I prais and magnify thy Name,

For this thine unspeakabl Lov. I adore thee for thine infinit Wis­dom and Goodness: I am asto­nished at thy stupendious Hu­mility and Condescension to lost and undeserving Man. Bow the Hevens, O Lord, once more, and com down, touch my Heart with thine Almighty Power; and, having cast out whatsoever may be offensiv to thy Sacred Maje­sty, fill it with thy blessed Pre­sence for ever.

I magnify thy Glorious Name,

For making thy Spirits Mini­sters unto them who shal be Heirs of Salvation. As the Angels and Arch-Angels prais Thee, the Cherubim and Seraphim adore Thee, and all the hevenly Host bow down unto Thee, not only fitting upon thy Throne, but even at the lowest Degree of thy Foot-stool, wherunto thou hast voluntarily humbled thy self in thine Incarnation: So, let me, I beseech thee, in concurrence with the Celestial Choir, cele­brat [Page 4] this Mystery of thy Lov on Earth, & worship the Majesty of thy Glory in Heven, til my Life becom Angelical by rejoicing in Thee and in Thy Salvation.

I prais thy Holy Name,

O Blessed Jesu, for the great­ness of thine Eternal Lov to this Holy Virgin, and to all Man­kind in her. O make me sensibl how highly I my self am favor'd in this great Transaction, since She was thus blessed among Wo­men, that all the Families of the Earth might be blessed in her [Page 5] Seed. A Salutation of such in­finit Importance doth worthily deserv to be frequently revolved in our minds, which, being par­ticularly brought to a privat Fa­mily in Jewry, hath prov'd of universal Concernment to the whol World. O let me also tast and see how gracious the Lord hath been to my Soul: No mat­ter for the Favor of Men, so we find Grace with God.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Jesus, for thy great Glory and endless Soveraignty, for as much as thy Kingdom is an ever­lasting Kingdom, and thy Domi­nion endureth throu-out all Gene­rations. O thou Root and Off­spring of David, vouchsafe to extend thy Scepter over all Na­tions, and be for Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, that un­der thy Government all Peopl being saved from their Sins may liv and prosper in Peace and Ho­liness. Sit upon the Throne of my heart by the Power and Pre­sence of thy Holy Spirit, reign over all the faculties of my Soul, subdu them to thy Will, and be thou my God and King for­ever.

I prais and magnify the Name,

O thou Son of God, for thine in finit Condescension to becom the Son of Man. It is not less Blessed and Mysterious to con­ceiv Thee in the Heart by Faith, than to carry Thee in the Womb of Flesh: Send therefore, I be­feech thee, the same Spirit and Power to rest upon mine Affe­ctions, til Christ be formed in me, that thy Humility and Holiness, [Page 8] thy Life and Lov, may be brought forth in my Conversa­tion, and so adapt me to be called the Son of God.

I magnify thy H. Name,

Becaus with God nothing 37 shal be unpossibl. This Maxim may suffice to silence all the Ca­villing Inquiries of human Rea­son, How this should be: For the same Power that makes the barren Womb fruitful, can with the same facility dispens with those Laws of Nature that ren­der it unlikely there should be a [Page 9] Virgin-Mother: And that Spi­rit, which, by breathing on them, was abl to make dry Bones liv, may be very rationaly believed of sufficient Power to impreg­nat a Virgin's Womb. And therefore, in Considering this transcendent Mystery of my Sa­vior's Incarnation, I will rather admire and recount his Good­ness and Truth, than question his Power, or pry into the man­ner of its Accomplishment; and in all his Trials of my Faith or Pati nce, my Soul shal say, as the [...] of the Lord did,38 Be it unto me according unto thy [...].

I prais thy Name,

For this marvelous Effect of thy Presence, O Blessed Jesu, and for the powerful Influence of thy Spirit manifest therin, even be­fore thy Manifestation to the World. Help me, O Lord, so to correspond with Thee in thy gracious Visitations as to dis­charge all the Offices of Lov, Friendship, and Christian Piety incumbent on me toward all Re­lations, that I also may be a Joy unto thy Servants, and they such unto Me, as Thou art un­to [Page 11] us all. And let the voice ofS. Luke 1.thy Salutation, sounded in mine 44 Ears by the Ministry of thy Word, make me Blessed in be­lieving that there shal be a Per­formanre of those things which were told us from the Lord, as wel concerning the second Com­ing to judg the World as hath already been of thy first Coming to redeem it.

My Soul doth magnify the Lord,46

For He that is Mighty hath don great things, and Holy is 49 his Name; He hath shewed strength with his Arm, when He 51 put down the mighty from their Seats, and exalted them 52 of low degree, to help his Ser­vant Israel in remembrance of 54 his Mercy. Lord, since the Poor and Lowly in heart are so acceptabl in thine Eys, teach me to lov Retirement and de­light in Devotion as this Elect Virgin did, and make me truly content and happy in the lowest degree wherin thy Providence shal think fit to place me. And since thou art graciously incli­ned to fill the hungry [...] good things, let her Faith in relying 53 on God's ancient Promises of Mercy, which he spake to our 55 [Page 13] Fathers, to Abraham and to his Seed for ever; her Wis­dom in treasuring up all thy Sa­cred tho Mysterious Verities; her constant Obedience to thy revealed Will; her exemplary Humility amidst all thy Graces conferr'd upon her; and that Spirit of Prais and Thanksgi­ving wherwith she rejoiced in 47 God her Savior, added to her modest Chastity and holy Fear, replenish and adorn my Soul and Life in all Estates and Condi­tions: for thy Mercy is on them that fear Thee from Generation 50 to Generation.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,68

For he hath visited and re­deemed his Peopl, and hath 69 raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his Ser­vant David. Lord, grant un­to us, that we being delivered 74 out of the hands of our Ene­mies, may serv Thee without fear, in Holiness and Righte­ousness before Thee all the days 75 of our Life; till we acquire the saving [...] of thy Salva­tion given unto thy Peopl, by the Remission of their Sins. 77

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For the exceeding Riches of thy Grace and Wisdom treasured up in this thy mysterious and sacred Dispensation: Beseeching thee, that as Thou art the [...] of all Nations, so to render thy self altogether lovly in mine [Page 16] eys. O vouchsafe to com into my Soul in the fulness of thy Compassion, for the Pardon of my Sins; in the fulness of thy Grace, to subdu my Lusts; and in the fulness of thy Power, to strengthen me in resisting Tem­tations; as thou camest in the fulness of thy Lov, to redeem me from their malevolent In­fluence.

I magnify thy Sacred Name,

For thy patient Conformity to thine own Laws of Nature, [Page 17] attending till her ordinary Time and Method should open the doors of the Matrix for thy Re­leas. Lord, moderat that Im­patience wherwith we usualy crave any expected Good, and that Eagerness of mind which precipitats us into irregular Courses to evade whatsoever we fancy uneasy or troublsom: And when I am reduced to any great Strait, enabl me, with a contented Patience and humbl Resignation, to wait on Thee, my best Aid and Exemplar, for Deliverance in thy good time.

I celebrat thy saving Name,

For fulfilling that which was 22 spoken of the Lord by the Pro­phet, saying, Behold a Uirgin 23 shal be with Child, and shal bring forth a Son, and they shal call his Name Emmanuel. Evi­dence thy self, O Jesus, to be God with Us. in making us tender of our Neighbor's Repu­tation; and instead of judging rashly according to appearance, let us rather follow the Dictats of thy Grace, if not from the [Page 19] immediat Direction of thy Ho­ly Spirit, yet according to the charitabl Prescriptions of thy Holy Word.

I prais and magnify thy Name, O God,

For that steddy Faith and per­fect Resignation wherwith this thy Servant entertained the In­timation of thy Divine Will, who was not disobedient to the heven­ly Vision, but readily submitted to the Authority of the Message without disputing the Truth or Possibility of the Mystery therin revealed. Lord, render me more [Page 20] inclinabl to employ my Talent in a hearty Obedience to thine express Commands, than spend my Time in the fruitless Disqui­sition of those unaccountabl [...] which thou hast been pleased to reveal from Heven: And let his unparallel'd Absti­nence who took unto him his 25 Wife, and yet knew her not til she had brought forth her first­born Son, not only so shame all mine inordinat Affections and engage me to abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against my Soul, as to keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection; but withall heighten our Esteem and Emulation of the transcendent Chastity and conjugal Lov of that immaculat Pair whom the King of Heven thought fit to honor and entrust with the Birth and Breeding of his own Son, who was not so styled her First­born [Page 21] as to imply there ever was any other succeeding Fruit of her Womb; the Mother of God being worthily believed an Eter­nal Virgin, as wel In and After as Before the Bringing forth of that Son whose Name they cal­led JESUS, according to the mystical Import of that abstruse Prophecy, in the 44th Chapter of Ezekiel, This Gate shal be shut, it shal not be open'd, and no man shal enter in by it; becaus the Lord the God of Israel hath en­ter'd in by it, therefore it shal be shut.

I adore thine Eternal God-head,

For thy great Wisdom and Care in the Discovery and Con­firmation of this sublime Myste­ry of thy Hypostatical Union; which thou didst not only tran­sact in Secret by the Message of the Angel Gabriel, the Over­shadowing of the H. Ghost, and the Conception of the Virgin Mary; but hast openly ratified by the Report of those Shep­herds that had seen a Vision of Angels by the Brightness of the Star which appeared in the He­vens, and by the Deportment of the Wise men whom it condu­cted from the East to Jerusa­lem; by the Testimony of Si­meon and Anna in the Templ, and that of thy Precursor John the Baptist in the Wilder­ness: All publick and unquestio­nable Arguments as well to [Page 23] confirm as exhibit the Truth and Import of the Annunciation made in privat to the devout Virgin; that this first Step to­wards the Great Act of our Re­demtion, being alike Glorious within and without, might ap­pear worthy to be received of All with full Assurance, and contemplated by All with infinit Gratitude and Delight.

‘O my dear and gracious Re­deemer, whose Humanity and Divinity are inseperably uni­ted, in Thee are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Know­ledg, being filled with the Ful­ness of God. Grant, throu the Dispensation of thy Grace, that the same Godhead which dwel­leth in Thee bodily, may spi­ritualy abide in Me; that, as thy Body is united to thy Soul and both unto God, so my [Page 24] Body may be incorporat with thine, and my Soul enflamed with such a degree of thy Lov as shal be an Earnest of our ever-lasting Union. Fill me with great and reverent Apprehensions of that inex­pressibl Honor wherunto we are advanced in Our Union with the Deity, in regard it is the End and Effect of Thine; and let this Consideration dis­entangl me from all things here below, that living the Life of God, from which the whol World is alienated by Sin, I may enter into an Hevenly Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ for ever.’

Amen.

I prais and magnify thy H. Name,

For thy over-ruling Wisdom and Providence in making those Occurrences, which seem con­tingent, and arbitrary to human Reason, instrumental to carry on the good purpos of thy Divine Will; so that what the Prophet Micah had fore-told (as the Chief Priests and Scribes them­selves did readily explain and apply it) may at this day serv for the Direction and Establish­ment of our Faith in the tru [...]. [Page 27] Lord, let that admirabl Concent and Harmony between thy Old and New Testament, which is evident in this and ma­ny other singular Instances of thy Truth and Power, be effe­ctual to convince the obstinat Jews, convert the unbelieving. Gentils, and bring All Mankind to the Obedience of Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

I prais thy Glorious Name,

For thus taking upon Thee the form of a Servant, that thou mightest heal the Error of our Ignorance and Ambition. Let the continual memory of this thy blessed Exampl giv an effe­ctual Check to the Vanity of my Mind, for the utter extirpa­tion of all the Pride or Avarice incident to my Nature: And, having dispossessed all sensual Thoughts and beastly Appetits of that Room which entirely be­longs to Thee, be thou pleased to accept of my poor Heart, as thou didst of that homely Stabl to reside in, supplying their place with such unfeigned Humility as may render me cheerfully contented in all Estates. Lord, [Page 29] impart needful Consolation to the Poor, a sanctified Poverty of Spirit to the Rich, and the abundant Riches of thy Grace to All.

I magnify thy Sacred Name,

For this admirabl mixture of Humility and Glory wherwith thou, O Christ, hast beautified and signalized thy Coming into [Page 30] the World: for, the Ministry of an Angel, to proclaim thy Birth, is no less Glorious and Sublime, than to be an Inmate with the Beasts of the Stabl seems base and mean in our Eys. Lord, since thou hast vouchsafed to di­rect thy winged Herald to those vigilant Cottagers, that the Poor and Simpl might hav as much Occasion to shew forth thy Prais as the great and Learned; I cannot but admire (and hear­tily desire to imitat) the perfe­ction of thine impartial Lov to the Souls of men. Thou art not deluded with the beautiful Vi­zard of a Great Estate, nor ena­mor'd on empty Titls of Honor; but, seeing throu the Veil of such human Additaments and beggarly Inventions, dost infi­nitly prize the naked Souls and Bodies of thy Servants. Quicken me (I beseech thee) to an in­dustrious. [Page 31] Attendance on my Calling, and a stricter Watchful­ness over my Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, (those numerous Flocks which are very apt to wander and go astray) that my Soul may be precious in thy Sight: And, tho I walk in Dark­ness, in the Vale and Shadow of Death, yet let thy gracious Visi­tations not only enlighten and refresh me, but also draw and direct my Heart to follow these honest Shepherds, who (in obe­dience to the direction they re­ceiv'd from Heven) left all to go unto Bethlehem and seé thatS. Luke 2. thing which the Lord had made 15 known unto them, where they 16 found the Babe lying in a Manger; that I also, being fil­led with the like Joy in Believing what they found verified by this 12 Sign which the Angel had gi­ven them, may boldly publish [Page 32] thy Goodness and Truth toge­ther with my own grateful Ap­prehensions of it, as these Shep­herds did, who when they had seen it, made known abroad the 17 Saying: which was told them concerning that [...], and re­turnedS. Luke 2.glorifying and praising 20 God for all the things that they had heard and [...].

I will prais and bless and giv Thee thanks for ever,

O my Dear Redeemer, for the transcendent Efforts of thy Lov to Me and all Mankind, exprest in this Angelick Carol. O be thou graciously pleased to warm my breast with som Sparks of this Celestial Charity, that being like unto the Angels in doing thy Will and shewing forth thy Praises upon Earth, I may at last be made equal to them in the fruition of thy [...] Pre­sence in Heven: and in order thereunto, let that Lov of God which was thus manifested to­wards us, by sending his only be­gotten Son into the World, that we might liv throu Him, even [Page 34] when we were Enemies to God and all Goodness, powerfuly en­gage us to the Practice and Im­provement of that Peace thou hast restored upon Earth by tran­scribing the most excellent Co­py of thy Good Will towards Men; for, if God so loved Us, we ought also to lov one another; Upon the unfeigned Discharge of which grateful and advantageous Duty, the whol Success of His means of Grace and Our Hopes of Glo­ry doth so much depend, that without following those things which make for Peace as wel as Holiness, no man shall see the Lord.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O thou uncreated Angel of the Covenant, for the astonishing Power and peculiar Influence of thy Divine Revelations, which are usualy attended with a va­rious Effect upon the minds of different Persons. Grant (Lord, I beseech thee) that I may not entertain any Discovery of thy Saving Truth or more especial Presence, with the short-lived Flash of a bare transient Wonder or fruitless Amazement, after the loos Exampl of the un-thinking part of Mankind: but rather so imitat the pious Prudence of thy matchless Mother; who discreet­ly observed evry Intimation of thy God-head, and carefuly kept in mind whatever might en­lighten her Understanding ther­in, [Page 36] as to treasure up all the sa­cred Notices of thine Eternal Power and Godhead in the safe Recesses of my Heart, and al­low som Time and Thought to make a du Reflection on such considerabl things as may there­upon be worthily committed to a Religious Memory in my Soul; for, whoso is wise will ponder these things, and he shal understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.

All that is within me doth bless thy H. Name,

Who hast said unto my Soul, Arise, shine, for thy Light is com, and the Glory of the Lord, is risen upon thee. Lord, grant that in thy Light I may see Light: let the Light of thy Grace prepare mine Eys to be­hold the illustrious Splendor of [Page 38] thy Glory. And since it is the Night wherin all the Beasts of the Forrest do mov, let me hav no longer fellowship with the unpro­fitable Works of Darkness, but rather reprov them, by walking as a Child of the Light and of the Day, remembring that the Day­spring from on high hath visited us, to giv Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the shadow of Death, to guide our Feet into the way of Peace, which is the Work of Righte usness, as its Effect is Quietness and Assurance [...] ever.

I glorify thy Name,

For so suitabl an [...], that what was written by the Prophet Isaiah is fulfilled; for, unto Us a Child is born, unto Us a Son is given, and the Govern­ment shal be upon his Shoulder; and, Of the increas of his Govern­ment and Peace there shal be no End. Lord, How coms it to pass that such as call themselves after thy Name, be no less Con­tentious and Bloody than [...] who are Strangers to the Do­ctrin of thy Gospel? How long shal Christendom be the Scene of those Tragick Wars and inju­rious Villanies which Barbarians detest and blush at? O, Be thou pleased to extend thy Golden Scepter over the Earth, that the [Page 40] Inhabitants thereof may at length be induced to beat their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks: And, in order to the publick Peace, put an end to mens privat Ani­mosities, and pacify the particu­lar Commotions of their Minds: Compose all our tumultuous Pas­sions whensoever they arise, re­gulat our disorder'd Appetits, subdu our pervers Wills. and re­duce all our unbridled Affections and Faculties to so serene a Tem­per as is meet for the Reception and Obedience of that Great and Only Potentat, whose Name is Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Ever lasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

I magnify thy Name,

For the great and diffusiv Effi­cacy of thy (outwardly) mean and [...] Nativity, the Fame wherof hath so marvelously pre­vailed over all the Earth, that the Gentils are com to thy Light and Kings to the brightness of thy Rising. Strengthen and direct thy Church, the Pillar and Ground [Page 42] of the Truth, to maintain the Beauty of Order and the Virtu of H. Disciplin, together with the Form of sound Words in her Doctrin, throu-out all Ages, that all her Members may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Je­sus Christ, by celebrating all such Festivals with holy Joy, in Unity of Spirit and the Bond of Peace, as are instituted for the Honor of thy Mercy, the Glory of thy Wisdom, and the setting forth of thy Goodness & Power, in this great and inscrutabl My­stery of Godliness, God manifest in the Flesh.

‘Ever-blessed God, who evry year refreshest us with a re newed Birth of devout Affe­ctions by the Welcom Memo­rial of our Savior's Nativity; Grant that we may entertain this humbl Rising of the Sun of [Page 43] Righteousness with such ardent Devotions as may better dis­pose and engage us to follow Him, who enlighten'd the World with his Truth and en­flamed it with his Lov, til we acquire as great Abilities, as we hav Obligations, to join with the Celestial Choir in Singing the Angels Carol, Glo­ry to God in the Highest, on Earth Peace, Good Will towards Men.’

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, for substituting a more easy Sacrament instead of that sharp Ceremony wherunto Thou thy self hast submitted, and teaching me, by this thy voluntary Condescension, to yield ready Obedience to all the Ordinances of God, how severe and grievous soever they seem to Flesh and Blood Let the En­dearment of thy tender Lov in undergoing those hard and pain­ful Rules, from which thou hast thought fit to releas thy Church, engage evry Member therof to [Page 45] wave all Pleas of Dispensation or Priviledg which may seem to countenance any Remisness in the discharge of our Religious Duties: And when the Iniquity or Violence of unreasonabl Men (who frequently impose greater Burdens than themselves are willing to bear) shal make it ne­cessary for me either to observ any unwarrantabl Injunctions or undergo any severe Penalties rather than transgress thine ex­press Will, inspirit me with Grace and Corage patiently to submit therunto; but withal render me cheerfuly conformabl to all those wel advised Constitutions, wher­by our lawful Superiors either in Church or State hav thought fit to regulat our Deportment in things indifferent.

I giv thee all possibl Thanks and Prais,

For making good the gracious Purport of this thy Name, in saving thy peepl from their Sins. O Blessed Jesus, since, by the Imposition of this adorabl Name, the Holy Ghost hath made a publick Declaration that Thou art com into the World to save Sinners, save me (I beseech thee) who am the chief of Sinners; let me tast and see how gracious the Lord is in the Healing Influence of this Name: A Name that doth charm the dullest Ears and re­vive the drooping Hearts of mi­serabl [Page 47] Sinners, infinitly beyond the sweetest Accents of Musick, and therefore is exalted abov evry Name, even by God him­self; which hath made it highly reasonabl (whatever any cavel­ling Hypocrits, either by their irreligious Doctrin or Deport­ment, argu to the contrary) that at the Name of Jesus evry knee should bow, in [...], in Earth, and under the Earth; and that evry Tong should confess that Je­sus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. In Obedience to which Divine Decree, I pro­strat my Self before Thee O Lord, I worship Thee O Christ, and humbly beg Thee on my Knees to be my Jesus, my Sa­vior.

I bless thy saving Name,

For thus obliging thy Self to fulfil the whol Law, and expiat its Violation, on our [...] How early began my [...] to suffer! He shed his Blood al­most as soon as he drew his Breath. O my Soul, defer not to execute His Will, who seem'd impatient to procure thy Wel­fare at the price of his Blood; and instead of abusing his exact Obedience for a Cloak of Liber­tinism, let the Exampl of his Perfection engage thee to follow his Steps in all holy Conversa­tion: And do thou, O Jesu, at once supply, and satisfy for, all the Defects of my frail Obe­dience.

I humbly adore Thee,

O Jesus, for submitting to the Imputation of Sin, and the Pe­nalties consequential therunto, tho thou knewest no Sin. Lord, Let this Prospect of thine Exina­nition, in taking upon Thee the form of a Servant, yea a Sinner, who art God blessed and holy for ever, not only banish all those irregular Desires of Esteem which lurk in my bosom, but also ren­der me industrious to be truly Holy, not to be thought [...]: [Page 50] And may this beginning of Sorrows in Thy [...] abate all the Vanity and Niceness of Mine.

I prais thy H. Name,

For this Visibl Sign of that [...] Grace we stand in need of. Let this thine Infant-Wound, O J su, circumcise our Hearts, purify our Hands, and [...] our whol Man blameless and un­defiled: And since there is a Fountain open'd to the Hous of [Page] David, for Sin and for Unclean­ness; let the Blood of Christ, who throu the [...] of­fer'd himself without Spot to God, [...] our Conscience from dead Works to [...] the living God, that being [...] from all [...] of Flesh and Spirit [...] may perfect Holiness in thy Fear. To this end, I beseech thee mor­tify the Deeds of my Body, cut off the Occasions of Sin, and disappoint the Temtations most apt to betray me [...]: for, He is not a Jew which is one out­wardly, neither is that Circumci­sion which is [...] in the Flesh; but he is a Jew which is one in­wardly, and Circumcision is that of the Heart, in the Spirit, and not in the Letter, whose Prais is not of Men but of God.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, for that [...] Wisdom and Goodness wher­with thou hast enlarged my Joys, in making all thine Actions conduciv to the Benefit and In­struction of the whol World. Grant me Grace (I beseech thee) so to use those Faculties wher­with thou hast enabled me to re­flect on and consider Objects so far distant in Time and Place, that duly weighing the great Confequence and wide Concern­ment of evry Thought, Word, [Page 53] and Deed, enrolled in the Vo­lum of Eternity, I may becom the more cautious of ordering my Conversation aright, til Di­vine Lov, Entire Obedience, and Uniform Devotion compleat my Life in this World, and prepare a delightful Spectacl for God, Angels, and Just Men made per­fect, in the next.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O thou Wisdom of the Father, for the gracious and [...] Influence of the Eastern [...], whose Appearance and Motion being wholy [...] did attract the Eys, engage the Faith, and guide the Feet of these Lear­ned Sages in Quest of Thee. In deed, they are the only Wise men, who use their Learning to find out Heven. Lord, as thou didst illuminat their Souls by a diviner Light to discern the Be­nefit and Design of that created Star, so be thou graciously plea­sed to accompany the hevenly Oracls of thy Word with such a convincing Power and Demon­stration of thy Spirit as shal be effectual to bring in the Fulness [Page 55] of the Gentils, to whom thou hast extended the Scepter of thy Mercy as well as to the Jews, having made both one and broken down the middl Wall of Partition between us.

I prais thy H. Name,

For the seasonabl Use of Mi­racls, and the transcendent Ex­cellency of the Means of Grace: It is unreasonabl to look for Manna when we are once en­ter'd into the Land of Promise. Reclaim therfore (I beseech thee) all pervers and ignorant Schis­maticks from that gross presum­tion of temting Thee for new Lights and needless Revelations, now thy Will is so expresly re­vealed in thy Word; and let the Priests Lips, to whom thou hast committed the ordinary Dispen­sation of thine Oracls, always preserv sufficient knowledg to di­rect thy peepl in the way of Sal­vation by that more sure Word of Prophecy, which was of old written for our Instruction, and is to this day a standing Record taken from the mouths of those [Page 57] holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the H. Ghost. And as thou didst lead these ho­norabl Pilgrims by the Conduct of a Star to the Means of Grace, and, by the ordinary Preaching and Explanation of thy Word, unto thy Self, making both those Methods useful in their respe­ctiv places; so let thine ancient Miracls confirm and quicken us in the Use of such ordinary Means as are adapted to these later Times: for, the Light of thy glorious Gospel is as much more instructiv than the obscu­rer Language of a Star, as the shining Splendor of the Day out­vies the gloomy Shades of Night; this being no less powerful to draw Men from all Quarters of the Earth to thy Worship, than that was to invite these few from the East.

I magnify thy Sacred Name,

O Christ, For this their Ex­emplary Corage and Resolution: Be thou the delightful Object and Answer of all mine Enqui­ries, the sole End and Recom­pence of all my Travel; and let my Soul depend on Thee in the [Page 59] greatest destitution of all Out­ward Helps and Encoragements, that those Obstacls which the World is apt to cast in my way being furmounted by a firm pur­pos of Mind to follow Thee, I may throu a du Use of thine Ordinances be brought out of the Maze of Error and Ignorance [...] the Knowledg of thy Truth, and walk in the right way to thy saving Presence.

I bless and prais thy Name,

For being found of them that seek Thee, according to thy faithful Promise, I will never leav thee nor forsake thee. Lord, since from those general Tearms which gave us Expectations of a Savior, that should be a Man, and of the Jewish Nation (which alone had been a special Favor and Priviledg to the World); thou hast descended to more exact particulars in fore telling us by thy Prophets, That He should be of the Seed of David, born in Bethlehem, and that of a Virgin: Let me not rest satis­fied with any general Report or superficial Knowledg of thy Coming in the Flesh, til my own Soul experimentaly find that Thou art com to be my Redee­mer [Page 61] in particular. For this pur­pos, let me never want or neg­lect the Light of thy Gospel; pardon and reliev as wel my Blindness as my Backwardness hitherto, which hath render'd me unprofitabl under it; and make us all so duly sensibl of our Abuse or Mis-improvment of the Tenders of thy Grace and Mercy, that we may hence­forth obey all thy godly Mo­tions, til our Experience of thy Lov fil us with Joy unspeakabl and ful of Glory.

I [...] thy Name,

For ushering in the day of Grace with the brightness of thy Rising. Thou hast promised to giv the Morning-Star to him that over cometh, as a Pledge or Earnest of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: Grant therfore, I beseech Thee, that we may hav Power and Strength to get the Victory and to triumph against the Devil, the World and the Flesh; and, wheras this is the Victory that over-cometh the World, even our Faith, Lord, encreas our Faith, til the Dawning [...] unto the perfect Day and Grace be con­summat in Glory.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O my adorabl Redeemer, For thy gracious Acceptance of these Tenders of their Homage and Adoration to thy Majesty: [...] thee to cast a benign Ey upon my humbl Addresses to thy Throne; who desire to adore thee with the entire Oblation of my Soul and Body, and with all the Faculties of both offer unto Thee, my King, the Gold of Loyalty and Obedience; to Thee, my God, the Odors of Devotion and Thanksgivings; and to Thee, my Savior, the Myrrh of Mortification and Re­pentance; distilling from a bro­ken and a contrit Heart: for, [Page 64] these are Sacrifices which Thou wilt not despise; nay, wherwith Thou art better pleased than with all the material Gold, Frankincens and Myrrh in the World.

I giv Thee Thanks and Prais,

Becaus the Kingdoms of the Earth are becom the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ. Purge out of thy Kingdom all things that offend; make all Christian Kings Holy; and all the Hea­then, Christian: And let thy Loving-kindness, which is bet­ter than the Life its self, enrich my Soul with a Contentment more desirabl than Crowns and more advantageous than King­doms, in paying the Tribute I ow to Jesus Christ the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, saying, Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own-Blood, and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God, even his Father; to Him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever.

Amen.

I therefore prais and magnify thy Name,

O my God, for making the ancient Precepts of thy Law so aptly minister to the Accom­plishment of those succeeding Prophecies which tell us, The Lord whom ye seek shal suddenly [Page 67] [...] to his Templ; and, I wil fil this Hous with Glory, saith the Lord of Hosts: wherin the Law and the Prophets conspire to giv the more publick Notice of the Messiah at his Manifestation to Israel. How glorious was that Templ wherin the Lord and Owner therof (who dwelleth not in Templs made with hands) made his personal and visible Ap­pearance: This made the Glory of that latter [...] greater than of the [...], tho far short of it in outward Riches and Gran­deur. There Thou, O Christ, wast often Typicaly represented; but here Thou art Personaly pre­sent, to the firm Establishment of the Christian Faith and the utter Confusion of Jewish Infi­delity, whose incorrigibl Obsti­nacy in Unbelief doth blasphe­mously turn the Truth of God into a Ly, it being altogether [Page 68] impossibl that these Prophecies can ever be fulfilled after the Subversion of the Second Templ O let my Soul be the Templ of thine Eternal Residence, and evry Christian Heart be as wel hal­lowed as dignified by thy gra­cious Presence.

I magnify thy Sacred Name,

For giving us hereby to un­derstand [Page 69] that God hath chosen the Poor of this World, Rich in Faith, to be Heirs of the King­dom which he hath promised to them that lov him. Let this her Readiness to fulfil the Law make us more sollicitous to do our Duty, according to the Ability God hath given us, than to conceal our Poverty for Shame, or alledg it for an Ex­cuse to serv God of that which cost us nothing. Lord, purify my heart, that it may yield a du Respect to all the Parts and Precepts of thy Law; studying the mystical Sence of the Cere­monial, observing the rational In­junctions of the Moral, admiring the politick Rules of the Civil, and reverencing the Holy Rites of the Ecclesiastical: for, they all bear the Stamp of thy Autho­rity, and are therfore worthy of all Acceptation and Esteem.

I prais thy H. Name,

For becoming a [...] for many, yea, for All, whether [...] or not. By thee the very Priests and Levits are redeemed, who themselvs were taken from among the Children of Israel in­stead of all the first-born, which had been [...] to the Lord. I beseech thee, by [...] of the Price thou hast paid for my Soul, enrol me among the general As­sembly and Church of the First­born [Page 71] which are written in He­ven, who, having received the Spirit of Adoption, are not on­ly the Children but Heirs of God and joint-Heirs with Christ. And that thine infinit Merit, which sufficeth to make evry one of thy Brethren a compleat Possessor of thine Eternal Inhe­ritance, may qualify us all to receiv a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us hav Grace wher­by we may serv God acceptably, with Reverence and godly Fear, as becoms persons redeemed from their Iniquities.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O my Dear Jesus, as wel for the singular Graces conferr'd on this reverend person as for the publick Testimony he gave of Thee to them that were present Pardon, I beseech thee, my Neg­lect of Waiting for Thee, wher­by I have justly forfeited the peculiar Manifestations of thy [...] and Favor; and now that I am not only ready, but ear­nestly desirous, to receiv Thee in mine Arms, yea to lodg Thee in my Heart, vouchsafe to pu­rify and enlighten me with the H. Ghost, that I taking Delight [Page 73] in thy Sanctuary and carefully attending Thee there, with a Soul ful of Joy and a Mouth ful of Praises, may also bless Thee my God and speak of thine Ho­nor in thy holy Templ.

I prais Thee, O Christ,

For being both A Light to 32 lighten the Gentils, and the Glory of thy peepl Israel. No wonder that Ioseph and thy 33 [Page 74] Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Thee, especialy hearing him that blessed them say [...] Mary Behold, this Child is set for 34 the Fall and Rising up of many in Israel, and for a Sign that shal be spoken against, in so much that a Sword should pierce throu her own Soul also; 35 Lord, endu my Soul with a like sens of this inestimabl Benefit, that I may rehears this Song with equal Pleasure and Con­cernment, since mine Eys also see the Longings and Expecta­tions of former Ages turned in to Joys and Praises for all [...] Generations; it being highly reasonabl for our Satisfa­ction to be as strong in Delight as their Expectation was great in Desire: For, the principal De­sign of thy Coming into the World was to remedy, not occa­sion, [Page 75] the Fall of any either in or out of Israel; that such as fall throu their own Default might rise agen by Faith in Thee, and those who hav spoken most bit­terly against Thee may upon Re­pentance be forgiven, when the Thoughts of all Hearts shal be revealed.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Redeemer of Israel, for re­warding that godly Matron's Devotion with so happy a Change of her Fastings into Ju­bilees and her Prayers into Prai­ses. Lord, since those to whom thou revealest thy Self must be qualified for that blessed Privi­ledg by so much Diligence and unwearied Devotion, enable me by thy Grace to apply my ut­most Endevors therunto Night and Day, as well in Fastings and Prayers to deprecat my own and my Nations Sins, as by Fea­stings and Praises to congratu­lat thy Manifestation to the World and the saving Conse­quences thereof; uniting in my Devotions all the pious Longings and earnest Wishes of the Old World, with the transporting Joys and inexpressible Satisfa­ctions of the New.

I celebrat thy Name,

O Son of the Highest, for ex­posing thy Self to so many Ha­zards and Inconveniences for my sake, and for the constant Vigi­lance of thy Father's Ey to serv and secure Thee by the Ministry of Angels. Thy Lov alone mo­ved thee to descend from the Region of Bliss and Glory to this Vale of Misery and Troubl, and nothing but thy gracious Design to free us thence inclined thee rather to retire into the Hous of Bondage than yield thy [...] to the Tyrants Cruelty, lest Our hope should hav been unseasona­bly cut off. Watch over me, I humbly beseech thee, in all the Dangers wherwith I am beset in this World of Iniquity, and ei­ther instruct me to escape them or strengthen me to sustain them. Let no Devices of the Wicked [Page 79] prosper against my Soul, but re­flecting on this thine own Peril, be thou ever ready to deliver me from the malicious Designs of unreasonabl and cruel Men.

I bless thy H. Name,

For being equaly near us in all places of thy Dominion; for, the whol Earth is thine. Lord, whatsoever thy Wisdom and Au­thority thinks fit to enjoin me, let thy Grace incline me cheer­fuly [Page 80] to obey, how much soever it seem to thwart my worldly Interest or Eas; and, in all my Endevors to execute thy Will, conduct and defend me with thy good Providence. Obeying Thee I may be safe in Egypt, the Hous of Bondage, while encom­passed with Perils; and throu Disobedience to thy Commands, may perish in Bethlehem, the Hous of Bread, tho surrounded with Plenty: To thy better Choice therefore do I wholy re­fer the Disposal of my self and all mine Affairs; for, Thou art God only Wise and Blessed for ever.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For thine exemplary Subje­ction to Civil Magistrats, being quietly submissiv not only to the Good and Gentl, but even to the froward. Let the Respect thou barest them in thy Peaceableness and Patience under the grossest Abuse of their Authority and Jurisdiction, quicken and con­firm in me the Principls of an inviolabl Loyalty, that I resist not evil (tho unjustly inflicted by the higher Pow­ers) but rather shun the In­convenience by a timely Re­treat than presume to disturb their Government, or oppose their Authority, by any un­warrantabl and contumacious Practices; for, whosoever resist­eth the Power, resisteth the Or­dinance [Page 82] of God: and they that resist shal receiv to themselvs Damnation.

I glorify thy Name,

O Christ, For the ready Obe­dience of those thy Followers in conforming to evry notice of thy Will; who, truly judging it cannot be right in thy Sight to hearken unto Men more than unto God, would rather incur the Danger of an earthly King's Displeasure than the Guilt of Disobedience to the hevenly Vi­sion. That Tyrants and Usur­pers are a Scourge unto them­selvs, we hav a notabl Instance in Herod, whose Passions were ever on the Rack to chastise his Ambition: As soon as the Ea­stern Pilgrims came with their Inquiry, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? he was troubled with Fears and [...] [Page 82] [...] [Page 83] [Page 84] Apprehensions of som Innova­tion in the State: No sooner were they gon without giving him such an Account of their Journy as he required, but he is tormented with Rage at the Affront they put upon him, in sleighting his Commands and eluding his Expectation. Evry inconsiderabl Accident doth dis­compose an unquiet mind: Esta­blish me therefore O Lord, with thy free Spirit against the vio­lent efforts of my Passions; and that I may enjoy such a Peace and Serenity as naturally flows from the regular Dictats of Rea­son and Religion, let me never do or desire any thing contra­dictory therunto.

I adore thy Sacred Name,

O my God, For permitting 17 that which was spoken by [...] the Prophet to be thus ful­filled, In Rama was there [...] 18 voice heard, [...] weeping for her Children, and would not be comforted, becaus they are not. The enraged King of Jewry meant to destroy those Infants, [Page 86] but contrary to his merciless In­tention wrought their Delive­rance: By the Death he inflicted, he freed them from Sin, as by the Effusion of their Blood he accomplished their Baptism; and while that crafty Fox designed to involv the Son of God in the common Butchery, his wicked Devices recoiled upon himself in the Murther of his own. For, the Lord withdrew his beloved Isaac, and left a Thousand in­nocent Lambs to be sacrifised in his stead and accepted for his sake. These were redeemed from among Men, being the first. fruits unto God and to the Lamb; and in their mouth was found no Guile, for they are without fault before the Throne of God. Weep not therefore for thy Children, Rachel, for, [...] are Blessed; they follow the Lamb whitherso­ever he goeth, therefore be com­forted.

[Page 87] ‘O God the Judg of all, who, by the Death of these new­born Babes, hast taught thy Church, that neither the ten­derest Age, nor the most im­maculat Innocence, is exempt from Suffering for Thy Sake, or incapabl of the glorious Re­wards allotted to the Nobl Ar­my of thy Martyrs: Giv all the Members of thy Church Militant here upon Earth Grace so to adore Thee in this and all other Transactions of thy Providence (how severe or un­accountabl soever they seem to human Reason) as may con­firm their Hearts in a hopeful Resignation to thy Will and an assured Trust that their cheer­ful Submission therunto shal be crowned with thine Eternal Favor, when thy Church shal becom Triumphant in Heven. Assist me also, I humbly be­seech [Page 88] thee, to check the first Rise of my Passions, lest, being cherished in my bosom, they grow too head-strong to be re­claimed, and break out into such Acts of Violence and Vil­lany as are not to be named without Horror and Dete­station.’

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, For ordering the seemingly accidental Circum­stances of thy Life to fulfil that 15 which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophets; thy Return from Banishment, upon a Divine Summons, expresly answering That Saying, Out of Egypt hav I called my Son; and thine Abode in Nazareth, accor­ding to God's Direction, impli­citly corresponding with This, he shal be called a [...]. 23 In all my Spiritual Desertions, whensoever I am restrained from thy Sanctuary or cast out of thy Sight, Lord grant I may pa­tiently attend, and at last hap­pily find, the seasonabl Returns of thy Grace and Presence, and [Page 90] altho my whol Life be an un­settled Pilgrimage, yet be thou pleased to refresh me in the various Stages of it with the Society and Priviledges of thy Chosen Peepl, and bring me in the end to the place where [...] Honor dwelleth: that as Thou,S. Luke 2. O Child of God, didst grow and war strong in Spirit, being 40 filled with Wisdom; so the Grace of God may be upon Me in like manner.

I magnify thy Name,

O Jesus, For observing and countenancing thine own Ordi­nances; and humbly beseech thee to establish and adorn thy Publick Worship among us, by [Page 92] restoring our Religious Solemni­ties to their du Veneration and Attendance, that commemora­ting thine ancient Mercies with thankful hearts, we may derive fresh Advantages from them, not only evry Year but all the Days of our Life. They want no Templ who hav God himself in their Hous; they can need no Sacrifice who hav Jesus in their Company: Yet did not the H. Virgin and S. Joseph neglect their annual Progress to Jerusa­lem, but, in an uninterrupted Cours of pious Conformity to the Law, trained up the B. Child from his Youth in the strict Ob­servation of it. O my Soul, con­sider their pious and regular De­votion, and after the good Ex­ampl which the prudent and or­derly Behavior of such holy Per­sons hath set before thee, be care­ful and conscientious as wel in [Page 93] celebrating the publick Chri­stian [...] as in improving all privat Occasions of Pie­ty and Duty, to express thy religious Communion with the Saints not only of thine own time but of former Ages too.

I prais thy H. Name,

O my Savior, For making the Second Templ thus glorious by thy Presence, and giving such early Notices of thy Divinity as made all that heard Thee asto­nished 47 at thine Understanding and Answers, Let all my Con­ferences, I beseech thee, be ho­ly, wise, and prudent, always aiming either to receiv or com­municat Instruction by propo­sing such Questions concerning the Mysteries of thy Kingdom as may serv to the Use of Edi­fying and minister Grace to the Hearers: For this purpos, make me diligent in frequenting those Places and Persons which are consecrated to thy Service and set apart by thy Providence for our ordinary Learning, that the Principls of tru Wisdom and Piety, being instilled in my [Page 95] Youth, may render me, in my riper Age, wise unto Salvation; abl to refute Errors and main­tain Truth, practise Virtu and discountenance Vice; and cora­gious in laying hold on all fit Opportunities for both, without being unseasonabl or unprofitabl in either.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For thy forward undertaking to do the Work of Him that [...] Thee, preferring thy Care to pleas thy Hevenly Father before the Regard du to thine Earthly Parentage. Lord, let no World­ly Obligation be of force to withdraw me from Thee or les­sen my Duty to Thee; nor yet suffer me upon any Pretence of doing Thee Service to becom un­dutiful or disobliging to those whom Grace or Nature hath made my Relations: but that, taking good heed to dispatch the Business Thou dost entrust me with, in the first place, I may also deport my Self with du Re­spect to my several Relations, tendring that Duty which I ow them respectivly with all Affabi­lity and Cheerfulness.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For recommending a mixture of Retirement and Privacy with our publick Actions and Emploi­ments, wherin we may hav lei­sure and opportunity to con­templat thy Father's Glory, as Thou didst; enjoying his mar­vellous [Page 98] Works, studying in his most excellent Laws, tracing the foot-steps of his Wisdom in both, and ravished with the Consideration of his infinit Lov in all. By these approved Means, let My Faculties and Thy Gra­ces be so improved in me, that I may view all things with Thine Eys; expose my self rare­ly, with Thy Prudence; retire with Thy Contentedness; be enflamed with Thy Lov to God and Man; and partake of all the unknown Accomplishments that ly hid in Thy concealed Life, som Sparks wherof darted forth in thy Super-natural Un­derstanding and exemplary Con­versation evry day. Thus, re­ceiving of Thy Fulness Grace for Grace, I shal derive far more Satisfaction from the Light of thy Countenance, in a domestick Privacy, than all the inviting [Page 99] Advantages and publick Honors of the World can pretend to.

I prais thy H. Name,

For expressing thy Subjection and Humility so long in that mean and laborious Emploiment. Quicken me, I beseech thee, to honest Industry in my Calling, that, whether it seem base or ho­norabl in the Eys of Men, I may [Page 100] duly approv my self in the sight of God, and be so wel contented with whatsoever part his wiser Providence allots me, to act, as never to be ashamed of my poorest Kindred or of doing any the meanest Offices for them.

I magnify thy Reverend Name.

For the Purity of thine inof­fensiv Life, and that signal Pa­tience wherwith thou didst at­tend the prefixed time of execu­ting thy Divine Office. Lord, [Page 101] rectify that Eagerness and Im­patience wherwith we usualy snatch at expected Honors and rush into new Emploiments, Par­don those Miscarriages in my present state of Life wherby I hav given Occasion of Offence to any, and endu me with so much Prudence and Humility as may render my Lov and Ser­vice acceptabl to all; that I may grow into favor with God and Men, which thine Exampl and Success persuade me is a Grace not desirabl only, but at­tainabl also by those that increas in Wisdom as well as Stature, and express their so doing in an amiabl and blameless Con­versation.

I prais and magnify thy Name, 1

For this suitabl Beginning of the Gospel of [...] Christ the Son of God. Let me learn, I beseech thee, from the Austerity of thy Fore-runner, both in Ap­parel 6 and Diet (for, the same John had his Raiment of Ca­mel'sS. Mat. 3. 4,hair and a leathern Girdl at [...] his Loins, and his Meat was Locusts and wild Dony) so to comply with the Doctrin of Mortification and Repentance which he preached and practised, that I may [...] the Salvation ofS. Luke 3. 6,God. And, as the Peepl, whoS. Mat. 3. 5, went out to him from Jerusa­lem and Judea, and all the Re­gion 6 round about, were baptized of him in Jordan; confessing their Sins, so do thou baptize me with the H. Ghost and with Fire to the forsaking of mine; 11 that being effectualy warned to [Page 104] flee from the Wrath to com, I 7 may bring forth fruits meet for 8 Repentance, rather glorying to hav Abraham my Father in 9 Faith than after the Flesh, since God is abl of the very Stones to rais up Children unto him. And now that the Axis laid [...] 10 the Root of the [...], be graciously pleased to direct the hand that guides it, to cut off the dead or luxuriant Branches of Sin and Folly that evry [...] may bring forth good Fruit, in stead of hewing down the whol Body to be cast into the fire.

I giv thee Thanks and Prais,

O Jesus, For making the Du­ties of Religion consistent with those of our Worldly Vocations. Lord, bless my conscionabl Indu­stry in that lawful Emploiment wherunto thy Providence hath called me, that, by my honest Diligence therin, I may do Thee Service in my Generation, and working with my hands the thing which is Good, may hav (and hav the Heart) to giv to him that needeth: And yet, let not my earnest Concernment for the things of this Life be pleaded in Excuse for my Neglect of a bet­ter, but among all my most justi­fiabl Cares, allow som Time and [Page 106] Thought so to attend on the Mi­nistry of thy Word and the Ad­ministration of thy Sacraments, as may best make a practical Ex­pression of, and giv a proper Answer to, this Inquiry on the behalf of my Soul, What must I do to be saved?

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, For this Record of John, who [...] witness of Thee without seeking the En­hancement of his own Reputa­tion by the envious Conceal­ment of thy Person or Office. Lord, purge the floor of my Heart from all that Chaff of Va­nity and Pride which renders me at any time inclinabl to deck my self with the spoils of that [Page 108] Honor which is only du to Thee; that, being littl in mine own Eys; I may cheerfuly magnify Him who is mightier than I, of S. Mat. 3. whose fulness we hav all recei­ved,11S. Joh. 1.even Grace for Grace, 16 which alone can fit us to be laid up in store for the Master's Use in his Hous not made with hands eternal in the Hevens; for, the Law was given by Moses, but 17 Grace and Truth came by Je­sus Christ, who, being the only Begotten Son which is in the 18 bosom of the Father, hath de­clared that God whom no man hath seen at any time: And since the same John, being a 6 man sent from God, came for 7, 8 a Witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men throu him might believ; let this his publick Testimony hav its de­signed Effect upon [...] man 9 that cometh into [...], [Page 109] not only confirming the tru Faith where it hath been alrea­dy planted, but creating it also where 'tis yet wanting, with so great a Power and Demonstration of the Spirit, that, altho the 10 World, which was made by him, without whom was not any thing made, knew him not while He was in the World, 3 yet it may never more be said, He came unto his own, and 11 his own received him not, but being now no longer born of 13 Blood, or of the Wil of Man, but of God, All Flesh may see thy Salvation, and behold the 14 Glory of the Word made Flesh, as that of the only begotten of the Father, who as verily was 1, 2 in the beginning, and was with God, and was God, as he dwelt among Us ful of Grace and Truth. And the good God of the Spirits of all Flesh grant that [Page 110] the Son of thy Lov in whom was that Life which was theS. Joh. 1. 4,Light of Men, may shine in the 5 Darkness that hath benighted the Children of this World, til the Power (or rather Privi­ledg) to becom the Sons of God, which He gave to them 12 that believ on his Name, [...] graciously imparted to all the Families of the Earth, by em­bracing the true Faith which hath saved as many as recei­ved him.

I celebrat thy Name,

O my Dear Redeemer, For leaving the Sweetness of a peace­abl Retirement, to enter upon a State not only encumber'd with Sweat and Travel, but also [...] to Censure and Persecu­tion for thy Church's sake. I humbly beseech Thee, let no Self-ends, or more pleasurabl En­joyments, detain any one from undertaking such publick Duties as he is lawfuly called unto: but, when a more open Expo­sure may any way conduce to the general Good and Benefit of thy Peepl, be a safe Retirement never so desirabl, encorage us all to abandon our particular Eas and Satisfaction; preferring thy Church before all our privat Con­cernments or domestick Inte­rests whatsoever.

I magnify thy Gracious Name,

For thus expressing how well it becometh us to fulfil all 15 Righteousness. O giv me, and all that call themselves after Thy Name, the Christian Humility of conforming to all the Rules of Godly Disciplin which shall be found requisit for thy Church's Peace, and of submitting to any Service (how much soever aba­sed) that may tend to the Be­nefit [Page 113] of the smallest in thy Flock, or end in the Advancement of thy Glory.

I glorify thy Name,

Because thy Delights are a­mong the Children of Men. Be present, I beseech thee, in all the devout Assemblies of thy Saints and Servants; and so bless thine Ordinances unto them, that the Wil of God revealed from Heven [...] be effectualy divulged and obey'd among all [Page 114] Nations. And now thou hast thus sanctified the Element of Water to becom Sacramental for the Remission of Sins, having in a Symbol purified human Na­ture of that Guilt and Pollution which thou hadst undertaken to expiat and remov, so making good the Baptist's further Testi­mony of Thee, when he saw thee, O Iesus, coming untoS. Joh. 1.him, and said, Behold the 29 Lamb of God which taketh a­way the Sins of the World: Lord, Pardon those many hei­nous [...] which hav miserably defiled my Life and Conscience since I received Bap­tismal Grace, and so renew thy Covenant of Mercy unto my Soul that I may never so un­gratefuly violat the Conditions or forfeit the Advantages of it any more.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For exhibiting so many Sacred Mysteries (as in a littl but accu­rat [Page 116] Picture) which in other Ages were not made known unto the Sons of men. Lord, let me be ravished and instructed with this marvellous Vision, as Thy Fore­runner was, who openly pro­fessed, I knew him not; butS. Joh. 1.that He should be made mani­fest 31 to Israel, therfore am I com baptizing with Water: for, he 32 that sent me said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remain­ing on him, the same is He which baptizeth with the [...] Ghost: And I saw and bare Re­cord 34 that This is the Son of God. Enlighten the Ey of my Soul to behold this inconceivabl yet evident Manifestation of the Ever-blessed Trinity; and exalt mine Understanding to such a right Apprehension of that Sa­cred Mystery, that all my Acts of Adoration may be duly dire­cted [Page 117] and graciously accepted. May the Hevens, which were open at thy Baptism, never be shut against my Prayers or Prai­ses; and since thou hast opened the Kingdom of Heven to all Believers, grant the same Spi­rit that descended upon Thee may abide with Me and thy whol Church for ever, that we who are in Baptism adopted Sons of God, according to the good pleasure of his Wil, may be charm'd and honor'd with the Eccho of that [...] from Heven which proclaimed Thee Beloved. And since thou, my merciful Sa­vior, hast made choice of such proper Emblems to shadow forth thy Glory, make them suitably impressiv on my Memory and Affections: for, wheras the Pro­mulgation of the Law was at­tended with terribl Thunders and thick Darkness, to express [Page 118] the Dreadfulness of God's Pre­sence unto the sinful Transgres­sors of it, Thy Preaching of the Gospel of Peace is usher'd in by the H. Ghost in the likeness of a Dov, to bring the Oliv-branch of Reconciliation to Mankind, and shew what Meekness of Spi­rit is the proper Badg or Cogni­sance of thy tru Discipls.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For thus chalking out the Way to divine and spiritual Atchiev­ments. O thou, the only Com­fort of all my Solitudes, giv me Grace to set apart fit times for Prayer and Contemplation, af­ter thine Exampl, before I en­ter upon any great Emploi­ment; that what I undertake with du and devout Conside­ration may be so blest and ac­cepted by thy Goodness, as may render it succesful to thine Ho­nor. And, whensoever it shal pleas Thee to inspire me with holy Thoughts and Resolutions, incline my Heart cheerfuly to follow the Motions of thy B. Spirit, that I may never in­cur the Guilt of Resisting the H. Ghost.

I glorify thy Great Name,

For submitting to the discon­solat Inconveniences of that in­hospitabl Place and Company. Lord, disdain not to visit the un­cultivated Wilderness of my Soul too; and subdu therin all those brutish Appetits, those untamed Passions, that would utterly de­stroy me, til thou bring all the Imaginations of my Heart into Subjection to thy H. Will.

I prais thy H. Name,

For teaching me both the Du­ty and Benefit of Fasting. Lord, let me not at any time eat or drink without such a Temper and Moderation as may better enabl me for thy Service: but on all the Seasons and Occasions of Fasting prescribed either by Thee or thy Church, make me impartialy strict and severe to my self, in Communion with thy Saints, in Sorrow for my Sins, and in Memory of Thy Sufferings; denying my self not only pleasant Bread and palata­bl Drink, but all manner of Suste­nance, for a time proportionabl [Page 123] to my frailty, (in Conformity to thine Exampl who in thoseS. Luke 4. days [...] eat nothing) as a just 2 Acknowledgment how unwor­thy I am of enjoying that Privi­ledg which the first Man's un­ruly Appetit forfeited in Para­dise, and a fit Occasion to re­mind me of Hungring and Thir­sting after Righteousness by the Sens of my bodily Wants. And whensoever thou givest me Grace or Leisure to retire my self for the Exercise of Devotion, help me both to sanctify my Retirement by Prayer and Fa­sting, and to spend my Time in judging my self that I be not judged of the Lord, in punishing my self that Thou may'st spare me, and in turning from my Sins that thy Judgments may be averted from me. O my Dear Jesu, be thou my Company in Solitude, my Food in Fasting, [Page 124] and the sublimest Joy of evry Feast I celebrat: Be thy divine Graces my choicest Viands, thy Laws my Study, thy Works my Praises, thy Mercies my Enjoy­ments, thy Majesty my Fear, thy Lov my Comfort, thy Wis­dom my Instruction, thy Good­ness my Guide, and thy sacred Presence my Guard all the days of my Pilgrimage in the Wilder­ness of this World.

I magnify thy Name,

That being assaulted with the subtil Insinuations of Necessity, [Page 125] Curiosity, Vain-glory, Presum­tion, Ambition, &c. thou hast experimentaly discover'd with what Weapon I may best resist and subdu all manner of Temta­tions. Lord, whensoever I am to encounter with any of those Enemies which war against my Soul, let me never be sollicitous for any other Armor of Defence than thy Word; but hav Recours therunto, in a du Sens of my own Weakness, by such devout Fasting and Prayer as may endu me with an holy Reverence to what is written, the du Remem­brance and Application wherof may at all times secure me from the mischievous Influence of any Temtation, and succesfuly enabl me at once to resist and conquer the Temter. And since we hav an High-Priest which can be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, having been in all [Page 126] points temted like as- we are yet without Sin, so that we may com boldly to the Throne of Grace to obtain Mercy and Favor for an [...] Relief; I humbly be­seech Thee, O faithful God, suf­fer Vs not to be temted abov that we are abl, but with evry Temtation make a way for our escape, that we may be abl to bear it. Let no Arguments drawn from any sensual Wants or Comforts with-draw me from my Duty to Thee or Confidence in Thee, since it is written, thatS. Mat. 4. 4,Man shal not liv by Bread a­lone,S. Luke 4. 4,but by evry Word that [...] out of the mouth of God. Let not the bewitching Prospect of worldly Power and Glory ever make me stagger in 8 mine Obedience to that divine Command, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him [...]S. Mat. 4.shalt thou lerv: And let [...] 10 [Page 127] soothing Flatteries seduce me to [...] the Lord my God by anyS. Luke 4. unwarrantabl Act of Presumtion,12 lest by leaving those Ways wher­in 10 thou hast given thine [...] Charge over me to [...] me, [...] lose the Benefit of their Prote­ction and dash my foot against 11 a Stone.

I celebrat thy great Name,

For thine unparallel'd Patience in bearing with his irksom Im­portunity, and that powerful Se­verity wherwith thou didst re­buke his Impudence. Enabl me also, I humbly beseech thee, [Page 129] whensoever the Temter seeks to delude me by his glosing Falla­cy in mincing the Truth of God revealed in Scripture, or impose upon me by any gross and ap­parent Falshood forged in his own Mint of Lying, of the same nature with what he affirms concerning the Disposal of this World's Pomp and Power, ThatLuke 4. 6,is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I giv it; so to descry his Fraud and detest his I alshood as to defeat his Ma­lice and be released from his fur­ther Sollicitations by thy divine Aid, who didst banish him and his Temtations from thee with a word, saying unto him, GetS. Mat. 4.thee [...] me, Satan. 10

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For this glorious Issu of thy Conflict with our Arch-enemy, and for the grand Encoragement thou hereby givest us to perse­vere unto the end, having thus made that inspired Advice an ex­perimental Truth, Resist the De­vil and he wil flee from you. Lord, whensoever thy Grace hath suc­cesfully armed me against the fiery Darts of the Wicked One, so that he retires with Disappoint­ment; let me not grow secure as one ignorant of his Devices, but be the more cautious in expecta­tion of his speedy Return, and vi­gilant in preparing to frustrat [Page] his next Assault; for, if when he lost the day, he did not quit the field without thoughts of rallying his shatter'd Forces a­gainst the Captain of our Salva­tion, What shal deterr him from re-attacquing such pusillanimous Soldiers as we are? And, as we hav all the Reason imaginabl to stand upon our Guard in respect of the danger we are in, so we hav no small Encoragement to [...] our selvs like Men in regard of the Recompence attending it; for, as soon as we can get rid of the Temter's Sollicitations, we shal be refreshed with the conso­latory presence of the Holy An­gels, the Operations of Grace herein conforming to the Laws of Nature which admit of no Vacuity.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, For thine exem­plary Clemency and ready Con­descension to entertain such as own thee their Master and 38 enquire where thou dwellesf, tho it be about the tenth hour. Lord, incline my Heart not on­ly, upon thy gracious Invita­tion, to Com and [...] the place where thine Honor dwelleth, but to take up mine Abode with [...]; who hast given us a Taste of thine Omniscience, in that thou couldst say to Andrew's [...], as soon as thou hadst [...] him (without any pre­vious Inquiry, or human Infor­mation) Thou art Simon the Son of Jona, thou shalt be called Cephas which is by in­terpretation, Peter.

I prais thy H. Name,

O thou Redeemer of Israel, For the magnetick Power of thy Life and Doctrin, by virtu wher­of Men are thus drawn to follow Thee, like one Link after ano­ther in a wel compacted Chain. Draw me, O Lord, we wil run after thee, that as wel by mine Exampl as Arguments, I may [Page 135] induce others to partake of that Blessedness which those happy [...] enjoy who are admitted to convers with Thee, [...] believing Thou art He of whom the Lord spake unto his Servant Moses on this wise, I wil rais them up a Prophet from among their Brethren, like unto thee, and I wil put my words in­to his mouth; and whosoever wil not hearken unto my words which he shal speak in my Name, I wil require it of him.

I magnify thy Name,

O thou tru Jacob's Ladder, in whose Person Heven and Earth are united; for whose sake the Celestial Spirits minister to the Saints who shal be Heirs of Sal­vation; and by whose Order they either vouchsafe us their hevenly Aid and Protection, or withdraw its sacred Influence from us. Lord, wheras thouS. John 1. sawest Nathanael, before that Philip called him, when he was 48 under the Fig-tree, and (which [Page 137] is yet a greater Miracl) didst discern his Heart before thou hadst seen his Face; make me always apprehensiv that Dark­ness or Distance hideth not from Thee, who knowest my Down­fitting and mine Up-rising, and understandest my Thoughts afar off; til the awful Consideration of thine Omnipresence render me an Israelite indeed, in whom 47 is no Guile. And, I beseech thee, let these early Manifesta­tions of thy Divinity so quicken and confirm my Faith in Thee, that Thou maist go on to re­ward thine own Gifts in Me with greater Graces, til my pre­sent Knowledg of thy sacred Person and saving Office be crowned and compleated with that unspeakabl Priviledg reser­ved for the Sons of God when it doth appear what they shal be, for then we shal see him as he is.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, For graciously dis­pensing with thy Servants Ne­cessities, wherby thou hast gi­ven us a satisfactory Intimation, that to believ in Thee as a privat Discipl is not at all inconsistent with the honest prosecution of our Secular Emploiments; thy Wisdom & Justice having made it our Christian Duty as wel as Liberty to be diligent in the [Page 139] business of our lawful Callings. However, let me never (I ear­nestly beseech Thee) yield mine Ear to be bored in the servil Drudgery of any anxious Cares or useless Vanities of this present World, having once found Thee whom my Soul loveth.

I prais and magnify thy N [...]me,

O Christ, the inexhaustibl Fountain of Goodness, For this [Page 141] Beginning of Miracls which 11 S. Joh. 2. thou [...] in Cana of Galilee, wherin Thou hast at once so convincingly manifested forth thy Glory that thy Discipls be­lieved on Thee, and withal set a Mark of Honor as wel on the Married as the Virgin state of Life. I beseech thee, bless and sanctify all Persons joined in ho­ly Wedlock; visit them with thy supernatural Grace and Power; turn their Water into Wine; change their Natural De­sires into Divine Affections; ex­alt their sensual Pleasures into spiritual Delights; and refine their transitory Enjoiments into an eternal Inheritance; that by growing up from strength to strength in mutual Lov and joint Devotion, their last Days may be their best.

I prais and magnify thy H. Name,

O my sole Mediator and Ad­vocat, For giving us this covert yet very intelligibl Expression of thy Fore-sight and Dislike of that idolatrous Copartnership with [Page 143] the Holy Trinity, wherunto the inordinat Devotion of some Su­perstitious Christians hath erro­neously exalted and inshrined thy Virgin-Mother, in these later and more corrupt Ages of thy Church. Lord, I beseech thee, inlighten my Soul with such a discreet and tru Distinction be­tween the Honor or Respect I may justly bear to thy Earthly Mother, or any other of thy Saints enrolled in Heven among the Spirits of Just Men made per­fect, and that Homage and Ado­ration which I am bound to pay unto Thy Self in the Unity of thy Hevenly Father and the E­ternal Spirit; that while I com­memorat the Grace Thou hast conferred on Her, whom thy H. Angel hath authorized us to call Blessed among Women, I presume not to rob God of his peculiar Honor, who declares expresly, I [Page 144] wil not giv my Glory unto another. And herein I shal best comply with that Advice which She her Self gave to the Servants that attended on this Nuptial Solem­nity, Whatsoever he saith untoS. Joh. 2. 5.you, do it: for, thence we may rationaly infer, That our resolved and activ Obedience to Thy Di­vine Commands is much more likely to gratify her holy Soul in Heven, than any irregular Ex­pression of Religious Worship unwarrantably tender'd to her Self on Earth.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Lord of Hosts, thou Migh­ty God of Sabaoth, who, for the more publick and notabl Decla­ration of thy Power, didst sig­nalize the very Commencement of thy Ministerial Function by purging thy [...] [...] an [...] Authority, from [...] gross Prophanation of those [...] made it an Hous of [...]; which was an Act so ex­traordinary 17 as gave thy [...] occasion to [...] that it was written, The zeal of [...] Hous hath eaten me up: May all Places religiously set apart for thy Worship be ever [...] in a venerabl manner, I beseech thee, and in thy Sanctuary let evry man speak of his Honor that dwels there; that when we [...] upon Thee, O God, in the midst of thy Templ, our Hearts being [Page 147] [...] from all Sacrilegious Thoughts of Secular Negotia­tions, which like a Cage of [...] are apt as wel to [...] as keep a place in thy holy Habitation, the Templ of thy more especial Presence may be (as it ought) a Hous of Prayer, not a Den of Thievs.

I celebrat thy Sacred Name,

For the hidden Mystery and yet most undoubted Truth cou­ched in this thy prudent Reply; which became easily intelligibl [Page 148] when thou wast risen from the Dead, after that both Jew and 22 Gentil had employ'd their ut­most Power and Malice to de­stroy thee; for, then thy Disci­pls not only remembred that Thou hadst said this unto them, but they [...] understood that to be spoken of the Templ of 21 thy Body, which the [...] misapplied to their material Templ, in the building wherof 20 forty and six years were elapsed. I humbly beseech thee, O Lord, That the actual Accomplish­ment of all thy mysterious yet most infallibl Predictions may so enlighten the Understanding of thy Discipls in this later Age of thy Church, as to engage Our Faith with no less efficacy than it did that of thy primitiv Follow­ers,22 who hereupon believed the Scripture and the Word which Jesus had said.

I glorify thy great Name,

For this eminent Expression of the Divinity of the Son of Man, who was so far abov the necessity of depending or rely­ing on the faithless or feebl Ge­neration of Adam, that He [...]S. Joh. 2.not that any should testify of 25 them; for He knew what was in Man, even while he vouch­safed to be conversant with them upon Earth in the likeness of Men. I humbly beseech Thee, O Christ, let the same Spirit [Page] which rested upon Thee be my Comfort and Support, that from [...] I lean not on any Child of Man, for there is no Hope no Help in them, but fully settl my whol Trust in God, and commit the Keeping of my Soul to Him in Wel-doing, as unto a faithful Cre­ator. And further teach me, by this thine instructiv Exampl, so much discreet Caution, both in my Dealings with Men, as may prevent the betraying of my Self to their deceitful Pra­ctices, and in my Deportment towards God, as may ever ex­press me duly sensibl of [...] Omniscience.

I prais thy H. Name,

For all the profound and sin­gular Excellencies of thy heven­ly Doctrin, wherby we knowS. Joh. 3. 2;Thou art a Teacher com from God; and for that convincing Method Thou hast made Use of to confirm it, which was of force enough to make a Ruler of the Jews confess, No man can do these Miracls that thou dost, except God be with him. Tho the Laws of Nature do not allow a Man to be born when he is 4 old, or enter the second time into his Mother's Womb; yet, by the Power of thy Grace, let me (I beseech thee) [...] born 7 agen, not of Water only, but 5 of the Spirit too; that as I am 6 naturally Flesh born of the Flesh, so I may becom really Spirit born of the Spirit, and be therby qualified both to [...] [Page 153] and to enter into the Kingdom 3, 5 of God.

I magnify thy Glorious Name,

For speaking that Thou dost 11 know, and testifying that Thou [Page 154] hast seen, tho we receiv not thy Witness. I earnestly beseech Thee, O Jesus, how backward soever Thou findest us to believ 12 when thou hast told us earthly things, vouchsafe to tell us of hevenly things, and to exhibit as wel the powerful Efficacy of thy whol Doctrin as the indispu­tabl Truth of the most abstruse parts of it, help Thou our Un­belief: That, notwithstanding my inability to satisfy my Self or Others How the Birth from abov is wrought in my Heart, yet I may palpably evidence to the whol World, both in Word and Deed, What it is to be a new Creature, and make it appear that the Spirit of God hath breathed upon my Soul, tho I cannot determin the precise Time nor describe the exact Manner of his graciousOpera­tion.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

Becaus God so loved the 16 World, that he gave his on­ly begotten Son, that whoso­ever believeth in Him should not [Page 156] perish, but hav everlasting life. I humbly beseech Thee, O Jesu,17 since God sent not his Son into the World to condemn it, but that the World throu him might be saved, establish my Soul in this Faith, and qualify me for that happy End of it by an unblamabl Conversation, that Impiety may not temt me to Infidelity and Unbelief consign me to Damnation: for, (as thyS. Joh. 3. unerring Truth assures us) he that believeth not, is condem­ned 18 already; the preposterous Occasion of the Guilt being justly applied to aggravat and ascertain the Condemnation, That Light is com into the 19 World, and yet Men loved Darkness rather than Light, becaus their Deeds were evil; 20 for, evry one that doth evil hates and shuns the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved; [Page 157] wheras he that doth Truth, who rightly believs and acts accor­ding to the Principls of a sound Faith, cometh to the Light, 21 wherby his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.

Prais thou the Lord, O my Soul,

For perfecting the Design of S. John's Baptism by the succee­ding Administration of Thine, even whilst he was also [...] 23 in Enon near to [...], becaus much Water was there; Giving us therby a tacit yet sig­nificant Intimation of thy for­wardness to prosecute the Work of our Redemtion, which would rather shorten the Night by the hasty Approach of thy Day of Grace, than [...] the Rising of the Sun til the Setting of thy Morning-Star, for, [...] was 24 not yet cast into Prison. I hum­bly implore thee, O Christ, let us draw near unto thy [...] Ordinances with a tru Heart, in ful Assurance of Faith, having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience as wel as our Bo­dies washed with pure Water: [Page 159] And, Oh! that whol Rivers of Waters might be employ'd and [...] for the baptizing great Multitudes of [...] from a­mongst all Nations, and Kin­dreds, and Peepl, and Tongs throu out the World, to accom­plish the Number of thine Elect and hasten thy Kingdom.

I adore thy Sacred Name,

O thou whom my Soul lov­eth, For the great Understand­ing this thy Servant had touch­ing the Knowledg of thine Eter­nal God-head, and the whol Mystery of thine Everlasting Gospel, which he hath thus clear­ly expressed in this his excellent Sermon left upon Record for my Instruction. Lord, I. beseech Thee, since a Man can [...] 27 nothing except it be given him from heven, [...] such a measure [Page 162] of thy Spirit, and the Grace he conveys from [...] into the Hearts of the faithful, possess and affect my Soul, that I, in Com­munion with thy Servant John, may likewise rejoice in hearing the Bride-groom's Voice audibly utter'd in His holy Word, and be ravished with delight in the privat Contemplation of the hap­py Union solemnized between my Lord Christ and his Spous the Church: So as at last thou mayst vouchsafe to admit me in­to the Fulness of that [...] which doth attend the Marriage of the Lamb, and impart unto me the Interest and Affection of a Friend in the Consummation of thy Glory, which wil qualify me as wel to taste of the Pleasures as congratulat the Perpetuity of thine Eternal Lov.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

For that undaunted Freedom wherwith this thy Servant re­proved the Vices of the Grea­test, not fearing to assert the Truth and Obligation of thy ho­ly Commandments even before Kings; for, John said unto He­rod, [...]. Mark. 6.18 It is not lawful for [...] hav thy Brother's Wife. I humbly beseech Thee, O Je­su, let the just Reproofs which thy Ministers impartially de­nounce against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men, en­gage me to unfeigned Repen­tance in obedience to the Au­thority of thy H. Word, instead of provoking me to any im­pious Design of Revenge in compliance with my own un­hallowed Lusts and Passions: And enabl Them and Me so to follow the Doctrin and Practice [Page 165] Practice of this first Preacher of the Gospel, that after his Ex­ampl we may constantly speak the Truth, boldly rebuke Vice, and patiently suffer for the Truth's sake, whatever Loss either of Life or Liberty ensu therupon.

I bless and prais thy Name,

For those effectual and yet invisibl Means wherby thine Al­mighty Arm doth curb the Power and check the Projects of the Ungodly and Malicious, who would fain do mischief to the [Page 166] faithful Witnesses of thy [...] Truth; and in particular, for that tacit Aw and Reverence which the unreprovabl Life and Doctrin of thy Holy Ones doth inevi­tably fix upon the minds even of those that hate both their Persons and Reproofs; for, He­rod 20 feared Iohn, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and did not only save but ob­serv him, which he sufficiently expressed in that he did many things when he [...] him, and heard him gladly. Lord, accom­pany the Ministration of thy H. Ordinances with such an Influ­ence of thy hevenly Grace as may not only win our Liking, but engage our Lov too, that what we rejoice in for a time we may be delighted with for ever: And let that Esteem which the unblamabl Deportment of persons eminently Religious and [Page 167] Exemplary hath generally ob­tained in the World, be a power­ful Encoragement [...] our Imi­tation of their laudabl Qualities; so that those things which [...] venerabl, lovly, and of good Re­port, may engage us to Virtu­ous and Godly Practices at least throu the forcibl Bent of our nativ Inclinations, in case what­soever things are tru, just, and pure, fail of their du Influence upon the Account of Thy [...] Authority: For, even such as think not on these things be­caus of any Virtu, yet are com­monly render'd more considerat if there be any Prais.

I prais and magnify thy Sacred Name,

O my Meek and Prudent Sa­vior, For setting us this instru­ctiv Exampl, which doth at [Page 169] once direct and authorize us to flee from such Dangers as may prov injurious either to the Bo­dy or the Mind. Lord, when Persecution ariseth, endu me with the seasonabl Prudence to make a timely Retreat from the impendent Storm that threatens to invade my Life or Liberty, yet accompanied with an un­movabl Resolution to part with either, rather than relinquish the Practice of that Piety which be­coms a Christian: for, I may change my Place, tho not my Principls; nay, a discreet Cau­tion in quitting the one may be a necessary and succesful means to preserv the other inviolabl; and he that retires from the insi­nuating temtations unto Pride or Vain-glory, which the getting of a Name in the [...] is apt to occasion, may wel be estee­med a no less pious and discern­ing [Page 170] Soul than he that with­draws from the rougher Hard­ship of a [...], since this can only confine the Body, wheras that may also contaminat the Mind.

I adore and prais thy Name,

O Christ, For submitting to the Toil and Labor of this our Flesh subject to Weariness, wherin thou hast not only conformed [Page 171] to the common Infirmities of a Man, but even to the very Form of a Servant, walking on [...] from one place to another, tho evry Beast of the Forrest is thine and the Cattl upon a thousand hills, while the Great Ones of the Earth are carried in state and ease upon their Chariots or Hor­ses; to assure us that as wel by Experience as Compassion Thou art touched with the Sens of their Wants who hav been hun­gry and thirsty til their Soul fainted in them. Let me not therfore repine at my scant Al­lowance of Outward Conveni­ences, while my wealthy Neigh­bor's Cup o'rflows, and his Ta­bl is spred with all the gustful Rarities of Art and Nature, but rest content and thankful under the Dispensations of that Provi­dence which feeds me with Food convenient for me; remembring [Page 172] that thou O Iesus hadst occa­sion 7 to ask a Woman of Sama­ria to giv thee Drink, to reliev thy Thirst; thy Discipls being gon away at the same time unto 8 the City to buy Meat, for the redress of thine Hunger.

I glorify thy Name,

O thou inexhaustible Foun­tain of Goodness, For thus ma­nifesting thy Self greater than S. Joh. 4. their [...] Iacob who gave 12 [Page 173] Well to his posterity and drank therof himself. Lord, instead of questioning Whence thou hast that living Water, as the woman did, seeing thou hadst 11 nothing to draw with out of that deep Well; let me (I be­seech thee) thirst after and be satiated with that Water which 14 whosoever drinketh of shal ne­ver thirst, that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is in fulfilling that Request of hers unto my Soul, Sir, giv me this 15 Water that I thirst not; so as to pass this thy Promise into an experimental Truth, that it shal be in me a [...] of water spring­ing up into everlasting Life. And, to evidence the Power of thy Grace dwelling in my heart by Faith, make it issu out thence into such wholsom Streams of universal Charity as may write a practical Comment on that [Page 174] Text of thine Apostle St. Paul, There is neither Greek nor Jew, Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free; but Christ is all and in all; since thou hast broken down the middl Wall of partition between us, having abolished the Enmity, not only by thy Death but in thy Life; thine Exampl as wel as Precept engaging us to lay aside those distinctions wherby Schism and Faction curtail our Kindness and hinder our mutual Edifica­tion. And tho unnecessary Con­versation with leight or scanda­Ious persons is to be industriously avoided and very warily admit­ted, yet when a just Occasion or accidental Providence brings a vicious person into my Com­pany, let me rather improv the Opportunity to reclaim an Of­fendor, than be deterr'd from u­sing my best endevor to save a [Page 175] Soul from death, throu the Shame or Fear of being cen­sured a Friend of Publicans and Sinners, as thou my Lord and Master hast often been; who like a merciful Physitian wouldst rather inspect our very Corrup­tions than neglect the Cure even of a lascivious Harlot, such as this Samaritan seems to be: for, when thou didst bid her, Go, call thy husband, and she re­plyed, I hav no husband; thouS. Joh. 4. couldst tell her, In that thou 16 saidst truly; for, thou hast had 17 five husbands, and he whom 18 thou now hast is not thy hus­band: implying, that in case he were husband to some other, she lived in Adultery; if not, yet she lived in Fornication with one not espoused to her self.

I prais thy Holy Name,

O thou Reconciler of the World, not only For asserting the Truth of the Jewish Church and the Error of the Samaritan, in this thy positiv Reply, Ye 22 worship ye know not what; we know what we worship; for Salvation is of the Iews: but likewise, for opening a way un­to their Reconciliation, and re­moving the Occasion of the Difference, by saying unto theS. Joh. 4.Woman, Believ me, the hour 21 cometh and now is, when ye shal neither in this Mountain, nor yet at Ierusalem, worship the Father; but the tru Wor­shippers 23 shal worship the Fa­ther in Spirit and in Truth. Lord, since thou hast no longer, confined thine Adorers to attend thy Service in one determinat place, but dost will that men [Page 178] pray evry where lifting up holy hands, I humbly beseech thee, let this our Christian [...] engage us to the more hearty and sincere Attendance as wel on thy publick Ordinances as our privat Offices of Religion, remembring that God is a Spi­rit,24 and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in truth; for the Father seéketh such to worship him.

I celebrat thy Gracious Name,

O Iesus, For saying unto her,26 I that speak unto thee, am He. With what plainness dost thou own the truth and power of that thine Office to this Alien, nay, Enemy, to the Commonwealth of Israel; which thou didst with so much care reserv from the No­tice of thine own Peepl? the Mystery which thou didst couch under obscure Parabls and [...] Sayings in thy many publick Sermons to them, thou hast clearly unvailed in one short and plain Expression to this Sama­ritan. O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how unsearchabl are his Judgments, and his Ways past finding out! My Gracious God, since thou hast thus reduced in­to Practice what thou hadst long before professed to thy Ser­vant [Page 190] Moses, I will have Mercy on whom I will hav Mercy, I hum­bly beseech thee, hav Compas­sion on my Soul, and vouchsafe to make thy self effectually known unto me, who am wors than a Samaritan by Nature, a Sinner of the Gentils in Conver­sation.

I magnify thy Name,

For the communicativ Virtu of the Christian-Faith, and the gradual Propagation of thy Gos­pel therby: Many of the Sa­maritans of that City having 39 believed on Thee, for the Say­ing of the Woman which testi­fied, He told me all that ever I did. Let those apparent No­tices of thy Will, O my God, which hav enlightned mine Un­derstanding and engaged mine Affections in the Profession of the tru Faith, render me zealous and succesful in publishing those sacred Truths wherof I my self am convinced, that I may be­com an happy and industrious Instrument to promote thy Glo­ry and the Good of others, whe­ther [Page 192] they be my Brethren and Neighbors in the flesh, or not; since throu him who came and preached peace to us which were afar off, as wel as to them that were nigh, we are no more Stran­gers and Foreiners, but are made capabl of becoming fellow Citi­zens with the Saints and of the hous-hold of God, by being built upon the foundation of the Apo­stls and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner­stone.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Jesus, Becaus, (wheras thy Discipls were apt to mistake thy words in a carnal sence, as appears by their questioning one 33 with another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?) thou hast fully explained the spiritual Meaning therof by this thy gracious Declaration, My Meat is to do the Will of him 34 that sent me, and to finish his Work. O hevenly Father, cre­ate in me (I beseech thee) the same Mind which was in thy Son Christ Jesus; that I also may prefer doing good in my Gene­ration before my necessary Food, and esteem the Performance of those things which are agreeabl to the Will of thy Holiness my chief Repast and Satisfaction; such Acts of Obedience and Charity being capabl to [...] [Page 194] my Soul unto Everlasting Life; while the daily Bread which my Body stands in need of doth pe­rish in the using.

I giv Thee Thanks and Prais,

Becaus he that reapeth, [...] Wages and gatherethS. Joh. 4.Fruit unto Life Eternal. As 36 my fleshly Eys behold the fields of Corn before my face, Lord enabl me to view other fields far more excellent and glorious with the Ey of Faith, even all the Cities and Kingdoms of the World ready to be gathered into [Page 195] thy Barn: And let the hopes of such desirable Wages engage my utmost Industry to further the Welfare of Souls, for which we, upon whom the Ends of the World are com, hav abundant Encorage­ment; for, other men labored,38 and we are enter'd upon their labors, whatsoever Christ our Lord and his H. Apostls hav don or suffer'd for the Promulgation of the Gospel, redounding to our Advantage and Instruction, be it improvabl either to our own Soul's health or to make us In­strumental for the Salvation of others: So that in us that 37 Saying provs tru, One [...] and another reapeth; and the Benefit is so equally con­veyed throu out all the Mem­bers of Christ's Body the Church in all Ages, That both he thatS. Joh. 4.soweth and he that reapeth may 36 rejoyce together.

I adore thy saving Name,

O Jesus, For this thy gracious Condescension and the powerful Effect of thy Presence among them, many mo having belie­ved becaus of thy Word; who 41 said unto the Woman, Now 42 we believ, not because of thy Saying: for, we [...] heard him our selvs, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the World. Tho thy Spous, O Christ, which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth, by the Catholick Profession of thy Gos­pel givs so rational an Invita­tion [Page 197] to the Apostat World as is persuasiv enough to win many Proselyts to enter into the Com­munion of Saints upon a general Conviction; yet when, throu the personal Experiment and Participation of thy Saving Or­dinances, they are once enl ght­ned and hav tasted of the hevenly Gift, the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to com, they no longer rely upon the bare Credit of thy Church, but are established in the Faith by the full persuasion of their own Conscience. Let me not therefore at any time con­tent my self with hearing the Operations of thy Grace or the Demonstration of thy Power re­ported at second hand, but make my personal Address to the Mi­nistry of thy Word and Sacra­ments, that having heard Thee my self, my Soul also may know [Page 198] experimentally, that Thou art indeed The CHRIST, the Sa­vior of the World.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O my Gracious Redeemer, for this prudential Dispensation of thy Ministry, not brooking to mis-spend thy Doctrin and Mi­racls upon such as would ren­der them useless by their Neg­lect or Dis-esteem; but directing the Labors of thy Lov to those who, by having du Regard ther­unto, were most likely to re­verence thy Person and reap the intended Benefit of thy marvellous Works: for, when 45 thou wast com into Galilee, the Galileans of those parts recei­ved thee, having seen all the things that thou hadst don at Ierusalem, for they also were there at the Feast. Lord, let not any prejudice of Familiarity, which commonly breeds Con­temt; or Envy, which unreaso­nably surmiseth the Advance­ment [Page 200] of our Equals or Acquain­tance insupportabl; or foolish Custom, which is apt to set an higher valu upon any forein unknown Commodity than on the more useful Product of our own Growth and Neighbor­hood; hinder my paying the du Respect or making a reli­gious Improvement of those Gifts and Graces wherwith thou shalt think fit to qualify any of my Country-men or fellow-Citizens to do good in his Generation. And render (I beseech thee) the manifest Evidences of thy Grace no less effectual at this day to creat in me that Esteem and Reverence which is du to Thee in thy Members, than the supernatural Operations of thy Power, ex­hibited before their Eys in for­mer times, were available to pre­pare a way for thine honorabl [Page 201] Reception among the Galileans; that receiving those who bear thine Image, as wel with a glad Heart as a cheerful Aspect, thou mayst think or make me wor­thy of thy beätifick Presence for ever.

I prais thy Sacred Name.

Becaus the man believed the word that thou, O Iesus, hadst spoken unto him, wherof he gav an evident Demonstration in that he went his way, as fully satisfied and contented in the Assurance of thy Goodness and [Page 203] Power. Let not (I beseech thee) the transitory Affairs of this de­caying Body take up all my Thoughts, but make me deeply affected with the future State and Eternal Concernments of my diseased Soul: I confess my Hope is weak, my Charity faint and heartless, and my Faith wel­nigh dead, without those Works by which it should be made per­fect. Lord, com down and heal my spiritual Infirmities; say un­to me, Thy Soul liveth, with that Word of Power which is abl to revive all its faculties to their du Use and Vigor. And, tho thou defer to grant the Re­quest of my Lips, yet wil I [...] make my Prayer unto Thee, and wil look up, until thou hav Mercy upon me.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, For this exact No­tice of the punctual Execution of thine Almighty Word, and for the saving [...] of this [...], 4. [...] that thou didst 54 in [...] as wel upon the Minds of the Sound as the Body of the Sick. Lord, let evry Act of Power or Goodness signalized in thy Providence, and each Ex­pression [Page 205] of the good Pleasure of thy Will signified in the Word of thy Grace, hav the same Ef­fect upon Me which this had upon the Father of the Child thus supernaturally recover'd, who himself believed, & brought his whol Hous unto the Obe­dience of Faith; that not only the Hot-fitts of my irregular Passions may be quencht or prevented, but my personal Con­victions may likewise becom so exemplary and persuasiv to all my Relations as to render old Joshua's pious Resolution both our Practice and Priviledg, As for Me and my hous we wil serv the Lord.