A choice manual containing what is to be believed, practised, and desired or prayed for; the prayers being fitted to the several days of the week. Also festival hymns, according to the manner of the ancient church. Composed for the use of the devout, especially of younger persons, by Jeremy Taylor, D.D.

LITANIES FOR All Things and Persons.

O God the Father of Mercies, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon thy Servants, and hear the prayers of us miserable sinners.

O Blessed Jesus, the Fountain of Peace and Pardon, our Wisdom and our Righteousness, our Sanctification and Redemption, have mercy upon thy Ser∣vants, refuse not to hear the Prayers of us miserable, sorrowful and returning sinners.

O Holy and Divinest Spirit of the Fa∣ther, help our infirmities; for of our selves we know not what to ask, nor how to pray; but do thou assist and be present in the desires of us miserable sin∣ners.

I. For Pardon of Sins.

REmember not, Lord, the follies of our childhood, nor the lusts of our youth, the wildness of our head, nor the wandrings of our heart; the infinite sins of our tongue, and the inexcusable errours of the days of vanity.

Lord, have mercy upon us poor miserable sinners.

Remember not, O Lord, the growing iniquities of our elder age, the pride of our spirit, the abuse of our members, the greediness of our purposes, the peevish∣ness and violence of all our passions and affections.

Lord, have mercy, &c.

Remember not, O Lord, how we have been full of envy and malice, anger and revenge; fierce and earnest in the pur∣chases and vanities of the world, and la∣zy and dull, slow and soon weary in the things of God and of Religion.

Lord, have mercy, &c.

Remember not, O Lord, our unchari∣table behaviour •…•…towards those with whom we have conversed, our jealousies and suspitions, our evil surmisings and evil reportings, the breach of our pro∣mises to men, and the breach of all our holy vows made to thee our God.

Lord, have mercy, &c.

Remember not, O Lord, how often we have omitted the several parts and actions of our duty; for our sins of Omission are infinite, and we have not sought after the Righteousness of God, but have rested in carelesness and for∣getfulness, in a false peace and a silent Conscience.

Lord, have mercy, &c.

O most gracious Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servants, lest we be consumed in thy wrath and just displea∣sure; from which,

Good Lord, deliver us, and preserve thy servants for ever.

II. For Deliverance from Evils.

FRom gross ignorance and stupid neg∣ligence, from a wandring head and a trifling spirit, from the violence and rule of passion, from a servile will and a commanding lust, from all intempe∣rance, inordination and irregularity whatsoever.

Good Lord, deliver and preserve thy servants for ever.

From a covetous mind and greedy desires, from lustful thoughts and a wan∣ton eye, from rebellious members and the pride and vanity of spirit, from false o∣pinions and ignorant confidences,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From improvidence and prodigality, from envy and the spirit of slander, from idleness and sensuality, from presumpti∣on and despair, from sinful actions and all vitious habits,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From fierceness of rage and hastiness

of spirit, from clamorous and reproach∣ful language, from peevish anger and in∣humane malice, from the spirit of con∣tention and hasty and indiscreet zeal,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From a schismatical and heretical spi∣rit, from tyranny and tumults, from se∣dition and factions, from envying the Grace of God in our Brother, from im∣penitence and hardness of heart, from obstinacy and apostasie, from delighting in sin and hating God and good men,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From fornication and adultery, from unnatural desires and unnatural hatreds, from gluttony and drunkenness, from loving and believing lyes, and taking pleasure in the remembrances of evil things, from delighting in our Neigh∣bour's misery and procuring it, from upbraiding others and hating reproof of our selves,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From impudence and shame, from contempt and scorn, from oppression and cruelty, from a pitiless and unrelenting

spirit, from a churlish behaviour and un∣decent usages of our selves or others.

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From famine and pestilence, from noisome and infectious deseases, from sharp and intolerable pains, from impa∣tience and tediousness of spirit, from a state of temptation and hardened con∣sciences,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From banishment and prison, from widowhood and want, from violence of pains and passions, from tempests and earthquakes, from the rage of fire and water, from Rebellion and Treason, from fretfulness and inordinate cares, from murmuring against God and disobedi∣ence to the Divine Commandment,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From delaying our rep•…•…ntance and persevering in sin, from false principles and prejudices, from un•…•…hankfulness and irreligion, from seducing others and be∣ing abused our selves, from the malice and craftiness of the Devil, and the de∣ceit and lyings of the World.

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From wounds and murther, from pre∣cipices and falls, from fracture of bones and dislocation of joynts, from dismem∣bring our bodies and all infatuation of our Souls, from folly and madness, from uncertainty of mind and state, and from a certainty of sinning,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From Thunder and lightning, from phantasms. Spectres and illusions of the night, from sudden and great Changes, from the snares of wealth and the con∣tempt of beggery and extreme poverty, from being made an example and a war∣ning to others by suffering sad judg∣ments our selves,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From condemning others and justify∣ing our selves, from misspending our time and abusing thy Grace, from calling good evil and evil good, from consenting to folly and tempting others,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From excess in speaking and peevish silence, from looser laughing and immo∣derate weeping, from giving evil ex∣ample

to others or following any our selves, from giving or receiving scandal, from the horrible sentence of endless death and damnation,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From cursing and swearing, from un∣charitable chiding and easiness to believe evil, from the evil spirit that walketh at noon and the arrow that flieth in dark∣ness, from the Angel of wrath and pe∣rishing in popular diseases

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From the want of a Spiritual Guide, from a famine of the Word and Sacra∣mants, from hurtful persecution, and from taking part with persecutors,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From drowning or being burnt alive, from sleepless nights and contentious days, from a melancholick and a confu∣sed spirit, from violent fears and the loss of reason, from a vitious life and a sud∣den and unprovided death,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From relying upon vain fancies and

false foundations, from an evil and an amazed Conscience, from sinning near the end of our life, and from despairing in the day of our death,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

From hypocrisie and wilfulness, from self-love and vain ambition, from curio∣sity and carelesnes, from being tempted in the days of our weakness, from the prevailing of the flesh and grieving the Spirit, from all thy wrath, and from all our sins,

Good Lord, deliver, &c.

III. For gifts and graces.

HEar our Prayer, O Lord, and consider our desire, hearken unto us for thy truth and righteousness sake: O hide not thy face from us, neither cast away thy servants in displeasure.

Give unto us the spirit of Prayer, fre∣quent and fervent, holy and perseve∣ring; an unreprovable•…•… Faith, a just

and an humble Hope, and a never-failing Charity.

Hear our Prayers, O Lord, and consider our desire.

Give unto us true humility, a meek and a quiet spirit, a loving and a friend∣ly, a holy and a useful conversation, bear∣ing the burthens of our neighbours, de∣nying our selves, and studying to benefit others, and to please thee in all things.

Hear our Prayers, &c

Give us a prudent and a sober, a just and a sincere, a temperate and a religi∣ous spirit, a great contempt of the world, a love of holy things, and a longing after Heaven, and the instruments and paths that lead thither.

Hear our Prayers, &c

Grant us to be thankful to our Bene factors, righteous in performing promi∣ses, loving to our relatives, careful of our charges; to be gentle and easie to be intreated, slow to anger, and fully in∣structed and readily prepared for every good work.

Hear our Prayers, &c.

Give us a peaceable spirit and a peaceable life, free from debt and dead∣ly sin; grace to abstain from appearances of evil, and to do nothing but what is of good report, to confess Christ and his holy Religion, by a holy and obedient life, and a mind ready to die for him when he shall call us and assist us.

Hear our Prayers, &c.

Give to thy servants a watchful and an observing Spirit, diligent in doing our duty, inflexible to evil, obedient to thy word, inquisitive after thy will, pure and holy thoughts, strong and religious pur∣poses, and thy grace to perform faith∣fully 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 battels 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 always 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 repen∣tance, a well-instructed understanding, regular affections, a constant and a wise heart, a good name, a fear of thy Ma∣jesty, 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 understanding, the love of our neigh∣bours and the peace of the Church, the publick use and comforts of thy holy Word and Sacraments, a great love to all Christians, and obedience to our Su∣periours Ecclesiastical and Civil all the days of our life.

Hear our Prayers, &c.

Give us Spiritual Wisdom, that we may discern what is pleasing to thee, and follow 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 days.

Hear our Prayers, &c.

Give unto us holy dispositions, and an active industry in thy service, to re∣deem the time mis-spent 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 Li•…•…anies, according as our Devotions and time will su•…•…fe•…•….

For all states of Men and Women, especially in the Christian Church.

O Blessed God, in mercy remember thine inheritance, and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever; pity poor mankind, 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, until this Ty∣ranny be over-past.

Have mercy upon us, O God, and hid 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 of our Lord Jesus, for ever represent his Sacrifice, and glo∣rifie his Person, and advance his Reli∣gion, and be accepted of thee in her blessed Lord; that being filled with his Spirit, she may partake of his glory.

Have mercy upon us, &c.

Give the spirit of Government and Holiness to all Christian Kings, Princes and Governours: grant that their peo∣ple may obey them, and they may obey thee, and live in honesty and peace, ju∣stice and holy Religion, being Nursing∣fathers to the Church, Advocates for the oppressed, Patrons for the widows, and a Sanctuary for the miserable and the fa∣therless; that they may reign with thee for ever in the Kingdom 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 find a glorious re∣ward in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Have mercy npon 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 sor∣rows, strength in all 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 do∣ing their duty, may feel thy mercies here, and partake of thy glories hereafter.

Have mercy upon us,&c.

Give to all Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths peace and plenty, health and holy Religion; to all Fami∣lies of Religion and Nurseries of Piety zeal and holiness, prudence and unity, peace and contentedness; to all Schools of Learning quietness and industry, free∣dom

from wars and violence, factions and envy.

Have mercy upon us, &c.

Give to all married persons faith and love, charitable and wise compliances, sweetness of society and innocence of conversation; to all Virgins and Wi∣dows great love of Religion, a sober and a contented spirit, an unwearied atten∣dance to devotion and the offices of ho∣liness: protection to the fatherless, com∣fort to the disconsolate, patience and submission, health and spiritual advanta∣ges to the sick; that they may feel thy comforts for the days 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 shipwrecks, the strength of them that toil in the Mines and row in the Gallies, an instructer to the ignorant; to them that are condemned 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 luna∣ticks, give life and salvation to all to whom thou hast given no understand∣ing, accept the stupid and the fools to mercy: give liberty to prisoners, re∣demption to captives, maintenance to the poor, patronage and defence to the oppessed, and put a period to the ini∣quity and to the miseries of all man∣kind.

Have mercy upon us, &c.

Give unto our enemies grace and par∣don, charity to us, and love to thee; take away all anger from them, and all mistakes from us, all mis-interpretations and jealousies; bring all sinners to re∣pentance 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 hu∣mility and ingenuity, repentance of their errours, and grace and power to make amends to the Church and Truth, and a publick acknowledgment

of a holy faith, to the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Have mercy, &c.

Give to all Merchants faithfulness and truth; to the labouring husband∣man health and fair seasons of the year, and reward his toil with the dew of Heaven and the blessings of the earth; to all Artisans give diligence in their Callings, and a blessing on their labours and on their familes; 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 piety and a perse∣vering duty; to all families visited with the rod of God give consolation, and a holy use of the affliction, and a speedy deliverance; to us all pardon and holiness, and life eternal, through Jesus Christ,

Amen.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communica∣tion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all for ever.

Amen.