Private devotions for several occasions, ordinary and extraordinary

PRAYERS BEFORE the Receiving of the Blessed SACRAMENT.

O Most merciful God, who hast in thy great goodness prepared this spiritual feast for sick and famished souls, make my desires and gaspings after it, answerable to my needs of it. I have with the prodigal wasted that portion of grace thou bestowedst upon me, and therefore do infinitely want a supplie out of this treasurie: But, O Lord, how shall such a wretch as I dare to approach this holy Table? I am a dog, how shall I presume to take the childrens bread? Or how shall this spiritual Manna, this food of An∣gels be given to one who hath chosen to feed on husks with swine, nay to one who hath alreadie so often trampled these precious things under foot, either carelesly neglecting, or un∣worthily receiving these holy mysteries? O Lord, my horrible guiltiness makes me trem∣ble to come, and yet makes me not dare to keep away; for where, O Lord, shall my polluted soul be washed, if not in this fountain which thou hast opened for sin and for un∣cleanness? Hither therefore I come, and thou hast promised that him that cometh to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out: This is, O Lord, the blood of the New Testament, grant

me so to receive it, that it may be to me for remission of sins. And though I have so often and so wretchedly broken my part of that Covenant, whereof this Sacrament is a seal, yet be thou graciously pleased to make good thine, to be merciful to my unrighteousness, and to remember my sins and my iniquities no more; and not only so, but to put thy laws into my heart, and to write them in my mind, and by the power of thy grace dispose my soul to such a sincere and constant obedience, that I may never again provoke thee; Lord, grant that in these holy mysteries I may not only commemorate, but effectually receive my blessed Saviour, and all the benefits of his Pas∣sion: and to that end give me such a prepara∣tion of soul as may qualifie me for it, give me a deep sense of my sins and unworthiness, that being wearie and heavie laden, I may be capable of his refreshings, and by being suppled in my own tears, I may be the fitter to be washed in his blood; raise up my dull and earth∣ly mind from groveling here below, and inspire it with a holy zeal, that I may with spiritual af∣fection approach this spiritual feast; and let, O Lord, that infinite love of Christ in dying for so wretched a sinner, inflame my frozen be∣nummed soul, and kindle in me that sacred fire of love to him, and that so vehement, that no waters may quench, no floods drown it, such as may burn up all my drosse, not leave one unmortified lust in my soul, and such as may also extend it self to all whom

thou hast given me command and example to love, even enemies as well as friends. Finally, O Lord, I beseech thee to cloath me in the wedding garment, and make me though of my self a most unworthie, yet by thy mercie an acceptable guest at this holy Table, that I may not eat and drink my own condemnation, but may have my pardon sealed, my weakness re∣paired, my corruptions subdued, and my soul so inseparably united to thee, that no temptati∣ons may ever be able to dissolve the union, but that being begun here in grace, it may be con∣summated in glorie. Grant this, O Lord, for thy dear Sons sake, Jesus Christ.

Another.

O Blessed Jesus, who once offeredst up thy self for me upon the Cross, and now of∣ferest thy self to me in the Sacrament, let not I beseech thee, my impenitence and unworthi∣ness frustrate these so inestimable mercies to me, but qualifie me by thy grace to receive the full benefit of them. O Lord, I have abundant need of thee, but am so clogg'd with guilt, so holden with the cords of my sins, that I am not able to move towards thee; O loose 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: he paths that lead to death, but when thou invitest me to life and glorie, I turn my

back and forsake my own mercie. How often hath this feast been prepared, and I have with frivolous 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 profes∣sed enemies, unrepented sins along with me, as if I came 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 tram∣pled under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing! Yet O merciful Jesu, this blood is my only re∣fuge, 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 finde its saving efficacie. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful to me for my soul trusteth in thee, and in the clefts of thy wounds shall be my refuge until thy Fathers indignation be over-past. O thou who hast as my high Priest, sacri∣ficed for me, interceed for me also, and plead thy meritorious sufferings on my behalf, and suffer not, O my Redeemer, the price of thy blood to be utterly 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 Sa∣crament that transcendent love of thine in dy∣ing for me is shed 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 affection, any cursed thing be sheltered in my heart, that I may never again defile that place, which thou hast chosen for thy Temple. Thou diedst, O dear Jesu, to redeem me from all iniquitie, O let me not again sell my self to work wickedness, but grant that I may approach 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 perform them: Lord, there are many old habituated diseases my soul groans under. [Here mention thy most prevailing corruptions.] And though I lie never so long at the Pool of Bethesda, come never so often to thy Table, yet unless thou be pleased to put forth thy healing virtue, 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 loathsome issues may immediately staneh, that thess sicknesses may not be unto death, but unto the glorie of thy mercie in Pardoning, to the glorie of thy grace in Purifying so polluted a wretch. O Christ hear me, and grant I may now approach thee with such humilitie and contrition, love & de∣votion, that thou mayest vouchsafe to come un∣to me, & abide with me; communicating to me thy self, and all the merits of thy Passion. And

then, O Lord, let no accusations of Satan or my own conscience amaze or distract me, but ha∣ving 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 en∣able me chearfully to run the way of thy Com∣mandments. Grant this merciful Saviour for thine own bowels and compassions sake.

EJACƲLATIONS to be used at the LORDS TABLE.

LORD, I am not worthy that thou should∣est come under my roof.

I have sinned: What shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?

[Here recollect some of thy greatest sins.]

If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it?

But with the Lord there is mercie, and with him is plenteous Redemption.

Behold, O Lord, thy beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased.

Hearken to the crie of his blood which speak∣eth better things then that of Abel.

By his Agonie and bloodie Sweat, by his Cross and Passion, good Lord deliver me.

O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy Peace.

O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.

Immediately before Receiving.

THou hast said that he that eateth thy flesh and drinketh thy blood hath eternal life.

Behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.

At the receiving of the Bread.

By thy Crucified bodie deliver me from this body of death.

At the receiving of the Cup.

O Let this blood of thine purge my con∣science from dead works to serve the liv∣ing God.

Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean.

O touch me, and say, I will, be thou clean.

After Receiving.

WHat shal I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me?

I will take the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to re∣ceive power, and riches, and wisdome, and strength, and honour, and glorie, and blessing.

Therefore blessing, honour, glorie and pow∣er be to him that sicteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.

I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous judgements,

O hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

A Thanksgiving after the Recei∣ving of the Sacrament.

O Thou fountain of all goodness, from whom everie good and perfect gift com∣eth, and to whom all honour and glorie should be returned, I desire with all the most fervent and inflamed affections of a grateful heart, to bless and praise thee for those inesti∣mable mercies thou hast vouchsafed me: Lord, what is man that thou shouldst so regard him as to send thy beloved Son to suffer such bitter things for him? But, Lord, what am I the worst of men, that I should have any part in this at∣tonement, who have so often despised him and his sufferings? O the height and depth of this mercie of thine, that art pleased to admit me to the renewing of that Covenant with thee which I have so often and so perversly broken! That I who am not worthy of that dayly bread which sustains the bodie, should be made partaker of this bread of life which nourisheth the soul, and that the God of all puritie should vouchsafe to unite himself to so polluted a wretch! O my God, suffer me no more, I beseech thee, to turn thy grace into wantonness, to make thy mercie an occasion of securitie, but let this unspeakable love of thine constrain me to o∣bedience, that since my blessed Lord hath died for me, I may no longer live unto my self but

to him: O Lord, I know there is no concord be∣tween Christ and Belial, therefore since he hath now been pleased to enter my heart, O let me never permit any lust to chance him thence, but let him that hath so dearly bought me still keep possession of me, and let nothing ever take me out of his hand. To this end be thou graciously pleased to watch over me, and defend me from all assaults of my spiritual enemies, but especially deliver me from my self, from the treacherie of my own heart, which is too willing to yield it self a prey. And where thou seest I am either by nature or custome most weak, there do thou, I beseech thee, magnifie thy power in my pre∣servation. [Here mention thy most dangerous temptations.] And Lord let my Saviours suf∣ferings for my sins, and the Vows I have now made against them never depart from my minde, but let the remembrance of the one en∣able me to perform the other, that I may ne∣ver make truce with those lusts which nailed his hands, pierced his side, and made his soul hea∣vie to the death. But that having now anew listed my self under his banner, I may fight manfully, and follow the Captain of my Salva∣tion, even through a sea of blood. Lord, lift up my hands that hang down, and my feeble knees, that I faint not in this warfare; O be thou my strength who am not able of my self to struggle with the slightest temptations. How often have I turned my back in the day of battel? how many of these Sacramental vows have I violated? And Lord, I have still the same unconstant deceitful

heart to betray me to the breach of this. O thou who art Yea and Amen, in whom there is no shadow of change, communicate to me, I beseech thee, such a stabilitie of mind, that I may no more thus start aside like a broken bow, but that having my heart whole with thee I may continue stedfast in thy Covenant; that not one good purpose which thy Spirit hath raised in me this day may vanish, as so many have formerly done, but that they may bring forth fruit unto life eternal. Grant this, O mer∣ciful father, through the merits and mediation of my Crucified Saviour.

A Prayer of Intercession to be used either before or after the receiving of the Sacrament.

O MOST gracious Lord, who so tender∣ly lovedst mankind as to give thy dear Son out of thy Bosome to be a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, grant that the ef∣fect of this Redemption may be as universal as the design of it, that it may be to the salvation of all. O let no person by impenitence and wil∣ful sin forfeit his part in it, but by the power of thy grace bring all, even the most obstinate sinners to repentance. Inlighten all that sit in darkness, all Jews, Turks, Infidels and Hereticks, take from them all blindness, hardness of heart and contempt of thy Word, and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, unto thy fold, that they may be saved among the number of the true Is∣raelites.

And for all those upon whom the Name of thy Son is called, grant, O Lord, that their conversations may be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ, that his Name be no long∣er blasphemed among the Heathens through us. O Blessed Lord, how long shall Christendom continue the vilest part of the world, a sink of all those abominable pollutions, which even Barbarians detest? O let not our profession and our practise be alwayes at so wide a dist∣ance. Let not the Disciples of the holy and Im∣maculate Jesus be of all others the most profane and impure. Let not the subjects of the Prince of Peace be of all others the most contentious and bloodie; but make us Christians in deed as well as in name, that we may walk worthy of that Holy vocation wherewith we are called, and may all with one minde and one mouth glorifie thee the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have mercie on this languishing Church, look down from Heaven the habitation of thy holi∣ness and of thy glorie: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards us? Are they restrained? Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither re∣member iniquitie for ever; but though our backslidings are many, and we have grievously rebelled, yet according to all thy goodness let thy anger & thy furie be turned away, & cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuarie which is desolate, for the Lords sake; and so separate be∣tween us and our sins, that they may no longer separate between us and our God. Save and de∣fend

all Christian Kings, Princes & Governours, especially those to whom we owe subjection; plead thou their cause, O Lord, against those that strive with them, & fight thou against those that fight against them, & so guide & assist them in the discharge of that office whereunto thou hast appointed them, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness & honestie. Bless them that wait at thine Altar, open thou their lips that their mouth may shew forth thy praise; O let not the lights of the world be put under bushels, but place them in their Candlesticks, that they may give light to all that are in the house. Let not Jeroboams Priests profane thy Service, but let the seed of Aaron still minister before thee. And O thou Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, succour and relieve all that are in affliction, and deliver the out-cast and poor, help them to right that suf∣fer wrong, let the sorrowful sighing of the pri∣soners come before thee, and according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die; grant ease to those that are in pain, supplies to those that suffer want, give to all presumptuous sinners a sense of their sins, and to all despairing, a sight of thy mercies, and do thou, O Lord, for every one above what they can ask or think. Forgive my enemies, persecuters and flanderers, and turn their hearts. Pour down thy blessings on all my friends, and benefactors, all who have commended themselves to my Prayers. [Here thou may est name particular persons.] And grant,

O merciful Father, that through this blood of the Cross, we may all be presented pure and unblameable and unreproveable in thy sight; that so we may be admitted into that place of puritie, where no unclean thing can enter, there to sing eternal praises to Father, Son and Holie Ghost for ever.

A Prayer in times of common Per∣secution.

O BLESSED Saviour, who hast made the Cross the badge of thy Disciples, en∣able me I beseech thee, willingly and chearfully to embrace it; thou seest, O Lord, I am fallen into dayes, wherein he that departeth from e∣vil maketh himself a Prey, O make me so readily to expose all my outward concernments, when my obedience to thee requireth it, that what falls as a Prey to men, may by thee be accepted as a Sacrifice to God: Lord preserve me so by thy grace that I never suffer as an evil doer, and then, O Lord, if it be my lot to suffer as a Christian, let me not be ashamed, but rejoyce that I am counted worthy to suffer for thy Name: O thou who for my sake enduredst the cross; and dispisedst the shame, let the example of that love and patience prevail against all the tremblings of my corrupt heart, that no terrors may ever be able to shake my constancie, but that how long soever thou shalt permit the rod of the wicked to lie on my back, I may never put my hand unto wickedness: Lord thou knowest whereof I am made, thou remembrest

that I am but flesh; and flesh, O Lord, shrinks at the approach of any thing grievous. It is thy Spirit, thy Spirit alone, that can uphold me, O stablish me with thy free Spirit, that I be not wearie and faint in my mind. And by how much the greater thou discernest my weakness, so much the more do thou shew forth thy po∣wer in me, and make me, O Lord, in all temp∣tations stedfastly to look to thee, the author and finisher of my faith, that so I may run the race which is set before me, and resist even un∣to blood, striving against sin: O dear Jesus, hear me, and though Satan desire to have me, that he may winnow me as wheat, yet do thou O blessed Mediator, pray for me that my faith fail not, but that though it be tried with fire, it may be found unto praise and glorie and ho∣nour at thy appearing. And, O Lord, I beseech thee grant that I may preserve not only con∣stancie towards God, but charitie also towards men, even those whom thou shalt permit to be the instruments of my sufferings: Lord, let me not fail to imitate that admirable meekness of thine, in loving and praying for my greatest persecutors; and do thou, O Lord, overcome all their evil with thy infinite goodness, turn their hearts, and draw them powerfully to thy self, and at last receive both me and mine ene∣mies into those mansions of peace and rest, where thou reignest with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever.

A Prayer in time of Affliction.

O JUST and holy Lord, who with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, I desire unfeign∣edly to humble my self under thy mightie hand, which now lies heavie upon me, I heartily ac∣knowledge, O Lord, that all I do, all I can suffer, is but the due reward of my deeds, and therefore in thy severest inflictions I must still say, righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgements. But, O Lord, I beseech thee in judgement remember mercie, and though my sins have inforced thee to strike, yet consider my weakness, and let not thy stripes be more heavie, or more lasting then thou seest profitable for my soul; correct me but with the chastisement of a father, not with the wounds of an enemie, and though thou take not off thy rod, yet take away thine anger: Lord, do not abhor my soul, nor cast thy servant away in displeasure, but pardon my sins, I be∣seech thee; and if yet in thy Fatherly wisdome, thou see fit to prolong thy corrections, thy blessed will be done, I cast my self O Lord, at thy feet, do with me what thou pleasest. Trie me as silver is tried, so thou bring me out puri∣fied. And Lord make even my flesh also to sub∣scribe to this resignation, that there may be nothing in me, that may rebel against thy hand, but that having perfectly supprest all repining thoughts, I may chearfully drink of this cup. And how bitter soever thou shalt

please to make it, Lord, let it prove medicinal, and cure all the diseases of my soul, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruit of righte∣ousness. That so these light afflictions which are but for a moment, may work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glorie, through Jesus Christ.

A Thanksgiving for Deliverance.

O Blessed Lord, who art gracious and mer∣ciful, slow to anger and of great kind∣ness, and repentest thee of the evil; I thankfully acknowledge before thee that thou hast not dealt with me after my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities. My rebellions, O Lord, deserve to be scourged with Scorpions, and thou hast corrected them only with a gentle and fatherly Rod; neither hast thou suffered me to lie long under that, but hast given me a timely and a gracious issue out of my late di∣stresses. O Lord, I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercie, for thou hast considered my trou∣ble, and hast known my soul in adversitie. Thou hast smitten, and thou hast healed me, O let these various methods of thine have their pro∣per effects upon my soul, that I who have felt the smart of thy chastisements may stand in awe and not fin, and that I who have likewise felt the sweet refreshings of thy mercie may have my heart ravished with it, and knit to thee in the firmest bands of love, and that by both I may be preserved in a constant, entire obedience to thee all my dayes, through Jesus Christ.