Devotions in the ancient way of offices. With psalms, hymns, and prayers for every day of the week and every holiday in the year. / Reformed by A person of quality, ; and published by George Hickes, D.D.

Psalm 17.

DEliver us, O Lord, from asking of thee, what we cannot receive with∣out danger to our selves.

Deliver us from receiving what we cannot use, without offending others, and ruining our own Souls.

Deliver us from presuming so on thy Bounty; that we omit to perform our Duty.

Still to our Devotions let's joyn our best Endeavours; and make our Earth comply with Heaven.

If we desire of thee to relieve our Ne∣cessities; let us faithfully begin to labour with our Hands.

And not expect a Blessing from the Clouds; on the idle Follies of an undisci∣plin'd Life:

If we beg Grace for Victory over our Passions, let us constantly strive to resist their Assaults:

Let us wisely foresee our particular Dangers; and use the proper Weapon a∣gainst every Sin.

To obtain the Gift of Chastity, we must mortifie our Senses; and immediate∣ly fly the least Shadow of Temptation.

In vain we approach thy Holy Altars; if our Lives prepare not their way for our Offerings.

Thou shuttest thy Ears to our loudest Prayers; if we open not ours to the Voice of the Poor.

Thou denyest to pardon our Trespasses against thee; unless we have already for∣given our Enemies.

O the extream Benignity of our glori∣ous God; who treats with his Creatures upon equal Terms!

Who deals no otherwise with us, mise∣rable Wretches; than we our selves deal with one another.

He promises to give the same measure we give our Neighbours; and performs in∣comparably more than he promises;

Prest down, and shaken together, and running over, into the Bosoms of them that love him.

Such, O my God, is the Bounty of thy Goodness; and no less the Patience of thy generous Hand.

Thou holdest thy Blessings hovering o∣ver our Heads; still watching the time we are fit to receive them.

Then thou immediately sendest them down upon us; to enter our Hearts, and dwell with us for ever.

Even that very Temper which thus dis∣poses us intirely, depends on the Favour of thy Providence.

Every Condition thou requirest on our parts, being nothing else but thy own free Gift.

Thy Mercy alone is the Fountain of all our Blessings; and in what Channel soever they flow to us, they spring from thee.

Thou art the God of Nature and Rea∣son; thou art the God of Grace and Re∣ligion.

Give, gracious God, what thou art pleased to command; and then command what thou pleasest.

Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c.