O blessed Lord, enable me to fulfil thy commands, and command what thou wilt. O thou Saviour of all that trust in thee, do with me what seemeth best in thine own eyes: only give me the mind which was in thee: let me learn of thee to be meek and lowly. Pour into me the whole Spirit of humility; fill, I beseech thee, every part of my soul with it, and make it the constant, ruling habit of my mind, that all my other tempers may arise from it: that I may have no thoughts, no desires, no designs, but such as are the true fruit of a lowly spirit. Grant that I may think of myself as I ought to think, that I may know myself, even as I am known. Herein may I exercise myself continually, when I lie down and when I rise up, that I may always appear poor, and little, and mean, and base, and vile in mine own eyes. O convince me, that I have neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. Give me a lively sense that I am nothing, that I have nothing, and that I can do nothing. Enable me to feel that I am all ignorance and error, weakness and uncleanness, sin and misery; that I am not worthy of the air I breathe, the earth I tread upon, or the sun that shines upon me. And let me be fully content when all other men think of me as I do of myself. O save me from either desiring or seeking the honour that cometh of men. Convince me that the words of praise, when smoother than oil, then especially are very swords. Give me to dread them more than the poison of asps, or the pestilence that walketh in darkness. And when these cords of pride, these snares of death do overtake me, suffer me not to take any pleasure in them, but enable me instantly to flee unto thee, O Lord, and to complain unto my God. Let all my bones cry out, Thou art worthy to be praised; so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
Bless, O gracious Father, all the nations whom thou hast placed upon the earth, with the knowledge of thee, the only true God: But especially bless thy holy catholic church, and fill it with truth and grace; where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, rectify it; where it is right, confirm it; where it is divided and rent asunder, heal the breaches thereof, O thou holy one of Israel. Replenish all whom thou hast called to [♦]any office therein, with truth of doctrine and innocency of life. Let their prayers be as precious incense in thy sight, that their cries and tears for the city of their God may not be in vain.
[♦] “an” replaced with “any” per Errata
O Lord, hear the king in the day of his trouble; let thy name, O God, defend him. Grant him his heart’s desire, and fulfil all his mind. Set his heart firm upon thee, and upon other things only as they are in and for thee. O defend him and his royal relations from thy holy heaven, even with the saving strength of thy right-hand.
Have mercy upon this kingdom, and forgive the sins of this people: turn thee unto us, bless us, and cause thy face to shine on our desolations. Inspire the nobles and magistrates with prudent zeal, the gentry and commons, with humble loyalty. Pour down thy blessings on all seminaries of true religion and learning, that they may remember and answer the end of their institution. Comfort all the sons and daughters of affliction, especially those who suffer for righteousness sake. Bless my father and mother, my brethren and sisters, my friends and relations, and all that belong to this family. Forgive all who are mine enemies, and so reconcile them to me and thyself, that we all, together with those that now sleep in thee, may awake to life everlasting, through thy merits and intercession, O blessed Jesus; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed by all creatures, all honour, and might, and wisdom, and glory, and blessing.
TUESDAY EVENING.
Particular questions relating to humility.
1. Have I laboured to conform all my thoughts, words and actions to these fundamental maxims; I am nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing?
2. Have I set apart some time this day, to think upon my infirmities, follies and sins?