I might learn thy Statutes O let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy Law is my delight O let my heart be sound in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed O quicken me after thy loving kindness so shall I keep the Testimony of thy mouth If my delight had not been in thy Law I should have perished in my trouble I will never forget thy Commandments for with them thou hast quickened me I am thine O save me for thy mercies sake for I have sought thy Commandment The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me but I will consider thy Testimonies I desire to refrain my feet from every evil way that I may keep thy Word I am troubled above measure quicken me O Lord according to thy Word and deliver me for thy mercy sake O God who dost wonders and hast declared thy power amongst all people let the observation of thy mercies and loving kindnesses make deep impression in my heart and memory that when I am in heaviness I may remember the years of thy right hand and call to mind the wonders of old time although thou sometime withdrawest the brightness of thy countenance from me and shuttest up thy loving kindness in sore displeasure yet the experience of thy old mercies which never fail may sustain mine infirmities and the expectation of thy loving kindnesses may cure all my impatience till in thy due time the sense of thy favours may actually relieve all my distresses and thy right hand lead me like a sheep into the folds of eternal rest and security through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. GRant unto me O Lord I humbly beseech thee the Spirit to think and do all such things as be rightful that I who cannot do any thing that is good without thee may be enabled to live according to thy Will through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for God's free mercy in the the pardon of my sins and a prayer for the continuance and the increase of his mercies to me LET the free-will offering of my mouth please thee O Lord and teach me thy Judgments I have applied my heart to fulfill thy Statutes alwaies even unto the end Thou art my defence and my shield and my trust is in thy Word O stablish me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be disappointed of my hope Hold thou me up and I shall be safe yea my delight shall ever in thy Statutes I desire with my whole heart to do the thing that is lawful and right O give me not over unto my oppressors O make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good that they which hate me do me no wrong O deal with thy servants according to thy loving kindness and teach me thy Statutes I am thy servant O grant me understanding that I may know thy Testimonies it is time for thee Lord to lay too thy hand for they have destroyed thy Law therefore hold I straight all thy Commandments for all false waies I utterly abhor O look upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name O most gracious God who art reconciled unto me in my Saviour Jesus having for his sake forgiven the offences of thy people and covered all their sins with the Robe of his most immaculate sanctity and Righteousness Let thy grace convert and quicken me that I may rejoyce in thee and thy salvation in faith of thy promises in the hope of actual communication and of thy mercy to me and in love to thee for so a great blessing and redemption and when thou hast spoken peace to my soul and reconciled me to thy self in the blood of thy Son give me the grace of perseverance that I may never turn again to folly but may follow mercy and truth all my daies and at last be satisfied with thy Righteousness and peace eternal through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. LET thy merciful ears O Lord be open to the Prayers of thy humble servant and that he may obtain his petitions make me to ask such things as shall please thee through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for sanctity and preservation ORder my steps in thy Word O Lord so that no wickedness have dominion over me Deliver me from the deceitful dealings of men so shall I keep thy Commandments Shew the light of thy countenance upon thy servant and teach me thy Statutes Righteous art thou O Lord and true in thy Judgments Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me yet my delight is in thy Commandments Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it Except the Lord keep the City the watchman watcheth but in vain I looked for the Lord my soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption for he shall deliver Israel from all his sins Behold how good and joyfull a thing it is to dwell together in unity thy Name O Lord endureth for ever so doth thy memorial O Lord from one generation to another For the Lord will avenge his people and be gracious to his servants O Lord God good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee give ear unto my prayers and ponder the voice of my humble desire whenever I call upon thee in my trouble Let the soul of thy servant be refreshed with thy comforts and defend me from the congregations of proud and naughty men Turn thee unto me with mercy give thy strength unto me teach me thy Law make me to walk in thy Truth give me the fear of thy Name and knit my heart unto thee with the indissoluble bands of charity and obedience that my soul being saved from the neathermost hell I may worship in spirit and truth which thou hast manifested unto me in my deliverance and redemption through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. O Lord who declarest thy Almighty Power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity mercifully grant unto me such a measure of thy grace that I running the waies of thy Commandments may obtain thy gracious promises and be made partaker of thy heavenly treasure through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer in time of Sickness and in danger of Death THE Lord is loving unto every man and his mercy is over all his works The eyes of all wait upon thee O Lord and thou givest them their meat in due season Thou openest thy hand and fillest all things living with plentiousness The Lord is righteous in all his waies and holy in all his works The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him yea all such as call upon him faithfully He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he will hear their cry and will help them The Lord will preserve all them that love him but
presence is glory and worship Fill my lips and soul with great devotion and reverence towards thee my God Make me to love thy Goodness to adore thy Omnipotency to reverence thy Justice to fear thy Majesty to tremble at thy Omniscience and Omnipresence and to contemplate with the greatest zeal and affections all those glories which thou communicatest to the Sons of men in the revelations of the Gospel of thy Creatour and of thy miracles that I may tell of thy greatness and declare thy salvation from day to day and when thou comest with Righteousness to judg the Earth and all people with thy truth I may rejoyce in thee everlastingly and sing eternally Hallelujah to thee in thy Sanctuary grant this for Jesus Christ his sake my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O Lord I beseech thee grant thy grace to withstand the temptations of the world the flesh and the Devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer for Mercy and Salvation O Lord our King Lord of the whole Earth have mercy upon me and sanctifie me with thy grace that I may hate every thing that is evil that I may love thee give thanks unto thy Name and rejoyce in the remembrance of thy holiness that in the day of Judgment and great terrours when thou shalt sit in thy seat supported with Righteousness and Judgment and a fire shall go forth from thy presence to burn up thine enemies on every side thou mayest preserve my soul in safety from the hands of mine enemies and a light may spring up unto me to preserve me from eternal darkness and the want of the light of thy countenance through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. O Lord God for as much as without thee I am not able to please thee mercifully grant that thy holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule my heart through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for the Redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ. O Most powerful Jesus who with thine own Right hand and with thy holy Arm hast begotten to thy self on our behalf the victory over sin hell and the grave remember this thy mercy and truth which thou hast promised to all that believe in thee give me pardon of all my sins sealed unto me by the testimony of the Holy Spirit and a good conscience and grant that I may by thy strength fight against my ghostly enemies and by thy power may overcome them that I may rejoyce in a holy peace and sing and give thanks for my victory and my Crown extend this mercy and enlarge the effect of thy great Victories to the Heathen that all the ends of the world may sing a new song unto thee and see the salvation of God that when thou comest to judge the Earth we may find mercy and be joyful together before thee in the fruition of a blessed Eternity through thy mercies O blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesu Amen The Collect. O Almighty and most merciful Lord God of thy bountiful goodness and mercy keep me I beseech thee from all things that may hurt me that I being ready both in body and soul may accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Psalm of Praise to God for his Mercy and Truth The Prayer O Lord our God Who hast created us out of nothing and hast redeemed us from misery and death when we were thy enemies shewing great expresses of thy loving kindnesses when we were vessels of wrath and inheritours of perdition revealing thy Truth unto us in the Sermons of the Gospel teach us to walk as thou hast commanded us to believe as thou hast taught that we may inherit what thou hast promised us for thou art the way the truth and the life We are thy people and the sheep of thy Pasture thou art our guide and our defence let thy grace teach us to serve thee and thy holy Spirit assist and promote our endeavours with the blessing of gladness and chearfulness of spirit that we may love to speak good of thy Name and at last go to the Courts of thy Temple with praise and a song in our mouths to thy honour and eternal glory whose Mercy and Truth is everlasting and revealed unto the Church in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. LOrd I pray thee that thy grace may alwaies prevent and follow us all the daies of our life make us continually be given to all good works through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for a holy Life O Lord God of eternal purity who who art of pure eyes and canst behold no iniquity or impurity enlighten my understanding that I may have knowledge in the way of godliness make my path straight and my heart perfect take from me the sins of unfaithfulness correct and mortify in me all froward and peevish dispositions let me love the society of the Saints and hate the fellowship of the wicked that I may not be destroyed with the ungodly nor be rooted out from the City of the Lord nor banished from the sweetness of thy presence for with thee is light and health and salvation to thy Name be all honour and glory and praise ascribed world without end Amen The Collect. ALmighty and Everlasting God give unto me the increase of Faith Hope and Charity that I may obtain that which thou dost promise make me to love that which thou dost command through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for Comfort in sadness of spirit in Sickness or in any other affliction O Eternal God who endurcst for ever and thy remembrance throughout all generations have mercy upon me according to the infinite treasures of thy loving kindness hear the voice of my groaning for thy indignation and thy wrath lieth hard upon me and my sins have put an edge upon thy sword and a thorn upon my wounded conscience O hold up the reins of my soul repair the breaches of my comfort and my hope and let thy glory now appear for that shines brightly in the beams of thy mercy and when thou turnest unto the prayer of the poor destituted it becomes an eternal monument and a record of thy honour and all generations which shall be born shall praise thee Look down O Lord from thy Sanctuary hear the mourning of me and all distressed people send me life and health so long as it may be a blessing and not shorten my daies in wrath but give me grace so to spend all my time in the work of repentance and holiness that when my years fail and my change is come I may be translated to the new Heaven which shall never perish nor wax old there to continue and stand fast in thy sight for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen The Collect. O Lord I beseech thee absolve thy people from their offences that
justly deserved all shame and misery in this life and everlasting condemnation in Hell fire if that thou shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my deserts Wherefore O heavenly Father I humbly beseech thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake and for the merits of that bloody death and passion which I believe he hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive me all my sins and deliver me from the Hell and vengeance which is due unto me for them and send thy holy Spirit into my heart which may assure me that thou art my Father and that I am thy child and that thou lovest me with an unchangeable love and let thy good Spirit lead me into all truth and crucifie in me more and more carnal lusts that my sin may more and more die in me and that I may serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life and when this mortal life is ended I may through thy mercy in Christ be made partaker of thine everlasting glory in thy heavenly Kingdom And here O Lord from the bottom of my heart I humbly thank thee for all thy blessings bestowed upon my soul and body for electing me in thy Love for redeeming me by thy Son sanctifying me by thy Spirit and preserving me from my youth up until this present day and hour by thy gracious providence I thank thee more especially for that thou hast defended me this night past from all danger and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day and now good Lord I beseech thee keep me this day from all peril and danger and from all evil that may hurt me and from falling into all sin that should offend thee set thy fear before mine eyes and let thy holy Spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall think do or speak this day may tend to thy glory the good of others and the peace of my own conscience and to this end I commend my self and all my waies and actions together with all that do belong unto me unto thy gracious protection this day praying thee to keep both thine and me from all evil and to give a blessing to all our honest labours and endeavours defend thy whole Church from the tyranny of this world and of Antichrist preserve our gracious King from all conspiracy and treason grant him a long reign in health and happiness over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with all those graces and gifts which thou knowest necessary for their places Be favourable to all those that fear thee and call upon thy Name and tremble at thy judgments Comfort all those that are sick or any way comfortless O Lord keep me in a continual readiness by faith and repentance for my last end that whether I live or die I may be found thine own to thine eternal glory and my everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ my only Saviour in whose blessed Name I beg these mercies at thy hands and give unto thee thy praise and glory in that prayer which he hath sanctified with his own lips saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the Evening O most gracious and loving Father who art about my bed and knowest my lying down and my rising up and art near unto all that call upon thee in Truth and sincerity I a wretched sinner do humbly beseech thee to look upon me with the eyes of mercy and not to behold me as I am in my self for then thou shalt see but an unclean and defiled creature conceived in sin and living in iniquity so that I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee knowing how grievously I have sinned against Heaven and before thee for O Lord I have transgressed all thy Commandments and Righteous Laws not through negligence and infirmity but oftentimes through wilful presumption contrary to my knowledge and the motions of thy holy Spirit reclaiming me from them so that I have wounded my conscience and grieved thy holy Spirit by whom thou hast sealed me to the day of Redemption Thou hast consecrated my soul and body to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost I wretched sinner have defiled both with all manner of pollution and uncleanness mine eyes in taking pleasure to behold vanities that I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee mine ears in hearing impure and unclean speeches my tongue in evil speaking my hands are so full of impurity that I am ashamed to lift them up unto thee and my feet have carried me after mine own waies my understanding and reasonings which are so quick in all earthly matters are only blind and stupid when I come to meditate or discourse of spiritual and heavenly things my memory which should be a treasury of all goodness is not so apt to remember any thing as those things that are vile and vain yea Lord by woful experience I find that naturally all the imaginations of the thoughts of my heart are only evil altogether and continually for these my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and they have grown over me like a loathsom leprosie from the crown of my head to the soal of my feet there remains no part which they have not infected they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more abominable must I appear in thy sight the custom of sinning hath almost taken away the conscience of sin and pull'd upon me such dulness of sense and hardness of heart that thy judgments denounced against my sins by the faithful Preachers of thy Word do not terrifie me to return unto thee with unfeigned repentance and if thou Lord shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my deserts I should utterly be confounded and condemned but seeing that of thine own mercy thou hast spared me so long and still waitest for my repentance I humbly beseech thee for the blood death and passions sake which Jesus Christ hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive me all my sins and mine offences and open unto me that ever-streaming fountain of the blood of Christ which thou hast promised to open under the New Testament to the penitent of the house of David that all my sins and uncleanness may be so bathed in his blood buried in his death and hid in his wounds that they never more be seen to shame me in this life nor to condemn me in the world to come before the judgment seat of God And for as much O Lord as thou knowest that it is not in man to turn his own heart unless thou first give him grace to convert And seeing it is as easie with thee to make me righteous and holy as to suffer me to be such O my God give me grace to do what thou hast commanded then
command what thou wilt and thou shalt find me willing to do what thou commandest and to observe thy blessed Will in all things to this end give unto me thy Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to the worlds end unto all thine elect people and let the same Holy Spirit purge my heart from the dross of my natural corruption heal my soul and body that they may become the Temple of the Holy Ghost to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life that when by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I shall finish my course in this short and transitory life I may cheerfully leave this world and resign my soul into thy fatherly hands in assured confidence of enjoying everlasting life with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect Saints who love the Lord Jesus and expect his appearing In the mean while O Father I beseech thee let thy Holy Spirit work in me such a serious repentance as that I may with tears lament my sins past with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present and with all my endeavours resist the like filthy sins for the time to come and let the same Holy Spirit keep me in the Unity of the Church lead me in the Truth of thy Word and preserve me that I may never swerve from the same to Popery or any other error or false Worship and let thy Spirit open mine eyes more and more to see the wondrous things of thy Law and open my lips that my mouth may set forth thy praise increase in me those good gifts with which thou hast already endowed me of thy mercy and give unto me a penitent spirit and a chaste heart a contented mind pure affections a wise behaviour and all other graces which thou seest necessary for me to govern my heart in thy fear and to guide all my life in thy favour that whether I live or die I may live and die unto thee who art my God and my Redeemer And here O Lord according as I am bound I render unto thee from the Altar of my humblest heart all possible thanks and praise for all those blessings and benefits which graciously and plentifully thou hast bestowed upon my soul and body for this life and that which is to come namely for my Election Creation Redemption Justification Sanctification and Preservation from my childhood until this present day and hour and for the firm hope which thou hast given me of my Glorification Likewise for my Life Liberty Food and Rayment a competent estate for the maintenance of this present life and prosperity more especially for that thou hast defended me this day now past from all peril and dangers both of body and soul furnishing me with all necessary good things that I stand in need of and as thou hast ordained the day for man to travel in and the night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee to sanctifie unto me this nights rest and sleep that I may be the better disposed to serve thee in all honesty and godliness and that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit that so dull and wearied a body of mine being refreshed with moderate rest and sleep I may be the better enabled to work before thee doing all such good works as thou hast provided for me and when it shall please thee by thy divine providence to awaken me the next morning do thou O Lord who art the keeper of Israel who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over me in thy holy providence to protect me from all dangers so that neither the evil Angels of Satan nor any wicked enemy may have any power to do me any harm or evil and to this end give a charge unto thy holy Angels that they at thy appointment may pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name and knowing that thy Name is a strong Tower of defence unto all those that trust therein I here recommend my self and all that belongs unto me unto thy holy protection and custody if it be thy blessed will to call for me in my sleep O Lord for Christ his sake have mercy upon me and receive my soul unto thy heavenly Kingdom and if it be thy blessed pleasure to add more daies to my life add more amendment unto my daies and wean my mind from the love of the world and the vanity thereof and cause me more and more to settle my conversation on Heaven and heavenly things and perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my sinful soul. O Lord I beseech thee likewise save and defend from all evil and danger thy whole Church our gracious King Charles and grant him a long and prosperous Raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless the Nobility Magistrates and Ministers of these Churches and Kingdoms each of them with those graces and benefits which are expedient for their places and callings and be thou O Lord a comfort and a consolation to all thy people whom thou hast thought meet to visit with any kind of sickness cross or poverty or calamity Hasten O Father the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ make me ever mindful of my last end and of the reckoning that I am to make unto thee therein and in the mean while carefully so to follow Christ in the generation during this life as that with Christ I may have a portion in the resurrection of Christ when this mortal life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou O Father knowest to be required and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son and in that form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another Short Evening Prayer O Eternal God and heavenly Father if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel and the example of Peter Mary Magdalen the Publican the Prodigal Child and many other penitent sinners that thou art so full of compassion and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts lamenting their sins and imploring thy grace I should despair for my own sins and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardness of my heart and the unruliness of my affection and the uncleanness of my conversation by means whereof I have transgressed all thy holy Laws and Commandments and deserved thy Curse which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease my soul to languish with the
Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE Soul Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating the whole duty of Man or DEVOTIONS COMPILED by R.A. Gent. in his solitudes London Printed by T. Snawden for Gabr Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the post-office over against the Muse at the sign of the King's-head 1678. Scala Sancta OR THE EXALTATION OF THE SOUL Being a Train of Pious Thoughts Compleating The whole Duty of Man OR DEVOTIONS compiled By R. A. Gent. in his Solitudes Non bove mactatô coelestia numina gaudent Sed quae praestanda est sine teste fide LONDON Printed by T. Snowden for Gabr. Kunholt and are to be sold at his shop at the Post-Office over against the Muse at the Sign of the King's-Head 1678. Licensed William Jane Nov. 19. 1677. TO THE READER WEre Man self-sufficient and independent thoughts of this nature would be impertinent and unseasonable but seeing there are hopes and fears blessings and curses scattered in this vail of misery and laid up in heaps against the time of the revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God how stupid and forlorn must that soul be which lives without God in the would though a spacious curtain be drawn over the globe of this Earth though we cannot perceive the regular motions of the several wheels of Providence yet in all Estates flourishing or decaying we ought to confide in and depend upon his goodness and power and wisdom who is the fountain of all Beings and the Great Governour of the World under whose conduct the good man is safe and to the Throne of whose Grace there may be a fair access if our prayers are managed aright in which way I leave thee and if these following papers can assist thee bless God for the occasion which is the End of the Author's Hope in this undertaking Farewell To the Honourable Mary Mountague Wife to the Right Honourable Lord cheif Baron Madam SEeing it is the heart which God alone accepts as a Sacrifice of retribution I humbly crave you would be pleased to take a view of the counterpart of my Soul wherein is set down the joyful correspondency it has had with Heaven and the rather because joy and immortality our entrance into the Blessed Mansions above is the common interest and design of all who appeal to Heaven in the name of Christ I know your Closet is plentifully stor'd with holy Ejaculations that Sacred perfume which sweetens the very breath of the Soul and is more acceptable to God than costly odours the scent of Myrrh and Frankincense yet these Papers possibly may find entertainment because they are pen'd by one whose Soul has been many years travelling that way and therefore chiefly endeavours to speak the dialect Language of that Kingdom no friendship is so strong as that which is contracted by Travellers in this journey and though I have the honour to have the same blood of R. A's running in my veins yet I esteem my self more happy in the beginnings of our Christian allyance and eternal duration of it when we shall pass from this state of grace to that of glory How glorious must your entrance be into the Holy Land for Persons placed in so high a station by holy example command their attendants when you enter into the land of promise your numerous train must follow in which retinue to be admitted is the humble and hearty Prayer of Madam Your Ladyships most humble Servant and Relation R. A. THE PREFACE I Chose the Psalms of David for the Platform of my Devotions because nothing can be supposed more acceptable to God in duties of this nature than to follow his steps who was a man after God's own heart The Original is so well penned so full and lofty in its expressions that Cowley when he gave his censure of the Translators says that Shimei hardly reviled David more than some of them have done However I reckon not my self concerned in that charge seeing I follow the best Translation our Language bears Were this Book of Psalms duly weighed and considered men might find materials for their addresses to Heaven fitted for all states and conditions as if it were a mirrour of the Passages of Humane Life and comprehended all the desires and offices of a good man Though David's Composures were elegant and harmonious in their native dress yet 't was not the Instrument but the strings of his heart made the sweetest melody Nothing is more charming than a soul so well tuned so well skill'd in all the parts of Divine musick Thus we joyn consort with the harmony of the sphears we may be assured that the Eccho is rebounded with the exultation and Hallelujahs of Heaven it self CHOICE MEDITATIONS Out of the PSALMIST SErve the Lord with fear and rejoyce unto him with reverence 2.11 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself the Lord will hear me when I call upon him 4.3 Offer the sacrifices of Righteousness and put your trust in the Lord v. 5. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee 5.4 For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield 12. God judgeth the Righteous and God is angry with the Wicked every day If he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready 7.11 12. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God For the Needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever 9.17 18. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but the Wicked and him that loveth violence his Soul hateth For the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright 11.56.7 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that pusseth at him The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a furnace of Earth purified seven times in the fire 12.5 6. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of Men to see if there were any that would understand and seek after God 14.2 Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his Heart 15.1 2. In whose eyes a vise person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord he that sweareth to his neighbour and disappointeth him not Thou wilt shew me the path of Life in thy presence is the fulness of joy at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore 16.11 I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies 18.3 I was upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore the Lord hath recompenced me according to my Righteousness and according to the cleanness
help me Forsake me not O my God when I am gray-headed until I have shewn thy strength unto this generation and thy power to all them that are yet for to come What great trouble and adversity hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea and broughtest me from the depth of the Earth again O let not the simple go away ashamed but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy name O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that right soon for I am come to great misery help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sins for thy Names sake Turn us O God of our salvation Shew the light of thy countenance and we shall be whole O God of Hosts how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that pray O most merciful God who art great and the multitudes of thy mercies are innumerable Have mercy upon me for my sins are before me presented by the continual accusations of a troubled conscience I have sinned against thee and done evil in thy sight and yet because thou art the God of mercy and fountain of eternal life delighting in the conversion and salvation of a sinner I present unto thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit of a broken and a contrite heart beseeching thee to let the dew of thy favour and the fire of thy love wash away my sins and purifie my soul. Make me a clean heart O God and pure hands though my sins be as scarlet yet make them like wooll though they be as purple yet make them as white as snow Restore the voice of joy and gladness unto me Let me not be ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy favour and presence but give me the comforts of thy help again and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of sin and stablish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God so shall I sing of thy Righteousness and my Lips shall give thee praise in the Congregations of thy Redeemed ones now henceforth and for ever-more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and doest forgive the Sins of all them that be penitent create and make in me a new and contrite Heart that I may worthily lament my Sins and acknowledge my Wickedness that I may obtain of thee the God of all comfort perfect Remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen Another Collect. ALmighty God who through thy only Son Jesus Christ hast overcome Death and opened unto us the Gate of Everlasting Life I humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou doest put in our Minds good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who Liveth and Reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer that we may trust in God only in all our trouble TUrn again thou God of Hosts look down from Heaven behold and visit thy Servant O Lord God of Hosts hear my Prayers hearken O God of Jacob behold O God my defender and look upon the face of thine Anointed O Lord God of Hosts blessed is the Man that putteth his Trust in thee Turn thou me O God of my Saviour and let thine Anger cease from me Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy Salvation Bow down thine ear O Lord and hear me for I am poor and in misery Preserve thou my Soul for I am thy Servant my God save him that putteth his trust in thee Be merciful unto me O Lord for I will daily call upon thee comfort the Soul of thy Servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul for thou O Lord art my Defender and thou art good and gracious and of great mercy to all them that Call upon thee give ear O Lord unto my Prayer and ponder the voice of my humble desires in the time of trouble will I call upon thee for thou hearest me for thou art good and doest wonderful things thou art God alone teach me thy way O Lord for I will walk in thy Truth O knit my Heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name I will thank thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and will praise thy Name for evermore for great is thy Mercy towards me for thou hast delivered my Soul from the neathermost Hell and thou Lord God art full of mercy and compassion long-suffering and of great goodness and Truth O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy Servant and help the Son of thine Handmaid Shew some good Token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helpen and confirmed me O Lord God of my Salvation I have lamented Day and Night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence Encline thine Ear unto my Calling for my soul is full of Trouble and my Life draweth nigh unto Hell thine Indignation lyeth hard upon me and thy hand presseth me sore Unto thee O Lord do I cry and early shall my Prayer come before thee O Lord why oppressest thou my Soul and hidest thy face from me I am in misery like unto him that is at the point of Death Even from my youth up thy Terrours have I suffered with a troubled Mind O Lord God of Hosts who is like unto thee Thy Truth most mighty God is on every side for the Lord is on my side The Lord God of Israel is my Defence the holy One of Israel is my King O Lord where is thy old loving kindness which thou swarest unto David thy Servant in thy Truth Remember Lord the Rebuke that I thy Servant have and how I do bear in my bosom the Rebuke of many People O Lord thou hast been our Refuge from one Generation to another O teach me to number my daies that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom O turn thee again O Lord at the last and be gracious unto thy Servant Satisfie me with thy mercy that soon so shall I rejoyce at thy mercy and be glad all the days of my Life O comfort thou me again after the time wherein thou hast plagued me and for the years wherein I have suffered Adversity Shew thy Servants thy Work and their Children thy Glory for the Lord promised his Blessing and Life for ever more When I called upon thee thou holdest me and enduest my Soul with much strength O Lord thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising thou understandest my thoughts long before thou art about my path and about my bed and espiest out all my waies for loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether Look well O Lord if there be any waies of
through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bondage of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving to God for all his benefits and mercies O Most merciful God whose mercies are as high as the Heavens as many as the moments of eternity thou hast opened thy hand wide to me with thy blessing and the sweet effects of thy loving kindness Thou art pitiful as a Father tender as a Mother careful as a Guardian and exceeding merciful to all them that fear thee I pray thee to fill my soul with apprehension and impresses of thy unspeakable mercy that my thankfulness may be as great as my need of mercy is and let thy merciful loving-kindness endure for ever and ever upon thy poor servant that putteth his trust in thee Keep no anger in store for me Chide me not in thy displeasure Satisfie my mouth with good things Remove all my sins from me as far as the East is from the West Heal all my infirmities and save my life from destruction for all these are mercies that thou delightest it and because I cannot praise thee according to thy excellencies take my soul in thy due time into the land of everlasting praises that I may spend a whole Eternity in ascribing to thy name praise and honour and dominion grant this for Jesus Christ his sake my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God absolve thy people from their offences that through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bonds of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for deliverance from misery and danger O Lord God gracious and good whose mercy endureth for ever in my trouble I cry unto thee for when my heart is brought down through heaviness there is none to help me up or to deliver me out of my distress but only thou O Lord I have sinned I have rebelled against thee and lightly regarded thy counsel I have walked and sate in darkness and in the shadow of death being fast bound in the captivity and misery of sin O bring thou me out of darkness and break my bonds in sunder Guide me through the desert of the world in which grows nothing but sadness and discontent still the tempest and smooth the floods of misery which are ready to overwhelm me and in thy due time bring me to eternal rest and to the Haven where I would fain be that in the Congregation of thy holy people I may praise thee for thy goodness and declare thy wonders that thou hast done for me in delivering me from sins misery and death and bringing me to a City to dwell in where there is life and light and joy eternal in the beholding the face of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. GRant I beseech thee O merciful Lord to thy faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and fear thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for all the mercies and salvation which are given us in Christ Jesus O Most gracious God and most merciful Father my strength and my salvation for thy mercy endureth for ever be thou on my side take part with them that help me and forsake me not in time of need let the voice of joy and health be in my dwelling and when thou chastenest and correctest me for my sins give me not over unto death but fix my faith and hopes upon the head stone in the corner even my Lord Jesus Christ that in all the assaults made against me by my ghostly enemies the right hand of the Lord may have the preheminence and bring mighty things to pass even victory and deliverance unto thy servants that I putting no confidence in the best of men may trust in thee O Lord till at last when thou openest the everlasting gates of righteousness I may enter in and give thee praise and thanks through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would be pleased to pardon my many and great sins and direct me in the waies of Righteousness O Lord my Judge and my Redeemer hearken unto me for thy Truth and Righteousness sake and deliver me from the guilt of all my sins and from those great punishments which are due unto me for the same enter not into judgment with me for in thy sight no man can be justified by any worthiness of his own Endue my soul with a righteousness of a holy life living and working by charity Shew me the way that I should walk in Teach me to do whatsoever pleaseth thee Quicken my soul in the path of life and so continue the conduct of thy Spirit in me that it may never leave me till I be brought forth of this world into the Land of Righteousness to dwell with thee eternally through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready I beseech thee to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which I ask faithfully I may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for the benefit of the holy Gospel particularly of the blessed Sacrament O Blessed Jesu whose Righteousness endureth for ever thy work is worthy to be praised and had in honour for that thou hast been merciful to us and hast given meat even the fruit of a blessed Sacrament unto them that fear thee that by the participation of thy holy Communion we should have thee in remembrance and ever be mindfull of thy Covenant plant in our hearts the fear of thy Name give us wisdom and good understanding make us to have pleasure in thee and all thy works that we obeying the precepts of thy holy Gospel and performing the conditions of thy Covenant which thou hast established for ever in truth and equity in verity and judgment we may worthily praise and adore thy reverend and holy Name among the faithful in this life and in the Congregation of thy Saints in the life to come through thy mercies O blessed Jesu to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory now and for ever more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the supplications of thy people and grant us thy grace all the daies of our life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
happiness in thy heavenly Kingdom In the mean time O Lord whilst it is thy blessed will and pleasure that I may continue to spend and end that small number and remnant of my daies that I may apply my heart to wisdom and as thou dost add daies to my life so I beseech thee to add repentance and amendment to my sinful daies that as I grow in years I may grow in grace and favour with thee and all thy people and to this end give unto me a supply of all those graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me and necessary for me with an increase of all those good gifts wherewith thou hast already endowed me that so I may be the better enabled to lead such a godly life and an honest conversation as that thy Name may thereby be glorified others may take good example by me and my soul may cheerfully feed on the peace of a good conscience and be more replenished with the Joy of the Holy Ghost And here O Lord according to my bounden duty I give the most humble and hearty thanks for all those blessings which of thy goodness thou hast bestowed upon me and namely for that thou hast of thy free grace and love according to thine eternal purpose elected me before the foundation of the world was laid unto salvation in Jesus Christ For that thou hast created me in thine own Image and hast begun to restore that in me which was lost in our First Parents For that thou hast effectually called me by the working of thy Holy Spirit in the Preaching of the Gospel and the Receiving of thy Sacrament to the knowledge of thy saving grace and obedience to thy blessed Will For that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thy only begotten Son from the torment of Hell and thraldom of Satan For that thou hast by Faith in Christ freely justified me who am by nature the child of wrath For that thou hast in good measure justified me by thy Holy Spirit and given me so large a time to repent together with the means of Repentance I thank thee likewise good Lord for my life health wealth liberty food rayment peace prosperity and plenty and for that thou hast preserved me this night from all perils and dangers of soul and body and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day and as thou hast now awakened my body from sleep so I beseech thee to awaken my body from sin and carnal security and as thou hast caused the light of the day to shine in our bodily eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy Word and Holy Spirit to illuminate my understanding and give me grace as one of thy children of light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and all the daies and time of my whole life and that I may endeavour to keep faith and a good conscience towards God and towards all men in all my thoughts words and dealings and so good Lord bless all studies and actions which I shall take in hand this day as that they may tend to thy glory the good of others and the comfort of my own soul and conscience in that day when I shall make my final request unto thee for them O my God keep thy servant that I do not evil unto any man this day and let it be thy blessed will not to suffer the Devil nor his wicked Angels nor any of his evil members or my malicious enemies to have any power to do me any hurt or harm this day but let the eyes of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil and command thy holy Angels to pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety in my going out and my coming in as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name for into thy hands O Father I do here commend my soul and body my actions and all that ever I have to be guided and protected by thee being assured that whatsoever thou takest into thy custody cannot suffer or take any hurt or harm and if I at any time this day shall through frailty forget thee yet Lord I beseech thee do thou in mercy remember me And I pray not alone for my self unto thee O Father but I beseech thee also be merciful unto thy whole Church and chosen people wheresoever they live upon the face of the whole Earth defend them from the rage and tyranny of the Devil the World and Antichrist give thy Gospel a free and a joyful passage through the world for the conversion of those who belong to thine Election and Kingdom Bless the Church and Kingdoms wherein we live with the continuance of peace and true Religion and Justice Defend our gracious King Charles from all his enemies and grant him a long life in health and all happiness to raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family increase in them all heroical and spiritual graces which may make them fit for those places for which thou ordainedst them direct all the Nobility Bishops and Magistrates of this Kingdom and Commonwealth govern thou them that they may govern the Commons in true Religion Justice Obedience and Tranquility Be merciful unto all the people that fear thee and call upon thy Name and comfort as many among them as lie sick or are comfortless in body or mind especially be favourable to all such as suffer any trouble or persecution for the testimony of the Truth and holy Gospel and give them a gracious deliverance out of all their troubles which way it shall seem best to thy wisdom for the glory of thy Name the farther inlarging of the Truth and the more ample increase of their comfort and consolation Hasten thy coming O blessed Saviour and end these sinful daies and give me grace that like a wise Virgin I may be prepared with Oil in my Lamp to meet thee the sweetest Bridegroom of my soul at thy coming whether it be by the day of death or the day of judgment and then Lord Jesus come quickly even Lord Jesus come when thou wilt these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful and necessary both for my soul and my body this day and for ever I humbly beg and crave at thy hands O Father giving thee thy praise and glory in that absolute form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name c. Another Shorter Morning Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father I thine unworthy servant do acknowledge that as I have been born in sin so I have lived in iniquity and broken every one of thy commandments in thought word and deed following the desires of my own will and lusts of my flesh not caring to be governed by thy holy Word and Spirit therefore I have