THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY. — Luke XI. I. 
 
SACRA PRIVATA 
 
 THE PRIVATE MEDITATIONS 
 AND PRAYERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 RIGHT REV. THOMAS WILSON, D.D. 
 
 LORD BISHOP OF SODOR AND MAN 
 
 LONDON 
 WILLIAM PICKERING 
 1848 
 
The Preface. 
 
 HE truly Reverend Dodlor 
 Thomas Wilson, fifty- 
 eight years Bifhop of Sodor 
 and Man, was bleffed with the fpirit 
 of prayer in a very uncommon mea- 
 fure : of which his Sacra Frivata^ or 
 i: Private Meditations and Prayers ^ are 
 a an eminent inftance. 
 
 They have hitherto been locked 
 up from the world in an expenfive 
 book; and are mixed throughout 
 with fo much meditation and prayer 
 that can come properly from the 
 clergy only, (to whom they are an 
 
 I' 
 
vi 
 
 The Preface. 
 
 
 invaluable treafure) as to unfit them 
 for general ufe. 
 
 They are now prefented to the 
 publick in a feparate volume ; fo 
 that pious Chriftians may, at a rea- 
 fonable expence, diftribute them 
 among fuch people as either will not 
 or cannot buy them ; and the peti- 
 tions peculiar to the clergy only are 
 all thrown out. 
 
 The pious reader will find thefe 
 Meditations and Prayers too long, 
 according to the prefent divifion of 
 them, which there is no occafion to 
 adhere to. He may take them up, 
 and lay them down, at his own dif- 
 cretion and convenience. It is re- 
 commended to him to go through 
 them regularly, and to continue the 
 ufe of them his whole life ; feleding 
 fuch parts for more frequent medi- 
 
The Preface. 
 
 tation as are beft adapted to his ne- 
 cellity and difpofition. 
 
 As prayer is one of the moft im- 
 portant works a man can be engaged 
 in, and few find themfelves able to 
 difcharge it in the manner they wifh 
 to do ; it is humbly hoped, that this 
 book, if duly attended to as it de- 
 ferves, may with God's affiftance 
 teach them to pray ; may lead our 
 thoughts to meditate on religious 
 fubjedis, and habituate us to clothe 
 our meditations in the language of 
 decent, pious, and fervent prayer. 
 
 That this valuable book may have 
 this effed:, is the intention and the 
 earneft prayer of 
 
 The Editor, 
 
I 
 
 On 
 
 Devotion and Prayer. 
 
 RUE Devotion confifts in 
 having our hearts always 
 devoted to God, as the fole 
 Fountain of all Happinefs ; and who 
 is ready to hear and help his other- 
 wife helplefs, miferable creatures. 
 It is to be attained, 
 iJL By earneft prayer. He that 
 
 HUNGERS AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, 
 WILL CERTAINLY BE FILLED. 
 
 2dly. By poffeffing our hearts with 
 a deep fenfe of our own mifery^ our 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 O?! Devotion 
 
 
 wants y and danger : This is the grace 
 of humility. 
 
 ^dly. By confidering God's good- 
 nefsy power y and readinefs to help us : 
 This is called faith in God. 
 
 Lajlly ; By convincing our hearts 
 of the vanity of every thing elfe to 
 afford us any real help or comfort : 
 This is to be effed:ed by felf-denial. 
 
 Dying perfons are generally more 
 devout than others, becaufe they 
 then fee their own mifery, that no- 
 thing in this w^orld can help them, 
 and that God is their only refuge. 
 
 We muft change our lives, if we 
 defire to change our hearts. God 
 will have no regard to the prayers of 
 thofe who have none to his com- 
 mands. 
 
 The fpirit of God will not dwell 
 
 in ^ diiiided Iienrt, We cannot feel 
 
and Prayer. 
 
 3 
 
 the pleafure of devotion, while the 
 world is our delight. Not that all 
 pleafures are criminal ; but the clofer 
 union we have with the world, the 
 lefs is our union with God. A 
 Chriftian, therefore, who ftrives 
 after devotion, fhould tafte fenfual 
 pleafures very fparingly, fhould make 
 neceflity, not bodily dehght, his rule. 
 
 In order to difpofe our hearts to 
 devotion, the active life to be 
 preferred to the contemplative. 
 
 To be doing good to mankind, 
 difpofes the foul moll: powerfully to 
 devotion. And indeed we are fur- 
 rounded with motives of piety and 
 devotion, if we would but mind 
 them. 
 
 The poor are defigned to excite 
 our liberality ; — the miferabkj our 
 
 'HifM • 1" M ll b CWW /1 1 n IT /Tin r* a • '♦■r»/=» 
 
 ylLy y LllC JI'LKy UUl CIJJ IJiUnLc y LilC 
 
 
A 
 
 \J /I l^c UUl lU/l 
 
 
 ignorant y our injlruSlion ; — thofe that 
 are fallen ^ our helping hand. In thofe 
 that are vain^ we fee the vanity of 
 this world. In thofe that are wicked ^ 
 our own frailty. When we fee good 
 men rewarded, it confirms our hope ; 
 and when evil men are punifhed, it 
 excites us to fear. 
 
 He that would be devout^ mufi: 
 beware of indulging an habit of wan- 
 dering in prayer. It is a crime that 
 will grow upon us, and will deprive 
 us of the bleflings we pray for. 
 
 Avoid, as much as may be, multi- 
 plicity of hufnefs : Neither the inno- 
 cency nor the goodnefs of the em- 
 ployment will excufe us, if it poffefs 
 our hearts when we are praying to 
 God. 
 
 When our Lord bids us to take 
 
 NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW, 
 
CLTid Prayer. 
 
 r 
 
 J 
 
 he intended to hinder thofe cares and 
 fears which are apt to diftrad: our 
 devotions, — which are the more un- 
 reafonable, becaufe they never can 
 change the flate of things. 
 
 Never be curious to know what 
 pafles in the world, any further than 
 duty obhges you ; it will only diftradl 
 the mind when it fhould be better 
 employed. 
 
 Never intermit devotion, if you 
 can help it ; you will return to your 
 duty, like Sampfon when his locks 
 were cut, weak and indifferent as 
 other people of the world. 
 
 The oftener we renew our inter- 
 courfe with God, the greater will be 
 our devotion. 
 
 Frequent prayer, as it is an exer- 
 cife of holy thoughts, is a moft na- 
 tural remedy againft the power of fin. 
 
 
On Devotion and Prayer. 
 
 Importunity makes no change in 
 God, but it creates in us fuch difpo- 
 iitions as God thinks fit to reward. 
 
 Make it a law to yourfelf to me- 
 ditate before you pray ; as alfo to 
 make certain paufes, to fee whether 
 your heart goes along with your lips. 
 
 They whofe hearts dejire nothings 
 pray for nothing. 
 
 Give me, O God, the Spirit of 
 true devotion, fuch as may give life 
 to all my prayers, fo that they may 
 find acceptance in thy fight, for Jefus 
 Chrift's fake ! Amen. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 7 
 
 Thou^ when thou prayejly enter into thy 
 clojety and when thou haft Jliut thy door^ 
 -pray to thy Father which is in fecret ; 
 and thy Father ^ which feeth in fecret^ 
 /hall reward thee openly, 
 
 OW good is God ! who will not 
 only give us what we pray for, 
 but will reward us for going to 
 him, and laying our wants be- 
 fore him. 
 
 May I always prefent myfelf before 
 God — with a firm faith and hope in his 
 promifes and mercy; — with great rever- 
 ence to his infinite majefty; — with the 
 humility of an offender ; — and with a full 
 purpofe of keeping all God's command- 
 ments ! 
 
 May the thoughts of eternity quicken 
 
 Mat. vi. 6. 
 
8 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 Mat. vii, 7. 
 
 my devotions ; — my wants make me earn- 
 eft ; — my backflidings make me perfe- 
 vere ; — and may I never wilfully give 
 way to any diftra6ting thoughts. 
 
 May I wait with patience, and leave it 
 to Thee, my God and Father, how and 
 when to grant my petitions. 
 
 He that has learned to pray as he ought, 
 has got the Jecret of an holy life. 
 
 It is of greater advantage to us than 
 we imagine, that God does not grant our 
 petitions immediately. We learn by that^ 
 that whereunto we have already attained, 
 it was the gift of God. 
 
 The beft way to prevent wandering in 
 prayer is, not to let the mind wander too 
 much at other times ; but to have God 
 always in our minds in the whole courfe 
 of our lives. The end of prayer is not 
 to inform God, but to give man a fight 
 of his own mifery ; to raife his foul to- 
 wards heaven, and to put him in mind 
 that there is his Father and his inherit- 
 ance. 
 
 AJk^ and it fliall be given you. Grant 
 me. Lord, a faith which lhall make me 
 
kJULT U JL r rUULU* 
 
 9 
 
 know my wants, that I may alk them 
 with earneftnefs and humility, and depend 
 upon thy gracious promife. 
 
 1 
 
 The 
 
 Duties of a Chriftian. 
 
 'T^HAT man leads a fmcere Chriftian 
 X life, 
 
 I ft. Who endeavours to ferve and obey 
 God to the beft of his underftanding and 
 power. 
 
 2i/y. Who ftrives to pleafe his neigh- 
 bour to edification. 
 
 ^dly. Who endeavours to do his duty 
 in that ftate of life unto which it has 
 pleafed God to call him. 
 
 Whoever would continue in the prac- 
 tice of thefe things unto his life's end, it 
 is neceflary that he ftiould — call himfelf 
 often to an account, whether he does fo 
 or not; — conftantly pray for grace to 
 know, and to do his duty ; — and preferve 
 
 Vilmfplf in inrVi ?i fe^rliJihlp fpmnpr to 
 
 lilllllt'll 111 ILi^H CXt \J^<X\^\.\.<X\J LV./iXlL^V^l do \.\J 
 
lO 
 
 bacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 be always ready to receive the truth when 
 it is fairly propofed to him. 
 
 It is a rudenefs amongft men to alk a 
 favour, and not ftay for an anfwer. And 
 do we count it no fault to pray for bleff- 
 ings, and never to think of them after- 
 wards, — never to wait for them, — never 
 to give God thanks for them. 
 
 Let us make prayer familiar to us ; for 
 without the help of God, we are every 
 hour in danger. 
 
 The Devil knows, that when we have 
 a relifh for prayer, and apply ourfelves in 
 good earneft to it, we are in the way of 
 life ; he therefore ftrives by all ways pof- 
 fible to divert us. 
 
 Let us not run over our prayers with 
 an infenfible and diftradled mind. 
 
 Let your prayers be as particular as 
 may be^ againft the fins of your particular 
 ftate, and for the graces which you in 
 particular do mofl; ftand in need of. This 
 is the beft prefervative againft fin; — 
 makes us beft acquainted with our condi- 
 tion ; — puts us continually in mind of 
 mending what is amifs ; — lets us fee what 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 particular graces we moft want, what are 
 moft needful for the cure of our own 
 particular corruption and diforder ; — and 
 is the beft trial of our hearts. For exam- 
 ple ; if I pray for charity^ and for every 
 inftance which is neceflary to render me 
 truly charitable, I pray for grace — to avoid 
 evil-fpeaking, — to pray for my enemies, 
 — to do them good, &c. and fo of all 
 other fms and graces. 
 
 God grant that I may never feek his 
 face in vain ! 
 
 Lord^ teach us to pray. Pour upon us 
 the fpirit of fupplication and prayer. 
 
 God will deny us nothing that we afk 
 in the name of his Son. 
 
 Prayers through Jefus Chriji. 
 
 When we offer our prayers through his 
 mediation, it is then he that prays, his 
 love that intercedes, his blood that pleads, 
 it is he who obtains all from his Father. 
 
 Preparatory Prayer. 
 
 O Holy Spirit of grace ! give us a true 
 fight of our miferies, and a fincere fhame 
 
 I I 
 
 Luke xi. i. 
 
I 2 
 
 oacra rrivata. 
 
 
 and forrow, when we make confeffion of 
 our fins y — a feeling fenfe of our need of 
 mercy, and an hope of obtaining pardon, 
 when we beg it for thy Son's fake. May 
 we refign our wills to Thee and to thy 
 goodnefs, when we pray for temporal 
 things ; — and when we pray for fpiritual 
 graces, may we hunger and thirft after 
 righteoufnefs. Give us a real love for thy 
 Holy Word, and grace to hear it with 
 attention. May we thankfully clofe with 
 all the means of grace and falvation. 
 When we praife Thee for thy works of 
 nature and of grace, and give Thee thanks 
 for thy mercies, let us do it with high 
 efteem and gratitude. Caufe us to hear 
 thy Holy Word with faith and attention, 
 and to profit by what we hear, that we 
 may return from thy church with a blefl'- 
 ing. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 13 
 
 Morning Prayer. 
 
 Choofe you this day whom you 
 Jerve. 
 
 will 
 
 HOM have I in heaven but 
 Thee^ O Lord ? and there is 
 none on earth that I defire be- 
 fides Thee. Thou art my God, 
 and I will thank thee ; Thou art my God, 
 and I will ferve thee. Be Thou my only 
 ruler and governor. 
 
 They that have a convenient place to 
 fleep in, and they that have the comfort 
 of fleep, have both great reafon to be 
 thankful. And even they that want thefe 
 mercies, ought to blefs God, if in the 
 midfl: of their affliftions he is pleafed to 
 refrefli them with the comforts of grace. 
 Gracious God, continue to me thefe fa- 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Pfa. li. 17! 
 
 Jer. ili. 12. 
 
 Pfa. xxxii. 5. 
 
 Jer. : 
 
 vours fo long, and in fuch meafure, as fhall 
 moft contribute to thy honour, and my 
 falvation. And in great mercy fupport 
 and relieve all that want thefe blefTmgs. 
 
 What fhall I oirer unto the Lord for 
 his mercies renewed unto me every morn- 
 ing ? — "The Jacrifice of God is a troubled 
 fpirit: a broken and a contrite heart God 
 will not defpi/e. 
 
 But moft unfit is mine to be to God 
 prefented, until I have obtained his par- 
 don, through the merits of the Lord Jefus, 
 for the many fins by which it hath been 
 defiled. 
 
 / am merciful^ faith the Lord^ and I 
 will not keep anger for ever. Only ac- 
 knowledge thine iniquity^ that thou hafl 
 tranfgrejfed againjl the Lord thy God. 
 
 I acknowledge my fin unto thee^ 0 God^ 
 and mine iniquities will I not hide. 
 
 I do therefore implore thy pardon, and 
 plead thy gracious promifes, with full 
 purpofe of hearty by the afiiftance of thy 
 grace, never again to return to folly. 
 
 The heart is deceitful above all things^ 
 and defperately wicked ; who can know it ? 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 I cannot anfwer for my own heart ; 
 but there is no word, O Lord, impoflible 
 with Thee. In Thee I do put my truft ; 
 let me never be put to confufion. 
 
 Keep it ever in the heart of thy fervant, 
 that it is indeed an evil thing and bitter to 
 offend the Lord. 
 
 Keep me from prefumptuous fins, that 
 I may never grieve thy Holy Spirit, nor 
 provoke Thee to leave me to myfelf. 
 
 Watch and prayy that ye enter not into 
 temptation. 
 
 Lord, make me ever mindful of my 
 infirmities and backflidings, that I may be 
 more watchful, and more importunate for 
 grace, for the time to come. 
 
 Be fobery be vigilant ^ becaufe your ad- 
 verjary the Devily as a roaring liony walk- 
 eth about y feeking whom he may devour. 
 
 O Lord, grant that this adverfary of 
 our fouls may never find me off my guard, 
 or from under thy prote6lion. 
 
 If any man will come after mey let him 
 deny himfelf and take up his cro/Sy and 
 follow me. 
 
 O my Saviour ! how long have I pro- 
 
 Mat, xxvi. 
 41. 
 
 I Peter V. 
 
 Mat. xvi. 
 24. 
 
i6 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Mat. vi. 24. 
 
 Mark x. 17. 
 
 feffed to follow Thee, without following 
 the blefled fteps of thy.moft holy life, — 
 thj patience and humility^ — thy great dif- 
 regard for the world, its pleafures, profits, 
 honours, and all its idols. 
 
 O Lord, obtain for me the fpirit of 
 mortification and felf-denial, that I may 
 follow Thee, as I hope to live with Thee 
 for ever. Amen. 
 
 No man can Jerve two mafiers. Te 
 cannot Jerve God and mammon^. 
 
 May my fear and love never be divided 
 between Thee and the world. May I 
 never fet up any thing, O G'od, in com- 
 petition with Thee in the pofleffion of my 
 heart. May I never attempt to reconcile 
 thy fervice with that world which is at 
 enmity with Thee, my God and Father ! 
 
 What Jliall I do that I may inherit 
 eternal life ? 
 
 Thou /halt love the Lord thy God with 
 all thy hearty and with all thy Joul^ and 
 with all thy mind ; and thou /halt love thy 
 neighbour as thy/elf. 
 
 O that this love of God may be the 
 commanding principle of my foul ! May 
 
Sacra Privata. 17 
 
 I always have this comfortable proof of 
 his love abiding in me, that I ftudy to 
 pleafe him, and to keep his command- 
 ments. And may my love to my neigh- 
 bour be fuch as he has commanded, that 
 I may forgive, and give, and love, as be- 
 comes a difciple of Jefus Chrift. Amen. 
 
 Fear God^ and keep his commandments^ 
 for this is the whole duty of man ; that is, Eccief. xii. 
 the happinefs of man. 
 
 May I, great God, continue in thy 
 fear all the day long. May I keep thy 
 ftatutes, and obferve thy laws. 
 
 All things are naked and open unto the 
 eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb. iv. 13. 
 
 Grant that I may always live and a6l 
 as having Thee, O God, the conftant 
 witnefs of my condud, for Jefus Chrift's 
 fake. 
 
 Whatjoever thy hand findeth to doy do it Eccief. ix. 
 with thy might: — for the night comet h when 
 no man can work. 
 
 Make me, O Lord, ever fenfible of the 
 great evil of delaying the work in its fea- 
 fon, which Thou haft appointed, left the 
 night furprize me unawares. 
 
 D 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 I John V. y^/j f J confidence we have in God^ 
 that if we ajk any thing according to his 
 willy he heareth us. 
 
 That it may be unto thy fervant accord- 
 ing to this word, I befeech Thee to hear 
 me in the full importance of that holy 
 prayer which thy blefled Son hath taught 
 us : — 
 
 Our father, which art in heaven ; 
 
 In whom we live, and move, and have 
 our being ; grant that I, and all Chrif- 
 tians, may live worthy of this glorious 
 relation, and that we may not fin^ knowing 
 that we are accounted thine. 
 
 We are thine by adoption ; O make 
 us thine by the choice of our will. 
 
 HALLOWED BE THY NAME. 
 
 O God, whofe name is great, wonderful, 
 and holy, grant that I and all thy chil- 
 dren may glorify Thee, not only with 
 our lips, but in our lives ; that others, 
 feeing our good works, may glorify our 
 Father which is in heaven. 
 
bacra rrivata. 
 
 19 
 
 THY KINGDOM COME. 
 
 
 May the kingdoms of the world become 
 the kingdoms of the Lord and of his 
 Chrift. And may all that own Thee for 
 their King, become thy faithfull fubjeds, 
 and obey thy laws. Dethrone, O God, 
 and deftroy Satan, and his kingdom ; and 
 enlarge the kingdom of grace. 
 
 
 THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS 
 
 
 IN HEAVEN. 
 
 
 W e adore thy goodnefs, O God, in mak- 
 ing thy will known to us in thy Holy 
 Word. May this thy word be the rule 
 of our will, of our defires, of our lives 
 and adlions. May we ever facrifice our 
 will to thine ; be pleafed with all thy 
 choices for ourfelves and others, and 
 adore thy providence in the government 
 of the world. 
 
 
 GIVE us THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. 
 
 
 O Heavenly Father, who knoweft what 
 we have need of, give us the neceffaries 
 
 aiiu. v^uiiiivji Lb Ul Liilo lllC WlLll Lliy UiCHin^^ 5 
 
 
20 
 
 jSacra rrtvata. 
 
 A6ls xvii. 
 
 but above all, give us the bread that 
 nourifheth to eternal life. 
 
 0 Gody who giveth to all life dnd breathy 
 and all things ; give us grace to impart, 
 to fuch as are in want, of what Thou haft 
 given more than our daily bread. 
 
 AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS 
 WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS 
 AGAINST US. 
 
 Make us truly fenfible of thy goodnefs, 
 and mercy, and patience, towards us, that 
 we may from our hearts forgive every one 
 his brother their trefpafles. 
 
 May my enemies ever have place in 
 my prayers, and in thy mercy. 
 
 AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION. 
 
 Support US, O Heavenly Father, under 
 all our faving trials, and grant that they 
 may yield us the peaceable fruits of 
 righteoufnefs, 
 
 BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. 
 
 From all fin and wickednefs, from our 
 ghoftly enemy, and from everlafting death. 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
Sacra Privata. 21 
 
 Deliver us from the evil of Jiny and 
 from the evil of punijhment. 
 
 Deliver us, O Heavenly Father, from 
 our evil and corrupt nature, — from the 
 temptations and fnares of an evil world, — 
 and from falling again into the fins we 
 have repented of. 
 
 FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE 
 POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER 
 AND EVER. AMEN. 
 
 By thy Almighty power, O King of Hea- 
 ven, for the glory of thy name, and for 
 the love of a Father, grant us all thefe blef- 
 fings which thy Son hath taught us to 
 pray for. 
 
 Unto Him that is able to do for us 
 abundantly more than we can alk or 
 think, unto Him be glory in the church 
 by Chrift Jefus, throughout all ages, 
 world without end. Amen, 
 
 To God the Creator, the Preferver, 
 and Difpofer of all things, be the glory 
 of all the good wrought in us, by us, and 
 upon us. 
 
 Bleffingy and glory ^ and wijdom^ and 
 
22 
 
 Jude 2^, 25. 
 
 Rom. xi. 
 
 36. 
 
 Rom. xvi, 
 27. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 thankfgivingy and honour y and power y and 
 mighty be unto our God for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 Thine infinite power y wijdomy goodnejsy 
 faithfulnejsy and truthy are the only fure 
 foundation on which we may depend. 
 O give us a firm faith in thefe thy glori- 
 ous perfeftions. 
 
 With angels and archangels, and all 
 the company of Heaven, we laud and 
 magnify thy glorious name, evermore 
 praifing Thee, and faying. Holy, holy, 
 holy. Lord God of Hofts, Heaven and 
 Earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to 
 Thee, O God moft High. Amen. 
 
 Now unto Him that is able to keep 
 you from falling, and to prefent you 
 faultlefs before the prefence of his glory 
 with exceeding joy ; To the only wife 
 God our Saviour, be glory and majefty, 
 dominion and power, both now and ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 For of Him, and through Him, and 
 to Him, are all things ; to whom be glo- 
 ry for ever. Amen. 
 
 To God only wife, be glory through 
 
Sacra Privata. 23 
 
 Jefus Chrift for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 All things are pojfible to him that he- Markix.23. 
 lieveth. 
 
 Yes, Lord, and therefore I beg that 
 faith of Him to whom all things are pof- 
 fible, that I may be able to dijcover^ to 
 avoids to refift^ and to root outy whatever 
 is evil in me. 
 
 0 Jefus, obtain this grace for thy 
 otherwife helplefs creature. 
 
 Grant, that I may this day efcape all 
 the fnares laid for me, by the devil^ the 
 worldy or mine ov/n corrupt heart. 
 
 Grant, that I may this day omit no 
 part of my duty. 
 
 Give thyjelf wholly to theje things ^ that i Tim. iv. 
 thy "profiting may appear to all. 
 
 God grant that I may do fo 3 and I 
 pray God preferve me from eafe, idlenefs, 
 and trifling away my precious time. 
 
 1 thank my Gody making mention of thee Philemon 4. 
 always in my prayers. 
 
 Extend, and fuit thy graces to all con- 
 ditions of men, that we may all be upright 
 in our dealings^ obedient to our govern- 
 ors, peaceable in our lives, fober, honeft. 
 
24 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Prov. xxi. I. 
 
 temperate, chafte in our converfation, and 
 charitable to the poor, and one towards 
 another. 
 
 Increafe the number and the graces of 
 all fuch as love and fear Thee. Enlight- 
 en the minds of the ignorant^ awaken the 
 confciences of the carelejs^ filence the 
 gainfayerSy convert the profane^ and all 
 that hold the truth in unrighteoufnefs. 
 
 Rebuke the fpirit of antichrift, idolatry, 
 and libertinifm, — the lins of drunkennefs, 
 whoredom, litigioufnefs, and defrauding 
 the publick. 
 
 In tender mercy, remember, O God, 
 all ftck and dying perfons^ that they may 
 omit nothing that is neceflary to make 
 their peace with Thee. Be gracious un- 
 to all that are under any affli^lion of mind 
 or body, or under any prefling calamity, 
 — all dejolate widows z.ndi fat her lefs chil- 
 dreriy — all that call upon Thee in their 
 diftrefs, and have none elfe to help them. 
 
 The king's power is in the hand of the 
 Lord; as the rivers of waters ^ he turneth 
 it whitherjoever he wilL 
 
 Let this thy power, O Lord, be mag- 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 25 
 
 nified on his majefty, and on all that are 
 put in authority under him,— That we 
 may be governed with truth and juftice, 
 by men fearing and honouring God, pro- 
 tecting the Chriftian Religion, and pu- 
 nifhing evil doers. To this end vouch- 
 fafe them, I befeech Thee, all the graces 
 neceflary for their high ftation, and for 
 their eternal happinefs. 
 
 MaJierSy give unto your Jervants that 
 which is jujl and equals knowing that ye al- 
 Jo have a mafter in heaven. 
 
 O Heavenly Lord and Mafter, blefs 
 me with good and faithfuU fervants. Let 
 thy bleffing be upon them and upon my 
 affairs committed to their care ; and may 
 I never be wanting in my duty to them, 
 for Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 Relations y BenefaBorSy &c. 
 
 Be gracious, O God, to all my relations, 
 benefadlors, enemies, and all that have 
 defired my prayers ; — all who, by their 
 own labours, do minifter to our necefli- 
 ties ; together v/ith all our known and 
 unknown benefaftors. Render, O God, 
 
 Col. iv. I. 
 
 E 
 
26 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 a good reward, and a plentiful return, to 
 all thofe who have been kind and chari- 
 table. Grant that we may all fo live 
 here, as that we may meet hereafter in 
 the Paradife of God. 
 
 Verily I Jay unto yoUy whatjoever ye 
 /hall ajk the Father in my name^ he will 
 give it you, 
 
 Thefe are what I alk, O God and 
 Father, above all things, for myfelf, and 
 for all that have defired my prayers : — 
 That v/e may be reftored to thy likenefs, 
 and never deface it by our fins ; that the 
 image of Satan may be deftroyed in us ; 
 that all carnal affedtions may die in us ; 
 and that all things belonging to the Spi- 
 rit may dwell in our hearts by faith; — 
 that thy name, and the name of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, may be glorified in us, and 
 we in him ; — that our hearts may be en- 
 tirely thine ; that we may never grieve 
 thy Holy Spirit ; but that we may con- 
 tinue thine for ever, for Jefus Chrift;'s 
 fake. Amen. 
 
 Let no corrupt communication proceed 
 out of your mouthy but that which is good 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 to the uje of edifying^ that it may minifter 
 grace unto the hearers. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may delight in 
 thy Law ; that my converfation may be 
 truly chriftian. 
 
 May I never hear with pleafure, nor 
 ever repeat fuch things, as may difhonour 
 God, or injure my neighbour, or my own 
 charadter. 
 
 Speak not evil one of another, 
 
 Foolifh talking or jejiing are not con- 
 venient^ but rather giving of thanks. 
 
 Set a watch^ O Lord before my mouthy 
 and keep the door of my lips. 
 
 Out of the abundance of the heart the 
 mouth fpeaketh. How can ye^ being evil^ 
 fpeak good things. 
 
 O Holy Spirit of Grace, enable me to 
 overcome the fhame of a degenerate age, 
 which will hear nothing with delight, but 
 what concerns this world. O touch my 
 heart with the true love of God, the ex- 
 cellencies of his laws, the pleafantnefs of 
 his fervice, and the wonders of his provi- 
 dences. This I beg for Jefus Chrift's 
 fake. 
 
 27 
 
 James iv. 
 
 II. 
 Eph. V. 4. 
 
 Pfa. cxxxiii. 
 3- 
 
 Matt. xii. 
 34- 
 
o 
 
 28 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 John XV. 7, 
 
 AJk what ye will^ and it fliall be done 
 unto you. 
 
 Thefe, O Jefus, are the things that I 
 afk. Intercede for me! that I may be 
 truly fenfible of the difeafes I labour un- 
 der, and thankfully embrace the means 
 which thy goodnefs hath ordained for my 
 recovery. 
 
 Grant that the end of all my a6tions 
 and defigns, may be the glory of God. 
 
 Enable me to refift all the finful appe- 
 tites of my corrupt nature. 
 
 Grant that I may hunger and thirft 
 after righteoufnefs. 
 
 Vouchfafe me the fpirit of adoption, — 
 of fupplication and prayer, — of praife and 
 thankfgiving. 
 
 Obtain for me, O Jefus, the graces of 
 mortification and felf-denial ; the graces 
 of a true humility, and the fear of God. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may never 
 knowingly live one moment under thy 
 difpleafure, or in any known fm. 
 
 Grant, O God, that as I have been re- 
 generate, and made thy child by adoption 
 anQ grace, i mdy uduy ue reneweu oy tny 
 
kJUC/U LftVUtU. 
 
 29 
 
 Holy Spirit, for Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 Enable me, gracious God, to efcape the 
 corruption that is in the world through 
 luft, that I may be partaker of the Divine 
 nature. 
 
 Lord, grant me grace to withftand the 
 temptations of the world, the flefh, and 
 the devil; and with a pure heart and mind 
 to follow Thee, the only God, through 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Let thy love, O God, be fhed abroad 
 in my heart, by the power of the Holy 
 Ghoft, and grant that it may appear in 
 my life^ my converfation^ my words^ and 
 a£lionSy for Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 BlefTed be God, that I was admitted 
 into the fellowfhip of Chrift's Religion. 
 Grant, O God, that I may efchew all 
 thofe things that are contrary to my pro- 
 feflion, and follow all fuch things as are 
 agreeable to the fame, for Jefus Chrift's 
 fake. 
 
 Keep me, I befeech Thee, O Heavenly 
 Father, under the protection of thy good 
 providence, and make me to have a per- 
 ripfiifil fpar atin lovp of fhv hnlv n^imp • 
 
 LJVi/LLiAJ. 1 WC4.1 c\y.\.\Jk. ±\j y \^ yjx Lily xixjxy ijcuiiv^ ^ 
 
 
30 
 
 Sucra Pvivutu. 
 
 
 through Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 Put away from me all hurtful things, 
 and give me thofe things that be profitable 
 for me, through Jefus Chrift.:, 
 
 Mercifully grant unto me, O God, 
 fuch a meafure of thy grace, that running 
 the way of thy commandments, I may 
 obtain thy gracious promifes, and be made 
 partaker of thy heavenly treafure, through 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Forgive me thofe things whereof my 
 confcience is afraid, and give me thofe 
 good things which we are not worthy to 
 alk, but through the merits and media- 
 tion of thy Son Jefus Chrift. 
 
 That I may obtain that which thou 
 doft promife, make me to love that which 
 thou doft command, through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Keep me from all things hurtful, and 
 lead me to all things neceffary to my fal- 
 vation, through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 The Lord deliver me from every evil 
 work, and preferve me to his heavenly 
 kingdom ; To whom be glory for ever 
 and ever. Amen. 
 
 O tlii^f* fnv T~Tnlv Smrtf" mnv nii'Pr^ nnn 
 
 LilCtL Lily XJLwly iJL'lllL xllcly VJ.11 CV^L fUlVJ. 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 3^ 
 
 rule my heart. O God, through Jefus 
 Chrift. 
 
 Of thy bountiful goodnefs, O Lord, 
 keep me, I befeech Thee, from all things 
 that may hurt me, that I may cheerfully 
 accomplifhthofe things which thou wouldft 
 have done, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may be cleanfed 
 from all my fins, and ferve Thee with a 
 quiet mind, through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Deliver me, O Lord, from the bonds 
 of thofe fins, which through my frailty, 
 I have committed, for Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 Faith. 
 
 O THAT I may believe in Thee, O God, 
 and put my whole truft and confidence in 
 Thee alone, and not in any thing that I 
 myfelf can do. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may fo perfedly, 
 and without all doubt, believe in thy Son 
 Jefus Chrift, that my faith in thy fight 
 may never be reproved, for the fake of 
 the fame Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Againji Wavering. 
 LrRANT, U (joq, that wc may not be 
 
 
32 
 
 oacra rrivata. 
 
 
 carried about with every blaft of vain 
 dodlrine, but that we may be firmly efta- 
 blifhed in the truth of thy holy gofpel, 
 through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may perfe6tly 
 know thy Son Jefus Chrift to be the Way^ 
 the 'Truthy and the Life^ — the Author of 
 the Way^ the Teacher of the "Truths and 
 the Giver of Life ; — that I may ftedfaftly 
 walk in the way that leadeth to eternal 
 life, through the fame Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Covetoufnefs, 
 
 Give me grace to forfake all covetous 
 defires, and inordinate love of riches and 
 pleafures, through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Grant that I may both perceive, and 
 know, what things I ought to do, and alfo 
 may have grace and power faithfully to 
 fulfil the fame, through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Grant me, O God, the true circumci- 
 fion of the Spirit, that my heart, and all 
 my members, being mortified from all 
 carnal lufts, I may in all things obey thy 
 blefl'ed will. 
 
 O that we, who know Thee now by 
 
oacra rrivata. 
 
 33 
 
 faith^ niay, after this life, have the frui- 
 tion of thy glorious Godhead ! 
 
 In all our dangers and neceflities, ftretch 
 forth thy right hand to fave and defend 
 us. 
 
 Charity. 
 
 O SEND thy Holy Ghoft, and pour into 
 my heart that moft excellent gift of Cha- 
 rity, that very bond of peace and of all 
 virtue, without which, whofoever liveth is 
 counted dead before Thee. 
 
 Grant, I do moft humbly befeech Thee, 
 
 0 God, that as by thy fpecial grace pre- 
 venting me. Thou doft put in my mind 
 good defires, fo by thy continual help, I 
 may bring the fame to good effedt, through 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 
 O everlafting God, grant, that as thy 
 Holy Angels always do Thee fervice in 
 heaven, fo by thy appointment they may 
 fuccour and defend us on earth, through 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Grant me grace fo to follow thy blefled 
 Saints in virtuous and godly living, that 
 
 T ^ .1 r r 111* 
 
 1 may come to thole unlpeakable joys 
 
 
 F 
 
34 
 
 a 7~\ • 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 which thou haft prepared for them that 
 unfeignedly love Thee. 
 
 I pray God, my whole fpirit, (my un- 
 derftanding, will, and confcience,) my 
 foul, (my appetites, afFedtions, and paf- 
 fions,) and my body, (the tabernacle of 
 my foul) be preferved blamelefs unto the 
 . coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift. 
 
 May I take pleafure in abiding in thy 
 prefence, O God; in depending upon 
 Thee ; in leaving myfelf entirely to thy 
 difpofal, as a continual facrifice to thy will. 
 
 Give me a vidtory over all my fins and 
 imperfedions, increafe in me the graces 
 of faith^ hope^ and charity of humility^ 
 meeknejs\ patience^ and refignatton^ and all 
 other Chriftian virtues ; for Jefus Chrift's 
 fake. 
 
 Preferve me, gracious God, from Jpi- 
 ritml pridey from afcribing any thing I 
 have done, or can do, to myfelf, and 
 robbing Thee of the glory of faving me 
 from eternal ruin. 
 
 Take pofTeflion, O Jefus, of thy right 
 
 in my foul, which Thou haft redeemed 
 
 • 11 • 111 1 
 with thy molt precious blood, and root 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 35 
 
 out all felf-righteoufnefs, felf-intereft, and 
 felf-will ; — that Thou mayeft be my right- 
 eoufnefs, and all in me, 
 
 Repentance. 
 
 Give me, O God, fuch a true forrow for 
 my fins, as fliall enable me to embrace all 
 the neceflary means, how bitter foever, 
 for rooting fin out of my foul. 
 
 Humility. 
 
 God refifieth the proud y and giveth grace to 
 
 the humble. 
 I HAVE all the reafon in the world to 
 be humble. Without God I am nothing. 
 Without his help and grace I can do no- 
 thing that is good. Without his word, I 
 know nothing. Of myfelf, I deferve no- 
 thing but punifhment. Of my own, I 
 have nothing but faults, imperfedions, 
 and fins, an inclination to evil, an averfion 
 to good, unruly fenfes, ungovernable paf- 
 fions, unreafonable aifeftions. 
 
 O Lord Jefus Chrift, who art made 
 unto us of God, our w'lfdom^ by revealing 
 him and his glorious perfections ; — our 
 
 I Peter v. 5. 
 
 I Cor. i. 30. 
 
36 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 Col. Hi. 17. 
 
 righteoufne/Sy by fatisfying the juftice of 
 God in our nature ; — our /anSlificatioriy by 
 procuring for us the Holy Ghoft, and by 
 reftoring us^ being finners, to God's fa- 
 vour ; — our redemptiofiy by redeeming us 
 from death eternal. O Jefus, for thefe 
 mighty favours, all love and glory be to 
 Thee, with the Father and the Holy 
 Ghoft, for ever. Amen. 
 
 "The Way of an Happy Life. 
 
 Lay nothing too much to heart; — defire 
 nothing too eagerly — rejoice not excef- 
 fively, nor grieve too much for difafters ; 
 — be not violently bent on any defign ; 
 nor let any worldly cares hinder you from 
 taking care of your foul ; — and remem- 
 ber, that it is neceflary to be a Chriftian 
 (that is, to govern one's-felf by motives 
 of Chriftianity)inthemofl: common aftions 
 of civil life. 
 
 Whatjoever ye do in word or in deed^ do 
 all in the name of the Lord JefuSy giving 
 thanks to God the Father by him. 
 
 He that would not fall into temptation, 
 mult nave a prelence or mmci, a watcnrul 
 
oacra rrivata. 
 
 37 
 
 eye over himfelf; he muft have great 
 things in view, — diftinguifli betwixt time 
 and eternity ; or elfe he will follow what 
 paflion, not what reafon and religion, fug- 
 geft. 
 
 Chrijiian PerfeSiion. 
 
 Whoever afpires after, (being fo united 
 to God, as to be one fpirit with him) 
 muft refolve to do all things with this 
 fole view, to please God. This I pur- 
 pofe, this I forbear, this I undertake, this 
 I do, this I fuffer, in obedience to the 
 Will of God. This fhould be our ex- 
 prefs purpofe, at all times, when we have 
 time to make it ; and fhould be often 
 renewed, left our own will come to be 
 the rule of our aftions. If I am careful 
 to do this, I fhall always have my end, 
 whether I fucceed, or be difappointed, 
 being convinced it is God's will. 
 
 Fut ye on the Lord JeJuSy and make not 
 provijion for the fle/h^ to fulfil the lufts 
 thereof. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that " I may keep under 
 my body, and brmg it mto lubjedtion. 
 
 Rom. xvi. 
 14. 
 
 I Cor. ix. 
 
 27. 
 
38 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 I Peter iii. 
 8, 9, &c. 
 
 left by any means I fhould be a caft- 
 away." 
 
 Be ye all of one mind, having com- 
 paflion one of another. Be pitiful, be 
 courteous : not rendering evil for evil, 
 nor railing for railing, but contrarywife 
 bleffing. For he that will love life, and 
 fee good days, let him refrain his tongue 
 from evil, and his lips that they fpeak no 
 guile. Let him efchew evil, and do good. 
 Let him feek peace, and enfue it." 
 
 Give me, O Lord, a wife, a fober, a 
 ferious, a religious heart. 
 
 Preferve me from evil councils, and 
 rafh enterprizes. O make thy way plain 
 before my face. 
 
 Support me this day under all the dif- 
 ficulties I jfhall meet with. 
 
 I offer myfelf to Thee, O God, this 
 day, to do in me, and with me, as to 
 Thee feems moft meet. 
 
 Vouchfafe me, gracious God, the fpi- 
 rit of adoption, whereby I may cry Abba^ 
 Father^ and apply to Thee, through 
 Jefus Chrift, not as an angry judge, but 
 as to a mercirul and lovmg rather. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 39 
 
 Remember, that the life of man is 
 only to be valued for its ufefulnefs. 
 
 This is my commandment y that ye love 
 one another. 
 
 O Thou, who haft given me this com- 
 mand and pattern, give me a fincere de- 
 fire of following, and grace and power to 
 do it. 
 
 And the prayer of faith /hall fave the 
 fick: and the Lord /hall raije him up; 
 and if he have committed fins^ he fliall be 
 abfolvedy [ i. e. upon his confeflion.] 
 
 O Lord of life and death ! have mercy 
 upon all thofe who are vifited with fick- 
 nefs ; fandlify this thy fatherly corre(5tion, 
 that they may fearch their ways, and fee 
 whence this vifitation cometh. Have 
 mercy upon all that are appointed to die, 
 and grant that they omit nothing that is 
 neceflary to make their peace with Thee, 
 and that they may be delivered from death 
 eternal. And God grant that we may ap- 
 ply our hearts to that holy and heavenly 
 wifdom, while we live here, which may in 
 the end bring us to life everlafting, through 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. 
 
40 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 I Tim. ii. 
 
 Adls xvii. 
 26. 
 
 Noon. 
 
 I exhort that firjl of all^fupplicationSypray- 
 erSy intercejfionsy and giving of thanks^ 
 be made for all men. 
 
 FOR 'le;^ are all of one blood. And 
 Charity, that more excellent way, is 
 a tender afFedlion for the whole creation 
 of God. 
 
 O God, almighty and merciful, let thy 
 fatherly kindnefs be upon all whom Thou 
 haft made. Hear the prayers of all that 
 call upon Thee ; open the eyes of them 
 that never pray for themfelves ; pity the 
 fighs of fuch as are in mifery ; deal mer- 
 cifully with them that are in darknefs ; 
 and increafe the number of the graces of 
 fuch as fear and ferve Thee daily. Pre- 
 ferve this land from the misfortunes of 
 war ; — this church from all dangerous 
 errors ; — this people from forgetting Thee, 
 their Lord and benefadlor. Be gracious 
 to all thofe countries that are made defo- 
 late by the fword, famine, peftilence, or 
 perfecution. Blefs all perfons and places 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 41 
 
 to which thy providence has made me a 
 debtor; all who have been inftrumental 
 to my good by their afliftance, advice^ or 
 example ; and make me in my turn ufe- 
 ful to others. Let none of thofe that de- 
 fire my prayers want thy mercy ; but de- 
 fend, and comfort, and condud them 
 through, to their lives' end. 
 
 In every thing give thanks; for this 
 
 is the will of God, in Chrift Jefus, con- 
 
 cerning you." 
 
 Caufe us, O God, to profit by all the 
 vifitations of thy grace and mercy. 
 
 " It becometh well the jufl: to bethank- 
 " ful." 
 
 O Lord and Father, I am not worthy 
 of the leaft of all thy mercies, which Thou 
 hafl: fiiewed thy fervant, neither can I 
 render due thanks and praife for them ; 
 but, O Lord, accept of this my facrifice 
 of praife and thankfgiving. 
 
 For all the known, and for all the un- 
 obferved favours, deliverances, vifitations, 
 opportunities of doing good, chaftifements, 
 and graces of thy Holy Spirit, vouchfafed 
 to me, I blefs thy good providence ; be- 
 
 
 G 
 
42 
 
 ry 7^ . 
 
 oacra rrivata. 
 
 Pfalm xc. I, 
 
 2. 
 
 feeching Thee to pardon my ingratitude, 
 that I have pafled fo many days and years 
 without obferving, and without acknow- 
 ledging, thy great goodnefs to thy un- 
 worthy fervant. 
 
 For when I foberly confider my depen- 
 dence upon Thee, for my life, welfare, 
 health of body, peace of mind, grace, com- 
 fort, and falvation, I ought to be very 
 thankful. 
 
 Glory be to God, my Creator ; glory 
 be to Jefus, my Redeemer ; glory be to 
 the Holy Ghoft, my Sandifier, my Guide, 
 and Comforter : all love, all glory, be to 
 God moft high. Amen. 
 
 Let us never afcribe any thing to our- 
 felves, but all to the grace of God, and 
 render to him all the glory of his works. 
 
 Preferve me, O God, from the infenfi- 
 bility of thofe who receive thy favours 
 without being affeded with them, and 
 from the ingratitude of thofe who look 
 upon them as a debt. 
 
 // is a good thing to give thanks unto 
 the Lord; and to fing prai/es unto thy 
 name J O jVLoJt Htgn ! lo Jnew forth iny 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 loving-kindnejs in the morning; and thy 
 faithfulnejs every night. 
 
 Many and great have been the favours 
 and bleflings which Thou haft beftowed 
 on thefe nations ; for which, O Lord, in 
 conjunction with thofe who praife Thee 
 for them, and in the ftead of thofe who 
 forget to praife Thee, I blefs and praife 
 thy holy name. 
 
 Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and forget 
 not all his benefits. 
 
 Our father, which art in heaven. 
 
 In Thee zve live^ and move^ and have 
 our being. 
 
 Grant that we may love Thee with all 
 our heart, and mind, and foul, and ftrength. 
 
 BlefTed be God, who dealeth with us 
 with the tendernefs of a Father. 
 
 0 that we may remember that our Fa- 
 ther and our inheritance is in heaven. 
 
 1 commit myfelf and all that belongs 
 to me to thy fatherly care and love. 
 
 Verily^ whatever ye afk the Father in 
 my name, he will give it you. This is 
 the great fupport and comfort of finners. 
 
 43 
 
 Adls xvii. 
 28. 
 
 John xvi. 
 23. 
 
44 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 I John iii. 
 I. 
 
 Hear us, for thy Son's fake ; for as finners 
 we have no right to afk any favour. 
 
 What manner of love is it, that we 
 fliould be called the fons of God ! 
 
 HALLOWED BE THY NAME. 
 
 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
 honour, and power, and glory, for Thou 
 haft created all things.'' 
 
 In this is my Father glorified, that 
 ye bring forth much fruit." 
 
 May thy children have a great regard 
 for every thing that belongs to Thee. 
 
 May I never diftionour Thee, O Hea- 
 venly Father, by word or deed. 
 
 May I glorify Thee daily by a good 
 life. Fill my heart with a great concern 
 and zeal for thy glory. 
 
 ^^Let every thing that hath breath praife 
 the Lord." 
 
 They that honour me, I will alfo 
 honour." 
 
 How little have I done to promote thy 
 glory ! God be merciful unto me. 
 
 THY KINGDOM COME. 
 TV/Tn-tT- oil fVip LrincrnnmQ or fhp worln 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 45 
 
 obey thy laws, and fubmit to thy provi- 
 dence, and become the kingdoms of the 
 Lord, and of his Chrift. 
 
 Blefs the pious endeavours of all thofe 
 who ftrive to propagate the gofpel of thy 
 kingdom. 
 
 Vouchfafe to reign in my heart ; and 
 let not Satan ever have dominion over me. 
 
 Fit us, O God, for the coming of thy 
 kingdom. May I fubmit and rejoice to 
 be governed by Thee. 
 
 O that thy Holy Spirit may dired and 
 rule my heart; fubdue in me all pride and 
 covetoufnefs, hatred, malice, envy, luft, 
 and all uncleannefs, and whatever fliall 
 offend Thee. 
 
 THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS 
 IN HEAVEN. 
 
 T^hts is the will of God^ even our Jan5li- 
 fication. 
 
 Thou haft fent us into the world, not 
 to do our own will, but thine. 
 
 O fubjedt my will to thine. 
 
 May thy name be honoured by the 
 good lives of Chriftians. 
 
 I Thefs, Iv. 
 3- 
 
46 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 0 that I may have refpedt unto all thy 
 commands. 
 
 May thy will, revealed to us in thy 
 holy word, be the rule of my will, of my 
 defires, my words, life, and adlions. 
 
 
 GIVE us THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. 
 
 John vi. 27. 
 
 Labour not for the meat which peri/heth^ 
 but for that meat which endureth unto ever- 
 lafiing life. 
 
 Lord, give us evermore this bread. 
 Give us the neceflaries of life ; but above 
 all, the bread that nouriftieth to eternal 
 life. 
 
 AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS 
 WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS 
 AGAINST US. 
 
 Luke vi. 37. 
 
 Forgive y and ye fhall be forgiven. 
 
 Grant, O Heavenly Father, that I may 
 clofe with this merciful condition of par- 
 don. 
 
 Thou haft been all mercy to me, O 
 God, grant that I may be fo to all others. 
 
 Blefled be the Lord, who has put our 
 falvation into our own hands. IVIay thy 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 47 
 
 grace, O Father, give me an heart ever 
 ready to forgive. 
 
 AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION. 
 
 Let him that thinketh he ftandeth (firm) 
 take heed left he fall. 
 
 Let not any confidence in ourfelves 
 provoke Thee, O God, to leave us to 
 ourfelves. 
 
 ^he Lord knoweth how to deliver the 
 godly out of temptation. 
 
 Thou, O Father, knoweft my infirmi- 
 ties, and the power of my enemies ; be 
 not wanting to me in the hour of tempta- 
 tion. 
 
 Watch and pray that ye enter not into 
 temptation. 
 
 Make me mindful of my weaknefs, 
 that I may be more watchful and impor- 
 tunate for grace. 
 
 Fortify my foul againft the temptations 
 of the world, the flefli, and the devil, for 
 Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. 
 
 Be fober^ be vigilant^ becaufe your ad- 
 
 I Cor. X. 13. 
 
 2 Peter ii. ^. 
 
 Matt. xxvi. 
 41. 
 
 I Peter V. 8. 
 
48 
 
 oacra Jrrivata. 
 
 
 verjary the Devily as a roaring lioriy walk- 
 eth about yfeeking whom he may devour. 
 
 Grant, O Heavenly Father, that this 
 adverfary may never find me off my guard, 
 or from under thy protedtion. 
 
 In all my faving trials, give me grace 
 and power to overcome, to thy glory. 
 
 
 FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE 
 POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER 
 AND EVER. AMEN. 
 
 
 To Thee, to Thee alone, and to thy 
 Son, and Holy Spirit, be glory for ever 
 and ever. Amen. 
 
 
 rLvening. 
 
 Pfalm cxli. 
 
 2. 
 
 Let my "prayer he Jet forth in thy fight ^ as 
 the incenfe ; and let the lifting up of my 
 hands be as an evening facrifice. 
 
 'T^H AT it hath pleafed God to add ano- 
 ther day to the years of my life ; that 
 none of his judgments, to which for my fins 
 
bacra rrtvata. 
 
 49 
 
 I am liable, have fallen upon me \ that by 
 his grace he hath kept me from all fcan- 
 dalous fins, and from the dangers of an 
 evil world ; that he has given me occa- 
 fions of doing good, and grace to make 
 ufe of them ; that he hath fupplied me 
 and my family with the neceflaries of this 
 life, and with means of attaining a bet- 
 ter : — Accept, O God, of my unfeigned 
 thanks for thefe, and for all thy mercies 
 from day to day beftowed upon me. Add 
 this to all thy favours, I befeech Thee, 
 that I may never forget to be thankful. 
 
 Poflefs my heart with fuch a deep fenfe 
 of my obligations to, and dependence 
 upon Thee for life, and health, and grace, 
 and falvation, that religion may be my 
 delight, as well as my duty. 
 
 But that I may ferve Thee with a quiet 
 mind, forgive me the things whereof my 
 confcience is afraid, and avert the judg- 
 ments which I have juftly deferved. Re- 
 member not the offences of my youth ; 
 and in mercy blot out thofe of my riper 
 years. Pardon my fins of the day pafl, 
 and or my lire paft, and grant that they 
 
 
 H 
 
50 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 I John ii. 
 
 John V, 14. 
 
 Pfa. xci. I. 
 
 may never rife up in judgment againft 
 me. Amen. 
 
 If any man Jin^ we have an advocate 
 with the Father^ J^J^s Chriji the righte 
 ouSy and he is a propitiation for our fins, 
 
 O moft powerful Advocate, I put my 
 caufe into thy hands, let thy blood and 
 merits plead for me ; and by thy mighty 
 interceflion, procure for me a full dif- 
 charge of all my fins. 
 
 Sin no more^ lefi a worfe thing come 
 unto thee. 
 
 Lord, the frailty of man without Thee 
 cannot but fall. In all temptations, there- 
 fore, I befeech Thee to fuccour me, that 
 no fin may ever get the dominion over 
 me. 
 
 Whofo dwelleth under the defence of the 
 Mojl Highy fhall abide under the fhadow 
 of the Almighty. 
 
 May the Almighty God take me, my 
 family, my relations, my friends, my be- 
 nefadlors, and my enemies, under his gra- 
 cious protedlion. Give his holy angels 
 charge concerning us ; preferve us from 
 the prince and powers of darknefs, and 
 
dacra rrtvata. 
 
 51 
 
 from the dangers of the night ; and keep 
 us in perpetual peace and fafety : through 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Hear me, O God, not according to my 
 weak underftanding, but according to the 
 full importance of that Holy Prayer, 
 which Jefus Chrift has taught us, and 
 which I prefume to offer : — 
 
 Our Father^ which art in Heaven^ ^c. 
 
 Our father, which art in heaven, 
 hallowed be thy name. 
 
 God will be glorified in the falvation 
 of fouls. 
 
 If the Almighty God were not my Fa- 
 ther, I might exped vengeance inftead of 
 mercy. 
 
 May I fhew by my life that God is my 
 father ! 
 
 This earth is not the inheritance of the 
 children of God. 
 
 BlefTed be God, who dealeth not with 
 us with the authority of a lord over his 
 fervants, but with the tendernefs of a fa- 
 LiiLi uvcr 111b Lniiuren. 
 
 
5^ 
 
 
 
 THY KINGDOM COME. 
 
 I own Thee for my King ; do Thou 
 make and own me for thy faithful fub- 
 je6t. Enlarge thy kingdom for the ho- 
 nour of thy great Name. May I preferve 
 thy kingdom within me, the government 
 of thy Spirit. Bring me into fubjeftion 
 to thyfelf, by thy grace. 
 
 THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS 
 IN HEAVEN. 
 
 That Thou mayeft have a church on 
 earth as obedient to thy will as that is in 
 heaven. 
 
 O Heavenly Father, fubdue in me what- 
 ever is contrary to thy holy will. Grant 
 that I may ever ftudy to know thy will, 
 that I may know how to pleafe Thee. 
 
 Thy will, O God, is the perfedlion of 
 juftice ! let me never prefcribe to Thee 
 what Thou oughteft to give me. What 
 Thou willeft, we may be fure, is beift for 
 us ; we cannot be fure of what we will for 
 ourfelves. Hearken not to the corrupt 
 defires of my heart, but to the voice of 
 thy own mercy. 
 
uULTCl Jl Tl\jClTCl. 
 
 53 
 
 GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. 
 
 Yes, my God, I will have recourfe to 
 Thee daily ; for on Thee I depend daily 
 for life, and breath, and grace, and all 
 things. 
 
 Give me a true underftanding and love 
 for Thy Word, the bread which nourifh- 
 eth to eternal life. 
 
 For Thou, O Lord, haft taught us, not 
 to feek that bread which perifheth, but 
 that which endureth to eternal life. 
 
 AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS 
 WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS 
 AGAINST US. 
 
 May I ever fhew mercy to men, that I 
 may receive it from Thee, my God. 
 
 Do I value my foul, and think this too 
 hard a condition ? 
 
 Thou art all mercy to me ; grant that 
 I may be all-merciful to my brethren, for 
 thy fake, O Father. 
 
 AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, 
 BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. 
 
 For thou knoweft our infirmities, and 
 the Dower and malice of our enemies 
 
 
54 
 
 uuC/u r/tVuTu. 
 
 
 Thou knoweft how to deliver the godly 
 out of temptation. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may never run 
 into thofe temptations, which in my pray- 
 ers I defire to avoid ! 
 
 Vouchfafe me the gift of perfeverance, 
 on which my eternal happinefs depends. 
 
 Lord, never permit my trials to be 
 above my ftrength. 
 
 O Holy Spirit of Grace, be not want- 
 ing to me in the hour of temptation. 
 And in all temptations, give us power to 
 refift and overcome. Leave us not in the 
 power of evil fpirits to ruin us. Sup- 
 port us under all our faving trials and 
 troubles. 
 
 FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE 
 POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER 
 AND EVER. AMEN. 
 
 Let thy fatherly compaflion grant what 
 the Son of thy love has encouraged us to 
 pray for. 
 
 By thy Almighty power, make good 
 whatever is defedive in me. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Examination. 
 
 Before judgment^ examine thyfelf; and 
 in the day of vifitation thou fhalt find 
 mercy. 
 
 Difcover to me, O thou Searcher of 
 hearts, whatever is amifs in me, whether 
 in hfe or principle. 
 
 Death. 
 
 From fudden, from unprepared death, 
 good Lord, deliver me, my family, and 
 all that defire my prayers. May we 
 never be furprifed in fin ; and may thy 
 mercy fupply whatever fliall be wanting 
 in our preparation for death. 
 
 , For myfelf, with the fubmiflion of a 
 penitent finner, under the righteous fen- 
 tence of death pafled upon all mankind, 
 I beg that I may fo live, as that I may 
 with joy refign my life a facrifice of obe- 
 dience, in union with that of my Savi- 
 our's, to Thee, O Father, trufting in thy 
 mercy and goodnefs, and promifes in Je- 
 fus Chrift, at the hour of death, and in 
 the day of judgment. Amen. 
 
 Let not the fun go down upon your wrath. 
 
 55 
 
 Ecclef. xvii. 
 
 20. 
 
 Ephef. iv. 6. 
 
56 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Lord, grant that I may lie down to 
 fleep with the fame charitable difpofitions 
 with which I defire and hope to die. 
 
 I befeech Thee for all that are my ene- 
 mies, not for judgment and vengeance, 
 but for mercy, for the remiffion of their 
 fins, and for their eternal happinefs. 
 pfa. xiii. 3. Lighten my eyes^ O Lordy that I Jleep 
 not in death. 
 
 Deliver me from the terrors of the 
 night, and from the peftilence that walketh 
 in darknefs. 
 
 Let my fleep be free from fin ; pre- 
 ferve me, O Lord, from evil dreams, and 
 evil daemons. 
 
 Into thy hands I commend myfelf, my 
 fpirit, my foul, and body, O Lord, thou 
 God of truth. 
 
 Grant that I may remember Thee upon 
 my bed. 
 
 Pfa. iv. 9. / <uqIII lay me down in peace ^ and take 
 my reji ; for it is ThoUy Lordy only that 
 makeft me dwell in Jafety. 
 
 May the Saviour and Guardian of my 
 foul take me under his protedlion this 
 night and evermore. 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 57 
 
 Sunday Meditations. 
 
 Prayers, Thanksgivings, &c. 
 
 A Daily Form of T h ankf giving. 
 
 r\ ALMIGHTY God and moft mer- 
 V->/ ciful Father, who, day after day, 
 dofl: minifter to finful man infinite occa- 
 fions of prailing Thee, accept of my un- 
 feigned thanks for all the bleflings I have, 
 and every day receive, from thy good 
 providence. 
 
 That of thine own mere goodnefs, and 
 without any merit of mine, or of my fore- 
 fathers. Thou haft given me a being from 
 honeft and religious parents, and in fuch 
 a part of the world where the Chriftian 
 Religion is purely taught, and thy Sacra- 
 ments duly adminiftered. 
 
 That Thou didft endue me with rea- 
 fon and perfedl fenfes ; and, to make thefe 
 more comfortable to me, didft give me a 
 found and healthful body. 
 
 That Thou gaveft me an early know- 
 ledge or 1 nee, my Creator and Redeemer. 
 
 
58 Sacra Privata. 
 
 That Thou haft preferved me ever 
 fince my birth;, and haft vouchfafed me 
 health and liberty, and a competency of 
 means to fupport me. 
 
 That Thou haft redeemed me by thy 
 Son, and given me a fhare in his merits ; 
 fandified me by thy Holy Spirit, and haft 
 heaped many favours upon me. 
 
 That Thou haft given me honeft friends 
 to admonifh, to counfel, to encourage, and 
 to fupport me, by their intereft and advice. 
 
 That Thou haft been my refuge in tri- 
 bulation, and my defence in all adverfi- 
 ties ; delivering me from dangers, infamy, 
 and troubles. For all known or unob- 
 ferved deliverances, and for the guard thy 
 Holy Angels keep over me, I praife thy 
 good providence. 
 
 When I went aftray. Thou didft re- 
 duce me ; when I was fad. Thou didft 
 comfort me ; when I offended Thee, 
 Thou didft forbear and gently corred 
 me, and didft long exped my repentance ; 
 and when, for the grievoufnefs of my 
 fins, I was ready to defpair. Thou didft 
 keep me from utter ruin ; Thou haft de- 
 
oacra rrivata. 
 
 59 
 
 livered me from the fnares and aflaults of 
 the Devil ; Thou haft not only preferved 
 my foul, but my body, from deftrudtion, 
 when ficknefles and infirmities took hold 
 of me. 
 
 O Lord and Father, I cannot render 
 due thanks and praife for all thefe mercies 
 beftowed upon me : Such as I have I give 
 Thee ; and humbly befeech Thee to ac- 
 cept of this my daily facrifice of thankf- 
 giving. 
 
 Pardon, O God, all my former ingra- 
 titude ; and that I have pafTed fo many 
 days without obferving, without admiring, 
 without acknowledging and confefling, 
 thy wonderful goodnefs to the moft un- 
 worthy of thy fervants. 
 
 For (now I foberly confider my de- 
 pendence upon Thee) as there is no hour 
 of my life that I do not enjoy thy favours, 
 and tafte of thy goodnefs, fo (if my frailty 
 would permit) I would fpend no part of 
 my life without remembering Thee. 
 
 Praife the Lord then, O my foul, and 
 all that is within me praife his Holy 
 iM cirnc. 
 
 
6o 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord, my Crea- 
 tor. Glory be to Thee, O Jefus, my Re- 
 deemer. Glory be to the Holy Ghoft, my 
 Sandlifier, my Guide, and Comforter. 
 
 All love, all glory, be to the high and 
 undivided Trinity, whofe works are infe- 
 parable, and whofe dominion endureth 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 When I ferioufly confider, great God, 
 my dependence upon thy Providence, and 
 that the favours and mercies I have re- 
 ceived, are infinitely more in number than 
 the acknowledgments I have made, I am 
 juftly aftiamed of my ingratitude, and 
 afraid left my unthankfulnefs fhould pro- 
 voke Thee to hinder the current of thy 
 bleflings from defcending upon me. 
 
 Forgive, O merciful Father, my paft 
 negligences, and give me grace for the 
 time to come to obferve and to value thy 
 kindnefles, as becomes one who has re- 
 ceived fo much more than he deferves. 
 
 Preferve in my foul, O God, fuch a 
 conftant and clear fenfe of my obligations 
 to Thee, that upon the receipt of every 
 favour, I may immediately turn my eyes 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 01 
 
 to Him from whom cometh my falvation. 
 That thy manifold bleflings may fix fuch 
 lafting impreflions upon my foul, that I 
 may always praife Thee faithfully here on 
 earth, until it fhall pleafe Thee, of thy 
 unbounded mercy, to call me nearer the 
 place of thy heavenly habitation, to praife 
 my Lord and deliverer to all eternity. 
 
 Providence. 
 
 God has more ways of providing for us, 
 of helping us, than we can poffibly ima- 
 gine ; it is infidelity to defire to confine 
 him to our ways and methods. 
 
 Lord^fave us^ we peri/h. 
 
 Nothing can better exprefs our own 
 inability, and our whole dependence upon 
 God. Two fure conditions of obtaining 
 help. 
 
 Since thy mercy, O God, is ever ready 
 to help all that call upon Thee in time of 
 diftrefs, let thy goodnefs anfwer my wants. 
 
 Keep me under the protedion of thy 
 good providence, and make me to have 
 a perpetual fear and love of thy Holy 
 ixdiiic, Liiruuyn jcius v^iimL. 
 
 Matt. viii. 
 
02 
 
 uuC/u rTtVutu* 
 
 Pfa. xc. 12. 
 
 The more deftitute we are of human 
 aid, the more ought we to truft to that 
 providence which God is pleafed to exert 
 in extreme neceffity. 
 
 O God, give me grace never to con- 
 demn thy providence ; let me adore the 
 wifdom of thy condudl, the holinefs of 
 thy ways, and the power of thy grace. 
 
 How many fins fiiould we commit, if 
 God did not vouchfafe to oppofe our cor- 
 rupt will ! Blefi^ed be his holy name, for 
 not leaving me to my own choices. 
 
 So teach us to number our days^ that we 
 may apply our hearts unto wifdom. 
 
 Birth-Day. 
 
 Blessed be God for my creation and 
 birth ; for giving me a being from honeft 
 parents fearing God, and in a Chriftian 
 and Proteftant country; — for giving me 
 perfe6t members and fenfes, a found rea- 
 fon, and an healthful conftitution — for 
 the means of grace, the afiiftances of the 
 Holy Spirit, and for the hopes of Glory ; 
 — for all the known or unobferved fa- 
 vnnr<; nrovirlences and dehverances, bv 
 
Sacra Privata. 63 
 
 which my life has hitherto been preferv- 
 ed ; — moft humbly befeeching Thee^ my 
 God and Father, to pardon my negledl or 
 abufe of any of thy favours, and that I 
 have fo very much forgotten Thee, in 
 whom I live, and move, and have my 
 being. 
 
 Good Lord, forgive me the great wafte 
 of my precious time,— the many days and 
 years of health, and the many opportuni- 
 ties of doing good, which I have loft ; 
 and give me grace, that for the time to 
 come I may be truly wife, that I may 
 confider my latter end, and work out my 
 falvation with fear and trembling, ever re- 
 membering, that the night cometh when no 
 man can work ; and that the day of my 
 death may be better to me than the day 
 of my birth. 
 
 O gracious God, grant that before Thou 
 takeft from me that breath which Thou 
 gaveft me, I may truly repent of the er- 
 rors of my life paft ; that my fins may be 
 forgiven, and my pardon fealed in Hea- 
 ven ; fo that I may have a place of reft 
 in Paradife with thy faithful fervants, till 
 
64 
 
 bacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 the general refurredlion ; when the good 
 Lord vouchfafe me a better and an ever- 
 lafting life, through Jefus Chrift. Amen, 
 
 New- Tear's- Day . 
 
 Blessed be God, who has brought me 
 fafe to the beginning of another year. 
 
 Blefled be God, that I am of the num- 
 ber of thofe who have time and fpace for 
 repentance yet given them. 
 
 My God, make me truly fenfible of 
 this mercy, and give me grace to confider 
 often how fhort and how uncertain my 
 time is; — that there is one year more of 
 a fhort life pafTed over my head ; and 
 that I am fo much nearer eternity ; — that 
 I may in good earnefl think of another 
 life, and be fo prepared for it, as that 
 death may not overtake me unawares. 
 
 Lord, pardon all my mifpent time, and 
 make me more diligent and careful to re- 
 deem it for the time to come, that when 
 I come to the end of my days, I may look 
 back with comfort on the days that are 
 paft. 
 
 Grant that I may begin this new year 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 65 
 
 with new refolutions of ferving Thee 
 more faithfully ; — and if, thro' infirmity 
 or negligence, I forget thefe good pur- 
 pofes, the good Lord awaken in me a 
 fenfe of my danger. 
 
 My heart is in thy hands, O God, as 
 well as my time ; O make me wife unto 
 falvation ; — that I may conlider in this 
 my day the things that belong unto my 
 peace ; and that I may pafs this, and all 
 the years I have yet to live, in the com- 
 fortable hope of a blefled eternity, for the 
 Lord Jefus' fake. Amen. 
 
 Lord' s Day. 
 
 fVhen will the Sabbath he gone^ that we 
 may Jell wheat ? 
 
 Deliver us, gracious God, from this fin 
 of covetoufnefs, — from being weary of 
 thy fabbaths, which are ordained to pre- 
 ferve in our hearts the knowledge of Thee, 
 and of thy fon Jefus Chrifl. 
 
 O that we may defire, and rejoice in, 
 the return of this day, and ferve Thee 
 faithfully on it ; and that we may enjoy 
 
 Amos viii. 
 4- 
 
 K 
 

 Sdcru Privutu* 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 I Tim. ii. i. 
 
 an everlafting fabbath with thy faints, for 
 Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen, 
 
 O that I may be glad when they fay 
 unto me, Come, let us go to the Houfe 
 of God ! 
 
 Prayer for all Mankind. 
 
 I exhort^ that firft of all /applications^ 
 prayers, intercejfions, and giving of 
 thanks, be made for all men. 
 
 O God, almighty and merciful, let thy 
 fatherly goodnefs be upon all that Thou 
 haft made. 
 
 Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, In- 
 fidels, and Hereticks, and grant that none 
 may deprive themfelves of that happinefs 
 which Jefus Chrift has purchafed by his 
 death, 
 
 Blefs the pious endeavours of all thofe 
 that ftrive to propagate the Gofpel of 
 Chrift ; and may its faving truths be re- 
 ceived in all the world ! 
 
 Preferve thy Church in the midft of 
 the dangers that furround it : purge it 
 rroiii ail currupLiuiibj aiiu. iicdi ito uivi- 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 67 
 
 fions, that all Chriftian people may unite 
 and love as becomes the difciples of Chrift. 
 
 Grant that all bifliops and paftors may 
 be careful to obferve the facred rights 
 committed to their truft : — 
 
 That Godly difcipline may be reftored 
 and countenanced: — 
 
 That Chriftians may not content them- 
 felves with bare fhadows of religion and 
 piety, but endeavour after that holinefs 
 without which no man can fee the 
 Lord : — 
 
 That fuch as are in authority may go- 
 vern with truth and juftice ; and that thofe 
 whofe duty it is to obey, may do it for 
 confcience fake. 
 
 Let all that fmcerely feek the truth, be 
 led into it by thy Holy Spirit ; and to all 
 fuch as are deftitute of neceffary inftru6tion, 
 vouchfafe a greater meafure of thy grace . 
 
 Support and comfort all that labour 
 under trials and afflidlions, all that fuffer 
 wrongfully ; and by thy mighty grace 
 fuccour all thofe that are tempted. 
 
 Give unto all finners a true fenfe of 
 their unhappy ftate, and grace and ftrength 
 
68 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 to break their bonds. 
 
 Vifit, with thy fatherly comforts, all 
 fuch as are now in their laft; ficknefs, that 
 they may omit nothing that is neceflary to 
 make their peace with Thee. 
 
 Be gracious to all thofe countries that 
 are made defolate by the fword, famine^ 
 peftilence, or perfecution. And fandlify 
 the miferies of this life^ to the everlafting 
 benefit of all that fulFer. 
 
 Preferve this land from the miferies of 
 war ; this Church from perfecution, and 
 from all wild and dangerous errors ; and 
 this people from forgetting Thee^ their 
 Lord and Benefaftor. 
 
 Avert the judgments which we have 
 juftly deferved ; and mercifully prevent 
 the ruin that threatens us ; and grant that 
 we may be ever prepared for what thy 
 Providence fhall bring forth. 
 
 Blefs all perfons and places to which 
 thy Providence has made me a debtor ; all 
 who have been inftrumental to my good, 
 by their affiftance, advice, or example ; and 
 make me in my turn ufeful to others. 
 
 Let none of thofe who cannot pray for 
 
Sacra Prtvata. 
 
 69 
 
 themfelves, and defire my prayers, want 
 thy mercy ; but defend, and comfort, 
 and condud them through this dangerous 
 world, that we may meet in Paradife, to 
 praife our God for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Enlighten the minds, and pardon the 
 fm, of all that err through fimplicity. 
 
 Let the wickednefs of the wicked come 
 to an end, but guide thou the juft. 
 
 Relieve and comfort all that are trou- 
 bled in mind or confcience ; — all that are 
 in danger of falling into defpair ; — all 
 that are in any dangerous error; — all that 
 are in prifon, in flavery, or under perfecu- 
 tion for a righteous caufe ; all that are in 
 any diftrefs whatever ; — that all may im- 
 prove under their fulferings. 
 
 Have mercy upon and reclaim all that 
 are engaged in linful courfes, in youthful 
 lufts, in unchriftian quarrels, and in un- 
 righteous lawfuits. 
 
 Diredl all that are in doubt, all that 
 feek the truth. 
 
 O God, the Creator and Redeemer of 
 All, have mercy upon all whom Thou 
 haft made and redeemed. Aitich, 
 
 
70 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Luke xxii. 
 42. 
 
 Monday Meditations. 
 
 Resignation. 
 
 Neverthelejsy not my will^ but 
 thine he done. 
 
 GOD, who takeft: delight in helping 
 the afHided, help a foul too often 
 diftrefled with an inward rebellion againft: 
 thy juft appointments. 
 
 Who am I, that I fhould make excep- 
 tions againft the Will of God, infinitely 
 great y wife^ and good ? 
 
 I know not the things that are for my 
 own good. 
 
 My moft earneft defires, if granted, 
 may prove my ruin. 
 
 The things I complain of and fear, 
 may be the effedls of the greateft mercy. 
 
 The difappointments I meet with, may 
 be abfolutely neceffary for my eternal 
 welfare. 
 
 I do therefore proteft againft the fin 
 and madnefs of defiring to have my will 
 done, and not the will of God* 
 
 i 
 
iSacra rrtvata. 
 
 71 
 
 Grant, gracious Father, that I may 
 never difpute the reafonablenefs of thy 
 will, but ever clofe with it, as the beft 
 that can happen. 
 
 Prepare me always for what thy provi- 
 dence fhall bring forth. 
 
 Let me never murmur y be deje£ledy or 
 impatient y under any of the troubles of 
 this life ; but ever find reft and comfort 
 in thisy THIS is the will of my father, 
 AND OF MY GOD *. grant this for Jefus 
 Chrift's fake. Amen. 
 
 To the glory of God, and juftification 
 of his infinite goodnefs, I do here acknow- 
 ledge, that in all the difpenfations of pro- 
 vidence which have befallen me, to this 
 day, however uneafy to flefh and blood, 
 I have notwithftanding experienced the 
 kindnefs of a father for his child ; and am 
 convinced, that it would have been much 
 worfe for me, had I had my own choices. 
 
 O God grant that for the time to come 
 I may yield a cheerful obedience to all thy 
 appointments. Amen, 
 
 Corrupt nature cannot comprehend that 
 afflidlions are the effedts of the divine 
 
 
72 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Job xiii. 15. 
 
 love. It muft: be thy grace, O Lover of 
 Souls, which muft work in me this con- 
 viftion, which I befeech Thee to vouch- 
 fafe me. 
 
 Never fet a greater value upon this 
 world than it deferves. 
 
 If a man be not eager or pofitive in his 
 defires, he will more readily embrace the 
 appointments of Providence. 
 
 If we place our hopes, or our depend- 
 ence, upon the 'power ^ the wijdom^ the 
 coun/ely or the interejl^ we have in man, 
 and not in God only, we fhall furely be 
 difappointed. 
 
 though he flay me ^ yet will Itrufi in him. 
 
 0 my crucified King and Saviour, let 
 my fubmiflion to whatever afflidions ftiall 
 befall me, for thy fake, or by thy appoint- 
 ment, be to me a pledge, and an affurance, 
 of my fidelity to Thee, and conformity to 
 thy fufferings. 
 
 It is a favour to be punifhed and to 
 fufFer in this life, when a man makes a 
 good ufe of his fufferings. But to fuffer 
 by conftraint, is to fuffer without comfort 
 and without benefit. 
 
/Sacra rrtvata. 
 
 73 
 
 Our union and conformity with the 
 will of God ought to be inftead of all 
 confolation. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may always ac- 
 cept of the punifhment of my fins with 
 refignation to thy good pleafure. 
 
 Remember me, O Lord, in the day of 
 trouble ; keep me from all excefs of fear, 
 concern, and fadnefs. 
 
 Grant me an humble and refigned 
 heart, that with perfedt content I may 
 ever acquiefce in all the methods of thy 
 grace, that I may never fruftrate the de- 
 figns of thy mercy, by unreafonable fears, 
 by floth, or felf-love. Amen. 
 
 Think often of God, and of his attri- 
 butes, his mercy, compaflion, fidelity, 
 fatherly care, goodnefs, protedlion. Dwell 
 on thefe thoughts till they produce fuch a 
 well-grounded confidence as will fupport 
 us under all difficulties, and afTure us, that 
 He cannot pofTibly forfake thofe that de- 
 pend on Him. 
 
 When God deprives us of any thing 
 that is mofl dear to us, — health, eafe, 
 conveniences of life, friends, wife, chil- 
 
 
 L 
 
^ — ^ 
 
 74 
 
 oacra Jrrtvata. 
 
 I Peter v. 5. 
 
 dren, &c. — we fliould immediately fay. 
 This is God's will ; I am by Him com- 
 manded to part with fo much ; let me 
 not therefore murmur or be dejected, for 
 then it would appear that I did love that 
 thing more than God's will. 
 
 When God thus vifits us, let us im- 
 mediately look inwards ; and, left our fins 
 fiiould be the occafion, let us take care 
 that we ferioufly repent, and endeavour to 
 make our peace with God, and then He 
 will either deliver or fupport us, and will 
 convince us, that we fuffer in juftice for 
 our faults ; or for our trial, and to hum- 
 ble us ; or for God's glory, and to fanc- 
 tify us. 
 
 Be clothed with humility ; for God re- 
 fifteth the proudy but giveth grace to the 
 humble. 
 
 Give me grace, O God, to ftudy, to 
 love, to adore, and to imitate that hu- 
 mility, which thy Blefled Son hath taught 
 us both by his word and by his moft holy 
 example. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Bujinefs. 
 
 Under Jianding what the will of the Lord 
 
 is. 
 
 To engage in any bufinefs of import- 
 ance without knowing this, and taking 
 counfel of God, may coft us dear. 
 
 Woe to them that take counfel^ but not of 
 me ^ faith the Lord. 
 
 But then, let a man take heed, that 
 when he goes to enquire of the Lord, he 
 does not fet up idols in his own heart, left 
 God anfwer him according to his idols. 
 
 We are to pray for the direction of 
 God's Spirit, upon all great occafions : 
 efpecially, we are humbly to depend on 
 his diredion, and cheerfully to expe6t it, 
 which he will manifeft, either by fome 
 plain event of his providence, or by fug- 
 gefting fuch reafons as ought to determine 
 the will to a wife choice. 
 
 But to follow the inclinations of the 
 will without reafon, only becaufe we find 
 ourfelves ftrongly inclined to this or that, 
 is a very dangerous way, and may engage 
 us in very dangerous pradlices. 
 
 75 
 
 Ephef. V. 17, 
 
 Ifai. XXX. I. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Majier. Servant. 
 
 Death, in a very little time, may make 
 the mafter and the fervant equal. Let us 
 anticipate this equality, by treating our 
 fervants with compaffion ; having refped: 
 to Chrift in the perfon of our fervant, to 
 Chrift, who took upon him the form of 
 a fervant for our fakes. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 77 
 
 Tuefday Meditations. 
 
 Trouble, Persecution, 
 Afflictions, &c. 
 
 Call upon ?ne in the time of trouble^ Jo 
 will I hear thee^ and thou JJialt prai/e me, 
 
 OGOD, who feeft all our weaknefles, 
 and the troubles we labour under, 
 have regard unto the prayers of thy fer- 
 vant, who ftands in need of thy comfort ^ 
 thy dire£lion^ and thy help. 
 
 Grant that I may fuffer like a Chriftian, 
 and not grieve like an unbeliever ; — that 
 I may receive troubles as a punifhment 
 due to my paft offences, — as an exercife 
 of my faith, and patience, and humility, — 
 and as a trial of my obedience ; — and that 
 I may improve all my afflidtions to the 
 good of my foul, and thy glory. 
 
 Thou alone knoweft what is befl for 
 us : Let me never difpute thy wifdom or 
 thy goodnefs. 
 
 Pialm 1. 15. 
 
78 
 
 Heb. xii. 7. 
 
 Micah vii. 
 9- 
 
 Peter iv. 
 13- 
 
 Matt. V. 1 1, 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Direct my reafon, fubdue my paflions, 
 put a ftop to my roving thoughts and 
 fears, and let me have the comfort of thy 
 promife, and of thy protedlion, both now 
 and ever, for Jefus Chrifl's fake. Amen, 
 
 If ye endure chaftening^ God dealeth 
 with you as with Jons ; for what Jon is he 
 whom the Jather chafteneth not ? But if ye 
 are without chajiijementy whereof all are 
 partakerSy then are ye bafiards^ and not 
 Jons. 
 
 I will bear the indignation of the Lordy 
 becaufe I have finned againft him. 
 
 If I am defpifed or flighted, I ought to 
 confider it as a favour, fince this is a mark 
 of God's children ; and therefore I ought 
 to thank him for it, and not be angry 
 with thofe whom he makes his inflruments 
 to fubdue and mortify my pride. 
 
 Rejoice in as much as ye are made par- 
 takers of the fufferings of Chriji ; that 
 when his glory Jhall be revealed^ ye may be 
 glad aljo with exceeding joy \ — viz. Becaufe 
 your reward will be proportionable to your 
 fufferings. 
 
 Blejfed are ye when men jhall revile you 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 79 
 
 and perfecute you^ and Jhall Jay all manner 
 of evil againjl you falfely for my fake. Re- 
 joice ^ and be exceeding glad ; for great is 
 your reward in Heaven ; for Jo perfecuted 
 they the prophets which were before you. 
 
 The myftery of the Crofs is to be 
 learned under the Crofs. 
 
 Fear not them which kill the body^ but 
 are not able to kill the foul: but rather 
 fear him which is able to deflroy both body 
 and foul in hell. Are not two fparrows fold 
 for a farthing ? and one of the?n fhall not 
 fall to the ground without your Father. 
 The very hairs of your head are all num- 
 bered. 
 
 Humble yourf elves under the mighty hand 
 of Gody [under great affliftions which he 
 fuifers to befal you] that he may exalt you 
 in due time : Cafting all your care upon him^ 
 for he careth for you. 
 
 Thy will be done. 
 
 It is juft, great God, it fhould be fo ; 
 for who fhould govern the world but he 
 that made it ? And yet we poor creatures 
 repine when any thing crofles our hopes 
 or defigns. What ftrange unthoughtful- 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 nefs ! what prefumption is this ! And it is 
 thy great mercy that any of us are fenfible 
 of this folly, and become willing to be 
 governed by Thee. 
 
 With all my heart and foul, O God, I 
 thank Thee, that in all the changes and 
 chances of this mortal life, I can look up 
 to Thee, and cheerfully refign my will to 
 thine. 
 
 It is the defire of my foul, and my 
 humble petition, that I may always be 
 ready and willing to fubmit to thy provi- 
 dence, that Thou may eft order what Thou 
 judgeft to be moft convenient for me. 
 
 I have trufted Thee, O Father, with 
 myfelf ^ my foul is in thy hand, which 
 I verily believe Thou wilt preferve to 
 eternal happinefs ; my body, and all that 
 belongs to it, are of much lefs value. I 
 do therefore, with as great fecurity and 
 fatisfadion, truft all I have to Thee, hop- 
 ing Thou wilt preferve me from all things 
 hurtful, and lead me to all things profit- 
 able to my falvation. 
 
 I will love Thee, O God ; being fatif- 
 fied that all things, however ftrange and 
 
bacra r?^ivata. 
 
 8i 
 
 irkfome they appear, fhall work together 
 for good to thofe that do fo. 
 
 I know in whom I have believed ; I 
 have a Saviour at thy right hand, full of 
 kindnefs, full of care, full of power ; he 
 has prayed for me, that this faith fail me 
 not ; and by this faith I am perfuaded, 
 that neither tribulation, nor anguifh, nor 
 perfecution, nor famine, nor nakednefs, 
 nor peril, nor fword, nor death which I 
 may fear, nor life which I may hope for, 
 nor things prefent which I feel, nor things 
 to come which I may apprehend, fhall 
 ever prevail fo far over me, as to make 
 me not to refign my will entirely to Thee. 
 
 In an humble, quiet, and dutiful fub- 
 miflion, let me faithfully run the race that 
 is fet before me, looking unto Jefus, the 
 author and finifher of our faith, who, for 
 the joy that was fet before him, defpifed 
 the jfhame, endured the crofs, and is now 
 feated at the right hand of God ; to whom 
 I moft humbly befeech Thee to bring me 
 in thy good time ; and for whatever fhall 
 fall out in the mean while, T^hy will be 
 done. Amen. 
 
 
 M 
 
82 
 
 jjacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 Look unto ye/us. 
 
 He was defpifed and rejected of men ; — 
 his life was fought for by Herod ; — He 
 was tempted by Satan ; — hated by that 
 world which He came to fave ; — fet at 
 nought by his own people ; — called a de- 
 ceiver, and a dealer with the devil ; — was 
 driven from place to place, and had not 
 where to lay his head ; — betrayed by one 
 difciple, and forfaken by all the reft ; — 
 falfely accufed, fpit upon, and fcourged; — 
 fet at nought by Herod and his men of 
 war ; — given up by Pilate to the will of 
 his enemies ; — had a murderer preferred 
 before him; — was condemned to a moft 
 cruel and fhameful death ; — crucified be- 
 tween two thieves ; — reviled in the midft 
 of his torments ; — had gall and vinegar 
 given him to drink ^ — fuffered a moft 
 bitter death, fubmitting with patience to 
 the will of his Father. 
 
 O Jefu, who now fitteft at the right 
 hand of God, to fuccour all who fuffer in 
 a righteous way ; be Thou my Advocate 
 for grace, that, m all my luftermgs, 1 may 
 
I 
 
 tSacra rrtvata. 
 
 83 
 
 follow thy example, and run with patience 
 the race that is fet before me. Amen. 
 
 Take all things that befal you as coming 
 from God's providence, for your particu- 
 lar profit. And though they are evil in 
 themfelves, yet as he permits^ or does not 
 think fit to hinder them, they may be re- 
 ferred to Flim. 
 
 God no fooner difcovers in your heart 
 an ardent defire of well-doing, and of fub- 
 mitting to his will, but he prepares for 
 you occafions of trying your virtue ; and 
 therefore, confident of his love, receive 
 cheerfully a medicine prepared by a phy- 
 fician that cannot be miftaken, and cannot 
 give you anything but what will be for 
 your good. — See Ecclus. chap. ii. 
 
 Lord, prepare my heart, that no afflic- 
 tions may ever fo furprife, as to overbear 
 me. 
 
 Difpofe me at all times to a readinefs to 
 fuffer what thy providence fhall order or 
 permit. 
 
 It is the fame cup which Jefus Chrift 
 drank of, it is he fends it. — He fees it ab- 
 lolutely necellary that I mult be firft par- 
 
 - 
 
 
84 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Matth. X. 
 
 22. 
 
 Matth. X. 
 24. 
 
 taker of his fufFerings, and then of his 
 glory. 
 
 And ye Jhall he hated of all men for my 
 name fake ; hut he that fhall endure to the 
 end^ Jhall he faved. 
 
 It is indeed grievous to nature to be 
 thus treated ; but when it is for thy name- 
 fake, O Jefus, and for the fake of thy 
 truth, and for being true to Thee ; how 
 lovely is this hatred, and how advanta- 
 geous when falvation is the reward ! 
 
 The difciple is not ahove his mafler^ nor 
 the fervant ahove his Lord. 
 
 He who keeps this faying in his heart, 
 will never complain of what he fuffers, nor 
 feek for any other way to fave himfelf, 
 but by humiliation and the Crofs. 
 
 Suffering. 
 
 O Lord, grant that whenever I fuffer, it 
 may be for being faithful to Thee, and 
 without drawing it unfeafonably upon my- 
 felf. 
 
 We are in God's hands ; we often take 
 ourfelves out of his hands, by trufting to 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 85 
 
 the help and proteftion of men, more 
 than that of God. 
 
 God can render none miferable but thofe 
 whom he finds finners. Let us apply this 
 to ourfelves when in afflidlion, but not 
 unto others, or to their perfonal faults. 
 
 As many as I love^ I rebuke and chaften : 
 be zealous^ therefore^ and repent. 
 
 Blefled be God, who vouchfafes, by 
 falutary chaftifements, to awaken us when 
 we fall afleep through floth and lukewarm- 
 nefs. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may never mur- 
 mur at thy appointments, nor be exafpe- 
 rated at the minifters of thy providence. 
 
 In Thee, O Jefus, we find matter of 
 confolation in every afflidtion that can pof- 
 fibly befal us. 
 
 All vifitations are from God. He is 
 not delighted with the miferies of his poor 
 creatures ; afilidions are therefore defigned 
 for our good. He will either fhew us the 
 reafon of this vifitation, or make us reap 
 the fruits of it. 
 
 People that may be well difpofed, may 
 yet live under the power of fome evil cuf- 
 
 Rev. iii. 19. 
 
oO 
 
 Sclera Prtvatd. 
 
 
 torn, which is difpleafing to God ; — a man 
 may have been guilty of fome great fin 
 which he has yet never truly repented of, 
 or been truly humbled for. This was the 
 cafe of the fons of Jacob ; — they had at- 
 tempted the life of, and afterwards fold, 
 their brother, and endangered the life of 
 their aged father ; under which guilt they 
 pafled their life well enough for many 
 years, till God vifited them and then 
 they thought of their fin, confefled and 
 repented. 
 
 God, by affii6lions, often fits us for 
 greater degrees of grace which he is going 
 to beftow. 
 
 Though I fuffer, yet I am well, becaufe 
 I am what God would have me to be. 
 
 Lord, do not permit my trials to be 
 above my flirength ; and do Thou vouch- 
 fafe to be my flirength and comfort in the 
 time of trial. 
 
 Give me grace to take in good part 
 whatever fiiali befall me ; and let my 
 heart acknowledge it to be the Lord's do- 
 ing, and to come from thy providence. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 God makes ufe of afflidions Some- 
 times by way of prevention ; leji I Jhould 
 be exalted^ faid St. Paul ; — To reform 
 them ; before I was affli£ledy I went af- 
 fray ; — To perfed them ; patience^ cou- 
 rage, fubmiffion to the will of God, are 
 graces not fo much as underftood by peo- 
 ple who meet with no adverfities ; we muft 
 through fnuch tribulation enter into the 
 kingdom of God; — To prove men, and fhew 
 them for examples ; if a man had no ene- 
 mies, how could he fhew his charity in 
 forgiving them ? 
 
 Afflic5lions are no marks of God's dif- 
 pleafure. Jejus loved Mary and Laza- 
 rus^ yet they were both afBided. 
 
 Punifhment is due to fin. We muft 
 be punifhed here or hereafter ; — -it is the 
 caufe of all afBidlions, and defigned by 
 our gracious God to bring us to repen- 
 tance. 
 
 Profperity is a moft dangerous ftate ; — 
 we fancy it is owing to our merit, and it 
 is followed with pride, negled of duty, 
 fearleflhefs. 
 
 It is happy for us when God counts us 
 
 87 
 
 2 Cor. xii. 
 &c. 
 
 Pfa. cxix. 
 
 Adls xiv. 
 22. 
 
 John. xl. 5. 
 
0 Q 
 OO 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 worthy to fufFer for his name's fake. 
 
 Affliftions, undergone with refignation, 
 are the great teft of our love of God; 
 when we love him, then he chaftens us. 
 May God fandlify all our afflidions to us 
 all. 
 
 May I receive everything from thy 
 hand with patience and with joy. 
 
 Remember me, O God, in the day of 
 trouble. Secure me, by thy grace, from 
 all excefs of fear^ concern^ and Jadnejs. 
 
 Let the afBidtions I meet with be in 
 fome meafure ferviceable towards the ap- 
 peafing of thy wrath. Let them prove 
 the happy occafion of forwarding my con- 
 verfion and falvation. 
 
 Temptation. 
 
 We are expofed to temptation all our days. 
 Men are never more dangeroufly tempted, 
 than when they think themfelves fecure 
 from temptation. — This is a proof of the 
 power the devil has over them. 
 
 We tempt God when we expofe our- 
 felves unneceflarily to dangers, through a 
 raue connaence or nib anutance. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 89 
 
 Defpair. Hope. 
 
 Grant, O God, that, amidfl: all the dif- 
 couragements, difficulties, dangers, diftrefs, 
 and darknefs of this mortal life, I may 
 depend upon thy mercy, and on this build 
 my hopes, as on a fure foundation. 
 
 Let thine infinite mercy in Chrift Jefus 
 deliver me from defpair, both now and at 
 the hour of death. 
 
 Refignation. 
 
 Grant that I may receive the punilhment 
 of my fins with patience and refignation. 
 
 Injuries . Perfecution . 
 
 Give me, O God, an heart to confider, 
 that man could have no power againft: me, 
 unlefs it were given from above. 
 
 'Enemies. 
 
 A Christian fiiould not difcover that he 
 has enemies any other way, than by doing 
 more good to them than to others. If 
 thine enemy hunger^ feed him ; if he thirfi^ 
 give him drink. He will therefore be 
 
 N 
 
90 
 
 oacra rrivata. 
 
 Ecclus. viii. 
 7. 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 1 
 
 careful not to lofe fuch occafions. 
 
 0 Jefu ! whofe charity all the malice of 
 thy bittereft enemies could not overcome, 
 flied abroad in my heart that moft excel- 
 lent gift of charity, the very bond of peace, 
 and of all virtues. 
 
 Rejoice not over thy great eft enemy being 
 dead ; but remember^ that we die all. 
 
 Our enemies are our benefaftors, pro- 
 curing for us a new right to heaven. 
 
 1 pray God convert all thofe who hate 
 us without a caufe. 
 
 I befeech Thee for my enemies, not 
 for vengeance, but for mercy ; that Thou 
 wouldeft change their hearts by thy grace, 
 or reftrain their malice by thy power. 
 
 /// Time of War. 
 
 0 Sovereign Lord ! who for our fins art 
 juftly difpleafed, I proftrate myfelf before 
 Thee, confefllng my own fin and the fin 
 of this people ; acknowledging the juftice 
 of any fcourge which Thou fiialt think fit 
 to bring upon us; and trembling to think 
 how much I may have contributed towards 
 it. 
 
Sacra Privata, 
 
 91 
 
 Thou haft already fpoken to us both by 
 thy judgments and mercies, both by the 
 fcarcity and plenty of bread ; and we have 
 not regarded it. Thou haft taken away 
 the lives of many, very many, in their very 
 fins, by which numerous widows, and fa- 
 therlefs children, have been left miferable. 
 
 The fins of whoredom and drunkennefs ; 
 of Jwearingy lyings and perjury ; of liti- 
 gioufnefsy injujiicey and defrauding the pub- 
 licky are made light of. 
 
 The fins of impiety ^ of prophanenefsy of 
 defpifing the means of grace and Jalvation^ 
 are too common amongft us. 
 
 What fiiall we fay, to prevail with God 
 to avert the judgments which thefe fins 
 deferve ? 
 
 God be merciful unto us, and put a 
 ftop to this torrent of wickednefs ; put thy 
 fear into all our hearts, that we may re- 
 turn to Thee ; that we may repent, and 
 bring forth fruit meet for repentance ; and 
 that iniquity may not be our ruin. 
 
 May the dread of thy now threatened 
 judgments deter us from evil ; — may thy 
 goodnefs and patience lead us to repen- 
 
92 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 tance; — weaken the power of Satan; — 
 take from among us the fpirit of flumber, 
 of ignorance, and inconfideration. 
 
 Let every one of us fee and feel the 
 plague of his own heart, and fay, what 
 have I done to bring theje evils upon us ? 
 So that bringing forth fruits anfwerable to 
 amendment of life, we may efcape thy 
 judgment now hanging over u^s ; and above 
 all, thy judgment againft finners in the 
 world to come. And this I beg for Jefus 
 Chrift his fake. Amen. 
 
 yudgment Day. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that I may be of the 
 number of thofe that fliall find mercy at 
 that day. 
 
 Zaccheus. 
 
 The good Lord grant that I may give a 
 proof of the fincerity of my converfion by 
 a change of life. 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 93 
 
 Wednefday Meditations. 
 
 COVETOUSNESS, FaSTING, DIFFI- 
 CULTIES, Self-denial. 
 
 All theje things will I give thee. — Get thee 
 hencey Satan^ for it is written^ Thou 
 /halt worjhip the Lord thy God^ and him 
 only /halt thou ferve. 
 
 REAT and glorious God, who alone 
 art worthy of our love and fervice, 
 cure me of, and preferve me from, the fin 
 and vanity of admiring this world. 
 
 Give me grace to renounce all covetous 
 defires, all love of riches and pleafures ; — 
 to defire only what is necefiary, and to be 
 content with what Thou, O Lord, think- 
 eft fo : 
 
 Not to be troubled at the lofs or want 
 of any thing befides thy favour : 
 
 That no bufinefs, no pleafures, may 
 divert me from the thoughts of the world 
 to come : 
 
 Matt. iv. 9, 
 10. 
 
94 
 
 Sacra Privata, 
 
 Luke vi. 24. 
 
 I John ii. 
 15. 
 
 That I may cheerfully part with all 
 thefe things, when Thou requireft it of me : 
 
 And that I may be ever prepared to 
 do fo, difpofe me to a temperance in all 
 things, and to lay up my treafure in hea- 
 ven, for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen. 
 
 Woe unto you that are richy for ye have 
 received your confolation. 
 
 A man muft have but little faith, who 
 can read thefe words, and yet love riches, 
 and the pleafures they afford. 
 
 Lord grant that I may refift: every 
 temptation to the love of creatures left 
 they fteal my heart from Thee, my God, 
 whom I defire to love with all my foul. 
 
 I know that I muft in a great meafure 
 renounce all other objefts of my affeftion, 
 in order to love Thee with all my heart. 
 Lord, give me grace and ftrength to put 
 this in pra6tice. 
 
 Love not the worlds nor the things that 
 are in the world: if any man love the 
 worlds the love of the Father is not in him. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may never hope 
 to reconcile two things fo inconfiftent as 
 the love of Thee and the world. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 95 
 
 Bleffed are the -poor in fpirit : for theirs 
 is the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 To be poor in fpirit — is to be difengaged 
 from wealth, to look upon it as a burthen, 
 or as a truft. 
 
 Having food and raiment^ let us he there- 
 with content. 
 
 And yet even the Chriftian world is not 
 content without fuperfluities and excefs. 
 Thefe diforders are not lefs criminal, be- 
 caufe fo common. 
 
 Give me, O God, the eyes of faith, that 
 I may fee the world juft as it is; — the 
 vanity of its promifes, the folly of its plea- 
 fures, the unprofitablenefs of its rewards, 
 the multitude of its fnares, and the dan- 
 gers of its temptations. 
 
 Fajiing. 
 
 Jesus Chrift fpared not his innocent flefli, 
 but fafted ; the finner cheriflieth his con- 
 tinually, refufing it nothing. 
 
 Fafting is in fome fenfe a punilhment 
 and expiation for paft fins, a remedy for 
 prefent temptations, and a prefervative 
 againft future. 
 
 Matth. V. 3. 
 I Tim. vi. 8. 
 
96 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Pfa. 
 
 cu. 4. 
 
 Luke 
 
 VI. 25. 
 
 Pfa.: 
 
 My heart is fmitten, and withered like 
 grajs ; Jo that I forget to eat my bread. 
 
 The humble and afflided foul is not 
 much concerned to pleafe the appetite. 
 
 Woe unto you that are full^ for ye fhall 
 hunger ; that is. Ye whofe daily meals are 
 feafts, who make profeflion of a life of 
 fenfuality, who know not what it is to 
 faft : woe to fuch Chriftians ! 
 
 If we judge ourfelves with feverity, we 
 fhall be judged with mercy. 
 
 In Time of Trouble. 
 
 When thou with rebukes doft correal 
 man for iniquity^ thou makefi his beauty to 
 conjume away like a moth. 
 
 0 MERCIFUL God, who in thy wife provi- 
 dence doft fo order even natural events, 
 that they ferve both for the good of the 
 univerfe, and for the convidlion of parti- 
 cular finners, fo that men fhall have reafon 
 to acknowledge thy glorious attributes ; — 
 
 1 do with great forrow of heart, but with 
 all fubmifTion to thy good pleafure, confefs 
 thy mercy as well as juftice to me in the 
 judgments^ afflictions^ forrow s^ of this day. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 97 
 
 I acknowledge thy voice, O merciful 
 God, I acknowledge my own tranfgreflions, 
 which have provoked Thee to fpeak to me 
 after this manner, and at this very time. 
 
 O Lord, give me true repentance for 
 all the errors of my life, and particularly 
 for that which was in all probability the 
 occafion of this affliction. 
 
 Blefled be God, that my punifhment 
 was not as great as my crime. 
 
 Blefled be God, that he has given me 
 time to repent of the fin that provoked 
 him to deal with me after this manner. 
 
 Blefled be God, that when he fpake to 
 me once, yea twice, that I regarded it at 
 laft. 
 
 Good God of mercy, give me grace 
 that I may not provoke Thee any more 
 to repeat this word to me, but that I may 
 faithfully perform thofe vows which are 
 upon me. This I cannot do without thy 
 gracious afliftance, which I mofl: humbly 
 befeech Thee to vouchfafe me, for Jefus 
 Chrift's fake, who by his merits has pur- 
 chafed this grace for all that faithfully alk 
 it of Thee ; for his fake, O merciful God, 
 
 
 o 
 
98 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 grant me this grace. Amen. 
 
 I do in all humility accept of the pun- 
 iftiment of mine iniquities. 
 
 I will hold my peace, and not open my 
 mouth, becaufe it is thy doing and my 
 defervings. 
 
 I know, O Lord, that it is good for me 
 to be in trouble, or Thou wouldeft not 
 fufFer it fo to be. 
 
 Let thy merciful kindnefs be my com- 
 fort, according to thy promife to all that 
 love and ferve Thee. 
 
 Difficult tes. 
 
 We are to pray for the particular direftion 
 of God's Holy Spirit upon all great occa- 
 fions ; we are humbly to depend upon, and 
 cheerfully to expedt it. 
 
 In a Law-Suit. 
 
 Convince me, O God, if I am under 
 any miftake in this affair. 
 
 Direft, aflift, and fupport me under all 
 the difficulties I fhall meet with. 
 
 Put an happy end, in thy good time, to 
 this troublefome controverfy. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 99 
 
 Difpofe the hearts of thofe with whom 
 we have to do, to peace and juftice. 
 
 Give me grace to reft fatisfied with 
 whatever ftiall be the iflue, believing af- 
 furedly, that God can make good any lofs 
 I may fuftain, or fanftify it to my eternal 
 welfare. 
 
 Lord, in this, and in all other things I 
 undertake. Thy will be done, and not 
 mine. 
 
 . O manifeft thy will to me, preferve me 
 from evil counfels, and from rafti ehter- 
 prifes. 
 
 Faith. 
 
 Grant, O God, that I may with humility 
 receive, and with perfeverance hold faft, 
 all thofe truths which Thou haft revealed. 
 
 I thank Thee, O God, for thy holy 
 word, and for that thou haft not left us, 
 in the affair of eternity, to the uncertainty 
 of our own reafon and judgment. 
 
 Defend me againft all delufions of 
 error ; the fnares of wit and learning ; the 
 railleries of profane men ; and from de- 
 ferting the truth. Grant, O God, that 
 
 
lOO 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 John xvi. 
 13- 
 
 neither education, intereft, prejudice, or 
 paflion, may ever hinder me from difcern- 
 ing the truth. 
 
 Open the eyes of all that are in error ; 
 heal the wounds of the divided church ; 
 that we may be one fold under one fhep- 
 herd. Amen. 
 
 The Holy Spirit /hall guide you into all 
 truth. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, make me to underftand, 
 embrace, and love the truths of the golpeL 
 
 Give, O God, thy blefling unto thy 
 word, that it may become efFedtual to my 
 converfion and falvation, and to the falva- 
 tion of all that read and hear it. 
 
 Give me grace to read thy Holy Word 
 with reverence and refped, becoming the 
 gracious manifeftation of thy will to men ; 
 fubmitting my underftanding and will to 
 thine. 
 
 Let thy gracious promifes, O God, con- 
 tained in thy word, quicken my obedience. 
 Let thy dreadful threatenings and judg- 
 ments upon finners, frighten me from fin, 
 and oblige me to a fpeedy repentance, for 
 jeius v^nrui nis laice. 
 
Sacra Prtvata. 
 
 lOI 
 
 Caufe me, O God, to believe thy word, 
 to obey thy commands, to fear thy judg- 
 ments, and to hope in, and depend upon, 
 thy gracious promifes contained in thy 
 Holy Word, for Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 Give me a full perfuafion of thofe great 
 truths, which Thou haft revealed in thy 
 holy word. 
 
 The gofpel will not be a means of fal- 
 vation to him who reads, or hears it only, 
 but to him who reads, loves, remembers, 
 and praftifes it by a lively faith. 
 
 Caufe me, O God, rightly to under- 
 ftand, and conftantly to walk in, the way 
 of thy commandments. 
 
 Grant us in this world knowledge of 
 thy truth, and in the world to come life 
 everlafting, for Jefus Chrift's fake. 
 
 From hardnefs of heart, and contempt 
 of thy word, good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 Give us grace to hear meekly thy word, 
 to receive it with pure affeftion, and to 
 bring forth the fruits of the fpirit, to 
 amend our lives according to thy holy 
 word. A^Meyi, 
 
 
I02 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Self-Denial. 
 
 He that reftfteth pleafureSy crowneth 
 his life. 
 
 Vouchsafe me, gracious God, the graces 
 of mortification and felf-denial, that my 
 affedions and flefli being fubdued unto 
 the {pirit, and my heart and all my mem- 
 bers being mortified from all carnal and 
 worldly lufts, I may ever obey thy blefT- 
 ed will, through Jefus Chrifl: our Lord* 
 Amen. 
 
 All mankind being under the fentence 
 of death, certain to be executed, and at 
 an hour we know not of ; a ftate of re- 
 pentance and felf-denial, of being dead 
 and crucified to the world, is certainly the 
 moft fuitable, the moft becoming temper 
 that we can be found in, when that fen- 
 tence comes to be executed ; that is, when 
 we come to die : — Efpecially when we 
 confider, that this fhort and uncertain 
 time, allowed us betwixt the fentence and 
 execution, will determine our condition 
 for eternity. 
 
 If this be the cafe of fallen man, as 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 moft certainly it is, then thoughtlefs un- 
 remitting pleafure is the greateft inde- 
 cency ; — a fondnefs for the world, the 
 greateft folly ; — andfelf-indulgence, down- 
 right madnefs. 
 
 And confequently, the contrary to thefe, 
 namely, a conftant ferioufnefs of temper, 
 an univerfal care and exadnefs of life, an 
 indifference for the world, felf-denial, fo- 
 briety, and watchfulnefs, muft be our 
 greateft wifdom. 
 
 And this difcovers to us the reafon and 
 the neceflity of all the duties of Chrifti- 
 anity, and of God's dealings with fallen 
 man in this ft ate of trial. 
 
 For inftance : — Jefus Chrift commands 
 us to deny our/elves^ and to take up our 
 crofs daily, not becaufe he can command 
 what he pleafes, (for he is infinite good- 
 nefs, and can command nothing but what 
 is good for his creatures) but becaufe the 
 corruption of our nature requires that we 
 ftiould be forbidden every thing which 
 would increafe our diforder. 
 
 And becaufe this diforder has fpread 
 itfelf through all the powers of our fouls 
 
 103 
 
104 
 
 bacra Frtvata. 
 
 
 and bodies, and inclines us to evil con- 
 tinually, he requires that our felf-denial 
 fliould reach as far as our corruption. 
 
 He commands us, therefore, to deny 
 our own wifdom, becaufe we are really 
 blind as to what concerns our own true 
 good, and fliould infallibly ruin ourfelves, 
 if left to our own choices. 
 
 He commands us to deny our appetites , 
 becaufe intemperance would ruin us. 
 
 He forbids us to give way to our paf- 
 JionSy becaufe a thoufand evils will follow 
 if we fliould do fo. 
 
 He obliges us to keep a very fl:ri6t 
 watch over our hearts, becaufe from thence 
 proceed hypocrify, covetoufnefs, malice, 
 and many other evils. 
 
 We are forbid to fet our hearts upon 
 the world, and every thing in it, becaufe 
 our eternal happinefs depends upon our 
 loving God with all our heart and foul. 
 
 We are obliged to love our neighbour, 
 and our very enemies, and are forbid to 
 hate, to contend with, to hurt, to go to 
 law with him, becaufe this would exafpe- 
 rate our mmds, and grieve the Holy bpi- 
 
kjULT IT f l UUlCl* 
 
 
 rit of God, by which we are fandtified ; 
 being againft that charity which God de- 
 lights in. 
 
 We are forbid all repining when God 
 afflids us, becaufe, as finners, fufFering is 
 due to us. And becaufe our bodies have 
 a very great influence over our fouls, we 
 are commanded to fafty and to be flridtly 
 temperate at all times, and to deny our- 
 felves the love of fenfual pleafures and 
 felf-indulgence. 
 
 We are commanded to deny all the 
 ways of folly, vanity, and falfe-fatisfac- 
 tions, that we may be able to take fatif- 
 faftion and pleafure in the ways of God. 
 
 In fhort: — In whatever inflances we 
 are commanded to deny ourfelves, it is 
 becaufe it is abfolutely neceflary, either 
 to cure our corruption, or to qualify us 
 for the grace of God, or to hinder us 
 from grieving God's Holy Spirit, and 
 forcing him to forfake us. 
 
 The more we deny ourfelves, the freer 
 we ftiall be from fin, and the more dear 
 to God. 
 
 God appoints us to fufferings, that we 
 
 
 p 
 
io6 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 may keep clofe to Him, and that we may 
 value the fufferings of his Son, which we 
 fhould have but a low notion of, did not 
 our own experience teach us what it is to 
 fuffer. 
 
 They that deny themfelves, will be fure 
 to find their ftrength increafed, their af- 
 fedlions raifed, and their inward peace 
 continually advanced. 
 I Tim. vi. 8. 1 Having food and raiment^ let us be there- 
 with content. 
 
 Let us not imagine that excefs, luxury, 
 and fuperfluity, and the love of pleafures, 
 are lefs criminal, becaufe they are fo com- 
 mon. 
 
 T^ake up the Crofs. 
 
 This is defigned as a peculiar favour to 
 Chriftians, as indeed are all Chrift's com- 
 mands. Miferies are the unavoidable por- 
 tion of fallen man. All the difference is, 
 Chriftians fuffering in obedience to the 
 will of God, it makes them eafy ; unbe- 
 lievers fuffer the fame things, but with an 
 uneafy will and mind. 
 
 To follow our own will, our pafTions, 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 I 07 
 
 and our fenfes, is that which makes us 
 miferable. It is for this reafon, and that 
 we may have a remedy for all our evils, 
 that Jefus Chrift obliges us to fubmit our 
 will, our paflions, &c. to God. 
 
 The good Chriftian is not one who has 
 no inclination to fin, (for we have all the 
 feed of fin in us) but who, being fenfible 
 of fuch inclinations, denieth them con- 
 tinually, and fuffers them not to grow into 
 evil adlions. 
 
 Every day deny yourfelf fome fatisfac- 
 tion ; — your eyes obje6ts of mere curiofity ; 
 — your tongue^ every thing that may feed 
 vanity, or vent enmity ; — t\iQ palate^ dain- 
 ties; — the earSy flattery, and whatever 
 corrupts the heart ; — the body^ eafe and 
 luxury; — bearing all the inconveniences 
 of life, (for the love of God) cold, hunger, 
 reftlefs nights, ill health, unwelcome news, 
 the faults of fervants, contempt, ingrati- 
 tude of friends, malice of enemies, calum- 
 nies, our own failings, lownefs of fpirits, 
 the flruggle in overcoming our corrup- 
 tions ; — bearing all thefe with patience and 
 refignation to the will of God. Do all 
 
 
I Oo 
 
 kjuCrU Jl/IVuTu. 
 
 Matt. viii. 
 
 20. 
 
 this as unto God^ with the greateft 'privacy . 
 
 All ways are indifferent to one who has 
 heaven in his eye, as a traveller does not 
 chufe the pleafanteft, but the fhorteft and 
 fafeft way to his journey's end ; and that 
 is, the way of the crofs, which Jefus Chrift 
 made choice of, and fandified it to all his 
 followers. 
 
 The Son of Man has not where to lay his 
 head. 
 
 This jfhould fill us with confufion, 
 whenever we are over-much concerned for 
 the conveniencies of life. 
 
 Our afFedions being very ftrongly in- 
 clined to fenfible good, for the fake of 
 which we are often tempted to evil, and 
 fall into great diforders, we fhould refolve 
 to facrifice our will to reafon, and reafon 
 to the word of God. 
 
 God does not require it of us, that we 
 fliould not feel any uneafinefs under the 
 crofs, but that we fhould ftrive to over- 
 come it by his grace. 
 
 Virtues of an Holy Life. 
 Kfrvfncv in devotion •— frenuencv in 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 109 
 
 prayer; — afpiring after the love of God 
 continually ; — ftriving to get above the 
 world and the body ; — loving filence and 
 folitude, as far as one's condition will per- 
 mit ; — humble and aifable to all ; patient 
 in fufFering affronts and contradidlions ; — 
 glad of occafions of doing good even to 
 enemies ; — doing the will of God, and 
 promoting his honour, to the utmoft of 
 one's power ; — refolving never to off^end 
 him willingly, for any temporal pleajurey 
 profity or lofs. Thefe are virtues highly 
 pleafing to God. 
 
 Self-denial does not confift in faffing^ 
 and other mortifications only, but in an 
 indifference for the worlds its profit 'plea- 
 furesy honours^ and its other idols. 
 
 It is neceflary that we deny ourfelves 
 in little and indiff^erent things, when reafon 
 and confcience, which is the voice of God, 
 fuggefts it to us, as ever we hope to get 
 the rule over our own will. 
 
 Say not, it is a trifle, and not fit to 
 make a facrifice of to God. He that will 
 not facrifice a little afi^edlion, will hardly 
 oflfer a greater. It is not the thing, but 
 
 
I lO 
 
 O 7^ • . 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 the reafon and manner of doing it ; namely, 
 for God's fake, and that I may accuftom 
 myfelf to obey his voice, that God regards, 
 and rewards with greater degrees of grace. 
 
 The greater your felf-denial, the firmer 
 your faith, and more acceptable to God. 
 The fincere devotion of the rich, the alms 
 of the poor, the humility of the great, the 
 faith of fuch whofe condition is defperate, 
 the contemning the world when one can 
 command it at pleafure, continuing inftant 
 in prayer even when we want the confola- 
 tion we expedted : Thefe, and fuch-like 
 inftances of felf-denial, God will greatly 
 reward. 
 
 They who imagine that felf-denial in- 
 trenches upon our liberty, do not know 
 that it is this only that can make us free 
 indeed, giving us the victory over our- 
 felves, fetting us free from the bondage of 
 our corruption, enabling us to bear afflic- 
 tions, (which will come one time or other) 
 to forefee them without amazement, en- 
 lightening the mind, fandtifying the will, 
 and making us to flight thofe baubles 
 which others lo eagerly contend for. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 Mortification confifts in fuch a fparing 
 ufe of the creatures, as may deaden our 
 love for them, and make us more indif- 
 ferent in the enjoyment of them. This 
 leflens the weight of concupifcence, which 
 carries us to evil, and fo makes the grace 
 of God more efFedlual to turn ti^e balance 
 of the will. 
 
 Carnal man cannot comprehend that 
 God loves thofe whom he permits to fuf- 
 fer y — but faith teaches us, that the crofs 
 is the gift of his love, the foundation of 
 our hope, the mark of his children, and 
 the title of an inheritance in heaven. But 
 unlefs God fandify it by his Spirit, it be- 
 comes an infupportable burthen, a fubjeft 
 of murmuring, and an occafion of fin. 
 
 He that loveth life, (that is, is fond of 
 it) for the fake of the pleafures and ad- 
 vantages it affords, will foon lofe the love 
 of heavenly things; the love of God, of 
 his foul, and of the duty he owes to them : 
 He hates it, who does not value it in com- 
 parifon of eternal life, which he hopes for. 
 A Chriftian gives proof of this, by morti- 
 fying himfelf. 
 
112 
 
 bacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 Thofe whom God loves, in order to an 
 happy eternity, he weans from the plea- 
 fures of this prefent life. 
 
 Temperance confifts in a fober ufe of 
 all earthly, vifible things, and in confining 
 ourfelves within the compafs of what is 
 neceflary. 
 
 JVith God all things are pojjible. 
 
 The Almighty God enable me to conquer 
 the temptations of riches, and to get above 
 the allurements of this prefent life ! 
 
 Chriftian felf-denial is, to refift and cru- 
 cify in ourfelves the fpirit and inclinations 
 of Adam, — the flefli, its afFedions, and 
 lufts, — to die to our paffions, in order to 
 follow the motions of the Spirit. 
 
 Fajiing. 
 
 Necessary to bring our hearts to a peni- 
 tent, holy, and devout temper; and to 
 perform the vows that are upon us. 
 
 fafiing^ by almSy and by prayers^ we 
 dedicate our bodies^ goodsy and Jouls^ to 
 God in a particular manner. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Thurfday Meditations. 
 
 Let no corrupt communication proceed out 
 of your mouthy hut that which is good to 
 the uje of edifying^ that it may minifter 
 grace unto the hearers. 
 
 Foolijh talking^ and jejiing, are not conve- 
 nient. 
 
 PRESERVE me, O God, from a vain 
 converfation. Give me grace never 
 to be afliamed or afraid to fpeak of Thee, 
 and of thy law. 
 
 Give me a lively fenfe of the value of 
 religion, and make it the delight of my 
 heart ; that I may fpeak of it with judg- 
 ment, ferioufnefs, and aifFedion, and at all 
 feafonable times. 
 
 May that good Spirit, which appeared 
 in the likenefs of tongues of fire, warm 
 my heart, and dired my thoughts. 
 
 Out of the abundance of the heart, the 
 mouth fpeaketh. — How can ye, being evil, 
 fpeak good things ? — By thy words thou 
 
 Ephef. iv, 
 29. 
 
 Ephef. V. 4. 
 
 Matth. xii. 
 34- 
 
114 
 
 Pfa, cxli. 3. 
 
 Pfa. xxxvii. 
 30. 
 
 Matth. V. 
 16. 
 
 I Thef. V. 
 
 Heb. X. 24. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 /halt be jufiified^ and by thy words thou 
 /halt be condemned. 
 
 Set a guards O Lord^ upon my mouthy 
 and keep the door 0/ my lips. 
 
 The mouth of the righteous Jpeaketh wif- 
 domy and his tongue talketh of judgment. 
 
 Hearts, truly touched with the love of 
 God, will communicate light and heat to 
 each other, — will fpeak honourably of 
 God, of his perfedions, his juftice, good- 
 nefs, wifdom, and power, — the excellency 
 of his laws, — the pleafantnefs of his fer- 
 vice, — the inftances of his love, — the 
 rewards he has promifed to his friends, 
 and the punifhments he has prepared for 
 his enemies. 
 
 Let your light fo /hine before men^ that 
 they may fee your good works ^ and glorify 
 your Father which is in Heaven. 
 
 Wherefore comfort yourfelves together^ 
 and edify one another. 
 
 Let us confider one another ^ to provoke 
 unto lovey and to good works. 
 
 And let us join a good life to our reli- 
 gious converfation ; and never contradict 
 our tongue by our deeds. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 "5 
 
 We always do good or harm to others 
 by the manner of our converfation ; we 
 either confirm them in fin, or awaken them 
 to piety. 
 
 It is too true, that fome evil paflion or 
 other, and to gratify our corruption, is the 
 aim of mofl: converfations. We love to 
 fpeak of pafl: troubles; — hatred and ill- 
 will make us take pleafure in relating the 
 evil adtions of our enemies. We compare, 
 with fome degrees of pride, the advantages 
 we have over others. We recount, with 
 too fenfible a pleafure, the worldly happi- 
 nefs we enjoy. — This fl:rengthens our 
 paflions, and increafes our corruptions. 
 — God grant that I may watch again fl: 
 a weaknefs, which has fuch evil confe- 
 quences. 
 
 May I never hear, never repeat with 
 pleafure, fuch things as may diftionour 
 God, hurt my own charadler, or injure 
 my neighbour. 
 
 Speak not evil one of another. 
 True humility makes us fee our own 
 faults, without concerning ourfelves with 
 the faults or others. 
 
 James iv. 
 II. 
 
ii6 
 
 Ecclef. vii. 
 9- 
 
 Ephef. iv. 
 26. 
 
 Prov. x'lx. 
 II. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Againji Anger. 
 
 Be not hafty in thy fpirit to be angry y 
 for anger refteth in the boJom of fools. 
 
 O Lord, who art a God ready to par- 
 don, flow to anger, and of great kindnefs, 
 remove far from me all occafions and 
 efFeds of caufelefs and immoderate anger ; 
 all pride and prejudice, and too much 
 concern for the things of this world ; all 
 intemperate fpeeches and indecent paflions. 
 
 Give me, O God, a mild, a peaceable, 
 a meek, and an humble fpirit, that re- 
 membering my own infirmities, I may 
 bear with thofe of others ; — that I may 
 think lowly of myfelf, and not be angry 
 when others alfo think lowly of me ; that 
 I may be patient towards all men, gentle 
 and eafy to be intreated ; that God, for 
 Chrifl's fake, may be fo towards me. 
 Amen. 
 
 Be angry y and fin not : Let not the fun 
 go down upon your wrath. 
 
 The dijcretion of a man deferreth his 
 anger. 
 
 A foft anfwer turneth away ftrife. 
 
Sacra Privata. 1 1 7 
 
 He that is flow to anger is better than Prov. xvi. 
 the mighty ; and he that ruleth his fpirit^ 
 than he that taketh a city. 
 
 Be kindly affe£lioned one towards another. Rom. xii. 
 
 Supprefs the very beginnings of anger. 
 
 Do not ufe to indulge it even where 
 there are real faults ; but try the gentle 
 way, which may probably fucceed better, 
 and, to be fure, with more eafe by far. 
 
 Seldom do people vex us on purpofe, 
 and yet prejudice very often makes us 
 think that they do. 
 
 A fenfe of one's own integrity will 
 make one pafs by injuries more eafily. 
 
 Be not too much concerned to tell the 
 injuries you have received, 
 
 Accuftom yourfelves to filence, if you 
 would learn to govern your tongue. 
 
 Deliver me, O God, from all violent 
 and finful paffions, and give me grace to 
 ftand againft them. 
 
 Blejfed are the meek. Matth. v. 4. 
 
 Inftrudl me. Lord, in this Chriftian 
 virtue; Thou who art the mafter and 
 teacher of it. 
 
ii8 
 
 Sacra Privata, 
 
 Luke vi 37. 
 
 James ii. 
 13- 
 
 For Forgivenefs of Injuries. 
 
 Forgive y and ye Jhall be forgiven. 
 
 O God, who alone canft order the un- 
 ruly wills and afFedlions of finful men, 
 fhew mercy to thy fervant, in forcing 
 my corrupt nature to be obedient to thy 
 commands. 
 
 O God, who haft made it my everlaft- 
 ing intereft, as well as my duty, to forgive 
 my neighbour whatever wrong he has 
 done me; help me to overcome all the 
 difficulties I have to ftruggle with, all 
 pride, prejudice, and defire of rendering 
 evil for evil, that I may not deprive my 
 foul of that mercy which thine infinite 
 goodnefs has offered to finners. 
 
 He Jhall have judgment without mercy ^ 
 that hath /hewn no mercy. 
 
 O bleffed God, help me in this great 
 concern, that I may never fall under thy 
 wrath, for want of Ihewing mercy to 
 others ; but, grant, O bleffed Jefus, that 
 in this I may be thy difciple indeed. 
 Amen. 
 
/Sacra rrtvata. 
 
 119 
 
 Slander. 
 
 T^he Son of Man came eating and drink- 
 ingy and they Jay^ Behold a man gluttonous 
 and a winehibber^ a friend of publicans and 
 ftnners. 
 
 Whatever meafure a good man takes, 
 he will hardly efcape the cenfures of the 
 world; the beft way is, not to be con- 
 cerned at them. 
 
 It is an inftance of humility filently to 
 bear the calumnies which are raifed againft 
 us, when they relate to ourfelves only ; 
 but it is a duty of prudence and charity 
 modeftly to vindicate ourfelves, when the 
 honour of God and the Church is con- 
 cerned. 
 
 Both Jefus Chrift and John the Baptift 
 were flandered : Who then will complain 
 that they cannot fatisfy the world, and 
 ftop men's mouths ? 
 
 Deliver my foul, O Lord, from lying 
 lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 
 
 TJncharitablenefs . 
 xi^nvy malces us lee wnat will lerve to 
 
 Matth. xi. 
 19. 
 
1 20 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 accufe others, and not perceive what may 
 juftify them. 
 
 A truly good man is always difpofed 
 to excufe what is evil in his brethren, as 
 far as truth will fufFer him. 
 
 
 1 llLltly IVl CLllL<:lLliJllo» 
 
 
 Penitence. 
 
 Luke xviii. 
 3- 
 
 'The puhlicany ftanding afar offy would not 
 Jo much as lift up his eyes to heaven; 
 but Jmote upon his hreafi^faying^ God he 
 merciful to me a finner. 
 
 TTTHAT would become of me^ if 
 V V Thou, 0 God, fhouldft not have 
 mercy upon me ? 
 
 When I ferioufly confider thefe dreadful 
 truths, — That all they are accurjed^ who 
 do err and go aflray from thy command- 
 ments. That the unprofitable fervant was 
 cajt into outer aariznejs — vv nen i tnniK or 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 thefe things, I cannot but fear for myfelf, 
 and tremble to think of the account I 
 have to give. 
 
 To this man will I looky even to him 
 that is pooTy and of a contrite fpirity and 
 tremhleth at my word. 
 
 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of 
 a contrite heart : and will Jave Juch as he 
 of an humble fpirit. 
 
 Look upon me, gracious Lord, with an 
 eye of mercy. 
 
 For thy namefakcy O Lordy pardon my 
 iniquities y for they are great. 
 
 My only comfort is, they are not too 
 great for thy mercy. 
 
 And the Lord Jefus our Advocate has 
 aflured us, even with an oath, That all 
 fins fhall be forgiven unto the Jons of men. 
 That is, if with hearty repentance and 
 true faith they turn unto God. 
 
 O moft powerful Advocate ! I put my 
 caufe into thy hands ; — let it be unto thy 
 fervant according to this word ; — let thy 
 blood and merits plead for my pardon ; — 
 fay unto me, as Thou didft unto the pen- 
 itent in thy gofpel. Thy fins are forgiven. 
 
 121 
 
 Ifai. Ixvi. 2. 
 
 Pfa. xxxiv. 
 i8. 
 
 Pfa. XXV. 2. 
 
 R 
 
122 
 
 Matth. vi. 
 14. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 John V. 14. 
 
 And grant that I may live to bring forth 
 fruits meet for repentance. 
 
 If ye forgive men their trefpajfes^ your 
 heavenly Father will alfo forgive your 
 trefpajjes. 
 
 Even the pov/er to perform this moft 
 kind condition muft be from thy grace^ 
 O Jefus ! 
 
 And I truft Thou wilt grant me this 
 grace, becaufe the very will to afk it is 
 from Thee, and from thy will, which wills 
 nothing in vain. 
 
 Perfedt, therefore, O my Saviour, the 
 work which Thou haft begun in me ; and 
 let me feel the effefts of thy grace in the 
 conftancy of my devotions, — in the care 
 for my foul, — in the faithful difcharge of 
 my duty, — and in all fuch a6ls of righ- 
 teoufnefs, piety, and charity, by which I 
 fliall be judged at the laft day. 
 
 Sin no more^ left a worfe thing come unto 
 thee. 
 
 Make me, O Lord, ever mindful of my 
 infirmities and backflidings, that I may be 
 more watchful, and more importunate for 
 grace, for the time to come. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 BleJJed are the merciful^ for they /hall 
 obtain mercy. 
 
 Give me, O Lord, a true compaflion 
 for the wants and miferies of others, that 
 Thou mayeft have compaflion upon me. 
 
 'There is joy in the pre/ence of God over 
 one finner that repenteth. 
 
 Lord, increafe the number of penitents, 
 and the joys of heaven, in delivering me 
 and all finners from the power of the 
 devil, and in vouchfafing us the grace of 
 a true converfion. 
 
 BleJJed are they that mourn : for they 
 /hall be comforted. 
 
 O Lord, grant that I may feek for 
 comfort, not in the things of this world, 
 but by a fincere repentance for my fins, 
 by which God is difhonoured, and his 
 judgments hanging over my head. 
 
 The Son of Man is come to feek and to 
 Jave that which was lofl. 
 
 O comfortable words for lofl: finners ; 
 God himfelf feeks to fave them. O Thou, 
 who fought me when I was afliray, fave 
 me for thy mercy's fake, and preferve 
 that which Thou haft fought and found. 
 
 123 
 
 Matth. V. 7. 
 
 Luke XV, 
 10. 
 
 Matth. v,4. 
 
 Luke xix, 
 10, 
 
124 
 
 Matth. ix. 
 28. 
 
 Phil. ii. 12. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Micah vii. 
 18. 
 
 Ezra ix. 15. 
 
 Numb. xiv. 
 19. 
 
 Ezek. xviii. 
 22, 
 
 Come unto me^ all ye that labour y and 
 are heavy laden ^ and I will give you rejl, 
 
 O Jefu^ condudl and keep me to thy- 
 felf, or I may furely mifs the way. 
 
 JVork out your own Jalvation^ with fear 
 and trembling ; for it is God that worketh 
 in you both to will and to do of his good 
 pleafure. 
 
 It was not in myfelf, O God^ to begin 
 the work of my converfion; — finifti, I 
 befeech Thee^ what Thou haft begun in 
 me ; — may I clofe with thy grace, and 
 perfevere unto my life's end. 
 
 God retaineth not his anger for ever^ 
 becaufe he delight eth in mercy. 
 
 O Lord Gody behold we are before thee 
 in our trefpajjes ; we cannot Jiand before 
 thee for this. 
 
 Pardon^ I befeech ^hee^ the iniquity of 
 thy fervanty according to the greatnefs of 
 thy mercy. 
 
 O fay unto me, as thou didft unto 
 Mofes, / have pardoned thee. 
 
 All his iniquities that he hath committed^ 
 they fhall not be mentioned unto him. 
 
 Lord, be merciful unto us, for we have 
 
Sacra Privata. 125 
 
 finned in the midft of light, and even 
 againft light; in contempt of the grace 
 we received at our baptifm. 
 
 If we confefs our Jins^ God is faithful i John i. 9. 
 and jujl to forgive us our ftns^ and to cleanje 
 us from all unrighteoufne/s. 
 
 Thefe are comfortable words to one 
 whom the fight of his fins has cafl: into a 
 dread of the judgments of God. Both 
 that dread, and the hatred of fin, and the 
 dependance upon the promife of God, and 
 the love that that produces in the foul, are 
 owing entirely to the blood of Jefus Chrifl:. 
 
 What is thy fervant^ that thou fhouldfi 2 Sam. ix. 
 look upon Juch a dead dog as I am ? ^* 
 
 My only fupport is, that my fins have 
 not put me out of the reach of that mercy 
 which is infinite. 
 
 Who can underftand his errors ? O 
 cleanfe thou me from my fecret faults. 
 
 O Lord, be favourable unto me; par- 
 don and deliver me from all my fins. 
 
 Grant that my fins may never rife up 
 in judgment againfl: me, nor bring fhame 
 and confufion of face upon me. 
 
 My foul truly waiteth fl:ill upon God, 
 
126 
 
 Johnvi. 20. 
 
 John viii. 
 24. 
 
 SI- 
 
 SI. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 for of him cometh my falvation. 
 
 // is ly be not afraid. 
 
 Lord Jefus, in all the troubles that ftiall 
 befall me, fpeak thefe comfortable words 
 to my foul, // is /, he not afraid ; and 
 then I fhall be fecure both from prefump- 
 tion and defpair. 
 
 If ye believe not that I am he^ (that is, 
 the Mefliah, the Son of God) ye /hall die 
 in your fins. 
 
 O Jefus, the only refuge of finners, does 
 the world know what it is to die in fin ? 
 
 1 believe, Lord, increafe my faith, 
 
 and dehver us all from the dreadful ftate 
 of final impenitency. 
 
 If ye continue in my wordy then are ye 
 my difciples indeed. 
 
 May I, O Jefus, love the truths of thy 
 word ; make the gofpel my delight ; and 
 continue in the pradlice of them to my 
 life's end. 
 
 If a man keep my faying^ he fhall never 
 fee death. 
 
 O Jefus, Thou hafl: made known to us 
 another death, befides that which feparates 
 the foul from the body. O may thy grace 
 
Sacra Privata. 127 
 
 and mercy fecure us from the bitter pains 
 of eternal death. 
 
 Say the wordy and my Jervant /hall he Luke vil. 7. 
 healed. 
 
 I acknowledge, O Jefu, the almighty 
 power of thy grace, to heal all the difor- 
 ders of my foul ; O deal with me accord- 
 ing to the multitude of thy mercies, and 
 heal my foul of its fad diforders. 
 
 God is a fpirit : and they that worjhip John in. 24. 
 him mujl worjhip him in fpirit and in truth. 
 
 Give me, O Jefus, an inward difpofition 
 to holinefs, an humble and contrite heart, 
 a dependance on the will of God, an ac- 
 knowledgment of his goodnefs, and a zeal 
 for his glory ; to which all the ordinances 
 of his law and gofpel fliould lead us. 
 
 Good life of Time. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that as I have but a 
 ihort time to live, and an eternal intereft 
 depending, I may not fquander away one 
 moment in vanity, or in that which will 
 not profit me in the day of adverfity. 
 
 Blindnefs in part is happened to Ifrael^ Rom. xi. 
 until the fulnejs of the Gentiles he come in^ 
 
128 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 and Jo all Ifrael /hall be Javed, 
 
 O God, the God of Abraham, look 
 upon thine everlafting covenant ; caufe 
 the captivity of Judah and of Ifrael to re- 
 turn. They were thy people ; O be Thou 
 their Saviour, that all who love Jerufaleni, 
 and mourn for her, may rejoice with her, 
 for Jefus Chrift's fake, their Saviour and 
 our's. Amen. 
 
 In time of pub lick DiJiraBions. 
 
 O Sovereign Lord ! I proftrate myfelf 
 before Thee, confefling my own fin, and 
 acknowledging the juftice of any fcourge 
 which Thou fhalt bring upon us ; and 
 trembling to think how much I may have 
 contributed towards it, befeeching Thee 
 to have compaflion on us, in thefe days of 
 confufion. 
 
 O Lord, prevent the judgments that 
 threaten us; — purge this nation from all 
 fuch crimes as may be the caufe of thy 
 heavy difpleafure againft us, — from whore- 
 dom and drunkennefs ; from /wearing^ lyi^gy 
 d,ndperjuryy from Jacrilege ^injujlice frauds 
 dijobediencey malice^ and uncharitablenejs ^ 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 I 29 
 
 Take from among us the fpirit of athei/m^ 
 irreligion^ and profanenefs ; and in mercy 
 rebuke and convert all fuch as give en- 
 couragement or countenance to any of 
 thefe vices, which may provoke Thee to 
 give us up to infidelity or deftrudion. 
 O let thine anger be turned away from 
 us ; — give us not over unto the will of our 
 adverfaries, and unto fuch as ftrive to 
 bring all things into confufion. Preferve 
 this Church in the midft of all dangers ; 
 — and reftore unto us peace and unity ; — 
 and grant us grace to make a better ufe 
 of thefe bleffings for the time to come, 
 for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen. 
 
 We complain of oppreflion ; of our 
 laws being perverted and trampled upon ; 
 of arbitrary government, &c. Let us not 
 be wifer than God, who judges thefe things 
 to be neceflary — to exercife the good, — 
 to punifh the wicked, — to reclaim the fin- 
 ner, to recover thofe that are going aftray, 
 — to make all ferious. Let us not im- 
 peach the ways of Providence, who brings 
 good out of evil ; but reverence and fub- 
 miL to nib wiji, nis wuQom, anQjuitice. 
 
 
 s 
 
130 
 
 Sacra Privata, 
 
 Ifaiah Ixii. 
 6. 
 
 See Jer, 
 xxxi. 
 
 Te that are the Lord's remembrancers ^ 
 keep not filence ; give him no reft^ till he 
 eftahlijh and till he make Jerufalem (his 
 Church) a praije on the earth. 
 
 Thy kingdom come. — Though we are 
 altogether unworthy of the good times 
 Thou haft promifed thy Church, yet we 
 befeech Thee deprive us not of them. 
 
 O Lord, hear; OLord, forgive; O Lord, 
 hearken, and do not defer thefe good 
 days, for thine own fake, oh ! our God. 
 
 We hope a day is coming when all the 
 world will come and worftiip Thee, O 
 God. 
 
 ChriJVs Patience. 
 
 What forrows did he undergo, and with 
 what patience did he fuifer them ! Patient 
 when Judas unworthily betrayed him with 
 a kifs ; — patient when Caiaphas defpite- 
 fully ufed him; — patient when hurried 
 from one place to another ; — patient when 
 Herod with his men of war fet him at 
 naught; — patient when Pilate fo unrigh- 
 teoufly condemned him ; — patient when 
 fcourged and crowned with thorns; — pa- 
 
Cf 71 • . 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 tient when his crofs was laid upon him, 
 when he was reviled, reproached, fcoffed 
 at, and every way abufed* Lord Jefus, 
 grant me patience, after this example, to 
 bear thy holy will in all things. 
 
 ChriJFs Love and Charity. 
 
 Where fhall we take our pattern but 
 from Thee ? — Thou calleft thy followers 
 thy friends. Thou didfl: ftoop down to 
 wafh their feet, who were not worthy to 
 untie thy flioe. Thou didft forgive and 
 reftore Peter, when he had abjured Thee. 
 Thou didft vouchfafe to fatisfy Thomas, 
 who would not believe but upon his own 
 terms. Thou didft forgive and pray for 
 thy bloody perfecutors. O thou Fountain 
 and Pattern of Love, grant that I may 
 love Thee above all things, and my 
 neighbour as myfelf ! 
 
 
132 
 
 cy 7~i * 
 
 oacra rrivata. 
 
 Deut. xxxii. 
 29. 
 
 John ix. 4. 
 
 Saturday Meditations. 
 
 Preparation for Death. 
 
 0 that they were wije^ that they would 
 
 confider their latter end. 
 The night cometh when no man can work. 
 
 A VERY gracious intimation. Lord, 
 grant that I may never forget it; 
 and that now^ now^ is the time, in which 
 to provide for eternity. 
 
 What a wife man then when he comes 
 to die, would wifh he had done, that he 
 ought to do forthwith ; for death is at 
 hand, and the confequences of a furprife 
 moft dreadful. He will then wifh, if he 
 has not done it, with all his foul, 
 
 Firji ; That he had made a juft and 
 Chriftian fettlement of his worldly con- 
 cerns ; fo as not to be diftrafted with the 
 cares of this world, when all his thoughts 
 fhould be upon another. 
 
 Secondly ; That he had made his peace 
 With Cjoq by a timely repentance. 
 
iSacra rrtvata. 
 
 133 
 
 Thirdly ; That he had faithfully dif- 
 charged the duties of his calling. 
 
 Fourthly ; That he had weaned his af- 
 fections from things temporal, and loofened 
 the ties which fatten us to the world. 
 
 Fifthly ; That he had crucified the 
 flefh with its afFecftions and lufts ; fo that 
 being weary of this life, he might be more 
 defirous of a better. 
 
 Sixthly ; That by adls of juftice, mercy, 
 charity, and alms, he may be entitled to 
 the mercy of God at the hour of death. 
 
 Seventhly ; That he had got fuch habits 
 of patience and refignation to the will of 
 God, during his health, as may render 
 death, with all the train of miferies leading 
 to it, lefs frightful and amazing. 
 
 Eightlyy and laftly ; That by a conftant 
 praftice of devotion preparatory for death, 
 he had learned what to pray for, what to 
 hope for, what to depend on in his laft 
 ficknefs. 
 
 And this, gracious Lord, is what I wifli 
 for, what I pray for, and what I purpofe 
 fhall be the conftant pradlice of my life. 
 
 jHIV) PI/1 
 
 
1.34 
 
 uUCVU rrtVuTu. 
 
 2 Kings XX. 
 I. 
 
 Set thine houfe in order ^ for thou /halt 
 die and not live. 
 
 May God, who has every way provided 
 for me, and put it into my power to be 
 juft to all men, charitable to the poor, 
 grateful to my friends, kind to my fer- 
 vants, and a benefactor to the publick : 
 may He add this to all his favours, and 
 grant that in making my lajl will^ I may 
 faithfully difcharge all thefe engagements ; 
 and that for want of that, no curfe may 
 cleave to myfelf, or to any thing I lliall 
 leave behind me. Amen. 
 
 But, above all things, I beg of Thee, 
 O God, to enable me to fet my inward 
 houfe, my fouly in order, before I die. 
 
 Give me true repentance for all the er- 
 rors of my life paft, and ftedfaft faith in 
 Thy Son Jefus Chrift ; that my fins may 
 be done away by thy mercy, and my par- 
 don fealed in heaven. 
 
 Whofo confejfethy and forfaketh his fm^ 
 fhall have mercy. 
 
 Behold, O God, a creature, liable every 
 moment to death, proftrate before Thee, 
 
 Llwhi Hilled, Iwi IV'iLiD V^llillL o lct.IV^, LilCtL IdlLll 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 and repentance to which Thou haft pro- 
 mifed mercy and pardon. 
 
 Difcover to me, O Thou Searcher of 
 Hearts, the charge that is againft me ; 
 that I may know^ and confefs^ and bewail^ 
 and abhor y and forjake^ and repent of all 
 the evils I have been guilty. 
 
 Have mercy upon me, have mercy 
 upon me, moft merciful Father, who de- 
 fireft not the death of a finner ; for thy 
 Son Jefus Chrift's fake, forgive me all that 
 is paft. 
 
 And, O blefled Advocate, who art able 
 to fave them for ever who come unto God 
 by Thee, feeing Thou ever liveft to make 
 interceflion for us, I put my caufe into thy 
 hands : let thy "power defend me \ thy 
 blood and merits plead for me ; fupply all 
 the defeds of my repentance ; procure 
 for me a full difcharge of all my fins be- 
 fore I die ; and by thy mighty grace, con- 
 firm and ftrengthen me in all goodnefs 
 during the remainder of my life, that my 
 death may be a blefling to me, and that I 
 may find mercy at the great day. Amen. 
 
 tut on the new man, which after God is 
 
 Ephef. iv. 
 2+. 
 
136 
 
 iSacra Frtvata. 
 
 Col. iii. 2, 
 
 created in righteoujnejs and true holinejs. 
 
 This, 0 God, is what I defire and pur- 
 pofe, by thy grace, to do ; and do again 
 renew the vows which I have fo often 
 made, and often broke. 
 
 I renounce the devil and all his works ; 
 the vain pomp and glory of the world, 
 with all covetous defires of the fame, and 
 the carnal defires of the flefh, refolving, 
 by thy grace, neither to follow nor be led 
 by them. 
 
 And, 0 God, affift me, that neither 
 floth, nor corruption, may ever make me 
 lay afide or forget thefe refolutions ; but 
 that I may live to Thee, — be an inftru- 
 ment of thy glory, by ferving Thee faith- 
 fully ; and that I may be found fo doing 
 when Thou art pleafed to call me hence, 
 for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen. 
 
 Set your affections on things above y not on 
 things on the earth. 
 
 And may Almighty God, who alone 
 can do it, effeftually convince me of the 
 vanity of all that is defirable in this pre- 
 fent life, that I may not, like an unbeliever, 
 look for happinefs here. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Give me, O Lord, a perfe6t indifference 
 for the world, its profits ypleafures^ honours y 
 fame^ and all its idols. 
 
 Reprefent Thyfelf unto me as my true 
 happinefs, that I may love Thee with all 
 my heart, and foul, and ftrength ; fo that 
 when I am called out of this world, I may 
 rejoice in hope of going to the Paradife of 
 God, where the fouls of the faithful enjoy 
 reft and felicity, in hopes of a bleffed re- 
 furre6tion, through Jefus Chrift our Sa- 
 viour. Amen. 
 
 If any man will come after me^ let him 
 deny hi7nfelf and take up his crofs daily y 
 and follow me. 
 
 Bleffed Jefus, who pleafedft not thyfelf, 
 but tookeft upon Thee the form of a fer- 
 vant, give me refolution to deny my in- 
 clinations for the good things of this world, 
 even while I may command them;^ — to 
 fubdue my corrupt affedlions, and to take 
 revenge upon myfelf, for my intemperance, 
 by mortification ; — for miffpending my 
 time, by retirement ; — for the errors of my 
 tongue, by filence ; — and for all the fins 
 of my life, by a deep humiliation, patiently 
 
 T 
 
! 
 
 •i38 
 
 bacra rrtvata. 
 
 I Pet. iv. 8. 
 
 fubmltting to all the troubles with which 
 Thou fhalt think fit to exercife or punifh 
 mej — fo that being effedually weaned 
 from this worlds and weary of its corrup- 
 tions, I may long to repofe myfelf in the 
 grave, in hopes of a better life, through 
 thy mercy and merits, O Lord Jefus 
 Chrift. Amen. 
 
 Charity cover eth the multitude of fins, 
 
 Poflefs my foul, O God, with a fincere 
 love for Thee, and for all mankind. 
 
 Let no malice or ill-will abide in me. 
 Give me grace to forgive all that have of- 
 fended me ; and forgive my many offences 
 againfl: Thee, and againft my neighbour. 
 
 Make me ever ready to give, and glad 
 to diftribute ; that thy gifts, paffmg through 
 my hands, may procure for me the pray- 
 ers of the poor ; and that I may lay up 
 in ftore for myfelf a good foundation 
 againft the tim.e to come, that I may at- 
 tain eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 Thy Will be done. 
 toRTiFY my loul, blelled Jefus, with the 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 fame fpirit of fubmiffion with which Thou 
 underwenteft the death of the Crofs, that 
 I may receive all events with refignation 
 to the will of God ; — that I may receive 
 troubles, afflitflions, difappointments, fick- 
 nefs, and death itfelf, without amazement ; 
 thefe being the appointment of thyjuftice 
 for the punifhment of fin, and of thy 
 mercy for the falvation of finners. 
 
 Let this be the conftant pradice of my 
 life, to be pleafed with all thy choices, 
 that when ficknefs and death approach, I 
 may be prepared to fubmit my will to the 
 will of my Maker. 
 
 And O that, in the mean time, my 
 heart may always go along with my lips 
 in this petition, — thy will be done. 
 Amen. 
 
 It is appointed unto men once to die; 
 but after this the judgment. 
 
 May the thoughts of death, and of 
 what muft follow, by the grace of God, 
 mortify in me all carnal fecurity, and 
 fondnefs for this world, and all that is in 
 it, the luft of the flefh, the luft of the 
 eye, and the pride of life. And O that I 
 
 Heb. ix. 27. 
 
140 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 John V. 28. 
 
 may make my calling and eledtion fure, 
 that I may die in peace, and reft in the 
 manfions of glory, in hopes of a blefled 
 refurre6tion and a favourable judgment at 
 the great day. 
 
 And may the confideration of a judg- 
 ment to come oblige me to examine, to 
 try, and to judge myfelf, that I may pre- 
 vent a fevere judgment of God by a true 
 repentance, and lead a life anfwerable to 
 amendment of life, and that I may find 
 mercy at the great day. 
 
 All that are in the graves /hall hear his 
 voice ^ and come forth ; they that have done 
 goody unto the refurre£lion of life ; and they 
 that have done evily unto the refurre5lion 
 of damnation. 
 
 May that dreadful word oblige me to 
 work out my falvation with fear and trem- 
 bling, that through the merits of Jefus 
 Chrift, I may efcape that dreadful doom ! 
 
 And may the hopes of heaven and hap- 
 pinefs fweeten all the troubles of this 
 mortal life ! 
 
 0 Lord Jefus, who haft redeemed us 
 with thy precious blood, make me to be 
 
Sacra Prwata. 
 
 141 
 
 numbered with thy faints in glory ever- 
 lafting. Amen. 
 
 0 let my name be found written in the 
 Lamb's Book of Life at the great day ! 
 
 1 thank Thee, O Lord, for all the fa- 
 vours of my life, and efpecially for that 
 Thou haft vouchfafed me time and a will 
 to think of and prepare for deaths while I 
 am in my full ftrength, while I may re- 
 deem my miflpent time, and bring forth 
 fruits meet for repentance. 
 
 Let us confider death as a punifhment, 
 to which, as finners, we are juftly con- 
 demned. 
 
 But then let us look on it in another 
 view, namely, as a Jacrifice for fin, which 
 God will mercifully accept of, in union 
 with that of his Son, if we fubmit to it as 
 due to our offences. 
 
 It being a Jacrifice^ it ought to be vo- 
 luntary ; — being a debt^ it ought to be 
 made out of love to juftice ; — and, being 
 a JatisfaSlion^ we muft be humbly refigned. 
 
 My God, I humbly fubmit to it, and 
 to thy juftice ; and truft in thy mercy and 
 p'oodnefs^ and i)romife 9 both now and at 
 
 

 
 
 the hour of death. 
 
 Death is inevitable ; the time uncertain ; 
 the judgment^ which follows, without ap- 
 peal ; and followed by an eternity of hap- 
 pine/s or mijery. 
 
 Lord, grant that I may confider this as 
 I ought to do. 
 
 Let me remember, that I fhall come 
 forth out of the grave, juft as I go in ; 
 either the obje6t of God's mercy ^ or of his 
 wrath ^ to all eternity. 
 
 He lives to no purpofe, who is not 
 glorifying God. 
 
 Our greateft hopes fliould lie beyond 
 the grave. 
 
 No man muft go to heaven when he 
 dies, who has not fent his heart thither 
 while he lives. 
 
 Our greateft fecurity is to be derived 
 from duty, and our only confidence from 
 the mercy of God through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Sicknejs^ if you confider it as painful to 
 nature, and not as a favour from God, will 
 be a torment to you. To make it really 
 comfortable, believe it to be ordered by a 
 loving Father, a wife Phyfician ; that it is 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 143 
 
 the efFedt of his mercy for our falvation ; 
 that, being fattened to the crofs, you be- 
 come dearer to God, as being moft like 
 his own Son. God will loofe you when 
 it is beft for you. 
 
 We often hinder our recovery by truft- 
 ing to phyfick more than to God : means 
 fucceed juft as far as God pleafes ; — if he 
 fend difeafes as a remedy to cure the dif- 
 orders of the foul, he only can cure them ; 
 —while you are chaftened, you are fure 
 God loves you ; — you are not fure of that, 
 when you are without chaftifement. 
 
 A timely preparation for death frees us 
 from the fear of death, and from all other 
 fears. 
 
 A true Chriftian is neither /^//^ of life, 
 nor weary of it. 
 
 The fting of death is fin ; therefore, an 
 holy life is the only cure for the fear of 
 death. We ought to fear fin more than 
 death, becaufe death cannot hurt us but 
 by fin. 
 
 To me to die is gain, 
 
 O that I may be able to fay this, when 
 I come to die ; and fo I fhall, if I live as 
 
 Phil. I. 21. 
 
144 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 becomes a Chriftian. 
 
 Holinefs being a neceflary qualification 
 for happinefs^ it follows, that the holieft 
 man will be the happieft, (for there are 
 certainly degrees of glory) therefore a 
 Chriftian ftiould lofe no time to gain all 
 the degrees of virtue and holinefs he pof- 
 fibly can ; and he that does not do fo, is 
 in a fair way of not being happy at all. 
 
 It concerns us more than our life is 
 worth, to know what will become of us 
 when we die. 
 
 Who will pretend to fay, that he is not 
 in a very few days to die ? 
 
 The only happinefs of this life is to be 
 fecure of a bleffed eternity. 
 
 Now is the time in which we are to 
 chufe where and what we are to be to all 
 eternity ; there is, therefore, no time to be 
 loft to make this choice. 
 
 No kind of death is to be feared by 
 him who lives well. 
 
 If we confider death as the night of 
 that day which is given us to work in, in 
 which to work out our falvatlon ; and that 
 when the night is come, no man can work; 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 how frightful muft death be to fuch as are 
 not prepared for it ! and if we confider it 
 as the beginning of eternity, it is ftill more 
 dreadful. It is for this reafon called the 
 King of 'Terrors ; and the Pfalmift, when 
 he would exprefs the worft of evils, faith, 
 The terrors of death are fallen upon me. 
 
 If the Lord were ^leafed to kill us^ he 
 would not have received a burnt-offering at 
 our handsy neither would he have /hewed 
 us all thefe things. 
 
 This is the comfort of all God's fer- 
 vants : if he gives them opportunities of 
 renewing their vows, and a will to do 
 them ; — if he accepts their alms and their 
 good deeds, that is, gives them a heart to 
 do fuch ; — if he touches their hearts with 
 a fenfe of their unworthinefs ; — if he chaf- 
 tifes them with affliftions; — if he vifits 
 them with his Holy Spirit, &c ; — all thefe 
 are reafons for a Chriftian to hope, that 
 thefe graces are not in vain, but that God 
 will crown them with pardon, favour, and 
 happinefs eternal. 
 
 And at midnight there was a cry made^ 
 Beholdy the bridegroom cometh^ go ye out to 
 
 u 
 
146 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Matth. XXV. 
 10. 
 
 Matth. XXV. 
 13- 
 
 Matt, xxvii. 
 50. 
 
 Rom. 
 
 meet him. 
 
 A terrible voice to all fuch as fliall meet 
 him, not as a bridegroom, but as an inex- 
 orable judge. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that I may not be of 
 the number of thofe who dread thy coming, 
 who cannot but with regret fubmit to the 
 neceflity of dying, and who have neglefted 
 to prepare for death, till the laft hour. 
 
 And the door was Jhut.. 
 
 Death fliuts the door. No more to be 
 done. It is then too late to repent, to re- 
 folve, to promife, and to do, any thing. 
 
 JVatchy therefore^ for ye know neither 
 the day nor the hour wherein the Son of 
 Man Cometh. 
 
 A perfon, whofe life is full of good 
 works, whofe heart is devoted to God, 
 whofe faith and hope are pure and fincere, 
 will never be furprifed by death. 
 
 J ejus Chriji yielded up the Ghoji, And 
 fo his death became a voluntary facrifice. 
 Let mine be fo, O blefled Jefus ! Let thy 
 death fandlify me; and let my fpirit be 
 received with thine ! 
 
 Being jufiified by faith^ we have peace 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 H7 
 
 with God^ through our Lord Jefus Chrijt. 
 
 Give me, O Lord, that defire and earn- 
 eft longing, which I ought to have, for 
 that happy moment, which is to releafe 
 me from this ftate of banilhment, and 
 tranflate me to a better place, and grant, 
 that I may never lofe the fight of that 
 important moment. 
 
 Let me, O God, have my lot and por- 
 tion with thy faints. 
 
 When we come to die, the great enemy 
 of our fouls will then attack us with all 
 his ftratagems. It is good therefore to be 
 prepared. 
 
 If he attacks your faith, fay with St. 
 Paul, I know whom I have believed; and 
 I am perfuaded that he is able to keep that 
 which I have committed unto him againft 
 that day. 
 
 I believe in God the Father, who hath 
 made me and all the world. 
 
 I believe in God the Son, who hath re- 
 deemed me and all mankind. 
 
 I believe in God the Holy Ghoft, who 
 fandifieth me, and all the eled people of 
 God. 
 
 
148 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 John iii. 15. 
 
 Luke xxiii. 
 43. 
 
 I give Thee hearty thanks, O Heavenly- 
 Father, that Thou haft vouchfafed to call 
 me to the knowledge of thy grace and 
 faith in Thee. Confirm this faith in me 
 evermore, — grant that I may die in this 
 faith, and in the peace and communion of 
 thy Holy Church ; and that I may be 
 united to Jefus, the head of this Church, 
 and to all his members, by a love that 
 ftiall never end. Amen. 
 
 Whojoever helieveth in Jefus Chriji /hall 
 not perijhy but have eternal life. 
 
 I beheve ; — Lord, increafe my faith; 
 and let it be unto thy fervant according 
 to this w^ord. 
 
 This day fJialt thou he with me in Pa- 
 radife. 
 
 0 blefled Jefus ! fupport my fpirit when 
 I come to die, with this comfortable pro- 
 mife, This day /halt thou he in paradife. 
 
 We indeed fuffer juftly the fentence of 
 death. O Thou, who didft nothing amifs, 
 and yet didft fufFer for me ; remember me^ 
 0 Lordy now that T^hou art in thy kingdom. 
 
 What terror, what affli6tion, can equal 
 that of a Chriftian, who has never thought 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 149 
 
 of weaning his heart from the world till 
 he comes to die ; who can find nothing in 
 this life^ but what muft render him un- 
 worthy of mercy ! But the greateft of all 
 miferies would be to defpair of mercy^ and 
 not to have recourfe to it. 
 
 Need a perfon, who has received the 
 fentence of death, be perfuaded to prepare 
 for death ? And is not this our cafe ? 
 
 Confider death, as appointed by God, 
 as a neceflary penance, — as the completion 
 of the Chriftian facrifice, — as a paffage to 
 a better life, — as the deliverance of a pri- 
 foner, — as the recalling of an exile from 
 banifliment, — as the end of all miferies : — 
 And then you will ftrip it of much of 
 that terror which it has when confidered 
 as an accident of nature only. 
 
 And ye your/elves like unto men that wait 
 for their Lord. 
 
 He who waits for his mafter will always 
 endeavour to be in that ftate in which he 
 defires to be found. 
 
 A Chriftian ftiould not look upon death 
 with anxiety, but with the fatisfadtion of 
 d gouu icrvcinL, wno wairs witn impaLience 
 
 Lukexii. 36. 
 
15° 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Luke : 
 40. 
 
 Luke xii. 
 43- 
 
 for his mafter's return, in hopes of being 
 approved of. 
 
 Be ye alfo ready ^ for the Son of Man 
 Cometh at an hour when ye think not. 
 
 And are not fo many fudden deaths 
 fufficient to convince us of the folly of af- 
 furing ourfelves of one day ? Let every 
 one of us, therefore, count himfelf of the 
 number of thofe that are to be furprifed 
 by death ; this will make us watchful. 
 
 Blejfed is that fervant^ whom his Lord 
 when he comet h fhall find fo doing : that is, 
 doing his duty. 
 
 And then, miferable will he be, whom 
 death furprifeth either doing evily or doing 
 nothings or doing that which God does 
 not require of him. Can one imagine, 
 that the generality of Chriftians believe 
 this truth ? Suffer me not, O God, to fall 
 into a forgetfulnefs of it. 
 
 We complain (faith Seneca) of the 
 fhortnefs of life ; he anfwers, Vita^fi fcias 
 utiy longa ejl. — Life is long, if you know 
 how to ufe it. But then it is Chriftianity 
 only can teach us how to ufe our life ; 
 namely, in working out our own falvation: 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 And we are fure it is long enough for 
 thaty becaufe God has appointed it for that 
 very end. 
 
 As Chriftianity alone can take from us 
 the love of life, fo it is this alone that can 
 free us from the fear of death. 
 
 Eternity adds an infinite weight to all 
 our adlions, whether good or bad. 
 
 If we defire that our death fhould, like 
 that of Jefus Chrift, be a facrifice of love 
 and obedience, we muft take care to make 
 our life fo too. 
 
 "This woman was full of good-works and 
 alms-deeds ; and Jhe died. 
 
 Happy that foul which death finds rich, 
 not in gold, furniture, learning, reputa- 
 tion, or barren purpofes and defires, but 
 in good works. 
 
 And they fl one d Stephen, calling upon God, 
 and faying. Lord Jefus, receive my fpirit. 
 
 O my God, enable me to live to Thee; 
 that when the hour of death fhall come, I 
 may thus with confidence offer up my 
 fpirit to Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Thoufhalt not know what hour I will 
 come upon thee. 
 
 151 
 
 Atls 
 
 IX. 39. 
 
 ,59. 
 
 Rev. 
 
 111. 3. 
 
152 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 2 Cor. V. I. 
 
 Is it not then the higheft prefumption 
 to perfuade ourfelves that we have always 
 time fufficientj when Jefus Chrift himfelf 
 declares that we have not one moment 
 certain ? 
 
 Death being the efFedt and punifliment 
 of fin, we ought to expeft it with great 
 fijbmiflion, fince it honours God by expi- 
 ating of fin, and faves the man by punifii- 
 ing the finner. 
 
 It is purely for want of faith, that we 
 tremble at the approach of our deliverer ; 
 and which is to deftroy in us the reign of 
 fin, and infl:ate us in that of glory. 
 
 Let us refign up ourfelves to God, as 
 to the manner in which it ftiall pleafe him 
 to determine our lives, praying only that 
 it may be to his glory and our falvation. 
 
 What does it fignify how this houfe of 
 clay perifiieth, which hinders the perfe6l 
 renovation of the foul, and the fight of God ? 
 
 For we know^ that if our earthly houfe 
 of this tabernacle were dijfolved^ we have 
 a building of God^ an houfe not made with 
 hands ^ eternal in the heavens. 
 
 We know, we believe, we promife our- 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 felves this, but we think too feldom of it, 
 and we ftill make lefs ufe of what we know, 
 in order to wean our hearts from this 
 world. 
 
 Would we look upon our bodies as 
 houfes of clay juft ready to fall, we fliould 
 think of that eternal houfe, we fhould figh 
 after our native country, and be willing to 
 leave a place of mifery and banifhment. 
 
 Remember, that death is thepunifliment 
 of fin ; we ought therefore to refign our- 
 felves up to it in a Chriftian manner, look- 
 ing upon ourfelves as condemned to it in 
 Adam. 
 
 He who has lived and looked on earth, 
 as in a place of banifhment, will look up- 
 on death as a gracious deliverance from it. 
 
 Confider well, that life is given and 
 continued for no other end, but to glorify 
 God in working out our own falvation. 
 
 A man goes with confidence to meet the 
 bridegroom, when he has been faithful to 
 him, and believes him to be his friend. 
 
 And deliver them who through fear of 
 death were all their life long fubje£l to 
 bondage. 
 
 153 
 
 Heb. 
 
 15- 
 
 X 
 
154 
 
 oacra Jrnvata. 
 
 
 Bondage is the fentence of rebellious 
 flaves ; — we were condemned to it in 
 Adam ; and being under this fentence of 
 death and the Divine Juftice, we ought to 
 expedt it with fubmiflion, and be always 
 preparing for it. This is the only way to 
 be fecure^ and from fearing death when it 
 comes. 
 
 Gather us, O God, to the number of 
 thine eledt, at what time and in what man- 
 ner Thou pleafeft ; — only let us be with- 
 out reproach, and blamelefs; — let faith, 
 and love, and peace, accompany our laft 
 periods. 
 
 We look upon a body without a foul 
 with horror. We can fee a body with a 
 foul, which is like to die eternally, without 
 concern. 
 
 Wretched man that I am, who fhall 
 deliver me from the body of this death ? 
 I thank God, (I am delivered) through 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that though my out- 
 ward man decay daily, yet that my inward 
 man may grow and increafe in piety and 
 virtue unto the day of my death. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 ^55 
 
 He that hath lived beft will ftand in 
 need of mercy at the hour of death, and 
 in the day of judgment; — and he that 
 hath lived the worft, has not finned be- 
 yond the efficacy of the blood of Chrift, 
 provided his repentance be fincere. 
 
 My God ! let thy glory be magnified 
 by faving a finner, by redeeming a captive 
 flave, by enlightening an heart over- 
 whelmed in darknefs, by changing a wicked 
 heart, by pardoning innumerable tranf- 
 greffions, iniquities, and fins. 
 
 If my hopes were placed upon any 
 thing but the infinite mercies of God, in 
 Jefus Chrifl:, which can never fail, I fiiould 
 utterly defpair. 
 
 Whqfoever Jhall call on the name of the 
 Lordy Jhall be Javed. 
 
 Thefe, my God, are thine own words ; 
 — give me leave to trufl: in them, to de- 
 pend on them, both now, and at the hour 
 of death. 
 
 / have jinifhed the work which thou 
 gaveji me to do. 
 
 O Lord, the very befl: of men come 
 infinitely fliort of this pattern ; how then 
 
156 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 lhall I, an unprofitable fervant^ appear 
 before my Lord and Judge. 
 
 The feed of the woman /hall bruife the 
 ferpenfs head. 
 
 This, my God, is thy fure, thy eternal 
 promife ; — I believe it ; I truft in it ; I 
 will hold me faft by it. 
 
 Neverthelefs^ not my will^ but thine be 
 done. 
 
 May I, O blefled Jefus, when my death 
 approaches, breathe out my laft with thefe 
 words, and with the fame fpirit of fubmif- 
 fion ! 
 
 Death of Friends. 
 
 Let us caft our eyes upon fin, which is 
 the caufe of death, and then we fliall weep 
 with reafon. 
 
 Preferve in us a lively fenfe of the 
 world to come. 
 
 And when I fiiall not be able to pray 
 for myfelf, the good Lord favourably hear 
 the prayers of his Church for me. 
 
 Grant that the fins which I have com- 
 mitted in this world may not be imputed 
 unto me ; but that efcaping the gates of 
 
Sacra Privuta. 
 
 157 
 
 hell, I may dwell in the regions of light, 
 with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, until 
 the day of the general refurreftion, and 
 that I then may hear thofe joyful words 
 of thy Son, — Come^ ye blejjed children of 
 my Father y inherit the kingdom prepared 
 for you from the beginning of the world. 
 
 Grant that I may have a perfed con- 
 queft over the world, fin, and death, 
 through Chrift, who by his death hath 
 overcome him who hath the power of 
 death. 
 
 "This day fhalt thou he with me in para- 
 dife. 
 
 O Jefus, who hadft compaffion on this 
 thief, even at the hour of death, have 
 mercy upon me, who now repent of all my 
 mifdoings. Suifer not the gates of para- 
 dife to be fliut againft me when I die, 
 TChou that hajl opened the kingdom of hea- 
 ven to all believers. 
 
 Reftore my foul, at the great day, to 
 life eternal. 
 
 Give me the patience of Job, the faith 
 of Abraham, the courage of Peter, and 
 tne LoinrorL or j: dui, anQ a true luumuuon 
 
 Luke xxiii. 
 43. 
 
158 
 
 Pfa. Ixxi. 9, 
 
 Pfa. Ixxiii. 
 26, 
 
 I Sam. iii, 
 18. 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 to thy will. 
 
 Apply to my foul all the wholefome 
 medicines of thy Son's palTion^ death, and 
 refurredion, againft the powers of Satan, 
 againft all unreafonable fears and defpair, 
 and eafe my fearful confcience. 
 
 Hear the prayers of thy Church for me, 
 and for all in my condition, for Jefus 
 Chrift's fake. 
 
 Cajl me not away in the time of age ; 
 forjake me not when my firength faileth me. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that the end of my life 
 may be truly Chriftian ; without fin, 
 without fiiame, and, if it fo pleafe Thee, 
 without pain. 
 
 My flejh and my heart faileth : but God 
 is the firength of my hearty and my portion 
 for ever. 
 
 It is the Lord ; let him do what feemeth 
 him good. 
 
 Lord, be merciful unto me, heal my 
 foul, for I have finned againft Thee. 
 
 I confefs my wickednefs, and am forry 
 for my fin. 
 
 For thy name-fake, O Lord, be merci- 
 ful unto my fin, for it is great. 
 
bacra rrivata. 
 
 159 
 
 The Lord is nigh unto them that are 
 of a contrite heart, and will fave fuch as 
 are of an humble fpirit. 
 
 And noWy Lord^ what is my hope ? truly 
 my hope is in T'hee. 
 
 Lordy thou knowejl whereof we are made ; 
 that we are but duji. 
 
 Let my mifery, my fear, my forrow, 
 move Thee to compaffion. 
 
 Defpife not, O Lord, the work of thine 
 own hands. 
 
 I freely forgive all that have offended 
 me. 
 
 O Thou that never faileft them that feek 
 Thee, have pity on me. 
 
 Neverthelefs, though I am fometimes 
 afraid, yet put I my truft in Thee. 
 
 O Lord, I befeech Thee, deliver my 
 foul. Gracious is the Lord, and righte- 
 ous; yea, our God is merciful. 
 
 O go not far from me, for trouble is at 
 hand, and there is none to help me. 
 
 The forrows of my heart are enlarged : 
 O bring Thou me out of my troubles. 
 
 O keep my foul, and deliver me ; let 
 iiic iiuL uc Loniounaea, ror i nave put 
 
 Pfa. xxxix. 
 8. 
 
 Pfa. ciii. 14. 
 
i6o 
 
 • bacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 my truft in Thee. 
 
 Withdraw not thy mercy from me, O 
 Lord ; let thy loving kindnefs and thy 
 truth always preferve me. 
 
 O Lord, let it be thy pleafure to deliver 
 me ; make hafte, O Lord, to help me. 
 
 Shew thy fervant the light of thy coun- 
 tenance, and fave me for thy mercy's fake. 
 
 O deliver me, for I am helplefs and 
 poor, and my heart is wounded within me. 
 
 Wherefore hideft Thou thy face, and 
 forgetteft our mifery and trouble ? 
 
 My God ! fave thy fervant, who putteft 
 his truft in Thee. 
 
 Thou, O Lord, art full of compaflion 
 and mercy, long-fuffering, plenteous in 
 goodnefs and truth. 
 
 When I am in heavinefs, I will think 
 upon God ; when my heart is vexed, I 
 will complain. 
 
 Will the Lord abfent himfelf for ever ? 
 Will he be no more intreated ? 
 
 Hath God forgotten to be gracious 
 And I faid, it is mine own infirmity ; 
 but I will remember the years of the right- 
 nanci or the Molt riign. 
 
Sacra Privata. i6i 
 
 Sell all that ye havey and give to the Luke xii. 
 foor. That is, renounce all the pleafures 
 that wealth affords, rather than defraud 
 the poor and diftreffed of their right : — It 
 is utterly impoffible to take delight in 
 wealth, and love God with all the foul. 
 
 For as much^ ( for as often ) as ye have Matth. xxv. 
 done it unto one of the leafl of thefe my 
 brethren^ ye have done it unto me. 
 
 As often I — Who then would mifs any 
 occafion? The leafl: — Who then would 
 defpife any objedt ? To me : — So that in 
 ferving the poor, we ferve Jefus Chrift. 
 O comfortable declaration ! 
 
 Whofoever fhall give you a cup of water Mark ix. 
 to drink in my name^ hecaufe ye belong to 
 Chrift ; — verily y (with an oath he aflures 
 us) he fhall not lofe his reward. 
 
 This fliould always, if pofTible, be our 
 intention : This -poor^ opprejjedy miferable 
 man, belongs to Chrift. This would 
 wonderfully enhance the value of our good 
 deeds before God. 
 
 Alms. 
 
 And though I beftow all my goods to feed i Cor. xm. 
 
 I 3- 
 
 Y 
 
l62 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 Gal. vi. 10. 
 
 Luke iii. 
 
 the poor^ and have not charity^ it profiteth 
 me nothing. 
 
 If external a6ts of chanty do not pro- 
 ceed from charity, that is from a love of 
 God, and of our neighbour for his fake, 
 they are as nothing in the fight of God. 
 My God, pour into my heart this moft 
 excellent gift of charity, the very bond of 
 peace and of all virtue. 
 
 Let us do good unto all men. 
 
 He who feeks for Jefus Chrift in his 
 poor, in order to relieve and aflift himy will 
 not be too folicitous to find any other 
 merit in them than that of Jefus Chrift:. 
 
 For our earthly things, O Lord, give 
 us heavenly ; for temporal, eternal. 
 
 He that hath two coats^ let him impart 
 to him that hath none. 
 
 That is, let him that hath plenty, and 
 to fpare, of the neceflaries of life, let him 
 give to him that wants. 
 
 The proportion of charity, appointed 
 by God himfelf to his own people, for the 
 relief of the poor, was every year a thir- 
 tieth part of all their income, or a tenth 
 every third year. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 163 
 
 This was the Jew's proportion. He 
 that came fliort of this was a breaker of 
 the law, and without repentance and ref- 
 titution, had no hopes of pardon. 
 
 The Chriftian's proportion ought to be 
 greater, as his hopes and reward will be 
 greater. 
 
 We fliould, in all our charities, diredl 
 our eye towards Chrift in his members ; 
 it is this which heightens the fmalleft gifts. 
 Men reward what is done on human mo- 
 tives : God, fuch as are done for his fake. 
 
 He that for his good adions expedls 
 the applaufe of men, runs the hazard of 
 lofing the reward of God. 
 
 The poor are, as it were, the receivers 
 of the rights and dues belonging unto 
 God ; we muft have a care of defrauding 
 them. 
 
 But rather give alms of fuch things as 
 you have^ (or as you are able) and all 
 things are clean to you. That is, propor- 
 tion your alms to your eftate, left God 
 proportion your eftate to your alms. 
 
 It is a neceflary Chriftian duty (what- 
 ever men LiiinK or it, ) lo part wiin our 
 
 Luke xi.41. 
 
104 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 Rom, xii. 
 i8. 
 
 worldly enjoyments for the fake of Chrift. 
 
 The very beft of men are only inftru- 
 ments in God's hands, to receive and to 
 give what God beftows upon them. And 
 this they fhould do, without any defire of 
 glory, or felf-intereft. 
 
 Let us make light of money and riches, 
 and fend it before us into the heavenly 
 treafures, where neither moth nor ruft 
 doth corrupt ; but where it will be kept, 
 to our eternal advantage, under the cuf- 
 tody of God himfelf. 
 
 Thou, O Lord, haft been all mercy to 
 me ; grant that I may be all mercy to 
 others for Chrift's fake. 
 
 Remember to give to thofe that are 
 aftiamed to afk ; and do not forget your 
 poor relations, left you be worfe than an 
 infidel. 
 
 He that Jheweth mercy ^ let him do it with 
 cheerfulnejs. 
 
 The good Lord preferve me from va- 
 nity, and from feeking applaufe for my 
 charity. 
 
 Not unto me, but unto Thee, O God, 
 be the thanks, and praife, and glory. 
 
oacra rrivata. 
 
 
 The merit of the poor is not to be the 
 rule of our charity. God himfelf maketh 
 his fun to fhine upon the evil and the 
 good. 
 
 If we would but moderate our vanity^ 
 we fhould always have enough for charity. 
 
 Send thy blefling upon my fubftance, 
 and continue to me a willing mind to help 
 fuch as have need according to my ability. 
 
 Good advice, and devout petitions, 
 fhould accompany our charity. 
 
 O God, who knoweft the neceflities of 
 all thy creatures, give thy poor the fpi- 
 ritual graces they ftand in need of. 
 
 Support thy poor members, O Jefu, 
 under all their difficulties, and fandlify 
 their bodily wants to the falvation of their 
 fouls. 
 
 Lord, grant that they may bear their 
 poor eftate with patience and refignation, 
 and that we may one day meet in the pa- 
 radife of God. 
 
 Jefus Chrift is continually humbled in 
 his members; fome are poor, in prifon, 
 fick, naked, hungry, &c. Let me, O 
 jL<vji u., ICC ctiiu. iicip ± lice in an tncic ODieccs. 
 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 Pfa. cxii. 5. 
 
 I John iii. 
 15- 
 
 I John iii. 
 14. 
 
 A man that has faith will be glad to 
 difcharge himfelf of fome part of the bur- 
 then of temporal goods^ in order to fecure 
 thofe that are eternal ; and to be in fome 
 meafure the preferver of his brethren. 
 
 A good (a charitable) man will guide his 
 affairs with difcretion ; that is, he will cut 
 off and retrench all needlefs expenfes in 
 apparel, diet, diverfions, &c. that he may 
 give to him that needeth. 
 
 Let your alms be in fecret as much as 
 may be. 
 
 Charity ; or, the Love of God and 
 our Neighbour . 
 
 It is but the firft effay of charity to give 
 alms. 
 
 Whoever fhews mercy to men will cer- 
 tainly receive mercy from God. 
 
 Whojoever hateth his brother y is a fnur- 
 derer. 
 
 A man has already killed him in his 
 heart, whofe life is grievous to him, and 
 at whofe death he would rejoice. 
 
 He that loveth not his brother^ abideth 
 in death. 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 167 
 
 Can we believe that it is God that faith 
 this, and delay one moment to be recon- 
 ciled ? 
 
 It is not enough to love our brethren ; 
 we muft love them upon a principle of 
 faith, in the name, for the fake, and as 
 members of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Forgive^ and it Jhall be forgiven you. 
 Give me, O my God, a heart full of 
 Chriftian meeknefs and charity, that I may 
 willingly forget the evil I have received, 
 and be always difpofed to do good to 
 others. 
 
 We love our neighbour after a Chriftian 
 manner, when we love him for God's fake ; 
 and for God's fake do him good. 
 
 The Litany. 
 
 O God the Father of Heaven ; have 
 mercy upon me, keep, and defend me. 
 
 O God the Son, Redeemer of the 
 world ; have mercy upon me, fave and de- 
 liver me. 
 
 O God the Holy Ghoft ; have mercy 
 upon me, ftrengthen and comfort me. 
 Remember not. Lord, mine offences. 
 
i68 
 
 oacra rrtvata. 
 
 
 nor the offences of my forefathers ; neither 
 take Thou vengeance of our fins : Spare 
 us, good Lord, fpare thy people, whom 
 Thou hafl redeemed with thy mofl pre- 
 cious blood, and be not angry with us for 
 ever. 
 
 From thy wrath and heavy indignation ; 
 from the guilt and burden of my fins ; 
 from the dreadful fentence of the lafl 
 judgment ; 
 
 Good Lordy deliver me. 
 
 From the fling and terrors of confci- 
 ence ; from impatience, diflrufl, and de- 
 fpair ; from extremity of ficknefs and pain, 
 which may withdraw my mind from God ; 
 
 Good Lordy deliver me. 
 
 From the bitter pangs of eternal death ; 
 from the gates of hell ^ from the powers 
 of darknefs ; and from the illufions of 
 Satan ; 
 
 Good Lordy deliver me. 
 
 By thy manifold and great mercies ; by 
 thy manifold and great merits ; by thine 
 agony and bloody fweat ; by thy bitter 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 crofs and paflion ; by thy mighty refur- 
 redion ; by thy glorious afcenfion, and 
 moft acceptable interceflion ; and by the 
 graces of the Holy Ghoft ; 
 Good Lord^ deliver me. 
 
 For the glory of thy name ; for thy 
 loving mercy and truth's fake ; 
 Good Lordy deliver me. 
 
 In my laft and greateft need ; in the 
 hour of death ; and in the day of judgment ; 
 
 Good Lordy deliver me. 
 
 As Thou haft delivered all thy faints 
 and fervants which called upon Thee in 
 their extremity ; 
 
 Good Lordy deliver me; — and receive 
 my foul for thy mercy's fake. 
 
 Be merciful unto me, and forgive me 
 all my fins, which, by the malice of the 
 devil, or by my own frailty, I have at any 
 time of my life committed againft Thee. 
 
 Lay not to my charge, what in the luft 
 of the eye, the pride of life or vanity, I 
 have committed againft Thee. 
 
 Lay not to my charge, what by an an- 
 P*rv foirit. bv vain anH iHle wnrrl<; Kv 
 
 
 z 
 
170 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 
 foolifh jefting, I have committed againft 
 Thee. 
 
 Make me partaker of all thy mercies 
 and promifes in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 Vouchfafe my foul a place of reft in the 
 Paradife of God, with all thy bleffed 
 faints : and my body a part in the bleffed 
 refurreftion. 
 
 0 Lord God, Lamb of God, that takeft 
 away the fins of the world ; 
 
 Have mercy upon me. 
 
 Thou that takeft away the fins of the 
 world ; 
 
 Grant me thy peace. 
 
 Thou that fitteft at the right hand of 
 God ; 
 
 Have mercy upon me. 
 
 Have mercy upon me, and receive my 
 prayer ; even the prayer which Thou haft 
 taught me : — 
 
 Our Father which art in Heaven ^ i^c. 
 
 0 Lord, deal not with me after my fins; 
 neither reward me after mine iniquities. 
 
 (^nn rnprriinl Kntnpt* fnnf" npiniiPiT 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 171 
 
 not the fighing of a contrite heart, nor the 
 defires of fuch as be forrowful ; mercifully 
 affift my prayers which I make before 
 Thee — at fuch times efpecially as I am 
 preparing for death and for eternity. And, 
 O Lord, gracioufly hear me, that thofe 
 evils, thofe illufions, and aflaults, which 
 my great enemy worketh againft me, may 
 be brought to nought, and by the provi- 
 dence of thy goodnefs they may be dif- 
 perfed ; that thy fervant, being delivered 
 from all temptations, may give thanks to 
 Thee, with thy Holy Church, to all eter- 
 nity. Amen. 
 
 Let us endeavour, by a timely repen- 
 tance, to prevent the reproaches which 
 otherwife our confciences will caft upon us 
 at the hour of death. 
 
 "The Support of a Penitent at the 
 Hour of Death. 
 
 God Jo loved the worlds that he gave his 
 only begotten Son^ that whofoever helieveth 
 in him Jliould not peri/hy but have everlaft- 
 ing life. 
 
 C fi^UfUC U/fl' jflU U U L (4> 1/ tj UUll/fl' L TIC JP C4ft> fit 1 ^ 
 
 John iii. 16. 
 I John ii, I. 
 
 i 
 
172 
 
 Sacra Prtvata. 
 
 
 J ejus Chriji the righteous ^ — who came 
 into the world to fave finners, — who died 
 for us when we were his enemies, that he 
 might offer us unto God. 
 
 It is our Judge himfelf who hath af- 
 fured us, that all fins jhall be forgiven unto 
 the Jons of men. 
 
 Ejaculations. 
 Take from me all evil imaginations, — 
 all impurity of thought, — all inclinations 
 to luft, — all envy, pride, and hypocrify, — 
 all falfehood, deceit, and an irregular life, 
 — all covetoufnefs, vain-glory, and floth, 
 — all malice, anger, and wrath, — all re- 
 membrance of injuries, — every thing that 
 is contrary to thy will, O moft holy God ! 
 
 May I never hear with pleafure, nor 
 ever repeat fuch things as may diflionour 
 God, or injure my neighbour or my own 
 charadler. 
 
 0 give me light to fee, an heart to clofe 
 with, and power to do thy will, O God. 
 
 JLove of Gody &c. 
 
 T^T "PQQ mp 0 rroH wifh fhp Invp of i nPP 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 and of my neighbour. Give me peace of 
 confcience, the command of my affedlions ; 
 and for the reft, Thy will he done I 
 
 O King of Peace, give us thy peace, 
 keep us in love and charity ! 
 
 Make thyfelf, O God, the abfolute 
 mafter of my heart ! 
 
 They that he whole need not a Phyjician. 
 It belongs to Thee, O Sovereign Phyfician, 
 to make us fenfible of our maladies, and 
 to make us go to Thee for help. O fay 
 unto my foul this word of falvation. Be- 
 hold^ thou art made whole. 
 
 Without me ye can do nothing. — Mifer- 
 able indeed is he who pretends to walk 
 without Thee. O give me light to fee, 
 an heart to clofe with, and a power to do 
 thy will. From thy Spirit I hope to re- 
 ceive thefe graces. 
 
 If any man Jerve me^ let him follow me; 
 and him will my Father honour. 
 
 Let me never flatter myfelf that I ferve 
 Thee, my Saviour, unlefs I follow thy ex- 
 ample at the expence of every thing I love 
 or fear befides. O keep my heart fixed 
 upon that honour which God has prepared 
 
 173 
 
 Johnxli. 26. 
 

 SucTu Pnvutu. 
 
 
 for thofe that follow Thee. 
 
 O Divine Spirit, render me worthy of 
 thy prefence and confolation. 
 
 Fill my heart with an holy dread of 
 thy judgments. 
 
 Give me a true fenfe and knowledge of 
 the danger and the evil of fin ; and may 
 I, with a prudent moderation only, be 
 concerned for temporal things. 
 
 Jejus Chrijl is always in his temple, 
 and near you, (if your foul be fit for him 
 to dwell in) to Him apply on all occa- 
 fions : — 
 
 As your Mafter^ for grace to fliudy, to 
 love, and to follow his infliruftions. He 
 requires nothing but what he firfl: pradlifed 
 himfelf : 
 
 As your Lord^ that you may love and 
 ferve him faithfully, and fulfil all his com- 
 mands : 
 
 As your Pattern^ that you may follow 
 his example, and imitate his virtues : 
 
 As your Saviour^ that he may be your 
 refuge and confidence, your fl:rength and 
 fupport, your peace and confolation, your 
 Snvimir now and at the hour of death * 
 
bacra rrtvata. 
 
 175 
 
 As your Ktng^ that he may give laws 
 to your foul, and that you may furrender 
 yourfelf to his commands ; and never re- 
 bel^ or refifl: his authority : 
 
 As your Shepherd. Keep me in thy 
 flock by thy almighty grace. I am one 
 of the lofl: fheep which Thou cameft to 
 feek. Take me under thy care, and re- 
 fl:ore me to thy fold. Increafe thy flock 
 for the honour of thy name. 
 
 Wilful Sin. 
 
 Let me rather chufe to die^ than to fin 
 againfl: my confcience. 
 
 Penitent. 
 
 I AM aftiamed to come before Thee, but 
 I mufl; come or perifli. I know that Thou 
 art angry with me for my fins, but I know 
 too that Thou pitiefl: me, or why do I yet 
 live ? Make me full of forrow for my fin, 
 and full of hopes of thy mercy and par- 
 don. Look upon the infirmities of thy 
 fervant, and confider his weaknefs. Sen- 
 fible of my own fad condition, weak and 
 milerable, Imrui and ignorant, liable to 
 
 
170 
 
 ry 7~> 
 
 oacra rrivata. 
 
 Matt. V. 48. 
 
 eternal death, I proftrate myfelf before 
 Thee, imploring thy help and pardon. 
 
 Gracious God, never abandon me to 
 the oppofition I fliall at any time make to 
 thy grace. 
 
 Bleffed be God, that he has fo often 
 prevented me, and not left me to the de- 
 fires of my own heart. 
 
 Put a flop to the torrent of wickednefs 
 and profanenefs, which carries all before 
 it. 
 
 I confefs my fins to Thee, O God; 
 do Thou hide them from all the world. 
 
 Eternity, Lord imprint upon my heart 
 a lively idea of eternity, that the forrow- 
 ful paflages of this life, which are fo un- 
 eafy and frightful to nature, may vanifii, 
 or be borne with patience. 
 
 Example. Pardon my fin, and forgive 
 all fuch as have been mifled by any evil 
 example of mine. 
 
 Be ye perfe^y even as your Father which 
 is in Heaven is perfect » 
 
 0 divine repairer of our corrupt nature, 
 may thy all-powerful grace make me as 
 perfect as 1 nou halt commanded me to be ! 
 
bacra rrtvata. 
 
 1 
 
 177 
 
 Holinefs. 
 
 O God, who haft called me to holinefs, 
 give me a firm faith in thy power, through 
 otir Lord Jefus Chrift, that by his affift- 
 ance I may get the maftery over all my 
 fins and corruptions ; that I may be re- 
 deemed from all iniquity ; that I may be 
 holy, as he who has called me is holy. 
 
 Poflefs my foul with an earneft defire 
 of pleafing Thee, and with a fear of of- 
 fending Thee. 
 
 Let me be ever ready to forgive inju- 
 ries, and backward to off^er any. 
 
 Give me, O Lord, faith and patience, 
 that I may neither murmur at thy ap- 
 pointments, nor be angry againft the in- 
 ftruments of thy juftice. 
 
 Deliver me from the errors and vices 
 of the age I live in, from infidelity, wicked 
 principles, from profanenefs, herefies, and 
 fchifm. 
 
 I moft heartily thank Thee, O God, 
 for thy perpetual care of me, for all thy 
 mercies beftowed upon me, for the blef- 
 fings of nature and of grace. 
 
 
 A A 
 
178 
 
 ISacra rrtvata. 
 
 John xvi. 
 23. 
 
 Grants O God, that I may never re- 
 ceive thy grace in vain, but that I may 
 live like one who believes and hopes for 
 the joys of heaven. 
 
 Let me ever be forry for my fins, 
 thankful for thy bleflings, fear thy judg- 
 ments, love thy mercies, remember thy 
 prefence. 
 
 Give me an humble mind, a godly fear, 
 and a quiet confcience. Weaken, O Lord, 
 the power of Satan in this place, and the 
 tyranny of his minifters. 
 
 In Time of Pejiilence or Danger. 
 
 Set thy faving mark upon our houfes, and 
 give order to the deftroyer not to hurt us. 
 
 Verily y verily^ I Jay unto you ^ Whatjoever 
 ye /hall ajk the Father in my name^ he will 
 give it you. 
 
 Upon this promife, blefled Lord, I de- 
 pend ; befeeching Thee, O heavenly Fa- 
 ther, for thy dear Son's fake, to give me 
 the graces I mofl: ftand in need of. 
 
 After Prayers. 
 VOUCHSAFE US thole graces and blelimgs 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 179 
 
 which thou knoweft to be needful for us, 
 notwithftanding our great unworthinefs. 
 
 Riches. Shut my heart, O Lord, againft 
 the love of worldly riches, left I betray 
 Thee, as Judas did. 
 
 May thy Holy Spirit, O God, fill my 
 heart, that it may appear in all my words 
 and aftions, that I am governed by it. 
 
 And when he Jaw him^ he had compajjion 
 on him. 
 
 O Jefus, the true Samaritan, look upon 
 the wounds which fin hath caufed in my 
 foul, and have compafiion on me. 
 
 May I always refign my will and my 
 defires to him who knows what is good 
 for us, better than we ourfelves do. 
 
 Holy Scriptures. 
 
 Give me, O God, a fincere love for the 
 truths of the gofpel, a teachable heart, and 
 an obedient will, 
 
 Perfeverance. Finifii, O my God, the 
 work of mercy and converfion which Thou 
 haft: begun in me. 
 
 Save, O Lord Jefus, a foul which Thou 
 
 Luke X. 33. 
 
T Ro 
 
 J. vJ V-/ 
 
 
 
 There is no merit in me, O God, to 
 attrad thy mercy and goodnefs, but only 
 my great mifery and blindnefs. May I 
 make a fuitable return by an holy life. 
 
 According to the greatnefs of thy good- 
 nefs, and the multitude of thy mercies, 
 look upon me. 
 
 San6tify my foul and body with thy 
 heavenly bleffings, that they may be made 
 thy holy habitation, and that nothing may 
 be found in me, that may offend the eyes 
 of thy Majefty. 
 
 Proted: and keep me in the midft of 
 the dangers of this corrupt world ; and by 
 thy light and grace diredl me in the way 
 to everlafting life, thro' Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Morning. I laid me down and flept, 
 and rofe again, for the Lord fuftained me. 
 BlefTed be the name of the Lord. 
 
 Raife me up, O Lord, at the laft day, 
 to life and happinefs everlafting. 
 
 Blefled be the Lord for his mercies re- 
 newed unto me every morning. 
 
 O that my eyes may ever be fixed upon 
 the example that our BlefTed Lord hath 
 left us, and that I may daily endeavour 
 
Sacra Privata. 
 
 i8i 
 
 to follow him. Amen. 
 
 Night, May the Saviour and Guardian 
 of my foul take me under his protection 
 this night and evermore. 
 
 Attend upon the Lord without diftr action. 
 
 O holy Spirit of grace, help my infir- 
 mities, that I may fix my thoughts upon 
 my duty ; and that I may ferve Thee with 
 all my heart and mind. 
 
 That I may never give way to wander- 
 ing thoughts, but watch againft them con- 
 tinually. 
 
 Look upon me, O Lord, and pity me ; 
 make me, and let me be thine by the 
 choice of my will. 
 
 Make me ferious and thoughtful at all 
 times, that I may not fail being fo when 
 I attend upon God. 
 
 Let not my heart, O God, be inclined 
 to any evil thing. Keep me, O God, 
 from every thing that may difpleafe Thee. 
 O make me wife unto falvation. 
 
 / can do all things thro' Chriji^ which 
 ftrengtheneth me. 
 
 O that I may never forfeit this power 
 by prefumption or want of faith. 
 
l82 
 
 Sacra Privata. 
 
 John XX. 28. Thomas faid^ My Lord and my God. 
 
 Thou art indeed, O Jefus, my Lord, 
 for Thou haft redeemed me by thy pre- 
 cious blood ; Thou art my God, for I am 
 dedicated to Thee, and fandlified by thy 
 fpirit. 
 
 Ads ii. 44. And all that believed were together ^ and 
 had all things common. 
 
 May God grant, that as we are all mem- 
 bers of the fame body, have one and the 
 fame Father, the fame Saviour, the fame 
 Spirit, and hope to meet in the fame pa- 
 radife ; that we may live in unity and 
 godly love, and be charitable according to 
 our ability. 
 
 The good Lord grant, that in the day 
 of Chrift I may rejoice that I have not run 
 in vain, nor laboured in vain. 
 
oacra rrtvata. 
 
 183 
 
 Collects, their Tendency. 
 
 pOMFORToftheHolyGhoft i Sunday after Af- 
 ^ cenfion 
 
 Dire6lion of the Holy Ghoft . 19 after Trinity 
 Manifold Gifts of the Holy 
 
 Means of Grace 5 — Hearing . St. Bartholomew, 
 
 St. Luke 
 Reading . 2 Sunday in Advent 
 Fafting . . i in Lent 
 
 10 and 23 after Tri- 
 nity 
 
 To convert us from Sin . . . i in Advent, 
 
 I after Eafter, 
 St. Andrew, St. 
 James, St. Matth. 
 /1 2, 21, 24. after Tri- 
 
 Pardon of Sin and Acceptance 1 nity 
 
 (2 after Epiphany 
 To refcue us from Temptation . 4 in Advent, 
 
 4 after Epiphany, 
 18 after Trinity 
 To enable us to do good . , 5 after Eafter, 
 
 after Trinity 
 To bring us to Glory . . . Epiphany, 
 
 6 after Epiphany 
 
 Eafter-Eve 
 
 Love of God and his Law . . 4 after Eafter 
 
 6 and 14 after Trinity 
 
 
Faith right 
 Faith firm 
 
 Imitation of Chrift 
 Imitation of Saints 
 
 Guarding of Angels, and God's 
 Providence » 
 
 Deliverance from Enemies . . 
 Deliverance from Judgments . 
 
 Support under Affli6lions . 
 
 Defence from Evil, and Supply 
 
 of Good 
 
 For Jews, Turks, &c. . . . 
 
 That Minifters may be fit, dili- 
 gent, and fuccefsful . . 
 
 That the People maybe kept in 
 Truth, Unity, and Peace . 
 
 Trinity-Sunday 
 7 after Trinity 
 St. Thomas, St. Mark 
 6 Lent, 2 after Eafter 
 St. Stephen, St. Paul, 
 St. Philip and James, 
 St. John Baptift, 
 Innocents, All Saints 
 
 f 2, 3, 4, 20 after Tri- 
 
 ) nity 
 
 ^St. Michael 
 
 3 in Lent 
 Sexagefima, 
 Septuagefima 
 
 4 in Lent 
 
 3, 4 after Epiphany 
 
 8, 15 after Trinity 
 
 Good-Friday 
 (St.Matthias, 
 JSt. Peter 
 (3 in Advent 
 /Good-Friday, 
 ^St. John 
 
 \St. Simon and Jude, 
 f5, 6, 12 after Trinity 
 
 Printed by C. Whittingham, Chifwick.