The sinner's tears, in meditations and prayers. By Tho. Fettiplace. Dom: Pet: Cantab.

Blessed Lord,

Wilt thou accept of such a sinfull creature as I am to appear before thee, to approach unto thee, to sue to thee for mercy? How bold am I to look up unto thee with these adulterous eyes, that have so long been gazing on these earthly joyes? how much presuming on thy mercy, to im∣plore thee with that tongue, that hath so much provoked thy displeasure? how impudent to offer that disloyall heart unto thee, that hath so fast been wedded to this sinfull world?

Lord, when mine own wretchedness had brought thy gracious visitation on me, when thy hand pressed me sore, when thine arrows stuck fast in me, and the venome of them drank up my spirits; when my heart was in hcaviness, and my soul in bitterness, when my life was drawing near unto the grave, when mine own conscience pleaded powerfully a∣gainst me, and the terrors of a second death

were ready to devour me; I then earnestly im∣plored thee for mercy, and thou freely forgavest me; I then begged my life of thee, that I might thankfully devote the remnant of my life unto thee.

Ah Lord, how wretchedly hath mine own heart deceived me? what serious vows, and faithfull promises did I then make unto thee? and yet how carelesly, how foolishly am I depart∣ed from thee? how vainly have I trifled out that precious time which thou hast given me? how justly mayst thou now deprive me of this wretched life, by which I have so much disho∣nored thee?

And now, Lord, when I have even wearied out my self in wickedness, when my soul is over∣charged with sin, and my heart with sorrow; when the vanity of this life is ready to forsake me, and there is nothing left but misery and shame to seize upon me; I have not yet resolved seriously to come unto thee.

Lord, leave me not unto the weaknesse of mine own infirmities, expose mee not unto the raging hillowes of these strong temptations, suffer me not to sink into this depth of sin, to be destroyed by this dreadful storm of Satan, and mine own accusing conscience; rebuke these windes and waves, and cause a blessed calm within me; reach out thy hand of mercy, and support me; strengthen my drooping soul, that I may joyfully, and faithfully lay hold upon thee: give me a fixed heart, that I may seriously return unto thee, and may this hour be graciously accepted of thee.

Lord wean me from the false imbraces of this evill world, turn all these sinfull joyes to bitterness unto mee, make me to see their

foulnesse and deformity, their emptinesse and vanity, their shortness and uncertainty, their falshood and flattery, their wearinesse and mi∣sery.

O let my heart be filled, let my soul be ravished with those transcendent joyes of thine which are for ever; give me a joyfull soul to rest securely in them, a ready heart devoutly thankfull for them.

Lord moderate my desires to outward in∣joyments; let me rellish no sweetnesse but in thy love, no goodnesse but in thy grace, no comfort but in the full assurance of thy glory.

Forgive those wretched houres which have been stoln from thy service: O Lord, my God, I heartily bewail them, and willingly resolve to spend my days in sorrow for them.

Make me more watchfull over my corrupt heart, more carefull of my precious time, more serious in the weighty work of my salvation; more sorrowfull for sin, more mindfull of the hour of death and day of judge∣judgement: That so I may affect the plea∣sures of this life soberly, enjoy them sparing∣ly, and leave them cheerfully. Amen.