the Brain and Vnderstanding heightning and disordering your Passions Eph. 5.18 therefore expresly forbidden by God to the Priest in the time of attendance on him Lev. 10.9 And all Christians are now in some manner God's Priests Rev. 5.10 But on the contrary in a spare Dyet and the disuse of strong drink the Passions become much more moderate all concupiscential loves and affections much abated the judgment much more clear serene and circumspect the thoughts more grave sober and serious our words fewer and better weighed the person more humble and tractable the heart more tender and melting and fitlier prepared for prayers sighings and tears the Motions of the Holy Spirit more vigorous and sooner hearkned to and its Consolations more frequent when the body and flesh with which it wageth a perpetual war Gal. 5.17 is rendred by a competent abstinence poor and low which also is seen in Beasts made tame gentle and manageable by nothing so soon as hunger and withdrawing their food 2. For the better preserving of Temperance refusing invitations and entertainments abroad not making them at home 3. Not long sitting at Meals sitting down later or rising from table sooner than others 4. Not eating between set Meals 5. Eating at your Meals alone 6. Eating a set proportion a divided portion when in company 7. Indifferent as to your dyet or chusing the meanest and forbearing delicacies which besides the mortification of your senses and appetite herein much conduceth to a necessary temperance we being less apt to exceed in that wherein we take less goust and pleasure Not making your meat or drink the subject of your Discourse or finding fault at that time with the ill Cookery of it things that savour of sensuality Often calling to mind the usual mean fare of our Lord and his Disciples Corn-ears Barley-bread Fish an Honey-comb Water Matt. 12.1 Jo. 6.9 Luk. 24.41 Jo. 21.9 Matt. 7.10 Jo. 4.7 and the all-satiating refection promised in heaven to those who mortify their flesh here and often saying with the Pharisee's Guest Blessed are they that shall eat bread in the Kingdome dome of God Luk. 14 15. Matt. 8.11 Matt. 26.29 And blessed are they that are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb Rev. 19.9 And of your present perishing food God shall destroy both the Belly and the Meats Jo. 6.27 1. Cor. 6.13 8. Taking great care because then is greatest danger of your Conversation at and presently after meals by reason of the Flesh new armed as it were with provision for its fighting against the Spirit Concupiscence strengthned the Spirits refreshed and inclined to mirth and this to talkativeness and discourse the Brain less or more heated and so not making so perfect a judgment of things engaged in company by the same refreshment of the same Inclinations 9. Not being too solicitous of preserving your Health Knowing that upon this pretence usually the flesh obtains all her lusts and desires arms its self against the Spirit and we fearing to lose our health by withdrawing some necessaries do often hazard the losing it by excess and forego the benefit of the most profitable mortification that this life affords the taming of our flesh But indeed death being to all those who continue in God's service and their duty the beginning of their happiness and true life we ought in all things to have more regard to the bettering than the lengthning of our life here seeing that a long life is
to do well And this dedicating and consecrating of such our service to God with a Vow and the greater firmness and resolution of mind wherewith such duty is performed the offering of the tree it self as well as the fruit the will it self and the freedome wherewith God hath endowed it as well as its action this internal voluntarily contracted necessity of well doing doth as the Schoolmen observe set a much higher value on such action and render it of a far greater merit and worth with God As also the same Vows do more strongly fortify the mind against future temptations whilst it suffers not that to re-enter so easily again into deliberation which it hath already put out of its power and our former lusts or also Satan despairing as it were now to be heard makes no more assaults But these Vows or Resolutions at first are to be made only for a short time and so that with some tolerable penalty you may redeem your former liberty by obliging your self only either to do such an Act or suffer such a Mortification So often fast a meal say so many Prayers give so much Alms c. Which Penances if you do indispensably exact of your self when relaxing good Resolves you will wonder to see how small a forfeiture many times breaks-of the custome of a fault from which neither Hell could affright nor Heaven allure But at the first take heed of making any absolute and perpetual engagement for performing things that are of more perfection least Satan tempt you beyond your power of resistance when as you have not as yet gotten a perfect command over your will nor sate down first as our Lord adviseth you Luk. 14.28 c. to consult your strength whether you have forces enough to conquer your Enemy and materials enough to finish your Building and least you thus render the doing of that a sin to you which before was innocent at least and by your soaring higher than your weak wings will yet carry you you fall below your former Station and inherit a Curse from our Lord instead of a Blessing Let not thine heart be hasty saith the wise-man Eccl. 5.2.4 5. to utter any thing before God i. e. by way of promise in matters not of necessary Duty For God hath no pleasure in fools and thou must pay that which thou hast vowed Therefore better it is that thou shouldest not vow than that thou shouldest vow and not pay Which in the first verse he calls a Sacrifice of Fools But a Vow releasable toties quoties upon a forfeiture especially for new beginners in a course of Piety cures all this §. 32. 18. Imposing voluntary Mortifications 1. Imposing voluntary Mortifications on your self and that for many ends 1. For a Sin committed or Duty omitted 1. To mind you more of such a sin and to help to dispose you to that contrition and affliction of spirit which is required for it and which whenever it is sincere and true doth also produce some of these external penitencies of the Body in some degree 2. To appease upon the sight of these humiliations testifying your sorrow God's present or future wrath towards it and to divert his eternal judgments and prevent also his temporal many times very heavy ones for greater sins and these judgments inflicted on sinners penitent and already reconciled See 2. Sam. 12.10 Deut. 3.25 26. 2. Chron. 16.7 8 9. 20.37 35.22 23. 2. King 20.17 18. comp 2. Chron. 32.31 c. 1. Cor. 11.30 2. Sam. 24.13 1. King 21.2 2. Chron. 33.12 Jo. 3.10 comp 7. 2. Chron. 34.17 Jer. 26.19 3. And to deter your self by these your sufferings for the past from committing the like sin for the future Thus not laying hold only on God's mercy to Sin but voluntarily siding and taking part with his justice against it not wishing or thinking fit that so much wickedness should be altogether gratis and painless remitted but for the honor of the divine justice vehemently desiring and adjudging your self to undergo some proportion of sufferings for them 2. For bringing your flesh customarily severely and hardly used to yield more facile obedience to the Spirit for the present or for the future in things of duty and times of need for he only startles not when afflictions come who doth praeoccupare tela fortunae and whose body suffers from himself what the world can threaten to it 3. For obtaining from God the gift of any spiritual Grace or temporal favour Esra 8.21 Hester 4.16 For obtaining his resolutions of our consultations doubts c. For which divine favours these rigorous Mortifications excellently prepare us and are with him most forcible 4 For obtaining the pardon of other mens Sins to whom we have relation and of whose punishments also we may and are likely to partake or relief of their miseries Psal 35.13 14. or supply of their necessities 2. In the several ways and manners of Mortifications guiding your self rather by the Example of Holy men who by the practice thereof have arrived to great Piety and from Experience recommended them than by your own Judgment which experience shews many things to operate much contrary to our former opination 3. Ingaging if need be to others your performance of these voluntary Penances and of your Vows and paying to them your forfeitures c. 4. Often melting and softening of your heart with sighs and tears Act. 20.19.31 Phil. 3 18. 2. Tim. 1.4 This is a great benefit that accrews to us from afflictions and crosses Digr The benefit of tears upon the Soul and of not restraining but cherishing the effluxes of our Compassion for our selves or for others The many several kinds of them all profitable §. 33. A Catalogue of several Mortifications A Catalogue of several sorts of Mortifications c. Digr Whereof in respect of several persons some have much greater effects than others and are also by them more willingly entertained and therefore it seems not amiss to hint some variety Humiliations of the Body by so many Meals fasting Harder cloathing as sack-cloth Lodging as lying on the ground on boards on ashes on straw In their cloaths to be the readier for rising and for their Devotions and to save the time of dressing and undressing 2. Sam. 12.16 Going bare-foot 2. Sam. 15.30 None or short Recreations Abridging the hours of rest Sleeping in our cloaths or in a seat not bed to be readier for imposed duties Punishing the Body with scourges weights hard labours c. Denying our selves for a time of what we find the occasion of a former Sin Crossing indifferent desires to learn our Sense obedience Enjoining our selves so much solitude and retirement The abstaining from such company Silence for such a time Such a proportion of alms Sending Alms abroad to Religious to the poor desiring their prayers for you in relation to such necessities as press you Sickness Persecution c. Reading so many Chapters in the Scriptures or other pious Books Meditating
dispositions produced in our selves for the reception of them he acting conformably to our exercises and pre-inclinations thereto And so it hath pleased God that many others their disciples having as it were learned from them so experienced this Art and been encouraged to undertake the predisposing assiduity of mental prayer have also arrived to the same perfections and heavenly visits and entertainments Jo. 14.23 so extreamly beneficial in the future course of their lives Now this pre-disposition is observed chiefly to be effected by operating in our selves which yet no doubt is not done without the aid of God's Spirit tho this imperceptible as near as we can something like them §. 99. And this is done chiefly by these three First By a firm and accustomed apprehension of God's or our Saviour's presence with before or within us or our presence with or before Him recommended before § 94. and below § 114. Secondly By a recollection of our selves and a suspension mentioned above § 95. and silencing as much as we can of all actions of our exterior senses agitations of the fancy discourse of the understanding and in general all work of the brain by an abstraction as much as we can from all things besides God not so much by a contest with them thought-on as by a forgetfulness of them or shutting them out of our thoughts that so by not using any of our Spirits in the service of our cognoscitive faculties we may give more place and afford more strength to the Action of the will and affections Now we may know that the hinderance of those introduceth a more intense Act in these because we find any vehement exercise of the will and affections naturally to stop and intercept the discourse of the Intellect Therefore in the height of her passions which seems to be a far more intimate faculty of the Soul than is the understanding we find reason to have no power or admittance nor access to the Soul As it is in intense anger love sorrow c. Affecting much and thinking much have a kind of opposition nor can the heart and brain be hot at once And it is true in divine as other loves Nemini contingit simul amare sapere I mean for the actual exercise of the brain and of prudential notions Yet note that the suspension of those faculties or acts is not so meant here as to render you wholly idle or asleep as it were in case the affections be not much moved in Prayer but that you ought still to use the help of the intellect for the raising and closer applying and fanning continually of your affections in short and unlaborious ejaculations such as that of St Francis Deus meus omnia My God my Saviour c. Psal 18.1 2. Psal 144.1 2. in considering God's presence and comforting your self in him and it entring into familiar colloquies with him making requests to him using a thousand acts of humility and vilifyings and annihilations of your self before him so keeping your amative faculties still in motion by a many not forced industries provided only that all those more laborious and difficult and tedious exercises of the brain be here excluded §. 100. Thirdly In this silence of the other cognoscitive faculties this is done by a strong and vigorous exercise of the will and the affectionate and amative powers by making a total introversion into the most intimate part of our Soul or Heart to enjoy God there and directing as it were all our thoughts and retiring our Spirits thither-ward and there practising the love suspirings c. above-mentioned See Eph. 3.17 18. 1. Jo. 4.16 And here it is observed that howbeit at the first neither this suspension of discourse and abstractions from by-thoughts nor the uniting of our affections to God are obtainable without some pain and difficulty yet after some practice and accustoming thereto such a habit and facility therein is acquired That the former viz. our busy thoughts and discourse will need no great charming but upon our beck be silent and all such advertisements depart from us the later likewise the affections need little or no exciting but an ardent love having been once accustomed to it transports us towards the embraces of God even in the beginnings also of our Prayers or also upon any light mention of God or heavenly things Only whilst many from this painfulness at first wherein the Soul is hardly kept from extravagancy and restrained from her liberty of thinking are disheartned from a patient perseverance in such practice therefore it is conceived that so few reap the happy fruit thereof And these three 1 The strong apprehension of God's intimate presence to us 2 The silencing of the discursive And 3 enlarging of the affectionate and amative faculties towards God our Sovereign our only good are the whole content as I conceive of that they call mystical Theology for as much as concerns our own work tho in the expressions hereof Authors much vary §. 101. I will recommend to you the reading on this subject of the fourth eighth and thirteenth Chapters of St. Teresa's Life And the 25 26.28 and 29. Chap of her Way of Perfection who was a head Scholar in this School of Prayer and saw frequent experience of the effect of these directions when well observed having taught many others this heavenly art who also by practising the same lessons failed not to attain it Howbeit were these practises as to such extraordinary communications of God's Spirit profitless yet can they not in themselves be any way not very commendable unless to love God or neglect the world extraordinarily be a fault §. 102. Concerning the apprehension of God's more intimate presence and recollection of the Soul from all other objects you may find this Holy Mother Way of Perfection cap. 28. instructing and encouraging her spiritual daughters on this manner She Commenting there on the Lord's Prayer Now weigh well this which your Master saith Which art in Heaven Think ye that it little concerns you to know what thing Heaven is and where ye are to seek for your most Holy Father I tell you then that for wandring Intellects it much imports them not only to believe this Article but to procure to understand it by experience For it is one of those things which strongly binds up the understanding and causeth the Soul's recollection of it self You already know That God is in every place and 't is clear also where the King is there is his Court In summe that where God is there Heaven also is and all Glory this without doubt may easily be believed by you Consider what St. Austine said That he went into many places seeking for God and that he came at length to find him within himself Neither needs the Soul any wings to fly with to seek him out but only to put her self into a posture of solitude and retiredness and to behold him within her self and not to leave so great
you may be so much the more so also hereafter for the present pre-electing sufferings even wheren no more power of doing good to others by them than without them §. 162. Digr 1. Of the Example of our Saviour and of his Saints suffering the greatest torments with all patience joy desire Digr 2. Of the many sufferings for Christianity to which the very best conditions of life are daily exposed and invited by God 2. Tim. 3.12 and that as well from enemies within the rebelling flesh as without the reproaches of the Godly the wicked world Digr 3. That the more absence of afflictions is the sign of a weaker and more pusillanimous Christian As God gives his servants strength to bear what evils he lays upon them so ordinarily laying these upon them in some proportion to the strength which he foresees in them to bear For to them that have is given till they have abundance 7. To increase your patience in and desire of sufferings §. 163. Using frequent premeditation of and making a pre-occupated acquaintance with them Quod alii patiendo leve sapiens cogitando facit 8. Often reading the sufferings of Martyrs and comparing your own with the greater calamities of some others and some of those also of the weaker Sex tender delicate Ladies flourishing in nobility youth beauty Or chiefly of your blessed Saviour and meditating often of his passion §. 164. 9. Considering That these evils serve very much for advancing 1. God's Glory in your service of him when you seem to serve him for nought nay to embrace misery that you may serve him 2. God's power and wisdome shewed most in rescuing and delivering and wonderfully out of Evil extracting unexpected good 3. The true Good of the Sufferer Rom. 8.28 §. 165. 1. In that the times of sufferances are far more innocent in respect of vice than those of prosperity And the state of sickness and infirmity than the state of health Optimi sumus cum infirmi Quem enim infirmum aut avaritia aut libido solicitat non amoribus servit non appetit honores Invidet nemini neminem despicit sermonibus malignis non attendit c. Pliny 7. l. 26. Ep. Incusare deos aut homines ejus est qui vivere velit Tacit. 2. Are far more fruitful in production of virtues best teaching you self-knowledge and humility Knowledge of the world and contempt thereof Inviting you most powerfully to the love of another world best teaching prayer and fervent devotions Tunc Deos tunc hominem esse se meminit Are the best ablutions and refinings of us from former sins and whether voluntary or necessitated the most effectual motives through the sufferings of Jesus Christ to God of pardoning them and preventing his eternal Judgments upon them Deus non bis vindicat in id ipsum 3. Are the proper season for the greater joys and consolations of the Spirit The truest enterchanges of love for we love one the more for whom we suffer as well as e converso and Dearnesses between God and the Soul even his intimatest Communications of himself unto her Ps 91.15 The greatest assurances of Salvations c are received and perceived in the times of sufferings God not usually accumulating his upon any other secular joys therefore it was a great priviledge of the disciples of our Lord by extraordinary sufferings to be admitted to partake all these See Act. 16.25 4.8 5.41 2. Cor. 4.11.16 4. Nay the very retirements from you and temporary desertions of all the consolations of the Spirit give you an occasion of so much higher reward Dum a Deo derelictus seipsum quis patienter exuit atque ita Deo propter Deum caret §. 166. 10. That the Saints Glory in the next world is proportionably greater as greater here every ones sufferings And contrarily less as here more secular content 11. Lastly That for the substance of the evil and affliction it self It hath nothing in it so terrible as apprehended that long sufferings cannot be great And great sufferings not long Great pains being either interquiescent Omnis dolor magnus interquiescit or nature by them in a short time dissolved §. 167. I. HEADS for Meditation of SINS Use some of the Meditations set down p. 187. § 114. and § 141. For discovery of your sins use some of those ways prescribed before § 77. p. 155. Then for the measuring their true guilt some of those Considerations such as most move you set down p. 1 2 c. To which add this consideration That many dying without repentance and out of God's Grace in their youth or at that age when you also were if you are not still impenitent now suffer and so must world without end Hell torments for much lesser sins than you have committed Lastly for exercising your affections and resolutions Imagine with your self what one remitted hither out of those torments from which the merciful God preserving you is all one as if he had released you had that poor wretch a new time allowed him here to make his peace would do And then do you so seriously and anxiously go about your thanksgiving for God's long suffering equivalent to a release your penances your reformation of life I say as such a frighted Soul would do O that thou may'st know in this thy day for then they shall be hid c. §. 168. II. HEADS for Meditation of SICKNESS DEATH JUDGMENT Consider 1. First the great benefit and powerful operation of this Meditation especially being urged by our Saviour and the other Scriptures as a chief motive to vigilancy and diligence in well doing For which consider those places Luk. 21.34 16.9 Matt. 24.42 c. 2.13 Mark 13.35 Deut. 32.29 Eccl. 11.9 7.2 3 4. Ps 90.12 41. 1.4 39.4 Lam. 1.9 1. Being very beneficial for weakning pride and ambition worldly cares and designs and generally all sin and inordinacy of affections Eccl. 2.21.18 19. 1. Cor. 7.29 30 31. Ecclesiasticus 7.36 Facile contemnit omnia qui cogitat se esse moriturum semper Nihil sic revocat a peccato quam frequens mortis meditatio Mors quae in malis habentur ob oculos tibi quotidie versentur sic nihil unquam humile cogitabis i. e. to do unworthy things for worldly ends nec impensè cupies quicquam Epictetus 2. Being useful for taking away the fear terrour and astonishment thereof when it come which we are sure one day must come which are much lessened by often premeditation forewarned forearm'd Ab assuetis non fit passio 2. After this imagine your self lying on your death-bed taking your leave for ever of this world and all things dear to you therein even of your own Body for a long time And 2ly Going to the place where God's justice shall assign you the day of his mercy to you being then expired and his patience and long suffering ended and our Saviour also then ceasing for you his intercessions 1. 3. Then in order to the
or approve you according to your doings 2. Making you most gracious promises upon obedience to his will and following his counsels and again grievously threatning you upon contempt of his laws and these promises And using all possible means your liberty being reserved and your will not forced to wean and fright you from the ways of death and allure you to the ways of life 3. Redeeming you after that in your natural condition you became dis-obedient when without strength Rom. 5 6 when a sinner ver 8. when an enemy ver 10. from sin death satan hell into whose cruel hands you were fallen by his own Son Him that was brought up with him his dayly delight Prov. 8.30 sent out of his own bosome Jo. 1.18 Even by him God that made the world to be given up to death to be hanged on the tree for you and in your stead Remitting all your Sin gratis for his sufferings without requiring of you so strict an account for offences how grievous soever committed in the time past before you were by the receit of the stronger iluminations of his Spirit converted unto him 4. Calling you by being born according to his good pleasure in a Christian Common-wealth to Grace i. e. To the hearing of his holy word To the use and benefit of his holy Sacraments the sure pledges of his love and seals of the future performance of all his promises of remission of sin of increase of Grace c. _____ To the guidance and assistance of his holy Clergy To the Example of many holy Saints 5. Having long patience and forbearance with you whilst notwithstanding these you continued still vicious ready to be reconciled whenever you would return unto him and with all patience waiting for your repentance and himself practising most exactly towards you all the rules of long-suffering and forgiveness which he hath enjoyned you towards others 6. In your Conversion preventing you with his Grace regenerating and making you a new Creature after the image of his Son by infusing into you a new principle the Spirit which remains in you during your whole life and sufficiently enabling you in all the parts of holiness if you be not wanting to it on your part 7. Giving you day by day many illuminations divine inspirations and admonitions and by his Grace in you making you capable of and rewardable with new mercies unto you 8. Ordaining you after a few days spent here on earth to an immortal condition and unconceivable joys in heaven and to have this your vile Body after its corruption raised again in great glory and beauty §. 174. 9. Affections and Resolutions Such as these 1. Admiring his Goodness Your Ingratitude 2. Sorrow for ever having offended him 3. Re-loving him 4. Indeavouring hereafter to serve him 5. Suffering any misery for him 6. Imitating his goodness to you in yours to others c. For Considerations are easily multiplied §. 175. VI. HEADS for Meditation on the Several Offices and Benefits to Mankind of Jesus Christ our Lord extracted out of the larger Discourse of our Saviour's Benefits Consider 1. The world being full of ignorance and sin Jesus Christ 1. Law giver and Apostle The Truth the holy one of God in the fulness of time anointed by the Father and sent into the world A new Law-giver ministring not the letter of the law but the Spirit An Apostle preaching the Gospel Remitting Sins Conferring the Holy Ghost having the Keys of and admitting some into and shutting others out of the Kingdome of Heaven And who before his necessary departure ordained others by succession of Ordination to be continued to the world's end Sending them as the Father sent him delivering over his doctrine and delegating his authority and embassy and keys unto them and unto the end of the world from heaven assisting their Ministry Matt. 28.20 Appellations relating unto this Office Shepherd Pastour Bishop 1. Pet. 2.25 1. Pet. 5.4 §. 176. 2. After thus teaching the Way of life Christ the Exemplar and Pattern to mankind in his life and death The Way 2. Exemplar of all obedience to God's commands and of all suffering for righteousness sake which God hath here required And in his Resurrection and Ascension of the reward which God hath for hereafter promised §. 177. 3. God's former Covenant of Works being found unprofitable unto us 3. Mediatour upon the breach thereof now liable to God's wrath and eternal death Jesus Christ the Mediator of a new Covenant and Testament founded in remission of sins reconciling sinners to God Sealing this Covenant with his Blood the blood of the New Testament Luk. 22.20 and ratifying this Testament with his death and after his Resurrection having put into his own hands by the Father the donation of the rewards promised to those that keep the conditions of this Covenant §. 178. 4. God's justice not pardoning Sin gratis Christ the Sacrifice 4. Sacrifice the lamb of God the true sin-offering for the world expiating our guilt and our passover delivering us sprinkled with his blood Heb. 12.24 from the destroying Angel And our peace-offering by eating whereof we have Communion with God with his Son and all that is his with the Saints and all that is theirs Lastly by eating whereof being the Bread of Life our Souls and Bodies are preserved unto everlasting life as in paradise they should have been by the tree of life §. 179. 5. Man being indebted to God's justice by him unsatisfiable and in bondage to sin 5. Redeemer to the law to death and to Satan the grand Executioner of God's justice and Prince of this lower world Jesus Christ the Redeemer by paying a ransome freeing us from our debt and by making a conquest delivering us out of our slavery By whom we are freed already from the dominion of sin from the condemnation of the law from the chains of Satan from the approach of death eternal from the hurt and therefore from the fear of death temporal that being now only a passage to happiness But when the good time is come shall be by the same Redeemer yet more perfectly freed from all these than as yet we are namely from any adherence or possibility of sin from any temptation of Satan from being restrained to any law from being capable of any mortality through Jesus Christ our Lord. §. 180. 6. God making a Covenant with the first Adam made of the earth involving his seed 6. Second Adam The Life 1. Cor. 15.45 and he by his pride transgressing it so both losing the reward and bringing death both on himself and his posterity Jesus Christ the second Adam descending from heaven assuming our nature entring a Covenant involving his seed fulfilling it by walking a contrary way to the first i. e. by humility and so receiving the reward for himself and for his seed Both the holy spirit and immortality which were lost by the first Adam being now in their due time
who healest the broken in heart and bindest up their wounds God of the Fatherless and Judge of the Widows which loosest the Prisoners and openest the eyes of the blind Have mercy on us The Lord God that killest and makest alive who sendest to the grave and bringest back again who increasest the nations and destroyest them who enlargest the nations and straightenest them Have mercy on us God who takest no pleasure in iniquity with whom is no accepting of persons terrible in thy Counsels concerning the Sons of men the strong and jealous God visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children Have mercy on us God whose anger none can withstand the just Judge strong and long-suffering and a consuming fire Have mercy on us The Lord who liftest up the meek and humblest the wicked down to the ground who hast power to cast body and soul into Hell who takest the wily in their own craftiness and scatterest the counsel of the wicked Have mercy on us The Lord compassionate long-suffering of great mercy and truth our Protector and exceeding great Reward Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Sacred Trinity Be merciful and hear us O Sacred Trinity From all evil Deliver us O Lord. From all pride and loftiness of mind from gluttony and surfeiting and all intemperance Deliver us O Lord. From envy hatred and malice from luxury and uncleanness from sloth and inordinate heaviness and anxiety Deliver us O Lord. By the Eternity of thy Glory and Majesty by the infiniteness of thy power by the abundance of thy goodness by the unspeakable greatness of thy love and mercy and by the abysse of thy justice and judgments Deliver us O Lord. In the day of Judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may adore our Lord God and serve thee only in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we may never take thy holy Name in vain that we may keep holy the Festivals of thy Church in exercises of religion and devotion We sinners beseech Thee c. That we may obey and reverence with due honor our Parents Prelates Superiors and all thou hast set over us We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we injure no man's life good name or honor out of anger hatred or envy We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we keep our hearts clean from all inordinate lustings of the flesh and impure affections That we hurt none by stealing damage or any other wrong through cousinage or violence That we never speak a ly or bear false witness against our Neighbour nor covet his goods We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we love thee O God with all our heart with all our soul and with all our strength and that we do to others as we would should be done to our selves We c. That thou wouldest make us grow in all grace that we despise not the riches of thy bounty patience and long-suffering We sinners beseech thee to hear us That we present our bodies a living and holy Sacrifice well-pleasing to Thee that at length we may attain to that kingdome which thou hast prepared for us from the beginning of the world We sinners beseech thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Pacify thy Father towards us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world By thy merits and sufferings redeem us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Send thy holy Spirit into us O Blessed Trinity hear us O Adored Sacred Trinity hear us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. Blessed art thou O God the God of our Fathers Praise-worthy and glorious for ever All the Angels and Saints bless thee Praise and magnify thee for ever Bless we the Father Son and Holy Ghost Praise him and exalt him for ever O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee Let us pray ALmighty and everlasting God from whom descends every good and perfect gift mercifully grant that the serious consideration of thy incomprehensible Majesty may beget in us profound humility and constant obedience and the frequent meditation of thy infinite goodness may move our wills to love thee above all things that we may here in reverence to thy word believe what we do not see and may hereafter in the blissful Vision of thy glory see what now we cannot comprehend thro Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen The LITANY to God the Father O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father which art in Heaven Father of Glory whose face the holy Angels behold continually in heaven who hast life in thy self Have mercy on us Father of whom are all things who hast made us after thine own Image and gavest us dominion over the rest of thy Creatures Have mercy on us Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom all paternity is called and derived in heaven and in earth Have mercy on us Who art well pleased in thy Son who lovest him and hast given all things into his hands And who by a voice from heaven didst glorify Him Have mercy on us Who so lovedst the world that thou gavest thy only begotten Son that we should have life by him and would'st have thy Son take upon him the form of a Servant to redeem us that were in bondage Have mercy c. Who by thy Son hast predestinated us into the Adoption of Sons and hast elected us in him before the foundation of the world that we might be holy and unspotted before thee Have mercy on us Who would'st have us conformable to the Image of thy Son and hast called us into Fellowship with him and hast made us acceptable in thy beloved Son without whom none cometh to the Son unless thou O Father drawest him Have mercy on us O Father who sendest out thy Spirit and they are created and thou renewest the face of the earth who fillest the world with thy spirit and givest it to them that ask it of thee Have mercy on us Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift descendeth who hidest thy mysteries from the wise and revealest them to little ones Have mercy on us Father of mercies and God of all consolation by whom all the hairs of our head are numbred who comfortest us in all our tribulations and hast blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places Have mercy on us Who out of thy abundant charity hast vouchsafed to make us partakers of the inheritance of thy Saints and
O Holy Spirit the Comforter in all afflictions and sufferings giving ability to bear them internal peace and spiritual joy in them and who art the author of a constant lively hope and confidence in God Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit who distributest and dividest thy gifts and graces variously to every one according to thy good pleasure Have mercy on us The Spirit of wisdome and understanding the Spirit of knowledge and truth the Spirit of counsel and fortitude Have mercy on us The Spirit of sobriety chastity and temperance the Spirit of modesty patience and prayer Have mercy on us The Spirit of humility benignity and meekness the Spirit of compunction sanctification and the fear of God the Spirit of peace and love Have mercy on us O Holy Spirit the discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart and reproving the World of sin of justice and of judgment Have mercy on us Be merciful and spare us O Holy Spirit Be merciful and hear us O Holy Spirit From all temptations and deceits of the Devil from all sin and every evil Spirit Deliver us O Holy Spirit From all filthiness and uncleanness of soul and body from the Spirit of fornication from the Spirit of anger strife contention and envy and all uncharitableness Deliver us O holy Spirit From all presumption and despair from opposing the known truth from hardness of heart and final impenitency Deliver us O holy Spirit By thy eternal procession from the Father and the Son by the miraculous conception of the Son of God by thy operation by thy descent upon our Saviour at his Baptisme and by thy sitting upon his Apostles Deliver us O holy Spirit In the day of Judgment Deliver us O holy Spirit We Sinners beseech Thee to hear us O holy Spirit That thou would'st spare us That thou wouldst keep us from blaspheming thee O Holy Ghost and from doing any contumely to the Spirit of Grace We sinners beseech Thee c. That we may never quench grieve or neglect this Holy Spirit but may prepare our hearts for thy holy inspirations and may diligently hearken to discover and obey thy godly motions which lead us to all perfection We sinners beseech Thee c. That remembring how we are the Temples of the Holy Ghost we may take heed of violating them and that as we live by the Spirit we may walk in the Spirit and fulfil no more the lusts of the flesh but by the Spirit mortify the deeds thereof so that sowing in the Spirit we may of the Spirit reap life eternal We sinners beseech Thee c. That thou wouldst vouchsafe to stir up and cherish in us poverty of Spirit and enkindle in us a hunger and thirst after Justice that we may be peaceable and worthy to be called the Sons of God We sinners beseech Thee c. That thou wouldest infuse into us perfect charity and mercy and that we may constantly and manfully endure persecution for Justice sake We sinners beseech Thee c. That thou would'st vouchasafe us to continue unto the end in faith hope and charity and that we may be careful to keep the unity of the Spirit that is in all thy servants in the bond of peace We sinners beseech Thee c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Pour on us the holy Spirit O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Send us the promised Spirit from the Father O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant us the Spirit of Peace Our Father which art Heaven c. Create in us clean hearts O God And renew right Spirits in our Bowels Cast us not away from thy face O Lord And take not thy holy Spirit from us Restore unto us the joy of thy Salvation And confirm us with thy principal Spirit The Grace of thy Holy Spirit Enlighten our senses and hearts O Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee Let us pray O Holy Ghost the Comforter we commend to thee our souls and bodies the beginning and the end of our lives give us grace to be heartily sorry for our sins for the love of God and to do true penance for them that we may be perfectly purified from them before we depart hence out of this mortal body Of our selves O Lord we are corrupt and blind in our affections and desires if we rely on our own judgments easily seduced into error easily overcome by temptation Wherefore to thee O Holy Spirit we wholly offer and commit the guidance of our Souls defend and keep us thy servants from all evil teach and illuminate our minds strengthen our weak Spirits against inordinate pusillanimity and superfluous scruples of conscience and keep us humble that we fall not into presumption Give us a right faith unmovable hope and perfect charity that we may sweetly delight in thee and every-where fulfil thy will and pleasure who livest and reignest with the Father and Son one God world without end Amen O Eternal God who didst send thy Holy Spirit upon thy Church and didst promise that he should abide with it for ever let the same Spirit lead us to all truth defend us from all sin enrich us with his gifts refresh us with his comforts and rule in our hearts for ever And grant O bountiful Lord the Doner of every good and perfect gift that we may prepare our hearts for his holy inspirations may diligently hearken to clearly discover believe and obey his godly motions may never quench never grieve this Holy Spirit but living in him may by him be sealed to the day of redemption through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord who liveth and reigneth world without end Amen O Blessed Spirit the Almighty Paraclete the communication bond and union of the Father and Son the conduit conveying to us all that we receive from the Father and the Son The dear pledge and token of our absent Lord until his blessed return by whose power all things are enlivened which do truly live and whose delight is to reside and converse in the hearts of the simple which thou vouchsafest to consecrate as Temples to thy self Come gracious Spirit have mercy upon us descend from heaven into our hearts waiting for thy comfort and so fit us for thine own self that through the multitude of thy compassions our meanness may be accepted of thy greatness and our weakness of thy strength Sanctify the temples of our bodies and consecrate them for thy own habitation Make glad with thy presence our Souls that long after thee make ready a mansion fit for thy self adorn thy bride-chamber furnish thy resting place with the variety of thy own gifts and graces drive out from thence whatsoever is old and fading renew in us thy own workman-ship with beauty incorruptible for ever convey into us heavenly light heat and motion that having tasted of the heavenly gift and the powers of the
world to come we never be seduced by our own or any evil Spirit but inspired continually and lead by thee may be ready to every good work and relish those things which are hidden from the world Purify our minds by thy holy inspirations exhilarate them when sad with thy chast and innocent joys lead them when going astray into all truth inflame them when cold with the fire of thy charity and unite them when disagreeing by thy bond of peace Finally be thou the tye whereby we may love the Father and the Son and the sweet fruition unto us of the Father and the Son with whom we worship and adore thee in the unity of the same God-head for ever and ever Amen LITANIES of the Eucharist O God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the world Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity one God Have mercy on us O Father who openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing Father to whom the eyes of all things look up and thou givest them their meat in due season Have mercy on us Who feddest Abraham the Father of the Faithful with bread and wine by the hand of Melchisedech thy Priest Have mercy on us Who appointedst to the Israelites the Paschal Lamb in remembrance of their deliverance from bondage under Pharaoh Have mercy on us Who feddest them travelling thro the wilderness with Manna from heaven the food of Angels and didst also severely punish them loathing that Manna Have mercy on us O Father who hast given us thy only begotten Son the true Bread from heaven Have mercy on us Jesu that heavenly Bread who descendedst from heaven and givest life unto the world the Word made flesh and inhabiting in us Have mercy on us Jesu who bestowedst thy self upon us at thy birth for our Brother at thy table for food at thy death for our ransome and at last in thy kingdome for our reward Have mercy on us Jesu who pitying the multitude not having what to eat didst miraculously multiply the five loaves for many thousands Have mercy on us Jesu who invitest all that labour and are heavy burthened to come unto thee that thou may'st refresh them Have mercy on us Jesu who at thy departure out of this world unto the Father left us a lasting monument of thy love in the Sacrament of the Eucharist Have mercy on us Jesu who institutedst this Sacrament for a dayly Sacrifice and pure Oblation of thy self unto God thy Father unto the end of the world Have mercy on us O spotless Lamb of God that wast slain from the beginning of the world Have mercy on us O Living Bread born in Bethlehem the House of Bread who gavest thy own flesh for the life of the world Have mercy on us Jesu the true food which lasteth to eternal life to whom whosoever cometh shall never hunger and in whom whosoever believeth shall never thirst Have mercy on us Jesu whose flesh and blood whoso eateth and drinketh shall never dye but hath life eternal and dwelleth in thee and thou in him and thou wilt raise him up at the last day Have mercy on us Jesu who in this blessed Sacrament givest us our dayly bread and the cup of blessing our Viaticum in the house of death and who hast prepared a table in my sight against all that trouble us Have mercy on us Jesu the tree of Life planted in the midst of Paradise whose fruit gives Immortality to those that eat it Have mercy on us Jesu the Paschal Lamb without spot eaten in remembrance of our deliverance from the bondage of Satan Have mercy on us Jesu the heavenly Manna that containest all sweetness food of Angels and bread of Pilgrims eaten by us in the wilderness of this world whilst we travel towards the heavenly Canaan Have mercy on us Jesu the true Vine which makest fruitful and nourishest with thy heavenly juice every branch abiding in thee Have mercy on us Jesu the mystical Pelican who feedest thy young ones with the blood of thy own breast the good Samaritan who pourest celestial wine and oyl into our wounds Have mercy on us Jesu an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech who offerest unto us bread and wine even thy own self Have mercy on us Jesu the good Shepherd who feedest thy sheep with thy flesh and blood Have mercy on us Be merciful O Jesu and spare us From receiving thy body and blood unworthily and to condemnation from all neglect in coming to thy living table from all prophane irreverence and negligence whilst we draw near to thine Altar Be merciful O Jesu and spare us From hungring and thirsting after earthly things from all sin and from everlasting death Be merciful O Jesu and spare us By that exceeding great purity and innocence thou requirest in all them that approach this Sacrament signified by thy washing thy Disciples feet Be merciful O Jesu c. By that enflamed charity wherewith thou institutedst that Divine Sacrament Be merciful O Jesu and spare us By thy Body broken for us on the Cross and bestowed on us in this Sacrament Be merciful O Jesu and spare us In the day of Judgment Deliver us O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may never waver in our faith and belief of the words of thy mouth who art truth it self and an omnipotent God with whom every word is possible We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That we may with all thankfulness adore thee in this blessed Sacrament and worthily commemorate thy Passion so full of charity and that our faith devotion and reverence thereto may dayly be increased We sinners c. That through a true confession of all our sins thou wouldst bring us to a more frequent receiving hereof so that at length as the Hart pants after the rivers of waters our souls may thirst after thee the living God present in this venerable Sacrament We beseech thee to hear us That thou would vouchsafe to turn in unto us miserable sinners to heal our souls which are sick unto death that by this celestial bread they may be sustained and satisfied with the fulness of thy house and inebriated with the rivers of thy bounty We sinners bessech Thee c. That in the strength of this food we may walk through this Wilderness to thy holy Mountain We sinners c. That thou wouldst wash us throughly from the filth of our sins when we desire to partake of thine Altar so that we may approach thereto with longing and gladness and not without a Wedding-garment We sinners c. That at the hour of our death thou wouldst comfort and arm us with this heavenly Viaticum We sinners c. That we may receive thee into our hearts with love and fear that thereby we may be made worthy to
us Holy Mary whose voice made St. John Baptist leap in his Mother's Womb who when being found great with Child barest patiently the purpose of putting thee away Pray for us Holy Mary a Virgin conceiving and bringing forth a Son Immanuel who in one receivedst many Sons and thereby wast made the Mother of us all Pray for us Holy Mary that was turned out of the Inn and laid'st the Saviour of the world in a Manger Pray for us Holy Mary who at the Circumcision of thy only Son gavedst him that sweet and amiable Name JESUS Pray for us Holy Mary who most thankfully presentedst in the Temple that ever Blessed Jesus as a most precious Oblation to God his Father Pray for us Holy Mary that fled'st into Aegypt with thy new-born Babe and thy Husband St. Joseph Pray for us Holy Mary who soughtst thy lost Son three days sorrowing and with great joy foundst him in the Temple so early employed in his Father's business Pray for us Holy Mary who laidst up in thy heart all thou heardst spoken of thy Son Pray for us Holy Mary whose life was intirely dedicated to the constant serving of Jesus with the tenderness of a Mother the duty of a Handmaid and religion of a Votary Pray c. Holy Mary whose Soul was pierced as with a Sword at the crucifying of thy Son Pray for us We beseech thee By thy eternal Election to be the Mother of God Pray for us By the sweetness of thy love whereby thou embracedst thy Infant Son and suckledst him with thy Virgin Breasts Pray for us By the joy of the Angels rejoycing at the Nativity of thy Son Pray for us By the affections of love joy gratitude admiration and praise which thou conceivedst at the beholding of so many Miracles wrought by him Pray for us By all the hardships fears troubles and discommodities which thou didst undergo at Bethlehem in thy flight into Egypt and return from thence to Nazareth Pray for us By the sorrow of a heart of a Mother wherewith thou followedst thy Son going to Mount Calvary by the Sword of most bitter sorrow which pierced thy Soul standing by the Cross of thy Son Pray for us By that joy conceived at the Resurrection of thy Son and which now thou enjoyest for ever Pray for us We beseech Thee That thou wouldest vouchsafe to commend and reconcile us to thy Son Pray for us We c. That thou would'st help comfort and protect us like tender Sons with thy Motherly and most prevalent Intercessions Pray for us We c. That in all our necessities and straits especially at the hour of our deaths thou wouldst obtain for us the clemency of thy Son Pray for us We c. O Son of the B. Virgin which takest away the sins c. Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy on us O Lamb of God that takest c. Have mercy on us Our Father c. Hail MARY full of Grace c. Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Breasts that gave thee suck Blessed are they that hear thy Word and faithfully in their lives observe it O Lord hear our Prayers And let our supplications come unto thee MY Soul doth magnify the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Because he hath regarded the humility of his hand-maid Holy Virgin all generations shall call thee Blessed For he that is mighty hath done to thee great things and holy is his Name And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations He hath shewed strength in his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted the humble He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy As he spake to their Fathers Abraham and to his seed for ever Let us pray DEfend O Lord with the protection of peace thy servants trusting in the merits of Jesus and the patronage of the Blessed Virgin his Mother and keep us from all our enemies and from all dangers Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen GRant to thy servants O Lord to enjoy continual health of body and mind and that by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary we may be delivered from present sorrows and obtain eternal felicity thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God and most merciful Father who gavest thy only begotten Son to be born of an humble Virgin that we might be advanced to the adoption of thy children favourably regard the imperfect Prayers of thy servants which we here present unto thee by the efficacious intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and grant that as her Purity is exalted by thee to the highest degree of glory so her Charity may obtain for us the especial assistance of thy grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty Eternal God who didst so prepare the Body and Soul of the glorious Virgin Mary by the eo-operation of the Holy Ghost that it became a worthy habitation for thy Son Grant that in whose commemoration we rejoyce by her pious and prevalent intercession we may be delivered both from present evils and everlasting death thro Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour Amen LITANIES of the Holy Angels O God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of the World Have c. O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Have mercy on us Holy Mary Mother of God and Queen of Angels Pray for us Holy Angels who standing before the high and mighty Throne of God sing continually Holy Holy Holy Pray for us Holy Angels who always behold the face of God in Heaven and serve before his Throne and who always obey his word and do his will Pray for us Holy Angels who have committed to you from God the care and custody of Man ministring Spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of Salvation Pray for us Holy Angels Governors of Provinces Protectors of Kingdomes Defenders of the Church Conservators of the Elect Pray for us Holy Angels carrying up the prayers and services of men to God and bringing down God's blessings unto men Pray for us Holy Angels that excel in strength restraining the power of evil Spirits and malice of wicked men Pray for us Holy Angels that rejoyce in the Conversion of any one Sinner that doth penance Pray for us St. Michael Prince of the heavenly Host who castedst out of heaven the Dragon with his Apostate Angels mighty Prince who always standest to help the people of God Pray for us St. Michael the Receiver of the Souls of the faithful and Conducter of them into Paradise Pray for us St. Gabriel who revealedst to Daniel the sacred Visions who warredst against the Prince of the Persians for the people of
set before us We sinners c. That according to the multitude of the sorrows in our souls and bodies thy comforts may refresh our hearts that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so also our consolation may abound by Christ We sinners c. That our diseases and all our bodily sufferings may work together for good to us that love God that these momentany and light afflictions here may work in us an eternal weight of glory We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That whether we live we may live unto God or whether we dye we may dye unto God that Christ may be glorified in our bodies whether we live or dye that neither life nor death nor any other creature may be able to separate us from Christ Jesus We sinners beseech c. That the earthly house of this our tabernacle being dissolved we may possess an eternal habitation not made with hands in heaven that walking in the midst of the shadow of death we may fear no evil because thou art with us We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us c. An Exercise of CONTRITION HAve mercy upon us O Lord for we are weak O Lord heal us for our bones are vexed Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou us O Lord from our secret sins and preserve us thy servants from other mens sins O Remember not the sins and offences of our youth but according to thy mercy look upon us O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name 's sake O Lord be merciful to our sins for they are very great Behold our sorrow and affliction and forgive us all our sins O Lord our desire is before thee and our sorrow is not hid from thee O Lord take not thy mercy away from us let thy loving kindness and truth always preserve us For innumerable troubles are come upon us our sins have taken such hold upon us that we are not able to look up Have mercy upon us after thy great mercy Remember not Lord our offences but let thy loving mercies prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O Lord of our Salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver us and be merciful to our sins for thy Name 's sake Shew us thy mercy O Lord and grant us thy Salvation Enter not into judgment with thy servants for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Out of the depths have we called unto thee O Lord. If thou Lord should'st mark our iniquities O Lord who can endure it Let us pray O God who by the patience of thy only begotten Son hast broken the pride of the old Enemy grant us we beseech thee worthily to celebrate what he suffered for us and by his example patiently undergo all adversities thro the same Jesus Christ thy dear Son our Saviour Amen A Collect. O God the most gracious Maker and merciful Redeemer of Mankind fill us whom thou hast laid upon the bed of sickness with gladness of heart and contentedness of Spirit expel all the wiles of our enemy and send us the Physitian of health the Angel of peace who may raise us by thy consolations that are cast down with great afflictions that in this world we may receive succour and in the world to come everlasting reward thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The LITANY for the Dead Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions O God the Father Creator of the world Have mercy on the Souls of all the Faithful departed O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind Deliver the Souls of the Faithful departed O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect Accomplish the Bliss of the Faithful departed O Sacred Trinity three Persons and one God Give rest to the Souls of the Faithful departed Blessed Virgin Mary who by the special priviledge of Grace wast triumphantly assumed into the Kingdome of thy Son Pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed Blessed Patriarchs and Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Confessors and Virgins all ye holy and pure Saints who retaining at your deaths no irregular adherence to any creature were become of perfect capacity for immediate union to the Creator Pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed Be merciful O Lord and pardon their sins Be merciful O Lord and hear our Prayers From the shades of death where their imperfect Penance of their sins have deprived them for a time of the blessed light of thy countenance Deliver them O Lord. From all the evil to which their defective mortifications in this world have exposed them in the other Deliver them O Lord. From any bonds of sin wherein they remain entangled by their disorderly affections here and from thy anger which now they grieve to have provoked by their negligence and ingratitude Deliver them O Lord. From any pains now justly inflicted on them as the proper effects of their sins Deliver them O Lord. By the multitude of thy mercies which have always shewed compassion on the frailties of humane nature Deliver them O Lord. By the infinite merits of thy death upon the Cross when thou reconciledst the world to thy Father Deliver them O Lord. By thy victorious descent into Hell to break a sunder the chains of death and let the Prisoners go free Deliver them O Lord. By thy glorious Resurrection from the Grave when thou openedst the kingdome of Heaven to all Believers Deliver them O Lord. By thy triumphant Ascension into heaven when thou ledst Captivity captive and promisedst to prepare a place for thy Servants Deliver them O Lord. By thy dreadful coming to judge the world when the works of every one shall be tried by fire Deliver them c. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord. That it may please thee to visit such faithful as are detained in any receptacles of sorrow or privation of bliss and transport them to the City of eternal peace We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That it would please thee graciously to admit them into thy holy Sanctuary where no unclean thing can enter and to crown their hopes with everlasting fruition We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy beatifical Vision O Jesus may comfort them and the glorious light of thy Cross shine upon them We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That thy holy Angels and beatifical Saints may bring them into the land of the living and present them before thy throne We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That they may with Hymns of Joy and Triumph adore the glorious Author of their happiness and eternally sing Hallelujah's unto thee We sinners beseech c. Son of God fountain of Pity We beseech Thee to hear us King of dreadful Majesty who hast the keys of Death and Hell We beseech Thee to hear us O Lamb of God who shalt come with glory to
Temperance and modesty sobriety and chastity a true love of thee and our neighbours the contempt of our selves and the things of this world bounty and compassionate affections Grant us O Lord Diligence and constant vigilancy a hunger and thirst after Holiness zeal and fervour of spirit Christian fortitude and perseverance to the end Grant us c. We sinners beseech Thee to hear us O Lord That being reconciled to God by the death of Christ we may present our selves holy unspotted and unblameable before him that we may walk worthy of God in all things well-pleasing fruitful in good works and increasing in the knowledge of God We sinners c. That whatsoever we do in word or deed we may do all to the glory of God that we make not void thy grace or receive it in vain We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That we be careful to sanctify our Lord Jesus Christ always in our hearts that we seek not our own things but before all the things of Jesus Christ We sinners c. That looking up to Jesus who suffered we be not wearied and faint in our minds but considering the conversation of the Saints imitate their faith and patience We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That as his Souldiers we entangle not our selves in the things of this world but having food and raiment we be content therewith We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That by good works we make our faith and election sure that we do good whilst we have time and faint not for that we shall reap in due season We sinners c. That we forbear one another in love being careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace that we bear one another's burthens and so fulfil the law of God We sinners beseech Thee c. That being strengthened in all virtue thro the power of his grace we give thanks to God with all patience and long-suffering We sinners beseech Thee to hear us That waiting for the coming of our Lord we be careful to be found in him pure and unspotted in peace that we may receive the end of our faith even the salvation of our Souls and in the mean time work out our Salvation with fear and trembling We sinners beseech Thee c. O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Increase our Faith O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Infuse Hope O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Enkindle Charity O Christ hear us Christ give Ear unto us Our Father which art in Heaven c. Let us pray IN flame O Lord our reins and heart with the fire of thy holy Spirit that we may serve thee with a chast body and please thee with a pure heart O Most gracious Lord vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct and order all our thoughts words and works according to thy blessed will and to the praise of thy great Name conform them according to the perfect example of thy most holy life and conversation Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen O God which justifiest the ungodly we humbly beseech thy Majesty graciously to defend with thy heavenly grace and assist with thy continual protection us thy servants relying on thy mercy that constantly running in the course of virtue we may at length receive the crown thereof and by no temptations be withdrawn from serving thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Father of mercies and God of all consolations propitiously regard the frailty of our condition and by thy grace strengthen our endeavours that thro thy mercy we may at length obtain plenary remission of our sins constancy in thy holy service and the reward promised to perseverance thro Jesus Christ thy only Son our Lord. Amen Concerning our SPEECH For Governing our Words O Almighty Judge of men who hast declared that for every idle word we must give account in the day of Judgment and by our words we must be justified or condemned and hast taught us by thy Holy Scriptures that he that keepeth his tongue keepeth his life and that if any offend not in word the same is a perfect man We beseech thee to set a continual watch before our mouth and keep the door of our lips that we may ever take heed unto our ways that we offend not in our tongue that unruly member which defileth the whole Body and setteth on fire the whole course of Nature O Lord protect and deliver thy servants by thy restraining Grace and by thy fear from the many evil and bitter fruits of this so small a member from blasphemy swearing or taking thy name in vain from lying slandering backbiting and speaking evil of our neighbour from railing reviling flattery tale-bearing or disclosing secrets from vain-glory and boasting from praising our selves or disparaging others from ostentation of our own science and wit from all filthy and corrupt communication from jesting foolish froward and idle words and unprofitable discourse And Thou who hast given this Member c. Thou knowest O Lord who knowest all our infirmities how slippery a member the Tongue is and how liable we are to some abuse of it which we are necessitated so often to use and have so often occasions ministred unto us of using it amiss which also it is not in another's power easily to restrain Grant that we may employ our uttermost endeavours to prevent the manifold evils thereof that we may not desire to speak where we may without loss be silent nor utter any thing which becomes not thy servants for fear of seeming stupid or ignorant melancholick or unsociable make us swift to hear and learn but slow to speak not intermedling in every discourse nor speaking at all times what we know but what is necessary remembring that a prudent man concealeth knowledge and that there is more hopes of a fool than of one hasty in his words And good Lord endue with such peaceableness and calmness of spirit that we may never passionately contend or dispute to maintain an unnecessary truth or to vindicate a small right or to justify our selves in slight defamations or affronts but may follow the pattern of thy most admirable silence O Lord even in the questioning of thy most innocent life and on all occasions vilifying and humbling our selves may in our hearts give the glory only to Thee Who livest and reignest c. But thou who hast given this member to thy creature Man as a special instrument of thy Praise grant that we may zealously employ it to promote thy glory and when ever occasion is given to vindicate thy honor to joyn in thy praises and to give thanks and to speak good of thy Name O Lord open thou our lips and let our mouth ever shew forth thy Praise And be pleased also so to sanctify us in our worldly converse that our Speech may be always
many times things of the greatest consequence and no external sins occur so often as those of the tongue knowing that there are two fountains within us of our thoughts and speeches Nature and Grace or the Spirit and their Dictates contrary and nature commonly preventing the other in her Suggestions and our second our better thoughts Weigh thy words in a ballance and make a door and a bar for thy mouth Prepare what to say and then shalt thou be heard bind up instruction and then make answer Ecclesiasticus 28.25 33.4 And The words of such as have understanding are weighed in a ballance Ecclesiasticus 21.25 And The heart of the Righteous studieth to answer saith the wise man Prov. 15.28 And lastly Seest thou a man saith he that is hasty in his words there is more hopes of a fool than of him Prov. 29.20 6. Not speaking verbously but as much as you can contracting your sense If silence ordinarily makes none less talk makes fewer oversights Let thy speech be short comprehending much in few words and be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his peace Ecclesiasticus 32.8 And A fool is known by multitude of words Ecclesiasticus 5.3 7. Not speaking vehemently or passionately but so as it may be accompanied with and mastered or checked by your judgment which much passion clouds and troubles Not using your self to exaggerate any thing to hyberbolize and exceed the truth though a common custome but moderating your expressions and rather speaking the least Not delivering things with much asseveration by this as it were to add more weight and authority to your words which if there be any fault in what we say makes it much greater All these things savour of pride self-love vain glory men-pleasing and the contrary of discretion moderation and humility For this often remembring our Lord's holy Lesson Matt. 5.37 Let your Communication be yea yea nay nay and his note upon it Quod autem his abundantius est a Malo est Iterated also by St. James 5. c. 12. v. with this Caveat least you fall into condemnation i. e. some guilt or other condemnable 8. Avoiding much ceremony and dissimulation and compliance the later corruptions of Christian simplicity When our words swerve from our hearts our actions again do so from our words and so we only fall at last into the more shame and confusion Avoiding these I say so far as this may expose you to any temptation or peril of offending God your best your highest friend and always one of your company not professing your self to be what you are not which is lying or what you ought not to be which is disloyalty to God to be loyal to your Friend Nihil deformius quam Scenam in vitam transferre especially for a Christian Membra Christi Templa Spiritus Sancti Filii Dei Nolite fieri servi hominum 1. Cor. 7.23 If we have so little esteem for the world within why shew we so much without or any further than Christian duty and charity obligeth us for God's sake See Jo. 5.41.44 12.43 Rom. 12.2 Jud. 1.6 v. Jam. 1.10 1. Cor. 7.22 2. Cor. 11.20 1. Cor. 9.19 St. Paul's becoming omnia omnibus was only omnia licita and not this done on any terms but first being a perfect Saint and running no hazard in using these licita ut plures lucrifaceret But we that are unperfect may not venter so far when we hazard instead of gaining others the losing our selves 9. 1 In company forbearing the relating or inquiring after news stories other-mens affairs impertinent and no way concerning us distractions of the mind and commonly ending in censure and detraction especially concerning great persons and publick Magistrates of whom we ought to think and speak with great reverence Carefully avoiding the first engagement in such discourses easilier wholly abstained from than discreetly moderated See 1. Tim. 5.13 1. Pet. 4.15 Psal 73.9 Meddle not with many matters for in medling much thou shalt not be innocent Ecclesiasticus 11.10 And If thou hast heard a word let it dye with thee and be bold it will not burst thee 9. 2 Forbearing any presaging of future events and reverencing in all things God's Counsels and Providence which often works contrary to probable conjectures and likeliest appearances of things 10. Not speaking reprehending or contradicting and disputing in your own or others anger or when you or they are any other way distempered 1. Not in your own anger because then you are apt to make a false judgment of things neither will your reprehension or contradiction be performed with that moderation and discretion it should be Nor if it be so yet doth it appear so to or hath the same weight with the reprehended because they see you angry but stay a little in silence and let your passion cool and by and by things will have another appearance and faults seem now of a less magnitude than they did before so that he who resolves not to find fault in his anger will much seldomer find fault and when he doth will do it more moderately and his reproof be more justly proportioned to the Sin 2. Nor replying or reprehending in anothers anger For neither then do their errors faults or oversights appear to them so great as they are and besides your reproofs at such time receive ill answers from them and these serve to kindle anger in your self also where there was none before But when their passion is cooled they more clearly see the greatness of their fault and so more profitably and patiently receive your reproof and counsel Much caution therefore hath the wiseman given concerning this passion The discretion of a man saith he deferreth his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression Psal 19.11 And He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his Spirit than he that takes a City Prov. 16.32 14.29 And on the other side A fool's wrath is presently known Ps 12.16 11. Not contending and striving in words with any one for any thing but abstaining from second answers and replies though most reasonable after that by some resistance made the person at that time seems indisposed and imagining that we look after victory hath shut the Gate to Reason It is not passion but gentleness on truth's side that overcomes passion on the other and in such meekness the victory is only deferred not lost And this to suffer our selves to be overborne when Reason is on our side rather than contend especially in truths not so necessary to be maintained is an act of great mortification and humility and whilst you yield to another the getting a great victory over your self and we shall receive that praise from God which we willingly for peace-sake lose with men Yielding to all the world as much as you can in point of opinion and doing their will sooner than your own 12. Not