DEVOTIONS FOR THE help and assistance OF ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE: In all occasions and necessities. Printed in the year, 1644. A Prayer against wandering thoughts, to be said at the beginning of our devotions. ALmighty God, who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing, and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement, let thy holy Spirit teach me how to pray; give me just apprehensions of my wants, zeal of thy glory, great resentment of thy mercies, love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee; and do thou help mine infirmites, that the devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions, nor distract my mind with cares, nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies, but give me a present mind, great devotion, a heart fixed upon thy divine beauties, and an actual intention and perseverance in my prayers, that I may glorify thy Name, do unto thee true and laudable service, and obtain relief for all my necessities. Hear me, O King of Heaven, when I call upon thee, for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Penitential Prayers, and a form of Confession of sins to God, to be said upon days of public or private humiliation. O Lord God of mercy and pardon, give me a just remembrance and sad apprehensions of my sins; teach me to bewail them with as great an indignation and bitterness, as I have committed them with complacency and delight. Let my prayers and my confession come into thy presence, and obtain a mercy for me and a pardon. Let not thy justice and severity so remember my sins, as to forget thine own mercy; and though I have committed that for which I deserve to be condemned, yet thou canst not lose that glorious attribute whence flows comfort to us and hopes of being saved. Spare me therefore, O merciful God, for to give pardon to a sinner that confesseth his sins, and begs remission, is not impossible to thy power, nor disproportionate to thy justice, nor unusual to thy mercy and sweetest clemency. Blessed Jesu, acknowledge in me whatsoever is thine, and cleanse me from whatsoever is amiss. Have pity on me now in the time of mercy, and condemn me not when thou comest to judgement▪ for what profit is there in my blood? Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner, but in his conversion there is joy in Heaven; and when thou hast delivered me from my sins, and saved my soul, I shall praise and magnify thy Name to all eternity. Mercy, sweet Jesus, Mercy. Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Our Father which art in Heaven, &c. I am not worthy, O Lord, to look up to Heaven, which is the Throne of thy purity, for my sins are more in number than the hairs upon my head, and my heart hath failed me. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have not lived according to thy will, but in the vanity of mine own thoughts, in idle, sinful, and impertinent language, in foolish actions, in blindness of heart, in contempt of thy holy Word and Commandments: I have not loved thee my God with all my heart, nor feared thee with all my soul, nor served thee with all my might according to thy holy precept, nor loved my neighbour as myself. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have been unthankful to thy Divine Majesty, forgetting that thou madest me and preservest me; to thy Son my blessed Saviour, forgetting the bitter pains he suffered for me; and to the holy Ghost, forgetting how many gracious influences I have received from him for my help, comfort, and promotion in the ways of holy Religion, but have rebelled against thee my Maker, have sold myself to work wickedness from whence by the passion of thy holy Son I was redeemed, and have resisted the holy Ghost. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have offended thee my God in an inordinate estimation of myself, in vain complacencies, and desires to be esteemed as much or more than others, in not suffering with meekness, indifference, and obedience, the humiliations sent to me by thy divine providence, in haughty deportment toward my superiors, equals, and inferiors, and in accepting such honours as have been done to me without returning them to thee the fountain. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have offended thee my God in impatience, in anger intemperate in degree, inordinate in the object, growing peevish and disquieted by trifling inadvertencies of others, and slight accidents about me. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have offended thee my God, by being envious at the prosperous successes and advantages of my neighbours, and have had resentments of joy at their displeasures and sadnesses. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have been negligent in performance of my charge, idle in doing my duties, soft and effeminate in my life, indevout in my prayers, slothful in the exercises of Religion, weary of their length, displeased at their return, without advertency in the execution of them, and glad at an occasion of their pretermission. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have been diligent and curious in pleasing my appetite of meat, and drink, and pleasures, losing my time, pampering my flesh, quenching the Spirit, making matter both for sin and sicknesses, and have not been sedulous in mortifying my body for the subduing mine own intemperances and inordination. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have been an improvident steward of the good things thou hast given me, I have loved them inordinately, sought them greedily, and unjustly, dispensed them idly, & parted with them unwillingly: I have not been so charitable to the poor, or so pitiful to the afflicted, or so compassionate to the sick, or so apt to succour and give supply to the miseries of my neighbours as I ought, but have too much minded things below, not setting mine affections upon Heaven and heavenly things, but have been unlike thee in all things, I have been unmerciful and unjust. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. Mine eyes, O Lord, have wandered after vanity, beholding and looking after things unseemly without displeasure, despising my neighbours, prying into their faults, but have been blind not seeing mine own sins, and infinite irregularities. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have not with care kept the door of my lips, nor bridled my tongue, but have been excessive in talking, immoderate in dissolute and wanton laughter, apt to lie, to deny truth, to accuse others, to scoff at them, to aggravate their faults, to lessen their worth, to give rash judgement, to flatter for advantage, to speak of thy Name irreverently, and without religious or grave occasions, our discourses have been allayed with slander and backbiting, not apt to edify, or minister grace unto the hearers. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. Mine ears have been greedy after vanity, listening after things unprofitable, or that might tend to the prejudice of my neighbours, and have not with holy appetite listened after thy holy words and conveyances of salvation. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have offended thee by the entertainment of evil thoughts, thoughts of uncleanness and impurity, and have not resisted their first beginnings, but have given consent to them explicitly and implicitly, and have brought them up till they have grown into idle words and actions. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have made myself guilty of the sins of others by consent, by approving, by not reproving, by cooperating, by encouraging their ill actions, so making mine own heap greater by pulling their deformities upon mine own head. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have employed all my members and faculties both of soul and body in the ways of unrighteousness, I have transgressed my duty in all my relations, and in all my actions and traverses of my whole life, even where I might have had most confidence I find nothing but weakness and imperfections. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I have broken my vows and purposes of obedience, and holy life, I have been inconstant to all good, refractory to counsels, disobedient to commands, stubborn against admonition, churlish and ungentle in my behaviour, mindful and revengeful of injuries, forgetful of benefits, seeking my own ends, deceiving my own soul. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. My secret sins, O Lord, are innumerable, sins secret to myself through inadvertency, forgetfulness, wilful ignorance, or stupid negligence; secret to the world, committed before thee only, and under the witness of my own conscience. I am confounded with the multitude of them, and the horror of their remembrance. Oh Jesu God, be merciful unto me. I. SOn of daiud, Blessed Redeemer, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me. O jesu, be a jesu unto me, thou that sparedst thy servant Peter that denied thee thrice, thou that didst cast seven Devils out of Mary Magdalen, and forgavest the woman taken in adultery, and didst bear the convert thief from the cross, to the joys of Paradise, have mercy upon me also; for although I have amassed together more sins, than all these in conjunction, yet nor their sins, nor mine, nor the sins of all the world can equal thy glorious mercy, which is as infinite, and eternal as thyself. I acknowledge, O Lord, that I am vile, but yet redeemed with thy precious blood; I am blind, but thou art the light of the world; I am weak, but thou art my strong rock; I have been dead in trespasses and sins, but thou art my resurrection and my life. Thou, O Lord, lovest to show mercy, and the expressions of thy mercy, the nearer they come to infinite, the more proportionable they are to thy essence, and like thyself. Behold then O Lord, a fit object for thy pity: my sins are so great and many that to forgive me, will be an act of glorious mercy, and all the praises which did accrue to thy name, by the forgiveness of David, and Manasses, and S. Paul, and the adultress, and the thief, and the Publican will be multiplied to thy honour, in the forgiveness of me so vile, so unworthy a wretch, that I have nothing to say for myself, but that the greatness of my misery, is a fit object for thy miraculous and infinite mercy. Despise me not, O Lord, for I am thy creature, despise me not, for thou didst die for me, cast me not away in thine anger, for thou camest to seek me, and to save me. Say unto my soul I am thy salvation; let thy holy spirit lead me from the errors of my ways, into the paths of righteousness, to great degrees of repentance, and through all the parts of a holy life, to a godly & a holy death. Grant this, O blessed jesu, for thy mercies, and for thy pity sake. Amen. II. O Lord God, Blessed jesu, eternal judge of quick and dead, I tremble with horror at the apprehension when I call to mind with what terrors and Majesty thou shalt appear in judgement; a fire shall go out from thy presence and a tempest shall be stirred up round about thee, such a tempest as shall rend the rocks level the mountains, shake the earth, disorder and dissolve the whole fabric of the heavens, and where then shall I, vile sinner, appear, when the heavens are not pure in thy sight. Lord I tremble when I remember that sad truth, If the righteous scarcely be saved, where then shall the wicked and the ungodly appear? I know, O Lord, that all my secret impurities shall be laid open before all the Nations of the world, before all the orders and degrees of Angels, in the presence of innumerable millions of beatified spirits. There shall I see many that have taught me innocence and sanctity, many that have given me pious example, many that have died for thee, and suffered tortures rather than they would offend thee. O just and dear God, where shall I appear, who shall plead for me that am so loaden with impurities, with vanity, with ingratitude, with malice, and the terrors of an affrighting conscience? Lord what shall I do, who am straightened by my own covetousness, accused by my own pride, consumed with envy, set on fire by lust, made dull with gluttony, and stupid by drunkenness, supplanted by ambition, rent asunder with faction and discord, made dissolute with lightness and inconstancy, deceived with hypocrisy, abused with flattery, fooled with presumption, disturbed with anger, and disordered by a whole body of sin and death? But thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God, thou art my judge and my advocate, and thou art to pass sentence upon me for those sins, for which thou diedst. O reserve not my sins to be punished in the life to come, for than I die eternally, but bring me in this world to a holy, a sharp and Salutary repentance. Behold I am in thine hands; grant I may so weep, and be contrite for my sins, that in the hour of my death I may find mercy, and in the day of judgement I may be freed from all the terrors of thy wrath, and the sentence of the wicked, and may behold thy face with joy and security, being set at thy right hand, with all thy saints and Angels to sing an eternal Alleluiah to the honour of thy mercies. Amen, sweet Iesu. Amen. III. MOST merciful and indulgent jesu, hear the complaint of a sad and miserable sinner, for I have searched into the secret recesses of my soul, and there I find nothing but horror, and a barren wilderness, a neglected conscience overgrown with sins and cares, and beset with fears and sore amazements. I find that I have not observed due reverence towards my superiors, nor modesty in my discourse, nor discipline in my manners. I have been obstinate in my vain purposes, cozened in my own semblances of humility, pertinacious in hatred, bitter in my jesting, impatient of Subjection, ambitious of power, slow to good actions, apt to talk, ready to supplant my neighbours, full of jealousies and suspicion, scornful and censorious, burdensome to my friends, ingrateful to my benefactors, imperious to my inferiors, boasting to have said what I said not, to have seen what I saw not, to have done what I did not, and have both said, and seen, and done what I ought not, provoking thy divine Majesty with a continual course of sin and vanity. And yet, O Lord, thou hast spared me all this while, and hast not taken away my life in the midst of my sins, which is a mercy so admirable and of so vast a kindness, as no heart or tongue can think, or speak. If thou hadst dealt with me according as I had deserved, and might justly have expected, I had been now, now at this instant sealed up to an eternity of torments, hopelessely miserable, fearing the revelation of thy day with an insupportable amazement: and now under the sweet influences of thy mercies, i am praying to thee, confessing my sins, with shame, indeed at my baseness and ingratitude, but with a full hope and confidence in thy mercy. O turn the eyes of thy divine clemency with a gracious aspect upon a wretched sinner, open the bowels of thy mercy, and receive me into favour. O my dear God, let thy grace speedily work that in me for which thou so long hast spared me, and to which thou didst design me in thy holy purposes and mercies of eternity, even a true faith, and a holy life, conformable to thy will, and in order to eternal blessedness. I remember, O Lord, the many fatherly expressions and examples of thy mercies to repenting sinners, thy delight in our conversion, thy unwillingness to destroy us, thy earnest invitation of us to grace and life, thy displeasure at our dangers and miseries, the infinite variety of means thou usest to bring us from the gates of death, and to make us happy to eternity. These mercies, O Lord, are so essential to thee, that thou canst not but be infinitely pleased in demonstrations of them. Remember not, O Lord▪ how we have despised thy mercies, slighted thy judgements, neglected thy Commandments; but now at length establish in us great contrition for our sins, lead us on to humble confession and dereliction of them, and let thy grace make us bring forth fruits meet for repentance, fruits of justice, of hope, of charity, of religion and devotion, that we may be what thou delightest in, holy, and just, and merciful, vessels prepared for honour, temples of the holy Ghost, and instruments of thy praises to all eternity, O blessed jesu, who livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. O Lord Jesu Christ, Son of the eternal God, interpose thy holy Death, thy cross and Passion between thy judgement and my soul, now and in the hour of my death, granting unto me grace and mercy, to all faithful people pardon and peace, to the Church unity and amity, and to all sinner's repentance and amendment, to us all life and glory everlasting, who livest and reignest ever one God, world without end. Amen, A form of thanksgiving, with a particular enumeration of God's blessings. MOst glorious Lord God, infinite in mercy, full of compassion, long suffering, and of great goodness, I adore, and praise, and glorify thy holy Name, worshipping thee with the lowliest devotions of my soul and body, and give thee thanks for all the benefits thou hast done unto me; for whatsoever I am, or have, or know, or desire as I ought, it is all from thee, thou art the Fountain of being and blessing, of sanctity and pardon, of life and glory. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy Name. Thou, O God, of thine infinite goodness hast created me of nothing, and hast given me a degree of essence next to Angels, imprinting thine Image on me, enduing me with reasonable faculties of will and understanding, to know and choose good, and to refuse evil, and hast put me into a capacity of a blessed immortality. O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify his Name together. Thou, O God, of thy great mercy hast given me a comely body, a good understanding, straight limbs, a ready and unloosed tongue, whereas with justice thou mightest have made me crooked and deformed, sottish and slow of apprehension, imperfect and impedite in all my faculties. O give thanks unto the God of Heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Thou, O God, of thy glorious mercies, hast caused me to be borne of Christian parents, and didst not suffer me to be strangled in the womb, but gavest me opportunity of holy baptism, and hast ever since blessed me with education in Christian Religion. Thy way, O God, is holy, who is so great a God as our God? Thou, O God, out of thine abundant kindness hast made admirable variety of creatures to minister to my use, to serve my necessity, to preserve and restore my health, to be an ornament to my body, to be representations of thy power and of thy mercy. unto thee, O God, will I pay my vows: unto thee will I give thanks. Thou, O God, of thine admirable and glorious mercy hast made thine angel's ministering spirits for my protection and defence against all the hostilities of the devil; thou hast set a hedge about me, and such a guard as all the power of hell and earth cannot overcome: thou hast preserved me by thy holy providence and the ministry of Angels from drowning, from burning, from precipice, from deformities, from fracture of bones, and all the snares of evil, and the great violations of health, which many of my betters suffer. I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. Thou, O most merciful God, hast fed me and clothed me, hast raised me up friends and blessed them, hast preserved me in dangers, hast rescued me from the fury of the sword, from the rage of pestilence, from perishing in public distemperatures and diseases epidemical, from terrors and affrightments of the night, from illusions of the devil and sad apparitions; thou hast been my guide in my journeys, my refreshment in sadnesses, my hope and my confidence in all my griefs and desolations. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. But above all mercies it was not less than infinite, whereby thou lovedst me and all mankind when we were lost and dead, and rebels against thy Divine Majesty; thou gavest thine own begotten Son to seek us when we went astray, to restore us to life when we were dead in trespasses and sins, and to reconcile us to thyself by the mercies and the atonement of an everlasting covenant. He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation: God is the Lord by whom we escape death. O most blessed jesu, I praise & adore thine infinite mercies, humility, and condescension, that for my sake thou wouldest descend from the bosom of thy heavenly Father into the pure womb of an humble maid, and take on thee my nature, and be borne, and cry, and suffer cold, and all the incommodities which the meanness of a stable could minister to the tenderness of thy first infancy. Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him: and the Son of man that thou so regardest him? I adore thee, blessed jesu, and praise thee for thine immaculate sanctity, for all thy holy precepts and counsels, for thy Divine example, for thy miracles and mysterious revelations of thy father's will, for the institution of the holy Sacraments, and all other blessings of thy prophetical Office. O praise the Lord, for the Lord is gracious: sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely. I adore and love thee, most blessed jesu, for all the parts of thy most bitter Passion, for thy being betrayed and accused, buffeted and spit upon, blindfolded and mocked, crowned with thorns and scourged, for thine agony and bloody sweat, for thy bearing the sad load of the cross, and sadder load of our sins, for thy Crucifixion three long hours, when the weight of thy Body was supported with wounds and nails, for thy Death and burial, for thy continual intercession and advocation with thy heavenly Father in behalf of me and all thy holy Church, and all other acts of mediation and redemption, the blessings of thy priestly Office. O praise the Lord for his goodness: and declare the wonders he hath done for the children of men. I adore and magnify thy holy Name, O most blessed jesu, for thy triumph over death, hell, sin, and the grave, for thy opening the kingdom of Heaven to all believers, for thy glorious resurrection and ascension, for thy government over all the creatures, for the advancement of thy holy kingdom, for thy continual resisting and defeating the intendments of thine enemies against thy Church, by the strength of thine arm, by the mightiness of thy power, by the glories of thy wisdom; for those blessed promises thou hast made & performest to thy Church of sending the holy Ghost, of giving her perpetuity of being in defiance of all the gates and powers of Hell and darkness, and blessing her with continual assistances, and all other glories of thy regal Office and power. O sing praises, sing praises unto our God; O sing praises, sing praises unto our King: for God is the King of all the earth, sing ye praises with understanding. O most holy Spirit, Love of the Father, Fountain of grace, Spring of all spiritual blessings, I adore and praise thy divine excellencies which are essential to thy glorious self in the unity of the most mysterious Trinity, and which thou communicatest to all faithful people, and to me thy unworthy servant in the unity of the Catholic Church. O magnify the Lord our God, and fall down before his footstool: for he is holy. O blessed Spirit, I praise and magnify thy Name for thy miraculous descent upon the Apostles in Pentecost in mysterious representments, for those great graces and assistances coming upon their heads, and falling down upon us all in the descent of all ages of the Church, for confirmation of our Faith, for propagation of the Gospel, for edification and ornament of thy Family. Thou O God, shalt endure for ever, and thy remembrance throughout all generations. O most glorious Spirit, I praise and magnify thy Name for thy inspiration of the Apostles and Prophets, for thy providence and mercy in causing holy Scriptures to be written, and preserving them from the corruptions of heretics, from the violences of Pagans and enemies of the cross of Christ. I will always give thanks unto the Lord: his praise shall ever be in my mouth. I bless thy Name for those holy promises and threatenings, those judgements and mercies, those holy precepts and admonitions which thou hast registered in Scriptures, and in the records and monuments of the Church, for all those graces, helps, and comforts whereby thou promotest me in piety, and the ways of true Religion, for baptismal and penitential grace, for the opportunities and sweet refreshings of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, for all the advantages thou hast given me of good society, tutors, and governors, for the fears thou hast produced in me as deleteries and impediments of sin, for all my hopes of pardon, and expectation of the promises made by our Lord Jesus Christ to encourage me in the paths of life and sanctity, for all the holy sermons, spiritual books, and lessons, for all the good prayers and meditations, for those blessed waitings and knocking's at the door of my heart, patiently tarrying for, and lovingly inviting me to repentance, without ceasing, admonishing and reproving me with the checks of a tender conscience, with exterior and interior motives, and for whatsoever other means or incentive of holiness thou hast assisted me withal. I magnify, and praise, and adore thee and thy goodness. All Nations whom thou hast made and sanctified shall come and worship thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy Name, for thou art great and dost wondrous things, thou art God alone, and great is thy mercy towards me, thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost Hell, therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing: O my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever with Cherubims, and Seraphims, and all the companies of the heavenly Host, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabbath, holy is our God, holy is the immortal, holy is the Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, to whom be all honour and glory and dominion and power ascribed of all spirits, and all men, and all creatures, now and for evermore. Amen. I. Prayers preparatory to the receiving of the blessed Sacrament. O Most immaculate and glorious▪ jesu, behold me miserable sinner, drawing near to thee with the approaches of humility, and earnest desire to be cleansed from my sins, to be united to thee by the nearest and most mysterious union of charity and sacramental participation of thy most holy Body and blood: I presume nothing of mine own worthiness, but I am most confident of thy mercies and infinite loving kindness. I know, O Lord, I am blind and sick, and dead, and naked, but therefore I come the rather: I am sick, and thou art my physician, thou arisest with healing in thy wings, by thy wounds I come to be cured, and to be healed by thy stripes: I am unclean, but thou art the Fountain of purity, I am blind, and thou art the great Eye of the world, the Sun of righteousness, in thy light I shall see light: I am poor, and thou art rich unto all, the Lord of all the creatures. I therefore humbly beg of thy mercy that thou wouldest be pleased to take from me all my sins, to cure my infirmities, to cleanse my filthiness, to lighten my darkness, to clothe my nakedness with the robe of thy righteousness, that I may with such reverence, and faith, and holy intention receive thy blessed Body and blood in the mysterious Sacrament, that it may be unto me life, and pleasantness, and holy nourishment, and that I may be firmly and indissolubly united to thy mystical Body, and may at last see clearly and without a veil thy face in glory everlasting, who livest and reignest, ever one God world without end. Amen. II. I Adore and bless thy glorious Majesty, O blessed jesu, for this great dignation and vouchsafing to me, that thou art pleased for all the infinite multiplication of my sins, and innumerable violations of thy holy Law, still to give thyself unto me, to convey health, and grace, and life, and hopes of glory in the most blessed Sacrament. I adore thee, O most righteous Redeemer, that thou art pleased under the visible signs of Bread and Wine, to convey unto our souls thy holy Body and blood, and all the benefits of thy bitter Passion. O my God, I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof, but let thy holy Spirit with his purities prepare for thee a lodging in my soul. Thou hast knocked often, O blessed jesu, at the door of my heart, and wouldest willingly have entered; behold, O Lord, my heart is ready to receive thee, cast out of it all worldly desires, all lusts and carnal appetites, and then enter in, and there love to inhabit, that the devil may never return to a place that is so swept and garnished, to fill me full of all iniquity. O thou lover of souls, grant that this holy Sacrament may be a light unto mine eyes, a guide to my understanding, and a joy to my soul, that by its strength I may subdue and mortify the whole body of sin in me, and that it may produce in me constancy in Faith, fullness of wisdom, perfection and accomplishment of all thy righteous commandments, and such a blessed union with thee, that I may never more live unto myself, or to the world, but to thee only, and by the refreshment of an holy hope, I may be led through the paths of a good life, and persevering piety to the communion and possession of thy kingdom, O blessed jesu, who livest and reignest ever one God, world without end. Amen. III. O Lord God, who hast made all things of nought, producing great degrees of es●ence out of nothing: make me a new creature, and of a sinful man, make me holy, and just, and merciful; that I may receive thy precious Body, devoutly, reverently, with meekness, contrition, and great affection, with spiritual comfort and gladness at thy mystical presence. Feed my soul with Bread from Heaven, fill me with charity, conform me to thy will in all things, save me from all dangers bodily and ghostly, assist and guide me in all doubts and fears, prepare and strengthen me against all surreptions and sudden incursion of temptations, cleanse me from all stains of sin, and suffer nothing to abide in me but thyself only, who art the Life of souls, the Food of the Elect, and the joy of Angels. Give me such a gust and holy relish in this Divine nutriment, that nothing may ever hereafter please me but what savours of thee and thy miraculous sweetness. Teach me to loathe all the pleasures and beauties of this life, and let my soul be so inebriated with the pleasures of thy Table, that I may be comprehended and swallowed up with thy love and sweetness: let me think nothing but thee, covet nothing but thee, enjoy nothing but thee, nothing in comparison with thee, and neither do nor possess any thing but what leads to thee, and is in order to the performance of thy will and the fruition of thy glories. Transfix my soul, O blessed Jesus, with so great love to thee, so great devotion in receiving the holy Sacrament, that I may be transformed to the Fellowship of thy sufferings, and admitted to a participation of all the benefits of thy Passion, and to a communion of thy graces and thy glories. I desire to be with thee, dissolve all the chains of my sin, and then come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Let my soul feed on thee greedily, for thou art the spring of light and life, the fountain of wisdom and health, a torrent of divine pleasure and tranquillity, the author of peace and comfort: enter into me, sweet Jesus, take thou possession of my soul, and be thou Lord over me and all my faculties, and preserve me with great mercy and tenderness, that no doubting or infidelity, no impenitence or remanent affection to a sin, no impurity or irreverence may make me unworthy and uncapable of thy glorious approach. Let not my sins crucify the Lord of life again, let it not be said concerning me, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table: that this holy Communion may not be unto me an occasion of death, but a blessed peace-offering for my sins, and a gate of life and glory. Grant this, O blessed God, for his sake who is both Sacrifice and Priest, the Master of the Feast, and the Feast itself, even Jesus Christ, to whom with thee, O Father and the holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. A Prayer after receiving the consecrated Bread. I Give thanks unto thee Almighty and eternal God, that thou hast not rejected me from thy holy Table, but hast refreshed my soul with the salutary refection of the Body of thy Son Jesus Christ. Lord if I had lived innocently, and had kept all thy Commandments, I could have had no proportion of merit to so transcendent a mercy; but since I have lived in all manner of sin, and multiplied provocations against thy Divine Majesty, thy mercy is so glorious and infinite, that I am amazed at the consideration of its immensity. Go on, O my dear God, to finish so blessed a redemption, and now that thou hast begun to celebrate a marriage and holy union between thyself and my soul, let me never throw off the wedding garment, or stain it with the pollutions of deadly sin, nor seek after other lovers, but let me for ever, and ever be united unto thee, being transformed into thy will in this life, and to the likeness of thy glories in the life to come, who livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. After receiving the Cup. O just and dear God, who out of the unmeasurable abysses of wisdom and mercy hast redeemed us, and offered life▪ and grace, and salvation to us by the real exhibition of thy Son Jesus Christ in the sacrifice of his Death upon the altar of the cross, and by commemoration of his bitter agonies in the holy Sacrament; Grant that that great and venerable sacrifice which we now commemorate sacramentally, may procure of thee for thy whole Church mercy and great assistance in all trials, deliverance from all heresies, schisms, sacrilege, and persecutions, to all sick people health and salvation, redemption for captives, competency of living to the indigent and necessitous, comfort to the afflicted, relief to the oppressed, repentance to all sinners, softness of spirit and a tender conscience to the obstinate, conversion to the Jews, Turks, and remedy to all that are in any trouble or adversity. And grant to us, O Lord, that this blessed Sacrament and sacrifice of commemor●tion in virtue of that dreadful and proper Sacrifice upon the cross may obtain for me, and for us all who have communicated this day, pardon and peace; and that we may derive from thee by this ministry grace to expel all our sins, to mortify all our lusts, to exterminate all concupiscence, to crucify all inordination and irregularity, to produce in us humility, and chastity, and obedience, and meekness of spirit, and charity, and may become our Defence and Armour against the violences and invasions of all our ghostly enemies, and temporal disadvantages; and give us this grace and favour, that we may not die in the guilt and commission of a sin without repentance, nor without receiving the blessed Sacrament, but that we may so live and die, that we may at last rest in thy bosom, and be embraced with the comprehensions of thy eternal charity, who livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. All blessing, and praise, and honour, be unto thee, O blessed Redeemer: to thee we the banished and miserable sons of Adam, do call for mercy and defence, to thee we sigh and cry in this valley of tears▪ O dearest Advocate, turn those thy merciful eyes towards us, & show us thy glorious face in thy kingdom, where no tears, or sighing, or fears, or sadnesses can approach. Amen, sweetest jesu, Amen. Prayers preparatory to death. I. A Prayer for a blessed ending, to be said in time of health or sickness. O Blessed jesu, fountain of eternal mercy, the Life of the soul, and glorious conqueror over Death and sin, I humbly beseech thee to give me grace so to spend this transitory life in virtuous and holy exercises, that when the day of my death shall come, in the midst of all my pains, I may feel the sweet refreshings of thy holy spirit comforting my soul, sustaining my infirmities, and relieving all my spiritual necessities: and grant, that in the unity of the holy Catholic Church, and in the integrity of Christian faith, with confidence and hope of thy mercy, in great love towards thee, in peace with my Neighbours, and in charity with all the world, I may through thy grace depart hence out of this vale of misery, and go unto that glorious country, where thou hast purchased an inheritance for us, with the price of thy most precious blood, and raignest in it gloriously, in the unity of thy Father and ours, of thy holy Spirit, and our Ghostly Comforter, ever one God world without end. Amen. II. A Prayer to be said at the beginning of a sickness. O Lord my God, who chastisest every one whom thou receivest, and with thy Fatherly correction smitest all those whom thou consignest to the inheritance of sons; write my soul in the book of life, and number me amongst thy Children, whom thou hast smitten with the rod of sickness, and by thy chastisements hast brought me into the Lot of the righteous. Thou, O Blessed jesu, art a helper in the needful time of trouble; lay no more upon me than thou shalt enable me to bear, and let thy gentle correction in this life prevent the insupportable stripes of thy vengeance in the life to come. Smite me now that thou mayest spare me to all eternity: and yet, O blessed High Priest, who art touched with a sense of our infirmities, smite me friendly, and reprove me with such a tenderness as thou bearest unto thy Children, to whom thou conveyest suppletory comforts, greater than the pains of chastisement, and in due time restore me to health, and to thy solemn assemblies again, and to the joy of thy Countenance. Give me patience and humility, and the grace of repentance, and an absolute dereliction of myself, and a resignation to thy pleasures and providence, with a power to do thy will in all things, and then do what thou pleasest to me; only in health or sickness, in life or death, let me feel thy comforts refreshing my soul, and let thy grace pardon all my sins. Grant this, O Blessed jesu, for my trust is in thee only, thou art my God, and my merciful Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. III. A Prayer to be said in the progress of a sickness. O Lord my God, Blessed jesu, who by thy bitter death and passion hast sweetened the cup of death to us, taking away its bitterness and sting, and making it an entrance to life and glory, have pity upon me thy servant, who have so deep a share in sin, that I cannot shake off the terrors of death▪ but that my nature with it's hereditary corruption still would preserve itself in a disunion from the joys of thy Kingdom. Lord I acknowledge my own infirmities and beg thy pity. It is better for me to be with thee, but the remembrance of my sins doth so depress my growing confidence, that I am in a great straight between my fears and hopes, between the infirmities of my Nature, and the better desires of conforming to thy holy will and pleasure. O my dear Redeemer, wean my soul and all my desires from the flatteries of this world; pardon all my sins, and consign so great a favour by the comforts, and attestation of thy divinest Spirit, that my own fears being Mastered, my sins pardoned, my desires rectified, as the Hart thirsts after the springs of water, so my soul may long after thee, O God, and to enter into thy Courts. Heavenly Father, if it may be for thy glory, and my ghostly good, to have the days of my pilgrimage prolonged, I beg of thee health and life; but if it be not pleasing to thee, to have this cup pass from me, thy will be done: my Saviour hath drunk off all the bitterness. Behold, O Lord, I am in thine hands, do with me as seemeth good in thine eyes; though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod, and thy staff comfort me. I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for it is thou Lord only who shalt make me to dwell in everlasting safety, and to partake of the joys of thy Kingdom, who livest and raignest eternal God, world without end. Amen. IV. A Prayer for a sick Person, in danger of death. O Lord Jesus Christ, our health and life, our hope, and our resurrection from the dead: I resign myself up to thy holy will and pleasure, either to life, that I may live longer to thy service and my amendment; or to death, to the perpetual enjoyment of thy presence, and of thy glories. Into thy hands I commend my spirit, for I know, O Lord, that nothing can perish, which is committed to thy mercies. I believe, O Lord, that I shall receive my body again at the resurrection of the just; I relinquish all care of that, only I beg of thee mercy for my soul; strengthen it with thy grace against all temptations, let thy loving kindness defend it, as with a shield against all the violences and hostile assaults of Satan: let the same mercy, be my guard and defence, which protected thy Martyrs, crowning them with victory in the midst of flames, horrid torments, and most cruel deaths. There is no help in me, O Lord, I cannot by my own power, give a minute's rest to my wearied body, but my trust is in thy sure mercies, & I call to mind, to my unspeakable comfort, that thou wert hungry, and thirsty, and wearied, & whipped, and crowned with thorns, and mocked, & crucified for me. O let that mercy which made thee suffer so much, make thee do that for which thou suffered'st so much, pardon me, and save me. Let thy merits answer for my impieties, let thy righteousness cover my sins, thy blood wash away my stains, and thy comforts refresh my soul. As my body grows weak let thy grace be stronger, let not my faith doubt, nor my hope tremble, nor my charity grow cold, nor my soul be affrighted with the terrors of death; but let the light of thy countenance enlighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death eternal; and when my tongue fails, let thy spirit teach my heart to pray, with strong cryings and groans that are unutterable. O Let not the enemy do me any violence, but let thy holy mercies, and thy Angels repel and defeat his malice and fraud, that my soul may by thy strength triumph in the joys of eternity, in the fruition of thee, my life, my joy, my hope, my exceeding great reward, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. V. For a dying Person in, or near the agonies of death. MOst merciful and Blessed Saviour, have mercy upon the soul of this thy servant; remember not his ignorances, nor the sins of his youth, but according to thy great mercy remember him in the mercies and glories of thy kingdom. Thou, O Lord, hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers, let the everlasting gates be opened, and receive his Soul: let the angels, who rejoice at the conversion of a sinner, triumph, and be exalted in his deliverance and salvation. Make him partaker of the benefits of thy holy incarnation, life and sanctity, passion and death, resurrection and ascension, and of all the prayers of the Church, of the joy of the elect, and all the fruits of the blessed communion of Saints; and daily add to the number of thy beatified servants such as shall be saved, that thy coming may be hastened, and the expectation of the Saints may be fulfilled, and the glory of thee, our Lord jesu, be advanced, all the whole Church singing praises to the Honour of thy name, who livest and raignest ever one God world without end. Amen. VI. O Most merciful jesu, who didst die to reredeem us from death and damnation, have mercy upon this thy servant, whom thy hand hath visited with sickness: of thy goodness be pleased to forgive him all his sins, and seal his hopes of glory, with the refreshments of thy holy Spirit. Lord give him strength and confidence in thee, assuage his pain, repel the assaults of his Ghostly enemies by thy mercies, and a guard of holy Angels: preserve him in the unity of the Church, keep his senses entire, his understanding right, give him great measure of contrition, true faith, a well grounded hope, and abundant charity: give him a quiet and a joyful departure, let thy ministering spirits convey his soul to the mansions of peace and rest, there with certainty to expect a joyful resurrection to the fullness of joy at thy right hand, where there is pleasure for evermore, Amen. VII. A Prayer for the joys of Heaven. O Most glorious jesu, who art the portion and exceeding great reward of all faithful people, thou hast beautified human Nature with glorious immortality, and hast carried the same above all Heavens, above the seat of Angels, beyond the Cherubims and Seraphims, placing it on the right hand of thy heavenly Father, grant to us all the issues of thy abundant charity, that we may live in thy fear, and die in thy favour. Prepare our souls with heavenly virtues for heavenly joys, making us righteous here, that we may be beautified hereafter. Amen. A MORNING PRAYER. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. Our Father which art in Heaven, &c. I. O eternal son of righteousness, who camest from the bosom of thy Father the Fountain of my glorious light, to enlighten the darknesses of the world; I praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me from the dangers of this night, and hast continued to me still the opportunities of serving thee, and advancing my hopes of a blessed eternity. Let thy mercies shine brightly upon me, and dissipate the clouds and darknesses of my spirit and understanding, rectify my affections, and purify my will and all my actions, that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day, or in my whole life, my words and purposes, my thoughts and my intentions may be sanctified, and be acceptable to thy divine Majesty. Amen. II. GRant that my understanding may know thee, my heart may love thee, and all my faculties and powers may give thee due obedience and serve thee. Preserve me this day from all sin and danger, from all violences and snares of mine enemies visible and invisible: let thy holy fear be as a bridle to my distemperatures, and thy love so enkindle and actuate all mine endeavours, that no pleasure or allurements of the world may draw me from thy service, nor any difficulty or temptation may be my hindrance: let the profound humility and innocence of my blessed Saviour keep from me all pride and haughtiness of mind, all self-love and vainglory, all obstinacy and disobedience, all fraudulency and hurtful dissimulation, and let the graces of the holy Ghost take so absolute possession and seizure of my soul, and all its faculties, that I may tread down and cast out the spirit of intemperance and uncleanness, of malice and envy, of idleness and disdain, that I may never despise any of thy creatures, but myself; that so being little in mine own sight, I may be great in thine. Amen, III. Clothe my soul with the wedding garment, the habits of supernatural Faith and Charity, that I may believe all thy holy promises and revelations without all wavering, and love thee my God with so great devotions and affections, that neither life nor death, prosperity nor adversity, temptations within, nor without, may ever disunite me from the love of thee; but that I may have the most intimate adhesion to thy glories and perfections, of which my condition in this world is capable. Make me to choose virtue with the same freeness of election, entertain it with as little reluctancy, keep it with as much complacency, actuate it with as many faculties, serve it with as much industry, as I have in time past my vices and pleasures of the world; and grant that all inordinate affection to the transitory things of this life may daily decay in me, and that I may grow in spirit and ghostly strength, till I come to a perfect man in Christ Jesus. Amen. IV. GIve unto thy servant true humility, great contrition, a tender conscience, an obedient heart, an understanding always busied in honest and pious thoughts, a will tractable and ever prone to do good, affections even and moderate, a watchful custody over my senses, that by those windows sin may never enter in, nor death by sin. Make me to watch over my tongue, and keep the door of my lips, that no corrupt or unseemly communication proceed out my mouth, that I may never slander, calumniate or detract from the reputation of my neighbour; that I be not busy in the faults of others, but careful to correct mine own, being gentle and merciful to others, and severe towards myself, that I may speak much of thy praises, and what I can for the edification of my brethren. Amen. V. GIve me understanding in thy Law, that I may know thy will; and grace, and strength faithfully to fulfil the same. Give me a fear of thy Name, and of thy threatenings, and a love and hope of thy promises, let me daily: feel thy mercies, and remove thy judgements far from me. Imprint in my heart a filial reverence and awfulness towards thy Divine majesty, that I may study to please thee with diligence, to worship thee with much devotion, to submit to the disposition of thy providence with thankfulness; and that in conscience of my duty towards thee I may honour the King, obey Magistrates under him, love the Saints, and do all acts of charity according to my opportunity and ability, directing all my actions and intentions, not according to custom, or in pursuance of mine own ends and temporal advantages, but in thy fear and in holy religion to the advancement of thy honour and glory. Amen. VI. GIve me a soul watchful in the services of Religion, constant in holy purposes, ingenuous and free from sordid ends or servile flattery, a modest gravity in my deportment, affability and fair courteous demeanour towards all men, austerity in condemning mine own sins, sweetness in fraternal correction and reprehending others, mature judgement, a chaste body and a clean soul, patience in suffering, deliberation in my words and actions, good counsels in all my purposes: make me just in performing promises, and in all my duties, sedulous in my calling, profitable to the commonwealth, a true Son of the Church, and of a disposition meek and charitable towards all men. Amen. VII. LEt this be my portion, and the comfort of my pilgrimage, so long as I am detained in the condition of mortality, and exiled from my heavenly country, that being free from all fear of mine enemies, and from vexations, cares and solicitudes of this life, I may be wholly devoted to thy service, that I may attend thee only, and what tends to thee, that I may rejoice only in thee, and my soul may rest in thee; that without distractions I may entertain thy heavenly Doctrine, and the blessed motions of thy holy Spirit, spending my time in the duties of necessity, in the works of charity, and the frequent office of Religion, with diligence, and patience, and perseverance, and hope, expecting the accomplishment of my days in peace; that when I go unto my dust, I may be reckoned amongst those blessed souls, whose work it is to give thee praise, and honour, and glory, to all eternity. Amen. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now and for evermore. Amen. An EVENING PRAYER. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. Our Father which art in Heaven, etc, I. O Lord God, who art the light and splendour of souls, in the brightness of thy countenance is eternal Day that knows no night, in thy arms, and in thy protection is all quietness, tranquillity, and everlasting repose, while the darkness covers the face of the earth, receive my body and soul into thy custody; let not the spirits of darkness come near my dwelling, neither suffer my fancy to be abused with illusions of the night. Lord, I am thy servant, and the sheep of thy pasture, let not the devil, who goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour, abuse my body, or make a prey of my soul, but defend me from all those calamities which I have deserved, and protect my soul, that it consent not to any work of darkness, lest mine enemy say, he hath prevailed over me, or do mischief to a soul redeemed with thy most precious blood. Amen. II. PArdon and forgive me all the sins and offences of my youth, the errors of mine understanding, the inordination of mine affections, the irregularity of all mine actions, and particularly whatsoever I have transgressed this day in thought, word, or deed. Lord, let not thy wrath arise, for although I have deserved the extremest pressure of thine indignation, yet remember my infirmity and how thou hast sent thy son to reveal thy infinite mercies to us, and convey pardon and salvation to the penitent. I beseech thee also to accept the heartiest Devotion and humblest acknowledgement of a thankful heart, for thy blessing and preservation of this Day, for unless thy Providence and Grace had been my Defence and Guide, I had committed more and more grievous sins, and had been swallowed up by thy just wrath, and severest judgements. Mercy sweet Iesu. Amen. III. LOrd, let thy grace be so present with me, that though my body sleep, yet my soul ma● for ever be watchful, that I sleep not sin, in or p●termit any opportunity of doing thee service▪ let the remembrances of thy goodness and glories be first and last with me, and so unite my heart unto thee with habitual charity, that all my actions and sufferings may be directed to thy glory, & every motion and inclination either of soul or body, may in some capacity or other, receive a blessing from thee, and do thee service; that whether I sleep or wake, travel or rest, eat or drink, live or die, I may always feel the light of thy countenance shining so upon me, that my labours may be easy, my rest blessed, my food sanctified, and my whole life spent with so much sanctity and peace, that escaping from the darknesses of this world, I may at last come to the land of everlasting rest in thy light, to behold light and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now and for evermore. Another Prayer for Evening. I. VIsit we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation with thy mercy, and us thy servants with thy salvation, and repel far from us all the snares of the Enemy. Let thy holy angels dwell here to keep us in peace and safety, and thy blessing be upon us for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. II. O Lord Jesu Christ, the lively Image of thy father's mercies and glories, the Saviour of all them that put their trust in thee; we offer and present to thee all our strengths, & powers of our souls and bodies, and whatsoever we are, or ●ave to be preserved, governed, and possessed by thee. Preserve us from all vicious, vain, and proud cogitations, unchaste affections, and from all those things which thou hatest. Grant us thy holy charity, that we may love thee above all the world, that we may; with sincerity of intention and zealous affections, seek thee alone, and in thee only take our rest, inseparably joining ourselves unto thee, who art worthy▪ to be beloved and adored of all thy creatures with lowest prostrations, and highest affection, now and for evermore. Amen. III. O Father of mercies, and God of all comforts, let this blessing be upon us, and upon all the members of thy holy Church: all health and safety both of body and soul, against all our enemies, visible and invisible, now and for ever. Send us a quiet night, and a holy death in the actual communion of the Catholic Church, and in thy charity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Father which art in heaven, &c. Now, and in all dangers and afflictions of soul and body, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgement, save us and deliver us, O sweet Saviour and Redeemer Iesu. Collects to be added upon Various occasions. I. For the Church. ALmighty and everlasting God, who hast revealed thy glory to Jews and Gentiles in our Lord Jesus Christ, extend thy hand of mercy over all the world, that thy Church may spread like a flourishing vine, and enlarge her borders to the uttermost parts of the earth, that all Nations partaking of the sweet refreshings of thy gospel, thy name may be glorified, the honour of our Lord Jesus advanced, his prophecies fulfiled; and his coming hastened. Bless, O Lord, thy holy Church with all blessings of comfort, assistance, and preservation; extirpate heresies, unite her divisions, give her patience and perseverance in the faith, and confession of thy name, in despite of all Enmities, temptations, and disadvantages; destroy all wicked counsels intended against her, or any of her children, by the devil or any of his accursed instruments. Let the hands of thy grace and mercy lead her from this vale of misery, to the triumphant throne of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. II. For the King. O Lord our heavenly Father, High and Mighty, King of Kings, who in thy hands haste the hearts of Kings, and canst turn them as the rivers of water, send the light of thy countenance, and abundance of blessings upon thy servant, our sovereign Lord King Charles, make him as holy, valiant, and prosperous as King David, wise and rich like Solomon, zealous for the honour of thy Law and temple as Josiah; and give him all sorts of great assistances, to enable him to serve thee, to glorify thy name, to protect thy Church, to promote true religion, to overcome all his enemies, to make glad all his liege people, that he serving thee with all diligence and the utmost of his possibility, his people may serve him with honour and obedience, in thee, and for thee, according to thy blessed word and ordinance, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. III. For the Queen. O God of heaven, Father of mercies, have mercy upon our most gracious Queen, unite her unto thee with the bands of faith and love, preserve her to her lives end in thy favour, and make her an instrument of glory to thy Name, of refreshment to the Church, of joy to all faithful people of this kingdom, of a plenteous and blessed Issue to his Majesty, and crown her with an eternal weight of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IV. For the Prince of Wales. O Most blessed jesu, son of God, who camest from thy father's bosom with myriads of blessings to the sons of men, bless us all by thy especial care and providence, over the body and soul of the most Illustrious Prince, CHARLES. Prepare him with plenty of thy grace, and with great abilities to succeed his royal Father, in the service of thy Majesty, in defending the Catholic Faith, in comforting thy holy Church, in governing all the people prudently, justly, and religiously, that being partaker of all thy mercies here, in proportion to his necessity and capacity, he may enjoy a fullness of thy glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. V. For the Bishops. O Thou great shepherd and Bishop of our souls, most glorious jesu, bless all holy and religious Prelates, especially the Bishops of our Church. O God let abundance of thy grace and benediction descend upon their heads, that by a holy life, by a true and Catholic belief, by a confident confession of thy Name, and by a Fatherly care, great sedulity and watchfulness over their flock, they may glorify thee our God, the great lover of souls, and set forward the salvation of their people, and of others by their example, and at last after a plentiful conversion of souls, they may shine like the stars in glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. VI. For our Parents. O almighty God, and merciful Father, who from the loins of our first Parents Adam and Eve, hast produced mankind, and hast commanded us to honour our Parents; in pursuance of thy holy Commandment and of our duty to thee our God, and in thee to them, do with all humility beg a blessing of thee for our Parents, who from thy mercy and plenty have conveyed many to us; pardon and forgive all their sins and infirmities, increase in them all goodness, give them blessings of the right hand, and blessings of the left; bless them in their persons, in their posterity, in the comforts of thy holy Spirit, in a persevering goodness, and at last in an eternal weight of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. VII. For our Children. O Father of Heaven, God of all the Creatures, by whose Providence mankind is increased, I bless thy Name for bestowing on me that blessing of the righteous man, the blessing of Children. Lord bless them with health▪ with life, with good understanding, with fair opportunities and advantages of education, society, tutors, and governors; and above all with the graces of thy holy Spirit, that they may live and be blessed under thy protection, grow in grace, and be in favour with God and Man, and at last may make up the number of thine elect Children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. VIII. For our Patron, our Friends, and benefactors. O almighty God, thou Fountain of all good, of all excellency both to Men and Angels, extend thine abundant favour and loving kindnesses to my Patron, to all my Friends and benefactors; reward them and make them plentiful compensation for all the good which from thy merciful Providence they have conveyed unto me. Let the light of thy countenance shine upon them, and let them never come into any desertion, affliction, or sadness, but such as may be an instrument of thy glory and their eternal comfort, in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Ix.. A Prayer of a wife for her Husband. O My God, who hast graciously pleased to call me to the holy state of matrimony, bless me in it with the grace of chastity, with loyalty, obedience, and complacency to my Husband; and bless him with long life, with a healthful body, with an understanding soul, with abundance of all thy graces, which may make him to be and continue thy servant, a true son of the Church, a supporter and a guide to me his wife, a blessing and a comfort to his children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. X. Of a Husband for his Wife. O merciful God, who art a Father to us thy Children, a Spouse to thy holy Church, a Saviour and Redeemer to all mankind, have mercy upon thy Handmaid my wife, endue her with all the ornaments of thy heavenly grace, make her to be holy and devout as Hester, loving and amiable as Rachel, fruitful as Leah, wise as Rebeccah, faithful and obedient as Sarah, that being filled with thy grace and benediction here, she may be partaker of thy glory hereafter▪ through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. XI. For a Curate to say in behalf of his Parish. O Blessed Jesu, thou that art an eternal Priest, an universal Bishop, and the Fountain of all ghostly good, have mercy upon this Parish which thou hast concredited to my charge. Lord, I am unfit for so great a burden, but by thy aid and gracious acceptation I hope for mercy, pardon and assistance. O Lord, send thy holy Spirit to dwell amongst us: let here be peace and charity, and true Catholic Religion, and holy Discipline. Comfort the comfortless, heal the sick, relieve the oppressed, instruct the ignorant, correct the refractory, keep us all from all deadly sin, and make them obedient to their superiors, friendly to one another, and servants of thy Divine majesty, that so from thy favour they may obtain blessings in their bodies, in their souls, in their estates, and a supply to all their necessities, till at last they be freed from all dangers and necessities in the full fruition of thy everlasting glories, O blessed Saviour, and Redeemer Iesu. Amen. XII. For a Parishioner to say in behalf of his Curate. O God Almighty, who art pleased to send thy blessings upon us by the Ministration of the Bishops and Priests of thy holy Church, have mercy upon thy servant, to whom is committed the care of my soul, that he, by whose means thou art graciously pleased to advance my spiritual good, may by thy grace and favour be protected, by thy providence assisted, by thy great mercies comforted and relieved in all his necessities bodily and ghostly, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. XIII. For safe childbirth. O Blessed jesu, Son of the eternal God, who according to thy humanity wert borne of a holy Maid, who conceived thee without sin, and brought thee forth without pain, have mercy upon me thy humble servant, and as by thy blessing I have conceived, so grant that by thy favourable assistance I may be safely delivered. Lord, grant me patience, and strength, and confidence in thee, and send thy holy Angel to be my guardian in the hour of my travail. O shut not up my soul with sinners, nor my life with them that go down into the pit. I humbly also beg mercy for my child, grant it may be borne with its right shape, give it a comely body, an understanding soul, life, and opportunity of baptism, and thy grace from the cradle to the grave, that it may increase the number of Saints in that holy Fellowship of Saints and Angels, where thou livest and reignest eternal God, world without end. Amen. XIV. Before a journey. O God, who didst preserve thy servants Abraham and Jacob, thy People Israel, thy servant Tobias, and the wisemen of the East in their several journeys, by thy Providence, by a ministry of Angels, by a pillar of fire, and by the guidance of a star, vouchsafe to preserve us thy servants in the way we are now to go. Be (O Lord) unto us a Guide in our preparation, a shadow in the Day, and a covering by Night, a rest to our weariness, and a staff to our weakness, a patron in adversity, a protection from danger, that by thy assistance we may perform our journey safely to thy honour, to our own comfort, and with safety may return, and at last bring us to the everlasting rest of our heavenly country, through him who is the way, the truth, and the life, our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus. Amen. XV. For afflicted persons. O Lord God, merciful and gracious, whose compassion extends to all that are in misery and need, and takest delight in the relieving the distresses of the afflicted, give refreshment to all the comfortless, provide for the poor, give ease to all them that are tormented with sharp pains, health to the diseased, liberty and redemption to the captives, cheerfulness of spirit to all them that are in great desolations. Lord, let thy Spirit confirm all that are strong, strengthen all that are weak, and speak peace to afflicted consciences, that the light of thy countenance being restored to them, they may rejoice in thy salvation, and sing praises unto thy Name, who hast delivered their souls from death, their eyes from tears, and their feet from falling. Grant this for the honour of thy mercies, and the glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. XVI. For our Enemies. O Blessed jesu, who wert of so infinite mercies, so transcendent a charity, that thou didst descend from Heaven to the bowels of the earth, that thou mightest reconcile us who were enemies, to the mercies of thy heavenly Father; and in imitation of so glorious example hast commanded us to love them that hate us, and to pray for them that are our enemies; I beseech thee of thine infinite goodness, that thou wouldst be pleased to keep me with thy grace in so much meekness, justice, and affable disposition, that I may, so far, as concerns me live peaceably with all men, giving no man occasion of offence, and 〈◊〉 them who hate me without a cause, I beseech thee give thy pardon, and fill them with cha●i●●e towards thee and all the world, bless them with all blessings in order to eternity, that when they are reconciled to thee, we also may be united with the bands of Faith, and Love, and a common hope, and at last we may be removed to the glories of thy kingdom, which is full of love and eternal charity, and where thou livest 〈◊〉 reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. XVII. A Prayer to be said upon ember-days. O merciful jesu, who hast promised perpetuity to the Church, and a permanency in defiance of all the powers of darkness, and the gates of hell, and to this purpose hast constituted several orders, leaving a power to the Apostles, and their successors, the Bishops, to beget Fathers of our souls, and to appoint Priests and Deacons for the edification of the Church, the benefit of all Christian People, and the advancement of thy service; have mercy upon thy Ministers the Bishops, give them for ever great measure of thy holy Spirit, and at this time particular assistances, and a power of discerning and trying the spirits of them who come to be ordained to the ministry of thy Word and Sacraments; that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but maturely, prudently, and piously, they may appoint such to thy service and the ministry of thy kingdom, who by learning, discretion, and a holy life are apt instruments for the conversion of souls, to be examples to the People, guides of their manners, comforters of their sorrows, to sustain their weaknesses, and able to promote all the interests of true Religion. Grant this, O great shepherd 〈◊〉 Bishop of our souls, ●●essed Jesus, who livest and reignest in the kingdom of thin●●●●rnall Father, one God, world without end 〈◊〉. Sanctus Deus. Sanctus Fortis. Sanctus Immortalis. FINIS.