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Countess of Morton's daily exercise
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Genre
Prayer
Date
1666
Full Title
The Countess of Morton's daily exercise; or A book of praiers, and rules How to spend the Time in the Service and Pleasure of Almighty God.
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Wing M2817
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PSAL. 55.18. In the Morning and Evening and at Noon-day will I Pray, and that instantly, and he shall hear my voice.
1
PRAIERS IN THE MORNING.
A5
2
3
In the Morning.
At Uprising
4
I.
BLessed be the mostHoly, Glorious,
and Undivided Trinity
now and for evermore.
II.
Blessed art thou, OLord, who inlightnest
mine eyes, and sufferest
me not to sleep in death.
III.
Blessed art thou, forthou hast created all
things, and for thy
Will's sake they are and
were created.
IV.
The Almighty Lordbe now and evermore
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my defence, and vouchsafe
to bless and preserve
me from all evil
this day and for ever.
Amen.
When you are risen
Retire your self and humbly kneeling, adore God, and say,
O Holy Lord GodAlmighty, before
whom all knees do
bend, and to whom all
creatures in heaven and
earth do bow and obey;
behold here I prostrate
6
my self beforethee, adoring the divine
Excellency of thy
sovereign and infinite
Majesty, with all the
powers of my Soul, submitting
my self with all
lowliness and reverence
to the Greatness
of thy Dominion and
Power, and desiring nothing
more then faithfully
to serve thee all
the days of my Life;
for thou art onely holy,
thou onely art the
Lord: and glory be to
thee, O Lord, most
High. Amen.
7
Hauing thus made your Adoration and submission to God, let these be your Prayers and Devotions every Morning.
OUr Father whichart in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done in
earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive
us our Trespasses,
as we forgive them that
trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation:
8
But deliver usfrom evil. For thine is
the Kingdom, and the
Power, and the Glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
A Confession of sins, and Prayer for Pardon.
I.
ALmighty God, untowhom all hearts
be open, all desires
known, and from whom
no secrets are hid, I
come unto thee in the
multitude of thy mercies,
and in thy fear do
9
I cast my self down beforethee, most humbly
lamenting my sins, and
craving of thee, the
God of all mercy and
goodness, perfect remission
and forgiveness,
through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
II.
O Thou Maker of allthings, and Judge
of all men, I acknowledge
and bewail the
many and manifold sins
which from time to time
I have most grievously
committed, by my
thoughts, words and
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deeds, against thy mostholy Commandements,
provoking thereby most
justly thy wrath and
indignation against me.
I do earnestly repent,
and am heartily sorry
for these my misdoings.
O rebuke me not in
thine indignation, neither
chasten me in thy
heavy displeasure, but
have mercy upon me
for thy Goodness; have
mercy upon me, and forgive
me all that is past:
and grant that I may
always study to serve
thee, and please thee
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hereafter in all godlinessand pureness of life,
to the Honour and Glory
of thy blessed Name,
through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
The Psalm.
THe Lord is lovingunto every man, and
his mercy is over all his
works.
He forgiveth us all
our sins, and hath compassion
upon all our infirmities.
His loving kindness is
better then life it self,
12
and therefore shall mysoul praise him.
Blessed art thou, O
Lord, who wilt not cast
out my prayer, nor turn
away thy mercy from
me.
As long as I live will
I magnifie thee on this
manner, and lift up my
hands in thy Name.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to
the holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning,
&c.
13
The Lesson.
TAke heed that ye walkcircumspectly, redeeming
the time because the
days are evil. Be fervent
in good works, and serve
the Lord with all gladness
of heart. Be patient
in tribulation, and continue
instant in prayer.
Be courteous and meek,
and, as much as lieth in
you, live peaceably with
all men: And whatsoever
ye would that others
should do unto you, do so
to them; for this is the
Law and the Prophets.
14
The Hymn.
VOuchsafe, O Lord,To keep me this
day without sin.
To shut and close my
wandring Eye,
Lest it let in Vanity.
To keep my Heart as
pure and free
From fond and troubled
Fantasie;
To guide my Tongue,
so that no strife
May breed disquiet
in my Life;
To keep all harm, all
Ill away,
15
While I duly spendthe day.
Or this.
O Holy Ghost, mySoul inspire,
And lighten with Celestial
Fire.
Thy blessed Unction
from above
Is Comfort, Life, and
fire of Love.
Anoint and clear my
soiled face
With the abundance
of thy Grace.
Be thou my joy, my
rest, my home;
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Where thou art so, noill can come.
Teach me to know
the Father, Son,
And Thee of Both to
be but One:
That day by day all
my life long
This may be my endless
Song;
To Thee all Honour,
Praise, and Merit,
Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. Amen.
17
A Devout Confession of our Christian and Catholick Faith.
With Explications and Prayers relating thereunto.
I. I Believe in thee, OGod the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven
and Earth; loving thee
as my Father, reverenceing
thee as the Almighty,
and committing my
Soul and my Body to
thee as to a faithful
B
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Creator. Thou art worthy,O Lord, to receive
Glory, Honour and
Power; for thou hast
created all things, and
for thy Will's sake they
are and were created.
II. I believe in Thee,
O Thou King of Glory,
the everlasting Son of God
the Father, and our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Great
Mystery of Godliness,
God manifest in the
flesh, and sent into this
world for our eternal
Salvation in the world
to come.
III. I believe that thou
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wast conceived by the HolyGhost, and born of the
Blessed Virgin Mary without
spot of sin, whereby
to cleanse us from all sin.
IV. I believe that thou
didst suffer, what otherwise
we must have Suffered
for ever. That
thou wast Crucified, to
set us free from the Curse
of the Law.
That Thou didst Die,
and thereby take away
the sting of Death.
That thou wast buried
in the Grave, and hadst
the Victory over it, to
assure us that our Bodies
B 2
20
shall not corrupt therefor ever.
V. I believe that thou
didst descend into Hell, to
trumph over it, and to
free us from the fear of
ever coming into that
Place.
That the third day thou
didst rise again from the
dead in our Nature, the
First-fruits of them that
are Asleep in their
Graves, who are thereby
assured that they also
shall not sleep there for
ever.
VI. I believe that Thou
didst ascend up into Heaven,
21
there to prepare aplace for us.
That Thou now sittest
at the right hand of God,
the Father Almighty,
there to make Intercession
for us, our only Advocate
with the Father.
VII. I believe that
thence thou shalt come to
receive us, and to be the
Judge of the Quick and
the Dead, after which thy
Kingdome shall have no
end.
All this I steadfastly
believe of thee, O my
Blessed Saviour, beseeching
thee to give me
B 3
22
Grace, that I may bemade conformable to thy
Image, in Faith to Thy
Conception, in Humility
to Thy Birth, in Sympathy
to Thy Passion, and
in Mortifying my Sins
to thy Death and Burial:
To thy Descent into Hell,
by frequent Meditation
thereof; and to thy Resurrection,
by my Rising
from Sin to Newness of
life: To thine Ascension,
by seeking after those
things which be Above;
and to thy coming to
judgment, by Judging my
self here, that I may not
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be there condemnedwith the World.
VIII. I believe also in
thee, O Holy Spirit, the
Lord and Giver of Life,
the Infuser of all heavenly
Graces, and the Leader
of thy Church in all
the ways of Truth and
Holiness.
IX. I believe therefore
the holy Catholick Church,
the Mystical Body of
Christ, whereof He is the
only Head.
I believe the Communion
of Saints, being joyned
together in Faith, Hope
and Charity, and mutually
B 4
24
participating of oneanother Praiers.
X. I believe the Remission
of Sins in this world,
given and sealed to Us
by the sacred Ordinances
of God.
XI. I believe the Resurrection
of our bodies at
the end of the World, to
be united to our Souls.
XII. And I believe the
Life Eternal in the
World to come, where
We shall be in happiness
with Christ for ever.
Amen.
25
Praiers.
I.
ALmighty God, whoof Thy Goodness
hast defended me from
the perils of this Night,
and safely brought me
to the beginning of this
Day, preserve me in the
same, I most humbly beseech
Thee, by thy
mighty power, from all
sin and danger, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
II.
ALmighty and everlivingGod, vouchsafe,
B 5
26
I beseech Thee, todirect, sanctifie and govern
both my Soul and
Body in the ways of thy
Laws, and in the Works
of thy Commandments;
that through thy most
gracious protection I
may be preserved from
all Evil both this day and
for ever, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
III.
POssess my mind, OLord, continually
with thy presence, and
make me to have a perpetual
fear and love of
27
Thy Holy Name, teachingme to do those things
that may be pleasing to
Thee, and profitable to
my Salvation, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
IV.
LEad me forth O Lord,in thy Truth, and
Learn me; for Thou art
the God of my Salvation,
and in Thee shall be
my hope all the day long.
Amen.
V.
TO Thee, O KingEternal, be all Glory
and Honor now and for
ever. Amen.
28
Conclude your Praiers with a Remembrance of all your Friends, and of all them that belong unto you, saying,
INto thy Blessed Handsand protection, O
Lord, I commend my
Spirit, Soul and Body,
together with all Them
whom thou hast graciously
given unto me, and
to Whom I do any way
relate: Preserve them,
O Lord, in thy favour
and fear, increasing and
multiplying thy Blessings
upon them, and forgiving
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them their sins;keep them in perpetual
Peace and Safety, for
the love of thy only Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
And ask Pardon for all the Distractions and Irreverences committed by you in his Divine Prefence during this time that you have spoken to Him.
30
31
A BRIEF LITANY OF PRAIERS FOR EVERY DAY.
32
33
A brief Litany for every Day.
O Most Blessed, Undividedand Glorious
Trinity, one Eternal
God,
Have mercy upon me.
Call to remembrance,
O Lord, Thy tender
Mercies which have been
ever of old; and remember
not my offences,
nor the offences of our
Fore-fathers, but after
thy great goodness have
mercy and spare me
whom thy Son our Lord
hath redeemed with his
most precious bloud.
34
Have mercy upon me andspare me, O Lord.
From all Evil and Mischief,
from Pride and
Vain-glory, and from all
the deceits of the World,
the Flesh, and the Devil.
Good Lord, deliver me.
From all Perils and
Dangers, both of my Soul
and Body, from extremity
of Sickness, and from
sudden Death,
Good Lord, deliver me.
By thy manifold and
great Mercies, by the
Mercies of our Blessed
Saviour, by his bitter
Cross and Passion, by
35
his mighty Resurrection,by his most glorious Ascension,
and by his most
effectual and acceptable
Intercession,
Good Lord, deliver me.
In all time of Tribulation
and Adversity, in
the time of my last and
greatest Need, in the
Hour of Death, and at
the Day of Judgment,
Good Lord, deliver me.
Deliver me, O Lord, as
Thou hast delivered all
Thy Blessed Saints and
Servants, from the guilt
and burthen of my sins,
and from Thy Wrath
36
and everlasting Indignation.Good Lord, I beseech thee
to hear me.
That it may please
thee to preserve me in
thy Faith, Fear and
Love, and that I may
evermore have affiance
in thy Mercy, and ever
study to serve thee in
Holiness and Purity of
life.
Good Lord, I beseech
thee to hear me.
That it may please thee
daily to increase in me
thy manifold Gifts of
Grace, and that I may
37
bring forth the fruits ofthe Spirit, and ever seek
thy Honour and Glory.
Good Lord, I beseech thee
to hear me.
That it may please thee
to have mercy upon all
Men.
Good Lord, I beseech thee
to hear me.
That it may please thee
to save and preserve our
most Gracious King, and
All his Royal Family.
Good Lord, I beseech thee
to hear mee.
That it may please thee
to reduce them that
have gone astray from
38
thy ways, to comfortthem that are in sorrow,
to relieve them that are
in need and tribulation,
and to amend All our
lives according to thy
Holy Word,
Good Lord, I beseech thee
to hear me.
O Lord God, Lamb of
God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins
of the World,
Have mercy upon me,
and grant me thy Peace.
Amen.
39
RULES AND PRAIERS FOR THE AFTER-NOON.
40
41
Rules and Advertisements how to imploy your time.
I.
PAss the Day in suchImployments as may
be most meet and agreeable
to that condition
of life wherein
God hath placed you.
II.
Come not to the placewhere sin dwellls, and
avoid all corrupt Company
whereto it resorts.
Religion hath no greater
enemy then conuersing
with such, of
42
whom your heart tellethyou that there is
neither Faith nor Fear
of God in them.
III.
Be careful to demean yourself affably and peaceably
towards All those
with whom you shall
have just occasion to
converse.
IV.
Let not either your Actionsor your Discourses
be vain and frivolous,
but tending either to
improve your Judgment,
or to better your
Affections.
43
If you have the Governmentof a Family, take
special heed that they
live not disorderly or
idlely, to the offience of
Almighty God, and the
scandal of others.
VI.
And forget not as oftenas you can to be present
and to assist at the
publick Offices and Divine
Services of the
Church, there to attend
and perform the
Homage and Worship
of Almighty God, and
to be instructed in his
C 2
44
holy Word: for that isa Duty and Service
most highly pleasing to
him.
VII.
Remember and you willmuch help your self, if
you remember it that
you are continually in
the presence of God,
and ought to live continually
in his Fear
and in obedience to his
Commandments.
VIII.
Vpon all occasions offeredto you exercise your
Charity, and let not
45
out some good workdone by you, either of
real Honour to God, or
of real Charity to them
that want it.
After-Noon.
After Noon retire yourself a while, and use the
Psalm, Lesson, Hymn
and Praiers following.
UNto thee I lift up
mine eyes, O thou
that dwellest in the Heavens:
my Soul waiteth
still upon thee, that thou
maiest bless me.
C 3
46
O hearken thou untothe voice of my calling,
my King and my God,
for unto thee do I make
my Praiers.
Shew thou me the
way that I should walk
in, and teach me to do
the thing that pleaseth
thee.
I will take heed to
my ways, that I offend
not in my tongue; and I
will make a covenant
with mine eyes that they
behold not vanity.
O let not my footsteps
erre from the path
of thy commandments.
47
But let my delight bein walking after the
precepts of thy Law.
Thy Law is an undefiled
Law, converting
the Soul, and giveth
light unto the eyes.
Keep thy servant
from all presumptuous
sins, that they may not
get the dominion over
me, and cleanse thou me
from all my secret
faults.
That so I may be acceptable
in thy sight, O
Lord, my Strength and
my Redeemer.
Glory be to the Father -
C 4
48
The Lesson.
IF sinners entice thee, donot thou consent unto
them. These things doth
the Lord abhor: a proud
look and a lying tongue,
an heart that deviseth
wickedness and mischief,
a false witness that speaketh
not the truth, and
whosoever soweth discord
among others. In the
multitude of words there
will be sin. Keep innocency,
and do the thing
that is right, for that
will bring a man peace at
49
the last. Let the samemind be in you that was
in Christ Jesus, and confess
Him to be the Lord, who
was obedient to the Death
of the Cross for the redemption
of Mankind, unto
the Praise and Glory of
God the Father.
The Hymn.
WHo more cancrave then God
for me hath done,
To free a Slave
That gave his only Son?
Bless'd be that Hour
When he repair'd our loss
C 5
50
I never willForget my Saviour's
Cross.
The Praiers.
I.
O God, who knowestthe Frailties and Infirmities
of my weak Nature,
and in the midst of
how many Dangers I
live, being continually
subject to the Deceits of
the World, the Flesh and
the Devil, and having no
Power of my self to help
my self, mercifully look
upon me: And because
51
I cannot continue in safety
without thy Succour,
preserve me evermore
by thy Help and Goodness,
and keep me both
outwardly in my Body
and inwardly in my
Soul; that among the
sundry and manifold
Dangers of this World,
my Heart may be set to
attain everlasting Salvation,
and my Affections
may surely there be fixed
where true Joys are
to be found, through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Amen.
52
II.
O God, the strength ofall that trust in Thee,
mercifully accept these
my humble Supplications
and Praiers; and
grant me the help of thy
Grace, that I may please
thee both in Will and
Deed, and obtain thy
Peace all the daies of my
Life, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
III.
ALmighty and EverlivingGod, I give
Thee most humble
thanks, for that Thou
hast vouchsafed favourably
53
to call me to theknowledge of thy Grace
and Faith in Thee. Increase
this Knowledg,
and confirm this Faith in
me evermore. Give me
the Comfort of thy Holy
Spirit, and multiply
upon me thy manifold
Gifts of Grace, the spirit
of Wisdom and Understanding,
the spirit of
Counsel and ghostly
Strength, the spirit of
Knowledge and true
Godliness, and fulfil me,
O Lord, with the spirit
of thy holy Fear,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
54
Rules and Advertisements.
I.
AFter this you maypass the rest of the
Day in what lawfull
Recreations or Imployments
you judge
to be meet for you.
II.
Spend some while beforeNight in Reading,
and read with attention:
But let your
Books be chosen with
advice and care, for
55
your Instruction andKnowledge in all
good things, and specially
for your Spiritual
Benefit.
56
PRAIERS AT NIGHT AND BED-TIME.
57
Retire your self again
AND when you havethought upon all the day
past, how you have spent
it, that is, what good or
evil Actions you have
done, and what bad Inclinations
you have resisted
or amended, asking God
pardon for all your offences,
use these Praiers.
The Psalm and Praiers.
LEt my Praier be setforth in thy sight, O
Lord, as the Incense;
And the lifting up of
58
my hands be as an EveningSacrifice.
In thee hath been my
hope all the day long,
and under the shadow of
thy Wings shall be my
refuge day and night for
ever.
Glory be to -
I.
O Thou brightness ofEternitie, by whose
providence both the Day
and the Night were created
and governed, and
who hast made the outgoings
of the Morning
and Evening to praise
59
Thee, mercifully vouchsafeto let the Light of
thy Countenance shine
upon me with the blessed
beams of thy goodness
and Mercy, that neither
the Prince of Darkness
may have any power
over me, nor the
Works of Darkness
overwhelm me; but that
by thy mighty Protection
I may be defended
both in Body and Soul
from all the perils and
dangers of this night and
for evermore, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
60
II.
MAke me to rememberthat the Darkness
hideth nothing
from Thee, but that to
Thee the Night shineth
as clear as the Day, to
thee the Darkness and
the Light are both alike.
III.
O Be thou merciful untome, and bless me,
shew me the light of thy
Countenance and be
merciful unto me.
IV.
INto thy hands Icommend my self, my
Soul, and my Body, and
61
all that is mine;for thou hast made
and created them, and
thou hast redeemed us,
O thou Lord God of
mercy and truth.
V.
THou hast Created allthings, and for thy
Will's sake they are and
were created.
VI.
O Send thy Light andthy Truth, that they
may preserve me, and
save me for thy Mercie's
sake.
Lord, have mercy upon me.
62
Christ have mercy uponme.
Lord have mercy upon
me.
God the Father bless me.
God the Son defend me.
God the Holy Ghost preserve
me now and for
evermore. Amen.
Rules and Advertisements.
AFter this speak not unnecessarilyto any before
you go to sleep. Remember
that your Bed is a representation of the Grave,
and sleep an Image of
Death. It behoves you not
63
to lie down in such a conditionas you would be unwilling to be found or token
in it.
Bed-Time.
Before you go into your Bed kneel down and say,
GReat Ruler of theDay and Night,
On our Darkness cast
thy Light.
To thee who dost by rest
renew
My wasted strength, I
humbly sue,
That when I shall unclose
mine eyes,
Pure & chast I may arise,
And make my Morning
Sacrifice.
64
IN the Name of God Iwill lay me down to
sleep, whom I beseech to
bless and preserve me
now and for ever. Amen.
Being lay'd down to sleep, lift up your heart to God, and say,
LIghten mine eyes, Othou who dwellest
in Eternal Light, and
have mercy upon me,
that I sleep not in Death.
The Almighty Lord be
now and evermore my
defence against all perils
& dangers of this night.
Amen.
65
FORMS Of CONFESSION AND PRAIER TO Almighty God for the Forgiveness of Sins.
66
67
A most devout Confession and Praier for the Remission of sins.
I.
I Have sinned beforethee, O Lord my God,
and done all evil in thy
sight. I have sinned sins
many in number, of many
kinds, in many places,
at many times, and often
repeated: I have sinned
large and great sins; I
have sinned hainous and
presumptuous sins: They
are become burthensome
and heavy, too heavy for
me to bear, and their Cry
reacheth up to Heaven.
D 2
68
II.
ANd what fruit haveI in those things,
whereof I am now ashamed?
My Confusion
is daily before me, and
the shame of my face hath
covered me.
III.
MOreover my Mindis troubled, and I
am afraid of thy Judgments.
Woe be unto me
that I have done these
things.
IV.
SEE, O Lord, how vileI am become: and
what shall I say? or
69
how shall I open mymouth? or what shall I
answer, seeing I have
committed all these Sins?
V.
TO whom may I flyfor Succour? or
who shall deliver me
from the Body of this
Death, and from the
multitude of my Transgressions?
VI.
SInce I can neither saynor do more, I will lift
up mine eyes to thee,
from whence cometh all
my help.
D 3
70
VII.
IN many things weoffend all, and justly
we deserve punishment;
but thy Mercy triumpheth
over thy Justice:
and if I have known
thee, O Lord, thou hast
been good and gracious
to them that have deserved
evil.
VIII.
I Will therefore comeboldly to thy Throne
of Grace, that I may find
Mercy in the time of
need.
IX.
HEre I insist, andfrom the dreadful
71
Throne of thy Justice, Iappeal unto the ever
blessed Throne of thy
Mercy.
X.
O Suffer me not to perishin my sins. Lord,
carest thou not that I perish,
who wilt that all
should be saved, and that
none should perish?
XI.
I Am thine, O save me. Iam thine own Creature,
the work of thine
own hands, thy lowly
servant, thine humble
handmaid; O despise not
Thou the work of thine
own hands.
D 4
72
XII.
BUt I am a Sinner;And Thou O God,
hearest not Sinners.
XIII.
YEt consider O Lord,of what I am made;
Remember that I am but
Flesh and Dust, frail and
corruptible flesh, and as
the dust before the
Wind. Wilt thou break
a bruised Reed? Wilt
thou blast a Leaf driven
to and fro? Wilt thou
pursue the drie Stubble?
or wilt thou hunt after a
Flea? What shall I say
or do unto thee, O Thou
73
Preserver of the World.XIV.
WIlt thou be angrywith thy Servant
that praieth? Behold, I
have heard that they said
in Israel, We will go to
the King, and say, let our
Souls live; It may be he
will save us. Is any King
more merciful than
Thou? Thou sparedst
Ahab, because he was
humble; Spare me also,
O Lord, for I am humble
before Thee.
XV.
I Cover not, I do notdissemble, I do not
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74
extenuate and lessen mySins: I freely confess
them, I have done exceedingly
amiss, I call it
often to mind, and I condemn
my self for it.
XVI.
SPare me, O God, andaccept the Sacrifice
of a broken Spirit, a
contrite Heart, a troubled
Mind, a wounded
Conscience, and an afflicted
Soul, because I
have sinned against Thee.
XVII.
WIlt Thou have pityupon some,
and hast thou made all
75
others for naught? Shallthine Enemie say, Thou
hast made us to kill us, or
because Thou hatest us,
or that Thou canst not
or wilt not save us?
XVIII.
FAR be this fromThee: But remember
this, O Lord, how the
Enemy hath reproached
Thee, and how the
foolish people have thus
blasphemed thy Name.
XIX.
FOR what shall thenbecome of thy great
Name, of the richness of
thy Mercy, which is over
76
all thy Works, of theBloud of thy Son, who
died for the Sins of the
World?
XX.
WHen thou canstnot for any other
cause, yet for thy Mercies
sake, for thine abundant
Mercy in Christ, thou
hast said that Thou wilt
pardon us our Sins.
XXI.
WE say rightly,Our Fathers
trusted in Thee: They
trusted in Thee and thou
didst deliver them: Deliver
me also, for I have
trusted in Thee.
77
XXII.
I Will not let thee go,except Thou bless me.
Jesus, thou Son of David,
thou Son of God, have
mercy on me.
XXIII.
THine Apostle hath notsaid in vain, that thou
camest into the World to
save Sinners.
XXIV.
NOw therefore O Lord,be merciful unto me
a sinner, and hear the
Praier and Supplication
of thy Servant which I
have made before Thee,
that thy face may shine
78
upon me; and give me,though I be unworthy,
thy Pardon and Peace.
Amen.
79
MEDITATIONS, CONFESSIONS AND PRAIERS Before the Receiving OF THE Blessed SACRAMENT.
80
81
Advertisements Before you come to the Holy Sacrament.
I.
YOu are to prepare yourself thereunto,
I. By a clear and pure
Conscience,
II. By a clear and assured
Faith,
III. By a full and perfect
Charity.
II.
The day before you intendto receive the Blessed Sacrament,
lay aside all your
thoughts of Worldly affairs,
and give your self
to retirement:
82
Fix your thoughts stedfastlyupon God's infinite
Greatness, and your own
unworthiness to appear
before Him.
IV.
And first as Saint Paulhath directed you examinee
your self how you
stand in the Faith, Profession,
and Practice of
your Christian Religion,
both before God and the
World; how you have
spent your time, what
good or evil you have
done, what had inclinations
you have resisted
83
and amended, and whatoffences you have committed
either against
God or Man.
V.
Prefixing this Praier to rememberthem, and to ask Pardon for them.
The Praier.
O My God, I most humblybeseech Thee to
open the eyes of my
Mind, and to cleanse the
thoughts of my Heart,
that I may see and acknowledge
my sins and
offences which I have
daily committed in
84
Thought, Word, andDeed, against thy Divine
Majesty; and that duely
lamenting them I may
obtain of Thee, the God
of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness,
through Jesus Christ my
Blessed Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
A particular Confession of Sins. Referring to the several Commandments of Almighty God.
I Have sinned againstthe Lord my God, and
I have offended against
his Holy Laws,
85
And whereof you shallfind your Conscience
guilty, accusing your self,
and saying
I have had *in and
idle Thoughts, loose,
light, and evil Imaginations
in many kinds; I
have entertained them
long; I have been negligent
in chasing them
from my mind; I have
taken pleasure and content
in them. I have been
rash and offensive in my
Words, wanton and corrupt
in my Communications,
and I have not
kept my self from Vanity
86
and Complacency inthem; Oftentimes in the
forwardness and impatience
of my spirit I have
been injurious by them
to God and Man. I have
been negligent and careless
in my actions, living
in liberty, and breaking
too frequently the Commandments
of Almighty
God.
I. Whom I have not
alwaies set before mine
eyes, nor studied to know
and seek him as I ought
above all things; and
knowing him, yet I have
not acknowledged him,
87
in reverencing his Powerand Majesty as I should.
Yea I have sometimes
Doubted of him, misbelieving
his promises,
and not trusting to
his Help. I have made
Flesh my arm, and put
my confidence in the
pleasing Vanities and uncertain
Prosperities of
the World. I have otherwhile
been full of roving
and unlawfull imaginations
concerning God,
and full of wandring
thoughts in his Service.
II. I have often framed
and set up to my
88
self divers Imaginationsand Formes of God's
Worship and Religion
which he hath not set
and established in his
Church.
I have been negligent
in giving him his External
Worship and Honour,
not falling down
before him with that inward
reverence of Spirit
and Truth, nor with that
outward Order and Humility
of my Body which
is requisite alwaies to be
shewed forth and done
before him.
III. I have often drawn
89
near unto him with mylips, when my heart hath
been far from him. I have
too frequently vainly &
inconsiderably used his
great and fearful Name,
and in the eagerness of
my spirit I have not abstained
from abusing it
with rash Oathes and Execrations.
My vows and
promises that I have
made in his Name, I have
not performed: Those
Holy things whereon his
sacred Name is set and imprinted,
I have not duly
regarded, and through
my presumptuous vanities
E
90
I have been an occasionto make his Name be
evil spoken of and prophaned
by others.
IV. I have often absented
my self from the publick
Worship and Service
of his Holy Assemblies &
Sanctuary, vainly misspending
the daies that
are hallowed to the Honour
of his great Name.
V. I have not carried
that reverence and regard,
nor given that due
obedience which I ought
to them whom God hath
placed over me, seeking
rather my own will and
91
pleasure, then submittingmy self to their lawful
precepts, and advice. I
have too much unregarded
the persons of my
betters, & been unthankful
to them that have deserved
well of me.
VI. I have not done to
all others as I would
that they should do to
me; I have envied their
welfare, the better and
more prosperous life of
others above my own. I
have often let the reins
of my passion loose to
anger, malice and revenge,
uncharitably delighting
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92
in the mischiefand destruction of my
own private or peculiar
Enemies. When out of
my Abundance I might
have relieved others that
were in Want, I have
many times neglected it.
VII. I have often suffered
my fancy and affections
to wander licentiously:
I have not held
mine Eyes, nor mine Ears
nor my Tongue from vanity:
I have not carefully
eschewed the occasions
and enticements to
corrupt and vain affections.
I have not preserved
93
my Body in that Holiness,Honour and purity,
which becometh the
Temple of God.
VIII. I have not reckoned
Godliness to be my
Greatest Gain, nor been
content with that which
I have.
IX. I have listened to
Flattery, and used it towards
others: Of many
I have had evil suspicions,
and given rash judgment
upon them. Upon
my self I have set a greater
value than I deserved,
and seemed better than I
was, that I might gain a
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94
false reputation from others.And I have often
suffered Truth to be
gainsaid.
X. I am guilty of many
inordinate desires and irregulate
affections.
And wo is me that in
all these things I have
offended: For if in all
these things my Heart
should not condemn me,
God is greater than my
Heart, and knoweth all
things. But I confess
them, and confessing
am sorry for them, and
being sorry for them am
ready to leave them, his
95
Grace thereunto assistingme: and not only to leave
them, but to judge my
self for them: with all
religious lowliness and
alacrity submitting my
self freely to the pious directions
and advice that
shall be given me by my
Spiritual Governours &
Ministers of God, for
shewing forth the fruits
of my sorrow and repentance,
meet for amendment
of life. And though
I be altogether unworthy,
yet for the Worth
and Merits of my Saviour,
in whose Merits and
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96
Mercy I put my wholeTrust and confidence, being
as he is the Propitiation
not only for my
sins, but for all the sins of
the World, I most humbly
crave Pardon and
Absolution from them,
and from all my other
sins which I may have
now forgotten, and
whereof my Conscience
may be afraid.
97
MEDITATIONS, AND PRAIERS At the Holy COMMUNION, Referring to I. PURITY. II. FAITH. III CHARITY.
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98
Meditations and Praiers at the Holy Communion.
I.
Puritie.
I Will wash my handsin Innocency, O Lord,
and so will I goe to thine
Altar: I will come into
thine House in the multitude
of thy mercies, &
in thy fear will I worship
thee toward thy Holy
Foot-stool. For Christ
our Passeover is offered;
Let us therfore keep the
Feast, not with the leven
of malice and wickedness,
but with the unlevened
Bread of Sincerity
and Truth.
99
The Praier.
O Lord, cleanse thethoughts of my
heart by the Inspiration
of thy Holy Spirit, that
my Body may be made
clean by the pure Body
of my Saviour Jesus
Christ once offered upon
the Cross, and that my
Soul may be washed by
His most precious Bloud
there shed for me, and
that He may abide with
me for ever. Amen.
100
II.
Faith.
I believe; Lord, Helpmine unbelief.
I Believe that God our
heavenly Father did
of his tender mercy give
his only Son Jesus Christ
to suffer death upon the
Cross for the Redemption
of the World: I believe
that he made there,
by the Oblation of himself
once offered, a perfect
Sacrifice and Satisfaction
for our Sins. I believe
that this Sacrament
was ordained for the
continual remembrance
101
of that his Death and Sacrifice,and for the benefits
we all receive by it.
I believe that I shall here
partake of the Spiritual
Food and most precious
Body and Bloud of
Christ, The Bread of Life
that came down from
Heaven, The Blood that
hath been carried up into
the Holy places, and
the Cup of Eternity: For
they that eat of this
Bread, and drink of this
Cup, shall live for ever.
The Praier.
O My God, what arewe, that thou so
102
regardest us, to give thyself for us, to give thy
self to us, to be one with
us, that we may have life
in us, even life immortal,
which will quicken us,
and raise us up at the last
day? O my Lord, I am
not worthy, not worthy
the Least of thy Mercies;
how much less of this,
which is the Greatest,
greater than the World,
greater than the Heavens,
greater than all the
Treasures of Heaven &
Earth; but I beseech
Thee look upon me in
the Greatness of thy
103
Mercies, not weighingmy Merits, but pardoning
mine Offences. Amen.
III.
Charity.
THis is a Sacrament ofLove; and this is thy
Commandment, that we
should love one another
even as Thou hast loved
us: For we being many
are one body, whereof
Christ our Lord is the
Head.
The Praier.
O Thou Blessed andUndivided Trinity,
which teachest us that all
104
our doings withoutLove and Unity are nothing
worth, send into all
our hearts that most excellent
gift of Charity, &
inflame our Souls with
the Celestial fire of thy
love, that living together
in unity of Spirit and the
Bond of Peace among
our selves, we may perfectly
love Thee, and
worthily magnifie thy
Holy Name, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
105
A Litany Privately to be used before the Receiving of the Holy Communion.
O God the Father, Godthe Son and God the
Holy Ghost, God the
most Holy, Blessed, and
Glorious Trinity,
Have mercy upon me.
O Thou immaculate
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the
World,
Have mercy upon me.
O Christ the Eternal Son
of the Father, the Redeemer
and Preserver of
Men, the Bread and Life
106
of the World the Authorand finisher of our
Faith, the Great Mystery
of Godliness, the Word
that was made Flesh, to
save thy Servants from
their Sins,
Have mercy upon me.
Save me O God, for I
come unto Thee in the
multitude of thy Mercies,
and in thy Fear will
I fall down and worship
Thee in thy Holy Temple,
that Thou maist
Have mercy upon me.
Call to remembrance,
O Lord, thy tender Mercies,
and thy loving
107
kindness which hathbeen ever of old: O remember
not the Sins and
Frailties of thy Servant,
but Spare me, O Lord,
Spare me for thy Goodness,
and
Have mercy upon me.
From my unworthiness
to receive thy blessed
Body and Bloud, by
which thou hast redeemed
me; from all carnal,
vaine and earthly Imaginations
in this thy Holy
Sacrament; from all misbelief
and Incredulity of
thy Word; from all
defects of Sanctity, Love,
108
and Charity; from allmy Sins and Iniquities,
Good Lord, deliver me.
By that fervent ardor
of Goodness and Charity
wherewith thou camest
down from Heaven; by
thy blessed Cross and
Passion; and by the mysterious
Institution of
this thy Holy Sacrament,
Good Lord, deliver me.
By thy most sacred Body
which was broken
and crucified, by thy
most precious Bloud
which was shed and poured
forth for the Sins of
the World,
Good Lord, deliver me.
109
O Lord God, I beseechthee to hear me, and that
it may please thee to give
us all true Faith and Repentance,
with devout
Humility & Reverence,
rightly and duly to celebrate
this thy Holy Sacrament,
in memory of
thy most hallowed, true
and propitiatory Sacrifice,
with a firm Faith to
receive thy blessed Mysteries,
& to give thanks
unto thy Name.
O Lord, I beseech thee
to hear me.
That it may please thee
to accept this our bounden
110
duty and service, ourSacrifice of Praise and
Thanksgiving, the Memorial
that we now
make of thine own
Death and Sacrifice,
which was once offered
for us, and to grant that
by the merits and power
thereof we and all thy
Servants may receive remission
of our Sins, and
be filled with thy Grace
& heavenly Benediction.
O Lord, I beseech thee
to hear me.
O Lord God, Lamb of
God, Son of the Father,
thou that takest away
111
the Sins of the World,Receive my Praier.
Receive my Praier.
When you are ready to receivethe Holy Sacrament
in each kind, do it with
the greatest reverence &
deuotion that you may,
yet without all affectation
& singularity lifting
up your hands and your
heart to God:
And after you have received,
lift up your hands again,
and say devoutly
with your self, whiles others
receive,
I.
BLessed art thou, OLord: Blessing and
112
Honour and Glory beunto thee, O thou Lamb
of God, for evermore.
Amen.
II.
This is the Lord's doing,and it is marvellous
in our eyes.
III.
I will magnifie thee, OLord, and will praise thy
Name for ever and ever.
IV.
All thy works praise
thee, O Lord, and thy
Saints give thanks unto
thee.
V.
Happy are those Servants113
whom when theirLord cometh he shall
find thus doing.
VI.
Salvation and Blessing,and Honour, be unto
Him that sitteth upon the
Throne of Heaven, now
and for ever. Amen.
A Thanksgiving after the Holy Communion.
BLessed art thou OLord God, and blessed
be thy Holy Name
for ever, who hast now
vouchsafed to feed me
with the Bread of Life,
and hast given me to
F
114
drink the Cup of Eternitie,the holy and heavenlie
Mysteries of the Body
and Bloud of my Saviour,
thereby assuring my
Soul of thy favour and
goodness towards me,
for the sealing of my
Faith, for the Pardon of
my Sins, for the obtaining
of my Peace, and all
other Benefits of Christ's
blessed Passion.
I now most humbly beseech
Thee to assist me
with thy Heavenly
Grace, that I may continue
thine for ever, and
be made a Temple of thy
115
Holy Spirit; and thathaving now Christ dwelling
in me by Faith, I may
accomplish the rest of
my life in Repentance
and Godly Fear, in Mortifying
my own sinful
desires, and in keeping
thy Holy Commandments.
For which end
guide me with thy
Power, inlighten me
with thy Word, & quicken
me with thy Spirit.
Elevate my Senses,
compose my manners,
and order my conversation
aright; for thou art
able to do abundantly
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116
above all that I can askor think: by which thy
great and bountiful
goodness towards me
Thou wilt glorifie thy
Name in me, and bring
me at last to thine eternal
Kingdom of Glory,
through him who is the
King of Glory, my Blessed
Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Heb. 13. THe God of
Peace who
brought again from the
Dead our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Great Shepherd
of his Flock,
through the Bloud of his
117
everlasting Testament,make me perfect in every
good work to do his
Will, and that which is
well pleasing in his sight,
through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord, to
whom with the Father
and the Holy Ghost be
Glory for ever. Amen.
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118
PRAIERS UPON SUNDRY OCCASIONS.
119
Praiers When you are upon a Journey.
I.
THe Almighty Lordbe now and evermore
my defence, to
bless me and preserve me
from all evil in my going
out, and my coming
in, and give his Angels
charge over me to
keep me in all my waies.
II.
IF God will be with meand keep me in this
way that I go, so that I
come to my home in
Peace; then shall I give
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120
Thanks, and pay myVows unto him.
III.
O God, who knowestus to be set in the
midst of many dangers,
grant that by thy mighty
aid I may be defended
from all things that may
hurt me either in Body
or Soul, through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
IV.
DIspose and Governthe way of thy Servant,
O Lord, and further
me with thy gracious
and continual Help,
that in all my doings begun,
121
continued, and endedin Thee, I may glorifie
thy holy Name, and
keep my self by thy most
mighty protection in the
waies of thy Laws, and
the paths of thy Commandments,
for the attainment
of everlasting
rest and peace in thy heavenly
Kingdom, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
V.
SHew me thy waies, OLord, and teach me
thy Paths; for I lift up
my Soul unto thee. Lead
me forth in thy truth &
learn me; for thou art the
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122
God of my Salvation:in Thee hath been my
hope all the day long.
Amen.
Praiers In the time of any sudden danger or distress.
I.
ALmighty and everlastingGod, mercifully look upon me, and
in this time of Danger
and necessity stretch
forth thine hand to succour
and defend me,
through Christ our Lord
Amen.
II.
THe Almighty Lord,who is a strong Tower
123
of Defence against allthe Perils, Assaults, and
Tribulations of this
world, be now and evermore
my Aid and Protector,
through Jesus
Christ our blessed Lord
and Saviour. Amen.
III.
FRom Lightning andTempest, from all Evil
and Mischief, and
from sudden Death,
Good Lord deliver me.
124
Praiers In the time of Sickness and affliction.
I.
SAve me, O King ofHeaven, and hear me
when I call upon thee,
for I am in affliction and
heaviness. Thou art a defence
for the oppressed,
and a refuge in the needful
time of trouble: look
down from Heaven and
visit me with thy Salvation.
II.
I Know that it is thyhand, and that thou,
Lord, hast done it, and
thy doings are alwaies
125
just: but thou art alsogood and gracious, and
of great mercy to them
that call upon thee:
Thou upholdest all them
that are fallen, and liftest
up those that be down.
III.
I Know that of veryfaithfulness thou hast
caused me to be troubled,
that I might call
upon thy Name.
IV.
ANd now, Lord, whatis my hope? Truly
my hope is even in Thee:
For thou art the hope
of all the ends of the
126
Earth, the aid of all thatneed, the help of all that
fly to thee for Succour,
O turn thee unto me, &
shew me the light of thy
Countenance, that I may
be made whole, and give
thanks unto thy Name.
V.
O God, favourablywith mercy hear my
Praiers, and grant that all
those things which I suffer
for my sins, I may well
pass and overcome, by
thy most gracious and
ready help, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
127
VI.
O Do well unto thyservant, that I may
live and keep thy Commandments.
VII.
MErcifully, O Lord,look upon mine
Infirmity, and for the
glory of thy Name, turn
from me all those Evill's
that I most righteously
have deserved; and grant
that in all my troubles I
may put my whole trust
and confidence in thy
mercy, and evermore
serve thee in holiness &
pureness of living, to thy
128
honour and glory,through our only Mediator
and Advocate, Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditations In the time of Sickness upon the great mercies of God.
I.
WHen we are judged,we are chastened
of the Lord, that we
may not be condemned
with the world.
II.
REfuse not the correctionof the Almighty:
It is the Lord, let
him do what seems good
in his own eyes.
129
RIghteous art thou, OLord, and true are thy
Judgments. Trouble and
heaviness have taken hold
upon me, but my sure Trust
hath been in thy Mercy. O
130
III.
AS it pleaseth theLord, so cometh every
thing to pass: Blessed
be the Name of the
Lord.
IV.
GOd is the Lord ofLife and Death, of
sickness and of health, by
whose appointment we
were born, and by whose
commandment again we
must die; our time is in
his hand, and to him belong
the issues of Death.
V.
GOd is meek and gentle,ready to accept
our sorrow and repentance
for sin.
131
VI.
HE is exceeding slowto anger, and not
easily provoked; he seeth
our sins, and makes as
if he saw them not,
he many times overlooketh
them, and by his long
suffering passeth them by
as loath to see them.
VII.
WHen he cannotbut see, yet he forbears,
and is patient; Forbears
long, suffers long,
many times, many years.
VIII.
WHen he can sufferand stay no longer
132
but punish he must, hedoth it against his Will;
and when he is angry, he
containeth himself in it,
and suffereth not his
whole displeasure to
arise.
IX.
HE is angry, but notaccording to our
deserts, nothing so much:
He is angry, but not long,
it indures but a little
while, and in his wrath
he thinketh upon mercy,
he thinks every stripe
two, and is quickly weary;
he repents him of the
evil, and is soon appeased.
133
X.
HE will have none toperish, but have all
to be saved; he willeth
not the death of a sinner
but that he should repent
and live.
XI.
NOt of any sinner, notof Manasses, not of
Rahab, not of Mary Magdalen,
not of Saint Paul,
who was once a chief sinner.
XII.
> FOr Christ came intothe World to save
sinners, and of them that
come unto him he casteth
none out.
134
A thanks-giving after Recovery from Sickness.
I.
O Lord, thou hast dealtgraciously with thy
servant, according to thy
great Goodness and Mercy.
Before I was troubled I went
astray; but now I will take
heed to my waies, that I
swerve not from thy precepts.
It is good for me that
I have been in trouble, that
I may learn to obey thy
Commandments.
II.
RIghteous art thou, OLord, and true are thy
Judgments. Trouble and
heaviness have taken hold
upon me, but my sure Trust
hath been in thy Mercy. O
135
let my Soul live, and it shallpraise Thee, and thy Judgments
shall help me.
III.
I Will alwaies give thanksunto the Lord, his Praise
shall ever be in my mouth.
O Lord my God, I cried unto
Thee, and thou hast healed
me: Thou hast turned my
heaviness into joy, and girded
me with gladness; therefore
will I sing of thy Praise
without ceasing, and give
thanks unto Thee for ever.
IV.
I Sought the Lord, and heheard me, and delivered
me out of all my trouble:
for the Angel of the Lord
tarrieth round about them
that fear him, and delivereth
136
them. The eyes of the Lordare over the righteous, and
his Ears are open unto their
Praiers.
V.
WHat reward shall Igive unto the Lord
for all the benefits that he
hath done unto me? I will
take the Cup of Salvation,
and call upon the Name of
the Lord. I will offer to
Thee the Sacrifice of thanksgiving,
evermore praising
Thee, and saying, O Holy
Lord God Almighty, Thou
art worthy, O Lord, to receive
Honour, and Glory,
and Power, for thou hast
created all things; and for
thy Will's sake they are and
were created.
137
VI.
BLessing, and Honour,and Glory, and Thanksgiving,
and Power, and
Might, be unto the Lord our
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
THE END.