Devotions in the ancient way of offices with psalms, hymns, and prayers for every day in the week and every holiday in the year.

Psal. CXXXII.

COme let us praise the Goodnes of our God; who orders every thing to the best for his Servants:

Whose Providence governs us all our life; and takes so particular a care of our death:

He casts us down on our beds of sicknes; and draws the curtain 'twixt the world and us:

Shutting out all its vain designs; and contra∣cting our busines to a litle chamber:

There, in that quiet solitude, he speaks to our harts; and sets before us all our life:

There, he discovers the falacys of this world and invites us now at last, to prepare for the o∣ther:

Thither he sends his Messengers of Peace; to treat with our Souls, and reconcile them to heav'n:

Thither he sends even his only Son, * to se∣cure our passage, and conduct us to Himself:

O! how quite other wil our thoughts be then; * to what they were in our careles helth!

How shal we freely censure what we once e∣steem'd; and be easily convinct into wiser counsels!

When our unruly senses shal be checkt with

pain; and our rash minds made sober with fear:

When the occasions of sin shal be remov'd a∣way; and every thing about us incline us to repent.

Blessed for ever be thy Name, O Lord! whose mercy sanctifys even thy punishments into sa∣vours:

Thou bringst us low, to perswade us to be humble; and prescrib'st us a sicknes to cure our infirmitys!

Thou command'st the grave to dispense with none; but indifferently seize on all alike:

That all may alike provide for that fatal hour; and none be undone with mistaken hopes.

Thou telst us plainly, we all must dy; but kindly conceal'st the time and place:

That every where we may stand on our guard; and every moment expect thy Coming.

Thou teachest us the use of decent Funerals; and the holy charity of praying for the Dead:

That we may often renew the memory of our grave; and the whol••••om thoughts of our fu∣ture state:

So, with one Act of excellent piety; * to shorten the pains of others, and prevent our own.

Let not, O Lord, these gracious acts be lost; which thy merciful Wisdom contrives for our sakes:

But, while we thus remember the death of o∣thers; * make us seriously stil reflect on our own:

And every time we reflect on our own; make us piously stil remember Theirs.

Give them eternal rest, O merciful Lord! and may thy glorious light shine upon them for ever.

Antiph. Merciful art Thou, O Lord, in all thy ways; and infinitely wise in all thy Coun∣sels.

Antiph. O all you works of our Lord, praise you our Lord! bless him and magnify him for ever.