Scala sancta: or The exaltation of the soul. Being a train of pious thoughts, compleating the whole duty of man: or, Devotions compiled by R.A. Gent. in his solitudes.

A Prayer for the Protection of the godly, and a Meditation of the great Works of God in the destruction of the wicked.

I Will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help; my help cometh even from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is my defence upon my right hand: The Lord shall pre∣serve me from all evil; yea, it is even he that shall keep my soul. The Lord shall preserve my going out, and my coming 〈◊〉〈◊〉

from this time forth and for ever more, unto thee I lift up mine eyes. O thou that dwellest in the Heavens, have mercy upon me, for I am utterly despised, yet my help standeth in the Name of the Lord, which hath made Heaven and Earth. They that put their trust in the Lord, shall be even as the Mount Sion, which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever. Do well, O Lord, unto those that be good and true of heart, and reform what is amiss in me, for thy mercy sake. O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If thou Lord, wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? for there is mercy with thee, therefore thou shalt be feared. O Lord God, thou art the highest for evermore, thy works are glorious, and thy thoughts are very deep: make my heart and tongue loud instruments of thy praises, that I may tell of thy mercy in the morning, and of thy truth in the night season; that I may re∣joyce in giving thee thanks for the opera∣tions of thy hand all the daies and nights of my whole life. Let thy merciful kind∣ness descend evermore upon the righteous, that they may flourish like a Palm Tree, being continually watered with the dew

of temporal and spiritual blessings, and may bring forth fruit of a holy conversa∣tion, and grant that thy servant being planted in the house of God, and firmly fixt in the blessed communion of Saints, may flourish in the Courts of thy house, and in thy Ecclesiastical Temple to all Eternity. O let not my portion be amongst the ungodly and unrighteous. Make me not to communicate in their wickedness, so much as by consent or approbation, that I may never perish and be destroyed in the furiousness of thine anger, which thou treasurest up against the day of ven∣geance, and righteous Judgment, even the day of the appearing of my Lord and Sa∣viour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Collect.

ALmighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh, that thy faith∣ful people do give unto thee all true and laudable service, grant I beseech thee that I may faithfully serve thee in this life, that I fail not faithfully to attain thy heavenly promise, through the merits of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.