The practice of Christian graces, or, The whole duty of man laid down in a plaine and familiar way for the use of all, but especially the meanest reader : divided into XVII chapters, one whereof being read every Lords Day, the whole may be read over thrice in the year : with Private devotions for several occasions...

ANOTHER.

O BLESSED Jesus, who once offeredst up thy self for me upon the Cross, and now offerest thy self to me in the Sacrament, let not, I beseech thee, my impenitence and un∣worthiness frustrate these so inestimable mer∣cies to me, but qualifie me by thy grace to re∣ceive the full benefit of them. O Lord, I have abundant need of thee, but am so clog'd with guilt, so holden with the cords of my sins, that I am not able to move towards thee, O lose me from this band, wherewith Satan and my own lusts have bound me, and draw me that I may run after thee. Lord, thou seest daily how eagerly I pursue the paths that lead to death, but when thou invitest me to life and glory, I turn my back and forsake my own mercy. How often hath this feast been prepared, and I have with frivilous excuses absented my self, or if I have come, it hath been rather to defie then to adore thee, I have brought such troops of thy professed enemies, unrepented sins along with me, as if I ••ame not to commemorate, but renew thy passion, crucifying thee afresh, and putting thee to open shame: and now of what punishment shall I be thought worthy, who have thus trampled under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing! yet O merciful Jesu, this blood is my onely r••••••ge, O let this make my atonement

or I perish eternally, wherefore didst thou shed it, but to save sinners, neither can the merit of it be overwhelmed either by the greatness or number of sins. I am a sinner, a great one, O let me find its saving efficacy. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful to me for my soul trusteth in thee, and in the clefts of thy wound, shall be my refuge until thy fathers indignation be overpast. O thou, who hast as my high Priest sacrificed for me, inter∣cede for me also, and plead thy meritorious sufferings on my behalfe, and suffer not, O my Redeemer, the price of thy blood to be ut∣terly lost: And grant, O Lord, that as the sins I have to be forgiven are many, so I may love much: Lord thou seest what faint, what cold affections I have towards thee, O warm and enliven them; and as in this Sacrament, that transcendent love of thine in dying for me is shewed forth; so I beseech thee, let it convey such grace into me, as may enable me to make some returns of love: O let this divine fire descend from heaven into my soul, and let my sins be the burnt offering for it to consume, that there may not any corrupt af∣fection, any accursed thing be shelterd in my heart, that I may never again defile that place, which thou hast chosen for thy temple. Thou dyedst, O dear Jesu to redeem me from all iniquity, O let me not again sell my self to work wickedness, but grant that I may ap∣proach thee at this time with most sincere and fixed resolutions of an entire reformation,

and let me receive such grace, and strength from thee, as may enable me faithfully to per∣form them: Lord, there are many old habi∣tuated diseases, my soul groanes under. [Her mention thy most prevailing corruptions.] And though I lye never so long at the pool of Be∣thesda, come never so often to thy table, yet unless thou be pleased to put forth thy heal∣ing vertue, they will still remain uncured. O thou blessed Physician of souls, heal me, and grant I may now so touch thee, that every one of these loath some issues may immediate∣ly stanch▪ that these sicknesses may not be unto death but unto the glory of thy mercy in par∣doning, to the glory of thy grace in purifying so polluted a wretch. O Christ, hear me, and grant I may now approach thee with such hu∣mility and contrition, love and devotion, that thou maist vouchsafe to come unto me, and abide with me, communicating to me thy self, and all the merits of thy passion. And then, O Lord, let no accusations of Satan, o•• my own conscience amaze or distract me, bu•• having peace with thee, let me also have peace in my self, that this wine may make glad, this bread of life may strengthen my heart, and enable me cheerfully to run the way of thy Commandments. Grant this merciful Saviour▪ I beseech thee, for thine own bowels and com∣passions sake.