The rule and exercises of holy living. In which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every vertue, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations. Together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion fitted to all occasions, and furnish'd for all necessities.

A form of Prayer for the evening, to be said by such who have not time, or op∣portunity to say the publick pray∣ers appointed for this office.

I.

O Eternal God, Great Father of Men and Angels, who hast established the Heavens and the Earth in a wonderful order, making day and night to succeed each other: I make my humble addresse to thy Divine Majesty, begging of thee mercy & protection this night & ever. O Lord pardon all my sins, my light and rash words, the vanity and impiety of my thoughts, my unjust and uncharitable actions, and whatsoever I have transgressed against thee this day, or at any time before. Behold, O God,

my soul is troubled in the remembrance of my sins, in the frailty and sinfulnesse of my flesh exposed to every temptation, and of it self not able to resist any: Lord God of mercy I ear∣nestly beg of thee to give me a great portion of thy grace; such as may be sufficient, and effectual for the mortification of all my sins and vanities and disorders; that as I have for∣merly served my lust, and unworthy desires, so now I may give my self up wholly to thy ser∣vice, and the studies of a holy life.

II.

BLessed Lord, teach me frequently and sad∣ly to remember my sins; and be thou plea∣sed to remember them no more; let me never forget thy mercies, and do thou still remember to do me good. Teach me to walk alwayes as in thy presence: Ennoble my soul with great degrees of love to thee, and configne my spi∣rit with great fear, religion and veneration of thy holy Name and laws; that it may become the great imployment of my whole life to serve thee, to advance thy glory, to root out all the accursed habits of sin, that in holinesse of life, in humility, in charity, in chastity, and all the ornaments of grace, I may by patience wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

III.

Teach me, O Lord to number my dayes that I may apply my heart unto wisdom; ever to remember my last end, that I may not dare to sin against thee: Let thy holy Angels be ever present with me to keep me in all my wayes from the malice and violence of the spirits of darknesse; from evil company, and the occasions and opportunities of evil, from perishing in popular judgements, from all the

wayes of sinful shame, from the hands of all mine enemies; from a sinful life, and from de∣spair in the day of my death: Then, O brightest Jesu, shine gloriously upon me, let thy mercies and the light of thy Countenance sustain me in all my agonies, weaknesses and temptations. Give me opportunity of a prudent and spiritu∣al Guide, and of receiving the holy Sacrament; & let thy loving spirit so guide me in the wayes of peace and safety, that with the testimony of a good conscience, and the sense of thy mer∣cies and refreshment, I may depart this life in the unity of the Church, in the love of God, and a certain hope of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and most blessed Saviour. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

Notes

• Evening prayer.