A Serious and Pathetical Contemplation of the Mercies of God

O Praise the Lord of heaven: praise him in ye heigh◊ Praise him all ye angels of his: praise him all his host. Psal. 148. 1. 2.

Kings of the earth, and all people: princes and all judges of the world;

Young men & maidens, old men and children, praise the Name of the Lord; for his Name onely is excellent, and his praise above heaven, and earth. Psal. 14.8. 11. 12.

Lot every thing that hath breath praise ye Lord,. Ps. 150. ◊

A LETTER Concerning this Book from the PUBLISHER to the BOOKSELLER.

Mr. Keble

WHEN I desired you to Print these excellent Papers, I told you they were recommended to me by a devout Person, who was a great Judge of Books of Devotion, having given the World one already, which had been well received in three impressions, and would in time furnish'd it with more. And when I promis'd you to write a Preface 〈…〉 them, I knew not of any other 〈…〉 that designed to do it, but since 〈…〉 have received one from the hand of 〈…〉 worthy Gentleman of the Authors acquaintance, who had a desire to pay his respects to his pious Friends Memory in a Preface to his noble Remains. And indeed he had a much better title to write a Preface before them, than a stranger, who can only tell how greatly the Author of them wrote, but knew not how greatly he lived. I will therefore intreat you to accept of his Preface for mine and to send me twenty Copies of the Book well Bound, as soon as you can, and at as easy rates as you can afford them. I believe I shall have occasion for a greater number, for the Book in every thing answers to its title, and as I have received great delight and benefit in reading of it: So I shall recommend it to persons of parts and pious inclinations, as I shall find Opportunities. I wish all Booksellers would employ the Press so much for Gods Honour, and the publick Good, as you do, for besides other Peices which are written with great force and eloquence to chastise the Vices of the Age, you have printed many good Books of Devotion, which made me desire that you should print this. Had the Author 〈…〉 to Publish it, it would have come abroad with greater advantages; for 〈…〉 art some places, which seem to require the hand of the same Architect who made them, to reform 〈…〉, but they are but few, and such as only need to be made a little more correct or plain, and we must not wonder that there are some uncorrect, and obscure Passages in a Book which is so sull of Thoughts, and composed in Numbers, or numerous Periods, which tho of the freer sort, are not so easy for an Author to express his thoughts in, as plain and unconfined Prose. I wish you a very happy New year, and remain

THO the unhappy decay of true Piety, and the lmmoralities of the Age we live in, may be a discouragement to the multiplying such Books as this, yet on the other hand this degeneracy of Manners, and too evident contempt of Religion, makes it (it may be) the more necessary to endeavor to retreive the Spirit of Devotion, and the sacred Fires of of Primitive Christianity. And since 'tis hop'd this ensuing Treatise may somewhat conduce to these noble Ends: It is thought to be no unprofitable Undertaking to commit it to the Press, it being part of the Remains of a very devout Christian, who is long since removed to the Regions of Beatified Spirits, to sing those Praises and Hallelujahs, in which he was very vigorously employ'd, whilst he dwelt amongst us; and since somewhat of Preface is become as it were a necessary part of every Book, instead of any particular Dedication (which is commonly overstuft with Flattery and Complements) I will only give thee some account of the Author. To tell thee who he was, is I think, to no purpose: And therefore I will only tell theewhat he was, for that may possibly recommend these following Thanksgivings, and Meditations to thy use. He was a Divine of the Church of England, of a very comprehensive Soul, and very accute Parts, so fully bent upon that Honourable Function in which he was engaged; and so wonderfully transported with the Love of God to Mankind, with the excellency of those Divine Laws which are prescribed to us, and with those inexpressible Felicities to which we are entitled by being created in, and redeemed to, the Divine Image, that he dwelt continually amongst these thoughts, with great delight and satisfaction, spending most of his time when at home, in digesting his notions of these things into writing, and was so full of them when abroad, that those that would converse twith him, were forced to endure some discourse upon these subjects, whether they had any sense of Religion, or not. And therefore to such he might be sometimes thought troublesome, but his company was very acceptable to all such as had any inclinations to Vertue, and Religion.

And tho he had the misfortune to come abroad into the World, in the late disordered Times when the Foundations were cast down, and this excellent Church laid in the dust, and dissolved into Confusion and Enthusiasme; yet his Soul was of a more refin'd allay, and his Judgment in discerning of things more solid, and considerate then to be infected with that Leaven, and therefore became much in love with the beautiful order and Primitive Devotions of this our excellent Church. Insomuch that I beleive, he never failed any one day either publickly or in his private Closet, to make use of her publick Offices, as one part of his devotion, unless some very unavoidable business interrupted him. He was a man of a cheerful and sprightly Temper, free from any thing of the sourness or formality, by which some great pretenders to Piety rather disparage and misrepresent true Religion, than recommend it; and therefore was very affable and pleasant in his Conversation, ready to do all good Offices to his Friends, and Charitable to the Poor almost beyond his ability. But being removed out of the Country to the service of the late Lord Keeper Bridgman, as his Chaplain, he died young, and got early to thoses blissful Mansions, to which he at all times aspir'd.

p. 1A Serious and Pathetical CONTEMPLATION Of the Mercies of GOD, IN SEVERAL Most Devout and Sublime Thanksgivings for the same.

p. 1Thanksgivings for the Body.

BLess the Lord, O my Soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and forget not all his benefits.

Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities: who 〈…〉 all thy Diseases:

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction. Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and 〈…〉 mercies.

p. 2Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed as the Eagles.

O Lord who art clothed with Majesty,

My desire is, to praise thee.

With the holy Angels and Archangels

To glorisie thee.

And with all thy Saints in the Church triumphant.

For the eternal brightness

Of thine insinite bounty,

The freedom of thy love

Wherein thou excellest the beams of the Sun

To celebrate thee.

I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy works; and that my Soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth

Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written; which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.

How precious are thy thoughts also unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake I am still with thee.

Blessed be thy holy Name,

O Lord, my God!

For ever blessed be thy holy Name,

p. 3For that I am made

The work of thy hands,

Curiously wrought

By thy divine Wisdom,

Enriched

By thy Goodness,

Being more thine

Than I am mine own.

O Lord!

Thou hast given me a Body,

Wherein the glory of thy Power shineth,

Wonderfully composed above the Beasts,