Throne and the Angels having gathered together Gods Elect from the four Corners of the world and all the kindreds of the earth being brought before the Judgement-feat shall have the Records of their Conscience laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their memory to convince the wicked of the Justice of the Judge in passing the fearful Sentence upon them and to glorifie the mercies of God towards his Redeemed ones and then the righteous Judge shall condemn the wicked to the portion of Devils for ever to a state of torments the second and eternal and intolerable death and the godly being placed on his right hand shall hear the blessed Sentence of Absolution and shall be led by Christ to the participation of the glories of his Fathers Kingdome for ever and ever Amen I believe in the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit Who is the third person of the holy â—…ndivided everblessed Trinity which 〈◊〉 worship and adore and admire â—…ut look upon with wonder and am â—…ot in a capacity to understand I â—…elieve that the Holy Spirit into whose name as of the Father and the â—…on I was baptized is the heavenly Author the Captain the Teacher and the Witness of all the Truths of the Gospel That as the Father sent the Son so the Son from heaven sent the Holy Spirit to lead the Church into all Truth to assist us in all Temptations and to help us in the purchase of all Vertue This Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and our Lord Jesus received him from his Father and sent him into the world who receiving the things of Christ and declaring the same excellent doctrines speaks whatsoever he hath heard from him and instructed the Apostles and builds the Church and produces Faith and confirms our Hope and increases Charity and this Holy Spirit our blessed Lord hath left with his Church for ever by which all the servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary tâ—… Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do and we speaâ—… by the Spirit and work by the Spirit when by his assistances any waâ—… imparted to us we speak or do anâ—… thing of our duty He it is whâ—… inlightens our Understandings 〈◊〉 our Will orders and commands our Affections he comfoâ—… our sorrows supports our spirits iâ—… trouble and enables us by Promisâ—… and Confidences and Gifts to â—…suff for the Lord Jesus and the Gospelâ—… and all these things God the Fathâ—… does for us by his Son and the Soâ—… by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit by all means within and without which are operative upon and proportionable to the nature of reasonable creatures This is he whâ—… works Miracles gives the gifts ofâ—… Prophesie and of interpretation that teaches us what and how tâ—… pray that gives us Zeal and holy Desires who sanctifies children iâ—… Baptism and confirms them with his grace in Confirmation and reproves the world and consecrates Bishops and all the Ministers of the Gospel and absolves the penitent blesses â—…he obedient and comforts the sick and excommunicates the refractary and makes intercession for the Saints that is the Church and those whom he hath blessed appointed and sanctified to these purposes do all these Ministeries by his Authority and his Commandment and his Aids This is he that testifies to our Spirits that we are the sons of God and that makes us to cry Abba Father that is who inspires into us such humble confidences of our being accepted in our hearty and constant endevours to please God that we can with chearfulness and joy call God our Father and expect and hope for the portion of sons both here and hereafter and in the certainty of this hope to work out our salvation with fear and reverence with trembling and joy with distrust of our selves and mighty confidence in God By this holy and ever-blessed Spirit several persons in the Church and every man in his proportion receives the gifts of Wisdome and utterance and Knowledge and Interpretation and Prophecy and Healing and Government and discerning of Spirits and Faith and Tongues and whatsoever can be necessary for the Church in several ages and periods for her beginning for her continuance for her in prosperity and for her in persecution This is the great Promise of the Father and it is the gift of God which he will give to all them that ask him and who live piously and chastely and are persons fit to entertain so Divine a Grace This Holy Spirit God gives to some more to some less according as they are capable They who obey his Motions and love his Presence and improve his Gifts shall have him yet more abundantly but they that grieve the holy Spirit shall lose that which they have and they that extinguish him belong not to Christ but are in the state of reprobation and they that blaspheme this holy Spirit and call him the Spirit of the Devil or the Spirit of Error or folly or do malicious despites to him that is they who on purpose considering and choosing do him hurt by word or by deed so far as iesâ—… in them shall for ever be separated from the presence of God and of Christ and shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Lastly this holy Spirit seals us to the day of Redemption that is God gives us his Holy Spirit as a testimony that he will raise us again at the last day and give us a portion in the glories of his Kingdome in the inheritance of our Lord Jesus The holy Catholick Church I believe that there is and ought to be a visible Company of men professing the service and discipline that is the Religion of the Gospel who agree together in the belief of all the Truths of God revealed by Jesus Christ and in confession of the Articles of this Creed and agree together in praying and praising God through Jesus Christ to reade and hear the Scriptures read and expounded to provoke each other to love and to good works to advance the honour of Christ and to propagate his Faith and Worship I believe this to be a Holy Church Spirituall and not Civill and Secular but sanctified by their Profession and the solemn Rites of it professing holiness and separating from the evil manners of heathens and wicked persons by their Laws and Institutions And this Church is Catholick that is it is not confin'd to the Nation of the Jews as was the old Religion but it is gathered out of all Nations and is not of a differing Faith in differing places but alwayes did doth and ever shall profess the Faith which the Apostles preached and which is contained in this Creed which whosoever believes is a Catholick and a Christian and he that believes not is
THE GOLDEN GROVE OR A MANUALL OF Daily Prayers and Letanies Fitted to the dayes of the Week Containing a short Summary of What is to be Believed Practised Desired ALSO FESTIVAL HYMNS According to the manner of The Ancient Church Composed for the Use of the Devont especially of Younger Persons By the Author of The Great Exemplar London Printed by J. F. for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane 1655. TO The Pious and Devout READER IN this sad declension of Religion the Seers who are appointed to be the Watchmen of the Church cannot but observe that the Supplanters and Underminers are gone out and are digging down the Foundations and having destroy'd all publick Forms of Ecclesiastical Government discountenanc'd an excellent Liturgie taken off the hinges of Unity disgrac'd the Articles of Religion polluted publick Assemblies taken away all cognisance of Schism by mingling all Sects and giving countenance to that against which all Power ought to stand upon their guard There is now nothing left but that we take care that men be Christians For concerning the Ornament and Advantages of Religion we cannot make that provision we desire Incertis de salute de gloriâ minimè certandum For since they who have seen Jerusalem in prosperity and have forgotten the order of the Morning and Evening Sacrifice and the beauty of the Temple will be tempted to neglect so excellent a ministration their assembling themselves together for peace and holy Offices and be content with any thing that is brought to them though it be but the husks and acorns of Prodigals and Swine so they may enjoy their Lands and their Money with it we must now take care that the young men who were born in the Captivity may be taught how to worship the God of Israel after the manner of their fore-fathers till it shall please God that Religion shall return into the Land and dwell safely and grow prâ—…sperously But never did the excellency of Episcopall Government appeare so demonstratively and conspicuously as now Under their conduct and order we had a Church so united so orderly so govern'd a Religion so setled Articles so true sufficient and confess'd Canons so prudent and so obey'd Devotions so regular and constant Sacraments so adorn'd and ministred Churches so beauteous and religious Circumstances of Religion so grave and prudent so useful and apt for edification that the enemies of our Church who serve the Pope in all things and Jesus Christ in some who dare transgress an Institution and Ordinance of Christ but dare not break a Canon of the Pope did despair of prevailing against Us and Truth and knew no hopes but by setting their faces against us to destroy this Government and then they knew they should triumph without any enemy So Balaam the son of Bosor was sent for to curse the people of the Lord in hope that the son of Zippor might prevail against them that had long prospered under the conduct of Moses and Aaron But now in stead of this excellency of Condition and Constitution of Religion the people are fallen under the harrows and saws of impertinent and ignorant Preachers who think all Religion is a Sermon and all Sermons ought to be libels against Truth and old Governours and expound Chapters that the meaning may never be understood and pray that they may be thought able to talk but not to hold their peace they casting not to obtain any thing but Wealth and Victory Power and Plunder and the people have reap'd the fruits apt to grow upon such Crabstocks they grow idle and false hypccrites and careless they deny themselves nothing that is pleasant they despise Religion forget Government and some never think of Heaven and they that do think to go thither in such paths which all the ages of the Church did give men warning of lest they fhould that way go to the Devil But when men have try'd all that they can it is to be suppos'd they will return to the excellency and advantages of the Christian Religion as it is taught by the Church of England for by destroying it no end can be serv'd but of Sin and Folly Faction and Death eternal For besides that no Church that is enemy to this does worship God in that truth of Propositions in that unblameable and pious Liturgie and in preaching the necessities of holy life so much as the Church of England does besides this I say it cannot be persecuted by any Governour that understands his own interest unless he be first abus'd by false Preachers and then prefers his secret opinion before his publick Advantage For no Church in the World is so great a friend to Loyalty and Obedience as she and her Sisters of the same perswasion They that hate Bishops have destroy'd Monarchy and they that would erect an Ecclesiastical Monarchy must consequently subject the Temporal to it And both one and the other would be Supreme in Consciences and they that govern there with an opinion that in all things they ought to be attended to will let their Prince govern others so long as he will be rul'd by them And certainly for a Prince to persecute the Protestant Religion is as if a Physician should endevour to destroy all Medicaments and Fathers kill their Sons and the Master of Ceremonies destroy all Formalities and Courtships and as if the Pope should root out all the Ecclesiastick State Nothing so combines with Government if it be of Gods appointment as the Religion of the Church of England because nothing does more adhere to the Word of God and disregard the crafty advantages of the world If any man shall not decline to try his Title by the Word of God it is certain there is not in the world a better guard for it then the true Protestant Religion as it is taught in our Church But let things be as it please God it is certain that in that day when Truth gets her Victory in that day we shall prevail against all Gods enemies and ours not in the purchases and perquisites of the world but in the rewards and returns of Holiness and Patience and Faith and Charity for by these we worship God and against this interest we cannot serve any thing else In the mean time we must by all means secure the foundation and take care that Religion may be convey'd in all its material parts the same as it was but by new and permitted instruments For let us secure that our young men be good Christians it is easie to make them good Protestants unless they be abus'd with prejudice and suck venome with their milk they cannot leave our Communion till they have reason to reprove our Doctrine There is therefore in the following pages a Compendium of what we are to Believe what to Do and what to Desire It is indeed very little but it is enough to begin with and will serve all persons so long as they need milk and not strong meat And
neither This Catholick Church I believe that is I believe whatsoever all good Christians in all ages and in all places did confess to be the Catholick and Apostolick Faith The Communion of Saints That is the Communion of all Christians because by reason of their holy Faith they are called Saints in Scripture as being begotten by God into a lively Faith and cleansed by Believing and by this Faith and the profession of a holy life in obedience to Jesus Christ they are separated from the world called to the knowledge of the truth justified before God and indued with the holy Spirit of Grace foreknown from the beginning of the world and predestinated by God to be made conformable to the image of his Son here in holiness of life hereafter in a life of glory and they who are Saints in their belief and profession must be so also in their practise and conversation that so they may make their calling and election sure lest they be Saints onely in name and title in their profession and institution and not in manners holiness of living that is lest they be so before men and not before God I believe that all people who desire the benefit of the Gospel are bound to have a fellowship and society with these Saints and communicate with them in their holy things in their Faith and in their Hope and in their Sacraments and in their Prayers and in their publick Assemblies and in their Government and must do to them all the acts of Charity and mutuall help which they can and are required to and without this Communion of Saints and a conjunction with them who believe in God through Jesus Christ there is no salvation to be expected which Communion must be kept in inward things alwayes and by all persons and testified by outward acts alwayes when it is possible and may be done upon just and holy conditions The forgiveness of sins I believe that all the sins I committed before I came to the knowledge of the Truth and all the slips of humane infirmity against which we heartily pray and watch and labour and all the evil habits of which we repent so timely and effectually that we obtain their contrary graces and live in them are fully remitted by the blood of Christ which forgiveness we obtain by Faith and Repentance and therefore are not justified by the Righteousness of Works â—…d by the Righteousness of Faith â—…d we are preserved in the state of â—…rgivenest or justification by the â—…utis of a lively Faith and a timely active Repentance The Resurrection of the body I believe that at the last day all â—…hey whose sins are forgiven and who â—…ived and dyed in the Communion of Saints and in whom the holy Spirit did dwell shall rise from their graves their dead bones shall live and be clothed with flesh and skin and their bodies together with their souls shall enter into the portion of a new life and that this body shall no more see corruption but shall rise to an excellent condition it shall be Spiritual Powerful Immortal and Glorious like unto his glorious body who shall then be our Judge is now our Advocate our Saviour and our Lord And the life Everlasting I believe that they who have their part in this Resurrection shall mâ—… the Lord in the Air and when thâ—… blessed Sentence is pronounc'd upoâ—… them they shall for ever be with thâ—… Lord in joyes unspeakable and fuâ—… of glory God shall wipe all teaâ—… from their eyes there shall be 〈◊〉 fear or sorrow no mourning oâ—… death a friend shall never go away from thence and an enemy shall never enter there shall be fulneâ—… without want light eternal brighteâ—… then the Sun day and no night joy and no weeping difference iâ—… degree and yet all full there is loâ—… without dissimulation excellency without envy multitudes without confusion musick without discord there the Understandings are rich the Will is satisfied the Affections are all love and all joy and they shall reign with God and Christ for ever and ever Amen This is the Catholick Faith which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved Tertull. de velandis Virgin Regula quidem fidei una omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis credendi scil. in unicum Deum Omnipotentem c. Hac lege fidei manente caetera jam disciplinae conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis operante scil. proficiente usque in finem Gratiâ Dei The Rule of Faith is wholly one unalterable never to be mended never changed to wit I believe in God c. This Law of Faith remaining in other things you may encrease and grow S. Aug. de Fide Symb. Haec est fides quae paucis verbis tenenda in symbolo Novellis datur Quae pauca verba fidelibus nota sunt ut credendo subjugentur Deo subjugati rectè vivant â—…ecte vivendo cor mundent corde mundo quod credunt intelligant This is the Faith which in few words is given to Novices These few words are known to all the faithful that by believing they may bâ—… subject to God by this subjectioâ—… they may live well by living wâ—… they may purifie their hearts anâ—… with pure hearts they may reliâ—… and understand what they do believe Max. Taurin de Tradit Symb. Symbolum tessera est 〈◊〉 quo inter Fideles Perfidosâ—… secernitur This Creed is the Badge or Cognisance by which the Faithful are discerned from Unbelievers Hujus Catholici Symboli breviâ—… perfecta Confessio quae duodecim Apostolorum totidem est signata sententiis tam instructa sit in munitione coelesti ut omnes Haereticorum â—…pinionoes solo possint gladio detrunâ—…ri Leo M. ad Pulcheriam Aug. This short and perfect Confession of this Catholick Creed which was consigned by the Sentences of twelve Apostles is so perfect a celestial Armour that all the Opinions of Hereticks may by this alone as with a sword be cut in pieces AGENDA OR Things to be done Inscripta Christo pagina immortalis est Nec obsolescit ullus in coelis apex Prudent {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hymn 10. THE DIARY OR RULE to spend each Day religiously §. 1. â—… SUppose every day to be a day of business for your whole life is a race â—…nd a battel a merchandise and a jourâ—…ey Every day propound to your self 〈◊〉 Rosary or a Chaplet of good Works to â—…resent to God at night 2. Rise as soon as your health and other occasions shall permit but it is good to be as regular as you can and as early Remember he that rises first to Prayer hath a more early title to a blessing But he that changes night into day labour into idleness watchfulness to sleep changes his hopes of blessing into a dream 3. Never let any
thy spirit will by use and custome be made tender and not willing to go less FRIDAY The sixth Decad. 51. HE is a truly charitable and good man who when he receives injuries grieves rather for the malice of him that injures him then for his own suffering who willingly prayes for him that wrongs him and from his heart forgives all his faults who stayes not but quickly asks pardon of others for his errors or mistakes who sooner shews mercy then anger who thinks better of others then himself who offers violence to his appetite and in all things endevours to subdue the flesh to the spirit This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of 〈◊〉 Christian 52. No man can have felicity in two â—…ates of things if he takes it in God â—…ere in him he shall have it hereafter for God will last for ever But if he takes â—…licity in things of this world where will â—…is felicity be when this world is done â—…ither here alone or hereafter must be â—…hy portion 53. Avoid those things in thy self â—…hich in others do most displease thee And remember that as thine eye observes â—…thers so art thou observed by God by Angels and by Men 54. He that puts his confidence in God â—…nely is neither overjoyed in any great good thing of this life nor sorrowful for 〈◊〉 little thing Let God be thy love and â—…hy fear and he also will be thy salvation â—…nd thy refuge 55. Do not omit thy Prayers for want of a good oratory or place to pray in â—…or thy duty for want of temporal 〈◊〉 For he that does both upon Gods account cares not how or what he â—…uffers so he suffer well and be the friend of Christ nor where nor when he prayes so he may do it frequently fervently and acceptably 56. Very often remember and meditate upon the wound and stripes the shame and the pain the death and the burial of our Lord Jesus for nothing will more enable us to bear our cross patiently injuries charitably the labour of Religioâ—…comfortably and censuring words and detractions with meekness and quietness 57. Esteem not thy self to have profited in Religion unless thou thinkest well of others and meanly of thy self Therefore never accuse any but thy self and be that diligently watches himself will be willing enough to be silent concerning others 58. It is no great matter to live lovingly with good natur'd with humble and meek persons but he that can do so with the froward with the wilful and the ignorant with the peevish and perverse he onely hath true charity alwayes remembring that our true solid peace the peace of God consists rather in complying with others then in being complied with in suffering and forbearing rather then in contention and victory 59. Simplicity in our intentions and purity of affections are the two wings of a soul investing it with the robes and resemblances of a Seraphim Intend the honour of God principally and sincerely and mingle not thy affections with any â—…reature but in just subordination to God and to Religion and thou shalt have â—…oy if there be any such thing in this â—…orld For there is no joy but in God â—…nd no sorrow but in an evil Conscience 60. Take not much care what or who is â—…or thee or against thee The judgement of â—…one is to be regarded if Gods judgement be otherwise Thou art neither better nor worse in thy self for any account that is made of thee by any but by God alone â—…ecure that to thee and he will secure â—…ll the rest SATURDAY The seventh Decad. 61. BLessed is he that understands what it is to love Jesus and contends earnestly to be like him Nothing else can satisfie or make us perfect Buâ—… be thou a bearer of his Cross as well as a lover of his Kingdome Suffer tribulation for him or from him with the same spirit thou receivest consolation follow him as well for the bitter Cup of his Passion as for the Loaves and remember that if it be a hard saying Take up my Cross and follow me it is a harder saying Go ye Cursed into Everlasting fire 62. No man can alwayes have the same spirituall pleasure in his Prayers For the greatest Saints have sometimes suffered the banishment of the heart sometimes are fervent sometimes they feel a barrenness of Devotion for this Spirit comes and goes Rest therefore onely in God and in doing thy duty and know That if thou beest overjoyed to day this houre will passe away and temptation and sadnesse will succeed 63. In all afflictions seek rather for Patience then for Comfort If thou preservest that this will return Any man would serve God if he felt pleasure in it alwayes but the virtuous does it when his Soul is full of heavinesse and regards not himselfe but God and hates that consolation that lessens his compunction but loves any thing whereby he is made more humble 64. That which thou doest not understand when thou readest thou shalt â—…nderstand in the day of thy visitation â—…or there are many secrets of Religion â—…hich are not perceived till they be felt â—…nd are not felt but in the day of a great â—…alamity 65. He that prayes despairs not But â—…ad is the condition of him that cannot â—…ray Happy are they that can and do and â—…ove to do it 66. He that will be blessed in his Prayers must make his Prayers his Rule All our duty is there set down because in all our duty we beg the Divine Afâ—…sistance and remember that you are â—…ound to do all those duties for the Divine of which you have prayed for the Divine Assistance 67. Be doing actions of Religion as often as thou canst and thy worldly pleasures as seldome that if thou beest surprised by sudden death it may be oddes but thou mayest be taken at thy Prayers 68. Watch and resist the Devil in all his Temptations and Snares His chief designes are these To hinder thy desire in good to put thee by from any Spirituall employment from Prayers especially from the Meditation of the Passion from the remembrance of thy sins from humble Confession of them from speedy Repentance from the custody of thy Senses and of thy Heart from firm purposes of growing in Grace from reading good Books and frequent receiving the Holy Sacrament It is all one to him if he deceives thee by a lie or by truth whether he amaze or trouble thee by love of the present or fear of the future Watch him but in these things and there will be no part left unarmed in which he can wound thee 69. Remember how the proud have fallen and they who have presumed upon their own strength have been disgraced and that the boldest and greatest talkers in the dayes of peace have been the most dejected and pusillanimous in the day of temptation 70. No man ought to think he hath found peace when nothing troubles him or that God loves him because he hath no
enemy nor that all is well because every thing is according to his minde nor that he is a holy person because he prayes with great sweetness and comfort But he is at peace who is reconciled to God and God loves him â—…hen he hath overcome himself and â—…ll is well when nothing pleases him but God being thankful in the midst of his â—…fflictions and he is holy who when â—…e hath lost his comfort loses nothing of his duty but is still the same when God changes his face towards him POSTVLANDA OR Things to be prayed for Jubet Deus ut petus si non petis displicet non negabit quod petis tu non Petes S. August A FORM of PRAYER By way of Paraphrase Expounding The Lords Prayer Our Father MErciful and Gracious thou gavest me beeing raising me from nothing to be an excellent creation efforming me after thy own Image tenderly feeding me and conducting and strengthning me all my dayes Thou art our Father by a more excellent Mercy adopting us in a new birth to become partakers of the inheritance of Jesus Thou hast given us the portion and the food of Sons O make us to do the duty of Sons that we may never lose our title to so glorious an inheritance Let this excellent Name and Title by which thou hast vouchsafed to relate to us be our Glory and our Confidence our Defence and Guard our Ornament and Strength our Dignity and the endearment of Obedience the Principle of a holy Fear to thee our Father and of Love to thee and to our Brethren partakers of the same Hope and Dignity Unite every member of the Church to thee in holy bands Let there be no more names of Division nor Titles and Ensigns of Error and Partiality Let not us who are Brethren contend but in giving honour to each other and glory to thee contending earnestly for the Faith but not to the breach of Charity nor the denying each others Hope but grant that we may all joyn in the promotion of the honour of thee our Father in celebrating the Name and spreading the Family and propagating the Laws and Institutions the Promises and Dignities of our Elder Brother that despising the transitory entertainments of this world we may labour for and long after the inheritance to which thou hast given us title by adopting us into the dignity of Sons For ever â—…et thy Spirit witness to our Spirit that we â—…re thy children and enable us to cry Abba Father Which art in Heaven Heaven is thy Throne the Earth is thy Footstool From thy Throne thou beholdest all the dwellers upon earth and triest out the hearts of men and nothing is hid from thy sight And as thy Knowledge is infinite so is thy Power uncircumscribed as the utmost Orb of Heaven and thou sittest in thy own Essential Happiness and Tranquillity immoveable and eternal That is our Countrey and thither thy Servants are travelling there is our Father and that is our inheritance there our hearts are for there our treasure is laid up till the day of Recompence Hallowed be thy Name Thy Name O God is glorious and in thy Name is our hope and confidence According to thy Name so is thy praise unto the worlds end They that love thy Name shall be joyfull in thee for thy Name which thou madest to be proclaimed unto thy people is The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty In this glorious Name we worship thee O Lord and all they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee The desire of our soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee Thou art worthy O Lord of honour and praise and glory for ever and ever we confess thy glories we rejoyce in thy mercies we hope in thy Name and thy Saints like it well for thy Name is praised unto the ends of the world it is believed by Faith relied upon by a holy Hope and loved by a great Charity All thy Church celebrates thee with praises and offers to thy Name the Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving Thou O God didst frame our Nature by thy own Image and now thou hast imprinted thy Name upon us we are thy Servants the relatives and domesticks of thy family and thou hast honoured us with the gracious appellative of Christians O let us never dishonour so excellent a Title nor by unworthy usages profane thy holy Name but for ever glorifie it Let our life be answerable to our dignity that our body may be chaste our thoughts clean our words gracious our manners holy and our life useful and iunocent that men seeing our good works may glorifie thee our Father which art in Heaven Thy Kingdome come Thou reignest in Heaven and Earth O do thou rule also in our hearts advance the interest of Religion let thy Gospel be placed in all the regions of the earth and let all Nations come and worship thee laying their proud wills at thy feet submitting their understandings to the obedience of Jesus conforming their affections to thy holy Laws Let thy Kingdome be set up gloriously over us and do thou reign in our spirits by thy Spirit of Grace subdue every lust and inordinate appetite trample upon our pride mortifie all rebellion within us and let all thine and our enemies be brought into captivity that sin may never reign in our mortal bodies but that Christ may reign in our Understanding by Faith in the Will by Charity in the Passions by Mortification in all the members by a right and a chaste use of them And when thy Kingdome that is within us hath flourished and is advanced to that height whither thou hast designed it grant thy Kingdome of Glory may speedily succeed and we thy Servants be admitted to the peace and purity the holiness and glories of that state where thou reignest alone and art all in all Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Thy will O God is the measure of holiness and peace thy Providence the great disposer of all things tying all events together in order to thy glory and the good of thy Servants by a wonderful mysterious Chain of Wisdome Let thy Will also be the measure of our desires for we know that whatsoever thou sayest is true and whatsoever thou doest is good Grant we may submit our wills to thine being patient of evils which thou inflictest lovers of the good which thou commandest haters of all evil which thou forbiddest pleased with all the accidents thou sendest that though our nature is weaker then Angels yet our obedience may be as humble our conformity to thy will may arise up to the degrees of Unity and theirs cannot be more that as they in Heaven so we in Earth may obey thy will promptly chearfully zealously and with
inquisitive after thy will pure and holy thoughts strong and religious purposes and thy grace to perform faithfully what we have promised in the day of our duty or in the day of our calamity Hear our prayers c. O teach us to despise all vanity to fight the battles of the Lord manfully against the Flesh the World and the Devil to spend our time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk alwayes as in thy presence to preserve our souls and bodies in holiness fit for the habitation of the holy Spirit of God Hear our prayers c. Give us a holy and a perfect repentance a well instructed understanding regular affections a constant and a wise heart a good name a fear of thy Majesty and a love of all thy glories above all the things in the world for ever Hear our prayers c. Give us a healthful body and a clear â—…nderstanding the love of our neighbors â—…nd the peace of the Church the publick â—…fe and comfort of thy holy Word and â—…acraments a great love to all Christians â—…nd obedience to our Superiors Eccleâ—…astical and Civil all the dayes of our â—…ife Hear our prayers c. Give us spiritual wisdome that we may â—…iscern what is pleasing to thee and folâ—…ow what belongs unto our peace and let the knowledge and love of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be our guide and our portion all our dayes Hear our prayers c. Give unto us holy dispositions and an active industry in thy service to redeem the time mispent in vanity for thy pity sake take not vengeance of us for our sins but sanctifie our souls and bodies in this life and glorifie them hereafter Hear our prayers c. Our Father c. IV. To be added to the former Letanies according as our Devotions and time will suffer For all states of men and women especially in the Christian Church OBlessed God in mercy remember thine inheritance and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever pity poor mankinde whose portion is misery and folly shame and death But thou art our Redeemer and the lifter up of our head and under the shadow of thy wings shall be our help untill this Tyranny be overpast Have mercy upon us O God and hide not thy self from our petition Preserve O God the Catholick Church in holiness and truth in unity and peace free from persecution or glorious under it that she may for ever advance the honour our of her Lord Jesus for ever represent is Sacrifice and glorifie his Person and â—…dvance his Religion and be accepted of â—…hee in her blessed Lord that being filled with his Spirit she may partake of his â—…lory Have mercy upon us c. Give the spirit of Government and hoâ—…iness to all Christian Kings Princes and Governours grant that their people may obey them and they may obey thee and â—…ive in honesty and peace justice and holy Religion being Nursing Fathers to the Church Advocates for the oppressed Paâ—…rons for the widows and a Sanctuary for the miserable and the fatherless that they may reign with thee for ever in the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to thy servants the Bishops and all the Clergy the spirit of holiness and courage of patience and humility of prudence and diligence to preach and declare thy will by a holy life and wise discourses that they may minister to the good of souls and finde a glorious reward in the day of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to our Relatives our Wives and Children our Friends and Benefactors our Charges our Family c. pardon and support comfort in all their sorrows strength in all their temptations the guard of Angels to preserve them from evil and the conduct of thy holy Spirit to lead them into all good that they doing their duty may feel thy mercies here and partake of thy glories hereafter Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Christian Kingdomes and Common-wealths peace and plenty health and holy Religion to all families of Religion and Nurseries of piety zeal and holiness prudence and unity peace and contentedness To all Schools of Learning quietness and industry freedome from wars and violence factions and envy Have mercy upon us c. Give to all married pairs faith and love charitable and wise compliances sweetness of society and innocence of conversation To all Virgins and Widows great love of Religion a sober and a contented spirit an unwearied attendance to devotion and â—…he offices of holiness protection to the fatherless comfort to the disconsolate paâ—…tience and submission health and spiritual advantages to the sick that they may feel thy comforts for the dayes wherein they have suffered adversity Have mercy upon us c. Be thou a star and a guide to them that travel by land or sea the confidence and comfort of them that are in storms and shipwracks the strength of them that toil in the Mynes and row in the Gallies an instructer to the ignorant to them that are condemn'd to die be thou a guide unto death give chearfulness to every sad heart spiritual strength and proportionable comfort to them that are afflicted by evil spirits pity the â—…unaticks give life and salvation to all to whom thou hast given no understanding accept the stupid and the fools to mercy give liberty to prisoners redemption to captives maintenance to the poor patronage and defence to the oppressed and put a period to the iniquity and to the miseries of all mankinde Have mercy upon us c. Give unto our enemies grace and pardon charity to us and love to thee take away all anger from them and all mistakes from us all misinterpretations and jealousies bring all sinners to repentance and holiness and to all thy Saints and Servants give an increasing love and a persevering duty bring all Turks Jews and Infidels to the knowledge and confession of the Lord Jesus and a participation of all the Promises of the Gospel all the benefits of his Passion to all Hereticks give humility and ingenuity repentance of their errors and grace and power to make amends to the Church and Truth and a publick acknowledgement of a holy faith to the glory of the Lord Jesus Have mercy upon us c. Give to all Merchants faithfulness and truth to the labouring husbandman health and fair seasons of the year and reward his toil with the dew of heaven and the blessings of the earth To all Artizans give diligence in their Callings and a blessing on their labours and on their families To old men piety and perfect repentance a liberal heart and an open hand great religion and desires after heaven To young men give sobriety and chastity health and usefulness an early â—…iety and a persevering duty To all families visited with the rod of God give consclation and a holy use of the affliction and a speedy deliverance To us
dearest union of love and holiness and mine to him in all sweetness and charity and compliance Keep from me all morosity and ungentleness all sullenness and harshness of disposition all pride and vanity all discontentedness and unreasonableness of passion and humour and make me humble and obedient charitable and loving patient and contented useful and observant that we may delight in each other according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance and both of us may rejoyce in thee having our portion in the love and service of God for ever and ever IV. OBlessed Father never suffer any mistakes or discontent any distrustfulness or sorrow any trifling arrests of fancy or unhandsome accident to cause any unkindness between us but let us so dearly love so affectionately observe so religiously attend to each others good and content that we may alwayes please thee and by this learn and practise our duty and greatest love to thee and become mutual helps to each other in the way of godliness that when we have received the blessings of a married life the comforts of society the endearments of a holy and great affection and the dowry of blessed children we may for ever dwell together in the embraces of thy love and glories feasting in the Marriage-supper of the Lamb to eternal ages through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Amen A Prayer for a holy and happy Death Oeternal and holy Jesus who by death hast overcome death and by thy Passion hast taken out its sting and made it to become one of the gates of heaven and an entrance to felicity have mercy upon me now and at the hour of my death let thy grace accompany me all the dayes of my life that I may by a holy conversation and an habitual performance of my duty wait for the coming of our Lord and be ready to enter with thee at whatsoever hour thou shalt come Lord let not my death be in any sense unprovided nor untimely nor hasty but after the manner of men having in it nothing extraordinary but an extraordinary piety and the manifestation of a great and miraculous mercy Let my senses and my understanding be preserved intire till the last of my dayes and grant that I may die the death of the righteous free from debt and deadly sin having first discharged all my obligations of Justice leaving none miserable and unprovided in my departure but be thou the portion of all my friends and relatives and let thy blessing descend upon their heads and abide there till they shall meet me in the bosome of our Lord Preserve me ever in the communion and peace of the Church and bless my Death-bed with the opportunity of a holy and a spiritual Guide with the assistance and guard of Angels with the reception of the holy Sacrament with patience and dereliction of my own desires with a strong faith and a firm and humbled hope with just measures of repentance and great treasures of charity to thee my God and to all the world that my soul in the arms of the holy Jesus may be deposited with safety and joy there to expect the revelation of thy day and then to partake the glories of thy Kingdome O eternal and holy Jesus Amen FESTIVAL HYMNES I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also HYMNS Celebrating the Mysteries and chief Festivals of the Year according to the manner of the Ancient Church fitted to the fancy and devotion of the younger and pious persons Apt for memory and to be joyned to their other PRAYERS Hymns for Advent or the weeks immediately before the Birth of our blessed Saviour I. WHen Lord O when shall we Our dear Salvation see Arise arise Our fainting eyes Have long'd all night and 't was a long one too Man never yet could say He saw more then one day One day of Edens seven The guilty hours there blasted with the breath Of sin and death Have ever since worn a nocturnal hue But thou hast given us hopes that we At length another day shall see Wherein each vile neglected place Gilt with the aspect of thy face Shall be like that the porch and gate of Heaven How long dear God how long See how the Nations throng All humane kinde Knit and combin'd Into one body look for thee their Head Pity our multitude Lord we are vile and rude Headless and sensless without thee Of all things but the want of thy blest face O haste apace And thy bright self to this our body wed That through the influx of thy power Each part that er'st confusion wore May put on order and appear Spruce as the childhood of the year When thou to it shalt so united be Amen The second Hymn for Advent or Christs coming to Jerusalem in triumph LOrd come away Why dost thou stay Thy rode is ready and thy paths made strait With longing expectation wait The Consecration of thy beauteous feet Ride on triumphantly behold we lay Our lusts and proud wills in thy way Hosanna welcome to our hearts Lord here Thou hast a Temple too and full as dear As that of Sion and as full of sin Nothing but Thieves and Robbers dwell therein Enter and chase them forth cleanse the floore Crucifie them that they may never more Profane that holy place Where thou hast chose to set thy face And then if our stiff tongues shall be Mute in the praises of thy Deity The stones out of the Temple wall Shall cry aloud and call Hosanna and thy glorious footsteps greet Amen Hymns for Christmas-day I. MY sterious truth that the self same should be A Lamb a Shepherd and a Lion too Yet such was he Whom first the shepherds knew When they themselves became Sheep to the Shepherd Lambe Shepherd of Men and Angels Lamb of God Lion of Judah by these Titles keep The Wolf from thy indangered Sheep Bring all the world unto thy Fold Let Jews and Gentiles hither come In numbers great that can't be told And call thy Lambs that wander home Glory be to God on high All glories be to th' glorious Deity The second Hymn being a Dialogue between three Shepherds 1. WHere is this blessed Babe That hath made All the world so full of joy And expectation That glorious boy That crowns each Nation With a triumphant wreath of blessedness 2. Where should he be but in the throng And among His Angel Ministers that sing And take wing Just as may Echo to his Voyce And rejoyce When wing and tongue and all May so procure their happiness 3. But he hath other Waiters now A poor Cow An Ox and Mule stand and behold And wonder That a stable should enfold Him that can thunder Chorus O what a gracious God have we How good how great even as our misery The third Hymn Of Christs birth in an Inne THe blessed Virgin travail'd without pain And lodged in an Inne A glorious Star the signe But of a greater guest then ever