V. Fix my thoughts, my hopes and my desires upon heaven and heavenly things; teach me to despise the world, to repent me deeply for my sins; give me holy purposes of amendment, and ghostly strength and assistances to perform faithfully whatsoever I shall intend piously. Enrich my understanding with an eternal treasure of divine truths, that I may know thy will, and thou who workest in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure, teach me to obey all thy commandments, to believe all thy revelations, and make me partaker of all thy gracious promises. VI. TEACH me to watch over all my ways, that I may never be surprised by sudden temptations or a careless spirit, nor ever return to folly and vanity. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips, that I offend not in my tongue, neither against piety nor charity. Teach me to think of nothing but thee, and what is in order to thy glory and service; to speak of nothing but thee and thy glories; and to do nothing but what becomes thy servant, whom thy infinite mercy by the graces of thy holy Spirit hath sealed up to the day of redemption. VII. LET all my passions and affections be so mortified and brought under the dominion of grace, that I may never by deliberation and purpose, nor yet by levity, rashness, or inconsideration offend thy Divine Majesty. Make me such as thou wouldst have me to be: strengthen my faith, confirm my hope, and give me a daily increase of charity, that this day and ever I may serve thee according to all my opportunities and capacities; growing from grace to grace, till at last by thy mercies I shall receive the consummation and perfection of grace, even the glories of thy kingdom in the full fruition of the face and excellencies of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to whom be glory and praise, honour and adoration given by all angels, and all men, and all creatures, now and to all eternity. Amen. To this may be added the prayer of intercession for others whom we are bound to remember, which is at the end of the foregoing prayer; or else you may take such special prayers which follow at the end of the fourth chapter for parents, for children, &c. After which, conclude with this ejaculation. Now in all tribulation and anguish of spirit, in all dangers of soul and body, in prosperity and adversity, in the hour of death and in the day of judgment, holy and most blessed Saviour Jesus, have mercy upon me, save me, and deliver me and all faithful people. Amen. After noon or at any time of the day, when a devout person retires into his closet for private prayer, or spiritual exercises, he may say the following devotions. An exercise to be used at any time of the day. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, &c. Our Father, &c. The hymn collected out of the Psalms, recounting the excellencies and greatness of God. O BE joyful in God all ye lands, sing praises unto the honour of his name, make his name to be glorious. O come hither and behold the works of God, how wonderful he is in his doings towards the children of He ruleth with his power for ever1. men. He is the father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widow, even God in his holy habitation. 1 Psalm 66. 1, 4, 6, &c. He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in a house, and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity; but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness 1. It is the Lord that commandeth the waters, it is the glorious God that maketh the thunder. It is the Lord that ruleth the sea: the voice of the Lord is mighty in operation, the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice 2. Let all the earth fear the Lord: stand in awe of him all ye that dwell in the world3. Thou shalt show us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation, thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea1. Glory be to the Father, &c. Or this:- O LORD, thou art my God, I will exalt thee: I will praise thy name, for thou hast done wonderful things: thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth 5. Thou in thy strength settest fast the mountains, and art girded about with power. Thou stillest the raging of the sea, and the noise of his waves, and the madness of his people. They also that remain in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy tokens; thou that makest the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee 6. O Lord God of Hosts, who is like unto thee? thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side'. Among the gods there is none like unto thee; O Lord, there is none can do as thou doest. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things, thou art God alone 3. 8 God is very greatly to be feared in the counsel of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him. 1 Psalm 68. 5, 6. 2 Psalm 29. 3, 4. 3 Psalm 33. 8 4 Psalm 65. 5. 5 Isaiah 25. 1. 6 Psalm 65. 6, 7, 8. 7 Psalm 89. 9. Psalm 86. 8, 10. Righteousness and equity is in the habitation of thy seat, mercy and truth shall go before thy face'. Glory and worship are before them, power and honour are in his sanctuary 2. Thou, Lord, art the thing that I long for, thou art my hope even from my youth. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born; thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall be always of thee 3. Glory be to the Father, &c. After this may be read some portion of holy scripture out of the New Testament or out of the sapiential books of the Old, viz. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, &c. because these are of great use to piety and to civil conversation. Upon which, when you have a while meditated, humbly composing yourself upon your knees, say as followeth. Ejaculations. My help standeth in the name of the Lord who hath made heaven and earth *. Shew the light of thy countenance upon thy servant, and I shall be safe". Do well, O Lord, to them that be true of heart," and evermore mightily defend them. Direct me in thy truth and teach me, for thou art my saviour' and my great master. Keep me from sin and death eternal, and from my enemies visible and invisible. Give me grace to live a holy life, and thy favour that I may die a godly and happy death. Lord, hear the prayer of thy servant, and give me thy holy Spirit. The prayer. O ETERNAL God, merciful and gracious, vouchsafe thy 1 Psalm 89. 7, 15. 2 Psalm 96. 6. 3 Psalm 71. 4, 5. 4 Psalm 124. 7. 5 Psalm 80. 3. 6 Psalm 125. 4. 7 Psalm 25. 5. favour and thy blessing to thy servant: let the love of thy mercies and the dread and fear of thy Majesty make me careful and inquisitive to search thy will, and diligent to perform it, and to persevere in the practices of a holy life, even till the last of my days. me, II. KEEP me, O Lord, for I am thine by creation; guide for I am thine by purchase, thou hast redeemed me by the blood of thy Son; and loved me with the love of a Father, for I am thy child by adoption and grace: let thy mercy pardon my sins, thy providence secure me from the punishments and evils I have deserved, and thy care watch over me, that I may never any more offend thee: make me in malice to be a child; but in understanding, piety, and the fear of God, let me be a perfect man in Christ, innocent and prudent, readily furnished and instructed to every good work. III. KEEP me, O Lord, from the destroying angel, and from the wrath of God: let thy anger never rise against me, but thy rod gently correct my follies, and guide me in thy ways, and thy staff support me in all sufferings and changes. Preserve me from fracture of bones, from noisome, infectious, and sharp sicknesses, from great violences of fortune and sudden surprises: keep all my senses entire till the day of my death, and let my death be neither sudden, untimely, nor unprovided: let it be after the common manner of men, having in it nothing extraordinary, but an extraordinary piety, and the manifestation of thy great and miraculous mercy. ས. LET no riches make me ever forget myself, nor poverty ever make me to forget thee: let no hope or fear, no |