would be pleased to Command his holy Angels to take charge of you and to preserve you both in Body and Soul from all evil visible and invisible I rest Your most affectionate and Loving Father T. W. From the Prison at the Castle in Glocester 9 Novembris 1668. For my Worthy Friend Mr. Nathaniel Gwinn Master of the Free-School at Cyrencester these humbly present Most worthy Sir IT is said That if it had not been for Aristotle Alexander had not been Alexander although the Simile may not well hold yet truly what my poor Children have attained unto They and my Self must be very ungrateful if we do not acknowledge it to come from you And therefore Sir I do with all the Offerings of a free heart in all humility return you my humble and hearty thanks for your unheard of Civilities to my poor Sons hoping that your Indulgence to them will not be forgotten when ever it shall please God they may be Capacitated to return those thanks that are due for Obligations of so large a magnitude I must now beg you to contract another trouble upon your self viz. That you would he pleased to peruse the following Meditations and as you shall approve of them â—o give encouragement unto those â—hey are designed for to use them Thus beseeching your Prayers to â—he God of all Recompences for me a poor Prisoner in this Goal I remain Reverend Sir Your most obliged and faithful Servant T. W. From the Castle in Glocester 9 die Novembris 1668. Devout MEDITATIONS For the Morning for every Day in the Week When you awake in the Morning say O Saviour of the World who by thy Crosse and precious Blood hast redeemed us save us and help us we humbly beseech thee O Lord. And afterwards before you stir out of your Bed because the first thoughts ought to be offered to Almighty God say O Lord open thou our lips And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise O Lord deal not with us after our sins Neither reward us after our iniquities Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us OUr Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver uâ— from evil For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen GLory be to God on high Anâ— in Earth peace good will to wards Men. We praise thee we blesâ— thee we worship thee we glorifâ—â— thee we give thanks to thee for thy great Glory O Lord God heavenly King God the Father Almighty O Lord the only begotten Son Jesu Christ O Lord God Lamb of God Son of the Father that takest away the Sins of the World have mercy upon us thou that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us thou that takest away the sins of the world receive our Prayers thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father have mercy upon us For thou only art Holy thou onely art the Lord thou onely O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most high in the glory of God the Father Amen And when you arise out of your Bed make a reverent bow with your body and say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen When you are putting on your Apparel let your thoughts be truly towards God and of his most bountiful goodness towards you at all times and say O Sweet Jesu that the shame of my sinful Soul may not be seen cloath it with the robes of thy Justice and cover it with the Ornaments of all manner of grace and vertues Amen And before you stir out of your Chamber prepare your thoughts for Prayer repairing to some convenient place of the Room and with great reverence bow your body and say the eighth Psalm following O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy Name in all the world thou that hast set thy glory above the Heavens Out of the mouth of very Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger For I will consider the Heavens even the works of thy Fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Thou madest him lower than the Angels to crown him with glory and worship Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet all Sheep and Oxen yea and the Beasts of the field The Fouls of the Air and Fishes of the Sea and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the Seas O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy Name in all the world Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Then kneeling down upon your knees with your heart and hands lift up to Almighty God say In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever Amen O Lord save the King And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee OUr Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen O Everlasting God who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and Men in a wonderful order mercifully grant that as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in Heaven so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on Earth through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent Create and make in us new and Contrite hearts that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchednesse may obtain of thee the God of all Mercy perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty God who seest that we have no power of our selves to help our selves keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O Almighty God whose dwelling is in the highest Heavens and yet vouchsafest to regard the lowest Creature upon
Christ came to visit us in great humility that in the last Day when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead we may rise to the life immortal through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and ever Amen ALmighty and everlasting God which art alwayes more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy forgiving us those things whereof our Conscience is afraid and giving unto us that that our Prayer dare not presume to ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. ALmighty and merciful God of thy bountiful goodnesse keep us from all things that may hurt us that we being ready both in body and soul may with free hearts accomplish those things that thou wouldst have done through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Eternal God Almighty Father of Men and Angels by whose mercy care and Providence I have been preserved blessed comforted and assisted I humbly beg of thee to pardon the sins and follies of this day the weaknesse of my service the strength of my passion the rashnesse of my words and the vanity and evil of my actions O just and dear God how long shall I confesse my sins and pray against them and yet fall under them O let it be so no more let me never return to the follies of which I am ashamed which bring Sorrow and Death and thy displeasure worse than death give me a command over my evil Inclinations and a perfect hatred of sin and a love to thee above all the desires of this world be pleased to bless and preserve me this night from all sin and all violence of Chance and the malice of the Spirits of darknesse watch over me in my sleep or wake and whether I sleep or awake let me be thy Servant be thou first and last in all my thoughts and the guid and continual assistance of all my actions preserve my Body pardon the sins of my Soul sanctifie my Spirit let me alwayes live holy justly and soberly and when I die receive my Soul into thy hands O holy and ever blessed Jesus that I may lye in thy Bosom and long for thy coming and hear thy blessed sentence at dooms-day and live in thy Kingdom singing praises to God for ever and ever Amen Save me Lord waking and keep me sleeping that I may watch with Christ and rest in peace Amen Preserve me as the Apple of thine Eye and protect me under the shadow of thy wings Vouchsafe O Lord to keep me this night without sin Have mercy on me O Lord have have mercy on me Thy mercy be upon me O Lord. As I have put my trust in thee O Lord hear my Prayer And let my Supplication come unto thee VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this Habitation this Countrey and Township wherein I live and repel far from it and them all the snares of the wicked Enemy of Mankind and let thy holy Angels dwell therein to preserve us in peace and thy Blessing be upon us and all that we have and all that belongs unto us both now and for ever through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen God the Father bless me Iesus Christ defend and keep me the vertue of the Holy Ghost illuminate and Sanctifie me this night and for ever Amen Concluding Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Lord Iesu receive my Soul When you are in your Bed and cannot sleep exercise your self in some Spiritual Meditation If thou chance to awake in the dead of the night forthwith imagine thy self present amidst the Quires of Saints and Angels and with sudden Acclamation cry out with them reciting that Himn which they incessantly sing both day and night saying Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus c. Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabboth Heaven and Earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen WHen I had ended these Devotions for the Morning and Evening for your private use I thought to have proceeded no further but when I considered the difference holy Church makes of Dayes some for holy Feasts and others for holy Fasts I thought it convenient to set you out some other Devotions for the great weekly Feast of the Church being the Lords day upon which he did rise from the Grave and that weekly Fast of the Church being Friday upon which he was Crucified besides the Publique I mean those appointed by the Church for those days and your other private Devotions For as those dayes are great in the esteem of the Church so they bring a greater duty with them DEVOTIONS For Sunday Mornings before the Church Prayers begin The fifth Psalm 1. POnder my words O Lord consider my Meditation 2. O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling my King and my God for unto thee will I make my Prayer 3. My voice shalt thou hear betimes O Lord early in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up 4. For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall any evil dwell with thee 5. Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight for thou hatest all them that work vanity 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitfull man 7. But as for me I will come into thine House even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple 8. Lead me O Lord in thy righteousnesse because of mine Enemies make thy way plain before my face 9. For there is no faithfulnesse in his mouth their inward parts are very wickedness 10. Their throat is an open Sepulchre they flatter with their tongue 11. Destroy thou them O God let them perish through their own imaginations cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness for they have rebelled against thee 12. And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoyce they shall ever be giving of thanks because thou defendest them they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee 13. For thou Lord wilt give thy Blessing unto the righteous and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Then humbly kneeling upon your knees say In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever Amen Our Father c. Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions BLessed Lord who hast caused all holy Scripture to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise hear them read
mark learn and inwardly digest them that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen O Lord Jesu Christ who at thy first Coming didst send thy Messenger to prepare thy Way before thee grant that the Ministers and Stewards of thy Mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way by turning the hearts of the disobedience to the wisdom of the just that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable People in thy sight who livest and reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit ever one God world with out end Amen PRevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious favour and further us with thy continual help that in all our works begun continued and ended in thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ God of Patriarks and Prophets God of Apostles and Martyrs God of Virgins and of all Believers I beseech thee have mercy on us thou who didst send thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to redeem us thy Son born of the Virgin Mary by the operation of the Holy Ghost by the Annunciation of the Angel deliver us from eternal death I beseech thee O Lord have compassion on thy Servant judge me not according to my works for I have been disobedient to thy Commandments but thou who lovest Repentance have mercy on me who before thy face make confession of all my sins and for the love of thy holy Name wipe away all my offences Make me to abide in thy holy Catholick Church with an undefiled Faith and pure Heart with a firm devotion and continual love of thee and perseverance in good works to my lives end Deliver me from the eternal pains and everlasting torments which thou hast prepared for the wicked Grant this for our good and blessed Saviours sake by whom and in whom be ascribed to thee all Honour Power and Glory for ever and ever Amen O Almighty and most merciful Father we most humbly beseech thee that we may keep this Day according to the commandment of thee and thy holy Church Give me O Lord true contrition of all the sins I have committed against thee and my neighbour by thought word or deed or by omission of good works which I ought to have done And I most humbly beseech thee most sweet Jesus not to consider the multitude of my sins but remember thy infinite mercy grant me grace to spend this week following without offending thee and for thy death and Passion sake give to all sinners knowledge and grace to be penitent in this world and particularly we intreat thee have mercy on all those for whom thy holy Church commands we should this day pray that with her we may be made partakers of the infinite merits of thy sacred Passion Amen The Litany O God the Father Creator of the world Have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind Have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect. Have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity three Persons and one God Have mercy on us Behold we were Conceived in sin and in Iniquity our Mothers brought us forth Have mercy on us As we have grown in years we have multiplied the number of our offences and every day thy goodness adds to our lives our wickednesse increases the heap of our transgressions Have mercy on us The Law of our body makes War against the Law of our mind and brings us into subjection to Sin that the good which we would we do not and the evil which we would not that we do have mercy on us We have sinned in the vain thought and unlawful desires of our hearts in the idle talk and perverse words of our mouths in the wicked works and fruitlesse course of our lives have mercy on us We have sinned against thee by our Ingratitude for thy Blessings and impatience of thy Chastisements by preferring our selves and the satisfaction of our own inordinate desires before Thee and the observance of thy holy Comandments have mercy on us We have sinned against others in not doing to them as we would they should do to us and against our own Souls in pursuing more eagerly the things of this life than those that belong to our eternal felicity have mercy on us We have sinned in delaying our Repentance and breaking the solemn promises of amending our lives in exposing our selves to the danger of temptation and often omitting the opportunities of thy Service and even our best endeavours are full of imperfections have mercy on us We have sinned in not profiting with the talents of Grace and Nature which thy bounty has committed to our improvment but idly spent that precious time and unthankfully neglected those gracious means which thy goodnesse allows us for the work of our Salvation have mercy on us Have mercy on us most merciful Father and according to the multitude of thy tender Compassions pardon the multitude of our grievous offences Remember what our substance is that we are but as the grass of the field or a vapour that passeth away and returns not again Remember what thou art Infinitely glorious in thy Self and Infinitely good to the least of thy Creatures Remember thy gracious Promises in Jesus Christ and for the Merits of his sacred Passion from all our sins O Lord deliver us From the Evils of this present world from War Pestilence and Famine from all disastrous mischances in our Bodies Minds or Estates from suddain Death and all other thy heavy Judgments O Lord deliver us From the Evils of the world to come from the dreadful Sentence of condemnation and the chains of everlasting darkness from the Worm that dies not and the Fire that shall never be quenched O Lord deliver us From the evil of Sin which is the onely cause of all Misery from the temptations to which by nature or custom we are most exposed from ignorance of thy Will and neglect to perform what we know to be our duty O Lord deliver us From Pride Covetousnesse and Luxury from Envy Gluttony and Anger from a slothful Coldnesse in what concerns our Salvation and from those enormous sins that cry to Heaven for Vengeance O Lord deliver us From Slander rash Judgment and Flattery from self-love vain-glory and hypocrisie from stubbornness and irreverence towards those that are above us from disdain and oppression of such as are below us from the great guilt of inducing other to sin and from the unhappinesse of being perverted by them our selves O Lord deliver us From Error Schism and Heresie from denying thee before men for worldly respects from new and factious interpretation of thy Word and from proudly preferring our private Conceits before the Judgment of
and for ever O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Supplications come unto thee Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesu hear my Prayers Lord Jesu grant my Petitions Our Father c. The Collect for the first Sunday in Lent O Lord who for our sakes didst fast forty dayes and forty nights give us grace to use such abstenence that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousnesse and true holinesse to thy honour and glory which livest and reignest c. The Collect for the third Sunday in Lent WE beseech thee Almighty God look upon the hearty desires of thy humble Servants and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty to be our defence against all our enemies through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Collect for the fourth Sunday in Lent GRant we beseech thee Almighty God that we which for our evil deeds are worthily punished by the Comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved through our Lord Jesus Christ O Merciful Jesu Redeemer of the World whose sacred Head was Crowned with Thorns whose Hands and Feet were extended on a Cross cruelly bored with Nailes whose Side was pierc'd with a Spear and immediately there gusht out Water and Blood whose whole Body was ignominiously Crucified between two Thieves What tongue can express those Innumerable pains which thy Innocence suffered we beseech thee for these so exceeding great torments illuminate our Souls with the light of thy knowledge and moderate our unruly passions strengthen our hands to good works and convert our footsteps into thy wayes direct our thoughts words and deeds according to thy holy Law and in the end of our lives bring us to thy everlasting Kingdom where with thy holy Angels we may praise thee for ever who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost ever one God woâ—ld without end Amen BEhold O holy Father thy dearly beloved Son so cruelly tormented for me Behold most merciful King who it is that suffers and remember for whom he suffers Is it not O Lord thy most innocent Son whom thou hast given to Death that he might Redeem thy Servants Is it not the Authour of Life who being led as a Sheep to the Slaughter was made obedient even to death and that the most cruel kind of death Call to mind O eternal Authour of all goodnesse that this is he whom thou hast begotten of thy Divine Power and vertue yet hast thou made him partaker of my Infirmity and weaknesse Verily this is thy Son the Son of the living God who being clothed with my nature ascended the Gibbet of the Crosse on which he suffered a most dolorous Death O Lord cast the eyes of thy Majesty on the work of thy ineffable bounty behold thy most sweet Son with his whole Body stretched out behold his innocent hands besprinkled with his precious Blood and mercifully pardon those faults which my hands have committed Look upon his naked Side pierced with a Spear and bath my Soul in that sacred Fountain which I believe issued from thence Consider his holy Feet which never stood in the way of sinners but alwaies walked in thy Law with sharp and long Nails fastned to the Crosse and guid my steps in the path of thy Commandments O my God make me hate the wayes of Iniquity and alwayes choose those of truth and Piety O King of Angels and Saints I beseech thee for this Holy of Holies for this my Redeemer make me continually remember his excessive love that I may be united to him in Spirit who hath not disdained to be clad with my flesh Blessed Father feest thou not the Head of thy dear Son with his Neck bending to die behold most meek Creator the Humanity of thy beloved Son and have mercy on the frailty of thy Creature his white and innocent Breast is naked his Side red in his own Blood his extended bowels dried up his fair and beautiful eyes grown dim and faint his royal Visage pale and the streams of his most precious Blood water his pierced Feet Behold O glorious Father the torn Body of thy beloved Son and graciously remember what my substance is behold the sufferings of Jesus thy Son and release the miseries of Man thy Creature behold the punishment of the Redeemer and forgive the offences of the Redeemed This is he O my Lord whom thou hast smitten for the sins of thy People although he was thy beloved in whom thou wast well pleased This is that Innocent in whom there was found no guilt and yet was he reputed among the wicked O Benign Lord pour we beseech thee thy grace into our hearts that we restraining our sins by voluntary Chastisement may rather be afflicted temporally then deputed to eternal Punishments through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen The short LITANY Of our Blessed Saviour JESUS LOrd have mercy on us Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions O God the Father Creator of the World have mercy on us O God the Son Reedeemer of Mankind have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect have mercy on us Holy Trinity one God have mercy on us Jesu Son of the living God have mercy on us Jesu the expresse Image of thy Fathers glory have mercy on us Jesu the bright Candor of eternal Light have mercy on us Jesu the increated Wisdom by whom all things are governed have mercy on us Jesu the Eternal Word made Man for our Redemption have mercy on us Jesu most blessed Son of the Virgin Mary have mercy on us Jesu most powerful have mercy on us Jesu most Glorious have mercy on us Jesu most Humble and Meek have mercy on us Jesu most Patient and Obedient have mercy on us Jesu most Chast and Holy have mercy on us Iesu lover of Poverty have mercy on us Iesu lover of Peace have mercy on us Iesu lover of us ingrateful have mercy on us Iesu who camest down from Heaven to teach us with thine own sacred mouth the truths of Salvation have mercy on us Iesu who Conversed so long on Earth to shew us by thine own holy Example the way to Heaven have mercy on us Iesu who diedst even the death of the Crosse to take off our aversion from whatever passage into Life have mercy on us Iesu who ascendedst into Heaven to confirm our belief and raise up our affections to the sure joyes of Eternity have mercy on us Iesu Author of our Faith and Finisher of our Hope have mercy on us Iesu Supreme Object of our love and over flowing satiety of all our desires have mercy on us Iesu our God blessed for ever have mercy on us Have mercy O Iesu and spare us Have mercy O Iesu and hear us From all
and where miserable Man has committed the trespass the Son of God layes down his own life to satisfie the debt Whither has thy humility descended What has thy fervent love enforced thee to do How far has thy mercy extended it self To what a point is thy compassion come I have done wickedly and thou art punished I have commited a grievous fault and it is laid to thy charge I am the offender and thou art put to the torture I was puffed up with pride and thou art made of no reputation I was disobedient and thou sufferedst the punishment of my rebellion I have pampered my self with delicacies and thou wert often afflicted with hunger and thirst my inordinate affections have made me to do things unlawful thy perfect Charity has brought thee to suffer an ignominious death I presumed to do what I was forbidden and thou submittedst thy self to rebukes even for thy good works I delight in liberty and pleasure and thou art fastened to the Cross with intollerable grief I live at ease and thy hands and feet are pierced with Nails I tast the pleasant apple and thou the bitter gall Eve laugheth and rejoyceth with me blessed Mary laments and sorrows with thee Behold O King of Glory what mine iniquity is and what thy mercy how excessive my wickednesse and how infinite thy goodness O my King and my God what may I possibly offer thee in acknowledgment of thy Bounty mans heart is not able to think much less can his poverty furnish a worthy Oblation for so great benefits I beseech thee therefore for thy mercies sake cause me from henceforth to renounce all the enticements of the World and for love of thee not to fear any adversities by it but despise even Death it self and having perpetually in remembrance the blessednesse of Heaven make no account either of the pleasure or afflictions of this transitory life Let nothing please me but that which is acceptable to thee nor any thing offend me but that which is disagreeable to thy Will let all things besides thee seem tedious to me and may I never be wearied in seeking after thee let no joy delight me that is without thee and let me rejoyce in all afflictions I suffer for thee may the remembrance of thee be my consolation and turn my tears into nourishment whilst I seek thy Righteousness let the Law of thy mouth be more precious to me than thousands of gold and silver let it be my chief delight to obey thee and greatest grief to displease thee I humbly beseech thee my onely hope that thou wilt be propitious to me and pardon all my iniquities open my ears to hear what thou Commandest and suffer not my heart to decline from thee nor through words of wickednesse to seek excuse for my sins but alwayes to keep my self in the paths of thy Commandments that at my death I may be found in the true way to thy Felicity who livest and reignest for ever and ever Amen LOrd have mercy on us Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us Jesu receive our Prayers Lord Jesu grant our Petitions O God the Father Creator of the World have mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind have mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect have mercy on us O Sacred Trinity three Persons and one God have mercy on us Jesu eternal Son of the living God have mercy on us Jesu most blessed Son of the Virgin Mary have mercy on us Jesu God and Man in two Natures one divine Person have mercy on us Jesu the increated Wisdom of the Father by whom all things were made and by the Word of whose Power they are sustained have mercy on us Jesu who for us sinners descendedst from thy Throne of Glory and tookest upon thee the form of a Servant choosing a poor Stable for the place of thy Birth have mercy on us Jesu who in thy holy Circumcision receivedst that blessed Name and after wast declared for the Worlds Redeemer by the Tribute and adoration of Kings have mercy on us Iesu who in the tender age of a new born Child was forc't to save thy life by flying into Aegypt have mercy on us Iesu who becamest subject to thy Parents so much inferiour in dignity to thee and disdainedst not to serve them in their humble life have mercy on us Iesu who after a long concealment of thy self didst publish to the world thy admirable manner of life travelling on foot in poverty hunger and thirst and begging as an alms even a Cup of cold Water have mercy on us Iesu who healedst every where the diseased both in Soul and Body and weariedst thy self to relieve our Infirmities passing the day in Works of Mercy and watching whole Nights in Prayer often retiring alone and Fasting many dayes together to teach us the way and practise of Contemplation have mercy on us Iesu who for our encouragement vouchsafedst to be tempted in the Desart where having there subdued the Enemy of Mankind thy Victory was celebrated by the adoration of Angels have mercy on us Iesu whose sacred Life was a continual course of suffering evil for us and doing good to us opening by thy Doctrine an easie way to Heaven and soliciting by thy Miracles our acceptance of Salvation have mercy on us Iesu who for our Example didst wash thy Disciples feet and for our Comfort didst Institute thy blessed Sacraments have mercy on us Iesu who prostrate with thy face upon the Earth prayedst thrice to thy Father for deliverance and in the fervour of thine Agony swettedst drops of Blood till thou wert relieved by an Angel have mercy on us Iesu who wast betrayed by one of thine own Disciples and forsaken by all the rest who forbadst the resistance of Publick Authority and restoredst to thine Enemy the Ear he had lost in assaulting thee have mercy on us Iesu who for our Redemption deliveredst thy self to the violence of thine Enemies freely suffering them to bind thy hands which even for them had wrought so many Miracles and to spit on thy Face which the Angels behold with joy and adoration have mercy on us Iesu who for us enduredst their malitious impiety to blindfold thy eyes and strike thee on the Cheeks to accuse thee falsly and condemn thee unjustly to compare Barrabas to thee and prefer him before thee have mercy on us Iesu who for us enduredst their barbarous insolence to strip thee of thy Clothes and mock thee with a purple Vestment to wound thy Head with a Crown of Thornes and all thy Body with cruel Scourgings have mercy on us Iesu who for us enduredst their insatiable fury to load thee with a heavy Cross and shamefully Crucifie thee between two Thieves to affront thy thirst with Vinegar and Gall and blaspheme thy meekness with bitter reproaches all which thy incomparable patience chearfully received and offered to thy Father even for thy Persecutors have mercy on us Iesu who having Conquered the power of Darkness releasedst thy Servants from their long Captivity and overcoming Death didst raise thy crucified Body to a glorious Life have mercy on us Iesu who by thy Triumphant Ascension openedst the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers and Seated at the Right hand of thy Father vouchsafedst to become our eternal Mediator have mercy on us Iesu who in thy tender Providence didst send miraculously the Holy Ghost to lead thy Church into all truth and comfort thy Servants in all their tribulations have mercy on us Iesu who at the great and general Day shalt judge severely every one according to his works rewarding thy Servants with Eternal Life and Condemning Sinners to everlasting Death have mercy on us Be merciful O Iesu and pardon our sins Be merciful O Iesu and hear our Prayers O Soveraign Lord and blessed Saviour of the World who by the sole motive of thy Mercy humblest thy self to Death for our Redemption and Ascendedst to thy Father for the full accomplishment of our peace graciously apply to our Souls the infinite merits of thy sacred Passion and with thy precious Blood cleanse us from all our sins nail them to thy Cross and bury them in thy Grave that they may dye in us and we live in thee the life of Grace here and be united to thee in thy Kingdom of Glory hereafter where with the Father and the Holy Ghost thou livest and raignest one God world without end Amen The 121. Psalm I Will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh even from the Lord who hath made Heaven and Earth He will not suffer thy foot to be moved and he that helpeth thee will not sleep Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The Lord himself is thy keeper and the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand So that the Sun shall not burn thee by day neither the Moon by night The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil yea it is even he that shall keep thy Soul The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth for ever more Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen FINIS
Farth I humbly adore thy Sacred Majesty and with all the forces of my Soul exalt and praise thy holy Name for the infinite blessings thou hast so freely bestowed on me for electing me in thy Love and Creating me after thine own Image for Redeeming me by thy Son and Sanctifying me with thy holy Spirit for preserving me in all the chances and encounters of this Life and raising up my thoughts to the hope of a better And particularly for thy gracious protection from the dangers of this night and bringing me safely to the beginning of this day Continue O Lord thy mercy to me and as thou hast awakened my Body from sleep so raise my Soul from sin that I may walk soberly and chastly as in the day in all holy obedience before thy face Deliver me O merciful God from the evils of this day and guid my feet in the wayes of peace Strengthen my Resolution to embrace with gladnesse the opportunities of good and carefully avoid all occasions of sin especially those which I by experience do most endanger my Soul with And when through frailty I forget thee do thou in mercy remember that as I often fall by the evil inclinations of my nature I may alwaies rise again by the good assistance of thy grace make me diligent in the duties of my Condition and not too solicitous for the success of my Affairs but in all the miscarriages and crosses of this world absolutely submit to thy divine pleasure and wholly rely on thy merciful providence Let thy Blessings be upon my Actions and thy grace direct my intentions that the whole Course of my life and principal design of my heart may alwaies tend to the advancement of thy glory the good of others and the eternal salvation of my own Soul through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen I Adore and glorifie thee O blessed Trinity God Omnipotent Father Son and Holy Ghost I offer my self to thy divine Majesty humbly beseeching thee to take from me and from all thy faithful what ever displeaseth thee and give us that which is grateful in thy sight grant that we may here do what thou commandest and hereafter receive what thou promisest To thee O Lord I commend my Soul and Body my Father and Mother my Brethren and Sisters my Kinsfolks and Benefactors my Friends and Familiars and all those for whom I am any wayes bound to offer up my Prayers To thee I commend the holy Catholick Church Grant O Lord all may know thee all may honour and reverence thee all may love thee and be loved by thee those that erre reduce and bring into the way destroy Heresies Convert all to the true Faith who as yet do not know thee grant us O Lord thy grace and conserve us in thy peace May thy holy Will be done and not ours comfort all those that lead their lives in Sorrow Misery or Temptations and mercifully relieve their Afflictions whether Spiritual or Corporal Lastly I commend all universally to thy holy Protection that thou wouldest vouchsafe unto them forgivenesse of all their sins and life everlasting INto the hands of thy unspeakable mercy O Lord I commend my Soul and Body my Sences my Words my Thoughts and all my Actions with all the necessities of my Body and Soul my going forth and coming in my Faith and Conversation and the course and end of my Life the day and hour of my Death my rest and Resurrection with thy Saints and Elect for ever Amen O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Supplications come unto thee Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen ACcept O most gracious God for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ his sake this Office of my Service and if by thy grace I have performed any thing according to my duty in thy Clemency regard it and what I have done with negligence mercifully pardon who livest and reignest one God in perfect Trinity world without end Amen THe Imperial Majesty of God bless me the Regal Divinity protect me the everlasting Deity keep me the glorious Unity comfort me the Incomprehensible Trinity defend me the Inestimable Goodnesse direct me the Power of the Father govern me the Wisdom of the Son quicken me the Vertue of the Holy Ghost illuminate me and defend me from all mine enemies visible and invisible and be with me and preserve me this day and for evermore This being performed arise from off thy knees with reverence making an humble bow with your body and saying Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen At your going forth of the House where you did lodge the night before say privately to your self Shew me O Lord thy wayes and teach me thy paths direct my steps according to thy Word that no Injustice rule over me by the guiding of thy holy Angels make perfect my goings in thy paths that my steps be not moved from the wayes of thy Righteousnesse Devout MEDITATIONS At the time of your going to Bed WHen you have entred your Chamber and your thoughts are retired from your worldly Affairs repair to some convenient place and with great reverence bow your Body and say the thirteenth Psalm HOw long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me How long shall I seek counsel in my Soul and be so vexed in my heart How long shall mine enemies triumph over me Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death Lest mine enemy say I have prevailed against him For if I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at it But my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever O Lord shew thy mercy upon us And grant us thy Salvation Our Father c. ALmighty God give us grace that we may cast away the works of darknesse and put upon us the Armour of light now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus
evil deliver us O Iesu From all sin deliver us O Iesu From everlasting death deliver us O Iesu By the mistery of thy holy Incarnation and humble Nativity deliver us O Iesu By the sanctity of thy heavenly Doctrine and miraculous Life deliver us O Iesu By the Merits of thy bitter Passion and All-reviving death deliver us O Iesu By the joyes of thy victorious Resurrection and triumphant Ascension deliver us O Iesu By the glory of thy eternal Kingdom and Incomprehensible Majesty deliver us O Iesu We Sinners beseech thee hear us That it would please thee to protect and govern thy holy Church which thou hast purchased with thy precious Blood We beseech thee hear us That looking continually on thy admirable Life we may faithfully endeavour to follow thy steps We beseech thee hear us That denying all vicious and inordinate Inclinations we may live soberly justly and piously We beseech thee hear us That through thy love the World may be crucified to us and we to the world We beseech thee hear us That whatever we ask in thy holy Name we may receive through thy infinite Merits We beseech thee hear us Son of God we beseech thee hear us Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Spare us O Iesu Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world hear us O Iesu Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us Our Father c. EVery day will we repeat thy Perfections O glorious Iesu that every day we may grow in our esteem of thee Every day we will attentively reckon over thy Mercies that every day we may still increase in thy love All that we have and are we received from thy Grace Alleluia All we desire and hope we expect in thy Glory Alleluia O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Supplicationâ— come to thee ALmighty God and most merciful Saviour the Light of this VVorld and glory of the next vouchsafe we beseech thee to illuminate our understandings and inflame our wills and sanctifie all the faculties of our Souls that whilest with our lips we recite these Prayers we may inwardly with our hearts adore thy Person and admire thy goodnesse and conform our lives to thy holy example till at length by frequent meditation of the Blisse thou hast prepared for us hereafter we break off our affections from all irregular adherence to this world and place them entirely on the enjoyment of thee who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God world without end Amen GLory honour and praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ may all the world adore thee blessed be thy holy Name who for us sinners vouchsafedst to be born of an humble Virgin and blessed be thine infinite goodnesse who diedst on the Crosse for our Redemption O Jesu Son of God and Saviour of Mankind have mercy on us and so dispose our lives here by thy grace that we may hereafter rejoyce with thee for ever in thy glory Amen ASsist us mercifully O Lord in these our Supplications and Prayers and dispose the way of thy Servants towards the attainment of everlasting Salvation that among all the Changes and Chances of this mortal life they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help through Iesus Christ our Loâ—d Amen The Blessing of God Almighty Father Son and Holy Ghost descend upon us and dwell in our hearts for ever Amen And then devouâ—ly rising up and say The 38. Psalm 1. PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore 3. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin 4. For my wickednesses are gone over mine head and are like a sore burthen too heavy for me to bear 5. My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishness 6. I am brought into so great trouble and misery that I go mourning all the day long 7. For my loins are filled with a sore Disease and there is no whole part in my body 8. I am feeble and sore smitten I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart 9. Lord thou knowest all my desire and my groning is not hid from thee 10. My heart panteth my strengâ—h hath failed me and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me 11. My Lovers and my Neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble and my Kinsmen stood afar off 12. They also that sought after my life laid snares for me and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness and imagined deceit all the day long 13. As for me I was like a deaf man and heard not and as one that is dumb which doth not open his mouth 14. I became even as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofs 15. For in thee O Lord have I put my trust thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God 16 I have required that they even mine enemies should not triumph over me for when my foot slipt they rejoyced greatly against me 17. And I truly am set in the plague and my heaviness is ever in my sight 18. For I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin 19. But mine enemies live and are mighty and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number 20. They also that reward evil for good are against me because I followed the thing that good is 21. Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou far from me 22. Hast thee to help me O Lord God of my Salvation Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The 51. Psalm 1. HAve mercy upon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences 2. Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin 3. For I knowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me 4. Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified in thy saying and clear when thou art judged 5. Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my Mother Conceived me 6. But lo thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly 7. Thou shalt purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow 8. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce 9. Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds 10. Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me 12. O give me the Comfort
of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes unto the wicked and Sinners shall be converted unto thee 14. Deliver me from Blood guiltiness O God thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse 15. Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise 16. For thou desirest no Sacrifice else would I give it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings 17. The Sacrifice of God is a troubled Spirit a broken and contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise 18. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion build thou the walls of Hierusalem 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the Sacrifices of Righteousness with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young Bullocks upon thine Altar Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. About two of the Clock in the Afternoon upon every Friday repair to the place of your Devotions and standing up say The 102. Psalm 1. HEar my Prayer O Lord and let my crying come unto thee 2. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine ears unto me when I call O hear me and that right soon 3. For my dayes are consumed away like smoke and my bones are burnt up as it were a Firebrand 4. My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse so that I forget to eat my bread 5. For the voice of my groning my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh 6. I am become like a Pelican in the Wilderness and like an Owl that is in the desart 7. I have watched and am even as it were a Sparrow that sitteth alone upon the house top 8. Mine enemies revile me all the day long and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me 9. For I have eaten Ashes as it were Bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10. And that because of thine Indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me up and cast me down 11. My dayes are gone like a shadow and I am withered like grass 12. But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever and thy remembrance throughtout all generations 13. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for it is time that thou have mercy upon her yea the time is come 14. And why thy Servants think upon her stones and it pittieth them to see her in the Dust 15. The Heathen shall fear thy Name O Lord and all the Kings of the Earth thy Majesty 16. When the Lord shall build up Sion and when his glory shall appear 17. When he turneth him unto the Prayer of the poor destitute and despiseth not their desire 18. This shall be Written for those that come after and the People which shall be born shall praise the Lord. 19. For he hath looked down from his Sanctuary out of the Heaven did the Lord behold the Earth 20. That he might hear the mournings of such as be in Captivity and deliver the Children appointed unto death 21. That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion and his his Worship at Jerusalem 22. When the People are gathered together and the Kingdoms also to serve the Lord. 23. He brought down my strength in my journey and shortned my days 24. But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my age as for thy years they endure throughout all generations 25. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands 26. They shall perish but thou shalt indure they all shall wax old as doth a garment 27. And as a Vesture thou shalt change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail 28. The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The 130. Psalm 1. OUt of the deep have I called unto thee O Lord Lord hear my voice 2. O let thine ears consider well the voyce of my complaint 3. If thou Lord wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it 4. For there is mercy with thee therefore shalt thou be feared 5. I look for the Lord my Soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust 6. My Soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch I say before the morning watch 7. O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is Mercy and with him is plenteous Redemption 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Then devoutly kneeling upon your knees say Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us O Lord hear our Prayers And let our Cry come unto thee Our Father c. O Most mighty God and merciful Father who hast Compassion upon all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made who wouldest not the death of a Sinner but that he should rather turn from his sin and be saved Mercifully forgive us our trespasses receive and comfort us who are grieved and wearied with the burthen of our sins Thy property is alwayes to have Mercy to thee onely it appertaineth to forgive sins Spare us therefore good Lord spare thy People whom thou hast redeemed Enter not into judgment with thy Servants who are vile earth and miserable Sinners but so turn thine Anger from us who meekly acknowledge our vilenesse and truely repent us of our faults and so make hast to help us in this world that we may ever live with thee in the world to come through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Collect for the Sunday next before Easter day ALmighty and everlasting God who of thy tender love towards Mankind hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer Death upon the Cross that all Mankind should follow the example of his great humility mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his Patience and also be made partakers of his Resurrection through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Collect for Easter even GRant O Lord that as we are baptized into the Death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him and that through the Grave and gate of Death we may pass to our joyful Resurrection for his Merits who dyed and was buryed and rose again for us thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O Most sweet Lord and my Redeemer Jesus Christ who by thy heavenly Father was sent down into this world and willingly of thine own accord sufferedst most cruel and bitter Pains on the Crosse and carried it on thy blessed Shoulders that thy Patience might be to us Salvation and
of Death and the due Preparation to it for there he hath these expressions which for brevities sake I divide into parts First That God would preserve the Supplicant ever in the Communion and peace of the Church Secondly bless his Death-Bed with a holy and Spiritual Guid which is a Priest Thirdly with the assistance and guard of Angels Fourthly with perception of the holy Sacrament Fifthly with patience and dereliction of his own desires Sixthly with a strong faith firm and humble hope Seventhly with just measures of Repentance and greater treansures of Charity to God and all the world therefore never neglect those means that God hath been so graciously pleased to impower his Priests to communicate unto you untill the second Coming of his Son untill which day after you shall depart this transitory world the great God of Heaven grant that your Souls in the Arms of the holy Jesus may be deposited with safety and joy there to expect the revelation of that day and then to pertake of the glories of his Kingdom Amen ANd since I am gone thus far I will proceed a little further to give you a few particulars both of the Church and your behaviour in Publique Assemblies It is impossible to be in this world and to be without Enemies for it was the lot which befel our blessed Saviour and his Apostles so the Church cannot be without them Some especially there are that strike at the very Root of all and say that upon the death of Queen Mary none of the Bishops of the Church of Rome could be prevailed with to Consecrate the Bishops appointed by Queen Elizabeth but that she appointed them by Act of Parliament and so the Succession of Consecration of Bishops from our Saviour Christ and his Apostles failed which could not be continued by Act of Parliament and their succession failing the Successive Power of Ordination of Priests must likewise fail so no Bishop no Priest no Priest no Church but certainly this was but a device of Saunders and some others for Mathew Parker who was Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was the first Bishop Consecrated in Queen Elizabeth her time and was Cannonically Consecrated by Coverdale Scory Barlow and Haskins who were likewise Cannonically Consecrated in the time of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth of all which you may more fully satisfie your self in the Learned Treatise of Mr. Mason upon the Institution of the Bishops of England to which when it will be time for you to be satisfied in the question I refer you and likewise to the learned Dr. Heylin in his Ecclesiastical History of the Church of England both which Books you may find in my Custody And as for the Government Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England I can onely let you know my weak judgment therein and the observations I have made by the reading of many learned and pious Authours that the Frame is as Apostolical and according to the Primitive Institution as possibly could be imagined Two things I observe out of Dr. Heylin speaking of the Opinions of Calvin Luther and Zwinglius how in other Countries they did receive the Reformation of the Church tumultuously but was in England reteyned with more moderation bearing no respect to any other but abolishing such things as were dissonant to Gods Word and reteyned such Ceremonies as without offence the liberty of the Church might establish wherein certainly saith he they dealt more advisedly then their Neighbours who in meer detestation to the Church of Rome abrogated such things altogether which their abuse had defiled though never so decent in themselves and allowed in the Primitive times And certainly saith he I perswade my self had the Reformed party abroad continued an allowable correspondency in some things with the Romish Church as the Church of England doth now it had been to their advantage far greater and lesse stomacked And this was the Censure of Monseur de Rhosney Duke of Sicilly at such time as being Embassador here for the King of France he had observed the Majesty and decency of our Church Service in Cathedrals I have also heard it saith he reported that when Peter du Moulin that great Light of the Church of France heard how indiscreetly some of our English Clergy had silenced themselves because the Cap and Surplice was Commanded he replyed That would the King of France give him a general license to Preach in Paris though it were in a Fools Coat he would most willingly accept the condition and that he never would deprive the Church of those gifts wherewith God had blessed him But it is very true as the said learned Dr. Heylin very worthily observeth that the Iesuits and the Puritans are the very Disturbers of our Peace And a long Experience hath found it so to be For saith he untill the Iesuits are taken out of the Church of Rome and the peevish Puritan Preachers now called Presbyterians out of the Church of Great Brittain there would never be any peace in Christendom For very true it is that in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth those that continued Members of the Church of Rome and yet would not acknowledge the Queens Supremacy yet for the glorious Orders sake of the Service of the Church of England did constantly repair to the English Service and never left the same out of any dislike they had to it but rather in regard of a Decree set forth in the Councel of Trent prohibiting all resort to the Churches of Hereticks which notwithstanding the far greater part continued in their first obedience until the coming over of that roaring Bull from Pope Pius the 5. who being instigated thereunto by means of the Jesuitical Faction by which Bull the Queen was excommunicated the Subjects discharged from their obedience to the Laws And their going or not going to Church made a sign distinctive to difference a Roman Catholick from an English Protestant And truly it is very probable that they might have stood much longer to their first Conformity for all the Decree of Trent and this Bull had not the true Disturbers of the Peace of the Brittish Church come into their Aid which were those Presbyterians of the Zwinglian and Calvinian Opinion who about this time brought in their multitude of Innnovations both in Doctrine and Discipline which Faction were then called Puritans or rather a Name they did appropriate to themselves because of their pretending to a greater Purity in the Service of God than was held forth unto them as they gave it out in the Common Prayer-book and to a greater opposition to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Rome than was agreeable to the constitution of the Church of England But this purity was accompanied with such Irreverence and drew along with it so much Licentiousnesse as gave great Scandal and offence to all sober men And these last thirty years hath given the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland a
very perfect accompt and Experiment of the sad and Hellish effectâ— of their Schismatical Pragmatical and most diabolical opinions so directly opposite to the doctrine of the Prince of Peace that they can never march under his Banner without a sad and serious Repentance Therefore beware the Jesuite with one hand and them with the other for if the Jesuite seize you by one hand or the Presbyterian by the other you shall be then certainly led either into Rebellion or Apostacy or into both for indeed they seldom go asunder From which good Lord deliver you and all good people Amen WHen ever you hear the Bell toll for the publique Prayers of the Church presently take into your thoughts the great goodnesse of God in Redemption of the World by his blessed Son and your own unworthinesse occasioned by your evil Custom of sin and with this Meditation repair to the Church But if it should happen that you are in such a place that you cannot go to the Church as my unhappinesse is at this present and I pray God deliver you from the like then if opportunity will give you leave upon your knees beseech God that you may pertake of the benefit of the Prayers of the Church When you are come to the Church and entring within the Gates thereof make a reverend bow towards the East end and say GLory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen When Prayers are beginning make a reverent bow and be very ready in all the Responsals of the Church Liturgy If it shall so happen that you may hear a Sermon and not the Service of the Church or the Church Service and not a Sermon rather make choice to hear the Service of the Church than a Sermon although if your occasions will permit you neglect not the other When you are in the Church where you meet with God and his holy Angels never behave your selves irreverently but attend your duty there with all reverent postures as your head being uncovered and not sitting at any part of the Divine Service considering the businesse you have there is either to hear God speak to you by his Priest or you speaking to God in your Prayers As we ought to take all opportunities of serving of God so I would advise you when ever you come to any place where you never were before privately to your self at your entrance desire God to bless your coming thither and say OUr Father which art in Heaven c. And if you come to any place where you have been before then privately to your self desire of God pardon for the sins you have committed and praise his holy Name for all his Mercies you have received since you were last there and say OUr Father which art in Heaven c. When ever you come to any Town or other place about any businesse where you may hear the publick Prayers of the Church so order your affairs as to do that before you go about your other businesse that God may give a greater blessing to your endeavours and the better success in what you came about When any poor person shall beg of you meditate with your self what a great blessing God hath bestowed upon you that you are not the person begging of him and what you can spare freely but privately give Remember to hold your peace in such things as appertain not to you use no extravagant speeches or gestures at any time but especially in open or publick Assemblies but in all things observe a grave modesty and discretion In all things desire and prefer that which may most redound to the greater service of God as to comfort the afflicted to reconcile the discentious to visit the Imprisoned and relieve the poor Observe the learned and pious Dr. Taylor in his History of the Life and Death of the holy Jesus in his Discourse of Prayer saith he That Prayer in publick or private in the Communion or Society of Saints or in our Closets these prayers have lesse temptation or vanity than others have more advantage of Charity example fervour and energy In publick Offices we avoid singularity in the private we avoid hypocrisie those are of more edification these of greater retirednesse and silence of spirits those serve the needs of all the world in the first Intention and our own by consequence these serve our needs first and the publick only by a secondary intention these have more pleasure they more duty these are the best instruments of Repentance where our confessions may be more particular and our shame lesse scandalous the other are better for Eucharist and Instrustion for edification of the Church and glorification of God The Postures of our Bodies in Prayer had as great variety as the severiâ—ies and Civilities of several Nations came to The Jews most commonly prayed standing so did the Pharisees and the Publicans in the Temple so did the Primitive Christians in all their greater Feastivals and Intervals of Jubilee In their Pennances they kneeled the Monks in Cassia sate when they sung the Psalter and in every Country whatsoever by the Custom of the Nation was a Symbole of Reverence and humility of silence and attention of gravity and modesty that posture they translâ—ted to their prayers but in all Nations bowing the Head that is a laying down our glory at the feet of God was the manner of Worshippers And this was alwayes the more humble and the lower as their devotion was higher and was very often expressed by prostration or laying flat upon the ground And this all Nations did and all Religions Our deportment ought to be grave decent humble apt for adoration apt to edifie and when we address our selves to Prayer not instantly leap into the Office as the Judges of the Areopage into their Sentence without preface or preparatory affections but considering in what presence we speak and to what purposes let us behave our selves with reverential fear And when we have done not rise from the ground as if we vaulted or were glad we had done but as we begin with desires of assistance so end with desires of pardon and acceptance concluding our longer Offices with a shorter mental prayer of a more private reflexion and reference designing to mend what we have done amisse or to give thanks and proceed if we did well and according to our powers In private Prayer it is permitted to every man to speak his prayers or onely to think them which is a speaking to God Vocal or Mental prayer is all one to God but in order to us they have their several advantages the Sacrifice of the heart and the Calves of the lips make up a Holocaust to God but words are the arrest of the desires and keep the Spirit fixt and in lesse permissions to wander from fancy to fancy and mental Prayer is apt to make the greater fervour if
these thy gifts in me as to expel out of my heart whatever displeaseth thee and deliver me from all iniquities troubles and evils in which I am encumbred Dispose all my thoughts words and deeds agreeable to thy Will Preserve me in all Conditions both of Adversity and Prosperity and bring me at last to the happy and most desired joyes of thy sight who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen O My Soveraign Lord Jesu Son of Almighty God and of the most pure and glorious Virgin Mary who sufferedst that bitter Death for me and all Mankind and didst rise again the third day I beseech thee Lord have mercy on me a Sinner yet thy Creature And for thy Passions sake preserve me from all perils of Body and Soul especially those that may turn to thy Displeasure With all my heart I thank thee most gracious Lord for the great mercies thou hast shewed me in the imminent dangers to which I have been exposed and as thy grace has alwayes kept me from the hour of my birth to this day so Lord I beseech thee that thy mercy may continue my safety And for my great offence ingratitude and all my sinful life humbly I ask thy pardon And since I cannot lead such a life as becomes thy Servant I meekly prostrate my self and say God be merciful to me a Sinner I blesse thee most gracious God for all the benefits thou hast so largely bestowed on me rendring all honour and praise to thy holy Name who livest and reignest one God world without end Amen LEt Heaven and Earth joyn together with joy and the Quires of Angels with the voices of Men to sing eternal praises to God in Trinity and Unity for the mercies received in the admirable work of our Redemption Amen WE thank thee O Lord God merciful Father for vouchsafing to send thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ to dye for us sinners the most shameful Death of the Crosâ— that he might offer himself to thee a most pure holy and acceptable Sacrifice for our offences and thereby purge our wicked Consciences from all spots of uncleannesse By this thy exceeding great love unto us and by these most bitter torments of thy Son our Saviour we humbly beseech thee impart to us continually the fruits of his Redemption and make us daily dye to the World and be crucified to the lusts and desires of the Flesh and to live to thee onely all our life that in the end we may rejoyce everlastingly in thy Kingdom where with thy eternal Son and the Holy Ghost thou livest and reignest one God for ever and ever Amen THe Soul of Christ sanctifie me the Body of Christ save me the water of the Side of Christ wash me O good Jesu hear me within thy wounds hide me suffer me not to be separated from thee from the malignant enemy defend me and bid me come to thee that with thy Saints I may praise thee for all eternity Amen Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us O Lord hear us O Christ hear us Our Father c. Lord hear our Prayers And let our cry come unto thee THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore The 56. Psalm 1. BE merciful unto me O God for Man goeth about to devour me he is daily fighting and troubling me 2. Mine enemies are daily in hand to swallow me up for they be many that fight against me O thou most Highest 3. Nevertheless though I am sometime afraid yet put I my trust in thee 4. I will praise God because of his Word I have put my trust in God and will not fear what flesh can do unto me 5. They daily mistake my words all that they imagine is to do me evil 6. They hold altogether and keep themselves close and mark my steps when they lay wait for my Soul 7. Shall they escape for their wickednesse thou O God in thy displeasure shalt cast them down 8 Thou tellest my flittings put my tears into thy bottle are not these things noted in thy Book 9. Whensoever I call upon thee then shall my enemies be put to flight this I know for God is on my side 10. In Gods woâ—d will I rejoyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me 11. Yea in God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me 12. Unto thee O God will I pay my vows unto thee will I give thanks 13. For thou hast delivered my Soul from death and my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Devotions for every FRIDAY in LENT More especially for GOOD-FRIDAY Psalm 120. WHen I was in trouble I called upon the Lord and he heard me Deliver my Soul O Lord from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue What Reward shall be given or done unto thee thou false tongue even mighty and sharp Arrows with hot burning Coals Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meseck and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar My Soul hath long dwelt among them that are enemies to peace I labour for peace but when I speak unto them thereof they make them ready to Battel Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen WHat hast thou done sweet Jesus that thou shouldest have this Judgement What hast thou done that thou shouldest be thus straightly dealt with What is thy offence What is thy guilt What the cause of thy death What the occasion of thy Condemnation I truly am cause of thy trouble my fault hath made thee been slain my wicked life has brought thee to this death vengeance is taken of thee for my crimes Thou art thus tormented for me and I the occasion of all thy smart O mervellous order of Judgment O strange and mysterious proceeding the Wicked sinneth and the Just is punished the Guilty offends and the Innocent is chastised the Sinner transgresseth and the Godly is condemned that which the Bad has deserved the Good suffers what the Servant has done amiss the Master undertake to recompense