Pillars, upon which Chriftianity ftands; the two governing Principles of a good Man's Opinions and Actions. And their Authority and Influence is, in no one Inftance, more confiderable, than in this of the Bleffed Sacrament. God is infinite and eternal, his Power unbounded, and incomprehenfible. He does whatfoever pleafeth him in Heaven and Earth, and who can understand his Counfel, or find out all his Methods? If the Works of God were fuch, as Human Reafon could penetrate with ease, they would lofe great part of their Glory. We fhould foon abate of our Awe and Veneration for their Author, if his Dealings were not above the Power of cur Tongues to exprefs, and the utmoft Extent of our Imaginations to conceive. O that Men would therefore praise the Lord for his Goodness, and confefs the Wonders that he hath done for the Children of Men! For great and marvellous are thy Works, O Lord God Almighty! How unSearchable are thy Judgments, and thy Ways paft finding out!

Pfal. cvii.

Rev. xiv.

Rom. xi.

THE EN D.

A D

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

READER.

T

HE Publishers of this Edition; being defirous to render this little Book as generally useful as it was poffible; and confidering, that the two great Occafions of Extraordinary Devotion are the Seafon of Receiving the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and that of Sickness; thought the Former reafonably well provided for, in the Fourth Book of the foregoing Tranflation, and engaged Me to make fome Supplementary Provifion for the Latter. This I was the rather difpofed to do, in regard a great part of that, which follows lay by me, fome time fince compofed at the Request of a Lady, (now I hope with God) who defired my AffiStance in Preparing fome Meditations, that might be proper for her then very weak and languishing Conditi

on.

The manner, in which they were drawn, feemed not ill to fuit with the Temper of the Author, to which they áre fixed. And the Defign of cafting them into this Form is to promote, in fome measure, thofe Reasonings with a Man's own Mind, which at all times indeed, but efpecially in fuch Circumstances, would prove of excellent Advantage, if frequent Ufe did but render them more familiar.

I am far from thinking, that these few Sheets have any thing in them of equal Perfection, with thofe many Pious and well weighed Treatifes, written by Other's upon this Subject. Much less would I have the Reader imagine, that either This, or Thofe, can fuperfede the Neceffity and Be

efit of the Prayers of the Church, and the Advice of our Spiritual Phyficians. These ought always to be confulted in the firft Place, before Matters come to Extremity; and a confcientious Perfon, after all his own Care, will find Bufinefs enough for them. But the Exercifes of Picty prefcribed in fuch Tracts will be good Helps, and fill up thofe Intervals very well, which the Languifhings of a Sick Bed many times allow, when it cannot be expected, that the Ordinary Guides of our Souls fhould be ready with their Attendance. Whofe Directions in the Meafures of Men's Repentance, while under the afflicting Hand of God, and the proper Methods of Expreffing their Thankfulness when deliver'd from it, as well as their prudent Comforts adminiftred to wounded and contrite Hearts, will notwithstanding be always feasonable and neceffary.

The Devout Chriftian, who converses much with the Word of God, and the Offices of the Church, will find bimself able to make large Additions to the following Devotions. In which it was much more difficult to reftrain my Pen, than to expatiate a great deal farther. But I confidered the Condition of the Perfons they were intended for; and therefore contented my felf with fuch Short Hints under each Head, as the Weakness of that would bear. If what I bave offered here may tend to the promoting of Piety, and the fanctifying fuch Difpenfations of Providence to any one of my Christian Brethren, by kindling in them a boly Zeal, and inspiring good Purpofes, I have my End. And this, with God's Bleffing, I hope it will, and heartily pray that it may, in fome Degree be capable of

GEO. STANHOPE.

Medita

I

i.

MEDITATION I.

Upon Sickness in general, the Author, Caufes, and End of it.

"

OME, my Soul, and let us reafon toge ther, concerning the Things that have befallen us. This Body, to which thou art united, flags and droops; The Vigot of it is abated, its Beauty withered and wafted; The well-knit Limbs are grown feeble, and with great Difficulty fuftain their Weight, or obey thy Com mands. They fearce perform any Offices aright and i when they do it is with Pantings and Tremblings, with Weariness and Faintnefs. They feem to groan and fink under their Burden; and each Member, which was formerly wont to ferve thee, with wonderful, Chearfulness and Activity, now calls for Succours from abroad, and is no longer able to fupport it felf. This is fuch a Change, as ought not to be felt only, but well confidered too. Be not thou Þsal. xxxii. 10. therefore like to Horfe and Mule, which 1 Sq have no Understanding, but lofe all Impreffions, as foon as the Sense of the Stroke ceafes. It is Thy