New prayers and meditations with pious exhortations for fast-days pursuant to Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary's injunctions to suppress irreligion and prophaneness / by Tho. Watts, Vicar of Orpington and St. Mary Crey in Kent.

Holy Vows and Meditations.

GOOD Prayers never came weeping home. I am sure, I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.

It is the basest Love of all others that is for a Benefit; for herein we love not another, so much as our selves: Tho' there were no Heaven, O Lord, I would love thee; now there is one, I will esteem it, I will desire it: Yet still I will love thee for thy goodness-sake; thy self is reward sufficient. As it is a hap∣py necessity that enforceth to good; so is that next happy which hinders from Evil.

Not only commission makes a Sin; a Man is guilty of all the Sins he hateth not: If I cannot avoid all, I will yet hate all Sin, and abstain from all Appearance of Evil. I will loath every Evil for it's own sake: I will do good, but not trust to it: If it be well-accepted, it is well; if not my thanks is with God. I will not be more afraid of doing good things a∣miss, than of being proud, when I have well performed them.

The Godly sow in Tears, and reap in Joy; the Seed-time is commonly waterish, and lowring; I will be content with a wet Spring, so I may be sure of a clear and joyful Harvest.

Nothing shall more joy me, than my inward Quietness.

Whatever become of my Body, Reputation or Estate here, I will ever labour to find somewhat added to the Stature of my Soul.

In having, I will account that my good, which doth me good. I account it the only valour to remit a wrong; and will applaud it to my self, as Right, Noble, and Christian, that I might hurt, and will not. If it be ill with me on Earth, it is well my Torment is so short, and so easie: I will not be so covetous to hope for two Heavens. Henceforth I will envy none but a good Man; and I will pity nothing so much as the prosperity of the Wicked.