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O Most High and holy One, who inhabitest eternity, and art God over all, most bles∣sed for evermore. Happy are they who stand continually in thy pre∣sence, and are always admiring, praising, loving and obeying thee;
and rejoycing in thy love and favour towards them! The highest Angels can desire no greater bliss, than to be thus knit unto thee, and to live in such constant union and friendship with thee. An happiness, I am sen∣sible, that is above our reach, who dwell in houses of clay, and groan under the burden of this flesh: but which we aspire towards, and our uncloathed spirits hope for, in the other world. And blessed be thy infinite goodness, we are incouraged by Christ Jesus to look up unto thee, for the beginning and taste of this happiness; whilst we remain here below, at this great distance from the Throne of thy Glory.
And accordingly I humbly pro∣strate my self before thee at this time, beseeching thee in the name of my dear Saviour who gave himself for me, that thou wilt graciously vouch∣safe to inspire me with such delight∣ful thoughts of thee, and such a transforming love unto thee, as may
fill my heart with unspeakable joy and satisfaction, whilst I am in thy presence to admire and adore thee; to praise thy incomprehensible per∣fections; to acknowledge with all humility my intire dependence on thee; thankfully to remember all the benefits thou hast done unto me; sorrowfully to bewail my ungrate∣ful behaviour towards thee; most earnestly to deprecate thy displea∣sure; to implore thy grace and fa∣vour; and to make an absolute sur∣render of my self to thee, with most hearty Devotion to thy ser∣vice.
It is the unfeigned desire of my soul to spend some time in attending wholly to these duties; the better to dispose me to serve thee, in the rest of my life. But alas! O Lord, what am I, or what can I do, unless thou wilt make thy self present to me; and send down thy holy Spirit upon me! My thoughts and affecti∣ons are exceeding dull and heavy;
and they will soon flag and grow weary; unless thou wilt be pleased by thy Almighty Power to raise and bear them up towards heaven. I most humbly therefore again be∣seech thee, in thy infinite mercy, to touch my heart with such a lively sense of thy Divine Majesty, as may fix my wandring thoughts, and com∣pose my tumultuous affections, and stir up my flat and cold desires, and may make me feel the power, and taste the sweetness of every Divine Truth; whilst I read or meditate in thy holy Word, and whilst I pray to thee, and praise thee, and bless thy holy Name. O that all other things may be shut out of my soul, and that I may be so alone with thee, as to be more apprehensive of thy greatness, and of thy goodness, and of thy purity, and of my near re∣lation to thee, and the innumera∣ble obligations which I lye under to be thine intirely! O that nothing may be so bitter to me as to think,
that I have in the least offended thee! and that nothing may be so marvellous in my eyes, as thy ex∣ceeding abundant love in the Lord Jesus, by whom thou hast incou∣raged sinners to place their faith and hope in thee!
Help me, O my God, through that new and living way which he hath consecrated, to draw nigh unto thee, and to throw down my self at thy feet; waiting for a gracious look from thee, resigning my will to thee, strongly uniting it in hearty affecti∣on to thy holy Will, and resolving never to rise up any more in opposi∣tion to it, but to live in thy love, and in sincere obedience to all thy com∣mands.
So shall my soul bless thee as long as I live; I will alway be speaking good of thy Name, and will shew forth thy praise, as well as I am able, to all generations. Amen.
AFter this short address to God for his assistance; consider a while who it is, to whom you have begun to speak. Cast your eyes upon the heaven and the earth, and think of the glory of that Majesty, which fills all things, and cannot be contained in any. Then labour to affect your heart with your own mean, vile and sinful condition. For which end examine what particular sins you have been guilty of. Set them down in writ∣ing before your eyes, that they may be confessed and lamented. And like∣wise consider in the same manner, what particular blessings you have re∣ceived, that they may be most thank∣fully acknowledged. In all which you may assist your selves and be much excited, by reading some of the Psalms of David, and some part of such pious Books as you are acquainted withal. After which, proceed to
express the sense of your heart to God, with the greatest deliberation, in the manner following: pausing a while, and ruminating upon what you have said; at the end of every part thereof.
O Most glorious Majesty of heaven and earth, upon whom all crea∣tures depend for life, and breath, and all things. I most thankfully embrace and desire wisely and faithfully to improve this happy leisure, which thou vouchsafest me, of retiring from this world, and making my resort to thee, the Father of mer∣cies, and the God of all comfort. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to re∣ceive from me and from the whole world, blessing, and honour, and glory, and
power; for thou art great and greatly to be praised. All the host of heaven continually praiseth thee; and so ought all the Church on earth, saying; Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which is, which was, and which is to come. There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none be∣sides thee. Thou art righte∣ous in all thy ways, and holy in all thy works. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniqui∣ty; and art excellent in power, and in judgement, and in plenty of justice. The earth is thine, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. The heavens declare the glo∣ry of God, the firmament sheweth his handy-work. The sun, moon and stars praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree
which shall not pass. I know, O Lord, that thou canst do every thing; and that no thought of thine can be hin∣dred. Whatsoever the Lord pleases, that doth he in heaven and in earth, in the seas, and in all deep places. For he is great, and of great power; his understanding is infinite. Praised be thy Soveraign goodness and tender mercy, which spreads it self over all thy works. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all. And they all wait on thee; that thou mayst give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoyce in his works. Thou always wast, and ever wilt be the most holy, powerful, wise and good. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. One generation shall ••raise thy works to another, and shall de∣••lare thy mighty acts. They all pass
away like a shadow; but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end For ever, O Lord, thy word is setled in heaven: Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. While I live, there fore, will I praise the Lord: I wil•• sing praises to my God, while I have any being. I will praise thee, O Lord with my whole heart, whose name i•• exalted above all blessing and praise For we cannot know the Almighty to perfection: His wisdom is unsearcha¦ble, and his ways past finding out His name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth and heaven.
O what high dignity is this! tha•• I am admitted into thy presence t•• speak unto thee; the blessed and only Potentate, the King o•• kings, and Lord of Lords who only hast immortality! O how happy ought I to think my self, tha•• I may draw thus nigh to thee, wh••
dwellest in light unapproachable! who art so happy in thy own most blessed Nature; and who if thou dost but open thy self to any soul, and fillest it with a great sense of thee and affection to thee, thou lettest heavenly joys into it, and makest it happy beyond expression! For hea∣ven cannot be separated from thee: but wheresoever thou art, there is peace and satisfaction, joy and glad∣ness, and unspeakable bliss. Adored be thy divine goodness, which hath made me so happy this day, as to feel some sense of thee begin to shine in my soul. Adored be thy goodness, which incourages me still to look up unto thee, that I may feel more of thee; yea, hath ingaged me by innumerable Mercies, to continue these addresses to thy divine Maje∣sty: O how excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! How precious are thy thoughts unto me! how
great is the sum of them! Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to me-ward: they cannot be reckon∣ed up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbred. By thee I was fearfully and wonderfully made in secret. Thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb; and didst make me hope upon her breasts. I have been cast upon thee ever since, and thou hast been my gracious God unto this moment. My infancy and childhood was attended with a very careful providence. And thou hast blessed my riper years with a continued health and strength of bo∣dy and mind, and abundance of good things to support and refresh me in my pilgrimage through this world to a better life. I never have wanted my daily bread, even when I was not able to ask it of thee. And thou hast bestowed on me many
friends and kind benefactors. And prevented me likewise by a timely grace, and sent me many instructors; that I might remember thee my Creator, and Jesus Christ my Savi∣our. Into whose family, blessed be thy Name, I was early adopted, and assured of thy fatherly love and ten∣der mercy towards me. O how deep∣ly do I stand indebted to thee for all those, by whose Counsels, or Ser∣mons, or Writings, or religious So∣ciety, or godly Examples, or chari∣table Prayers, I have been helped forward in my way to heaven! Bles∣sed be thy Name for all the means whereby I have been led to the knowledge of thy great love in the Lord Jesus, which passeth know∣ledge. For ever blessed be thy Name, for sending him into the world, born of a woman, to be a teacher of righteousness; to go before us, and leave us a pattern of a most holy life; to dye for our sins; and to rise again for our justification; and
then to ascend into the heavens to prepare a place for us; where thou hast advanced him above all principali∣ties and powers, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should how, and every tongue con∣fess him to be the Lord, to the glory of thee, O God, the Father Almighty. I glorifie thee, O heavenly Father, with all my heart and soul, for in∣spiring thy holy Apostles and Pro∣phets; and shining into their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Jesus Christ. I thank thee for calling me to faith in thee; for making such great and precious pro∣mises to incourage our hope, and for disposing me, in any measure, to be an inheritour of them. I thank thee for granting such power to our blessed Lord, to fulfil his word; for making him a royal high-Priest, and appointing him to bless us, here and eternally. Glory be to thee, O
Lord most high, who hast so often favoured me with the gracious visi∣tations of thy holy Spirit; inlightning my mind, drawing my will towards thee, exciting in me holy desires, working many pious purposes and resolutions in my heart, giving me a taste how gracious thou art, set∣ting before me the hope of eternal life, and perswading me by innume∣rable arguments to entertain those blessings, which I should have been forward of my self to have desired. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord! who can show forth all his praise! How often hast thou spared me when I de∣served to be punished! How many dangers have I escaped! From how ma∣ny assaults of the enemy have I been guarded! And how many of his designs have been defeated by an invisible and unobserved goodness, which ought for ever to be acknowledged!
O my God, with what awe and reverence ought I to make mention of thy name, who dwellest in eternity, whose throne is inestimable, whose glory cannot be com∣prehended, before whom the hosts of angels stand with trem∣bling! With what humility of soul, ought I to acknowledge thy Divine Grace, that thou who art so great and highly exalted, wilt humble thy self to take notice of such poor things as we are! Thou art to be ad∣mired with our highest thoughts: thou art to be loved with all our heart, and soul and strength. We ought to render thee most chearful service; and confess that we never serve our selves more, than when we even lose all thought of our selves, and forget all things here, in admiring, loving, praising, and giving thanks to thee. All that is
within me ought to bless thy holy Name. O how great ought my joy to be in thy love, and in thy Salvation: who art worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise. Therefore let thy Saints praise thee, with all thy creatures. And let all thine angels, and thine elect praise thee for ever. It is good to praise God and exalt his Name, and with honour to shew forth all his works; therefore be not slack to praise him. Yea, to thee, O Lord, I ought to re∣sign my self with the greatest willing∣ness of heart; to trust and hope in thee at all times; to excite all others to shew forth thy praise; and to study to glorifie thee more and more, not only by my words, but with my bo∣dy and soul, in all the actions of a sober, righteous and godly life. I can desire no greater honour in this world, than that I may live to the praise of the glory of thy grace in Christ Jesus; walking worthy of
thee, who hast called me to thy Kingdom and Glory; and behaving my self in all things, as becomes one that hath received such pledges of thy love already, and looks for thy mercy unto eternal life. All thy Laws, I know, are just and good. Thy ways are ways of pleasant∣ness, and all thy paths are peace. More to be desired are thy commandments than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than hony, and the honey comb. By them doth thy servant shine gloriously; and in keeping of them there is great reward. He that loveth them, loveth life; he that holdeth them fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever they enter the Lord will bless. Great peace have they that love thy Law: and nothing shall offend them. The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them
that walk uprightly. O Lord of host, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee!
But the more, O Lord, I speak in thy praise, the more I am sensible, I reproach my self; who have not gi∣ven thee that honour and glory, that fear and love, that hearty service and chearful obedience, which is due unto thee, so many ways. I stand condemned out of my own mouth, of most fearful ingratitude to thee, from whom I have received so many, and such inestimable benefits. How seldom have I thought of them? Or how little have they affected my heart? How loth have I often been, to dispose my self to commemorate the greatest love of my dearest Sa∣viour? And how soon am I weary, even of the most delightful imploy∣ment, of praising and blessing thee? With whom I profess that I desire and hope to live for ever, and praise
thy Name. O the vanity of my mind! the looseness of my thoughts! the inordinateness of my desires, and unruliness of my passions! the discon∣tent of my spirit! the unstedfastness of my resolutions! the breach of my promises! the coldness of my prayers, and the dulness of my meditations! the loss of my precious time, and neglect of good opportunities! my eagerness after these worldly enjoy∣ments, and feeble indeavours after heaven!
I am astonished to think, that ever I should distrust thy providence, who hast been so tenderly careful of me; or be unthankful for thy benefits, which are every moment poured forth so plentifully upon me; or be uncharitable to my Neighbours, when I stand in so great need of mer∣cy my self, and live continually up∣on thy bounty; or abuse any of those blessings, which thou canst so easily deprive me of, or wholly spoil the comfort of them. And yet
alas! how prone have I been to de∣ceive my self with shadows of Reli∣gion and Devotion towards thee? and to content my self with the praises of those divine perfections, which I have not so zealously studi∣ed to imitate? O how unlike am I to the humble, the meek, the pit∣tiful, and the patient Jesus? Yea, how insensible am I of his incomparable love, which made him to lay down his life for me? How many ways have I injured my Neighbours, or neglected to do them good? I am conscious to my self of sundry offences, not only against the rules of righteousness and mercy, but of sobriety and godliness. And thou to whom all things past are present, who searchest the hearts and tryest the reins, knowest a great deal more. My secret sins are no more hid from thee, than those which are most open and ma∣nifest.
And they are all the more grievous, because a petty temptati∣on hath too oft prevailed to make me neglect my duty towards thee. O how shameful is it, that a small gain, or a momentany pleasure, or the good word of men whose breath is in their nostrils, should be pre∣ferred before that honour which I owe to thee, and those infinite trea∣sures of thy grace in Christ Jesus, and that immortal life and glory, which he hath promised to the faith∣full! And all this against the clear understanding which thou hast given me of thy will; against many holy purposes, resolutions and vows of ab∣solute obedience to it in all things; and against the tastes I have had how gracious thou art, and how good it is to keep thy command∣ments.
I blush, O Lord, to lift up mine eyes towards heaven. To me be∣longs
nothing but shame and confu∣sion of face; in which I ought to lye down before thee, if I reflected only upon the baseness and vileness of my descent; being the off-spring of disloyal parents, who were re∣bels and traytors against thy divine Majesty. This is a just reproach and disgrace to the best of us. We were tainted in our first Father, who hath left a foul blot and stain upon our Nature: and we feel that weak∣ness in our reason, that strength and violence in our passions, and that forwardness in our wills to fol∣low them, and to be led by them, which is sufficient to humble and lay us low in our own eyes. With what dejection of spirit then ought I to mention all those offences, where∣by I or others have justified that first rebellion, and still taken part with the Devil and his Angels, a∣gainst thee and the motions of thy holy Spirit in our hearts!
Thy mercy indeed is so much the
more miraculous, which hath be∣stowed such great benefits, as I have acknowledged, upon such vile, such sinful, such unthankful wretches, and at the best such unprofitable crea∣tures; whose understandings are so shallow to comprehend and admire thy love; whose affections are so heavy, so listless, and so unapt to lay it to heart; and who when they have done all that they can, have done no more than was their duty to do. But the greater reason there is that I should be confounded at the remembrance of my disobedience to thee, notwithstanding such unex∣pected, as well as undeserved, de∣monstrations of thy love and grace towards mankind. It becomes me to bow my self lower than my knees before thee; and to debase my self as much as I am able in thy presence; since I am but sinful dust and ashes, that deserves to be cast down, even into the pit of destruction. The ve∣ry multitude of my offences is enough
to amaze and perplex my thoughts; the weight of them, did I always feel it, may well depress and sink my spirit into the greatest horror and affrightment; but the baseness and ingratitude of them to so graci∣ous a Father, O how —
I am not able to express, O Lord, the shame, the consternation and the trouble of my spirit, at the thought of that ingratitude. I loath and abhor my self, as unworthy to live and breath upon the face of the earth. I am astonished at thy wonderful patience, and long-suf∣fering, which not only endures such a wretch as I am; but permits me to speak unto thee, and to cry for mer∣cy to that love, which I have so much abused. O that I were sensibly af∣fected with something of thee! That at least thy sparing and forbearing mercy did mightily move, and ever∣lastingly
possess my heart with admi∣ration of it! That so I may with the more ingenuous sorrow and grief be∣wail mine offences, against such ten∣der bowels of compassion towards me. O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep bitterly for my unkind requitals of the infinite bounty of thee my Crea∣tor, and of the inconceiveable love of my blessed Saviour, and of the unwearied grace of thy holy Spirit, which I hope I still feel working in my heart! Fill me, O God, with the saddest remembrance of all my fol∣lies; and possess my reason so much against them, that I may have an ut∣ter hatred and detestation of them, as the greatest offences to me, as well as to thy divine Majesty. It is easier, I know, to make large confessions, than to be truly con∣trite and broken in heart: and we are more inclin'd to sigh and groan under the sense of thy displeasure,
than to abhorr that which is evil, and to cleave to that which is good. Be thou therefore pleased, O Lord the Father of our spirits, to wound my soul with a lively sense of the vile∣ness of my behaviour towards thee, the God of my life, in whose hand my breath is, and whose are all my ways. Estrange me from every thing, that will not let me love thee with all my heart, and soul, and strength; by whom it is that I have power to love any thing at all. Set my heart in such a perfect enmity to all things con∣trary to thy blessed will, that I may never be reconciled to them any more. And dispose me to such an entire affection to all thy commands, that none of them may be grievous to me, but I may account thy yoke to be easie, and thy burden to be light.
And then be merciful unto me, good Lord, according to thy loving
kindness: according unto the multitude of thy ten∣der mercies blot out my transgressions. Be merci∣ful unto me for Jesus his sake, who came into the world and dyed to save sinners. O remember not the sins of my youth, nor the transgressions of my riper years: according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness sake, O Lord. For I confess mine iniquity, and am sorry for my sin. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. Enter not therefore into judgement with thy servant: for if thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities; O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee: that thou mayst be feared. Thou art good and ready to forgive: and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear therefore unto my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications. And
for thy name sake pardon mine iniqui∣ty, for it is great.
Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord; who hast not yet cast me a∣way from thy presence, nor dealt with me after my sins, nor rewarded me according to mine iniquities. Adored be thine infinite goodness, that I am so far from being cast into the place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, that I do not yet suffer here the pains, and the anguish and misery, which mine offences have deserved. I might have been la∣menting them in those doleful com∣plaints of thy ancient servant; say∣ing, thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine an∣ger: neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin. I am troubled, I am bowed
down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loyns are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. But thanks be to thy most long-suffering goodness, thy fierce anger goeth not o∣ver me; thy terror hath not cut me off. Lovers and friends hast thou not put far from me; nor mine acquaintance into darkness. Yea, thou declarest thy self willing to accept me again into friendship with thy self. And hast in the most loving manner in∣vited me to come unto thee, and bid me hope for a pardon through thy mercy in Christ Jesus. O how sweet are those gracious words; Come un∣to me all ye that labour, and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest! How precious are thy pro∣mises, that thou wilt put thy laws into our mind, and write them in our hearts: And be merciful to our
unrighteousness, and remember our sins and iniquities no more! Marvellous was thy mercy, O Lord Jesus, who sent thine Apostles to open mens eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them, who are sanctified by faith that is in thee.
I receive with all thankfulness this thy exceeding great grace, which hath declared, that if we walk in the light as thou art in the light, we shall have fellow∣ship one with another, and the bloud of Jesus Christ thy Son shall cleanse us from all sin. I admire thy incomprehensible love. O how great is the loving kindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such, as turn unto him in holi∣ness! It constrains me to offer up my self with the heartiest affection to
thy service: resolving hereafter to be more watchful, more diligent, more zealous in the performance of my duty; and to walk more circum∣spectly as a child of the light, and to make it my delight to do thy will, O God. Behold, O Lord, my heart is bent to resign it self perfectly in∣to thy hands: and to make a new dedication of all the powers of my soul and body, to be employed con∣tinually in well doing. I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous pre∣cepts. I have chosen the way of truth; thy judge∣ments have I laid before me. I will stick unto thy testimonies: and run the way of thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart; that I may not sin against thee. I will re∣joyce in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts: and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight my self also
in thy statutes: I will never forget thy word. Depart from me, ye evil doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Thy testimonies have I ta∣ken as my heritage for ever: for they are the rejoycing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform thy sta∣tutes alway; even unto the end.
Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will-offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgements. Give me un∣derstanding, and I shall keep thy law: yea I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. I am sensible of the exceeding great weakness and inconstancy of our na∣ture, and that without thy gracious aids, I shall not be able to accom∣plish
these resolutions. And there∣fore I look up unto thee, with the more ardent desires, for power from above, to confirm and strengthen them; and to assist me mightily to fulfil thy whole good will and plea∣sure. I will stedfastly depend upon the promise of my blessed Saviour, who hath told me that thou wilt give thy holy spirit to them that ask it of thee. My hope, O God, is in this thy true and faithful word. Ʋp∣hold me according unto thy Word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Pre∣serve in me such a lively sense of thy good will and readiness to help me, that I may be so strong in our Lord and in the power of his might, as to be able to do all things through Christ strengthing of me. O thou Father of mercies, who hast bestowed so many and so great blessings on us without asking; who hast visited us so lo∣vingly,
when we could not desire any grace from thee, and when we could, but did not desire it, and when we did, but very coldly, and with little devotion of spirit: deny not the humble and importunate requests of thy poor supplicant, who most earnestly beseeches thee, that thou wilt grant me, according to the riches of thy glory, to be strengthened with might, by thy Spirit, in the inner man. Arm me therewith against the assaults of all temptations, either from the good, or the evil things of this life; that they may never seduce, or deterr me from my duty: but I may do vertuously, in all points, according to my Christian profession, and those vows and promises, wherein I stand ingaged to thee.
Fill me, O God, with the whole knowledge of thy Will, in all wis∣dom and spiritual understanding, that
I may walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the know∣ledge of thee, my God. Increase that faith, likewise, more and more, which worketh by love, and purifieth the heart, and overcometh the world. Stir up in me that lively hope, which may make me purifie my self, even as thou art pure: and that ardent love to thee, which will make me chearful∣ly do thy will, and love my Bre∣thren, with a pure heart fervently. Excite in me a great hunger and thirst after righteousness; till I feel the satisfa∣ction of perfect reconciliation with thee & conformity to thee. Continue me in the number of those, who are humble and lowly in their own eyes, & moderate in all their appetites and desires: who mourn daily that they have offended thee, and that others keep not thy laws: who are meek and gentle towards all men, in heart and word, and all their actions: who are merciful and kind, ready to give
and to forgive: who are pure in all their thoughts, intentions, passions and conversation: and who study the things that make for peace; and who are void of all pride and vain∣glory, of all strife and contention; indeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. O my God, possess me with such a strong sense of the blessedness which thou hast pronounced to all these; that I may be willing also to suffer wrong rather than to do it, and to suffer a∣ny thing for righteousness sake with a constant heart; giving thanks un∣to thee that thou wilt honour me and count me worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. Help me to give a good example to all my Neighbours by the sincere practice of all these vertues; shining as a light in the world, and being the salt of the earth: That others seeing my good works, may glo∣rifie thee our heavenly Father. Dis∣pose my heart to cast all its care on thee; to pray without ceasing; to bless
thy holy name at all times; to trust in thee, with a stedfast confidence in thy almighty goodness; to make thee my strength, and my fortress, and the rock of my salvation; to have my conversation without covetousness; and to set my affections on things above, where Christ is at thy right hand. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, let thy comforts, O Lord, delight my soul. When I am full, O that I may never wax wanton, or forget thee; but still rejoyce in our Lord al∣way: that so when I have nothing, I may be as possessing all things. Let the doing of my duty, ever be my pleasure: and to serve thee, be a great reward. Let a contented mind, be instead of all that I want: and a thankful heart, sweeten all my enjoy∣ments. Let patience always ease me under my burdens: and an entire submission to thy will, breed in me a settled tranquillity of spirit. Let my delight be in the excellent that are in the earth: and my thoughts
be very much there while I live, where I desire to be when I dye. That heaven being my aim, my hope, and the longing expectation of my soul, I may conquer all difficulties in my way to it; and go through ho∣nour and dishonour, good report and bad report, prosperity and adversi∣ty, with the same chearfulness and evenness of mind; till at last I come to that place of rest and peace with the glorified Jesus, who is able to give eternal life to them that obey him.
Blessed be thy name, who hast in∣spired my heart with these holy de∣sires; and wrought these purposes and resolutions in me. It is an ear∣nest, I hope, of thy never failing love towards me; in assurance of which I repose my self with full satisfaction of heart. Yea, this is my joy and my glory, that I know thee; and that I live under the care of thy wise,
merciful, and almighty providence at present, and that I have the pro∣mise of remission of sins, and of a crown of life; when the times of re∣freshment shall come from thy presence, and thou shalt send Jesus to conduct all the faithful to that glori∣ous place where he lives. This is my salvation and and all my desire. Now that I see thy abundant love, O heaven∣ly Father, it sufficeth. Rejoyce with me likewise, all ye Angels of God, according to the word of our Lord, that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Bless the Lord, ye heavenly hosts, ye minsters of his that do his pleasure. And, O that this joy may increase continually by my daily increase in all good∣ness, and the perfecting of my re∣pentance! till I come to be admitted into their company, and enter into the joy of my Lord.
And I wish the same happiness to all mankind, which I desire for my self. It will multiply my joy to see all the people praise thee, O God, to see all the people praise thee. O make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with glad∣ness, and come before his presence with thanksgiving. Give un∣to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the peo∣ple, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an of∣fering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord with holy wor∣ship: fear before him all the earth.
More especially, I desire the in∣crease of grace, mercy and peace to thy chosen people: Beseeching thee to bless thy universal Church, and to fill the hearts of all its members with thy love; that they may rest
neither day nor night, saying, Bles∣sed be God: Blessed be the glorious Majesty of heaven and earth, whose power, wisdom and goodness ex∣cel all praise, and endure for ever. And arise, O God, for the sighing of the poor and the needy: let not the men of the earth always oppress them. Let the salvation of thy people come out of thy ho∣ly place. Be thou exalted in thy own strength, and so will we sing and praise thy power. Lord continue thy loving kindness unto those that know thee, and thy righteousness to men of upright heart. Let not the foot of pride come against them: and let not the hand of the wicked remove them. O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end: but establish thou the just.
Protect, O Lord, and defend that part of thy Church which thou hast planted in these Kingdoms. Great
and innumerable have been thy mer∣cies to us: but, alas! we are a stub∣born and rebellious people; a people that set not our heart aright, and whose spirit hath not been stedfast with thee. And therefore thou hast justly plagued us many ways: and we should have but our deserts, if thy hand should still be stretched out, to punish us seven times more for our sins. But what is man that thou shouldst take dis∣pleasure at him? or what is a corruptible generation, that thou shouldest be ex∣treamly angry with them? For in truth there is none among them but hath dealt wickedly: and among the faithful there is none that hath not done amiss. But in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and goodness shall be de∣clared, if thou be merciful to them which have not the confidence of good works. O be merciful unto us; be merciful unto us, and do not utterly
forsake us. O remember not against us former iniquities, and that we have so soon forgot thy works, and the wonderful deliverances which thou hast given us. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name, and deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake. Fill us with thy wisdom from a∣bove, that we may be heartily in love with the Religion, which we profess: and preserve us in it for e∣ver. Defeat the counsels of all its enemies: and bring their wicked de∣vices to nought. Unite us to each other in brotherly love: and make us at peace among our selves. O let peace be within this Church: Let them prosper that love her, and seek her good. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. And for that end in∣due our Soveraign Lord, the King, with all the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit. Hear the daily prayers of thy Church for him; that he may
always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: and study to preserve thy peo∣ple committed to his charge, in wealth, peace and godliness. Enlighten all our Bishops, Priests and Deacons, with true knowledge and under∣standing of thy Word; and enable them both by their life and doctrine to set it forth, and shew it accord∣ingly. Teach all our Counsellors and Senators wisdom: and give all our Magistrates courage and zeal, to excute Justice, and to maintain Truth. Vouchsafe to all thy people increase of grace, to hear thy word with meekness, and to receive it with pure and sincere affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the spirit. Give them honest and good hearts, to honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him; to submit themselves to all their Governours, Teachers, spiritual Pa∣stors and Masters; to order them∣selves lowly & reverently to all their betters; to be careful not to hurt one
another by word or deed; to be just and true in all their dealing; to bear no malice nor hatred in their hearts; to preserve themselves to temperance, soberness and chastity; not to covet one anothers goods; but to learn and labour truly to get their own living, and to do their duty in that state of life, unto which it hath pleased thee to call them.
And, good Lord, bless the honest labours of all men among us, and crown them with good success: E∣specially of those who have any work in hand, for the glory of thy name, the increase of Christian pie∣ty, and the peace of thy Church. Reward the bounty of all charitable persons, either for the honour of Re∣ligion, or the relief of them that are in poverty. And make the bones which thou hast broken to rejoyce. Comfort all that are in a sorrowful condition: and bring them out of all their troubles. Send thy Angel to guide and preserve those who are in
journeys, upon their lawful occasi∣ons. Let them that go down into the deep, and do business upon the great waters, observe thy provi∣dence; and praise thee for thy good∣ness, and for thy wonderful works for the children of men. Forgive all that have done me any evil: and requite the kindness of those who have done me any good. Let their souls abide in good, and their seed inherit the earth. Rejoyce the heart of all my Friends: and fulfil the petitions of all that have desired my prayers. Let none that wait on thee, O Lord, be ashamed: let all them that trust in thee, say continually, the Lord be magnified. Save and deliver every one of us, O Lord our God, from the hands of our enemies, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be the God and Fa∣ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, from e∣verlasting to everlasting; and let all the people say, Amen. Praise the Lord.
AFter this, if the spirits be tyred, it will be fit to give them some re∣freshment. And then it will be very profitable to read and weigh seriously our Saviours Sermon on the Mount, contained in the V. VI. and VII. Chap∣ters of the Gospel according to St. Mat∣thew. And such meditations may be interspersed as are most sutable to the persons condition and occasions: With the addition of some of the prayers foregoing, for RESOLƲTION in well doing, or for the DIVINE GRACE; or for good SƲC∣CESS in any business, or for Friends that are TROƲBLED IN MIND, or are in a long JOƲR∣NEY, &c. And then conclude with the following Prayer and Thanks∣giving.
I Most humbly adore and worship thee, O Lord most high, the pos∣sessor of heaven and earth: And ad∣mire thy infinite love to mankind, whom thou hast thought worth the expence of the bloud of thy dear Son, and the conduct and assistance of the holy Ghost, and the Mini∣stry of Angels (by whom thou exercisest a most watchful provi∣dence over us) and so many graci∣ous messages from heaven, wherein thou hast plainly declared, that thou desirest to see us eternally happy, by being made partakers of a Divine Nature. When we seriously consider thy glorious perfections, and thy a∣stonishing kindness towards us, we may justly wonder at our selves, that we should ever refuse to be con∣formed to thy will; nay, that we should not be exceeding forward to joyn our selves unto thee, in
most hearty love and intire friend∣ship with thee. I am amazed at the dulness and stupidity of our Nature; that there should need so many intreaties and beseech∣ings of us, to be so happy. It is im∣possible to think of thee, and to pre∣fer any thing in our esteem, and de∣sire and choice, and delight and joy, before thy favour and good will to∣wards us: who art so able and so desirous to bestow the greatest bliss upon us. And therefore I most earnest∣ly beseech thy goodness, that to all other mercies which I have begged of thee thou wilt add this grace, to bring thy self often to my remem∣brance, and to possess my heart with a constant, serious and deep sense of thy marvellous kindness; in giving me liberty to chuse so great a good as thy self, and in propounding to my will such everlasting happiness; and in drawing me from those ways, which are contrary even to my peace and satisfaction here, by such power∣ful motives to well doing.
Awaken, O Lord, awaken this sense continually in my mind. Fa∣sten my thoughts upon those unseen, and eternal enjoyments. Make me feel what an happiness it is to love thee with all my heart; to cleave unto thee against all temptations which would allure or affright me from my duty; to bless and praise thee with joyful lips; to be kept in perfect peace and tranquillity, while my mind is stayed on thee; to be full and satisfied, and to desire nothing more, but to live for ever in thy love. O make me more and more to conceive and remember, what an infinite delight, thou the infinite good canst pour forth into us; how highly our Lord Jesus is dignified and exalted; and that thou hast made him most blessed for ever, and made him exceeding glad with thy countenance; and that
he will bring all thy children unto his glory. Settle in my soul such strong apprehensions of these things; that they may purifie my heart more perfectly, and provoke me to an un∣wearied diligence in well doing, and make me endure hardship also, if need be, as a good souldier of Jesus Christ, who was made perfect through suf∣ferings.
And assist me especially in these holy addresses to thee; that con∣tinuing instant in prayer, I may feel my heart lifted up more and more towards heaven, by ardent breath∣ings after thee. And indue me like∣wise with such a spirit of wisdom, and such sincerity of heart, that I may never be discouraged though I fall short of the height of my de∣sires: but I may always thankfully acknowledge thy grace, in what I have attained, and labour earnestly to grow better, with a quiet, patient,
even and steady mind. Preserve in me an humble confidence, that thou wilt never forsake the work of thine own hands: And let that con∣fidence make me industrious, but not slothful. And let thy holy Spirit bless and further my endeavours; and a fervent desire and hearty good will press me forward; and the pleasures of Religion mightily in∣dear it to me; and the joy that thou hast set before me, make me run the way of thy commandments with an enlarged heart. And the nearer I come to the end of my race, may it please thy goodness to present me with a clearer sight of that Crown of Life, which our Lord hath pro∣mised! Open to me more of the trea∣sures of thy Kingdom; and fill me with a greater joy in hope of thy glo∣ry: that so I may be willing to be dis∣solved, and to be with Christ, which is best of all.
And now, O Lord, what thanks shall I render unto thee for these ho∣ly thoughts, desires and affections, which, by thy grace, I feel in my heart: together with all the other benefits, which thou hast bestowed on me, or intendest for me. Great and marvellous things, O God, hast thou wrought for the children of men: and thou hast promised far greater, if we will but be truly grate∣ful unto thee, for what we have al∣ready received. Thou sendest one blessing, as the earnest of another: having given thy Son to us, that he might give us thy holy Spirit; and given him to dye for us, that he might give us life. Thou grantest to us thy grace, that we may repent: and thou givest repentance, that thou mayst give us pardon: and thou pardonest our sins, that we may be thy children; and being thy
children thou designest to make us thy heirs together with our bles∣sed Saviour. Thou givest us tempo∣ral blessings, that we may thirst after spiritual: and thou fillest us with spiritual blessings in Christ, that we may long for the accom∣plishment of them in immortal life. There is none can declare the good∣ness of the Lord. We best declare our sense of it, when we thankfully receive it; and become as good as thou wouldst have us, and inablest us to be. And how great, how free is that goodness, which is most of all pleased when we are happy! and esteems our doing our selves good, with thy grace and favour, the re∣turn that we should make to thy bounty! Thou dost us good before we ask; and thou givest liberally unto us, that thou mayst move us to ask more. Thou intreatest us when we are unwilling: thou be∣seechest us, that we would let thee bless us, and not put impediments
in the way of our own happiness: thou pittiest us, when we have no compassion for our selves; and art still careful of us, when we trifle a∣way the richest mercies.
O the exceeding riches of thy grace to the children of men! who can number all thy mercies? and who can understand the greatness of those, of which we make mention? It is easier to speak of them, than to be affected with the multitude and surpassing value of them: and we can sooner be affected with them, than do any thing worthy such ex∣cellent love. Our Praises and Thanks∣givngs consist too much in words, and transient admirations, and sudden passions. O that I had such a seri∣ous, such a considerate heart, as to return unto thee, the constant, uni∣form and chearful obedience of a godly life! By which, I know, I shall
not only most praise and glorifie thee, but do the greatest benefit to my self. And when I have done all that I can, I will acknowledge my self an unprofitable servant, that hath done no more, than was his duty to do. I will esteem all my goodness, to be the fruit of thy great good∣ness to me. And I will rejoyce in this, that thou art formed in me, and that I am made like unto the Son of thy love; and that I have hopes through thy abundant and unde∣served mercy to live with him in his heavenly Kingdom. Which I be∣seech thee hasten, to the eter∣nal joy of all those that love his appearing. Amen, Amen. Let thy kingdom come; that I may see the good of thy chosen, and glory with thine in∣heritance: and we may all with u∣nited hearts and affections, render our thanks unto thee, and sing thy everlasting praises.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the communi∣cation of the holy Ghost, be with me, and with all thy people every where, both now and always. Amen.
2 Cor. 1.3.
Rev. 5.13.
Psal. 48.1.
Rev. 4.8.
1 Sam. 2.2.
Psal. 145.17. 45.7.
Job 37.23.
Psal. 19.1.
Job 42.2.
Psal. 135.6.
148.5,6. 147.5.
104.24,27,28,31.
145.4,13. 102 27. 119.89. 146.2. 111.1. 148.13.
Job. 11.7.
1 Tim. 6.15.
Psal. 36.7.
139.17.
Psal. 46.5.
22.9,10.
Phil. 3.10,11.
2 Cor. 4.6.
Psal. 106.2.
Mention all the particular mercies you can remember: and then proceed still to admire his loving kind∣ness, in all those you took no notice of, or have forgotten.
2 Esd. 8.20,21.
Tob. 8.16.
12.6.
Prov. 3.17.
Psal. 19.10,11.
119.165.
84.11,12.
Ecclus. 4.12.
Here menti∣on the particu∣lar acts of in∣temperance, un∣charitableness, or any else you have been guil∣ty of.
Jer. 9.1.
Rom. 12.9.
Psal. 42.8.
Dan. 5.23.
Psal. 51.1.
25.7.
38.18.
32.5.
143.2.
130.3,4.
86.5,6.
25.11.
Psal. 38.2.3.6. &c.
88.16,18.
Matth. 11.26.
Heb. 8.10,12.
Act. 26.18.
1 Joh. 1.7.
Ecclus. 17.29.
Psal. 119.30.
31.11.
14.15.
16.115.
111.112.
Psal. 119.108,34,35,10,115,116,117.
Ephes. 3.16.
Act. 3.19.
2 Sam. 23.5.
Luk. 15.7.
Psal. 103.21.
Psal. 100.1.
96.8,9.
Psal. 10.18.
14.7.
21.13.
36.10,11,12.
7.9.
Psal. 78.8. 2 Esdras 8.34,35,36. Psal. 79 8,9. 118.25.
Psal. 25.13.
106. ult.
Psal. 21.6.