Behold this Publican, i'th' Temple praying;  
Placed in the front, as of our book beginner:  
The form of whose devotion was this saying,  
O Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
God heard his suit; though short, 'tis not denied:  
He came a sinner, but went justified.   
 Penitent publican at prayer in entrance to a church 
Private DEVOTIONS  
Lord 〈◊〉 merciful to me a 〈◊〉  
London Printed for Geo: Badger and are to be sold at his shop at St Dunstons-Churchyard in fleetstreet 〈…〉    

PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, Digested into SIX LITANIES; 

I. Of Confession.  
II. Of Deprecation.  
III. Of Supplication.  
iv Of Thanksgiving.  
V Of Intercession.  
VI For the Sick.    
With Directions and Prayers For the 

Lords Day.  
Sacrament.  
day of 

Death.  
Judgement.      
And two daily Prayers, 

One for the Morning.  
Another for the Evening.    
The thirteenth Edition.  
London, Printed for H. Moseley at the Prince's Arms in S. Paul's Church yard, 1654.   

To the right Honourable, THOMAS Lo: COVENTRY, Baron of Ailesborough, and Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England, etc.  
My good Lord,  
THe Law permitted a man that was not able to bring a lamb to the Altar, to offer a pair of Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons.  
The Gospel commends Charity in a cup of cold water; & magnifies the devotion & affection of the widow that cast in 2 mites into the Treasury.  
I must ever acknowledge, that mine obligation to your Lordship might challenge a volume; but wanting that, I have presumed to present you with this Manual, and Enchiridion of private Devotions, the love and exercise whereof hath advanced your Lordship to public honour. It is but a little one, yet since it was first presented to your hands, it hath so thriven by your Lordship's patronage, that it hath had many Editions & Additions. And I am glad of it, for the bigger it grows, the better proportion it will carry with his service that is  
ever devoted to Your Lop. in all Duty, Henry Valentine.   

ORATIO  

Deo Sacrificium.  
Oranti subsidium.  
Daemonibus flagellum.   
That is, PRAYER IS a 

Sacrifice to God.  
Secure to the soul.  
Scourge to the devil.    
Prayer is 

Clavis Diei.  
Sera Noctis.    
1 A Key to open the Morning.  
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning.  
O Lord, in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psal. 5.3.  
Unto thee have I cried, o Lord, and in the Morning shall my prayer prevent thee. Psal. 81.13.  
2 A lock to shut up the Evening.  
At Evening will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice. Psa. 55.17.  
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as Incense: and the lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice. Ps. 141.2.  
Morning and Evening.  
Aaron shall burn sweet incense every morning. And when he lighteth the Lamps at Even, he shall burn sweet incense. Exod. 30.7, 8.  
In the Morning sow thy seed, and in the Evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Ecc. 11.6.  

I. CONFESSION OF SINS.  
COnfession is a branch of prayer, which searches out our sins, and discloses and spreads them open before the Lord, as Hezekiah did those letters which he received from the King of Assyria: or as Josuah opened the cave of Makkedah, and brought out the five Kings that were there hidden; so this opens the heart and brings out our hidden and bosom sins to light and execution. And as the opening of a vein rectifies the distempers of the body, so this cures the maladies of the soul: for if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In a word, it is commanded by God, and practised by the Saints, and Solomon makes it the character of a righteous man, to accuse himself in the beginning of his prayer. A man dreams when he is asleep, but cannot declare his dream till he awake. Confession is a sign that we are awakened from the sleep of sin by the grace of God.  
I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Psal. 32.5.  
I have not covered my transgressions as Adam; by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom. Job 31.33.  
But I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psal. 51.3.  

THE LITANY of Confession.  
BEhold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, and as yet have not put away childish things from me.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
When I grew up, the lusts of the flesh grew too strong for me, they fought against me, and prevailed; the cares of the world distracted me, the pleasures of the world deceived me, the pride of life swollen me, desire of revenge inflamed me, and sin reigned in my mortal body.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have given up the members of my body as weapons of sin, and instruments of unrighteousness: my head to imagine mischief, my hands to work wickedness, my tongue to swearing and blasphemy, my ears to filthy and corrupt communication, my eyes to behold vanity, my feet to stand in the way of sinners, and to walk in the counsel of the ungodly; so that from the crown of the head, to the sole of the foot, there is no sound part in me.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have either omitted good duties, or done them slightly and wearily: I have neglected the time of my visitation, I have not known in my day the things that belong to my peace.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have offended thee, and trespassed my neighbour by my improvidence and rashness, by my anger and intemperate speech; by my wilfulness, envy, malice and uncharitableness.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned in all them whom I have corrupted by my words, counsel, or example: in all them whom I should have reproved, whom I might have reform, and did not.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned in neglecting opportunities to visit the house and table of the Lord, in unworthy and unprepared resort thither, in wand'ring and idle thoughts there, either diverting me from the work of thy holy worship, or distracting me in it.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned in unreverent and unprofitable hearing thy Word, in cold and careless invocation of thy Name, without zeal and holy affection, which turned my prayers into sin.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned by unthankful passing over thy many good favours, by slighting them with an unhearty commemoration, so that my sacrifice of praise became the sacrifice of fools.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have broken all my vows and purposes, I have not kept my solemn promises of forsaking my sin, & amending my life.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have delayed my repentance, I have resisted the checks of mine own conscience, I have quenched the motions of thy Spirit, I have put off the good works, whereby I might have glorified thee, bettered myself, & benefited my neighbour.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have corrupted the best of my thoughts, words, works, and ways, by cherishing the corruptions of mine own nature, by entertaining the secret temptations of Satan, and the open enticements of the wicked world.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have been an evil husband of the talon of grace which was committed to my improvement; I have been an unthrift of that time which was lent me for repentance, and the work of my salvation.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have belied my corrupt heart with fair semblances of goodness, and have hypocritically deceived the good opinion of charity which believeth the best; I have boasted in the praise that I deserved not, to thy offence, who requirest truth in the inward parts.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have overweened the measure of grace in myself, & corrupted it with my pride: I have undervalved the goodness of my neighbour, and either have lessened it with abatements, or depraved it with unjust imputations.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have heard and seen thee my God dishonoured, my neighbour traduced and wronged, & I have done right to neither: but either for fear of offence, for partial affection, for base flattery, or ungodly modesty, or for uncharitable envy I have forborn to arise in their just defence.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have not always sought the outward blessings of life by good means, sanctified by prayer: I have not always received them with thanksgiving and contentedness: I have not always used them with sobriety, nor dispensed the over-measure with the piety and charity that I ought.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have not used my lawful pleasures so seasonably, so moderately, so religiously, so thankfully as I ought, but I have offended thee my God in my mirth.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have not sought peace with all men, nor always embraced it when it hath been offered: I have not loved mine enemy, nor blessed him that cursed me, nor done good to him that meant or did me hurt: I have not given him such pardon as I begged from thee for myself.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned in vain thoughts, in vast desires, in ungodly hopes, in unchaste dreams, in secret covet of the goods or delights of my neighbour.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned in the unconscionable practice of these sins without remorse or repentance, or if any good motions of thy Spirit have bred in me a godly sorrow for them, the next temptation hath either replased me into the old, or implunged me in some new sin.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have hid some of these sins as Adam, some of them I have excused with pretences, some I have denied against the testimony of my accusing conscience, some I have wickedly maintained, none I have throughly repent & amended.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have committed many secret sins that I have not been ware of: I have sinned in the best of my works, and intentions of piety and charity, even when I most laboured to do thee service.  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
I have sinned all these ways, and done many evils that I have forgotten, many that I have passed over without consideration and repentance: and now what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men, and Judge of the whole world?  
Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  
Have mercy upon me O Lord, according to thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender compassions blot out all my offences. Amen. Amen.  
And that for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose most blessed name and words, we conclude these our imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught us:  
OUR Father which art 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, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.  
Morning Prayer.  
OLord our heavenly Father, almighty & everlasting God, which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power, and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our do may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Evening Prayer.  
LIghten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  
THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.    

II. DEPRECATION.  
DEprecation is a branch of prayer directed to God, either for the aversion and prevention of an evil before it comes, or for the removing and taking it away when it is come. And the evil which we deprecate may be either the evil of sin, or the evil of punishment. When we either feel or fear an evil, we must not with Eliah or Jonah sit down, and in a sullen humour wish ourselves out of the world, but we must pray as Christ did for his Disciples, Joh. 17.15. not that he would take us out of the world, but that he would keep us from the evil. And so doing, we have Gods promise not to be tempted above our strength. For either he will abate the cross, or increase our strength to bear it; either he will remove the temptation, or give us his grace, which is sufficient for us.  
Deliver us from evil Luke 11.4.  
Deliver me from all my transgressions.  
Make me not the reproach of the foolish. Psal. 39  
Remove thy stroke from me.  
Deliver my soul from the sword: my darling from the dog.  
Save me from the Lion's mouth, from the horns of the Unicorns. Psal. 22.20, 21.  

THE LITANY of Deprecation.  
FRom all the sins that I have done, and from all that I would have done, if thy grace had not prevented and restrained me,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From my close & bosom sins, and from those sins to which I am inclined by nature, or enticed by company, or alured by pleasure and profit, or drawn by the example of this evil world,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From all the sins that I have felt in my conscience, and confessed with my mouth, and bewailed with my heart, and begged pardon of thee with my tongue,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From all the secret & unknown sins which my conscience hath not felt, nor my mouth confessed, nor my heart bewailed, nor my tongue begged pardon,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From the whole corruption of my nature; from all the temptations of the Devil, from the allurements of the world, from the lusts of the flesh and eyes,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From all vanity of mind, dulness of understanding, perverseness of will, crookedness of affections, deadness & hardness of heart, and from a benumbed, blinded, or seared conscience,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From all wand'ring imaginations, from all looseness of desires, from all transgressions of thy holy and just commandments, and from the first motions to any sin against thee or my neighbour,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From relapsing into the sins that I have repent, from turning thy grace into wantonness, from treading under foot the blood of thy covenant, from neglect and contempt of the means of salvation,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From all schism & heresy, from infidelity and apostasy, & from the sin against the holy Ghost,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From famine & scarcity, from plague and pestilence, and from all other thy sore and heavy judgements, at this time and ever hereafter,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From poverty and extreme necessity, from sickness and diseases in my body, from grief and vexation of mind, from loss of liberty, goods, or friends, from blemish and scandal of my good name  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From giving offence unadvisedly, and from taking offence unjustly,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From thy wrath and indignation, from final despair of thy grace and pardon, and from sudden death,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
From the sentence of condemnation, from the Lake of brimstone, from the chains of everlasting darkness, from the worm that dies not, and the fire that shall never be quenched,  
Good Lord deliver me.  
O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. Psal. 116.4. Amen. Amen.  
And that for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught us:  
OUR Father which art in heaven, etc.  
Morning Prayer.  
O Lord our heavenly Father, almighty & everlasting God, which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power, & grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our do may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Evening Prayer.  
LIghten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.    

III. SUPPLICATION.  
SUpplication is another branch of prayer, whereby we entreat of God that he would give us such blessings as we want, or continue and enlarge such blessings as we have received. And these blessings are either corporal or spiritual, temporal or eternal. For such blessings as are spiritual and accompany salvation, pray for them in the first place; First seek the Kingdom of God & the rightevosness thereof; & we may pray for them absolutely: for the other we must pray conditionally, with a reference & submission of our will to Gods will, who best knows what is good for us. Not my will, but thine be done. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.  
O Thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come, Psal. 65.2.  
Lord hear my voice, let thine ears be attentive to my supplications. Psal. 130.2.  
Behold now that I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes: O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak.  

THE LITANY of Supplication.  
THat it may pleafe thee to fill mine heart and my mouth with thy praise all my life long, for all thy faithfulness, and truth, and loving kindness showed to me in the land of the living.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to give me a clear judgement to see my sins, holy affections to hate and abhor them, true repentance to bewail and forsake them, with a steadfast purpose and resolution against them for the time to come.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to wash me throughly from mine iniquities, and to cleanse me from my sins, that I may be whiter than snow.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to apply to my conscience the obedience of the life, and the sacrifice of the death of Jesus Christ for the assurance of thy favour, and my pardon.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to create in me a clean heart, to renew a right spirit within me, to give me truth in my inward parts, and to establish me with thy free Spirit.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to give me such graces as I want, and to increase those which I have, that I may grow from strength to strength, till I become a perfect man.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to make me an instrument of thy glory, & to direct all my thoughts, words, & works, for the enlargement & advancement of thy Kingdom.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to establish in me the Kingdom of thy power to rule and awe me; and the Kingdom of thy grace to sanctify me to the knowledge, love, and obedience of thy will.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to enable me to do thy will with cheerfulness & alacrity, with perseverance and constancy, as thy blessed Angels and Saints in heaven do it.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to open thy full hand, & to bestow upon me the necessaries of this life, & the fruits of the earth in due season, with the continuance of health, liberty and peace.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to give me thy blessing with them: that I may use them wisely, soberly, justly, charitably, thankfully, and contentedly.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless me in all the works of my calling with grace and strength, to obtain, to keep, and to use a good conscience towards thee & my neighbours to my lives end.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to sanctify my life, to sweeten my death, and to raise up my body in the day of the Lo: Jesus.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
Finally, that it may please thee to give me my master's joy, my father's inheritance, the Crown of righteousness, the glory of the new Jerusalem, & to satisfy me with that fullness of joy which is in thy presence.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
O Lord hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee. Amen. Amen.  
And that for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose most blessed name and words, we conclude these our imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught us:  
Our Father which art art in heaven, etc.  
Morning Prayer.  
O Lord our heavenly Father, almighty & everlasting God, which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power, & grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our do may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Evening Prayer.  
LIghten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.    

iv THANKSGIVING.  
Thanksgiving is a branch of prayer, which, like the Leper in the Gospel, turns back to God with a confession and ●●●●●tiation of what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath done for 〈◊〉. And it is so necessary and essential a part of God's worship, that it is the very condition of the obligation, wherein God hath bound himself by his promise to hear us. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt praise me, Psal. 50.15. so that if we praise him not, we break the Covenant, and are usurpers upon all his blessings and deliverances.  
Thy loving kindness is better than life: therefore my lips shall praise thee, Psal. 63.3, 4.  
Thus will I magnify thee all my life; and lift up my hands in thy Name.  
Seven times a day do I praise thee, Ps. 119.164.  
My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day long: for I know no end thereof, Ps. 71.15.  
While I live I will praise the Lord, I will sing praises to my God while I have any being, Psal. 146.2.  
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits, Psal. 103.2  
O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise, Psal. 51.15.  

THE LITANY of Thanksgiving.  
FOR the grace of Election, by which I was chosen according to the good pleasure of thy will  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the grace of Creation, by which I was made after thine image in righteousness and holiness,  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the grace of Redemption, by which I was recovered from the guilt & dominion of sin, from the power of Satan, and the second death,  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the grace of Vocation, wrought in me by the inward working of thy Spirit, & the outward ministry of thy holy Word and Sacraments,  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the grace of Justification, whereby I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ Jesus  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For my measure of Sanctification, by which I am made a new Creature  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For my formation in the womb, my birth, my baptism, the illumination of my understanding, the correction of my will, and all the spiritual graces received from thee  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the liberty of thy Word and Sacraments, for thy sanctuary and solemn assemblies, and for thy gracious presence with us in them  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For thy constant providence in supplying my necessities, and defending me from dangers  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For my good parents, my education, my health liberty, and peace, for the comfort of my friends, for my daily bread, and for all thy temporal blessings  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For thy prevention of evils, subvention in evils, & deliverance from evil  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For thy patience in forbearing, for thy mercy in forgiving, for thy bounty in giving, even when I sinned against thee with a high hand  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For my life, and the season given me for repentance & good works, and for thy holy means of grace and salvation  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the checks of mine own conscience, for the instruction of thy word, for the motions of thy good Spirit which have either restrained me from sin, or caused me to repent of it  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For thy fatherly corrections by some spiritual conflicts with Satan, by diseases, or hurts in my body, by griefs of mind, loss of goods, molestation of injuries, discomforts for, or from those to whom natural, civil, or Christian acquaintance had endeared me  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For all the holy Patriarches and Prophets for the ever blessed Mother of our Lord, for all the holy Apostles and Evangelists, for all the godly Bishops and Pastors of the Church, for all the noble Army of Martyrs, and Confessors, and for all the faithful that have lived and died in the Lord  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For the happy translation of all Saints departed in peace, from this vale of tears to the inheritance of the just  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For thine holy Angels; and the charge which thou hast given them to minister unto us, to pitch their tents about us, to keep us in all our ways, and to convey our souls into Abraham's bosom,  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith, and the fountain and foundation of all these favours;  
For his conception & birth;  
For his circumcision and baptism;  
For his fasting and temptation;  
For his doctrine and miracles;  
For his agony and bloody sweat;  
For his cross & passion;  
For his death & burial;  
For his victorious descension into hell;  
For his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven;  
For his sitting at the right hand of God to make intercession always for us;  
For his sending the holy Ghost to a bide with his Church for ever, and for his being with us to the end of the world  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For thy blessed Spirit the enlightner of my understanding, the sanctifier of my will, the helper of my infirmities, the comforter of my conscience, the pledge and witness of my adoption, and the seal of my salvation  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For all my personal & particular deliverances; for the religion, peace, plenty, strength, and honour of the State wherein I live; for saving it all times, especially from the Spanish invasion, and the Popish powder treason  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
For all the secret favours which thou hast done for us, for all the mercies which we have received from thee, and are slipped out of our remembrance, and for all the goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, and love thy coming  
My soul doth magnify thee O Lord.  
What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?  
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord, Psal. 116.12.  
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations, Ps. 89.1.  
Let them that fear the Lord, say always, The Lord be praised.  
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Ghost.  
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  
Amen. Amen.  
And that for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught us:  
OUR Father which art in heaven, etc.  
Morning Prayer.  
OLord our heavenly Father, almighty & everlasting God, which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power, & grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our do may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Evening Prayer.  
LIghten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  
THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.    

V INTERCESSION.  
Intercession is abranch of prayer, extending and enlarging our desires for others: as we see in Abraham, who interceded for Sodom, and Mases for Israel, and Samuel for Saul. And this duty is very acceptable to God for necessity constrains us to pray for ourselves, but charity moves us to become petitioners for others. And the prayer of charity is more acceptable to God, than the prayer of necessity. Again, it is very profitable for us; for though our prayers should not profit them, yet they will profit us; for they shall be turned into our own bosoms, Psal. 35.13.  
Si pro te tantum rogues, pro te tantum rogabis: Si autem pro omnibus rogues, pro te omnes rog abunt. Amb. l. 1. de Cain, etc. cap. 1.  
I exhort therefore that first of all supplication, prayers, intercessions, & giving of thanks be made for all men; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 1 Tim. 2.1, 3.  
And pray always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel. Eph. 6.18, 19  
Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him, James 5.14, 15.  
But as for me, when they were sick my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom, Psal. 35.13.  
Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer was made of the Church for him, Acts 12.5.  
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee, Psal. 122.6.  

THE LITANY of Intercession.  
THat it may please thee to bless thy Church militant here on earth, to preserve the purity of doctrine, the due administration of the Sacraments, and the preaching of thy Word, that the gates of hell may not prevail against it.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to purge it from schism and heresy, and to reconcile all unhappy differences, that we may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to fence it about with the wall of thy providence, to infatuate the counsel, & to disperse the powers and projects of all those that wish evil unto Zion.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless that part of thy Church wherein thou hast planted me, and to whose breasts thou hast applied me, with peace and plenty, with a free exercise, and reverend esteem of all thine ordinances.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless our gracious King Charles, our royal Queen Mary, our hopeful Prince Charles, and all others that are derived from that same sacred stock, or ingraffed into it.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless the government & preaching of the Clergy, make them painful in their Ministry, and exemplary in their lives, that they may save themselves and those that hear them.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless the Council with wisdom, the Judges with integrity, the Magistrates with courage, the people with obedience, & our Armies with strength & victory.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless all schools and seminaries of learning & religion; especially the two Universities of this Land.  
I beseech thee to he are me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless all those that are near and dear unto me by the bond of nature, or Christian acquaintance.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless all those that have been instruments of my good, and are yet living: Such as have educated and instructed me: Such as have counselled and advised me: Such as have clothed and fed me: such as have reproved and corrected me when I sinned.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to remember the reformed Churches beyond the seas, to repair the ruins & desolations which her enemies have made in her, to reduce such as are banished, to enlarge such as are imprisoned, to relieve such as are impoverished, and to comfort such as are persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience, and the truth of thy Gospel.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to raise up such as are dejected with the guilt of their own consciences, with the horror of their fins, with the apprehension of thy wrath, with the weakness of their graces, or jealousies of thy mercy, and to say to their souls, that thou art their salvation.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to prosper and assist all those that jeopard their lives for the maintenance of the Gospel, go forth with their Armies, cover their heads in the day of battle, and bring them home with honour and victory.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to bless all women with child with safe deliverance, all young children with a godly and religious education, the Seaman with a prosperous voyage, the Husbandman with a plentiful harvest, the captive with patience and deliverance, and all prisoners with repentance and amendment.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to instruct the ignorant, to convert the obstinate, to confirm the righteous, to comfort the distressed, to bind up the , to rectify those that err, and to reduce them that wander, into the right way.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to remember thine ancient people the Jews, to open their eyes that they may see him whom they have pierced, and believe in him.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee in thy good time to bring in the fullness of the Gentiles, and to reveal the glorious light of thy Gospel to such as yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to forgive those that persecute and speak evil of me, those that injure and molest me, those that slander and traduce me, and to soften the hearts of all those that are mine enemies.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
O Lord hear my prayers for myself: O Lord hear my prayers for others: O Lord hear the prayers of thy Son Jesus Christ for us all, who sits at thy right hand making intercession for us, and hath taught me to come to thee in this most perfect and absolute form of prayer:  
OUR Father which art in heaven, etc.  
Morning Prayer.  
O Lord our heavenly Father, almighty & everlasting God, which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power, & grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our do may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Evening Prayer.  
LIghten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, & the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with us all evermore. Amen.    

A peculiar Litany to be used by, or for sick persons; Collected out of several places and passages of holy Scripture.  
IN those days was Hezekiah sick unto death.  
Then turned he his face unto the wall, and prayed unto the Lord.  
And Hezekiah wept sore. And the Lord said, Behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years, Isaiah 38.1, 2, 3.  

THE LITANY.  
O God the Father of heaven, whose property it is to kill and to make alive, to wound and to heal, to bring down to the grave, and to raise up again,  
Have mercy upon me.  
Thou who didst heal Naaman of his leprosy, David of his noisome disease, Job of his ulcers, Hezekiah of his desperate sickness,  
Have mercy upon me.  
O Christ the Son of God, who madest the blind to see, the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk,  
Have mercy upon me.  
Thou who didst cure Peter's wives mother of her fever, the Centurion's servant of his palsy, the ten Lepers of their leprosy, and didst help such as were possessed with Devils,  
Have mercy upon me.  
Thou who didst cure her that was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, & her that was bowed together eighteen years, and him at the pool of Bethesda that had an infirmity thirty and eight years,  
Have mercy upon me.  
Thou who didst restore to life the daughter of Jairus, & the widow's son, and raised up Lazarus out of his grave,  
Have mercy upon me.  
Thou who didst bear our sicknesses and sorrows, thou who hast styled thyself the Physician of the sick, thou who hast called all such as are weary and heavy laden to come unto thee, promising them ease and refreshment,  
Have mercy upon me.  
By thy fasting and watching, by thine hunger & thirst, by thy grief and sadness, by thy agony and bloody sweat, by thy cries and tears, by thy Cross and Passion,  
Have mercy upon me.  
That it may please thee, who didst cure many diseases by Peter's shadow, many sicknesses by Paul's handkerchief, the eyes of the blind with clay & spittle, the leprosy of Naaman with the water of Jordan, and raisedst up the dead by the bones of thy Prophet; to bless all those means that are or shall be used for my recovery.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to give me grace to submit myself wholly to thy will; to take thy visitation with patience & thankfulness, & to drink of this bitter cup without murmuring or repining.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to strengthen me against all the temptations of the devil, to secure me in all the agonies & conflicts of mine own conscience, and to lay no more upon me then thou shalt enable me to bear.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee to continue unto me my memory and understanding, my speech and senses, the comforts and graces of thy holy Spirit, that I fall not away from thee.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee, if it be thy will, to give me a longer time of repentance, to rescue me from the gates of the grave, to spare me a little before I go hence, and be no more seen, that I may still praise thee in the land of the living.  
I beseech the to hear me good Lord.  
That it may please thee, if thou hast appointed me for death, to fit and prepare me for it; to strengthen my faith, to pardon and forgive me all my sins, and to assure me of my salvation, that I may render up my soul with comfort and cheerfulness.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
Finally, that it may please thee when I have rendered it up, to receive it into thy hands, to deliver me from the pangs of everlasting death, and to set open unto me the gates of everlasting life.  
I beseech thee to hear me good Lord.  
Psal. 6.2, 4, 5.  
Have mercy upon me O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord heal me, for my bones are vexed.  
Return O Lord, deliver my soul, O save me for thy mercy's sake.  
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: and who shall give thee thanks in the pit?  
Psal. 38.  
Thine arrows stick fast in me: and thy hand presseth me sore, ver. 2.  
There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin, ver. 3.  
For mine iniquities are gone over my head, as an heavy burded they are too heavy for me: ver. 4.  
My wounds stink, and are corrupt, because of my foolishness, ver. 5.  
I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly: I go mourning all the day long, ver. 6.  
My loins are filled with a loathsome disease, and there is no soundness in my flesh, ver. 7.  
I am feeble and sore broken, I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart, ver. 8.  
Lord, all my desire is before thee, & my groaning is not hid from thee, ver. 9  
Forsake me not O Lord, O my God be not far from me, ver. 21.  
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation, ver. 22.    

DIRECTIONS for the Lords Day.  
HE that would spend a Sunday well, (living where he hath the liberty of God's house and Ordinances) must do something before Church, something at Church, something after Church.  

Before Church.  
1. So soon as we awake, we should have our hearts affected with the majesty and solemnity of the day, putting a difference betwixt it and others, considering that it is 

The Lords day.  
An holy day.  
An honourable day.    
Great is the honour of this day above others.  
God the Father honoured it.  
On this day he form the elements of the world.  
On this day he created the Angels.  
On this day he first reigned Manna upon the Israelites.  
God the Son honoured it with his glorious resurrection, with his gracious apparitions after he was risen. For  
On this day he appeared to the two Maries that came to the Sepulchre, Matth. 28.1, 9  
On this day he appeared to his Disciples assembled together, Thomas than not being present, John 20.19.  
On this day he appeared again to his Disciples, Thomas being with them, Joh. 20.26.  
On this day S. John saw him walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks, Rev. 1.10, 13.  
God the holy Ghost honoured it.  
On this day he descended upon the Apostles in a golden shower of all spiritual gifts and graces. Since which time, The Church hath honoured it, and made it the day of their solemn Assemblies, Acts 20.7.  
What God and his Church hath thus honoured, that do not thou profane.  
Secondly, we must lay aside the cares of the world, and the works of our ordinary callings, leaving them behind us, as Abraham did his servants when he went to offer his sacrifice upon Mount Moriah.  
Thirdly, we must cleanse ourselves by confession & repentance, for otherwise our prayers in the Church will not be acceptable to God, nor his ordinances profitable to us.  
Will ye steal, murder, & commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods, whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house? Jer. 7.9, 10.  
Shall I be enquired of by you, o house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord, I will not be enquired of by you, Ezek. 20.31.  
God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of him, and doth his will, him he heareth, John 9.31.  
The Lord had respect unto Abel, and his offering: But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect, Gen. 4.4, 5.  
I will wash my hands in innocency, and so will I compass thine Altar, Psal. 26.6.  
Hence was it that the Jews writ over the doors of their Synagogues this saying of David, This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it, Psal. 118.20.  
And now being thus qualified & prepared, go unto the house of God, and in the way meditate of some of these sentences:  
One thing I have desired of the Lord that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his Temple Psal. 27.4.  
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go up unto the house of the Lord, Psal. 122.1.  
We will go unto his Tabernacles, we will worship at his footstool, Psal. 132.7.  
My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord, Psal. 84.2.   

A short morning Prayer for the Sunday.  
O Most glorious, and immortal God, the eye of whose providence doth never slumber, I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou hast preserved me from the perils of the night past, & brought me safe to the light of this day, and the comforts thereof. It is a day holy and honourable, a day which is consecrated to thine own service, and set apart for thine own honour: Let my heart therefore, gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, nor seek mine own pleasure, nor speak mine own words; but may wait upon thee in the use of thine ordinances, & discharge those weighty duties which thou requirest of me.  
Now forasmuch as thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all those that draw near unto thee, a God who regardest not the sacrifice of fools, nor hearest sinners though they tread in thy courts, and call upon thee in the House of prayer; I beseech thee to pard on and forgive me all my sins, remove them out of thy presence, as far as the East is from the West: accept of me in the death and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ, that when I shall come into thy Temple, to compass thine Altar, my prayer may come up before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. And as I desire that thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling upon me in thy word. It is the word of truth, of wisdom, of righteousness, of reconciliation, & that Word which is able to save my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus; grant therefore that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, and mingle it with faith, that it may accomplish in me that good work for which thou hast sent it.  
And that this day may be every where a day of holiness unto thee; sanctify, and prepare the hearts of all thy people for thy service, fill the places of thy worship with thy glory, be present with the assemblies of thy Saints, open the mouths of thy Ministers, & second the ministry of thy word by the efficacy of thy Spirit, that it may be powerful to the casting down of the strong holds of sin, and Satan, to the advancing & enlarging of thy Kingdom, to the edifying & building up of thy body the Church, and to the perfecting of thy Saints, till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man: Thou o God who art able to do exceeding abundantly for us, above all that we can ask or think, hear me, and answer me, even for the sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ: to whom, with the Father, and the blessed Spirit, be ascribed & given all power, praise, might, majesty and dominion now and evermore. Amen.   

At Church.  
COnsider first the place where thou art; it is 
The gate of heaven  
Holy ground  
The house of God  Josh. 5.15. Gen. 28.17.  
O how amiable are thy tabernacles, o Lord of Hosts! A day in thy Courts is better than a thousand. Blessed are they that may dwell in thy house, Ps. 84.1, 4, 10.  
Then be careful to discharge those duties which God there requireth of thee, and they ordinarily are two; 

1. Prayer.  
2. Hearing the Word.    
In prayer, first look to the devotion of thy soul. It must be the lifting up of the soul, Psal. 25.1.  
The pouring out of the soul, 1 Sam. 1.15.  
A strong crying, Heb. 5.7.  
A wrestling with God. Hos. 12.4.  
Without this thy prayer will be but babbling, Mat. 6.7.  
The howling of a dog, or wolf, Hos. 7.14.  
A bell without a clapper.  
A pile of wood without fire.  
A bullet without powder.  
A bird without wings. A cloud without water. A tinkling cymbal.  
The Jews writ this sentence also over the doors of their Synagogues, and Oratories, Prayer without intention, is as the body without the soul.  
Then in the next place, look to the reverence of thy body.  
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints: and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him, Psal. 89.7.  
Uncover thy head.  
The four and twenty Elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, casting their crowns from their heads. Rev. 4.10.  
bend thy knee.  
O come let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psal. 95.6.  
The other duty is the hearing of the word read and preached, which requires of us,  
First, attention.  
Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth, 1 Sam. 3.10.  
Harken O daughter and consider, and incline thine ear, Psal. 45.10.  
I will hear what God the Lord will speak unto me, Psal. 85.8.  
The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, that she attended unto the things that were spoken by Paul, Acts 16.14.  
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, Rev. 2.11. My sheep hear my voice, John 10.27.  
And for this end we must consider it is 

The word of God, 1 Thes. 2.13.  
The word of Grace, Act. 14.3.  
The word of truth, John 17.17.  
The word of reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.19.  
The word of righteousness, Heb. 5.13.  
The word of faih, Rom. 10.8.  
The word of etenal life, John 9.68.    
That it is 

Good seed, Mark 4.    
Sincere milk, 1. Pet. 2.2. Strong meat, Heb. 5.14.  
That it is  
A wholesome word, 2 Tim. 6.3.  
A lively word, Heb. 4.12.  
A good word, Heb. 6.5.  
That it is  
Better than thousands of gold and silver. Psal. 119.72.  
Sweeter than the honey, and the honey comb. Psal. 19.10.  
And all this, because it is that word which is able to save our souls. Jam. 1.21.  
Secondly, the hearing of the Word requires retention as well as attention.  
Therefore ye shall lay up these my words in your heart, and in your soul, Deut. 11.18.  
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee, Psal. 119.11.  
Marry kept all these say in her heart. Luke 2.51.  
And lastly, people must be here admonished not to departed from the Church till the Minister hath pronounced the blessing.  
All the people departed every man to his house, 1 Chron. 16.42.  
But it was after David had made an end of offering the  offerings and the peace offerings, and had blessed the people in the name of the Lord, ver. 2.  
Surely there is something in the blessing of the Minister. Then the Priests and the Levites arose, and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven, 2 Chron. 30.37.  
Leave not then thine Angel, till he hath given thee a blessing.   

AFTER CHURCH.  
AND now being come home, it is thy duty yet further,  
1. To meditate upon such things as have been taught thee.  
His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law doth he meditate day and night, Psal. 1.2.  
O how I love thy Law! it is my meditation all the day, Psal. 119.97.  
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy Testimonies are my Meditation, vers. 99  
My meditation of him shall be sweet, Ps. 104.34.  
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing, the fire burned. Psal. 39.3.  
The beasts that chewed not the cud were unclean.  
Secondly, thou must praise God for so much of the means as he was pleased to afford thee that day.  
Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, Ephes. 1.3.  
As the liberty of his house;  
The comfort of his Day;  
The communion of his Saints;  
The instruction of his Word;  
The dispensation of his Sacraments;  
The gifts of his Ministers.  
Thirdly, we must pray for a blessing upon the means of our salvation.  
He only it is that can put his Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts, Jer. 31.33.  
Paul may plant, and Apollo's water; but God gives the increase, 1 Cor. 3.6.  
The excellency of the power is of God, & not of us, 2 Cor. 4.7.  
Lastly, teach it thy family.  
You shall teach them your children, talking of them when thou fittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up, Deut. 11.19.  
I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement, Jer. 18.16.  
I and my house will serve the Lord, Josh. 24.15.  
If thou dost thus sanctify this Day of rest here, thou shalt celebrate an everlasting rest and Sabbath hereafter.  
All manner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate & keep the Lords day, commonly called Sunday, and other holy days, according to God's holy will and pleasure, and the orders of the Church of England prescribed in that behalf; that is, in hearing the word of God read and taught, in private and public prayers, in acknowledging their offences to God, and amendment of the same; in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours, where displeasure hath been; in oftentimes receiving the communion of the body & blood of Christ; in visiting of the poor and sick, using all good and sober conversation. Canon 13. of those 1603.   

A short Evening Prayer for the Lords day.  
O Most glorious God, and in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving Father: I confess, and acknowledge those many weaknesses & imperfections which have passed from me in the performance of the duties of this day. I have called upon thee for the pardon and forgiveness of my sins, but so coldly and carelessy, that my very prayers are become sins, and stand in need of pardon.  
I have heard thy holy Word, but with such deadness, & distraction of spirit, that I have been a very unprofitable and forgetful hearer. So that O Lord, though I have done thy work, yet I have done it so negligently, that I may rather expect a curse then a blessing from thee.  
But O God, who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption; mark not what amiss hath passed from me, remember that I am but dust; pardon, and pass by all my sins, negligences and ignorances', look not upon the weakness of my flesh, but upon the willingness of my spirit, and so cover all my imperfections with the perfect and absolute obedience of thy dear Son, that those Sacrifices which I have offered up unto thee this day, may be accepted, in, and for that sacrifice which Christ Jesus offered up upon the cross for me.  
And as I desire that my sacrifices may be pleasing to thee, so let thine ordinances be profitable to me. And as thou hast this day sown my heart with the precious seed of thy Word, so let neither the fowls of the air devour it, nor the cares of the world choke it, but let the gracious rain of thy blessing come often upon it, that it may bring forth in me the fruits of repentance and amendment of life.  
And forasmuch as thy Word is an unvaluable & inestimable treasure, better than thousands of gold and silver, sweeter also than the honey & the honey comb; blessed Lord God be pleased still to continue it to our Land and Nation, let not our crying sins of unthankfulness, impenitency, hardness of heart, & unfruitfulness under so great means of grace, cause thee to remove thy candlestick, or to quench the light of our Israel. enlighten also with the beams of thy Gospel those nations which yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death: add unto thy Church daily such as shall be saved, that so these sinful days being shortened, & the number of thine elect accomplished, we may celebrate that eternal rest and Sabbath of our souls with thee in thy Kingdom.  
Bless O Lord all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest; our King & Queen, our Prince, & the rest of the royal stock; our Ministers and Magistrates, thy whole Church, and every member of it, in what place or case soever: and prosper all designs and enterprises that are undertaken for the advancement of the Gospel, and the enlargement of thy Kingdom.  
Finally, O Lord, as thou hast been good to me in the passages of this day, refreshing my body with thy good creatures, and my soul with the spiritual rest of this holy Day: so continue thy goodness to me this night, receive me into the arms of thy providence, cover me with the feathers of thy wings, that I may lay me down in peace, and take my rest, that being awakened to the comforts of the next day, my mouth may be filled with thy praises; and I may do thee service in the duties of that calling wherein thou hast placed & disposed of me: that so thy good blessing may be still upon me; and thou mayst never be weary to do me good: all this, and what else thou knowest needful and expedient for me, I beg in the name, merits, mediation, and words of thy Son Christ Jesus, saying as he himself hath taught me:  
Our Father, which art in heaven, etc.    

Directions for the due receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  
WE may not presume to come to the Lords Table without a due & serious preparation.  
That which is holy must not be given to Dogs: neither must pearls be cast before swine, Mat. 7.6.  
Josiah charged the Levites to prepare themselves, and to pray for their brethren, and so to kill the , 2 Chr. 35.4, 6.  
The neglect of preparation is very dangerous.  
After the sop Satan enters into Judas, John 13.27.  
Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11.27.  
He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation unto himself, 1 Cor. 11.29.  
For this cause many are weak, and sickly among you, and many sleep, 1 Cor. 11.30.  
Now this preparation consists principally in five things.  
The first is a self-examination.  
Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  
1 Cor. 11.28.  
The thing chief to be examined, is sin:  
1. In thought:  
The thoughts of our hearts are only evil, and that continually, Gen 6.5  
Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, Mat. 15.19.  
2. In word.  
Idle words.  
I say unto you, that of every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof at the day of judgement, Mat. 12.36.  
Filthy and immodest words.  
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, Eph. 4.22.  
Angry and rash words;  
As calling our brother Raca, or Thou fool, Mat. 5.29.  
False and untrue words, as lies, slanders, defamations etc.  
Whosoever loveth, or maketh a lie, is shut out of the new Jerusalem, Rev. 22.15.  
Profane and impious words. Against GOD oaths and blasphemies.  
Let your communication be yea, yea; nay nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil, Mat. 5.37.  
Against ourselves or others, as curses, imprecations, etc.  
As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him.  
As he clothed himself with cursing, like as with a garment: so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones, Psal. 109.18.19.  
3. In deed.  
This is either of  
Omission, or  
Commission.  
Both are pointed at in that sentence of the Apostle:  
The good which I would do, I do not:  
But the evil which I would not do, that I do, Rom. 7.19.  
Thus you have the thing to be examined.  
Now the rule of this examination must be the Law of God.  
For by the Law is the knowledge of sin, Rom. 3.20.  
I had not known sin, but by the Law, Rom. 7.7.  
Hence it is that our Church (which hath disposed all things wisely, and sweetly in the Liturgy) hath appointed the commandments to be read before the admimstration of this Sacrament, that men might see their sins in the glass of Gods Law.  
The second thing required of a worthy receiver is Repentance and Contrition.  
The Paschall Lamb was to be eaten with sour herbs.  
And Christ our Passeover must be received with a broken and a contrite spirit.  
With a bitter soul.  
With a weeping eye.  
This bread must be eaten with the sweat of our brows, i.e. our tears.  
And I may say of the wine in this Sacrament, as the Mother of Solomon said unto him, Prov. 31.6.  
Give this wine unto such as be of heavy hearts. And though in the sense of our own unworthiness we may cry out with Paul, Who is fit for these things?  
Yet we may comfort ourselves with that of the Psalmist;  
A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise, Ps. 51.  
The third thing required of a Comunicant, is Faith.  
He must believe, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and Saviour of the world.  
He must believe, that he was crucified, & shed his blood.  
He must believe, that the merits of his cross and passion are able to save sinners.  
He must believe; that these merits are conveyed to him in this Sacrament being rightly administered, and duly received: For what was bequeathed in the Testament, is dispensed in the Sacraments.  
This faith is the wedding garment: he that intruded to the feast without it, was bound hand & foot, and cast into utter darkness, Mat. 22  
Fourthly, there is required a steadfast purpose and settled resolution against sin for the trme to come.  
The Church in the administration of this Sacrament calls such only, as intent to lead a new life, to follow the Commandments of God, to walk from thenceforth in his holy ways.  
The Paschall Lamb was to be eaten by such only as were circumcised.  
The Manna was to be put into a pot of pure gold. The body of Christ crucified was wrapped in fine linen, and laid in a new Spulchre.  
Sorrow for sin without resolution of amendment, is like the pumping in a Ship without stopping the leak that lets in the water.  
In the Law, if a man held the unclean thing still in his hand, he was unclean, though he washed his hand never so often.  
Fiftly, there is required Charity with all men.  
The Paschall Lamb was to be eaten without leaven.  
The Serpent disgorges his poison, when he comes to drink: Be as wise as Serpents.  
Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice, 1 Cor. 5.8.  
If thou bring thy gift to the Altar, and there remember'st that thy brother hath aught against thee:  
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift, Mat. 5.23, 24.  
The three wise men went first to jerusalem, & then to Bethlehem; first to the vision of peace, then to the house of bread.  
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ?  
The bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the body of Christ?  
For we being many, are one bread, and one body, 1 Cor. 10.16, 17.  
The signs of bread & wine used in the Sacrament may teach us love & charity.  
Many grains are kneaded together into one loaf.  
Many grapes are pressed together in one cup.  
If thus thou hast made thy peace with God, and the world, draw near, Taste and see how sweet the Lord is, Psal. 34.8.  
Eat O friend, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved, Cant. 5.1.  

A short Prayer before we receive the Sacrament.  
O Most gracious and merciful Lord God, thou hast called all those that are weary & heavy laden with the burden of their sins to come unto thee, and hast promised that thou wilt ease and refresh them; thou hast invited all those that hunger and thirst after thy Kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, to come to thy Table, to taste of thy Supper, and hast promised that thou wilt satisfy them.  
In affiance therefore of these promises, I come to thee blessed Lord Jesus, beseeching thee to ease me to refresh me, to satisfy me with thy mercy, for my soul hungers and thirsts after thee, & thy salvation.  
I confess and acknowledge that my daily sins have made me unworthy of my daily bread; much more of this Manna, this bread of life, which came down from heaven.  
I confess also that I am not prepared according to the preparation of thy Sanctuary; yet for as much as I have this day set my heart to seek thee, thou O good God be merciful unto me.  
And though I cannot bring with me a clean heart (for who can say his heart is clean?) yet behold O Lord, I bring with me a contrite heart and a broken spirit, despise not O God this sacrifice. As for the sins that I have committed against thee, bind them up into one bundle, and cast them into the bottomless sea of thy mercy, bury them in the wounds, and wash them away in the blood of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus; and for the time to come so sprinkle my conscience with the same blood, that being cleansed from dead works I may serve thee the living God in righteousness and true holiness all the days of my life. That so this blessed Sacrament may be a means to quiet my conscience, to increase my faith, to inflame my charity, to amend my life, to save my soul, & to assure me that I am in the number of those blessed ones, who shall eat at thy table, and be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.  
Grant this O Lord for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught me, Our Father, etc.   

At the receiving of this Sacrament.  
IN the receiving of the Lords Supper many particulars would rather distract us, then direct us; these few I suppose most considerable.  
First, let thine eyes be upon the actions of the Minister, observe the breaking of the bread, and the pouring out of the wine.  
The breaking of the bread will mind thee how the body of Christ was bruised and broken.  
The pouring out of the wine will remember thee of the shedding of his blood.  
It was shed for thee:  
When he was circumcised.  
When he was scourged.  
When he sweat in the garden.  
When he was crowned with thorns.  
But especially, to which this Sacrament hath immediate relation,  
When he was nailed to the cross.  
When his fide was pierced.  
The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sins, 1 John 1.17.  
It speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, Heb. 12.24.  
It is precious blood, 1 Pet. 1.19. And all this because it is the blood of God, Acts 20.28.  
Secondly, discern the Lords body, 1 Cor. 11.29.  
We must consider the consecrated bread, not as the bread of the Lord, but as that bread which is the Lord.  
Not as our common, ordinary, & daily bread, but as the body of Christ sacramentally.  
We must consider the wine, not as the blood of the grape, but as the blood of Christ in a true, yet sacramental manner.  
Christ is truly present in the Sacrament; it is the eating of his flesh, and the drinking of his blood, John 6.56.  
Not naturally, and corporally.  
This is an hard saying, who can hear it? Joh. 6.60.  
The flesh profiteth nothing, the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and life, Joh. 6.63.  
Thirdly, receive it kneeling.  
This gesture is most suitable.  
It signifies an humble and grateful acknowledgement of those benefits we receive in this Sacrament.  
Again, the Minister when he gives, and we when we receive, join together in a short, but sweet prayer.  
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, etc.  
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee, etc.  
No gesture so suitable for prayer as kneeling.  
Again, it is appointed & ordered by the Church.  
Let all things be done decently, and in order, 1 Cor. 14.40.  
Though I be absent from you in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit, joying, and beholding your order, Col. 2.5.   

After the receiving of this Sacrament.  
WHen thou hast been partaker of the Lords Supper;  
First of all give thanks.  
It is a duty which we own for our ordinary suppers.  
It was called the Eucharist, from this duty of thanksgiving.  
It is the cup of blessing.  
God blesseth us, and we must bless God.  
God gives us the cup of salvation, and we must take the cup of thanksgiving.  
The Disciples when they had received it, sang an Hymn.  
And an Hymn is a song of praise and blessing, Mat. 29.30.  
Express thy thankfulness, in Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual songs; publicly in the congregation, privately in thine own family.  
Psalms fit for this, are Psal. 8. Psal. 23. Psal. 66. Psal. 103. etc.  
Secondly, as there must be thanksgiving to God; so there must be almsgiving to the poor.  
It was a custom in the Primitive Church, and is still continued in many places, to have gatherings, and collections for the poor at the administration of this Sacrament.  
David's servants told Nabal that they came to him in a good day, for it was a day of feasting, 1 Sam. 25.8.  
This is a day of feasting to thee; Let it not be a day of fasting to thy poor brethren.  
God hath fed thee with the bread of life, & canst thou deny the crumbs of bread that fall from thy table?  
He hath refreshed thee with the blood of his Son, with the wine of his sanctuary, & canst thou deny the drink of thy buttery, or a cup of cold water?  
Give cheerfully.  
God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Cor. 9.6,  
Give liberally.  
Consider how great a gift God hath this day bestowed upon thee: 

His Son.  
His begotten Son.  
His only begotten Son.  
His beloved Son.  
His dear Son, Col. 1.13.    
Thirdly, take heed thou relapse not into thy old sins.  
I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them? Cant. 5.3.  
If after we have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ, we be again entangled therein and overcome;  
If with the Dog we return to our own vomit again: or with the Sow that was washed, to our wallowing in the mire;  
The latter end will be worse with us then the beginning, 2 Pet. 2.20, 22  
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace? Heb. 10.29.  
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out, and when he is come he findeth it empty, swept, & garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there. And the last estate of that man is worse than the first, Mat. 12.43, 44, 45.  
He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing? Ecclus 34.25.   

A short prayer after the receiving of this Sacrament.  
O Most gracious God from whose bounty every good and perfect gift is derived, I, and all that is within me, praise and magnify thy holy name for all the mercies and favours which from time to time thou hast bestowed upon me.  
Especially I thank thee for thy Son Jesus Christ the fountain and foundation of all blessings; that thou hast sent him into the world to take our nature upon him, and to die for us; and that thou hast fed me who am unworthy of the least of thy favours, with the precious merits of his death and passion. Blessed Lord God, thou hast been pleased this day to set thy seal to the pardon and forgiveness of all my sins, oh let me not tear it off again by unthankfulness, or relapsing into my old sins, from which thou hast purged me, lest my last end be worse than my beginning. But when hereafter I shall be tempted by the devil, alured by the world, or provoked by mine own flesh, lay before mine eyes by thy remembering Spirit how dear the expiation of my sins cost my Lord & Saviour Christ Jesus, even the effusion of his most precious and sacred blood; that in the contemplation of his death, and application of his most bitter passion, I may die daily unto sin, and so show the Lords death till he come; That when he shall come, and bring his reward with him, I may receive that crown of righteousness which he hath purchased & prepared for all those that love and expect the day of his appearing, with the precious price of his incorruptible blood.  
And whereas I have this day renewed my covenant with thee my God, in vows, and purposes of better obedience, assist me by thy grace, and strengthen me by thy power, that I may pay the vows which I have made unto thee; & that by virtue of thy heavenly nourishment, I may grow up in grace & godliness, till at last I come to be a perfect man in Christ Jesus, in whose most blessed name and words, I conclude these my imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught me:  
O our Father, etc.    

EVERY DAY'S Considerations.  
Consider 

1. What good thou hast done  
2. What good thou daily dost.  
3. What thou shalt do hereafter.    
Consider these in 

The Morning when thou risest.  
The Day when thou walkest.  
The Night when thou wakest.    
These Considerations well meditated on, will the better prepare thee for these ensuing meditations of Death.   

SECTION I. Meditations of Death.  
THE life of a Christian is or should be a continual meditation of death.  
The flight of a Bird is directed by her train, the course of a ship is steered by the helm, so is the life of a man ordered by the serious apprehension of his last end.  
The first man was called Adam, which signifies a piece of red earth.  
He was clothed in the skins of dead beasts.  
He was adjudged to the earth, to dig, and delve in it. God would have his name, his garments, his employment continual remembrancers of his grave, and monitors of his mortality. It is reported by the Ancient Fathers, that the people of God used the 90. Psalms in form of a daily prayer.  
In which Psalm there is a long acknowledgement of the shortness of our lives: and this petition to God:  
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom, ver. 12.  
Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their later end. Deut. 32.29.  
Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, & thou shalt never do amiss, Eccles. 7.36.  

CAP. I. That the meditation of death is profitable against pride.  
Nebuchadnezars Image had a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly & thighs of brass, but feet of clay.  
Whatsoever thy wealth, wisdom, birth, beauty, state or strength be, thy foundation is in the dust, Job. 4.19.  
There is a great difference betwixt a Cedar and a shrub; a Vine and a bramble, so long as both grow: but cut them down, and burn them, & there will be no difference in their ashes.  
Chess-men are distinguished upon the board whilst the game is playing, but being done, they are tumbled into a bag without order.  
In this life some are set upon the throne: others are grinding at the mill.  
Some are clothed in purple, and far deliciously every day: others lie at the gates and have not so much as the crumbs of their Tables.  
But in the grave rich and poor meet together, and the ulcers of Lazarus will make as good dust as the paint of Jezabel.  
Saul being anointed King over Israel, was appointed to go to Rachel's sepulchre: that the sight of a Sepulchre might allay the haughtiness of his new honour, 1 Sam. 10.2.  
King's must pile up gaeir Crowns at the thtes of the grave, and lay down their Sceptres at the feet of death.  
The daughters of Jerusalem, which are haughty, walking with stretched forth necks, and wanton eyes, mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet, must drop into the grave, where in stead of sweet smells there shall be stink: and in stead of well set hair, baldness, Isa. 3.16, 24.  
They that glory in their Ancestors, in the nobleness of their birth, and blood, must make their bed in the dark, and acknowledge corruption for their father, and the Worm for their mother and sister, Job 17.14.  
I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the most high: but ye shall die like men, Psal. 82.6, 7.  
Why then art thou proud, O Dust and Ashes!  Nulla discretio inter cadavera mortuorum, nisi quod gravius foetent divitum corpora distenta luxuriâ. Amb. Hexam. l. 6. c. 8.  

CAP. II. It is profitable against covetousness.  
THe rich man in the Gospel when he had built his barns, and inned his harvest, was called away and carries nothing with him of all the store he had provided, Luke 12.  
The Spider spins out her own bowels, to make a Cobweb, and presently a maid comes with a broom and sweeps it down.  
Horses at night are unladen of their burdens, and turned into a dirty Stable with a galled back: So are rich men into the grave, and for the most part with a galled conscience.  
A Mill wears itself with grinding, & though it turn about continually, yet it removes not out of its place.  
It is but in vain for men to rise up early, and to sit up late, and to eat the bread of carefulness. For naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither, Job 1.21.  
I hated all the labour which I had taken under the Sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me; And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the Sun. This is also vanity, Ec. 2.18, 19  
Surely every man walketh in a vain show, surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them, Ps. 39.6.  
We brought nothing with us into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out of it, 1 Tim. 6.7.  
Why then art thou covetous O Dust and Ashes!  Facile contemnit omnia, qui se semper cogitat moriturum, Jeron. in Ep. ad Paulin.  

CAP. III. It is profitable against Lust.  
THe Prodigal seeing many spectacles of mortality by reason of the great famine, leaves his concubines, and riotous living, and returns again to his Father, Luke 15.  
One going to the stews meets by the way a dead corpse carried to the grave: the sight whereof made such an impression in him, that he goes back again; and ever after lived chaste and continent.  
Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof, Rom. 6.12.  
I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 1 Pet. 2.11.  
The argument used by these Apostles to beat down in us the lust of sin, and the sin of lust, is the mortality of our bodies.  
Why then art thou lustful, o Dust and Ashes!  
Thus we see that the meditation of death is a soverein antidote against all the evil that is in the world. For all that is in the world, is either the lust of the flesh, or the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, 1 Joh. 2.19  Nil sic revocat à peccato, quam frequens morti's meditatio. Aug.   

SECTION II.  
THere is nothing more certain than death, yet nothing more uncertain in the circumstances of it. Certain it is we must all die, but where, when, or how we shall die, of all things is most uncertain.  

CAP. I. Death is certain.  
ABraham the Father of the faithful, and the friend of God, died.  
jacob wrestled with an Angel, and prevailed, yet death was too hard for him.  
David was a man after Gods own heart, one that triumphed over ten thousand Philistims, yet death triumphed over him.  
Solomon knew the virtues of all plants from the Cedar in Libanus to the hyssop upon the wall, yet no plant had this virtue to make him immortal.  
The fathers have eaten Manna, and are dead.  
There is but one way into the world, but there are a thousand out of it.  
Man when he comes into the world, is like an hourglass new turned up, which never ceases running till it be all out.  
Like Peter and john, we run who shall first come at the Sepulchre, John 20.4.  
And they that are there already, rot and crumble away to make room for us that must come after them.  
Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return, Gen. 3.19.  
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Psal. 89.48.  
The dust shall return to the earth as it was: & the spirit shall return unto God that gave it, Eccles. 12.7.  
It is appointed for all men once to die. Heb. 9.27.  
We must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, 2 Sam. 14.14.   

CAP. II. The time uncertain.  
AN infant in the womb knows not the time when he shall come into the world; and being come, knows not the time when he shall go out of it.  
The rich man promised himself many years, but fool that he was, that night his soul was fetched from him, Lu. 12.  
Behold now I am old and know not the day of my death, Gen. 27.2.  
One dieth in his full strength, when his breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow, another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, Job 21.23, 24.  
Man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time; when it falleth suddenly upon them, Eccles. 9.12.  
God would have us ignorant of the last day, that we might be ready every day.  
Take ye heed watch and pray, for ye know notwhen the time is, Mark 13.33.  
To defer repentance then till to morrow, is very dangerous. God hath promised thee pardon if thou dost repent to day: but if thou dost not repent, he hath not promised that thou shalt live till to morrow.  
Boast not thyself of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth, Prov. 27.1.  
If not an end of thy sins, it may be an end of thy life.  
If it bring not forth conversion, it may bring forth confusion.  
Go to now, ye that say, To day, or to morrow we will do thus or thus: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away, I am. 4.13, 14  
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest, Eccles. 9.10.  
We are but tenants at will, and we know not how soon our great Landlord may discharge us.  
Do therefore as the wise Steward, before thou be'st turned out of this house, make sure of another, Luke 16.4.   

CAP. III. The place uncertain.  
DEath surprised Abel when he was walking in the field, Gen. 4.8.  
Eli when he was sitting at his door, 1 Sam. 4.18.  
Jobs children at a feast, Job 1.19.  
Eglon in his summer parlour, Judg. 3.20.  
Zacharias betwixt the Temple and the Altar, Mat. 23.35.  
Senacherib in the house of Nisroch his god, Isa. 37.38.  
Ishbosheth whilst he slept in his bedchamber, 2 Sam. 4.7.  
The Philistims whilst they were sporting in the Theatre, Judg. 16.30.  
Herod whilst he fate upon his throne, Act. 12.23.  
Expect that therefore in every place, which in every place expects thee.  
And let not the place of thy death trouble thee; for the earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof.   

CAP. IU. The manner uncertain.  
THere is a natural death, when a man dies as a lamp goes out, because there is no more oil to feed it: And there is a violent death, when the soul is thrust out of doors, and the lamp of life not burnt, but blown out.  
There is a timely death, when a man comes to his grave in his full age, as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season, Job 5.26  
And there is an untimely death, when a man is cropped as an ear of corn before it be white unto the harvest.  
There is a lingering death, when the soul is besieged with sickness, and as it were starved and tired out of her habitation.  
And there is a sudden death, which strikes without giving warning.  
There is a quiet death, a departing in peace, when the soul doth as it were steal out of the body unperceived.  
And there is a death, accompanied with raving madness, and distemperature. Now who knows which of these deaths are appointed for him?  
Josiah dies by the hurt of an arrow, 2 Chr. 35.23.  
A Prophet of God by the teeth of a Lion, 1 Kings 13.24.  
Abimelech by the fall of a stone, Judges 9.53.  
Jezabel is eaten up of dogs, 2 Kings 9.36.  
Two Captains with their fifties are consumed by fire from Heaven, 2 Kings 1.14.  
There are ten thousand diseases in the world, and no man in his health knows which shall make an end of him. For unto God the Lord belong the issues of death, Psal. 68.20.    

SECTION III.  
NOW because Death is the King of terrors, and of all terrible things the most terrible, so that the very thought and remembrance of it is as bitter to flesh and blood, as the waters of Marah, I thought good to cast in these Meditations to sweeten it.  

CAP. I. Death is a sleep.  
SLeep is nothing else but a short death; and death, what is it but a long sleep?  
Hence antiquity made these two brethrens.  
Lazarus our friend sleepeth, John 11.11.  
And when Stephen had said thus, he fell asleep, Acts 7.60.  
Brethren, I would not have you ignorant concerning them that are asleep, 1 Thes. 4.13.  
The places appointed for burial were called Coemeteries, that is, sleeping places.  
Now the sleep of a labouring man is sweet, Eccles. 5.12.  
Lord, if he sleep he shall do well, Joh. 11.12.  
Hence also is it that our graves are called our beds.  
They shall rest in their beds, every one walking in his uprightness, Isa. 57.2.  
Jobs bed was full of toss to and fro, Job 7.4.  
David's bed was watered with tears. Ps. 6.6.  
Nebuchadnezars bed affrighted him with troublesome thoughts, fearful dreams, and strange visions, Dan. 4.5.  
But this bed in the Hebrew tongue is called Dumah, because it is a place of rest, and silence.  
I will lay me down in peace and take my rest, Psal. 4.8.  In vita vigilant justi, ideo in morte dicuntur dormire. Aug.  

CAP. II. Death hath no sting.  
Dogs that have no teeth may bark at us, but they cannot by't us.  
Serpents that have no stings, may hisse at us, but cannot hurt us.  
Bees, they say, when they have lost their stings, become drones ever after.  
Death lost her sting in the side of our Saviour, and though it still leap upon us, we may shake it off as Paul did the viper, without hurt.  
Behold, I give you power to tread on Serpents, and Scorpions, & over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you, Luke 10.19.  
Death is swallowed up in victory: O death where is thy sting?  
Thanks be unto God who hath given us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord, 1 Cor. 15.55, 56.   

CAP. III. Death is good for us.  
WE may say of death as David did of Ahimaaz, He is a good man, and bringeth good tidings, 2 Sam. 18.27.  
First, the death of the body frees us from the body of death, the Law of the members, the prick in the flesh, the relics of corruption.  
The good which I would do, I cannot do; and the evil which I would not do, that do I, Rom. 7.19.  
I see a law in my members warring against the law in my mind, Rom. 7.23.  
This makes every child of God cry out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?  
Why, Death doth it, for he that is dead is freed from sin, Rom. 6.7.  
Secondly, it frees us from the miseries and encumbrances of this life.  
So many are the miseries and calamities of this life, that were it not for the hope of heaven, it would not be much better than hell.  
Crosses come as thick upon us, as Jobs messengers.  
The life of man is a winter's day, very short, and very cloudy.  
Few and evil have the days of my life been, Gen. 47.9.  
Man that is born of a woman is of few days & full of trouble; few are our days, but many our troubles, Job 14.1.  
The day of death is the year of Jubilee, and frees us of all these evils.  
There the wicked cease from troubling: & there the weary be at rest.  
There the Prisoners rest together, and hear not the voice of the oppressor.  
The small and great are there: and the servant is free from his master, Job 3.17, 18, 19  
Hence the Heathen said, it was the best thing not to be born at all, and the next to that was to die quickly.  
It was the custom of many nations to weep at the birth of their friends, and to rejoice at their burials; and not unwisely, says Ambros. in orat. de fide resurr.  
Lastly, death (like the Angel) plucks us out of Sodom, and conducts us to Zoar, a city of refuge and safety.  
It translates us out of a prison, to a Palace; from a vale of misery, to a kingdom of glory; from Leeks and Onions, to Rivers of Milk and Honey.  
From the Tents of Kedar, and Tabernacles of the wicked, to mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Assembly, and Church of the first born which are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Testament, Heb. 12.22, 23.  
Death is like the common gate of a city, thorough which the Malefactor passes to execution, but the honest Citizen to his recreation.  
We know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, 2 Cor. 5.1.  
Where God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes: and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, Rev. 21.4.  
These things considered, we may with Solomon praise the dead, that are already dead, more than the living that are yet alive, Eccles. 4.2.  
And say with S. Paul, To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Phil. 1.21.   

CAP. IU. There shall be a Resurrection.  
IT troubles us not to see the Sun set, because we know it will rise again the next morning. God restored to job every thing double but his children: they were not amissi, but praemissi: not lost, but laid up, and then shall be a day of restitution.  
Though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed in me, Job 19.26, 27.  
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise: awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the Earth shall cast out her dead, Isa. 26.19.  
So then, death is but a Parenthesis, and the soul and body, though disjoined by it, will meet again together.  
Nay the body shall not only arise, but it fares with the body as with old houses, which being pulled down, new ones are erected in their rooms better and more stately than the former.  
It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  
It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory.  
It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.  
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43.  
Thus death like a rare Alchy mist, dissolves the base metal of our bodies, and converts it to a purer substance.  
The body when it rots in the grave, is as linen worn to rags, and cast upon the dunghill: but at the resurrection it is like those Rags gathered up, and made into paper, which many times becomes gilded, and capable of noble and divine impressions.  
The fire burned the bands of the three children, but singed not so much as a hair of their heads, Dan. 3.27.  
Death loses us from the bands of our sins, but shall not cousin us of a nail of the hand, or an hair of the head, for all our hairs are numbered.   

CAP. V The goodness of God.  
SAint Ambrose being asked by his friends whether he was not afraid to die, answered he was not, because he had a good Lord. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee, Psal. 56.3.  
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, Psal. 23.4.  
Into thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou hast redeemed it, o Lord God of truth, Psal. 31.5.  
He that hath created our souls after his own Image, and redeemed them with his own blood, will not refuse them when they are commended and given up unto him.  
When Stephen was giving up the ghost, he saw the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God, Acts 7.56.  
Christ who sits at the right hand of God, was then said to stand, to show how ready he is to receive the souls of his servants.  
These considerations being applied, and wrought well upon our hearts, will make us cry out with David, Oh when shall I come and appear before him! Psal. 42.2.  
O that I had wings like a dove, that I might fly hence and be at rest, Psal. 55.6.  
Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar, Psal. 120.5.  
With old Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy servant departed in peace according to thy word, Lu. 2.29.  
With Paul, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, Phil. 1.23.  
With Saint john, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Rev. 22.20.    

SECTION IU.  
EVery man desires with Balaam, that he may die the death of the righteous, and that his last end may be like his: and I cannot blame them. For to die well is a point of the greatest consequence in the world, because eternity depends upon it. And as the tree falls so it must lie, whether it be to the North of God's judgement, or to the South of his mercy, Eccles. 11.3.  
Now this work of dying well, cannot be done extempore, I have therefore in the last place contracted the art of dying well into a few precepts.  

CAP. I. Live well.  
TO live well is to fear God, and to keep his Commandments, Eccles. 12.13.  
To love God and our neighbour, Mat. 22.37.  
To deny all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, & godly in this present world, Tit. 2.12.  
To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God, Micah 6.8.  
To repent of our sins, to believe in Christ, to keep his Commandments. Who so doth these things shall never fall, Psal. 15.5.  
A fair day may have a foul evening: but a good life cannot have a bad death.  
Such as the premises are, such will be the conclusion.  
It is said of Moses, that he died according to the word of the Lord, or at the mouth of the Lord, for the Hebrew will bear this reading: and the Chaldee paraphrases it, He died at a kiss of the Lords mouth: God kisses the righteous in their deaths, and as it were sucks in those souls which he breathed into them, Deut. 34.5.  
Old Hilarion when he lay a dying, bespoke his soul in this manner. Get thee out of me, O my soul, get thee out of me: why fearest thou, that hast served God almost this seventy years? Jerom in vita Hilarionis.  
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace, Psal. 37.37.  
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, Ps. 116.15.  
Blessed are they that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them, Rev. 14.13.   

CAP. II. Particular directions.  
IN the time of thy sickness, with Ezekiah call thyself to an account for all thy sins, mourn for them, in the bitterness of thy soul confess them to God, and ask forgiveness.  
2. Send for thy Minister. To whom, if need be, make a special confession, and take along with thee the benefit of his absolution; Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them: and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained, John 20.23.  
If I forgave any thing to whom I forgave it, I forgave it in the person of Christ, 2 Cor. 2.10.  
Secondly, let thy Minister pray over thee: Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him.  
If he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him, Jam. 5.14, 15.  
Thirdly, let him give thee the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  
This is the best viaticum, and provision for so long a journey.  
I may say to thee as the Angel to Eliah, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for thee.  
And if with Eliah, thou dost eat and drink, thou mayst travel in the strength of this meat to Horeb the mount of God, 1 Kings 19.7, 8.  
This is the bread that came down from Heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.  
Who so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day, Joh. 6.51, 54.  
V Euseb. hist. l. 5. c. 45.3. Set thine house in order, 2 Kings 20.1.  
This will not make thee die more quickly, but more quietly.  
4. Remember the poor. When we have been kindly entertained at a friends house, it is good manners to give the servants something when we go away.  
Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble.  
The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: and will make all his bed in his sickness, Psal. 41.1, 3.  
5. If thou be'st a father or mother of children, call them before thee, and bless them.  
So did Jacob when he departed, Gen. 49.1.  
6. Make restitution (if thou be'st able) to such as thou hast wronged, and defrauded.  
Without restitution there is no remission.  
Inquire with Samuel whose ox thou hast taken, or whose ass thou hast taken, whom thou hast defrauded, whom thou hast oppressed, or of whose hand thou hast received a bribe, and restore it.  
Send for them who have offended thee, and forgive them: and for those whom thou hast offended, and ask forgiveness.  
Lastly, resign, and give over thyself too God.  
Behold, here I am, let the Lord do to me, as seemeth good to him, 1 Sam. 15.26.  
Not my will, but thine be done. And if thus thou be'st prepared at the day of death, oh well is thee, and happy shalt thou be, Psal 128.2.  
Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find thus doing, thus dying, Mat. 24.46.   

A short prayer for a happy departure.  
O Most glorious Lord, the GOD of the spirits of all flesh, in whose hands are the times of all men, and the keys of the Grave, I most meekly beseech thee of thy goodness, to pardon and forgive me all my sins, and to make me ever mindful of my mortality.  
Lay often before mine eyes by thy remembering spirit, that the days of my pilgrimage are but few and evil; that I have here no abiding and continuing City; that all flesh, and the goodliness thereof is but a flower that fadeth, & a shadow that vanisheth away, that so numbering my days, I may apply my heart to wisdom, and with the wise Virgins provide Oil in my Lamp, and make my calling and election sure, before I go hence, & be no more seen. And when it shall please thee to cast me upon the bed of sickness, and to compass me about with the sorrows of the grave, I beseech thee for thy name's sake, for thy mercy's sake, for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake, not to be far from me in that needful time of trouble, when I shall find heaviness in my flesh, and there be none to deliver me.  
But draw near unto my soul, and be about my bed to pardon my sins, to pacify my conscience, to strengthen my faith, to mitigate my pains, & to receive my soul, when it shall be commended unto thee.  
Receive it O God the Father, for thou hast created it. Receive it O God the Son, for thou hast redeemed it. Receive it O God the Holy Ghost, for thou hast sanctified it. Receive it o holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, that being translated out of this vale of misery, it may reign with thee, one everliving and immortal God, in the Kingdom of Glory, world without end: Amen.    

SECTION I. Of the day of Judgement.  
CHristian Reader, let my Meditations now pass, as thou thyself must, from the day of death to the day of Judgement. For it is appointed for all men once to die, and after that to come to judgement, Heb. 9.27.  

CAP. I. There shall be a day of Judgement.  
IT is an Article of our faith, that CHRIST who n●w sits at the right hand of his Father, shall come from thence to judge the quick and the dead.  
Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied of it, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints;  
To execute Judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against h●m, jude 14, 15.  
God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil, Eccles. 12.14.  
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.  
The Sea gave up the dead which were in it: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to his works, Rev. 20.13.  
It is very observable, that all other Articles of the Creed have been opposed by Heretics either in whole, or in part; but no Heretic denied a day of judgement. Vide Danaeum in his Cat. of heresies against the Creed.  
In this world, Solomon says, no man can know love or hatred by all that is before them. For all things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean: to him that sacrificeth, & to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; & he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath, Eccles. 9.1, 2.  
Now shall not the Judge of all the world do right? Gen. 18.25.  
There must be a day wherein the wicked shall be punished, and the virtuous rewarded.  
A day wherein God will put a difference betwixt an Israelite, and an Egyptian; betwixt a Sheep and a Goat; betwixt wheat and tares.  
There shall be a day when I will make up my Jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not, Mal. 3.17, 18.  
I confess the wicked are sometimes punished in this world, to assure us there is a God; yet it is but sometimes, to assure us there is a day of judgement.  
Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily there is a God that judgeth the earth, Psal. 58.11.   

CAP. II. An Objection answered.  
IT is certain that the soul so soon as it is separated from the body, is presented to God, and receives an irrevocable doom, either of woe, or weal.  
The rich man died and presently was in hell in torments, the beggar died and was immediately carried by Angels into Abraham's bosom. Luke 16.22, 23.  
So that it may be demanded; What need is there of a general day of judgement, seeing every man is judged at the day of his death?  

Answ. 1.  
Every man consists of a Soul, and a Body.  
The Soul is judged at the day of death, the Body also at the day of judgement.  
For as these two do either sin together, or serve God together; so they shall either burn together, or reign together.  
Every man must receive the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad, 2 Cor. 5.10.  
Yet because the Soul may, and often doth sin, or serve God without the Body, it may in the state of separation be either punished or rewarded, though the Body rest in the grave.   

Answ. 2.  
There must be a general Judgement, for the manifestation of God's Justice.  
God disposes of every man at the day of his death, & that according to the rule of Justice; yet that which he did in secret, he will do in the view of the whole world, that so the general Assembly of men and Angels may give this testimony and applause of his just proceed:  Righteous art thou, O Lord, and righteous are thy judgements. Psal. 119.137.  

Answ. 3.  
There must be a judgement besides that at the day of death, because men after they be dead, may be Instruments, and occasions either of vice or virtue, of sin or the service of God.  
The Patriarches, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, and Fathers of the Church are dead and gone: yet still they do good in the Church of God by their godly examples, and holy writings.  
Jeroboam, Machiavelli, Martion, all Heriticks, and profane persons die, yet they poison the air with ill example, wicked books, devilish principles, and after their death infect posterity for many generations.  
Their word eats as doth a canker, or gangrene, 2 Tim. 2.17.  
Hence it is, that as there is a particular Judgement to reward the good, or punish the evil they have done themselves in their life time; so there shall be a general Judgement to reward, or punish them for that, which after their death they have occasioned to be done by others.  
V.S. Basil. in l. de vera virginit.    

CAP. III. The Names given to this Day.  
THis day is called in the Scripture, The day of the Lord.  
Alas, for the day: for the day of the Lord is at hand. Joel 1.15.  
Yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, 1 Thes. 5.2.  
Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of GOD, 2 Pet. 3.12.  
This life is called Our Day.  
O Jerusalem; if thou hadst known, at least in this Thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, Luke 19.42.  
For we think our own thoughts, & speak our own words, and do our own pleasure.  
But that shall be the Lords day; for the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, & the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day, Isa. 2.11.  
Secondly, it is called a Day of Revelation, or Opening, Rom. 2.5.  
Never was there such an opening, as will be at that day.  
The heavens shall be opened, and those everlasting doors shall be lift up, that the King of glory may go forth with his Angels to judge the world, and return back again with his Saints, when he hath judged it.  
The Earth shall be opened, for the stone shall be rolled from the mouth of every Sepulchre, and the graves shall give up their dead.  
The Books shall be opened.  
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before the Lord, and the books were opened: and another book was opened which was the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works, Rev. 20.12.  
The secrets of all hearts shall be opened.  
There is nothing hid that shall not be manifested; neither any thing kept secret that shall not come abroad, Mar. 4.22.  
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel, Rom. 2.16.  
Hell shall be opened to receive those wretches, to whom it shall be said, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  
Thirdly, it is called a Day of refreshing. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3.19.  
What a refreshing will it be, when our rotten, and wormeaten carcases shall rise up in honour and in incorruption, as flowers after a long winter?  
What a refreshing will it be, when these two ancient friends, the soul and the body, after so long a separation shall embrace, and kiss each other?  
What a refreshing will it be to see the Devil our worst enemy, and Death our last enemy, cast into the lake of fire?  
What a refreshing will it be to see Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, and the head of his Church, come in his glory, attended with an innumerable company of Angels?  
What a refreshing will it be, to hear those sweet sentences of absolution?  
Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into thy Master's joy.  
Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you.  
Fourthly, in respect of the wicked, it is called a day of wrath. After thy hardness, and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up for thyself wrath against the day of wrath, Rom. 2.5.  
As also a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds, and of thick darkness, Joel 2.2.  
The Sun is pleasing to a good eye, but offensive to an eye that is ill affected.  
The day of judgement is a bath of refreshing to the godly, but a burning Oven to the wicked:  
Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble, Mal. 4.1.  
Fiftly, it is called a great day. The Angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains of darkness, unto the judgement of the Great day. Judas 6.  
The Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come, Acts 2.20.  
It is a great day indeed, sigh so many great and notable things shall be done in it.  
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, 1 Thes. 4.16.  
And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven, unto the other, Mat. 24.31.  
And then the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up, 2 Pet. 3.10.  
How great a day must that needs be, wherein the accounts and reckon of all Days must be audited and cast up?  
Lastly, it is commonly and usually called the Day of Judgement, for it is the general Assize wherein every man must be arraigned, and hold up his hand at the bar.  
Both old men and maidens: young men and children.  
Kings of the earth, and all people: Princes, and all Judges of the earth.    

SECTION II.  
THus having seen that there shall be not only a particular, but a general judgement also, let us in the next place inquire who & what manner of Judge he is, who shall pronounce the sentence of life, or death upon us.  

CAP. I. Christ is the Judge.  
IT is true that the whole Trinity shall judge us: for so great an action cannot pass without the consent and authority of the three Persons.  
Yet it is ascribed to Christ in respect of immediate execution.  
He shall appear visibly in his humane nature, & give the sentence.  
The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Son, John 5.22.  
He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained, Acts 7.31.  
We shall all stand before the Judgement seat of Christ, Rom. 14.10.  
So that where Christ says, he came not to judge the world, Joh. 12.47. understand it of his first, not of his second coming.  
Fit it is that Christ should judge the world who was judged by it: that so once in this world, he may show his power, and Majesty, in the sight of all his creatures, especially of Pontius Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas, and the Jews, who condemned and crucified him.  
They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, Zach. 12.10.  
Fit it is, that Men should be judged by one that is a Man.  
The comfort that we have against the terrors of this day is, that we shall be judged by the Man Christ Jesus.  
One man is a God unto another. Fear not, I am your brother joseph.   

CAP. II. Christ a severe Judge.  
CHrist in his first coming was a Lamb, but in his second he shall be a Lion.  
His fan is in his hand; and he will throng hly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garner, but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire, Mat. 3.12.  
Hence it is that the very best of the Saints tremble at the apprehension of this day.  
David was a man after Gods own heart: yet,  
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee: I am afraid of thy judgements, Psal. 119.120.  
Enter not into judgement with thy servant, o Lord, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified, Psal. 143.2.  
Job was a man eminent for all graces: yet he stood amazed at the consideration of this judge.  
Whom though I were righteous, I would not answer: but I would make supplication to my judge, job 9.15.  
What shall I do when God riseth up? & when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? job 31.14.  
Paul was a chosen vessel, one that knew nothing by himself yet says he, I am not thereby justified, for it is the Lord that judges me. And the Lord judges not as a man judges, 1 Cor. 4.4.  
S. Jerome confesseth that his whole body trembled so oft as he thought upon this day.  
The righteous shall scarcely be saved, 1 Pet. 4.18.  
Many there are who pass currant in the judgement of the world; who when they shall be weighed in Christ's balances will be found too light. Good reason than hath every man to pray as the Church teaches him; In the day of Judgement good Lord deliver me.   

CAP. III. Christ an upright Judge.  
HE shall judge the world in righteousness: he shall minister judgement to the people in uprighteness, Psal. 9.8.  
The Lord cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity, Psal. 98.9.  
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day, 2 Tim. 4.8.  
The judges of the earth may absolve the guilty, and condemn the innocent, being corrupted By fear:  
Pilate for the fear of Caesar condemned Christ, whom the testimony of his own conscience pronounced innocent.  
But this judge cannot be thus corrupted: for,  
Whom shall he fear, that is omnipotent? or of whom shall he be afraid, that shall come with great power and glory? Mar. 14.26.  
Or they may be corrupted with their own affection of love, or hatred. Herod adjudges John Baptist to death, for the love of Herodias daughter.  
joseph's brethren cast him into the pit because they hated him, Goe 37.4.  
But this Judge cannot be thus corrupted: for,  
He is no accepter of persons, Acts 10.34.  
He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, but with righteousness shall he judge his people, Isa. 11.3, 4.  
He will render to every man according to his deeds, whether jew or Gentile, Rom. 2.6.9.  
Or they may be corrupted with bribes: Jethro well advised Moses to choose such men for Judges as hated covetousness, Exod. 18.21.  
Thou shalt not wrest judgement, thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous, Deut. 16.19.  
Christ our judge cannot be so corrupted.  
If he would take a bribe, thou shalt have none to give him at that day.  
But if thou couldst give him the Kingdoms of the world, & the glory of them, he would refuse; for he is the Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward, Deut. 10.17.  
A good conscience will do us more good then, than a full purse.  
Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death, Prov. 11.4.   

CAP. IU. Christ an All knowing Judge.  
AS his uprightness is such that he cannot be corrupted, so his knowledge is such that he cannot be deceived.  
He shall not reprove after the hearing of his ears, Isa. 11.3.  
He shall not judge us according to the report and testimony of others which is uncertain, but according to his own intuitive knowledge, which is infallible.  
Come and see a man which told me all the things that ever I did: Is not this the Christ? John 4.29.  
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked, & opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb 4.13.  
The word in the Original imports such an openness, as when the skin is pulled off, & the back chined down, so that the very entrails, and most secret passages of nature may be discerned.  
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence, thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thyself, but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes, Psal. 50.21.  
Hence it is that he is said to keep a book of remembrance by him, Mal. 3.16.  
Some sins are said to be secret in respect of him that commits them. Who can understand his errors?  
Cleanse thou me from my secret faults, Ps. 19.12  
Or in respect of the world. The Adulterer eats his pleasant bread in secret, Prov. 9.17.  
But no sins are secret in respect of God: for,  
He sets our iniquities before him: even our secret sins in the sight of his countenance, Psal. 90.8.  
At that day then in vain will it be for us to deny the fact, or to excuse it, or to shift and transfer it from one to another: for,  
The Lord seethe not as man seethe, 1 Sam. 16.7.   

CAP. V Christ is an inexorable Judg.  
AS this judge cannot be corrupted, nor deceived; so neither can he be entreated: Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2.  
Seek the Lord whilst he may be found, call upon him whilst he is near, Isa. 55.6.  
That is a time of judgement, and though we cry as loud as thunder, he will not hear us, though we cut ourselves with lancers, as Baal's Priests, till the blood gush out, he will not regard us.  
Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Job 27.9.  
Because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded:  
I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.  
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me, Prov. 1.24, 26, 28.  
The foolish Virgins knock at the door of mercy, but it is shut against them, Mat. 25.11.  
Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity, Mat. 7.23.    

SECTION III.  
HAving now seen who, and what manner of Judge thou shalt have, suppose him now set upon the judgement seat attended with his glorious Angels, and calling thee up to answer these Interrogatories.  

CAP. I. Who art thou?  
TO this thy answer will be that thou art a Man.  
Christ wil● reply unto thee, If a man, show me my Image wherein I created thee.  
Caesar's penny was known by Caesar's Image, and superscription.  
When Jacob saw the coat of his son Joseph, It is my son's coat, says he, but an evil beast hath devoured him, Gen. 37.33.  
So Christ will say to us at the day of judgement, This is the face and figure of a man, but an evil beast hath devoured my Image.  
The Drunkard hath lost the Image of God, and laid a swine in the room of it.  
The Covetous hath lost the Image of God, and laid a ravenous wolf in the room of it.  
The Adulterer hath lost the Image of God, and laid a goat or an horse in the room of it.  
The crafty and contentious person, hath lost the Image of God, and laid a fox and a dog in the room of it.  
They have corrupted themselves, and their spot is not the spot of his children, Deut. 32.5.  
Man that is in honour and understandeth not, may be compared to the beasts that perish, Psal. 49.20.  
And no beast shall enter into the new Jerusalem: for  
Without are dogs, Rev. 22.15.   

CAP. II. Of what Religion.  
The next Interrogatory will be, Of what Religion art thou?  
TO pass by Turks, jews, Infidels, thy answer will be, I am a Christian.  
Jacob professes to his Father, that he was his very son Esau, and yet was not.  
The Church of Sardis had a name to be alive, yet was dead, Rev. 3.1.  
Many shall say at that day, Lord, Lord, we have been baptised in thy Name, we have called upon thy Name, we have prophesied in thy Name, who notwithstanding are workers of iniquity.  
A Christian is a name of Duty, as well as of Dignity.  
You are my Friends if you do whatsoever I command you, joh. 15.14  
By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples, if ye love one another, john 13.35.  
As many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ, Gal. 3.27.  
They that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts, Gal. 5.24.  
Art thou a Christian, who hast taken the members of Christ and made them the members of an harlot? 1 Cor. 6.15.  
Art thou a Christian, who hast seen Christ naked, & hast not clothed him: hungry, and hast not fed him: thirsty, and hast given him no drink: sick, and in prison, and hast not visited him.  
In a word, art thou a Christian that hast lived in the practice of gross and known sins?  
What Communion is there betwixt Christ and Belial, betwixt light and darkness, betwixt righteousness & unrighteousness? 2 Cor. 6.15.  
The Jews boasted they were the children of Abraham, but Christ tells them they were the children of the Devil, because they did his works, John 8.44.  
If thou be'st not a true, but a titular Christian, having a form of godliness, but not the power of it, thy judgement will be more heavy, and intolerable, then that of Turks and Infidels.  
The Servant that knows his Master's will, and does it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.  
Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required, Luke 12.47, 48.  
Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of judgement, then for you, Mat. 10.15.  
It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, then after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them, 2 Pet. 2.21.  
I therefore beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Ephes. 4.1.  
And let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19.  
And let us pray as our Church teaches us in the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter:  
ALmighty God, etc. Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as be agreeable to the same, through our Lord jesus Christ. Amen.   

CAP. III. Of what Profession.  
THe next Interrogatory will be the same that the Mariners put to Ionas.  
What is thine occupation? Jonah 1.8.  
Art thou a Magistrate? Supreme, an Emperor, King etc. or subordinate, an inferior officer, Governor? 1 Pet. 2.13, 14.  
Thou shalt be examined;  
First, if thou hast maintained Gods true Religion, and been a nursing Father to the Church, Isa. 49.23.  
If thou hast rooted out Heresy, Idolatry, superstition, 1 King. 15.12.  
If thou hast provided Ministers to instruct the people, and maintenance for those Ministers.  
Jehoshaphat sent the Priests, and Levites, and the Book of the Law of the Lord with them, and they went about throughout all the Cities of judah, and taught the people, 2 Chron. 17.9.  
Hezekiah commanded the people that dwelled in Jerusalem, to give the portion of the Priests, & the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord, 2 Chron. 31.4.  
If thou hast built, and repaired the house of God, and places of his worship, as did Solomon, Josiah.  
Secondly, if thou hast been an example of virtue and godliness to thy people.  
David himself dances before the Ark, and the house of Israel follow him, 2 Sam. 6.14.  
The King of Niniveh was the first that humbled himself in sackcloth and ashes, and then the inhabitants of the City did likewise.  
Examples of great personages have a strong influence, nay, as it were a violence upon inferiors.  
Caesar filled the Empire with Soldiers, Augustus, with Scholars, etc.  
Thirdly, if they have provided good Laws, & executed them, that such as live under them may be godly and quietly governed.  
Good Laws are such as are agreeable to the Law of Nature, and the word of God.  
And they are then executed, when great flies are taken as well as small ones.  
Fourthly, if thou hast punished the wicked, and cherished the good.  
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, shall be my servant:  
But I will early destroy all the wicked of the Land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of God, Psal. 101.6, 8.  
Kings and Governors are sent by God for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well, 1 Pet. 2.14.  
It cannot be well then if Crows be pardoned & Pigeons punished.  
Fiftly, if thou hast heard the cries of the poor, received their petitions, redressed their wrongs.  
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  
Deliver the poor, and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked, Psal. 82.3, 4.  
Be wise now therefore O ye kings: be instructed ye that are Judges of the earth, Psal. 2.10.  
Remember there will be Deus & dies ultionis, A God, and a day of vengeance.  

But art thou a Minister?  
Thou shalt be examined,  
First, if thou didst enter in at the door, or climb in at the window; if thou wert called of God, or intrudest thyself.  
A man may know if he be called of God, by those talents which are committed to him.  
It is required that every Minister have scientiam competentem, if not eminentem; that is, competent, though not eminent knowledge.  
For the Priests lips must keep knowledge, & the people must seek it at his lips, Mal. 2.7.  
Secondly, if thou hast taught and instructed the people committed to thee.  
Feed my sheep, John 21.16.  
I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Lord hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood, Acts 20.27, 28.  
It is required of a Minister that he be διδακτικὸς, apt and able to teach, 2 Tim. 2.24.  
He that is ignorant and cannot teach, is a dumb dog.  
He that can and will not, is a dumb Devil, (unless lawfully detained.)  
Where no vision is there the people perish, Prov. 29.18.  
His blood will I require at thy hand, Ezek. 33.6.  
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over all his household to give them meat in due season?  
Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh shall find so doing, Mat. 24.45, 46.  
Thirdly, if thy life hath agreed with thy Doctrine.  
He that was misshapen, or had any blemish, might not come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord, Leu. 21.21.  
Moses when he blesses the tribe of Levi, desires of God, that his Thummim and Urim might be with his Holy One, i.e. integrity of life, as well as the light of Learning, Deut. 33.8.  
It is said of Christ, that he was a Prophet mighty in deed and word, before God, and all the people, Luke 24.19.  
Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?  
Thou that sayest, a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest Idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Rom. 2.21, 22.  
Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in purity, in spirit, in faith, 1 Tim. 4.12.   

Or, art thou an Officer?  
Thou shall be examined,  
If thou hast not exacted more than was appointed for thee, Luke 3.13.  
If thou hast not dealt with the poor, as the servants of Elies' sons did,  
If thou wilt not give it me, I will take it by force, 1 Sam. 2.16.   

Or, art thou a Soldier?  
Thou shalt be examined,  
If thou hast done violence to no man:  
If thou hast not accused any falsely:  
If thou hast been content with thy wages, Luke 3.14.   

Or, art thou a tradesman?  
Thou shalt be examined,  
If thou hast not used false weights, deceitful balances, unjust measures; all which are an abomination to the Lord, Prov. 20.10.  
If thou hast not sometimes taken the name of God in vain, to obtrude a bad commodity upon thy neighbour: & sic de caeteris.  
I may now say of our Judge, as jacob's sons said of the Governor of Egypt:  
The man asked us straight of our state, Gen. 43.7.     

SECTION IU.  
WE have now seen how Christ will proceed with us in the day Judgement, let us in the next place consider that final and irrevocable Sentence which shall pass upon us, and it is either the Sentence of Absolution, or Condemnation  

The sentence of Absolution.  
THe sentence of Absolution shall be pronounced in these words:  Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, Mat 25.34. 
In which sentence there is not a word, a syllable, a letter, but is music to the care, honey to the mouth, and a Jubilee to the heart.  
How will our ears be ravished, and our hearts dance within us, to hear Christ pronounce us the blessed ones of his Father.  
To hear that sweet call & invitation, Come ye.  
To hear the glory of that inheritance, to which we must come; 

A Kingdom,  
The Kingdom,  
Prepared for us of old.    
Blessed are the people that shall hear this joyful sound, Psal. 89.15.   

CAP. II. The sentence of Absolution shall be first pronounced.  
THE good Servant was rewarded & admitted into his Master's joy: and then the evil & unprofitable servant was punished and cast into utter darkness, Mat. 25.  
They on the right hand are called to a kingdom: and then they on the left are cast into fire, Mat. 25.  
God will not cast the wicked into hell, till they have seen something of the happiness of the Saints, which increaseth their grief and torment.  
The wicked shall see it, & be grieved, he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away, Psal. 112.10.  
Or, else, it may be, Christ gins with the sentence of Absolution, to show that he had rather save us, then damn us.  
He is slow to anger, Psal. 103.8.  
A God that delighteth not in the death of a sinner.  
His own nature inclines him to save us, our sins urge and provoke him to damn us.  
Therefore if he must punish, he comes as it were unwillingly to it, and reserves it for the last place.   

CAP. III. The sentence of condemnation.  
THe sentence of Condemnation shall be denounced in these words:  Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil, & his angels, Mat. 25.41. 
Not a word in this sentence, but is a wound; not a syllable, but is a sword piercing the heart; not a letter, but is as loud and terrible as a clap of thunder.  
How shall the loins of the wicked tremble, and their joints be loosed, & their knees knock together, to hear Christ pronounce them cursed?  
Cursed, because of the punishment of loss, Depart ye.  
There is their banishment, & exclusion from him, who is the fountain of life, the light of glory, and in whose presence there is fullness of joy.  
Cursed because of the punishment of Sense.  
Depart ye into fire, there is the extremity.  
Into fire everlasting. there is the eternity.  
Prepared for the Devil and his Angels, there is their Company.  
Immediately after these sentences are pronounced, shall follow execution.  
The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal, Mat. 25.46.    

SECTION V.  
IT remains now in the last place to view the use and influence which the consideration of this great day of the Lord ought to have upon our affections. It is matter of terror to some, of comfort to others, but of instruction to all.  

CAP. I. Terror to the wicked.  
AS Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled, Acts 24.25.  
The Jews fell backward when they came to apprehend Christ in the days of his humility: how then shall they stand before him when he shall come in glory and majesty?  
How terrible must this day needs be: when,  
The mountains shall quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth be burnt up at his presence, yea the world, and all that dwell therein?  
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him, Nah. 1.5, 6.  
What a hard distress shall the wicked be in, when they shall have  
On one side their sins accusing.  
On the other the justice of God terrifying.  
The gulf of hell gaping under them.  
An angry Judge frowning over them.  
Within them a conscience stinging.  
Without them the world burning? Anselme.  
Surely the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, shall hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and shall say to the mountains, and rocks, fall on us, and hid us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.  
For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6.15, 16, 17.  
Rejoice o young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine own heart, & in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement, Eccles. 11.9.  
O consider this, you that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you, Psal. 50.22.  
Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men, 2 Cor. 5.11.   

CAP. II. Comfort to the godly.  
THen shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21.27, 28.  
The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout; with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God, etc.  
Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words, 1 Thes. 4.16, 17.  
When Christ ascended, the Angels comforted the Disciples in this manner:  
This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven, Acts 1.11.  
Hence it is, that the righteous are said to love the day of his appearing, for than they shall receive a crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. 4.8.  
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him, Nahum 1.7.  
But of this we have heard before, where this day in respect of the godly is called a day of refreshing & redemption.   

CAP. III. Instruction to all.  
IF it be thus, what manner of men ought we to be in all holy conversation on and godliness? 2 Pet. 3.11.  
That which raised up the soul of S. Jerome to such a pitch of devotion, was the continual meditation of this day.  
Whether I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, me thinks I hear the last trump sounding in my ears, Arise ye dead, and come to judgement.  
We must give an account not only for our presumptuous sins, but for our smallest sins.  
I say unto you, That of every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof at the day of judgement, Mat. 12.36.  
We shall reckon not only for our own sins, but for the sins of others, which we have occasioned by our command, company, counsel, or ill example.  
We shall reckon for the talents of grace and nature: and for the precious time afforded to us.  
Hear the end of all, fear God, and keep his Commandments, for God will bring every work into Judgement, Eccles. 12.13, 14.  
Abound in the works of mercy and charity, for according to them we shall be judged, Mat. 25. Judge yourselves here, & you shall not be judged hereafter, 1 Cor. 11.31.  
As for the time when, or the place where the Judgement seat of Christ shall be erected,  
O my soul enter not into these secrets.  
Such knowledge is too wonderful for thee.  
Secret things belong to the Lord our God, and revealed things to us and our children.   

A short Prayer for the day of Judgement.  
O Most blessed Lord Jesus, who now sittest at the right hand of God the Father, and from thence shalt come to judge both the quick and the dead, in power and great glory; I confess and acknowledge, that such is the heinousness of my sins, the guiltiness of my Conscience, and the dreadfulness of that day, that my very flesh trembleth, and my heart melteth within me, when I consider that I must appear before the tribunal of thy just Judgement to give an account of whatsoever I have done in the flesh, whether good or evil. I know o Lord, that if thou shalt enter into Judgement with me, I cannot be justified in thy sight: and if thou shalt be extreme to mark what amiss hath passed from me, I shall not be able to answer thee one for a thousand.  
I appeal therefore, from the bar of thy justice, to the bowels of thy mercy, beseeching thee in that day to deal with the soul of thy servant, not as a severe Judge, but as a merciful Jesus.  
It will be O Lord a day of wrath, but gather me under the shadow of thy wings, until the indignation be passed over.  
It will be a day of darkness, & of gloominess: but lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me, and I shall be saved.  
It will be a day of Judgement; but in that day by thine agony and bloody passion, and by whatsoever thou hast done, or suffered for me, good Lord deliver me.  
And to this end, I beseech thee give me grace to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; to keep a good conscience void of offence towards thee my God, and towards all men; to abound always in the works of charity, and mercy; and to judge and condemn myself here, that I may not be condemned hereafter. That so whensoever this day shall seize upon me, I may not be bound up with the bundle of tares which shall be cast into unquenchable fire, but gathered with the wheat into thy garners, and set with the sheep upon thy right hand, and called in the number of those blessed ones to inherit a Kingdom, & that Crown of righteousness which thou hast purchased, and prepared for all those that love and expect that day of thy appearing. Now unto thee o Christ, together with thy Father, & thy blessed Spirit, be ascribed all power, & praise, dignity and dominion now and for ever. Amen.    

A PRAYER FOR the Morning.  
eternal and most glorious Lord God, and in jesus Christ our merciful and loving Father, we thine unworthy creatures sinful dust and ashes, are here in all humility of souls & bodies prostrate at the lowest footstool of thy glorious Majesty: beseeching thee to bow down thine ears unto our prayers, and to open thine eyes upon our supplication; who from the ground & bottom of our hearts, do acknowledge and confess that we have been unprofitable servants, prodigal children, & bad stewards of that time which thou hast afforded us for repentance & good works, & of those talents which thou hast committed to our improvement.  
If we put our hands into our bosoms, we must needs draw them out all leprous. For we are the brood of rebellious and disobedient Parents: our hearts are cages of unclean birds, of noisome lusts; and the thoughts thereof have been evil, and only evil, and that continually.  
And if o Lord we look forth unto the actions of our lives, there is no sin which we have not committed, no commandment which we have not broken. These eyes which now look up unto heaven, have beheld vanity; these tongues which now call upon thee, have blasphemed thee; and these hands which we now lift up unto thee, have been many times lift up against thee, and thy Statutes. So that we have made ourselves unworthy of the least of thy mercies, but worthy of the greatest of thy judgements. But deal not with us after our sins, neither reward us according to our iniquities.  
Spare us good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast created after thine own Image, and redeemed with thine own Blood. And according to the multitude of thy tender compassions which have ever been of old to us, blot out the multitude of our transgressions. Pardon our sins and receive us again unto thy favour, for his sake and sufferings, who hath satisfied thy Justice to the utmost farthing.  
And for the short residue and remainder of our days, give us grace to consecrate it to thy service, to redeem that time which we cannot recall, and to make our calling and election sure before we go hence, and be no more seen.  
And because the corruptions of our nature are too many, and too strong for us, and the Devil like a roaring Lion goes about continually to devour us; leave us not to ourselves, but assist us by thy grace, perfect thy strength in our weakness, and preserve both our bodies and souls spotless, and unblameable, that when we shall have finished our course, and run the race of our natural Pilgrimage, we may receive that crown of righteousness, which thou the righteous and just Judge hast laid up for all them that love and expect the day of thy appearing.  
And together with us we entreat thee for a blessing upon our King, Queen, Prince, and the rest of the Royal Progeny: upon our Councillors, Ministers & Magistrates: upon our friends, kindred, and acquaintance: upon the whole Church, and every afflicted member of it.  
And accept of our morning sacrifice of praise, and thanksgiving for all the mercies and favours, comforts and deliverances which from time to time thou hast afforded, and continued to us: We thank thee for thy last mercy in preserving us from the dangers of this night past, for refreshing our bodies with seasonable rest, and bringing us safe to the beginning of this day.  
Lord, what is man that thou art so mindful of him, or the Son of man that thou shouldest thus visit, & remember him? Give us grace, O Lord, to remember thee, and to be mindful of thy mercies, that we may praise thee for all the truth and faithfulness which thou showest to us in the land of the living; that as thou hast brought us to the comforts of this day, so thou mayest go along with us in the same, to enable us for the duties of those callings wherein we are placed, and to deliver us from those dangers to which we are exposed, even for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our weak, and imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught us in his holy Gospel.  
O our Father, etc.   

A PRAYER FOR the Evening.  
O Most glorious and ever living LORD God, which inhabitest eternity, and dwellest in that light which no mortal eye can attain unto; the God in whom we live, and move, and have our being; we thine unworthy servants do here in all lowliness and humility, present our persons and prayers before thy divine Majesty: confessing & acknowledging that we were conceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity; and, as if that had been but a small matter, we have heaped up our actual transgressions as the sand upon the Sea shore, and as the stars in the firmament for number. We have broken thy Commandments, we have profaned thy Sabbaths, we have dishonoured thy name, we have abused thy creatures, we have neglected the day of our visitation, & turned thy grace into wantonness, whereby we have most justly provoked thy wrath, and everlasting displeasure, we have wounded our own consciences, weakened our assurance of salvation, & grieved thy good Spirit, which sealeth us up unto the day of our redemption.  
And now Lord, if thou shouldest deal with us after our deservings, thou mightest pour upon us the deluge of thy wrath and fury to sweep us out of the land of the living, into that place of torment prepared for the Devil and his Angels. But thou hast revealed thyself unto the sons of men to be the Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and of great goodness, one that pardons sin, & passes by the transgressions of thy people: this is thy name for ever, and thy memorial throughout all generations.  
We appeal therefore from thee, unto thee, from the barof thy Justice, to the bowels of thy mercy, beseeching thee even for Jesus Christ his sake to be merciful unto us in the free pardon and forgiveness of all the sins that ever we have committed against thee. Accept of his obedience for our disobedience, of his righteousness for our unrighteousness, of his sufferings for all our sins; wash them away in his blood, nail them to his Cross, hid them in his wounds, and bury them in his grave, that they may never rise up for our confusion here, or condemnation hereafter.  
And as we desire thee to be unto as a father of mercy, so be unto us a GOD of consolation, speak peace unto our souls & consciences, and say unto us that thou art the God of our salvation.  
And for the time to come, give us grace to die daily unto sin by virtue of thy Son's death, & to rise up to newness of life, by the power of his resurrection; wean our hearts, & take off our affections from the things of this world, which endure but for a season, and raise them up unto those things which are at thy right hand for evermore. enlighten the darkness of our understandings, subdue the stubborness of our wills, rectify the disorder of our affections, and bring into obedience whatsoever exalteth itself against thy will, that at last we may come to be such as thou wouldst have us.  
Deliver us o God from the temptations of the devil, from the allurements of the world, from the lusts of the flesh, & from the evil example of this crooked and perverse generation wherein we live, that we may run the race of thy commandments without turning to the right hand or to the left.  
And forasmuch as the days of our pilgrimage are but few and evil, and these earthly tabernacles of our bodies must be dissolved, give us grace to pass the time of our dwelling in thy fear, that we may departed hence in thy favour, whensoever, wheresoever, or howsoever it shall please thee to call for us.  
And we entreat thee yet further to continue and enlarge thy blessings upon the Church, & Land wherein we live, upon the person & government of our King, upon the deliberations of his Council, upon the patience & long suffering of all those who are afflicted with any cross or calamity: & because they are unworthy to receive new blessings that are not thankful for those they have already received; we bless and praise thee for all the mercies & favours which thou hast afforded us for our souls, or bodies; for this life or a better. We thank thee for our election, creation, vocation, justification, sanctification in some measure, & assured hope of glorification with thee in thy Kingdom. We thank thee for the peace of our Church, for the health of our bodies, for the plenty of our estates, and for the prosperity of our families.  
And now, holy Father, seeing the night is upon us, & we are ready to take our rest, into thy hands we commit our souls & bodies, and all that we have, beseeching thee which art the Keeper of Israel, that neither sleepeth, nor slumbreth, to take care for us; for if thou protect us not, Satan will devour us, yea we shall sleep a perpetual sleep, & never rise up to praise thee. We pray thee therefore be good to us this night, defend us from danger, refresh us with comfortable rest, & raise us up to glorify thee in the duties of the day following, that thou mayst still be our God, and we thy people. Hear us and graciously answer us in these our requests, and what else thou knowest needful and expedient for us, and that for Jesus Christ his sake, in whose most blessed name, and words, we conclude these our imperfect prayers, saying as he himself hath taught us: Our Father etc.  
When thou art in bed commend thyself to God in the words of David:  
I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for thou only, O Lord, makest me to dwell in safety, Psal. 4.8.  
Consider, and hear me O Lord my God, lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, Psal. 13.3.  
So when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet, Prov. 3.24.   

Grace before meat.  
GOod Lord pardon & forgive us all our sins, which make us unworthy of all thy mercies, bless these thy creatures to the use of our bodies, bless our bodies to the use of our souls, and bless both our bodies and souls to thy service, for Christ his sake. Amen.   

Grace after meat.  
THou O God which hast created us by thy power, preserved us by thy providence, redeemed us by thy blood, and at this time fed us by thy good creatures, be blessed and praised now and evermore. Amen.  
THE END.    

London printed by Tho. Maxey for George Badger, and are to be sold at his Shop in S. Dunstan's Churchyard in Fleetstreet.