and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God from whom all Holy Desires all good Counsels and all just Works do proceed give unto thy Servants that peace which the World cannot give that both our Hearts may be set to obey thy Commandments and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our Enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour Amen LIghten our Darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night for the Love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen ALmighty God who seest that we have no power of our Selves to help our selves keep us both outwardly in our Bodies and inwardly in our Souls that we may be desended from all Adversities which may happen to the Body and from all evil Thoughts which may assault and hurt the Soul through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty God who alone canst order the unruly Wills and Affections of sinful Men grant to thy People that they may love the thing which thou commandest and desire that which thou dost promise so that among all the sundry and manifold changes of the World our Hearts may surely there be sixed where true Joys are to be found through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast Fear and Love keep us we beseech thee under the protection of thy good Providence and make us to have a perpetual Fear and Love of thy Holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God whose never failing Providence ordereth all things both in Heaven and Earth we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things and to give us those things which be profitable for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen BE merciful O Lord to this Church and Nation punish us not accord-to our deservings but let thy Mercy protect and save us from the Evil hands of all our restless Enemies continue thy Word and Gospel amongst us remit our senseless Divisions open the Eyes and Hearts of all our Dissenting and disaffected Brethren that they may embrace thy Truth set aside all Prejudice and joyn with us thy Servants in the sincere Worship of thee the true God All this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake Amen O God for as much as without thee we are not able to please thee mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our Hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty God who art a strong Tower of defence unto thy Servants against the face of their Enemies We yield thee Praise and Thanksgiving for our Deliverance from those great and apparent Dangers wherewith we have been compassed We acknowledge it thy goodness that we are not delivered over as a Pray unto them beseeching thee still to continue such thy Mercies towards us to discover all hellish Plots contrived against our King Religion and Country and to disappoint all the black Designs of our Bloody Enemies that all the World may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord our God who upholdest and governest all things in Heaven and Earth Receive our Humble Prayers for our Soveraign Lord and Lady the King and Queen set over us by thy Grace and Providence And so together with them Bless the whole Royal Family with the Dew of thy Heavenly Spirit that they ever trusting in thy goodness protected by thy Power and Crowned with thy gracious and endless Favours may continue before thee in Health Peace Joy and Honour a long and happy life upon Earth and after Death obtain everlasting life and glory in the Kingdom of Heaven by the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour Amen BLess we beseech thee O Lord our Bishops Priests and Deacons with true Knowledge and understanding of thy Word and that both by their Preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly enable them all to be faithful in their great trust in the maintetenance of thy true Religion against the Incroachings of Popery Heresie Schism and Prophaneness Bless the Lords of the Council and all the Nobility Magistrates and Gentry with Grace Wisdom and Understanding of thy Will and Word Give to all Nations Quietness and Peace and to this thy People give Unity and Happiness help the weak-hearted raise up them that fall subdue Satan under our Feet Comfort all that are in Tribulation preserve all that are in danger shew thy pity to Prisoners and Captives Provide for the Fatherless the Widows and all that are Oppressed Have mercy upon all Men. Forgive our Enemies and turn their Hearts Preserve for our Use the kindly Fruits of the Earth And endue us with the Grace of thy Holy Spirit and amend our Lives according to thy Holy Word All this we beseech thee to grant us for Jesus Christ his sake Amen From our Enemies defend us O Christ Graciously look upon our Afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our Hearts Mercifully forgive the Sins of thy People Favourably with mercy hear our Prayers O Son of David have mercy upon us Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us O Christ Graciously hear us O Christ graciously hear us O Lord Christ O Lord let thy mercy be shewed upon us As we do put our Trust in thee WE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon our infirmities and for the Glory of thy Name turn from us all those Evils that we most righteously have deserved and grant that in all our Troubles we may put our whole Trust and Confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in Holiness and pureness of Living to thy Honour and Glory through our only Mediator and Advocate Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen PRevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious Favour and further us with thy continual help that in all our Works begun continued and ended in thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain eversasting Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God who hast given us Grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their Requests Fulfil now O Lord the desires and Petitions of thy Servants as may be most expedient for them granting us in this World knowledge of thy Truth and in the World to come life everlasting Amen THe Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore Amen An Evening Prayer for a whole Family sutable to the times O Merciful God here we thine unworthy Servants are prostrate before thee at the close of this day loaden with thy manifold Mercies to acknowledge the Weaknesses
Evening Prayer for a single Person O Being of Beings the great Creator of the World and preserver of Mankind by whose gracious goodness I am now alive and brought safe through the many dangers and inconveniencies of this mortal Life to the close of this day I humbly acknowledge thy Providence and merciful Protection Thou hast fed me with thy Creatures defended me by thy Power instructed me in thy Truth admitted me into thy Church for these and all other Mercies received from thy Bountiful hand I return thee my homage and Thanks and confess my self unworthy of the meanest of thy Favours by reason of the many Provocations that I am guilty of O Lord I have sinned against Heaven and against thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son my Transgressions are multiplyed every day and mine Iniquities are without number How easily have I yielded to the Power of Temptations how often have I broken thy sacred Laws Gracious God be merciful be merciful to me a Sinner blot out all mine Iniquities and forgive me for the sake of my dear and only Saviour who is dead and intercedes for me Accept his Sacrifice and Mediation for my poor Soul grieved with the sense of Sin Give me true Repentance and that Frame of Spirit and Holy Resolution unto which thou hast promised in thy Holy Word mercy and forgiveness As thou hast begun the Work of Reformation in me perfect it I beseech thee by the continual influences of thy Holy Spirit forsake me not good God nor leave me to my wretched self but let thy Truth and Wisdom direct my Understanding and thy grace govern my Will in the practice of Piety Suffer me not to be overcome by the mistakes and inticements of Sin and Satan defend my Soul from all wicked impressions and infections of the World As thou hast redeemed me for thy self let not Vice nor Error draw me from thee nor the dangerous Allurements of Earthly Vanities but as my dependency is upon thy Power let my expectation of Happiness be from thy Bounty and my delight be in fulfilling thy holy Will Strengthen and increase in me all goodness Let every day bring me nearer to thee and to that Purity and Holiness without which no Man shall see thy Face Time that carries me apace to my cold Tomb minds me of an Eternity of a Resurrection and the last Judgment Prepare me I beseech thee for this last Account and that terrible Day wherein every Man shall give up an account of his Actions before a Righteous and Impartial Judge Grant that I may find Mercy and Favour at the hands of my great Redeemer and be admitted into the Joys of his Paradise And as I am now going to lye me down to refresh my weary Body with rest blessed God be merciful to me this Night protect me from all dangers and Evils Suffer not the Malice of the Devils nor of Wicked Men to hurt this outward Tabernacle nor the precious Soul that is within keep from me all troublesom Dreams and Thoughts and whether sleeping or waking let my Soul be armed with a reliance upon thy Goodness and Power grant me a moderate Rest that I may be better enabled to serve thee in my Generation and proceed on in the Employment unto which thy Providence hath called me In which let my chief aim be to advance thy glory rather than my own fordid Interest and to mind the careful management of all the Talents which thou hast put into my hands that I may as a good Servant and Steward improve and increase them Look in mercy upon all my Relations wheresoever they be let thy Grace thy Truth and Goodness accompany and protect them during their abode here below Crown with the choicest of thy Blessings our Religious King and Queen shield them from the wicked attempts of all their Enemies and give them long Life Health and Prosperity now and at last receive them into everlasting happiness Bless all their Royal Relations give them all Grace to be instrumental in promoting the Interest of thy Truth Godliness and Virtue that they may answer the good ends for which thou hast put much into their Hands Bless all Governours and Magistrates give them Grace to prefer thine Honour and Glory to all other Corrupt purposes whatsoever Defend this Nation from all Plots and Conspiracies defeat the Designs of all our Enemies and disappoint all Combinations against it If thou wilt afflict us good God let it be for a time take not thy Truth and Gospel from us and our Posterity and sanctifie all thy Judgments and Mercies to us that they may effect and produce in us that Reformation and those Graces for which they are intended Spread thy Gospel and Truth all over the World pull down Antichrist let all Nations understand thy Will and readily submit unto it Be merciful unto all Sons and Daughters of Affliction comfort and succour all sick Persons and such as are grieved with the loss of Goods Friends or Relations Be thou their good God and Saviour in thy due time giving them grace to submit to thee to trust upon thee and to expect from thy mercy alone a seasonable and proper Remedy to all their pressures and troubles And now blessed Lord I recommend my self again into thy merciful hands and conclude these my imperfect Prayers with that most perfect Form recommended to us by my good Saviour in whose Name I beg aâ—â— for whose sake I intreat thee O merciful Father grant me these my Requests and all other Mercies which thou knowest needful for my Soul and Body OUR Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread And forgive us our Tespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen An Evening Prayer for young Persons and Children O God who hast received me amongst thy Children instructed me in thy Truth and called me to be a Professor of thy Holy Religion Great and merciful Creator who hast been my Proteor and Defender from all dangers look down in mercy upon me and continue thy Favours to me the remaining part of my Life I see and experience every day the manifold expressions of thy goodness Thy Holy Name be praised for them all Give me more and more a Sense of thy mercifulness and a grateful heart that in these tender Years I may learn my great Duty to serve and glorifie thee on Earth and prepare my self for an Eternity for this purpose increase my knowledge and the graces thou hast been pleased to bestow upon me through a good Education of my Religious Parents Bless all my endeavours and theirs imprint thy holy Fear in my tender Soul preserve me from ill Company from the Vices and Errors of
corrupt either the judgments or the manners of Christ's Disciples and by that means to render them more unsit for God's great design in our Redemption but they never offered to overthrow the whole Service of God or to thwart the common practices recommended to them by the well-advised Piety of their Predecessors This strange attempt was reserved for these last and worst Ages of the World and this kind of impiety which could never find entertainment amongst the Primitive Enemies of God and of his Truth hath been greedily embraced by some in these latter days under the usual deceiving pretence of purity and Religion as if they alone were to be esteemed Religious who slander condemn blaspheme and contradict the religious Practices of the rest of Christians as if irregularity and an affected sigularity were the best means to render them acceptable to God in his Worship For that purpose we have seen them to our great grief cast out of the Church all the godly Forms of Prayer which the Wisdom and Piety of former Ages have recommended to us and because they could not spie in them any sufficient cause to condemn and reject them we have seen these over zealous brethren generally exclaim against all Forms as unlawful irreligious and Popish leaving every one to the irregular dictates of their Passion and presumptuous minds A mistake of a most dangerous consequence that opposeth the practice of Christ and of the true Church of God in all Ages since the beginning of the World for if you please to examin Holy Scriptures concerning Forms of Prayer and praising of God especially in the publick worship you shall not find a Church nor Congregation professing the Truth without Set Forms in the first Ages of Mankind it is said when Enos Seth's Son was born and that Men began to increase they began also to call upon the Name of the Lord Cen. 4.26 which words are 〈◊〉 simply to be understood of their addressing themselves to God's Divine Majesty as if before that time neither Adam nor Eve had ever minded to call upon him nor none of their Children for both Cain and Abel had been taught to worship God with the Fruits of their labour and the increase of their Substance which could not be done without calling upon God for a continuance of his Blessings besides it is very unlikely that Adam a Man created in an Estate of Holiness who could not be insensible of our dependency upon and want of God's daily mercies who had seen his wonderful Power in the Creaton of the World should forget to teach his Children to call upon God's Holy Name But these words are to be understood of their calling upon the Holy Name of God in a publick Society and with set and prescribed Forms and in a manner answerable to their condition It is to be understood of solemnizing the publick Service and Worship of God with Prayers Praises and Sacrifices for the obtaining of God's Blessings and the acknowledgments of his favours and protection according to a certain manner appointed by the Religious Persons of those days therefore in the Original the word employed to signifie in this passage calling upon God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 derived from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to meet together and assemble or from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 publickly to read and declare or cry out because that this calling upon the Name of the Lord of these first Men of the ancient World was performed in their publick meetings wherein there was a Service and ordinary Worship appointed and observed by the distinct reading of Prayers and Praises which infer sufficiently that they had publick places appointed persons in whom the care of Religion was entrusted and a common manner prescribed to them in writing which they were to read in the audience of the People Further it may be worthy of our Observation that the Prophet David when he speaks of calling upon the Name of the Lord in many of his Psalms he useth the same significant word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in that most remarkable Verse of the 116 Psalm and the 13 Verse where he speaks of that Cup of Salvation which was usually taken by the Jews in the publick Sacrifices a Type of our Christian Eucharist I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. This calling signifies meeting together in the publick Worship of God and offering to him reading those Forms of Prayers appointed by the Church For it is the custom of God's Holy Spirit in relating the passages of former times to allude by the expression to the manner and circumstances of those Actions that are mentioned Thus David in the 79th Psalm Verse 6. desires God to send down his Judgments and pour out his Wrath upon the Heathen that have not known him and upon the Kingdoms that have not called upon his Name he makes use of the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 derived from the same root as if he should say send down thy Judgments upon the Kingdoms which call not upon thee in publick Meetings and where there is no set nor appointed Worship for the Inhabitants to use in glorifying thy Name And in many other Psalms David useth the same Expression which imports a publick Assembly and the reading of the Praises and Prayers in his Divine Worship when he was wont to call upon God This Observation is confirmed by the constant Practice of all the Heathens in the Worship of their Gods Both the Greeks and the Romans had their constant Forms of Prayers and Praises which yet are extant in the Writings of their Poets It seems that they had received this judicious and pious Custom from the first Men of the World And what God's People were accustomed to do to the Honour of the true God these Heathens did commonly practice the same in the service of their false Gods as may be observed by their Hymns and other Ceremonies in their Worship But this religious use of set Forms was in the Jewish Church by the appointment of Moses and of the succeeding Prophets as may be easily proved by the song of Triumph composed by Moses and Miriam Exod. 15. after Pharaoh's overthrow in the Red-Sea The 9th Psalm is a Prayer of Moses by the words and Ceremonies to be used in the eating of the Paschal Lamb by the other Institutions and passages of the Ceremonial Law and chiesly by the Psalms of David which Hezekiah restored in the publick Worship of God for it is said 2 Chron. 29.25 That he set the Levites in the House of the Lord with Cymbals with Psalteries and with Harps according to the Commandment of David and of Gad the King's Seer and Nathan the Prophet Observe what is added in the next words For so was the Commandment of the Lord by his Prophets It seems in the Jewish Church the observing of a prescribed Form was no Human institution but proceeded from
bounds to the rage of our Enemies and let all thy proceedings towards us make a sincere Reformation in the Land Deprive us not for every of the Comfort of thy Word and Ordinances but protect this thy Church from the incroachings of Schism and Idolatry Be merciful O Lord to our King defend his Person from all his Enemies and let not their wicked Designs prosper against him but give Wisdom to his Counsellors Success to his Undertakings Victory to his Armies Grace and Fidelity to his Officers Truth and Loyalty to all his Subjects and Health and long Life to his Majesty Be gracious to all his Relations make them Examples of Piety and Godliness discoverr to them the truth of thy Gospel and give them all Grace to employ their Credit and Authority in promoting thy Glory and incouraging thy true Religion against Error and Vice amongst us Give us a Learned and Religious Clergy a Wise and Pious Nobility a sound and Vertuous Gentry and let all such as are in any Offices of Trust remember their Duty to thee O God their Obligations to their Prince and his Subjects and act with that Faithfulness and Integrity that they may discharge a good Conscience and approve themselves before thee as well as before Man Be gracious to all Nations send them the light of thy Gospel banish from them all Mists of Error and Heresie pacifie the Tumults of the World and give them grace to acknowledge thee the true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent to be the Universal Saviour These and all other Mercies for them and thy whole Church I humbly beg for his sake and Merits who is dead risen again and sits at thy Right hand to make intercession for us OUR Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from all Evil. For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Let thy Grace thy Power and thy Truth preserve and accompany me all the days of my Life A Morning Prayer for a young Person O Heavenly Father my great Creator and Protector thy Holy Name be praised for all thy Mercies chiefly for the quiet rest of the last Night At every moment I feel the expressions of thy goodness thou ceasest not to shew me some tokens of thy Liberality since thou hast given me this Being O merciful God how great and many are thy Mercies to me in these few Minutes that I have spent in the World I perceive that thou art the inexhaustible Fountain of all good and the boundless Ocean of all perfections To thy Divine Majesty therefore I make my Address to supply the daily necessities of this weak Body and sinful Soul which proceed from thee Forgive I beseech thee O my God the mistakes and frailties of my youth As I am sensible of my frequent miscarriages cause me also to be sensible of thy Mercy and Pardon I am entered into the World in a state of imperfection I carry about me strong Inclinations to Sin and the breach of thy Sacred Laws which I cannot shake off in a moment but gracious God blot out all mine Iniquities and assist with thy Divine Spirit the pious Resolutions and Religious temper of my Soul Thou hast promised not to quench the Smoaking Flax nor break the bruised Reed not to cast away a Creature for some imperfections but to encourage the hopeful beginnings of Piety in Man Perform this thy Promise O my God in my sinful Soul increase what is good rectifie what is amiss sanctifie and purifie this inner part of my self from all the fleshly Pollutions that I may be guilty of enlighten my Understanding with a right knowledge of thy Will and Word give me thy heavenly Wisdom and a clear apprehension of those things thou requirest from my Faith and Practice Suffer me not to be carried away by the inticements of Heresie and Error but as thou hast caused me to be born and initiated by Baptism into the profession of thy true Religion give me grace to resist all the Temptations that may endeavour to draw me from it and to continue in it to the last moment of my days Sanctifie my Will and Affections more and more keep me from the Infectious air of wicked Company and vitious Conversation suffer me not to be carried away with the Vices of the Age but strengthen my Resolutions in thy Faith and Fear grant me that discretion and prudence that I may perceive the Snares laid for me and know how to shun and avoid them that I may lead an innocent harmless and righteous Life keep me out of the Labyrinths of sin and wickedness in which many are insensibly intangled and as my great Task in the World is to serve thee inable and assist me in the Prosecution of that design make me to see the Vanity of the World and all Worldly advantages that my inexperienced Soul may not be bewitched with any deceitful enjoyments but that I may settle my affections upon thee my God and live continually in expectation of my approaching Change and of the immortal Possessions where true Joys are to be found I beseech thee also Merciful Father to send and continue to me all things needful for my weak Body grant me Life and Health that I may glorifie thee on this side the Grave as thou wilt glorifie me on the other side Enable me to serve my Generation and to do good in the World that I may not be said to live in vain Increase my Gifts and Talents and thy Temporal Blessings and give me a Heart to dispose of them according to thy Will Preserve me from all dangers and Enemies suffer them not to prevail upon me but limit their malice and rage I trust upon thy Power and Protection let me have the experience of it at every step that I shall make and accompany all my endeavours and actions with success and blessing Strengthen my Soul with a reliance upon thee and a submission to thy Will in all things prepare me to bear the Crosses that thou wilt lay upon me and assist me through the troubles of the World by thy divine Spirit imprint thy fear in my tender Soul give me a sense of thy all-seeing Eye and infinite Presence that I may dread thy justice and Power as well as I love thy Mercy and goodness and be kept from any extravagancies of Life that I may walk continually as in thy presence and in expectation either of Rewards or Punishments according to my actions Grant me I beseech thee O overflowing Goodness all the conveniencies of this Life sanctifie what thou hast already given and make me useful and a Comfort to all my Relations Be merciful to them also I pray thee protect preserve and
the Times make me truly constant and faithful in the Professionof that Holy Religion unto which I am called Give me a right Understanding of its divine Precepts and grace to practise them in my Life Let thy Word be my Rule thy Truth my guide thy Spirit my Comforter and thy Glory my Reward Preserve me I beseech thee my good God from the Evils unto which I am subject and let my Soul and Body be precious in thy Sight especially this Night into which I am entring let the Merciful Eye of thy Providence preserve me during its mournful shadows from all Spiritual and Temporal Enemies Let thy Holy Angels guard and protect me and bring me safe to the next day to behold and admire the Wonders of thy Creation and Providence in the World Make me useful in my Generation bless all my undertakings and endeavours in my Calling that I may by it advance thy Glory and do good both to my self and others And because our natural Poverty is such that without thee and a continual supply from thy Bounty we cannot possibly subsist gracious God send me all things needful for my Soul and Body let me not depend too much upon the plentiful Provision of these earthly things already made for me but as thou art the Life and Soul of all thy Creatures and without thy Blessing our greatest plenty of good things is altogether unprofitable let the expectation of this Blessing incourage me to depend wholly upon thy favour and stir up my industry in the duties of my Calling and in the service of my Country Bless all my Relations and Parents more especially here name such as are in Affliction grant them long life health and happiness preserve the King's Majesty all my Governours and Teachers inable them all in their places to glorifie thee their God and do good to this Nation and People Defend us all from our Enemies at home and abroad and suffer them not to triumph over us but continue in our days Peace Truth Justice Plenty and Prosperity These and all other Mercies I humbly Beg for Christ Jesus his sake my only Saviour and Mediator who taught us thus to pray OUR Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from all Evil For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen LEt thy grace thy Truth and Goodness be with me preserve and keep me now and for evermore Amen Prayers before Meal SEnd down thy Blessing good God upon these thy Creatures that we are now to be partakers of inable them to feed our Bodies and recruit our weakness and strengthen us to serve and glorifie thee on Earth that we may receive from thee the Rewards of thy Servants in Heaven This we beg for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Another Prayer before meat GRacious God we see by these fresh Expressions of thy Bounty that thou art never weary to load us with thy good things Sanctifie them unto us at this present time and us to thy Service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Profitable Meditation at the sight of a Table spread or covered with Food for our Bodies HOw often have I tasted and felt the goodness of my God! He is that full Ocean of Mercy and Sweetness from whence these Streams proceed by various dispensations and Methods He is that bottomless Fountain that never will be exhausted Here here are tokens of his Love to us and care of our preservation before our Eyes These Creatures are sent to mend the daily breaches of this outward Tabernacle to recruit our Mortal Weaknesses with a fresh supply to corroborate the decaying strength of Nature with new Spirits We see by experience that these Bodies that God hath made he is careful to maintain and by the Influence of the Heavens and the Fruitfulness of the Earth to furnish with all their Wants O wonderful Providence How full and plentiful are thy Stores that so great a share is appointed for me How rich is that Bounty that when all my Fellow Creatures so many Millions in Number are provided vouchsafes me so great a Lot and large Portion He can never want that entertains a good Correspondency with the great Purveyor of Mankind whilst the Avenues and Conveyances are open O shut not up thy mercy from us for let my Estate be never so great and the Provision for my Body be never so large alas these poor senseless Creatures cannot benefit me without thy Blessing accompanies them these morsels may as soon choak as feed me without that invisible Vertue which thou alone canst send along with them I humbly crave it at thy good hands my good God let not my Sins sower or poison these thy Mercies let me not trust too much upon these outward assistances of Life and Health but as by thy daily proceedings thou hast taught me to depend chiefly upon thy Liberality let me look up to and expect from thee daily food and nourishment grant me a thankful Heart never to forget so great a goodness But the sweetness that I am going to relish minds me of the sweetness of that Bounty from whence it proceeds and of the greatness of thy Divine Wisdom that hath baited all necessary actions of our Life with a natural delight and pleasure How ravishing must the Fountain of Goodness be seeing these drops conveyed unto us at such a distance are so pleasing to our Palats God that now entertains my Being so far from his immediate presence intends one day to draw me nearer to himself to live with him for ever then the Divine Goodness shall refresh and comfort me without the cold assistance of inferior things then the smiles of God's Countenance shall be conveyed to us not by Reflections and at second hands but more immediately we shall then see as we are seen and solace our selves during the numberless Ages of an Eternity in the presence of this good God where we shall want neither Food nor Raiment but these corrupt Bodies shall be freed from all the slavery of the Elements and dependency upon them for we shall depend upon our God alone and him only shall we serve For this Corruption must put on Incorruption and this Mortal must put on Immortality O that I might have always in mind that final end of Mankind and use these thy Comforts but not abuse them by excess and gluttony These Bodies which thou hast so wonderfully made and preserves with such care are of that Excellency and designed for those Noble and Divine purposes that they must not be disgrac'd nor polluted with Vice These Creatures thou hast appointed for our Refreshment not for the dishonour or ruine of our Bodies If our Tables overflow how many of our poor