IMPRIMATUR.  
Sept. 14. 1678. GEORG. THORP Reverend. in Christo Patri, & D. Dom. GULIELMO Archiep. CANT. a Sacris Domesticis.   

THE Godly man's delight or A Family Guide to PIETY Containing Directions to a Holy Life with certain Christian Dialogues Also Prayers & Meditations upon several occasions.  
 heavily and crudely illustrated border featuring Biblical scenes 

Josua Amalek Aaron Moses Christ Hur  
Josua and his Family  
John in the Isle of Patmos  
Paul  
Hezekiah.  
J●●●●●●    

The meaning of the Frontispiece.  

REader this Emblem darkly doth foretell,  
The way preserves us from the jaws of Hell.  
Piety's that narrow way that leads to Heaven,  
Prayers the conduct plains, and makes it even.  
And though th' one side's Water the other Flames,  
Yea, though the Hill is steep, yet Prayer sustains,  
And helps us to endure Gibbets and Fire,  
And from that Ga●● of Death help us to aspire.  
Prayer is that mark distinguisheth a Paul,  
And makes him known from Persecuting Saul.  
St. John 〈◊〉 Patmos Isle,  
Was at Heaven's Council Table all the while.  
Good Hezekiah expatiates his breath,  
By Prayer that mand●●●'d the hands of death.  
Prayer 〈◊〉 the Sun and Moon, till Joshua  
Destroys his armies and wins the day.  
Though Hur and Aaron did support the hand  
Of weared Moses: Prayer we understand  
Procured help from Christ, that living stone.  
Whereupon Moses sat; 'twas it alone  
That made and caudled the same nay shall I tell,  
Prayer was the cause Joshua succeeded well,  
Against proud Amalek and all his Train,  
There put to flight, discomfited and slain.  
And thus we see, Prayer is the conduct sure  
Supports, directs, and helps us to endure;  
Makes plain that narrow way of Holiness,  
That leadeth unto Canaan's Happiness.   
London, Printed by Tho. James for Richard Jones at the White Horse in Little Britain. 1679.    

To the Right Virtuous Mrs. JANE ALINGTON, The Widow of WILLIAM ALINGTON Esq Together with her FAMILY.  
Madam,  
HAd not the invitation of a worthy friend (that first gave life and being to this so small a Treatise) invited me (though unknown) to present the same unto your so Virtuous a Personage and Family; it might have been a free will offering from myself. If I should give my Pen leave to launch into the Ocean of your Virtue's Praise, doubtless it would be emerged. And what can be more to the augmenting of True Virtue than Piety and Prayer, the proper medicaments for that Epidemieal Distemper of this later Age (viz.) Ignorance, the implacable Enemy of all Virtue. Ignorance said I? yes: Ignorance in the midst of Knowledge, and Darkness, in the midst of Light. Ah! alas, too too evident it is, that many poor Creatures (notwithstanding the propagation of the Gospel) do go to Hell for want of Direction to Piety and Prayer; the right practice and performance of which, is the only way to make us happy. Piety is that narrow way that leads to the Celestial Canaan and New Jerusalem. Prayer is as it were the Helm whereby we should steer our course; nay, it is as it were, the Conduit-pipe wherein is conveyed all our supplies It can fetch Water out of a hard Rock to a thirsty Israel; it can divide the Red Sea; it can deliver an Host, etc. And what so necessary as Prayer and Piety now, even in this very day, which is the only way to keep us out of the Paw of the Lion that would swallow us up; I mean those Hellish Crew, whose work it is to study darkness. And where should Piety together with Prayer shroud itself, but under the wings of them who are its proclaimed friends. Let it find entertainment by you and your Family, and if it shall any way conduce to the crowning of your Virtues, be directing you to the New Jerusalem, it will be your profit and advantage; and the greatly rejoicing  
Of him, who is your Souls Wellwisher at the Throne of Grace; T. W.   

To the READER Upon the ensuing TREATISE.  
WHo e'er thou art, to whose judicious eye  
This Book shall open lie,  
Sprung from a serious thought,  
To public use now to perfection brought.  
I will not praise it, it will tell  
Its own worth, if considered well.  
Dost thou want pleasure? so a Bed of flowers,  
Pluck, smell, and spare not. Hast thou idle hours?  
Read over this, here thou mayst find  
Blest Recreation for thy mind.  
Hours are not idle, if thus spent,  
To deck the Soul is its intent.  
To help Devotion, and the Soul to raise  
To heavenly thoughts, and better life; give praise  
To God if it attain its end, than he  
That wrote, and you that read, shall happy be.  
But pass the porch, go in,  
You'll find the best within;  
To read the Book begin.   

A Preface to the Christian Warfare, or Encouragement to the Christian in his Warfare.  
CHristian, thy work is great, thy foes are strong,  
Thy way 'tis rough, thy journey it is long;  
Thy days are few; thy strength is weak, thou'lt say;  
And poor thou art: But hold, perhaps I may  
Facilitate thy work, and tell thee how  
Thou may'st compel thine enemy to bow;  
And plain thy way, abbreviate thy race,  
And lengthen out thy days, or help thy pace:  
Nay, make thee rich, if poor thou art, if not,  
To make thee well contented with thy lot.  
Here is a Magazine, here is a store,  
Left by thy Captain that is gone before.  
He led the van, he underwent what may  
Occur, or meet thee in that selfsame way.  
His Armour he hath left; take up and fight,  
He'll vindicate thee; 'tis not power or might  
Can once thee wrong ● most righteous is thy Cause,  
And he's true Author of the Martial Laws;  
Nay farther, to increase thy courage, see  
What Potentates now captivated be:  
Death is unstinged, the Grave is conquered;  
And they were Captains once, are Captives led  
But why do I detain thee, take a view,  
And thou shalt plainly see, all this is true.  
Invest thyself, haste, make thou no delay,  
God grant thou may'st succeed, I daily pray.   

 depiction of a Christian soldier Prayer Meditation Co●●olation The Christian Soldier. the Devil Resisted. The Flesh Mortified the World Crucified. 
O Crocodilian World whose Shining gloss  
Is guilded Emptyness, and painted dross:  
Thy Fawns, or frowns I matter not, not I;  
Crucify th' I must. Thy Sister Flesh must die.  
And Soul destroying Devil whose malice 'tis,  
T'accuse th' Brethren that seek to bliss:  
Thy Roaring rage is nought; Stand off or I  
Will make thee th' Worlds Captain, captively.    

THE CHRISTIANS WARFARE.  
THe whole life of a Christian is a continued Hostility or Open War; his grand Antagonist is the Devil, that great Abbaddon, the professed Enemy and Destroyer; Rev. 9.11. whose grand design is to enlarge the terrotories of his destructive Kingdom, by the spoil and ruin of poor souls. This is evident from Gen. 3.1. where we have an account of his tyrannical assaulting of Adam in Paradise: No sooner is Adam settled in Paradise, in that glorious state wherein God set him, but this implacable enemy assaults him; and alas! prevails. Now having got such an interest by the Foil and Fall of poor Adam, he continues his tyranny, as we find manifested all along in the Scripture. He carries on his design in the Old World, in the incestuous Sodom; by Pharaoh towards the Children of Israel, nay even by the Patriarches, David and Solomon as far as he can: and thus he assaults and prevails in a great measure. Nay no wonder if he assaults these poor Creatures, when he attempts to set upon Christ himself. Having prevailed so against the first Adam, he'll see what he can do to the second; but blessed be God, The Seed of the Woman has bruised the Serpents Head.  
Thus we see how this Roaring Lion goes about seeking whom he may devour; what Souls he can ensnare and entrap: He environs and surrounds the Earth, to the intent he may devour.  
Moreover, He has two Attendants, (viz.) 1. The World. 2. The Flesh; to carry on his hellish designs and plots against poor Saints; and the destruction of every Christian that endeavours to build up the Kingdom of Christ. And first he makes use of the World, that is, 1. The World itself, the love whereof chokes that vigour and liveliness that is or aught to be in a Christian. 2. Wicked Men in the World, in whom he acts and foments all the venom he can, both for the hindrance of the Gospel's propagation, and the destruction of those that seek to be enlightened by it; to bring them to the true knowledge of God and his way. Dismal is it to think, how far he hath, and at this very day doth, prevail by them. But blessed be God that hath set his King upon his Holy Hill of Zion; Psal. 2.6.  
Secondly, Our inbred Corruptions, that is that, that is called the Flesh; out of which proceeds an innumerable multitude of destructive lusts, that keep a constant hostility against a poor Soul; 1 Pet. 2.11. and these he makes his baits to catch Souls. He suits his baits, 1. According to our constitutions and natural inclinations, 2. To our conditions. First, To our constitutions, If they be inclining to Melancholy, he tempts to Despair, if to Sanguine, he tempts to Anger: If our Constitutions be Cheerful, he tempts to Lasciviousness: And so look what our Constitutions and Natural Inclinations are, accordingly he suits his Baits and Temptations. Secondly, To our Conditions, If a ●ans Estate increase, so that he hath a competent portion of the things of this World; he tempts him either to that destructive sin (viz.) Covetousness, which is t●● root of Evils; and this he shrowds und●● the Name of Good-husbandry; or t● Luxurious Prodigality and Pride, and this he covers with the Name of Good-fellowship.  
Nay, in a word, No Time, Place, Degree, Age, Constitution, Condition, wherein, and against, and according to whom, he doth not suit his poisonous baits, and exerciseth his utmost policy, and endeavours to ruin poor Souls.  
Blessed be God that he hath not left us ignorant of his Devices; but thrice blessed be his Name that he has not left us Naked, but has left us his own Armoury; Eph. 6. and that of proof, which is able to defend us from all the fiery darts of this so potent an enemy. The parts whereof are, 1. The Helmet of Salvation. 2. The Breastplate of Righteousness. 3. The Shield of Faith. 4. The Girdle of Truth. 5. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word. 6. The Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. 7. And lastly, The Engine of Prayer.  
Now let us see of what use all the● are to a Christian.  
1. The Helmet of Salvation, That i●, a constant expectation and desire of ●ernal Happiness. This is of great ●se unto us to support us, and bea● up our fainting Spirits under all Trial and Temptations; without the hope of which, a Christian would utterly despond. This is that that made so many Martyrs endure the most exquisite Torments from the hands of Bloody Tyrants; Heb. 11.  
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness. This is walking in Holiness and Blamelesness; this is that Proof-piece that bears a Christian out, and keeps off all the false Imputations and Slanders, that the Devil and Wicked Men (his Agents) can forge or invent against a Christian.  
4. The Shield of Faith, That is, A firm believing and trusting of God for the accomplishment of his Promises. This keeps off the Fire-balls and Darts of Satan, (viz.) Carnal Confidence, Presumption, Security, infidelity and Despair, etc.  
5. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This wounds Satan, and cuts in sunder the concatenating knots of his various Temptations, by which he seeks to entangle Souls. This discovers all his Devices. With this Sword our Saviour ●oil'd this Champion; he opposed him with a Scriptum est, It is written.  
6. The Shoes of the Preparation of the Go●pel of Peace. This is assurance of Acceptation and Peace with God, through Jesu● Christ; according to that Holy Doctrine held forth in the Gospel. He that is shod with these Shoes, is sit for his Journey to Canaan, thorough all his Oppugnants; knowing that God who is at peace with him, is both able and willing to be his conduct and deliverer from them all.  
7. Prayer. This is that brings success to, and a blessing upon, all the rest; and enables a Christian, through God's Free Grace and Mercy, to make use of all other the pieces of the Armoury.  
Thus we see how Christ our Captain has fortified us; he has not left us to fight without Weapons, without Armour, and that of Proof; nay, he himself has led the Van: he underwent all the hardship in this Warfare, and has as it were, given the Devil his death's wound: He has conquered Hell also and the Grave; he's the Triumphant King and Captain: He has unstinged Death, he has only left us some small work to do, and that he has promised to help us in. Christian, therefore be of good courage; let non● make thee afraid; thy foes may environ thee, and enemy's rage against the●, yet be not dismayed, thy Cause is good, thy Captain is Victorious, and what thou art not able to do, he'll do i● for thee.  
But it may be thou'lt say, Thou canst not tell whether Christ will be willing to accept thee for his Soldier or not?  
Willing, yes, if thou art willing; but 'tis rather to be feared thou art not willing, because thou makest this objection: If he were not willing, to what end would he call and invite thee? O Christian do not doubt, but come; make no delay. Go to this Magazine, and invest thyself herewith, and thy Captain will maintain thee; if thou art willing, though thou art weak, he'll fight for thee; only take notice, that if ever thou look backward, thou art but a dead man. Press forward towards the Mark, for thou hast no Armour to defend thy backparts. O Christian be valiant, and take notice of this, that if thou resist the Devil he is not able to withstand thee, he'll flee from thee. Be upon thy watch, for thy enemy is subtle, and will watch his opportunity, if thou keep'st not strict watch. Be much in the exercise of thy Weapons. especially the Sword of the Spirit (viz.) the Word, and learn to imitate thy Captain; he repels Satan's blows with a Scriptum est, It's written. O Christian, quit thy ●lf like a man. Nay, in a word, Be in the exercise of all thy Armour, lest by disuse and disaccustom'dness thereunto, thou be to seek when thou shouldst be upon thy Guard. Let nothing offend thee, neither Prosperity nor Adversity, Strength nor Weakness: Let not infidelity prevail over thee. He that hath sent thy Captain, and given him, how shall he not with him freely give thee all things? O blessed King and Captain, that hath left poor Christians such a Storehouse, such a Magazine! O Christian, set upon thy Warfare; make use much of that powerful Javelin Prayer. Get the art of casting it, that in case at any time thou standest in need and be in a straight, thou mayst make use of the same. And let me caution thee against two things, that thou be not too secure in time of thy Peace and Prosperity, nor too much careful in time of Trouble and Adversity. And now for thy Prosperity and Success, thou needest not be afraid, for thy King and Captain will be all in all to thee and for thee. So sight on.  
EZEKIEL. chap. 37. v. 3. Son of man can these dry Bones  Lord Soul  depiction of a man praying 
The Prayers of a Righteous Man availeth much.  A broken Heart Merc●nt● Mori Far well Vain World  

A Direction to an Holy Life.  
THough 'tis true that never any Man was or can be saved by the Merits of his own Righteousness or Holiness; yet 'tis as great and as infallible a truth, that never any was or can be saved without Holiness. Shall I instance, The most Righteous Abel, the Meekest Moses, the most patiented Job, the Holiest David, the Wisest Solomon, the Strongest Samson; nay, the most Evangelical Prophets and Apostles, were they saved by their own Righteousness? Nay, neither were they saved without their own Righteousness; which is palpably evident in Scripture. But a little to demonstrate the nature of Holiness, It is that that makes us resemble God our Creator and Maker; its Nature also is such, as that it always aims at God its Centre. As it is of and from God, so it always draws the Soul to God. It is a sure guiding Thread to direct the Soul thorough the Nocturnal Labyrinth of a crooked World, to the Celestial Canaan of splendid Glory and permanent Happiness. Moreover, It is Diametrically oppugnant to all Evils; in a word, It differs ●●om all Sin and Evil, as Light doth from ●arkness. What communion has God with Belial. And know (O Man or Woman, whosoever thou art) Holiness is indispensably necessary, if thou desire to be Happy. Wouldst thou be Happy, or wouldst thou not? Wouldst thou enjoy God, or wouldst thou not? If thou wouldst not, shut and lay by, for I do not desire to aggravate thy Torments; for know that the Word read or preached, will be the savour of Life unto Life, or the savour of Death unto Death. If thou wouldst be directed in that Narrow Way that leads to Happiness, here is a few Directions for thee: But methinks I hear thee say, How comes it to be of such indispensable necessity to be so holy?  
Answer, Of the many Reasons, together with Arguments, that might be drawn from both Sacred and Profane Writings, I shall prefix only two, with some Scriptures:  
1. The first is, Because otherwise there is no appearing before God, it ●eing the ordinary way God has appointed, Heb. 12.14. Fellow Peace with all Men, ●●d Holiness, without which no Man shall ●ee the Lord. Without Holiness there can undoubtedly) be no Happiness; without Piety, there can be no Purity; and without Purity no coming to God; for God is one that can behold no unclean thing; and without coming to God nothing but misery. Moreover, he loseth all the advantages in respect of this life, in particular, that honour that God doth dignify his people with. It is Moses' great Title, God gives him (viz.) My Servant. It is in Scripture accounted by the Evangelist John, an honour to bear Christ's Shoes, much more an honour to suffer for Christ: They that honour me I will honour. 2. The comforts of this life, the pleasures and delights that otherwise he might enjoy; I mean not outward but inward pleasures and comforts, which are the true. Nay, in a word, Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of this life, and that which is to come.  
2. So long as a man remains going on in a way of impiety, and unholiness, he is not only kept from the beholding of God's face or countenance in any of God's Ordinances; but also he doth more and more every day incur God's wrath, displeasure, and anger against him; Psal. 1.11. God is angry with the wicked every day. Nay, further, he engages himself more, and confirms himself to be a Servant of the Devil; and so instead of listing himself under the Banner of Christ, he lists himself under the Banner of Satan, and consequently becomes Col. 1.21. the enemy of God and his ways; and not only an enemy, but enmity itself, Rom. 8.7. and can a man or woman be supposed to be in a good condition, whilst at variance with God; who is but as chaff before the wind, and as stubble before the fire.  
As I said before, many Reasons and Arguments to prove the necessity of an holy Life, might be drawn from Sacred and Profane Writings and Arguments, even from a Principle of Morality or humane Reason; but seeing it is not our design at this time to produce them, since so many Worthies have so palpably demonstrated, and proved it with invincible Arguments, even as a Cloud of Witnesses; we shall only note some few Scriptures, which will stop the mouths of the most bloody Noro's, tyrannising Pharaoh's, subtle Ahitophel's, and persecuting Saul's, Heb. 12.14 forecited, Psal. 93.5. Holiness becomes thine house for ever. Rom. 6.19, 22. 2 Cor. 7.1. 1 Thes. 3.13. and 4.13. Leu. 5.15, etc. But indeed the best Motive to an holy Life, is the consideration of the effects of Death, of which in its place.  
The first thing that I shall do, shall be to give some few Directions in order to an holy Life, whereby to get a better and nearer intimacy with God, and to engage the Heart more to love God, and God more to love again; or rather indeed God to love first, and then the heart to love again; for God must first love, or else we cannot love him; God must first work, both to will and to do, of his own good pleasure.  
After acquaintance with God, to keep up holy communion with him; the first and best way will be to improve this acquaintance, as much as in us hes; for sure I am, that though a man have attained to a competent knowledge of the things of God, and hath found some Beams of God's radiant love breaking out and breathing upon his Soul; if not improved, will not only damp the heart, and make it cold; but will cause God to withdraw himself from that Soul. He so soon as he finds his love and kindness slighted, cannot but withdraw coming into that Soul, and hid himself.  
This very cause we find amongst men, where one hath done a kindness for another, it may be voluntarily, out of love, if he finds that he be slighted, and kindness be slighted and disregarded, how can such an one but take it ill, and repent him of both the kindness done, and hinder him from giving, or doing any thing more, and that not without good ground of Reason. Ingratum est qui bene merenti non reponit. Unthankful is he that doth not either reward a kindness received, at one time or another (if able) or at least express a willing mind, by a continued acknowledgement thereof.  
Obj. But you will say, How? or what shall a man do to improve this acquaintance with God? that thereby he may obtain a fuller fruition of, and have more communion with God?  
Ans. The best and safest way will be, First of all to be careful to speak, think, or do nothing that tends to the dishonour of God, or his ways. God cannot but take it very unkindly from any one, for whom he hath done so much, and towards whom his tender Bowels has been expatiated and enlarged, to whom he has unspeably demonstrated his infinite care and tenderness of affection from time to time; to be either badly or malignantly spoke of, or hardly thought on, or injuriously wronged any way.  
For indeed, how can it otherwise be expected, whom should God have to be his friends, but they to whom he has extended a multiplicity of kindness; of whom should God be honoured, but by them whom he has honoured; and indeed there is none that has done any thing for God, but he will reward it, and that infinitely, an hundred-fold, and there is a finite number for an infinite, Matth. 19.29. For we have his Word and Promise for it, and he is one that cannot Lye. 1 Sam. 2.30. Them that honour me, I will honour. And indeed they that do not care for honouring God, may expect that God will not care for honouring them; but adds immediately, and that palpably, But they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed.  
Secondly, Be sure always in all your affairs to set the Lord always before your eyes, questioning with yourselves, how you shall answer any thing you do, when called before the great Tribunal of the most high God, whether it be neither the cause to incur his displeasure, or wound your Soul and Conscience; and this we find holy David in the practice of, Psal. 26 8. I have set the Lord always before me: We find Job in this same practice, Job 31.14. What shall I do when God riseth up, or when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? We find Joseph making use of this Engine to resist the Devil in the temptation of his Mistress, How shall I do this great evil, and sin against God? Gen. 39.9. We find these three Worthies always upon their watch with this Javelin; and indeed it is the reason many times why men run into so many wicked and diabolical practices, and so help forward the Devils designs and temptations, and congratulate the lusts of the flesh, because they do not either rightly conceive what God is, or else not set him before their eyes.  
3. Let Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise be offered up unto God; 
To which purpose we have composed a few short Prayers for every day in the week, and also for other occasions.  Ps. 92.1, 2. Beware to be found prayerless Families, that call not on God's Name; for why should there be wrath upon your Families, Jer. 10.25. O miserable Families that are without God in the world, that are without Family Prayer! What have you so many Family wants, Family sins, Family mercies, every day, every moment, and no Family Prayers? What is it to pray with all prayer and supplication, to have no prayer? Beware to say, I have no time; what hast thou all thy time for? hast thou it on purpose to serve thy God, and art careful for nothing less than to serve and glorify him in it: O beware of this, hath God commanded to pray continually, or without ceasing, that is always to be in a praying frame, and art thou no more solicitous to obey God's command? In a word, Prayer is the procurer of all our Mercies, Jer. 29.12. 2 Sam. 7.2, 9 It will be very requisite that some preparation be made. 1. It will be of great use to examine how you have spent your time, if at Night how you have walked with God; if in the Morning how kind God hath been unto you in keeping you from all spiritual and corporal enemies; and consider farther how God might have thrown you into Hell. I remember I have read concerning a Heathen, that used every night to set an hours time apart to examine himself how he had spent the anteceding day, and to beg of the gods to pardon both his misspent time, and entreat for a supply of his wants. And shall an Heathen shame those that profess to be the Soldiers of Christ?  
Consider what Mercies you have received, or what you stand in need of most, and let the Vitals of your Soul be most for that, only let it be with an holy submission to the will of God, in and for all things, especially in Temporals, or in things conducing to the Body.  
4. When thou appear'st before God, let it be with an elated esteem of the Greatness, Holiness, and Purity of God, and with a regardless esteem of thyself; the best way to come unto God is by a self-debasement, seeing by a self-ambition, of being as gods, knowing good and evil, all mankind lost Heaven, and so involved themselves into a delapsed condition; and indeed we can imitate Christ no more than in an humble deportment to God-ward in all our Supplications. Moreover, so long as we come in the humility of our heart to God, we have God's engagement that he will not turn us off, he will accept us: The first step to Exaltation is by Humility, and Self-abasement, and abandoning all self-ishness; and the best and chiefest way to the attainment of this is, by the admiring thoughts of God, not only in respect of his creating & providential Power, in first creating all things of nothing, of no Being to make a Being, of a confused Chaos to form a fair and splendid Fabric, as the Greek word signifies; I say not only in respect of that great and magnificent Power by which all things were made, and also that providential Power by which all things are preserved and kept; but also in respect of the more magnificent and powerful and infinite wise contrivance of the second and new Creation, I mean of that procuring a possibility, whereby man might be restored and redeemed from that lapsed and unspeakably miserable condition into which he is fallen, and that he might be brought into a nearer union and communion with God, by that Hypostatical Union in Jesus Christ; and is there not matter of admiring both the infinite Wisdom and Power of God, in his great Work and Contrivance? Yea, that, that might carry a Soul out of itself, as it were, by admiring him in this very work.  
5. Never come unto God but upon the account of the precious death and sufferings of a crucified Saviour, laying aside all thine own righteousness as a menstruous cloth, and as filthy rags, considering that he that comes unto Christ (that is, believingly) what he asks he will do it; witness that gracious promise in John 14.13. and John 15.16. and Joh. 16.23, 24, 26. do all in the Name of Christ, Col. 3.17. And indeed it is a great pity that so many Promises as are made and laid down for the support of poor drooping and desponding ones, should be no more regarded and made use of; it is as it were a slighting of Christ's kindness; as if one should say, What are these Promises to me, I matter them not, I do not stand in need of them; but know thou whoever, if any such an one, that there is a day a coming when thou wouldst be glad to embrace such a proffer. I say never come in, and upon any account, but in and upon the account of the dear Redeemer Jesus Christ, this must needs be the safest, surest, best, and prevailing way, for he saith, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, John 14.6.  
It must needs be the safest and surest way, to come in the Name and Strength of Christ.  
1. Because he is able, Heb. 7.15. If he take thy cause in hand, and thou committest it to him with an holy dependence, undoubtedly he will carry it on, and crown it with perfection; all other means may fail, all other Agents may miscarry, but he will, nay, he can never miscarry; He shall see of the travel of his Soul, he shall and will bring judgement unto victory. He is able to resist the most invincible temptation, and evade the most intricate Stratagems the Devil can make; he has conquered Death and Hell, and given the Devil such a weakening blow, as that he can never be able to encounter one Battle more with him. All Power is in his hand in Heaven and Earth, Matth. 28.18. And if he be so able, as that all Power both in Heaven and Earth is in his hand, what safer and surer way, than coming to God by him; none shall be able to pluck thee nor thy cause out of his hand; the Devil may assault thee, he may in many shapes and forms, but he shall never prevail against thee. When thou prayest, it may be he'll endeavour to distract thee, when thou comest before God, he will accuse thee, as he did righteous Job; for he is called, The Accuser of his Brethren, Revel. 12.10. The Power of Christ hath, and shall cast him down; He hath overcome him by his precious blood.  
2. It must needs be the safest; because he is one with the Father, and the Father cannot deny him any request; He hears him always, John 11.42. I know that thou hearest me always.  
3. There is no other way: Let others pretend to what they will, and to abolish the Priestly Office of Christ, and so rob him of his Right and Honour, yet it is most plain, He is the way, the Truth, and the Life, and none other; he is the only beloved, in whom God is abundantly well-pleased; and he it is that must take our imperfect desires, and offer them unto God in his own perfection; our weakness must be supplied in his strength, our emptiness in his fullness, our unrighteous Prayers must be perfumed with the odoriferous smell of his spotless and blameless Righteousness.  
It is most certain, That Man by the Fall lost all his Righteousness, and therefore imperfection can never appear before God, who is infinitely perfect; all fullness dwells in himself; and how can he look upon mere emptiness, unless it be in the fullness of his own Son.  
6. Dare not to appear before God with any sin unrepented of knowing that like an Adder that a poor man found, though almost dead, as soon as it recovered strength and life by the heat of the fire, began to hiss at him. Sin will (being cherished) revive, and consequently will prove a fatal Enemy. Let no sin be delighted in, though it be the nearest delight, and that that would procure the greatest temporal benefit and profit: one sin is enough to condemn a world, as appears by the eating the forbidden Fruit, it procured a curse, an eternal curse, had it not been prevented by a compassionate Saviour.  
And wouldst thou be blessed, countenance no sin, but resolve against all sin in the strength of Christ; all sin in general, and every sin in particular, both in respect of God and Man. If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my prayer, Psal. 66.8. saith David; and let it be said of thee, as it was said concerning Athanasius by Nazianzen, Se esse Magnetem & Adamantem dicit, in respect of his sweet drawing and winning nature; and yet an Adamant in respect of his stout courage against sin; and in an especial manner, these three empoisoning sins, 1 Malice and Anger. 2. Infidelility. 3. Self-esteem.  
7. With Christian courage in all thy deportments repel all the blaspemous injections of Satan, with heart-rising, loathing and abhorrence; and be sure always to set a watchful eye over the two great Instruments Satan makes use of, the World, and Flesh; of which more hereafter.  
8. With all diligence in the heat of Heart affection press after things prayed for, and this will be a testimony unto God, that thou art sensible of thy wants, and  acknowledge thyself infinitely engaged, for the supply of those things thou standest in need of.  
9 Let no opportunity slip, be ready to catch at the forelock of time.  
Let no occasion slip that fits thy mind.  
Time has a lock before, but bald behind.  
It was a Custom amongst the Romans to portray Time with a Lock before, but bald behind, to which Cato accords: — Post est occasio calva.  
Intimating that Time being once past; can never be recalled. O! What a necessity is there of the improving the precious Diadem of Time! how many poor miserable Souls that are now languishing in Hell, bewailing the loss of misspent time, with repentance never to be repent of. Oh! What would they give for one year, one day, nay one hour of that precious time, of which they once were so lavish? Who more free of time than they? Yea, some have said, that they have had so much time they could not tell how to spend it; never once bethinking themselves what a great work they had to do. O! therefore make use of this present time; time that is passed you cannot make use of, time to come is very uncertain; for how long thou shalt live, thou canst not tell: therefore make use of the first occasion, whilst time and strength do last, whilst thy Senses are quick, thy Nerves limber, thy Understanding good, thy Judgement sound, thy Sight clear, and all thy Faculties in a fit posture to serve thy Captain and Master: See what an Heathen says to this purpose: Ovid. 
Dum vires annique sinunt tolerate labores;  
Jam veniet taceto curva senecta pede.   
Which may be thus Englished: 
Take pains to grow in Grace, whilst young and strong,  
For age will numb thy Joints  it be long.   
Abandon all idleness, that canker and rust of the Soul, the Devil's pillow, and chief repose, his very Tide-time of temptation. Beware that it be not said by you, when you come to look death in the face, as it was by a Cardinal that (being sensible of death's approach) cried out in the horror of his Conscience, He had a long Journey to go, but had been so idle and negligent, that he knew not one foot of the way. What more hateful to God than this destroyer of Souls? See what God says to that Servant that had the one Talon, Matth. 25.26, 30. Tertullian well saith, Quid prodest esse? quod esse non prodest: What doth it profit that a man be, and being doth not profit. He that is slothful is brother to a great waster, Prov. 18.9. as Mr. Flavell well saith; 
— Besides all this, it must be understood,  
That of an idle hand, there comes no good.  And well it may be so said, if we look but what befell David, for want of Employment, 2 Sam. 11.2. And it came to pass in the evening-tide, when he arose from off his bed, and walked upon the King's house, and looked from the roof, he saw a woman, etc. So that we see, that idleness may well be called the Mother of Lust; and on the contrary, how doth diligence keep all the Affections from idle and vain thoughts? and is very profitable for both Body and Soul: It puts the Devil out of his pathway of temptation, and as it were puts him beside himself. O therefore be sure to put away all idleness: And to stir thee up to this duty, Consider what is like to be the portion of those lazy drones whose sloth the very Infects condemn. The little Ant, and the Bee, how do they busy themselves to lay up against Winter, against a Storm, only being led by the Instinct of Nature: Well than may these careless Sots be termed to that slothful Butterfly, that takes care for nothing but painting her wings, so that when winter comes, puts her head into a hole and dies. The sluggard will not blow by reason of the cold, therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing: When others come with their shocks rejoicing, he shall starve for want. Keep thy Spirits, and all the Faculties of thy Soul, at work in thy solitary Cessations, lest that like two Millstones, wanting Grift, they grind one another to pieces: and the best thing to keep thyself employed in, will be to be much in the heart-searching work; to see how thy heart stands affected with God, for that either sweetens or empoisons all the rest; the heart is the Inlet of Virtues and Vices: An Host it is that entertains all sorts of Guests, and needs to be eyed. Moreover, Purity in the inward parts is the most unerring and infallible testimony and evidence of a good and sound state; therefore search it, try it by the Word of Light and Life, that true Touchstone. 2. See how thy Will stands for God, the Will being the Seat of the Graces, it is very requisite that it be purified: See how its Pulse beats, question it, What art thou willing to do, to suffer, to under-go, to forsake for God? Art thou willing to stand to God's Cause in all trials? and endure all tempests and storms? Art thou willing to be employed in what Office Christ shall put upon thee? and that to the hazard of thy Estate, thy Houses, thy Lands, Goods, Wife, Children, Life and all? I say if thy Will be brought to this height, thy state is good; then thou art fit for communion with God. Try therefore thy Will, and 'twill be a good employment in times of cessation.  
Eat evil company (as much as in thee liest) when occurred with. In all company have a care of thy tongue: For Cato doth say, 
— that in old and young,  
The first step to Virtue, is to bridle thy tongue.   
Have a care of thy tongue in all company; wicked men will be ready to carp, and reach, and good men will be also censorious when they hear evil, idle, and frothy discourse; because the Word saith, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, Matth. 12.34. Moreover, Evil communication corrupts good manners: such as the heart is, such is the discourse; a worldly man will be talking of the world; an ambitious man of honour; a debauched man's discourse will be frothy and light; but a pious man's of the things that appertain to God: None can gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles; such as the tree is, such is its fruit.  
Be sure therefore to avoid lewd persons company; for familiarity with such, steal away the Affections with sensuality, and flesh-pleasing delights; by little and little stealing away thy heart from God, and so entangle it in the contagious and destructive Labyrinth of Phantasie-pleasing delights; by becoming remiss first in one duty, and than in another, and so instead of becoming graduate in the School of Christ, becomes graduate in the School of Satan; till at length commenses Master of Arts, and a debauched life becomes habituate: O beware of this! How many, even a cloud of Witnesses have we every day, that assume these diabolica practices (Tyburn testifying) which to relate, time itself would be almost too arct and narrow. Survey accurately, and circumspectly, every action thou undertakest, with the Candle of the Word of Light and Life. Lay to the Line and Plummet, see whether it be consonant to the Will and Word of God or no. Many Trees at a distance seem to be straight, until the Line be applied to them, and then how crooked do they appear. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way, but by taking heed thereunto? Take heed and poise all your actions, and that with serious consideration before enacted.  
13. Have a care of being lulled asleep on the lap of sensual delights and pleasures. O how many split upon this Rock? How many are drowned in the sleep of carnal security, and are settled upon their Lees? O! how direful a mistake will this be, to be carried from a Bed of Down to a Bed of scorching hot Iron? To be bound in everlasting chains, down the stream of the delights of these last days of ours? And that hoist up their sail before the fair gale of Prosperity, Pleasure and Delights, against the secret blasts of a reclaiming Conscience; that would stand as a mark to warn them, lest they should split their Ship, and lose both Ship, Treasure, and themselves, and all.  
O! what obnublating darkness will they find themselves in, and understandings overshadowed with; that can't see how many have sunk and perished in this Gulf? And that will not know their day of peace before it be hid from their eyes? And that like the rich man in the Gospel, spend their portion of good things in this life, upon their pleasures, and in gratifying their own lusts; which procures nothing but fuel to their fire, miseries to their torments; yea death itself? Which, what, and how great and intolerable, if they did but conceive once, and understand; surely they would not do for a thousand worlds?  
What will those Sons of pleasure say and do, when all their joys shall be turned into sorrow, their pleasure into pain, their mirth into mourning, their pride into indigency and poverty, their gold into brass, their songs into sighs, their riches into rust? Then they that thought themselves to be full, and rich, and increased with goods, and stand in need of nothing, will be found blind and naked, wretched and miserable; Rev. 3.17.  
Mistake not, Treasures, Lands, and large Possessions, without a right improvement, will be but as a World of Lead to press thee into the lowest Hell: And what profit shall a man have to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? They will not only not profit, but greatly disprofit; they will not only flee away, but when they do hetake themselves to flight, they'll leave (like the Worms) such a suffocating slime behind them, that is like to choke the soul; unless washed in that Fountain that is set open for sin and for uncleanness.  
Honours and an Arm of Flesh will stand thee in no stead, God has put a weak and frail nature in all terrestrial things: What! and trust to any of them? Trust in Broken Reeds, that like Jonas' Gourd whither away, and leave thy soul to wind and weather. Thrice blessed and sweet is our Lord's Advice, who would have us turn the Eye of our Delight from the staining glass and dying glory of all Terrestrial Treasures; which mostly gender mischief, at least harbours an inbred corruption; gilded over, to entice a carnal eye: upon which many times an evil conscience is an attendant. The one like a Worm eats out the Heart, when the Harvest is expected; the other seizes upon the Soul, in time of sorrow. And as for Friends and Acquaintance, they may environ thee, so long as thy sails flee before a fair and prosperous gale; but as soon as the clouds of indigency and poverty appear, where are they then? Have they not left thee and fled like a shadow?  
'Tis true, it is good to be seeking, and to employ all thy time and strength for Riches and Treasures, and a Magazine; but be sure it be one that is not corruptible: Not one, that will stand in no stead. If thou be employed, be employed in the best Trade. If thou get, get the best things. If thou dig, dig for the Pearl of price. If thou play the Merchant, trade in the best Merchandise: Not in temporary things, not in gold and silver, that rusts and cankers, but in the durable r●●●●s of Jesus, that has all durable ri●●●● and fullness in himself. Not in Indian Treasures, but Canaan's Treasures: Not in Egypt's Treasure, but in Treasure that bears price at the New Jerusalem. The one thou mayest carry with thee, the other thou canst not; thou must leave it to others: therefore if thou be wise, be wise for thyself. Moreover, if thou trade in merchandise for these Countries, for Canaan and the New Jerusalem, I'll tell thee that a sound faith, a fixed hope, and a spotless conscience, are the inestimable Jewels in these parts. If thou sell all to buy these, and obtain them, it will be better than a thousand worlds to thee. Thou shalt be crowned King, thou shalt be Joint Heir in Heaven with Christ thy Victorious King and Captain.  
That which Worldlings make and embrace as gain, count thou as loss: That which they count as Pearls, count thou as Dung; That which they esteem above all, count thou lighter than vanity; and more contemptible than dirt under thy feet. Instead of being wise for this World, be wise for Eternity; lest, after thou shouldst heap up Treasures, and say; Soul take thine ease, thou hast goods laid up for many years; thou should●st be stripped of all and counted a fool for thy pains.  
Instead of riches hoard up a stock of Grace, in this plenteous Harvest of the Gospel. Instead of worldly pleasures, hoard up that that will procure everlasting pleasures for evermore. Instead of a world of cares, which always attend wealth and honours, accumulate to thyself an undisturbed peace: Peace with God, peace with Conscience, and peace with all men. And with all thy getting get understanding. I say, instead of delighting thyself in vain pleasures, which are the accommodations of an empty world; (of which afterward) delight thyself in the Lord thy God, and thou shalt be much wiser.  
14. Be content in and amidst all the vicissitudes of a fickle and unconstant world, let it be thy chief study, to learn that excellent Lesson of Contentment; to know how to carry it as well towards a frowning, as a flattering and fawning world; when it frowns, not to be troubled, and when it fawns, not to regard it: to be so wise a Pilot as to steer thy course, neither to split on Sylla, on thy right hand, nor Charybdis on thy left; neither to soar so high on the wings of ambition in time of prosperity as to scorch thy wings; nor sink so low in times of adversity as to be drowned in that Ocean of despair: What an excellent proficiency had St. Paul made in this excellent Lesson? he could say as very few else could say the like, I have learned (saith he) in what state I am, therewith to be content; Philip. 4.11. And indeed it was not in word, but indeed, which plainly appears by that 11th of 2 Corinthians; He had learned how to abound, and how to suffer need. If the World hold out a Sceptre, he can tell how to use it; if a Shovel he can dig with it; if a Crown he can wear it, if a Cross he can bear it. If a storm he can endure it, if a calm he can enure it. So that in the use of all things, he lives as though he had them not, amidst them. What a rare frame is this, to be able to turn one's hand to any Tune: To which purpose he gives an excellent dictate in Heb. 12.5. Be content with such things as you have; and he adds the Reason, For he hath said, I'll never leave thee, nor forsake thee: As if he should have said, I tell you from mine own experience, it is the best thing in the world to be content; for my Master that learned me this Lesson, laid an entail upon it, that can never be cut off: he hath promised me and all others that will be Students in this Art, that he will maintain them, whatever it cost him; and he as a Precedent, has left a Pattern, his own act and deed. Was he content to do so great things? to suffer great things? to undergo so hard things? Was he content to suffer hunger? Was he content to be weary? and to show himself submissive to whatsoever his Father's will was; and shall not we follow our Captain, that have listed ourselves under his Banner, to be his Soldiers? We listed ourselves at our Baptismal Covenant, and renewed it again at the Lords Table, & shall we be treacherous to him? No, no.  
This Jewel of Contentment is to be much esteemed and valued, and that above any thing in this lower Orb; it is an inestimable Pearl of great price, it is of excellent Virtue, and that of divers kinds.  
It is of a healing, or of a drawing virtue; it is applicable to any sore: it will make one in a frame for any condition. Art thou rich? it will be thy Steward, and that a faithful one too, for the improving of thy Estate: Art thou poor? it will supply thy wants for thee: In both these we find it useful to Job in both the time of prosperity and adversity; and in both these it was useful to St. Paul also, I know both how to abound, and how to suffer need; compared with that forecited place, Phil. 4.11. Art thou sick? it will be Physic to thee; it will teach thee to submit to God's will, and that will bear up thy Spirits in, and amidst thy greatest pain: Art thou dejected? this will lift thee up: Art thou in prison? this will visit thee: Art thou hungry? this will fill thee: Art thou naked? this will  thee: Art thou friendless? this will make God thy friend, which is better than all the friends in the world besides. Art thou in straits? it will redeem thee and deliver thee out of them: Nay, Let thy condition be what it will, it is of great use to thee: Therefore learn this Lesson above all, and that because it will sweeten all conditions to thee, and teach thee to trust God in all conditions, and be as a Sovereign Antidote against that poisonous and destructive sin of despair.  
And to the attaining of this rare Art of Contentment, take these few Considerations as Directions to the attaining of this Christian Accomplishment.  

1. Consider, That it was in the Omnipotents hand, when he framed thee in the Womb; to have composed thee after another fashion than thou art: he might have framed thee an irrational Animal, or if not, he might have made thee despicable in every one's sight.  
2. Consider, That (it may be) thy case (whatever it is or may be) 'tis not so bad, but some others have been in as bad or worse: and than what cause hast thou to be disquieted.  
3. Consider, That whatever thy condition is or may be, sin is the instrumental cause of it; for sin is the procurer of all our miseries.  
4. Consider, That when God afflicts any one of his children, it is in love to their souls; as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; Rev. 3.  
5. Consider, That God has promised all shall work together for good unto them that love him.  
6. Consider, That whatsoever God inflicts upon any of us, it is less than our sins deserve.  
7. Consider, That God is a merciful God, and will inflict no more upon thee than thou art able to bear.  
8. Consider, That afflictions or crosses, are but for a time, they are not, nor cannot be permanent.  
9 Consider, These are but light afflictions to what God might afflict thee with.  
10. Consider, That when God afflicts thee or any of his people, it is but to fit us for himself, and to fit us for a better state.  
11. Consider, That God (many times) makes this his sign to his people that they are his; and that he designs nothing less for them, than to make them his heirs. If we were without chastisement, than we were bastards and not sons.  
12. Consider, What Christ has suffered for us, and what all the Apostles and Prophets (witness that short Martyrology, Heb. 11.) and all the Martyrs since; and then surely thou wilt not have much cause to complain.   
I say consider these few things, amongst many, and then complain if thou canst, or be discontent if thou darest. David saith, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him. He cries out three times in the 42. Psalms and the 43. as if he should have said, Thou hast no reason to be discontent, nor discouraged at all; for in so doing thou distrusts God.  
O thou Son of hope, whosoever thou art, therefore learn to be accumulating a stock of this Sovereign Antidote, to apply to such wounds as tend to despair.  
Be careful to bear in mind always, the four great and last things: 1. The day of Death. 2. The day of Judgement. 3. Heaven. 4. Hell: And this may be a means to keep up thy heart towards God, and whereby thou mayest be kept free from that direful wrath and inextinguishable fire of Hell, kindled by an angry and implacable enemy of all sin, even the Lord Almighty, which can never be defined by humane nature, nor by the best and most acute Philosopher, that ever moved in this lower Orb, nor a dimension given by the best Student in the Mathematics: Nay, it can never be decribed by any, because none knows it but God alone: As touching the profundity thereof, it is bottomless, Revel. 9.1. as to the dimensity of, it can never be full, it is insatiable, Prov. 2.7, 10. As touching the duration of it, it is for ever inextinguishable, that when as many years are expired as there are Atoms in the Sun, Sands on the Seashore, Grass piles on the Earth, and Stars in the Firmament, it will be no nearer an end, than before, and who is he that can, or dare undertake to express it. This wrath to come cannot be expressed, untll it most furiously express itself in Hell, when the Devil as God's Executioner shall be loosed to inflict the most exquisite torments on those beastly sluggards that have neglected the day of their grace, offered by Jesus Christ in the Gospel; that would not know their peace before it was hid from their eyes; and before they were everlastingly separated from Christ's Lambs, whom the Lamb of God redeemed with his precious Blood.  
O! Where shall they appear that would not give the Lord Jesus any residence in the closerts of their hearts? They shall be straitened and clouded into Hell, that were so far bereavest of their sight and understanding, and so far blinded, that they disowned God, that should have been their hope, and their Redeemer; that should have been the strength of their salvation. O! what direful horror will then perplex their Souls? What trembling their Joints? What horror their Conscience? What distractions their Minds? What fear their Hearts? What deadness their Understanding at the Great Assize? Then they will say, what madness and distractedness did possess us, that we should be so foolish, as list ourselves under his Banner, that now will be our tormentor? and that like so many Esau's, sold our Birthright for a mess of Pottage, for a few merry hours, and a little ease and delight? When they see the Heavens pass away as a scroll, and the Earth melt with fervent heat, they shall see the resemblance of their approaching misery portrayed.  
Then they shall feel the punishment both of sense and loss; then they shall have God's Vials of wrath and indignation poured upon them; then they shall be sensible of that devouring fire that God so many times, by his faithful Ministers, hath pressed upon them; that fire that either consumes or refines the world, shall burn the sinner to all Eternity, and yet shall neither be consumed nor refined; always a dying, but never dead, And then how will his merry days be vanished as a dream, and his jovial life will be as a tale that is told, and his Repartees, pleasant Sports, and wanton Dalliances, his Cups and Queans, his vain hopes of Heaven, and confident Conceits, all, all deceased, all will be passed away together.  
This is the time that sinners, that the wretched world shall be discriminated from the happy Saints; whose misery and property is to be wise too late. The Vizard of the World will then be taken off, it will be then unvailed, and then the seeming holiness of the Hypocrite will be conspicuous, and will be exposed to the face and view of all the world, and then shall he see his own folly, not only in reference to his own Soul, but also in slighting Christ, offered to him in the Gospel; then he shall see how nigh he came to the Kingdom of Heaven, and yet came shirt of it; and how shall he expect or imagine to be hid in the day of the Lords anger, that knew that his Judge every day was looking on when he so dissembled and cheated the world, himself, and God, as he supposed. O ye Hypocrites! God one day will force your Consciences to witness against you, and your tongues to confess the accusation, Christ's Ministers must be brought in to ●●●est for God; and if God be against you, who shall then be for you? If Christ that would have saved thee, be against thee, and condemn thee, who shall be able to justify thee? All that feared God will attest against thee.  
What a deplorable condition will it be, to think, how the Master shall evidence against his own Servant, the Husband against the Wife, and the Wife against the Husband, the Parents against their own Children, and the Children against their own Parents: Sinful Compotators, or Pot-Companions little conjecture they must bear witness of, and concerning, those sins that they have helped forward in others, and they themselves heard and did; swearing and execrating, and mocking those that feared God, and scoffing at an holy Life. The Fornicators little think, that their lustful and wanton Mates must bear witness against them; that thought they had been concealed in secret places: and that that secrecy shall be laid open to the view of the world, and that those that encouraged them to sin shall accuse them of sin. O! the cold comfort that such will have in the reflection of all their pleasures, at that day, when the very devils that tempted them to such and such sins, will stand at their elbows to accuse and witness against them, and tell them, that they were no readier to tempt, than they were ready to assent to every temptation. Where, on the contrary, they slighted God's Ministers, and strive of God's Spirit within them. The very Angels will witness against them at that day, and Conscience will produce its black Bill of his secret reclaming, and of all the Examples that have ever been, to demonstrate the displeasure and hatred God has against such sins, as they have been Assenters to, and Agents in. In turning the Grace of God into wantonness, and in gaming and squandring away precious time; in which time, instead of working out their own salvation, they have wrought out their damnation. God's Book of Record will be produced, concerning all the thoughts, words, and actions, against sinners. Nothing shall have been done in secret, that shall not be revealed; Luke 8.17.  
Nay, every man shall be his own Accuser at that day. The painted Hypocrite will then cry out of his outside profession, fair without but foul within; a mere painted Sepulchre.  
The covetous Usurer's Conscience will accuse and condemn him, for cozening and cheating others, for gripping and grinding the faces of others.  
The rich Man's wealth will so cry out against him, and the Canker of his Gold and Silver will witness against him, that he shall be forced to say, Lord, I am in thy hand, do as it seemeth good in thy sight with me. His Riches will be corrupted, and his Garments motheaten. And the profane Sabbath-breaker, that notwithstanding all the rebukes by evident Judgements from God, did profane the Sabbath, and instead of communicoting divine Truths, as for spiritual Food and Manna for his Soul to feed upon, from Sabbath to Sabbath, shall be forced to cry out, Lord, I have neglected the day of Grace, do as it pleaseth thee towards me. I have, instead of learning those things that would have instructed me in the way of life, learned that that has brought me to destruction, and this is the fruits of my Labour; instead of keeping and subjugating myself to Divine Laws, I have rebelled both against Divine and Humane Laws; even the very Laws. of Nature and Humanity have I broken: Instead of attending thy Ordinances, I have attended the Invitations of my own Lusts.  
O you that are yet on this side Hell, this side Eternity, have a care of stifling a good Conscience, and know that if you will not hear it now, you shall be constrained to hear, when all your political excuses shall be debarred; your mouths stopped, you shall stand speechless; and Conscience, God's Witness, set up in every Man's breast shall be heard.  
There were four sorts of Hearers specified in Christ's Parable, but one sort good; the rest were Sabbath-breakers, such as there are many now a-days, that instead of getting their hearts prepared, according to the preparation of the Sanctuary, to meet with God, and hear what he will dispense to them from his Word, they trim, paint, and pin away a good Conscience, in trimming, and painting, and pinning their Bodies. Where is that that the Scripture commands? I say, the time that should be spent in preparation for meeting with God, is spent in dressing and trimming these crazy and rotten houses of clay, that is like to fall at the blast of every Distemper, and e'er long shall be turned into earthy dross and clay; as trees that cumber the ground, and are useless in their Generation: They have leaves without fruit, show without substance; and if Christless and graceless, Devils will e'er long be their Associates, the worms to destroy their Bodies, and the worm Conscience that [never dies to gnaw upon their Souls to all Eternity.  
Every Creature that has been abused, that now groans under sin, will that day come in as a witness, to attest against those unmerciful Creatures.  
All things that have been abused, that aught to have been used to the Glory of God (as the Apostle speaks) will testify the just Judgement of God; the Meat, Drink, Apparel that have been so vainly spent and consumed; the very Time, Place, and Room, shall witness against the Whoremonger and Adulterer, whom God will judge. All these things God will make use of, as Evidences against those that shall have consumed and spent them upon their own lusts.  
16. Endeavour still after an higher Attainment of Perfection. The Soul that grows in Grace, is the Soul that God will delight in, and love. Mercies improved, is the way to engage God to love, and to grant a further supply of Mercy. As none can be (impossible it is) so holy as God, and perfect as God; for so we must understand, when he says, Be ye holy, as I am holy: not that any man can be as holy as God; but he must be understood, in respect of perfectio partium, non graduum; so none is to rest in any Attainment, until they come to the Centre, until they enjoy all that the precious Blood of Christ can purchase for them.  
I have read a notable Story, wherein we have (by way of discourse) betwixt a Beggar and a Divine, a notable Example of Self-resignation, and an high Attainment of Perfection (I mean) as I said before, perfectio partium non graduum, of parts not of degrees; for it can be no otherwise, it is impossible to be as perfect as God. Which is as follows:  
There was a certain Divine, famous in Learning and Piety, that did earnestly importune God by prayer, for some time together, conceiving that he had not the true knowledge of the ways of God, notwithstanding his much Learning attained belong Studies; begging that God would give him to know more of him, and himself, and that God would direct him to some that would teach him the way of Truth; and being inflamed at a certain time, with vehemency of desire, a Voice, as was supposed, spoke thus to him, Go forth to the Church yard, and there thou mayest find a man that can teach thee the way. And going forth, he found there a certain Beggar, with patched and torn Apparel, and filthy dirty feet, whose  were not worth three halfpences, whom he spoke thus unto: Divine. God give thee a good morning. Beggar. Sir, I do not remember that ever I had an evil one. Diu. God make thee fortunate and prosperous: Why speakest thou on this manner? Beg. Neither was I unprosperous, neither was I ever unhappy. Diu. God save thee, speak now plainly. Beg. Truly, Sir, I will do it willingly. Sir, Thou didst wish me a prosperous and good Motning, and I answered, I never had an evil one; for when I am pinched with hunger, I praise God; if I suffer cold, if it snow, if it hail or rain, if the weather be fair or foul, I praise God; and therefore there never happened any sad or evil Morning to me. Thou didst likewise wish that I might be fortunate, I said I was never unfortunate, because whatever God gave me, I suffered, or whatever happened to me, whether it were agreeable to me, or otherwise; were it sweet or bitter to me, I gladly received it at his hands, as the best; and therefore I was never unfortunate. Thou saidst moreover, that God would be eased to make me happy, whereunto I likewise answered, That I never had been unhappy; for I am fully resolved (through his Grace) to adhere and cleave to the will of God (abandoning mine own will) into which I have so wholly poured out my will, that whatsoever he will, I may will the same; and for this cause (as I said) I was never unhappy, being that I will cleave to his will only, and have wholly resigned mine own proper will. Diu. This is very strange; but what (I pray thee) wouldst thou do, if the Lord of Majesty should cast thee into the bottomless pit, couldst thou be content with his will? Beg. Drown me in the bottomless pit? Why certainly if he should, I have two arms by which I would still embrace him; the one is true Humility, and that I lay under him, and by him I am united to his sacred Humanity: The other, and that is the right one, which is Love, which is united to his Divinity; and also by this Love from himself, I hold him so fast, that he would go down to Hell with me; and it is much better for me to be in Hell with God, than in Heaven without him.  
By this the Divine learned, That the most compendious way to God is a true Resignation, with profound Humility.  
Hereupon the Divine spoke again to the Beggar, and asked him. Diu. Whence comest thou? Beg. From God. Diu. Where foundest thou God? Beg. Even there where I left all the Creatures. Diu. I pray thee friend, Who art thou? Beg. Who am I? Truly I am a King, and Jesus himself crowned me, with Peace, Power, and Rest: Diu. A King! Where is thy Kingdom? Beg. Sir, the Kingdom of Heaven is within me, that is in my Soul, and I can now, and and do by his power (not mine own) in me, so govern, and command all my inward Parts, and Senses, that all the Assections and Powers of the Old Man, in my Soul, are conquered, and are in subjection to me; which Kingdom no man can doubt, but is better than all the Kingdoms and Glories in the World. Divine. What brought thee to this Perfection? Beg. My sublime Meditations, and union with that great God of Peace, and improvement of Mercies to his Glory, and by growing in Grace, adding one Grace to another; and I could rest in nothing less than an assurance of God's Love, and this I have found. I have forsaken the unquiet World, and in him I have peace of Conscience, and therein I rest.  
And thus we see to what an excellency of Perfection may be attained.  
But to conclude our Discourse, I shall give thee in five words, though very comprehensively, the whole duty of a Christian.  

1. Be much in the Mortification work. Get thy Corruptions subdued, and mortify all sin in thee, otherwise thou shalt, nay canst not, have a communion with God.  
2. Be sure (above all things) to get thyself in favour with Christ; for (withal thou must understand) of and from him thy Salvation is and doth proceed; he it is that hath purchased both thy Salvation itself, the way also, and the means thereunto; and without him thou canst do nothing.  
3. Bear much in mind the great day of account, that thou may'st give up thy account with joy; otherwise thou wilt never be regular in thy course; and withal be mindful who it is that must be thy Judge.  
4. Be much in the attendance of the Word read and preached, for that is the only way that God has appointed for himself to be found in; moreover it is that that will discover unto thee what is thy Duty.  
5. And lastly, Be much in Prayer, for this is that that will give success to all other; this is the Conduit-pipe to convey or discover all our wants to God, and mercies from God to us.   

FORMS OF PRAYERS For Particular Persons For every Day in the Week.  

A Prayer for the Sabbath-day Morning.  
MOst Holy, and Glorious Lord God, I sinful dust and ashes, presuming to approach thy presence, desire that thou wilt please to fit my heart for the approaching so holy a Presence as thine is, that on this day I may be so sitted according to the preparations of thy Sanctuary, as that I may meet with thyself; that thou mayest communicate something that may be of refreshment unto my Soul by thy Word and Spirit; yea, that I may be found in the Spirit on the Lord's day. O Lord pardon my sins, that I have been guilty of this week past, and all my life past; and let them not stand as a flood to stop my Prayers from ascending unto thee, or to keep back the influences of thy holy Spirit from my Soul. O Lord, looking upon them, and upon my nature polluted by them, it makes me afraid to look up unto Heaven. Nay, indeed I durst not, only thou hast commanded me to come unto thee by the virtue of the precious Blood of thy Son Christ, that is my strong consolation, hope, and comfort: Moreover, Lord, thou hast prescribed a comfortable promise, that thou wilt pardon the sins of thy People for thy own Names sake. O therefore for thy own Names sake, do away all my sins in the Blood of Jesus Christ, that I may appear before thee in the Robes of Christ's Righteousness, and and not in mine own; seeing all mine is but as menstruous cloth, and filthy rags. Lord, prepare me for this thy days work, help me in it, and keep me after it, that thy Spirit may seal up Divine Truths in the closet of my heart, that laying them up in my heart, I may practise them in my life, and bring forth fruit with patience, meet for repentance. Lord, let neither the cares of the World, nor the deceitful thoughts of riches choke thy Seed sown, nor let Satan steal it out of my heart; but let it be as good seed sown in a good and honest heart, that taking root downward, it may bring forth fruit upward, being watered with the bedewings of thy Spirit. O come in this day with fresh reviving Grace, that thereby I may be so quickened and qualified, as that I may meet with thyself. Let this day be so sanctified to me, as that I may say in the close thereof, 'tis not in vain, but good to draw nigh to thyself, & that I am drawn a step nigher this day to thyself, by the Blood of Christ. Lord, pardon the want of a reverend frame of spirit, & the unworthy obtrusion into thy presence at this time, and look upon my unworthiness, in the worthiness of Christ; my imperfection, in his perfection; my sinfulness in his righteousness; and my weakness in his strength; that I may appear righteous in thy sight, in his righteousness; and that for his own sake. Amen.   

A Prayer for the Sabbath-day Evening.  
GRacious God, notwithstanding the much imperfection my Soul has been clogged with this day, thou hast given me cause this day to say from a grounded experience, that it is not in vain to draw nigh unto thee. Lord, I hearty thank thee for the refreshing smiles of thy countenance, this day in thy Ordinances. O how good is it to draw nigh to God in his own way. Blessed be thy Name, holy God, That never saidst to the Seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain. Lord, thou hast been so good in communicating thyself unto me, by thy Word and Spirit, that I may say (with thy Servant David) What shall I render unto the Lord for all his Mercies? Lord, it is matter of wonder and admiration to me, that thou shouldest deal so with me, seeing thou hast been provoked by my coldness and deadness in such a manner. I beseech thee, O Lord, pass by all my miscarriages, that I have been guilty of this day, let not them be a prevention of a future supply of my wants and necessities; Nay, let not them be the cause of thy withdrawing thyself in future attendances on thee, nor the cause of removing thy Ordinances, thy Gospel, thy faithful Ministers and Messengers. O Lord, thou hast declared thyself a God of mercy, and indeed, I may, as it were, set to my Seal, seeing my provocations have been so many and so great. Lord, thou hast not dealt after the manner of men with me. Let thy manifold Mercies be an engagement to stir me up to a more watchful frame of spirit, that by my negligence I incur not thy displeasure. Lord, pardon sins past, and humble me for sins present, and keep me from sins ●o come, that thereby I may be rendered meet for every good word and work. Accept my willingness, and overlook my weakness in thy only Son Jesus Christ, in whom thou art well pleased. In whose Name I thank thee for all my enjoyments, and through whose Blood, I desire to receive all my Mercies, and for whom I desire to bless thee: To him, and thee, the only wise God, be praise for ever, Amen.   

A Prayer for Monday Morning.  
BLessed God, all thy deal with the Sons of men, attest thy liberality ●y and bounty, thou renewest thy mer●ies every morning. Lord, renew my ●eart, that I may be capacitated to serve thee, and to sing new Songs of praises ●o thee every morning. Blessed God, thank thee that thou hast made my life precious in thy sight; that thou hast chained up Satan, that roaring Lion that goes about night and day, seeking whom be may devour; that would have devoured me Soul and B●dy, unless prevented by thy power and goodness. O help me, so long as I have a being, to praise thee. Lord, how mightest thou have made my ●ed my grave, my sleep my death, and have cut me off from the Land of the living; yet thou hast been pleased to preserve me, and keep me from the rage of cruel Enemies both spiritual and corporal. Seeing, Lord, thou hast dealt thus with me, let this day be of great use to to me, that I may learn some things in it, that may be of special use for my Soul's advantage, and that seeing all time was given for the Service of God, that I may in my employment, meditate either on the word that I have heard thy day past, or thy works, in which are many wonderful & mysterious things to be seen, worthy taking notice of, and contemplating upon. Help me so to begin the week, as that I may engage thee to prosper all my undertake in the remaining part of it; undertaking nothing but what may be pleasing to thyself, and consonant to thy Will and Word. Let my labours be sweetened by thy blessing, and support me under all. Help me to be useful in the place and station where thou hast set me, that I may not be branded with the name of a cumber-ground. All this, and what thou the only wise God, knowest necessary for me, I humbly beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.   

A Prayer for Monday Evening.  
GRacious Lord, I humbly thank thee, that thou hast been pleased this day to preserve me, and to support me under all my undertake and concerns, and that thou hast given me health and strength, and liberty, and life, all which are in thy hand, and at thy disposal. Lord let the consideration of these things instigate my dull heart to praise thee: O Lord, in all thy deal with the Sons of Men there is matter both of praises and rejoicing. Lord, thou never dealest with thy People but in a way of love; not in a way of Judgement, but Mercy. If thou shouldest have marked strictly what I have done amiss, I have done more amiss, and against thee, than ever I can, or have done, for thee in the course of my whole life. I beseech thee, O Lord, pass by all my offences, and let them all be washed away in the Blood of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus.  
O Lord, I bless thee for thy watchful Eye of Providence; how much of thy goodness has been manifested this day to me ward. In the Morning thou afford Mercies, and in the Evening thou withhold●st not thy hand. O let Morning and Evening Mercies be of use to bring my Soul into a nearer communion with thyself. Let all the bedewings of both right hand and left hand Mercies, the blessing of the upper and nether Springs of spiritual Mercies and temporal Mercies, be continued and sanctified to me, that I may being forth fruit anserable to the pains, God the great Husbandman, has taken with me, and cost he has laid out upon me; Lord, that I may not be as a fruitless Vine, that bears either no grapes, or else wild grapes; but O that I may bring forth grapes in clusters; fruit, much fruit, and good fruit. Lord, now wilt thou be pleased to pass by the negligence of this day, and let my defects be made up in him that is fullness itself, Jesus Christ; and as I am about to betake me to my repose, Lord, let me acquiesce in thee; and grant that lying down I may sanctify thee in my heart, and lying down in peace, and rising again, I may know, and say the Lord sustains me; and that for Christ Jesus sake. Amen.   

A Prayer for Tuesday Morning.  
GRacious Lord God, who fillest Heaven and Earth with thy Goodness, and makest the hearts of thy people glad thereby: O who is a God like unto thyself, a God glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises, doing wonders. The Heavens declare thy Glor● & the Firmament showeth the work of thine hands, day unto day showeth thy wisdom, and night unto night uttereth knowledge, that thy Name may be exalted above all the gods. O Lord, let thy wisdom be manifested in and upon me, and let a powerful operation of thy Spirit be manifested in the renewing of my heart, and mortifying the corruptions of the Old Man; that my will may be changed, and that the spirit of the Prince of the Power of the Air that worketh in the children of disobedience, may be dispossessed. Extinguish all the revivings of mortified justs. O Lord, thou knowest that this work is a very hard work, such a work as none can do but thyself; therefore grant thy assistance. And as thou art pleased to renew my strength night by night, by moderate sleep and rest, Lord, renew my spiritual strength, that I may be more than a Conqueror over all my carnal corruptions, through Jesus Christ. O Lord, wilt thou pardon all my vain thoughts this night past, whatsoever has been disconsonant to the Will and Word of thy Sacred Majesty. O Lord, these things thou knowest arise from the Principles of a corrupt nature; mortify them, I pray thee, for me, seeing the work of the new Creation is by, and of, thyself, the heart-work is to be done by a more potent hand than man's. Subdue my corruptions, renew my will, strengthen my judgement, illuminate my understanding, and capacitate me for every good word and work. Thou Lord, hast preserved me this night past, preserve me this day, and undertake for me, and let all my undertake be blessed by thee, in and through thy Son Christ Jesus. Amen.   

A Prayer for Tuesday Evening.  
INfinitely wise God, thou hast manifested abundantly thy loving kindness unto me, though I sinful dust and ashes have provoked thee by my many miscarriages, not only this day, but every day. Lord, I bless thee for thy Providential care over me this day, and for that ability under all my Undertake, by which thou hast sustained me, and kept me by thy free Grace and Mercy; not that there was any thing in me that might move thee so to do. Lord, let all these Mercies be so remembered by me, as that they may be a means to stir me up to a more active and lively frame of Spirit, to act more in those things that may conduce to thy Honour. O Lord, I have lived, but not to thyself; O pardon all my unprositableness, my barrenness, and leanness; let the bedewings of thy Spirit so water my parched Soul, that I may be more fertile under the same. I confess, I have been a very Truant in Christ's School, yet Lord, thou hast not dealt with me according to my failings, but according to the riches of thy free streams of Grace and Love? O let not my sins stop that Fountain running towards me: but let the Fountain that is set open for sin and uncleanness, wash my sins all away: O Lord, let me be washed white in the Blood of the Lamb; and let the scarlet & crimson stains that sin has made in my poor Soul, be washed out. Let not my unworthiness this day, prevent my night Mercies; let not thy Providential care desist to me-ward; but rather forgive my sins and offences, and let my miserable failings move thee to pity me: O do it for thy Names sake. Thou, Lord, hast said, thou wilt blot out the sins of thy people for thy Names sake; O accomplish this rich Promise to me-ward, that I being sensible of thy great forgiveness, I may be greatly moved to love thee. 'Tis said, Mary loved much, because she had been forgiven much. Lord, let my rest be sweet unto me, that being refreshed thereby, I may the next morning be caused to rejoice in thee, and praise thy Name. Let this night's rest put me in mind to seek Christ, that I may have everlasting rest through him. All which I beg for his sake alone, the purchaser and procurer of all my enjoyment; for whom I bless thee, and to whom with thy Holy Self and blessed Spirit, be praises for evermore. Amen.   

A Prayer for Wednesday Morning.  
HOly God, grant me a pardon of all my sins, and in particular the sins of this night past; all my vain thoughts and cogitations. Lord, I cannot express them unto thee in particular, yet thou knowest them all: I pray thee, Lord, blot them out of the Book of thy remembrance, cast them behind thy back, let them never be seen any more, either in this life, or in the world to come, to my condemnation. Lord, as thou art pleased every Morning to renew thy Mercies to me, renew my heart within me, that I may be occasioned to renew my thankfulness to thyself, for thy bounty and benignity to me: let the improvement of lefthand Mercies engage thee to a further supply of right-hand Mercies; the improvement of temporal Mercies engage thee to a further supply of spiritual Mercies; and let both be so improved by me, that thou mayest have the Glory, and I may have comfort in and through thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Help me this day in all my transactions to remember thee, and that I may set the Lord always before mine eyes; that I may thereby resist every temptation, as thy Servants, Job, Joseph, and David did. Let the soundness of my state be demonstrated by the regularity of my course. Regulate and rectify what thou seest irregular in my life, that all my designs and purposes may be for thy Honour: let Piety be my delight; let sin be the object of my hatred; accept what is good in me. Be my counsel in my erterprises and undertake, and direct my will, that I may do nothing but what tends to thy Glory, for Christ's sake. Amen.   

A Prayer for Wednesday Evening.  
O Eternal God, who art glorious in Holiness, fearful in thy Praises, doing Wonders. Blessed by thy holy Name, thou givest poor C eatures, such as I, occasion to rejoice in thee, and to seek unto thee through the mediation of thy dear and wellbeloved Son Jesus Christ. Lord, let all Mercies be of great use to me, for the drawing out of my heart after thyself. Pardon me, that I have been no more enamoured with thy Son, that he has been no more amiable to my Soul, even the fountain of all my Mercies, the wellspring of all Goodness, the Author of all my Enjoyments, and by whom all my sins must be pardoned, if they be pardoned. O Lord, look upon his satisfaction and intercession for me: O divest me of the rags of my sin, and invest me with the Robes of Christ's Righteousness; let the stream of his precious Blood obliterate those crimson and scarlet stains that sin hath made in my poor Soul. O Lord, what time might I have redeem d, wherein I might have had more communion with thyself, and thy Son Christ, and done more for thy Honour, if I had been wiser, Lord, help me this night to experience more of thy love to my Soul, by coming in with fresh supplies of Grace; received Grace is not sufficient for me, my nature is very much declining, and therefore grant me fresh streams of Love and Grace, that thereby I may acquiesce in and upon thee, knowing thou art a God sufficient for all these things I stand in need of. I bless thee for my preservation and sustentation, thou hast preserved and sustained me with. O sustain my Soul with fresh influences of thy Countenance, and as I am about to betake myself to my rest draw thou the Curtain of thy Fatherly Protection about me. Help me to sanctify thee in my heart, laying my head to my pillow. And that for Christ's sake. Amen.   

A Prayer for Thursday Morning.  
MOst Holy God, before whose presence the Angels themselves, who are such spotless Creatures, veil their faces, even them thou chargest with folly; and if them, what mayest thou charge such a sinful wretch as I with. Nay, Lord, the best of my actions they are full of impurity. Help me, Lord, to lay my face in the dust, and to confess my uncleanness, one of an uncircumcised Heart and Ears, that since I could do any thing, could sin; and since I could sin, I could almost do nothing but sin O Lord, pardon me, for the greatness of my sins is intolerable, they are more than I am able to bear. Help me to lay them on him who is mighty ●o save. No sin, O Lord, is so great, but thy Mercy is greater. No sin is too great for thee to pardon. Pardon sins of omission and commission, actual and original, do all away in the Blood of Christ. O Lord, let not the sinning away of received Mercies, prevent future Mercies. Pardon my vain and sinful thoughts this night, or whatsoever thou hast seen amiss in me, and accept my requests, O Lord, as a Sacrifice in Jesus Christ; renew that league my very Dreams have broke; and accept my thankfulness for thy prottecting Providence; thou might est have made my bed my grave, my sleep my death, and cut me off from the land of the living; but blessed be thy Name, thou hast yet made me praise thee in the land of the living, praises to thy holy Name: Let the Mercies of this night stir me to an holy and close walking with thee all this day: let me be actuated by thy Spirit, they being only in a right frame, to whom thy Spirit is leader and guider. Bless my undertake, and let them be for thy Glory, through thy Son the Mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ the Righteous; to him, and to thyself, for him be praises. Amen.   

A Prayer for Thursday Evening.  
MOst Holy Lord, and in thy Son our most merciful Father, speak to my Soul, that I may hear and live; that I, though but a wild Olive-branch, may be grafted into the true Vine: let me no longer be a stranger to the Covenant of Grace. O Lord, I have been very sinful and rebellious against thyself, in all my deportment; I have many times sinned against my own knowledge, I have sinned against light, and against love. Pardon all my miscarriages, not only this day, but all my days. O do all away in the blood of Jesus Christ, and let me appear in my Elder Brother's Carments; invest me with his Righteousness, but first of all divest me of my own: let thy Grace increase in me, but let sin decrease; let me grow in Grace as I grow in years, and that no day may pass over my head, wherein I have not learned something that tends to my Soul's health. Help me every day to learn something that may tend to the mortifying of some lust, for my establishment in the truth, and for the direction of my feet in the paths everlasting. Pardon me that I have done no more for thee this day, that I have redeemed no more time. O Lord, I might have redeemed more time if I had been wise, wherein I might have had more Communion with thyself; and might have engaged thee more to have blessed me in all my Erterprises. Lord help me to redeem time, because the days are evil. I thank thee for thy care and preserving providence this day. As touching those things that have been done amiss in any way or manner this day by me, let them not prevent night mercies: O deal in Mercy and not in Judgement, with me; let thy love conceal all my offences. As touching this night, Let my rest in it be sweet unto me. Let every night be as it were a memento of the silent night in the Grave, a remembrance of death, to put me in mind of my later end: Make my rest sweet unto me, that being refreshed with moderate rest, I may the next morning bless thy name, and be engaged to a more lively activity for God the next day, and that for Christ's sake. Amen.   

A Prayer for Friday Morning.  
GLorious Lord, 'tis thy great condescension, that thou dost after such a manner afford the privilege of the means of Grace unto me; and that thou dost give me fresh occasions every morning to praise thee, and to pray unto thee; to thank thee for Mercies received, and to beg further supplies of future Mercies. O Lord, let not my unthankfulness prevent what further blessings thou mayest design for me. O I have been very ungrateful, unthankful, and unkind, in that I have expressed my thankfulness no more, by an holy, humble, and a regular walking before thee. Pardon that black sin of ingratitude, of which I have been too too much guilty, by walking contrary to thy Prescriptions, and contrary to the Canons and Constitutions of Heaven. Pardon that I have done so little for God, that I have loved so little, whereas God has loved me so much; evidenced by his gracious deal to me-wards. O help me to believe, and that strongly; hope for Heaven more confidently, and love thee more servently; and bear the Cross more patiently and submissively; that thereby I might steer my course more evenly to the New Jerusalem. Lord thou hast been very kind unto me, thou hast dealt with me in love this night, in my preservation and protection in Soul and Body; from Spiritual and Corporal Enemies; thou hast guarded me by thy special Providence. Accept of my thankfulness, and grant that my humility and thankfulness, may engage thee to extend more of thy benignity, prosperity, and ability, in the affairs of this life. Sanctify my heart, that this day I may act for God, as in the presence of God. Direct me in the courses, not only of this day, but all my days; that all may be to thy Glory; and the comfort of my Soul, through Christ. Amen.   

A Prayer for Friday Evening.  
BLessed God, it is the great comfort of thy People, that at any time thou art pleased in such a condescending manner, to let them spread their cases before thee. O Lord, sure I am, Thou never saidst to the Seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain; for so thy word manifests unto us. Whereas, Lord, I, dust and clay, have rebelled against thee from time to time, yet thou art pleased to admit me to come into thy presence, and to tell what my wants are; and blessed be thy Name, thou hast granted a supply, and hast encouraged me to come again, and hast not dealt with me after the manner of men; but hast been pleased many times to grant me the same Mercies that I formerly abused. How many days have I spent vainly, and yet thou hast given me the enjoyment of more. I pray thee, pass by my many miscarriages in this very days course. O how little have I done for thee? how little honour have I brought to thy Name? How selfish have I been? How unmindful of God have I been? How little have I done in order to the making of my Calling and Election sure? Lord, how shall I escape in the neglecting so many precious opportunities. Instead of doing thy will, I have followed the dictates of mine own carnal heart and corruption. Instead of doing thy will, I have done mine own. Pardon what is amiss this day; and sanctify this night's Mercy unto me. Let thy good Angels keep me, let thy Spirit preserve me, let my very thoughts be towards thee; keep me from vanity, from sin that foul destructive enemy; and keep me from the Paw of that roaring Lyon. Let me acquiesce and rest in thee, through thy Son Jesus Christ: Amen.   

A Prayer for Saturday Morning.  
LOrd God, Merciful and Gracious, and abundant in Goodness and Truth; thou hast been pleased to preserve me with thy special Providence from time to time, from day to day, and night to night: and to keep me under, and in, all straits, in and amidst the vicissitudes of this World of Encumbrances. O thou hast dealt bountifully with me. Grant that I may not be barren under all, that thy Providences may not be silent to me. Thou hast said, Day unto Day uttereth Wisdom, and Night unto Night showeth Knowledge. O teach me by all. Let every Morning's Mercy, and every Evenings Mercy, and every Days Mercy, be of much use unto me; yea let all Seasons be advantageous to me. Let time be improved by me for God, for which end all Time was given to Man. Lord direct me in all my Affairs this day, counsel me in all my Concerns, prosper me in all my Designs; strengthen me in all my undertake: and grant that as thou renewest my strength, by rest and sleep, thou also may'st renew me in the spirit of my mind: let not my heart be set upon the world, as to draw my assections from thee; nor let the cares of the world prevent me in the care for my Soul. Mortify all my corruptions in me, for me; rectify my Judgement; mortify my Will, change my Nature, illuminate my Understanding, and transform me to the Image of God. Grant these, and what thou in thy wisdom knowst necessary for me, through Christ Jesus. Amen.   

A Prayer for Saturday Evening.  
HOly Lord, what great cause have I to bless thee, that thou hast pleased to preserve me all this week, and keep me in the midst of all the vicissitudes of this sickle and unconstant world; and admittest me yet again to come before thee by way of duty. Grant that I may not look upon it as a Duty only, but as a Privilege, and that a great one, a Privilege that many enjoy not. And what am I more than they? I have been guilty of sins both for quantity and quality, it may be, that they were never guilty of: Opardon me, that I can be no more thankful for, nor profitable in the enjoyment of the same. Work in me, Lord, a more active frame of spirit, that I may bring more honour to thy Name: let the fruits of Grace, spring more apparently in my life. Let thy Word teach me, thy Spirit guide and sanctify me, thy Son redeem me, thy Power preserve me, and thy Providence sustain me: Yea, let all work together for the best for me. Pardon the sins of this week past, and grant that they may not interrupt the benefit of thy day to come, if it shall please thee to bring me to the opportunity of it. Qualify me and prepare me for such a work as thy Sabbath expects from me, according to the preparation of thy Sanctuary; and being prepared I may meet with thyself: let thy Word be sweet to my Soul, let it descend as rain upon the new-mown Grass; let it water my dry and parched Soul; and let the influences of thy Spirit accompany it, that it may be effectual to the saving of my Soul. Pardon the sins of this day, of this present duty, and all my life, and accept my imperfection in the perfection of Christ. Amen.    

Of the SABBATH.  

1. WHat the Sabbath is? and how manifold it is?  
2. Of what use it is to us Christians?  
3. Why it was appointed?  
4. What are the Works to be done, or omitted?   
1. As to the first, What the Sabbath is?  
The Sabbath amongst the Hebrews is called Schabbat, Schebbet, or Schabbathon, that is, a Cessation, vacation from labour, or rest. Moreover, it is called a Day, by God devoted for his Worship, and that for four Reasons: 1. Because God on that day rested from his work of Creation, although not from his Work of Providence. 2. Because that the Sabbath is the Image or Representative of that spiritual and future Rest from sin. 3. Because on this day we ought to rest from our Economics, from our Household Affairs, that God might employ us in his Work. 4. Because that our Servants, and labouring Beasts might rest on that Day.  
2. Duplex enim est Sabbathum, the Sabbath is twofold: 1. Moral and Internal, or 2. Ceremonial, or External. First, Moral and Internal, or Spiritual, and that is the desire of the knowledge of God and his Works, to the end that we may avoid sin, and serve God both in word and deed. In a word, It is an abstaining from sin, and exercising the Works of God, and worshipping him, Isai. 66.23.  
Secondly, Ceremonial, or External, and that is an appointed, and set time; separate in the Church, for the ministration of the Sacraments, and dispensing the Word, and other things appointed of God himself; and this is either Mediately or Immediately from God himself, appointed and laid down to the Church in the Old Testament; which also is divers.  
1. A Sabbath of days, which is every Seventh day of the Week, peculiarly so called, because of God's resting from his Creation work, and for his people to rest on. Thence by the Hebrews by a Synecdoche, the whole week was called Sabbathum, or Sabbatha, etc.  
2. A Sabbath of Months, Neomeniae (viz.) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, nova Luna, the time of the New Moon.  
3. A Sabbath of Years (viz.) every Seventh year, in which the Jewish people were not to sow their ground, Leu. 2.3, 4, 26, 35. Leu. 25.8.  
2. More Mediate, or external, which God appointed by his Church in the New Testament, which is the first day of the week, namely, the Lords Day; which was observed by the Christian Church from the time of the Apostles, instead of the seventh day, and that in respect of the Resurrection of Christ.  
2. As to the second (viz.) of what use the Sabbath is to Christians?  
The Sabbath from the beginning was appointed by God, to the end that Man by God's Example, might rest from all his Works, especially from sin; and afterward was renewed in the Mosaical Law, to the end God might show, that yet he would honour the Sabbath more, in sanctifying it to his Church; namely, that he would forgive their sins, and receive them into his favour, by the Messiah promised to their Fathers, and that to be exhibited or held forth in his time; and this may serve for a Reason, why the Ceremonial Sabbath (viz. the Seventh day is abolished; wherein is represented the bounty of the Messiah, and also puts us in mind of his Offices; upon which account all the rest of the Sacraments, Sacrifices, and Ceremonies instituted before and after the Law, were abolished by the coming of Christ; notwithstanding this Sabbath's abrogation in the New Testament, yet the Moral Sabbath is permanent, and is of great use to us; namely, that we might have a certain time appointed for the work and service of God: it being no less necessary that a certain day be instituted now, in the Christian, as well as formerly in the Jewish Church, for the dispensing of the Word, and administering, publicly, the Sacraments of God.  
Moreover, we are not limited to any day of the week strictly, as some will have it, as the third, fourth, or fifth, or any other; and therefore the Apostolical Church being free by the gift of, or if you will, by that liberty freely bestowed by Christ, for distinction sake, to wit, between them and the Jewish Synagogue, they used the First day for the Seventh; for this probable Reason, that on that day of Christ's Resurrection, our spiritual and internal Sabbath was begun in us. In a word, we are bound to a Ceremonial Sabbath, in genere, sed non in specie; that is, that we ought to have a day wherein the Church may be taught, and the Sacraments administered, yet limited to no certain day.  
Obj. 1. The Decalogue is a perpetual Law (may some say) The Command concerning the Sabbath is of the Decalogue, therefore the Law is perpetual.  
Resp. True. The Decalogue is perpetual as it is Moral, but the Appendices or Determinations of Moral Commands, in respect of signification, were only to be kept till the coming of Christ.  
Obj. 2. The Precepts of the Decalogue belong to all: This is a Precept of the Decalogue, therefore this belongs to all.  
Resp. Granted, as touching its Morality; but it is also Ceremonial in part, and so it doth not belong to us nisi quo ad genus. The Reasons are evident. 1. Sr. Paul saith, Col. 2.16. Let none judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the New Moon, or of the Sabhath. 2. The Apostles themselves changed the Seventh-days Sabbath. 3. From the end of the Law, it was a Type of things to be fulfilled by Christ (to wit) of Sanctification, etc. the Type must needs be abrogated, the thing typified being produced.  
Obj. 3. The Lord saith of the Sabbath, That it is a sign for ever between him and the children of Israel. Therefore the Sabbath is not to be abolished.  
Resp. The Ceremonial Sabbath is perpetual, until Christ, which is the end of Ceremonies. 2. The Sabbath is eternal quo ad rem significatam, which is a cessation from sin, and rest in God; and so of all other Types in the Old Testament; yea, the Kingdom of David, which was destroyed at the coming of the Messiah.  
Obj. 4. The Laws given before Moses 's time, were immutable: The Seventh-days Sabbath was instituted before Moses 's: Therefore the Sevenths-days Sabbath is immutable, provided that we assent that Moses 's Laws were mutable.  
Resp. 'Tis only true in the Moral Law; 'tis denied in the Ceremonial. These Types before Moses showing the bounty of the Messiah, were abolished at his coming; as Circumcision given to Abraham. In like manner, the Sacrifices either commanded to our first Parents, or practised by them.  
Object. 5. The Laws given by God before the Fall, were not Types of the Bounties of Christ, all grant; the promise of the Messiah being not as then given: although the condition of the whole humane race was one and the same. The Seventh days Sabbath was instituted before the Fall of Mankind: therefore it is universal and perpetual.  
Resp. Per distinctionem materiis, which is true concerning the Moral Law; whose natural knowledge was imprinted in the mind of man in the Creation; but not concerning the Seventh day Sabbaths Ceremony; which after the fall, in the Mosaical Law, is made a type of the benefits of the Messiah. And besides all this, other Ceremonies, whether instituted before or after, by the Messiah were made obnoctious to change; for God will not let them remain under the shadows, the things themselves being exhibited.  
3. What are the causes of the institution of the Sabbath?  

1. For the Public Worship of God in his Church.  
2. For the preservation of the Ecclesiastical Ministry, which teacheth what we are to believe, concerning God, and what duty God requires of us.  
3. That the type in the Old, might denote, or represent, the spiritual in the New, Testament; Ezek. 20.12.  
4. That there might be an ordinary exercise of Prayer, of Confession, and of Obedience toward God.  
5. By reason of the Seventh days circumstance, to wit, that it might put us in mind both of our great Creation and Redemption Work.  
6. That on that day the greatest Works of Liberality and Benignity might be exercised toward our Neighbour.  
7. Because of that Corporal Rest of both Man and Beast, of Bruits indeed, because of Man.  
8. That the Israelites might be known by this mark from other Countries.   
4. What are the Works of the Sabbath, commanded or forbidden? Or how the Sabbath is kept or violated?  

1. The Sabbath is sanctified, when Works are done, and holily observed, which God has commanded.  
2. The Sabbath is profaned, when Works are either neglected or abused in the use of them; or hindered by a profane violence.   
The Works whereby the Sabbath is either sanctified or profaned, are these:  
1. First, Rightly to instruct the Church concerning God (viz.) What he is, and, What his Will is; (viz.) What Duties, either Negative or Affirmative, he requires of man.  
On the contrary, 1. Neglect of Public or Private Instruction; Isa. 56.10. 2. Depravation, or Diminution of the Doctrine that ought to be taught; Ezek. 34.2. 2 Cor. 2.17.  
3. Secondly, Administering the Sacraments according to Divine Institution. Unto, which we ought to come, being lawfully called, by the Ministers of the Church, as the Vice-gerents of God; and that especially on the Lord's Day.  
On the contrary, Omitting, or neglecting instructing the Church, to use the Sacraments, and an illegal Administration of the same; viz. By a detracting from, or adding to, the Essentials of Worship, appointed of God; or any thing in them: or excluding any that aught to come to receive, or partake, or to encourage those that ought not; or not to teach the lawful use of them.  
3. Thirdly, Diligently to learn the True Doctrine: That is to attend on, and hear, the Doctrine of God; 1 Tim. 4.16. and daily to meditate in the same.  
The Contraries, 1. Contempt or neglect of the Doctrine, by either being absent at Assemblies, or not regarding the Ministers, or not meditating on, or enquiring into the Doctrine of Christ. 2. Neglect of knowing the Doctrine, either by Ministers or people. 3. Curiosities, either by prying into God's secrets, or unnecessary things, or novelties; Luke 12 48. Prov. 25.27. 1 Tim. 4.7. 2 Tim. 4.3. Tit. 3.9.  
4. Fourthly, To use the Sacraments according to Divine instruction; Acts 20.7.  
Repugnants to this. 1. The omission or contempt of the Sacraments. 2. Profanation of the Sacraments; when they are either used not after the same way, or not by them whom God hath instituted. 3. Asuperstitious use of them.  
5. Fifthly. Invocation of God publicly: Wherein we adjoin confession, or giving of thanks, and our desires with the Church.  
Repugnants. 1. Neglect of Prayers of the Church. 2. Hypocrisy in Prayers of the Church, without attention or affection. 3. A recitation of Prayers that edify not; 1 Cor. 14.17.  
6. Sixthly, Charity and Bounty towards the Poor, that is giving Alms, or doing works of Mercy towards the Needy, with delight and singleness of heart.  
Repugnants. 1. Neglect or contempt of the Poor. 2. Ostentation and show in giving, which Christ condemns.  
7. Seventhly, Honour of the Ecclesiastical Ministry, which comprehends, 1. Reverence. 2. Love. 3. Obediencee. 4. Gratitude. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or Equity in bearing with the infirmities of Ministers.   

Family Prayers For every day in the WEEK.  

A Prayer for the Sabbath.  
Omost holy, great, and glorious God; thou that art the rest of thy poor Creatures; the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou hast instituted Lord of the Sabbath; in whose strength we desire to approach thy holy presence, this thy holy Sabbath-day, a day of thy own appointment, wherein thou wilt be found in an especial manner: and as it is to be a day of rest for all flesh, after thine own institution, Lord help us not only to rest from our ordinary Labours and Employments, but from any thing that may be disconsonant to thy Will and Word; not doing our own actions, nor speaking our own words, nor thinking our own thoughts; that thereby we (being prepared according to the preparation of thy Sanctuary) may be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, to meet with thee, and by meeting with thee, we may hear thee communicate some sweet truth to us, whereby we may be drawn nigher to thyself, by the blood of Christ. And seeing thou wast pleased, Lord, to honour this day, by the Resurrection of our blessed Redeemer; let us have more evidence from thyself this day, that we are risen with him, having conquered by him Death, Grave, Hell, and Sin.  
O let us see him whom our sins have pierced, that we by faith may mortify that that crucified him, and let us have a glimpse of our beloved in his glory; and let us this day hearken to his voice, that we may know to love what he loves, and hate what he hates; to be in love with sanctity and holiness, and to be at enmity with every similitude of sin, which will hinder our services, this day, in his name, to be as a sweet smell in God's Nostrils. Help us to hold fast our hope and confidence in God unto the end; and let that confidence be a perfect assurance that we have an interest in Jesus. Let the word preached be mixed with saith, let it be quick and powerful, and piercing, that it may accomplish that end for which it was sent. Let not Satan come and catch away the Seed; but O that it may be as seed sown in good and honest hearts, bringing forth fruit with patience, meet for repentance; and let it be for the weakening of sin, but for the strengthening of faith and grace. Let thy Word be as Manna for our poor Souls to feed upon, for the week to come, that thereby we may grow up in grace as we grow in years. Let thy word be a suitable word unto every one of our conditions; and come thou into our Souls with it, with the freest influence of thy Spirit, that we may of a truth meet with God, communicating of himself unto us, by his Word and Spirit.  
And as the Soul is separated from the Body by Death, so let sin be separated from our Souls by thy Word and Spirit. O let it be separate from our Souls, or else it will separate the Souls of us poor Creatures from God. Let thy Minister, who is thy Messenger, be strengthened, and touch his tongue with a coal from thine Altar, that he may preach experimental truth, to the hearts of us poor Creatures, that desire to attend on thine Ordinances. O let us taste and see how gracious the Lord is; and let us have cause to say, It is good to draw nigh to God in his own Ordinances, on his own Day. And let this day of rest be a certain pledge of an eternal rest, purchased by our great high Priest, who is preparing a place for his select ones: O that this thy day may be spent in the performances of holy duties, in praise and thanksgiving, the work of thine appointment. Unveil some secret this day; let us be drawn nigher every day unto thyself. Let us be so enlightened, that sin may decay, and grace may be renewed in us. Let us come hungering and thirsting after Spiritual Food, for our Souls; so that in the close of this day, we by a grounded experience may say, that God has satisfied our hungering Souls, with refreshing influences from Heaven, thorough the Blood of Jesus Christ: in whose words we conclude our imperfect requests, as he himself has taught us; saying, Our Father, etc.   

An Evening Prayer for the Sabbath.  
MOst Holy, and ever Blessed Lord God, who fillest Heaven and Earth with thy presence; fill the Souls of thy poor empty Creatures, with the presence of thy Grace, and let thy good Spirit bring to our remembrance the truths that we by thy providence have heard this thy day, that we may lay it up in our hearts, and practise it in our lives; that we may be of those blessed ones, that hear thy word and keep it, and bring forth fruit in abundance; and let it take root in our hearts downward, and bring forth fruit upward. Establish our Souls in the practice of Holiness, without which we can never come to see thyself: and let the power of sin be weakened, but let Grace be strengthened every day. Pardon that unpreparedness that we have intruded into thy presence with, and that irreverence whilst under thy Ordinances; and that carelessness after, that we all have been guilty of. Pardon our forgetfulness, and pardon our imperfection, in the perfection of Christ; our weakness in the strength of Christ; that thereby we may find acceptance with thee, who art all fullness, and in whose hands is all perfection. Fill our Souls with the fullness of God, and let the bedewings of thy Spirit and Word, cause us to grow in our spiritual stature. Help us to prise the privilege of the Gospel at an inestimable rate, and give us repentance from dead works, that we may be changed from darkness unto light, and from the power of sin unto God.  
And help us to manifest in our lives and conversation what is the hope of our calling, that we may be in Heaven whilst on Earth. Pardon the sins of our holy things, sins of omission and commission; sins against thy Law, and sins against thy Gospel. Give us Wisdom to direct and teach us, Righteousness to establish us; Redemption to deliver us from the jaws of Sin and Hell. Strengthen our weak Faith, enlarge our shallow Capacities, quiet our disturbed Consciences, tread down Satan under our feet, and subjugate our Necks under thy Yoke; and help us to resign ourselves to thy Will, and fit us for Eternity at last, that after these Sabbaths be ended here, we may begin an everlasting Sabbath with the God of Sabbaths, where we shall admire thyself in Christ; in whose Name we conclude our imperfect requests, in his own words, as he hath taught us; saying, Our Father, etc.   

A Prayer for Monday Morning.  
BLessed Lord, thou renewest thy mercies every Morning, it is of thy mercy that one day more is added to us poor Creatures: Thou art he on whom depends our being, rest, life, and all thou has been pleased to cause us to acquiesce in, and under thy protection for our refreshment. O Lord preserve us this day under the shadow of thy wing, and keep us in thy ways; and let thy watchful providence be an instigation to an holy walking, and to redeem the time, seeing the days are evil; and to live as ever before the Eye of thy Allseeing Providence. Keep us from sin, and enable us to live with thankful hearts, bearing in mind the acts of thy Spirit, and the daily Mercies we enjoy; help us to show a thankfulness for Mercies received, and humility for and under Afflictions. Let the bitterness of Sin, and the loveliness of Holiness make deep impression on the hearts of thy poor Creatures. Let the great work of Salvation be much meditated upon, that that work daily may be propagated by us, with fear and trembling. Let union and communion with Christ be our great design. Let our Natures be changed. Deliver us from a dark understanding and hardness of heart, stupid consciences, together with unmortisied wills. Help us to be wise for the future, wherein we have done foolishly, and help us wisely to improve our Talents in every opportunity. Let thy mercies constrain us to love, fear, and obey thee. Subdue us wholly to thyself, that our affections may be elevated from the Earth, and transplanted into Heaven. Help us in every transaction in our lives, to consider that with thee every action is poised, and thoughts, words, and works reviewed and taken notice of. O that the affairs of this day, and all the week to come, may be no obstruction to the work of our immortal Souls. And grant that every day that passes over our heads, we may be a step nearer to thyself. Preserve us by thy Grace and Spirit, until it shall be thy will to translate us into that Glory, that is prepared for them that wait for the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.   

A Prayer for Monday Evening.  
MOst Holy, Eternal, and ever Blessed Lord God, in whom all our springs are; it is good to draw nigh to thyself: Thou that never slumberest nor sleepest, suffer us not to sleep the sleep of Death. The Day thou hast appointed for Man to Labour in, and the Night for Man to Rest; into thy hands we commit ourselves, and desire to acquiesce in thee. Let us be put in mind of the everlasting rest, by every night's rest we enjoy. Help us to make it our business to do our great work we have to do, before the night of Death and the Grave overtake us. O let not opportunities neglected and misspent, be hindrances of the present and future enjoyments and opportunities. Let not the abuse of time extinguish, diminish, or shorten our time. Let not sin prevent our mercies; neither let the guilt of sin, nor punishment for the same, overtake us at the same time. Let not the sins of the day past mercies, prevent us in night mercies, but let them all be pardoned in the Blood of Jesus. Preserve us this night; and let the mercies of the night fit us for an humble walking with thee the day following: that night's mercies and days mercies may be of such use unto us, that we by both may be fitted for an enjoyment of thyself, both here and hereafter. Keep us from the vanity of our minds. Keep us from all our Enemies, Spiritual and Corporal; let the roaring Lion be chained up, that goes about seeking whom he may devour, and let us acquiesce under the shadow of thy wings, that we may both lie down and rise again in peace; knowing the Lord sustains us, for the sake of him that procures us all our happiness, our mercies, and blessings. Amen.   

A Prayer for Tuesday Morning.  
HOly God, it is not the least of thy mercies, that thou commandest us to seek thee; let us not think it a burden but a privilege, that we are admitted in way of duty to call on thee, not only to beg mercies of thee, but to give thee thanks for mercies received: We thank thee, that thou out of thy Benignity hast been pleased to afford us thy providential protection this night past, wherein we are brought to a farther experience of thy love. Let every mercy be farther engagements to praise thee. Thou, our Lord, hast made us to sleep in safety, and hast made us to experience, that unless thou keep the City, the Watchmen watch in vain; and that it is the blessing of thee our God, that has preserved us this night past. O Lord, Let us in all our undertake this day, know, that it is not rising up early, and sitting up late, and eating the Bread of carefulness, that will do, only the Lord that blesses what we undertake. O Lord, Act for us this day, and help us in all that we do, that it may be to thy praise. O that our hearts and lives might speak forth thy praise, for the renovation of mercies every morning; and that our eyes may be towards thyself for all our strength, in all our affairs this day; that whatsoever we do, all may be to the praise of our God. Let our work prosper in our hands, and let us find that God acts for us. Help us to observe all the passages of thy providences, that every day we may experience more of thy power, that thereby we may be drawn out to fear thee, and say, surely the Lord is God, and that he has made us, and not we ourselves; and that he makes all work together for the best, to them that love him. O bless us in the beginning, and in the close of this day; bless us in our go out and come in; bless us in our labours. Let our pains and diligence, put us in mind of our great work; our industry for terrestrial put us in mind of celestial gain; and help us with all our get to get understanding; that we may be wise for ourselves. Deliver us from the infection of sin, and enable us to keep ourselves spotless from covetousness, or any thing that is disconsonant to thy will in Christ. Amen.   

A Prayer for Tuesday Evening.  
MOst gracious Lord, thou art he, and there is none else. Thou hearest the Prayers of poor Creatures, at all times, and upon all occasions, thou art near and ready to incline thine ear, and to have mercy, and forgive all the sinful miscarriages of thy poor Creatures. Truly thou art good and dost good, our Souls experience it every day; thou art slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil, O that we could walk so closely with thee as never to offend thee. To whom Lord belongs praises, but to thine own self, who hast in all our concerts been our Agent for us. O Lord, let our Souls delight in thyself. Let it be our recreation to do thy will. And now, O Lord, we would commit ourselves into thy hand, desiring thy Providence to keep us, thy Spirit to bless us, that whether sleeping or waking, we may be thine. Refresh these frail Bodies of ours with quiet rest; that our Bodies being refreshed, we may both with Soul and Body, which are thine, sing forth thy praises. Help us to meditate upon thy truths, even on our Beds; that we may spend many watchful hours, about the great concerns of our everlasting Souls. And help us, laying our Heads to our Pillows, to sanctify thee in our hearts; and when we awake the next morning, we may awake in the same manner; knowing that Satan is ready to suggest some temptation, and thereby steal away our hearts; making the World, or the Flesh, our objects. Help us always to study most to please God, and displease Satan; and to give Satan no ground, knowing that so long as we resist him, he, thou Lord, hast said, shall sly from us. Let us rest in thyself, seeing thy Name is a strong Tower, and they that flee into it are safe from sins dominion, keep us from Satan's temptations, defend us from our evil hearts, secure us, and sanctify our hearts and send a bedewing of thy holy Spirit upon us, to sweeten our troubles, and sanctify our mercies in Christ Jesus. Amen.   

A Prayer for Wednesday Morning.  
HEavenly Father, by whom, and from whom, all our strong consolations, through Grace, are enjoyed by us worthless Creatures; sleeping and waking, we are secured from the terrors of the night, and those amazements, wherewith thou sometimes hast amazed, them that were better than ourselves are. O save us by thy Grace and prepare us for Glory; deliver us from the sinners cursed questions, What is the Almighty that we should serve him? Or, What profit shall we have if we pray unto him? How oft are their Candles put out. Give us grace to live to thee, showing the truth of Grace, by dealing righteously towards all men, that so (keeping the faith in purity of conscience, having our hope and heart fixed on thyself) we may rejoice in, and call upon thy Name, who only art a present help in time of trouble. Preserve us in this wilderness the World, until we shall attain to the Heavenly Canaan. O let our Souls be more and more in love with Holiness, to live the Life of Christ, and the Life of the Righteous, that we may die the Death of the Righteous. Deliver us from a vain and darkened Understanding, and from working Uncleanness with greediness. Enable us to put off, as touching our Conversation, the Old man, and put on the New Man, being renewed in the spirit of our Minds, that we may be created after the Image of God, in Righteousness and true Holiness. Prepare us for another Life, and let not one day pass over our heads without some serious meditations of Eternity; how soon it may be we cannot tell ere we may launch into its Ocean, that bankless Sea; and then woe unto us if our Ship be unsound. Let these thoughts make us careful about our Souls. Help us to use the things of this transitory World, but as journey necessaries to a permanent and lasting World; but let us be truly desirous of the permanent Riches, with an insatiable desire. Make us wise Merchants for that durable riches that none can rob us of. Now, Lord, pardon our sins, and accept our services in Chrst; to whom with thee, and thy Eternal Spirit, be praises. Amen.   

A Prayer for Wednesday Evening.  
GLorious and most Righteous Lord, for ever to be admired of all thy Saints; thy ways are ways of love and mercy, thy daily care to thy people do attest it: we are wonderfully engaged to offer thee praise, both with hearts and voices. Accept of our thanks and praises, as well as prayers, for an Evening Sacrifice; and take charge of us we beseech thee. Let us not be disappointed of our hopes. Let not Sin nor Satan molest us in the comforts of this night. Let not the sins of the day passed provoke thee, or prevent us in thy favours to us-ward. Let us rest in the assurance of thy favour, sealed by thy good Spirit upon our hearts; that we be not left comfortless: and grant, that though our Bodily Eyes be closed with sleep, yet let our Spiritual Eyes (to wit) the Eyes of Faith, continually watch. Let thy work of Grace begun in us, be daily strengthened. Let the power of sin decay, but the power of Grace revive. Enable us to rise with Christ, and to seek those things that are above, that we may glorify thee here, by finishing the race that is set before us. Keep us from abusing or slighting thy Mercies and Judgemnts, and watch over us for good. Let not our self-flattery prove to us soul-mockery. Make us faithful rather than formal, in all our duties towards thee. Deliver us from worldly mindedness, the great enemy to real holiness. Give us the grace of humiliation for sin, and the spirit of reformation from sin. O suffer us not to sin against Mercy, lest we lose our best friend. O let the service of God, which is perfect freedom, free us from the service of sin. Now unto him that is able to keep us, be Glory for ever. Amen.   

A Prayer for Thursday Morning.  
HOly, and Eternal, Glorious, Lord God, infinite are thy Mercies to us ward, thy patience and long suffering are exceeding great, in regard of our continued provocations, even in our thoughts, which are only evil, and that continually; our words also have been stout against thee, nothing but infinite mercy could forbear such wretches: blessed be our God that hath laid help, yea, our help, upon one that is mighty to save all those that come unto God by him. O whither should such sinners go, but to him that hath the Keys of Heli and Death; that calls to the weary and heavy laden, to come to him and accept of ease and rest. O Lord draw us, that we may run after thee; that we may run the way everlasting, the way of thy commands, and be followers of that which is good; hating the Garments spotted by the Flesh: building up ourselves in the most holy faith. Enable us, O our God, with all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure, adding to our Faith Virtue, and to Virtue Knowledge, and to Knowledge Temperance, and to Temperance Patience, and to Patience Godliness, and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness, and to Brotherly Kindness Charity: O let these Grace's shine and abound in us, that we may neither be barren nor unfruitful. Give us precious faith in our Lord Jesus, who hath washed and quickened us. Make us the complete Workmanship of Christ Jesus, created unto good works. Sanctify us through thy Truth; thy Word is Truth: and give us that Spirit that may guide us into all Truth. Led us this day and all the rest of our lives, by thy Grace; and at last bring us to Glory; through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.   

A Prayer for Thursday Evening.  
MOst gracious Lord, thou art the great preserver of those that trust in thy Promises, and observe thy Precepts. Blessed be thy holy Name for this day past, that thou hast kept us from the dangers of this day, incident to us. Blessed be thou Lord, for all thy Providence and Provision; for Health and Strength, Food and Raiment, for the present Comforts of this Life, and the hopes of a future. Let all our sins be pardoned, for the sake of our Lord, who only is worthy. O vouchsafe to continue thy goodness this night, that we may receive that refreshment that is for tried ones. Watch over us for good, and let a quiet and peaceable rest fit us for our Calling, according to thy will. Help us to live by Faith, and to walk by Faith, that we may have that Peace that none can take away. Let us die daily to sin: and be strengthened daily with all might in the inward man. Help us to consider the effects of sin is shame, and the wages of sin is death. Give us the comforts of our being in Christ, that we may beassured that we are freed from condemnation, by our christian conversation, who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit. O let thy Spirit so lead us, that it may be our testimony that we are thine. Let all that we suffer here, be an evidence of that Glory to be revealed in us. Let all things work together for the best. Let neither tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, be able to prevail against us, so as to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ, for whom we bless thee, and to whom be praises for ever- Amen.   

A Prayer for Friday Morning.  
MOst Holy, and most gracious Lord, thou art near unto all that call upon thee in truth, and fulfilest the desires of those that fear thee. Thou art good and dost good, thy mercies are over all thy works. Blessed be the Lord for his refreshing mercies of the last night. Day unto day, and night unto night, show forth thy tenderness over us by thy providences and provision. O deliver us from all sins and evil; for thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. Help us to live blameless, with those with whom we have to deal. O give us wisdom to remember our later end. Let us remember the approaching of Eternity, on which felicity, or eternal misery, attends. O Lord increase our Faith, and settle us in that Faith that is precious and pure; that by it we may be able to resist the Devil, and overcome and conquer the World and the Flesh, that it may be the substance of things not seen; and that thereby we may be like Noah, to prepare an Ark against a Deluge, condemning the World. O give us the trying Faith of Abraham, the living Faith of dying Jacob, and the living Faith of Moses, to choose affliction rather than sin, that we may esteem the reproach of Christ the greatest riches; that we may by that Faith obtain Promises, work Righteousness. Now the God of Peace, that brought again our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd, through the everlasting Covenant, keep us. Amen.   

A Prayer for Friday Evening.  
GReat and glorious Lord, in Jesus Christ a tender Father to humble and penitent sinners; let conscience of duty and not custom, attend our approaches unto thee the Lord of Life and Glory, thy mercies of this day are more than we can conceive, but the requitals we have made, how inequivolent are they. How seldom did we look up to thee, that always seest us; at what a low ebb are our thoughts of thee. O lay our hearts as low, and much lower in reference to ourselves. Let us not, O our God, find our return of mercies according to our miscarriages: let us not thereby be disappointed of our rest and refreshment, this approaching night. Blessed be thy Name, that thou hast laid help on one that is able to save. O save us by him; let his Blood plead, and his Person satisfy, and let him prevail for us, and his offering up of himself clear us. Lord we believe, help our unbelief, O that our hearts were more heavenly and more removed from this drossy earth, that we might in nothing be careful. O help us to be good and do good, in our Generation. Help us to choose affliction rather than sin, that we may follow the great high Priest of our Profession, by the Cross to the Crown, and by the Grave to Glory. Mind us of our end, and give us wisdom to consider in this day of ours, the things that belong to our peace, before they be hid from our eyes; and seeing our time is but short, let our zeal be the greater. Let the blessing pronounced in the Mount, be our portion. Let us both be pure and poor in spirit. Give us to mourn for sin, that we may be comforted. Let us be armed with meekness, and hungering, and thirsting after righteousness; and satisfy us. Let mercifulness, peace, and sufferings for righteousness sake, comfort us here and hereafter, in and through Jesus Christ; in whose Name we farther call on thee, in his own words: Our Father, etc.   

A Prayer for Saturday Morning.  
MOst holy, most glorious Lord, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake alone we beg pardon for all our sins, secret and known, of ignorance or knowledge, of youth or riper years, against thy Law or Gospel. Deliver thy poor Creatures from all those curses denounced against sin and sinners. None ever confessed and forsaken sin, but found mercy. O sanctify us throughout with thy holy Spirit, that we may live the life of faith, and not of sin, being assured that it shall go well with the righteous; they shall eat the fruit of their do. Blessed Lord, give us grace to walk worthy the mercies of the last night's refreshments. Let thy good providence be over us this day; preserve us in our concerns; Deliver us both Souls and Bodies, that desire to fear thy holy Name that we may be praising the riches of thy free grace. Let us be blessed in our go out and come in. Let thy glory be our greatest design in whatsoever we undertake. Prepare us for our later end. and our great account; and let Eternity be always eyed by us. Let our thoughts. words and actions, be considered and poised. Let every day put us in mind of the great day, that in every day we may be drawn a step nigher unto Christ our Redeemer, in whom, and for whom, we bless thee for ever. Amen.   

A Prayer for Saturday Evening.  
O Most blessed Lord, thou art acquainted with our downlying and uprising, and art near to all them that call on thee in truth and sincerity. Let not iniquity prevail over us. Let thy grace be sufficient for us, against sin, and Satan's wiles; and help us to be thankful both in heart and life, for what thou art pleased to bestow upon us, by way of providence. Help us in time of health to prepare for sickness and death; in time of plenty to prepare for want, and to lay up a store of never sading treasure. Sanctify both days labour and night's rest; and pardon the sins of the whole week past, and help us in thy day following, to be so sitted and qualified, that we may be as diligent for thee as we have been for ourselves; that it may be a day of rejoicing. Let it be such a Sabbath, as that it may be an earnest of an eternal Sabbath, where we shall rejoice and praise thee for ever. Grant that by practising holiness, we may enjoy happiness; seeing that it must and shall go well with the Godly; their great evils shall be removed, and sin pardoned, the mercy of mercies: he cannot be miserable, who has a God so merciful, as to pardon his sin. O grant us this mercy, what ever else thou deny; thy will be done for outward comforts, so that we by the riches of this thy free grace, have such pardon of sin, as we be not disturbed in inward comforts. Grant that by living to thee here we may enjoy thee hereafter. Let us be content with toss, so that we may enjoy the desired Haven; nay, though our Ship (viz.) this Body breaks, let us, that is our Souls, be secured in the Lord Ch●●●● Let our crosses end in comforts, our miseries in matchless joys, our tears in true tunes for Heaven; and let our conquest over all end in the praise of our great Captain. All these, and what thou knowest may better fit us for thyself, grant, for thy promise, and for thy Son's sake; to whom be Eternal Glory. Amen.   

A Prayer for a Woman with-child, before her time of Delivery.  
MOst Holy Lord, Blessed be thy great Name, for thy mercy showed to thine Handmaid; thou hast given her good hopes, through grace, to become a joyful Mother; thou art Righteous in all thy ways; thy threat for sin is just, that in sorrow the Woman should bring forth: yet thou of thy great mercy hast taken off from me the reproach of Woman, and hast given me strength to conceive, and to nourish it hitherto: O preserve both me and it at the time of Travel. Let me bring forth, and let the work be completed by thee, by whom Creatures are wonderfully made. Prepare thy poor Creature by Faith and Prayer for that hour, that thy Servant and Handmaid, may find help in time of trouble and need. Let the Midwife's Skill and Care be blessed by thee, when she shall be called to do her Office; thou that art the God of all Grace and Consolation, strengthen the faith of thine Handmaid, in the hope of thy mercy: Show thy Servant a token for good, for his sake alone who is worthy, Jesus Christ the Righteous; to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.   

The Midwife's Prayer before Delivery.  
GRacious Lord, look in mercy upon thine Handmaid, now in extreme pain; strengthen her faith against all her fears, and bless me thine unworthy Servant, and make me an instrument of help and comfort to thine Handmaid, in the hour of trial, in thine hand are the issues of Life and Death, preserve both Mother and Child; let it be a time of joy, that a Child is Born, and a Woman Delivered, through thy great mercy; so shall we thy poor Creatures rejoice in thy Salvation showed to thy Handmaid, and the fruit of her Womb. Hear and help, for the sake of our Lord Jesus; to whom be praises for ever. Amen.   

The Midwife's Prayer after Delivery.  
MOst Holy, and most Gracious Lord, praises wait for thee, for those exceeding abundant favours vouchsafed to thine Handmaid in the hour of her Distress; for ever blessed be thy glorious Name, thou alone wast a present help: O perfect thine own work in her weakness. Blessed be the Lord, for the fruit of the Womb, that no Member was left out of thy Book, that in all parts it is perfected without blemish or deformity. Make thine Handmaid a joyful Mother, and continue her, in her place, and enable her to discharge her duty, to the comfort of her Relations, and the glory of thy great Name, and the everlasting joy of her own Soul, when she shall have finished her course; and that alone, upon the account of Jesus Christ; to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.   

The Pained Woman's Prayer in the time of her Travail.  
O Righteous Lord, thou art just in all thy ways, thy righteous sentence is past, the time of sin was the time of punishment; the Woman to bring forth in sorrow, and the Man to cat his Bread in the sweat of his Brow. Have mercy, Lord, upon thy distressed Handmaid, in great Pain and Anguish, Fears and Sorrows; as thou hast blessed me with the fruit of the Womb, to conceive and nourish, until the time of birth; O Lord, now give strength to bring forth, and let this fruit of my Womb be to thy praise. Thou art a present help in time of trouble. O blessed Lord, let my life be precious in thy sight, and the fruit of my Womb, let it live before thee, and let both be vessels of mercy through the sanctification of thy Spirit; so shall thine Handmaid devote herself to thy fear, and the fruit of her Womb to thy service. Let me find thy love in Jesus Christ to support me; for whom, O my Soul, praise his Holy Name. Amen.   

The Woman's Prayer after her Delivery.  
O Most glorious Lord, thou art good and dost good, thou hast remembered mercy to thy Handmaid in the time of her distress; to thy Name be praise for strength given to bring forth; my life was and is in thine hand, yet thou hast spared it: in the depth of my anguish thy help was at hand. Thou also hast given life to the fruit of my Womb, to thy Name be praises. Give me wisdom to dispose of thy mercy to thy glory, that I may be useful to thy service; and as touching the fruit of my Womb, sanctify it, and let it be for the bearing up of the Name of God in its Generation; let it grow in grace as in years. These and what things thou knowest convenient, grant, in the Name of Christ, to whom be praise for ever. Amen.   

Graces Before and After Meat.  

Grace before Meat.  
MOst Holy Lord, the staff of Bread is in thine hand, it is of thy bounty that we are daily provided for; let these thy Creatures, ordained for our nourishment, be received by us with thankful hearts, expressing it in our lives, that we receiving strength, may return praises to thyself for all; through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.   

Grace After Meat.  
HOly and blessed Lord, let thy continued mercies and refreshments, from time to time, engage us to return to thy blessed Majesty, the glory due to thyself, for them and all other creature comforts wherewith we are supplied; help us to express our thankfulness in discharging our Callings and Consciences, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.   

An other Grace Before Meat.  
HOly and gracious Lord, blessed be thy gracious good providence for all thy favours daily renewed. O give thy blessing on these thy good Creatures, at this time, that we are about to receive; that they may nourish and strengthen us, that we may be bettered by them, and that we may return praise to thy Name; through Christ Jesus our Lord Amen.   

An other Grace After Meat.  
HOly Lord, let thy refreshing mercies be an obligation to engage us to a more holy life, to live to thee who art the fountain of all our enjoyments; thou givest and refreshest us with the blessings of the upper and nether springs, both spiritual and temporal; help us to improve all, so that thou mayst have glory and we may have comfort, in and through Jesus Christ, the purchaser of all. Amen.    

A Prayer in time of Affliction.  
HOly and for ever blessed Lord God, thou alone art acquainted with the condition of thy poor sinful weak Creature, thou that art the Father of Spirits, and their great Creator; who alone art a present help in time of trouble, and the God of all consolation; thy poor sinful dust and ashes desires to look to thee, even to thee alone, seeing thou art alone able to deliver from trouble; sanctify my trouble and affliction, and support me in and under affliction; and make all work together for the best: Thou canst bring comfort out of trouble, joy out of sorrow, mirth out of malady, and can make thy Zion Saints to wait, and to look for help, even from the most improbable means. O let thy grace be sufficient for me, and help me to trust thy promises, when I cannot have thy providences. I have sinned greatly, which is the cause of all my misery; if it were not for sin, I need fear nothing. O let sin die in me, that grace may abound; and let this chastisement, which at present is grievous, be, and work for good unto me, that I may say with thy Servant David, It is good that I have been afflicted. Give me a patiented and submissive frame of Spirit, that I may say with my blessed Saviour, Not as I will, but thy will, O Father of mercy, be done. Let pains temporal, prevent pains eternal. Let the inner man be strengthened by the weakness of the outward man. Help me in patience to possess my Soul, with the thoughts of that endless and unspeakable Glory; and with a sense of the victory over Death and Hell, and all the encumbrances this side Heaven: with a sanctified expectation after him who is the procurer of all my happiness, in whom my Soul desires to acquisece, both here and hereafter. O help me Lord, to sing a new song of praise to that spotless Lamb, that hath not spared to pour out that precious Blood, to reconcile an angry God to despicable Dust and Clay; to make known an invisible God, to poor, blind, stupid Creatures: and that mortality might be swallowed up of life, he was holy, harmless, and undefiled, separate from sinners, to the end he might fulfil all righteousness; that he might be a meet high Priest, a sufficient Saviour of sinners; who by his own example, left us a pattern of humility to be submissive to the will of our Father, and to contemn the World, and to subjugate ourselves to his Cross. Oh! holy Father, thou that hast said, them that come unto thee in thy Son's Name, thou wilt not cast out; that gavest life to poor worthless dying Creatures, ready to drop into Hell; and that life is thine own Son, that is able to save to the uttermost all that come to him. O give ability to a poor drooping Creature, that he may recover his strength, before he go hence and be no more; that I may yet praise thee in the Land of the living; and that I may regain that precious time that I have been so lavish of. Redeem my strength, that I may work out my Salvation with fear and trembling. O sanctify me throughout, and change me, and let me have the New Creation wrought upon me and in me; that I may yet acknowledge thy great power in and through thy Son; in whose Name I farther call on thee, in the words of his own institution, saying, Our Father which art in Heaven, etc.   

A Prayer in time of War.  
O Holy, Great and Glorious Lord God of Hosts, thou that hast of old appeared for thy Churches and Servants, and that art for ever worthy to be praised; that hast wrought great deliverances for the relieving of them that were in straits, to the admiration of thy very enemies; by whose power thy Servants have run through Troops, having thy shield of Salvation: by thy power one hath chased a thousand, and thine enemy's hearts have melted away: yea even of the most valiant: If thou appear for us, Lord, we shall prevail. O be gracious unto us, and show thyself for us. Give courage and wisdom to all our Commanders and Soldiers. Gird them with strength, and teach their hands to fight: Direct their Consultations, prosper their Enterprises; suffer not deserved vengeance to break out upon us; deliver us not to a merciless enemy: Say unto our Armies, Let no man's heart fail for fear of neither number nor power of the enemy. Let all our trust of Victory be in the Lord of Hosts; thou that art Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. Get thyself Honour in the Destruction of those that are Peace-Disturbers; let thy hand become glorious, to dash in pieces the most potent enemies; and in the greatness of thine excellency, overthrew those that are instigated against us: and let it be known that there is none like unto thee, that art glorious in Holiness, fearful in Praises; doing Wonders: so shall we record thy righteous Acts. O help and deliver us, that we may tell thy Deeds among the Nations, and let not our enemy escape, lest they say our own hands hath saved us. Thou the God of Peace grant us Peace here, and everlasting Peace hereafter; through Jesus Christ. Amen.   

A Prayer for Children.  
O Most glorious Lord God, infinite in Wisdom and Goodness; thou art the great Creator, Redeemer, and Preserver of Man; I thy poor Servant bewail my Youth and time of Vanity: Notwithstanding my Parents care in Education, Instruction, and Correction, I have sinned greatly against thyself. O pardon also, Lord, my unthankfulness toward them, for all their Care, Cost, Pains, Cries and Tears, with respect to my everlasting welfare. O cause me with thankfulness to fear, love, honour, and obey them, in order to the obedience due to thyself. Lord keep me from snares of evil company and temptations of the same; and from youthful lust: and let me be a delight to those that fear thee. Let me be furnished with treasures of Wisdom and Holiness, and pardon all the sins of my corrupt heart and life; and be a reconciled Father unto me, and let me be able to know thee as a God in Covenant; and renew me in the inner Man, in the Spirit of my Mind. Enlighten my dark understanding, quicken my dead heart, purify my impure conscience, mortify and rectify my will. Let all my sinful carnal Love, or rather Lust, be quenched, and vain Pleasures turned into sweet Delights for God. Hear me in every respect as thou knowest m● condition requires, in the Name of thy dear Son; in whose words I farther call on thee, Our Father, etc.   

A Prayer for Servants.  
O Most gracious Lord God, thou art the great preserver of those that truly trust in thy mercy; deliver us from sin and the bondage of Satan; help us to obey our Master according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of our God, with good will from the heart. Make us submissive and obedient to our Governors; keep us from Self-will and Pride, from Murmur and unreverent Speeches, from Falsehood, Slothfulness, and all Deceit, and help us cheerfully and willinglly to do our Duty; as believing that thou, O Lord, art the avenger of all unfaithful Dealers. O pardon the neglect of our immortal Souls, and of the great work for which we were Created and Redeemed. Help us with all our hearts and strength, that we may attain to the reward of that Glory, prepared for all those that look and long for the appearance of Christ, and to enjoy his presence with the Angels and Saints in Glory: and all this we humbly beg and hope for, on the account and merits of Jesus, in whose own words we farther call on thee, as he hath taught us, saying, Our Father, etc.   

A Prayer for a Virgin.  
BLessed and Holy Lord, preserve me thy Servant, and give me grace with those Wise Virgins, to make ready my Lamp and Oil in my Vessel, that at what hour the Bridegroom shall come, I may be found ready prepared, with those undefiled Virgins that follow the Lamb. Deliver me from the sins of Pride, that common sin, far different from that Plainness, Simplicity and Modesty of old. O help me, thy Servant, to walk circumspectly. O cleanse and purge me, keep me blameless; cause me to hate the Garment spotted by the Flesh: let the Pride of the Daughters of Jerusalem, so severely threatened, awake those that tread in their steps, they were haughty, and walked with stretched-out Necks, and wand'ring Eyes, and mincing as they went; whose punishment was greater than the punishment of Sodom. O holy Lord, open mine Eyes, that I may see the evil of that sin, for whom Young Men and Virgins were slain with the Sword; the Virgins were trodden down as in a Wine-press. O give me chastity of mind and purity of heart, and let the inward man have the chief adorning. Let me be adorned with that modesty and shamefacedness that becomes those that profess the Gospel of Christ; not with embroidered Garments and costly Apparels. Help me to consider that there is no communion betwixt Light and Darkness, Sin and Holiness. Help me to live to that end for which I was created. Help me always to bear in mind my Creator in the days of my Virginity, that I may mark thy Law to do it. O preserve me from the ways of sin, and let death and judgement put me in mind of the great work I have to do; that I may so act in this life, as that I may live for ever hereafter, with thee in Heaven in eternal bliss, purchased by the precious Blood of Christ; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.   

The Seaman's Prayer.  
MOst great and powerful Lord God, whose ways are in the deep Seas, and paths in the deep Waters, and whose Footsteps are not known, yet sets the bounds and limits of the raging Sea, and sayest, Hitherto shalt thou go and no farther; and raiseth a storm and allayeth it: let thy good providence keep me in the midst thereof: and though the Sea rageth and roareth, yet let thy everlasting strength environ and surround me, so that I may be hid and be safe; and being safe, I may both with heart and soul sing forth his praise, that hath been graciously pleased to preserve me amidst the tempests of the raging Seas: but most of all I earnestly desire thee that thou wouldst keep me from the roaring rage of Sin and Satan: and as thou boundest the Sea, so bind up Satan, that he may not be able to do me any harm, that he may not tempt me to do any thing that may bring dishonour to thy Name, either by distrust or otherwise. O let me discern much of thyself, O Lord, in the Depths, that I may bless thee in thee Land of the Living. When Man's Wisdom and Power faileth, stand thou up and deliver thy Servant; when the Billows and Storms are raging, do thou quell them; so shalt thou rejoice the Soul of thy Servant: and at last bring me to the desired Haven, for thy Son's sake; to whom be everlasting strength ascribed for ever. Amen.   

The Seaman's Prayer after a safe Voyage.  
MOst powerful Lord God, thou art the powerful preserver of thy Creatures, thy power is not limited, and thou art the same yesterday, to day and for ever; thy hand is not shortened, thou savest both by Sea and Land; thou that savedst Israel of old, by bringing them thorough the Red Sea, thou hast preserved me amidst all the Billows of raging Waves of the immense Ocean; thou never failest those that trust in thee, O let thy mercies engage me to praise thee; that I may cry out, Come, and I will tell you what the Lord has done for my Soul: and let this great deliverance, enjoin me to trust God for the future, in the greatest of straits. O help me to praise thee whilst I have any being, O Let my Soul praise thee for this experienced mercy: Open my mouth, Lord, and fill it with praises, that I may sing unto the mighty God of Jacob, the Redeemer of Israel. O give me the Spirit of praises, that I may extol the name Jehovah. O Lord help me to love thee more every day, and admire that Love that thou hast shown, and dost show unto me every day. O govern my affections, words, and actions; and help me so to steer my course, as that I may at length, be brought to the Haven in Canaan, for Christ's sake alone, the Strength of my Salvation, and Hope. Amen.   

The Widows Prayer.  
MOst holy Lord, thou art the fountain of all Comfort, and God of all Consolation, and changest not; all the comfort of thy sorrowful Handmaid is in thyself, thou art able to make up all the losses and breaches thy providence has made. O supply all that comfort thou hast taken away: and thou that hast promised to be a Father to the Fatherless, and an Husband to the Widow, be a Father to my Fatherless Children, and an Husband to me a poor destitute Widow: Make up all my wants in thyself; and pardon that sin contracted between us; and pardon that negligence of seeking after better comforts, than any this life affords; pardon that inordinate care that was used by me in reference to the World: and guide and support thy poor distressed Servant by thy Spirit. O help me to sit silently under thy chastizing Rod, and that because it is the dictate of thine own will; and say, thou Lord hast done it; and say with thy Servant Job, that emblem of patience, The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Let this last be an instigation to put me in mind of my last end, and to consider the brevity of this frail life; that thereby I may be taught to number my Days; that I may both know how frail I am, and may apply my heart unto Wisdom; that I may bear in mind the great concerns of Eternity, strengthen my Faith, enlarge my Desire, raise and elevate my Affections; inflame my Love; let Sin be most loathsome, Grace most beautiful, the World less desirable. These and what thou knowest to be more necessary for me, grant for Christ's sake. Amen.   

The Orphan's Prayer.  
RIghteous Lord, take thou charge of thy desolate Creature; be thou a Father to the Fatherless; thou art Righteous but I have sinned, and therefore this sorrow hath taken hold on me; my neglect of Duty hath removed away this Mercy. O pardon and remove my Gild, and remember thy Promise to the Fatherless. O save me, for I am thine; I desire none but thee; be thou my Comfort and Guide unto Death. Help me to be more an obedient Child, to honour thee in my Generation. Supply my wants and necessities, and make up all in thyself; and help me to eye thee as a God in Covenant, and let me know that I am reconciled unto thyself, by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and let Mortality be swallowed up of Life: and Lord help me (though little in respect of Stature) that I may be tall in respect of Grace; and knowing that I have a great journey to take, that I may set out betimes to enquire-the way, and that when my Glass is run, I may have finished my Master's Work, and my Course with Joy: and O that I may never cease Labouring until I have finished my Work, knowing that they that run in a Race, run all, but one gets the Prize: O let, O Lord, Integrity and Sincerity preserve me, and that for Christ's sake. Amen.   

The unconverted Sinners Prayer, for a full Conviction of the dangerous state he is in.  
GReat, Gracious, and most Righteous Lord God, blessed for ever be thine unspeakable mercy, that desirest not the Death of the worst of Sinners, that turn unto thee to live for ever. Oh thou that of Persecutors madest glorious Martyrs, of an Adultress madest an humble Penitent. O show forth thy Long-suffering, Patience, and Forbearance upon me. Deliver me from all my Sins, from thy Wrath to come, and that Eternal Judgement that ends in Hell, with Devils and damned Impenitents. Leave me not in the state of Devils, without hope of pardon. O pardon that great sin of setting more by Meat and Drink and beastly Pleasures than by thee, the God that made me a rational Creature, that slighted endless Glory, that took more care of an Earthly Tabernacle than an Immortal Soul; that took more care to avoid Shame, Poverty and Sickness, than to avoid everlasting Shame, Pain and Horror in Hell. Blessed be the Lord, that will not leave such sinners as myself to die in their sins, but pluck such sirebrands out of the jaws of Hell, and gives them to know the evil of sin. O that I were once fit to taste and see how gracious the Lord is to believers; to them alone he is precious, the fairest of Ten thousands. O guide my feet into those untrodden paths, that lead to the Fountain of Living Waters, set open for sinners to wash in, and be purged from their filthiness. O give me faith to see him whom my sins have pierced. Give me the grace and spirit of supplication to mourn after him; without which grace I have not, nor can have, no hope of pardon. For what communion hath darkness with light? O possess my Soul with this belief, That without holiness there can be no happiness, without fanctity no salvation, nor without heavenly-mindedness no Heaven: O be it so unto thy servant, for his sake that suffered for great, nay the greatest of sinners, of whom I am the chief; that I may live to praise thee and admire the riches of thy immense and boundless love to Eternity. Amen.   

A Prayer for power to believe.  
O Glorious and Merciful Lord God, whose abundant and unspeakable goodness has been extended to poor man, before he had a being in the World: Let the beams of thy loving kindness environ me, and as thou hast been pleased to convince me of sin, righteousness, and judgement; O help me to believe in him whose mercy extends to the ends of the Earth; and that I may take i●●●● on him by the hand of faith, that it may be the substance of things not seen; to take hol● on the rich promise laid down in thy word concerning thy Son, who is mighty to save all them that come unto God by him, and to accept him in all his Offices, as King and Lawgiver, to rule and defend me, as P●ie●t to sacrifice for me, as Prophet to reveal the will of God unto me. Help me to trust in thy holy Spirit, to mortify and kill my sin in me, and to illuminate, and sanctify, and quicken me, that thereby I may be rendered meet for serving thee here, and enjoy thee hereafter. O help me to demonstrare, out of my Conversation, what is the hope of my Calling, and establish me in a constant belief of Salvation, by the apprehension of a renewed mind, from fleshly and transitory joys, to an heavenly and permanent happiness, where there are pleasures for evermore. Help thy poor Creature to be Conqueror, yea, more than Conqueror through Jesus Christ, over Devil, World, and Flesh; that I may be renewed in the spirit of my mind. Possess me with the New Birth, strengthen all my inward Faculties, my Faith, my Love and Zeal; and whereas my desire was to run from God, it may now be to run unto him, and cast myself upon him for all in Christ Jesus. Amen.   

The Converts Prayer.  
MOst powerful Lord God, thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory; thy ways are perfect and pure: Let God be true and every one a liar. Blessed be thy Name for thy unspeakable kindness and love to me, who am less than the least of all thy mercies: Thou hast been pleased to bring me out of darkness and shadow of death, and lead me into the way of peace, and out of darkness into thy mervellous light, and to bring me into the Kingdom of thy dear Son. O the immensity, the breadth and length, depth, and height of the loving kindness of God in the Lord Jesus Christ; that wast pleased of a Bondslave to make a Free-denizon of Heaven; of a Prisoner of Hell and Death, one at Liberty; and delivered me from that Eternal Wrath to come. Oh! the free mercy of God, that hath withholden death from seizing upon me, the which if it had; where had I been. Oh happy and blessed was it, that thou shouldst put out thine hand, and touch me with the rod of thine affliction; so that I may say, It is good for me that I was afflicted. O blessed Redeemer, give me thy Spirit, without which I am undone, to apply the precious Blood of the New Covenant to my Soul, without which I can do nothing; that thy good Spirit may direct me into the way everlasting, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is Life Eternal. Inflame me with love to thyself, thy Laws and Commandments, Preserve me from the sin of Presumption; let the love of Holiness in me express itself, in the abandoning all and every similitude of sin from my heart, that I may abhor that (viz.) Sin, that once was so amiable to me. Let thy strength appear in my weakness, and let thy grace be sufficient for me. Accommodate me with a resolvedness to follow thee. Let Christ, Heaven, and Glory, be my Object and my Mark to aim at. Let Christ be my Centre, upon whose account I conclude my imperfect requests, in his own words, Our Father, etc.   

Considerations of Death.  
1. COnsider, That all the Pleasures, Treasures, and Comforts, of this Life, as Wife, Children, Goods, Gold, Friends, Lands, Live, large Possessions, Dignity, Honours, sumptuous Fare and pleasant Prospects, spacious Walks, delicate Gardens, nay, even the World itself, in its lustre and all that is therein, on which thou hast doted so much, and squandered so much time in, shall and must all at the stroke of Death, be extinguished; the which, Heaven itself, or any created Power, cannot prevent, but will quite be obliterated and for ever lost, never more to be minded or meddled with or enjoyed, either in this World or the World to come; but in as much as we must give an account of our using and abusing of them: When our breath goeth forth out of our Bodies, our thoughts perish, and therefore make it thy business, and think it thy chiefest prudence to wean thy affections from this fading World, by little and little, with a resolute and holy violence, lest thou find it harder to part with all at once.  
2. Consid. To die, is but once to be done, and if we miscarry in that, we miscarry and are undone for ever: therefore make it thy chief business to learn to die. It would be better never to have lived, than to be ignorant to die. Many will, nay doubtless, the profanest wretch, will desire the death of the righteous, but unless it be learned before, by living the life of the righteous, you shall never learn nor know how to die. O learn this lesson, seeing there is no working in the Grave, whither we go.  
3. Consid. That if thou make the best preparation for Death thou canst, thou wilt find it hard enough to die; if thy evidences be never so firm and good, thou wilt find that all will be little enough: if they be fair the Devil will blur them; if he cannot blot them, he'll do what he can to accuse thee; he is the accuser of the Brethren; he's the roaring Lion that will devour thee if he can.  
4. Consid. That Death, if not prepared for, will look mighty ghastly and grim; he is called, The King of Terrors and Fears; he'll surprise thee, for he comes suddenly, as a thief in the night: 'tis true, if he come, thou being prepared, it will put an end to all thy fears, and dispossess thee of terrestrial substance, and possess thee of a celestial and permanent substance.  
5. Consid. That after Death, that is, after the Souls separation from the Body, the Body will be but a loathsome spectacle, all thy friends will as it were, abhor it. Abraham says, Let me bury my dead out of sight.  
6. Consid. That nothing will avail the Soul, but Grace and a good Conscience, when it shall (after separation from the crazy House of Clay) be brought before the great Tribunal of the most high God, to give an account of all the deeds, whether good or bad, done in the Body.  
7. Consid. That Christ, who offers Salvation now, by his Word and Mercies, shall then appear in slaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know him not, nor obey not his Gospel.  
8. Consid. That having passed once his Sentence, whether of Life or Death, it will be absolute and irrevocable. O therefore, be not slothful in this work, lest the bubble of thy life be extinguished before thy work be done.  
9 Consid. That after Death, God's Messenger, hath executed his office (viz.) cut the thread of thy life, thou must presently appear before God, the great Judge, to receive either the sentence of life, or the sentence of everlasting death.   

Considerations of Judgement.  
O Thou impenitent sinner that wilt die in thy sins. 1. Consider, What a dreadful sight the coming of the Son of Man in the Clouds will be; he whom thou hast so often by thy sins pierced, whom thou hast rejected, scorned, and vilified; and the blood thou hast so often trod under foot, must then be thy Judge, from whose righteous sentence there will be no appeal; now he stands to invite thee and woe thee, with the fairest terms of love; but then he will pronounce thy dreadful doom; and his poor redeemed ones, which now thou thinkest not worthy to live, but dost scorn, mock, revile, persecute, and kill, will then sit on the Throne on the right hand of the Lamb, as thy Judges too. How then wouldst thou wish Rocks to fall upon thee, and be beholding to Mountains to cover thee, nay, how said wouldst thou change natures with Toads, or Serpents, Owls, or Bats, the worst of Creatures; or that thou couldst be annihilated, and that thy immortal Soul should become mortal.  
2. Consid. Also, That then all Relations will cease. and so all Love, and worldly Friendship. Then the loving Husband must rejoice in the Damnation of the wicked Wise: and the tender and indulgent Mother must stand, not only with dry and cheerful Checks, and assent to the just Doom of her impenitent Children, but glorifying God for executing his Justice and Vengeance upon them. Therefore, O sinner, if thou wouldst have Christ, Friends, and Relations, befriend thee at that day, be an unreconcilable enemy now unto thy sins; and be at peace with God through thy Redeemer.  
O miserable sinner, Consider where wilt thou appear at that day, when God will make a separation between good and bad; when thou must give an account for all things done in the flesh; for every thought of thine heart, every word of thy mouth, every moment of time, every omission of any holy duty, every commission, all company thou camest in, every Sermon thou hearest, every Sabbath thou hast misspent; and then all thy sins and villainy, whether committed secretly or openly, will be viewed by the whole World. To prevent this, try now thy heart, life, calling, thoughts, words, and deeds; and arraign, accuse, and condemn thyself at the bar of thy Conscience, that thou mayst be acquitted at God's Judgement Bar at the last day.  
If thou be a Saint, consider, that then thy Soul and Body must make make a second, but a more happy, and Blessed marriage jointly: and together to enjoy and be drowned, as it were, in that glory, that God prepared for his Elect from before the Foundation of the World: then thy innocency and righteousness shall be clear, and made conspicuous to the whole World; when Christ sets thee at his right hand, when thy Friend, thy eldest Brother, and thy Husband, will be thy Judge; then thy Pains, Losses, Crosses, and Sufferings, will be fully rewarded. Thy Persecutors, Troublers, and Opposers, will be avenged upon; and all thy good Deeds reckoned up to thy comfort, but all sin done away. Then thou shalt sit on a throne crowned with Immortality and Glory, with those judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and shalt hear that blessed, that wonderfully acceptable, and heart-ravishing invitation, Come ye Blessed of my Father, and inherit the Kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundation of the World. When your Enemies and Troublers shall be packed to Hell, with this dreadful and fatal doom, Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Depart from Glory, that's Hell enough; depart with a curse into fire, and that everlasting.   

Considerations of Hell.  
COnsider first, The pain of loss, privation of God's glorious presence, and eternal separation from those everlasting felicities, joys, and bliss above; is the more horrible part of Hell: The Torments and Miseries of many Hells, in the judgement of the Learned, are nothing to the shutting out everlastingly, from the Kingdom of Heaven, and an unhappy Banishment, from the beatifical Vision of the most Sovereign, only, and chiefest good, the thrice glorious Jehovah, blessed for ever: I say, the loss of any of these will be a far greater loss than Ten thousand Worlds, were they all composed of purest Gold, and brimful with richest Jewels, Let therefore, every one in the Name and Fear of God, as we would not for a few bitter-sweets, or a vile lust, in this World, for an inch of time, lose an inconceivable delight to all Eternity in another World, with St. Chrysostom, choose rather the punishments of Hell than offend Christ.   

Of the pains of Sense.  
1. COnsider the horror, anxiousness, heart-corroding, and too late vain repentance, that will torment thy Soul, for thy so sinful transacted life: when thou thinkest how many precious opportunities thou mightest have improved for thy Souls eternal good, but hast wilfully cast them away; how many a good Sermon, and Soul-market thou didst negligently go through? How many dreadful things thou hast committed? How many necessary duties thou hast omitted? How thou hast dishonoured God, grieved Friends and Relations, and when thou wast called upon to repent, thou wouldst not turn and live? Ah! I say, such considerations as these, will then tear thy Soul to pieces; and be a great part of thy Hell.  
2. And as to the things thou dost at present feel, they will be unexpressible: There is no tongue can express, or heart conceive, the extremity and exquisiteness of it; all that the angry Arm of an Almighty power can inflict upon thee, O sinner, shall be inflicted upon thee to the full.  
In a word, If the several pains of Discases and Maladies, incident to our Nature; nay, and add to it all the most exquisite and unheard of Tortures, etc. be collected all into one extreme anguish, yet it will be nothing to the Torment which shall ever possess and plague the least part of a damned Body.  
And as for the Soul, let all the griefs, horrors, and despairs, that ever rend in pieces any heavy heart, and vexed consciences, etc. be heaped together into one extreme Terror, it would all fall infinitely short of that desperate rage and restless anguish, which shall eternally torture the least and lowest faculty of the Soul. Oh what rational man that hath Understanding, Affections and Senses, would not tremble at such thoughts as these, and seriously project how to evade all this?  
3. As to the everlastingness of these Tortures, consider that that will be another Hell to thee. O Eternity, Eternity, upon which depends the height, length, breadth, and depth of immortality in the World to come, even two Eternity's, the one infinitely Blessed, and the other infinitely Cursed; the loss of everlasting joys, and lying in eternal flames, and never ending pleasures or pains follow the well or mispending this moment upon Earth.  
With what unwearied Care and Watchfulness ought we to watch all the days of our appointed time, to make our Calling and Election sure? With what industry and diligence to ply this Moment, to fit us for that Eternity.   

Of the Joys of Heaven.  
THe excellency of Heaven, no mortal Heart, no finite Head, can possibly Conceive or Comprehend.  
The Eye of Man hath seen Wonderful Things, and the Ear heard most Delicious and Ravishing Melody; the Heart can Conceive and Imagine strange Felicities, yet cannot Apprehend this. Our Gracious God in his Holy and unsearchable Wisdom doth detain from the Eye of our Understanding, a full comprehension of the most Glorious state above: to Exercise in the mean time, our Faith, Love, Obedience, Patience, etc. Heaven is called a great City, a Place most Glorious above all Comparison, and Conceit. Wherein many Mansions are Prepared, for many thousands of glorified bodies; after the last day, besides the numberless numbers of blessed Angels.  
Oh with what infinite sweet Delight may glorious Souls be Drowned, in the Imaginations of these Felicities, whilst in this vale of Tears.  
Heaven is called the Kingdom of God, of his own making; who doth all things like himself.  
It is called an Inheritance, a rich and glorious Inheritance; an Inheritance of the Saints in Light, an Inheritance incorruptible; a Crown of Righteousness; a Crown of Life; a Crown of Glory; an exceeding Eternal weight of Glory; fullness of Joys; Everlasting Pleasures.  
Who would not be ravished with the very thoughts of this eternal and matchless Glory, to which all other things are but as loss and dung; and in comparison of whom are not worthy mentioning.   

Of the Beauty and Blessedness of Glorfied Bodies.  
THey shall be made like the Glorious Body of Christ, and that is Honour enough, and Happiness; too besides their freedom from all Defects and Imperfections, they shall be like the Angels of God in Heaven. Pains, Miseries, and all Evils, they shall have an Everlasting Redemption from: and shall be Crowned Gloriously with many positive Prerogatives, etc.  

1. Imortality; Glorified bodies cannot possibly die.  
2. Incorruptibleness; never more to be obnoxious to the least Corruption, or Putrefaction, or Dissolution. They shall be Spiritual and Heavenly as the Angels in Heaven; and in all things subject to the Spirit of God.    

Of the Happiness of the Soul.  
WE shall know as we are known, our Memory shall be perfected, we shall be beatifically enlightened with a clear and glorious sight of God himself; which Divines call a Beatifical Vision.  
It is sufficient that in Heaven we shall see him face to face, whose very Countenance to behold is the life of the Soul. It ravisheth the Soul and fills it; yea, as full as ever it can hold or contain; insomuch, as some that have had but a glimpse of it, whilst in this lower Orb, have cried out, Enough, enough, Lord, I can hold no more. And if so full by one glance here, what shall it be when immerged in the midst of that boundless Ocean of Immortality and Glory, that for its Immensity can never be defined. Paul (when taken up in the Third Heaven) saw things unutterable, not to be expressed by any mortal man: as if he should have said, If any one should ask me what I saw, I saw things a thousand times beyond what I or any montal man can express or imagine. O the height, breadth, length, and depth, of that glory that is prepared for the Saints before the foundation of the the World; Eye hath not seen, Ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what great things are laid up for them that love God. O happy Soul that shall be drowned in this boundless happiness. No wonder if the sense of this makes Martyrs to rejoice in their sufferings: Paul desired to be dissolved.    

A Consolatary Discourse, OR A DIALOGUE between CHRIST and a Disquiet SOUL.  Christ. 
MY Beloved, why fearest thou, and art so disquieted within thyself? dost thou well to be angry with my Chastisement? And why art thou offended that I should make thee like unto myself, causing thee to walk in that way, of inward and outward griefs; which I did tread before thee? Why refusest thou to take up my Cross and follow me, and to taste of that Cup that I drank before thee?  Soul. 
O Lord, give me of that Spirit of thine, and that trouble with thee, and for thee, shall be sweet unto me. Whatsoever thou didst bear, it was for me: and if I were so disposed, as I should; then would I be content to bear all that thou my God, shouldst lay upon me. But ah alas it is my cursed Corruption, that makes me think thy Cross my Burden, Lord therefore uphold me by thy Grace, that I may count thy Yoke easy, and find Joy in those Sufferings with thee.  Christ. 
I know the cause of thy Grief and Terror to be the Consideration of thy Sin: but I pray thee why lookest thou so to thy Sins, that thou lookest not also to my Mercies? Why wouldst thou so extol thy evil deeds, that thou shouldst so extenuate my rich Mercies? or in any way compare the one with the other? Was it for thy good deeds that I first entered into friendship with thee? and thinkest thou now that for thine evil deeds, I will forsake thee? Seeing it is among my praises, that the work that I begin I will perfect? I like it well indeed, to see thee grieved for the Sins thou hast committed against me; but I would have thee also be comforted in the Mercies I have showed thee. Call to mind my works of Old, and what I have done to thee, and for thee, since thou canst Remember: How cared I for thee in thy tender years? look back now and see, did not the Angel of my presence lead thee: when thou hadst no wisdom, no strength to Govern thee? Did I not then begin to acquaint thee with the Knowledge and Fear of my Name? Canst thou deny now that my Mercy preserved thee from thy Sins, whereunto thy Nature was prone, and ready to have declined? And when thou sinnedst, with what long patience have I waited thy turning, and how lovingly have I winked at thy transgressions? And when I had given thee Grace, to repent of thy Sins, and to seek my Favour and Mercy for the Sins of thy youth, with a melting Heart, and a mourning Eye, canst thou deny, that I have filled thy Heart with my Joys and made thy tongue burst out in Glorifying Speeches: and why then wilt not thou trust in my Mercies to the end.  Soul. 
I were Lord most unthankful, if I should not confess, that many a time in the multitude of my thoughts thy mercies have comforted me: but ah alas I have not answered thy loving kindness; for after many mercies received I have sinned against thee, contrary to my light; and my Sins are now before me, witnessing that I am unworthy to taste any more of thy Mercies.  Christ. 
Is my mercies for a day, or for a year; or is it for ever and ever to them whom I have made mine by my Sufferings? Wilt thou restra in my Mercies, and limit them within so narrow Bounds, as to think they cannot be Extended over all thy Transgressions? Wilt thou measure my mercies with so narrow a Span, as to think I have no more to Give, than thou hast an Heart to Receive? Is it not among my praises, that I am able to give to my Children, more than they are able to think or ask of me? Knowest thou not, that as the Heavens are above the Earth, so my thoughts are above thine? Hast thou not considered that my Mercies is above all my Works; how much more than is it above thee, who art nothing in Comparison of my Works? And if above thee, how much more above all that thou canst do? Why then wilt thou match thy Sins with my Mercies? If I require such Mercies in my Children, as I will have one to forgive another, not only Seven times, but Seventy times seven times: what pity, compassion, and readiness to forgive is in myself?  
Therefore my beloved despair not, for the multitude of thy sins; but be comforted with the promises of my Mercy. I have made them without any exception of time, for at what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sins, I have promised, to put away his wickedness out of my remembrance: I have made them without exception of sins; for albeit your sins were as Scarlet, they shall be made as white as Snow. I have made them without exception of Persons; for whosoever shall departed from his wicked ways, I shall receive him. Let this threefold universality of my promise sustain thee, that thy Infidelity contract not my Mercies into narrower bounds, than I have extended them.  Soul. 
Be merciful, O Lord, to my Infidelity; I believe in Christ, Lord, help my unbelief; Establish and Confirm my unstable heart with thy good and holy Spirit. My Conscience doth in such sort condemn me, that I stand in fear of thy Justice; for thou art greater than the Conscience, and wilt much more condemn me; if thou dost enter into Judgement with me.  Christ. 
O my beloved, consider that the cause of thy disquietness is, because that with the one Eye thou lookest unto thy Sins, and unto thy Father's Justice with the other; and that is the reason of thy disquietness: but doth not look unto me in whom his Justice is satisfied, and thy Sins already punished. Tell me (I pray thee) dost thou think to get within thyself, and in the holiness of thy Disposition, that which will Exempt thee from the fear of his Justice; or art thou content to seek it of me? If in thyself thou seekest it, remember what thou art a doing: Wilt thou have the Lord bound and obliged to thee? Wilt thou be thine own Saviour? or shall it be said his mercy saved thee not? If no Misery were in thee, whereupon should his mercy be manifested? and if thy Disposition in the Earth, were every way such as it should be, than what remaineth but that the praise of his Mercy should less appear: turn thee therefore unto me, and seek thyself in me. If thou wilt know what is thine, thou art a sinner; let my praise be reserved to myself, I am thy Saviour. Esteemest thou that my wounds are ineffectual, or that there is no force in my sufferings; countest thou this, as that my Virtue and Merit cannot cure them? Will a Physician pour out a rare Ointment, where no need is, or else where it cannot profit? and thinkest thou that my Father would have my Blood to be shed in vain? If his Justice terrify thee, remember it was satisfied in me; and that he pronounceth this Sentence himself, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. I came into the World, not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Tarry not from me because thou art a sinner, but for that cause come to me and I will refresh thee.  Soul. 
O Lord, I know that there is a cleansing and reconciling Virtue in thy Blood; that Life is in thy Death; but still I fear my sins deserve thou shouldest neither apply thy Virtue, nor thy Merit, to me: for ah! alas, I find that yet the old Man is strong and lively in me; and that yet the motions of sin have power in me to bring forth fruit unto death.  Christ. 
Be not, I pray thee, injurious to the work of my Grace in thee; complain not so of thy Corruption, but that thou mayest give unto me mine own Praise. Canst thou deny but that thou hast felt my Power working in thy Soul? Have I not sprinkled thy Conscience with my pacifying Blood; from which hath flowed an attestation of good things; such a sense of mercy, as many times hath filled thy heart with Joy, and thy mouth with a song of Praise? Have not I stirred thee up in great fervency to call on the Name of the Lord? Have I not made thee to give my Name a public testimony, with thine own disadvantage; and how oft hath thine heart been effectually moved at the hearing of my Word, in such sort as it hath wrought in thee an holy remorse and inward contrition for thy sins, which hath broken out into tears? Have I not made thee a wrestler against thine inordinate lusts? Have I not given thee strength many a time to stand against Satan's tentations, whereas if I had left thee to thyself, how oft hadst thou been made a prey to thine enemy?  
Rememberest thou not that the Tempter hath assaulted thee, but I have withdrawn the occasion of thy sin, and when the occasion served did I not restrain and hold back the Tempter? yea, when both the occasion and the Tempter were present, have I not filled thy heart with the fear and love of my Name; and so kept thee from sinning against me? And whereas many times thou of thy weakness hast offended, did I not with a melting Heart and a mourning Eye, raise thee again, and renew my former familiarity with thee? so that thou canst never say from the first hour I began to renew thee, that I suffered thee to lie in thy sins, as have done others, that are strangers to my Grace? And many notable effects of my workings in thee, thou canst not deny.  
Are not these undoubted tokens of my Grace in thee? Will Nature do such things? Mayest not thou feel that by these I have begun to apply to thee my merit for the remission of thy sins, and my virtue for quickening thee to a new life? Therefore think of thyself as basely as thou wilt, but let the work of my Grace be esteemed of thee, according to the excellency of it. Be humble and cast down when thou lookest upon thine own corruption, I find no fault with thee; but I rejoice at the new workmanship I have begun in thee. Indeed, if there were nothing in thee, but that which thou hast of Nature, thy estate were miserable: but seeing thou seest a new workmanship in thee, be comforted. Art thou so in darkness that there is no light in thee? that besides it, there is not in thee a will to do good also, and a love to righteousness? If thou sayest thou hast no sin in thee, thou art a liar; and thinkest thou that I who have begun to translate thee from darkness to light and to make thee a new creature; will leave thee, until I have done my work in and upon thee? Therefore beloved, give not ear to thine own Corruption and Satan, as to take their testimony against thee, or to make thee think that my pledges that I have given thee, are not worthy of credit; that by them thou shouldest be assured of mercy.  Soul. 
I cannot deny (O Lord) but that many times I have felt the sweetness of thy consolations; which have greatly rejoiced my Soul. But alas! my grief is so much the greater, that by mine own default I should now be deprived of them; for I have grieved thy holy Spirit; yea, I have done what I could to quench him; and therefore it is that the Comforter, who was wont to refresh my Soul, is away, nor can I feel his presence with me as before.  Christ. 
Because I am not changed, therefore is it that the Sons of Jacob are not consumed. Many indeed are the changes whereunto ye are subject, but I remain the same, and there is no shadow of alteration in me; James 1.17. Be not afraid (O my well beloved) neither esteem thyself to be rejected of me; albeit I sometimes hid my Face from thee; all my ways are mercy and truth to mine: It is for thee that sometimes I go from thee, and it is for thee that again I turn unto thee; for if I come it is for thy consolation, that continual heaviness through manifold temptations should not oppress thee? How oft hast thou found this, when thou wast sick of love I have strengthened thee with the Flagons of Wine, and comforted thee with my Apples; my fruit hath been sweet in thy mouth, and I have put my left hand under thy head, and with my right hand I have embraced thee; Can. 2. But least the greatness of my consolations should exalt thee to disdain thy Brother, and offend me, by imputing that to thine own disposition, I have again drawn these glorious feelings from thee; give me the praise, that I know best what is expedient for thee: Had my servant Paul need to be humbled with the buffets of Satan; lest he should be exalted above measure, by the greatness of his Revelations: and hast not thou need that by my inward exercises I should hold thee humble? If my comfort were always present with thee, thou wouldst think that thy Heaven, and permanent City, were on Earth; and so cease to inquire for a better to come? Thou wouldst take the place of thy Banishment for thy home, and the Earnest for the Principal Sum which I have promised thee Consider this wifely with thyself, that albeit I smile not alike on thee at all times; and fill thee not always with my Joys, yet I always love thee; if thou continue in my Love: for whom I love I love unto the end. If I close my Chamber door upon thee; it is not to hold thee out: it is to learn thee to knock. If I cover myself with many vails, that thou canst not see a glance of my loving Countenance; 'tis only to stir thee up to seek me: and if sometimes I seem to go from thee, 'tis to provoke thee to follow me; that thou mayest make haste from the Earth to Heaven, where thou shalt enjoy me without intermission. Was Joseph so wise as to conceal his tender affection from his Brethren, till he brought them to an humble acknowledgement of their sin? And was he again so loving, as when he saw them so humbled, his affection was inflamed, and compelled him to reveal himself unto them? And thinkest thou that I am less wise and loving in dealing with mine? I gave at first sharp answers to that Woman of Canaan's Petitions; and so will I, to deal roughly, seemingly, with those whom I love, and to be angry, even at their Prayers; but in the end I will make my love manifest to them, and with mine endless mercies embrace them  Soul. 
Suffer me yet once again (Lord) to speak unto thee, that thou mayest answer me, and I shall complain no more. If we saw that such were our Disposition, as thy holy Word doth require in us, than should thy comforts rejoice us: but alas, how far am I from that which I should be; my strength is enfeebled, therefore do mine inordinate affections ofttimes overcharge me. If I turn me to pray, I cannot for the hardness of mine heart; the contrite spirit, the melting heart, the mourning eye is gone from me. If I seek comfort in thy Word I find it not: I am troubled also with doubtings; armies of fears and sorrows are against me, and all through weakness of my faith; partly for want of that light that should inform me; my infidelity abuseth me to think that thy visitations come from thine anger; and causeth me to answer the Reproofs of my conscience, as if they were just occasions; and partly for want of that apprehending and applying Virtue that is in Faith. I am spoiled of the comfort that thy Word hath offered unto me. Therefore (O Lord) have pity on the desolate state of my Soul.  Christ. 
Let not (my beloved) the considerations of thy wants, defects, and imperfections discourage thee. Remember that the measure of Grace which I have given to my Saints upon Earth; I have called it an Earnest-penny, and First-fruits of the Spirit, to tell them that whatever grace they have gotten, it is nothing in comparison of that which they will get. Seek not that therefore in the Earth which I have resolved to give thee, no ways, till thou come to Heaven; thy Blessedness in this Life stands not in a satiety and full enjoying of that which thou wouldst have, but in an hungering and thirsting for it. If I had pronounced them Blessed, that are now satisfied with Righteousness, than thy wants might most justly discourage thee: But I called them Blessed that hunger: If therefore thou dost follow after Sanctification, and art weary with the servitude of thy sin, if thou dost seek comfort in my Word, and can find none of these at the first, as thou wouldst, yet remember I have promised to fulfil the desires of them that fear me. If it grieve thee that thou canst not pray at all times alike; remember that my Children are oftentimes evil judges of themselves; and that their Estate is not always to be measured according to their feeling: for many Prayers may be made in them to me, by my Spirit, with sighs and sobs, which they themselves are not able to express, yet are known to me, and are like loud crying Voices, which I cannot but answer.  Soul. 
O my Soul content thee with the Lords dispensations, and doubt not but all thy wants and holy desires shall all be satisfied. Remember how careful thy Saviour was of those People that followed him. I have Compassion (saith he) on this People, because they have continued with me already three days, and have nothing to eat. I will not let them departed fasting, lest they faint in the way: O most sweet and comfortable Speeches, they seek not from him, and he is careful to give them: if he was so careful to satisfy their Bodily necessities, will he neglect the Spiritual necessities of his own. They followed him three days, and he counted it a long time; they are to go from him, and he feared lest they should faint. O my distrustful Soul, wilt thou once learn to trust in the Mercy of thy God assuredly? Will he not satiate thee who seeks him? Will he not answer thee who prays unto him? Will he not care for thee who hast waited upon him, not three days, but many years? And will he let thee faint in following him, who would not let them faint who were to go from him? O sweet Saviour, happy are they that trust in thee. Lord, therefore increase my Faith in thee, that nothing be able ever to separate me from thee.  Christ. 
As for the weakness of thy faith, which I see is the ground of all thy trouble, it proceedeth either from the want of knowledge, or else from the want of Application: 'Tis indeed a special benefit, to have the mind enlightened with true light: seek therefore my light to shine unto thee, by continual Prayer, and seeking into the Scriptures, that thou be not troubled with the error of conscience; as if it were a just accusation. I have indeed set conscience to be a warner unto thee; but then shalt thou take heed to her warnings, when they are warranted by my Word. If the error of thy conscience terrify thee in any thing, and make thee think that thy Crosses and Visitations do come from mine anger; go and inform conscience better by the Word: Remember whom I chastise, I love; and when I chastise thee, I am not seeking satisfaction to my justice: What wonder such thoughts disquiet many? Consider (I pray thee) that notable promise of mine, made to my Servant David, and in him to all the rest of my Saints; If they break my Statutes, I will visit their Transgressions with my Rods; yet my loving kindness will I not take from them, nor alter my Covenant.  Soul. 
O Word full of comfort (my Soul) forget it never, that even when his Rods are laid on thee; and though thy Transgressions be many, yet will he not alter his Covenant with thee: Remember it (I say) that in thy trouble thou give no more place to those misconceptions of Gods working with thee: as godly Job though in his trouble, that the Lord was pursuing him for his sins, and making him to possess the iniquity of his Youth; which as yet appears, by the course of that History, was not the Lord's intention: So have I thought many times that the heavy hand of the Lord laid on me, had proceeded from his wrath; as if he had shut up his tender Mercy from me in displeasure for ever. But Lord let thy Light abide with me, that I sin no more with such distrustful motions against thee; and now Lord speak on yet further to thy Servant, for thy comforts have rejoiced my Soul.  Christ. 
Now concerning the weakness of thy faith, in the apprehension and application of my Promises: Remember that I am he that will not break the bruised Reed, nor quench the Smoking Flax. What smaller thing is there than a Grain of Mustardseed, albeit the measure of thy faith were no more, yet have I not excluded it from the participations of my promise. A loving Father will delight to be holden by the hand of his tender Child, and knowest thou not, that as a Father spareth his Son; so will the Lord spare him that fears him. Hast thou not read that although the faith of my Servant Jacob, was very weak, as thou mayest perceive by the great fear he conceived of Esau; yet his weak faith was able to hold me till I Blessed him: be not therefore discouraged; for albeit, thou canst not lay hold with the hand of strong faith, if thou canst but touch the Hem of my Garment with thy Finger, thou shalt draw virtue out of me. Consider also with thyself, that the faith of my Children is never greater, than when their feeling is weakest, and lest perceived. 'Tis easy for every one to believe, in the midst of glorious feelings, and unspeakable joys: but when a man can feel no comfort in me, and yet believeth on me, and waiteth on me for comfort, certainly the faith of that man is great. And such was the faith of my servant, who in his greatest trouble gave me this answer, Albeit thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee, O Lord, Yet both against sense and feeling. And did not also that Woman of Canaan, with invincible saith cleave unto my mercy, even then when she had no feeling of mercy. I gave her no favourable answer, for which in the end I called her faith a great faith.  Soul. 
O Lord, thou art the strength whereby I stand in tentation; cursed be he that would make my Soul conceive wrongfully of thee. Be merciful O Lord unto me, and never let the malice of mine Enemies prevail over me. Sweet Jesus, keep the heart, that through thine own Grace would fain keep thee. And now my Soul, remember that this is but the time of fight; the time of triumphing will come: Why then shall the continuance of these restless thoughts disquiet thee? If thou hadst never been victorious but once in all thy life rhyme, yet what mercy had it been, that the Lord in the midst of the Battle, should make one to triumph? But thou canst not deny that many joyful Victories now and before hath the Lord given thee.  
Therefore now, my Soul, rejoice and return unto thy former rest; for the Lord hath been beneficial to thee: and account every one of these temporal victories, a pledge to thee of that full and final victory, that once thou shalt enjoy over all thine enemies; when the God of Peace shall tread down Satan under thy feet.  

The Soul rejoiceth in the Lord.  
O Lord, if such comfort be in thy Cross, what is in thy Crown? And if thou dost give us such joy, when thou takest us into thine hand to correct us with thy rods; Lord what wilt thou make us to find, when thou shalt embrace us in thy Arms, to kiss us with the kisses of thy Mouth? O that these feelings might for ever abide with me! What trouble would not be easy where thy comforts are present? Surely (O Lord) all trouble vanisheth, so soon as thou dost begin to glance upon my Soul. Therefore, O my Love, my Light, my Life, my Joy, my Crown, my Glory, my Strength, help in the time of need; stand thou on my side, and I will not fear what my Enemy can do unto me. O happy time that ever I knew thee! Blessed be the Name of the Lord for evermore.   

The Souls triumph over Satan.  
O Enemy, Satan, albeit thine enmity be troublesome unto me; yet I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, that thou art against me, and that he hath put me in his Warfare to fight against thee. When I consider that in Paradise the Lord proclaimed irreconcilable enmity between thee and my blessed Saviour, the Seed of the Woman, Christ Jesus; I account my hope happy that thou art against me, and that Grace is given to me to fight against thee; for thereby I know that I am none of thine: but I do stand on that side whereof Christ is the Captain, all his Saints are Soldiers, and the Victory is most certain.  
O deceitful Serpent, if I have found such error arising from those sins which foolishly I did by thy enticements; what should I have found if I had followed thee in all the rest, from the which the Lords preventing mercy kept me. I have learned by experience, that thou art a faithless Traitor; thou dost tempt a man to sin, and for the same sins that he did by thy instigation commit, thou art he that doth first accuse him.  
The Lord confirm this good purpose of my heart, that I never hearken any more to thy lying words; and suffer not my Soul to be circumvented with thy deceitful snares: And as for the work of my Salvation, seeing it is a work that my God will work in spite of thee; wherefore shall I regard thy testimony? Thou didst put it into question to my Saviour, whether or no he was the Son of God; and what wonder if thou darest say unto his Children, that they are none of his? Is there any truth so undoubted that thou wilt not deny at any time? Why shall I enter into disputing with thee any more? My Salvation standeth neither in thy questioning, nor in my answering, but upon the Lords unchangeable love of Election.  
If thou shouldest speak for me, yet should I not be the better; neither if thou speak against me am I the worse. When thou didst confess that Jesus was the Son of God, he rebuked thee, and thought it no honour to him to have thy testimony. When thou didst cry out, that Paul and Silas were the servants of the most high God; albeit thou spakest the truth, yet did they not accept of thy testimony: so although thou wouldst say to me, that I were the elect Child of God, shall I think myself the surer for that; and if on the contrary thou dost deny it, am I therefore the more unsure of Salvation? Speak what thou wilt, thou art always like thyself; thou hast been a liar from the beginning; cursed of the Lord art thou in all thy ways, and with all thy confederates: Cursed are they that are in friendship with thee, and blessed for ever be the Lord that hath delivered me from thy deceit and tyranny.   

The Conclusion of the Dialogue.  
BLessed be thou (O Lord) for that it hath pleased thee to visit the base estate of thy servant, to secure me in my distress, and to comfort me with thy mercies. Lord evermore feed me with this Manna, and refresh me with the springs of the water of Life. Show at all times some sign of thy mercy unto me, that mine enemy, Satan, who laboureth to disquiet me, may be ashamed, because thou art with me to secure me.   

A comfortable Meditation.  
IF ye will mark and consider, ye shall find that the Children of God in all their Temptations, are not so much doers with their will, as sufferers against their will. This cogitation coming into my mind, suddenly comfort did spring in the midst of trouble; God giving me grace to understand that these motions wherewith I am troubled, were not so much actions done by me; for in truth, neither do I like or allow of them, but as spiritual oppressions of mine enemy, who still warreth against me; sometimes with armies of fears; sometimes with armies of doubtings; sometimes with unclean hands of wand'ring motions; and sometimes with troops of worldly cares; making invasion upon my Soul, and labouring to quench the spark of Spiritual Life, which the Lord had begun in me; therefore answer for me (O Lord) for I suffer violence: Mine Enemy would oppress me, but (Lord) my hope for ever is in thee: Secure me with thy strength and I shall live; and, Lord, impute not to me any of those sinful motions, that mine enemy raiseth in me against my Soul.  
Consider this wisely (O my Soul) and remember it: God that hath entered thee into his Warfare, and is thy spectator and helper, will never reckon up to thee Satan's deeds for thine; and learn thou wisely how to distinguish them: but comfort thyself as long as thou art able to stand to thy protestation, that thou dost suffer violence in them; and canst say with the Apostle, This is not I, but sin that dwells in me. O Lord deliver me from the rage of this Spiritual Tyranny; many a time have I looked to have been swallowed up, but thou hast sustained me. Blessed be my God for ever, and the Lord be my God to the end.   

Of the Lord's Supper.  
THE necessity of this will appear, if we consider what advantage doth accrue from hence to us-ward; and this appears, 

1. From the admirable satisfaction it yieldeth unto a distressed Soul.  
2. In that it instigates and stirs us up to the study of Piety and Holiness.  
3. In that it enlighteneth our understanding.  
4. In that it corroborates us, or addeth strength to our weakness.  
5. In that it maketh glad the conscience and heart.  
6. In that it is as it were our Viaticum, or Refreshment in our Journey to that Celestial Canaan.    
Three things principally are necessary to a fruitful Reception of the Lords Supper.  

1. Purity and Holiness, Leu. 19.2. Be ye Holy, as I am Holy. And this may be taken in two words: First, To be sorry and humble for past and present sins; and resolve in the Strength of Christ against sins to come. Secondly, To abandon all hatred and malice, because it is a Sacrament of Love.  
2. A right intention; in communicating, 1. Not Customarily. 2. Not Men-pleasingly. 3. Not Appearing outwardly.  
3. Actual Devotion; viz. 1. To endeavour to pray without distraction. 2. To be Spiritually ellevated Christ-ward in Affection in his Ordinance. 3. To come with Humility and devout Reverence.   
After Receiving the Holy Sacrament, 1. Give thanks to Christ the Author, for the vouchsafing it to thee. 2. Be careful for the future more and more to keep up his Worship. 3. Entreat him to abide with thee to the end of the World, and so to Eternity.  
A Soliloquy concerning the Blessed Sacrament.  
Quest. For what cause do I receive this Institution, or Ordinance of God?  
Answ. 1. To the end I may regard and dutifully keep Christ's most Holy Institution.  
2. To demonstrate myself a Member of the same Body, whereof he is the Head.  
3. That I may receive this Sovereign Repast, to the Corroborating of my Faith, and the Health of my Soul.  
Quest. What do I Receive?  
Answ. The Body and Blood of Christ after a Divine and Celestial Manner.  
Quest. What profit have I by the receiving of the same?  
Answ. Increase of Grace, Assurance of God's Love, as a Pledge of an Eternal Inheritance purchased for me in Heaven.  
Quest. Why do I often Communicate?  
Answ. Because I hope I am one of God's Children, and therefore desire to come often unto him, as a God in Covenant and Father in Christ.  
Quest. After what manner ought I to come?  
Answ. By Faith and Repentance, with a fixed Resolution to serve and obey him in Holiness and Righteousness, according to that Ability he shall beslow on me, as long as I live.  
Quest. What should I observe before I have access to the Lords Supper?  
Answ. Doubtless I ought to examine my own Heart what sins I stand guilty of in the sight of God; and earnestly to beg of God, both to discover them to me, and mortify them in me, (being the sole Work of God) and humble me for them.  
2. Steadfastly to confide in Christ for a Pardon of these things; judging him only able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him (for so it is in his Word) and to work in me what is promised in his Word.  
3. To Consider, that I ought to come prepared to such an Holy Ordinance; because it is Commanded in God's Word, Let a Man examine himself, etc.  
4. To Consider that Prayer is the best means whereby I can be sitted for the receiving of such a Sacrament.  
5. To be much in the Meditation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, his Resurrection, and of my rising with him unto a newness of Life, a Life of Holiness here, and in seeking life hereafter. If ye then be risen with him, seek those things that are above.  
6. To consider that these Elements (viz.) Bread and Water, that I am preparing to receive, are so to be received as the Body and Blood of Christ by Faith, whereby his Death is showed forth; and the worthy Receivers are not Corporally and Carnally, but Spiritually partakers of the same Body and Blood, with all his benefits, to their Spiritual Nourishment and growth in Grace.  
In a word, I or any other that would worthily partake of this Lord's Supper, must examine ourselves of our knowledge to discern the Lords Body, of our Faith to feed upon him, of our Repentance, Love and New Obedience; lest coming unworthily, we eat and drink Judgement to ourselves.   

A Prayer before the Communion.  
O Glorious and Omnipotent God, behold I, an unworthy wretch, am presuming to draw nigh thy Table, a Banquet of thine appointment, I am approaching, I say, but as the Patient to the Physician, as the Unclean to the fountain of Mercy, as the Blind to the light of Eternal Brightness; as a poor Beggar to the King of Mercy; as the Naked to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. I beseech thee out of the abundance of thy Pity to heal my Infirmity, to wash my Foulness, to enlighten my Darkness and Blindness, to enrich my Poverty, to clothe my Nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels. O thou the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, grant that I may receive thee with such respect and reverence, with such contrition and fear, with such faith and purity, with such a purpose and humility, as is expedient for my Soul.  
Lord notwithstanding mine unworthiness, give me not only the Sacrament but the virtue of the Sacrament; and grant me so to receive the Body and Blood of thy only Son, that I may be incorporated into the Mystical Body, and be accounted as a Member of the same. Grant that whom I now receive, as it were covered with a vail, I may one day behold in Glory; who liveth and reigneth with thee and thy Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.   

A Thanks giving after the Communion.  
BLessed Jesus, Praises is due to thyself, for that infallible love of thine, that by thy death didst redeem mankind; I beseech thee suffer not that precious Body of thine to be broken, nor thy Blood to be shed for me in vain. O let thy Blessed and Sacred Body feed my Soul, and precious Blood quicken my spirit; and by increasing from one degree to another, I may become a fit member of thy Church, which is thy Mystical Body; and grant that I may never departed from it, nor break that league that I have been renewing at thy Table; but may continue therein, serving thee in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of my life, till I shall enjoy thyself fully to all Eternity in Heaven; where there shall be an end of these things: and that for thy Names sake, Amen.    

Short though sweet MEDITATIONS, Or sweet Cordials for the HEART.  
1. IT is folly to think that we should have Physic and Health both at one time; resolve therefore upon waiting his leisure: after a weary Week comes a Sabbath; and after a Fight Victory.  
2. Unkindness of others to us is but a correction of our unkindness to God.  
3. He that can't abound without Pride and High-mindedness, will never want without too much dejectedness.  
4. Let us not seek ourselves abroad out of ourselves, in the conceits of other men: That man shall never lie quiet that hath not learned to set light by others causeless ill conceits.  
5. Them that set too high a price upon themselves, where others will not come up to their price, they are discontented.  
6. Those whose condition is above their worth, and their pride above their condition, shall never want forrow; yet we must maintain our Authority in our places, for that is Gods and not ours; and we ought ro carry ourselves so as that we may approve ourselves to their consciences, though we can't have their good word.  
7. One end why God suffereth the Soul to tyre and beat itself, is, that finding no rest in itself, it might seek to God.  
8. A man can be in no condition, wherein God is at a loss; if comfort be wanting, he can create Comfort, not only out of nothing, but out of discomfort: He made the Whale that swallowed Ionas, a means to bring him to Land.  
9 The only way to have our will, is to bring it to Gods Will.  
10. The way patiently to suffer God's will, is, to enure ourselves to do it; they that have not enured themselves to the yoke of obedience, will never endure the yoke of suffering.  
11. When we can say to God, Wilt thou have me poor and disregarded, I am well content? Thus a ged Man says Amen to Gods Amen, and puts his Fiat to God's Fiat.  
12. None feel more Experience of God's Providence, than those that are most resolute in their obedience.  
13 After we have given Glory to God, by relying upon his Wisdom, Power, Strength and Truth, we shall find him employing these for our Direction, Assistance, and bringing things to our desired Issue; yea, above what we desire or thought of.  
14. The more Passion, the less Discretion; because Passion hinders the sight of what is to be done.  
15. It is good to observe the particular Becks of Providence, how things join and meet together: Fit occasions, and suiting of things, are intimation of Gods Will. Providence hath a Languags, which is well understood by those that have familiar acquaintance with God: They see a train of Providence leading one way more than another.  
16. Labour to fit a promise to every condition thou art in. There is no condition but hath a promise suitable to it.  
17. He that loveth too much, will grieve too much. It is the greatness of our Affection that causeth our Affliction.  
18. All our noise proceeds from a Swelling Vapour of Pride: It is Air enclosed in the Bowels of the Earth, that shakes it, which all the four Winds can't do.  
19 There is an Art of bearing troubles, if we can learn it without over-troubling ourselves; as in bearing a burden, there is a way to poise it that it weigh not over heavy; if it hang on one side it poizeth the Body down: the greater part we pull on ourselves, by not imparting our Care, so as to take upon us only the care of duty, and leave the rest to God.  
20. We must not mingle our Passions with our Crosses; like foolish Patients, chewing the Pills which they should swallow down.  
21. He that sees not God every where, sees him not where.  
22. He that loses himself in self denia I finds himself in God's Bosom.  
23. In Prosperity fear God, in Adversity love God.  
24. Praying will make thee leave sinning, or sinning make thee leave praying.  
25. Our weakness and inabilities break not the bond of our duties.  
26. No sin but is easier kept out than cast out.  
27. What we are afraid to do before men, we should be afraid to think before God.  
28. Nature vexed and Nature armed, soon discovers itself.  
29. They that retain the memory of mercies, seldom lose the sight of mercies.  
30. What unthankfulness is this, to think upon two or three crosses, so as to forget an hundred blessings? What folly is it to darken our Spirits, and to indispose ourselves to the taking or doing of good.  
31. A Limb out of joint, can do nothing without deformity and pain: Dejection takes off the wheels of the Soul: Joy is as Oil to the Soul, it makes Duties come off cheerfully from ourselves, pleasing to others, and acceptable to God.  
32. Let us go on to add Grace unto Grace; a growing Christian is always a comsortable Christian: the Oil of Grace will bring forth the Oil of Gladness.  
33. Melancholy Persons are things that seem black and dark to themselves; their Souls are as it were dead-black: whatsoever comes to a Melancholy Person, comes in a dark way to his Soul.  
34. In all grievances, let us look to something that may comfort us as well as discourage us; let us look as well to what we enjoy, as to what we want. As in Prosperity God mingles some cross to diet us, so in all crosses there is some thing to comfort us. As there is vanity lieth hid in the best worldly good, so there is a blessing lies hid in the greatest worldly evil.  
35. We must neither bring sin to, nor mingle sin with, our sufferings; for that will trouble the Soul more than the trouble itself: We are not hurt till our Souls be hurt.  
36. In sudden encounters some sin doth many times discover itself, the seed whereof lieth hid in our hearts; which we think ourselves free from: What cause have we then to fear continually, that we are worse than we take ourselves to be? The force of Gunpowder is not known till some sparks light in it.  
37. What a sight were it to see the Feet where the Head is, and the Earth to be where the Heaven is? To the Spiritual Eye it seems as great a deformity to see the Soul to be under sinful passions.  
38. A good heart, when any Corruption is discovered, by a searching Ministry, is affected, as though it found out some deadly enemy. Techiness and Passion argues Gild.  
39 The imaginary grievances of this life are more than the real.  
40. The way to expel Wind out of the Body, is to take wholesome Nourishment; so to expel Windy Fancies from the Soul, is to feed upon Serious Truths: Our best way, therefore is, to propound three objects to the mind; as 1. To consider the greatness and goodness of God. 2. The Joys of Heaven, and the Torments of Hell: And 3. The last and strict day of account. 4. The vanity of Earthly Things. 5. The uncertainty of our Lives.  
41. A Man naturally is weaving Spiders Webs, or hatching Cockatrice Eggs; exercised either in mischief or vanity.  
42. It would much avail, to the well-ordering of our thoughts, to set our Souls in order every morning, and to streng-then and perfume every morning our Spirits with some gracious Meditations, especially of the chief end and scope, wherefore we live; and how every thing may be reduced and ordered, to farther the main (that is to say) God's Glory and our own Salvation.  
43. Some will be content to embrace Truth without hatred of the World; and Christ without a Cross, and a Godly Life without a Persecution: They will pull a Rose without Pricks: Such empty conceits will be too weak to encounter with such real Trials.  
44. It is a course that will have a blessing attended, to join in a league, one to watch over another, and to observe each others ways; 'tis usual to join in Prayer, why not in this.  
45. Happy is he that in the way to Heaven meets with a cheerful and skilful Guide and fellow Traveller, that carrieth Corbials against all faintings of Spirit.  
46. There is an heavy imputation on them that comforted not the weak; when men will not own others in trouble, but as the herd of Deer, forsake and push away the wounded from them.  
47. God often suspends comforts from us, to make use of our Christian Friends, by whom he purposeth to do us good: Oftentimes the very opening of men's griefs brings ease, without any farther workings upon them; the very opening of a Vein cooleth the Blood.  
48. A Christian, when he is beaten out of all other comforts, yet hath a God to turn unto; he can wrestle with him with his own Strength, and plead with him with his own Arguments.  
49. Labour to answer every relation wherein thou standest to God; 1. As a Father, by trusting to his care. 2. A Teacher, by following his Direction. 3. A Creator, by depending on him. 4. As an Husband, by an inseparable love to him. 5. And lastly, as a Lord, by obedience to him.  
50. Despair is often ground of hope: when the darkness of the night is thickest, than the morning gins to dawn.  
51. We may safely expect God in his ways of mercy when we are in his ways of obedience.  
52. By trusting any thing more than God, we make it an Idol and a Curse: It will prove a lying vanity and vexation, bringing that upon us we looked not for.  
53. 'Tis a vain pretence to believe that God will give us Heaven, and yet to leave ourselves to shift in the way.  
54. The way to have any thing taken away, and not blest, is to set our hearts too much upon it.  
55. The greatest honour we can do to God, is when we see nothing for us, but 〈…〉 things contrary to what we look for, then to shut our eyes to all inferior things, and to look altogether to his suf●●●●●.  
56. It is an 〈…〉 of true trust, when 〈◊〉 a wait God's leisure, and not make ha●●.  
57 ●●ith doth not (especially at first) so ●●●y the Soul, as to take away all suspicion and fears to the contrary, though the prevailing of mis-belief is taken away: The Needle in the Compass will stand North, though with some trembling; and the Ship that lieth at Anchor, may sometimes be tossed, yet it will remain so fastened that it cannot be carried away by wind or weather.  
58. Look not so much on those miseries which our weak Natures are subject unto, as upon God for strength and comfort in them; mitigation of them, and grace to profit by them.  
59 The time of sickness is the time of purging from the defilements of sin, which we have gathered in our health; till we come purer out: which should make us the rather willing to obey God and abide his time. Blessed is that sickness that proves the health of the Soul; we are best for the most part when we are weakest.  
60. In all kind of troubles 'tis not the ingredients that God puts into the Cup, that so much afflicts, as the ingredients of our distempered passion mingled with them.  
61. We are not much disquieted when we put off our  and go to Bed, because we trust Gods ordinary providence to raise us up again; and why should we be disquieted when we put off our Bodies and sleep our last sleep, considering that we are more sure to rise out of our Graves than our Beds; yea, we are already raised up in our head Christ.  
62. Let us do our own work, and leave God to do his: Diligence and Trust in him is only ours, the rest of the burden is his. Let us think of Christ as our duty, and God will think what is for our comfort.  
63. In the worst times there is a presence of God with his Children. 1. By moderating the measure. 2. The time. 3. In joining some comfort with it. And 4. By supportation.  
65. A good Christian hath, 1. A God to go unto. 2. A Promise. 3. Former Experience, besides some present Experience.  
65. What is our Life but a Web, woven with some intermingling of Wants and Favours, Crosses and Blessings, Rise and Fall, Combats and Victories.  
66. God deferrs, but his deferring is no empty space, wherein no good is done; but there is in that space a fitting for the Promise.  
67. Christ prays in the Garden before he enters into the Combat of his resolved passion: whence we may learn, that Prayer is an Anchor to stay the Soul being tossed; a support under a burden; a removal of a judgement, or an affliction, or changes the nature of the affliction.  
68 It is more comfort to receive strength in suffering, than to be delivered from suffering.  
69. Our sins were the cause of Christ's Agony, the Thorns that pricked him, the Spear that pierced him, the Torments that afflicted him.  
70. We should always abhor sin, more in regard it is hateful to God, than because it is hurtful to us.  
71. We had need to pray that the great change be wrought in us, before the great change be wrought upon us.  
72. As the Blood of Jesus only can free us from the guilt of sin, so his Spirit alone can cleanse our hearts from the filth of sin.  
73. Let us pray that God would show us what we are by Nature, and make us what he would have us by Grace.  
74. There is nothing terrible in death but what a wicked life hath made so.  
75. Let us choose to suffer rather than sin, seeing we may suffer without sin, but we can never sin without suffering.  
76. Shall Christ shed his Blood for those sins that were others, and shall not we shed tears for sins that are our own?  
78. A true Christian believes that good works can't save him, and yet he believes that he can't be saved without them.  
79. Let us repent us of the evils that we have committed, that God may repent him of the evils that he hath threatened.  
80. 'Tis certain that wicked men sin if they pray not, and it is true, that even their Prayers are sin; Prov. 15.8.  

Evening Meditations and Ejaculations coming in from one's Employment.  
O How good God has been to me this day, in preserving me; he might have struck me dead, or have let me fall into some danger or other; and yet has kept me from spiritual and temporal enemies, and from the accidents attending on the trail nature of poor mortal Creatures. O bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless his Holy Name.  

Meditations in time of undressing one's self.  
I am putting off my , O Lord, it may be the last time, O help me to put off my sins, those rags that make me so deformed in thy sight. O strip me of this depraved nature, that all men are guilty of and invested with.   

Being undressed, a Meditation.  
Lord I am naked and bare before thee, and so are the secrets of all men, and before whom all secrets shall be disclosed. Lord disclose all the secrets of my treacherous heart, that I may bewail what sins are not repent of.   

Getting into Bed, a Meditation.  
It may be the last time that I shall lie down, O put me in mind (Lord) of my lying down in the dust, when the Worms shall be my Bedfellows, my Grave my Bed, and the Grass my  to cover me.   

Going to Sleep, a Meditation.  
It may be I may sleep an everlasting sleep (Lord) let me whether sleeping or waking, acquiesce in thee; and let me by this rest be mindful of that everlasting rest for thy Saints. Guard me with Angels, that I may sleep secure.   

Morning Meditations.  

Awakened out of Sleep.  
O God how mightst thou have made my Bed my Grave, my Sleep my Death, and yet I am preserved by thy good hand of providence, blessed be th● Name Lord. O Lord, as thou hast awaked me out of Tempered Sleep, O let my Spiritual Eyes be opened, that I may be more awakened out of the sleep of Sin.   

Arising.  
O Lord, let my Arising put me in mind of the first Re 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ion, to wi●, from Sin, and of the se●●●nd, that is at the last day; that by 〈◊〉 Arising of the one, I may Arise with comfort a● the other.   

Putting on the Doublet.  
Lord help me to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, that I may be able to resist all the ●iery darts of Satan.   

Putting on the Breeches.  
Help me, O Lord, to gird my Loins with Righteousness.   

Putting on Stockings and Shoes.  
O Lord help me to get my Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.   

Putting on the Coat.  
Draw out my heart Lord to praise thee for thy Clothing me; let me be clothed with the Garments of Righteousness; cover me, O Lord, with the skirt of thy loving kindness.   

Washing.  
Lord wash me from all my sins in that Fountain that's set open for sin and for uncleanness, and help me to wash my hands in innocency.   

Combing the Head and Brushing the .  
Lord take away all that rust and dirt that sticks so close to my Soul, and make me clean; and then I shall be clean indeed.   

Putting on the Band.  
Lord let thy wisdom be as a chain about my Neck.   

A short Meditation before Prayer before one go to Work.  
O what a reasonable thing is it, that I should (seeing God renews his Mercy every Morning) renew my Acknowledgements in Prayer and Praises, both for received Mercies, and an Engagement for future Mercies. O Lord, let my Desires be as a Morning Sacrifice, and the early smoke of my incense renew those leagues my sins this night may have broken.   

Before Work.  
Lord, seeing thou hast dealt so kindly with me this night, as to preserve me and keep me, and bring me to my Employment, let my Actions all be to thy Glory, and whatsoever I do it may be according as thou requirest in thy Word; that doing nothing but what is, or tends to thy Glory, in a lawful Employment, I may be prospered in all my Deeds.      

A Valediction to the World and its Inhabitants.  

VAin World adieu, whose chanting charms entice,  
And keep me from the things of better price:  
I now am bend for new discoveries,  
In Lands that are beyond the azure Skies:  
My faith a City fair hath in her eye,  
Whose Subjects all are Saints; thither go I:  
There shall this drossy Flesh, and Blood (refined)  
Immortal grow, and free from ●ears of mind:  
Where (whilst my Saviour's presence my mind cheers)  
My heart shall vent no sighs, my eyes no tears;  
But filled with joys, from age to age I'll sing  
Sweet Allelujahs to my God and King.   

2. To Servants.  
Farewell my Servants! though my Covenant  
Requires attendance from you, none I'll want:  
Your Master, and mine, own I go to see,  
He calls me home; but mourn you not for me:  
I must confess, a truant I have been,  
Yet he hath sworn he'll pay my wages in,  
Serve I him but the twinkling of an eye,  
I shall have wages paid eternally.  
His Debtor deep and desperate was I,  
Until he sent his Son for me to die.  
O love, stronger than death! my Soul away,  
Make speed, 〈◊〉 thy d●ar Master for thee stay.   

3. To Intimate Friends.  
Farewell my mind's embese●'d darlings dear;  
I highly price you, y●● must needs forbear  
From imaging your enjoyment; for I am called  
By the great Friend of Friends, to be installed,  
With his triumph●●● friends, that are above  
In the great Principality of Love.  
Detain me not, nor 〈◊〉 this an offence,  
The King of Kings commands me; I must hence.   

4. To Brother's Sisters, and Kindred.  
Farewell my Flesh and Blood, my Kindred dear,  
Whose homogeni●● p●rts at first one were.  
Till Rib made Eve made two (who still one were)  
Millions of millions now in number are.  
I have attained new consanguinity,  
Who sing sweet Requiems eternally  
To the enthroned Souls; not to be cyed  
By Mortal Optics, they are glorisied:  
Heaven's their Foot stool, their Seat the Glorious Flore  
Of his great Throne, that reigns for evermore.   

5. To Father.  
Farewell my beings instrumental cause,  
Assigned by the Author of Divine Laws;  
Who my new Father is, and old one was,  
Ere you were so! to whem I now do pass.  
Methinks with sorrow sore oppresses my heart,  
To think that from you I a● last must part.  
But O why do I grieve! To go to him,  
That gave his Son a ransom for my sin:  
And by whose wonderfully great affection,  
Made Love sole ground of my poor Souls election.  
Father! if you are loath I gone should be,  
Come but to him, you'll surely come to me.   

6. To Mother.  
Farewell dear Mold, wherein I mortal clay,  
Framed was, that bar'st me nine ●on●ths, night and day;  
And after grievous travel gav'st me pass.  
When (by the eternal Potter I framed was)  
Into this vail of tears! thy torments bind me  
To boundless love, yet thee must leave behind me:  
Oh let me flee, and haste thee after me;  
To dwell together in solicity.   

7. To Children.  
Farewell sweet implings, death's sweet writ of ease  
Doth me remove from you, th' Epitomes  
Of me and my dear second! farewell; I  
Must have a residence beyond the sky,  
You therefore I commit, unto your Father;  
Who will you keep, and unto me will gather  
You, if you faithful be unto the death;  
And give you crowns of life, for transient breath,  
In Heaven, with Angels, Saints, and Martyr's throng,  
To sing for ever Zions Lamb's sweet Song.   

8. To Wife.  
Farewell my better half, life of my life,  
And sub-celestial comfort, dearest Wife,  
One heart in two, in parting we must cleave,  
As we made one of two at meeting: leave,  
Spare these heart-melting cries; let cries with tears  
Thy frailties to bewail, sound in God's ears:  
Swim in those streams, unto that harbour; where  
The presence of our King thy heart will cheer;  
I do but go before, and thee expect  
Among the number of the Lords Elect.   

9 To all jointly.  
Farewell World, Servants, Relations, near,  
Brothers, and Sisters, all my Kindred dear;  
Father, Mother, Children, and dear Wife:  
All whom I dearly loved as my own life.  
I must be gone, I must departed from hence;  
Seeing it is for my good, you will not take offence.  
My King and Captain calls, me to install,  
In Heaven above, free from all slavish thrall.  
Once more adieu unto you all, until  
We shall together meet on Zions Hill:  
Where we all jointly shall loud praises sing,  
Unto our God, our Saviour, and our King.    
FINIS.