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.

Another form of prayer for the Morning.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Our Fa∣ther, &c.

I.

MOst glorious and eternal God, Father of mercy, and God of all comfort, I wor∣ship and adore thee with the lowest humility of my soul and body, and give thee all thanks and praise for thy infinite and essential glo∣ries and perfections, and for the continual de∣monstration of thy mercies upon me, upon all mine, and upon thy holy Catholick Church.

II.

I acknowledge dear God that I have deser∣ved

the greatest of thy wrath and indignation; and that if thou hadst dealt with me according to my deserving, I had now at this instant been desperately bewailing my miseries in the sor∣rows and horrours of a sad eternity. But thy mercy triumphing over thy justice and my sins, thou hast still continued to me life and time of repentance; thou hast opened to me the gates of grace and mercy, and perpetually callest up∣on me to enter in and to walk in the paths of a holy life, that I might glorifie thee and be glorified of thee eternally.

III.

BEhold, O God, for this thy great and un∣speakable goodnesse; for the preservation of me this night, and for all other thy graces and blessings I offer up my soul and body, all that I am, and all that I have as a Sacrifice to thee and thy service; humbly begging of thee to pardon all my sins, to defend me from all evil, to lead me into all geod, and let my por∣tion be amongst thy redeemed ones in the ga∣thering together of the Saints, in the Kingdom of grace and glory.

IV.

GUide me, O Lord, in all the changes and varieties of the world, that in all things that shall happen, I may have an evennesse and tranquillity of spirit; that my soul may be wholly resign'd to thy Divinest will and plea∣sure, never murmuring at thy gentle chastise∣ments and fatherly correction, never waxing proud and insolent though I feel a torrent of comforts and prosperous successes.

V.

FIx my thoughts, my hopes and my desires upon Heaven and heavenly things; teach me

to despise the world, to repent me deeply for my sins; give me holy purposes of amend∣ment, and ghostly strength & assistances to per∣form faithfully whatsoever I shall intend pi∣ously. Enrich my understanding with an eter∣nal treasure of Divine truths, that I may know thy will, and thou who workest in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure; teach me to obey all thy Commandments, to believe all thy Revelations, and make me partaker of all thy gracious promises.

VI.

TEach me to watch over all my wayes, that I may never be surpriz'd by sudden temp∣tations or a carelesse spirit, nor ever return to folly and vanity. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips, that I offend in my tongue neither a∣gainst piety nor charity. Teach mee to think of nothing but thee and what is in or∣der to thy glory and service; to speak no∣thing but thee and thy glories; and to do nothing but what becomes thy servant whom thy infinite mercy by the graces of thy ho∣ly Spirit hath sealed up to the day of Re∣demption.

VII.

LEt all my passions and affections be so mor∣tified and brought under the dominion of grace, that I may never by deliberation and purpose, nor yet by levity, rashnesse, or incon∣sideration offend thy Divine Majesty. Make me such as thou wouldest have me to bee: strengthen my faith, confirm my hope, and give me a daily increase of charity, that this day and ever I may serve thee according to all my opportunities and capacities; growing from grace to grace, till at last by thy mercies

I shall receive: the consummation and perfe∣ction of grace, even the glories of thy King∣dom in the full fruition of the face and excel∣lencies of God the Father, the Son and the ho∣ly Ghost: to whom be glory and praise, ho∣nour and adoration given by all Angels and all Men, and all Creatures, now and to all eterni∣ty. Amen.

To this may be added the prayer of inter∣cession for others whom we are bound to remember; which is at the end of the foregoing prayer: or else you may take such special prayers which follow at the end of the fourth Chapter, [for parents, for children, &c.]

After which conclude with this ejaculation.

Now and in all tribulation and anguish of spirit, in all dangers of soul and body in pro∣sperity and adversity, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgement holy, and most blessed Saviour Jesus, have mercy upon me, save me and deliver me and all faithful people. Amen.

Between this and No••n usually are said the publick prayers appointed by Au∣thority: to which all the Clergy are obliged; and other devout persons that have leisure do accompany them.

Afternoon, or at any time of the day, when a devout person retires into his closer for private prayer, or spiritual exercises, he may say the following de∣votions.